Chapter 180

At this moment, Shang Mubing's troops were brimming with morale, while the state soldiers were shaken and disoriented. The air was thick with the scent of blood, mingling the enemy's screams with the moans of wounded soldiers.

Zhang Jiani and Zhang Jiaqi moved like two merciless female war goddesses, coldly and ruthlessly pursuing Pang Sihai, felling his men as swiftly as autumn winds sweeping fallen leaves. Blood and death intertwined across the battlefield, leaving behind chaos and devastation.

Pang Sihai was lost in panic; his uniform was soaked with sweat, his face betraying anxiety and fear. His soldiers fell one by one, leaving only five hundred remaining around him. One sergeant trembled and asked, "Commander, our brothers are all dead—what do we do?" Pang Sihai sweated profusely. Seeing Jiang Mingyu had not pursued, he felt a sliver of relief. He clenched his lower lip tightly and replied, "Retreat to the state capital. I'll beg His Majesty for reinforcements—more troops to crush these rebels!"

Deep inside, he regretted bitterly. If only he had listened to Commander Ruan's advice, things might not have turned so dire. With his remaining men, he struggled forward, barely reaching the gates of the state capital. He shouted loudly, "Open the gates! I am Pang Sihai!"

Yet another earth-shattering twist struck. Before the gates could open, he saw Tukesiluo walking toward him with light steps. A smirk curled his lips, his eyes gleaming with mockery and triumph. He laughed loudly, "Dog of Lord Fei, listen well: while you were attacking my army, I've already seized this city!"

Pang Sihai stared at him in shock. The words pierced his heart like a sharp blade. "Your worthless men have all been captured and slaughtered! Dismount and surrender at once!" Tukesiluo's voice threatened, his gaze cold and unwavering.

Zhuge Yu had long anticipated Pang Sihai's plan. He meticulously orchestrated a double ambush, leading his troops in a secret assault to capture the state capital and exterminate its defenders.

Pang Sihai felt his world collapse. "This can't be! Where are my five thousand men?" His voice nearly screamed, his eyes filled with disbelief and despair. Tukesiluo sneered, "Surrender now—or die today!"

One sergeant trembled and urged, "Commander, all is lost—let's flee!" Pang Sihai snapped back to reality, turned instantly, and ran. His mind held only one thought: preserve his life. His steps quickened until he was sprinting full out.

No sooner had Pang Sihai run a short distance than Jiang Mingyu appeared before him, smiling. "Jiang Mou has been waiting for you a long time."

Pang Sihai's head rang with a dull thud. Before he could speak, Zhang Jiani's short knife pressed against his chest.

"Don't move!"

With a piercing scream, Pang Sihai's final five hundred men were wiped out.

Jiang Mingyu said coldly, "Bind him. Execute him publicly tomorrow—to avenge our fallen soldiers!"

Lifeless, Pang Sihai was dragged into the city. Jiang Mingyu finally stepped into the state capital, slapping his thigh in delight and blurting out a curse.

At dawn, Pang Sihai's head fell to the ground. Jiang Mingyu smiled brightly. Then Li Goudan, his arm still in a sling, walked up and said:

"Lord, I found Commander Ruan's head. These beasts acted fast—they buried it. I had to dig it out with great effort."

Jiang Mingyu glanced at it and ordered, "Send Ruan Chen's heads to the capital at once—let Lord Fei see my gift! Tell him: if he wants to destroy me, Jiang Mingyu, he can send troops anytime—I'll kill them all!"

He laughed heartily, radiating murderous intent. The clouds had parted, the fog had lifted—the state capital was back in my hands!

Half of the vengeance was complete. Jiang Mingyu would let no one stand in the way of his great ambition. Amidst the bloody flames, he revealed boundless ambition and resolve.

After sending the heads away, Li Goudan looked at Zhuge Yu's scarred face and said gravely:

"Lord, Commander Ruan is dead. Should we settle old scores now?"

Jiang Mingyu understood what he meant. Zhuge Yu had rendered great service; killing his entire family outright might unsettle the troops.

Zhuge Yu's face flickered with inner struggle. After a long silence, he rasped, "Master, my elder brother's father deserves death a thousandfold. Do as you see fit. The entire army knows of this—if we don't punish him, morale will shatter."

With a long sigh, he turned and walked away without looking back.

Seeing his firm resolve, Jiang Mingyu no longer hesitated: "Goudan, take the Zhuge family to the main camp. Execute them—no, not lingchi. Beheading. To avoid disturbing troop morale."

Li Goudan nodded heavily, sighed, and left. Soon after, the entire Zhuge family was beheaded.

At this moment, Wu Xiao came to report: "Lord, Wang Zhe is dead. His head has been sent to the capital. His body has been burned."

Jiang Mingyu had already anticipated this outcome. Even without other reasons, Lord Fei would never spare Wang Zhe.

After a moment of silence, he ordered, "Go to Dingtao and bring Yi Fei back. Once the chaos settles, commerce must resume—people's livelihoods depend on it."

Wu Xiao departed to deliver the order, while the Zhuge family suffered the horror of total extermination…

When Jiang Mingyu entered the Inspector's mansion, he found Zhuge Yu alone on the veranda, holding a large wine jar, drinking cup after cup. His already unattractive face was covered in grotesque scars; his disheveled hair hid his eyes, and the stench of alcohol clung to him—he looked broken and desolate.

Jiang Mingyu sat across from him, watched him quietly for a while, then spoke slowly: "Disciple, everything is over. You need not blame yourself."

Zhuge Yu looked up at him, offering a bitter smile. "Yes, it's all over. The Zhuge family is destroyed—by my own hands." He lifted the jar again, gulped deeply, his Adam's apple bobbing—but the wine choked him, triggering a fit of coughing.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Mingyu felt pity. His tone softened slightly as he spoke again: "Disciple, life is long. We are all merely travelers. Why not let go?"

Zhuge Yu set down the jar and chuckled bitterly. "Let go? I'm an orphan now. What's left to care about? I only want to drink more, think less."

Jiang Mingyu sighed, no longer trying to persuade him, and asked softly: "Disciple, what do you plan to do next?"

Zhuge Yu fell silent for a moment, then came to his senses. "What do you suggest, Master?"

Jiang Mingyu paused, then spoke slowly: "The most urgent matter now is restoring commerce in the city and raising military funds. Though we seized Commander Ruan's supplies, constant warfare means we still need silver."

Due to Ruan's invasion, the previous bidding process stalled. Spring is approaching— to sell glass at the best price, we must act quickly.

Zhuge Yu nodded. "True. Before drawing swords, secure funds. Let's discuss business first."

Immediately, the two began planning their commercial strategy.

On the third day after seizing the city, Jiang Mingyu posted his bidding notice. It bore words like "bidding" and "agent," sparking heated discussion among the city's merchants:

"Can anyone explain what this document means?"

"Explain what? Master Jiang has spoken—we obey. He won't cheat us!"

"But maybe he's planning to seize our wealth. We must be careful."

"If Jiang Master wanted money, he could just seize it outright. Why bother with bidding? This is a chance to profit—I'll go see for myself."

"Be careful. Disaster may strike. Following rebels—what if the court comes after us?"

"Court? Commander Ruan's ten-thousand-man army was crushed. What hope does the court have? Only Jiang Master decides now!"

"Exactly. Better to offend the court than Jiang Master!"

Voices rose and fell, and public sentiment had already turned in Jiang Mingyu's favor.

The merchants now recognized his authority and decisiveness. They were willing to risk offending the court to follow Jiang Mingyu, believing he would bring them greater profit.