Chapter 147: Great Battle Imminent

A little over half an hour later, apart from the 3,000 troops arrayed outside the city and the 7,000 defending the walls, the remaining 40,000 had all assembled.

On the ground, the standing soldiers resembled mountains; their auras condensed in the cold wind, carrying determination and resilience.

Their eyes burned with the flames of obsession, craving the process of battle and anticipating the outcome of glory.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, clad in battle armor, stood on a high platform, his gaze like a cold sword sweeping across the soldiers' faces.

His vision was like an invisible sword, piercing each soldier's eyes, seeking the fear within them, helping to ignite the fighting spirit in their hearts.

His voice was like a wild wind in winter, cold and powerful, "Brothers, the Xi Xia enemies we have bitterly awaited have finally come! They are less than ten li from the city!" His voice was like a sword, piercing the silence of the night, making hearts tremble.

"I will say no more; aside from the broken city walls, you and I are the last barrier for Shangmu!" His words echoed in the wind, as firm as steel, drilling into every soldier's heart.

His gaze was like a raging fire, burning in every soldier's heart, "Behind you are your families and native soil." His words were like scorching lava, burning in every soldier's heart.

"Once the Xi Xia people cross you, the blade pointing directly at the people in the city will be your families." His words were like thunder in a storm, shaking every soldier's soul.

His words echoed in the wind, as firm as steel, drilling into every soldier's heart, "Soon we will clash with blades; we may all die. This official asks you: for their sake, are you afraid or not?" His eyes were like a raging fire, burning in every soldier's heart.

Then, like an echo in the valley, the soldiers' answer was like thunder, one sound louder than the next, "Not afraid." Their voices shook the entire world, like thunder in a storm, shaking everyone's soul.

However, a cunning smile flashed across Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes. His gaze was like an owl's, searching for prey in the darkness; he heard the tension and fear in the soldiers' voices.

He knew that these soldiers, apart from the familiar faces who had participated in anti-bandit campaigns before, were mostly facing real combat for the first time.

Their eyes lacked the tempering of having undergone the baptism of blood and fire; instead, they held a touch of rawness and panic.

But he did not expose them; on the contrary, with that bone-deep cunning smile and that domineering aura of a ruler, he gave them a reassuring look. He knew this was their trial, and also their growth.

"In that case, this official will lead you to annihilate them beneath the walls of Shangmu. Zhu Ge Yu, issue the order." Jiang Jiang Mingyu's voice was like thunder in a storm, instantly igniting the soldiers' fighting spirit.

In their eyes, the tension and fear were gone, replaced by fortitude and resolve.

His voice echoed in the night sky; it was a summons, calling them to fight for Shangmu City, for their families, and for honor.

Zhu Ge Yu took the military command handed over by Jiang Jiang Mingyu, excitement flickering in his eyes. He spoke in a deep voice, his tone extremely solemn:

"Heavy snow falls from the sky; the Xi Xia people's movements will inevitably be slow. But our army must act swiftly!"

"The Tribulus Array is five li outside the North Gate; another two li south is our Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Array. My first military order: you must trap all the Xi Xia people within the array, letting no one escape!"

Having finished speaking, he raised his command flag high, looking at Tu Tu Kesiluo, who had longed for revenge and retribution: "General Tu, your martial arts are superior; I entrust the most important first battle to you."

"You will lead 15,000 men to form ranks before the Tribulus Array, intercepting the Xi Xia cavalry. Remember: you are allowed to lose, not to win; lure them into the trap at the fastest speed."

"The Xi Xia people who step on the iron tribulus will surely pursue in anger; you must lure them straight into our Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Array."

"Once the Xi Xia people enter the array, you will immediately turn around and lead your troops toward the Xi Xia border. If they have reinforcements, suppress them fiercely, preventing them from aiding."

Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes were bloodshot; he wished to tear the Xi Xia people to pieces immediately.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Mr.'s orders, this general will certainly go all out! I will definitely lock the Xi Xia barbarians inside the array and make them pay their blood debts with blood!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu gazed north, silently thinking in his heart: This time, the Xi Xia people must have come due to a lack of grain and fodder; they will not stop here. As long as this battle is won, I will not only make a name for myself but also seize the Xi Xia people's weak point!

The outcome of this campaign determines not only the safety of the border but also my future prospects.

Zhu Ge Yu turned to face Zhang Zhang Jiani, his voice firm and clear: "Miss Zhang, you will lead 5,000 archers, with ordinary bows in front and divine crossbows behind, to ambush on both wings of the Eight Trigrams Array. Once the Xi Xia people enter the array, you will suppress them, trapping them tightly within the array; anyone trying to flee, kill with a single arrow!"

Zhang Zhang Jiani haughtily stepped forward, took the command flag, her gaze extremely firm: "Archers, take orders; follow me out of the city to take positions!" A loud whistle sounded, and 5,000 archers followed closely behind, advancing like an iron wall, ready to execute the orders.

Zhu Ge Yu grabbed another command flag, this time handing it to Li Goudan and Lord Murong Murong Yunhai, each leading 10,000 infantry spear soldiers. He solemnly told them: "The Xi Xia people cannot break the great array; they will surely flee north. You must block them tightly, letting not a single one escape!" The two of them took the flags, their eyes determined, promising to complete the mission.

At the same time, Wu Xiao'er also received a mission, leading 1,000 cavalry from the scout camp to investigate movements on the Xi Xia border. Zhu Ge Yu handed him 100 fast horses, threatening that anyone who slacked off would be beheaded.

With the rapid deployment of troops from all routes, the parade ground finally had only Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Zhu Ge Yu left.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not help but ask, "Then what should I do?"

Zhu Ge Yu pointed north and said indifferently, "If Master has no business, come with me to the city walls to watch the battle. I will command the Eight Trigrams Array; you simply enjoy the fruits of victory." His tone was confident and composed, as if everything had been prepared long ago.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu gave a bitter smile; although he had no direct role in this battle, he knew that with Zhu Ge Yu in command, the chances of victory were extremely high.

He was willing to act as a spectator, waiting for the moment the Xi Xia people would be buried within the Eight Trigrams Great Array.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu hurriedly ascended the city tower, holding onto the cool canopy, gazing at the battlefield. He saw that Tu Tu Kesiluo, leading 15,000 men, had already formed a magnificent array.

Tu Tu Kesiluo, dressed in a snow-white military uniform that shimmered in the sunlight, held a long sword, standing majestically on horseback before the array, leading the vanguard alone. His momentum was like a mountain, his killing intent surging, possessing the power of ten thousand men unable to open his path. His gaze was firm and resolute, as if he intended to smash through Shangmu City in one stroke.

Behind him, the generals and soldiers formed a goose-wing formation spreading out like wings, dense and magnificent. Their fighting spirit was high, as if they intended to crush the enemy beneath their feet. The entire formation was shocking.

And in the distance, troops from all routes had already hidden according to their predetermined positions in the snow-covered land, utterly silent, preparing to welcome the coming battle. They were like dragons beneath the earth, waiting for the moment to arrive.

Another two li south, the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Great Array loomed with magnificent momentum; 3,000 elite soldiers stood with swords and spears in a forest, halberd flags fluttering, waiting silently for the enemy to enter the ranks. Although the great array was stable as a mountain, it emitted a mysterious aura that made one involuntarily stand in awe.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was intoxicated watching all this when suddenly Zhu Ge Yu's voice came through excitedly, "They are here!"

As soon as his words fell, the north wind howled, and a dark cloud shadow flew swiftly from the distance, coming to block the sky and cover the sun. Jiang Jiang Mingyu quickly squinted his eyes; he saw that the dark cloud shadow was actually 30,000 iron cavalry, like a swift wind in the darkness, already charging to the front! Countless tattered flags fluttered wildly in the wind, emitting a strong scent of blood and storm.

"Woo woo woo!" The hoofbeats of 30,000 horses were like thunder, the momentum vast, shaking the forests, causing snow to fall from the treetops. Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt the tense atmosphere of the battlefield and could not help but clench his fists; passion and urgency rose in his heart—this decisive battle had finally officially begun!

The soldiers' breathing was rapid, their hearts pounding; they knew the enemy before them was not bandits roaming the border but true warriors, and a life-and-death decisive battle was about to unfold.