Chapter 224: Marching Out Again

After burying the last corpse, Tuke Tuke Siluo looked at Jiang Jiang Mingyu with concern and asked, "Big Brother, were you injured in the battle just now?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu wiped the dust from his face and forced a smile. "I'm fine. Thanks to Zhang Zhang Jiaqi's quick eyes and hands, she tackled me to the ground before that fatal arrow struck. Otherwise, I would likely be a corpse by now."

Recalling the scene where that arrow nearly took his life, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt a lingering chill. Tuke Tuke Siluo also let out a long sigh, patted Jiang Jiang Mingyu's shoulder, and said, "That's great; as long as you're safe. We must be more cautious from now on; we cannot have such perilous situations again."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded and was about to speak when Tuke Tuke Siluo continued, "Big Brother, since Changwu has been captured by us, should we not now go to seize Yingchang Commandery, the last stronghold in Lanzhou?"

Before Jiang Jiang Mingyu could answer, the sound of galloping footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. A breathless soldier rushed in and loudly reported, "Report, My Lord! A messenger from Huicangzhou requests an audience!"

Huicangzhou? Could it be some emergency? Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart jumped. He immediately thought of the hundred thousand troops Chen Tang still stationed in Yizhou, and that Huicangzhou and Yizhou were separated by only one mountain. Did Chen Tang learn of his attack on Lanzhou and take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Huicangzhou?

Huicangzhou had only Zhu Ge Yu's five or six hundred thousand men; facing Chen Tang's hundred thousand troops, they would likely be unable to hold. What worried Jiang Jiang Mingyu even more was that Liu Liu Yifei's family and the still-recovering Zhang Zhang Jiani were also in Huicangzhou. If Huicangzhou was truly attacked...

Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately said, "Quick, bring the messenger in at once!"

Moments later, a dust-covered messenger from Huicangzhou walked in, took a letter from his bosom, and handed it to Jiang Jiang Mingyu. Jiang Jiang Mingyu hurriedly tore it open and scanned it quickly, then finally breathed a huge sigh of relief; the letter contained no mention of Huicangzhou being attacked.

"My Lord, this is an urgent dispatch Mr. Zhu Ge Yu instructed me to deliver swiftly," the messenger reported respectfully.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu read the letter's contents carefully once more before feeling completely at ease. Tuke Tuke Siluo hurriedly asked, "Big Brother, what exactly happened?" Zhang Zhang Jiaqi also looked at Jiang Jiang Mingyu with wide, attentive eyes, waiting for his explanation.

A slight smile curled Jiang Jiang Mingyu's lips as he said, "Zhu Ge Yu wrote in the letter that Chen Tang in Yizhou has officially ascended the throne and declared himself Emperor."

Tuke Tuke Siluo frowned. "What does him becoming Emperor have to do with us? Could Mr. Zhu Ge Yu be trying to persuade you to become Emperor as well?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head, smiled, and then his expression turned serious again. "Zhu Ge Yu said that Fei Hou has already learned of Chen Tang's declaration and has dispatched two hundred thousand troops to campaign against him. Huicangzhou and Yizhou are separated by only one mountain. If Fei Hou destroys Chen Tang, his next target will surely be us."

Zhang Zhang Jiani interjected, "Mr. Zhu Ge Yu's words are not without reason; this possibility is indeed very high. Big Brother, should we not immediately retreat to Huicangzhou to prepare?"

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head and said, "No, retreating to Huicangzhou will not solve the problem. Even if we retreat, Fei Hou will still attack if he intends to. It is better to take advantage of his campaign against Yizhou and quickly seize the entire prefecture of Lanzhou. Controlling two prefectures is of great significance to us. By then, even if Fei Hou intends to use force against us, he will think twice."

Tuke Tuke Siluo agreed, "Big Brother speaks wisely. Just as Big Brother Shang Mu said, only by constantly strengthening ourselves can we avoid being bullied."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction and then instructed the messenger, "You have worked hard returning to Huicangzhou. Tell Zhu Ge Yu that I am now aware of the situation. Have him send more scouts to closely monitor developments in Yizhou and report immediately if anything changes."

After watching the messenger depart, Tuke Tuke Siluo asked in confusion, "Big Brother, isn't capturing Lanzhou enough to keep us busy? Why do we need to care so much about the affairs between Fei Hou and Chen Tang?"

Zhang Zhang Jiani rolled her eyes at him and sighed helplessly. "You really are an idiot; can't you see this?" She adopted the tone of a teacher instructing a student. "I truly wonder what my sister saw in you?"

Tuke Tuke Siluo felt somewhat embarrassed and quickly retorted, "Then tell me, what does Big Brother mean?"

Zhang Zhang Jiani smiled slightly, turned to Jiang Jiang Mingyu, and said, "Big Brother, I guess you intend to profit from the situation, letting Chen Tang and Fei Hou weaken each other, correct?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled in approval. Zhang Zhang Jiani continued her analysis: "Whether Fei Hou wins or Chen Tang succeeds, neither outcome is good for us. It is better to let them destroy each other for now, and then we will clean up the aftermath."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction. "Correct, you guessed correctly. Our ultimate goal is to unify the nine provinces of the Great Feng."

Tuke Tuke Siluo awkwardly rubbed his hands. "I am still too stupid; I didn't think of this layer. Little Sister-in-law, I must learn more from you in the future."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed. "Tuke Tuke Siluo, you must indeed learn more from Jia Ni regarding strategy in the future. Since everyone understands my intentions, we will march to attack Yingchang Commandery in three days and complete the occupation of Lanzhou."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu held the reins, mounted the black steed, and gazed with fiery eyes at the plains slowly unfolding in the distance. Sunlight bathed his sharply defined face, outlining a resolute silhouette.

This was already the third day since he led the army away from Changwu City. On the march, the thick scent of yellow earth filled the air. Jiang Jiang Mingyu inhaled lightly, and a surge of heroic spirit rose within him.

This journey was for the decisive battle at Yingchang, to seize the last city and complete the recovery of the entire Lanzhou prefecture!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned to look at the soldiers behind him; smiles spread across their faces as they joked and teased one another. These thirty thousand brothers were all fine men personally trained by Jiang Jiang Mingyu, each a man of iron will who would not bow to force.

A surge of hot blood rushed through Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart. He raised his long spear high and shouted loudly, "Brothers, I tell you, we must win this final battle! Lanzhou belongs to us! All the common people oppressed by tyranny are awaiting our victory! My good brothers, for our shared dream, charge!"

"Charge!" The thirty thousand soldiers responded with a thunderous roar that shook the heavens.

At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's trusted subordinate Tuke Tuke Siluo Lan Hua rode up on his horse, dismounted, and respectfully bowed. "Big Brother, Yingchang City is not far ahead. Do you already have a strategy for attacking the city?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily and slapped Tuke Tuke Siluo Lan Hua's shoulder with a large hand. "My good brother, do not worry. I have already investigated thoroughly. Now, famine is rampant within Yingchang City, and the garrison has just fought a fierce battle and suffered heavy losses. We will not need many days to capture Yingchang!"

Tuke Tuke Siluo Lan Hua nodded, then asked again, "Big Brother, I say we should finalize a plan to attack the city as soon as possible, lest we delay our grand scheme to return to Huicangzhou for rescue!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed loudly and spoke with great heroism. "I have already thought it through. We will adopt the tactic of surrounding without attacking: on one hand, block the grain supply routes to Yingchang City, and on the other, wait patiently until the city's provisions are exhausted. That brat Gu Kai has enough military grain to last at most ten or half a month. When difficulties arise, chaos will naturally follow. We will reap the benefits of the fisherman without lifting a finger and capture Yingchang effortlessly!"

Tuke Tuke Siluo Lan Hua suddenly understood, nodding repeatedly in agreement. As the two were talking and laughing, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's trusted strategist Zhang Zhang Jiaqi also spurred her horse and rushed over.

"Big Brother Jiang, what you said is very reasonable!" Zhang Zhang Jiaqi galloped quickly to Jiang Jiang Mingyu's side, cupped her hands, and said, "Adopting the strategy of besieging the city can both reduce our casualties and quickly capture Yingchang City. If we are lucky, perhaps we can complete the final victory within ten days!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily, his spirit soaring. "Good! It seems the three of us are of one mind; let it be settled! As soon as we reach the walls of Yingchang City tomorrow morning, we will immediately execute the siege plan. I will make that brat Gu Kai have nowhere to escape, crying for his parents and begging for surrender!"

The three rode side by side, laughing and talking, as they drew closer to the direction of Yingchang City. A surge of hot blood stirred in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart. He raised his long spear high and said, "Good brothers, let us strike with one spirit and fight this last battle! This time, victory will surely belong to us!"

"Belong to us!" Ten thousand horses neighed, and the thirty thousand soldiers roared across the waves, their voices shaking the vast sky. The mighty army, led by Jiang Jiang Mingyu, advanced with overwhelming momentum.