Chapter 214

Time passed quickly; before they knew it, it was the evening of the second day. Jiang Mingyu stood atop a small hill, gazing down at the camp below. In his eyes flickered a glint of resolve and determination—this night, he would make a bold decision.

Behind him stood his eighty thousand elite cavalry, clad in black battle robes, wielding sharp blades, their faces brimming with murderous intent. They all knew what awaited them tonight: a surprise attack on the enemy's main camp.

Jiang Mingyu turned and asked Tukesulu.

"Are you all ready?"

"My lord, everything is prepared. Rest assured, tonight we'll give Zhong Nianyu a taste of our might."

Zhang Jiani and Li Goudan chimed in.

"That's right, my lord, you're absolutely right. Tonight we'll make Zhong Nianyu understand just how formidable Jiang Mingyu is."

"Exactly, my lord, don't worry. We've followed you for years—never once have we seen you lose."

Hearing their words, Jiang Mingyu felt a warmth in his chest. He knew these three were truly loyal, willing to stand by him through any hardship or danger. He clapped Tukesulu on the shoulder and said:

"Advance."

At Jiang Mingyu's command, his eighty thousand men moved silently toward their designated position. They advanced swiftly and stealthily, like a black serpent gliding across the grasslands under cover of darkness.

Though the army moved quickly, Jiang Mingyu continued to urge them on.

"Faster, faster."

He knew time was life. If they struck before the enemy noticed, they could inflict maximum chaos and damage. But if discovered, they would be trapped in a brutal fight—or worse, defeated.

Finally, before the third watch, guided by scouts, Jiang Mingyu's forces reached their destination: the mouth of a valley, where a road led northward. Not far along that road lay Zhong Nianyu's main camp.

The scout extended a hand toward the north.

"My lord, just ahead, past the bend, is Zhong Nianyu's camp."

"From our high ground, once Xu Zhanhong sets the signal fire, we'll see it clearly."

Jiang Mingyu nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Xu Zhanhong was his mole inside the enemy camp, tasked with luring the enemy out to pursue him, then igniting fire as the signal. Once the flames appeared, Jiang Mingyu would lead his cavalry out of the valley mouth and charge straight for the enemy camp.

Watching the distant flickering lights and the now-silent camp of Zhong Nianyu, Jiang Mingyu whispered:

"The third watch is near. Tukesulu, order the troops to prepare—ready to charge at any moment."

Just two li down the road, his cavalry could reach the camp in an instant.

Tukesulu nodded and relayed Jiang Mingyu's order. His voice was low but powerful.

"Listen up, brothers. Tonight, we're here to give Zhong Nianyu a surprise. When you see the fire, charge out together and smash their camp. Remember—no mercy, no hesitation. Kill every enemy you see. Understood?"

"Understood!"

Eighty thousand cavalry answered in unison. Their voices were quiet but thick with murderous fervor. They craved battle and victory, eager to earn glory for Jiang Mingyu.

After roughly a cup of tea had passed, Tukesulu glanced at the sky and whispered:

"My lord, the third watch has arrived."

At that moment, Li Goudan, watching from afar, suddenly cried out:

"My lord, look—fire! Xu Zhanhong's signal!"

Jiang Mingyu spun around and saw countless torches surging toward Xu Zhanhong's camp—the enemy's pursuing force. Behind them, Xu Zhanhong's camp erupted into a sea of flames—the signal fire.

Night was ink-black, lit only by starlight and fire. Screams, shouts, clashing weapons—wove together into a chilling symphony of battle.

Tukesulu gripped his long saber, eyes like a wolf, and whispered to Jiang Mingyu: "Big brother, it's started over there. Shall we charge?"

Jiang Mingyu shook his head, calm and composed: "Not yet. Wait until they're both weakened. We're here to reap the benefits, not to die."

"Remember—we're the fisherman, not the clam or the sandpiper."

Tukesulu muttered impatiently: "Clam? Sandpiper? What's that?" He had no grasp of Jiang Mingyu's classical allusions, but he still obeyed without question.

Another fifteen minutes passed. The distant cries grew louder, the flames brighter. Jiang Mingyu glanced at the sky—he judged the moment right. He swept his sleeve. "It's time. Advance."

Tukesulu interjected: "Big brother, if we're the fisherman, why not wait until one side is completely wiped out? That'd be easier."

Jiang Mingyu shook his head. "If one side fell so quickly, Xu Zhanhong and Zhong Nianyu wouldn't have stalled this long. What if Xu Zhanhong, seeing no sign of us, reveals our plan to Zhong Nianyu? Then we'd have two enemies instead of one—and that would be disastrous."

Tukesulu, convinced, nodded. "Then we strike now?"

Jiang Mingyu nodded. "No more words. Light the signal. Attack." He gave the order, and his troops from Zangzhou instantly ignited their torches, raising them high into a wall of flame. They roared as one and charged toward Xiawei City.

Before the words had faded, Tukesulu raised his saber. "Kill!" He led the charge, followed by Zhang Jiaqi, Li Goudan, and others—all Jiang Mingyu's trusted inner circle, trained in his true arts. But Jiang Mingyu had ordered them not to reveal their real skills, lest Xu Zhanhong or Zhong Nianyu grow suspicious. So they fought with ordinary martial skill—yet even that was enough to make them unstoppable on the battlefield.

Amid thundering hooves, less than a cup of tea passed before Jiang Mingyu's forces reached the chaotic front. Seeing fresh troops arrive and spotting Jiang Mingyu's banner in the firelight, Xu Zhanhong, drenched in blood, roared: "Brothers! Jiang Mingyu's reinforcements have arrived! Crush Zhong Nianyu—kill!"

As he shouted, he cleaved a nearby enemy soldier clean in two with his axe. A flash of relief and gratitude lit his eyes. He had been on the brink of collapse—yet Jiang Mingyu had come as promised. He silently vowed: if he survived tonight, he would repay Jiang Mingyu's debt with his life.

Tukesulu, without hesitation, charged in with Zhang Jiaqi and Li Goudan, swinging their weapons. Though they held back their true arts, the plain soldiers of Xiawei had no chance against them. In less than an hour and three-quarters, dozens of Xiawei soldiers lay dead behind them.

Seeing this, Jiang Mingyu's Zangzhou troops surged forward with renewed ferocity, fearless and relentless. These were veterans who had followed Jiang Mingyu since the beginning of his rise—never defeated, utterly loyal, and brimming with unshakable confidence.

Watching his troops shattered and scattered by Jiang Mingyu's assault, Zhong Nianyu roared in fury: "Jiang Mingyu! We've never crossed paths before—no grudge, no feud—why are you aiding Xu Zhanhong against me?" He was a master fighter, yet even as he hacked through enemies, he found breath to curse Jiang Mingyu.