Chapter 243: Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats

Zhang Zhang Jiaqi led her troops through the night, avoiding enemy patrols and sentries. She found the back gate of the enemy camp, stabbed the guarding soldier to death with a sharp dagger, then led her men silently into the camp.

Relying on her keen intuition and familiarity with the terrain, she found the enemy prison. She saw Tian Jiu's family, old and young, men and women, all locked in iron cages, their bodies covered in scars, their clothes ragged, their faces haggard. Her heart ached, and she could not help but shed tears.

She stepped forward and said to them, "Do not be afraid. I have come to save you. You are General Tian Jiu's family, are you not?"

Hearing these words, Tian Jiu's family looked up in surprise and joy. They saw Zhang Zhang Jiaqi wearing a black battle robe, holding a long sword, her eyes firm yet gentle. They felt a glimmer of hope and warmth.

"Yes, yes, we are General Tian Jiu's family," Tian Jiu's father said, tears streaming down his face. "Are you truly the savior my son sent?"

"Of course," Zhang Zhang Jiaqi said. "General Tian has always been concerned about your safety. He sent me to take you back to see him."

"That is wonderful!" Tian Jiu's mother said excitedly. "We can finally see our son!"

"Hurry, hurry," Zhang Zhang Jiaqi said. "We have no time to waste. Let me unlock the cages for you."

She used her dagger to pry open the chains of the iron cages, letting Tian Jiu's family members step out one by one. She then took out some dried rations and a water flask from her person, distributing them for them to eat and drink. Watching them eat heartily, she felt happy for them.

"Alright, alright," Zhang Zhang Jiaqi said. "Let us leave quickly. This place is not safe."

She had Tian Jiu's family follow behind her and led her troops to retreat from the camp cautiously. All the way, she remained vigilant, observing the surroundings to prevent any enemy from discovering them.

Fortunately, they successfully broke free from the enemy's encirclement.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat in the general's mansion in Guangshui City, chin resting on his hand, his gaze deep. He had just received a secret letter from Zhang Zhang Jiaqi, informing him that she had successfully rescued Tian Jiu's family and was escorting them back to Guangshui City. A wave of joy rose in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart; he knew this was a major strategic opportunity to win over the famous general Tian Jiu, adding strength to his northern expedition.

Just then, a sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, followed by a guard entering to report, "My lord, General Tian requests an audience."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly, thinking, "As expected." He immediately ordered the guard to lead Tian Jiu in.

In a short while, Tian Jiu hurried into the main hall. The moment he saw Jiang Jiang Mingyu, he rushed forward, prostrated himself on the ground, and said with tears and sobs, "My lord, did you send someone to rescue my family?"

Seeing his sorrowful expression, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt pity in his heart. He said gently, "General Tian, please rise. I have dispatched my trusted Zhang Zhang Jiaqi, leading over a hundred elite soldiers, to rescue them. Your family must be safe."

Hearing these words, Tian Jiu suddenly felt the world spin, a golden light filling his vision. He raised his head, looking into Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes, as if seeing a light like that of an angel. He said excitedly, "Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord! My entire family, young and old, has been spared from disaster; I am endlessly grateful!"

Having spoken, he hurriedly knelt again and kowtowed, his face wet with tears and snot: "My lord is of great generosity, saving our lives. If Tian Mou and the rest had ten lives, we would still offer them to serve my lord!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu hurriedly helped Tian Jiu up, smiling and saying there was no need for such things, as he had only done what ought to be done.

Tian Jiu shook his head repeatedly, saying, "My lord speaks too heavily! That my entire family, young and old, could be saved and live is all due to your great kindness and virtue. For this kindness and virtue, Tian Mou has nothing to repay but to bow as a general and follow you for life, swearing to become your trusted and fierce general, to join you in the northern expedition and unify Jiangshan!"

Having finished speaking, he knelt heavily again: "This oath of Tian Mou is made with no second thoughts! I hope my lord will accept me and give me a chance to serve!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled and said, "Just so, General Tian, I have a request to make of you."

Tian Jiu asked in surprise, "What does my lord command?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said with a smile, "I want you to write a letter to Fei Hou, stating that you have thoroughly defeated my army, but only failed to annihilate me in one blow due to insufficient military grain. You must urge him to send grain immediately to support you."

Upon hearing this, Tian Jiu was startled. Not understanding Jiang Jiang Mingyu's intention, he asked, "What does my lord mean? Fei Hou holds a grudge against you; how could he easily give grain?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu explained with a smile, "Now that we have newly acquired sixty thousand soldiers, we urgently need grain and fodder. Why not take this opportunity to demand some military grain from Fei Hou? He will certainly not wish to let our army perish."

"My lord, Fei Hou holds a grudge against you; how could he easily give grain?" Tian Jiu asked, puzzled.

"Precisely because he hates me to the bone, if he hears that our army is trapped with grain exhausted, he will be overjoyed and give you military grain to help him annihilate my army. By then, I expect you will be greatly surprised," Jiang Jiang Mingyu analyzed with a laugh.

Tian Jiu suddenly understood, nodding repeatedly: "My lord is wise. This stratagem of borrowing arrows with straw boats will surely fool Fei Hou! I will immediately write to Fei Hou, stating that I have thoroughly defeated the Jiang army and only failed to press the advantage due to a lack of military grain."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction: "Go. I await the grain and the surprise Fei Hou will send. With military grain, we can train new recruits and accumulate strength. When we capture the next city, Fei Hou will surely be greatly surprised!"

Thus, Tian Jiu immediately ordered someone to write a letter, exaggerating that his side had achieved a complete victory, but only failed to surround and annihilate the Jiang army due to a lack of military grain. He earnestly requested Fei Hou to transport grain immediately to support him in annihilating Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Indeed, upon receiving the letter, Fei Hou was overjoyed, immediately ordering thousands of stones of military grain to be transported to Guangshui, and instructing that Jiang Jiang Mingyu must be captured alive. The day he had long awaited for the destruction of Jiang Jiang Mingyu had finally arrived.