Chapter 315: Companions of Beauty Amidst the Battlefield, Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Liu Liu Yifei

On the night Shunqing City fell, the city was ablaze with lights, and laughter and chatter never ceased. Jiang Jiang Mingyu hosted a victory banquet at the Governor's Mansion, where ten thousand people drank and celebrated freely. In the center of the hall stood an eight-foot-long rosewood table, laden with various fine wines and delicacies. Roast whole ox, braised flower duck, braised wild mountain pig... the colorful and fragrant dishes whetted the appetites of the soldiers present. After several rounds of wine, the troops were already slightly drunk.

The protagonist, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, and Liu Liu Yifei sat in the main seats. Jiang Jiang Mingyu's features were as painted, his bearing majestic; clad in a vermilion battle robe, he raised his cup with a calm expression to toast the generals. Liu Liu Yifei's skin was like congealed fat, her eyes filled with affection; she wore a pale blue long skirt, her hair like clouds, her posture exquisite. Their elegant manners made them a perfect match, causing many young soldiers below to frequently glance their way.

During the festival, Jiang Jiang Mingyu brought Liu Liu Yifei to a side hall in the garden. The place was quiet and pleasant, with red candles flickering and peach blossoms fragrant. Jiang Jiang Mingyu gently cupped Liu Liu Yifei's jade face, kissed her forehead lightly, and said, "Amidst the flashes of blades and swords, I constantly worry for your safety." Having spoken, the two pressed lips and teeth together,

Jiang Jiang Mingyu led Liu Liu Yifei in a light spin through the garden, like a crane spreading its wings, like a egret calling in spring. Moonlight like water reflected on Jiang Jiang Mingyu's handsome, upright profile and Liu Liu Yifei's charming, beautiful eyes. Incense smoke curled indoors; in the haze, the two figures were intimately close.

"Liu Yifei, the time spent with you is the most beautiful moment of my life," Jiang Jiang Mingyu murmured, his voice husky and charming.

"Jiang Lang..." Liu Liu Yifei looked up at him, her starry eyes brimming with tenderness and affection.

The two pressed lips and teeth together, kissing passionately for a moment. Jiang Jiang Mingyu's hand gently traced the curve of the butterfly bone on Liu Liu Yifei's back, feeling that graceful, enchanting figure...

Just as the affection was deep, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, accompanied by a tense call: "Your Majesty! A scout reports major military news; the King of Zhen Guo requests Your Majesty appear immediately to deploy!"

A trace of reluctance flashed in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes; he hugged Liu Liu Yifei tightly and said, "Liu Yifei, rest assured, I will definitely return safely and spend the rest of my life with you." Having spoken, he waved his hand, signaling the guards outside not to disturb, then said to Liu Liu Yifei, "Wait here for me; I will return immediately." Having said this, he turned reluctantly and left, leaving Liu Liu Yifei standing alone in the garden...

The scout, covered in dust, rushed back into the city. Sweat had frozen into tiny ice beads in the cold weather, clinging to his beard and hair. His face full of surprise, he spoke hurriedly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this subordinate has successfully delivered the plea for aid to the Xi Xia reinforcements!"

"Oh? Tell me, how did you find the Xi Xia reinforcements?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a small sip of hot tea, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes.

"This subordinate led several scouts out of the city, searching separately for the location of the Xi Xia main army. Initially, we circled the suburbs several times and found nothing; later, venturing deep into the northwest mountainous area, we discovered billowing dust in a valley—that was the trail of the Xi Xia reinforcements!"

The scout vividly recounted the process of finding the Xi Xia main army. Jiang Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes slightly, sinking into thought. He inwardly praised the scout's wit and bravery, while also gaining some understanding of the strength of the Xi Xia reinforcements.

"Just how many troops does this Xi Xia reinforcement force have? And who is the leading general?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Xi Xia reinforcements total seven hundred and eighty thousand men; their formation stretches for dozens of li, quite magnificent. The leader is a man with a full, red beard, named Ji Ji Jiana. The moment he saw the plea for aid letter, he was greatly excited and immediately ordered a rush toward Shunqing City."

"This Ji Ji Jiana also had this subordinate return to report, intending to attack the Song army besieging the city together with Chang Chang Xiangming's main force, vowing to annihilate them completely on the spot!"

"Hmph! This Ji Ji Jiana cares too much about the Song army's fate!" Li Goudan snorted coldly from the side, disdainfully curling his lips and mocking, "If he truly has this ability, he might as well go tell Chang Chang Xiangming himself!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu heard this and smiled slightly, saying nothing.

"Is Ji Ji Jiana certain to launch the attack tomorrow morning?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked thoughtfully.

"Indeed! Ji Ji Jiana said he must deliver a fatal blow to the Song army while they are completely unprepared; this subordinate was also urged by him to return to the city quickly to report."

"Good! Tu Tu Kesiluo, Fang Hang, you two lead twenty thousand elite infantry and cavalry troops; depart the city immediately to set an ambush! When Ji Ji Jiana arrives, we will annihilate them in one stroke!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes blazed with sharpness as he issued the order.

"Big Brother, it is already dusk now; isn't departing the city at this time a bit too early? Our soldiers are not yet prepared; this could easily lead to mistakes," Tu Tu Kesiluo hesitated somewhat.

"Precisely because of this, we must seize the initiative. Ji Ji Jiana does not yet know that Shunqing City has been captured by us, so he will definitely rush at full speed. If he arrives before dawn and discovers the Song army in the city is gone, our ambush will be in vain!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned slightly, his tone firm.

Tu Tu Kesiluo and Fang Hang exchanged a glance, nodded understandingly, then turned and left the hall to prepare deployments. Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched their backs, his fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest of his throne. Whether this Ji Ji Jiana was truly as arrogant and underestimating the enemy as the scout claimed would be decided tomorrow morning...

In the early morning hours, the northwest city gate quietly opened. Jiang Jiang Mingyu personally led the main army out of the city in silence, quickly vanishing into the night. This army marched for about twenty li, arriving before a small hill several li northwest of Shunqing City.

This was the perfect position for their ambush on Ji Ji Jiana's main army—mountain cover, open sightlines, and not far from the city. Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood high atop the hill, gazing at the pitch-black plain to the northwest.

"Better to come early than to come by chance. Ji Ji Jiana, oh Ji Ji Jiana, let me see if your Xi Xia iron cavalry is truly as formidable as your boasts claim!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu murmured, a cold sneer rising at the corner of his mouth.

At the third watch, the cold was biting. A wailing cold wind swept across the northwest plain, mixed with ice and snow fragments, making people shiver. Song army soldiers clutched their blades and spears tightly, huddled together in the bushes below the slope, waiting for dawn to arrive.

Gradually, the eastern sky began to show a fish-belly white. Jiang Jiang Mingyu stared at the horizon, cold light exploding in his eyes! He saw black figures gradually appearing one by one on the distant ground; these were Ji Ji Jiana's Xi Xia reinforcements, charging toward Shunqing like a thousand horses and ten thousand troops!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu lay with his head on his weapon, waiting for dawn. Hearing the sound of hoofbeats coming from the mountain below, he guessed the enemy army was approaching. His expression solemn, he said in a deep voice: "Tu Tu Kesiluo, prepare for battle! You lead five hundred elites from a high position; upon my command, we will charge into the enemy formation and capture Ji Ji Jiana in one stroke."

Tu Tu Kesiluo puffed out his chest and said: "Your Majesty, rest assured; if Ji Ji Jiana dares to come, he will not return!" His heart filled with battle spirit, he looked forward to a duel with Ji Ji Jiana to determine superiority.