Chapter 354

The city gates were tightly closed; the southern frontier soldiers guarding the walls were in chaos. “Commander Zhang is dead—what do we do now?!” cried a soldier in leather armor with a long braid, his voice trembling. Commander Zhang had been the garrison commander here—a man covered in black fur, with a bear-like broad face. “Don’t worry, I’ll go fetch the deputy commander right away.” A tall commandant clapped the soldier on the shoulder and strode swiftly toward the city.

Below the walls, corpses lay scattered everywhere—dozens of southern frontier soldiers’ bodies piled crookedly before the gate. Among them, one corpse, stripped of all flesh, had a spear protruding from its back: it was Commander Zhang’s head. The soldiers on the ramparts turned pale, their hearts filled with terror for Tuxeslu, the war god of the Great Jiang Khanate. Tuxeslu held a massive axe caked in blood, his ink-blue eyes radiating icy killing intent; with a single order, this city would surely fall.

“Hurry and block the gates! Aim your arrows at the enemy below—I’ll protect you!” barked a middle-aged officer clad in silver armor. The soldiers scrambled to obey, though a few still stared in horror at the bloody scene below. “D-Deputy Commander...” a young soldier stammered, “the enemy is too fierce—what should we do?” The officer replied grimly: “Don’t fear. Though Commander Zhang has fallen, we must not betray the years of effort he poured into defending this border city. I will protect this city at all costs!” For a moment, the men seemed to steady themselves.

Meanwhile, Jiang Mingyu and Li Goudan hid behind a broken wall, watching the ramparts. “That middle-aged officer in silver armor seems formidable—is he the deputy commander?” Li Goudan whispered. Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly: “Irrelevant. Watch me slowly break their will. I will take this city—sooner or later.” With that, he drew his waist sword; its blade gleamed with chilling frost.

The corpses on the ground and Zhang Hongzhe’s head made his heart ache as if pierced by knives. Now that Zhang Hongzhe was dead, the responsibility of defending the city fell entirely on his shoulders. He knew clearly: if he showed weakness now, the forty thousand southern frontier defenders inside would be finished. So he forced down his terror and spoke in a low, steady voice:

“Jiang Mingyu, you killed my garrison commander, Zhang Hongzhe—today, I swear to fight you to the death!”

If not for his trembling throat, the words might have carried real menace.

Tuxeslu, Jiang Mingyu’s adjutant, smirked coldly: “What are you, exactly, to speak to His Majesty? You wear a human skin and think you’re human?”

Fan Heng’s temple veins bulged; he nearly fainted from rage: “As a commander, to be mocked and insulted like this—I will not tolerate it!”

Hearing the laughter from below, Fan Heng roared: “And who the hell are you?”

Tuxeslu’s eyes darkened for a moment, yet he still grinned: “Kid, listen to Grandpa—I’m a ten-commander of the Great Jiang, named Tuxeslu. Got it?”

“A ten-commander?” Fan Heng’s temple veins throbbed. “You command ten men? And you dare come to Gancheng to play?”

Tuxeslu replied calmly: “His Majesty said: assign the right person for the job. A lowly ten-commander like me is more than enough for Gancheng. Kid—satisfied with that answer?”

Without waiting for Fan Heng’s reply, he calmly pointed at the ramparts: “Come out—fight me alone!”

Beside him, Li Goudan was about to step forward, but seeing Tuxeslu’s antics, he grinned: “Your Majesty, I didn’t know Tuxeslu was this good with words!”

Before Jiang Mingyu could speak, Fan Heng was about to explode: “I don’t care who you are—I won’t fall for your tricks! Your Great Jiang troops are so mighty, then—attack the city!”

He resolved to hold the city, waiting until Jiang Mingyu’s supplies ran out, then strike back and crush him.

Tuxeslu didn’t care. He chuckled: “Still not coming out?”

Fan Heng sneered: “I mean what I say. Do whatever you want!”

Tuxeslu kept smiling: “You said that—don’t regret it later!”

Fan Heng smirked inwardly: I have my plan—I won’t regret it. But Li Goudan beside him grew uneasy: “The city’s grain stores are sufficient to last six months.”

Tuxeslu gave a slight wave, summoning Li Goudan and Feng Xi. The three exchanged glances, none understanding the sudden gesture. On the ramparts, Fan Heng was equally baffled, eyes locked on Tuxeslu, fearing some underhanded trick.

Tuxeslu spun around, dismounted, and picked up Zhang Hongzhe’s severed head. He raised his head and shouted to Li Goudan and Feng Xi: “Come on—let’s play cuju!”

“Cuju?” The three instantly understood: Tuxeslu meant to kick Zhang Hongzhe’s head like a ball! This was pure provocation, meant to enrage Fan Heng! Jiang Mingyu watched coldly, unsurprised. Fan Heng on the ramparts, however, was furious beyond words—fists clenched so tight his veins bulged.

Tuxeslu kicked Zhang Hongzhe’s head hard—it flew far and landed precisely at Li Goudan’s feet. Li Goudan kicked it smoothly to Feng Xi. Feng Xi tapped it lightly against his knee, controlling force and speed, and sent the “ball” straight back to Tuxeslu.

Just as the head neared Tuxeslu’s feet, he stumbled and fell to the ground! The head rolled with a “gulou” sound, coming to rest behind him. Tuxeslu clutched his waist in agony, looking utterly clumsy.

“Sorry, my hands and feet are too clumsy—I missed the catch,” Tuxeslu muttered sheepishly, glancing at Fan Heng, trying to force a friendly smile. But Fan Heng’s face had turned deathly pale—he glared at Tuxeslu and the others as if he wanted to devour them alive.

“This head’s too slippery—can’t even hold it!” Tuxeslu rose, stomped several times on Zhang Hongzhe’s head in rage, even spat on it. Then he wiped his brow and kicked it again, beginning another round of “cuju...”

This absurd spectacle finally shattered Fan Heng’s sanity. He screamed: “All troops—charge out!” The city gates burst open, and the southern frontier army surged forth in a flood.

The two armies faced each other, bristling with killing intent. Fan Heng’s eyes burned red—he longed to devour Tuxeslu alive. Tuxeslu, however, remained calm, utterly dismissive of Fan Heng.

“Worthless trash! Today, I’ll make you pay with blood!” Fan Heng pointed his sword at Tuxeslu and snarled.

Tuxeslu scoffed: “A mere insect, dare you speak to me?” Then he whispered to his trusted aide: “When I kill this trash, immediately block the southern frontier army’s retreat—don’t let a single one escape back into the city.” The three nodded silently, taking their positions and waiting.

Jiang Mingyu watched from the side, secretly impressed. He smiled: “After all this time training him, Tuxeslu can finally stand on his own.”

No sooner had he spoken than the battle began!

Fan Heng lunged forward, sword aimed straight at Tuxeslu’s vital points. Tuxeslu calmly parried, sneering: “A pathetic worm, thinking you can take my life?” With a swift step, his sword shot out like a venomous snake.

Fan Heng barely blocked it—his arms instantly went numb with pain. He was stunned: this man was no ordinary soldier!

Tuxeslu snorted: “Overreaching fool—die!” Before the words finished, his blade flashed, slicing toward Fan Heng’s neck.

Fan Heng raised his arm to block—it was too late. A soft “chirp” echoed as crimson blood gushed from his carotid artery, splattering the ground.

“N-No... impossible...” Fan Heng clutched his neck desperately, but could not stop the flow of life. His body swayed, then collapsed heavily, gasping his final breath.

Tuxeslu coldly wiped the blood from his blade, then severed Fan Heng’s head and tossed it to his aide: “Go—carry out my order.”

A chorus of “Yes!” rang out. The aides spurred their horses, charging after the fleeing southern frontier troops. The remaining Great Jiang forces surged into the fray, swiftly surrounding the tens of thousands of southern soldiers, slaughtering as they tightened the encirclement...

Before the corpses had even grown cold, Li Goudan raised his blood-smeared greatsword, waving it wildly and roaring: “All troops! Annihilate them all! Crush the southern frontier beasts!”

No sooner had he spoken than, aside from the eighty thousand iron cavalry, the rest of the Great Jiang army howled and charged down the fleeing southern frontier troops’ escape route. Soon, tens of thousands of southern frontier remnants were trapped, helpless.

“Revenge!” Tuxeslu’s eyes burned red, his blade darting unpredictably, striking vital points among the encircled southern soldiers. “Feng Xi—follow me!” Feng Xi gritted his teeth, no longer hesitating—he charged into the enemy ranks with his sword.

Jiang Mingyu sat atop his steed, overlooking the carnage, his gaze as cold as ice. At this moment, he desired only to drink the enemy’s blood, to quench his burning hatred!

Soon, the encirclement became a chorus of dying screams. A cacophony of southern frontier dialects filled the air—but not a single word reached Jiang Mingyu’s heart.

His eyes hardened. He ordered: “Kill them all. Leave no survivors.” The remaining Great Jiang troops, eyes red with bloodlust, slaughtered with even greater frenzy.

Seeing their leaders dead, surrender impossible, several southern frontier commanders bit their lips in fury and launched a final suicidal charge. But they were crushed beneath iron hooves—hope vanished instantly.

When the last southern frontier soldier fell, silence blanketed the battlefield—only the clatter of Great Jiang swords dripping with blood echoed. Li Goudan wiped the dirt and blood from his face, strode forward, and knelt before Jiang Mingyu: “Your Majesty—shall we exterminate the city’s civilians too, to vent our army’s rage?”

Tuxeslu, Feng Xi, and the others stared at Jiang Mingyu, expectant. Thinking of the fallen soldiers, Jiang Mingyu’s heart churned—he longed to level the entire southern frontier to the ground.

But the death sentence Jiang Mingyu was about to issue never left his lips. He exhaled slowly, then said calmly: “No more killing. Our army has avenged its dead. Now, focus on cleaning the battlefield and honoring the fallen.”

Jiang Mingyu’s words stunned Li Goudan and the others. Li Goudan rushed to ask: “Your Majesty, they slaughtered countless of our men—why spare them?”

Jiang Mingyu’s brow darkened slightly. He spoke slowly: “I understand your feelings. If I were guided only by emotion, I’d slaughter every last one of these beasts.”

“But Gancheng is the key to conquering the southern frontier. We’ll need to conscript manpower and resources here in the future. If we kill all the civilians, this becomes an empty city—useless for taxation or conscription.”

The officers nodded in sudden understanding. Jiang Mingyu continued softly:

“Our army must advance deeper into enemy territory. Even Guizhou’s supplies barely suffice. Though the Great Jiang is wealthy, years of war have emptied the treasury. Letting the civilians live is the long-term strategy.”

Tuxeslu, Li Goudan, and the others exchanged glances—each saw resentment in the others’ eyes, yet none could refute Jiang Mingyu’s decision.

Then, from within the city, a baby’s cry rang out—followed by more cries, rising in waves. Everyone’s hearts trembled; they all thought of their own children.

Jiang Mingyu exhaled deeply. He still did not issue the kill order. “Enough. Our army has avenged its dead. Now, focus on securing the aftermath.”

He called Tuxeslu over and ordered: “Take men and assume control of the city’s defenses. Any resistance—kill on sight!” Tuxeslu nodded grimly, still bitter about sparing the civilians.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The officers finally breathed easier, each leading their men to clear the battlefield and settle the civilians. Jiang Mingyu stood alone on high ground, gazing at the fallen soldiers’ bodies, his heart a storm of emotions.

He knew they could not rest—but for the long-term future of the Great Jiang, he must sacrifice the small for the great. By sparing Gancheng’s civilians, perhaps they would understand.

Jiang Mingyu exhaled slowly, murmuring to himself: “Rest in peace, fallen souls. Jiang Mingyu will carry on your unfinished mission—until the Great Jiang’s borders stretch to the ends of the earth!”

Then Jiang Mingyu sent Feng Xi to post notices calming the people, declaring Gancheng now part of the Great Jiang. As long as the civilians remained obedient, they could live in peace. For Jiang Mingyu, this was also a test—if any civilians resisted, he would crush them without mercy.

Watching the two depart, Jiang Mingyu ordered Li Goudan to inventory the city’s grain stores. The army would soon march deep into enemy territory—logistics were vital. He stressed repeatedly: this matter was critical—no room for error.

At this moment, Jiang Mingyu’s deepest concern was Liu Yifei, far away in Jiangzhou. He immediately ordered Feng Xi to dispatch scouts to investigate her condition. Jiang Mingyu’s heart remained tethered to her—he wondered if she was safe.

Tuxeslu stepped forward to comfort him: “Your Majesty, please calm yourself. The Empress is surely unharmed—good fortune protects the virtuous.” Jiang Mingyu forced a faint, hollow smile, his heart still uneasy. He gazed at the sky, sighing softly: “Liu Yifei... I pray you’re safe.”

At this very moment, Jiang Mingyu and Liu Yifei were separated by vast distances, yet both faced the same helplessness and pain—their beloved, their fates unknown, their hearts connected across a thousand miles.

Jiang Mingyu exhaled slowly, walking calmly into the city. He believed: heaven never seals a path—there would come a day when bitterness turned to sweetness, and reunion would be complete.

Jiang Mingyu stood before the Inspector’s mansion, surveying the city he had just seized. An hour had passed since entering. Li Goudan strode over, bowing respectfully:

“Your Majesty, I’ve inventoried the city’s grain stores. There’s barely enough to feed our army for ten days to half a month.”

Jiang Mingyu nodded slightly—he had anticipated the grain shortage. After all, the original garrison had only been fifty thousand, while his own force numbered one hundred seventy thousand.

“Send messengers back to Guizhou immediately. Order Song An to transport grain here without delay—ensure it arrives on time,” Jiang Mingyu commanded grimly.

Li Goudan frowned, his thick eyebrows knotted. Grain was vital to morale—he hated obeying this order.

“Your Majesty, when we first entered the city, we planned to seize civilian grain. Why waste time and resources hauling it from Guizhou by sea and land? Better to take it directly here.”

Jiang Mingyu immediately shook his head, his voice calm and firm: “Not yet. The civilians still fear us. We must slowly win their trust, secure their support. Besides, we’ll soon launch offensives and leave Gancheng. If we provoke the people now, any unrest could be catastrophic.”

Li Goudan paused, understanding Jiang Mingyu’s reasoning. His blunt nature made him say:

“Your Majesty, forgive me for saying this—but you’re too lenient with the people. If it were me, I’d have tortured them into surrendering every grain.”

Jiang Mingyu smiled knowingly, waving his hand: “Enough. Grain affects morale. Go carry out the order—don’t delay.”

Li Goudan grumbled, but knew the bigger picture. Harvest season was near—Jiang Mingyu’s decision was wise. He let out a heavy grunt and turned, stomping off to deliver the orders.

Jiang Mingyu watched Li Goudan’s retreating back, his smile fading. He knew the treasury was empty—supplying grain would be a major challenge. But to stabilize the rear, to be lenient with civilians, to prevent unrest—these were necessary sacrifices.

Jiang Mingyu’s expression grew grave. He understood the weight of strategy far better than Li Goudan’s blunt, crude generals. For the greater victory, Jiang Mingyu would sacrifice his own comfort, endure the people’s resentment.

Jiang Mingyu gazed at Li Goudan’s distant figure, sighing softly. He turned, his eyes returning to the map behind him.

The scouts would return soon. Next came the battle for Jiangzhou. Jiang Mingyu’s mind was already crowded with considerations.

He studied the map carefully: Jiangzhou lay north of the southern frontier, its northern border adjacent to Gancheng, part of the Great Jiang. The southern frontier’s capital, Wangjiang City, lay sixty-seven thousand li away at the southernmost tip.

The southern frontier stretched long and narrow, with narrow east-west width. Its eastern and western borders were bounded by the Starflow and Pingliu Oceans. Whether other civilizations existed beyond those seas—no authoritative texts from the southern frontier or Xixia had ever recorded.

But as a man from the modern world, Jiang Mingyu firmly believed another vast world lay beyond those oceans. Perhaps, once he unified this continent, he would sail out himself—and discover something unimaginable.

Thinking of it, Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly, then shook his head. Urgent matters remained—Jiangzhou’s battle came first.

He studied the map again, his finger tapping Jiangzhou’s location, already planning deployment: securing supply lines, logistical support, coordination among all armies.

Gazing at the map’s intricate terrain, Jiang Mingyu’s expression grew solemn. To capture Jiangzhou—the road ahead was long and treacherous. He must deliberate carefully—no room for error.

Commanding armies and governing a realm—this burden was beyond ordinary comprehension. Yet Jiang Mingyu knew: to realize his ideals, he must take one steady step at a time.

At this moment, the battle for Jiangzhou was his next step.