Chapter 323: The Disappeared Spy or Precognition

After returning to the main camp, Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately requested an audience with Jiang Jiang Mingyu and recounted the disastrous failure of the night raid. Jiang Jiang Mingyu fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly, "Our army actually fell into Situ Heshong's ambush; it seems the enemy's calculations are profound, and they are certainly no ordinary foes. This matter must be taken extremely seriously. Fang Hang, what do you think..."

"Replying to Your Majesty, this subordinate is also deeply surprised," Fang Hang said while stroking his beard, "Our army has always maintained discipline in its marches and battles, never provoking the residents; how could there still be a traitor within colluding with the enemy? This matter must be thoroughly investigated to the end to prevent the army's morale from crumbling."

Tu Tu Kesiluo's face turned iron-green; he ground his teeth and said, "Big Brother, we cannot just let this go! Five thousand elite soldiers were simply lost in vain; if I do not avenge this, I swear I am not worthy to be called a man!"

"Enough, Tu Tu Kesiluo, I understand your feelings," Jiang Jiang Mingyu patted his younger brother's shoulder, "It is just that now is not the time; we must remain clear-headed and rational. This matter cannot be handled rashly, or we will only become blinded and allow Situ Heshong to take advantage of our weakness."

Tu Tu Kesiluo was filled with regret and blamed himself, saying, "Big Brother, this is all my fault; I have always kept your earnest teachings in mind, but this time I was still careless! Such a total loss of resources is truly a betrayal of the soldiers..."

"It is also my fault for not changing my nature; I am still that impulsive Tu Tu Kesiluo! If I had listened to Fang Hang's advice back then and not gambled on this move, how could it have turned out like this..." As he spoke, Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes turned slightly red. Fang Hang hurriedly comforted him, "Your Highness need not blame yourself; this was the result of our collective decision, and the enemy's design was too hidden and treacherous; we were all kept in the dark."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded with understanding, "Correct! Now is not the time to shift blame; we must unite as one, turn danger into safety, and reverse the situation. Tu Tu Kesiluo, repeat every single word Situ Heshong said; was there anything suspicious?"

Hearing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo steadied himself and tried to recall, "Big Brother, I remember Situ Heshong muttered one sentence as he left, saying everything was within Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian's expectations..." The three exchanged glances, seeing doubt and unease in each other's eyes.

"Could there truly be a spy from Other Xi Xia within the army?"

When the military grain intelligence was transmitted that day, Jiang Jiang Mingyu had already sifted through all the troops in the main camp.

Anyone even slightly suspicious was interrogated under severe torture; ultimately, he confirmed that all the moles had been rooted out.

Yet if that were the case, how was today's secret leaked?

To say the people of Other Xi Xia stumbled upon it by accident, even ghosts wouldn't believe it; would an accident involve heating up hot oil in advance?

Could it be that this unknown spy infiltrated the camp while they were resting at Yingyuan?

After thinking for a long time, Jiang Jiang Mingyu still could not figure out the reason.

"Strange, the perimeter was guarded so strictly; why was there not a single sound?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu paced back and forth inside the tent, muttering to himself in confusion.

"Big Brother, do not worry; there must be a trick. Let us investigate carefully once more," Tu Tu Kesiluo comforted him.

"Your Majesty, I suspect the enemy very likely used some special method of sending messages, which is why we had no awareness," Fang Hang nodded.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping sharply left and right, "There is no other way; it must be so. It seems the enemy is far more difficult to deal with than imagined; we must act with even greater caution."

At dawn the next day, the camp welcomed wave after wave of returning scouts. However, they all wore blank expressions—having found nothing.

"How is this possible! This makes no sense!" the small Captain on duty that night stamped his feet in anxiety.

"Staring at me won't help; we have searched over and over again, yet saw no suspicious persons," the scout said helplessly.

The small Captain could only return with red-rimmed eyes to report to Jiang Jiang Mingyu. The latter, upon hearing this, felt his suspicion deepen even further.

At that moment, a scout who looked like a scholar burst in frantically, "Report, reporting to Your Majesty! A suspicious person was captured on a forest path somewhere and is being escorted here."

"Just in time!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes lit up, and he immediately ordered his attendants to prepare interrogation tools.

When that "suspicious person," bound tightly with ropes, was brought into the tent, everyone felt somewhat disappointed—it was merely a thin, middle-aged man who did not look like a spy at all.

The man knelt on the ground and pleaded loudly, "May Your Majesty see clearly; I am merely a son of a medicine shop; entering this place by chance was only to gather medicinal herbs..." Jiang Jiang Mingyu, with a cold face, cut him off, "Gathering herbs? With a massive army pressing close, having traveled thousands of li, you dare enter the forest alone?"

The man, terrified and pale, stammered a defense, yet there was nothing suspicious about him. Jiang Jiang Mingyu, unwilling to cause undue trouble, simply waved his hand, "Detain him first; release him only after the truth is revealed. Small Captain, issue an order: the entire camp is to be placed under martial law, and suspicious persons strictly investigated!"

The small Captain responded with a single sound, but just as he turned, a sudden commotion was heard outside the tent—another scout returned, still having found nothing.

As the sun climbed higher, scouts from all routes had reported back, yet there was still no progress. Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat in the tent like a crow perched on hot coals; his entire back was soaked with sweat. He suddenly slammed the table, startling even Fang Hang and Tu Tu Kesiluo.

"Could it be just this one medicine peddler? Impossible!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu dismissed his attendants and spoke in a low voice to the two, "It seems the enemy's calculations are too deep; we have truly been toyed with by him." Saying this, he gulped down a large bowl of tea, as if trying to choke out the fire in his heart.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood in the main tent, holding a long sword, his brows tightly furrowed. This was already two days and two nights without sleep; his mind was filled with that inexplicable traitor.

"Big Brother, it is already dawn, yet there is still no movement," Tu Tu Kesiluo walked in.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu snorted coldly, "Is this not obvious? Clearly, someone is mocking me!"

"But we have searched repeatedly; indeed, no spy has been found."

"Then there is only one possibility: someone within the Other Xi Xia army must know my military strategies inside out. This heavy loss of life is precisely because they saw through my character of immediately sending troops!" As Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke, he swung his sword, stabbing the flagpole beside him.

Tu Tu Kesiluo was also puzzled, "But Big Brother, all the generals under you have always been trusted confidants; how could there be a traitor?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a while, his face growing increasingly grim, "I remember that during previous battles with Other Xi Xia, several prisoners served under my tent. One of them, named Yang Yang Yongfu, possessed great military talent, but later disappeared. Could it be..."

"Yang Yang Yongfu?" Tu Tu Kesiluo thought for a moment, "In my memory, he died in a night raid."

"Died?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered, "Who saw his corpse? These spies of Other Xi Xia are skilled in disguise and concealment."

Tu Tu Kesiluo paced back and forth uneasily, "Even if it is Yang Yang Yongfu, he could not possibly guess every single decision you make in battle! This is almost like precognition!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face was already extremely grim; he swung his sword again, stabbing it into the map, "Regardless, I will make Tanzhou blaze with fire! How could I let slip a battle opportunity handed to me?"

"But Big Brother, if the enemy is already prepared..."

"I never retreat!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu flew into a rage, "Even if Situ Heshong's defense is as solid as an iron bucket, I will still level Tanzhou to the ground! Order the soldiers to prepare more tung-oil fire arrows; now the north wind howls, the air is dry and the wood is tinder-dry; I will burn Tanzhou with fire!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo wanted to persuade him further but finally could only sigh lightly. This elder brother had always been stubborn; once he made up his mind, not even nine oxen could pull him back.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu thought for a long time before finally speaking.

"Perhaps, for safety's sake, those spies have hidden themselves, waiting for us to lower our guard before leaving the camp to send news."

"In that case, let the soldiers continue to watch; if there is still no movement by dawn, then we will directly attack Tanzhoucheng according to the plan."

Tu Tu Kesiluo nodded.

"Rest assured, Big Brother; I have already given the orders."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face was already as dark as ink; he stared intently at the location of Tanzhoucheng on the map, his mind racing. This "Yang Yang Yongfu" was not important at all; what was truly terrifying was that every single one of his decisions, every single direction of his march, had been firmly grasped by the enemy as a weakness. This was simply not something a mortal could achieve! Could they truly have penetrated his mind?

"Does that Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian truly possess the ability of precognition?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu murmured softly.

"What precognition? Who are you talking about, Big Brother?" Tu Tu Kesiluo did not understand.

"Forget it; let us not mention her for now. I only wish to burn Tanzhoucheng!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand dismissively.

Soon, four hundred thousand troops were fully armed and ready to depart. The north wind howled, and the sky seemed to be brewing a great fire. Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood atop Gaoshan, gazing into the distance, his eyes sharp as lightning.

"Depart!"

The vast iron cavalry began to cross mountains and ridges, heading straight for the walls of Tanzhoucheng. Jiang Jiang Mingyu silently chanted in his heart, wondering if that Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian could truly perceive his resolve—even if he is a prophet, I will still level Tanzhoucheng to the ground!