Chapter 191: Death with Unclosed Eyes

At this moment, Zheng Xu and his subordinate Bing Wanyu marched out of camp with pride; beneath them, more than ten thousand soldiers were arrayed in neat formation, weapons gleaming, moving in military formation, radiating lethal intent.

Zheng Xu stood tall, eyes straight ahead, striding boldly at the very front of the fifth column. Bing Wanyu dared not lag half a step, closely following behind. The two, one ahead and one behind, resembled two ferocious tigers, inspiring awe and fear.

Bing Wanyu whispered: "My lord, what stratagem shall we use tonight to capture Jiang Mingyu alive?"

Zheng Xu replied in a deep voice: "When the gong sounds, you will lead five thousand light cavalry to encircle Jiang Mingyu's camp, banging drums and clanging gongs loudly to keep every soldier inside awake. Meanwhile, dispatch elite troops in ten squads to sneak close to the camp and fire arrows at opportune moments to increase chaos. At dawn, I will personally lead the main force to storm the central command tent and capture Jiang Mingyu alive. By then, the enemy will be exhausted from running about, their morale shattered—we will press the advantage and seize their commander in one blow. Seize their commander, seize their commander, seize their commander—the rest of the rabble are no threat."

Bing Wanyu bowed: "My lord, brilliant! Your servant obeys!"

Night deepened; silence enveloped the earth. Zheng Xu raised his hand—a signal—and ten thousand troops silently surrounded Jiang Mingyu's camp.

Zheng Xu raised a bronze gong and struck it hard—the gong's roar shattered the night sky.

In the dead of night, the drumming and gonging faded, replaced by the loud snores of deep sleep. Bing reported: "My lord, the enemy troops are sound asleep!"

Zheng Xu nodded: "Good. Stop while ahead. Do not grow greedy or rush forward. Wait until they sleep even deeper, then launch the final assault—only then can we succeed in one stroke."

At dawn, Zheng Xu personally supervised the battle, his spirit swallowing mountains and rivers, roaring: "Charge!"

Ten thousand troops surged forward like a tidal wave, storming into the camp.

Just as Zheng Xu pulled back the flap of Jiang Mingyu's tent, Jiang Mingyu's smiling face appeared before him.

Jiang Mingyu looked at Zheng Xu before him and let out a cold laugh. This treacherous, cunning fool had fallen for his trap—he believed he could annihilate Jiang's army in one stroke, unaware he had walked straight into a meticulously laid trap.

"Zheng Xu, you've finally come," Jiang Mingyu said, setting down his teacup and rising slowly. "I've been waiting for you a long time."

Zheng Xu was stunned by Jiang Mingyu's calmness—he could not understand how Jiang could remain so composed in such dire straits. Didn't he know he was surrounded? Didn't he know he had no hope left?

"Jiang Mingyu, dare you still put on airs here?" Zheng Xu sneered. "Do you think you still have any chance? Do you think you can escape my grasp?"

"I don't need to escape," Jiang Mingyu replied calmly. "Because I never intended to."

"Are you joking?" Zheng Xu scoffed. "Don't you know your situation? Don't you know you're trapped here by me?"

"I know perfectly well," Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly. "But do you know where you are right now?"

"Of course I do," Zheng Xu answered without hesitation. "I'm inside your camp, right before you."

"Wrong," Jiang Mingyu suddenly raised his voice. "You're not in my camp—you're in my trap."

"What?" Zheng Xu asked in shock.

"That's right," Jiang Mingyu continued. "You thought your gongs and drums last night disrupted my morale and kept my soldiers awake? That was my plan. Long ago, I split my troops into two shifts—one group shouted insults at the camp gate, the other went back to sleep. They slept soundly last night."

"So what?" Zheng Xu retorted. "Even if your soldiers slept well, they can't stand against my eight thousand elite troops. You have only twenty thousand men—I have eight thousand. Your forces are less than half mine."

"You're right," Jiang Mingyu nodded. "I have twenty thousand men. You have eight thousand. But you forgot one thing: your eight thousand are now inside my camp, while my twenty thousand are outside it."

"What do you mean?" Zheng Xu asked, confused.

"Don't you understand?" Jiang Mingyu revealed a sly smile. "Why didn't I leave camp to fight you last night? Why did I let you enter freely? Because I had already prepared an incendiary plan. I ordered my men to scatter flammable materials throughout the camp. Once you entered, I would set it all ablaze—your entire army would be burned alive here."

"You… you dare?" Zheng Xu cried in terror.

"I dare," Jiang Mingyu said coldly. "You insulted me first, poisoned my soldiers afterward, and tormented me yesterday. Zheng Xu—it's time you paid your debt."

With a wave of his hand, Jiang Mingyu signaled his soldiers to act.

Soon, Zheng Xu saw flames erupting all around him—he tried to flee, but found himself completely surrounded.

Zheng Xu tried to call for help, but his throat was choked by smoke—he could only watch helplessly as the fire roared higher, his soldiers screaming as they fell, consumed by flames or cut down by Jiang Mingyu's troops. Despair and terror filled his heart—he refused to die like this. He had unfinished ambitions—he still wanted to unify the realm, become a supreme ruler.

Frantically, he swung his sword, trying to break through the encirclement—but his strength was spent, unable to withstand Jiang Mingyu's onslaught. He looked wildly around, searching for an escape, but saw only Jiang Mingyu's cold, mocking face.

Jiang Mingyu stood outside the tent, flanked by several trusted subordinates. Watching Zheng Xu's agony, he felt deep satisfaction and pride. He had finally avenged years of hatred—he had destroyed his greatest enemy.

"Jiang Mingyu, don't gloat!" Zheng Xu snarled. "You defeated me today only because you used dishonorable tricks. Face me openly—you'd be no match for me!"

"Hmph. Dishonorable tricks? This is wisdom! Do you think warfare is merely about numbers and bravery? You're naive! The way of warfare lies in surprise, striking where the enemy is unprepared, overcoming weakness with strength! Do you think your pitiful forces could ever defeat me? You're arrogant!"

"Jiang Mingyu, don't get too cocky!" Zheng Xu roared. "Even though I'm trapped today, my army still stands outside. When they learn of my plight, they'll rush to rescue me! Then you'll see my power!"

"Hahahaha!" Jiang Mingyu laughed loudly. "You still expect your army to save you? That's delusion! Do you know why I didn't leave camp to fight you last night? Because I already sent a elite cavalry unit to circle around your camp and strike your rear. Your army is already shattered, your grain stores burned to ashes, your supplies looted clean. What do you have left to rely on?"

"You… you're telling the truth?" Zheng Xu asked, disbelieving.

"Don't believe me? Then look!" Jiang Mingyu waved his hand—his soldiers brought forward a torch and lit a pile of wood. Hanging from the wood was a large banner, bearing the character "Zheng." It was Zheng Xu's army's standard, seized by Jiang Mingyu's cavalry.

"This… what is this?" Zheng Xu cried in horror.

"This is your end!" Jiang Mingyu sneered. "Zheng Xu, you will die here today—and your entire army will be wiped out!"

With that, Tukeisiluo charged at Zheng Xu. Seeing his doom, Zheng Xu swung his sword desperately to defend himself—but his strength was spent, unable to withstand Tukeisiluo's blade. Soon, he was pierced through a vital point and collapsed into a pool of blood.

"Ahh…" Zheng Xu let out his final scream, his eyes filled with resentment and hatred. He hated Jiang Mingyu. He hated his own failure. He hated the people of the world for not supporting him. He hated heaven and earth for their injustice.

He died.