Chapter 371: Shi Zhuo's Brilliant Plan

Shi Zhuo's arrival made Jiang Jiang Mingyu, who had fallen into difficulty, see the dawn of hope.

Shi Zhuo strode into the military tent with long, swift steps, his posture straight and his expression calm and unhurried. His sturdy frame was wrapped in a wide robe, its sleeves swaying in the wind; his steps were steady and powerful, showing no sign of slackness. The robe, originally pale purple, had faded to gray-white after wind, frost, rain, and snow; its hem and cuffs were slightly worn, yet washed with the traces of time.

"Your Majesty," he called out, his voice low and solid. A hidden concern and anxiety permeated his tone, yet he forced himself not to reveal it fully.

"What is it? What's the matter?" His tone was somewhat rough, like a rusted copper pipe, dry and unpleasant after long disuse. As he spoke, he unconsciously coughed lightly a few times, forcibly suppressing a sob back into his throat. The day's toil had also made his voice somewhat dry and hoarse.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised his head, his heart stirring. The appearance of this strategist before him stirred a rare warmth in his heart. He forced a weary smile, his corners of the mouth stiffly rising; the muscles on his face were slightly stiff from prolonged worry. These past days he had frowned constantly, the wrinkles between his brows deeply set as if carved by a knife.

Shi Zhuo clasped his hands in a bow, his thick eyebrows slightly relaxing, a faint smile lingering at the corners of his lips. He gazed at Jiang Jiang Mingyu with a cautious yet gentle look, as if trying to penetrate the gloom in his heart. "Reporting to Your Majesty," he began, "the benevolent governance has been preliminarily implemented; this humble subject has come specifically to report back." His voice was loud and magnetic, making people feel an urge to follow. His words carried a hint of caution, as if testing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mood.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu casually hummed "mm," as if just going through the motions, paying no further attention. He gazed blankly at Shi Zhuo, his vision passing through him into the void. These past few days he had been immersed in the war at the southwestern border, his mind unable to settle, constantly drifting back to that smoke-filled place, pondering the increasingly thorny Che Gang problem, filled with worry and anxiety in every way.

Shi Zhuo, however, pressed on: "What troubles Your Majesty? This humble subject is willing to share Your Majesty's burdens." He leaned slightly forward, his expression serious, his eyes focused intently on Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu let out a bitter laugh, finally recounting the problem that had been lingering in his heart but for which he could find no solution, word for word. His speech was slow, pausing occasionally, as if searching for the right words.

Helplessness and exhaustion overflowed between his brows; his lips were tightly pressed, as if enduring something. When speaking of the war that had reached a stalemate, he couldn't help but sigh heavily, his eyes bloodshot, his appearance even more haggard.

After listening to his account, Shi Zhuo smiled calmly, a hint of cunning flashing in his light-colored eyes. "Your Majesty, forgive this humble subject for speaking bluntly; this matter is extremely easy." He declared confidently, his tone carrying a hint of ease.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu widened his eyes, staring at him, momentarily unable to believe it.

"Are you saying you have a way to solve this trouble with Che Gang?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu's brow twitched; instantly his spirit was revived. He leaned forward, his eyes shining with light, his tone becoming brighter.

His tightly furrowed brows also relaxed; his whole face seemed to have grown younger by several years. Seeing Shi Zhuo nod decisively, he became even more excited, asking repeatedly: "What good idea do you have? Speak quickly!" Before his words had even finished, he grabbed Shi Zhuo's sleeve and impatiently pulled him to the front.

Shi Zhuo chuckled lightly, letting Jiang Jiang Mingyu pull him closer. He stood only one chi away from Jiang Jiang Mingyu; both their breaths were clearly audible. His long eyelashes trembled gently with each blink, a cunning smile lingering at the corners of his lips, like a crafty old fox. "Your Majesty, what this humble subject means is..." he whispered, briefly outlining his strategy, the smile at the corners of his lips growing deeper.

Having spoken, he straightened his back, his light-colored eyes gazing directly at Jiang Jiang Mingyu. "Your Majesty, what do you think?" He assumed an air of deep scheming, his voice calm and steady, seeming very confident in his idea. His left hand gently stroked his beard, in full sage mode.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment, then nodded with a ruddy complexion. "Good, well said, let it be done thus." He praised with satisfaction, his voice carrying an unmistakable joy. He stood up, grabbed Shi Zhuo's hand in one grasp, his eyes flashing with excited light; he seemed to have grown ten years younger. "If everything develops according to your expectations and this trouble is thoroughly resolved, you will be the greatest merit-maker of this battle." He said solemnly, his tone brimming with enthusiasm and expectation.

"There is no time to lose; go prepare, and immediately order someone to set out." Seeing Shi Zhuo bow and agree, he added another sentence: "I am dying of anxiety; we must hurry!" He strode to the military tent's entrance and ordered the guards to prepare fast horses and travel bags. Shi Zhuo followed; he adjusted his robe, calmed his slightly agitated mind, and a faint smile still lingered at the corners of his lips.

A smile of triumph lingered at the corners of Shi Zhuo's mouth, yet he felt no excitement in his heart. Watching Jiang Jiang Mingyu's figure stride away swiftly, he turned steadily and also strode out of the hall. The sunlight outside was dazzling, making him squint involuntarily.

In less than the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, a burly soldier carrying a travel bag mounted a fast horse and galloped toward the seaside outside the west gate. His figure quickly vanished into the dust, leaving only the dust kicked up by the horse's hooves dancing in the air. That dust seemed to foreshadow an impending storm of blood and violence, yet it might also bring the dawn of peace. Inside the military tent, Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched his departing figure, the gloom of worry reappearing in his eyes. He sighed lightly, turned, and walked back into the tent with determination, preparing to deploy the next move. This game seemed to have only just begun.

The afterglow of the setting sun streamed through the window lattice into the hall, dyeing these worried faces with a layer of red. Li Goudan was the most restless; his burly frame paced back and forth in the hall, each step heavy and powerful, causing the ground to tremble. His thick brows were deeply furrowed, his eyes showing signs of anxiety. Finally, he punched the table, the loud bang shattering the hall's silence.

"Damn it, where has Che Gang run off to? Big brother, I say we should split up and search; we must drag out that son of a bitch!" Li Goudan's voice thundered, his tone full of anxiety.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head lightly and waved for the generals to sit opposite him. These battle-hardened fierce generals now all wore anxious faces; even Tu Tu Kesiluo, usually imposing and majestic, now had tightly furrowed brows, his fists clenched and resting under his chin, saying not a word.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his wide sleeves and calmly issued orders: "Listen to the command: immediately blockade the official road leading toward Qu Province, strictly preventing Che Gang from sending people to make contact with that side. Tomorrow at dawn, order the scout camp to exit the camp entirely and search the mountains for Che Gang's tracks." His speech was not fast, each word ringing with strength; his eyes were wide open, his tone carrying an unchallengeable majesty.

"Once his location is confirmed, do not startle the snake; I will then send a large army to campaign and exterminate." After hearing this, everyone nodded, yet all felt unwilling—how many years and months would these days drag on? Li Goudan clenched his fists tightly, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, fire burning in his eyes. Tu Tu Kesiluo's black onion-like brows furrowed even tighter, his lips pressed into a line. The other several generals were also burning with anxiety, their expressions solemn.

Five days passed; the scouts ran wildly through the valleys, yet still no news of Che Gang. The weather gradually turned cool; Li Goudan could no longer endure it, punching the table again. Several potted plants in the corner fell with a crash. "Damn it! Where the hell is this bastard hiding? We've turned the mountains upside down; has this wandering soul flown away?" His voice was like thunder, his eyes wide with rage, his thick brows raised, his mouth twisted grotesquely. Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained unmoved; he smiled leisurely: "Rest assured; I expect he will appear very soon." His tone carried complete certainty.

The generals looked at each other, utterly confused. Just then, a whistle sounded outside the door; a soldier ran in in a panic: "Report! A messenger from Qu Province has arrived and is waiting outside!" His voice was full of joy.

"Invite him in." Jiang Jiang Mingyu calmly ordered. Moments later, a man covered in dust knelt before the hall; he presented a sealed letter: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has already learned all the movements of Qu Province; the details are within the letter." The man's voice was hoarse, covered in dust, trembling all over as he knelt on the ground. Jiang Jiang Mingyu took it, skillfully broke the wax seal, and unfolded the letter paper between his fingers. His eyes quickly scanned the text, a smile slowly rising at the corners of his lips.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised his hand to signal the messenger could begin his report. The messenger hurriedly cleared his throat, rubbing his hands together incessantly, as if organizing his thoughts. His speech was not fast; every sentence was spoken cautiously, afraid of saying a single wrong word that might anger the generals.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the defending general of Qu Province is named Du Du Jianmu; he has seventy thousand elite soldiers under his command." As he spoke these words, the messenger's tone clearly grew more nervous.

Upon hearing this, all the generals raised their heads, staring at the messenger. One general with a beard-covered face had his brows tightly furrowed; he said not a word, merely staring fixedly at the messenger, as if trying to see through his thoughts.

"Du Du Jianmu is a close confidant of Wei Wei Yangyao; the southern frontier elite force under his command is far beyond the southern frontier soldiers we have encountered before." When he spoke the two words "elite force," the messenger's shoulders hunched, his voice trembling slightly, as if recalling some terrible past event.

"What elite force or not; this prince fights precisely against these so-called elites." Tu Tu Kesiluo sneered disdainfully, the corners of his mouth slightly turned down, his eyes filled with arrogance.

Seeing this, the messenger hurriedly waved his hands and explained: "Most apologetic; this humble one's words were careless; please forgive Your Majesty."

After speaking, he bowed deeply once more, then continued: "As the defending general of Qu Province, Du Du Jianmu knows Your Majesty's military strategies inside out. Since hearing that our army has marched toward Xiongzhou, he has intensified the training of his soldiers, ensuring the city defenses are leak-proof."

"After his reinforcement, the city walls of Qu Province now reach forty-five zhang in height, with a thickness of about three zhang." As he spoke these words, the messenger unconsciously raised his voice, gesturing with his hands in the air, as if imagining those towering walls.

"Not only that, Du Du Jianmu has also built many archery and crossbow positions on the city walls; arrow slits are densely packed, and the defense is extremely tight." The messenger spoke even more slowly, afraid of missing any single detail.

Upon hearing this, all the generals' faces darkened. Li Goudan, with his beard-covered face, furrowed his brows even tighter, clenching his fist so hard that the veins bulged.

"Even the patrolling soldiers have been increased to twice the original number. It can be said that the defense inside and outside Qu Province is flawless; not to mention a night raid, even a frontal breakthrough would be extremely difficult." As the messenger spoke these final words, his tone revealed anxiety and worry.

"The Noble Consort also specifically warned that Du Du Jianmu is by no means a fish in a pond; may Your Majesty think thrice." The messenger added this sentence solemnly, gazing directly into Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes, as if to ensure he understood the advice.

For a moment, silence reigned within the tent. The generals looked at each other, all pondering countermeasures. Jiang Jiang Mingyu stroked his beard slowly and calmly; his expression was serene, only a fleeting glint in the depths of his eyes revealing his thoughts.

"Interesting," he murmured softly.

Before Jiang Jiang Mingyu could speak, the city gate guards suddenly ran in in a panic.

"Report, report! Che Gang has appeared!" That guard said, gasping for breath.

"What?!" Tu Tu Kesiluo suddenly stood up, a flash of cold light in his eyes. He strode to the guard and grabbed his collar.

"Che Gang? The fellow we've been searching for these many days has finally shown himself?" Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes flashed with fire; he shoved the guard aside and shouted loudly: "I will lead the troops out of the city immediately and swear to behead this sneaky villain!"

Having spoken, he raised his foot to walk out, his face filled with murderous intent. At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, however, slowly waved his hand, a hint of mysterious smile appearing on his face.

"Do not rush; I will go personally to see."

Without waiting for Tu Tu Kesiluo to react, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, accompanied by several guards, walked quickly toward the city gate and soon disappeared around the corner. Tu Tu Kesiluo froze for a second, then hurriedly chased after him.

Meanwhile, Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned back and shouted: "You, quickly return to the main camp and order Li Goudan to prepare to exit the city and engage in battle at any time!" A soldier immediately agreed and ran swiftly toward the military camp.

Moments later, Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Tu Tu Kesiluo arrived at the Xiongzhou city wall. When they clearly saw Che Gang's appearance below the city, both could not help but be stunned—

Che Gang's face was covered in dust, his hair disheveled, his temples streaked with gray. His withered, yellowed face was full of sorrow; his sunken eyes were lifeless and hollow. This was a completely different person from the Che Gang who had been brimming with murderous intent just a few days ago.

Even the tens of thousands of soldiers and horses behind him now hung their heads in dejection, stumbling along, utterly devoid of fighting spirit.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu keenly detected the signs; he curled a meaningful smile and waved to Che Gang: "Commander Che, long time no see. You suddenly visit today; what noble business brings you?" His tone was arrogant and provocative.

Che Gang raised his head to look at the city wall; a flash of anger passed through his eyes for an instant, but quickly extinguished.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu suddenly burst into laughter, his voice carrying far down to the city below: "Commander Che, having such courage to come and deliver yourself to death, do you perhaps wish to attack the city? Feel free to try! We are waiting to see if you can break through the defenses of our hundred-thousand-strong army!"

Having spoken, Jiang Jiang Mingyu glared fiercely at Che Gang once more. Che Gang's face turned gloomy, the veins on his forehead bulging, yet he could do nothing.

Subsequently, a self-mocking bitter smile appeared on Che Gang's face; his withered, yellowed face was full of struggle and pain. After a long while, he finally spoke dryly, his voice low and hoarse:

"Your Majesty, I... I have come to surrender to One Da Jiang..."

Before his words had even finished, Che Gang flipped off his horse and knelt on one knee before Jiang Jiang Mingyu. His hunched body trembled slightly from anger and hatred; his fists were clenched, his fingernails deeply digging into the flesh of his palms.

"What?!" Tu Tu Kesiluo beside him widened his eyes, gaped his mouth, his expression utterly horrified. He simply could not believe his ears; how could a sworn enemy who had been irreconcilable with them just moments ago suddenly surrender? This was simply too unbelievable!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu merely smiled faintly, his demeanor calm and composed, showing no hint of surprise at all. He slowly stroked his beard, regarding Che Gang kneeling on the ground with deep meaning, his gaze sharp as a torch.

"Commandant Che's actions this time are quite abrupt; I wonder how you suddenly came to wish to surrender to our side? With such conduct of yours, this old man truly finds himself somewhat at a loss." His tone held no hint of surprise or doubt at all; instead, it subtly revealed a thread of understanding.

Che Gang looked up at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, a trace of resentment rising in his eyes, his lips trembling slightly from agitation. He breathed deeply several times, seemingly striving to suppress some emotion, his face unable to hide the pain. After a long while, he spoke hoarsely, his voice low:

"Your Majesty, the matter is thus..."

He briefly recounted the ordeal of leading over forty thousand remnants into the deep mountains and old forests after suffering a crushing defeat outside Xiongzhou. To avoid Jiang Jiang Mingyu's pursuit, Che Gang had wandered restlessly in the mountains, living in constant fear day and night, hiding cautiously for several days. Yet he also knew that as military rations gradually dwindled, continuing to huddle like a turtle would only cause the soldiers to starve to death in the cold, damp valleys.

Thus, Che Gang ordered two agile soldiers to mount the two fastest horses with the best stamina and rush a thousand li to Quyang City to seek aid. But when the messengers finally returned to the camp after enduring hardships, they brought back a piece of bad news—rumors claimed Che Gang had already surrendered to One Da Jiang in Xiongzhou; in anger, the city lord of Quyang had ordered the execution of all thirty-two members of Che Gang's family in Gebao City, their heads hung above the city gate for public display!

To verify truth from falsehood, Che Gang dispatched a trusted soldier to Gebao City for an on-site investigation. That soldier, after enduring a thousand hardships, finally returned over ten days later, weeping that indeed thirty-two heads hung on the city wall, dripping blood, their features clear and distinct; it was Che Gang's wife and children, none spared!

When Che Gang heard the terrible news of the thirty-two family members' cruel deaths, he first stood motionless, stiff in place, his face as pale as a ghost. After a long time, he suddenly burst into tears like rain, fell to his knees, and wept bitterly.

"Ah—!" He let out a long, heart-wrenching roar to the sky, his voice hoarse and desperate, utterly tragic. Then he grabbed the long sword beside him and fiercely slashed open his own arm, blood splattering all over the ground.

"Thirty-two souls... my children, my wife..." Che Gang murmured, tears tracing his withered cheeks. He clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, blood dripping to the ground. After a long while, he spoke with hatred: "I will rebel! I will avenge my family!" He suddenly stood up, cold light fierce in his eyes, wishing to instantly kill a thousand li to Quyang City.

His eyes were vacant, the corners of his mouth turned up, as if his mind had already gone mad. Kneeling in the pool of blood, he was deathly pale, like a ghost. After a long while, he grabbed dirt and dust from the ground, scattered it over his own head, and let out a soul-rending wail: "I deserve to die, I deserve to die—!"

"My children, my wife... wait for me, father is coming to keep you company right now!"

The soldiers witnessing this scene were all moved. Some wept, some knelt and prayed; for a moment, wails and prayers rose and fell, filled with extreme grief.

Che Gang finally stood up, covered in blood, his eyes bloodshot, like a demon from hell. He spoke word by word, grinding his teeth: "I will avenge them! I will rebel! I will make Wei Wei Yangyao pay his blood debt with blood!"

Thus, Che Gang led his remnants to the gates of Xiongzhou, determined to surrender to One Da Jiang and turn against Wei Wei Yangyao. As he recounted this matter, his eyes were full of bloodshot veins, his fists clenched tight, his voice desolate yet resolute. The whole person was like a wounded wild beast, burning with the fire of hatred amidst pain.