Chapter 301: The King's Majestic Arrival; Dingchuan City Surrenders!

After Lao Lao Huarong and the other two left, Tu Tu Kesiluo and Zhang Zhang Jiani's eyes both sparkled with excitement. Tu Tu Kesiluo spoke: "Big Brother, now that we command six hundred thousand troops, Dingchuan and Fuxiang will sooner or later fall into our grasp. By then, the heads of the two states of Jihu and Li Li Haoyang will also be in our possession!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded slightly, gesturing for the two to sit beside him. "Correct, the combined forces of Dingchuan and Fuxiang amount to at most a hundred thousand, posing no threat to our army." A cold light flashed in his eyes. "Pass my order: begin the siege of Dingchuan at dawn tomorrow!"

"Additionally, Tu Tu Kesiluo, send messengers immediately on swift horses to Guizhou. Tell Fang Hang and Goudan that our army will attack Jizhou in half a month; order them to attack Huzhou simultaneously. With a pincer attack from both sides, Li Li Haoyang, trapped in a desperate situation, will surely have no escape from death!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered.

Tu Tu Kesiluo clasped his hands and bowed in agreement, a cunning smile on his face. "Big Brother, rest assured, I will handle this at once. By then, Li Li Haoyang will have no path to survival; his death is certain!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo turned and left. Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched his back, then suddenly asked Zhang Zhang Jiani: "Still no news of Zhang Jiaqi?" Zhang Zhang Jiani sighed deeply as well: "The letter from home says that girl's whereabouts are unknown. In this chaotic world, who knows where she has run off to..." With those words, Zhang Zhang Jiani looked deeply worried, her face full of sorrow.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu fell silent; he had long expected such a result. "Rather than being torn apart by worry, it is better to focus on the great cause. Once the world is pacified, her traces will surely be found." He admonished himself silently.

While the two were conversing, Tu Tu Kesiluo had already dispatched the Tengxiang cavalry to gallop toward Guizhou. Jiang Jiang Mingyu gazed at the direction of the rolling dust clouds, his eyes like lightning, revealing his ambitious aspirations—that dust spreading across the sky would be the prelude to his magnificent hegemony!

Early the next morning, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, fully armored and orderly, summoned Tu Tu Kesiluo and asked him: "Are those things you were preparing all ready?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo bowed respectfully: "Replying to Your Majesty, all is prepared. Five hundred thousand troops remain stationed in Luohe City. The general defending the city is a fierce warrior who formerly served under Fang Hang; he is absolutely trustworthy." A sycophantic smile plastered his face, fearing any hint of dissatisfaction from Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction, though no smile touched his eyes: "Very well, then let us depart according to the plan. Additionally, order the armies of Lao Lao Huarong and Zou Zou Jingtong to lead as the vanguard to prevent Li Li Haoyang from suspecting anything." He sneered; if those two dared to harbor even a shred of treachery again, their fate would be even worse than Li Li Haoyang's!

Shortly after the group departed Luohe, Zhang Zhang Jiani suddenly spurred her horse to catch up quickly: "Big Brother, I have a suggestion. Let us first send someone to deliver a gift to Kuang Kuang Boya, the commander of Dingchuan, to make him retreat in the face of difficulty. Perhaps the city of Dingchuan will then open its gates and surrender without a fight. This would not only save time but also allow the main army to rest briefly. Even if Kuang Kuang Boya does not surrender, it will shake the morale of the Dingchuan army, causing no harm to us!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was greatly pleased upon hearing this; the proposal clearly struck a chord. He immediately ordered a letter written, promising Kuang Kuang Boya that if he opened the gates to surrender, all official positions and military authority would remain unchanged. If he hesitated too long, the only path left would be mutual destruction.

Zhang Zhang Jiani received the order and departed. Immediately, a contingent of light cavalry escorted a strange object straight toward Dingchuan. A cunning smile appeared on Tu Tu Kesiluo's face: "When Kuang Kuang Boya sees our gift, he will surely be overjoyed! By then, the city of Dingchuan will be taken without a fight!" Watching his hidden smile, it seemed the gift was far from simple...

Jiang Jiang Mingyu spurred his horse to gallop at the front, behind him a dense, impenetrable army of five hundred thousand. Their killing intent, a force like mountains collapsing and seas overturning, made people shiver with fear. Jiang Jiang Mingyu rode swiftly with a blank expression, though his heart could no longer contain his passion.

As the group rode forward, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, in high spirits, suddenly turned to ask Tu Tu Kesiluo

"A-Tu, when will you and Zhang Jiani let me hold a big nephew?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu teased, looking at Tu Tu Kesiluo, who grinned sheepishly, his face turning red.

"Well... I planted the seed long ago; now it is just waiting to sprout and bear fruit!" Tu Tu Kesiluo chuckled, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"Besides, you aren't any better yourself. The One Da Jiang Kingdom doesn't even have a Crown Prince yet; don't keep staring at us!" Tu Tu Kesiluo began to tease Jiang Jiang Mingyu in return.

"Show off! Don't talk about me; I haven't seen my wife in several months and I'm feeling quite pent up!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu stretched, sighing at the times he and Chu Liu Yifei spent so little time together.

"Don't make me wait until I'm desperate with anxiety!"

The two chatted back and forth, their words revealing a longing and anticipation for a beautiful future.

At that moment, the light footsteps of Zhang Zhang Jiani approached. Her energetic appearance made Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes light up: "Zhang Jiani, you're back! We were just talking about you!"

Zhang Zhang Jiani came running over, covered in dust: "Eh, why are you two chatting so happily?" The butterfly knot in her hair fluttered in the wind, making her look lively and charming.

"We were guessing when you and Tu Tu Kesiluo will let me become an uncle!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed and exchanged a glance with Tu Tu Kesiluo.

Zhang Zhang Jiani was greatly embarrassed upon hearing this, her face turning red with shame. Her gaze questioning Tu Tu Kesiluo was like sharp arrows.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily, patting both of their shoulders: "Don't rush, take it slow!" The three chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere of the journey instantly became lively.

Arriving under a patch of tree shade, Jiang Jiang Mingyu dismounted and beckoned the two to rest as well. The three sat down on the spot. Jiang Jiang Mingyu specially summoned the traveling cooks and had them roast a whole lamb right there.

The three drank and ate heartily, as if returning to the old days when they met so rarely. Pleasant times always seemed especially short; in the blink of an eye, the sky had grown dark, and they had to set out on their journey again...

On the evening of the fifth day since the army set out, just as the camp was established, the messenger sent by Zhang Zhang Jiani returned, covered in dust.

The messenger stumbled into the tent in a wretched state, like a raccoon chased by hunting dogs. Half-yellow leaves hung from his hair, and he was drenched in sweat, looking as if he had just tumbled out of a thicket.

Breathless, he reported to Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "Replying to Your Majesty... Luohe... a letter!" The man was gasping for air.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked him up and down with interest; the messenger's wretched appearance looked exactly like a deserter: "Tell me, what was Kuang Kuang Boya's reaction upon seeing the gift I sent?"

The messenger wiped a layer of sweat, trembling as he reported: "Re... Reporting to Your Majesty, Kuang Kuang Boya saw the head of Wang Wang Sichao and was so frightened he lost his soul! Knowing that Your Majesty's six hundred thousand troops were attacking, he immediately decided to open the gates and surrender!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo exchanged a smile, their eyes revealing a cynical flavor—the prey was about to be caught.

Tu Tu Kesiluo laughed loudly: "Without us needing to send troops, the city of Dingchuan is already in our hands! Zhang Jiani, you are truly brilliant!" His words were full of praise.

However, Zhang Zhang Jiani showed no smile: "Big Brother, this is very likely Kuang Kuang Boya's trickery. We cannot let our guard down; caution is best." Alertness shone through her brows.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded calmly: "Rest assured, I have my own judgment. However, avoiding a bloody battle is naturally the superior strategy." In truth, he also vaguely felt something was amiss, but he did not reveal it.

That night, the three sat around the fire, unconsciously recalling their pasts. The flickering flames before them seemed like flowing time, dispelling the fatigue of the past days. Jiang Jiang Mingyu gazed thoughtfully into the darkness ahead; once the final victory was achieved, he would carefully consider the subsequent deployments...

At dawn, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's five hundred and fifty thousand troops, radiating killing intent, set out. This winding, long column stretched out like a gleaming dragon in the first morning light. The dust flying along the way blocked out the sky and sun, making onlookers tremble with fear.

Three days later, they finally arrived before the city of Dingchuan, whose gates had long been opened. On the city walls, Kuang Kuang Boya, wearing a vigorous battle robe, led his eight thousand soldiers, waiting respectfully for a long time. When he saw the sea of people behind Jiang Jiang Mingyu, wave after wave rising higher, his face turned deathly pale, and sweat poured down like rain. He realized how brilliant his decision to surrender had been; the momentum of these five hundred thousand people was like rolling, terrifying waves, threatening to destroy Dingchuan City in an instant.

When he saw the dense, impenetrable walls of people behind Jiang Jiang Mingyu, he became even more convinced that his decision to surrender was absolutely correct. The vast, sweeping momentum of these five hundred thousand people made his heart pound and his flesh tremble.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly and spoke calmly: "General Kuang, you have worked hard. That you understand the great righteousness and surrender to our army is truly my great fortune." Upon hearing this, Kuang Kuang Boya immediately knelt and prostrated himself on the ground, without a word beginning his oath of loyalty.

However, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's smile faintly revealed mockery—whether surrender or submission, these could not hide the hesitation and struggle within Kuang Kuang Boya's heart.

"Enough, enough, enter the city quickly!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved casually, while secretly signaling Tu Tu Kesiluo with a glance. The latter immediately understood, leading his troops into the city first to patrol and prevent ambushes.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sighed and explained: "Li Li Haoyang is deeply rooted here; I fear there are still his death warriors hidden in the city. General Kuang, do not take offense; this is a necessary measure." Kuang Kuang Boya's face clearly stiffened; he understood in his heart that this suspicion could not be hidden.

Subsequently, Jiang Jiang Mingyu ordered Zhang Zhang Jiani to reorganize Kuang Kuang Boya's army and merge it with their own forces to prevent a second rebellion. He also properly comforted Kuang Kuang Boya, promising to still grant him his original eight thousand troops. Kuang Kuang Boya finally breathed a sigh of relief; at least his position and military power remained, which was far better than losing his life in the yellow springs...