Chapter 204: Capturing Decangzhou

Jiang Jiang Mingyu followed Tu Tu Kesiluo into Decangzhou City and immediately saw a crowd of commoners huddled in a corner by the roadside, trembling with fear. Tu Tu Kesiluo walked over, grabbed an old man by the collar, and asked in a low voice, "Where is the main camp? Speak quickly!"

The old man trembled all over in terror and hurriedly pointed west: "It's right over there, right over there!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo let go, gave him a cold glance, and then led his men to sneak westward. Decangzhou City was large enough that, having just broken in here, the people in the main camp had not yet noticed anything amiss.

They carefully avoided the patrolling Decangzhou soldiers along the way, silently eliminating a few squads that were not sharp-eyed enough. In no time, Jiang Jiang Mingyu led his men to the outskirts of the main camp.

He looked at the scene before him and felt secretly pleased. After Liu Shangshan Jian was imprisoned, these Decangzhou soldiers, hastily recruited to take his place, had long lost their fighting spirit; one by one, they lay on the ground snoring, with no vigilance whatsoever.

He looked at the fire arrows held by his subordinates, and a surge of excitement rose in his heart. This fire oil had been carried over many twists and turns by them, and it was finally about to be put to use.

Most wonderfully, the wind that night blew directly toward the camp; everything was under control.

He signaled his subordinates with a glance, and they immediately ignited the fire arrows and shot them toward the camp. After a roar of falling fire arrows, the entire dry camp instantly turned into a raging sea of flames.

Just as Tu Tu Kesiluo was about to lead his men in to clean up the aftermath, Jiang Jiang Mingyu called out to stop him: "Don't rush, don't rush. Let them roast for a while first. Once most of the enemy are dead, we'll go in and clean up."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu understood that although his own forces were claimed to number twelve hundred thousand, engaging the enemy's hundred-thousand-strong army head-on would inevitably result in heavy losses even if they won. It was better to launch a surprise attack while the fire raged.

The fire burned brighter and brighter, and only then did the Decangzhou soldiers react. They rushed about in all directions trying to extinguish the flames while simultaneously searching for the enemy's position.

However, how could such spreading flames be extinguished so easily? In moments, even the soldiers trying to put out the fire were completely engulfed by the blaze.

By the time the newly appointed Governor An Zhichao woke up from his sleep, more than half of the entire camp had already turned to ash. He looked in terror at the sea of fire and corpses around him, and a wave of despair surged in his heart.

"This... what is going on? Who did this? Who did this?" he shouted hoarsely.

An Zhichao was handsome, with fine eyebrows and starry eyes, making anyone who saw him feel a flutter of attraction. Unfortunately, his abilities were not proportional to his looks. If Fei Hou truly had no one else to use, he would not have let such a mere vase serve as a general.

As soon as he saw the flames shooting into the sky, his legs turned to jelly with fear, and he hurriedly fled toward the city gate with a few close aides. The camp could be rebuilt, and soldiers could be recruited again, but if he, the Governor, died, wouldn't Fei Hou have lost a trusted confidant for nothing?

The Decangzhou soldiers, who already lacked fighting spirit, saw their commander flee without even looking back, and instantly descended into chaos. Half an hour later, aided by the wind, the entire camp burned down to a patch of black ash, leaving not a shred of life.

Zhu Ge Yu looked at the horrific scene in the sea of fire, and a cold sneer curled his lips: "We don't need to do anything; just go clean up the aftermath."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu tilted his ear to listen, hearing only dead silence; not a single scream remained in the entire camp. He was secretly shocked in his heart, never expecting that this one fire would burn An Zhichao's hundred-thousand-strong army to nothing.

What surprised him even more was that he captured the city without drawing blood, taking Decangzhou, one of the Nine Provinces of Great Feng, in a single night. If this got out, no one would believe it.

The fire burned all night long, only gradually dying out at dawn. Zhang Zhang Jiaqi, ordered by Zhu Ge Yu, patrolled from night until dawn but still could not find any trace of An Zhichao.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu then had to admit that this slippery An Zhichao must have slipped out of the city under the cover of darkness. But for such a useless piece of trash, he had no patience to bother; even if he escaped back to Jingcheng, Fei Hou would surely deal with this sycophant.

"Oh dear, that really let the little brat off easy," Zhu Ge Yu shook his head. "If I had run into him, I would have chopped him into minced meat."

"Forget it, forget it," Jiang Jiang Mingyu comforted him. "Let's enter the city first. This Decangzhou City is our territory now."

"Oh, right, right, right," Zhu Ge Yu's eyes lit up. "Let's go, let's go see what good things Decangzhou City has to offer."

Saying this, the two led their troops toward Decangzhou City.

Late at night, Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat in the main hall, before him knelt a middle-aged man in an official robe with his head bowed; it was Zhou Zhou Xiaofeng, the Governor of Decangzhou.

"You are Zhou Zhou Xiaofeng, the Governor of Decangzhou?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked directly.

Zhou Zhou Xiaofeng nodded hurriedly, and before Jiang Jiang Mingyu could finish speaking, he threw himself to the ground with a thud, kowtowing incessantly: "My Lord Jiang, this humble one is willing to surrender, willing to surrender..."

His hundred-thousand-strong army had all been burned to ash; what could a civil official like him do? Besides, he knew what kind of person Jiang Jiang Mingyu was; resisting him would only lead to death, so it was better to surrender obediently, perhaps even saving his life.

Seeing him so sensible, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, who had been fighting until his head spun these past few days, felt slightly more comfortable. Just as he was about to speak, Zhu Ge Yu coughed nearby to remind him.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu then realized his mistake and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Then you may stay in the city for now; I will call on you when I have business."

Hearing that he would not only not die but could continue as an official, Zhou Zhou Xiaofeng hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude and left.

Zhu Ge Yu watched Zhou Zhou Xiaofeng's retreating figure and shook his head: "Master, what is wrong with you? You almost handed Decangzhou over to him just now?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled bitterly: "I'm exhausted; my mind isn't clear. I also didn't expect such a huge place as Decangzhou to be taken so easily by us."

"Although we have gained Decangzhou, our hegemony has only just begun. Soon we will have to campaign elsewhere. With such a large Decangzhou, who should I entrust with its governance?"

Zhu Ge Yu thought for a moment, then finally fixed his gaze on Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "If you ask me, this matter is too large in scale; I fear only you can handle it personally."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu then realized that although he had appointed so many Inspectors and Magistrates, he himself was still a complete novice.

Decangzhou, aside from being larger, more populous, and wealthier, was no different from when he was Prime Minister Mu.

There was no choice; he just had to do it!

Having made up his mind, Jiang Jiang Mingyu suddenly smiled eerily, a smile that even made Zhu Ge Yu feel a bit uneasy.

"Master, what is wrong with you?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was still smiling. "I must write a letter to Fei Hou, telling him that I have occupied Decangzhou. He will surely be overjoyed to death."

Zhu Ge Yu was instantly speechless. "What kind of thing is this? You already sent Bring Ruan Chen's head to Jingcheng before. Now you want to report the capture of Decangzhou too? Isn't this killing the enemy's heart after killing their body?"

After arranging for the letter to be sent, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt a surge of pride, put on his smile, and said to Zhu Ge Yu: "How is Liu Shangshan Jian now? Wasn't he burned to death by the fire?"

Zhu Ge Yu shook his head: "He is imprisoned in the Decangzhou prison and still alive. Do you want to see him?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded: "Bring him here quickly; I really want to have a chat with him."

In no time, Liu Shangshan Jian, with messy hair, tattered clothes, and a pale, lifeless face, was dragged over by two soldiers.

As soon as he saw Jiang Jiang Mingyu, he was like someone seeing a ghost and stammered: "You, you, you... are you Jiang Jiang Mingyu? How could you be here?"

Immediately, his surprise turned into hatred.

If Jiang Jiang Mingyu had not ambushed him back then, his family in Jingcheng would not have been slaughtered to the last man!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked at him with a smile and said leisurely: "General Liu, last night I led my troops to capture Decangzhou; your hundred-thousand-strong army has all been burned to ashes by me."

Total annihilation? Liu Shangshan Jian was dumbfounded and only after a long while cursed: "Did that An Zhichao grow up eating shit?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu feigned a sigh: "That invincible General An Zhichao fled even before the city fell; he has probably already returned to Jingcheng."

Looking at Liu Shangshan Jian's appearance, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt a bit regretful; he thought Liu Shangshan Jian was a capable person and wanted to recruit him to work together, but he never expected him to be so ungrateful. He said sincerely: "General Liu, you and I are both men of the late Emperor; why must we kill each other for the current court? Come with me, and I guarantee you unparalleled wealth and honor in the future. What do you think?"

Hearing these words, Liu Shangshan Jian's heart burned with even greater hatred; he considered Jiang Jiang Mingyu a great rebel who had killed his family and now wanted to recruit him, which was simply outrageous! He spat fiercely and cursed: "Surnamed Jiang, get out of here! You killed my entire family; I will never side with you! Even if I die, I will never join you, this rebel! If you want to kill me, just kill me; what's the point of all this talk!"

That spit landed squarely on Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face. Jiang Jiang Mingyu instantly flew into a rage; he had originally wanted to give Liu Shangshan Jian a way out, but he was so ungrateful and even dared to insult him. He roared: "What a thankless wretch! Men, drag him out and behead him!"

Two soldiers stepped forward, grabbed Liu Shangshan Jian's arms, and dragged him out of the hall. Liu Shangshan Jian struggled and shouted: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, you rebel! Killing me won't help! Great Feng will not let you succeed!"

With a scream, Liu Shangshan Jian's head fell to the ground. Jiang Jiang Mingyu wiped the spit from his face and sneered coldly: "Great Feng? Hmph, wait until I destroy Fei Hou, and then we'll see who can still stop my steps!"

Thus, with a cold sneer, this Decangzhou battle came to a perfect conclusion.

After Jiang Jiang Mingyu reclaimed Cangzhou, he put Tuke Tuke Siluo and Zhang Zhang Jiaqi in charge of sorting out various affairs inside and outside the city, while he himself returned to the main camp. He said to Zhang Zhang Jiaqi, "Zhang Jiaqi, send a few people to scout and find out what the situation is outside right now."

Zhang Zhang Jiaqi looked especially happy today, her smile as brilliant as a flower. She looked at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, softly acknowledged with a "yes," then turned to make arrangements.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu didn't think much of it; perhaps it was the joy of occupying Cangzhou. He then said to Tuke Tuke Siluo, "Go to the provincial capital to find Liu Liu Yifei. Tell her to hand over her business to someone trustworthy and move here to Cangzhou herself."

With such a vast territory now, he did not want Liu Liu Yifei and the others to continue toiling in the provincial capital.

Tuke Tuke Siluo agreed and left. Zhu Ge Yu then asked, "Master, we have already secured Cangzhou and so much grain; why still have Master's wife run a business?"

The silver in Cangzhou's treasury is enough for Liu Liu Yifei's family to eat for several lifetimes.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a sip of tea and said slowly, "At the start, I intended to rely on business to exchange for grain for us. If we hadn't initially acquired the coal and iron mines, how could we have reached today relying on that wretched place, Shangmu?"

"Now that we indeed have some assets, business is not so important to me anymore."

"But I am fighting wars outside all year round; even if Liu Liu Yifei comes to Cangzhou, we still won't see each other often."

"Why not find her something to do? Isn't it too boring for her to be alone all day?"

"Besides, the bigger the business grows, the more it proves she has ability."

"Although things are going smoothly for us now, if we happen to lose a battle someday and lose Cangzhou, the business in Liu Liu Yifei's hands will be the capital for our resurgence. This is also a form of preparation."

In the following days, Cangzhou remained peaceful and tranquil, while the entire Great Feng descended into chaos; no one cared that Cangzhou had changed hands.