“Robbery?” Jiang Jiao stuttered for a moment. “Wh-what robbery?”
“We arrived here first, and with the advantage of timing and location, isn’t it a waste of opportunity not to capitalize on it?” She turned to Wang Ba. “Brother Wang, this is your expertise. Do you remember the rules?”
Wang Ba was a mix of annoyance and pride as he responded, “Of course, I remember.”
“Then let’s go step on the plate,” she told him.
“What does ‘step on the plate’ mean?” Jiang Jiao asked, confused.
“I know this one,” Huang Xiong chimed in. “It’s a term from the secret language of the bandits. It means to gather information beforehand.”
Wang Ba huffed, glancing at He Yan. “You know the secret language too?”
“I only know this one phrase,” He Yan said. “If everyone agrees, I’ll arrange the details.”
All eyes were on her.
“The terrain here is higher, and we arrived early. When the other groups arrive, they’ll likely be tired and off-guard. We only need to lie in ambush, snatch their flags, and secure victory. There are five of us. One person should climb a tree to survey the situation while the rest hide nearby. That person will be me,” He Yan pointed to herself. “I’ll be in the tree.”
“When they approach, Brother Wang will be in the front, guiding them into our trap. Jiang Jiao and Shitou, each of you will hold a long weapon, positioned on the left and right. Uncle Huang will be at the back, holding the rear. This way, we can surround them. I’ll come down from the tree at that moment, and with my nine-section whip, I’ll take the opportunity to snatch their flags.”
Understanding dawned on their faces. That’s why He Yan had chosen the nine-section whip. In a chaotic battle, it might be difficult to get close to the flags, but with the whip’s reach, they could pull the flags from a distance.
“Why do I have to be the bait?” Wang Ba grumbled. “I can lead the formation.”
“Because you’re the strongest,” He Yan improvised without changing her expression. “If any of us held the flag and lured them over, it would be suspicious. But with you, it’s different. You’re already renowned among the new recruits. Snatching the flag will be reasonable and expected when you do it.”
Jiang Jiao fought a smile and managed to suppress it. Shitou and Huang Xiong looked down in silence. Only Wang Ba seemed genuinely convinced by He Yan’s arrangement, and his initial dissatisfaction faded away.
“But is this arrangement really effective?” Jiang Jiao questioned doubtfully. “What if their skills are better than ours?”
“Don’t worry. We arrived earlier and had more time to rest and gather our strength. Also, with our flanking strategy, we’ll be both offensive and defensive, causing them to lose formation. Besides, our goal isn’t to fight them but to capture the flags.”
“As the Art of War says, those who wait in a fortified camp will be at ease, while those who rush into battle will tire. Hence, a skilled warrior will subdue others and be unconquerable.”
Among the five, only Jiang Jiao and He Yan had received an education. While the others were still processing, Jiang Jiao turned to He Yan with a complex expression. “You’ve read military texts?”
“Somewhat,” He Yan replied.
Huang Xiong glanced at Jiang Jiao, then at He Yan, and sighed, “I remember you once claimed to have read ‘The Arm Manual,’ and now you’re saying you’ve read military texts. With your abilities, you’ll surely make a name for yourself one day, far from where we are.”
YOU ARE READING
Rebirth of a Star General (Legend of the Female General)
Romance[fast update] [good translation] The ancient saying goes: Most generals come from Guan Xi, while ministers come from Guan Dong. He Yan was born to be a Star General. She was merely a stepping stone for her family, and was used as her brother's subst...
