Chapter 228: Returning Means Certain Death

Two mornings later, Zhang Zhang Jiaqi rushed into Jiang Jiang Mingyu's room. Her face brimming with excitement, she said, "Big Brother Jiang, good news! The scouts have returned. They report that Hamastlun was utterly routed by Tuke Tuke Siluo and Dog-Egg, with fewer than a thousand survivors fleeing. They are now ten li outside the city; let us hurry to greet them!"

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not help but laugh. He patted Zhang Zhang Jiaqi on the shoulder and said, "Good. Tuke Tuke Siluo has indeed lived up to expectations, crushing Hamastlun. Zhang Jiaqi, come with me to the city walls so Hamastlun can witness our bearing."

Last year, trapped in Shangmu City for half a year, they had faced daily sieges and mockery from the Other Xi Xia. Now that they finally had a chance for revenge against the Other Xi Xia, his mood was naturally excellent.

Ten li outside Yingchang City, Hamastlun led a ragged band of defeated soldiers toward the city. His body was covered in wounds and stained with blood, his hair and beard a tangled mess. His heart was filled with rage and terror.

"Damn it, this time I've truly taken a massive fall," he cursed. "I thought capturing Changwu County would be easy, never expecting that Tuke Tuke Siluo would suddenly appear behind us with twenty thousand men. They caught us off guard, slaughtering us until our casualties were countless. Had I not been slightly quicker-witted, I would have been surrounded and killed long ago."

"What is most infuriating is that Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not return to rescue Changwu County; instead, he seized the opportunity to sneak-attack Yingchang City. Now we have no retreat left."

A soldier beside him asked cautiously, "General, could Jiang Jiang Mingyu have already captured Yingchang City?"

Hamastlun shook his head. "Impossible. Yingchang City is a key stronghold of the Other Xi Xia in Guanzhong, guarded by ten thousand elite troops. Even if Jiang Jiang Mingyu has ability, he could not have captured it in such a short time."

"Then do we still have hope?" the soldier asked.

"Of course we do," Hamastlun said. "As long as we can enter Yingchang City, we can join forces with the garrison and fight Jiang Jiang Mingyu once more. When that time comes, I will make him know my power."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let us go quickly!" the soldier said.

"Right," Hamastlun said. "Order the men behind to quicken their pace; we must enter the city as soon as possible."

So saying, he whipped his horse and galloped forward.

Half an hour later, they finally arrived beneath Yingchang City. Hamastlun looked up, only to find the city gates tightly shut and not a soul visible on the walls.

"What is happening? Has everyone in the city died?" Hamastlun said, puzzled.

He shouted loudly, "Brothers on the walls, open the gates quickly! I am Hamastlun; I have returned with over a thousand brothers!"

No sooner had his voice faded than a young voice suddenly rang out from the tower above.

"Hamastlun, you have finally arrived. Jiang Mou has been waiting here for you for a long time."

Along with this voice, a bright red banner slowly rose, bearing a large character 'Jiang'. Hanging from the flagpole was a human head—that of He He Tianhong, the Other Xi Xia's deputy general.

Upon seeing this scene, Hamastlun felt as if struck by five thunderclaps; his eyes widened in horror.

"You... are you Jiang Jiang Mingyu?"

He looked at the young man on the tower in disbelief. That young man was smiling warmly at him, holding a long sword in his hand, with a group of soldiers dressed in Other Xi Xia uniforms standing behind him.

"Indeed, it is Jiang Mou," Jiang Jiang Mingyu said. "Have you not always sought to avenge yourself upon Jiang Mou? Today Jiang Mou waits for you right here. Do you not feel this is Heaven's will?"

"How... how could you be here?" Hamastlun stammered.

"Is that even a question?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu said. "Naturally, I came to attack Yingchang City. Did you think I would be foolish enough to go rescue Changwu County? With Tuke Tuke Siluo and Dog-Egg there, I had no need to worry. All I needed to do was catch you unawares, sneak-attack Yingchang City, and capture both its garrison and supplies in one stroke."

"You never expected that returning would mean a dead end, did you?"

"You... you are too cunning!" Hamastlun said, gritting his teeth.

"Heh, this is called winning by strategy."

"Have you Other Xi Xia not always boasted of your cleverness? Today, let you taste the flavor of being outwitted."

So saying, Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand, signaling the soldiers on the wall to loose their arrows.

"Ah!" Hamastlun cried out in alarm and hurriedly dodged, but it was too late; the ragged soldiers behind him were instantly riddled with the dense rain of arrows, turning them into hedgehogs.

"Run! Run!" Hamastlun desperately urged his mount. He only wished to escape with his life and return to the Other Xi Xia.

But how could he know he had no retreat left? Just as he turned, a sharp long sword flew down from the sky, heading straight for the center of his back.

"Ah!" Hamastlun screamed in agony once more. Instinctively he tried to dodge, but it was too late. That long sword, like a blade slicing through tofu, easily pierced his chest.

He felt a surge of excruciating pain, and then knew nothing more.