Chapter 379: Fierce Battle at Sea and Sky

Another day passed, and Jiang Jiang Mingyu was chatting idly with Liu Liu Yifei in the Governor's Mansion when the training carriage suddenly arrived.

Che Gang strode into the Governor's Mansion, his face solemn and grave, eyebrows tightly furrowed, eyes revealing anxiety and restlessness. Clad in silver armor and wearing a long sword with a frost-like sheen at his waist, he radiated an aura of authority and decisiveness; the clanging, powerful footsteps of his armor echoed endlessly through the vast hall.

He stood firm in the hall, his agile body straight as a pine, looking up directly at Jiang Jiang Mingyu seated on the high platform. His tone was firm and powerful: "Reporting to Your Majesty, a military report came from the West Gate sentry post: the enemy fleet has appeared on the sea a hundred li away. I, along with Vice General He, request permission to lead twenty thousand troops to meet them in battle and crush the invading enemies beyond our borders!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stroked his graying beard and nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly: "I authorize you to repel the invading enemies. Fight hard for several days; once my reinforcements arrive, the allied forces will launch an attack and annihilate all these southern barbarians who dare to infringe upon our territory!" His gaze was sharp as a torch, his voice loud and powerful.

"We strictly obey Your Majesty's decree; we shall definitely return with a great victory!" Che Gang pressed his right fist to his chest, standing solemnly motionless, his gaze burning, his eyes boiling with hot blood. The moment his words ended, he turned and strode away.

The clanging of armor intertwined with the orderly footsteps of the generals behind him. Leaving the Governor's Mansion gate, Che Gang leaped onto a fine horse and galloped west without looking back. Vice General He and the twenty thousand elite troops also mounted their horses one by one, fully prepared for departure, their momentum overwhelming.

Hoofbeats thundered like rolling thunder, dust flying high. Che Gang's face was solemn, lips pressed tight, eyebrows locked, eyes fixed straight ahead. Deep in his heart, he understood that this journey meant nine deaths for one life. Whether he could succeed in avenging his family was truly unknown, but he had no choice but to walk this path—his family, his homeland, and his glory had all been reduced to nothing under the enemy's blades. Now these southern barbarians had invaded our territory again; he would definitely make them pay in blood!

Soon, the group reached the outskirts of the city, about to embark on their journey. Che Gang reined in his horse and looked back, gazing at the high city walls and the towering Governor's Mansion as they gradually receded. Complex and heavy emotions churned within him—perhaps, he would never return from this journey...

But it was worth it! He shook his head, trying to shake off the distracting thoughts. Taking a deep breath, he raised his sword and shouted: "Brothers, ahead lies our arch-enemy! This time, we will make them pay in blood for their crimes!!"

The sword light was chilling, the voice like a great bell, eyebrows tightly furrowed, eyes burning, as if to turn the enemy to ash in an instant. Vice General He and the soldiers, hearing the sound, also shouted in response, their morale soaring.

"Pay in blood for the blood debt! Pay in blood for the blood debt!" The twenty thousand soldiers' voices were deep and powerful. A thick killing intent permeated the air, iron and blood filling the space; everyone was extremely excited—finally, the chance for revenge had come!

The group marched majestically toward the West Gate. At the horizon where the sea met the sky, dark sail shapes were faintly visible—that was the trace of the barbarian fleet. A cold, sinister smile curled Che Gang's lips, his eyes sharp as knives: "Good, good! Today I will make you all flee in panic!"

The horses did not stop, and soon they arrived at the dock at the West Gate. Ships churned the sea, roaring loudly; bows were drawn, long spears flashed with cold light; the soldiers were fully prepared, flags fluttering in the wind.

This was the final sprint before the war began. Che Gang stood at the bow of the ship, his blood boiling. He took a deep breath, threw open his front lapels, and raised his sword high—that sword pointed straight at the sky, like an oath.

"Brothers! For our homeland, move forward without hesitation!"

Watching Che Gang depart, Tu Tu Kesiluo frowned slightly, a look of worry revealing itself in his expression, dark clouds faintly floating in his eyes: "Big Brother, Che Gang only took twenty thousand men; is it really no problem?" His voice was low, his tone filled with concern.

"Do not underestimate him." Jiang Jiang Mingyu patted Tu Tu Kesiluo's shoulder, a slight smile lifting the corners of his mouth, though his eyes remained as calm as water.

"Since he has already made a military pledge, he must have absolute confidence. Moreover, he and Wei Wei Yangyao are arch-enemies who cannot coexist under the same sky. This hatred is his greatest motivation for fighting."

Tu Tu Kesiluo frowned and shook his head, a trace of pity gradually flashing in his eyes: "That is exactly what I am worried about. Che Gang's heart is now full of the flames of revenge; he only wants to tear Wei Wei Yangyao to pieces. This eagerness for revenge and impatience can easily cause him to lose his reason on the battlefield and make mistakes. If that happens, the lives of the twenty thousand brothers will be in grave danger."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat on the sheepskin soft couch in the center of the Governor's Mansion hall, looking calmly at Tu Tu Kesiluo: "I trust Che Gang; he will never act rashly due to personal grudges and put his comrades in danger. Moreover, he and Wei Wei Yangyao are arch-enemies who cannot coexist under the same sky. This hatred is his greatest motivation for fighting. As soon as he thinks of facing that former father-slayer in a direct duel, Che Gang will be extra careful and cautious, never making any negligence or carelessness."

Tu Tu Kesiluo frowned and shook his head, a trace of pity gradually flashing in his eyes: "That is exactly what I am worried about. Che Gang's heart is now full of the flames of revenge; he only wants to tear Wei Wei Yangyao to pieces. This eagerness for revenge and impatience can easily cause him to act impulsively and lose his reason on the battlefield, making mistakes. He hates the enemy to the bone and is determined to win; once he meets Wei Wei Yangyao on the battlefield, he is even more likely to fall into danger due to losing his reason. If that happens, the lives of the twenty thousand brothers will be in grave danger." His tone was low, his face solemn and severe.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded understandingly, a slight smile lifting the corners of his mouth: "What you say is not without reason. But I believe Che Gang and Vice General He will surely urge each other; Vice General He will definitely remind Che Gang in time to avoid letting him fall into a state of loss of control. Even if the situation truly becomes dangerous, he will urge Che Gang to withdraw the troops in time. Vice General He is steady and experienced, fully capable of balancing Che Gang's eagerness and impulsiveness. So you can rest assured; Che Gang and He Jing working together will definitely achieve a great victory."

Tu Tu Kesiluo's brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes full of worry, and the smile of relief on his face was gone. He bit his lip, as if trying hard to organize his words. After a while, he finally could not help but speak up and ask again: "Big Brother, what should we do now? Just sit and wait for death?" His voice was low, his tone full of anxiety.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu raised his head indifferently, withdrew his gaze from the window, and smiled indifferently: "Of course not. Now Shi Zhuo's benevolent rule has begun to be implemented, and the enemy fleet on the sea is being handled by Che Gang and He Jing. What we need to do is wait for the person Feng Feng Xiwei sent to bring back the situation at Tagang, and then launch an attack on the city." His voice was steady, his eyes firm yet calm.

"Once we take Tagang, Lingtai in the east will soon be occupied by our army, and more than half of the southern border territory will be ours." Jiang Jiang Mingyu was full of confidence, the corners of his mouth even lifting slightly, forming a smile of assured victory.

After hearing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo fell into deep thought, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes flickering as if carefully weighing this plan. A moment later, he raised his head, his eyes containing both worry and excitement: "If it is truly as Big Brother says, after capturing the last Jingxiang and Lingtai, we can point our military spear directly at Gebao City. By the end of the year at the latest, we will break Gebao City and achieve an unprecedented unification of the entire continent." As he spoke this, an excitement that could hardly be concealed burst forth in Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed helplessly and shook his head, as if speaking to an overly innocent and romantic child: "Alright, stop daydreaming for now; go quickly and train the newly arrived Other Xi Xia troops." He patted Tu Tu Kesiluo's shoulder, his face showing both doting and mockery.

Tu Tu Kesiluo gave a sheepish smile and came to his senses, a trace of embarrassment flashing quickly across his face. He realized he was indeed a bit too excited and had lost his sense of propriety. The Other Xi Xia troops had just arrived at the Governor's Mansion and still needed to integrate with the troops under Jiang Jiang Mingyu before they could exert necessary combat power. This was the urgent matter of the moment and must be prioritized.

"Big Brother is right; I will go arrange the training immediately." Tu Tu Kesiluo pressed his lips together, a faint blush appearing on his face, and hurriedly strode toward the outer corridor.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched Tu Tu Kesiluo leave, standing alone under the long corridor, his heart filled with mixed feelings. The slanting sunlight passed through the gaps between the corridor pillars, casting mottled light and shadow on his slightly aged face. He took a deep breath, as if a thousand-pound stone was pressing on his chest, and then slowly exhaled.

On one hand, he had confidence in Che Gang and Vice General He, firmly believing they would definitely repel the invading southern border army; but on the other hand, perhaps Tu Tu Kesiluo's worries were not unfounded. How likely was the victory in this sea battle? No one could truly say.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu took a deep breath again and exhaled a long, turbid breath, trying to shake off these chaotic thoughts. He silently told himself in his heart that he must trust Che Gang and He Jing, believing they could achieve victory. Rather than overthinking, it was better to fully prepare for the next move; this was the most important thing at the moment.

At this moment, a trace of firm determination reignited the slightly tired eyes of Jiang Jiang Mingyu. He suddenly turned around and strode quickly back to the central hall of the Governor's Mansion, preparing to deploy a series of urgent matters. He had to act quickly, with not the slightest slackness or hesitation.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was nightfall. Tu Tu Kesiluo, returning from training, also gradually returned to the Governor's Mansion to report. Jiang Jiang Mingyu stood solemnly on the high platform at the entrance of the Governor's Mansion, gazing at the sea, but the battle report from Che Gang's side was still nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's tightly furrowed brows revealed his anxious and uneasy mood. He kept tapping the scabbard of the sword at his waist, producing a crisp metallic clashing sound, and his body leaned forward slightly, as if wanting to see through the dark sea to the distance.

At this very moment, his mood was extremely uneasy. Previously, he had already sent three batches of spies deep into the front lines, but the news they brought back showed nothing unusual—the sea was very calm, giving no indication of the battle situation.

This abnormal calm made alarm bells ring loudly in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart. He silently calculated in his mind, then decisively turned around and issued a new order:

"Immediately send another batch of men to sail out to the waters near the front-line battlefield; you must find out the battle situation of Che Gang and He Jing as soon as possible, then return immediately to report. Do you understand?"

His voice was loud, his speed fast, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes sharp as torches, and his tone revealed a sense of urgency. After speaking, he heavily patted the soldier's shoulder, signaling him to act quickly.

The soldier hurriedly responded and left. Not long after, he ran back in a rush, his expression excited, his face full of joy, and shouted loudly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Governor Che and Vice General Xu have returned!"

Before the words had fully left his mouth, Che Gang and He Jing, their faces full of joy, strode in. Both men's clothes and armor were covered in fresh blood, their faces somewhat blurred, yet the smiles overflowing from their mouths could not be hidden. Che Gang walked lightly to stand before Jiang Jiang Mingyu, panting slightly, his eyes full of excitement; before the other could speak, he had already excitedly begun to recount the situation on the battlefield.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Vice General Xu and I executed the mission very successfully, annihilating the thirty thousand southern border naval troops sent by Wei Wei Yangyao to reinforce!" Che Gang's voice trembled slightly with excitement as he spoke this; he took a deep breath and continued, "We used the tactic of luring the enemy deep, successfully drawing the enemy main force into the water mine zone we set up, and then annihilating them in one blow!" He patted He Jing's shoulder, his tone overflowing with joy and pride, "We completely annihilated the enemy reinforcement ships; the enemy warships were all sunk by our artillery fire. In this fierce battle, our army only lost four decoy ships and over one thousand soldiers!"

Before Che Gang's words had ended, He Jing immediately took up the thread, his eyes shining: "Not only that, but the Southern Border Naval Governor Shen Huai also died in this battle! This can be said to be a fatal blow to the Southern Border Navy." Speaking the last words, he involuntarily clenched his fist and raised it high over his head.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu finally put down the heavy stone in his heart; he did not hide his inner joy, happily patting the two men's shoulders repeatedly, his eyebrows raised and eyes smiling: "Excellent! You did very well! After we completely occupy the southern border, I will definitely reward you heavily!"

He looked the two men up and down at their ragged appearance, his eyes full of admiration, and praised them from the bottom of his heart: "You have worked hard; you have all shed a lot of blood..." Having said this, he frowned slightly, reached out, and touched Che Gang's blood-stained arm, "So many wounds, it was too dangerous; it was only luck that no lives were lost."

Soon, Jiang Jiang Mingyu withdrew his hand, his expression becoming resolute again, and he continued: "Go quickly to treat your wounds and rest well. The war is far from over; soon we will go on campaign again, and at that time we will still have to rely on your heroic fighting!"

Che Gang and He Jing responded with repeated assent, their faces overflowing with the joy of victory. After all, they bore heavy responsibilities, fighting and killing on the front lines, risking life and death; being able to establish such great merits for the Emperor, they also felt extremely honored. At this moment, fatigue and pain were instantly thrown to the nine heavens, replaced by great ambition and heroic spirit.

Che Gang bowed deeply to Jiang Jiang Mingyu, then turned and walked away unsteadily. Passing the tents, many soldiers came forward to congratulate him; Che Gang returned each salute, a smile always hanging on his face. Along the way, his steps were unsteady, and he nearly fell several times, yet he still gritted his teeth, straightened his back, and forced his spirit to walk toward his own tent.

He Jing was about to turn and take his leave when he was suddenly called back by Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "Vice General He, wait a moment!"

He Jing hesitated and stopped his steps, turning his head back in some surprise, only to see Jiang Jiang Mingyu with a serious expression, brows tightly locked, staring at him without blinking. This made a trace of doubt rise in his heart, silently guessing what the other was about to say next.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu walked slowly to stand before He Jing, glanced left and right, then quietly ordered the officials on both sides to withdraw, leaving only Tu Tu Kesiluo alone. This action made alarm bells ring loudly in He Jing's heart—why was Your Majesty being so cautious and careful? Was there something wrong with the battle report?

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stared into He Jing's eyes and asked in a deep voice: "Vice General He, report the truth: during today's sea battle, before the Southern Border Naval Governor Shen Huai died, did he say anything to Governor Che?" His tone revealed extreme tension that he was trying hard to conceal, and his two hands unconsciously clenched tight.

He Jing was stunned for a moment, unconsciously shook his head, and blurted out: "Reporting to Your Majesty, there was no such thing." As he spoke, he frowned, his face full of confusion: "Both sides fought for less than an hour before life and death were decided. Governor Shen did not have time to say anything before he died in battle." He stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, what do you mean by this? I am becoming even more confused."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu clearly breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing, and his expression becoming lighter. He waved his hand and said: "Enough, enough; you may go down and rest too."

He Jing was full of suspicion, knowing there was something fishy, but facing the monarch, he could not ask too many questions, so he had to take his leave. Along the way, he could not help but recall Jiang Jiang Mingyu's expression and behavior just now, finding it increasingly strange.

After He Jing's figure disappeared outside the tent, Jiang Jiang Mingyu finally let out a long breath as if relieved of a heavy burden and slowly leaned back in his chair. Tu Tu Kesiluo, sitting nearby, laughed loudly and spoke mockingly: "Big Brother, you were too cautious. Our great army is pressing down on the enemy, Governor Che has just established great merits, and his mood is very good; how could he remember to ask about this or that?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not reply, speaking to himself: "The Wei family has occupied the southern border for over a hundred years; their roots are deep, and we cannot be careless. I am just preventing trouble before it happens, so that Che Gang does not become suspicious and develop treacherous thoughts." Speaking to this point, he could not help but sigh, rubbing his hands in worry.

Tu Tu Kesiluo snorted, unconvinced: "Rest assured; in Governor Che's head, besides battlefield fighting, where would he remember to think so much? Even if Governor Shen said something before he died, he would have definitely forgotten it long ago. You are overthinking it."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Very well; since things have come to this, we can only do so. We are still facing Wei Wei Yangyao's army of over a hundred thousand; we cannot shake the army's morale now." His tone was full of helplessness.

Tu Tu Kesiluo straightened his chest, clapped his hands, and laughed: "A mere hundred thousand or so of remnant soldiers; I think he won't live past the New Year! Big Brother, rest assured; we will definitely make Wei Wei Yangyao taste the might of our King of Martial Valor." Speaking to this point, his eyes shone, and his fists clenched tight, "I said long ago that those who dare to covet our One Da Jiang have only one fate—annihilation!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu finally smiled on his face; he patted Tu Tu Kesiluo's shoulder heavily: "Good! I believe in you! Go, and rest too; the days of war are long." His tone conveyed trust and encouragement.

Tu Tu Kesiluo respectfully replied, his face unable to hide his ambition and great spirit. He looked deeply at Jiang Jiang Mingyu once, his gaze containing a thousand words and ten thousand sentiments, then strode out of the tent, disappearing into the night.