Chapter 291: The Great Flood Recedes, The City Reveals Its True Form

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood before the gate of the Inspector's residence, gazing at the sea of corpses beneath him, his heart filled with complex emotions. He saw that most of these bodies had swollen and deformed from soaking, yet the terror and despair of their former lives were still faintly visible. These dead were mostly women, children, the elderly, and the weak; they must have come here seeking refuge to escape the flood calamity, only to be cruelly killed by Yu Yu Gaoyang.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu even saw a mother clutching an infant; her eyes were wide open, her arms protecting the child in her embrace holding on tightly. Yet the blackened bloodstains continued to remind them of the desperate situation and agony they had endured at that time.

"This Yu Yu Gaoyang deserves to die a thousand deaths!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu angrily thought to himself. He decided that in the future, he would definitely display the corpses of these tragically dead commoners before the people, letting everyone see how cruel and fierce this arrogant and conceited villain was.

At this moment, a gust of wind blew, and Jiang Jiang Mingyu smelled an increasingly heavy stench of fish and rot. This scent reminded him that the bodies had begun to rot and spoil; they must be cleared away immediately to avoid causing a plague disaster. "Come, quickly transport these corpses away!" he immediately shouted in command. He only hoped the commoners could soon walk out of this tragedy and see the light of day again.

He summoned Tu Tu Kesiluo and instructed, "Tu Tu Kesiluo, go quickly to post the edict, making Yu Yu Gaoyang's crimes of harming the commoners public knowledge."

Tu Tu Kesiluo nodded in acceptance of the order and departed swiftly. Jiang Jiang Mingyu knew that propaganda at this moment was crucial and could sway the people's hearts. He decided to convey the message to the commoners through the edict, letting them know that the responsibility for this disaster lay with Yu Yu Gaoyang and Li Li Haoyang, while he, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, was the hero who saved the people.

"Also tell the commoners that this great disaster was caused by these two unrighteous villains, Yu Yu Gaoyang and Li Li Haoyang, provoking the wrath of Heaven. I, as the ruler entrusted with the Mandate of Heaven, have specially come to save the people from fire and water; right and evil are clearly distinguished." Jiang Jiang Mingyu's tone was solemn, each word delivered with a pause, displaying the majesty of imperial power.

"I have already avenged the blood of those compatriots who met disaster, and I will here provide relief to the commoners, reducing their taxes by one year to solve their immediate crisis. The imperial decree shall be issued immediately." He took a deep breath, his gaze firm. This was not only revenge against Yu Yu Gaoyang, but also to establish his image of benevolent governance in the hearts of the people.

Outside, the great flood had been blocked, and the survivors in the city knew nothing of the inside story. Jiang Jiang Mingyu's maneuver immediately made his name famous in the minds of the people. Those commoners who died in the flood disaster became victims of a natural disaster, having nothing to do with Jiang Jiang Mingyu, which instead caused every living person to praise his benevolent and virtuous governance.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu added, "Gou Dan, you quickly open the official granaries to provide relief to the commoners. Fang Hang, you immediately arrange personnel to bury the dead; after the heavy rain, the weather is too hot, and we must not allow an epidemic to spread." He assigned tasks to ensure that order in the city could be restored after the disaster.

The accumulated water in the city gradually receded, and the commoners also gradually walked out of their homes. Having received the relief grain distributed by Jiang Jiang Mingyu and learning of Yu Yu Gaoyang's crimes, everyone cursed him loudly. At the same time, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's good name for benevolent governance and loving the people spread even further.

Five days later, the city had gradually returned to calm. Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Jiang Mingyu instructed, "Tu Tu Kesiluo, we must press our advantage and head to Maolingcheng; quickly send scouts to probe the reality of the situation!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo, however, smiled and said, "Big Brother, I already sent the scouts out three days ago; they are seen to be about to arrive, and detailed intelligence on Maolingcheng will be available soon."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was somewhat surprised and said approvingly, "Great progress indeed; you've even thought ahead of me!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo chuckled and said, "This still has to thank my wife's clever strategy; I am merely the one running errands."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed helplessly and shook his head, no longer pressing for details, only silently hoping the scouts would soon start their return journey and present the full reality of Maolingcheng. At that time, he could proceed logically and capture this great city of Maolingcheng in one stroke!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo were conversing when suddenly a messenger, his head covered in sweat, rushed in in a hurry.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Noble Lady has an order; I, your subordinate, have come to report to Your Majesty according to her command. As you previously instructed, the Noble Lady has led the merchant caravan north to Other Xi Xia. To ensure the smoothness of the operation, the Noble Lady has personally followed the merchant caravan to Decangzhou to command from the front. The Noble Lady also asks Your Majesty to rest assured; with the Chengxiang Sect and the One Da Jiang army present, there will surely be no mistakes."

While the messenger knelt on the ground to report, Jiang Jiang Mingyu happened to lift the tea cup on the table and take a sip; hearing this, he was surprised and his hand trembled, spilling a few drops of tea onto the floor.

He stared fixedly at that patch of light-colored tea stain, thinking that this woman, Liu Liu Yifei, was indeed good at being unexpected. One moment he was guessing her whereabouts, and in the blink of an eye, she had run to Decangzhou in the northwest. Jiang Jiang Mingyu couldn't help but laugh helplessly; this wife always managed to give him "surprises."

"Take care! Be sure to take care!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu inwardly instructed himself with one sentence. Thinking of this, he suddenly snapped back to his senses and hurriedly gave the messenger the order to protect Liu Liu Yifei well. He knew that since this matter had already been set in motion, even with ten thousand worries, he could only pray for her safe return.

He very seriously instructed the messenger: "You must hurry to Jincheng and tell Prime Minister Zhu Ge Yu that he must guarantee Liu Liu Yifei's safety. Additionally, let him find a way to delay the war with Other Xi Xia to buy more time for the merchant caravan."

The messenger, however, smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured; the Prime Minister has already anticipated your thoughts. He has already sent people to prepare to go north to Other Xi Xia to negotiate peace, to buy the Noble Lady the maximum amount of time. Before I hurried all the way here, the Prime Minister's handwritten letter had already reached the Noble Lady's hands. The letter asks the Noble Lady to hurry north to trade and not miss the good opportunity."

It turned out that on the day Jiang Jiang Mingyu finalized the commercial plan, he immediately sent a flying report to Zhu Ge Yu. Zhu Ge Yu not only understood the deep meaning within it but had also thought out the countermeasures for the next step long ago.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded and asked again, "Who did he send to negotiate with Other Xi Xia? Can he handle it?"

The messenger replied, "The Chengxiang Sect sent the Minister of Rites, Zhu Ge Yu's subordinate, Lord Zhu Ge Yu, to go. Lord Zhu Ge Yu is extremely skilled in handling affairs; the negotiations should proceed smoothly."

Zhu Ge Yu! Jiang Jiang Mingyu had an extremely deep impression of this person. Back when he set up the "Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao" strategy in Lin'an, Zhu Ge Yu had already seen through the mystery within it. After the founding of the nation, the type of talent Jiang Jiang Mingyu promoted with weight was exactly this kind of person. Zhu Ge Yu sending him as an envoy to Other Xi Xia could be called using talent where it is needed and utilizing his strengths.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu couldn't help but nod slightly, secretly exclaiming, "My good disciple, you are becoming more and more adept." He knew that with Zhu Ge Yu commanding from Jincheng, there was no need to worry about the western front at all.

At this moment, a bird's chirp came from outside the window. Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned his head and saw a white egret sweep across the sky, like an auspicious omen, presaging that his great enterprise would soar high into the nine heavens with the wind...

Jiang Jiang Mingyu instructed the messenger: "Return quickly to Jincheng and tell the Prime Minister to act according to his strategy. I will soon capture Maolingcheng and occupy half of Hongzhou. No matter what, you must guarantee the Noble Lady's safety. Go!"

Seeing the messenger about to leave, he emphasized the issue of Liu Liu Yifei's safety once more, only then feeling relieved enough to let the messenger start his journey.

Tu Tu Kesiluo exclaimed, "The Prime Minister's strategy is brilliant; Other Xi Xia is surely doomed to defeat!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu gazed into the distance at the horizon, smiling lightly, his heart already having a definite conclusion.

At noon on the second day, while Jiang Jiang Mingyu was lost in thought pondering something, Tu Tu Kesiluo strode in and said, "Big Brother, the scouts sent to probe the news of Maolingcheng have returned."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately snapped out of his deep thought and hurriedly said, "Quickly invite him in."

Tu Tu Kesiluo waved his hand, and a young scout covered in dust and grime knelt respectfully before Jiang Jiang Mingyu to pay his respects.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded, and only after the scout stood up did he ask, "What is the specific situation over at Maolingcheng? Does Pang Pang Wenguang have any defensive measures?" His tone revealed impatience.

The scout organized his thoughts and spoke, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Maolingcheng is in the heartland of Hongzhou; its city walls are five zhang high and exceptionally solid. The Maolingcheng Commander, Pang Pang Wenguang, hearing that Quyang was captured by us, conscripted fifty thousand new soldiers overnight. Adding the original garrison of sixty thousand, the military strength available in Maolingcheng now totals one hundred and ten thousand."

Hearing the scout report Pang Pang Wenguang's conscription of a large batch of new soldiers, Jiang Jiang Mingyu couldn't help but furrow his sword-like eyebrows tightly. He pondered for a moment, and what floated in his mind were the men, women, old, and young of prime age within Maolingcheng city. Among these tens of thousands, there must be many young people who had just started families and had young children on their knees.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu imagined the moment they received the conscription order; would there be tragic wailing in their homes? Would the eyes of their relatives faintly reveal despair? They had to leave behind hot meals, leave their hometowns, and go on an unknown expedition. And how would the aged parents and the blooming young girls endure the long years of waiting?

Thinking of this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu couldn't help but clench his fists. He suddenly very much wanted to ask Pang Pang Wenguang himself: How could a guardian of a nation and its people bear to let his own people suffer such hardships? He must make the commoners understand that within the vast world, only our army is the true pillar holding up a realm of peace and clarity for the people!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a deep breath and forced himself to relax his tightly clenched hand. Solving Pang Pang Wenguang first and keeping the commoners away from war and chaos is the urgent task at hand. For the welfare of the people, he will definitely make this Maolingcheng open a new page!

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's unfavorable expression, the scout's tone obviously became more serious: "Furthermore, Pang Pang Wenguang enjoys very high prestige under Li Li Haoyang's command and has the title of 'Indomitable by Ten Thousand Men'. He also deeply understands the art of war and is extremely strategic; he is a very difficult character to deal with."

"Indomitable by Ten Thousand Men?" Tu Tu Kesiluo's lips revealed a cold sneer, his tone revealing disdain: "I like opponents the most; I must duel him personally when the time comes. Big Brother, rest assured; if I cannot chop off his head on the battlefield, then you take my head!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed helplessly and comforted him, saying, "Maolingcheng will surely be taken, but we must not be careless. This man is not a creature of a mere pond; we must still think deeply and carefully to achieve victory in a hundred battles."

He pondered for a moment and asked the scout again, "Does the inside of Maolingcheng city know about our army's impending attack? Approximately how many commoners are in the city?"

The scout thought for a moment and answered, "Maolingcheng is a great city; the population is at least two hundred and thirty thousand. As for whether they know our army is coming from the west, I, your subordinate, do not yet know."

After hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "Very good; this suits my intentions perfectly."

Tu Tu Kesiluo was completely confused and asked, "What suits your intentions perfectly? Big Brother, this remark makes no sense."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu explained, "Given the scale of Maolingcheng, there are at least seventy-eight thousand strong men. Pang Pang Wenguang has worked hard to conscript fifty thousand; the commoners are surely dissatisfied. They are also clear about our good policies; these people's hearts have become an opportunity for our army..." Tu Tu Kesiluo, after hearing this, seemed to understand and nodded silently to himself.