Chapter 301

After Lao Huarong and the others left, Tukesulu and Zhang Jiani's eyes gleamed with excitement. Tukesulu said: "Big Brother, we now have six hundred thousand troops. Dingchuan and Fuxiang will surely fall into our hands soon. Then, both Jizhou and Li Haoyang's head will be ours!"

Jiang Mingyu nodded slightly, gesturing for the two to sit beside him. "Correct. The combined forces of Dingchuan and Fuxiang amount to no more than a hundred thousand—no threat to us." His eyes flashed with cold light. "Issue my order: at dawn tomorrow, begin the siege of Dingchuan!"

"Also, Tukesulu, send a fast rider to Guizhou immediately. Tell Fang Hang and Goudan that in half a month, we will launch our campaign against Jizhou—they must attack Huzhou simultaneously. With a pincer strike, Li Haoyang, trapped in desperation, will have no escape but death!" Jiang Mingyu sneered.

Tukesulu bowed respectfully. "Understood, Big Brother. I'll see to it immediately. By then, Li Haoyang will have no chance of survival—he will die for sure!"

Tukesulu turned and left. Jiang Mingyu watched his back, then suddenly asked Zhang Jiani: "Still no news of Jiaqi?" Zhang Jiani sighed deeply. "The letter home said the girl is missing. In this chaotic age, who knows where she's run off to..." Her face was heavy with worry.

Jiang Mingyu fell silent. He had expected this outcome. "Better to focus on building our empire than to waste heartache. When the world is pacified, her trail will reveal itself." He warned himself inwardly.

As the two spoke, Tukesulu had already dispatched mounted cavalry racing toward Guizhou. Jiang Mingyu stared at the direction of swirling dust, his eyes like lightning—signaling his boundless ambition. This vast, spreading dust would be the prelude to his grand dominion!

The next morning, Jiang Mingyu, fully armored, summoned Tukesulu. "Did you prepare everything I asked for?"

Tukesulu bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, all is ready. We've left fifty thousand troops to garrison Luohé City. The commander is a fierce general who once served Fang Hang—he is utterly trustworthy." His face beamed with obsequious smiles, terrified of any hint of displeasure.

Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction, though his eyes held no warmth. "Good. Then we proceed as planned. Also, order Lao Huarong and Zou Jingtong's forces to lead the vanguard—to prevent Li Haoyang from growing suspicious." He sneered. If those two dared show even a trace of rebellion, their fate would be worse than Li Haoyang's!

As the group departed Luohé, Zhang Jiani suddenly spurred her horse forward. "Big Brother, I have a suggestion. Send a gift to Kuang Boya, the commander of Dingchuan. Let him see the futility of resistance. Perhaps the city will surrender without a fight—saving time and allowing our troops to rest. Even if he refuses, it will shake the enemy's morale—harmless to us!"

Jiang Mingyu was delighted—this suggestion struck him perfectly. He immediately ordered a letter written, promising Kuang Boya that if he surrendered, he would retain all his rank and authority. If he delayed, only mutual destruction awaited.

Zhang Jiani departed with the order. A light cavalry unit escorted the gift toward Dingchuan. Tukesulu's face curled into a sly smile. "When Kuang Boya sees our gift, he'll be overjoyed! Dingchuan will fall without a single blow!" His hidden smile suggested the gift was no ordinary offering...

Jiang Mingyu rode ahead, his fifty thousand troops forming an unbroken wall behind him. Their murderous aura, overwhelming and tidal, sent chills through all who watched. Jiang Mingyu's face remained expressionless as he galloped, yet his heart burned with uncontainable passion.

As they rode, Jiang Mingyu's spirits lifted. He suddenly turned to Tukesulu.

"Tuku, when are you and Jiani going to give me a nephew?" Jiang Mingyu teased, grinning at Tukesulu, who blushed and chuckled awkwardly.

"Well... I've already sown the seed. Now it's just waiting to sprout and bear fruit!" Tukesulu chuckled sheepishly.

"Don't act like you're any better—you still don't have a crown prince in Dajiang! Stop fixating on us!" Tukesulu retorted, turning the tease back.

"Don't you dare lecture me! You haven't seen your wife in months—you're just as restless as I am!" Jiang Mingyu stretched lazily, sighing at how rarely he and Chu Yifei could be together.

"Don't make me wait until I'm frantic!"

The two bantered back and forth, their words brimming with longing for a brighter future.

At that moment, Zhang Jiani's light footsteps approached. Her bright demeanor caught Tukesulu's eye. "Jiani, you're back! We were just talking about you!"

Zhang Jiani ran up, dust-covered but radiant. "Huh? Why are you two so cheerful?" Her butterfly hairpin fluttered in the wind, lively and charming.

"We were guessing when you and Tukesulu will make me an uncle!" Jiang Mingyu laughed, exchanging a glance with Tukesulu.

Zhang Jiani flushed crimson, her glare at Tukesulu sharp as arrows.

Jiang Mingyu burst into laughter, clapping both their shoulders. "No rush—take your time!" The three laughed and chatted, the journey suddenly alive with warmth.

Reaching a patch of shade, Jiang Mingyu dismounted and called for the others to rest. The three sat on the ground. Jiang Mingyu even summoned the camp cook to roast a whole lamb on the spot.

The three feasted and drank heartily, as if returning to those days of fleeting reunions. Joyful moments always pass too quickly—night fell, and they must ride on again...

On the fifth evening of the march, as the camp was just set up, Zhang Jiani's messenger arrived, exhausted and dusty.

The messenger stumbled into the tent like a raccoon chased by hounds—leaves half-yellow clung to his hair, sweat drenched his face, as if he'd just tumbled out of a thicket.

Gasping for breath, he reported to Jiang Mingyu: "Your Majesty... news from Luohé...!"

Jiang Mingyu studied the messenger's disheveled state with amusement—he looked like a deserter. "Tell me—what was Kuang Boya's reaction to the gift I sent?"

The messenger wiped his brow, trembling. "Your Majesty... Kuang Boya saw Wang Sichao's head and nearly fainted! Upon learning your six hundred thousand troops were coming, he immediately decided to surrender the city!"

Jiang Mingyu and Tukesulu exchanged a knowing smile—full of cynical amusement. The prey was nearly caught.

Tukesulu laughed heartily. "We didn't even need to fight—Dingchuan is ours! Jiani, you're brilliant!"

But Zhang Jiani showed no smile. "Big Brother, this may be Kuang Boya's trick. We must not lower our guard. Caution is key." Her brow was tense with suspicion.

Jiang Mingyu nodded calmly. "I have my own judgment. Still, avoiding bloody battle is the better path." Yet inwardly, he sensed something off—though he showed nothing.

That night, the three sat around the fire, each lost in memories. The flickering flames seemed to flow like time, washing away days of fatigue. Jiang Mingyu gazed into the darkness beyond, silently resolving: when final victory came, he would carefully plan his next moves...

At dawn, Jiang Mingyu's fifty-five thousand troops marched out, radiating murderous intent. The long, winding column stretched like a gleaming dragon beneath the first rays of morning. Dust rose in blinding clouds, striking fear into all who beheld it.

Three days later, they arrived at Dingchuan, its gates wide open. On the walls, Kuang Boya, clad in battle armor, stood with his eighty thousand troops, waiting. When he saw the endless sea of soldiers behind Jiang Mingyu, his face turned pale, sweat pouring down. He realized his surrender had been wise—this mass of over half a million men surged like a tidal wave, ready to crush Dingchuan in an instant.

Seeing the unbroken walls of soldiers behind Jiang Mingyu, he became even more certain his surrender was perfect. The sheer scale of the force made his heart pound with dread.

Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly. "General Kuang, you've worked hard. Your decision to surrender to my army is indeed fortunate for me." Kuang Boya immediately knelt, without hesitation, swearing allegiance.

Yet Jiang Mingyu's smile held a trace of mockery—surrender or submission could not hide Kuang Boya's inner hesitation and turmoil.

"Enough. Enter the city quickly!" Jiang Mingyu waved casually, but slipped a subtle glance to Tukesulu. The latter immediately understood and led troops ahead to scout the city for ambushes.

Jiang Mingyu sighed. "Li Haoyang has deep roots here. There may still be his loyalists hidden in the city. General Kuang, don't take offense—it's a necessary precaution." Kuang Boya's face stiffened—he understood the suspicion was unmistakable.

Jiang Mingyu then ordered Zhang Jiani to reorganize Kuang Boya's troops, merging them with his own to prevent rebellion. He also reassured Kuang Boya, promising he would retain his original eighty thousand soldiers. Kuang Boya finally exhaled slightly—at least his rank and power remained. Better than dying...