Chapter 525: Are You Silly?
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Su Ping hesitated when Deputy General Lin scolded him for the second time. “Move forward slowly. Protect yourself!” He recalled Qin Silong’s advice, realizing that this time, a frontal assault was unnecessary. He opted to wait for the signal to retreat, banking on the sound of the drums.
Despite understanding the strategy, Su Ping had to heed Deputy General Lin’s orders. Advancing cautiously was already pushing his limits. The front line, however, bore the brunt of the assault, with rocks and arrows claiming the lives of hundreds and injuring nearly a hundred more—each one a living being.
Deputy General Lin, shielded by over a dozen guards, remained unscathed but expressed dissatisfaction with Su Ping’s performance. He demanded, “Chiliarch
Su! Stand up and lead the charge! Disobeying military orders will result in execution!”
Knowing that standing up made him an easier target for the arranged assailants, Su Ping reluctantly rose. Deputy General Lin, sneering, signaled the charge with a secret code, expecting his men to eliminate Su Ping.
To his surprise, the arrow aimed for him. Panicking, he sought protection behind his guards, shouting, “Quick, protect me…” Yet, before Deputy General Lin could finish, the arrow struck his chest, and he tumbled to the ground.
The personal guards rushed to save him, but arrows from the enemy camp claimed nearly half of them. Despite the casualties, they managed to carry the injured Deputy General Lin onto a horse.
Seizing the opportunity, Qin Silong ordered the drums to beat, signaling a retreat.
Qin Silong breathed a sigh of relief, well aware that Deputy General Lin intended to seize this opportunity to eliminate him. Caught between enemies in front and conspirators behind, he faced a double danger.
Despite the peril, Qin Silong resolved not to be a coward. Bound by the need to withhold crucial information, he opted to issue a warning in advance.
Fortunately, he emerged unscathed, but Deputy General Lin wasn’t as fortunate.
The arrow had struck with lethal precision, piercing Deputy General Lin’s heart. Initially breathing after being rescued, he soon ceased to do so.
Chiliarch Yang, overwhelmed with grief, pointed accusingly at Qin Silong, crying, “You killed Deputy General Lin! You’ll get what you deserve!”
Remaining composed, Qin Silong responded, “Chiliarch Yang, choose your words carefully! Death on the battlefield is a common occurrence. I advised Deputy General Lin against entering the fray, but he disregarded my counsel, even penning a voluntary letter. How can I be blamed for his demise?”
Chiliarch Yang questioned the circumstances, “Deputy General Lin was positioned behind with personal guards shielding him. How did the arrows still find him?”
Suspecting Deputy General Lin’s involvement, Chiliarch Yang pondered why the plan went awry. It seemed unlikely that the sharpshooter shot the wrong person, given Deputy General Lin’s distinct position on horseback.
The prevailing theory was that Qin Silong had unraveled their plot, seizing the chance to shoot Deputy General Lin and feigning their deaths. The puzzle persisted—how did Qin Silong discover their plan?
Chiliarch Yang’s thoughts were in turmoil. Faced with the unfulfilled mission Deputy General Lin left behind, he contemplated whether Qin Silong had indeed uncovered their scheme, and if so, he could be the next target.
In an attempt to shift blame, Chiliarch Yang demanded answers from Qin
Silong, “How did you know about our plan?”
Qin Silong regarded Chiliarch Yang with a bemused expression. “You still want to ask me that? Are you truly that foolish?”
“Haven’t you heard? Target the horse first, capture the leader first!”
“In a clash of two armies, it’s not uncommon for adversaries to aim for the commander and eliminate them with precision. Deputy General Lin’s misfortune lies in his luck. Despite the substantial protection from his personal guards, he still fell victim to a well-aimed shot..”