Chapter 178: Siege Battle

On the second day at noon, Jiang Jiang Mingyu led the great army to the outskirts of the prefectural city, gazing from afar at the towering city walls casting long shadows in the setting sun.

This familiar old land now seemed so strange. Jiang Jiang Mingyu clenched his fist, a resolute yet sorrowful light flickering in his eyes.

Just then, a burst of urgent hoofbeats rang out. Tu Tu Kesiluo spurred his horse forward, reporting to Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "My lord, the scouts have returned."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately asked, "What is the situation in the city?"

The scout clasped his hands and reported: "Reporting to my lord, the prefectural city gates are tightly closed, and the troops on the ramparts are fully prepared; it seems they anticipated our arrival."

Tu Tu Kesiluo frowned upon hearing this: "How could they have known beforehand? We have already cut off the connection between Dingtao and the prefectural city. Could there be a traitor?" He looked around warily.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly: "Do not overthink it. Ruan Chen's defeat was over five days ago, and we have marched for two more days; it is normal for the enemy to know. Speak without reserve, and say everything fully. Rather than suspecting, let us actively prepare for battle."

Tu Tu Kesiluo nodded, yet still felt some worry: "Big brother, the prefectural city is after all a strong fortress; how should we respond?"

On the edge of the prefectural city, mountains rose like screens, with majestic peaks standing tall. At a glance, the view was filled with brown rocks and verdant forests. Compared to the surrounding small county towns, the scale of the prefectural city was obviously much larger. The surrounding city walls were towering, fortresses built of bricks and stones, exceptionally solid, like a sleeping stone lion concealing violent power.

Before Ruan Chen's troops arrived, Li Goudan and Wu Xiaoer had reinforced the city walls day and night for three days without sleep. Using hard massive stones and stable lime, they constructed an impregnable defense line, as if all preparations were made for this very moment. Yet they had not foreseen that all this effort would be tested upon themselves.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not speak; a sharp light flickered in his deep eyes. His gaze, like a sharp sword, shot straight at Zhu Ge Yu. His eyes were filled with expectation, expecting Zhu Ge Yu to provide a counter-strategy.

Zhu Ge Yu smiled faintly, yet the light in his eyes was like a brilliant star, illuminating the night sky. He said calmly, "For now, the plan is to first bring the army to the city walls and see if using Ruan Chen's name can get the city gates opened?" His words were filled with confidence, as if everything was under his control.

"If it works, naturally all will be well; if not, I still have other counter-strategies." He continued speaking, then unfolded that counter-strategy like threads, one by one, explaining it to everyone present.

After hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu fell into deep thought. His eyes became even sharper, as if able to pierce through all mists. He pondered for a moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh and shouted loudly: "Good, it is settled. Let us go, bring the army to the prefectural city."

As his words fell, the entire great army, like a giant dragon, began to roll forward. The earth trembled beneath their feet; half a shichen later, their great army had arrived beneath the prefectural city.

On the city tower of the prefectural city's south gate, a man dressed as a deputy general appeared. He looked over forty years old, with a dark complexion, thick beard, and triangular eyes that sent a chill through one. Frowning deeply, he looked at the flags and troops below the city and suddenly shouted: "Which one is Jiang Jiang Mingyu? Get out here, you damned rebels! Why have you not yet been exterminated?"

"Where is my Lord Commandant? And where are the eighty thousand troops he led?" His voice shook heaven and earth, filled with anger and confusion.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood beneath the city, imposing and majestic. He knew the eighty thousand troops Ruan Chen led could never return. Their disappearance filled this deputy general with deep fear and incomprehension; he could not believe that fewer than forty thousand rebel troops could easily crush Ruan Chen's great army.

Beneath the city walls, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mount neighed, trampling the fallen autumn leaves. His figure appeared even more heroic in the sunlight. His eyes were like an eagle's, gazing at the deputy general on the wall, standing proudly, his expression unchanged even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

He raised his hand and waved; instantly, ten thousand horses neighed, and all heroes fell silent. He responded calmly: "I am Jiang Jiang Mingyu. Your Lord Commandant, Ruan Chen, has been defeated by me and is now in my hands. You may choose to surrender or choose to resist, but there is only one result: your destruction."

On the city tower, the deputy general Pang Pang Sihai showed a disdainful expression and laughed loudly: "A mere rebel force dares to mock that my Lord Commandant has been captured? It must be some bewitching scheme you used to confuse the Lord Commandant! He will surely return with troops soon; at that time, you will have only one fate—annihilation!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu responded calmly: "Do not speak so arrogantly just yet; I will now let you witness the Lord Commandant's 'heroic posture'. Come, bring Ruan Chen up!"

Two soldiers immediately brought up Ruan Chen, bound tightly with five flowers, a blade held to his neck. Seeing this scene, Pang Pang Sihai's face instantly turned deathly pale.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke in a deep voice: "If you do not open the city and surrender, your Lord Commandant's head will roll beneath the city walls! Open the city gates immediately and let my army enter; this is the best strategy!"

Pang Pang Sihai shouted excitedly at Ruan Chen: "Lord Commandant, how exactly were you captured? Quickly order them to open the city gates and let us in!"

Ruan Chen, kneeling on the ground, twisted his head and roared: "Pang Pang Sihai, under no circumstances open the city gates! My capture was merely an accident. Quickly seek aid from the imperial court and mobilize a great army to exterminate Jiang Jiang Mingyu! I will defend the prefectural city to the death; you must hold it firm. Do you understand?"

A flash of cold light appeared in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes; he shouted in a low voice: "Shameless old villain, still trying to cause trouble? Come, execute him immediately!"

Only a dull thud was heard; Ruan Chen's head fell to the ground, blood splattering everywhere. Pang Pang Sihai's eyes turned red, and he roared violently: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, I will fight you to the death!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered and waved his hand, ordering: "Begin the siege!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo was seen holding a long sword, leading two thousand soldiers carrying ladders rushing straight at the city walls. They charged bravely, and ladders were quickly erected beneath the walls. Warriors climbed with all their might, engaging in fierce combat with the enemy troops on the walls. Soldiers pushed with force, stabbing the defenders on the walls with swords, each giving their all.

The defending troops on the walls resisted bravely, fighting to the death. A rain of arrows shot down densely; although many soldiers fell, the attacking soldiers feared nothing and continued charging toward the walls.

The soldiers led by Tu Tu Kesiluo climbed onto the city walls and engaged in life-and-death combat. The sound of clashing swords echoed on the walls; the scene of flesh and blood flying was terrifying. Both sides displayed tenacious combat power, killing each other.

On the city tower, Pang Pang Sihai's eyes were like knives, staring fiercely at the rebels surging below. His heart was filled with anger and hatred. He could not forget that day when he personally watched his beloved Lord Commandant Ruan Chen be beheaded and displayed by Jiang Jiang Mingyu. He could not forget that moment when he almost died by a single sword stroke from Jiang Jiang Mingyu. If he had not been clever enough to pretend to be dead and escape that disaster, he too would have become a trophy in the hands of the rebels, just like Ruan Chen.

He swore to avenge his Lord Commandant and make Jiang Jiang Mingyu and his rebel army pay a blood price. He knew he had only two thousand troops under his command, while the rebels below numbered over four thousand. Yet he was not afraid; he believed he had solid city walls and sufficient arrows to withstand the rebels' assault. He also believed the imperial court would send reinforcements to rescue them; as long as he could delay the rebels for a while, there was hope to save the prefectural city.

"Come on then; watch how I avenge my Lord Commandant!" Pang Pang Sihai said through gritted teeth. "Release the arrows!"

At his command, a dense rain of arrows shot down from the city tower. Feathers flew like locusts, drawing arcs in the air before falling heavily upon the rebels below. Moans of agony rose and fell; more than a dozen rebels lay in pools of blood. Some were not yet dead, rolling on the ground and wailing.

Seeing this scene, Pang Pang Sihai felt great satisfaction. He laughed loudly: "Fight like this! Shoot these rebels to death! Release more arrows!"

The Great Feng soldiers on the city tower also shouted loudly. Each of them was an elite soldier personally selected and trained by Ruan Chen. After Ruan Chen was killed, they all swore to avenge their Lord Commandant. They took up their bows, aimed at the rebels below, and shot without mercy.

The rebels below had not expected so many archers on the city tower. They had thought that once they reached the foot of the walls, they could easily break through the city gates. But now it seemed this was a fatal mistake. They could not withstand the arrow rain at all and could only let themselves become living targets.

Tu Tu Kesiluo, holding a long sword and clad in iron armor, led a group of tough soldiers, charging at the very front.

He had long grown accustomed to life and death; he did not care about the threat of the arrow rain. With a single wave of his sword, he could deflect incoming arrows. He shouted coldly: "Raise shields! Continue charging!"

The soldiers behind him also raised their shields and charged forward with force. Their shields were made of thick wooden boards and oxhide, capable of blocking most arrows. Even so, many soldiers were struck in vital points and fell halfway. Some, unable to raise their shields in time, were shot full of holes like hedgehogs by the arrow rain.

The archers on the city tower also increased their firing intensity. They pulled their bowstrings to the limit, shooting arrows even more densely. The rebels below immediately suffered greater casualties. Soon, the area beneath the city tower was piled high with corpses pierced with feathers.

Seeing this scene, Tu Tu Kesiluo's heart burned with rage. He knew he could not continue like this, or the entire army would be wiped out. He must find a way to break through the city walls to have a glimmer of survival. He quickly picked up a shield from the ground and forcefully blocked several incoming arrows. Then, leading the soldiers beside him, he charged desperately toward the city gate.

The city gate was the most heavily defended place. Pang Pang Sihai had long stationed dozens of elite archers there to guard. Once rebels approached the gate, they would immediately shoot them dead. When Tu Tu Kesiluo and his men charged over, they did not hesitate to aim at them.

"Fire!" At Pang Pang Sihai's command, another dense rain of arrows flew toward Tu Tu Kesiluo and the others.

Seeing he could not dodge, Tu Tu Kesiluo could only grit his teeth and charge forward. He blocked most of the arrows with his shield, but several still pierced through, stabbing into his shoulder and chest. Blood flowed from the wounds, staining the iron armor red.

Tu Tu Kesiluo gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain. He knew he could not fall, or he would drag down the comrades beside him.