Chapter 95

Seeing Jiang Mingyu’s intent to kill, the bandit chief on his knees felt his wine turn to cold sweat, streaming endlessly from his forehead.

He clasped his hands together, eyes brimming with tears, pleading: “My lord, my lord, spare my life! I have an elderly mother waiting for me at home!”

The remaining hundred or so bandits also knelt down, scrambling to beg for mercy.

Some wept with their heads in their hands; some cursed themselves for lacking conscience; others banged their heads against the ground in supplication.

The scene descended into chaos.

“Spare my life, my lord! We’ll never dare again!” cried a burly bandit, tears and snot streaming down his face.

“My lord, we’ve laid down our weapons—we’re surrendered troops! You can’t kill us!” another swore, pounding his chest.

“We’re all law-abiding sons of decent families—please, my lord, show mercy and let us go!” pleaded a young man dressed like a scholar, kneeling on the ground.

“......”

Jiang Mingyu watched coldly, saying nothing.

Law-abiding sons of decent families?

Jiang Mingyu sneered. These murderers and arsonists dared call themselves law-abiding sons of decent families?

“When you burned and looted, did you ever think you were law-abiding sons of decent families?” Jiang Mingyu said in a low voice.

“When you treated human lives like livestock, did you ever consider sparing innocent civilians?” A flash of cold light passed through his eyes.

“You wretches who’ve lost all sense of heaven’s mandate—letting you live is already my mercy.” Jiang Mingyu waved his hand; a dozen soldiers stepped forward, dragging several bandits out.

As death loomed, the bandit chief at the front suddenly shouted: “Jiang Mingyu, you can’t kill us!”

“It’s bad luck to kill surrendered troops—we’ve laid down our weapons! Kill us, and you’ll suffer a terrible fate!” His voice raced with desperation.

Jiang Mingyu sneered: “My fate? At least you won’t live to see it.”

“I’d like to see if killing you today will bring thunder and lightning tomorrow.”

With that, he waved again, and several soldiers dragged the bandits out.

Even as they were dragged far away, their pleas and curses kept washing into Jiang Mingyu’s ears in waves—until a series of continuous, meat-slicing thuds silenced them.

Jiang Mingyu watched the brutal scene unfold—the flash of bloodied blades, heads severed from bodies, hot blood gushing like springs, staining the white snow with crimson blooms.

The severed heads hit the ground, faces twisted in terror, fear still frozen on their features.

Seeing all the bandits beheaded, Jiang Mingyu spoke again: “The army will rest tonight. Speed is the essence of warfare—tomorrow, we march on Black Wind Ridge.”

“Also, immediately send men to deliver these heads to nearby towns.”

“Let every arrogant bandit out there see—when I arrive, their good days are over.”

Tukesulu and Li Goudan said nothing, bowed to Jiang Mingyu, and turned to make arrangements.

But Zhu Ge Yu, remaining behind, said with concern: “Master, won’t this alarm the bandits on Black Wind Ridge?”

Jiang Mingyu gestured for him to sit: “Alarm them? That’s precisely my goal.”

“Your ambush was brilliant—but it can only be used once. Do you think without these severed heads, they’d know nothing?”

“These bandits have held this place for years—that proves they’re no fools.”

“Today’s victory came from divine surprise—they had zero preparation. The plan was yours; you understand better than I do.”

“But we cannot deny that by the time we stormed this stronghold, word of my campaign had already spread like wildfire.”

He smiled faintly: “Given the bandits’ networks and their spies, it’s impossible they didn’t know.”

“If so, we might as well go all out—let the other two bands see my strength.”

“Once fear takes root in them, our chance arrives. Strike the mountain to shake the tiger—do you understand now?”

Zhu Ge Yu rubbed his dry, cracked palms and frowned: “But what if they flee at the news?”

Hearing this, Jiang Mingyu stretched his arms, muscles flexing, confidence radiating from his brow: “Aside from Shangmu, which the Western Xia have disrupted, the entire Da Feng is at peace—where could they run?” His gaze swept the sky.

Zhu Ge Yu pressed: “Could they ally with other bandit groups?”

Jiang Mingyu crossed his arms, gazing into the distance: “That’s even less likely.”

“These bandits pretend to be brothers, but each fears the others will encroach on his territory.” As he spoke, the sunset’s glow lit his resolute profile.

“Besides, with their rusty blades—even if they did unite, I wouldn’t fear them.” Jiang Mingyu smiled, rolling his shoulders.

“I’ve been worrying about how to train my men—if I can wipe them all out at once, it’s a great good deed for the nation and the people.” His eyes gleamed.

Jiang Mingyu stood and looked at Zhu Ge Yu: “By the way, you played a major role in breaking through Mount Sanqing today—I’m deeply grateful.”

Zhu Ge Yu chuckled: “Then Master, in recognition of today’s merit, when we return to Shangmu, prepare more poetry for me.”

“Then this journey won’t have been in vain for this student of yours,” Zhu Ge Yu said, beaming with delight.

Seeing him already scheming for future fame and fortune, Jiang Mingyu sighed helplessly: “Fine, fine—you won’t be shortchanged.”

“But I don’t understand—you spend your days chasing fame—how did you come to study military strategy?”

These were two utterly unrelated fields.

Zhu Ge Yu’s smile faded slowly; a helpless, bitter grin lingered on his lips: “It was all arranged by my family.” His eyes dimmed as he spoke.

“Since childhood, I read countless military texts and once vowed to command armies and earn glory on the battlefield.” Zhu Ge Yu said, gazing into the distance as if recalling the past.

“But my father forbade it—he burned my military books and forced me to compose poetry and essays daily, hoping I’d pass the imperial exams.” His hand clenched unconsciously.

“I simply wasn’t cut out for it—I had to pay others to write my exams for me, which earned me the reputation of a literary talent.” Zhu Ge Yu shook his head in self-mockery, the sunset casting dappled shadows across his face.

“Later, when the truth came out, my father saw I had neither talent nor virtue, so he gave up on me. I was glad to be free.”

“I know you all look down on my pretentious ways. Honestly, I look down on myself too.” Zhu Ge Yu’s voice carried deep resignation.

He gave a bitter laugh: “Perhaps the moment my military books were burned, my heart died.”

“But now, this is fine—spending my days in poetry and wine, pretending to be a scholar to please others, living one day at a time.” As he spoke, his eyes were dull and lifeless.

Watching his face, filled with resignation, Jiang Mingyu remained silent, unsure what to say.

Zhu Ge Yu sighed heavily, waving his hand sharply: “It’s all past—no need to speak of it.”

“By the way, Master, why do you think Tang Cheng went to Shangmu? Any guesses?” Zhu Ge Yu’s eyes flashed with sudden insight.

This time, it was Jiang Mingyu who sighed. He frowned: “Don’t mention it—I’ve been racking my brain all day and still can’t fathom what he wants.” Jiang Mingyu paced as he spoke.

Zhu Ge Yu glanced at the guards outside the door, his brow lifting slightly: “Could it have something to do with your newly recruited troops?” The sunset cast a faint red glow on his face.

Jiang Mingyu paused, thinking: “Possibly. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been loitering near the city garrison, caught by Goudan.” His fingers brushed his chin as he spoke.

“But I hold the Inspector’s official recruitment orders—if he came for that, I have nothing to fear.” Jiang Mingyu’s tone was firm.

“What I can’t understand is—he’s a State Prefecture’s Regional Military Commissioner. He should’ve known already—why come to Shangmu himself?” Jiang Mingyu paced back and forth, brow furrowed.

Zhu Ge Yu echoed: “I can’t figure it out either. No one in the entire prefecture doesn’t know Shangmu is now a dangerous place.”

“With his rank, if he runs into Western Xia troops, it’s certain death.” Zhu Ge Yu said, the sunset’s glow etching his solemn profile.

“Could he truly be here on the Inspector’s orders, secretly inspecting Shangmu?” Zhu Ge Yu speculated.

Jiang Mingyu shook his head instinctively: “No—my instinct tells me something’s off.”

Zhu Ge Yu seemed to recall something, his eyes flashing: “Master, now that you mention it—I think I remember something.”

“Tang Cheng and the Inspector have always been at odds. Could he be using this to frame the Inspector?” As Zhu Ge Yu spoke, Jiang Mingyu immediately shook his head.

“Impossible—the Inspector is at least a disciple of Chancellor He. How could Tang Cheng, a mere Regional Military Commissioner, dare...” Jiang Mingyu broke off, suddenly stiffening.

He turned to Zhu Ge Yu: “Quick—tell me—who does Tang Cheng serve?”