Chapter 375: A Good Show Begins

The next morning, Jiang Jiang Mingyu and the others set out again, heading straight for Qu Province. At noon, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's vast army finally pressed down from the distance to the walls of Qu Province City. Rolling war drums sounded; ten thousand fierce soldiers halted at the city's outskirts, and a tense atmosphere ready to explode at any moment hung in all four directions.

Tu Tu Kesiluo sat his horse at the very front of the army. He clenched his fist, gripping the long spear in his hand, and shouted: "All generals, listen to orders! The enemy is prepared; take your positions!" The clanging of iron armor rang out from afar and drew near; ten thousand voices responded in unison: "We obey! Your Highness, rest assured!" Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes burned with spirit; even more shocking was the chilling cold light emanating from within his pupils—this was precisely the momentum of the supreme commander, the Storm and Thunder, who had long looked down on all four directions!

It was as if the War God who had campaigned alongside ancient peerless generals in raids against neighboring nations, the desperate men who fought for life and death, and the scheming commander with a mind as sharp as fire, had all gathered within a single body named Tu Tu Kesiluo. This supreme commander, clad in armor and embodying Storm and Thunder, had always acted with overwhelming force, never sparing anyone. Thus, after the campaign against Qu Province, when the Southern Frontier had been forcibly transformed from small city-states into the rolling, surging waves of the empire, hardly a single person in the region did not know the name of the Black-Faced Yama.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu glanced around. On the steep city walls, layer upon layer of Qu Province defenders stood, holding long-handled Fangtian halberds, their bodies entirely wrapped in metal armor. Their impenetrable formation resembled a fortress of evil ghosts, making one dare not underestimate them.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes, focusing intently on the enemy's "Sky-Lock Formation" before him. This was precisely the famous defensive formation that Du Du Jianmu was most skilled at deploying. He could see the cold glint of crescent blades and steel knives reflecting off the city towers, and the green dragon banners hanging high fluttering in the wind; the green dragon and Du Du Jianmu's insignia shone brilliantly together.

Even though he had already estimated Du Du Jianmu's defensive arrangements in his heart, Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained silent in deep thought, quickly shifting his mind to consider strategies. Seeing the Southern Frontier army arrive in a mighty, sweeping force, the Qu Province defenders on the walls also abandoned their usual laxity, returning to a state of elite combat readiness. Fully armed, the defenders stood in perfect order, their morale unusually high.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes immediately turned as cold as ice. He let out a cold snort and swept his gaze toward the wall, seeing everywhere archers holding iron crossbows and quivers, along with catapults for transporting stones. The overall defense was extremely strict. Clearly, this would be a hard battle requiring deep planning and calculation.

At this moment, Tu Tu Kesiluo strode swiftly to stand before Jiang Jiang Mingyu, with Ebu and He Jing following behind. His eyebrows were tightly furrowed, almost knotted together; his face was flushed red, showing extreme displeasure.

"Big Brother, look! This Du Du Jianmu is stubbornly defending the city, treating us as if we don't exist! We are an army of one hundred and ten thousand!" Tu Tu Kesiluo roared fiercely, his voice like a great bell. As he spoke, he angrily raised both fists toward the city wall; his muscles bulged, veins stood out, and his ferocious face twisted and deformed from extreme indignation, looking especially violent and terrifying.

However, Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained calm and composed, letting the wind blow through his jet-black long hair. He looked at Tu Tu Kesiluo with a tranquil gaze: "Do not be impatient. To be like a wolf and a tiger is not your style." His tone was peaceful, like a pool of clear spring water.

"The enemy firmly holding the city only proves my scheme has succeeded. He has fallen into an ambush and is using all his strength to deal with us; the troops remaining in the city should be few." Jiang Jiang Mingyu analyzed calmly, his words conveying absolute certainty, as if he already knew everything clearly in his heart.

Hearing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo suddenly widened his eyes, his chest heaving violently. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped, stunned and speechless. At this moment, seeing the situation, He Jing, in his urgency, quickly stepped forward and grabbed Tu Tu Kesiluo's wrist, fearing he might impulsively provoke the enemy troops inside the city.

At this moment, Ebu cleared his throat and slowly spoke, trying to sort out the thoughts: "Your Majesty, we have surrounded the city on all four sides as you ordered. The defenders inside can only struggle desperately; there is no need to rush the attack now..." He paused for a moment, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, his expression serious yet unable to hide his anxiety.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded calmly: "Correct. Our army has ample grain and fodder; we can fight a war of attrition, exhaust the enemy's supplies, and force Du Du Jianmu to surrender."

"Then, shall we camp here and fight again tomorrow?" Ebu asked urgently.

"Tu Tu Kesiluo, you must calm down and wait quietly for the report of victory. Today the weather is clear; let our army rest for a moment, and we shall fight again tomorrow." Jiang Jiang Mingyu ignored Ebu and spoke directly to Tu Tu Kesiluo. As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his whip and spurred his horse, returning to the main tent with a composed demeanor, letting his robes flutter wildly in the wind.

At this moment, war drums sounded from all directions within the camp. Ten thousand soldiers formed orderly lines across the wilderness, engaging in mock combat exercises against the enemy. Yet Du Du Jianmu still stubbornly defended the city, ignoring the provocations of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's army. The archers inside the city remained seated motionless on the ramparts like mountains; the city gates were closed tight like an iron bucket. However, Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not care; he simply stood calmly at a high vantage point, gazing at the city, his eyes revealing determination and depth, with a faint glimmer of expectation.

Moments later, Jiang Jiang Mingyu walked slowly to the side of Tu Tu Kesiluo and Ebu, gazing at the enemy army stubbornly defending the city.

"It seems Du Du Jianmu has made up his mind to wait for reinforcements before fighting us to the death." Jiang Jiang Mingyu let out a cold sneer, his expression showing no fear whatsoever.

Hearing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo suddenly clenched both hands, his veins bulging, his eyes bloodshot. He flailed his arms and legs, let out a mighty roar, turned around, and was about to spur his horse to charge back to the camp to prepare a counterattack.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu quickly shouted to stop him: "Wait!" Tu Tu Kesiluo barely stopped his steps, his expression agitated and his face full of displeasure, as if he were about to explode at any moment.

At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke calmly, his tone peaceful: "Since the enemy is prepared, I might as well play with them properly." As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his hand and ordered his attendants to ride swiftly on fast horses, carrying the wind, to deliver the new tactical deployments to the various army camps.

It was seen that the army, usually chaotic and disordered, now moved in perfect order according to Jiang Jiang Mingyu's instructions. Everyone wore a serious expression, daring not to be careless even slightly. The morale of all was extremely high, and one could faintly sense suppressed killing intent. The soldiers each gripped their long spears and swords tightly, their eyes revealing eager and expectant glances. The formation spread out in perfect order among the mountains; the iron armor and weapons shimmered with a cold light under the setting sun.

Quickly, the area surrounding Qu Province was tightly surrounded, leaving no escape; the entire city was encircled in the center by the Southern Frontier army, resembling a huge, immense iron bucket. Du Du Jianmu's army was firmly imprisoned within the city, cut off from outside contact. Yet Du Du Jianmu remained completely unmoved. Above the city towers, there was a deathly silence; he ignored the movements of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's vast army. The defenders on the ramparts showed no sign of panic; they simply stood guard and patrolled leisurely, seemingly indifferent to the movements outside.

At this moment, Tu Tu Kesiluo suddenly threw his head back and let out a long, piercing howl; his roar echoed through the clouds: "Du Du Jianmu! Surrender immediately! Your reinforcements cannot possibly arrive in time to save you!" His deep, powerful voice reverberated for more than ten li, demonstrating the ferocious momentum of the moment. Yet there was still no response from the ramparts; the defenders seemed to have already made the most tragic resolve, guarding their posts as if they did not fear death.

At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu walked slowly to Tu Tu Kesiluo's side, patted his shoulder, and spoke calmly: "A-Tu, do not be impatient. My strategy is being implemented; results will come soon. Du Du Jianmu's stubborn defense of this impregnable fortress plays right into our hands. We need only wait patiently." Tu Tu Kesiluo still looked grim, pressing his lips together and saying not a word. Jiang Jiang Mingyu saw this but did not care further; he simply turned his head and let out a light laugh, very composed and unhurried.

Having finished speaking, Jiang Jiang Mingyu ignored the indignant Tu Tu Kesiluo, turned around, and climbed to the peak of the high cliff to gaze into the distance. He raised his head to examine the sky, seeing a crimson sun slowly sinking below the horizon, dyeing the mountains and Qu Province City a brilliant red. Jiang Jiang Mingyu slightly narrowed his eyes; his handsome brows added even more majesty, and his sharp gaze made one shiver with fear.

He carefully examined the defenders on the ramparts, faintly seeing helmeted soldiers patrolling the walls with serious expressions, their steps neat and orderly. Yet even facing the dense clatter of One Da Jiang's army's iron hooves and the noisy bugle calls, there was no sign of chaos within the city. Everything seemed to be under the control of Marshal Jiang Da.

The corners of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a smile of expectation: "The good show is about to begin." He whispered calmly, his voice so light it was barely audible. Then he turned and strode swiftly into the main tent, letting his vermilion cape flutter wildly behind him, appearing even more majestic and extraordinary under the setting sun.

At this moment, Tu Tu Kesiluo, with a face full of murderous rage, paced back and forth in the camp holding a steel knife. Behind him followed He Jing, Ebu, and other generals, each with a solemn expression, making no sound. Everyone was quietly waiting for Jiang Jiang Mingyu's next order; the atmosphere at that moment seemed even more solemn.

Autumn days are short; the sky gradually darkened. When cooking smoke began to rise from Jiang Jiang Mingyu's camp, a soldier, panting heavily, suddenly rushed to his side.

"Your Majesty, there is news."

Saying this, he presented a feathered arrow with a letter tied to it, holding it with both hands and offering it before Jiang Jiang Mingyu. Jiang Jiang Mingyu took the arrow; his slender fingers skillfully untied the letter. His lips, usually pressed tightly together, relaxed slightly; a faint sinister smile curled at the corners of his mouth, and a cunning glint flashed in his eyes.

Moments later, Jiang Jiang Mingyu closed the letter, and a sharp glint flashed in his deep eyes. He spoke calmly: "Very good. Issue orders immediately. Tell Tu Tu Kesiluo, Li Goudan, and others to keep their eyes wide open; the plan is about to begin."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu secretly rejoiced; the waiting and plotting of many days had finally shown hope. He could not wait to see his soldiers charge into the city, burning and plundering. Thinking of soon possessing this wealthy city, Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not help but unfold his brows with a touch of pride.

"Yes!" The soldier respectfully accepted the order and turned to leave.

"Wait." Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised his hand to stop him. He had the soldier come closer and whispered a few instructions in a low voice. The soldier nodded fearfully, bowing and scraping, and immediately trotted away, disappearing outside the tent.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched the soldier leave, then turned around, crossed his arms, and his expression gradually grew severe. He walked slowly to the front of the camp gate and raised his head to gaze at the city tower. He saw night falling, the sky filled with twinkling stars, the moonlight like water, and the distant city tower faintly visible in the silence.

At this moment, the city residents were still completely unaware of the peril they were in. As the night deepened, families prepared for bed, and the number of pedestrians on the roads gradually dwindled. Until half an hour later, a thunderous, earth-shattering boom erupted; sudden flames shot into the sky at the south gate of the city wall, and the sounds of fierce fighting on the city tower rang out especially piercingly in the silent night. The people immediately fell into panic, rushing out of their homes, at a loss.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu keenly caught the sounds of clashing blades and crowd disputes coming from the city tower. He slightly narrowed his eyes, seeing faint figures moving on the tower, as if a fierce battle was taking place. A cold glint flashed in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes; finally, this moment had arrived.

At this moment, the sound of urgent horse hooves came from behind. Tu Tu Kesiluo was seen riding his horse swiftly, with He Jing and others holding weapons following behind.

"Big Brother, shall our army begin the surprise attack?" Tu Tu Kesiluo held a long knife, his excitement barely concealed, his eyes revealing eager longing.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded calmly: "It is time! You immediately lead men to seize the south gate and rendezvous with Li Goudan and the others. During the surprise attack, leave no survivors; finish the battle quickly!"

"Understood!" Tu Tu Kesiluo let out a loud laugh, gripping the long knife tightly, its cold light fierce. He turned his head and shouted loudly; the thousand-plus cavalry, ready for battle, immediately let out roars rising and falling, swarming toward the south city gate to launch a surprise attack.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood far away at a high vantage point, looking down. He saw flames shooting into the sky at the south gate tower, and chaos everywhere. Li Goudan raised a heavy steel hammer high and led his troops into the city. Only the continuous, tragic wails could be heard from within, followed by the booming roar of collapsing buildings. One by one, unarmed residents fled in terror in all directions. But before they could run a few steps, they were cut down by the long knives of Tu Tu Kesiluo and others. Blood quickly flowed like a river on the quiet streets...

Watching all this, the corners of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mouth finally lifted into a smile of victory, and the determination in his eyes grew even stronger. His deep gaze swept over the city of Qu Province under the moon; all four city gates had been breached. The soldiers of One Da Jiang pressed down like Mount Tai, carrying irresistible momentum straight toward Du Du Jianmu's main camp. His soldiers stirred up a storm of blood and slaughter within the city; corpses lay everywhere, and wails filled the land.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu secretly rejoiced in his heart; finally, this great trouble weighing on his mind had been swept away. He raised his head to gaze at the night sky, and a sense of relief rose in his heart. This wealthy city, with its treasure-filled grain and supplies, would finally belong entirely to One Da Jiang! Thinking of soon possessing this immense power, sharp glints shot from Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes, and a satisfied smile, long schemed for, curled at the corners of his mouth.

All of this began with a single order from Jiang Jiang Mingyu long ago.

Knowing that Du Du Jianmu had sent someone to Gebao City to request reinforcements, Jiang Jiang Mingyu found the messenger sent by Liu Liu Yifei. Holding a feathered brush, he quickly wrote several lines on paper, then sealed the letter and handed it to the messenger: "Go quickly! Deliver this to the Empress so she knows our army's movements; coordinate from within and without to assist our surprise attack!"

The messenger respectfully accepted the order and turned to leave. At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised his hand to block him, whispering a few instructions in his ear. The messenger suddenly understood, nodding repeatedly and agreeing, then galloped away on horseback, quickly disappearing into the dust.

The messenger did not fail his mission. Finding an opening to enter the city, Liu Liu Yifei began her meticulous preparations. Her expression was consistently gentle, yet her gestures revealed determination; with a slight scheme, she bribed the city's sentries and junior officers, even gaining complete knowledge of the city's troop deployments. Beneath her sweet smile hid thoughts of unparalleled cruelty and ruthlessness.

Learning that Liu Liu Yifei's arrangement was complete, Jiang Jiang Mingyu secretly rejoiced. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes; the treasures of this city seemed extremely abundant!

The plan was actually not complex. It was simply to wait until Jiang Jiang Mingyu arrived at Qu Province, then Liu Liu Yifei, under the pretext of treating the army, would personally brew large vats of fragrant, strong wine and deliver it to the guards at the four gates to celebrate. The letter Jiang Jiang Mingyu had just received was from Liu Liu Yifei, informing him that everything was ready and they could strike at any time.

The bitter, hard-working soldiers guarding the city had long heard of Liu Liu Yifei, this great merchant. They never expected to have the fortune to feast their eyes on the true appearance of this mysterious beauty today. Even more unexpectedly, they could enjoy the fine wine brewed personally by her! Almost without hesitation, they accepted the drugged wine, their mouths unable to close from smiling.

And Liu Liu Yifei stood aside, smiling at the corners of her mouth, exchanging polite greetings in a refined manner. She smiled gently, yet let out a cold snort in her heart, watching these ignorant Southern Frontier soldiers drink heartily. She had already calculated in her mind that once this group all fell down, she would accelerate her actions and personally command her subordinates to open the city gates to welcome Jiang Jiang Mingyu's army!

Indeed, this group of defenders soon became drunk, stumbling and falling, losing their combat effectiveness. Liu Liu Yifei saw the time had arrived and immediately mobilized her trusted subordinates to prepare to open the gates. Just then, a city-guarding officer suddenly went on a drunken rampage and lunged violently at Liu Liu Yifei!

"You!" he shouted, his speech slurred, "Whore! So it was you colluding with the enemy!"

Liu Liu Yifei moved her agile body slightly to the side; the officer stumbled and fell to the ground. She calmly drew the small knife at her waist, her eyes cold: "Foolish creature, your fate is ended!"

Only a cry of agony was heard; that person's head had already rolled to the side... A few drops of blood splattered on Liu Liu Yifei's face, yet her expression did not change at all. She brushed the fresh blood from the blade, skillfully sheathed it, and said softly: "Open the city gates!"

After this group had all been drugged, Liu Liu Yifei then sent people to take the opportunity to open the city gates and let Jiang Jiang Mingyu's troops enter. She had also specifically informed Jiang Jiang Mingyu in the letter that the Southern Frontier soldiers, tense all day within the city, had all returned to camp to prepare for a meal; it was the perfect time to strike. This enchanting woman knew well the art of using people; her arrangement was thorough, leaving Jiang Jiang Mingyu both surprised and delighted.

Tu Tu Kesiluo and the others, for this very reason, dared to charge directly into the city with reckless confidence. In an instant, chaotic fighting erupted inside and outside the city; blades flashed, swords gleamed, and cries of slaughter shook the heavens. The fierce generals under Jiang Jiang Mingyu's command each advanced as if into an empty world, unstoppable in their path. The defending troops, prostrate from wine poison, had no power to fight back and were cut down in vast numbers. The common people in the city suddenly faced catastrophe; wails rose on all sides, and cries of battle never ceased...

At the same time, a middle-aged man dressed as a merchant ran over to Tu Tu Kesiluo. He was panting heavily, drenched in sweat, clearly having just fought his way out of fierce combat.

"Your Highness, I am sent by Her Majesty the Empress to receive the main army. I know the location of Du Du Jianmu's camp. Please follow me." He bowed respectfully, sweat trickling down his forehead, his expression anxious.

Tu Tu Kesiluo was overjoyed and replied in quick succession, "Good! Lead the way!" He took the lead, striding forward with long, rapid steps, while the thousands of soldiers and horses behind him surged forward like a tide.

This merchant did not hesitate; he leaped onto a sturdy horse and skillfully shook out the reins. He stood steadily on the horse, holding a whip in one hand and pointing forward with the other, shouting loudly, "Brave warriors, please follow me!"

Having spoken, he whipped the horse's flank and galloped away. Seeing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo and the other soldiers spurred their horses and raced after him, the thundering hooves kicking up a sky full of yellow sand.

In the blink of an eye, the merchant had led the army winding through to a massive camp at the center of the inner city of Qu Province. This was Du Du Jianmu's main camp.

Behind the high walls, shouts and cries could be faintly heard, as if the defending troops had not yet realized what was happening. The merchant paused abruptly and shouted loudly, "The enemy commander is inside! Surround them quickly!"

"Kill!" Hearing the order, the soldiers roared and surged into the camp. In an instant, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's army had surrounded the camp on all four sides, forming a layered encirclement.

At this moment, Du Du Jianmu, accompanied by several deputies, forced his spirit to rally and charged out of the main camp, his hair disheveled. His eyes were filled with terror, his face ashen, yet his mouth still twitched, as if the poison had not yet been resolved. Several people beside him had already collapsed onto the ground, convulsing uncontrollably.