Chapter 286: The Battle of Nanjing

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood quietly in the Governor's Mansion within Nanjing City, watching the plum blossoms in the courtyard sway gently in the breeze.

He had taken over here less than one shichen ago, and the air around still lingered with the scent of war. The burn marks on the walls and the dust on the ground all reminded him of the baptism of blood and fire he had just endured.

But Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mood was surprisingly calm. He knew deeply that his journey south this time was not only to unify the world, but also for that promise—to give the person he loved a peaceful world.

At that moment, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. Fang Hang strode in, his face brimming with joy.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the over twenty thousand defending troops within Nanjing City have all submitted to our army!" he said excitedly, "Now our forces have increased by another twenty thousand, and the total number has now exceeded two hundred thousand."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly and nodded: "You have worked hard. Properly settle the surrendered soldiers and do not let them cause trouble. Also, send orders to Tu Tu Kesiluo to march out and attack Li Li Haoyang's stronghold, Hongzhou Yangqu, in three days."

"Yes!" Fang Hang respectfully bowed and then withdrew to convey the military orders.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched him leave, silently thinking in his heart: Yangqu, that is the necessary path to the final destination.

The fall of Yangqu would mean completely controlling the hinterland of Hongzhou; by then, if Li Li Haoyang wanted to reclaim this place, it would be extremely difficult.

Just then, a young messenger covered in sweat rushed in hurriedly, looking as if he had rushed all the way from the north.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Prime Minister Zhu Ge Yu has an urgent report!" he said, gasping for breath.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned slightly; had the movements of Other Xi Xia spread so quickly?

"Speak and let me hear," he said in a deep voice.

The messenger wiped his sweat and hurriedly said: "Replying to Your Majesty, the Prime Minister received a secret report from scouts saying that a coup occurred in Other Xi Xia; the old Emperor is critically ill, and now the third Imperial Prince, Tu Tu Kesiluo, holds power and has gathered a massive army preparing to attack our country!"

"This Tu Tu Kesiluo is ruthless and has long coveted the territory of Great Feng. Now that he holds military power, a great war is imminent!"

After hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face darkened; the change in Other Xi Xia came too fast, likely causing them to fall into difficulty fighting on two fronts. He pondered for a moment, then instructed: "You go down and rest first; in a while, report back to the Prime Minister that I have occupied Nanjing and will soon end the southern campaign, leading the main force north to reinforce."

The messenger immediately bowed and withdrew. Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood still in place, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes—with Other Xi Xia's troops at the city gates, the situation was extremely critical.

But thinking of Liu Liu Yifei and that look full of expectation, Jiang Jiang Mingyu hid the anxiety in his heart and remained calm and composed.

Since the situation was like this, he must end the southern war as soon as possible and personally lead the main force north to rescue. With Tu Tu Kesiluo and Zhu Ge Yu present, they would surely protect the safety of the territory.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked again at the plum blossoms fluttering in the courtyard; in the breeze, he seemed to hear his lover's gentle call—

"Please rest assured in your expedition; I will wait for your triumphant return as always."

Gazing at the plum blossoms, a determined light reignited in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes.

Yes, what he must do is quickly pacify the southern frontier, then march north to fight a decisive battle with Other Xi Xia. To forge a peaceful age for the person he loved was his grand ambition in this life, and also the fulfillment of that promise.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu calmed his emotions and calmly prepared for the next move. Whether ahead lay a storm or dark clouds, he would fear nothing and continue marching toward the destination.

Because on the road home, the sky will always clear up.

Just as his face was solemn, Tu Tu Kesiluo strode in. Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's displeased expression, Tu Tu Kesiluo asked with concern: "Big Brother, what's wrong? You look very worried."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sighed and briefly recounted the military intelligence he had just received; mentioning the arch-enemy Other Xi Xia, Tu Tu Kesiluo's face also darkened.

"Big Brother, the situation is urgent; we must resolve the southern front matters as soon as possible and strive to go north to reinforce early," Tu Tu Kesiluo said in a deep voice.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded and said: "I will immediately summon the various generals to discuss countermeasures."

One ke after, the generals arrived one after another. Jiang Jiang Mingyu recounted the change in Other Xi Xia again, then asked: "Everyone, the situation is severe; how do you say we should respond in the next step?"

Just then, a panting scout ran in, fell to his knees with a thud, and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Li Li Haoyang knows we have occupied Nanjing and has sent Commandant Qin Qin Lihai to lead a hundred thousand elite troops to rescue; they are now only one hundred li away from Nanjing!"

After hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed loudly: "Li Li Haoyang has only two hundred thousand men under him; now he sends half to rescue, surely fighting a desperate battle. As long as we annihilate Qin Qin Lihai, Jizhou will surely collapse!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately asked: "Big Brother, facing Qin Qin Lihai's reinforcements, what is your countermeasure?"

At this moment, Li Goudan suddenly chuckled a few times. Jiang Jiang Mingyu glanced at him and said: "Goudan, what brilliant plan have you come up with again?"

Li Goudan clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Qin Qin Lihai does not yet know we have occupied Nanjing; he will surely charge frantically to seek a quick victory. This is the easiest time to fall into an ambush; we can set up a net of heaven and earth to catch him completely."

After hearing his analysis, Jiang Jiang Mingyu understood deeply: "Exactly! I also planned this—to set an ambush on the road to intercept and kill Qin Qin Lihai, annihilating his army in one stroke!"

Zhang Zhang Jiaqi agreed: "Your Majesty is wise; Qin Qin Lihai is marching in haste, so his defenses must be lax, just right for us to ambush and intercept."

Thus, Jiang Jiang Mingyu decisively issued the battle plan—send Zhang Zhang Jiani to occupy the high ground on the mountain peak to besiege with fire attacks; Fang Hang blocks Qin Qin Lihai's retreat; Li Goudan guards the front road, with ambush troops on both flanks; once Qin Qin Lihai enters the formation, attack from all four sides, ensuring his hundred thousand army is annihilated in this battle.

After giving the orders, Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked at the sky and commanded: "Time is tight; command the various armies to set out in half a shichen. We must deploy the battlefield before Qin Qin Lihai arrives!"

The generals clasped their hands, accepted the order, and left. Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered coldly: "The good show is about to begin; I am waiting to see!"

Half a shichen later, Jiang Jiang Mingyu personally led a hundred and fifty thousand troops, marching majestically toward the place chosen by Tu Tu Kesiluo. This was a narrow valley squeezed between two mountains, exactly what military strategists call a "desperate ground"—an excellent place for an ambush.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu ordered again: "Immediately send out scouts to constantly monitor the movements of Qin Qin Lihai's army; report any abnormalities immediately."

More than a dozen scouts rode out at the sound, and Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched their receding figures, guessing in his heart that Qin Qin Lihai would surely be caught off guard, making the chances of victory in this battle quite high.

During the march, the various armies took their positions one after another, hiding deep in various parts of the valley. Zhang Zhang Jiani occupied the high ground, with her ten thousand archers ready to fire. Fang Hang's thirty thousand troops lay in ambush within tunnels, preparing to block the retreat. Li Goudan, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, and Tu Tu Kesiluo's seventy thousand troops hid on the hillside, waiting for the right moment.