Chapter 285

Two days later, Tukesiluo led a scouting party forward and reported to Jiang Mingyu: "Big Brother, five li ahead is a fork in the road—south leads to Jizhou, west leads toward Hongzhou. According to the map, we're less than two hundred li from Jizhou; if we keep advancing, we can strike it."

Jiang Mingyu suddenly looked confused, staring at the map and asking: "Marching? Where to?"

Tukesiluo was baffled: "Isn't it obvious? Of course we're heading to Jizhou—where else?"

Amid a sea of puzzled stares, Jiang Mingyu suddenly grinned slyly: "Who said we must go to Jizhou? Our real target is Hongzhou."

"Not going to Jizhou?" Zhang Jiani exclaimed in shock, "Big Brother, didn't we spend all this time spreading rumors that we'd attack Jizhou? Now suddenly changing course—won't that seem strange?"

Before she finished speaking, her eyes lit up with sudden understanding: "I get it! This is the 'Sound the East, Strike the West' strategy!"

Jiang Mingyu nodded approvingly: "Clever! I pretended we'd attack Jizhou to deceive Li Haoyang into moving his main forces there. Now we turn west in secret and strike Hongzhou directly—won't that give us the advantage?"

Seeing Tukesiluo's confused expression, he chuckled: "Every move we made so far was designed to create the illusion that we're about to attack Jizhou. I guarantee Li Haoyang already knows we're coming—and has stationed heavy troops at Jizhou. If we attack Jizhou now, we'll only waste our strength."

"Hongzhou is no more than a hundred li away—we can reach it in a single day. First, we take Nanzhing, its capital. By the time Li Haoyang reacts and sends reinforcements, we'll already hold the upper hand. Either we seize the entire Hongzhou region, or we crush Li Haoyang's main force."

At that moment, a scout returning from Jizhou galloped back and shouted: "Your Majesty! Li Haoyang heard we're coming—he's already moved ten thousand elite troops from Huzhou to Jizhou. Combined with Jizhou's original five thousand garrison and five thousand pulled from Hongzhou, Jizhou now has two hundred thousand troops waiting for us!"

Jiang Mingyu burst into laughter: "Did you hear that? Li Haoyang has fallen for it! Let's push west immediately—he'll never expect our target is Hongzhou. By the time he realizes and sends help, we'll already have the initiative!"

Tukesiluo added eagerly: "Exactly! Li Haoyang's troops are exhausted from marching long distances—their morale is low. We seize strategic initiative, annihilate Li Haoyang in one blow, and unifying Dajiang is just a matter of time!"

Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction and roared: "That's it! No more delays—full army advance, straight for Hongzhou's Zhenfeng City!"

In an instant, hundreds of thousands of troops turned westward, marching in a vast, unstoppable column toward Hongzhou.

Meanwhile, in Jizhou City, Li Haoyang gathered his civil and military officials to discuss strategy.

"Gentlemen, scouts report Jiang Mingyu's army is nearing Jizhou—we must commit everything, and defend our homeland to the death!"

The ministers chorused their agreement. Li Haoyang frowned deeply and continued: "I've ordered ten thousand elite troops recently captured from Huzhou to reinforce us. Combined with Jizhou's original garrison, we now have two hundred thousand troops. With this force, defeating Jiang Mingyu and defending our land is within reach!"

The ministers erupted in cheers. Li Haoyang flew into a rage: "Jiang Mingyu has grown brazen—daring to invade my Great Liao territory! This time, I'll capture him alive in Jizhou, pacify the Nine Provinces, and unify the realm!"

Jizhou City was under strict lockdown, every corner guarded by heavy troops, awaiting Jiang Mingyu's assault. Yet they did not know Jiang Mingyu had already turned west—Li Haoyang's entire defense was a wasted effort.

As soon as Jiang Mingyu ordered the westward advance, Tukesiluo immediately instructed the scout: "Go to the rear guard and tell Li Goudan to send men south to scout Nanzhing's movements—no mistakes allowed!"

Soon, the scouts dispatched by Li Goudan galloped southward, heading straight for Nanzhing.

In the midnight wind, the scout had ridden nearly two hundred li, arriving at the army camp drenched in dust, and reported to Jiang Mingyu: "Your Majesty, I confirmed clearly—Nanzhing and all of Hongzhou remain utterly calm, completely unaware of our western advance. Even the Nanzhing commander, Fei Long, is celebrating Li Haoyang's capture of Huzhou."

Jiang Mingyu nodded: "Good. The situation matches my prediction. How many troops are in Nanzhing now? What's the city's defense like?"

The scout hurriedly replied: "Nanzhing originally had ten thousand troops, but Li Haoyang recently pulled two thousand to deal with Your Majesty—so Fei Long now has only eight thousand. He believes we're targeting Jizhou and thinks Hongzhou is safe—his defenses are lax."

He paused, gasping for breath.

Tukesiluo, who had been yawning moments before, suddenly brightened, waved the scout away, and said to Jiang Mingyu: "Big Brother, we're less than fifty li from Nanzhing, and that fool Fei Long is clueless. Tomorrow morning, once we exit the mountain pass, I guarantee we'll seize Nanzhing in one strike—no slip-ups!"

Worried Fei Long might sense their approach, Jiang Mingyu had already ordered the army to secretly detour and hide among the great mountains.

Jiang Mingyu studied the map, pausing a moment before saying: "Good. With this, we'll seize Nanzhing and establish a foothold in Hongzhou. Go notify Goudan and the others—tomorrow morning, the entire army launches a full assault on Nanzhing!"

At dawn the next day, faint but resounding war drums and hoofbeats echoed from within the mountains. A vast, dark tide of troops silently surrounded Nanzhing City through the morning mist.

The city's guards had just risen; Fei Long had barely finished washing. Suddenly, a sentry outside screamed: "Intruders! Enemy forces!" Fei Long rushed to don his armor and climbed the ramparts—only to see a sea of iron-clad soldiers encircling the city, banners snapping in the wind: Jiang Mingyu's army!

"This… how is this possible!" Fei Long gasped in horror. "Jiang Mingyu was supposed to attack Jizhou—why is he suddenly here at Nanzhing?!"

But the enemy was already upon them. Fei Long had no time to ponder—he frantically mobilized every soldier to defend the city.

"We swear to defend Nanzhing to the death!" the officers shouted.

"Perfect!" Jiang Mingyu laughed from below the walls. "Fei Long, we're sworn enemies—today, you'll pay with your life!"

"Archers, ready! Artillery, take position!" The troops responded instantly.

"Fire!" Thunderous cannon blasts erupted—the city walls crumbled instantly.

"Loose arrows!" A sky-darkening rain of arrows pierced through the city. Defenders fell in droves.

"Charge!" Jiang Mingyu personally led his elite officers straight at the city gate.

Fierce battle erupted. Seeing his cause lost, Fei Long fled in panic as Nanzhing fell.

Jiang Mingyu laughed: "Ha! Too easy! We seized the initiative—Nanzhing surrendered without a fight!"

The officers cheered wildly. Jiang Mingyu immediately organized Nanzhing's defenses, preparing for Li Haoyang's counterattack.

Meanwhile, in Jizhou, Li Haoyang remained trapped in the illusion that Jiang Mingyu would attack Jizhou—utterly unaware of the truth.