Zhang Shi, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance

Zhang Shi's face turned completely pale.

And when he descended from the col, found Wang Ming, and asked clearly about the situation, his entire body swayed as if he were about to collapse.

Wusheng Pass had already been taken?

Then what was the point of him going to such great lengths to flank the enemy, suffering every day, enduring the dangers of the high mountains and steep ridges? What did all that hardship amount to?

Did it just prove he could endure hardship?

"General Zhang Shi..." Wang Ming was still kind-hearted and couldn't bear it, saying, "The big picture is already settled now. Why don't we head back first to see His Grace, the Duke?"

"This time, even if you don't have the credit of a victory, you have the credit of hard work."

Zhang Shi, furious, turned around and walked away.

He led his men straight back, not even waiting for Wang Ming.

He really didn't want to be in the same company as Wang Ming anymore; it made him look like a clown.

Just as he returned to Wusheng Pass and saw the banners with the character "Ren" fluttering all over the walls, his face grew even gloomier, and the anger in his eyes was almost ready to burst forth.

"General Zhang Shi?"

A pleasantly surprised voice sounded behind Zhang Shi.

Zhang Shi turned around, only to realize it was Su Jin.

The Su Jin before him was dressed in the uniform of the Demon Suppression Division. Her valiant and heroic bearing, mixed with her unique and peerless beauty, was so dazzling that one could hardly keep their eyes open.

"I really didn't expect that you would come too, General Zhang Shi," Su Jin said with a bright smile. "I thought you were still in the grasslands, or had returned to the Northern Frontier."

"Mhm!" Zhang Shi nodded sullenly and said, "His Grace transferred me back. You weren't in the capital, so you didn't know."

Su Jin had arrived in Yunjing earlier and was completely unaware of the troop deployments in the capital. Besides, even if she had been in the capital, she wouldn't have known too much about military affairs.

After all, their duties were different.

She was also a smart woman who had experienced tempering; she knew all too well what should be asked and what shouldn't.

So she smiled and said, "It's wonderful that you're back, General Zhang Shi. For His Grace, it's truly like adding wings to a tiger. With the battle record you forged in the Northern Frontier, this campaign against Yunjing is absolutely perfect for you..."

Su Jin flattered him with a beautiful smile, but then added, "However, General Zhang Shi, your complexion doesn't look too good. Are you a bit tired?"

"But now that Wusheng Pass has been taken, General Zhang Shi, the pressure on your shoulders should lighten up a bit."

Swish!

Zhang Shi's gloomy face darkened even further.

This actually gave Su Jin a fright, and she quickly tried to smooth things over, "Oh, I forgot, General Zhang Shi, you seem to be someone who naturally doesn't like to smile!"

Zhang Shi immediately gave a cold snort, turned his head, and walked away.

This time, Su Jin was truly dumbfounded.

What was going on?

Those were clearly heartwarming words. Why did Zhang Shi still have that kind of expression?

And when Su Jin asked around a little and completely figured out the situation, her expression also changed.

"Oh no, I've offended General Zhang Shi this time."

"But, I never imagined that there was such a contest between General Zhang Shi and General Wang Ming."

Su Jin felt like crying but had no tears.

Fortunately, her status now was completely different from the past. Her relationship with Zhang Shi could absolutely be considered an equal collegial one. Even if Zhang Shi was angry, he wouldn't do anything to her.

And Zhang Shi was even more depressed precisely because of this.

Su Jin was no longer the inexperienced person she used to be, which meant he had to swallow this teasing. Full of displeasure, he entered the main tent and saw the long-unseen Duke, Ren Tianye.

"Oh, isn't this our great flanking general?"

"You've finally returned."

"I don't know how many waves of people I sent to find you. Unfortunately, the grasslands really test one's skills; they genuinely couldn't find you."

Zhang Shi was speechless.

"Why that expression? We took Wusheng Pass, aren't you happy?"

Zhang Shi remained speechless.

"Could it be that you naturally don't like to smile?"

Zhang Shi was still speechless.

Immediately after, he dropped to one knee, a bitter look on his face, and said, "Your Grace, please stop making fun of this subordinate."

Ren Tianye finally put away his smile and said, "Rise."

When Zhang Shi stood up, Ren Tianye spoke in a rather earnest and profound tone, "Arranging formations before fighting is the norm of military tactics, but the ingenuity of their application rests solely in the mind."

"When the battlefield situation changes, a commander must make adjustments according to that situation. The Yunjing we are facing now is not the same as the barbarians you used to fight on the grasslands."

"In this matter, you still need to humbly learn from Wang Ming."

Zhang Shi agreed sullenly, "Yes, Your Grace!"

Ren Tianye took one look and knew that Zhang Shi was only submitting on the surface, not in his heart. He didn't point it out, knowing that he needed some time to adapt.

When Wang Ming returned to the camp and brought the captive garrison commander, Ren Tianye gathered the generals to discuss the next military operation.

Now that Wusheng Pass had been taken, the next step was to launch an attack on Huaian City. Huaian City was a crucial land and water hub on the route south.

However, before attacking Huaian City, there were still three strongholds: Qingfeng Relay Station, Luoyan Crossing, and Pingling Market.

Their scales were not large, far inferior to Wusheng Pass. The number of troops stationed at each stronghold was only about three to five thousand.

But after all, they were eyesores and could easily become thorns in the army's path. Ren Tianye was determined to uproot them.

So, he looked at Zhang Shi again. "Zhang Shi, you didn't establish any merit in the first battle. Do you want to try your hand at these three small strongholds next?"

Zhang Shi stepped forward sullenly. He was originally going to open his mouth to agree, but his expression suddenly turned ruthless, and he said fiercely, "Your Grace, it's better to let Wang Ming go. I would like to see if Wang Ming can have smooth sailing for a moment, or if he can have smooth sailing for a lifetime?"

"I will stay with the main army and see how long it takes Wang Ming to take those three strongholds."

Zhang Shi didn't say Wang Ming couldn't take them. After all, he trusted Wang Ming's abilities. Moreover, they were just three roadside strongholds; even if they were difficult, it would only cost a bit of time.

Therefore, he wanted to see how long it would take Wang Ming to capture them.

Furthermore, once Wang Ming fell into a bitter struggle, if Zhang Shi stepped in, he could also show off the skills he had honed.

Ren Tianye smiled slightly and said, "Zhang Shi, are you sure?"

"Back in the Northern Frontier, I gave you the same choice. Don't you regret this later!"

Zhang Shi gave a cold snort. "Your Grace, even if I, Zhang Shi, jump down from here, even if I starve to death, I will absolutely not regret it."

"Good!" Ren Tianye agreed readily and called out, "Wang Ming, do you dare to go?"

Wang Ming stepped forward. "Your Grace, this subordinate will follow all your orders."

"Alright, then I order you to muster ten thousand troops and take down the three strongholds along this route: Qingfeng Relay Station, Luoyan Crossing, and Pingling Market, one by one. I will lead the main army and follow closely behind."

"Yes!"

After receiving the order, Wang Ming didn't dare to delay.

He immediately mustered the troops and set off at once.

Qingfeng Relay Station was located forty miles south of Wusheng Pass, guarding the main official road heading south, serving as the frontline warning encampment for the northern defense line of Huaian City.

It had rammed earth walls, watchtowers at the four corners, and shallow trenches dug around the perimeter. It was not a formal pass city, but merely a blocking position relying on the official road.

Regarding such terrain and defensive strength, Wang Ming's first thought was to launch a whirlwind operation.

Although the method of rapid striking was old-fashioned, on the battlefield, most of the time, what was used were old-fashioned but effective maneuvers.

Thus, when they were not far from Qingfeng Relay Station, Wang Ming issued his orders. Having the infantry and musketeers hold the line, he personally led two thousand light cavalry to launch a fierce and immediate assault on the station!

According to the intelligence they had received, Qingfeng Relay Station held a garrison of three thousand men. Two thousand of these were regular troops, while the remaining thousand were local militia.

Wang Ming was brimming with confidence. As long as his light cavalry could charge their lines, slaughtering these three thousand men would be as easy as slicing through melons.

And as it turned out, this was exactly the case!

Upon spotting the enemy forces, Wang Ming gave the command. The two thousand light cavalry charged forward like tigers descending upon a flock of sheep. In a mere instant, a patrolling squad of a hundred men was utterly crushed beneath the iron hooves of Wang Ming's riders!

Soon after, the surviving defenders scattered like a swarm of locusts, fleeing back behind the camp walls.

Naturally, Wang Ming was not about to let such a perfect tactical opportunity slip away. He was just about to lead his army in a sweeping massacre when the sudden, thunderous roar of artillery erupted from atop the rammed-earth walls.

Amidst the booming explosions, Wang Ming's cavalry charge was brought to a halt.

Wang Ming knew that while Qingfeng Relay Station did not possess heavy cannons, it was equipped with numerous small, crude cannons that could still inflict significant casualties upon his forces.

Faced with such a dense network of crossfire, Wang Ming had no choice but to order a temporary retreat. Once they had fallen back to a safe distance, a look of helpless resignation washed over his face.

"Alas, Yunjing's firearms are simply too powerful!"

"If we were in the Northern Frontier, with walls and defenses like these, my charge just now would have taken the camp long ago."

"But the presence of firearms gives the defending side far too great an advantage."

"It seems..."

"We can only counter them with firearms of our own!"

Wang Ming was not entirely disheartened, however. After all, he had brought heavy cannons along on this campaign. It was just that the heavy artillery moved slowly and would not be in position until the following day.

Once they arrived, he would finally be able to launch a full-scale offensive against Qingfeng Relay Station!

And a wait of merely one day was something Wang Ming could easily afford!

...