Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 490 - 459 - General, I Will Avenge You!

Chapter 490: Chapter 459 - General, I Will Avenge You!

Wang Junwu, as General Du Baoshi’s personal guard, was tasked with delivering military commands, a perfectly normal occurrence.

And Changsun Wudiao, as a general who came from Longyun Path to support the operation in Jin River Pathway, held a distinguished status in the army. Everyone who saw him showed great respect; therefore, finding the two together raised no suspicions.

Changsun Wudiao asked, "Fifth Brother Wang, did you call me out here because you sense something amiss?"

Wang Junwu nodded slightly and said, "Du Baoshi is a waste, there’s no doubt about that. But there are only a few intelligent generals in Jin River Path to begin with. Du Baoshi used to be daring when he was younger, which is why he was appointed as the vanguard. But now, heh, I suspect he’d be the first to turn tail and run at the sight of a head-on charge."

"Lacking courage and strategy. Moreover, Songye Pass is up ahead. If I were the Northern Qi Army, I would also choose this place to set up an ambush."

Changsun Wudiao furrowed his brows and asked, "What do we do then?"

"I suspect there must be hidden troops around Songye Pass. We’ve seen fewer enemy campfires along the road, yet we’ve hardly captured any stragglers. Clearly, the enemy has a mastermind who has quickly reorganized their scattered forces, and it’s very likely they’re lying in wait at Songye Pass to ambush us. So, when I give the command later, you get your troops ready. Follow behind Du Baoshi’s men. Once you enter the ambush zone, you’ll..."

Afterwards, Changsun Wudiao secretly instructed his troops to move up quickly and then follow behind General Du’s personal guard squad.

Wang Junwu then issued orders for the vanguard to make way, the rear army to slow down, and had Zhao Erbao’s men, who were under Du Baoshi in the Central Army, lead the way out front.

Zhao Erbao, upon hearing the order from his brother-in-law, was certain it wouldn’t be detrimental to himself!

Hence, Zhao Erbao took the troops that had slipped into his command by fawning and flattery, out of reach from everyone, and raced to the forefront of the large army.

And under Wang Junwu’s arrangement, most of the Central Army were also placed behind Changsun Wudiao’s troops.

The original order was the vanguard, Central Army, rearguard, followed by Changsun Wudiao’s troops from front to back.

Now, Zhao Erbao’s Central Army forces were at the very front, followed by Du Baoshi’s Central Army sector, with Changsun Wudiao’s forces behind them, then the elite Central Army units, and finally the vanguard and rearguard.

After delivering the commands, Wang Junwu reported to Du Baoshi, "General, Capital Commandant Zhao Erbao reports that the path ahead is perilous. He is willing to be the vanguard of the vanguard, opening roads through mountains and building bridges over water for his brother-in-law!"

After shouting this out loud, Wang Junwu leaned in close to Du Baoshi’s ear and whispered, "Capital Commandant Zhao Erbao inquired about the situation ahead. After I shared your thoughts with him, he said he wanted to take the lead, sure that there would be great merit in it."

Du Baoshi was very pleased and nodded his approval, knowing that taking advantage when the opportunity arises was precisely his brother-in-law’s character.

Of course, it was also thanks to his brother-in-law’s character that every time Du took him to the Pinhong Building, he never spoke of it to his sister and even helped Du cover his tracks.

Next time he went to the Pinhong Building, he’d definitely secure that girl named Luo Bing for him.

Thus, Zhao Erbao took command of twelve troops, totaling six hundred men, into Songye Pass.

Wang Junwu kept an eye on the movements at the front, and when he noticed that the leading troops entered the pass without stirring up any birds, nor was there any noise, he realized that something was awry.

"General, I’ll go back and urge the troops behind us. After all, they are falling behind," he said.

Du Baoshi was very satisfied with Wang Junwu; the young man always managed to think of many things Du himself needed to do and took care of them on his behalf, without being petty.

A reliable confidante like this was hard to find.

Thus, Du Baoshi handed his commanding tally to Wang Junwu and instructed him to go back and expedite the troops.

Wang Junwu knew that Du Baoshi’s personal guards were a bunch of bullies who feared the tough. Once they entered the ambush zone, letting them die would be just as well.

As for the men under Zhao Erbao at the very front, not one of them was decent; they were all after the connection with Zhao Erbao, trying by all means to be transferred under his command.

After all, following Zhao Erbao meant nothing but reaping commendations; who wouldn’t want such a cushy position.

Wang Junwu approached Commander Song’s troops and saluted him with a cupped fist.

"Commander Song, General Du has ordered me to send a detachment ahead to scout the possibility of an ambush at Songye Pass," he said.

Commander Song nodded his head, understanding that everyone has their own aspirations. He knew Wang Junwu had a tough time internally, but Wang had chosen to align with Du Baoshi, and that was his choice; it wasn’t Commander Song’s place to comment.

Just as Commander Song was about to select a competent small team from his own men, Wang Junwu spoke up, "This task, if done well, naturally merits reward. I wonder if Commander Song would allow the squad I used to be with to join me in this task?"

Commander Song did not expect that Wang Junwu was quite a loyal person, interested in bringing his former comrades along for a beneficial task, so he agreed with a nod.

By this time, Zhao Erbao’s troops had already entered Songye Pass, and Du Baoshi, leading several hundred of his most trusted men in the Central Army, had also walked in after them.

Changsun Wudiao, however, had not followed them with his troops, maintaining a distance at the back.

All the while, Du Baoshi remained caught up in the joy of capturing Baizhou City with his own strength, believing the Northern Qi Army to be utterly weak and even forgetting that it was Wang Junwu’s merit that allowed them to breach the city walls, thinking it was a result of his own competent command.

But just then, countless arrows suddenly flew from all around.

After all, the Central Army’s banner was right there and the Northern Qi Army hidden around could easily ascertain that this marked the opponent’s commander, especially Du Baoshi in his resplendent golden armor, riding proudly on horseback, was clearly the vanguard General Du Baoshi.