Chapter 310: Shangmu Falls, Lord Lord Murong Murong Yunhai Dies in Vain

Hoofbeats clattered as a swift horse galloped straight toward them, kicking up thick dust. The rider's face was blackened, his expression terrified, his body already teetering on the brink of collapse. "Your... Your Majesty... disaster!" Before the words were out, he fell from the horse, tumbling head over heels to the ground.

Everyone rushed forward to support him, letting him rest briefly and drink water. Only then did the rider open his eyes slightly and blurt out: "Fifty thousand Other Xi Xia troops have broken through the border and struck straight at the gates of Shangmu!"

What?! Shangmu?! Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart suddenly tightened, a dull ache rising within him. He had expected the rebuilt Shangmu to be completely renewed, never imagining such a turn of events so soon. Lord Lord Murong had few troops; he could hold off the Western Xia army for at most thirty-five days before collapsing. Once Shangmu fell, the consequences would be unthinkable!

"Big Brother, the Other Xi Xia are advancing with fierce momentum; we must drive them back. I will lead thirty thousand light cavalry through the night to reinforce Shangmu." Tu Tu Kesiluo spoke in a deep voice, his expression already iron-gray. Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded heavily, about to agree, when suddenly he remembered something and sharply stopped Tu Tu Kesiluo: "Wait! I will go with you."

"Impossible!" Tu Tu Kesiluo hurriedly protested. "The situation in Shangmu is critical; how can Your Majesty take such a risk!" The other generals also spoke up to dissuade him. Yet Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained unyielding: "My mind is made up! The plight of Shangmu stems from my own dereliction of duty that day. If I do not go today, how can I face the people!"

Countless times in his dreams, he faintly heard the people whispering beside his ear: "Grandpa is going out; remember to take care!" This concern and trust he had kept in his heart, vowing to protect them personally.

Seeing that persuasion was useless, everyone fell silent and followed Jiang Jiang Mingyu to set out on the rescue mission. The thirty thousand light cavalry quickly vanished into the distant dust.

Halfway there, a sudden storm of wind and rain blocked their path. With his heart burning with anxiety, Jiang Jiang Mingyu ordered a temporary camp set up by the riverside to rest. The location, nestled against mountains and water with dense forests, could indeed serve as a temporary shelter for the army. However, faint rumbling thunder came from the northwest, as if a greater storm was brewing. Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood atop a high point, gazing toward the Other Xi Xia border, his brow filled with worry. This storm would undoubtedly slow the advance of the reinforcements, but it would also severely hinder the Other Xi Xia army's progress. In that case, could the defenders of Shangmu hold out any longer?

Jiang Jiang Mingyu concentrated, recalling the days when he crossed west to Yingchang; he too had endured long storms and hardships. Yet thinking of that day, when he escorted the people, traveling nonstop, the urgency mirrored the present situation. Jiang Jiang Mingyu couldn't help but smile bitterly; the cycle of life had made him relive that scene. Only this time, the burden on his shoulders was heavier, and his resolve to protect even firmer. Once this storm passed, he would urge the army to march day and night, breaking the siege of Shangmu in one decisive push!

Thus, amidst the wind and rain in the dense forest, Jiang Jiang Mingyu carefully plotted the route forward. He knew the road ahead was treacherous; there was no retreat for him this journey. If Shangmu truly fell, then he, Tu Tu Kesiluo, and the entire army would have no chance of survival. This battle was nothing less than a fight for the very existence of One Da Jiang!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo led their troops separately, traveling nonstop for five days until they passed through Jingzhou and entered the familiar Zangzhou territory. Just as Jiang Jiang Mingyu urged them again and again, intending to further increase their speed, a scout galloped up on a flying horse, his face beaming with joy as he reported: "Reporting to Your Majesty, three days ago Lord Lord Murong's command was wise and decisive; he successfully repelled the vanguard of the Other Xi Xia army, killing over ten thousand enemy soldiers!"

"Now our forces are holding the north of the city against the Other Xi Xia troops, and the battle situation is gradually turning in our favor!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu let out a long sigh of relief and couldn't help but praise: "Good! Murong Yunhai indeed possesses courage beyond measure, putting my mind at ease!" He immediately ordered the scout to return with the message, instructing Lord Lord Murong to hold firm, promising that he himself would arrive within three days at the latest.

As soon as the scout departed, Jiang Jiang Mingyu cast aside his earlier joy, his expression becoming even more solemn. Tu Tu Kesiluo, puzzled, spoke up to dissuade: "Big Brother, with Murong Yunhai holding the line, the situation has already improved, hasn't it? Why not rest a while before proceeding?"

"Rest? It is far too early to speak of that!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face was stern. "Since Tuoba Ji Qian has come to invade, he will not give up easily. This force of fifty thousand is merely a probing vanguard; behind it surely lies a more ferocious assault! To hold Shangmu, we must seize every second!"

Having spoken, he urged the army forward at full speed once more. Along the journey, the soldiers' faces were already covered in dust, everyone exhausted, nearly ready to rest on the spot. At that moment, Tu Tu Kesiluo joyfully announced they had reached a place only thirty li from Shangmu and suggested hastening to rendezvous.

Unexpectedly, however, Jiang Jiang Mingyu ordered the troops to halt. He said calmly: "The situation is unclear; let us rest briefly to recover our strength, then send scouts ahead to investigate. Once safety is confirmed, the army will march immediately to reinforce." Hearing this, the generals dared not be the least bit negligent and all rested on the spot.

Yet Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not sleep at all; he only stood high, gazing far toward the direction of Shangmu, his brows knitted tight. He knew everyone was utterly exhausted, but then he recalled that in years past he too had traveled east with the people, sleeping under the open sky and eating in the wind, sharing life and death. Now, facing this trial again, how could he show the slightest negligence? This journey to Shangmu was nothing less than a fight for the lives of those old and young!

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's solemn expression, Tu Tu Kesiluo hurried forward to gently comfort him: "Big Brother, do not overwork yourself. With Murong Yunhai holding the line, Shangmu will not easily fall. Hasn't he been leading the troops to repel the Other Xi Xia raids these past days?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu seemed not to hear, gazing only toward Shangmu, his brows knitted tight. He admitted he always felt a strange unease, fearing that one day Shangmu would meet disaster. Seeing him so deeply worried, Tu Tu Kesiluo said no more and found a spot to close his eyes and rest.

Suddenly, the sound of a horse galloping swiftly from afar was heard. A scout ran up to the front, his expression panicked, as if about to deliver some dire news. Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart suddenly tightened; he took three steps in two, rushing forward: "Speak quickly! What exactly has happened in Shangmu?"

The scout knelt on the ground to report, his voice choked with sobs: "Reporting... reporting to Your Majesty, the Other Xi Xia army fiercely attacked Shangmu and finally breached the city! Lord Lord Murong has... has heroically sacrificed himself! At this very moment, all the elderly, weak, women, and children in the city are trapped inside by the Other Xi Xia troops..."

"What?!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt as though a heavy hammer had struck his chest. He grabbed the scout's collar by force, angrily demanding the full account. The news of the city's fall from the scout's mouth truly shocked everyone. Tu Tu Kesiluo, standing nearby, ground his teeth and demanded to lead the army to avenge Murong Yunhai.

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's fury, the scout was terrified, falling to his knees and kowtowing to beg forgiveness. He explained that when he arrived, the city had already fallen; he had not seen the situation of the people inside, but had only seen Lord Lord Murong's severed head on the city wall... Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt as though his five viscera were burning. He knew the scout had done his utmost, yet he could not hide a trace of fear in his heart—the fall of Shangmu, the consequences would be unthinkable!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment, then finally made his decision: "Even if the people are still safe, we must swiftly retake Shangmu! If we allow the Other Xi Xia to establish a base here, trouble may arise within One Da Jiang's borders. I will launch a night attack tonight and utterly annihilate this band of wolf-hearted Other Xi Xia troops!" Turning, he ordered the generals to pass the command, telling the soldiers to recover their fighting strength as quickly as possible and prepare to assault the city.

"Big Brother, our army consists of only thirty thousand exhausted soldiers. To recklessly penetrate deep into enemy territory, if there are ambushes waiting for us, the consequences would be unthinkable!" Tu Tu Kesiluo hurried forward to dissuade. Jiang Jiang Mingyu understood the risks, but thinking of the old and young civilians in the city, he could no longer wait calmly. This lone army venturing deep, though fraught with extreme danger, was a fight he remembered clearly on his shoulders; it was a battle to defend the lands of One Da Jiang!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu gazed westward with concentration, faintly seeing cooking smoke rising within Shangmu city. Whether the people inside were safe remained unknown. Yet as a ruler, at this very moment, he must be calm and decisive; no matter how difficult and treacherous the situation, he must do everything possible to protect the people through this crisis. The entire thirty-thousand-strong army camped to rest, yet Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not sleep at all. He only paced back and forth at a high point, his mind calculating various ways to deal with the great enemy...