Chapter 297: Valley Shadows of Espionage

As soon as the messenger left, Jiang Jiang Mingyu furrowed his sword-like brows slightly, feeling a touch of unease in his heart. He paced back and forth on the city tower, anxiously gazing into the distance, fearing something might go wrong on the Luohe side.

Before long, a burly man dressed in scout attire ran quickly into the city tower, clasping his fists to bow to Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo. The man was covered in sweat, the dust on his face had clumped into patches, and his entire body bore the marks of a long journey.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, a military report from Luohe," he shouted, his voice low and powerful.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes lit up; he took three steps as two, rushing to the scout: "What is the situation over there? Speak quickly!" Anxiety filled his brow.

The scout nodded repeatedly, first taking several deep, ragged breaths, then spoke: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Luohe defender, Lao Lao Huarong, has only 50,000 troops; adding Zou Zou Jingtong's 50,000, it is merely 100,000 men. They are no match for our army!"

Upon hearing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo sneered coldly, disdain evident in his eyes: "A city facing an army of 180,000 leaves a mere 100,000 defenders. Li Li Haoyang is truly at his wits' end."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's expression grew solemn, then he asked: "How are the defenses of Luohe City? Can they be breached?"

Speaking to this point, the scout couldn't help but let out a "pfft" of laughter, then quickly cleared his throat to suppress the smile, looking torn between two choices. Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo both looked at him in confusion.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the people of Luohe, hearing that the King loves his people like his own children, fled in droves, leaving the city empty. The Luohe city walls were already low and weak; as a result, the fleeing people dug a huge hole in the wall under the cover of night!" the scout explained. "Now the Luohe defenders are frantically trying to repair it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo exchanged a glance and couldn't help but burst into laughter. Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed so hard he bent forward and backward, slapping his thigh, his expression relaxed and joyful. This amusing tale of the city being breached by its own people was truly unbelievable!

Tu Tu Kesiluo stopped laughing, wiped away his tears, and still had a faint smile lingering on his face. He pondered for a long while before slowly speaking: "Big Brother, since a huge gap has already been smashed in the Luohe city walls, our army only needs to arrive at the city gates; Lao Lao Huarong and Zou Zou Jingtong will inevitably be confused and helpless, with no power to fight back." His eyes shone, and his clenched fists faintly revealed a murderous intent.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded slightly, his sword-like brows tightly furrowed, his expression severe. "Good. Immediately notify Zhang Zhang Jiani to order the surrendered soldiers under her command to stop training. Tomorrow we will dispatch 200,000 troops to strike directly at Luohe!" he said in a deep voice, his tone resolute.

The next day, morning sunlight bathed the pink city walls of Maolingcheng, which stood atop a grassy green hill. A faint fragrance of green grass and wild flowers drifted in the air. The fully assembled army stood in neat rows below the city; their gleaming armor reflected dazzling light, and the fine horses let out passionate neighs, their hooves thundering, showing their eagerness to charge onto the battlefield.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, wearing a crimson brocade robe embroidered with golden threads, stood tall at the city gate, looking down at the army below. His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression solemn. At this moment, 200,000 fully armed troops had already formed neat ranks, radiating a ferocious killing intent.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu swept his gaze around with satisfaction, then strode purposefully to Wang De's side, his demeanor grave: "I entrust Maolingcheng to you; you must be extremely careful!" Wang De responded in a deep voice, his expression resolute, his gaze sharp as a torch.

Next, Jiang Jiang Mingyu mounted his horse, raised his long sword high in his hand, and the 200,000-strong army surged forward like a towering wave. While this vast formation was still swirling outside the city, Tu Tu Kesiluo suddenly spurred his horse to Jiang Jiang Mingyu's side and said in a slightly troubled low voice: "Big Brother, Wang De has only just surrendered; is it too risky for him to guard the city alone?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled calmly and said lightly: "Wang De has now betrayed Li Li Haoyang and defected to our side; he will not change his allegiance again. Moreover, he has extensive local connections, making him best suited to soothe the people." Upon hearing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo glanced at the silent Zhang Zhang Jiani, said no more, and set off with the army, radiating a fierce killing intent.

The moment the army deployed, the air seemed to freeze. Passionate soldiers roared past, and the sound of hooves shook heaven and earth. Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mount spurred forward, his crimson brocade robe snapping loudly in the wind, his sword intent piercing. This massive army, like a towering wave sweeping across the sky, rushed toward Luohe.

On the city tower, Wang De silently watched their retreating figures, his gaze deep.

Luohe is only 300 li from Maoling; with the army advancing at full speed, they would surely arrive in two or three days. At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was riding at the very front of the formation, his mood extremely joyful.

Gazing at the valley ahead, he saw the mountains were steep, with towering cliffs on both sides and a narrow road in the middle, winding like a snake.

The valley was lush with greenery; various trees, flowers, and vines intertwined into a single expanse. Occasionally, a few bird calls echoed, creating a feeling of tranquility and peace.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The air was fresh and cool; a gentle breeze blew, bringing a touch of comfort.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's army was divided into four routes—front, rear, left, and right—advancing along the valley road. Clad in armor and holding weapons, they possessed an imposing momentum and high morale.

However, Tu Tu Kesiluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani, following closely behind, suddenly changed color and almost simultaneously shouted loudly: "Wait!"

They suddenly pulled their reins, stopping their mounts, and pointed at the mountain hollows all around, their expressions terrified. Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned back in surprise, but before he could react, he was amused by their dramatic actions and burst into laughter: "When did you two become so in sync?" He shook his head with a smile, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Zhang Zhang Jiani said in a deep voice: "Big Brother, something is wrong!" She tightly furrowed her brows, her expression serious, and pointed at the surrounding mountain hollows: "Pay attention. We are walking in a valley, yet as 200,000 troops marched, not a single bird was startled into flight. This indicates someone has already driven them away and prevented their return."

"It can only be an ambush!" As she spoke, her gaze was sharp and her tone firm, clearly the result of careful observation and reasoning. Tu Tu Kesiluo nodded in agreement: "Exactly, I noticed this anomaly too. This valley is too suitable for an ambush. Once we enter, we will be attacked from all sides and trapped in a heavy encirclement." As he spoke, a flash of ferocity appeared in his eyes, and a cold sneer curled his lips, clearly showing he feared no challenge from the enemy.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's expression changed; he quickly realized the truth: "You are right! A net of heaven and earth must be set here, waiting for our army to enter. It seems Li Li Haoyang, whose situation was already difficult, has ultimately chosen to fight a desperate battle here, hoping to destroy our army at all costs!" His heart sank, and he ground his teeth in secret.

He knew Li Li Haoyang was a cunning opponent who would not give up easily. He also knew that although his army was vast in numbers, once trapped in an enemy ambush, they would fall into a passive position and find it difficult to leverage their advantages.

He couldn't help but regret not sending out scouts earlier to investigate the enemy situation. But he quickly calmed his mind, calmly analyzed the situation, and sought a counter-strategy. He was unwilling to let momentary panic affect the morale and combat effectiveness of the entire army.

Tu Tu Kesiluo sneered coldly: "I knew that old scoundrel was about to be finished; now he is throwing everything into the fray! Big Brother, what is your plan? Should I lead men to break out of the encirclement?" He had already clenched his fists, ready to strike. He was a bold warrior who loved charging into battle; to the enemy's provocation, he had only one answer: Kill!

Zhang Zhang Jiani shook her head: "No, that would only allow the enemy to achieve their goal of splitting and dismantling us. We must maintain our formation and not lose our footing; only then can we withstand the enemy's attack."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu quickly surveyed the surroundings and said in a low voice: "First, continue at the original speed; we cannot let the enemy discover we have seen through them. At the same time, quietly order the entire army to prepare for battle at any moment." His expression was resolute, his gaze sharp as a torch.

"I will organize the specific command. You and Zhang Jiani, just focus on quickly killing the enemy commander. Once they are leaderless, their only outcome will be defeat!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani exchanged a glance and nodded heavily. Zhang Zhang Jiani even proudly raised her chin and said: "Big Brother, rest assured; we will not make any mistakes!"

Seeing that the two had already accepted his strategy and arrangements, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt slightly relieved. He knew Tu Tu Kesiluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani were formidable; with them stationed at the front line, the chances of victory would surely increase greatly.

Thinking of this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu lightly patted his mount and silently calculated his next countermeasures in his mind...

Half an hour passed quickly. Sunlight on the hillside filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting light on the ground and reflecting the tense atmosphere of the imminent battle. Suddenly, Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyebrows twitched slightly, the corners of his mouth curled, and he murmured to himself: "They are here!" His words revealed accurate and undeniable insight.

In the distance, a black mass of troops surged out from among the trees. Their armor shimmered with a heavy black glow, like a dark tide surging under the night sky, instantly deeply surrounding the 200,000-strong army led by Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's brows furrowed slightly; a solemnity covered his face. He waved to signal the soldiers to remain on guard. A glance revealed the black-armored army numbered in the tens of thousands, like an iron wall, blocking the entire path ahead.

However, suddenly, a general of towering stature and imposing dignity stepped out from the depths of the bushes. He wore black armor and a steel helmet; his eyes were like stars in a cold night, radiating endless sharpness.

"Jiang Jiang Mingyu, do not think you can escape again!" That general shouted, his voice echoing through the mountains, as if a death sentence pronounced upon Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

A chilling coldness filled the air; leaves rustled softly in the breeze, like war drums roaring, heralding the imminent opening of a life-and-death confrontation.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a deep breath, his gaze like cold lightning, and firmly stared at that arrogant general. He smiled slightly, a look of disdain spreading across his face, like a blade in the cold wind.

That general smiled arrogantly, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Jiang Mingyu's military formation, and said proudly: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, do you still remember who I, the Governor, am?" His voice was resonant and powerful, like a cold, sharp sword.

At this moment, the tension and standoff on the battlefield condensed into a tangible atmosphere; the entire valley seemed frozen by the impending collision.