Chapter 174: Night Raid

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, Zhu Ge Yu, Tu Tu Kesiluo, and Zhang Zhang Jiani led five thousand cavalry, quietly approaching Ruan Chen's army camp under the cover of night.

They avoided the enemy scouts and sentries, found a hidden spot, and halted their horses.

They dismounted, tied the horses to trees, then donned black cloaks to conceal their armor and weapons.

They split into two groups: one led by Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Zhu Ge Yu, tasked with attacking the camp's east gate; the other led by Tu Tu Kesiluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani, tasked with attacking the west gate.

They agreed on a signal: once the howl of a wolf was heard, it would be time to launch the attack.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo each led two thousand five hundred men, quietly approaching the camp gates.

They found the enemy defense lax; only a few soldiers stood guard at the gate, while others slept or chatted inside the tents. Ruan Chen clearly did not expect a night assault and was completely unprepared.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu slowly raised his right hand, making a whistling gesture. Zhu Ge Yu nodded in tacit understanding, and the two blew their whistles simultaneously.

Two earth-shattering wolf howls tore through the sky.

This was the signal for the two ambush forces lying in wait; the time to strike had arrived.

As the howls rose, the five thousand cavalry hidden in the darkness surged forth like arrows loosed from a bow.

They galloped toward the enemy camp, the thunder of hooves kicking up dust that filled the sky.

Soon, flashes of blades and swords were seen at the camp entrance; then the great gates swung wide open. More ambushers poured in like a tide, instantly drowning the entire camp.

The once-quiet camp instantly became a human hell; wails and screams rose and fell, the clash of iron mingled with shouts, carrying a wave of bloodstained air.

The enemy, immersed in sweet dreams, had no time to defend and were cut down into a disorganized rout.

They scrambled out of the tents, frantically grabbing weapons, trying to engage the attackers.

Yet the enemy had no organization, while our forces were divided into small squads, each with a siege plan, encircling points to cut off reinforcements everywhere.

Men under Jiang Jiang Mingyu went straight for the enemy command center and grain depot, while Zhu Ge Yu's subordinates targeted the archers and trebuchets; their methods were extremely brilliant.

The enemy core was damaged and collapsed instantly. Our forces moved as if through an empty land, unleashing a great slaughter.

On this side, Ruan Chen was awakened by the attack, ran out of the tent in a panic, and frantically dressed and adjusted his appearance.

"What is going on?! Who is attacking our army?!" he asked the advisor beside him.

"Report, Young Master Ruan: it is Young Master Jiang leading five thousand cavalry, launching a surprise attack in the dead of night!"

"What?! That boy Jiang Jiang Mingyu, isn't he deeply afraid of my reinforcements? How dare he night-raid our camp?!"

"This man is cunning and calculating; he must have seen through Young Master Ruan's scheme, so he adopted a night-raid strategy, intending to disrupt our army!"

"Damn! This Jiang Jiang Mingyu is too cunning! Quickly organize a counterattack; we must not let him succeed!"

"It is too late, Young Master Ruan! All key departments have been breached by the enemy; our army has no power to turn the tide!"

Ruan Chen, furious with shame, looked to the sky and roared: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, I will fight you to the death!"

Despite his words, Ruan Chen wisely abandoned the thought of a counterattack that night.

Since Jiang Jiang Mingyu dared to break convention and launch a night raid, he must have prepared various countermeasures; a forced counterattack would only lead to a worse defeat.

On the return journey, Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled and told his subordinates that this victory was largely due to Zhu Ge Yu's planning.

Tu Tu Kesiluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani were pleased with themselves, but Zhu Ge Yu showed no sign of joy.

"Although our army annihilated Ruan Chen's main force, the enemy still has remaining strength. Tomorrow, when his forty thousand troops press upon the borders, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Tu Tu Kesiluo excitedly refuted: "Even if the enemy has forty thousand, our thirty thousand can handle them; how could there be any reason for failure!"

Zhang Zhang Jiani also signaled with her eyes that our army should be able to defeat the enemy.

But Zhu Ge Yu was not at ease, saying: "What I worry about is whether the city can withstand forty thousand enemy troops besieging and plundering. Once the city falls, the situation will be extremely unfavorable for us."

Having said this, he carefully examined the city's terrain and topography to ensure there would be no mistakes.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu also frowned tightly and asked: "Then what is your meaning?"

Zhu Ge Yu revealed a cunning smile: "I have already prepared another heavy gift for Ruan Chen, to let him taste the flavor of a siege."

The moonlight was like water, and the cold wind was biting.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu led his subordinates Zhu Ge Yu, Tu Tu Kesiluo, and Zhang Zhang Jiani to a dangerous terrain where two mountains flanked a deep ravine in the middle.

Zhu Ge Yu tightened his fur coat, pointed at the narrow mountain ravine ahead, and said: "This place is naturally a death ground, exactly what military strategists call 'deep in the soft willows, good for beheading generals.' If our forces ambush here, we can surely crush Ruan Chen's remnants again, or even capture and kill Ruan Chen in one stroke. At that time, our army will regroup, and the recovery of lost lands will be just around the corner."

Tu Tu Kesiluo clapped his hands excitedly and laughed: "Mr. Zhu Ge is wise and majestic; this plan is wonderful! Big Brother, let us proceed according to this!"

Zhang Zhang Jiani also smiled and agreed: "Mr. Zhu Ge is indeed of surpassing wisdom; even if Ruan Chen had wings, he would find it hard to escape death."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in approval, a sharp light flashing in his eyes: "Good, act according to my disciple's plan. We will lie in wait here, surely inflicting heavy damage on Ruan Chen's subordinates, or even capturing Ruan Chen alive. At that time, the recovery of lost lands will be just around the corner."

Acting decisively, Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately sent a messenger on a fast horse back to Dingtao, ordering Tu Tu Kesiluo to leave Dog Egg, Xiao Er, and two thousand men to guard the city, while the remaining ten thousand troops quickly came to join him, preparing for the decisive battle the next day.

Upon receiving the order, Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately sent a message to Zhang Zhang Jiaqi to bring troops and join Jiang Jiang Mingyu to annihilate Ruan Chen.

As the sky grew darker and the cold wind howled, Zhang Zhang Jiaqi led ten thousand iron cavalry and arrived at the agreed location.

At the same time, the twenty thousand troops under Jiang Jiang Mingyu had completed their ambush preparations, waiting only for Ruan Chen to take the bait tomorrow morning.

A killing intent also rose in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart; he thought silently: "Since we have made our move, we must do it thoroughly! In this battle, we will surely capture Ruan Chen alive and reclaim all lost lands!"

At this time, the sky was already dark, the fourth watch, the Milky Way pouring down; the army in the cold wind waited silently for the arrival of dawn. Everyone knew in their hearts that tomorrow's battle would decide success or failure.