Chapter 300: Sieging the City Like a Dream, Surrendering Like an Illusion

About half an hour later, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's nearly five hundred thousand strong army set out on their journey once more.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat atop his horse, gazing at the endless sea of people behind him, a surge of surprise and excitement rising in his heart. The memory of that destitute youth now leading such a massive army created a contrast impossible to imagine. He shook his head lightly, still finding it hard to believe.

"It truly feels like a dream!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu sighed.

The many generals rode behind Jiang Jiang Mingyu. Tu Tu Kesiluo sat on a tall, powerful horse, his frame burly and his gaze resolute, looking like a fierce general who had faced life and death countless times. Zhang Zhang Jiani also rode a white horse, her slender figure standing out strikingly amidst the great army. Seeing the two familiar figures, the corners of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mouth curled upward, his confidence swelling.

This vast iron cavalry advanced slowly across the plain, winding and long like a black dragon, radiating a majesty that chilled the bone. The footsteps of the five hundred thousand troops sounded like rolling thunder, deafening to the ear.

After two more days of marching, the army had entered the sphere of influence of Luohe City. Tu Tu Kesiluo looked at the map, then raised his head and said, "Big Brother, Luohe City is thirty li ahead. Shall we launch the attack now?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu glanced up at the sky; the warm afternoon sunlight bathed the earth, a perfect time with gentle breezes and bright sun. Without a second thought, he gave the order directly: "Attack the city!"

Moments later, the surging human tide pressed toward Luohe City like dark clouds. Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood on high ground, squinting down at the city below, and nodded disdainfully: "Just as the scouts reported, the city walls are only three zhang high. How low!"

"The city walls are so short; it seems Luohe City's defenses are not solid." Zhang Zhang Jiani looked at the low walls and murmured the observation. The soldiers behind her heard this and also shook their heads with contemptuous smiles.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu scanned this dilapidated small city, suddenly recalling the former Shangmu City, and couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile: "If it were just a bit lower, it would almost rival Shangmu back then..."

Everyone followed Jiang Jiang Mingyu's gaze to inspect the city, their expressions overflowing with disdain and mockery. This city was truly too small and too dilapidated; it hardly looked like a national capital, but rather like an ordinary small town.

Suddenly, Jiang Jiang Mingyu noticed a patch on the southeast corner of the city wall that had just been repaired; it must be the breach opened by the common people. This confirmed the rumors of the popular uprising a few days prior; it seemed Luohe City's interior had already descended into utter chaos.

Stationing the great army below the city, the sappers began preparing the siege engines. Tu Tu Kesiluo raised his long sword and shouted toward the city tower:

"People inside the city, listen well! I, His Majesty Jiang of the One Da Jiang Kingdom, lead five hundred thousand troops to punish Li Li Haoyang. Quickly send Zou Zou Jingtong and Lao Lao Huarong out to welcome us!"

The Commandant on the city tower looked at the sky filled with iron cavalry, his face turning pale with fear, his two legs trembling uncontrollably. Five hundred thousand troops; if every single one stamped their foot on the ground, they could trample the walls of Luohe into a flat plain!

The Commandant descended the city in a panic, running while shouting, "Disaster! Great disaster is upon us!" The soldiers inside the city heard the cry, their faces stiffening, their hearts filled with despair.

Watching the panicked enemy, Tu Tu Kesiluo sneered disdainfully: "Do these fools still think to resist? It is sheer madness!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered, "Not necessarily. If Lao Lao Huarong and the other are loyal to Li Li Haoyang to the death, stubborn resistance is not impossible. However, I have prepared a grand gift for them." At this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo exchanged a look of mutual understanding.

"Haha, I believe they will definitely like it!" Tu Tu Kesiluo laughed loudly, a cruel expression on his face.

While the two were speaking, Lao Lao Huarong and Zou Zou Jingtong, also clad in armor, ran up to the city tower in a panic.

Their feet seemed to tread on cotton, soft and numb with no sensation. When they looked down at the city below, a sea of silver light filled their vision, dazzling and blinding.

Tens of thousands of long swords, steel blades, and iron spears shimmered with cold, sharp glints in the sunlight; the densely packed standing soldiers had armor reflecting blinding light, enough to blind a person. This magnificent scene was like a revelation from hell, foreshadowing the doom they were about to face.

"This... how is this possible..." Zou Zou Jingtong murmured, his pupils shrinking with fear.

The memory of the horrific battle at Jizhou three years ago surfaced in his mind, where soldiers died in great numbers, their bones left nowhere, and Wang Cheng fell. That endless despair wrapped around his heart again, making it hard to breathe.

"Our end has come..." Lao Lao Huarong whispered in despair. He had already seen Tu Tu Kesiluo's cold, ruthless face, waiting to harvest their lives.

Tu Tu Kesiluo said coldly, "I will say this only once..." Every word of his was like a thunderclap exploding, crashing down upon the two of them. In an instant, Zou Zou Jingtong felt the world spin, his steps stumbled, and he nearly fainted...

"You still have one last chance!" Tu Tu Kesiluo's words fell like the final tolling of a funeral bell, shattering the last shred of hope the two possessed...

He paused for a moment, his gaze like a hawk's fixed on the two: "Open the city and surrender, and you may keep your lives; resist to the end, and only mutual destruction awaits!"

"You have only the time to drink a cup of tea to deliberate. If you still disagree, then blame your bitter fate!"

Lao Lao Huarong and Zou Zou Jingtong exchanged a glance, seeing the bottomless despair in each other's eyes. This was no longer a problem solvable by choice, but a struggle for life and death!

Tu Tu Kesiluo, however, paid no mind, humming a little tune leisurely as if this were merely a casual chat. Lao Lao Huarong glared at him with hatred, wishing to strike him down with a single sword slash.

In the blink of an eye, the time for a cup of tea had passed. Tu Tu Kesiluo stopped humming right on time and turned his gaze back to the two: the last trace of color had already left their faces...

Time slipped away bit by bit; in the blink of an eye, the time for a cup of tea had arrived. Tu Tu Kesiluo decisively stopped his frivolous humming and spoke coldly: "Two generals, how has your deliberation gone?"

Hearing this, Lao Lao Huarong and Zou Zou Jingtong's faces instantly turned deathly pale, as if falling into an ice cave. Zou Zou Jingtong stammered, "This... we..."

Tu Tu Kesiluo had no patience to listen to his stammering any longer; he pointed his long sword and shouted in a deep voice: "Prepare to attack the city!"

The moment Tu Tu Kesiluo's ultimatum was issued, Lao Lao Huarong and Zou Zou Jingtong's faces turned white in an instant. Their inner thoughts: "It's over. Five hundred thousand troops press the border; our pitiful few soldiers have no power to fight back. Now we can only be at their mercy!"

Zou Zou Jingtong's teeth chattered, cold sweat pouring down. He tried to speak while feigning calmness, but only fragmented words came out: "I... we..." Before he could finish, a large stone seemed to block his throat, making him unable to speak.

Lao Lao Huarong dug his fingernails into the crenellations, his nails digging into the flesh of his palms. He wished he could jump down from the city right now to kowtow and surrender, begging only for his dog's life to be spared.

When Tu Tu Kesiluo gave the order, and the five hundred thousand troops surged forward like a mountain collapsing and a sea overturning, the two were terrified and screamed in unison: "Stop! We surrender! We beg you to surrender!" This desperate plea for mercy, sharp as a chick's cry, made Tu Tu Kesiluo frown.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded, and only then did Tu Tu Kesiluo raise his arm and shout loudly: "Stop! Everyone, cease the attack!" The five hundred thousand troops immediately halted their assault, opening a long passage.

Tu Tu Kesiluo stared at the two and ordered: "Since you have agreed to surrender, open the city gates immediately!" Zou Zou Jingtong and Lao Lao Huarong dared not hesitate any longer; they immediately ordered the gates opened to welcome the army.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt a small sense of triumph; he had intended to give the two a warning, but now it seemed he would have to save that for later.

An hour later, Lao Lao Huarong and Zou Zou Jingtong stood before Jiang Jiang Mingyu, trembling and cautious. Jiang Jiang Mingyu suddenly smiled: "Very well, you are now one of us; no need to be so nervous. Rest assured, your troops will still be under your command, and your official ranks remain unchanged."

The two looked at each other in surprise; a person on the brink of death suddenly being pardoned of their life and all crimes was beyond their boldest imagination. They immediately knelt to thank His Majesty, declaring they would serve with loyalty unto death.

"As long as you handle affairs honestly, I will take care of you. However, if there is any treachery, do not blame us for enforcing military law!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu threatened deliberately.

Lao Lao Huarong swore repeatedly that he had no treacherous intentions before hurrying out of the main tent. The accompanying soldiers secretly chuckled at the two's panic; this was their first time witnessing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's skill and worldly wisdom, which both commanded awe and displayed benevolence.