Chapter 317: Sharpening Knives for Revenge

Tuke Tuke Siluo suddenly leaped into the air, his figure like a fierce tiger, lunging at Ji Ji Jiana. In his hand he held a sharp long sword, flashing with cold light, thrusting toward Ji Ji Jiana's throat.

"Grandson, you are seeking death." Ji Ji Jiana roared, not willing to yield, and swung the steel blade in his hand to meet Tuke Tuke Siluo's attack. His eyes were filled with arrogance and disdain; he believed Tuke Tuke Siluo was merely a small character overestimating his own strength, hardly his match.

With a thunderclap-like flash of sword light, all of Ji Ji Jiana's expressions instantly ceased. His eyes bulged wide, full of disbelief and terror. His throat was slashed open by the sword edge, blood gushing out, staining his chest and the ground red.

Tuke Tuke Siluo twisted his head off in one grip and stood high amidst the chaotic army, shouting loudly.

"Ji Ji Jiana is dead. Lay down your weapons, and you may keep your lives."

"If you dare overestimate yourselves again, every single one of you has only one path today: death."

As soon as his words fell, a wave of exclamations and wails arose. Seeing the blood-dripping head in his hand, the Other Xi Xia people who had just been busy killing all instinctively stopped their actions. Fear and despair showed on their faces; they knew they had lost all hope.

Though they could not see the enemy's numbers clearly, a rough estimate showed nearly three times their own force. Their equipment and warhorses were superior to their own; their morale and momentum were higher. Their commander was even a hero of unmatched bravery, capable of slaying their own general with a single sword strike.

Now that Ji Ji Jiana, the one leading the troops, was dead, what chance did these brats have to fight this battle?

Soon, one person threw down the weapon in his hand. His action triggered a chain reaction; then came the second, the third... In no time, hundreds knelt on the ground, raised their hands, and begged for mercy endlessly.

Tuke Tuke Siluo nodded in great satisfaction, then, holding up Ji Ji Jiana's head, he shouted sternly.

"Fang Hang, surround them."

His deputy general Fang Hang immediately accepted the order. He led a group of cavalry and quickly surrounded these surrendering Other Xi Xia soldiers. They bound them with ropes.

After the One Da Jiang army surrounded the Other Xi Xia soldiers, Tuke Tuke Siluo raised his hand and commanded: "Archers advance, leave not one alive!"

As soon as his words fell, the trembling Other Xi Xia soldiers hurriedly begged for mercy: "My lord, you are a man of your word. Did you not say that laying down weapons would spare our lives?"

Tuke Tuke Siluo sneered: "I said you might be spared death; I did not promise to definitely let you go!" Having spoken, he glared fiercely at Fang Hang, signaling him to draw the bow immediately.

At this moment, a second Other Xi Xia soldier also knelt on the ground, pleading: "My lord, calm your anger! We have surrendered and will no longer oppose your army! Please, let us return to the grasslands!"

Hearing this, the generals nearby quickly urged: "Why does my lord not keep some of them as military laborers to fill the ranks? It is better than killing them in vain and wasting lives!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu also said: "Tuke Tuke Siluo, our army has just won; why kill more? Keeping some people is also good." Having spoken, he patted his old friend's shoulder.

Tuke Tuke Siluo's face was clouded with gloom; expressionless, he looked at the Other Xi Xia soldiers kneeling and begging for mercy.

"Return the lives of my family!" He suddenly roared, raised his hand sharply, and an arrow rain immediately shot out; dozens of Other Xi Xia soldiers fell to the ground at once!

"Stop! Spare our lives!" The Other Xi Xia soldiers wailed and screamed in their final moments, chilling the hearts of all who heard.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face darkened; he understood Tuke Tuke Siluo was taking revenge for his relatives from years past. Fang Hang and others exchanged glances, daring not to speak again.

After a moment of deathly silence, Tuke Tuke Siluo exhaled a long breath and ordered in a deep voice: "Keep five hundred; kill the rest."

The One Da Jiang soldiers, hearing this, hesitated before raising their long bows again, cruelly shooting the enemies who had just surrendered. Among the trapped Other Xi Xia soldiers fighting back, some grabbed spears lying beside corpses and died together with the enemy.

When the last arrow pierced the throat of the struggling fallen, silence like death returned to all around. The wild wind swept up broken branches and leaves from the ground, rolling them into the pools of blood.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu scanned the tragic scene before him, his heart filled with mixed feelings. He understood that Tuke Tuke Siluo's act, though cruel, was avenging his ancestors.

"Brother, I share your hatred against our common enemy. Yet such slaughter is truly excessive; I fear it will be hard to win over the hearts of the remaining rebels." He stepped forward slowly and patted Tuke Tuke Siluo's shoulder.

Tuke Tuke Siluo looked with complex expression at the corpses forming rivers of blood around him; only after a long while did he sigh deeply: "I understand; this is not the best strategy. It is just... thinking of them..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in understanding, then turned to check the remaining Other Xi Xia soldiers. He saw they were all so terrified they had developed mental disturbances, trembling and daring not to lift their heads.

"Hand them over to Fang Hang for custody; be sure to guard them strictly. We must still return to the city to reorganize the great army and discuss the next plan." Jiang Jiang Mingyu gave brief orders.

On the road back to the city, the two said nothing. Only when they reached the Qingcheng city wall did Jiang Jiang Mingyu speak again.

"I can understand your feelings, but you must still restrain yourself. Our army has just won its first battle; in the future, we must capture more places. Then you may fully unleash your great hatred and vengeance; I only ask that you no longer harm the innocent."

Tuke Tuke Siluo nodded with a dim expression: "Thank you; I will remember your teaching. It is a pity we killed five hundred more today; truly a waste of resources..."

The two reached the top of the city tower and gazed far at the vast mountains and rivers. On the horizon, the morning sun was rising, its dawn light sprinkling over the earth. Amidst the smoke of war, the two old friends stood side by side, determined to build a peaceful and prosperous age together.

At this moment, an adjutant on the side reported that the defeated army's remnants were near the city walls, requesting the gates be opened to receive them. Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand in agreement and led the generals into the city.

After ordering the army to return to camp, Jiang Jiang Mingyu summoned Tuke Tuke Siluo and other generals to discuss: "The weather is getting colder; we must accelerate our pace of attacking Other Xi Xia."

Tuke Tuke Siluo rubbed his frostbitten red hands and agreed: "What my elder brother says is absolutely right. If the snow gets any heavier, we will surely freeze to death on the road."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded and ordered the messenger: "The entire army will adjust here for one day; tomorrow morning, cross the great snow westward to Yingyuan!"

At this moment, Li Goudan stepped forward to request a mission, his voice low and hoarse: "My lord, my wounds have not yet healed; I fear I cannot undertake a long expedition. Please leave me here to strengthen the border defenses." Having spoken, he gently pressed his hand against his chest, revealing a trace of pain.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu understood, a flicker of appreciation passing through his eyes: "Goudan, you will guard the city with a hundred thousand troops; wait until Tang Sima Yu's reinforcements arrive, then join the main army. The Shunqing Pass is in your care; there will certainly be no mistakes." Having spoken, he reached out and patted Li Goudan's shoulder, signaling him to be at ease.

Li Goudan clasped his hands and accepted the order. Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched him depart, then pondered before speaking: "The Wang Fei mentioned by Ji Ji Jiana last night must be closely connected with Tuobu Tuoba Jiqian; this matter is far more complex than imagined..."

Tuke Tuke Siluo asked in confusion: "Does my elder brother mean the Wang Fei intends to put you to death? But you have killed many Other Xi Xia people; she must be among those you offended."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu responded with a bitter smile: "I thought so too, but there must be some extraordinary secret behind this. It would be better if the spies sent out return with reports sooner."

Tuke Tuke Siluo scratched his head, about to say something else, when Fang Hang stepped forward to report: "Your Majesty, the snow is falling heavier and heavier; I fear the army's speed will be affected."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face was like iron; waving his cold whip, he urged everyone to hurry. At this moment, the adjutant Xuanwu stamped his purple legs and said in a trembling voice: "Perhaps we can light beacon fires to warm our bodies?"

"Good idea!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu slapped his thigh and immediately ordered his subordinates to light more than a dozen fire piles. The soldiers cheered and gathered around, roasting their frozen, swollen hands and feet.

"Elder brother, see? This way, the speed is at least doubled!" Tuke Tuke Siluo said with a smile. Jiang Jiang Mingyu also showed a gratified smile, secretly guessing that Tuobu Tuoba Jiqian must now be eating and drinking in a warm palace, completely unprepared for the arrival of the Dongwei great army.

On the second day at dawn, the Dongwei great army set out westward in the wind and snow. This sudden blizzard indeed affected the speed; the group stumbled along with great difficulty.

"Elder brother, at this speed, it will take at least a month to reach the walls of Yingyuan City!" Tuke Tuke Siluo urged impatiently.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes were resolute; he said in a deep voice: "Precisely because of this, our army's western expedition will be like lightning and thunder to Other Xi Xia! They will certainly be unprepared; we can take the opportunity to achieve victory through surprise!"

At this moment, the adjutant Ouli suddenly pointed to a hill not far away and exclaimed: "Look! In that thicket, figures seem to be moving!" Before his words ended, a sharp whistle pierced the air; dozens of lightly armored Other Xi Xia scout cavalry burst out from behind the trees, holding bows, and shot at the Dongwei great army.

"Alarm! Engage!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu shouted loudly and charged forward at the head of the troops. The two armies clashed instantly; sword lights flashed, blood flowers splashed. The Dongwei soldiers fought with boiling blood, like wolves and tigers, capturing the enemy alive.

After the Other Xi Xia suffered heavy casualties, Jiang Jiang Mingyu personally interrogated the prisoners: "Why do you appear here? Did Other Xi Xia prepare for this in advance?" That soldier broke out in cold sweat and stammered in response: "Replying to my lord, we were ordered to patrol the border; that day we suddenly encountered heavy snow..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu then understood it was a coincidental accident. Just as he was about to order his subordinates to deal with the prisoners, suddenly a soldier ran over to report: "Your Majesty, the scouts sent out have returned."