Chapter 199: Provocation

After checking on Zhang Zhang Jiani again, Jiang Jiang Mingyu found his army had no heads to sacrifice to the flag, and morale was low. Yet Jiang Jiang Mingyu was unwilling to give up; he vowed to avenge his fallen comrades and make Wang Wang Jingchun of Lingna City pay with blood for his blood debt!

He gripped his whip tightly, his gaze sharp as a blade, scanning the ten thousand warriors. His eyes seemed capable of igniting the fury in their hearts, reigniting their will to fight. He shouted loudly, "Brothers, why did we march out of the city today?"

"To avenge our dead!" The ten thousand voices roared in unison, shaking heaven and earth.

"Yes! To avenge our dead! For our brothers! For our homes! For our dignity!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised his arm and cried out, "We will make those thieves who kill and burn know we are not to be bullied! We will make them pay a heavy price! We will make rivers run with their blood!"

"Rivers run with blood!" The ten thousand warriors echoed the cry, their momentum soaring like a rainbow.

"March!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu swept his wide sleeve once and spurred his horse, charging out of the city gate first.

That night, Jiang Jiang Mingyu and his party marched without rest. Everyone clenched their teeth in silence, their hearts filled with hatred and longing. A day and a half later, they finally arrived at a place only twenty li from Lingna City.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu carefully deployed scouts and set up a makeshift camp. That evening, Zhang Zhang Jiaqi pushed open the door and entered Jiang Jiang Mingyu's main tent, finding him frowning over a map, his eyes heavy with exhaustion.

"My lord, how do you plan to deploy for tomorrow's battle?" Zhang Zhang Jiaqi asked nervously, her voice trembling slightly.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu set down the map and patted her shoulder. "Do not worry; I am here. I already have a countermeasure for this battle. You need only follow my orders."

Zhang Zhang Jiaqi nodded heavily, her face full of hope and trust. Jiang Jiang Mingyu's words gave her great courage and brought her some relief.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pointed at the map and said, "Our army arrived in haste and had no time to prepare siege equipment. We can only fight again with inferior forces." He frowned tightly, his expression grave.

Zhang Zhang Jiaqi pressed on, "How do we deal with the archers and oil cauldrons on the city walls?" She stared fixedly at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, eager to draw valuable battlefield experience from this veteran general.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu explained, "I have already sent men to erect simple cover on the front lines to partially block the arrow rain. We have also prepared large quantities of wet ox hides to wear, which can resist fire attacks." As he spoke, he marked various symbols on the map.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhang Jiaqi felt greatly relieved, and much of her earlier unease vanished. She nodded solemnly. "Thank you, my lord, for your guidance. I have noted it. Tomorrow I will give my all to avenge my sister!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly. "We will surely win this battle. As long as we hold justice in our hearts, we will be invincible. Rest assured, I will keep you safe."

At dawn the next day, looking at the ten thousand warriors fully equipped and ready, Jiang Jiang Mingyu gritted his teeth and said, "Brothers, the enemy who slaughtered our ten thousand-strong army is in Lingna City, only twenty li away! How shall we take our revenge?"

"Revenge! Revenge!" The ten thousand voices roared in unison, their momentum majestic.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction, swept his wide sleeve once, and declared, "Good! March!"

The twenty-li journey passed in the blink of an eye. Jiang Jiang Mingyu led the army to the tightly closed gates of Lingna City. He shouted loudly, "Beat the drums!"

After three drumbeats, he pointed his whip toward the ramparts and cried out, "Listen up on the walls! I am Jiang Jiang Mingyu. Quickly summon that dog Wang Wang Jingchun to come forth and meet his day of death!"

Hearing this, the guards on the wall hurriedly ran to report to the Inspector's Office. About an hour later, a gaunt, extremely lecherous-looking middle-aged man appeared on the ramparts—it was none other than Wang Wang Jingchun, the Inspector of Lingna City.

On the ramparts, Wang Wang Jingchun looked down smugly at the enemies below. Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's figure, he could not help but reveal a mocking smile.

"Oh, isn't that Jiang Jiang Mingyu? You're still alive?" he shouted loudly. "Last time you sent me ten thousand heads; I haven't even had time to thank you yet. Today you bring another ten thousand to die. That's wonderful."

"Why don't you hurry and take your troops back? I'm in a good mood today and can give you a chance. If you dare attempt to attack the city again, I will leave not a single one of you alive, just like last time."

Having finished speaking, Wang Wang Jingchun burst into laughter. He knew the soldiers under Jiang Jiang Mingyu were covered in scars, and that Tu Tu Kesiluo was also seriously injured, so they were no match for him.

Hearing Wang Wang Jingchun's words, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face turned iron-green, a flash of killing intent passing through his eyes. He replied coldly, "Wang Wang Jingchun, you dog thief! You killed my brothers and sisters and slaughtered my compatriots, yet you still want me to retreat?"

"Today, even if I must risk my life, I will cut you into a thousand pieces! Open the city gates quickly so I can fight you to the death! If I can breach the city, I will leave not a single one of your family, old or young, alive!"

"Not a single one alive?" Wang Wang Jingchun laughed even harder upon hearing this. "Who do you think you are? What skills do you have? Didn't you say the same thing last time? And what happened? Weren't you beaten into a rout by me?"

"Do you know what your men looked like when they died? They rolled on the ground, wailing like pigs waiting to be slaughtered. Just thinking about it excites me. Especially that woman; she was so beautiful, yet I took her life with a single arrow. Her expression before she died was truly exquisite."

"Next time you visit her grave, remember to tell her that if she has another life, she should be a sensible person. Following a rebel like you only leads to death. It would be better to come be my concubine; I guarantee I will make her comfortable."

As Wang Wang Jingchun spoke, drool actually flowed from his mouth. He wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve and continued to mock Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Hearing Wang Wang Jingchun insult the dead in such a manner, Zhang Zhang Jiaqi trembled all over with rage. She gripped her long sword tightly, tears sliding down her cheeks. Gazing at that detestable face on the ramparts, she shouted angrily, "Dog official! You beast! To slander my sister like this, you deserve a thousand deaths! Get out of the city immediately so I can end you with a single sword strike!"

Having finished speaking, she urged her horse forward to charge. Jiang Jiang Mingyu quickly grabbed her reins, blocking her path.

"Zhang Jiaqi, calm down! This is his trick; he wants to provoke us into attacking the city recklessly. We cannot fall into his trap!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu urged.

"No! I don't care! I must kill him! I must avenge my sister!" Zhang Zhang Jiaqi struggled, her eyes full of hatred.

Seeing her heartbroken state, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt a pang of pain in his own heart. He knew she and that woman were soul-bound friends, and her death had struck her too hard. He also wished to kill Wang Wang Jingchun immediately, but he could not be impulsive; he had more important matters to attend to.

"Zhang Jiaqi, listen to me. I know how you feel; I feel the same. But we cannot act this way. We must defeat him with wisdom, not anger. Do you remember that plan? We are already prepared. As soon as night falls, we can act. At that time, Wang Wang Jingchun will surely die!"

As Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke, a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes. He had already discussed a plan with Tu Tu Kesiluo to exploit Wang Wang Jingchun's arrogance and underestimation of the enemy, delivering a fatal blow.

"Is what you say true?" Zhang Zhang Jiaqi wavered slightly.

"Of course it is true. Rest assured; tonight is Wang Wang Jingchun's day of death!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu stated firmly.

"Very well, I trust you. But you must let me kill him with my own hands!" Zhang Zhang Jiaqi gritted her teeth.

"No problem. Tonight you can avenge your sister." Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in agreement.

On the ramparts, Wang Wang Jingchun saw the exchange between Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Zhang Zhang Jiaqi and smiled with inner satisfaction. He thought he had angered Jiang Jiang Mingyu, causing him to lose his reason. He did not know he had fallen into a trap; what awaited him would be a disaster of drowning proportions.