Chapter 315: Red Beauty by the Battlefield, Jiang Mingyu and Liu Yi…

On the night Shunqing City fell, lanterns blazed throughout the city, and laughter and cheers never ceased. Jiang Mingyu hosted a victory banquet at the governor's mansion, where ten thousand soldiers feasted and drank freely. In the center of the hall stood an eight-foot-long redwood table laden with various fine wines and delicacies: whole roasted ox, braised duck with flowers, red-braised wild boar—each dish aromatic and visually stunning, igniting the soldiers' appetites. After several rounds of wine, the troops were already visibly drunk.

At the main seat sat the protagonists, Jiang Mingyu and Liu Yi. Jiang Mingyu's features were as finely painted as a scroll, his bearing noble and commanding, clad in a crimson battle robe, calmly raising his cup to toast the officers; Liu Yi's skin was like congealed fat, her eyes tender and full of emotion, dressed in a pale blue long gown, her hair flowing like clouds, her posture graceful in every way. Their elegant demeanor made them a perfect match, drawing frequent glances from young officers seated below.

During the celebration, Jiang Mingyu took Liu Yi to a secluded pavilion in the garden. The place was tranquil and pleasant, red candles flickering, peach blossoms perfuming the air. Jiang Mingyu gently cradled Liu Yi's jade-like face and kissed her forehead. "In the midst of flashing blades and gleaming swords, I am always anxious for your safety." With that, their lips met.

Jiang Mingyu led Liu Yi in a light spin through the garden, like a crane spreading its wings, like a white heron singing in spring. Moonlight flowed like water, illuminating Jiang Mingyu's handsome, upright profile and Liu Yi's enchanting, alluring eyes. Incense curled through the room, blurring their figures into intimate closeness.

"Yi Fei, the time spent with you is the most beautiful moment of my life," Jiang Mingyu whispered softly, his voice husky and captivating.

"Jiang Lang…" Liu Yi looked up at him, her starlit eyes brimming with tender affection.

Their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Jiang Mingyu's hand glided over the curve of Liu Yi's butterfly vertebrae, feeling the supple, graceful contours of her body…

Just as their affection deepened, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, accompanied by a tense call: "Your Majesty! Scouts have returned with urgent military news! The State Guardian requests you appear immediately to deploy!"

Jiang Mingyu's eyes flickered with reluctance; he held Liu Yi tightly. "Yi Fei, rest assured—I will return safely, and spend the rest of my life with you." He waved his hand, signaling the guards outside not to disturb them, then said to Liu Yi: "Wait here for me. I'll be right back." With that, he turned away reluctantly, leaving Liu Yi standing alone in the garden…

The scout returned to the city, dusty and weary, his sweat frozen into tiny ice beads on his beard and hair. His face glowed with excitement as he hurriedly reported: "Your Majesty, I have successfully delivered the request for aid to the Western Xia reinforcements!"

"Oh? Tell me how you found them," Jiang Mingyu sipped his hot tea, a glint of intelligence in his eyes.

"I led several scouts out of the city, splitting up to search for the Western Xia army. At first, we circled the outskirts to no avail. Only after venturing deep into the northwestern mountains did we spot thick dust rising from a valley—there, the Western Xia reinforcements were!"

The scout vividly recounted how he located the Western Xia army. Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. He silently praised the scout's wit and courage, while gaining a clearer sense of the Western Xia reinforcements' strength.

"How many men does this Western Xia force have? And who leads them?"

"Your Majesty, the Western Xia reinforcements total 780, 00 men, their formation stretching for dozens of li—truly magnificent. Their commander is a burly man with a full red beard named Ji Jiana. The moment he saw the request for aid, he became ecstatic and immediately ordered his troops to march toward Shunqing City."

"Ji Jiana also ordered me to return and report: he intends to join Chang Xiangming's main force in a pincer attack on the Song army, vowing to annihilate them right there!"

"Hmph! This Ji Jiana is too obsessed with the Song army's fate!" Li Goudan snorted from the side, sneering. "If he's so confident, why doesn't he go tell Chang Xiangming himself?" Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly but said nothing.

"So Ji Jiana is certain to launch his attack at dawn tomorrow?"

"Yes! Ji Jiana insists on striking the Song army while they're completely unprepared. He pushed me hard to return quickly and report."

"Good! Tukesiluo, Fang Hang—you will lead twenty thousand elite infantry and cavalry to leave the city immediately and set up an ambush! When Ji Jiana arrives, we will annihilate them in one strike!" Jiang Mingyu's eyes blazed with determination as he issued the order.

"Brother, it's already dusk. Isn't leaving now too early? Our troops aren't fully prepared—this could lead to mistakes," Tukesiluo hesitated.

"Precisely because of that, we must seize the initiative. Ji Jiana still doesn't know Shunqing City has fallen—he will rush here at full speed. If he arrives before dawn and finds no Song troops in the city, our ambush will be useless!" Jiang Mingyu frowned, his tone firm.

Tukesiluo and Fang Hang exchanged a glance, then nodded knowingly and turned to leave the hall to prepare. Jiang Mingyu watched their retreating backs, his fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest of his throne. Whether Ji Jiana truly was as arrogant and careless as the scout claimed—tomorrow's dawn would reveal all…

At dawn, the northwestern gate opened silently. Jiang Mingyu personally led his army out of the city, vanishing swiftly into the night. After marching about twenty li, they arrived before a small hill several li northwest of Shunqing City.

This was the perfect spot to ambush Ji Jiana's forces—protected by the hill's bulk, offering wide visibility, yet close enough to the city. Jiang Mingyu stood atop the hill, gazing across the dark, endless plain to the northwest.

"Better late than never, Ji Jiana—let me see if your Western Xia iron cavalry lives up to your boasts!" Jiang Mingyu murmured, a cold smile curling his lips.

At the third watch, the cold bit sharply. A mournful wind swept across the northwestern plains, carrying icy shards that made soldiers shiver. Song troops clutched their blades and spears, huddled in thickets beneath the slope, waiting for dawn.

Gradually, the eastern sky began to lighten with the first gray of dawn. Jiang Mingyu stared at the horizon, his eyes flashing with icy light! Slowly, dark figures emerged on the distant ground—one by one, then countless—Ji Jiana's Western Xia reinforcements, advancing like a tidal wave toward Shunqing!

Jiang Mingyu, weapons at ready, heard the thunder of hooves below. He guessed the enemy was nearing. His expression grave, he ordered: "Tukesiluo, prepare for battle! Lead five hundred elite troops from high ground. When I give the signal, charge into their ranks—we will capture Ji Jiana in one strike."

Tukesiluo stood tall. "Your Majesty, rest assured—if Ji Jiana dares come, he won't leave alive!" His heart burned with battle-lust, eager to face Ji Jiana in single combat.