Chapter 311: Night Raid on Shangmu City

Jiang Mingyu gazed southward, his focus sharp; faint wisps of smoke curled from within Shangmu City, and whether the civilians still lived remained unknown. At this moment, he knew only that the weight on his shoulders had grown heavier—he must remain calm and in control, fighting for every scrap of life for the people. He ordered thirty thousand troops to rest in the open, then paced alone atop the high ground, planning his strategy.

At that moment, a lone rider galloped up in urgent haste and reported: "Inside the city, we hear loud snores—every last Xixia soldier is drunk out of his mind." Jiang Mingyu fell silent for a moment, then his eyes suddenly gleamed with clarity. He understood the situation: after their rampant looting, the Xixia troops had celebrated with drunken revelry—this was the perfect moment for a night raid. He immediately ordered the thirty thousand troops to advance in silence, preparing to assault the city.

At the third watch, the army reached the southern city wall. Faint lights glimmered atop the ramparts, and heavy snoring grew louder. Jiang Mingyu and Tukesiluo both turned pale when they saw the bloodstained head of Murong Yunhai hanging from the tower. "Big brother, tonight I swear I'll make these beasts pay with their blood!" Tukesiluo ordered the vanguard to scale the walls and slaughter the enemy.

Jiang Mingyu erupted in fury, barking at Tukesiluo: "Lead the thirty thousand troops up the walls and seize the gates—avenge Brother Yunhai!" At once, Tukesiluo raised his steel blade and roared to the soldiers behind him: "Brothers, follow me! Climb the walls and slaughter every last Xixia dog guarding this city!"

In an instant, three hundred elite soldiers slid up the city wall on ropes, their blades flashing—within moments, every Xixia sentry lay dead.

Midway through the advance, a deputy general suddenly halted him. As Jiang Mingyu frowned in confusion, the sound of disciplined footsteps drew near. It was a Xixia patrol—before they could spot the army, the moment hung by a thread. "Shoot!" Jiang Mingyu ordered without hesitation. Arrows flew like swarms of locusts; in an instant, the seventy-eight Xixia soldiers fell dead.

Jiang Mingyu led a portion of the army through the city, but every alleyway was stained with blood, each sight piercing his heart. A deputy general stepped forward and urged: "Your Majesty, ahead seems to be a Xixia patrol—should we ambush them?" Jiang Mingyu's gaze sharpened; he raised his sword and shouted: "Perfect! Ambush here—I'll take them alive!" The deputy general quickly hid behind a wall. Moments later, a squad of Xixia soldiers marched in, still unaware of their surroundings—before they could react, they lay dead in heaps.

After several waves of Xixia troops were cut down, the county magistrate's office finally came into view. Jiang Mingyu moved to charge inside, but the deputy general rushed forward to stop him: "Your Majesty, wait! Enemies surround this place—don't act rashly!" Jiang Mingyu laughed aloud: "A few lowly soldiers—what can they do to me? Stay behind and support me—I'll storm the magistrate's office and demand justice!" With that, he strode through the gate, sword in hand.

But as he crossed the threshold, a corpse lay before him—dressed in tattered clothes, it was Liu Churan, the woman he had once saved from the cruelty of the He family's spoiled heir.

And now, fate's wheel had brought him back to this land soaked in blood and tears. It was all like an inescapable nightmare, again and again reminding him of his weakness, his helplessness. Jiang Mingyu's eyes reddened as he slowly lifted Liu Churan's cold body into his arms. Heaven and earth—how cruelly fate had trampled this poor woman's dignity, then forced her gruesome remains upon him years later, as punishment and rebuke.

Jiang Mingyu gently brushed the dust from Liu Churan's face, gritting his teeth: "Little Chuan, I've returned. Even though your life is gone, I will avenge you. Even if I must lay down my own neck, I will reclaim this homeland—for you, for all our people!"

As the first rays of dawn rose over the eastern horizon, Jiang Mingyu stood atop the city wall, gazing around. The burned houses had been entirely rebuilt; wide streets and neat tiled roofs stretched before him—every change filled him with profound emotion.

"Your Majesty, the perfect chance to crush the Xixia dogs has come!" said an advisor, delighted. "If we hold this city, we'll devour the Xixia army whole!"

Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly, but his heart held no such optimism. He knew the cunning Xixia Third Prince—he would never surrender so easily. He would return, and strike with brutal force.

At that moment, the fully armed army stood in formation, war horns echoing through the sky. Jiang Mingyu cleared his throat and commanded loudly: "Beat the drums! Issue the order—every soldier in the city will march out to meet the enemy in half an hour!"

Three beats later, the deep, thunderous war drums roared across the entire city. Then Jiang Mingyu heard a cascade of anxious, excited shouts:

"Wake up! Something's happened! The Xixia are attacking!"

"Heavens! It's barely dawn—do we have to fight now?"

"What's going on? Disturbing us this early!"

"Didn't you hear? Our new governor led troops back into the city and crushed the Xixia!"

"Lies! The governor was already killed by the Xixia—this is all nonsense!"

Amid the clamor, lights flickered on in homes along the streets; long-time residents emerged in twos and threes, faces pale with fear.

One elderly man trembled as he shuffled forward, raising his eyes to the figure on the wall, disbelief etched on his face: "Is... is that Master Jiang?"

Jiang Mingyu nodded with a gentle smile: "Fellow villagers, I've returned. Rest easy—I will not let the Xixia harm you again."

Instantly, the crowd burst into tears, falling to their knees and weeping softly:

"Master Jiang, you've come back! I knew you'd never abandon us!"

"Your Majesty, ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand, thousand years!"

"Master Jiang, please avenge Lord Murong! Avenge Shangmu City!"

Jiang Mingyu hurried forward and helped the old man to his feet, soothing him with a smile:

"Enough, enough—stand up. I've personally captured the Xixia commander—I'll give you justice." He turned and waved to his guards.

Two warriors dragged forward a middle-aged man, ragged and bound tightly—this was the former Xixia commander who had seized Shangmu City. Now, stripped of all pride, he looked broken and terrified.

"You monster! How dare you show your face!"

"I want your life! Give me back my wife!"

The crowd erupted in fury, surging forward to tear the Xixia commander apart. Jiang Mingyu shouted to halt them, then turned to the kneeling man: "Do you admit your crimes? Do you have any last words?"

The Xixia man suddenly threw his head back and laughed wildly, trembling with emotion: "Jiang Mingyu, killing me won't change a thing! The Third Prince of Xixia marches here with a massive army—Shangmu City will fall! And you and your people will all die!"

The Western Xia man suddenly threw back his head and laughed loudly, his body trembling with excitement: "Jiang Mingyu, even if you kill me, what can you possibly accomplish! My lord, the Third Prince of the Great Western Xia, leads a massive army here—Shangmu City will surely fall! When that happens, you and your peasants will all die!"

"Fuck you! I'll slit your throat right now!"

"Monster! You talk big—let me teach you a lesson!"

Jiang Mingyu stood with hands behind his back, voice low and steady: "Then let me do it myself—I'll repay your crimes with your own flesh." He turned to Tukesiluo beside him: "Skin him alive."

"Yes, Brother!" Tukesiluo's eyes flashed coldly; he drew his sword and severed the Xixia commander's wrists and ankles. Then, with relentless, tearing motions of the blade, the man's skin split open, bones exposed. His legs quickly became bare white bone; his body turned a deep, wet crimson...

The people of Shangmu City watched this inhuman torture without revulsion. Their fists clenched tight, eyes blazing with vengeance—as if through Tukesiluo's hands, they themselves were exacting their revenge.

Finally, in a pool of blood, only the monstrous Tukesiluo stood, behind him a pile of flesh and bone shaped like a twisted horror. Jiang Mingyu exhaled slowly, then remembered his duty.

The people bowed and congratulated Jiang Mingyu on his victory. An elder stepped forward: "Your Majesty, the Xixia army's whereabouts are unknown—will they return? We cannot say. What do you plan?"

Jiang Mingyu replied solemnly: "The Xixia's ambition is clear—their invasion is only a matter of time. To prevent disaster, I've ordered Tukesiluo to strengthen our border defenses. You must hold fast to your homes—do not give in to fear."

One villager spoke with dread: "Your Majesty, we fear we cannot withstand the Xixia cavalry. If our homes are ravaged again, the consequences will be unbearable!"

Jiang Mingyu reassured them: "Rest easy—I've ordered reinforcements to hurry here. Together, we'll crush the Xixia beasts." He called Tukesiluo over and instructed: "Tukesiluo, immediately send word to General Fang to bring his army here. Strengthen the defenses of all three cities. The Tuoba Third Prince is cunning and treacherous—we cannot afford the slightest lapse."

Tukesiluo knelt to receive the order, but as he turned to leave, Jiang Mingyu added: "Wait—send word at once for Empress Liu to flee from Cangzhou and seek safety. As quickly as possible."

Tukesiluo answered: "I've already sent men to find her, but the journey is long—no word yet. Given the Xixia's dwindling supplies, they dare not venture deep into our lands. The Empress is likely safe." Jiang Mingyu's tension eased slightly; he ordered more men dispatched to ensure Liu Yifei's safety.

At that moment, a middle-aged man suddenly fell to his knees, weeping: "Your Majesty, my wife and children are still enslaved by the Xixia beasts in the Western Regions! Please, conquer our homeland quickly—free them!" Jiang Mingyu hurried to lift him up, speaking gently: "My army is being readied—we will march west soon. I swear, your family will be reunited."

As dusk fell, the villagers returned to their homes. Jiang Mingyu stood alone atop the city wall, gazing toward the Xixia lands—his eyes alternated between resolve and worry. He murmured to himself: "I will raise the banner of Dajiang once more over this homeland—let the people return to their homes in peace." Moonlight lay like frost; his sword touched the ground, his spirit still fierce. As long as one Xixia remained, he would march west day and night, driving his troops forward!

After this, as Shangmu City rushed to repair its walls and train its soldiers, time swiftly passed to the third day. The army stood ready for battle; the people trembled with fear. Shangmu City now breathed a chilling, deadly silence.

After this, as Shangmu intensified repairs and training throughout the city, time swiftly passed to the third day. The city's army prepared for battle, fully armed and ready, while the townsfolk trembled with fear. Shangmu City now brimmed with an atmosphere of grim solemnity...