Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

"Hmph, it seems we didn't burn him hard enough, his losses weren't great enough. Tonight, let's send men to launch another sneak attack and burn him again. I don't believe he can remain calm after being burned twice in a row." After venting his anger, Zhou Ji looked in the direction of the enemy's camp and said.

"Your Highness, we were just attacked last night, so their defenses must be at their strongest right now. Perhaps we should wait a few days," Hua Jinzhi advised.

"Because they succeeded in their sneak attack last night, they must think the same as Jinzhi, that it's impossible for us to go now. Therefore, I believe today is the perfect time to go." Zhou Ji was so angry that he wouldn't listen to anyone's advice.

Without even having time to eat, he immediately summoned the men who had raided Jiang Pingda's camp the day before.

He had a good plan, but Jiang Pingda wasn't stupid. He had learned every detail about the battle at Jialing Pass, and he also knew Zhou Ji very well.

Therefore, the men who launched the attack were captured by Jiang Pingda's men as soon as they entered the enemy camp. Then, their clothes were stripped off and replaced by Jiang Pingda's men.

Soon, Jiang Pingda's camp became noisy and bustling again, with flames burning everywhere.

Standing atop the city wall, observing the situation, Zhou Ji happily slapped his hand.

"It's done! Haha, let's see if you can still talk the talk this time, Jiang the old scoundrel!" Then he went back to his residence to sleep with peace of mind. As for whether the people he sent could come back, that was really not within his consideration.

In the firelight, a dozen or so figures in black rushed toward the city gate. Behind them followed pursuers shouting battle cries, but it was clear the distance between them was widening.

The general who remained on the city wall ordered everyone to take cover, and the archers to prepare immediately once the pursuing troops entered their firing range.

A small entrance was opened in the city gate, allowing the men in black to enter. However, once inside, they suddenly attacked the soldiers behind the gate. A dozen or so soldiers were silently taken down by the men in black; the events unfolded so suddenly that they lay on the ground, still bewildered. The men in black then fully opened the city gate, which had only a small opening, and launched a signal flare into the sky.

Watching the firework fly into the sky and explode into a red burst, accompanied by the sound of firecrackers exploding.

"General, look. Someone's setting off fireworks," a soldier on the city wall said, pointing to the signal flare exploding in the sky.

Without him saying anything, the general guarding the city gate had already been drawn by the sound of the signal flare, his eyes following it upwards. He didn't realize what was happening until the flare exploded in the air.

"Damn it, that's the enemy's signal flare! Something's up!"

But the men in black behind him showed him that he realized it was too late; he no longer had any chance to do anything, including survive.

Then, the cavalrymen, their hooves wrapped in thick linen, led by one of Jiang Pingda's lieutenants, charged out and cut down all the guards at the city gates, quickly seizing control of each gate.

Zhou Ji felt he had just fallen asleep when he was woken up by the sound of someone banging on the door.

"Your Highness, Jiang Pingda's army has entered the city." These few simple words instantly cleared Zhou Ji's still somewhat dazed mind.

Grabbing the saber lying on the side, he didn't bother to put on his armor, opening the door in only his undergarments. He grabbed the person's collar and asked through gritted teeth.

"What did you say? Who went into town?"

"Your Highness, it is Jiang Pingda. He has led his troops in and broken in."

"How is this possible? How is this possible? I saw with my own eyes his camp burned down by the men I sent. How could he have done this at this time?" As he spoke, he suddenly looked up and asked the man.

How were the city gates opened?

"This humble general was unaware. I only discovered the fighting outside when I came out to investigate. Your Highness, please think of a solution quickly! If we delay any longer, those people will be attacking the manor."

"Think of a way...think of a way...what other way is there?" Zhou Ji's mind was in turmoil. Just before going to sleep, he was thinking about how furious Jiang Pingda must be. He was also considering what to do when Jiang Pingda attacked the city tomorrow. He was still making plans for this, but before he was even fully awake, someone came to tell him that Jiang Pingda had broken through. He racked his brains but still couldn't figure out the key to the situation.

He can only blame fate for this. If he had listened to Jiang Jinzhi and hadn't been so hasty in launching another night raid, or if he had cared about the lives of his men, things wouldn't be like this now.

This time, Zhou Ji did not flee. He had nowhere to go, and Jiang Pingda had not given him time to escape. Just as he was saying those words, Jiang Pingda had already led his men into his Ding'an Prince's Mansion.

"Your Highness, how have you been?" Jiang Pingda, dressed in armor, said with a smile as he looked at Zhou Ji, who was surrounded by people.

"Lord Jiang is so fast! I just wonder if the young emperor in the capital trusts you so much that you're in such a hurry to make a name for yourself?" Zhou Ji wanted to continue stirring up trouble.

"You don't need to sow discord between us, the emperor and his subject. His Majesty is a benevolent ruler, and even more so, a wise one. You are no match for him!" As he spoke, Jiang Pingda extended his index finger and shook it at Zhou Ji with great contempt.

Zhou Ji was angered by his attitude. He was about to take two steps forward when two knives were pressed against him.

Jiang Pingda didn't say much to him, but only gave instructions.

"Tie him up and keep a close eye on him. Oh, right, I forgot to tell the Prince something." Jiang Pingda, who was about to leave, suddenly turned back and said this.

Zhou Ji frowned as he looked at him, unsure of what he was going to say.

"Your Highness, I have already taken your 200,000-strong army. Do you know why it was so easy?" He looked at Zhou Ji's dark face, and without waiting for his reply, continued speaking to himself.

"Because most of them have surrendered. I must thank Your Highness properly; the weapons you provided them are truly excellent. But rest assured, I have accepted them all; not a single one will be lost. Also, your trusted confidants have either fled or surrendered. You no longer need to think about anyone coming to rescue you. Rather than hoping for their rescue, you might as well hope that the Emperor will release you." After saying this, without giving Zhou Ji a chance to vent his anger, he had his mouth gagged and dragged away from him like a dead dog.

Watching Zhou Ji struggle incessantly, Jiang Pingda's eyes welled up with tears. He looked up at the bright moon in the sky. It was Zhou Ji who had murdered the eldest prince, shattering the Jiang family's plans. Although the Emperor now addressed him as "uncle," their relationship was as thin as a sheet of paper. If the Jiang family wanted to maintain its wealth and status, it had to abandon its past ambitions and convince the Emperor of the family's current loyalty.