Chapter 203: The Counter-Espionage Scheme

In the blink of an eye, seventy-eight days passed, and Jiang Jiang Mingyu showed not a single sign of movement. Tuke Tuke Siluo and the other two were already as anxious as ants on a hot pan, yet they saw Jiang Jiang Mingyu still leisurely drinking small cups of wine with Zhu Ge Yu, chatting about who knows what.

They were just about to go urge Jiang Jiang Mingyu again to see if he had any strategy, when a scout ran over with earth-shattering news—the six generals commanding the troops had been thrown into the death prison!

"What? What did you say? Say it again!" Tuke Tuke Siluo was stunned upon hearing this and immediately pressed for details.

"Your subordinate did not speak wrongly; it is indeed that Liu Shangshan Jian has been thrown into the death prison!" the scout said, trembling in fear.

"What is going on? Tell me the details clearly!" Tuke Tuke Siluo grabbed the scout's collar by the neck and roared.

"What your subordinate overheard is that there was a spy beside Liu Shangshan Jian who stabbed Fei Hou, claiming Liu Shangshan Jian dared not fight and was just chatting nonsense with our lord under the city walls. Fei Hou flew into a rage upon hearing this, first slaughtering Liu Shangshan Jian's entire family, old and young, then personally sending people to drag Liu Shangshan Jian to the great prison; he is to be beheaded tomorrow. The newly appointed general, An Zhichao, has already ordered that once Liu Shangshan Jian is dead, he will lead troops to attack our camp!"

"Damn! This is too coincidental!" Tuke Tuke Siluo was stunned upon hearing this. He remembered Jiang Jiang Mingyu had previously said that within ten days Liu Shangshan Jian would surely meet a violent death. Now Liu Shangshan Jian was thrown into the death prison; although not yet dead, he was close. This matched Jiang Jiang Mingyu's prophecy too perfectly!

"Our lord truly possesses divine foresight! He could calculate even this!" Tuke Tuke Siluo could not help but sigh. He felt Jiang Jiang Mingyu's methods were truly unfathomable, leaving people completely baffled!

"Oh, stop wasting words! Go quickly to consult with our lord! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" Li Goudan said.

"Yes, yes, yes! Let's go, let's go!" Tuke Tuke Siluo quickly patted his backside and ran with them toward Jiang Jiang Mingyu's tent.

As soon as they entered the tent, Tuke Tuke Siluo could not help but ask, "My lord, tell me, what is all this about?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu glanced at Zhu Ge Yu, took another sip of wine, and said slowly, "You tell them."

Zhu Ge Yu put down his wine cup and smiled, saying, "This matter, from the day we drank with Liu Shangshan Jian, has all been within Master's calculations."

He continued, saying that as soon as Jiang Jiang Mingyu heard Fei Hou had sent Liu Shangshan Jian to fight, he knew he had an opportunity. He devised a counter-espionage scheme and made up his mind in his thoughts.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu understood Fei Hou's character and knew he would surely send someone to watch Liu Shangshan Jian to prevent him from defecting. So he first used a goading tactic to force Liu Shangshan Jian down from the city wall to drink wine. He also deliberately chatted very compatibly with Liu Shangshan Jian, letting Fei Hou's spy see it with his own eyes.

This way, the suspicion that Liu Shangshan Jian was colluding with the rebels grew greater and greater. To make Liu Shangshan Jian continue to defend stubbornly without moving, Jiang Jiang Mingyu also specially boasted about his own troop strength.

Fei Hou was anxious to quell the rebellion and even threatened Liu Shangshan Jian with his family, showing he was already mentally disturbed. So the spy he sent would surely force Liu Shangshan Jian to fight immediately. But Liu Shangshan Jian, believing the rebels had many troops and generals, became even more cautious.

The spy, in order to relieve Fei Hou's worries, would surely interpret Liu Shangshan Jian's stubborn defense as cowardice. Plus, he had chatted casually with the rebels a few times, so the charge of being an internal traitor was solidified. Sure enough, not long after, Fei Hou killed Liu Shangshan Jian's entire family, and Liu Shangshan Jian himself was thrown into the death prison.

Once Liu Shangshan Jian died, Decangzhou City would turn into a pot of chaos. The newly appointed An Zhichao would be completely unable to control the situation; this was a good opportunity for Jiang Jiang Mingyu to strike while the iron was hot.

After hearing Zhu Ge Yu's explanation, Tuke Tuke Siluo and the others, who had been jumping with anger, immediately bowed in deep admiration. They never expected that Jiang Jiang Mingyu, who had always been smiling, had calculated so deeply in his heart; he was truly divinely foresighted!

Seeing their look of sudden realization, Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled and said, "Tuke Tuke Siluo, quickly have the main army prepare; we must strike Decangzhou hard tonight and take it in one breath!"

By the time An Zhichao reacted and tried to stabilize the situation, it would be too late.

Time passed swiftly; in the blink of an eye, it was dark. Jiang Jiang Mingyu saw everyone was fully prepared, lowered his voice, and said, "Extinguish all torches! We will move in darkness to the foot of Decangzhou City; set out!"

Walking twenty li in the pitch black, it was already nearly the third watch. The lights on Decangzhou City walls were sparse; only a dozen or so guards were seen yawning, obviously having been lax for a long time.

On the city wall, several guards were quietly muttering:

"Oh, General Liu is to be beheaded tomorrow; isn't that an unjust death?"

"The Emperor simply dislikes him; everyone in our army knows that. That Hu Pi Jiang is just the Emperor's lackey; whatever he says goes."

"We all fought alongside General Liu; now that the Emperor is so furious, don't let us get implicated too."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, hiding in the darkness, heard everything clearly and smiled inwardly; this Hu Pi Jiang was indeed the spy Fei Hou had placed beside Liu Shangshan Jian.

Just as he was thinking this, those guards walked away. Jiang Jiang Mingyu gave Zhang Zhang Jiaqi a glance, signaling to begin the action.

Only the sound of "whoosh, whoosh" was heard; one by one, the sleeping guards on the city wall fell, all struck in vital points by hidden arrows.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched with satisfaction and said in a low voice, "Tuke Tuke Siluo, it is your turn!"

Tuke Tuke Siluo, leading several subordinates, patted his chest; the ropes at their waists were flicked out and hooked onto the merlons on the city wall.

With the sound of "ding-ding-dang-dang," Tuke Tuke Siluo and others climbed steadily onto the city wall; with a wave of their long knives, they hacked down a patrol squad of seven guards, laying them flat on the ground.

Tuke Tuke Siluo shouted loudly, "Hurry up, all of you get up here! Open the city gates to welcome the main army!"

In no time, the city gates were opened from the inside. Zhu Ge Yu stood at the city gate and ordered in a deep voice, "Charge in, capture An Zhichao alive! Kill!"

Fifty thousand troops surged into the dark Decangzhou City like a tide. Jiang Jiang Mingyu's night raid plan officially began!