Chapter 272: By the Da Feng River: The Choice Between Surrender and Resistance

He turned and walked back into the main tent, where Zhuge Yu was already waiting. Zhuge Yu was his military strategist and closest friend, proficient in military tactics and skilled in planning, having repeatedly devised strategies that earned him great merit. Jiang Mingyu trusted him deeply and held him in high esteem.

"Disciple, do you know what Minister He wants?" Jiang Mingyu asked, smiling broadly.

"I know," Zhuge Yu nodded. "He's here to surrender—and to reveal the inner situation in the capital. He says Lord Fei has lost the people's heart; the capital is a pile of scattered sand. When our army arrives, we'll walk through it as if it were empty."

"Excellent, excellent," Jiang Mingyu praised repeatedly. "Minister He is a wise man—he knows how to follow the tide to preserve himself. His words may be flattery, but they hold truth. I've learned one crucial piece of news from him—can you guess what it is?"

A flicker of insight crossed Zhuge Yu's eyes. He paused, then said, "Is it about the Da Feng River?"

"Exactly!" Jiang Mingyu clapped his hands. "Minister He says Lord Fei has been preoccupied fighting rebel forces and has neglected the river embankment. The last repair was during the previous emperor's reign—fifty-six years ago. The embankment is now in ruins. With just a little effort, we can cause the river to flood and drown the capital, creating chaos."

"This is a golden opportunity!" Zhuge Yu's eyes gleamed. "We can send our elite naval forces under cover of night to sneak up on the embankment, detonate gunpowder to breach it, and let the floodwaters rush down and smash the capital's defenses. Then we advance with our main force, seize the moment, break through the city, and capture Lord Fei in one stroke."

"Ha! My disciple is truly the brain of my army—your plan suits me perfectly," Jiang Mingyu laughed. "This way, we avoid direct confrontation, conserve our troops, and reduce civilian casualties. It's a win on every front."

"But we must be cautious," Zhuge Yu warned. "Lord Fei may be a tyrant, but he's no fool. He might send spies to monitor our movements—or set ambushes near the embankment to stop us. We must prepare thoroughly and leave no room for carelessness."

"Don't worry," Jiang Mingyu said confidently. "I'll assign reliable men to handle reconnaissance and cover. Our naval forces are the elite among elites—Lord Fei won't catch a single trace of us. This battle, we will win decisively and unify the realm!"

"Your Lordship is wise!" Zhuge Yu bowed. "I pledge to stand by your side and help build a peaceful, prosperous era!"

The two exchanged a glance and smiled, both filled with confidence and anticipation. They felt their plan was already set in stone, waiting only for the right moment to bring them fame and glory.

He Xinzhe, meanwhile, had settled his family in another tent. Watching their frightened, uneasy expressions, he too felt uneasy. He didn't know if his choice was right, or whether Jiang Mingyu would truly trust and employ him. He only felt he had no other option—he had to gamble on his fate.

He told his wife and children, "Don't be afraid. This is our new home. Jiang Mingyu is a man of benevolence and righteousness—he won't harm us. I've pledged myself to him, serve him, and he will give us a stable life."

His wife and children didn't believe him. They thought him cowardly and opportunistic. They couldn't believe he could bring them happiness—they could only silently pray that he was telling the truth.

They didn't know their fate had already been altered by his hand, their future gambled away by his choice. They didn't know if their decision was right, or if their gamble would succeed. They could only wait—for time to prove it, for fate to decide.

At this moment, in Jingzhou City.

Feng Xi stood on the city wall, gazing at the distant dust cloud, his heart filled with despair. He knew it was Jiang Mingyu's army—they were nearly at the city gates. Their numbers were vast, their horses superior, their morale high—nothing his ragged remnants could withstand.

He turned to look behind him at the city: chaos everywhere. Streets littered with corpses and blood, homes and shops looted bare. The people either fled, wept, or sat numb. They had lost faith in Lord Fei—and hope in life.

He looked at his soldiers: pale faces, hollow eyes, bodies scarred and wounded. They were conscripts pressed into service—no training, no experience, no loyalty, no morale. They merely held weapons, guarding the gates, waiting for death.

He sighed inwardly. He felt himself a pitiful, tragic man. Once, he had been talented and ambitious—a high minister of Da Feng. He had dreamed of serving his country, achieving glory, and earning a place in history.

But Lord Fei had destroyed it all. Lord Fei was a tyrant—debauched, cruel, indifferent to the people's suffering, obsessed with his own pleasures. He fought rebel forces not with wisdom or benevolence, but with violence and deceit. He constantly raised taxes and conscripted men, draining the people's blood and sweat, fueling public outrage.

Feng Xi had once tried to advise Lord Fei—to urge him to change course and save Da Feng. But every time he spoke, Lord Fei rebuked him harshly, even beat him. He saw how the tyrant's corrupt ministers flattered him, sowed discord, and destroyed loyal officials. He saw how the loyal ministers were ignored, framed, and murdered.

Slowly, he lost faith. He lost courage. He felt he could change nothing, redeem nothing. He could only obey Lord Fei's orders—become his puppet, his pawn. He could only preserve his own life—and his family's.

But He Xinzhe had destroyed it all. He Xinzhe was his superior, his direct commander. A man without talent or virtue—only flattery, opportunism, and self-interest. Before Lord Fei, he feigned loyalty; in secret, he conspired with Jiang Mingyu. Before Feng Xi, he pretended closeness; in secret, he plotted against him.

Taking advantage of Feng Xi's distraction, He Xinzhe fled the capital with his family and wealth, defecting to Jiang Mingyu. He revealed the capital's military intelligence and defenses, giving Jiang Mingyu the advantage to strike decisively. He even named Feng Xi to Jiang Mingyu—making him a thorn in Jiang Mingyu's side, a poison in his flesh.

Because of He Xinzhe's betrayal, Feng Xi was branded a traitor by Lord Fei and forced to remain commander-in-chief. Lord Fei threatened him: if he failed to hold the city, he and his entire family would be executed. His family was taken hostage, preventing him from surrendering or fleeing.

He had considered acting—he had thought of stationing heavy troops at key points along the Da Feng River. He knew the river was the capital's natural barrier, Jiang Mingyu's fatal weakness. He knew Jiang Mingyu's navy was weak, and the embankment was crumbling. He knew that if they held the embankment, they could stop Jiang Mingyu's advance—and buy time for reinforcements.

But Lord Fei destroyed it all. He ignored Feng Xi's advice. He cared only for the city gates, not the embankment. He thought the embankment irrelevant, the gates the only critical point. He thought Feng Xi a coward, a man who abandoned his duty. He thought Feng Xi was shirking responsibility, making excuses.

With no other choice, Feng Xi led the city's remnants, readying for a final, desperate battle with Jiang Mingyu. He knew this was a hopeless war—a fruitless one. He knew he would die. He knew his family would die too.

Feng Xi sighed, his heart heavy with worry and duty. He straightened his spine, his gaze firm, and gave the order: "All troops, assemble at the camp immediately—prepare for battle!"

He knew that if Lord Fei insisted on sending troops out to fight, it would be a catastrophic war. The entire capital would burn, the people would suffer endlessly. Feng Xi could not bear such a tragedy—he fought tirelessly until Lord Fei agreed to abandon the reckless plan.

Now, Feng Xi felt a small relief: Lord Fei had finally listened. It meant the city's safety was preserved—the people would not be dragged into needless war.