Chapter 345: Welcome and Trap

Jiang Jiang Mingyu led tens of thousands of troops across the endless wilderness and finally arrived outside Xiangcheng.

He looked up and saw that the scene before him was vastly different from his last visit. The once desolate plains had now become a sea of green fields, planted with wheat, corn, cotton, and other crops.

The people of Other Xi Xia were working diligently, their faces beaming with happiness and serenity. They were full of hope for the future, grateful for Jiang Jiang Mingyu's benevolence which had brought them the hope of survival.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt a quiet satisfaction in his heart as his gaze swept over the banners of his army, upon which the two characters "One Da Jiang" were written.

He had not massacred the city, nor plundered, nor enslaved; instead, he had granted the people of Other Xi Xia freedom and dignity, making them subjects of One Da Jiang to enjoy its civilization and prosperity. He had also dispatched numerous officials and soldiers to help the people of Other Xi Xia rebuild their homes, reclaim land, construct water conservancy projects, develop the economy, and improve their lives. He had formulated a series of laws and policies to protect the rights of the people of Other Xi Xia, punish corruption and violence, and maintain social order and peace. He had done all this for one purpose: to make the people of Other Xi Xia happy.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's reputation had long spread to every corner of Other Xi Xia, and his arrival was undoubtedly a grand event for its people. As he entered the city, he was warmly welcomed by the populace, who knelt in gratitude and cheered for his coming. They offered flowers, fruits, silk, and other tribute to express their respect and devotion. Jiang Jiang Mingyu accepted each offering one by one, responding with a smile; his expression was gentle and kind, without a trace of arrogance or pride.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu entered the city, the cries of "Long live!" from the people still echoing behind him.

Tu Tu Kesiluo said to Jiang Jiang Mingyu, "Big Brother, what I said before was perhaps overly cautious. Now it seems you are truly the lucky star of the people of Other Xi Xia; your benevolence and prestige have taken deep root in their hearts, and your fame and achievements have shaken the world. You previously worried that the people of Other Xi Xia might harbor thoughts of rebellion, but now it seems that was unnecessary concern. The people of Other Xi Xia are already convinced and loyal, with no possibility of rebellion left."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head, smiling as he spoke, "Tu Tu Kesiluo, you are too optimistic. Although the people of Other Xi Xia outwardly express gratitude to me, deep in their hearts they still cling to the Other Xi Xia dynasty and resist One Da Jiang. They are only temporarily well-behaved because I have given them sufficient benefits; once an opportunity arises, they will still rise up and rebel. I do not seek to kill their hearts, but to win them over. I want them to truly identify with One Da Jiang, truly love One Da Jiang, and truly remain loyal to One Da Jiang. This is a difficult task requiring time and patience; it cannot be rushed, nor can one take it lightly."

Hearing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's words, Tu Tu Kesiluo lowered his head in thought. He found Jiang Jiang Mingyu's words reasonable and knew that in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart lay higher vision and ambition; he not only wished to unify Other Xi Xia but also to unify the entire world and establish an eternal One Da Jiang Empire. His admiration and trust in Jiang Jiang Mingyu deepened further, and he resolved to follow Jiang Jiang Mingyu in achieving this great goal together.

Not long after, an old farmer suddenly rushed out from the roadside, blocking Jiang Jiang Mingyu's path. Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately became alert, drew his long sword, and shouted loudly, "Who goes there? Men, seize him!" Suspecting the old farmer was an assassin, he had to proceed with caution. The old farmer was pinned to the ground by soldiers, struggling desperately and crying out his innocence. Just as Tu Tu Kesiluo was about to order his execution, Jiang Jiang Mingyu suddenly said, "Stop!" Tu Tu Kesiluo quickly replied, "Big Brother, this person's origins are unknown; what if he is an assassin..." Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned and cut him off.

"Does he look like an assassin to you? Do not be rude; order the soldiers to release him immediately." Tu Tu Kesiluo examined the old farmer closely and indeed found he did not resemble an assassin, so he ordered the soldiers to search him and then let him go.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu dismounted and walked to the old farmer, asking, "Elder, you are frightened. I do not know why you have blocked my army." Jiang Jiang Mingyu had once suffered greatly in Shangmu and always held a special affection for these common people at the bottom of society.

The old farmer, panting from fear, knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, this old man is an ordinary citizen of Other Xi Xia. Only out of gratitude for Your Majesty's grace did I dare to presumptuously block your carriage. I have no other intention; I simply wish to offer Your Majesty a bowl of water to express my feelings." The old farmer looked very simple, his face lined with wrinkles and still showing the terror from moments before.

He did not even know that before Your Majesty, he should refer to himself as a humble subject.

He only knew that the fluttering dragon flag represented Your Majesty's majesty.

As he spoke, the old farmer pointed to the field behind him, and Jiang Jiang Mingyu saw a coarse earthenware water jar.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu also noticed that the fields here were vast, yet only the old farmer was working. It must have been lunchtime, when everyone else had gone home, leaving only this old man to tend his crops. Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled and said, "I am indeed thirsty; thank you, Elder." With that, he sat on the ground, looking approachable and kind.

The old farmer smiled and hurried over, carrying the water jar and a large bowl to Jiang Jiang Mingyu's presence.

Just as he was about to pour the water, Tu Tu Kesiluo suddenly interrupted, "Wait." He took a silver needle from his robe, swiftly inserted it into the jar. Seeing the needle did not change color, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The old man still looked honest and seemed unaware of why the young man had done this. However, he did not probe deeper but handed Jiang Jiang Mingyu a bowl of cool boiled water.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu took the bowl and held it with both hands. "Your Majesty, thank you for finding a way of survival for the people of Other Xi Xia; from now on, we need not worry about starving in winter." The old man said humbly, "My family is poor; this is all I have, a bowl of clear water. Please taste it."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled, accepted the large bowl to show his gratitude, and was about to bring it to his lips when the warhorse beside him suddenly let out a loud neigh.

This sudden neigh startled Jiang Jiang Mingyu, causing him to immediately spill the clear water from the bowl onto the ground. Just as he felt a bit embarrassed and prepared to pour another bowl, Tu Tu Kesiluo had already fiercely kicked the old farmer.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu angrily said, "Tu Tu Kesiluo, have you gone mad? What kind of behavior is this?" As the Emperor of One Da Jiang, bullying an old farmer in the wild, if it became known, would undermine imperial authority.

However, Tu Tu Kesiluo seemed utterly indifferent to his anger; first, he ordered the soldiers to seize the old farmer, then he met Jiang Jiang Mingyu's displeased gaze. "Big Brother, look."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu followed his finger and froze. The water spilled on the ground had produced black bubbles, clearly indicating it contained deadly poison.

His back was instantly soaked with cold sweat, and his tongue began to tangle. "This..." Clearly, Tu Tu Kesiluo had just tested it; where did this lethal poison come from?

If the mount had not neighed suddenly, he would already be a corpse by now. The old farmer was pinned down again by soldiers. Tu Tu Kesiluo, with a cold face, suddenly mentioned a distant name. "Big Brother, do you remember Xing Xing Youli?"

"What, Xing Xing Youli?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu paused, immediately understanding Tu Tu Kesiluo's intention. "You mean this poison is the same as the one Xing Xing Youli used that day; both are mixed poisons?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo nodded grimly. "I guess correctly; the clear water itself is not poisonous, nor is the large bowl."

"But when the two are combined, they become a deadly poison. Old man, am I right?" His gaze, sharp as a blade, fixed tightly on the old farmer's eyes.

The old farmer squinted his dim eyes, struggled slightly, then angrily cursed, "You have some knowledge; you are right, this is a mixed poison."

"Pity that beast, I don't know what happened, suddenly neighing at the most critical moment."

"Otherwise, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, you would already be in our hands." As he spoke, he glared fiercely at the warhorse that had saved Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

However, a storm of shock surged in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart. Who exactly was this old farmer, so determined to put him to death?