Chapter 341: The Strategy of Food to Win Hearts

After returning to the main camp, Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately spoke.

"Notify Dog Dan at the West Gate and Tu Tu Kesiluo at the South Gate; at noon tomorrow, the plan officially begins."

Watching the messenger's departing back, he coldly curled his lips.

"Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian, the most spectacular show of this battle is about to begin."

The next day, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's three forces, as expected, once again besieged the Wang Cheng of Other Xi Xia.

And the garrison on the city walls, having run out of grain, could not even string their bows and shoot arrows to defend against Jiang Jiang Mingyu's siege with their usual speed; they were even slower.

With empty stomachs, they shivered uncontrollably in the cold wind, and many even felt they were about to freeze stiff.

To change this predicament, Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian could only keep rotating the garrison, taking turns to go below the city walls to warm themselves by the fire.

But this idea not only failed to solve the problem fundamentally, it instead made the garrison inside the city even more exhausted.

It's just that these sons of Other Xi Xia absolutely never imagined that the misfortune facing them had only just begun.

Compared to the starving sons, Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian was flushed and radiant; after all, if anyone was to lose out, it certainly couldn't be the current head of Other Xi Xia.

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu still leisurely, as if he were not besieging a city but sightseeing everywhere, Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian flew into a rage.

He raised his sword and shouted loudly.

"Jiang Jiang Mingyu, if you have the guts, come attack the city and fight my Other Xi Xia army face-to-face!"

"It's laughable that you, a proper Emperor of One Da Jiang, would hesitate so; it truly makes one's teeth feel cold."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu seemed not to hear at all; besides whispering something to Lu Yi beside him, he didn't even have the interest to reply.

Seeing him like this, Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian also felt a wave of regret in his heart.

If they had gone out to fight Jiang Jiang Mingyu while some military grain still remained, it would have been hard to say who would win.

Now, with all the grain exhausted, even self-preservation has become a problem.

Going out to fight is no better than cutting one's own throat for a quick end.

In the next hour and a bit, Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian, gradually unable to endure any longer, faced the cold wind and began cursing Jiang Jiang Mingyu loudly.

Thousands of words boiled down to one: "Surnamed Jiang, hurry up and attack the city; regardless of who wins or loses, let's have a quick end."

But Jiang Jiang Mingyu's reaction was simply no reaction.

Seeing Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian so angry he was almost smoking, and the Other Xi Xia soldiers on the city walls even more listless, Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled at Lu Yi.

"The time is about right; let's begin now."

Lu Yi sensed the wind direction, then revealed an even brighter smile.

"Meal time! Meal time!" Lu Yi waved excitedly to the soldiers, signaling them to quickly pick up their bowls and chopsticks.

Immediately, steaming chunks of meat from more than a dozen large pots were placed on the camp grounds; the soldiers' eyes lit up one by one, and they eagerly gathered around.

"Come, come, little ones! All hands on deck! This pork is the special black pig from our One Da Jiang imperial palace; the meat is very tender! Eat more!" Lu Yi, while giving orders, picked up a piece of fragrant roasted pork and shoved it into his own mouth. Then he turned his head and flashed a happy smile at Jiang Jiang Mingyu:

"Your Majesty's tactic is well used! In this weather, in our southwestern barbarian tribes, there is an old saying: 'Winter wind whistles, freezing people to shivers; the scent of roasted meat warms the heart.' Look at these Other Xi Xia soldiers; they won't survive tonight; by tomorrow morning, someone will freeze to death or surrender!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily to the sky, summoned the little eunuch behind him, and signaled him to take some roasted meat so he could gnaw on a couple of pieces.

Meanwhile, on the Other Xi Xia city walls, Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian pounded his chest hard, his body trembling slightly. Staring at the Jiang Jiang Mingyu army below, intoxicated by the delicious roasted meat, he ground his teeth in hatred, the veins on his forehead throbbed again and again, and his fists clenched tightly.

"Damn Jiang Jiang Mingyu, is he trying to force our entire army to starve to death and surrender? Damn it, simply too damn!" Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian shouted in hatred at the confidant beside him.

Just then, a small soldier covered in scars by the city wall could no longer bear it and roared softly: "Your Majesty! Even if I die, I must fight these southern barbarians to the death! We can't wait any longer! If we don't go out and capture the enemy leader, our army's morale will collapse!"

"The small soldier speaks reason!" "Exactly, exactly! Everyone can't endure it anymore! Let's fight the decisive battle quickly!" The various generals on the city walls also chimed in one after another.

Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian flew into a rage, shouting loudly: "Silence! I will endure and wait for Zhang Zhang Jiaqi's arrival! Don't you see Jiang Jiang Mingyu came prepared, waiting for us to lose our reason and send out troops? His five hundred thousand army is not just to scare us!"

However, the generals had already lost all reason; each with bloodshot eyes, they were roaring and urging an attack.

At the same time, inside the city, every household of the common people fell into unprecedented panic. Some women clutched their heads and wept, old men slumped helplessly on the ground, and children hid in their parents' arms, shivering.

"Mother, what do we do? If the Great King and the others all die out, won't we common people fall into the hands of the southern barbarians to be slaughtered at will?" A wretched, impoverished commoner, holding his thin mother, wept loudly.

"My son... Mother doesn't know what to do either... We grass-root common people, where can we escape the slaughter and war..." The mother, tears streaming, shivered.

The stove fire burned vigorously, and the rising scent quickly drifted to the position where the Other Xi Xia soldiers guarded the city walls. Smelling the fragrance, some Other Xi Xia soldiers swallowed their saliva, some stomachs made "gugu" sounds, and their faces were full of longing.

"My heavens, this scent is too unfair... I haven't eaten in three days..." a young soldier murmured.

"Shut up!" A middle-aged officer beside him shouted sternly, "This is a matter of life and death; are you still thinking about filling your stomach? Shameless wretch!"

The young soldier was startled, blushed, and lowered his head. Although the other soldiers dared not speak on their faces, they were also shouting in their hearts. The scent of the One Da Jiang soldiers cooking fragrant meals outside the city was simply trampling on their remaining dignity.

At this moment, the Other Xi Xia King, Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian, strode over and shouted angrily down: "Release arrows! Shoot all those cooking southern barbarians to death; leave not a single one!"

The soldiers looked at each other, none daring to act immediately. The middle-aged officer approached a soldier and shouted sternly: "Why not release arrows quickly? This is the King's order!"

That soldier, with trembling hands, picked up an arrow and placed it on the bowstring. He strained to draw the long bow, but the arrow fell weakly halfway. Other soldiers also tried to draw their bows, but all the arrows missed, falling below the city walls.

"Hahaha!" Lu Yi, seeing this scene, laughed loudly, "Can't hit, can you? Your Highness, are you angry?"

"Go to hell!" Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian wished he could chop him with a single sword stroke, "Southern barbarian, you are too arrogant!"

"Come, come, Your Highness, do not be angry." Lu Yi waved his hand to interrupt him and, on his own, began directing his subordinates, "Keep the fire burning; when the meat is roasted, let the brothers eat! Just don't let these Other Xi Xia dogs starve."

With his shout, the north wind howled, but for the One Da Jiang soldiers wearing thick wool coats and fur-lined gloves, it was utterly harmless. Meanwhile, the Other Xi Xia soldiers were so cold their teeth chattered, and besides being hungry, they had to endure the severe cold.

Soon, the meat in the pots was cooked; the One Da Jiang soldiers started using their chopsticks, making exaggerated "chomp chomp" sounds.

"Yo-ho, so delicious!" A soldier chewed vigorously and praised.

"Damn, it simply melts in the mouth!" Another soldier made exaggerated faces, "Old buddy, scoop another big bowl for me!"

"Thanks to the Other Xi Xia brothers!" A soldier wiped his greasy mouth and waved to the city walls, "If not for you, how could we eat so happily!"

The Other Xi Xia soldiers on the city walls had eyes that almost fell off into the city below; saliva couldn't help but drip out. One of them, unable to endure any longer, whispered to the person beside him: "I can't hold back anymore! Whatever the consequences, I'm going down to grab some meat!"

"You dare!" Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian shouted angrily, drawing his sword and tensing his bow against him. That person, frightened, shrank back his neck and could only continue to stare longingly.

At this moment, Lu Yi shouted loudly: "Everyone on the city walls, why not come down and taste some fresh? This big pot is enough for all of us to eat!"

At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu walked over leisurely, waved his wide sleeve, and said: "Come, serve me a bowl as well!"

"Your subject is here!" Several attendants immediately came over carrying large bowls. Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a bite and praised endlessly: "Delicious! Issue the command: tonight, give the soldiers an extra meal!"

"Long live! Long live! Long live!" The soldiers below the city cheered and leaped with joy upon hearing the order.

"Everyone!" At this moment, Lu Yi shouted up to the city wall, "Brothers above, why not come down and have a bite together?"

No sooner had he spoken than he began to devour his food with loud "chomp, chomp" sounds. The aroma teased the Xi Xia soldiers on the wall until they could bear it no longer; they looked at each other, weighing whether to risk coming out of the city.

At this moment, Tuoba Tuoba Jiqian struggled to prop himself up, his face contorted in fury: "Southern barbarian! You are too audacious! I will never forgive..."

Before he could finish, his body swayed, and he crashed heavily to the ground, fainting. The Xi Xia soldiers and officers stared at one another in shock.

"This... what is happening?" someone whispered.

"The food in the city is nearly gone; we have been starving for a long time. But they..." Another soldier looked down at the joyful scene below the wall.

"Yes... we are trapped here, while they have delicious food and fine wine..."

"Perhaps... perhaps we should not hold our ground here. The new king below does not seem cruel; surrendering might be an opportunity..." The soldiers began to whisper among themselves.

"Who dares to harbor disloyal thoughts!" The middle-aged officer shot a sharp glance around, "I will report this matter to the King today! You beasts, do you not know the fate of treason and colluding with the enemy?"

The soldiers fell silent, exchanging helpless glances. At this very moment, doubt had already taken root deep within their hearts...