Chapter 380: The Road to the Punishment of Tagang

At the second watch, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, alone in his empty chamber, sat before the desk, holding a cup of cold tea in his hand, lost in thought. A faint smile curled his lips, as if he were pondering something delightful. Suddenly, the footsteps of a guard echoed from outside the door. Jiang Jiang Mingyu snapped back to reality, drained the tea in one gulp, stood up, and adjusted his robes.

He first straightened his belt, checking whether the sword hanging at his waist was secure. Then he reached out to smooth the wrinkles on his long robe, ensuring he looked impeccable. Finally, he gently touched the jade pendant on his chest, an auspicious token presented by his ministers upon his accession, symbolizing their loyalty and support. Having done all this, he nodded with satisfaction, cleared his throat, and radiated an aura of majesty and solemnity.

"Your Majesty, Feng Feng Xiwei requests an audience," the guard's voice came from outside, tinged with tension and caution.

"Bring him in at once." Jiang Jiang Mingyu rubbed his slightly aching eyes, cleared his throat, and made his voice sound full of energy.

The door opened, and Feng Feng Xiwei strode in with long, swift steps. He wore gleaming armor, a finely crafted helmet, and his eyes sparkled with life, his expression a mix of nervousness and excitement. Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately noticed the slight twitch at the corner of his eye and the trembling of his lips, as if he were eager to announce some joyful news.

"Your Majesty, the scouts have returned and have been waiting outside for some time. May I have permission to bring them in to report?" Feng Feng Xiwei bowed slightly and said respectfully. His voice carried a note of elation, and he could not help but raise his volume slightly.

"Bring him in quickly." A flash of joy crossed Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes; he too felt a surge of excitement, and his voice involuntarily grew urgent. He had been waiting for this good news, and now it had finally arrived.

Feng Feng Xiwei hurried to the door and shouted loudly, "Bring the scout in to report!" His voice was resonant and full of vitality. He could not help but press his hand against the hilt of his sword, as if he could not wait to hear the news and launch an attack immediately.

A middle-aged man in tattered clothes, his face weathered by wind and dust, hurried in. His steps were somewhat unsteady, as if he had traveled for a long time and was utterly exhausted. Yet his eyes sparkled with life, revealing a hint of excitement; though his face was haggard, it could not conceal the elation in his heart. He looked up at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, his expression filled with awe and admiration.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sized him up from head to toe; this man appeared utterly loyal, having devoted himself to his service. A wave of emotion and admiration rose in his heart, and he felt a slight nervousness as well. How had this man crossed mountains and rivers, braving every hardship, just to deliver this good news? How could he possibly betray such sincere effort?

"Thank you for your hard work tonight. Come, tell me what you have discovered about Tagang." Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled to ease the tension, his tone warm and approachable, hoping to relax the exhausted scout. He touched the jade pendant on his chest, encouraging himself to remain calm and listen patiently to the report.

The scout immediately knelt and kowtowed, speaking respectfully: "Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, ten thousand times long live the Emperor! Your subject, by Your Majesty's command, went to Tagang to investigate its true situation. After several days of hurried travel, I have finally ascertained the detailed conditions of Tagang." His voice trembled as he spoke, tears welling in his eyes, as if he had endured too much hardship and could finally relieve the burden.

Having said this, the scout stood up, took a deep breath, and calmed himself. With a solemn expression, he reported: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Tagang is approximately six hundred li from here, an essential passage to Gebao City. The defending general is named Jia Tong, commanding a total of sixty thousand elite soldiers, including twenty thousand cavalry."

"This man has guarded Tagang for over three years and is deeply beloved by the garrison. The city's defenses are somewhat lax, with many sections of the wall damaged, much like Xiongzhou was on that day." At this point, a hint of contempt and confidence crept into the scout's tone, as if to say the city could be taken with ease.

After listening, Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled slightly, his mind already made up. He detected the implication in the scout's words and knew that Tagang was indeed in a favorable state. Overjoyed, he nodded gently: "I understand. You may go down and rest, wash yourself. I will now prepare for the military campaign." He raised his hand in a gesture meaning "go," his expression showing relief.

The scout kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude, then withdrew with a relieved expression. All his previous worries, exhaustion, and fear vanished, replaced by boundless joy and gratitude. The satisfaction of his lord was his greatest happiness; the hardships of this journey had finally proven worthwhile.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched him leave, then turned to Feng Feng Xiwei with a meaningful smile. The time for Tagang had ripened; it was time to strike in one bold push and make it a shining trophy in his hand!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned and ordered Feng Feng Xiwei: "Send for Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately; I have urgent matters to discuss with him." His brows furrowed slightly, his expression serious and calm.

Feng Feng Xiwei promptly responded respectfully and strode out, his armor clinking sharply.

Moments later, Tu Tu Kesiluo, clad in heavy silver-white armor, strode in with long, swift steps. He looked vigorous and composed, seemingly deeply excited about the upcoming campaign. The gems inlaid in his armor shimmered brilliantly in the candlelight.

"Your subject receives the decree; may Your Majesty clarify your orders." Tu Tu Kesiluo bowed slightly, his eyes bright, and spoke directly. His voice was loud and powerful, hinting at underlying urgency.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded slightly and said: "I have learned the detailed conditions of Tagang. Although its garrison is numerous, its defenses are lax; it will surely be no match for our fierce assault." At this point, he could not help but lift the corners of his lips, a flash of decisiveness and excitement passing through his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Tu Tu Kesiluo's expression brightened, and his lips curved into a confident smile. He exclaimed: "Your Majesty's insight is clear. Your subject accepts the order to lead the campaign and will swiftly capture Tagang using a strategy that conquers the world without bloodshed, securing for Your Majesty the road to Gebao City." He stared directly at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, his tone firm, as if victory were already assured.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded with satisfaction and spoke in a deep voice: "This time, I have obtained thirty thousand troops from Zhu Ge Yu, plus my own sixty thousand, enough to deal with the Tagang garrison. At dawn tomorrow, you will lead the ninety-thousand-strong army north and strike directly at Tagang!" At the last sentence, his voice involuntarily rose, filled with ambition.

Tu Tu Kesiluo respectfully accepted the order, his face unable to conceal his excitement. He bent his body, raised his right fist high above his head, and declared: "Your subject will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust, defeat the Tagang garrison, and claim the first merit!" His tone brimmed with passion and fighting spirit.

Watching Tu Tu Kesiluo's valiant retreating figure, Jiang Jiang Mingyu thought that this campaign against Tagang would surely open the gateway to Gebao City. At that time, whether to strike directly at Gebao City and annihilate Wei Wei Yangyao, or first prune his wings in Lingtai and other places before reconsidering, would be the best strategy. At this thought, his brows knitted tightly, his expression grim, as if weighing various possibilities.

After a long while, he exhaled deeply, and a determined expression returned to his face. Regardless, the first step of this northern expedition was finally about to be taken. Touching the jade pendant on his chest, a surge of fighting spirit rose within him. One day, he would surely overthrow Wei Wei Yangyao and unify the lands inside and outside this territory!

Early the next morning, the drums of the Qu Province camp beat loudly, the crisp sound waking the sleeping soldiers. They scrambled out of their tents, hastily dressing and arming themselves. Some could barely open their eyes, stumbling and nearly falling; others had put their clothes on backward, clumsily undoing them to put them on correctly.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu was already fully armed and mounted on his horse, his expression serious, brows furrowed, quietly giving instructions to several generals. He carefully circulated the northern route map among the generals, pointing out key terrain features. The generals looked solemn, nodding occasionally in agreement, deeply approving of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's arrangements.

Shi Zhuo strode up to Jiang Jiang Mingyu, and the two stood face to face, expressions serious. Jiang Jiang Mingyu, with furrowed brows, said to Shi Zhuo: "I will lead the troops to Tagang; I leave everything to you. You must seal off the news before the enemy discovers it, buying me time." Anxiety flowed from his tone, as if this matter was of utmost importance. Shi Zhuo nodded solemnly, placing his right fist over his left chest: "Rest assured, Your Majesty; I will certainly not fail your trust!" His determined gaze revealed infinite trust and loyalty toward Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu patted his shoulder armor with satisfaction, swung himself onto his horse, raised his sword, and shouted: "All troops! Advance!" His loud, powerful voice instantly boosted the morale of the entire army. Suddenly, the ground trembled with the thunderous, unified footsteps of thousands of soldiers and horses, stirring the blood. Shi Zhuo stood in place, watching Jiang Jiang Mingyu and his men depart, a hint of worry on his face, silently praying for their safe journey.

As soon as the army departed, Shi Zhuo immediately waved to summon a messenger, his brows tightly furrowed, his tone urgent: "Quick! Send people to plant many flags in the city, making it appear as if the main army and Your Majesty are still stationed within!" His anxious expression urged the messenger to act immediately. The messenger promptly responded and hurried off, seemingly sensing Shi Zhuo's inner tension.

Watching the messenger's retreating figure, Shi Zhuo thought to himself: "As long as we deceive Jia Tong's spies for a short time, we can gain precious time. We must be extremely cautious!" He clenched his fist, and his armor creaked.

Then Shi Zhuo stroked his chin, deep in thought. Hearing movement, he looked up at the busy soldiers and said coldly: "Someone! Immediately send a person to Guizhou to see Commander Song, requesting him to send more grain from Jiangzhou to Tagang!" His tone brooked no argument, as if he had already anticipated the difficulties of the campaign. Upon hearing this, all the soldiers stopped their movements, their faces filled with surprise and fear.

Shi Zhuo crossed his arms, scanned the surroundings, and spoke sternly: "Your Majesty leads the army on a distant expedition; we must ensure the smooth transport of provisions! This matter concerns the overall situation and absolutely cannot tolerate any error!" The soldiers immediately saluted and accepted the order, dispersing in an orderly manner to convey the military commands, seemingly frightened by his severity and no longer daring to slacken.

Watching the soldiers move quickly, Shi Zhuo secretly clenched his fist: "Your Majesty's journey is too risky; we must strengthen the rear support for the army's grain supplies. Otherwise, if the front line cannot hold, the consequences will be unimaginable..." His gaze was firm and solemn, as if in self-hypnosis.

Meanwhile, Jiang Jiang Mingyu and his army had already left the city far behind and entered a dense, towering forest. The thick canopy blocked out the sky, dimming the light within the woods; even at noon, it was as dark as dusk. Soldiers held torches, struggling to carve out a narrow path. Tree roots and vines covered the ground; horses would stumble if they were not careful, neighing as they fell into the mud. Soldiers bent their waists, desperately trying to avoid low-hanging branches, their bodies covered in sweat and mud, frequently stopping to catch their breath.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, mounted on his horse, constantly looked back with a grim expression, ensuring the entire army maintained a neat formation. At that moment, a young soldier's horse tripped over a tree root and fell to the ground with a mournful cry. Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately pulled the reins and loudly ordered the entire army to halt. He straightened his back, waved to Feng Feng Xiwei, and calmly issued the command: "Release all scouts to investigate various parts of the mountains to ensure the secrecy of the marching route!"

Feng Feng Xiwei promptly responded and immediately conveyed the order downward. More than a hundred lightly armed scouts ran out from the army and quickly disappeared into the tree shadows. Jiang Jiang Mingyu faced the gentle breeze, gazing up at the interlaced branches overhead, his eyes filled with determination. They had been marching for four days; it was now late autumn. Although the southern border forests had turned yellow, they were still lush with green. The group continued their winding journey, advancing steadily toward Tagang.

At noon this day, sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows. Jiang Jiang Mingyu removed his hat and headscarf, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and gazed at the map with a serious expression. He concentrated on verifying the route, occasionally looking up at the mountains ahead. At that moment, a scout ran out from the bushes, hurriedly knelt before Jiang Jiang Mingyu's horse, and reported: "My lord, there is a mountain stream ahead with a swift current; it cannot be crossed directly by wading!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, and asked: "How are the mountains on both sides of the stream? Can we change course and climb over?" The scout replied: "Replying to my lord, both sides of the stream are sheer cliffs and peaks; passage is impossible. We are afraid we must wade through to cross."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stroked his beard, a hint of worry in his deep eyes. He dismissed the scout and examined the map again. Seeing this, Feng Feng Xiwei hurriedly spurred his horse forward to inquire. Jiang Jiang Mingyu said in a deep voice: "As the scout reported, a swift stream blocks our path ahead. We must find a way to cross, but wading through the army is extremely difficult..." His finger moved along the map as he said: "However, fortunately, judging by the terrain, this should be the last natural barrier. Once we pass it, the road ahead should be much flatter."

Feng Feng Xiwei immediately said: "My lord, rest assured; I will handle this matter! I will send people to measure the depth and build a trestle bridge first, ensuring the entire army can cross safely." Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded with satisfaction, and Feng Feng Xiwei immediately dispatched soldiers to repair the bridge.

Soon the trestle bridge was repaired. The army crossed mountain after mountain; although the road was rugged, there were no ambushes or hidden troops.

That night, a tense and expectant atmosphere filled Jiang Jiang Mingyu's camp. Campfires flickered in the night, casting red glows on the faces of those inside the generals' tents. The generals stood straight, expressions solemn, each staring intently at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, all waiting for his decision.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sat with his back to the generals, his fingers rhythmically tapping the desk, as if in thought. His head was slightly bowed, long black hair slipping from his shoulders to cover half his face. This prevented others from seeing his expression, making them hold their breath, waiting for him to speak. After a long while, He Jing could not help but cough lightly and tentatively said: "Your Majesty, according to the schedule, we will arrive at Tagang the day after tomorrow. Regarding how to attack the city, please instruct us." His tone was respectful, yet hinting at underlying anxiety. He Jing stood with his hands behind his back, body leaning slightly forward, staring intently at Jiang Jiang Mingyu's back, as if afraid to miss any reaction.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu turned his head slightly, black hair slipping from his shoulders to reveal his sharply defined profile. He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the generals. The corners of his lips seemed to lift slightly, a flash of joy passing through his eyes. Yet he still did not speak, merely observing the crowd quietly, as if waiting for more opinions. The generals looked at each other, waiting for someone else to speak first.

After a moment, E Bu finally sighed, crossed his arms, frowned, and pondered: "Your Majesty, a night attack is our army's most skilled and most unexpected tactic." He paused, raised his head, and scanned the other generals present, as if seeking support. "Our movements have not been revealed; Jia Tong will not have much preparation. A night attack can surely capture Tagang in one blow. Moreover, this is the most energy-saving tactic. What do all of you think?"

Tu Tu Kesiluo and Li Goudan exchanged a glance, seeing agreement in each other's eyes. Both nodded slightly and said in unison: "Exactly!" Che Gang also snorted lightly in agreement, while Feng Feng Xiwei nodded vigorously, his eyebrows dancing as he said: "I think E Bu's idea is very reasonable! A night attack on Tagang has a high chance of success!" The generals' faces showed determination and confidence; each looked spirited, seemingly full of expectation for the night attack plan.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu narrowed his eyes, and a satisfied curve appeared on his lips. He stood up, looking down at the generals. "Since no one objects, we will repeat the same tactic." His voice was loud and full of confidence. Having said this, he waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Thus, let the army rest well tonight and increase the marching speed tomorrow. We must reach the walls of Tagang before the fourth watch tomorrow and launch a surprise attack at the fourth watch." Finally, his gaze locked onto Tu Tu Kesiluo, his tone full of trust and expectation: "Tu Tu Kesiluo, at that time, it will be up to you!"

"Yes!" Tu Tu Kesiluo clenched his fists, chuckled, and said: "Big brother, this is not the first time we have done this; rest assured!" He puffed out his chest, strode out of the tent with head held high, his expression confident, as if he could already see victory in his grasp. E Bu and several other generals followed closely behind, each looking spirited and seemingly well-prepared.

Suddenly, silence fell inside the tent. Jiang Jiang Mingyu watched everyone leave, and the smile on his face gradually faded. His eyes turned deep again, staring blankly at the tent entrance, his brows tightly furrowed, as if worried about some unforeseen event.

At that moment, a commotion arose at the camp gate. Jiang Jiang Mingyu snapped back to reality, strode out of the tent to investigate. It turned out that a few drunkards were arguing, but they were quickly stopped by the night guards. Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned, ordered increased patrols, then silently returned to the tent and sat before the Shangshan Shangshan Jian. He poured and drank several cups of wine himself, as if trying to dispel his worries with alcohol.

As the night deepened, the army's camp gradually quieted down. The cold wind on the grassland blew fiercely; the soldiers sat in circles around the fire for warmth, some already asleep. However, most still kept their eyes wide open, tremblingly waiting for dawn. Occasionally, someone spoke softly among them, discussing the upcoming surprise attack. One person, covering his frozen red hands, said excitedly: "If we can capture Tagang in one blow, we can go home for the Spring Festival!" Another frowned, muttering quietly: "Jia Tong is no pushover; who knows how he will respond..." Regardless, no one could sleep; they needed to conserve their strength for the surprise attack on Tagang the next day, their hearts filled with anxiety and hope.