Chapter 316: The Unknown Queen

No, dozens of cavalry appeared below the hill. Their leader, clad in gleaming armor, was none other than Xi Xia's famed general Ji Jiana. He was tall and burly, with a booming voice and an arrogant, self-important demeanor. A scholar-like aide respectfully handed him a map and said cautiously, "My lord, ten li ahead lies Shunqing City. If we seize it, we can tie down Jiang Mingyu's reinforcements."

Ji Jiana stroked his beard and pondered: "Hmm, taking the city would be good, but we must not grow careless. That old fox Jiang Mingyu is cunning and far-sighted—he may have already set ambushes outside the city." He felt uneasy, unsure whether Jiang Mingyu had detected his movements.

Seeing Ji Jiana hesitate, the middle-aged commander Aotemazi hurried to urge: "My lord, why overthink it? We have ten thousand strong troops and horses—Jiang Mingyu dare not stand against us!"

"You speak too boldly!" Ji Jiana snapped. "The disgrace of Shang Mu came precisely because our Xi Xia troops grew arrogant! The enemy's situation is still unclear—we must proceed with caution." He glared coldly at Aotemazi and barked.

Aotemazi did not back down, shouting: "My lord, we veterans have ridden the battlefield for years—what do we fear from Jiang Mingyu? That treacherous worm has repeatedly humiliated our queen! How can we stand among men of the world if we do not avenge this!" A flicker of resentment crossed his eyes, but he dared not speak further.

"Queen?" Jiang Mingyu, atop the hill, was stunned. He had raided Xi Xia many times but never wronged any queen. Could this queen be the wife of an enemy general he had slain in some past battle? His heart lurched—was Ji Jiana here solely for a woman? He recalled the earth-shattering battle, and the enemy general lying dead in a pool of blood.

"Enough, say no more," Ji Jiana waved him off, turning to the aide. "Take a few scouts and reconnoiter the surroundings of Shunqing City. If you find Jiang Mingyu's troops approaching, return at once. We'll strike and annihilate them!" A flash of resolve lit his eyes—he believed his plan would succeed. He would avenge his queen and reclaim his nation's lost land.

Jiang Mingyu listened intently, vaguely recognizing the voices as Xi Xia reinforcements. He sneered and roared: "Shoot!"

A volley of sharp arrows shot forth, piercing the black night. The Xi Xia soldiers had barely time to warn each other before they were pierced through by the rain of arrows.

"Report—ambush!" A young junior officer screamed. The valley erupted into chaos.

"Things look bad—retreat!" Ji Jiana reined his horse back, shouting orders for the entire army to flee the way they came.

"My lord, are we abandoning Shunqing?" His deputy Aotemazi followed close behind, voice trembling.

"Our priority is survival!" Ji Jiana's face turned ashen. He had mobilized troops to aid Xizhou, never expecting Jiang Mingyu to trap him in a death sentence.

"Yes! We stand or fall with you, my lord!" The officers responded urgently. Even as they rode, the Xi Xia reinforcements regrouped and fled eastward.

At that moment, Jiang Mingyu led his 90, 00 Da Jiang troops out from a hidden slope, and the two armies collided in mutual shock.

"It's this brat who laid this trap! How dare he block our path—he truly doesn't know death!" Ji Jiana, both startled and furious, immediately raised his sword and ordered a counterattack.

The two armies clashed instantly. Da Jiang soldiers, eager and primed, surged into battle. One young soldier dodged incoming arrows with agility and drove his sword through a Xi Xia soldier's throat.

"Well done! Protect yourself—don't rush!" Tukesiluo shouted from beside him, leaping to strike Ji Jiana.

"Protect the commander!" Aotemazi reacted swiftly, swinging his great axe to block the sword. The two clashed fiercely on horseback.

"Take this!" Fang Hang charged straight into the enemy ranks, smashing his hammer into the shoulder of a Xi Xia warrior, shattering half his bones. The man screamed and collapsed, clutching his stirrup in agony.

"Die!" Fang Hang kicked him away with his leg and spun to stab the enemy sneaking up behind him.

Surrounded on three sides, the Xi Xia troops panicked and broke. Seeing victory within reach, Jiang Mingyu ordered his forces to split and flank the remnants.

At that moment, a Xi Xia soldier resembling a steppe hunter suddenly mounted his horse and galloped northward.

"That man is suspicious—pursue!" Jiang Mingyu spotted him instantly and led a detachment of light cavalry in pursuit.

The two groups grew distant; only the sounds of battle remained in the valley. Ji Jiana shot left and right, killing two advancing enemies. Suddenly, a Da Jiang soldier fumbled his sword—it fell and struck his horse's hoof!

The stallion, wracked with pain in its front legs, bolted wildly. Ji Jiana gasped, gripping the reins desperately. At that instant, a young captain leapt from the side, aiming to strike Ji Jiana down!

"Watch out!" Aotemazi reacted instantly, ramming his own horse into the attacker. The Da Jiang captain screamed and was crushed off the cliff.

Ji Jiana reined his horse around—just in time to witness the terrifying scene.

"Aotemazi! You saved me—how can I ever repay you!" he cried, overwhelmed with gratitude.

Aotemazi pressed his hand to his chest and said solemnly: "I only hope my lord escapes safely. We swear our lives to you!"

They locked eyes. Ji Jiana's gaze hardened. He raised his sword and roared: "Break out! Follow me!"

With a fierce kick to his loyal steed's flanks, he galloped eastward. Aotemazi held the rear, protecting him, while the rest followed close behind.

"Damn it—he's escaping!" Tukesiluo, a hundred paces away, saw it and flew into rage, cutting down several men. Knowing he could not catch them today, he ordered a retreat.

At that moment, a horse galloped rapidly from afar—it was Jiang Mingyu's mount, riderless and wild.

"Your Majesty, why return alone? How is the battle going?" Tukesiluo rushed forward to inquire.

"Don't ask now. Ji Jiana fled east—he must be exhausted and thirsty. Take five thousand light cavalry and cut him off via the back trails. I'll lead a force to set an ambush—capture that enemy commander dead or alive!" Jiang Mingyu's face was grim, his orders brief.

Tukesiluo's eyes lit up—he understood at once and nodded. He immediately led his men away. Jiang Mingyu's move must have deep intent—he would obey.

By midnight, Ji Jiana led his reinforcements to rest in a forest clearing. The soldiers were utterly spent; the horses lay collapsed, exhausted and dehydrated.

"My lord, we can't go on. Men and horses are at our limit. Let's hold here and fight to the death!" Aotemazi urged.

Ji Jiana's eyes dimmed as he weighed his options. Suddenly, a loud thud echoed from the woods—the entire column erupted in alarm!

One of their horses had collapsed from exhaustion and died of thirst and hunger. It confirmed the direness of their plight.

"Send men—to the stream! Bring water, quickly!" Ji Jiana ordered at once.

At that moment, a detachment of Da Jiang light cavalry appeared at the forest path!

"Enemy in sight! Attack head-on!" Their commander shouted, leading his troops to surround them.

"Damn it—we've been tricked!" Ji Jiana exploded in fury. He realized this was Jiang Mingyu's trap.

The two armies clashed again. The Xi Xia troops were clearly weakening. Just as the battle raged, another force of Da Jiang soldiers burst from the woods to join the fight!

The Xi Xia army's morale shattered completely. At that moment, Ji Jiana struck suddenly, charging straight for the Da Jiang commander's head!

"You traitor! How dare you block my path? Your head shall be forfeit to the world!" He roared, thrusting his sword forward.

The Da Jiang commander barely dodged in time—he thought he was doomed. But the blade veered mid-strike, only grazing his left shoulder.

The commander quickly stepped back, raising his hand to his troops: "No! I've been poisoned! Ji Jiana is spent—capture him alive!"

Before he finished speaking, a squad surged forward and pinned Ji Jiana down.

"Let go of me! You brutes!" Ji Jiana roared, struggling violently.

At that moment, a rider burst from the woods—it was Jiang Mingyu.

"Ji Jiana, we are sworn enemies! This move has captured you in my hands!" He laughed loudly.

The steppe hunter was his own scout—he had already reported the Xi Xia army's true condition. To prevent Ji Jiana's escape, Jiang Mingyu had first poisoned him, then set two ambushes. He had now captured the enemy commander in his palm.

Ji Jiana's face turned ashen. He could no longer speak.