Chapter 226 - Sneak Attack

"That's…."

"Boss, listen to him. He's much smarter…ouch!"

Shan YI hit his men to stop him from talking. He felt like smacking his other men too when he saw their gazes. While he knew that his intelligence couldn't be compared with Wei Liuying, he hated it when it was blatantly pointed to his face like this.

"Fine, you give us the strategy, Strategist Liu."

"I don't mind, but…"

"What?"

"Can't we eat first?"

"…"

It was only then they realized that it was already close with the time to eat dinner. The bandits were also human beings, so they quickly prepared some food from the rations they brought and shared with Wei Liuying.

Only after they had eaten that they brought Wei Liuying and Shan Yi along with several other men to the location where the traders were. Just like what Shan Yi had said, they were staying in a covered place that was completely hidden from outside. It was as if they were not here to trade but to hide.

Wei Liuying scanned the area while they were walking. Shan Yi also gave her the rough map of the place, but it was not that well made. In fact, Wei Liuying felt the map didn't help that much because it looked like doodle.

"You have seen this place. Now, can we attack?" Shan Yi asked in impatience.

"We have only seen from outside. I can't determine their number from this position."

"Then why do you choose to stop here?"

They were standing on top of the small hill and stayed behind the trees to prevent the traders from seeing them. At this time, Wei Liuying was looking at their camp below her. Just like what the scout said, it was quite a big group. 

"I'm looking at the geography. Having height advantage is good, isn't it?" Wei Liuying asked back.

Shan Yi felt like screaming that he didn't care about geography whatsoever, but he didn't dare to do so in front of Wei Liuying. Besides, he didn't want to make a scene here when they were supposed to be quiet.

Wei Liuying stood still in her place. "They're moving."

"Ah?"

"A large group of the traders are going to leave tonight." Wei Liuying noticed that the soldiers were preparing to come out. It seemed that the attack they planned to the nameless city was actually tonight.

'It's good that we're not late.'

Shan Yi tilted his head. "And?"

"It means that tonight will be a good time to attack. If most of them are not present, we're going to be able to conduct raid easily. Can you divide your man into two?"

"Yes?"

"There's only one route from here to the city, so they're going to send the soldiers through this path. If you make an ambush at the rear, they're going to be late to respond and it'll create distraction from the main force that's plundering the camp," Wei Liuying said with a smile. "After that…."

While she was used to talk in roundabout way, she needed to be concise and precise when explaining her plan. Because of that, Shan Yi could understand what she wanted better than when they were discussing before.

"That didn't sound like a bad plan. Alright, we're going to go with this. Are you going to come, Strategist Liu?"

"I'll watch from here and send messages whenever necessary. I'll create owl sound from here. One meant that it's time, two meant it's time for retreat."

"Okay! Men.." Shan Yi was about to yell when he realized that they were supposed to be quiet. He grunted and lowered the volume. "Men, let's move!"

As the bandits began to move and went to their respective position, Wei Liuying stayed still in her place. She noticed a bandit, one who followed Shan Yi to the temple back then, was standing not far from her. He was tasked to guard her, but the bandits were only seeing it as if he was sent to watch over her.

Wei Liuying chose to ignore the man and looked down. As the night went deeper, the men started to make their moves. They came out in a large group, leaving only a third of their men inside the camp.

Slowly, she put her hands in front of her mouth and blew a bit. Faint owl sound could be heard from the hill.

The bandit that was already setting his position not far from Wei Liuying swiftly moved to relay the messages. Soon, the bandits were moving in the forest towards the camp that was already partially abandoned.

"Strategist Liu, would it be fine for you not to observe the people in the city?" the bandit asked politely.

Wei Liuying glanced in the direction of the city and shook her head. "The people there are enough. Also, I can't show my face this time."

While Prince Ji Sheng had never explained everything to her thoroughly before, Wei Liuying knew that the relationship he had with other generals were not that harmonious. They didn't like him because the Emperor didn't favor Prince Ji Sheng. 

Even though Prince Ji Sheng had already made several accomplishments on the battlefield, it didn't enter their eyes in the slightest bit.

"Once the reports are out, it'll be Commander Cao's work."

The bandit behind Wei Liuying was silent for a few moments. "Giving your accomplishment to someone else, is it fine, Strategist Liu?"

"Glory and fame are indeed nice, but keeping one safe is still the priority," Wei Liuying replied unhurriedly. Her dark eyes were watching the movements below her carefully.

"I see."

"From your way of speaking and attitude, are you His Highness' men?"

"… I don't know what you're talking about."

Wei Liuying's lips curled up to form a smile. And here she thought that those people under Shan Yi were all pure bandits, but there were actually several elite soldiers whom Prince Ji Sheng had put inside.

Probably, it was done because Shan Yi could be quite a blockhead when it was time to attack.

Noticing the faint movement of the soldiers and also sound of battle from a distance. Wei Liuying shifted her gaze to the city. The battle was over. It was time for her to wrap this up.

Wei Liuying slowly formed owl sound once more.

"Hooot, hooot."

The faint sounds of the owl signaled the end of the battle.