Finest Servant

Chapter 496 Fulfilling Your Wish

Understanding the urgency in Lord Lin's words, Xu Zhen hastily shot a signal arrow into the distance. The distant woods immediately rustled with noise as numerous soldiers hidden in the shadows swiftly emerged and retreated.

"Husband, why are we pulling back our troops?" Qin Xian'er inquired, echoing Xu Zhen's own thoughts.

Lin Wanrong wore a solemn expression as he pointed to the billowing smoke in the north, slowly saying, "Xu Zhen, what do you think that is?"

"It should be smoke from gunpowder explosions—" Xu Zhen's face suddenly changed, and he exclaimed, "General Lin, are you suspecting that we also have hidden gunpowder on our side?"

Lin Wanrong nodded without speaking. Cold sweat trickled down Xu Zhen's face. If the enemy had laid gunpowder to the north, there was no reason to ignore the south. The woods, deep and dense, were filled with blind spots hard to search. Should gunpowder really be hidden there, a single spark could spell doom for thousands of their men.

The more he thought, the more fearful he became. His expression grew incredibly grave. Lin Wanrong patted him on the shoulder and comforted, "Xu Zhen, don't be too hard on yourself. We are humans, not gods. Mistakes are inevitable. Learn from them. I only thought of this possibility after seeing the smoke in the north."

Xu Zhen nodded gratefully, his expression quickly returning to normal. A horseman sped into the camp from afar; a messenger dismounted, hastily saluting, "Generals, by orders of Lord Xu, I am to report that a large force of enemy troops has suddenly appeared to the north of the city. They number in the thousands and are extremely fierce."

"Thousands?" Lin Wanrong was also taken aback. "Who are they? Did they come from inside the city?"