Chapter 229: The Oriole Waits Behind

Zhang Zhang Jiaqi pulled her long sword from Hamastren's chest, and blood gushed out. She looked coldly at him lying on the ground, showing no mercy.

"Leave the city, kill them all!" At her command, she led the cavalry charging out of the city gate.

Seeing this, the remaining Western Xia troops behind Hamastren panicked and scattered in all directions. But how could they escape Zhang Zhang Jiaqi's pursuit? Soon, they were beheaded, their corpses piling up like mountains.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, watching this scene from the city wall, laughed heartily. He said to the soldiers beside him: "Hurry and cut off their heads, hang them on the city gate. Let the Western Xia people know that Jiang Mou is not someone to be trifled with."

The soldiers responded and went, quickly decorating the city gate into a bloody picture.

Just then, a dusty messenger arrived at Yingchang City. Kneeling before Jiang Jiang Mingyu, he said: "My lord, Mr. Master Zhuge has urgent news to report; please return to Xiangcangzhou immediately."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned and asked: "What does Zhu Ge Yu want?"

The messenger shook his head and said: "Your subordinate does not know the specific details, only that Fei Hou has already led two hundred thousand troops into Yizhou and engaged the Western Xia people in battle."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was startled in his heart, thinking of his old friends Tu Tu Kesiluo and Goudan. They were the most elite generals of the Wei Kingdom and also his most trusted comrades-in-arms. They bore the heavy responsibility of defending Changwu County, engaging the Western Xia people in a life-and-death struggle.

"I also want to go back and help," Jiang Jiang Mingyu said. "But Yingchang City was just captured and has not yet stabilized. I cannot just leave like this."

The messenger smiled and said: "My lord, rest assured. Mr. Master Zhuge has already arranged for the new Inspector Wei Lai to take over Yingchang City. He is arriving any moment."

As expected, not a moment later, a squad of cavalry galloped from the distance. Leading them was a tall, handsome, and steady young man. This was Wei Lai, the new Inspector recommended by Zhu Ge Yu to Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

After dismounting, Wei Lai bowed to Jiang Jiang Mingyu and said: "Wei Lai pays his respects to my lord. Congratulations to my lord on capturing Yingchang City."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu returned the bow and said: "Thank you, Inspector Wei, for rushing to support. From today on, Yingchang City is entrusted to your management."

Wei Lai nodded and said: "Your subordinate will certainly not fail the trust of my lord."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded and said to Zhang Zhang Jiaqi: "Zhang Jiaqi, let us go. We must return to Xiangcangzhou as soon as possible."

The messenger followed closely behind Jiang Jiang Mingyu's horse, urgently saying: "My lord, Changwu County is already safe; Mr. Master Zhuge has arranged everything. General Tu and General Li are waiting there for my lord's return."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded, saying nothing more. He took only Zhang Zhang Jiaqi with him and hurriedly left Yingchang City. His fifteen thousand elite soldiers were all handed over to the new Inspector Wei Lai for command.

After meeting up with Tu Tu Kesiluo and Li Goudan in Changwu County, they spurred their horses flying toward Xiangcangzhou. They did not stop along the way, only to catch the battle opportunity in Yizhou.

Three days later, they finally arrived at Xiangcangzhou City. 【^1^】【1】 Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately rushed to the Inspector's residence and met Zhu Ge Yu.

"How is the situation in Yizhou?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked impatiently.

Zhu Ge Yu smiled and said: "Master, our opportunity has come."

Tu Tu Kesiluo interjected: "Chen Tang and Fei Hou have already fought each other to a standstill?"

Zhu Ge Yu nodded and said: "Exactly so. Previously, Fei Hou sent Commandant Hu Bo to lead two hundred thousand troops to attack Yizhou. But Chen Tang, having just ascended the throne, defeated Hu Bo decisively outside the city of Yizhou, beheading fifty thousand enemy troops."

"Unfortunately, Chen Tang became arrogant and complacent, was ambushed secretly by Hu Bo, and his main camp was breached. Chen Tang lost sixty thousand elite troops and fled back to Yizhou City overnight."

"Hu Bo pursued while victorious, launching a night attack on Yizhou City. After a bloody battle, Chen Tang lost another twenty thousand soldiers, while Hu Bo also lost more than forty thousand."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned and calculated: "In this case, Chen Tang is left with only twenty thousand men, while Hu Bo still has a hundred thousand troops. Our Xiangcangzhou has only fifty thousand soldiers; even if Chen Tang and Hu Bo fight another battle, we have no confidence in victory."

"Moreover, if Hu Bo breaches Yizhou City, we will have wasted our military strength and time in vain. How could we possibly capture a city garrisoned by a hundred thousand troops?"

Zhu Ge Yu spoke slowly and calmly: "Master need not worry; I still have a reserve move here. Originally, I also thought Chen Tang was doomed to fail. Who knew he actually had a surprise force."

"His subordinate Tong Chang brought fifty thousand troops from an unknown place, engaging Hu Bo in fierce combat. Now Hu Bo is left with only sixty thousand remnants, confronting Chen Tang at Qiushan, ten li outside Yizhou City."

"Both are already exhausted; if we take advantage of their weakness and capture Yizhou City in one blow, we can secure the Northern Region."

Speaking here, Zhu Ge Yu's eyes flashed with a mad light.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, however, was far calmer than him.

"But we only have fifty thousand men; how is it possible to defeat either side?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo also agreed: "Yes, Mr. Master Zhuge, do you have some clever strategy?"

Zhu Ge Yu smiled and said: "I have no clever strategy for the moment, but I have trained thirty thousand new troops during this time. Adding the ten thousand garrison in Xiangcangzhou, Master, the troops you can mobilize already total eighty thousand."

"With these people, are we still afraid of Hu Bo and Chen Tang?"

Eighty thousand men?

Jiang Jiang Mingyu could hardly believe his ears. In just a few days, Zhu Ge Yu had actually doubled the military strength of Xiangcangzhou.

Looking at Zhu Ge Yu, he said gratefully: "Mr. Master Zhuge is truly the pillar of our Wei Kingdom. With these people, we have hope for victory."

Zhu Ge Yu humbly said: "Master overestimates me. These are all Master's achievements. Without Master's wise leadership, how could we have today's accomplishments?"

He continued: "Master, according to scout reports, Fei Hou is already at the end of his rope. To support Hu Bo, he has emptied Jingzhou. As long as we eliminate Hu Bo, Jingzhou will be within our grasp."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes lit up.

"Good, opportunity must not be missed, time will not return. Tomorrow I will personally lead the great army on campaign, giving Chen Tang and Hu Bo a surprise. Let them know what it means to have the oriole waiting behind."