We'll have you impersonate the Crown Prince and create a prosperous era for the Great Qian Dyna

Zhou Tiancheng is not someone who can't accept defeat.

Having experienced a battle, he gained a great understanding of war.

On the battlefield, he had no idea how to strategize or where the opportunities lay, which is why he led a group of cavalry aimlessly around and was caught off guard by Sun Tong.

If he hadn't made that mistake, their sacrifices wouldn't have been so great!

Seeing that the Crown Prince was making self-criticisms, Lin Tong was so frightened that he stood up.

"Your Highness need not do this. It was my oversight that led to Your Highness being in danger."

Zhou Tiancheng waved his hand, indicating that Lin Tong didn't need to make excuses for himself. He had also come to terms with reality and understood his own capabilities.

"General Lin, you may not know this, but my mission is different from that of the new general. He is responsible for guarding the military flag, and he has done a very good job in this regard. He only lost a dozen or so men, yet he caused Sun Tong's hundred or so men to be defeated. I saw it all clearly from the outside."

"Sun Tong seized the opportunity and tore open a gap. I was inexperienced and became a little nervous. I led my cavalry into the encirclement. This was my mistake and a misjudgment on the spot. You don't need to defend me."

"It was because I was surrounded that more than a hundred people were killed in this battle. This has nothing to do with you or the new general. It is because I am not good at leading troops."

"I've figured it out. Since I'm not suited to lead troops into battle, I'd rather stay in the rear and avoid causing you any trouble. So I have an idea: I'd like to hand over the army to you and take care of running away."

At this moment, Zhou Tiancheng was no longer the Zhou Tiancheng who shouted that he would take the lead in charging forward.

The reason is very simple.

He told Zhou Rui that he wanted to personally lead the troops into battle because he wanted to boost morale and lead by example so that the soldiers would not be afraid.

But he never imagined he would make things worse!

Now that he realizes his own limitations, Zhou Tiancheng isn't stupid; he might as well stay by the military flag!

Lin Tong glanced at Xinhua and saw that Xinhua's face was full of self-reproach and he had no other emotions, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

He was trying to see if the Crown Prince had any ulterior motives through Xinhua. Now it seems that the Crown Prince is not a petty person. His words were indeed a reflection.

However, the crown prince underestimated himself.

Lin Tong couldn't help but offer a word of comfort.

"Your Highness, it is already remarkable that you have achieved this much in your first battle."

"You don't know, many generals in the northern frontier were so frightened when they first went to the battlefield that they turned around and ran away. There are quite a few, so you don't need to blame yourself too much."

"What you lack is not courage, but the experience and judgment cultivated in actual combat. Let the new general teach you more in the future, and you will get it."

Zhou Tiancheng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to Lin Tong and Xinhua.

"That's for later. Let me first share my thoughts."

"Now we just need to find the Third Prince's military flag. Once the location of the flag is clear, we can proceed with the troops according to General Lin's plan."

"But we can't afford to have too few troops to capture the flag. Here's what I'm thinking: I'll stay behind to guard the camp. Leave me fifty men. Whoever leads the troops, I'll just grab the flag and run. I'll make sure they don't catch me. As for how to win, that's entirely up to you!"

At this moment, Zhou Tiancheng had no idea how much trouble his words had caused!

He had only one thought in his mind: to give Lin Tong more men.

For him, simply avoiding capture is a victory.

Therefore, he assigned both Xinhua and Xiaoshi to Lin Tong, hoping that Lin Tong would successfully capture the flag this time.

Lin Tong thought about it. The Crown Prince still had warhorses, and Xiao Shi's scouts could also be alerted in advance. Most of the soldiers outside were infantry, so the Crown Prince's idea was indeed feasible.

He didn't refuse and immediately nodded in agreement.

When Xiao Shi relayed the message back, Lin Tong left with his men.

Having learned his lesson the first time, Lin Tong was much more cautious this time. He immediately sent people to check on the changes in the Third Prince's army. After confirming that the 150 men were divided into three groups but were only guarding the camp and no one was attacking the Crown Prince, he felt relieved and led his troops straight to the military flag.

Upon his departure, Xue Fan also received the news and turned to inquire of the guards.

"Over two hundred people? What about the rest? Does the Crown Prince still have over a hundred?"

This guard was responsible for delivering messages to Zhou Rui, and now he has appeared in Xue Fan's military camp!

He had an excellent grasp of the situation!

"The Crown Prince only has fifty men left."

"What did you say?"

Xue Fan's eyes lit up!

The guard nodded slightly.

"Sun Tong launched a sneak attack on the Crown Prince, resulting in the deaths of over a hundred men. The Crown Prince is currently on the outskirts of the hunting grounds. Now, Lin Tong has brought out two hundred men, leaving the Crown Prince with at most fifty men!"

"However, they also have warhorses, Lord Xue. If you want to kill the Crown Prince, I'm afraid there will be some twists and turns."

Xue Fan narrowed his eyes.

"They have warhorses, but I don't?"

"When the Third Prince was defeated, he left behind fifty warhorses, which will now come in handy!"

"But this needs to be kept secret from the Crown Prince. Do you know where his people are planted?"

The guard nodded slightly.

"The Crown Prince has one of the Ten Ghosts of Fengcheng as his eyes and ears. They are all cavalrymen now, and the slightest disturbance will alert them."

"But I have figured out their pattern. They move around in these places, with a quarter-hour shift change in between. If you seize this opportunity, you can evade the Crown Prince's notice."

He stepped forward and started drawing circles on the map, finally drawing a road in the middle area.

Then, the guard turned to look at Xue Fan.

"At the quarter-hour of Chenshi, there is only one quarter of an hour. If you miss it, you will have no chance."

Xue Fan didn't speak until the guard left, then he put away the map and placed it in the brazier.

Flames rose up, and the map was engulfed in flames.

Only then did Xue Fan turn to look at his attendant.

"Immediately send messengers to notify all centurions to enter the camp. Lin Tong's arrival is aggressive; we cannot underestimate him."

"Send word to Li Zheng and his men to surround the area designated as 'A' and trap Lin Tong completely. Do not allow him to leave this area!"

The attendant nodded and left.

Xue Fan turned around and walked to the armor. Looking at the paper armor, he smiled contemptuously, drew his sword, and thrust it forward.

With a single strike, the paper armor was pierced through.

Xue Fan nodded in satisfaction and raised his sword.

The sword, named Lone Goose, is ranked tenth in the world. Qin Zhi'ang spent hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to buy it, all for today!

"The Crown Prince is doomed!"

Xue Fan sheathed his sword, turned and entered the Third Prince's tent, coldly staring at the enraged prince before him.

He waited until the Third Prince calmed down before speaking.

"My orders were to assassinate the Crown Prince."

"Now that the opportunity has come, I'm about to leave the camp and head to the Crown Prince's side. I'll leave this place to you."

"I only have one thing to say: even if you lose, you must keep Lin Tong and his men occupied and prevent them from returning to defend! The Crown Prince has cavalry on his side, so you need to help me buy some time."

The Third Prince sneered.

"We have over a thousand men, do you think I can't beat them?"

Xue Fan shook his head.

"We can't beat them."

The Third Prince immediately narrowed his eyes.

"I'll show you I can beat them!"

Xue Fan spoke calmly.

"Your wins or losses have nothing to do with me. I just need you to help me hold off Lin Tong."

After saying that, he turned around and lifted the curtain of the tent. Outside, fifty men were ready, and they were all armed with iron swords and sabers!