Chapter 217: Zhang Zhang Jiaqi's Secret Thoughts

Facing Xiawei City, his former hometown, Wang Wang Leyuan felt his heart surge with emotion. Looking at the familiar faces on the city wall, a complex wave of feelings rose within him. He wanted to persuade them to surrender to avoid a massacre, yet he did not know how to begin.

"My lord, let me speak to the people in the city first; perhaps I can reason with them properly," Wang Wang Leyuan said in a low voice as he approached Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu snorted: "Very well, give it a try. Best if you take it without a fight."

Wang Wang Leyuan nodded, walked to the foot of the city, and shouted loudly: "Brothers on the wall, do you still remember me, Wang Wang Leyuan?"

The garrison on the city wall heard the voice and looked over in surprise. They recognized that figure. It was their former commander, one of Zhong Nianyu's closest confidants. How could he be following Jiang Jiang Mingyu to attack Xiawei? How could he have betrayed his lord?

"Wang Wang Leyuan? You traitor! How dare you follow Jiang Jiang Mingyu to kill us?" someone shouted in anger.

"Wang Wang Leyuan, do you still have the face to return? Do you still have a conscience? Have you forgotten the grace our lord showed you?" someone asked mournfully.

"Commander Wang, how... how did you end up mixing with Jiang Jiang Mingyu?"

In their minds, Wang Wang Leyuan should still be staying in Dingdong. Wang Wang Leyuan let out a bitter smile. "Brothers, I will tell you the truth: my lord conquered Dingdong a few days ago, and I have submitted to him."

What? This news struck the garrison like a bolt from the blue, shocking them as much as seeing the three heads of Zhong Nianyu. In terms of status, aside from Lu Lu Chuanwen and Zhong Hu Qiang, only Wang Wang Leyuan remained who could speak directly to Zhong Nianyu.

Now that even Wang Wang Leyuan had surrendered, what could they hope for? Seeing the garrison's wavering resolve, Wang Wang Leyuan took the opportunity to speak.

"Brothers, our uprising was to resist Emperor Fei Hou's oppression and find a way to survive."

"In that case, why not find a lord worthy of our loyalty?"

"You may not know much about my lord's deeds, but I can tell you about them."

"My lord, relying on his own abilities, defeated the dogs of Other Xi Xia many times and saved Shangmu."

"Later, when Emperor Fei Hou came to power and relentlessly pursued him, my lord had no choice but to raise the banner of righteousness."

"In just three short months, he led the brothers from Shangmu to seize Decangzhou, the largest of the nine provinces of Dafeng."

These facts were well known throughout Jiang Jiang Mingyu's army, and Wang Wang Leyuan had heard them long ago.

He had merely exaggerated some points to please Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not mind, listening quietly. Seeing no sign of displeasure, Wang Wang Leyuan, illuminated by the firelight, continued.

"Now, for the sake of peace under heaven, my lord fears no sacrifice and leads the troops personally. What spirit!"

"To be honest, at first I was also unconvinced, but after following my lord for a few days, I discovered his abilities far surpass Zhong Nianyu's."

"Brothers, think about it: if Zhong Nianyu had even half my lord's ambition, Lanzhou would have been his domain long ago."

"Alas, he lacked the mind and the courage, which is why he ended up with his head cut off today."

"Brothers, Zhong Nianyu is dead. You are all brave men; why die for him?"

"Open the gates and surrender. Otherwise, when my lord's great army breaches the city, you will have only one path: death."

"We have not yet seen Emperor Fei Hou driven from power. What meaning is there in your dying in vain?" Wang Wang Leyuan finished speaking, and the garrison on the wall fell into deep thought.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not urge them, nor did he threaten; he simply watched them quietly. After a long while, the soldier who had spoken earlier let out a long sigh.

"Brothers, let us... surrender." Faced with the choice between life and death, after much deliberation, he chose to live. Seeing that the silent crowd offered no objection, the speaking soldier waved his hand.

"Open the city gates." Watching the gates slowly open, Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled inwardly; leaving Wang Wang Leyuan behind had indeed been a wise move.

Thanks to Wang Wang Leyuan's persuasion just now, the fifteen thousand people in the city surrendered to Jiang Jiang Mingyu without resistance.

As soon as Jiang Jiang Mingyu handed over city defense to Tu Tu Kesiluo, he heard words that made his heart sink.

"My lord, tonight we fought half to death, losing nearly five thousand men. Adding those traitorous dogs who surrendered, we now have only ninety thousand."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face changed; he nodded reluctantly. "Very well. Let the brothers rest for three days. After three days, we will head for Dongning Commandery." This place, Lanzhou, he had now captured two commanderies, with three remaining. Dongning, Yingchang, and Dihuo were all thorns in his eye.

During these three days, he sent Li Goudan to scout news from Dongning, leaving city affairs to Tu Tu Kesiluo. In any case, he feared no betrayal; these people ate meat and drank soup with him. Whoever dared to rebel would be sent to hell.

Yet before Li Goudan returned, he met Wang Wang Leyuan first.

"What do you want?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked irritably.

"My lord, this subordinate has come to report on the situation in Dongning," Wang Wang Leyuan said respectfully.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes lit up. "Speak. How is the situation in Dongning?" Wang Wang Leyuan twitched at the corner of his mouth and said somewhat awkwardly.

"My lord, this subordinate is truly embarrassed. This subordinate is from Dingdong and is not very familiar with Dongning."

"This subordinate only knows that Dongning is in great chaos. In a small commandery city, there are seventy-eight rebel bands mixed together. These people fight day after day, like porridge boiling."

"However, my lord, rest assured. With a single order from you, this subordinate will lead troops to deal with them; it will be no problem." Hearing Wang Wang Leyuan's words, Jiang Jiang Mingyu cursed inwardly: "Useless." Such a major matter, and you know only this much? Do you take me for a fool? He waved his hand coldly.

"You may leave for now. We will speak again when Little Seven returns." Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu displeased, Wang Wang Leyuan hurriedly withdrew.

As Jiang Jiang Mingyu was pondering the matter of Dongning, he saw Zhang Zhang Jiaqi approach with a smile.

"Jiang Da Ren, what are you thinking about?" Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heavy expression, she wished to offer a few words of comfort.

Looking at Zhang Zhang Jiaqi's adorable appearance, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt warmth in his heart. He smiled.

"What else could I think of besides Dongning? Please, sit." Zhang Zhang Jiaqi sat beside Jiang Jiang Mingyu and sighed softly.

"My lord, you have worked too hard these days. You must rest properly and not exhaust yourself."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paused; hearing these words from Zhang Zhang Jiaqi's mouth felt different. Although she was not as arrogant as her sister, she was usually a cold person. How had she suddenly become so gentle?

What he did not know was that Zhang Zhang Jiaqi's feelings for him had quietly changed. At first, she had hated Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

She considered him a calamity who had turned their entire family into rebels.

But later, seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heroic spirit and his tolerance toward her sister and Tu Tu Kesiluo, a flicker of doubt arose in her heart.

Gradually, she found her disgust for Jiang Jiang Mingyu turning into admiration, and admiration into affection.

She dared not speak it, expressing it only through her actions.

Zhang Zhang Jiaqi's heart raced wildly. She increasingly realized she had developed different feelings for Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

This feeling was like a surging river; once it broke the dam, it could no longer be held back. She thought and thought, finally admitting she had fallen for Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Yet this emotion was too taboo. Liu Liu Yifei was her best sister; how could she fall for her husband?

She wrestled with these feelings for a long time. But a Wu Zhiren was destined to be more decisive.

Today, she finally made up her mind to speak her heart. Even if rejected, it was better than keeping it bottled up.

Summoning her courage, she gazed at Jiang Jiang Mingyu. Just as she was about to speak, she saw him wearily rub his neck and say with a bitter smile: "Oh my goodness, it's all forced. If Emperor Fei Hou had finished sooner, I would have returned to reunite with my wife. I have no right to complain; everyone is fighting for their lives. As the commander-in-chief, I must charge to the front. The future Jiangshan will be mine anyway! I have to worry!"

Zhang Zhang Jiaqi shook her head and said, "Being with my lord, I have already..."

Before she could finish, she heard Li Goudan suddenly rush in and shout, "My lord! The scouts are back!"

Zhang Zhang Jiaqi could only swallow her true words back into her belly and sighed silently.