Chapter 322

“Big brother, have you and your men gathered enough intelligence on the defenses of Tanzhou City?” Jiang Mingyu took a light sip of fragrant tea and looked up at Tukesulu and Fang Hang, who had just returned from reconnaissance outside the city.

“Your Majesty, although Tanzhou is not as fortified as Yingyuan City in Yingzhou, it is still surrounded by three layers of high walls. Though not as solid or thick as those built by our Great Jiang, they are by no means easy to breach,” Fang Hang said, stroking his beard. “More critically, the city’s defender, Situ Hesong, is said to be a formidable man—famous for single-handedly repelling five hundred of our elite troops.”

“Repelled five hundred elite troops?” Jiang Mingyu paused slightly. “So he truly is extraordinary. Tukesulu, what do you think?”

“Big brother, don’t listen to Fang Hang’s idle talk,” Tukesulu laughed heartily, his face dusty but his eyes alight with eagerness. “So what if Situ Hesong is tough? Your divine arrows will send him to the Western Heavens! Let’s launch a direct assault, storm the city, and crush the enemy—Tanzhou won’t hold out for long!”

Fang Hang shook his head. “Your Highness, this is a grave mistake! A frontal assault has little chance of success...” He then detailed the many hardships of besieging a city and the cunning, stubborn resistance of the Western Xia defenders.

Tukesulu did not back down and launched a fierce verbal counterattack. The two generals, vastly different in temperament, argued passionately, faces flushed. Jiang Mingyu said nothing, merely listened quietly, occasionally sipping his tea.

After a long silence, Tukesulu fell silent, and Fang Hang appeared weary. Jiang Mingyu finally cleared his throat, drawing their attention back. “Fang Hang speaks sense. Our troops are brave, but we’ve already paid a heavy price. If we continue to clash head-on, we may not have enough strength left for a decisive victory.”

After a long pause, Tukesulu turned again to Jiang Mingyu and Fang Hang.

“Then what should we do?”

Fang Hang stroked his beard again.

“Given Your Majesty’s confidence, I assume you’ve already devised a plan.”

Meeting Tukesulu’s questioning gaze, Jiang Mingyu set down his teacup and stood, pacing two steps.

“Yes, I’ve thought of a way.”

“It’s simple. You’ve both heard it already—the city walls of Tanzhou...”

As soon as he said this, Tukesulu’s face lit up with sudden understanding and he picked up the thread.

“Big brother, you mean a night raid?”

Jiang Mingyu nodded.

Tukesulu clenched his fists, eyes gleaming. “Big brother, a night raid is brilliant! I can’t wait to see Situ Hesong’s face when he’s terrified and desperate!”

Jiang Mingyu waved his hand. “Don’t rush. The assault plan still needs refinement. We’ve both been exiled together—you know the agony of hunger. Launching the night raid while the Western Xia garrison is weakened gives us the best chance of victory.”

Fang Hang nodded and sighed. “Your Majesty is wise. As you say, a frontal assault is too risky. I was foolish—please forgive me.”

Jiang Mingyu smiled. “No need for apologies. We’ve always been open with each other. Success hinges entirely on Tukesulu’s ability to scale the walls under cover of night—if you succeed, we have a chance.”

Tukesulu immediately volunteered. “Big brother, rest assured—scaling walls is child’s play for me. Give me thirty thousand torches and fifty thousand bamboo poles and ropes, and I’ll approach the city silently by the third watch!”

Jiang Mingyu nodded approvingly, his gaze sharp. “Good. Launch the night raid at the third watch. Move swiftly and decisively. We’ve anticipated their moves—we’ll strike when they least expect it!”

Tukesulu bowed respectfully, his expression confident. In his mind, he already saw the coming battle: himself leading men through the dark to the walls, raising makeshift ladders, tens of thousands of torches lighting the night sky. Golden troops surged like a tide over the ramparts, blades flashing, blood spraying—Western Xia defenders overwhelmed. At dawn, banners flew over the city, and he stood atop the highest tower, laughing, as Situ Hesong, bound and dragged before him...

Thinking of it, Tukesulu’s chest swelled with pride. He strode out of the tent, beginning to organize the siege supplies...

At dawn the next day, Tukesulu led tens of thousands of soldiers in formation drills on the open ground outside camp, preparing for the night raid.

Jiang Mingyu rode up to the training ground and nodded approvingly. “Tukesulu, you foresee everything, train with precision—you’re unmatched today.”

Tukesulu bowed deeply. “Thank you, Big Brother, this is merely my duty!”

Jiang Mingyu gestured for him to rise. “Do you need any additional supplies or men?”

Tukesulu shook his head. “Everything is ready—torches, ropes, engineers, siege equipment—all fully stocked!”

Jiang Mingyu nodded in approval. “Good. At nightfall, I’ll lead ten thousand elite guards personally to support your initial assault. Do not fail.”

Tukesulu pledged repeatedly. “Big Brother, rest assured—I’ll capture Situ Hesong with my own hands!”

As they spoke, a junior officer of the Imperial Guard rushed over, bowing. “Your Highness, the mountain patrol has captured the fleeing Western Xia soldiers and is bringing them here!”

Moments later, over a dozen ragged Western Xia soldiers, bound tightly, were dragged before Jiang Mingyu. Their leader sneered loudly: “I am a junior officer of the Western Xia Tiger Guard! Cowards who surrender to Great Jin—release us at once!”

Jiang Mingyu sneered. “Western Xia vermin, kneel at once!” Before he finished speaking, the Imperial Guards kicked the officer to the ground.

Tukesulu stepped forward, grabbing the officer’s hair. “Have you heard any plans from your garrison to counter us?”

The Western Xia soldier groaned in pain, shaking his head. “I truly don’t know... ah!”

Tukesulu punched him in the stomach. “Still trying to deceive me?” Several other Western Xia soldiers turned pale and begged for mercy.

Jiang Mingyu waved his hand to stop them. “Life is precious. Keep them in camp—they may provide intelligence on the city.” Tukesulu quickly agreed.

That night, under a dark, wind-blown moon, Tukesulu led the Imperial Guard to the agreed-upon corner of the city wall.

In the dim lantern light, the walls of Tanzhou lay silent and dark. Tukesulu led five thousand elite troops silently toward the base, ready to strike—when suddenly, the patrol’s snores ceased.

“Bad! Ambush!” the deputy whispered. No sooner had he spoken than Situ Hesong’s roar echoed from the ramparts: “You’ve finally come! Take this!”

With a thunderous boom, flames erupted along the walls, illuminating Tukesulu and his men clearly. Then, arrows rained down like spring rain from all directions.

“Retreat, now!” Tukesulu roared, leaping backward. Behind him, five thousand soldiers scrambled up the ramparts—but many were struck and fell.

“Ahh—help me!” “My leg’s been hit!” The night echoed with agonized screams.

“Shoot! Kill them all!” Above, Situ Hesong shouted. Waves of arrows struck Great Jiang soldiers, sending men tumbling from the walls, shattered.

“Damn it! There’s a traitor who tipped them off!” Seeing the tide turn, Tukesulu ordered a retreat. Then another cry rang out from the ramparts: “Quick! Pour boiling oil, hurl rocks! Leave none alive!”

Rocks and boiling oil crashed down. Soldiers who hadn’t climbed back were instantly burned into balls. “Aaaah! Save me! Save me!” “It hurts—I don’t want to die!” The screams rose in a chorus, the air thick with terror.

“Your Highness, save me...” One soldier, his legs crushed, reached desperately toward Tukesulu below.

“Run, all of you!” Tukesulu forced back tears, slashed the man’s hand off with one sword, then bolted away. When he turned back, the city blazed with fire—only a hundred of the five thousand remained.

“Hah, time to call it off,” Situ Hesong mocked. “Tukesulu, I’ll spare your life—you’re the last dog standing. Go back and tell Jiang Mingyu to flee Western Xia. Everything was within His Majesty’s foresight.”

Tukesulu’s eyes burned red. “I will have my revenge!” He swiftly gathered his remnants and retreated into the distance.

After fleeing more than ten miles, Tukesulu collapsed, battered and bleeding. He turned back to see Tanzhou ablaze, his heart like a knife twisted. How could he face his big brother after this defeat? He would find the traitor—and avenge his five thousand fallen brothers.