Chapter 325: Layers of Mist

On the way to the Governor's Mansion, seeing the soldiers already posting notices to calm the people, Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked.

"Did you arrange all this?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo touched the blood on his face and smiled again.

"Following you, Big Brother, for so long, I've learned at least a scale or two."

Seeing his progress, Jiang Jiang Mingyu also wore a very satisfied smile.

About the time it takes to eat a meal later, inside the Tanzhou Governor's Mansion.

Looking at the group of Other Xi Xia soldiers before him, heads hanging low and kneeling on the ground, Jiang Jiang Mingyu cleared his throat.

"I will ask only once. Provide the answer I want, and you can keep your little lives."

"Your lives are very precious; I hope you do not waste them lightly."

His words were like a warning, striking the hearts of the Other Xi Xia soldiers, trying to open their mouths.

He paid no heed to the reaction of the Other Xi Xia ambushers and spoke directly.

"Speak! How did Situ Heshong know last night that I would launch a night raid on Tanzhou?"

Thinking of the nearly two hundred thousand corpses outside, one Other Xi Xia soldier kneeling on the ground immediately crawled forward two steps.

"Your Majesty, Emperor of One Da Jiang, I will speak. Do not kill me."

His voice trembled incessantly, fearing that if he provoked Jiang Jiang Mingyu's displeasure, he would end up with his head separated from his body.

After all, no one wants to die.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded.

"Good, you are a smart person. I like smart people even more. Speak."

Seeing that he had saved his little life, that Other Xi Xia soldier let out a long sigh; his throat rolled, and he spoke.

"This humble one only knows that recently, after the Commandant received the Emperor's messenger, he ordered us to prepare against a night raid."

"I am just an ordinary lad, a soldier as your One Da Jiang calls them; I know nothing else."

A messenger from Tuoba Jiqianyue?

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's slightly furrowed brows tightened even more at once.

How could this Tuoba Jiqianyue, whom he had never met, know his combat style? After all, Other Xi Xia had long been isolated; this made no sense at all.

Could there be some Gao Ren advising Tuoba Jiqianyue?

But what kind of Gao Ren could know his habits so thoroughly? Jiang Jiang Mingyu understood even less.

He pondered for a long time before speaking to the other Other Xi Xia ambushers.

"Is what this man said the truth?"

The remaining several thousand people all hurriedly nodded their heads incessantly.

"Indeed. We have all heard it."

The remaining several thousand people all hurriedly nodded their heads incessantly.

"Indeed. We have all heard it."

It really was so. Jiang Jiang Mingyu paced back and forth with his hands behind his back for a long time, yet still could not figure out the reason.

After a long while, he waved his hand toward Tu Tu Kesiluo.

"Take these people away and guard them strictly. There must be no errors."

Seeing the ambushers led away, Tu Tu Kesiluo's slender eyebrows also furrowed slightly.

"Big Brother, what is the point of keeping these damned Other Xi Xia beasts? Just kill them all to avenge our fallen brothers."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head thoughtfully.

"No. I have deeper plans for these people."

Plans?

Tu Tu Kesiluo asked immediately.

"What plans?"

Seeing his confused look, Jiang Jiang Mingyu had to set aside the doubts in his heart and explain.

"Right now, of the six prefectures of Other Xi Xia, we have already captured half. In other words, these territories are all the land of our One Da Jiang."

"Since we can use the laws of One Da Jiang to govern the Other Xi Xia people, then why cannot we be more lenient toward these Other Xi Xia soldiers?"

His words were like a question, sparking Tu Tu Kesiluo's curiosity and trying to make him understand his intentions.

"Lenient?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo repeated, not understanding.

"I know your hatred for Other Xi Xia runs as deep as the sea, but nearly five hundred thousand Other Xi Xia soldiers have already died in our hands; this grudge can be considered avenged."

Seeing Tu Tu Kesiluo nod slightly, he suddenly changed the subject.

"Tell me, why did our army lose fifty thousand troops in today's battle?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo did not think twice before speaking.

"Naturally, because the Other Xi Xia people fought desperately, and our brothers advanced bravely, so the losses were heavy."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu gave no opinion, simply asking again.

"Tell me again, besides defending their homes and country, why did the Other Xi Xia people fight desperately?"

This...

A huge question mark appeared on Tu Tu Kesiluo's effeminate face.

"I don't know."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled.

"The biggest reason is that they know Meng Pu and Ying Yuan's Other Xi Xia troops have all been annihilated in our hands."

"And apart from fighting us to the death, their only outcome is a dead end."

"The saying 'a trapped beast still fights' exists for this very reason; our army suffered such heavy losses because of it."

Seeing Tu Tu Kesiluo nod slightly, roughly understanding his meaning, he continued speaking.

"To speak of it again, if, in the face of our army's overwhelming advantage, we told the Other Xi Xia soldiers that surrender would spare their lives, what would the result be?"

Speaking thus, he added another sentence.

"Just as happened a moment ago."

Tu Tu Kesiluo was utterly baffled, not understanding Jiang Jiang Mingyu's intention.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, however, smiled without speaking, led him to the dungeon, and stood before the Other Xi Xia captives. These Other Xi Xia soldiers had ashen faces, fearful expressions, stood with heads bowed, lips pale, and bodies trembling slightly.

"Raise your heads!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu shouted. These Other Xi Xia soldiers jolted, raised their heads in panic, and despair and fear shone in their eyes.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu scanned them, a fatherly smile appearing on his face: "I believe you also deeply love your homeland. Today, I wish to give you an opportunity—join my great army, follow me north and south in war, and earn merit to redeem your crimes. At that time, I will appoint you as One Da Jiang generals; your names will spread far and wide, and the people of your homeland will look up to you!"

The Other Xi Xia soldiers looked at one another, and for a moment no one answered. Seeing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu walked up to a young, low-ranking soldier; the young soldier was thin and frail, covered in freckles, with a fresh bloodstain still on his forehead: "I ask only you, are you willing to serve me?"

The young soldier nervously swallowed, his legs trembling slightly, and stammered an answer: "Em-Emperor, I am willing!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily, waved his large hand, and said: "Good! I grant you the title of One Da Jiang fierce general, leading a thousand men!" The young soldier, tears welling in his eyes from excitement, immediately knelt and kowtowed in gratitude. The other Other Xi Xia soldiers also cried out one after another, willing to die for One Da Jiang.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned to Tu Tu Kesiluo with satisfaction: "You see, with this group of people, the subjugation of Other Xi Xia can be expected soon. Since they are willing to give their lives for me, how could I fail them!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo finally understood, repeatedly praising this brilliant stratagem. Thus, these thousand-plus Other Xi Xia soldiers were all enrolled into the One Da Jiang army, with three hundred cavalrymen placed under Tu Tu Kesiluo's command. Jiang Jiang Mingyu personally prepared armor and weapons for each person and held a grand induction ceremony. This new batch of soldiers was filled with high morale, swearing to live or die for One Da Jiang.

However, the final prophecy of Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian Yue still troubled Jiang Jiang Mingyu. He went alone to the high platform, gazing at the broken walls of Tanzhou; under the setting sun, the ruined ramparts resembled tattered rags, and a sense of desolation arose spontaneously...