“You seem a bit too excited,” Qiao Yan remarked, hands behind her back as she glanced again at the Tian family fortress, confirming that they showed no intention of coming out to check the status of the people outside the fortress before heading in the direction where they were originally supposed to meet.

As she said this, the system suddenly realized that it might have indeed overreacted a bit.

That was a bit awkward.

It quickly tried to make up for it, saying, [I did say what I said, but don’t get too proud. After all, there might not be any capable individuals in the Tian family. If they encounter skilled strategists, this plan might not work. In reality, I’m just…]

[Just trying to boost your confidence a bit.]

Yes, that’s it!

Strategist System 068 tried to maintain its dignity as it thought confidently.

It couldn’t just say that during the system assessment, it had failed three times in the novice training level and only passed with external help.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have come up with the idea of conveniently clinging to a powerful figure for its identity selection.

And precisely because of this, it felt especially gratified by the host’s proactive and outstanding performance.

Qiao Yan just smiled after listening.

Although she knew the system was getting a bit carried away, she didn’t plan to burst its bubble. After all, the atmosphere was quite cute.

For her, who was alone in this late Han Dynasty era, it was undoubtedly a kind of alternative comfort and companionship.

“You’re right. It’s just a small attempt,” she said.

It was only her first step.

---

While one person and one system conversed in perfect harmony, Liang Zhongning, pretending to flee for his life, and the pursuers coming from the fortress were equally “harmonious” in their acting.

Liang Zhongning’s heart was pounding like a drum at this moment.

It wasn’t entirely because of the pursuers behind him, particularly Dian Wei, who seemed ready to charge forward and chop him down with his dual halberds.

It was more because he was leading people step by step into the trap, feeling an immense sense of excitement.

Yan Qiao hadn’t really deceived him!

This was precisely the moment when her plan to deceive the fortress gate was successful.

The people lying dead under the fortress were those selected during the day for their poor physical condition and slower running speed, while those retreating with him were all elite soldiers.

Of course, there were some suspicions of tall people among the short ones.

But compared to the defenders in the fortress, these Yellow Turban soldiers had experienced life and death struggles, and in his view, they were determined to overthrow the Han Dynasty.

If they were facing off inside the fortress versus outside, they might be at a disadvantage, but outside the fortress was a whole different story.

With the preparations already made, if he couldn’t win this battle, he might as well write his own name backward!

Similarly, those tracking behind him felt equally confident of their impending victory.

The disparity in information led these people, while chasing after the opened fortress gate, to not even realize that they hadn’t successfully shot down anyone with two rounds of accurate arrows, and the bodies they passed weren’t those of Yellow Turban soldiers.

Even when they saw the enemy fleeing towards the distant forest, it didn’t make them particularly cautious.

Unfortunately, the horse had been injured during the previous attack on the fortress, and it seemed to limp slightly as it moved, not much faster than their running speed.

This made Liang Zhongning’s escape on horseback appear somewhat ridiculous.

Since Dian Wei had already promised the Second Master of the Tian family to chase down and kill Liang Zhongning, and now seeing the scattered Yellow Turbans exposed, and realizing that Liang Zhongning couldn’t escape quickly on his injured horse, he knew it was time to act.

With a loud shout, Dian Wei hurled his heavy halberd like a meteor chasing the moon, aiming directly for Liang Zhongning’s back.

He himself closed the distance with three quick steps.

Liang Zhongning wasn’t a fool either.

The sound of the air breaking behind him and the sudden sense of danger made him instinctively press himself against the horse’s back, narrowly avoiding the halberd as it grazed his back.

His breath caught in his throat.

If his reaction had been just a fraction slower, he would have been killed!

In this tense moment, he hadn’t forgotten to observe his surroundings and hadn’t missed the markings he had made on the trees, indicating that they had reached their point of counterattack.

He turned to look behind him.

As he rose from his crouched position, the distance between him and Dian Wei had narrowed, and he could almost see the killing intent on Dian Wei’s face.

This made his hand holding the reins sweat with nervousness.

Victory or defeat hinged on this one move!

Turning his body, he urged his horse to follow the path he remembered between the pits.

Dian Wei, trusting Liang Zhongning’s actions, followed suit.

In the moment Liang Zhongning turned around, all Dian Wei saw was his uncontrollable fear.

He had never imagined that the fleeing posture of this Yellow Turban leader, now alone, was just a decoy.

Although those responsible for digging the pits hadn’t managed to excavate a tunnel leading beneath the fortress, the pits they dug were deep and wide enough, indicating no problem.

Among these individuals were skilled farmers and hunters. In a sense, the tasks arranged for them by Yan Qiao were fitting.

So, these pits, now dug, were about to receive their first visitors.

Dian Wei was solely focused on chasing Liang Zhongning ahead, momentarily neglecting what lay beneath his feet.

He had traversed this path when he was invited by the Tian family to assist.

He remembered that although there was a small patch of woods here, the road was generally smooth and not troublesome.

Following Liang Zhongning’s path, he managed to luck out and avoid the first two pits, but he couldn’t dodge the third.

As he reached out to grab the tail of the limping horse, the horse suddenly leaped, evading his grasp.

He immediately lost his balance and fell forward.

If there had been level ground ahead, it would have been fine, but unfortunately—

There was a pit large enough to swallow him whole.

In the darkness of the night, a heavy and muffled sound echoed out.

It was the sound of Dian Wei falling into the pit, which was over two zhang (around 6 meters) deep.

In his state of rapid movement, he crashed into the inner wall of the pit due to inertia.

Before he could gather his senses, several bags filled with sand were already falling towards him.

With the depth of the pit making it difficult for him to leap out, the added weight of the bags made it even more challenging.

As if that wasn’t enough, additional weight pressed down on top of the sandbags, as if someone, seeing the sandbags weren’t sufficient, decided to add their own weight.

Despite Dian Wei’s strength, in this unfavorable situation for exerting force, he found it hard to muster the strength to push back. Instead, he felt a tightness in his chest due to the weight pressing down on him.

He also heard the sounds of weapons clashing outside the pit.

“Too much!” Dian Wei shouted angrily, trying to push himself up with his arms, but he felt two more people being added on top.

This could be explained as being outsmarted, as he had been less cautious at the moment of victory over the Yellow Turban bandits.

But the overwhelming suppression denying him a chance for direct combat was frustrating!

Even though he couldn’t see what was happening outside, he could guess that he wasn’t the only one who had fallen for the trap.

Those he had brought with him must also have fallen into the Yellow Turbans’ trap.

And from the fact that the sandbags and people weighing on him hadn’t been removed, he could surmise that the Yellow Turbans were still in control, and the situation was heavily in their favor.

It seemed like they had the upper hand.

Otherwise, someone would have tried to rescue him by now, relying on his bravery to turn the situation around!

In fact, it was similar to what Dian Wei had guessed.

The pit in the forest was just one trap set for him, but there were more.

The Yellow Turban soldiers he had scattered earlier quickly regrouped after dispersing into the woods.

As they moved, in the dark night, ropes resembling horse-tripping snares were pulled taut, and about twenty soldiers who hadn’t joined Liang Zhongning in his attack on the fortress had climbed trees, each carrying a bag of dirt.

Almost at the same time as Dian Wei fell into the pit, the sand thrown from the trees and the tripping ropes on the ground were activated, targeting those following behind him.

Some stumbled, others were blinded.

In the next moment, blades and spears attacked from all sides.

If it had been regular guards from Puyang City in this ambush, they would have struggled to react immediately, let alone the uncoordinated defenders of the fortress.

Adding to their confusion was the fact that their leader, Dian Wei, had fallen into the enemy’s trap and was now in an uncertain state.

To make matters worse, Liang Zhongning, in a moment of quick thinking, shouted, “Dian Wei is dead!”

Dian Wei was furious, but his voice was muffled by the layers of obstacles, making it impossible to be heard.

The sound of slaughter didn’t last long before quieting down.

As for which side emerged victorious, it was self-evident.

By the time Qiao Yan arrived in the forest, Liang Zhongning had clearly executed her order to “not let any of the pursuers from the fortress escape” quite effectively.

Those who still had breath in them, regardless of whether they were injured to the point of incapacity, were all tied up by him.

Especially Dian Wei.

Liang Zhongning had brought plenty of ropes with him.

Qiao Yan had asked him about the purpose of carrying these, and he had honestly replied that it was for the convenience of transporting food after victory.

Now, they came in handy for binding captives.

The sturdy and imposing man that Qiao Yan had seen from afar was first knocked unconscious by the heavy pressure, then wrapped in countless ropes, resembling a bundle of goods.

Liang Zhongning felt it wasn’t tight enough, so he poured some water onto the hemp rope, making it even tighter.

“…The commander is indeed thorough,” Qiao Yan said with a slight smile as she watched the scene.

But Liang Zhongning’s actions were also appropriate.

Qiao Yan did indeed have a keen interest in formidable warriors like Dian Wei, but it didn’t mean that she would give him a chance to escape while the two sides were still hostile.

However, it was clear that she wasn’t the only one with thoughts about Dian Wei.

Under Liang Zhongning’s victory, he had already forgotten about the moment when he had almost been struck down by Dian Wei’s halberd while acting as bait.

He didn’t kill Dian Wei directly, but instead went to great lengths to pull him out of the pit and tie him up.

One reason was Qiao Yan’s prior arrangement, and another…

“This is a true hero!” Liang Zhongning sighed. “I wonder if I’ll have the chance to bring him under my command after capturing him.”

In the dim night, Liang Zhongning couldn’t see the expression of speechlessness that flashed across Qiao Yan’s face.

He continued, “With us having the upper hand in Yanzhou, it’s already a foregone conclusion. This stalwart warrior from Chenliu should know how to choose his path.”

How could Liang Zhongning not have thoughts about this formidable warrior?

To gain the upper hand in the competition against Bu Ji and Zhang Bo, it was nothing more than comparing achievements and manpower.

Comparing achievements?

The vanguard of the court was still being blocked by General Bu Ji at Changshe.

When it came to achievements within Yanzhou, the three couldn’t be distinguished.

Comparing manpower?

What could be more persuasive than having a general renowned for bravery in one’s hand?

Dian Wei was truly the most powerful warrior he had ever seen.

If he could be subdued…

“It’s better for the leader to first take down the Tian clan’s fortress,” Qiao Yan interrupted his daydream.

“It’s not appropriate to delay at this time. Please proceed according to the plan as soon as possible.”

“Absolutely,” Liang Zhongning nodded.

While subduing a fierce warrior was still uncertain, the food stores in the Tian clan’s fortress were tangible assets that could be obtained.

Some things could be dealt with later.

He clapped his hands, and a burly man who had been hiding in the woods and had not shown himself under the dock came out.

This man used to be a butcher before joining the Yellow Turban Army, and in appearance, he fit the common perception of a butcher that Qiao Yan had.

At this moment, the man had changed into the clothes stripped from him before being tied up by Dian Wei, so he somewhat resembled him in stature.

But the aura he exuded through his brute strength was clearly not something that could be easily disguised.

Fortunately… if the demeanor wasn’t enough, props could be used to make up for it.

Qiao Yan pointed his finger towards Liang Zhongning’s direction, and said to the fake Dian Wei, “Carry him, as if he’s a trophy of war.”

This guy had been shouting outside the Tian family’s dock for so long today.

Even if it was pitch dark, the Tian family members would definitely recognize him.

With this iconic trophy of war, there was no need to worry about the disguise not working!