Chapter 329: Ambition in Xiangcheng

After having the bandits taken away and placed under strict guard, Tuke Tuke Siluo had already formed a plan. He decided to go see Jiang Jiang Mingyu early the next morning to report last night's situation and simultaneously suggest making use of these people.

This morning, a thin mist hung over the camp. Tuke Tuke Siluo straightened his clothes, strode forward with long steps to the front of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's tent, waved to the guards, and walked straight inside.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was sitting upright at the table having breakfast. Seeing Tuke Tuke Siluo arrive, he smiled slightly and asked the reason with his gaze.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the rear army captured a group of Xi Xia bandits last night; we took them alive." Tuke Tuke Siluo got straight to the point and personally recounted the events to Jiang Jiang Mingyu once more.

After hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu widened his eyes slightly, put down the mutton cake in his hand, and signaled for Tuke Tuke Siluo to continue.

"This subject thinks we can make use of them." Tuke Tuke Siluo respectfully made a "please" gesture. "They are familiar with the Xi Xia terrain and very clear on enemy conditions; later they can serve as guides and offer strategies for our army."

After listening, Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded with understanding: "Well done! Your suggestion is very constructive; let's do just that. First, have them enrolled in our army; later there will surely be a place for them to be used!"

Tuke Tuke Siluo bowed repeatedly, saying: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your keen insight! This subject will surely arrange everything properly and make full use of them."

"This time this subject was negligent and failed to strengthen the defenses." Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned slightly. "Fortunately, there was no major harm, but we must prevent such incidents from happening again."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty; this subject will surely strengthen precautions and ensure such situations are absolutely foolproof!" Tuke Tuke Siluo immediately solemnly promised.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction, straightened his clothes, stood up, and said: "Come, follow me to inspect the camp defenses and offer suggestions on the defenses."

"As ordered!" Tuke Tuke Siluo followed with long strides, walking side by side with Jiang Jiang Mingyu along the camp paths, inspecting every blind spot together...

The tenth day of the twelfth month of the year Ji Hai, sunny.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu led three hundred thousand troops to rest at a place only two thousand li from Xiangcheng. The warm sunlight fell on their bodies, putting everyone in high spirits. Jiang Jiang Mingyu closed his eyes slightly, enjoying the comfort of a moment of sunbathing.

Soon, Jiang Jiang Mingyu instructed Tuke Tuke Siluo: "Call one of the people enrolled last night over; I want to question him."

Moments later, a man with disheveled hair and a dirty face, his eyes filled with awe, walked before Jiang Jiang Mingyu to pay his respects. Jiang Jiang Mingyu sized him up from head to toe and asked casually: "What is your name?"

The man hurriedly clasped his hands and replied: "Replying to Your Majesty, this subordinate is named Shi Shi Gandang."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded and asked next: "I heard that you mountain bandits have been entrenched nearby for many years; you should be very familiar with the surrounding terrain, right?"

Shi Shi Gandang nodded repeatedly in agreement without hesitation and even smiled with a hint of pride: "We have been robbing and plundering here for several years; in the mountains and valleys within hundreds of li, there is nothing we do not know!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paid no attention to his expression and said indifferently: "Then do you know the situation of Xiangcheng?"

Shi Shi Gandang gathered his thoughts, glanced toward Xiangcheng, and then hesitantly spoke: "Replying to Your Majesty, this subordinate's knowledge of Xiangcheng is only half-understood."

Tuke Tuke Siluo shot him a glare and shouted: "Say what you know and say little nonsense!"

Shi Shi Gandang, frightened, shrank his neck and hurriedly said: "Xiangcheng is the largest city in the northeast of our Xi Xia, with a history of over a hundred years. I saw it with my own eyes last year; the Xiangcheng city walls are seventy-eight zhang high!"

"Xiangcheng's defenses seem very strong, but our army will surely capture it." Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled, paying no mind at all to the height and thickness of the city walls Shi Shi Gandang mentioned.

"Your Highness, what brilliant strategy do you have to break this strong city?" Tuke Tuke Siluo asked curiously.

"Haha, I have my own clever plan." Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled mysteriously. "In the past, I was able to capture Yingyuan; how could Xiangcheng be difficult?"

"So that is it!" Tuke Tuke Siluo suddenly understood. "Yingyuan City was also a strong city renowned far and wide, yet in the end it was breached by Your Highness's strategy. Xiangcheng naturally cannot stump us either!"

"Correct! No matter how strong a city's defenses are, there must be weak points." Jiang Jiang Mingyu said with full confidence. "At that time, you and I will join hands and surely capture it smoothly."

"Congratulations on Your Majesty's auspicious words!" Tuke Tuke Siluo clasped his hands and said.

After hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment, tightened his cloak, and asked again: "Who is the defending general of Xiangcheng? How many troops are actually stationed in the city?"

Shi Shi Gandang thought for a moment again and said very confidently: "Replying to Your Majesty, the defending general of Xiangcheng is named Wan Fan Ti; he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Xi Xia Kingdom."

"Last year, this subordinate personally went to Xiangcheng on business and saw this my lord with my own eyes."

As the words reached this point, Shi Shi Gandang's tone became somewhat hesitant again: "At that time, it was heard that Xiangcheng had about one hundred thousand troops stationed. Now that Tu Ke Tuke Siluo's main force has moved to Xiangcheng for the winter, it is estimated that the garrison has at least two hundred thousand."

After hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu glanced back at the three hundred thousand troops behind him, feeling fully confident in his heart: "A mere two hundred thousand is not worthy of my three hundred thousand mighty army! Furthermore, the troops in the city have long been short of grain and pay; they can hardly contend with me."

"Who exactly is this Wan Fan Ti? I must see him; does he dare to lead troops out to fight?"

Shi Shi Gandang hurriedly said: "Commander Wan is of scholar origin; he was entrusted with this heavy responsibility in a time of crisis, so I imagine he has no heart for prolonged fighting."

After hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a long time, tightened the silver buckle on his cloak, and looked up at the bright moon in the night sky.

"The defending general of Xiangcheng, Wan Fan Ti, is merely a scholar; I have not heard of him." Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked Shi Shi Gandang again, "Why can he bear such a heavy responsibility?"

Shi Shi Gandang hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, this subordinate personally went to Xiangcheng on business before; it is said that Tu Ke Tuke Siluo temporarily appointed him."

"Hmph!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu let out a cold snort. "It is just a general who is envious and anxious, pulling in a scholar to fill the ranks. Such a person surely has no talent as a general."

"Exactly!" Shi Shi Gandang agreed. "A mere scholar, how could he dare to be compared with Your Majesty!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily: "Good Shi Shi Gandang, you know how to flatter! I will surely reward you heavily in the future!"

Shi Shi Gandang hurriedly performed a great bow: "Thank Your Majesty for your grace!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu thought for a moment and asked him again: "How many troops defend Xiangcheng?"

"This subordinate heard last year there were one hundred thousand. Now Tu Ke Tuke Siluo has sent troops to reinforce, so it is estimated there are at least two hundred thousand." Shi Shi Gandang said.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked toward the military tent beside him, where his three hundred thousand mighty troops were stationed. He felt even more confident in his heart: "A mere two hundred thousand is not worthy of my three hundred thousand great army! Moreover, the troops in the city have not been supplied for a long time and surely have no fighting spirit. We will surely be victorious!"

"Correct!" Shi Shi Gandang immediately agreed. "Your Majesty is wise and divine; how could Wan Fan Ti be your match? The capture of Xiangcheng is just around the corner!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu showed a satisfied smile and said indifferently: "What you said today is very valuable; I will surely reward you heavily in the future!"

Shi Shi Gandang repeatedly expressed thanks and withdrew, overjoyed.