Chapter 349: Ambush in the Mountains

Soon, his two hundred thousand troops exited the city gate and marched southward.

Yizhou was about two or three days’ march from Guizhou; despite the army’s rapid advance, Jiang Mingyu kept urging them on.

“Faster, faster…”

By his calculations, Mu Feihang had besieged Guizhou for at least half a month; Song An was barely holding on, leaving him no choice but to hurry.

Fortunately, the journey remained calm—they raced all day without incident.

At noon the next day, just as Jiang Mingyu was about to enter Guizhou’s territory, a swift horse galloped toward him.

“Your Majesty! Our army is in dire peril!” A dusty, exhausted messenger staggered before Jiang Mingyu, drenched in sweat and wild-eyed, “Guizhou’s walls are on the verge of collapse! Song An pleads desperately for reinforcements! Mu Feihang is a cunning old fox—he’ll seize Guizhou before your reinforcements arrive!”

“How could the situation have changed so drastically?” Jiang Mingyu’s heart tightened; he asked in a low voice, “Earlier, Mu Feihang merely surrounded the city as a show of force—why has he suddenly launched relentless assaults?”

“Your Majesty, I suspect Mu Feihang has learned of your personal arrival with reinforcements, and now he’s desperate to capture Guizhou before you reach it!” Tukesiluo’s face was grim, his brows knotted.

The messenger quickly added, “Your Highness’s analysis is spot-on! Mu Feihang’s sudden frenzy in attacking is surely to seize Guizhou before your army arrives!”

“Hah! Does he think such a petty trick can deceive me?” Jiang Mingyu laughed aloud, “Within the tent, I hold the reins—how could he possibly succeed?”

“Brother, the situation is critical! Order the army to march immediately to rescue them!” Tukesiluo’s voice betrayed his anxiety.

Jiang Mingyu nodded. “I understand your urgency, but we cannot act rashly. We still have distance to cover—how can we guarantee we’ll arrive in time?”

The messenger spoke up quickly: “Your Majesty, I’ve lived here long enough to know a shortcut straight to Guizhou’s gates! Though the path is rugged, it will greatly shorten our march!”

“Lead the way! Set out at once!” Jiang Mingyu’s eyes lit up.

“Thank you, Your Highness!” The messenger knelt and bowed deeply.

Soon, the two hundred thousand troops, led by the messenger, Jiang Mingyu, and Tukesiluo, raced toward Guizhou under star and moonlight. The army advanced swiftly, dust rising, hooves thundering, aura of slaughter thick in the air.

Tukesiluo periodically rode up beside Jiang Mingyu and whispered, “Brother, have you considered that this might be Mu Feihang’s trap? Can we trust this so-called ‘shortcut’?”

Jiang Mingyu remained calm, speaking lightly, “Why speak such words, brother? I know what I’m doing. Mu Feihang is treacherous, but Guizhou hangs by a thread—we must gamble everything!”

“Your wisdom is unmatched! Please, Your Highness, proceed with utmost caution!” Tukesiluo bowed deeply.

After nearly an hour, the messenger finally pointed to a narrow mountain path. “My lords, we’ll pass through here.”

Tukesiluo’s face darkened. Preoccupied with the crisis at Guizhou’s front, he had no patience to examine the trail; he glared at the messenger, voice sharp: “Enough talk—just move!”

The messenger nodded nervously, afraid of further angering this burly, temperamental Vanguard Commander. He waved his hand, and the two hundred thousand troops began slowly advancing along the muddy, narrow path.

Jiang Mingyu rode atop his horse, seemingly idle as he scanned the surrounding woods, yet his gaze was sharp and deep. Suddenly, he spoke: “Someone, bring me Li Goudan!”

Moments later, Li Goudan, bearded and grimy, strode forward and bowed respectfully. “Your Majesty’s command?”

Jiang Mingyu smiled mysteriously, glanced around, then whispered softly: “Goudan, listen to me…” His voice was low; Li Goudan had to lean close to hear.

After listening, Li Goudan’s eyes widened in shock. Jiang Mingyu continued: “From now on, command of the vanguard is yours. Go, summon Tukesiluo and Feng Xi immediately.”

Li Goudan stood frozen, stunned for a long moment before stammering, “Y-yes, Your Majesty.” At that moment, the messenger approached, puzzled: “Commander Li, what’s going on? Changing commanders mid-march violates military protocol!”

Li Goudan rolled his eyes, impatient: “Mind your own business! This is the Emperor’s brilliant strategy—when did you get the right to speak? I act under royal orders; if you open your mouth again, you’ll face military law!” He sharply tugged the reins, the threat clear.

The messenger turned pale, wisely fell silent, and resumed leading the way—but his mind churned with confusion and suspicion. Why would the Emperor suddenly reassign key commanders? Surely there was a massive secret at play. Could it be… something had already gone wrong in Guizhou?

Meanwhile, Tukesiluo and Feng Xi stared at Jiang Mingyu in disbelief.

“Your Majesty… this… can’t be right?”

It was Feng Xi who spoke, eyes wide as if he’d uncovered some monumental secret.

Jiang Mingyu offered no explanation; he spoke urgently.

“Time is short—there’s no time to explain. Do as I say. Quickly.”

The three exchanged glances, then nodded in unison, each moving to carry out Jiang Mingyu’s orders.

An hour later, the army still surged forward, the endless mountain path ahead making Li Goudan anxious.

He shouted at the messenger.

“How much longer until we reach Guizhou?”

The messenger wiped sweat from his face and pointed ahead to a massive mountain.

“Beyond that mountain lies Guizhou City.”

Li Goudan looked up and indeed saw a towering, perilous peak. After a long pause, he muttered,

“Good. Push harder.”

As the saying goes, mountains deceive horses—it took another full hour before the army reached its base.

Just as Li Goudan prepared to order the troops to climb, the messenger’s face broke into a cryptic smile.

Li Goudan’s eyes flashed.

“Why aren’t you guiding them to find the path? What are you smiling at?”

Guizhou was on the brink of collapse—how could this messenger possibly be smiling?

The messenger seemed oblivious to Li Goudan’s anger, asking calmly,

“Commander Li, why climb the mountain?”

Climb it?

Had it not been for the messenger’s guidance, Li Goudan would have cut him down long ago for his sluggishness.

He felt on the verge of explosion, snapping,

“Besides rescuing Guizhou, what else could it be?”

But the messenger didn’t flinch—he smiled sweetly.

“Commander Li, you’ll never reach Guizhou City in your lifetime.”

Li Goudan’s eyes flickered; he blurted out,

“What do you mean?”

The messenger’s tone remained serene.

“Nothing else—just that this mountain and its surroundings hide tens of thousands of Southern Frontier ambush troops.”

Li Goudan’s eyes widened in utter disbelief, instinctively asking,

“You mean… ambush troops?”

The shock was like discovering this seemingly meek messenger had suddenly turned into a monster.