Chapter 330: The Unusual Scholar

After Shi Shi Gandang withdrew, Tu Tu Kesiluo spoke excitedly: "Big Brother, although Tang Xiang is a strong city, its garrison is small; with a few strategies, we can easily take it. Our forces are as mighty as surging rivers; to us, Tang Xiang is like a thin sheet of paper—one poke and it breaks!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled and said: "Tu Tu Kesiluo, things may not be as simple as you think. Tang Xiang's walls are solid; though the garrison is small, they must all be Other Xi Xia's elite. Although we are numerous, we must not underestimate the enemy."

"Big Brother, you speak with reason!" Tu Tu Kesiluo quickly said. "I was too young and impetuous; my words were too harsh. Nevertheless, I remain full of confidence. With Big Brother's wise leadership, Tang Xiang will sooner or later be ours."

"Haha, good brother! You and I are one body; we shall surely achieve great things!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed loudly and patted Tu Tu Kesiluo's shoulder.

Tu Tu Kesiluo frowned again and said: "Big Brother, the weather ahead is worsening; the wind and snow are raging. I fear our march will be hindered. Should we not find a place to rest and wait for the weather to improve?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head and said: "Although improving weather benefits us, it also benefits the Other Xi Xia army in mobilizing reinforcements to aid Tang Xiang. We must seize the opportunity now and attack Tang Xiang in one surge to pin down Other Xi Xia's forces. Tell me, with our great army pressing the border, surely the Other Xi Xia commander, Tuoba Ji Qian, is in a panic, rushing east and west to deploy troops?"

"Haha, Big Brother is wise!" Tu Tu Kesiluo suddenly understood. "I only saw the difficulties before my eyes and ignored the big picture. With Big Brother here, we shall simply follow at your side!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly.

"Very well; while the weather is good, let us continue our journey."

Soon, his troops, wrapped in snowflakes, vanished over the Other Xi Xia wasteland.

Thirteen days later, gazing at the towering city in the distance, Tu Tu Kesiluo breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Big Brother, that must be Tang Xiang City. After running for two months at the cost of our lives, we have finally arrived."

After glancing at the sky, Jiang Jiang Mingyu pointed with his horsewhip.

"Form ranks; prepare to assault the city."

As the saying goes, seeing a mountain can kill a horse from running; after a full quarter-hour of walking, his men finally reached the foot of Tang Xiang City.

Seeing the yellow-faced, emaciated defenders on the ramparts, Tu Tu Kesiluo drew his sword and shouted loudly.

"People above, listen! I am Tu Tu Kesiluo, the Duke of Wu Wei of One Da Jiang. Quickly make Wan Fan Ti roll out to meet his death."

Facing the three hundred thousand black-clad troops below, the Other Xi Xia defenders on the ramparts immediately ran toward the city's base.

"It's bad! Jiang Jiang Mingyu has come to Tang Xiang! Disaster! Disaster!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo curled his lip.

"These Other Xi Xia people are so utterly worthless. Big Brother, it seems your plans for assaulting the city were prepared in vain."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not see it that way; he spoke very solemnly.

"Do not underestimate the enemy."

Tu Tu Kesiluo nodded somewhat disdainfully but said nothing more.

Meanwhile, the defenders on the ramparts, amidst their panic, also drew their bows and nocked arrows as quickly as possible, fearing Jiang Jiang Mingyu would attack the city directly.

Shortly after, Wan Fan Ti, an Other Xi Xia man dressed in armor and appearing like a scholar, climbed onto the ramparts with the utmost speed.

He looked at the great flags behind Jiang Jiang Mingyu; his two dark eyebrows gradually knitted into a single knot.

"Jiang Jiang Mingyu, you have gained the three southern provinces yet remain unsatisfied. Today you come to my Tang Xiang seeking death. Truly, you harbor wolfish ambitions; your crimes deserve no pardon."

"Quickly withdraw your great army and roll out of Other Xi Xia; you may yet keep your little life. If you provoke us to anger, today you shall all die."

Tu Tu Kesiluo snorted, pointing his long sword directly at Wan Fan Ti's nose.

"Enough nonsense! Half of Other Xi Xia has already been seized by my Big Brother. Who gave you the courage to speak such arrogance?"

"If you truly have skill, then roll out of the city and fight me, this king. Such whining only makes people laugh."

Damn it, now the entire Other Xi Xia turns pale at the mere mention of Jiang Jiang Mingyu. This brat is so arrogant; truly, he knows neither heaven nor earth.

Wan Fan Ti gave a cold smile.

"Tu Tu Kesiluo, we know you have some skill, but that does not mean I fear you southern barbarians."

"Such arrogance before the two armies is utterly intolerable. Watch as we, this man, go out of the city and chop off your dog's head."

Saying this, without waiting for Tu Tu Kesiluo's reply, he grabbed the large blade beside him and headed straight for the foot of the city.

Tu Tu Kesiluo looked at Jiang Jiang Mingyu in surprise, seemingly unable to believe his own eyes.

"Big Brother, does this Wan Fan Ti truly dare to lead troops out to fight? Has he gone mad?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned, speaking in a deep voice: "Not mad; there must be a trick! How could a mere scholar dare to confront us directly? There must be a problem here!"

Before his words had even finished, Wan Fan Ti had already led ten thousand Other Xi Xia troops to the foot of the city, facing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's three hundred thousand great army head-on.

"Southern barbarians, seeing this general, do you not kneel? Quickly lay down your weapons and surrender!" Wan Fan Ti held a silver spear, his gaze sharp as lightning, his momentum terrifying.

"Does a mere scholar deserve to make this king kneel?" Tu Tu Kesiluo flew into a rage. "With hundreds of thousands of mighty troops pressing the border, even if the Other Xi Xia king himself came, he would have to bow his head!"

"Even a trapped beast still fights; how much more so this general!" Wan Fan Ti's expression was firm, showing no fear. "I have received Your Majesty's command to punish the wicked; I must take your dog's head!"

As his words ended, Wan Fan Ti let out a loud shout, swung the long spear in his hand, and struck directly at Tu Tu Kesiluo's face. Tu Tu Kesiluo, not willing to yield, blocked with his long sword; the two immediately rolled on the ground, fighting in a tangle.

While the two fought there in an indecisive struggle, the great armies on the other side also slaughtered into a single mass. Jiang Jiang Mingyu, holding a heavy sword of black iron, led his personal cavalry deep into the enemy formation, killing on one side while searching for Wan Fan Ti's weaknesses on the other.

"Your Majesty, beware!" An Other Xi Xia warrior suddenly attacked. A general emerged from Jiang Jiang Mingyu's iron cavalry, thrusting a spear at the perfect moment, knocking that Other Xi Xia warrior from his horse. Only then did Jiang Jiang Mingyu recognize that person as his fierce general, Leng Yanjie.

"Thank you!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu steadied his horse's stance, staring fixedly at Wan Fan Ti. Meanwhile, Wan Fan Ti had successfully repelled Tu Tu Kesiluo and was leading a small portion of Other Xi Xia troops toward the city gate to retreat.

"Big Brother, this fellow's martial arts are not weak; I must fight him again!" Tu Tu Kesiluo, blood streaming down his forehead, wiped it away without care.

"Do not rush yet." Jiang Jiang Mingyu's gaze burned. "This fellow must have a trick; we must proceed step by step and absolutely not fall into his trap!"

At this moment, Wan Fan Ti had already retreated into the city, shouting orders for the defenders to lower the gate bolts and prepare to defend again. Witnessing all this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart's alarm bell rang loudly: "This fellow is not simple; we must handle this with caution!"

However, Tu Tu Kesiluo remained immersed in the excitement of battle, sensing none of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's worry. He licked the fresh blood from his blade's edge, his gaze burning as he stared at the Tang Xiang ramparts, wishing to rush in immediately and chop Wan Fan Ti down from his horse...

Seeing Wan Fan Ti lead his troops back into the city, Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment, gazed at the Tang Xiang ramparts, and a faint ominous premonition rose in his heart. He knew this battle would be far from easy; only by proceeding step by step could victory be achieved.

"Big Brother, we have met a powerful enemy! This Wan Fan Ti's Wu Gong is not weak; he will surely fight us to a standstill." Tu Tu Kesiluo wiped the fresh blood from his forehead and spoke with a solemn face.

"Not simple at all. A mere scholar, yet his martial arts are so formidable." Jiang Jiang Mingyu's brows were tightly locked as he murmured to himself. "He went to great lengths to lead troops out to fight; he must have ulterior motives. We must guard against this..."

Having spoken, he reined his horse and returned to the army, arriving before the tent. Seeing the situation, the various generals also gathered, preparing to hold a war council.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat in the main seat, playing with a black-and-white chess piece in his hand. He gazed silently at the chess piece, as if pondering a countermeasure.

"Wan Fan Ti leads two hundred thousand defenders within the city and has personally gone out to fight; he must have already prepared a strategy to maneuver against our army."

"This battle will likely be very difficult. What high opinions do you, my ministers, have?" He raised his eyes to look at the various generals.

"The base of the city is filled with oil pots and spies; a direct assault is tantamount to suicide! We can only besiege them for the long term." One general offered his opinion.

"When the Winter Solstice arrives, this place will be freezing; the great army cannot remain here long," another general said, his face full of worry.

After hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu sighed lightly, and the scene of Wan Fan Ti splitting his forces to fight appeared in his mind. He focused his thoughts, and an idea gradually formed in his heart.

At this moment, a sudden clamor erupted outside the tent, accompanied by several screams. A burly man in tattered clothes was dragged into the tent, his hands bound behind his back, and he knelt on the ground. The newcomer was a starving refugee from Xi Xia, captured by Tu Tu Kesiluo and his team.

"Big Brother, this man ambushed the main camp and has been captured by me," Tu Tu Kesiluo said respectfully.

The starving refugee wailed to the heavens, begging for mercy in vain. Jiang Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes, his mind stirred, and ordered someone to untie the ropes, then personally handed a flatbread to his mouth.

The man wolfed it down, finishing it completely in the blink of an eye. Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke at the right moment, gently coaxing him to reveal the grain reserves inside Xiangcheng. The starving refugee, without a second thought, spilled everything.

It turned out that the city had long run out of grain and was cut off from all aid; soldiers and civilians alike lay dead from starvation everywhere. This time, Wan Fan Ti led his army out to fight, also betting his life on one throw, determined to fight to the death.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was overjoyed; he lightly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Do not drive away the one who comes! The Greedy Wolf has cut off his own path to life; Heaven intends to destroy him!"

Upon hearing these words, all the generals were instantly invigorated and one after another requested permission to go into battle. Jiang Jiang Mingyu lightly tossed a black and a white chess piece, then ordered in a deep voice, "Execute the previous plan; attack from all four sides! I will personally cut off their path to life!"

The generals received the order and withdrew to prepare the army. Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood alone outside the tent, gazing at the towering city walls of Xiangcheng.

"A mere scholar dares to contend with me? It is a pity that his heart is willing but his strength is insufficient! I have long set my heart on taking this city; I am only waiting to draw in the net!"