No one opposed Marquis Dongxiang’s battle plan.

Prince Qi rebelled and took control of Daqi’s granaries. The border temporarily did not lack grain and grass, but morale had already been affected. At this time, if they could burn Nanliang’s grain and grass, it would not only suppress Nanliang’s momentum but also boost the soldiers’ morale.

In the battles of the previous two days, the Nanliang General mocked Daqi’s internal chaos while riding on horseback, suggesting that Daqi should concede and become subordinate to avoid the needless loss of innocent soldiers’ lives.

They must give Nanliang a lesson, to tell them that even if Daqi lacks grain and grass, even if Nanliang’s supplies are plentiful, it doesn’t mean they can satiate themselves!

Grain and grass, only a matter of one fire!

It’s just that the military granary would definitely be heavily guarded, making it extremely difficult to set it on fire.

If it can’t be burned the first time, the chance of a second sneak attack would be even smaller.

After careful deliberation with the Old Prince, Marquis Dongxiang handed the task of burning the grain and grass to Su Chong.

A sneak attack shouldn’t involve too many people; therefore, Prince NanAn and the others volunteered to accompany Su Chong, and Marquis Dongxiang agreed.

Su Chong selected a hundred men from the Flying Tiger Army, and the group sneaked into the enemy camp under the cover of night, intending to set Nanliang’s granary on fire.

Just as they expected, heavy forces were guarding Nanliang’s granary, with large vats of water placed nearby to extinguish any potential fires.

To successfully burn the grain and grass, they had to use the strategy of diverting the enemy’s attention.

The plan was perfect, with a high chance of success.

Once a fire started in the distance, the soldiers guarding the granary rushed to extinguish it.

Once they left, Su Chong and his team were to ignite the grain and grass.

Prince NanAn, hiding beside a tent, suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder, causing a shiver in his heart, and inwardly cursed Chu Shun and the others.

This was the enemy camp!

His nerves were already on edge in the night, and now a sudden tap on his shoulder—it was enough to scare him to death!

If it weren’t the wrong place, Prince NanAn would have launched an attack.

He turned around and saw a face masked in black.

Prince NanAn was speechless, "...."

"Retreat quickly," said the masked man.

The familiar voice brought joy to Prince NanAn’s heart.

It was Brother Jingchen.

Just as Prince NanAn was about to speak, Xie Jingchen said, "Withdraw from the direction of the main camp."

He only spoke two sentences before the black-clothed man leapt into the night and vanished.

Prince NanAn felt like cursing.

Over there, Su Chong raised his hand, preparing to approach the grain and grass to set it on fire. Prince NanAn hurried over, saying, "Retreat quickly."

Though he didn’t know why they had to retreat,

he had no reason to doubt Xie Jingchen,

especially since Xie Jingchen was working undercover in the enemy camp.

Chu Shun looked at Prince NanAn and asked, "Why retreat?"

"Brother Jingchen told us to," Prince NanAn replied.

Su Chong frowned slightly, "Withdraw!"

In accordance with Xie Jingchen’s instructions, Su Chong and the others retreated from the direction of the main camp.

Upon reaching the main camp, Su Chong noticed something was amiss.

The main camp was where the Great General discussed military affairs, containing the military defense map—it was the most important place in the camp.

The main camp was on fire, and there weren’t many people putting it out; something was clearly wrong.

It seemed Nanliang had anticipated their attempt to burn the granary and had laid a trap for them. Had they moved to torch the granary, they would likely have been ambushed.

Since the main camp was left unguarded deliberately for them to set afire, this place had the weakest defenses and offered the best chance to escape.

But even while escaping, fighting was inevitable.

Prince NanAn had just beheaded a Nanliang soldier when another came charging at him with a spear.

At first glance, the face seemed unfamiliar.

Looking closely, it felt somewhat familiar.

Prince NanAn had a good memory and nearly instantly recognized the one targeting him the moment the spear thrust at his vital spot.

It was Brother Jingchen.

However, Xie Jingchen only used a fraction of his strength, allowing Prince NanAn to easily dodge and engage in combat.

Prince NanAn disarmed Xie Jingchen of his spear, and they exchanged fists.

Xie Jingchen used minimal force, and Prince NanAn punched at him.

Xie Jingchen received a solid punch in the eye, stumbling back several steps before steadying himself.

His eye burned with a fiery pain.

"He is indeed a worthy friend," Xie Jingchen thought sarcastically.

He was in disguise.

Even if the human skin mask on his face adhered closely, bruises weren’t so easily hidden; if someone noticed something amiss, he would have a hard time staying undercover.

Xie Jingchen stepped back a few paces, only stopping when a Nanliang soldier supported him.

Xie Jingchen glanced back, then charged forward again.

This time, Xie Jingchen used a little more force, tearing off Prince NanAn’s brocade robe, and a Jade Bottle fell from his chest, which Xie Jingchen caught.

Prince NanAn felt like could have killed Xie Jingchen.

Fighting was one thing, but tearing clothes?

Su Chong came to assist Prince NanAn, and Xie Jingchen signaled them to fall back.

They quickly retreated with Nanliang soldiers in pursuit, though Prince NanAn’s clothing had been ripped, and the telescope hidden within fell to the ground.

Xie Jingchen went over and picked it up.

The General of Nanliang approached and asked, "Could this be a telescope?"

"Let me see it quickly."

Xie Jingchen’s eyes flashed with a cold light.

Sure enough, there was a traitor within the Daqi camp!

Xie Jingchen looked around at the telescope before handing it over to the General of Nanliang.

The General of Nanliang examined the telescope, patting Xie Jingchen’s shoulder, "Well done."

With a medicine bottle still in his hand, Xie Jingchen touched his injured eye as he handed it to the General of Nanliang.

The General of Nanliang said, "This medicine is your reward."

Fixated on the telescope, the Deputy General beside him commented, "It’s indeed strange. Why did they suddenly retreat when they came to burn the grain?"

"That fact is certainly strange," the General of Nanliang said with a grim face.

Xie Jingchen stood still, as Dong Chenglang approached, asking, "Are you okay?"

Xie Jingchen shook his head,

rubbing his aching eye, looking at the medicine bottle in his hand.

Dong Chenglang said, "Carrying a telescope with him, he must be someone important. This ointment must be good."

Xie Jingchen then returned to the tent to apply the ointment.

Meanwhile, after Su Chong and the others escaped from the Nanliang Military Camp, under the faint starlight, Prince NanAn looked at the fluttering brocade on his chest. Realizing something, he suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no, the telescope is lost!"

The Heir of Marquis Beining looked at him, "How could it be lost?"

Prince NanAn tore down the brocade from his chest.

In such a state, how could it not be lost?

Su Chong looked back, thankful for their endurance and speed in running fast; the dim night made it hard for mounted pursuits, "Let’s discuss it once we return to camp."

By that time, the night was already deep.

In Nanliang, in the military camp.

The soldiers were already asleep, while Xie Jingchen tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

He sat up, ready to retrieve something from his bosom when a nearby soldier asked, "Not sleeping yet?"

Xie Jingchen took out the medicine bottle and said, "My eyes hurt, and I can’t sleep."

"Once you fall asleep, it’ll be fine," the soldier said.

"You’ve achieved merit this time, snatching a treasure for the Great General; you might just rise up the ranks from now on," the soldier murmured enviously before turning over to sleep.

After confirming the soldier was asleep, Xie Jingchen fished out a round piece of glass from his bosom.

This he had pried from the telescope.

Anything that brought a gleam to the General of Nanliang’s eyes must be valuable.

How could Daqi’s treasure fall into his hands?

But for such a treasure, how could Prince NanAn, who was so unreliable, have been allowed to carry it?

The item desired by the General of Nanliang couldn’t be withheld from him.

Yet he was unsure whether, after removing this transparent piece, the telescope would still function...

Over here, Xie Jingchen was filled with worry, while there, the General of Nanliang was studying the telescope.

He examined it from all sides, unable to discern its uniqueness.

Does it see far?

Does it see clearly?

Is it worth as much as two hundred Nanliang soldiers’ lives?

Even after straining his eyes, he couldn’t see its value.

This useless thing wasn’t even as clear as looking with naked eyes.

The General of Nanliang was a bit irked, and the Deputy General beside him commented, "Could it be because it’s dark?"

"Then let’s look at it again tomorrow," the General of Nanliang replied.