Chapter 171: Shock

Soon, all returned to silence.

Jiang Mingyu rushed down the wall to check Tukesulu's wounds; he saw countless injuries, a pale face, yet the man was still barely standing—Jiang Mingyu finally breathed easier.

"Thanks to Your Excellency's foresight, you shot the arrow that saved my life!" Tukesulu smiled weakly; Jiang Mingyu let out a long sigh.

The danger was overwhelming—we nearly lost the entire army! Fortunately, Tukesulu fought to the death and repelled the enemy.

This victory let Jiang Mingyu breathe easier; he immediately ordered his men to shoot arrows and kill the remaining struggling enemies.

A hissing storm of arrows rained down like hail, piercing the ground until it bristled like a hedgehog's back; fallen enemies were speared with arrows from head to toe, blood splattering in wide crimson blooms, filling the air with a nauseating stench of blood.

Jiang Mingyu glanced once and felt the world spin—he gagged and vomited.

Then Tukesulu grabbed a dead enemy's corpse as a shield, gasping as he crouched to dodge arrows. Jiang Mingyu reiterated his order to the archers to keep firing; soon, over a thousand more enemies fell like withered crops in a field, littering the ground in chaotic heaps.

Finally, Tukesulu steadied his breath, raised his blade, leapt high like a fierce lion, and roared, "Come on, brothers, charge with me!" His Shangmu troops answered with thunderous shouts; the remaining enemy soldiers, seeing all was lost, abandoned armor and weapons and fled like rabbits, clutching their fragile lives with desperate urgency.

Jiang Mingyu shouted urgently for Tukesulu to stop, not to pursue.

Tukesulu finally calmed, his blade hovering uselessly, then staggered and collapsed into the blood-stained snow.

Jiang Mingyu rushed over to check his wounds; seeing Tukesulu's bloody face, his heart felt as if slashed by a knife.

This man, to protect him, had risked his own life and fought the enemy to the death.

For every wound on his body, Jiang Mingyu felt a corresponding gratitude—he was his savior, his comrade, his brother.

Jiang Mingyu recalled the battle and still felt dread.

Fortunately, though gravely wounded, Tukesulu still lived—Jiang Mingyu finally relaxed.

He immediately ordered his men to count casualties and handle aftermath, evacuating the wounded back into the city.

Half an hour later, the casualty report was ready.

The subordinate reported: "Your Excellency, in this battle, our forces suffered 872 dead and wounded; the Dongping rebels were annihilated, and over 1, 00 Luoxie soldiers died."

This meant Tukesulu had single-handedly slain over two hundred men in half an hour—he was a killing machine!

Jiang Mingyu ordered grimly: "Send men to hunt down every last rebel remnant in the city—kill them all before nightfall, no lingering threats. Notify Yasimo Regional Military Commissioner: have Li Goudan send another thousand troops to garrison Dongping." The round trip would take two days, but the enemy was nearing Yasimo's gates—Jiang Mingyu was frantic.

Worse still, sending a thousand men meant Yasimo's garrison shrank by another thousand!

Weak as he was, Tukesulu spoke up: "Your Excellency, what if we keep our two thousand here to prepare for revenge against Hao Wang of Luoxie?"

I sighed: "Whether it's enough is uncertain, but right now, we can only muster these few thousand. You know Yasimo's situation—Ruan Chen has a hundred thousand troops; every extra thousand means another chance at victory."

Shen Yulong, listening nearby, was stunned—he never imagined Jiang Mingyu, seemingly at the height of power, was in such dire straits.

But now he was bound to Jiang Mingyu; if Prince Qi found out he'd secretly handed over the county seal to Jiang Mingyu, the consequences would be unthinkable.

He hurriedly said: "My Lord, please don't worry—though Luoxie has slightly more men, they're no more than forty or fifty thousand, just defeated and bloodied—they won't dare trouble us soon. Please, don't lose heart!"

I looked into Shen Yulong's eyes and nodded: "Thank you for the reminder—I must have been too pessimistic. With you here, I no longer worry about my rear—I feel much more at ease."

Shen Yulong added: "Your Excellency, leave some money and grain—I'll recruit more troops for contingencies." Jiang Mingyu had planned to transport all supplies back to Yasimo; now he could only sigh: "All our garrison stays in Dongping—I'd love to take supplies back, but I can't. Very well—handle recruitment yourself. When Tukesulu recovers, we'll return to Yasimo and prepare to confront Ruan Chen."

As he finished speaking, a snow-covered soldier burst in, gasping: "My Lord—disaster!"

Jiang Mingyu's heart clenched: "Has Ruan Chen attacked the city?" The soldier nodded urgently: "My Lord, Zhang's intelligence was wrong! Before I left, Ruan Chen's army was already fifty li from the city! I've ridden nonstop for a day and night—Ruan Chen's forces may already have surrounded Yasimo!"

Jiang Mingyu felt the sky collapse.

Ruan Chen's hundred thousand troops had nearly reached Yasimo—how was this possible?

Had they grown wings to fly here? Did they possess some secret artifact enabling instant teleportation?

Jiang Mingyu demanded urgently: "Are you certain you didn't misread? Ruan Chen's army is truly only fifty li away?"

The soldier nodded frantically: "I didn't mistake it—I saw Ruan Chen's banners and iron cavalry with my own eyes. They chased me from behind—I barely escaped detection."

Jiang Mingyu's heart sank—this was dire.

He'd assumed Ruan Chen's army still had time to reach Yasimo, which is why he dared to split forces and strike Dongping.

He never imagined they'd arrived half a month early—this was beyond his wildest fears.

Jiang Mingyu immediately thought of Zhuge Yu and Li Goudan in Yasimo, and Liu Yifei, Liu Ximen, and the Zhang Junhao family.

They were his kin, his brothers, his pillars.

What disaster would befall them if Ruan Chen breached Yasimo?

Jiang Mingyu dared not imagine—he felt a cold dread rise from his core, shaking him to his bones.

He looked again at Tukesulu's frail form, his heart ached.

This man had risked his life to protect him, and now he must still march with him.

Jiang Mingyu said: "Tukesulu, rest here for now. I'll go to Dingtao to find Murong Yunhai and Jiani—they may have already taken Dingtao City. This war has reached its critical moment—we cannot delay."

Saying this, Jiang Mingyu rose to leave.

But Tukesulu grabbed Jiang Mingyu's sleeve and shook his head fiercely.

He gritted his teeth, struggling to speak: "Your Excellency, we cannot split up. Yasimo is our home, our foundation—we cannot let Ruan Chen win. If we hurry back, we still have a chance."

As he spoke, he struggled to his feet, leaning on the messenger's shoulder, and limped toward the door.

His steps were unsteady, but his gaze was unwavering.

Jiang Mingyu watched his back, deeply moved.

Jiang Mingyu sighed, no longer urging him to stay.

He knew Tukesulu's nature—once decided, he would never waver.

Jiang Mingyu said to Shen Yulong: "Shen County Magistrate, you remain in Dongping to hold the city. This is our rear base—you must defend it carefully. I'll leave you money and grain, but I must take some to recruit more troops for contingencies."

Shen Yulong nodded urgently: "My Lord, rest assured—I'll do my utmost. May Your Lordship have a safe journey and crush the rebellion soon!"

Jiang Mingyu nodded.

"Shen County Magistrate, we shall meet again!"

With that, Jiang Mingyu, Tukesulu, and a thousand elite troops departed Dongping City at once, heading for Dingtao.

The heavy snow outside had ceased, but deep drifts still blanketed the ground; their horses galloped through it, kicking up clouds of white powder. The biting wind lashed their faces, reminding them of life's fragility and impermanence.

Yet they had no thought of rest—they knew time was critical; every extra minute could decide Yasimo's fate.

They rode hard, leaving deep hoofprints across the snow.