Chapter 146: Attack by Foreign Tribes

Wu Xiao2 turned pale with terror, the last trace of color draining from his face, his hands gripping the reins and trembling violently.

He opened his mouth wide, gasping desperately for the thin air, striving to calm his ragged breathing.

"Speak quickly, what exactly has happened?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu furrowed his brows, unable to hide the shock in his heart. His eyes, originally deep as a pool, widened as he slapped the table and rose, shouting to demand the details.

Tu Tu Kesiluo was also deathly pale, his eyes fixed intently on Wu Xiao2's lips, fearing to miss a single word.

Wu Xiao2 lay across his horse, still gasping heavily.

He wiped the cold sweat from his face, forcing himself to steady his mind, and said breathlessly: "The Other Xi Xia have invaded!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's head immediately buzzed, disbelief striking him: "How could this be? Explain the situation clearly, why have they come now?"

According to Jiang Jiang Mingyu's calculations, the Other Xi Xia army would not have attacked for at least three months.

Wu Xiao2 coughed violently several times and struggled to recount the current situation in Shangmu:

Those who discovered the Other Xi Xia soldiers were actually mountain folk who had gone into the mountains to hunt.

Since Jiang Jiang Mingyu previously wiped out the Other Xi Xia people, the border between the two nations had remained peaceful for several months.

With no war for so long, the mountain folk had dared to venture deep into the mountains to hunt for food.

Unexpectedly, this year's auspicious snow was too heavy, and the mountain folk accidentally stumbled into the border between Great Feng and the Other Xi Xia.

Before they could spot any prey, they saw from afar the Other Xi Xia cavalry assembling, pointing directly toward Shangmu.

Terrified beyond measure, the mountain folk tumbled and crawled back to Shangmu to report the matter to Zhu Ge Yu.

As he spoke, Wu Xiao2's expression grew even more tense.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a long time before finally understanding the reason for the Other Xi Xia soldiers' early attack—they must have received a secret report from the Prince of Qi, intending to ambush while Jiang Jiang Mingyu had just quelled the internal rebellion!

Sweat beads the size of beans broke out on Wu Xiao2's forehead; his whole body trembled uncontrollably, his face turning from deathly pale to iron-green, his eyes wide open, staring intently at Jiang Jiang Mingyu as if trying to read some hope from his face.

His lips trembling, he uttered these words: "My lord, according to the mountain folk, the Other Xi Xia forces number no less than ten thousand... more are gathering and arriving..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face changed abruptly, his brows knitted tight, his right hand gripping the sword hilt, his figure trembling slightly as he waited silently for Wu Xiao2 to continue.

Wu Xiao2 swallowed, as if this simple act of swallowing would exhaust all his strength: "This is news from yesterday... now the Other Xi Xia cavalry have likely finished assembling..."

As he spoke these words, cold sweat soaked his back once more.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes were deep as water, questioning every single detail with meticulous care.

Tu Tu Kesiluo also frowned tightly, his face grim.

Wu Xiao2 struggled to maintain his composure and continued reporting in a trembling voice: "Mr. Zhu Ge has ordered the entire city into a state of war readiness; fifty thousand troops stand ready. He has also sent someone to urgently invite my lord back to the city to take charge of the overall situation!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment, then suddenly slapped his horse's hindquarters, shouting loudly: "Men, return to the city at full speed!"

Wu Xiao2 let out a long sigh, finally seeing the dawn of hope. As long as my lord returns to take command, the Other Xi Xia foreigners are doomed!

The whip in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's hand swung through the air, making a "whoosh whoosh" sound. Though his heart was extremely nervous, he couldn't help but privately joke: two hours ago, he and Wang Zhe were still speculating when the Other Xi Xia army would attack, and in the blink of an eye, they had arrived at the city gates.

He gritted his teeth and spurred his horse to gallop. As long as they could repel the Other Xi Xia army, the Emperor would surely be overjoyed; at that time, the Prince of Qi would undoubtedly be dead. By then, without needing to rebel, he could exact revenge and settle the score; was this not a most desirable affair?

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's teeth chattered, cold wind pouring into his throat, triggering a violent bout of coughing. If he helped the Emperor eliminate the Prince of Qi, his promotion and advancement would be imminent; would that not be exhilarating? Where was the need for rebellion?

After a night of rapid riding, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was nearly frozen stiff. His mount was panting heavily, foaming at the mouth. When the cavalry finally entered Shangmu City, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's limbs went weak, and he nearly fell from his horse.

The city walls were already a scene of frantic activity. Defending soldiers moved back and forth transporting weapons and supplies, the soldiers' faces solemn, the entire city shrouded in a low, warlike atmosphere.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu drew in his qi and straightened his chest, riding through the city gate with a grave expression. At this moment, the lives of tens of thousands rested on his shoulders. To fight the external enemy, he must face danger without fear to solidify the people's trust.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a deep breath and looked up to meet the howling north wind. He knew that what lay ahead was a life-or-death city defense battle, but he would surely turn danger into safety and protect his home and country.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stepped into the city defense camp and saw Zhu Ge Yu with furrowed brows and a face full of worry. Only when the three of them appeared did Zhu Ge Yu finally breathe a sigh of relief, smiling: "Master, you have finally returned!"

With Jiang Jiang Mingyu absent, Zhu Ge Yu felt the city defense was like a tiger with wings added. Now seeing his master return safely, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

In fact, yesterday Jiang Jiang Mingyu had been only a hair's breadth away from the road to the Yellow Springs. But Zhu Ge Yu knew nothing of this dramatic inside story. He only saw that Jiang Jiang Mingyu's expression was normal, showing no sign of panic, which made him feel slightly reassured.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised his eyes and scanned the room, seeing Lord Lord Murong, Zhang Zhang Jiani, and Li Goudan already present. He furrowed his brows tightly and, with a solemn expression, asked Zhang Zhang Jiani: "Where is Liu Liu Yifei?"

Zhang Zhang Jiani, seeing that his first question concerned Liu Liu Yifei's safety, brightened and replied gently: "Liu Liu Yifei has already taken refuge with the people at the kiln factory; rest assured."

Only then did Jiang Jiang Mingyu breathe a sigh of relief and turn to ask Zhu Ge Yu about the Other Xi Xia military situation.

Zhu Ge Yu imitated his composure, showing none of his earlier panic: "Scouts report that ten thousand Other Xi Xia troops have completed their assembly. They are expected to arrive at the city gates by noon today."

He held Jiang Jiang Mingyu's gaze and said slowly: "Master, please rest assured; besides the military camp warriors, all the common people have been properly settled."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment, then nodded heavily: "Very good, my disciple has worked hard."

The steady and calm attitudes of the two men settled the hearts of everyone present. They exchanged glances, seeing determination and trust in each other's eyes.

"How are the other preparations coming along?"

Zhang Zhang Jiani spoke proudly, her eyes filled with determination: "Dog official, we have followed Mr. Zhu Ge's instructions and laid an iron caltrop formation five li outside the city. Because time was tight, only half of the soldiers equipped with the Divine Machine Crossbows have been deployed."

She paused, her expression of determination becoming even stronger: "The horses of each camp are ready to charge; we only await the arrival of the Other Xi Xia soldiers to fight a decisive battle! To protect our home and country, we will certainly not fail the people's expectations!"

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded and turned to ask Zhu Ge Yu: "How are the formations you trained prepared?"

Zhu Ge Yu raised his head and said: "Replying to my lord, my subordinate's Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation has been fully deployed. Once the Other Xi Xia soldiers enter this formation, they will be like trapped beasts in a prison, with no path to escape alive!" His gaze was firm, his heart full of hot blood ready to burst forth.

He said with full confidence: "Master only needs to take command; regarding the extermination of the external enemy, we will certainly do our utmost, swearing not to disgrace Master's cultivation!"

Hearing his ringing tone, Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not help but praise and nod.

He then looked at Li Goudan and said calmly: "Goudan, the infantry is entrusted to your command. You must swear to die defending our Great Feng border!"

Li Goudan, hearing this, was extremely excited, knelt on both knees, and shouted loudly: "Your subordinate will certainly swear to die repaying my lord's grace; even if this body is crushed to powder, I will block the external enemy outside the city gates!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction, his expression firm and resolute—he was already prepared to live or die with this ancient city!

"By the way, what are the mysteries of this Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation? Explain them to me in more detail."

He thought, since there was still time, he might as well let this student study military knowledge more thoroughly, which would also benefit future formation deployment and application.

Hearing this, Zhu Ge Yu quickly assumed the posture of a well-read scholar, cleared his throat, and began introducing the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation to Jiang Jiang Mingyu:

"The Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation is a formation evolved from ancient Chinese Yin-Yang Five Elements thought and the Eight Trigrams diagram. It consists of nine palace positions; these nine palaces correspond to the nine critical positions of the Eight Trigrams diagram."

"The most central one is the Central Palace, where the commander-in-chief is usually placed. The four surrounding palaces—Qian Palace, Kun Palace, Zhen Palace, and Gen Palace—are the four cardinal palaces, and further outward form the four diagonal palaces: Dui Palace, Li Palace, Xun Palace, and Kan Palace. Each palace possesses different directional meanings and strategies for employing troops."

"These Nine Palaces resemble a meticulously engineered mechanism, mutually symmetrical yet mutually supportive. The directional attributes of each palace and the Art of War share an organic and subtle connection. Once properly employed, their power can lock down the enemy, forming an inescapable trap akin to a heavenly net."

"By arranging troops according to the formation of these Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, our forces can unite their strength to unleash maximum combat power, while the enemy will become lost within this Eight Trigrams maze, forced to advance cautiously at every step and rendered utterly helpless; this is the true might of the Great Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation!"

He spoke incessantly for nearly an hour, yet Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained completely baffled, unable to connect any of it to actual combat.

Just then, a scout from the Reconnaissance Camp rushed over, gasping for breath: "Reporting to my lord, five thousand Xi Xia vanguard troops have approached to within less than ten li of the city walls!"

Upon hearing this, a look of shock flashed across Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face, immediately replaced by a cold smile: "They arrive quickly, and they shall die just as fast. Issue the order: all troops to their positions!"

His eyes turned bloodshot, burning with the urge to charge out of the city immediately; these Xi Xia barbarians had finally walked straight into the trap!

Zhu Ge Yu also shed his gentle and refined demeanor, his eyes gleaming with a chilling light: "Excellent timing! Today, I shall let you witness the power of the Great Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation!"

Lord Lord Murong silently tightened his grip on his long sword, his face filled with killing intent, while Zhang Zhang Jiani and Li Dog-Egg were likewise furious, a mountain-toppling, sea-overturning killing intent burning within their chests.

At that very moment, two scouts rushed into the City Defense Camp like black phantoms.

Their movements were light and swift, as if they had not stirred even the slightest ripple in the air.

Their gazes were firm and focused, possessing the depth and sharpness of a fierce lion locking onto its prey.

"Reporting to my lord, this subordinate has confirmed that the Xi Xia forces invading the border number approximately thirty thousand," the first scout said in a deep voice, his tone hoarse and weary yet carrying an unquestionable resolve, like an old but sharp horse-chopping blade slicing through the air to leave a deep mark.

The second scout followed closely behind, his eyes flashing with a tense and urgent light, like a leopard chasing its prey.

"The Xi Xia have now crossed the border and are advancing toward the North Gate," he said in an even deeper voice, containing a gloomy worry like distant thunder foretelling an approaching storm.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu listened silently to their reports, his eyes deep as the sea, filled with the glimmer of wisdom.

A faint smile hung on the corner of his lips, a smile that harbored a sharp and piercing intent, like a sharp sword about to be unsheathed, radiating cold light in all directions.

"Can your formation of three thousand men, arranged in the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, trap these thirty thousand cavalrymen in one stroke?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned to look at Zhu Ge Yu beside him, the light in his eyes like the first ray of dawn shooting toward that cold and resolute figure.

Zhu Ge Yu's face was as if carved from ice, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, possessing only a calmness and indifference like the blue sky of winter.

His gaze was firm and profound, like a Zen master who had seen through the mortal world, viewing right and wrong with detachment.

His voice was sonorous and powerful, like a mallet striking a bronze bell, clear and lingering.

"Rest assured, Master; it is not the number of soldiers that matters but their quality, and not the bravery of the general but his strategy," he said, his eyes flashing with intense confidence, a resolve surging from deep within, like a tempered sword made even sharper.

"As I said before, I dare stake my head on it: not a single one of those Xi Xia barbarians will return alive."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly, a smile like a spring breeze sweeping over snow, carrying away the cold and leaving warmth behind. "Issue the order: all troops form up," he commanded, his voice soaring like a swan flying high, striking straight into the clouds.