Chapter 270

Jiang Mingyu looked at Zhuge Yu, furrowing his brow and asking seriously: "Zhuge Yu, we haven't seen each other in a long time—what are your thoughts on attacking the capital?"

Zhuge Yu sat on the grass, propping himself up with his hands, thought for a moment, then looked up at Jiang Mingyu: "Master, the capital is impregnable; taking it will not be easy. I believe we should strike at Yue River first and cut off its water supply."

Jiang Mingyu's eyes lit up, pressing: "That aligns with my own thinking—do you plan to divert the river and flood the city?"

Zhuge Yu smiled faintly and nodded: "Master, you're perceptive. If you've already considered this, our chances of success grow greatly. But the specifics still require discussion."

Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily and clapped Zhuge Yu on the shoulder: "Tell me your plan."

Zhuge Yu rose to his feet, pointing toward the distance as he explained slowly: "Fei Hou will surely anticipate a water attack—we cannot act directly. We must first divert his attention. I suggest you feign a direct assault on the capital to pin him down. While he's occupied, I'll lead a small team to secretly breach the Yue River embankment and flood the city. This will greatly increase our chances of success."

Jiang Mingyu scratched his beard and nodded in agreement: "Good. This plan is sound—deceive first, then strike with the flood. It will minimize unnecessary losses."

Fang Hang, upon hearing Zhuge Yu's strategy, quickly chimed in: "Master Zhuge, your wisdom is unmatched. This plan perfectly embodies the art of war—flood the city and crush the enemy in one stroke! I am deeply impressed—you truly live up to your reputation as a great strategist!" He stood at attention, his face filled with reverence.

Tukesuo and the other generals remained silent but nodded in agreement, their eyes reflecting admiration for Zhuge Yu's sharp tactics.

Jiang Mingyu fell silent for a moment, then slammed his thigh and shouted: "Excellent! We follow Zhuge Yu's plan! Tukesuo, order the entire army to set up camp and rest well!"

"Tomorrow, you and Jiani will lead the vanguard, Goudan the left flank, Fang Hang the right flank—I'll command the main force and strike straight for the capital with Zhuge Yu!"

Upon hearing the battle deployment, every soldier perked up, their battle spirit soaring. Each wore a resolute expression, poised and ready, their presence fully unleashed.

That day, the camp was thick with smoke and noise—horses neighed, men shouted. Though weary, the soldiers discussed tomorrow's battle. Some polished weapons, others repaired armor. A palpable aura of killing intent filled the air as all awaited the dawn of victory.

Jiang Mingyu stood alone on high ground, gazing into the distance, a firm curve on his lips. He had already mapped out the plan to seize the city—he would make Fei Hou pay in blood for this!

At the second watch of the night, the entire camp slept soundly, but Jiang Mingyu remained wide awake.

He stood outside his tent, gazing up at the star-strewn sky, his heart uneasy.

Tomorrow would be the day of his final confrontation with Fei Hou. He had waited so long—for this moment, he had sacrificed and striven beyond measure.

He thought of his father, his mother, his brother, his friends, his lover, his people—all victims of Fei Hou's crimes, all his driving force and conviction.

He swore he would avenge them all, make Fei Hou pay in blood, and restore light to the common folk of the land.

Yet he was not without doubt, not without fear, not without weakness.

He knew Fei Hou was a cunning, seasoned villain; his troops, elite warriors; his capital, an unshakable fortress.

He knew his army, though high-spirited, had suffered heavy losses; his generals, though loyal, each had their limits; his strategy, though brilliant, brimmed with peril.

He knew every move he made could shift the tide of battle, every word he spoke could decide life or death, every thought he harbored could determine the fate of the realm.

He dared not be careless, dared not slacken, dared not grow arrogant.

He could only keep thinking, keep adjusting, keep preparing.

He could only keep praying, keep hoping, keep enduring.

He could only keep fighting, keep advancing, keep winning.

At that moment, Zhuge Yu approached quietly. Seeing Jiang Mingyu staring at the sky, he asked: "Master, still awake? Something troubling you?"

Jiang Mingyu snapped back to reality and sighed: "I've longed for this battle with Fei Hou—especially after Shang Mu's defeat, I burned to storm the capital. But now that victory is within reach, I feel inexplicably uneasy, afraid of making a mistake."

Zhuge Yu sat beside Jiang Mingyu and said calmly: "Master, this is natural. Even when facing an enemy, one cannot help but feel reverence—it is the mark of a true hero."

He softened his tone and continued: "Rest easy, Master. Fei Hou is a spent force now. He is like a rotting wall—you need only kick once to bring it down. Our army's momentum is unstoppable; our strategy is sound—how could we fail?"

Jiang Mingyu felt slightly reassured and smiled: "I hope you're right—then I may sleep tonight. It's late. Go rest."

Zhuge Yu took his leave. Jiang Mingyu remained standing for a long while before regaining his resolve, murmuring to himself: "Fei Hou, I'm coming! I'll make you pay in blood—I'll restore peace to the realm!"

His eyes gleamed with icy light as his figure vanished into the night. That night, both sides waited in silence for dawn—when the victor and the vanquished would be decided.

When the first rays of dawn pierced the eastern horizon, Jiang Mingyu awoke from his crude tent. He donned his military robe and strode out, finding his 150, 00-strong army already arrayed and ready, their formation stern and disciplined.

Jiang Mingyu gazed ahead, where the capital's walls loomed faintly through mist and cloud, radiating grandeur. The city he had longed to seize for so long lay barely dozens of li away.

Soldiers greeted Jiang Mingyu warmly, their faces alight with fierce determination. But Jiang Mingyu noticed Jiani's demeanor was off—her usual arrogance gone, her eyes dull, her gaze avoiding him as if burdened by secrets.

Jiang Mingyu immediately realized she had learned the truth behind her sister's departure, and her spirit had sunk. To avoid undermining her morale before battle, he said nothing, only smiled gently to reassure her.

Then he cleared his throat and issued a thunderous command to the entire army: "Advance! Directly to the capital!"

The moment the words left his lips, the 150, 00-strong force surged forward. Hooves thundered, killing intent rose. At this moment, the army needed only one more hour of marching to reach the capital's gates—fulfilling the grand ambition they had waited half a year to achieve.

Only ten li from the city gate, he was about to order a faster advance when a clatter of hooves reached him from ahead. He looked up to see a general clad in silver armor, flanked by two soldiers, galloping toward him. It was Tukesuo, his vanguard commander—skilled in combat, adept at reconnaissance, and one of his most trusted officers.

Tukesuo dismounted and bowed before Jiang Mingyu, grinning: "Big Brother, something interesting!"

Jiang Mingyu frowned: "What is it?"

Tukesuo gestured, and the two soldiers dragged forward a man in official robes—richly dressed, feathered hat, jade belt. Clearly a high official. Yet now he trembled violently, face pale with terror, pounding his head against the ground in pleading.

The moment he saw Jiang Mingyu, he dropped to his knees: "I am He Xinzhe, Minister of War of the Great Feng! I beg your mercy, Lord Jiang!" He kept bowing, his forehead already bloody from scraping against stones.

Jiang Mingyu was stunned: "Minister He—you serve Fei Hou. Why are you here?"

Fei Hou was the commander of the capital's defenses and a powerful minister of the Great Feng court, wielding military authority and commanding fear across the land. Jiang Mingyu could not fathom how his own Minister of War had ended up in his hands.

He Xinzhe hurried to explain: "Lord Jiang, Fei Hou is cruel—he forced me, a mere civil official, to lead troops against your army. If I fail, he'll slaughter my entire family!"

"With no choice, I came to surrender. I beg you, Lord Jiang, spare my life and save my household!"

He banged his head again, voice breaking, tears streaming down his face.