Chapter 379: Battle at Sea and Sky

One day later, Jiang Mingyu was chatting leisurely with Liu Yi in the Governor’s Mansion when Che Gang arrived.

Che Gang strode into the Governor’s Mansion with long, decisive steps, his expression grave and solemn, brows tightly furrowed, eyes brimming with agitation. He wore silver armor and carried a longsword at his waist, its surface gleaming like frost; his entire presence radiated authority and resolve, the clanking of his armor echoing loudly through the empty hall.

He halted in the center of the hall, his athletic frame straight as a pine, gazing directly at Jiang Mingyu seated upon the raised dais. His voice firm and resolute: “Your Majesty, a military report has come from the West Gate outpost—the enemy has appeared on the sea, a hundred li away. I, along with General He, request to lead twenty thousand troops to meet them in battle and crush the invaders beyond our borders!”

Jiang Mingyu stroked his salt-and-pepper beard and nodded slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips: “I authorize you to repel the invaders. Fight fiercely for several days until our reinforcements arrive; then the allied forces will strike and annihilate these southern barbarians who dare trespass upon our land!” His gaze burned like fire, his voice loud and powerful.

“I humbly obey Your Majesty’s decree—I shall return victorious!” Che Gang pressed his right fist to his chest, standing rigid, eyes blazing with fervor. No sooner had he spoken than he turned and strode away with determined strides.

The clanking of armor mingled with the synchronized footsteps of the officers behind him. Outside the Governor’s Mansion, Che Gang leapt onto his steed and galloped westward without looking back. General He and twenty thousand elite troops mounted their horses in unison, fully armed and ready, their momentum soaring.

Hooves thundered like rolling drums, dust billowed high. Che Gang’s face was grim, lips pressed tight, brows knotted, eyes fixed straight ahead. Deep within, he knew this journey meant nine deaths and one chance. Whether he could succeed in vengeance remained uncertain—but this path he must walk. His family, his homeland, his honor—all had been reduced to ashes beneath the enemy’s blades. Now these southern barbarians had returned to invade again—he would make them pay in blood!

Soon, the group reached the city’s outskirts, about to set forth. Che Gang reined his horse and turned to gaze back at the towering city walls and the majestic Governor’s Mansion, fading into the distance. Complex, heavy emotions churned within him—perhaps he would never return...

But he would not hesitate! He shook his head, casting off his distractions, drew a deep breath, raised his sword, and roared: “Brothers! Ahead lies our sworn enemy! Today, we make them pay in blood!”

Blade gleamed sharp, voice rang like a bell, brows furrowed, eyes blazing—as if he could turn the enemy to ash in an instant. General He and the soldiers echoed his cry, their morale soaring.

“Blood for blood! Blood for blood!” The twenty thousand soldiers roared, their voices deep and powerful. The air thickened with lethal intent, iron and blood permeating all—every man thrilled with excitement—the moment of vengeance had finally come!

The column surged toward the West Gate. On the horizon where sea met sky, faint black sails emerged—the unmistakable trace of the barbarian fleet. Che Gang’s lips curled into a cold smile, his gaze sharp as a blade: “Come, come! Today, I’ll make you flee in disgrace!”

Without pause, they reached the docks at the West Gate. Ships churned the sea into chaos, cannons roared; bows drawn, spears glinted with cold light; soldiers stood ready, banners snapping in the wind.

This was the final rush before battle. Che Gang stood on the prow, blood boiling. He drew a deep breath, flung open his coat, and raised his sword high—pointing it toward the heavens, as if swearing an oath.

“Brothers! For home, charge forward!”

Watching Che Gang depart, Tu Kesiluo frowned slightly, worry etched on his face, shadows darkening his eyes: “Big brother, Che Gang took only twenty thousand men—is that really enough?”

“Don’t underestimate him,” Jiang Mingyu said, patting Tu Kesiluo’s shoulder, a faint smile on his lips, his eyes still as calm as still water.

“He’s already pledged his life in writing—he must have full confidence. Besides, he and Wei Yangyao are mortal enemies. That hatred is his greatest driving force.”

Tu Kesiluo shook his head, a flicker of pity crossing his eyes: “That’s exactly what I fear. Che Gang’s heart is consumed by vengeance—he only wants to tear Wei Yangyao into a thousand pieces. This desperate, impatient rage could make him lose reason on the battlefield, make careless mistakes. If so, twenty thousand brothers’ lives hang by a thread.”

Jiang Mingyu sat upon the soft leather couch at the center of the Governor’s Mansion hall, his gaze steady on Tu Kesiluo: “I trust Che Gang. He will never let personal vengeance lead him to recklessness and endanger his comrades. Besides, he and Wei Yangyao are mortal enemies. That hatred is his greatest driving force. The moment he thinks of facing the man who murdered his father, Che Gang will be extra cautious, never careless or complacent.”

Tu Kesiluo frowned, shaking his head, pity slowly deepening in his eyes: “That’s precisely what I fear. Che Gang’s heart is now ablaze with vengeance—he only wants to shred Wei Yangyao to pieces. This desperate, impatient rage will easily make him reckless on the battlefield, lose control, make fatal errors. He hates the enemy with every fiber of his being, determined to destroy him—once he faces Wei Yangyao, he’ll be even more likely to lose reason and fall into peril. Then twenty thousand brothers’ lives hang by a thread.” His voice was low, his expression grim and severe.

Jiang Mingyu nodded knowingly, a faint smile touching his lips: “You have a point. But I trust Che Gang and General He will keep each other in check—General He will surely remind Che Gang in time, preventing him from losing control. Even if the situation turns dire, he’ll urge Che Gang to retreat. General He is steady and experienced—he can balance Che Gang’s impulsiveness. Rest assured: together, Che Gang and He Jing will win decisively.”

Tu Kesiluo’s brow remained tightly furrowed, worry heavy in his eyes, his earlier smile gone. He bit his lip, struggling to find words. After a long pause, he could not help asking again: “Big brother, what do we do now? Just sit here and wait?”

Jiang Mingyu lifted his head calmly, withdrawing his gaze from the window, smiling faintly: “Of course not. Shi Zhuo’s benevolent governance is already taking root, and Che Gang and He Jing are handling the enemy fleet. Our task now is to wait for Feng Xi’s scouts to return with news from Tagang—then we launch our assault on the city.” His voice was calm, his gaze resolute and composed.

“Once we take Tagang, Lingtaicheng to the east will soon fall to us. More than half of the southern frontier will be ours.” Jiang Mingyu spoke with full confidence, a faint, victorious smile curling his lips.

Tu Kesiluo fell into thought, arms crossed, eyes flickering as he weighed the plan. After a moment, he looked up, his gaze holding both worry and excitement: “If what you say is true, and we capture Jingxiang and Lingtaicheng next, we can march straight on Gebao City. By year’s end, we’ll break Gebao City and achieve the first unification of the entire continent in history.” As he spoke, excitement blazed in Tu Kesiluo’s eyes, impossible to conceal.

Jiang Mingyu chuckled, as if to a child lost in daydreams: “Enough with the fantasies. Go train the newly arrived Xixia troops.” He patted Tu Kesiluo’s shoulder, affection and mockery in his tone.

Tu Kesiluo smiled sheepishly, snapping back to reality, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face. He realized he’d gotten carried away, lost perspective. The Xixia troops had just arrived at the Governor’s Mansion—they still needed to integrate with Jiang Mingyu’s forces before they could fight effectively. This was urgent, and must come first.

“You’re right, Big Brother—I’ll arrange training immediately.” Tu Kesiluo pressed his lips together, a faint blush rising, then strode quickly toward the outer corridor.

Jiang Mingyu watched Tu Kesiluo depart, standing alone beneath the long corridor. Emotions churned within him. The slanting sunlight filtered through the pillars, casting dappled shadows across his slightly aged face. He drew a deep breath, as if a thousand-pound stone had pressed upon his chest, then slowly exhaled.

On one hand, he trusted Che Gang and General He, certain they would repel the southern frontier troops. On the other, Tu Kesiluo’s fears might not be groundless. The odds of victory in this sea battle were truly uncertain.

Jiang Mingyu drew another deep breath, exhaling a long, heavy sigh, trying to shake off these tangled thoughts. He silently told himself: trust Che Gang and He Jing. Believe they will win. Better to focus on preparing the next move than to waste energy on doubt—this was the most important thing now.

At that moment, a spark of resolve rekindled in Jiang Mingyu’s weary eyes. He spun around and strode swiftly back to the central hall of the Governor’s Mansion, ready to deploy a series of urgent tasks. He must act swiftly—no hesitation, no slackness.

Time flew. Soon, night fell. Tu Kesiluo returned from training, reporting in one by one. Jiang Mingyu stood grim-faced on the high platform at the Governor’s Mansion entrance, gazing out at the sea—but no report from Che Gang had arrived.

Jiang Mingyu’s furrowed brow betrayed his anxiety. He kept tapping the scabbard of his waist sword, the metallic clinks sharp and clear, his body leaning forward slightly, as if trying to pierce the dark sea and see far ahead.

At this moment, his heart was uneasy. He had already sent three batches of scouts deep into the front lines—but their reports were all unremarkable: the sea was calm, no sign of battle.

This unnatural calm sent alarm bells ringing in Jiang Mingyu’s mind. He silently weighed his options, then turned decisively and gave new orders:

“Send another group immediately into the sea, near the front-line battlefield. Find out Che Gang and He Jing’s situation as soon as possible—and return at once. Understood?”

His voice rang loud, rapid, brows slightly furrowed, eyes blazing with urgency. As he finished, he slapped the soldier’s shoulder hard, signaling him to move.

The soldier hurried off. Soon, he rushed back, face flushed with excitement, shouting: “Your Majesty! Governor Che and Deputy General Xu have returned!”

Before the words were fully out, Che Gang and He Jing strode in, faces beaming with joy. Their armor was caked in blood, their features smudged, yet their smiles shone through. Che Gang walked briskly up to Jiang Mingyu, breathing heavily, eyes alight with triumph. Before Jiang Mingyu could speak, he blurted out the battle’s details.

“Your Majesty, General He and I completed our mission with great success—we annihilated thirty thousand southern frontier naval troops sent by Wei Yangyao!” Che Gang’s voice trembled with excitement. He drew a breath and continued: “We lured the enemy main force into our minefield and destroyed them in one strike!” He clapped He Jing on the shoulder, voice brimming with pride: “We sank every enemy supply vessel—their warships were all destroyed by our artillery. We lost only four decoy ships and over a thousand soldiers!”

Before Che Gang finished, He Jing immediately added, eyes gleaming: “Moreover, Shen Huai, commander of the southern frontier navy, was killed in this battle! This is a fatal blow to their navy.” At the end, he could not help clenching his fist and raising it high.

Hearing this, Jiang Mingyu finally lifted the heavy stone from his chest. He openly showed his joy, clapping both men on the shoulders repeatedly, beaming: “Excellent! You’ve done brilliantly! When we fully conquer the southern frontier, I will reward you handsomely!”

He studied their battered appearances, eyes filled with admiration, sincerely praising: “You’ve suffered greatly—you’ve shed much blood...” He frowned slightly, reached out, and touched Che Gang’s bloodstained arm: “So many wounds—too dangerous. You were lucky not to lose lives.”

Jiang Mingyu quickly withdrew his hand, his expression hardening again. He continued: “Go tend to your wounds, rest well. The war is far from over—we’ll soon march again, and we’ll still rely on your valor.”

Che Gang and He Jing bowed repeatedly, faces radiant with victory. They bore heavy responsibilities, fighting on the front lines, risking life and limb—and to have earned such great merit for the Emperor filled them with immense pride. At that moment, fatigue and pain vanished, replaced by soaring ambition and heroic spirit.

Che Gang bowed deeply to Jiang Mingyu, then turned and staggered away. Passing tents, many soldiers rushed forward to congratulate him. He returned each bow with a smile. Along the way, his steps were unsteady, nearly stumbling several times—but he gritted his teeth, kept his back straight, and forced himself toward his tent.

He Jing was about to leave when Jiang Mingyu suddenly called out: “Deputy General He, wait!”

He Jing paused, turning back in surprise. Jiang Mingyu’s face was stern, brows furrowed, eyes fixed on him. A flicker of suspicion rose in He Jing’s mind—he wondered what the Emperor might say next.

Jiang Mingyu stepped slowly toward He Jing, glanced left and right, then ordered the surrounding officials to withdraw, leaving only Tu Kesiluo. This gesture made He Jing’s alarm spike—why was the Emperor being so cautious? Was there something wrong with the battle report?

Jiang Mingyu stared into He Jing’s eyes and asked in a low voice: “Deputy General He, truthfully—during today’s sea battle, did Commander Shen Huai say anything to Governor Che before he died?” His tone betrayed tightly concealed tension; his hands clenched unconsciously.

He Jing blinked, then instinctively shook his head: “Your Majesty, no such thing happened.” He frowned, puzzled: “The battle lasted less than an hour—we killed or captured them all. Commander Shen had no time to speak before he fell.” He stepped forward: “Your Majesty, what do you mean? I’m confused.”

Jiang Mingyu visibly relaxed, his shoulders dropping, his expression easing. He waved his hand: “Forget it. Go rest.”

He Jing left, his mind full of suspicion. He knew something was off, but dared not press the Emperor. On the way, he kept replaying Jiang Mingyu’s expression and manner—stranger and stranger.

Once He Jing vanished beyond the tent flap, Jiang Mingyu exhaled a long, relieved breath and sank back into his chair. Beside him, Tu Kesiluo burst into laughter, teasing: “Big brother, you’re too cautious. Our army is overwhelming, Governor Che just won a great victory—he’s in high spirits. Why would he remember anything like that?”

Jiang Mingyu didn’t answer. He murmured to himself: “The Wei family has ruled the southern frontier for over a hundred years—deeply rooted. We cannot be careless. I’m merely preventing trouble before it arises—lest Che Gang grow suspicious or turn against us.” He sighed, rubbing his hands in worry.

Tu Kesiluo snorted dismissively: “Relax. I doubt Governor Che has any thoughts beyond battle. Even if Shen Huai said something before he died, he’s already forgotten it. You’re overthinking.”

Jiang Mingyu fell silent for a moment, then nodded: “Very well. It’s done. We still face Wei Yangyao’s hundred thousand troops—we cannot shake morale now.” His voice carried deep resignation.

Tu Kesiluo puffed out his chest, clapping his hands and laughing: “A mere hundred thousand broken troops—I say he won’t live till year’s end! Big brother, rest assured—I’ll make Wei Yangyao feel the might of our Martial King!” His eyes blazed, fists clenched tight: “I’ve always said—anyone who dares covet our Great Jiang will be reduced to ashes!”

Jiang Mingyu finally smiled, clapping Tu Kesiluo’s shoulder hard: “Good! I believe in you. Go rest. The days of war are far from over.” His tone carried trust and encouragement.

Tu Kesiluo bowed respectfully, his face glowing with ambition. He gave Jiang Mingyu one last long look—filled with unspoken words—then strode out of the tent, vanishing into the night.