Chapter 320: Blood-Red Dawn

At dawn on the second day, Jiang Jiang Mingyu ordered the heads of the prisoners of war hung high at the city gate; overnight, rows of blood-stained severed heads were suspended along the city walls, extremely terrifying. When the common people inside and outside Yingyuan City woke up and saw this cruel scene, they all gasped in horror, their faces filled with fear. Soon, every resident of the entire city knew they had a new master and must be honest and obedient, following orders without question.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat in the main hall of the City Lord's Mansion, his gaze cold as he swept over a group of captives. These were the officials and wealthy gentry of Yingyuan City, bound and kneeling on the ground, wailing incessantly. Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not rush to deal with them but let them wait in fear for his judgment.

"Who are you?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked, his voice cold.

One captive raised his head, trembling as he spoke: "Great King, I am the Prefect of Yingyuan City, my surname is Li and my given name is Pu. I beg the Great King to spare me!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered: "Spare you? You served Other Xi Xia and harmed the common people; what right do you have to beg for mercy?"

Li Pu said in terror: "Great King, we were forced; Other Xi Xia's King Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian coerced and tempted us, so we had no choice but to comply. We are also loyal to the Great King, we just had no chance to show it."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said disdainfully: "Your loyalty, I have seen clearly enough. You are merely a group of opportunistic petty men; today you surrender to Other Xi Xia, tomorrow to me, and the day after to someone else. Your loyalty lies only in your own interests; your conscience was long ago eaten by dogs."

Li Pu cried out: "Great King, you misunderstand; we truly had no choice. We are willing to serve the Great King; we only beg the Great King to show mercy and give us a way to live!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head: "I do not believe your words. I do not want your lives. I will not forgive your crimes. I feel no pity for your deaths. There is only one way for you to live: tell me the military intelligence and movements of Other Xi Xia's King Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian; otherwise, you will wait to be hung on the city walls like your accomplices, to be pecked apart by birds and beasts!"

Li Pu and the other captives heard this, their faces turned deathly pale, speechless. They knew Jiang Jiang Mingyu would not easily let them go; their fate was already sealed. They could only hope someone could save them, or someone could take revenge.

Five days later, Jiang Jiang Mingyu arrived at the tent and summoned his trusted aide Tu Tu Kesiluo and deputy Fang Hang to discuss the upcoming battle plan.

"Report! Great King!" The two bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with awe.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled and said: "Yingyuan has already been captured by our army, and the common people within the city are gradually calming down, is that not so?"

"Exactly!" Tu Tu Kesiluo eagerly agreed. "Under the Great King's wise command, our army launched a surprise attack and struck relentlessly, finally breaching Yingyuan City. Now, the heads of the former rulers hang on the city walls, demonstrating the Great King's majesty. The common people are terrified by the news and all bow their heads in submission!"

Fang Hang also quickly said: "That's right! Our army penetrated a thousand li into enemy territory, catching Other Xi Xia off guard. Being able to capture the major stronghold of Yingyuan in such a short time is entirely due to the Great King's divine strategy and winning by surprise!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand and said: "Enough. Yingyuan is merely a small city; capturing it was not difficult. The true test lies ahead; do not become lax or careless. It is the dead of winter; we should not stay here long. Tomorrow morning, can we set out for Tanzhou?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo frowned and said: "Great King, we have already penetrated deep into the heartland of Other Xi Xia; why not pursue the victory and march north to capture Pingci? That would destroy the enemy's foundation even more, directly threatening Other Xi Xia's Ducheng; would that not be better?"

Fang Hang also agreed: "Yes, Pingci lies directly north of Yingyuan; the advance would be smooth sailing. Once we take it, we can reach Other Xi Xia's Wang Cheng directly and open the road home; would that not be easy?"

After listening, Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment before slowly speaking: "What you say has merit, but doing so is too risky! Pingci is located in a snowy, hungry, and freezing region; our army cannot stay there long. If Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian leads a hundred thousand enemy troops to arrive, we fear we will be trapped in a bitter battle, surrounded by enemies on all sides!"

Hearing this, both Tu Tu Kesiluo and Fang Hang were startled, realizing the difficulty and peril of this strategy.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu continued: "Opening the road home is certainly important, but cutting off the enemy's retreat is the key to victory! We have traveled a thousand li deep into enemy territory and must firmly control the vital transportation routes. This time, our main attack on Tanzhou is precisely to isolate Other Xi Xia's reinforcements and annihilate the invading enemies one by one!"

After hearing this, the two suddenly understood and clapped their hands in praise: "Wise! The Great King is wise and martial; this strategy of using a surprise force is brilliant! We are foolish; how could we ever compare to even one ten-thousandth of you!"

That evening, one hundred thousand dan of military grain arrived from Cangzhou. Accompanying the grain convoy was Wu Wu Ziyu, a trusted aide sent by Zhu Ge Yu to take command. This person enjoyed Zhu Ge Yu's deep trust.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu carefully questioned Wu Wu Ziyu about military intelligence and learned about the grain transport arrangements in Cangzhou. Wu Wu Ziyu answered one by one, without any concealment.

Before dawn the next day, Jiang Jiang Mingyu led four hundred thousand troops to leave Yingyuan. Looking at the map, marching to Tanzhou required traveling three thousand li! This meant they would have to spend the entire winter on the road.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sighed deeply: "This year, I fear we will spend the New Year on the road... Everyone must be mentally prepared for the hardships of marching!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo smiled apologetically: "Great King, do not worry! Precisely because our army is launching an attack during Other Xi Xia's coldest season, the enemy will be completely powerless to counterattack..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded and said: "Traveling a thousand li deep into enemy territory, our army is exhausted from constant movement. Once we capture Tanzhou, we will have to split our forces again to take Pingci and Jingdian. I fear that by the time we truly reach Other Xi Xia's Wang Cheng, it will already be spring with blooming flowers. At that time, Other Xi Xia's morale will surge greatly, and I fear they will fight us to the death!"

Fang Hang quickly said: "Great King, do not worry! By then, Other Xi Xia will have lost all prefectures and counties in the southern border and will already be short of grain and fodder. Although it is spring, the northern lands will still be covered in ice and snow. Cut off from supplies and without reinforcements, they will surely be like a starving camel still larger than a horse; at that time, capturing cities and seizing land will be within reach!"

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily, as if a heavy stone pressing on his heart had finally been lifted. The generals also laughed loudly, their morale soaring.

That evening, Tu Tu Kesiluo stood alone on the towering city tower, gazing toward the direction of Other Xi Xia's Wang Cheng. The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the desert, dyeing a corner of the horizon red. In the distance, Other Xi Xia's Wang Cheng shone with golden brilliance under the sunset; the high city walls and colorful towers blurred into silhouettes in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's gaze.

A touch of homesickness surged in Tu Tu Kesiluo's heart; this desolate landscape reminded him of his hometown. Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind him; Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned around and saw Tu Tu Kesiluo walking over with a grin.

"Why are you standing here alone, dazed?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu walked to Tu Tu Kesiluo's side and followed his gaze toward Other Xi Xia's Wang Cheng. "Thinking of home?"

"Not entirely." Tu Tu Kesiluo smiled faintly. "I was just wondering, why did the Other Xi Xia royal family have to build their capital in such a remote place? This vast desolate land is truly a place for sun-eclipsing burrows, contrary to Feng Shui. Could it be that the Other Xi Xia King harbors sinister intentions and has set up some mechanism or trap here? That is why he deliberately built the capital in this birdless, eggless place?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised an eyebrow, examining the distant Other Xi Xia's Wang Cheng. The golden and brilliant city looked dreamlike under the sunset; the towering palaces and Buddhist pagodas appeared both solemn and mysterious. "Perhaps their Laozu Sect had some unspeakable reasons!" he joked.

Tu Tu Kesiluo was also amused: "Haha, maybe the Other Xi Xia King's brain was filled with sand, confused by this wind and sand! What tricks could there be in such a remote place!" The two looked at each other and laughed loudly, neither noticing for a moment a giant golden bird flying overhead. It was a massive golden eagle, flashing past against the sunset, its golden light brilliant.

"Look at that big bird!" Tu Tu Kesiluo exclaimed. Jiang Jiang Mingyu focused his eyes carefully and saw that golden eagle fly past the city tower of Other Xi Xia's Wang Cheng, heading southwest. "What is happening? Why is the Other Xi Xia King releasing a messenger pigeon?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt alert. "This golden eagle is a trained messenger bird; it is likely going to deliver military intelligence." Tu Tu Kesiluo judged. The two looked at each other, seeing the same guess in each other's eyes...

"Big Brother, I guess the Other Xi Xia King is mobilizing troops." Tu Tu Kesiluo spoke. Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment and slowly said: "It could also be recruiting reinforcements. We must capture Tanzhou as soon as possible to cut off Other Xi Xia's rear support." With that, the two exchanged a smile, unifying their offensive strategy.