Chapter 343

Jiang Mingyu stared at the Western Xia imperial palace before him, silent.

A soldier hurried forward and bowed respectfully: “Your Majesty, Tuoba Jiqian and his remaining troops are surrounded within the main hall—nowhere left to flee!”

Jiang Mingyu nodded and strode to the main hall’s entrance. Inside, silence reigned; Tuoba Jiqian sat solemnly upon the dragon throne, surrounded by hundreds of Western Xia warriors, trembling with fear.

Jiang Mingyu looked up at Tuoba Jiqian and sneered: “Prince Tuoba, we meet again. Last time, in the Northern Desert, wasn’t it you who marched your army forward, slaughtered my envoys, and acted with arrogant brutality? Who could have imagined that within mere months, the entire Western Xia realm would fall into my Great Jiang’s hands?”

Tuoba Jiqian sighed with a bitter smile: “Your Majesty Jiang is truly extraordinary—making Western Xia collapse so swiftly leaves me ashamed. Heaven has played its cruel hand; today’s utter defeat, I can only accept my fate.”

“Is that your excuse for losing to me? Heaven’s will?” Jiang Mingyu sneered. “I recall before our last great battle in the Northern Desert, at your own rally, you boasted you would flatten Great Jiang and drive us, mere weeds, forever from this northwest land. Your arrogance then was thunderous, your might awe-inspiring—how is it that now, you’re reduced to such pitiful whining?”

“It’s true. Back then, we were full of confidence, believing heaven and earth favored us. Who could have foreseen that within mere months, the tide would turn so utterly?” Tuoba Jiqian’s face showed no trace of pride—only ashes of despair.

Jiang Mingyu grunted and ordered his men: “Bring forward Tukesiluo. Since this defeated general has lost the will to fight, let him taste the might of Great Jiang’s arrows!”

A sharp crack echoed as a bearded Western Xia warrior suddenly burst from the crowd, roaring: “Stop! Whoever dares lay a hand on our Great Western Xia emperor must first cross over my body!” He raised his blade and charged toward Tukesiluo.

Tukesiluo frowned, his sword flashing once—the warrior’s head flew clean off. Tukesiluo sneered: “Worthless scum of a defeated army, still bold with words?” He whirled and barked at the thousand archers behind him: “Whoever moves again, I’ll have you riddled with arrows—no misses!”

Tens of thousands of arrows instantly locked onto the Western Xia remnants. The warriors, already broken, lost all will to resist and dropped their weapons en masse.

Tuoba Jiqian’s heart was dead. He whispered to his remaining men: “Put down your arms. No more futile resistance.”

Jiang Mingyu stepped into the hall, coldly watching Tuoba Jiqian, calm upon the throne.

“I hear your son, Tuoba Renmei, is still rallying forces outside? I’ve sent troops to crush him—he’ll be captured soon. Then you two can reunite in the underworld, plotting your so-called restoration.”

“My son may have escaped for now, but his heart is set on restoration. One day, you will fall to him,” Tuoba Jiqian replied calmly.

“Ha! Don’t dream. My elite armies span the land, already preparing to invade the Southern Frontier. Your ragged remnants mean nothing,” Jiang Mingyu laughed.

“The Southern Frontier is no trivial matter. Even I, in my prime, suffered repeated defeats—hope you don’t humiliate yourself there.”

“I have my own plans for the Southern Frontier! Tuoba Jiqian, today I sever your ambition and delusions.” Jiang Mingyu gestured to Tukesiluo.

Tukesiluo stepped forward slowly, expressionless, raising his longsword.

“You truly believe killing me today kills Western Xia’s spirit? My people will avenge me—drive out you thieves!”

“Hmph, your people will soon kneel beneath my rule! Tukesiluo—do it!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” A flash of cold light—the blade fell, the head rolled. The court erupted in wails.

Jiang Mingyu stared at Tuoba Jiqian’s severed head and ordered coldly: “Send word to all armies: raze the Western Xia palace! Slaughter the entire imperial clan! Burn every palace and scripture! Whoever delays, face military execution!”

“Understood!” The generals bowed and departed.

Outside the city, cries shook the earth—people wept in unbearable grief; inside, palace maids and eunuchs wept uncontrollably. A chorus of lamentations rang like funeral bells through the entire Western Xia city.

Jiang Mingyu gazed at Tuoba Jiqian’s head and ordered: “Send letters to all armies: raze the Western Xia palace, slaughter the imperial clan. Also, dispatch men to seize all prefectural and county offices—appoint new officials according to our Great Jiang’s system!”

“Understood!” The generals bowed and left.

“Tukesiluo, immediately send men to inventory Western Xia’s population records and treasury accounts. Replace every official with real authority—no slack allowed!” Jiang Mingyu ordered.

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Tukesiluo hurried to the gates of government offices, reading orders aloud and organizing guards to conduct the inventory.

Soon, Western Xia’s officials received new appointments and filed in one by one to begin their new duties...

That night, the newly crowned Western Xia king, Jiang Mingyu, sat upon the high dais of the imperial hall, clad in a golden-threaded dragon-embroidered imperial robe, while civil and military ministers lined both sides. Jiang Mingyu surveyed the hall with calm, piercing eyes, his bearing majestic.

Then, dressed in silver armor, King Tukesiluo stepped forward, knelt, and reported respectfully: “Your Majesty, my troops have completely eradicated the Western Xia imperial faction—no survivors left. We also discovered the former Western Xia emperor, Tuoba Jitian, still alive—but the old fool is addled, mistook us for rescuers and thanked us profusely. We’ve sent him to the afterlife. The Western Xia imperial line is officially extinguished!”

Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly and praised: “Tukesiluo, you’ve contributed the most and earned the highest merit. I know it well. When we conquer the Southern Frontier, you must continue to assist me in completing the great unification!”

Tukesiluo’s eyes gleamed as he replied loudly: “Thank Your Majesty’s grace! I swear to fight for you on every battlefield—never to disgrace your trust!”

Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction, then waved his imperial scepter and ordered the Minister of the Secretariat to bring forth several boxes of treasures: “Bring my stored gold, silver, and jewels—reward the bravest generals who earned the greatest merit!”

The Minister of the Secretariat hurried forward with several boxes of gold and jewels. Jiang Mingyu opened the first box, lifted a golden-threaded python-dragon crown, and said to Tukesiluo: “This golden-threaded python-dragon crown was seized years ago from the Southern Frontier’s royal treasury—once the Southern Frontier king’s imperial heirloom. Today, it goes to the one who earned it most. Tukesiluo, you’ve rendered me great service—I hereby appoint you Grand General Who Pacifies the South. This crown is yours to wear!”

“Immense thanks, Your Majesty!” Tukesiluo accepted the crown with trembling hands, kneeling to bow in gratitude.

Jiang Mingyu bestowed other gold and jewels upon other meritorious generals—the scene was jubilant, all civil and military officers immersed in joy.

“Enough! Tonight, we drink until we collapse—drink the finest Western Xia wine! We’ve finally destroyed Western Xia!” Jiang Mingyu raised his cup. “My loyal ministers, who toiled to build this glory, my trusted confidants who eased my burdens—tonight, drink your fill!”

The civil and military ministers raised their cups in return.

Jiang Mingyu held his cup, lost in thought—he suddenly remembered Liu Yifei, his beloved, far away in the Southern Frontier. How is she now...?