Chapter 343: The Extinction of the Xi Xia Imperial Lineage

Jiang Jiang Mingyu gazed silently at the Xi Xia Imperial Palace before him. Layers of traps lay everywhere, and the bodies of Xi Xia warriors were scattered in every corner; finally, they had fought their way to the main hall of the palace.

A soldier ran over quickly and reported respectfully, "Your Highness, Tu Ke Tuke Siluo and his remaining troops are surrounded inside the main hall; they have nowhere to escape!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded and strode swiftly to the entrance of the main hall. Inside, silence reigned. Tu Ke Tuke Siluo sat on the dragon throne with a solemn expression, surrounded by hundreds of panicked Xi Xia warriors.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised his eyes to look at Tu Ke Tuke Siluo and sneered, "Prince Tu Ke, we meet again. Wasn't it you who pressed your massive army to the borders during the Battle of the Northern Desert, killed our envoys, and acted with arrogant tyranny? Who would have thought that the entire Xi Xia realm would fall into the hands of One Da Jiang in merely a few short months!"

Tu Ke Tuke Siluo let out a bitter sigh with a forced smile, "Your Highness Jiang is indeed a talent; to have defeated Xi Xia so swiftly truly makes me ashamed. Heaven plays tricks on men. Having suffered total defeat today, I can only accept my fate!"

"Is this your explanation for losing to me? The will of Heaven?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered. "I recall that before the great battle in the Northern Desert, at your mobilization assembly, you shouted about flattening One Da Jiang and driving us, mere weeds, out of this northwestern land forever! Your momentum was like a rainbow then, how majestic! Yet today is different from yesterday; all that remains is this pitiful wailing."

"Those words were true. That day, we were indeed confident and proud, believing that both timing and terrain were on our side. Who could have imagined that the situation would reverse so drastically in just a few months!" Tu Ke Tuke Siluo's face showed no trace of arrogance anymore, only a deathly pallor.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu snorted and ordered his men behind him, "Summon Tuke Tuke Siluo forward. Since the defeated general has no heart to continue fighting, let him taste the might of One Da Jiang's bows today!"

With a sharp "Crack!", a Xi Xia warrior with a full beard suddenly burst out from the crowd, roaring, "Stop! Whoever dares touch the Emperor of Great Xi Xia must first step over Hadaer's corpse!" Saying this, he raised his blade and charged at Tu Tu Kesiluo.

Tu Tu Kesiluo frowned, his sword light swirling, and the Xi Xia warrior's head flew off instantly. Tu Tu Kesiluo sneered, "A defeated scoundrel worse than a pig or dog, still daring to be stubborn?" He suddenly turned around and barked at the thousand archers behind him, "If anyone dares to move rashly again, I will immediately order my arrows to fly without missing, shooting them into a sieve!"

Tens of thousands of arrows instantly aimed at the remnants of the Xi Xia army. Those warriors had already lost their fighting spirit; now they completely lost the ability to resist and threw down their weapons in unison.

Tu Ke Tuke Siluo, his heart dead as ash, whispered to his remaining troops beside him, "Put down your weapons! Do not make any more futile resistance."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paced into the hall, looking coldly at Tu Ke Tuke Siluo, who sat calmly on the dragon throne.

"I heard your son Tu Ke Renmei is still outside, trying to rise again? I have sent men to subdue him, and he will be captured alive very soon. By then, you father and son can reunite underground and continue plotting your so-called great cause of restoring the nation." Jiang Jiang Mingyu mocked.

"My son may have escaped for now, but his ambition is to restore the nation. One day, you will fall at his hands." Tu Ke Tuke Siluo replied calmly.

"Haha, stop dreaming. My elite troops are spread across the territory, currently planning the campaign against the Southern Jiang. Mere remnants are not worth fearing." Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily.

"The Southern Jiang is no trivial matter. I too suffered defeat after defeat in my lifetime; I hope you do not lose face there in the future."

"I have my own plans for the Southern Jiang! Tu Ke Tuke Siluo, today I will cut off your ambitions and delusions." Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved at Tu Tu Kesiluo.

Tu Tu Kesiluo stepped forward slowly and raised his long sword with a blank expression.

"Do you truly think that by killing me today, the heart of Xi Xia will die? My people will avenge me and drive you thieves out!" Tu Ke Tuke Siluo's eyes blazed with anger.

"Hmph, your people will soon submit to my rule! Tu Tu Kesiluo, act quickly!"

"As you command." A flash of cold light, the sword fell and the head rolled! The ministers all let out tragic screams.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stared at Tu Ke Tuke Siluo's head and ordered coldly, "Go quickly and inform the various armies to level the Xi Xia Imperial Palace! Slaughter the entire Xi Xia imperial family! Burn the Xi Xia palace archives and classics! Anyone who dares to be even slightly negligent will be dealt with according to military law!"

"Understood!" The various generals received the order and departed one after another.

Outside the city, wailing filled the sky as the common people were in agony; inside the city, palace maids and eunuchs wept until they could not speak. The rising and falling mournful cries echoed through the entire Xi Xia city like a funeral bell.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked at Tu Ke Tuke Siluo's head and said gravely, "Send letters immediately to the various armies to level the Xi Xia Imperial Palace and slaughter the Xi Xia imperial family! Additionally, send people to occupy the offices of the various prefectures and counties, and reappoint officials according to our nation's regulations!"

"Understood!" The various generals received the order and left.

"Tu Tu Kesiluo, you must immediately send people to investigate the household registration and population numbers of this Xi Xia, as well as the financial ledgers of the granaries and treasuries. Replace all officials who hold actual power; there must be no negligence whatsoever!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu ordered.

"As you command!" Tu Tu Kesiluo hurriedly went to read the orders to the people in front of the various government offices and organized the guard soldiers to conduct the investigation.

Soon, the hundred officials within the Wang Cheng of Xi Xia received new appointments and filed into their positions to begin their new work...

That night, the newly ascended King of Xi Xia, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, wearing a golden-threaded cloud-dragon imperial robe, sat high on the platform of the main hall of the Xi Xia Imperial Palace, with civil and military officials lined up on both sides serving him. Jiang Jiang Mingyu calmly scanned the entire scene, his eyes bright as torches, his demeanor extraordinary.

At this moment, Tu Tu Kesiluo, the King of Zhengguo wearing silver armor, stepped forward quickly, knelt on both knees, and reported respectfully, "Reporting to Your Highness, I have led my subordinates and soldiers to thoroughly sweep away the power of the Xi Xia imperial family, leaving nothing out. We also discovered that the old Emperor of Xi Xia, Tu Ke Jitian, was still alive, but that old fool was confused, thinking we had come to save him, and thanked me profusely. He has been sent to the West Heaven by us. The Xi Xia imperial lineage has now been formally severed!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly after hearing this and praised, "Tu Tu Kesiluo, you contributed the most this time and established the highest military merit. Naturally, I am aware of this. After we conquer the lands of the Southern Jiang in the future, I will still need your continued assistance to complete the great cause of unification!"

Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes shone with light, and he responded loudly, "Thank Your Highness for your kindness! I will surely fight on the battlefield for the King and swear never to disgrace your mission!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction, then waved his imperial seal and ordered the Vice Minister of the Secretariat to present several full boxes of treasured rewards, "Come, bring the gold, silver, and jewels from my storage to reward the most brave generals who established the highest merit among the three armies!"

The Vice Minister of the Secretariat hurriedly held up several boxes of gold and silver jewels and presented them forward. Jiang Jiang Mingyu opened the first box of treasures, took out a golden-threaded embroidered python dragon crown, and said to Tu Tu Kesiluo, "This golden-threaded embroidered python dragon crown was looted by me years ago from the treasure vault of the Southern Jiang; it was originally the national treasure of the King of the Southern Jiang. This time, the one with the highest merit shall have it. Tu Tu Kesiluo, you have established great merit for me; today I hereby appoint you as the Great General of Zhengnan, and this crown is bestowed upon you to wear!"

"Thank you very much, Your Highness!" Tu Tu Kesiluo excitedly accepted the crown and knelt on both knees to thank for the grace.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu then bestowed several other pieces of gold and silver jewels upon the other generals who had established merit; the scene was lively, and all civil and military generals were immersed in joy.

"Enough, tonight we shall not return until we are drunk, drinking the fine wine of Xi Xia! We have finally destroyed Xi Xia!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised his cup. "My ministers have worked hard to establish merit; they are my trusted confidants who share my worries and solve my difficulties. Tonight, let us all get drunk and rest!"

The civil and military officials all raised their cups in response.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu held his wine cup and pondered; at this moment, he vaguely thought of Liu Liu Yifei, his beloved who was in the Southern Jiang. Was she doing well now...