Chapter 350: Battle for Guizhou

Inside the gorge, sheer cliffs rose on both sides, their tops crowned with starless beeches and redwoods; dense conifer branches blanketed the mid-slope in mottled shadows. Through the thick foliage, occasional waterfalls plunged straight down, their roaring currents slamming against jutting rocks and spraying mist everywhere.

The gorge floor was littered with scattered stones, and the towering cliffs on either side sealed it off completely. At noon, sunlight refracted within the gorge, forming only a faint glow, leaving many corners shrouded in shadow. A faint dampness hung in the air, mingled with the scent of moss and rotting leaves.

It was peak summer, yet the gorge felt no heat. Occasional breezes rustled through the treetops, stirring a low, wave-like whisper, but could not dispel the chill in the air. This silent gorge seemed utterly cut off from the world...

The messenger appeared not to notice Li Goudan’s terror, continuing to speak slowly and deliberately.

“Correct—it’s an ambush. Knowing you were coming to rescue Guizhou, my Southern Frontier army has been waiting long enough.”

Before his words had even faded, black masses of Southern Frontier soldiers appeared on the cliffs to both sides and ahead, bows drawn and arrows nocked.

From their numbers, they numbered roughly twenty thousand.

In the center of the ambush stood a Southern Frontier officer, his face sullen and his frame slight.

At this moment, he was smirking at the prey before him, fully prepared to strike.

Jiang Mingyu scanned the Southern Frontier troops around him and raised an eyebrow. “A mere few ten thousand? You dare challenge my two hundred thousand?”

The messenger sneered. “Hah! What of your two hundred thousand? I anticipated you’d lead heavy forces to rescue Guizhou, so I deployed dozens of thousands to feign retreat, hiding in ambush, waiting only for you to fall into the trap—then annihilate you all!”

Li Goudan roared, “How dare a mere messenger speak so arrogantly! Do you think I won’t cut off your dog’s head right now?” He drew his waist blade and advanced step by step toward the messenger.

The messenger showed no fear, laughing uproariously. “Come, come! Kill me—what then? I’ve earned great merit for the Southern Frontier. If the Southern Frontier King learns I’ve been slain, he’ll slaughter your entire two hundred thousand without mercy! Men! Kill this insolent fool!”

Seeing the glinting arrowheads, Li Goudan—who should have been terrified—smiled calmly.

He spoke to the messenger.

“The emissary your side sent out is already dead, isn’t he?”

The messenger blinked, his eyes brimming with mockery.

“You’re right. That fool barely reached the gates of Guizhou before we captured him.”

“Had he not been captured, I wouldn’t be standing here before you now, would I?”

“Jiang Mingyu thinks himself clever, still trying to rescue Guizhou. How’s that working out for him? Now think—who will save you?”

Li Goudan fell silent for a moment, then a faint smile reappeared on his rugged face.

“You used him to exchange for our emissary, then spread false intelligence to lure our army into attacking Guizhou. Cleverly calculated.”

“But do you really believe these few troops can wipe out my Great Jiang’s two hundred thousand?”

The messenger laughed—wildly.

“True, you’re numerous. But my Li Duke, look at the terrain here.”

“Even if you had a million men, you couldn’t deploy them.”

“So today, your fate is one: death. Total annihilation.”

As he spoke, his excitement grew even wilder.

The Southern Frontier messenger’s eyes gleamed as he shrieked with maniacal laughter: “Hah! Jiang Mingyu, you think yourself invincible, still dreaming of seizing Southern Frontier lands, forcing us to kneel before you! Today, I’ll show you—defeating the Southern Frontier isn’t so easy!”

Jiang Mingyu replied calmly, “Oh? You’re just a lowly soldier—how dare you threaten me?”

The messenger barked, “Lowly soldier? I command the Southern Frontier’s elite under the King’s orders, lying in ambush here solely to kill you, arrogant fool!”

As he finished, countless Southern Frontier soldiers surged from both slopes, arrows in hand, surrounding the entire army.

Seeing the messenger had lost all reason and treated him with utter contempt, Li Goudan hesitated whether to strike—when Jiang Mingyu suddenly spoke, his tone as calm as ever: “Hah, I underestimated you. You uncovered our plan to rescue Guizhou, set this ambush, and sought to annihilate my army. Your scheme is indeed impressive.”

The messenger beamed, laughing again. “Jiang Mingyu, our strength disparity is now clear. My tens of thousands of elite troops, plus the dozens of thousands encircling the city—your two hundred thousand are nothing against my army. Victory is already decided!”

“Jiang Mingyu, you only won because you got lucky—destroying the Da Feng and Xi Xia! Today, I’ve laid this ambush to show you true military strategy! My ten thousand Southern Frontier warriors surround you, while the fifty thousand in Guizhou can break out at any moment to cut off your retreat—what divine power can save you now?”

Jiang Mingyu replied slowly, “Oh? You say Guizhou still has fifty thousand troops? That’s wonderful news—I’ve been hoping they’d appear soon. Once they do, I’ll easily sweep away these flies.”

The messenger flew into rage, pointing at Jiang Mingyu’s nose. “Jiang Mingyu, you’re ungrateful! I’m sparing you—offer surrender, become my Southern Frontier slaves, and you might yet live! Yet you dare defy me? One order, and I’ll slaughter you all!”

Li Goudan’s fury surged—he drew his blade and stepped closer. “You traitor dare speak so boldly? I’ll show you what’s worse than death!”

The messenger laughed. “Come, kill me! What then? Your Great Jiang generals are hot-blooded—when you see me dead, your troops will rage, won’t they? Then my Southern Frontier army will strike in the chaos and annihilate you—leave not a single corpse!”

Jiang Mingyu sneered. “You speak of tactics? Let me show you the supreme strategy. Li Goudan—hold!” He stepped aside, looked up, and shouted loudly: “Everyone—reveal yourselves! Give our Southern Frontier friends a surprise!”

Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes, a cold smile curling his lips. “Do you know who the most pitiful person is?”

The messenger stared blankly, shaking his head.

Jiang Mingyu’s gaze turned dark, his voice low: “The most pitiful person is the one who thinks himself clever.”

The messenger’s heart lurched—a chill crept over him. He forced calm, feigning surprise. “General, what do you mean? I don’t understand.”

Jiang Mingyu snorted, refusing to answer directly. “Never mind—you’ll understand soon.”

His gaze fixed on the slope, as if waiting.

At that moment, a sharp whistle pierced the air. The messenger looked up—saw a white streak hurtling toward him.

“Clang—”

The so-called Commander Li’s head fell to the ground, blood spraying everywhere, drenching the messenger’s face.

“No—trapped!” The messenger’s heart turned to ash. He finally understood—Jiang Mingyu had known his identity all along. This was a trap!

“Surround them! Leave none alive!”

Feng Xi’s command rang out. Eighty thousand iron cavalry stomped the earth, charging through like an empty land, swiftly encircling the ten thousand Southern Frontier soldiers on the slope.

“Aaaah—” Piercing screams rose in succession. Before the Southern Frontier soldiers could react, they were slaughtered where they stood.

“Stop!” The messenger cried out in anguish, begging—but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Jiang Mingyu watched him expressionlessly, coldly: “I despise men like you—those who stop at nothing for power and profit.”

At that moment, a Southern Frontier soldier broke through the lines, charging straight at Jiang Mingyu.

“Die!” The soldier roared, raising his blade to strike Jiang Mingyu.

“Watch out!” The messenger cried out instinctively.

“Your Majesty, beware!” Feng Xi leapt forward, placing himself between Jiang Mingyu and the attacker.

The soldier’s long blade hovered mere inches from Feng Xi’s body, about to descend.

Suddenly, a powerful force yanked the soldier from behind, hurling him violently to the ground.

It was Yang Jiu, Jiang Mingyu’s personal guard captain.

“Close call!” Feng Xi exhaled sharply. Jiang Mingyu gave a slight nod and thanked Yang Jiu.

The massacre nearby continued—screams and wails rose in waves.

The iron cavalry soldiers fought with bloodshot eyes—they were Jiang Mingyu’s own elite, personally trained.

And now, any Southern Frontier soldier threatening Jiang Mingyu’s life ignited their murderous rage.

This slaughter was nearly impossible to stop—no matter how the messenger begged.

The messenger knelt, trembling, utterly broken. He finally realized—he was merely a pawn of Mu Feihang. This entire deception was meant to wipe them all out.

Jiang Mingyu looked down at the messenger’s pitiful state, sneering: “Now, do you understand?”

“You’re no ordinary soldier. Speak—who are you?”

The fake messenger didn’t hide it—he sneered. “I’m Gong Guang, deputy commander under Duke Mu.”

“I’m in your hands. Kill me or cut me up—do as you please.”

He thrust his neck forward, ready to die.

Seeing he was a big fish, Jiang Mingyu’s smile brightened.

Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes, studying the kneeling Gong Guang. “Oh? Duke Mu’s trusted talent is this weak? Then victory in Guizhou is certain for my Great Jiang!”

Gong Guang gritted his teeth, his voice fierce: “Jiang Mingyu, you overestimate yourself! My lord has deployed troops and fortified defenses—Guizhou’s walls are impregnable! Ten Jiang Mingyus couldn’t break through!”

“Hah! Talk big!” Li Goudan kicked Gong Guang hard, sending him sprawling—but Jiang Mingyu waved him off. “Wait—keep him alive. We need him to talk.”

Jiang Mingyu kicked aside the corpse beside Gong Guang and smiled. “General Gong, your words are sharp. My army’s advance must have exposed Duke Mu’s weakness. Tell me—how is Guizhou’s defense? How many troops guard it?”

Gong Guang struggled to rise, spat at Jiang Mingyu’s feet: “To hell with you! I’ll die before I betray anything! Kill me now!”

“You bastard Gong Guang—I’ll peel your skin!” Li Goudan roared, stepping forward again—but Jiang Mingyu stopped him.

Jiang Mingyu frowned, glanced at Feng Xi, then turned to Gong Guang. “General Gong, you’re no fool. Let’s make a deal. If you cooperate, you might walk away alive.”

Gong Guang sneered. “Save your breath, Jiang Mingyu! I show no mercy to vermin like you. Come, kill me!”

Jiang Mingyu waved his hand—ten iron cavalry warriors surged forward, surrounding Gong Guang. The lead warrior gripped his arms and twisted—both bones snapped with a crack.

Jiang Mingyu waved his hand, and over a dozen warriors from the Iron Cavalry Unit swiftly surrounded Gong Guang. The lead warrior strained his arms and snapped both of Gong Guang’s arms off outright!

Gong Guang screamed, sweat beading on his brow, teeth clenched, refusing to speak.

“Hmph. Tough bastard. You can take this?” Jiang Mingyu sneered—he knew extracting information from a hardened officer like Gong Guang wouldn’t be easy.

As dusk fell, Jiang Mingyu’s scouts returned, reporting that the city ahead was indeed Guizhou, its civilians under siege by Southern Frontier troops. Jiang Mingyu paused, then ordered Tuxesiluo: “Tell Fu Xingjian—we’ll launch a three-pronged assault tomorrow. We’ll exterminate every last Southern Frontier dog.”

Tuxesiluo departed. Deputy Commander Feng Xi frowned. “Your Majesty, our troops have marched all day—they’re exhausted. Shouldn’t we rest before advancing to rescue Guizhou?” Jiang Mingyu shook his head. “Time is critical. Song An and Fu Xingjian are on the brink! We must strike swiftly. Order all units: march through the night to the eastern outskirts. Attack at dawn!”

The officers bowed and departed to relay orders. Jiang Mingyu stared grimly at the dark wilderness ahead, whispering silently: “Song An, Fu Xingjian—hold on!”

At the fourth watch, the army slipped silently into the woods five li from Guizhou’s eastern gate. Jiang Mingyu’s face was grim as he summoned Tuxesiluo again. “Besides the eastern gate, we face two heavily guarded northern and southern gates, and Duke Mu’s main camp five li away. We must breach the eastern gate immediately, then strike south to link up with Song An and Fu Xingjian—surround and annihilate Mu Feihang with a three-sided assault.”

Tuxesiluo replied solemnly: “Your Majesty, I’m certain the eastern gate’s garrison is light. If we feint at the northern and southern gates to draw their reinforcements, we’ll break in quickly!”

As dawn broke, Jiang Mingyu and Tuxesiluo gave final orders to each unit. Then Li Goudan raised the command flag and shouted: “Iron Cavalry—charge!”

In an instant, eighty thousand sharpened cavalrymen surged forward like arrows loosed from bows, racing toward the eastern gate fortress.

Soon after, just after the hour of Mao.

Seeing the pale-blue smoke arrow streak into the sky, Li Goudan raised his blade and roared.

“Iron Cavalry—kill!”

In an instant, eighty thousand elite cavalrymen charged toward the distant Southern Frontier troops.

The enemy surged like a tidal wave—unprepared, the Southern Frontier soldiers panicked.

One Southern Frontier soldier hadn’t even raised his weapon before Zheng You cleaved him in two with a single stroke.

Mu Feihang’s entire force numbered only one hundred thousand—already reduced by Jiang Mingyu’s strikes, and scattered around Guizhou’s four gates.

And Jiang Mingyu’s Iron Cavalry Camp alone had 80,000 men.

Before the charge of Tukseluo’s three men and the overwhelming numerical disparity, the Southern Border troops blocking the East Gate quickly broke.

As they fled toward the South Gate, Song An inside the city led his 30,000 troops out through the South Gate.

This sudden turn of events filled Mu Feihang, who had long agonized over how to breach the city, with unexpected joy.

Damn it, you finally showed up.

He drew his waist saber and licked his cracked lips.

“Brothers, wipe them out, seize Guizhou—kill!”

Before his men had advanced far, a cannon blast suddenly echoed from far behind his rear line.

Then came Fuxingjian’s gravelly voice.

“Leave not a single one alive.”

Mu Feihang gripped his blade tightly, his lips chapped from prolonged dryness. He stared at the panicked Southern Border troops below, a surge of wild triumph rising in him—this was the taste of victory!

At that moment, a muffled cannon blast came from behind. Mu Feihang’s smile froze on his face; he turned in horror and saw a vast cloud of dust rolling toward him.

“What’s going on? Weren’t Fuxingjian and his men surrounded by our main forces? How could they break out?” Mu Feihang muttered to himself.

At that moment, a soldier clad in iron armor staggered over, his face ashen: “Report, Commander! It’s dire—Jiang Mingyu has arrived with reinforcements for Song An!”

“What? Jiang Mingyu? Impossible!” Mu Feihang’s face paled. “According to plan, Jiang Mingyu’s army should have been lured into a death trap by Gong Guang. Even if not annihilated, they should have been crippled. How could he possibly reach Guizhou with a full force in just three days?”

The soldier’s expression was grim: “Commander, I don’t know how Jiang Mingyu did it. But his army has already reached the city gates and is linking up with Song An!”

Mu Feihang fell silent. He knew the soldier spoke truth. At this moment, speculating on Jiang Mingyu’s movements was meaningless—the priority was to respond correctly, immediately.

“My lord, the situation is dire for us,” said a nearby strategist. “Should we not withdraw temporarily and wait for an opportunity to strike?”

Mu Feihang snorted coldly. “Withdraw? What nonsense! When has Mu Feihang ever fled from a battlefield?”

“Sir, Song An and Jiang Mingyu now combine forces, outnumbering us greatly. And Fuxingjian has broken out of encirclement. The situation is extremely unfavorable!” the strategist pleaded urgently.

“I don’t care! Even if we perish together, I will fight them to the death!” Mu Feihang roared.

The strategist sighed helplessly. He knew further counsel was useless—Mu Feihang was determined to fight to the end.

At that moment, a long howl rose from the city walls: “Mu Feihang, your end has come! Kneel and die!” It was Song An himself, standing atop the walls, roaring at Mu Feihang.

Mu Feihang looked up, his eyes blazing with hatred. “Song An, today I will leave not a single bone of you alive!”