Chapter 212: Mutual Destruction

Jiang Mingyu led sixty thousand troops out of Xiangcangzhou, marching southward toward Xiawei County. This was the wealthiest region in the Great Feng's northern frontier and the focal point of contention between Zhong Nianyu and Xu Zhanhong. Though an outsider, Jiang Mingyu had his own ambitions and plans—he intended to insert himself between the two rivals, seizing a share of the spoils while they fought.

For three days and nights, they marched without pause, resting and resupplying only when absolutely necessary. Jiang Mingyu knew time was life, time was victory—he must strike first, ally with Xu Zhanhong, and annihilate Zhong Nianyu before he could return to Xiawei.

Finally, at dawn on the fourth day, they reached fifty li outside Xiawei City. Jiang Mingyu immediately ordered his army to disperse and hide among the hills, forests, and ravines to avoid detection. He himself, accompanied by a few trusted officers, established camp in a secluded cave.

"My lord, we've left all our supplies and baggage behind in Dingdong, as you instructed," Li Goudan reported, kneeling.

"Good." Jiang Mingyu nodded. "Now we travel light, mobile and agile."

"My lord is wise." Li Goudan flattered.

"Any other news?" Jiang Mingyu asked.

"Two days ago, Zhong Nianyu and Xu Zhanhong clashed fiercely south of Xiawei City," Li Goudan continued. "Reports say both sides unleashed their strongest tactics—back and forth, the battle raged until heaven and earth seemed to darken."

"What was the outcome?" Jiang Mingyu's eyes flickered with excitement.

"The outcome…" Li Goudan hesitated, embarrassed. "Both sides suffered heavy losses."

"Mutual destruction?" Jiang Mingyu frowned. "What were the exact casualties?"

"According to our scouts, Zhong Nianyu's forces suffered around five thousand casualties; Xu Zhanhong's, about four thousand," Li Goudan replied.

"So few?" Jiang Mingyu sounded disappointed. "They didn't even fight to the death."

"My lord is right," Li Goudan agreed. "They're still facing off—this battle won't end anytime soon."

"That's good," Jiang Mingyu's eyes gleamed with a cruel smile. "As long as Zhong Nianyu hasn't returned to Xiawei, everything remains manageable."

"So you mean to…" Li Goudan ventured.

"Guess," Jiang Mingyu said cryptically.

"You plan to ally with Xu Zhanhong and ambush Zhong Nianyu together?" Li Goudan guessed.

"Correct." Jiang Mingyu clapped his shoulder. "You're sharp."

"Thank you, my lord!" Li Goudan beamed.

"I'll write a letter to Xu Zhanhong proposing a joint assault on Zhong Nianyu. Deliver it later."

"Yes, my lord," Li Goudan replied.

Jiang Mingyu took out paper and brush, wrote a few lines swiftly, folded and sealed the letter, then handed it to Li Goudan.

"Be careful. Don't let anyone see you," Jiang Mingyu warned.

"Rest assured, my lord—I'll complete the mission," Li Goudan vowed.

He mounted a swift horse and galloped off toward Xu Zhanhong's camp, twenty li east of Xiawei City.

Watching the scout vanish into the forest, Zhang Jiaqi felt uncertain.

"Lord Jiang, what did you write in the letter?" she asked curiously.

"What did I write?" Jiang Mingyu smiled. "What do you think I wrote?"

"You certainly flattered him, convincing him you truly want to cooperate," Zhang Jiaqi said.

"Of course," Jiang Mingyu nodded. "I won't be polite with him."

"Then what terms did you offer him?" Zhang Jiaqi asked again.

"Terms?" Jiang Mingyu feigned mystery. "Guess."

"I guess…" Zhang Jiaqi thought. "You offered him something so tempting he couldn't refuse."

"Correct." Jiang Mingyu patted her head. "You're sharp."

"But what exactly was the offer?" Zhang Jiaqi pressed.

"I promised Xu Zhanhong that if we eliminate Zhong Nianyu, he gets two-thirds of Xiawei County—the rest is ours," Jiang Mingyu said slowly, his gaze sharp as a blade sweeping over the tent.

"Then we're the ones getting cheated!" Tu Kesiluo frowned, displeased. "Xu Zhanhong is a cunning fox—he'll sit back and watch us weaken each other, then swoop in to claim the spoils. We'll have fought hard for the land, only to let him take the lion's share. What's left for us?"

Zhang Jiaqi said to Tu Kesiluo: "Brother-in-law, don't you understand? This is all Lord Jiang's plan."

"Think—he has only thirty thousand troops. After days of fighting Zhong Nianyu, he's lucky to still have twenty thousand left," Zhang Jiaqi continued. "When we attack from both sides, his already depleted forces will be shattered further."

"Then our sixty thousand troops will crush him like a mountain falling—he'll have no chance to resist," Zhang Jiaqi's eyes gleamed with cunning. "Do you really think Lord Jiang intends to split Xiawei County with him? That's just bait. Once we take Xiawei, we'll find an excuse to eliminate Xu Zhanhong."

Tu Kesiluo was even more confused. "But Xu Zhanhong isn't a fool. He won't agree to an alliance with no fairness or guarantee. Won't he fear we'll betray him?"

Jiang Mingyu smiled slyly. "Tu Kesiluo, you're right—we considered this. Xu Zhanhong won't overlook it either." He tapped the letter in his hand. "So I told him plainly: to swiftly capture Xiawei, I left my main army and supplies behind in Dingdong."

"I told him I brought only ten thousand elite cavalry. How could he refuse?" Jiang Mingyu said triumphantly. "Compared to the ambitionless Zhong Nianyu, Xu Zhanhong needs land to secure his position most of all."

"Therefore, I'm certain he has no reason to refuse," Jiang Mingyu declared confidently. "With proper command, ten thousand cavalry can take a city. Besides, after half a year of conquests, my name echoes across the Great Feng's northern frontier. I've already taken Xiangcangzhou—no matter how dim-witted Xu Zhanhong is, he won't doubt my strength."

Black-faced Yama relaxed. He was Jiang Mingyu's top general and most trusted man. He knew Jiang Mingyu's plans were always meticulous and flawless. Though he disliked Xu Zhanhong, he trusted Jiang Mingyu could control the situation.

"Then we can wait calmly for Xu Zhanhong's reply," Black-faced Yama said respectfully.

Jiang Mingyu nodded. "Exactly." He tucked the letter into his robe, silently anticipating Xu Zhanhong's response. He was certain his judgment was right—Xu Zhanhong would bite.

That night, at the third watch, Tu Kesiluo rushed into Jiang Mingyu's tent. "Brother, news! Xu Zhanhong has accepted your terms. He says he'll march at dawn to join you and attack Xiawei together."

Jiang Mingyu's eyes flashed with sharp light. He smiled, clapping Tu Kesiluo's shoulder. "Excellent. Half my plan has succeeded. Once we take Xiawei, Xu Zhanhong is a dead man. Then we swallow his forces whole—the entire northern frontier will be ours."

Tu Kesiluo laughed. "Brother, you're brilliant! I always said you're the greatest genius under heaven. This move is masterful—you made Xu Zhanhong think he gained an advantage, when he's digging his own grave. When we strike him unexpectedly with a fatal blow, he'll regret it till his last breath."

Jiang Mingyu shook his head. "Don't underestimate Xu Zhanhong. He may be greedy and shameless, but he's no fool. We must proceed with caution—let him sense nothing. Otherwise, our plan fails."