Chapter 219: Flooded Dongning

Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily after hearing the scout's report.

"Perfect! Now even if Zhao Xiang tries to wriggle out of it, no one will believe him."

"No matter how strong Dongning City is, it can't hold against eighty thousand righteous troops."

"Tuke Sulu, send men to keep watch on Dongning City's movements and report to me at once."

"Jiaqi, have the army ready. Wait until they've worn each other down, then strike."

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. In no more than five days, Dongning City will be ours."

On the fourth evening, Tuke Sulu rushed into Jiang Mingyu's tent.

"My lord, news has come."

Jiang Mingyu had been waiting impatiently in the hills.

"Speak quickly."

Tuke Sulu chuckled, glancing at Zhang Jiaqi beside him.

"Your cousin's plan is ruthless—and brilliantly executed."

"After noon yesterday, the eight rebel bands arrived beneath Dongning City. Zhao Xiang was completely stunned."

"According to the scouts, the whole thing caused a uproar—Zhao Xiang had heard rumors beforehand."

"He thought we were behind it, but he had not a shred of proof—so he's stuck bearing the blame."

"He tried to explain himself to Qian Dadan and the others, but they gave him no chance—just attacked outright."

Tuke Sulu caught his breath and continued.

"But don't underestimate Zhao Xiang—he didn't hold Dongning City by accident."

"Qian Dadan's eighty thousand men fought from noon yesterday until this morning—and still couldn't breach the walls."

"Worse still, Zhao Xiang launched a counterattack, sacrificing five thousand men to kill nearly thirty thousand of Qian Dadan's forces."

"Then someone came up with an idea—they breached a great river outside Dongning City and diverted the water into the city."

"You know, my lord, this is precisely when snowmelt swells the rivers."

"Once the flood poured in, Zhao Xiang was finished."

"Now Qian Dadan's men are ready—they're waiting for Zhao Xiang's forces to die out, then they'll storm in to loot."

Jiang Mingyu watched the fires beyond the city walls, secretly pleased. "Diverting water to flood the city—brutal. I love people who cause chaos!"

He turned to Zhang Jiani: "Tell the men to rest. No fighting today."

Zhang Jiani frowned: "My lord, what's this? No battle?"

Jiang Mingyu smiled and asked Tuke Sulu: "You know where they cut the river, right?"

Tuke Sulu nodded: "Five li north of Dongning City. Why do you ask?"

Jiang Mingyu smiled mysteriously: "Just keep watching Dongning. You'll see a show."

Two days later, Tuke Sulu rushed in: "My lord, disaster! Zhao Xiang's lost—he's opened the gates and charged out! He's about to die!"

Jiang Mingyu remained calm: "Take it slow. Wait a little longer."

Tuke Sulu panicked: "We can't wait any longer! Qian Dadan will take the city!"

Jiang Mingyu replied coolly: "I'm waiting for him to enter. Then you'll see my trump card."

Tuke Sulu was baffled, but he had no choice but to follow Jiang Mingyu's orders.

Here is my revision of the text—I hope you like it:

Jiang Mingyu wore white robes, elegant and poised, his eyes gleaming with quiet mastery, as if all things lay within his grasp. He watched Zhang Jiani rush in, a faint smile forming.

"What is it, cousin? Any good news?"

Zhang Jiani panted: "My lord, Zhao Xiang's been killed by Qian Dadan—Dongning City has fallen to them!"

She stared at Jiang Mingyu, puzzled—was he really going to miss this golden chance? Hadn't he planned to seize the city in the chaos?

Jiang Mingyu spoke calmly: "Issue my order—full army, advance."

Zhang Jiani was even more confused: "The battle's over—where are we going?"

Jiang Mingyu smiled mysteriously, waving a finger: "It's only just beginning."

With a sweep of his sleeve, he ordered: "Move out!"

Twenty thousand troops arrived north of Dongning City. Faint sounds of fighting drifted from within. Jiang Mingyu sneered: "Took the city and still fight among themselves? They're begging for death!"

Tuke Sulu was baffled: "My lord, what exactly are you planning?"

Jiang Mingyu explained: "I'm going to flood the city—just like Qian Dadan did. Turn his own trick against him. When the flood comes, Qian Dadan won't hold a thing."

Tuke Sulu suddenly understood. Zhang Jiani was impressed by Jiang Mingyu's cunning.

Jiang Mingyu's move eliminated Qian Dadan and secured Dongning City effortlessly—brilliant indeed!

"My lord, you're invincible! Qian Dadan must be cursing himself to death!"

"Boss, you're a genius! Qian Dadan must be seething!"

Jiang Mingyu watched their expressions, secretly pleased. He knew he held Dongning City's fate in his hands—just a little more pressure, and it would be his.

"Enough praise. Move out."

He led his twenty thousand troops to the riverbank where Qian Dadan's men had cut the channel.

Tuke Sulu was a tall, burly man in silver armor, wielding a long blade. He was bold and straightforward, utterly loyal to Jiang Mingyu. He stared at the river's flow and roared: "Men! Dig! Let the water loose!"

Instantly, the earth was torn open, and the flood surged again, racing toward Dongning City.

Meanwhile, inside Dongning City, Qian Dadan's men were in chaos. Having repelled Zhao Xiang, they'd suffered heavy losses in infighting—only forty thousand remained.

Just as Qian Dadan gloated, the torrent returned, drowning Dongning City in a hellish flood.

Three days later, Jiang Mingyu's troops smashed open the gates. No living souls remained—only countless bloated corpses floated in the floodwaters, a horrifying sight.

Jiang Mingyu and Tuke Sulu entered the Inspector's mansion, searching for Qian Dadan's body. In a side chamber, they found a swollen, unrecognizable corpse.

Tuke Sulu frowned: "Is this Qian Dadan? Jesus, it's disgusting! Dongning's a ghost town now—what's the point of taking it?"

Jiang Mingyu smiled, clapping Tuke Sulu on the shoulder: "Don't despise it. This is the ground we fought for. It's empty now, but if we restore order and revive production, it'll flourish again."

Jiang Mingyu ordered calmly: "Tuke Sulu, find Zhuge Yu. Have him appoint officials as Subprefect and Inspector of Dongning. Post notices at the city gates: Dongning is now ours. Anyone who moves here gets three years of tax exemption."

"Also send these notices to all surrounding regions—recruit settlers. Same terms."

Tuke Sulu nodded: "Yes, my lord! I'll handle it!" He left with a few men, descending the hill.

Jiang Mingyu turned to Zhang Jiani: "Jiaqi, tell Goudan to bring the remaining forty thousand troops from Xiawei here at once. We'll rest here, then move on to Zhangwu and Huating."

She smiled and nodded: "Yes, Brother Jiang. When that's done, all of Lanzhou will be ours!"

Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly: "That day is not far off."

In a quiet inn, a veiled woman sat sipping tea, her figure graceful, her face hidden behind a sheer veil. Her eyes were deep and cold, as if indifferent to the chaos of the world.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps shattered her stillness. She set down her cup and said calmly: "Enter."

The door opened. A weary woman stood before her, clad in tattered cloth, carrying a heavy bundle, her face streaked with dust and sweat. She looked barely twenty, yet her eyes held the weight of sorrow.

If Jiang Mingyu were here, he would recognize her at once as Tang Youli.

The woman glanced at her and asked coldly: "Do we know each other? Why are you here?"

Tang Youli heard her voice and immediately knelt, begging: "Master, please take me in!"

She banged her head against the floor, over and over.

The woman frowned: "You've trailed me for days—just to become my disciple?"

She had long sensed Tang Youli following her, but had said nothing. She wanted to know the girl's true purpose.

Tang Youli nodded, her eyes blazing with hatred: "I want to learn martial arts—to seek revenge!"

The woman grew slightly interested: "You have enemies? Becoming my disciple will let you take revenge?"

Tang Youli gritted her teeth: "My father's killer! My enemy is Jiang Mingyu! He murdered my father and stole everything from me! I will make him pay with blood!"

Jiang Mingyu?

The veiled woman rose, staring into the girl's eyes…