Chapter 372: Subduing Che Gang

Watching Che Gang weep bitterly, Tu Tu Kesiluo felt not a shred of pity. His rough fingers brushed the curved blade at his waist; the scabbard rubbed against his palm with a hissing sound, as if issuing a warning. His cold gaze swept up and down over Che Gang, his face devoid of sympathy, filled only with vigilance and suspicion. Tu Tu Kesiluo tilted his head, his mouth twitching, and lowered his voice to whisper in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's ear.

"Big Brother, there is something hidden in Che Gang's words. Just as we were about to seek a decisive battle with him, his entire family was killed by Wei Wei Yangyao? How could such a coincidence happen?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu ignored Tu Tu Kesiluo's words, merely glancing at him once with a faint look, signaling him to be silent. Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat upright in the foremost seat, his expression solemn, his twin eyes gazing straight ahead at Che Gang's tear-stained face. Torches on the city wall flickered in the night wind; the orange-red firelight reflected on his resolute profile, illuminating every single subtle expression on his face with perfect clarity.

This negotiation concerned the grand strategy; he dared not be negligent in the slightest. Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a deep, cautious breath, his eyes sharp as a hawk's as they fell upon Che Gang, seeming to pierce through to his heart.

"Listen to my sincere advice; you should think clearly before speaking." Jiang Jiang Mingyu's words were calm and composed, as if making a final confirmation of Che Gang's resolve.

Hearing this, Che Gang let out an even more bitter laugh, his voice like a beast's wail. Moonlight, like water, poured over his face, magnifying the pain and despair in his eyes infinitely. He raised his hand and forcefully wiped the tears from his face, his fingernails scraping streaks of blood across his cheeks. Bright red blood beads flowed down his cheeks; tears and blood mingled, appearing especially desolate and tragic.

"Your Majesty, Wei Wei Yangyao, without virtue, killed my entire family. Che Gang cannot share the same sky with him." He gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse, as if in agony. His ten fingers clenched into fists, and in a fit of venting anger, he struck the table with force; the clumsy and heavy wooden table made a "Bang!" sound.

Below the city wall, tens of thousands of Southern Border soldiers fell silent, their burning gazes fixed on the brilliant Ducheng behind Che Gang. The homeland they were about to abandon was, at this very moment, also their salvation. The night wind brushed past; the armor and spears of tens of thousands of men clattered together, emitting a dull wail. A hint of unease and anxiety faintly showed on their faces.

Che Gang clenched his fists tightly; cold sweat wound its way down from his temples. His iron-blue knuckles trembled slightly, as if trying to transfer his hatred into his own palms. "If Your Majesty does not accept me and these tens of thousands of brothers, I will have no choice but to lead the troops to Ge Bao City to seek a life-and-death battle with Wei Wei Yangyao."

Before his words had fully faded, he suddenly drew the military knife at his waist; against the backdrop of the city wall's firelight, it emitted a bone-devouring wail. With extraordinary determination, he chopped off his left little finger in one stroke. A feeling of unbearable pain surged through his palm; fresh blood suddenly splashed out, drenching the ground. Che Gang's ears buzzed with pain, yet the memory of his family's tragic death echoed loudly in his mind. He gritted his teeth and spoke, word by word, with deliberate pauses:

"Your... Your Majesty... can you believe this now?" He panted heavily, his voice hoarse like an old ox pulling a millstone. Blood gushed from the severed finger, dripping onto the table and the ground, splashing out a patch of deep red. "Che Gang swears on the name of his ancestors: if I do not assist Your Majesty in destroying the Southern Border in this life, I swear I will not be human."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu hesitated for a moment, looking at the tens of thousands of Southern Border soldiers behind Che Gang. These people's lives hung in the balance; they held no great hatred for Wei Wei Yangyao, so whether their surrender was sincere was hard to say for certain. Jiang Jiang Mingyu's brows knitted tightly, his heart filled with unease.

Che Gang naturally understood Jiang Jiang Mingyu's hidden concerns. Suppressing the spasms of pain from his severed finger, he forced himself to reply: "Your Majesty, these are all old brothers who have followed me for years in campaigns north and south; they will absolutely not have a second heart."

As he spoke, he turned his head to signal the Southern Border soldiers behind him to nod vigorously. Tens of thousands of soldiers nodded heavily, as if proving their loyalty. Although some soldiers showed hesitation on their faces, they still forced themselves to nod and agree. In the hazy night, it was vaguely visible that they gripped their spears tightly with both hands, as if concealing the panic in their hearts.

Seeing this, Che Gang's heart tightened; he could no longer conceal the anxiety within. He knew that at this moment, he must persuade Jiang Jiang Mingyu, or the consequences would be unimaginable. He suddenly turned to face the tens of thousands of Southern Border soldiers, his voice loud and firm.

"I, Che Gang, today establish a blood oath to ally with One Da Jiang and jointly capture Wei Wei Yangyao!" He raised his right hand, displaying the severed finger to the crowd. "Are you willing to follow me and avenge our families?"

"Willing!" Tens of thousands of people spoke almost in unison; the day-and-night Southern campaigns had seemingly numbed them. Che Gang nodded, pulling a small portrait from his bosom. It was a gentle and lovely young woman holding a well-behaved little boy in her arms.

"This is my wife and child!" Che Gang roared. "They were burned to death by Wei Wei Yangyao alive; not even a complete corpse was left!"

Having said this, he suddenly tore the portrait into shreds. Tens of thousands of soldiers, seeing this, all shivered, as if only now realizing the truth in Che Gang's words. They remained, after all, skeptical, their gazes toward Che Gang becoming even more complex.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly, then turned to look at the tens of thousands of Southern Border soldiers behind Che Gang. He raised his hand and spoke loudly:

"Everyone, tonight we form an alliance to jointly resist Wei Wei Yangyao!"

His words conveyed firmness and confidence, echoing to the clouds. Tens of thousands of Southern Border soldiers, hearing this, were all stunned. Jiang Jiang Mingyu continued:

"I, personally, accept the surrender of Commander Che and all of you. From now on, you shall be a part of One Da Jiang! I will certainly make great use of Commander Che to discuss grand strategies together."

His gaze swept over the crowd, his words carrying weight. The Southern Border soldiers looked at each other, as if confirming the authenticity with one another.

At this moment, sparks flashed in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes; he let out a long sigh and said:

"Everyone, we are all the common people of the world; why must we kill each other? Today, my One Da Jiang can accept your surrender only because the heaven-and-earth-hated Wei Wei Yangyao forced us to do so!"

As soon as his words fell, the huge drum on the city wall suddenly began to beat. Then, three layers of arrows flew out in a stream from the city tower, pointing straight at the sky. Jiang Jiang Mingyu suddenly waved his hand; behind him, tens of thousands of One Da Jiang soldiers likewise raised their long spears and sharp arrows, their shouts shaking the heavens.

Tens of thousands of Southern Border soldiers all shivered; some already showed signs of being moved on their faces. Their customs differed from those of One Da Jiang; they had always valued martial prowess. Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu's majesty at this moment, they could not help but feel admiration in their hearts.

Che Gang naturally understood that this was the turning point. Suppressing his pain, he stepped back two paces and suddenly knelt on one knee. Then he drew the sword at his waist, raised it high above his head, and spoke loudly:

"I wish to follow the Great King and jointly destroy the Southern Border!"

His eyes conveyed firmness; his tone allowed no dispute. This kneeling formally declared his surrender to Jiang Jiang Mingyu. Tens of thousands of Southern Border soldiers immediately erupted into a murmur; some hesitated, some were excited, but most were lost and at a loss. These veteran soldiers were unfamiliar with the strange One Da Jiang; they had only heard rumors about Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

"In that case, please have Commander Che lead the troops into the city."

Before Tu Tu Kesiluo could intervene, the tightly closed city gates, under Jiang Jiang Mingyu's command, opened their embrace to Che Gang and the others.

When the guards on the city wall, obeying Jiang Jiang Mingyu's order, began to slowly withdraw the heavy door bolts, Tu Tu Kesiluo and the other generals held their breath in tension, their gazes fixed intently on the gradually opening city gates. The two heavy city doors slowly swung inward with a creaking sound, like gaping blood-filled maws slowly opening. Behind the doors lay a pitch-black expanse; Che Gang's tall figure could be vaguely seen trembling slightly under the illumination of the firelight.

Armored soldiers entered in a single file; their iron boots struck the stone pavement, producing a neat clicking sound.

When the iron boots struck the stone pavement with the first crisp sound, everyone involuntarily shivered, as if foreshadowing some ominous omen. Soldiers clad in heavy armor passed through the city gates in a single file, like a group of spirits silently invading this peaceful city in the dead of night.

The flickering firelight of the torches illuminated their faces, making them appear alternately bright and dim, rendering them even more mysterious and unsettling. This scene, set against the backdrop of the deep night, appeared all the more fraught with waves, making it impossible to predict the direction of what was to come.

Che Gang, however, made no sudden move. After leading his men into the city, he solemnly presented the tiger tally worn at his waist with both hands, bowed his head to the ground, and prostrated himself completely. This sudden action left both Tu Tu Kesiluo and Jiang Jiang Mingyu stunned.

Tu Tu Kesiluo was completely baffled; he frowned, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, and asked calmly: "Big Brother, what... exactly is going on?" The confusion and incomprehension in his voice were thick and indissoluble.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu made a hand gesture, signaling that this matter would be discussed later, then turned to Che Gang and said solemnly: "Commander Che has abandoned darkness and turned to light; I am very gratified. I have decided to keep your position as Commander unchanged." Having finished, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smile of approval.

"As for the troops under your command, I will unify their deployment in the future; I will certainly not diminish your status as Commander Che." Jiang Jiang Mingyu added calmly, a hint of certainty in his tone.

Hearing this, Che Gang immediately knelt on both knees, prostrated himself completely, and kowtowed to Jiang Jiang Mingyu. His hands clenched tightly into fists, veins bulging; his expression was extremely complex. After a long while, he raised his head, tears glistening in his eyes, and said with a choked voice: "Your Majesty, this humble general served the Southern Border for over ten years, and all I received was the destruction of my family." He spoke with a choked voice, "Today, having surrendered, I am unexpectedly treated with such generosity by Your Majesty; my heart is overwhelmed with excitement. My life belongs solely to Your Majesty." Having finished, his tears burst forth, slowly flowing down his resolute cheeks.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu steadily reached out to help him up, sympathetically patted his shoulder, and his smile became a bit more approachable. "Commander Che's loyalty gratifies me greatly. From now on, we shall be both teacher and friend, working together for great achievements."

"Today, having just surrendered, I am treated with such generosity by Your Majesty; this humble general will certainly honor my ancestors and serve Your Majesty to the death!" Che Gang said firmly, a hint of determination shining in his twin eyes.

Seeing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately stepped forward and helped Che Gang up; his smile became a bit more approachable, and he said faintly: "In that case, I will rely heavily on Commander Che in the future. Come, I will hold a banquet to welcome you."

Tu Tu Kesiluo, standing to the side, felt even more bewildered. Li Goudan and E Bu, upon hearing the news that Che Gang had surrendered without a fight, both widened their eyes, completely at a loss.

Li Goudan frowned his double brows and asked suspiciously and confusedly: "What is wrong with Che Gang? We fought against him for so many years before; he defended like iron. Today, he surrenders without a battle in the morning. What mystery lies within this?"

E Bu also wore a face full of suspicion; the corners of his mouth twitched a few times, and his gaze toward Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Che Gang became a bit more guarded.

Because they found no opportunity, the two had to temporarily suppress their hearts full of questions and stand to the side, waiting to see how things would develop.

Shi Zhuo, the only civil official in the city, seeing this scene, appeared extremely calm and composed, as if he had foreseen the current situation long ago. He nodded slightly, looking at the backs of Jiang Jiang Mingyu and Che Gang as they joked and laughed, a hint of gratified smile appearing on the corners of his mouth.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu happily announced that a banquet would be held today to welcome Che Gang. Upon arriving at the banquet scene, the long table was filled with mountain delicacies and seafood; the wine and dishes were dazzling.

The long rosewood dining table was covered with a snow-white brocade tablecloth, filled with wine cups and goblets of various shapes. Soups, roasted meats, and pastries were dazzling, emitting an enticing aroma. Incense burned in the hall; curling blue smoke drifted lightly like fine gauze.

After everyone took their seats, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face overflowed with a joyful smile. He raised a jade goblet filled with fine wine and spoke loudly: "Today, I have specially arranged this banquet for Commander Che. Seeing that the overall situation has been lost, he surrendered without a fight; I am very gratified. This act avoided more bloodshed and sacrifice. I commend his decision once again." Having finished, he stood up, raised his cup toward Che Gang's direction, and signaled everyone to drink a toast to Commander Che together.

A flush appeared on Che Gang's face; he excitedly stood up, bowed to Jiang Jiang Mingyu, and spoke word by word with fervor: "Your Majesty's deep kindness; this humble general is endlessly grateful! From now on, this humble general vows to dedicate my life to Your Majesty, only to brave fire and water for Your Majesty, dying only after my duty is done!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded slightly, drank the fragrant and rich fine wine in the goblet in one gulp, and could not hide his triumph on his face. During the banquet, although the various generals also raised their cups one by one, they could not hide the doubt flashing in their eyes; their faces also carried a bit of formality and caution. This strange scene filled the banquet hall with an eerie atmosphere of undercurrents surging.

Inside the restaurant, while the wine was flowing and ears were hot, Tu Tu Kesiluo finally found an opportunity to quietly ask Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "Big Brother, what exactly is going on with Commander Che? You wouldn't just believe his surrender, would you?" His brows furrowed slightly, and worry could not be hidden in his tone.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand, smiling mysteriously, as if not intending to answer directly: "Just rest assured; I have my own plans. Commander Che could make this choice; I believe he is a wise person. As for the rest, the truth will naturally come out in time."

After hearing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo was still completely baffled; he could only temporarily suppress his doubts and trust Jiang Jiang Mingyu's judgment. He shifted his position uneasily in his seat, his gaze sweeping the banquet hall; many officials and generals wore expressions of either doubt or surprise on their faces. This extraordinary scene plunged everyone into a fog.

The banquet did not disperse until the third watch. Che Gang, having experienced the pain of his family's extermination, had drunk quite a lot; his face was slightly flushed, and he was already quite drunk, his steps unsteady. Finally, he was directly carried back to sleep by his attendants, who held his arms. Jiang Jiang Mingyu also felt a wave of dizziness; his head felt somewhat muddled. He swayed as he stood up, propped himself against the table for a while, and then prepared to go back to sleep until day and night were confused.

Just at this moment, Tu Tu Kesiluo, with a face full of curiosity, walked over quickly, grabbed Jiang Jiang Mingyu's arm, and asked in a low voice: "Big Brother, why did Che Gang suddenly surrender? What exactly is going on? I really cannot figure it out!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu glanced around four times after hearing this, confirming no suspicious personnel were eavesdropping nearby, then lowered his voice: "Speak quietly! This matter absolutely cannot be spread; not even Dog Dan and Feng Feng Xiwei and the others may be told a single word!" His expression was serious, a stark contrast to his usual leisure.

Tu Tu Kesiluo nodded repeatedly in understanding; he too knew that once Che Gang learned of this, it would inevitably bring disaster upon himself. Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu look left and right, confirming the scene was chaotic and others couldn't make out what they were saying, he then lowered his voice: "Actually, the news of Che Gang's surrender to our army was spread by me through Shi Zhuo."

"What?!" Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes instantly widened, his face filled with shock: "You... spread it? Is this not true?" He could hardly believe his ears, momentarily becoming incoherent. After all, to this day, he had not heard even a whisper about this matter. Thinking of Che Gang's entire family of thirty-two being slaughtered, Tu Tu Kesiluo couldn't help but shiver, murmuring softly: "Heavens, Shi Zhuo is too ruthless."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu saw what he was thinking and hurriedly waved his hand, whispering: "Lower your voice even more! This was his strategy; I had no choice." His expression was serious, a stark contrast to his usual leisure. "Actually, I did not wish to sacrifice the Che Governor's entire family, but with the army's morale wavering, I could only let Shi Zhuo do this."

Tu Tu Kesiluo quickly understood Jiang Jiang Mingyu's difficulty and hurriedly waved his hand: "I understand; you did the right thing. The urgent matter is stabilizing the army's morale. I will absolutely keep my lips sealed and reveal not a single word!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu let out a long breath, his face relaxing slightly. He patted Tu Tu Kesiluo's shoulder heavily, as a sign of approval. Seeing no one around, the two then departed separately, returning to their quarters to rest.

Watching Tu Tu Kesiluo's figure grow distant, Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked up at the bright full moon, a chill rising in his heart. "Now is the prime time for military action; it is time to send troops to Qu Province." He calculated silently in his mind.

The next morning, Jiang Jiang Mingyu arrived at Che Gang's tent, full of spirit. Dense green shade swayed gently in the morning breeze outside the tent, and dew-covered grass spread tenderly underfoot. Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a deep breath of fresh air, pushed aside the tent flap, and stepped inside. He saw that Che Gang, who had been drunk and dazed yesterday, was now fully awake, his spirit vigorous and his countenance radiant. The moment he saw Jiang Jiang Mingyu, he immediately stepped forward to greet him respectfully.

"Your Majesty's arrival at my humble dwelling truly brings honor; you have worked hard. Yesterday, this humble minister lost his composure after drinking; please, Your Majesty, do not hold it against me," Che Gang said with an apologetic expression. Jiang Jiang Mingyu noticed his eyes were exceptionally bright, as if some expectation or determination had ignited within him.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled and waved his hand: "No matter; I drank quite a bit too, and you performed very well. How about we breathe some fresh air on the city wall today?" His tone was relaxed and cheerful, as if last night's banquet had drawn the two closer.

Che Gang immediately nodded in agreement, a hint of surprise and gratitude flashing in his eyes. The two then walked side by side to the city wall. The city guards, seeing them, hurriedly bowed to Jiang Jiang Mingyu. A cool breeze blew on the city wall; Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a deep breath, gazed into the distance, his eyes revealing determination and solemnity.

At this moment, Che Gang, standing beside him, asked: "Your Majesty, when may we send troops to quell the rebellion in the Southern Frontier? This humble minister longs to pacify the Southern Frontier chaos for Your Majesty as soon as possible and avenge my family!" His tone carried a hint of urgency.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned his head, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes; he patted Che Gang's shoulder heavily: "Soon; I have exactly this intention. I deeply understand your feelings; I will let you avenge your family very soon!" Unexpected that Jiang Jiang Mingyu would so directly promise support for his wish, Che Gang was so moved his eyes reddened slightly, thanking him repeatedly.

Seeing Che Gang's fervent appearance, Jiang Jiang Mingyu couldn't help but think: This move indeed worked; Che Gang's trust is fully won. He smiled slightly and continued gently: "The land of the Southern Frontier is vast; completely occupying it is not easy. However, with your joining, our army's chances of victory have greatly increased."

"Yes! Thank Your Majesty for your trust; this humble minister will never fail your mission!" Che Gang immediately cupped his hands and replied, hatred and determination burning in his eyes...

Watching Che Gang's resolute profile, Jiang Jiang Mingyu thought silently: This man, with slight manipulation, can achieve great things. Thinking of himself using strategy to ignite this fierce general's desire for revenge, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt a touch of pride—Che Gang would become a solid force for him to flatten the Southern Frontier!