Chapter 186: Post-Battle Incorporation

Inside Luosha City, a dead silence reigned.

The surrendered soldiers, like a pack of rats hunted to extinction, huddled beneath the city walls, awaiting final judgment.

There was no light left in their eyes, only fear and despair.

They knew they had no way out and could only submit to slaughter.

"My lord, what shall we do with these surrendered soldiers? Incorporate them or..." Tu Tu Kesiluo asked in a low voice, a hint of reluctance in his tone.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood high above, looking down upon these pitiful creatures.

There was not a trace of expression on his face, only a pair of cold eyes.

He chuckled lightly, then spoke: "Offer them as a sacrifice to Xiao Er; leave not a single one alive."

Tu Tu Kesiluo was startled, asking casually: "My lord, these are over a thousand people, all of whom have laid down their weapons. The old saying goes that killing the surrendered brings bad luck, this..."

Though he had killed countless people, he was not a butcher who killed for the sake of killing.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu feigned a sigh and said: "I too wish to spare them, but think of Xiao Er."

He had sworn to avenge Xiao Er and make everyone in Luosha City pay the price.

"If we keep them, they will surely become a trouble in the future, so..." Before he could finish, a surrendered soldier in the crowd shouted loudly: "If my lord spares us, we dare not rebel; we have no intention of opposing my lord. This was all forced by the spy... Wang Hao."

Others immediately chimed in: "Exactly, we are all children of good families."

"We beg my lord, spare us."

"We truly had no choice; if we did not obey Wang Hao, not only we, but even our families would not escape death."

"..."

Watching them kowtow with thumping heads, Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly.

He knew what these people said was the truth, yet he felt not a shred of pity.

In his eyes, these people were sinners who deserved their fate.

Since they chose to betray their own country and compatriots, they must bear the consequences.

"So be it," he said, "then enroll all these people into my army. Anyone showing even a trace of dissent will be executed along with their families."

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu soften his stance, the over a thousand surrendered soldiers who had narrowly escaped death immediately breathed a long sigh of relief.

They thought they had found redemption, unaware that this was merely one of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's schemes.

In fact, Jiang Jiang Mingyu had never intended to kill them; his manpower was limited, and he would take whoever he could recruit.

As for the insults these people had just uttered, it was simply each serving their own master; there was nothing to blame them for.

He merely wanted to instill fear in their hearts so they would be more obedient and compliant.

With the surrendered soldiers clearing the way, Jiang Jiang Mingyu entered Luosha City with great ease.

Luosha City was an ancient city, once a place of prosperity.

But under Wang Hao's rule, it had turned into a hell.

The houses within the city were all burned down or demolished; the streets were covered with corpses and bloodstains, and the air was filled with stench and wailing.

The common people in the city were treated by Wang Hao like livestock, driven around and slaughtered at will.

Some were burned alive, some had their skin and flesh stripped off, some had their eyeballs gouged out, and some had their tongues cut off...

These inhumane acts were all committed by Wang Hao to please the envoy of Fei Hou.

He wanted to use this method to demonstrate his loyalty and cruelty, seeking the trust and rewards of Fei Hou.

Watching all this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart was filled with anger and sorrow.

"My lord, what shall we do with the fire oil we worked so hard to obtain?" Li Goudan suddenly asked.

To attack Luosha City, he had led a squad of men for a day and a night, stealing several dozen barrels of fire oil from a nearby arsenal.

They had originally planned to use the fire oil to ignite the city gates or the city walls, but unexpectedly, the gates were not tightly closed, and there were no guards on the walls.

As a result, the fire oil was not used.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu thought for a moment and said: "Keep it in the main camp. Perhaps it will be useful at some point in the future."

He knew fire oil was a precious military supply that played a crucial role in warfare.

He did not want to waste this fire oil; perhaps it could be put to great use during the next siege or defense.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo stepped through the main gate of the Inspector's Mansion together, and the sight before them made them unable to help but be awestruck. A golden and magnificent palace stood towering, reflecting the dazzling sunlight like a jewel-like building, fully displaying an air of extravagance. Murals on the walls depicted gorgeous patterns and mythological legends, and jade pillars inlaid with gems emitted a charming glow.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu secretly surmised that behind such grandeur must lie the exploitation and extortion of the common people. He knew well that an official like Wang Hao must have accumulated such vast wealth by relying on the fat and grease of the populace.

Li Goudan, standing nearby, sneered and turned up his nose disdainfully: "This wealth was surely bought with the blood and sweat of the people; killing a treacherous official like Wang Hao is truly a good deed for all under heaven!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was not moved by the evil behind this prosperity; his mind was entirely focused on the money, grain, and military supplies accumulated in the treasury. He immediately ordered the generals to take over the main camp and the treasury to soothe the people's hearts and ensure that grain and fodder were not wasted.

The next morning, Tu Tu Kesiluo reported to Jiang Jiang Mingyu with great excitement: "My lord, the reserves here far exceed those of the provincial city; just those silver coins are enough to recruit a new army for a year!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt joy in his heart and nodded slightly in satisfaction. He knew well that securing military funds was crucial for the great undertaking to come. Moreover, he had already dispatched Zhang Zhang Jiani to expand the army in the provincial city, and this wealth would be put to great use.

However, Jiang Jiang Mingyu knew full well that the "recruitment" he spoke of was merely the forced conscription of young and strong men for military service. These people were forced to join the army only to survive; they had no loyalty or faith to speak of. Nevertheless, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was already accustomed to this method of recruiting soldiers and had no better choice.

For these soldiers, as long as they knew Jiang Jiang Mingyu was a commander with courage and strategy, they could follow him with peace of mind, seeking a way out together. Jiang Jiang Mingyu firmly believed that only by uniting as one could they get through the current difficult times.

The next day, Jiang Jiang Mingyu entrusted the task of recruiting soldiers to Li Goudan and hurriedly returned to the provincial city. He knew that once the news of Ruan Chen's death spread, Fei Hou would certainly dispatch a new army to attack.

The most urgent task at hand was to occupy the Chu Yun and Ling Na commanderies and advance on the Zangzhou City. Only by becoming a feudal lord could Jiang Jiang Mingyu possess the strength to contend with Fei Hou.

The provincial city was now close at hand, and Jiang Jiang Mingyu urged his horse to gallop. Although this journey was short, it was a key step in his grand plan. He could already see the dawn of victory; as long as he worked harder, he could grow strong like peach, bamboo, pine, and cypress. A firm resolve surged in his heart; with another vast army, he would be able to ascend the peak of Jiangshan that pierced the clouds!