Chapter 316: The Stranger's Wang Fei

No, only dozens of cavalrymen appeared at the foot of the mountain. Leading them, clad in bright armor, was the famous Other Xi Xia general Ji Ji Jiana. He was burly, his voice booming, his temperament arrogant, and he held himself in high regard. A counselor resembling a scholar respectfully handed over a map and said cautiously, "My lord, ten li ahead lies Qingcheng; if we seize that city, we can pin down Jiang Jiang Mingyu's reinforcements."

Ji Ji Jiana stroked his beard and pondered, "Hmm, seizing the city is good, but we cannot let our guard down. That old fox Jiang Jiang Mingyu is deeply scheming; he may have already set an ambush outside the city." His heart felt uneasy, wondering if Jiang Jiang Mingyu had already detected his movements.

The middle-aged commander Otmaiz beside him, seeing Ji Ji Jiana hesitate, urged urgently, "My lord, why worry too much? Our troops are strong and our horses robust, totaling one hundred thousand; even Jiang Jiang Mingyu would have to give up!"

"You speak too confidently!" Ji Ji Jiana shouted, "The shame of Shang Mu in years past arose precisely because our Other Xi Xia soldiers were arrogant! With the enemy situation unclear, caution must come first." He glared coldly at Otmaiz and said sternly.

Otmaiz, unwilling to yield, shouted loudly, "My lord, we have ridden the battlefield for many years; what do we fear of Jiang Jiang Mingyu! He is a treacherous villain who has repeatedly insulted our Wang Fei; if we do not avenge this grievance, how can we stand among the people of the world!" A hint of dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes, but he dared not speak further.

"Wang Fei?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu, atop the mountain, was greatly startled upon hearing this. Although he had harassed Other Xi Xia several times, he had never offended any Wang Fei. Could this Wang Fei be the wife of an enemy general he had killed in a battle in years past? His heart gave a jolt; could Ji Ji Jiana have come for a woman? He could not help but recall that earth-shattering battle and that enemy general lying in a pool of blood.

"Enough, let us speak no more for now." Ji Ji Jiana waved his hand to stop Otmaiz and looked at the counselor, saying, "Take a few scouts to scout around Qingcheng. If you find Jiang Jiang Mingyu's troops at the city gates, return immediately to report. We will take the opportunity to attack and annihilate them in one stroke!" A streak of determination flashed in his eyes; he believed his plan would surely succeed. He wanted to avenge his Wang Fei and also reclaim the lost lands for his nation.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu listened intently, vaguely guessing the voices came from the Other Xi Xia reinforcements. He sneered and shouted loudly, "Release the arrows!"

A string of sharp arrows shot forth, piercing the dark night. The Other Xi Xia soldiers had just begun to warn, but were shot through the heart by the arrow rain.

"Report—there is an ambush!" A young junior officer screamed, and instantly the valley descended into chaos.

"The situation is dire, retreat quickly!" Ji Ji Jiana reined his horse back, shouting orders for the entire army to flee in the direction they had come.

"My lord, are we to abandon Qingcheng?" The adjutant Otmaiz followed closely behind and asked in a broken voice.

"The immediate priority is to preserve our lives!" Ji Ji Jiana's face turned iron-green; he had mobilized troops to assist Xizhou this time, yet never expected to be trapped in a deadly scheme by Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

"Here! We will stand or fall with you, my lord!" The generals responded urgently upon hearing this. Amidst galloping horses, the Other Xi Xia reinforcements had reformed their ranks and departed eastward.

At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu led ninety thousand One Da Jiang soldiers charging out from a blind spot on the slope; the two armies met, each stunned.

"It is actually this young man who has set up a net here! Daring to block our great army's path, he truly does not know life from death!" Ji Ji Jiana was both shocked and furious, immediately drawing his sword and ordering a counterattack.

The two armies instantly clashed together; the One Da Jiang soldiers were all poised and eager to join the slaughter. Among them, a small soldier skillfully dodged an incoming arrow and thrust his sword through an Other Xi Xia soldier's throat.

"Well done! Protect yourselves, do not be impulsive." Tu Tu Kesiluo shouted from the side, leaping up as he aimed to strike at Ji Ji Jiana.

"Protect the commander-in-chief!" Otmaiz, quick-eyed and fast-handed, swung his great axe to block the long sword. The two immediately fought to a stalemate.

"Take this!" Fang Hang drove straight into the enemy formation and smashed half the shoulder bone of an Other Xi Xia warrior with one hammer strike. The latter cried out in agony, fell to the ground, and struggled to grab the stirrup.

"Die!" Fang Hang kicked him away with one leg, turned, and stabbed to death an enemy sneaking up behind him.

Under attack from three sides, the Other Xi Xia army panicked and retreated in disarray. Seeing Da Gong within reach, Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately ordered his troops to split into two forces to pincer the remaining enemies.

At this moment, an Other Xi Xia soldier resembling a grassland hunter suddenly vaulted onto his horse and galloped northward.

"That man is suspicious, chase quickly!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu keenly noticed and swiftly led a squad of light cavalry to pursue in the opposite direction.

The two detachments gradually moved farther apart, leaving only the sounds of slaughter in the valley. Ji Ji Jiana shot two invading enemy soldiers with arrows from both hands. Suddenly, a One Da Jiang soldier accidentally dropped his long sword, which struck his horse's hoof!

That fierce horse, its front hoof in excruciating pain, suddenly bolted. Ji Ji Jiana turned pale with shock and desperately pulled the reins tight. Just then, a young commandant leaped out from the side, attempting to slash Ji Ji Jiana!

"Watch out!" Otmaiz, quick-eyed and fast-handed, rammed his own mount into the attacker. That One Da Jiang commandant screamed in agony and was crushed alive off the cliff.

Ji Ji Jiana reined his horse and turned back, just in time to witness this thrilling scene!

"Otmaiz! You saved me; how should I repay you!" He was filled with gratitude.

Otmaiz placed his hand on his chest and said in a deep voice, "I hope my lord can escape safely! We swear to serve you unto death!"

The two exchanged a glance; Ji Ji Jiana's eyes were firm as he waved his sword and cried out, "Break out! Follow me!"

Having spoken, he kicked his loyal horse's belly hard and galloped eastward. Otmaiz brought up the rear to protect, while the rest of his subordinates followed closely behind.

"Damn it, the enemy commander-in-chief is escaping!" Tu Tu Kesiluo, seeing this from a hundred meters away, flew into a rage and beheaded several people. Knowing he could not catch up today, he ordered the troops to withdraw.

At this moment, a horse galloped swiftly from afar; it was Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mount, running with empty stirrups.

"Your Majesty, why return alone? How is the battle with the enemy over there!" Tu Tu Kesiluo stepped forward to check.

"Do not ask yet. Ji Ji Jiana has fled in that direction; he must be hungry and thirsty. You immediately lead five thousand light cavalry to take a detour via a small path to block him. I will take people to set an ambush; we must capture the deadly enemy!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu, his expression solemn, gave brief orders.

Tu Tu Kesiluo felt a stirring in his heart, nodded in understanding, and immediately led his men away. Jiang Jiang Mingyu's move must have deep meaning; he would simply obey the orders.

In the blink of an eye, it was midnight; Ji Ji Jiana led the reinforcements to rest in a forest clearing. At this time, the soldiers were utterly exhausted, and the horses had collapsed from exhaustion.

"My lord, we cannot go on. Men and horses are in a desperate situation; let us hold our ground here and fight the enemy to the death!" Otmaiz suggested.

Ji Ji Jiana's eyes dimmed, yet his mind calculated countermeasures. Suddenly, a loud thud was heard in the forest, and the fifth unit instantly erupted in uproar!

It turned out a horse had collapsed from exhaustion, dying of hunger and thirst. This further confirmed the severity of the current predicament.

"Someone! Go to the stream to fetch some water, quickly!" Ji Ji Jiana immediately ordered his men.

Just then, a squad of One Da Jiang light cavalry appeared at the forest crossroads!

"Enemy meets enemy! Strike them hard!" The opposing commander-in-chief shouted and immediately led his troops to surround and attack.

"Damn it! We fell into a trap!" Ji Ji Jiana flew into a rage. He realized this must be a scheme set by Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

The two armies clashed again; the Other Xi Xia army was clearly exhausted. Just as the fierce battle raged, another force of One Da Jiang soldiers charged out of the forest to join the fight!

The Other Xi Xia army instantly lost morale and spirit. At this moment, Ji Ji Jiana suddenly launched an attack, aiming directly for the head of the One Da Jiang commander-in-chief!

"You traitor! Daring to block me, I shall cut off your head to apologize to the world!" He shouted loudly and thrust his long sword forward fiercely.

That One Da Jiang commander-in-chief hurriedly dodged but was too late, thinking he must surely die. Yet, the sword edge deviated midway, only grazing his left shoulder!

That commander-in-chief quickly stepped back a few paces and raised his hand to shout at his own soldiers, "Not good! The poison has taken effect! Ji Ji Jiana is already exhausted; quickly capture him alive!"

Before the words had fully left his lips, a squad of soldiers surged forward and tightly restrained Ji Ji Jiana!

"Let me go! You brutes!" Ji Ji Jiana, furious beyond measure, struggled desperately.

At this moment, a horse galloped out of the forest; it was Jiang Jiang Mingyu!

"Ji Ji Jiana, we shall fight to the death! This move has captured you in our hands!" He laughed loudly.

It turned out that grassland hunter was sent by him to scout the enemy and had already reported the true state of the Other Xi Xia army. To prevent Ji Ji Jiana from escaping to heaven, he first struck with poison, then set two ambushes to intercept. He captured the enemy commander-in-chief in the palm of his hand in one stroke!

Ji Ji Jiana's face turned ashen; he could no longer speak a word.