Chapter 322: Everything Was Within Expectations

"Big Brother, how is the defense of Tanzhoucheng? Have you already scouted it thoroughly?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a light sip of fragrant tea, then raised his eyes to look at Tu Tu Kesiluo and Fang Hang, who had returned from reconnaissance outside the city.

"Replying to Your Majesty, although Tanzhoucheng is not as strong as Yingyuan City in Yingzhou, it is still surrounded by three layers of high walls. Although the city walls are not as solid and thick as those built by our One Da Jiang, they are by no means easy to attack." Fang Hang spoke while stroking his beard, "What is even more critical is that the defender, Situ Heshong, is said to be a ruthless character. This man is famous; he once fought five hundred elite troops of our One Da Jiang single-handedly."

"He fought off five hundred elite troops?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu was slightly stunned. "It seems this man is indeed extraordinary. Tu Tu Kesiluo, what is your opinion?"

"Big Brother, do not listen to Fang Hang's cold words." Tu Tu Kesiluo laughed heartily. Although his face was covered in dust, his eagerness to try could not be hidden. "What can Situ Heshong do? Big Brother's divine arrow will send him to the west heaven! I think we should press the city from the front and attack directly, striking at the dragon's heart. I estimate that this small Tanzhoucheng cannot hold out for many days!"

Hearing this, Fang Hang could not help but shake his head: "Your Highness is mistaken! A frontal assault, I fear, has little chance of success..." Thus, he recounted the various difficulties and dangers of besieging and attacking the city, as well as the cunning and stubbornness of the Other Xi Xia defenders.

Tu Tu Kesiluo did not yield, engaging Fang Hang in a fierce battle of words. The two generals with vastly different personalities each stuck to their own views, arguing until their faces turned red. Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not stop them; he simply listened quietly, occasionally taking a sip of fragrant tea.

After a long time, Tu Tu Kesiluo was speechless, and Fang Hang also showed signs of fatigue. Only then did Jiang Jiang Mingyu cough lightly, drawing both men's attention back to him: "What Fang Hang said is not without reason. Although our army is brave, we have also paid a heavy price. If we continue to clash head-on for long, the remaining forces may not be enough for a complete victory."

After a while, Tu Tu Kesiluo asked Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Fang Hang again.

"Then what should we do?"

Fang Hang stroked his beard again.

"Seeing Your Majesty's confident assurance, this subordinate thinks Your Majesty must have had a plan long ago."

Meeting Tu Tu Kesiluo's questioning gaze, Jiang Jiang Mingyu put down his teacup, stood up, and paced two steps.

"Correct, I have already thought of a way."

"It is very simple. Just now, you all heard it; the walls of Tanzhoucheng..."

As he was speaking, Tu Tu Kesiluo, whose face suddenly showed realization, took over the conversation.

"Big Brother, do you mean a night raid?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded.

Tu Tu Kesiluo clenched his fists excitedly, his eyes shining: "Big Brother, a night raid is indeed a brilliant plan! I can hardly wait to see the look of terror and despair on Situ Heshong's face!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand and said: "Do not be impatient; the city assault plan still needs refinement. You and I once wandered together in a foreign land, knowing well the suffering of having no food to fill our bellies. Launching a night raid while the Other Xi Xia defenders are trapped and exhausted gives us a very high chance of victory."

Fang Hang nodded and sighed: "Your Majesty is wise. As you said, a frontal assault is too weak and scattered. This subject is ignorant and hopes Your Majesty will forgive my crime."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled and said: "It is nothing. We have always been open with each other. This matter relies entirely on Brother Tu Tu Kesiluo's plan to climb the walls at night; only then does our army have hope of victory."

Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately volunteered: "Big Brother, please rest assured. Climbing walls is as easy as turning over one's hand for me. Just give me thirty thousand torches and fifty thousand bamboo poles and ropes, and I will surely approach the city quietly at the third watch!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded with satisfaction, his gaze burning: "Good! Launch the night raid at the third watch; we must fight quickly and decisively! We have anticipated the enemy, so we will surely catch the Other Xi Xia army off guard!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo respectfully accepted the order, his expression full of confidence. The battle situation that would follow already floated in his mind: he would lead his men to approach the city walls quietly in the deep night, set up simple climbing equipment, and tens of thousands of torches would illuminate the night sky. The Jin troops would surge onto the city walls like a tide, with blood flowers flying amidst the glint of swords and flashes of blades, leaving the Other Xi Xia defenders unable to cope. At dawn, flags would cover the entire city; he would laugh from the highest point of the city tower, while Situ Heshong would be bound tightly with five flowers and dragged before him...

Thinking of this, Tu Tu Kesiluo felt a surge of heroic spirit in his chest. He strode out of the tent with long steps and began to allocate the supplies needed for the city assault...

At dawn on the second day, Tu Tu Kesiluo led tens of thousands of soldiers to form ranks and practice on the open ground outside the camp, preparing for the night raid.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu rode his horse to the training ground and nodded with satisfaction: "Tu Tu Kesiluo, you are like a god in predicting events, and your drills are well-ordered; you are the best in the world today."

Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately bowed and said: "Thank you, Big Brother, for your praise. This is all my duty!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu signaled him to rise and asked again: "Is there any need for additional supplies or personnel?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo shook his head and said: "For now, everything is going smoothly. Candles, ropes, engineers, and siege equipment are all fully prepared!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded approvingly: "Good! When night falls, I will personally lead ten thousand strong men along with the Imperial Guard to assist you in being the first to scale the city walls. Do not fail!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo repeatedly agreed and added: "Big Brother, rest assured. Little brother will surely not disappoint your trust and will personally capture that Situ Heshong!"

As the two were joking, a junior officer of the Imperial Guard, who was hunting down criminals, ran over hurriedly and bowed: "Reporting to Your Highness, the mountain-searching squad has captured the fleeing Other Xi Xia soldiers and is escorting them here!"

Moments later, more than ten Other Xi Xia soldiers in tattered clothes, bound tightly with five flowers, were brought before Jiang Jiang Mingyu. The leader, with an arrogant expression, shouted loudly: "I am a junior officer of the Other Xi Xia Tiger and Leopard Camp. You cowards who surrendered to Great Jin, release us quickly!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered: "Other Xi Xia rats, why do you not kneel quickly?" Before his words had finished, the Imperial Guard had already kicked that Other Xi Xia junior officer to the ground.

Tu Tu Kesiluo stepped forward, grabbed the junior officer's hair, and demanded: "Have you heard of any good strategy your city's defenders have to deal with us?"

That Other Xi Xia soldier wailed in pain and shook his head vigorously: "I truly do not know... Ah!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo punched him in the stomach and said coldly: "Do you still want to deceive me?" Several Other Xi Xia soldiers nearby, terrified and pale, begged for mercy in unison.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand to stop him and said: "Human life is important. Let them serve in the camp; perhaps we can obtain intelligence from the city through them." Tu Tu Kesiluo quickly agreed.

That night, when the moon was dark and the wind was high, Tu Tu Kesiluo personally led the Imperial Guard to the city corner gate agreed upon beforehand.

Under the dim yellow light, the walls of Tanzhoucheng were silent and dark. Tu Tu Kesiluo led five thousand elites, creeping stealthily toward the city base. Just as they were about to launch the attack, the snoring sound of the patrol on the city wall suddenly stopped!

"Not good, there must be an ambush!" the adjutant cried out softly. Before his words had finished, Situ Heshong's wild shout came from the city tower: "You have finally come! Take this!"

With a "Boom" of a huge explosion, Xiong Xiongliehuo blazed on the city wall, illuminating Tu Tu Kesiluo and others' movements clearly. Immediately, arrows as dense as spring rain shot at them from all eight directions.

"Run quickly!" Tu Tu Kesiluo shouted loudly, pushing off the ground with his feet and sprinting outward. The five thousand strong men behind him also quickly climbed onto the battlements, but many were soon hit by arrows and fell.

"Ah—Help me!" "My leg has been hit by an arrow!" In the night sky, the miserable screams never ceased.

"Shoot quickly, kill them!" From above, Situ Heshong shouted. Waves of arrow rain struck the One Da Jiang soldiers, and instantly some fell from the city walls, their bodies shattered.

"Damn it, there must be a traitor who leaked the news!" Seeing that the situation was dire, Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately ordered a retreat. At this moment, another fierce shout came from the city wall: "Quick, pour hot oil on them and throw stones! Do not let a single one escape!"

Rocks and boiling hot oil crashed down. The One Da Jiang soldiers who had no time to climb down were instantly scalded into balls. "Ahhh! Save me, save me!" "It hurts so much, I don't want to die!" Miserable screams rose and fell, creating an extremely terrifying atmosphere.

"Your Highness, save me..." A soldier, whose legs had been smashed by a falling rock, reached out his hand toward Tu Tu Kesiluo below the city.

"All of you, run, damn it!" Tu Tu Kesiluo barely held back his tears, drew his sword, and severed that man's hand, then ran away with long strides. When he looked back again, the entire city was ablaze with beacon fires, and of the five thousand strong men, only a hundred remained.

"Haha, it is about time to withdraw," Situ Heshong mocked. "Tu Tu Kesiluo, since only your dog's life remains, I will spare you. Go back quickly. Everything was within Your Majesty's expectations. I advise your Jiang Jiang Mingyu to get out of Other Xi Xia immediately."

Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes were red with blood, his teeth gritted: "I will avenge this myself!" He quickly gathered the remnants and retreated toward the distance.

After escaping more than ten li, the scarred Tu Tu Kesiluo collapsed to the ground, looking back at Tanzhoucheng with flames shooting into the sky, his heart cut like a knife. After this crushing defeat, how would he explain it to Big Brother? He would surely find the traitor and avenge the five thousand brothers who had died!