Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 234 "Jiang Cheng Zi: Hunting Trip in Mizhou"

Iron Mountain City, a formidable border pass known as the impregnable fortress of the northern frontier, collapsed faster than anyone had anticipated under the long-planned and fierce attack of the Snow Wolf Demon Kingdom.

The protective runes that had been added to the city walls over the centuries were gradually dimming and cracking under the erosion of the wolf demons' suicidal charges and their bizarre sorcery.

Despite the defenders' fierce fighting, the line was eventually torn open by the overwhelming force of the wolf soldiers, who surged like a black tide, and the brutal sorcery.

The howls of wolves drowned out the roars of the soldiers. Where the city fell, a dark horde of wolves poured in like a flood.

The remaining defenders were forced to retreat into the streets and alleys, relying on the walls of houses to continue their resistance—the city was not completely lost, but its backbone had been broken.

The Snow Wolf King strode slowly up the broken city wall of Iron Mountain City, his feet treading on the blood-soaked snow.

The giant claws crushed the corpses of Zhou's soldiers lying in the ground. The icy blue wolf eyes were devoid of emotion, only showing the contempt of a predator.

"Hmph, the famous Iron Mountain Fortress of the Northern Circuit of the Great Zhou Dynasty, I originally thought it was indestructible... but now it seems that it is nothing more than a piece of rotten wood."

His deep voice carried on the cold wind, and the surrounding wolves immediately let out a fawning howl.

The eldest prince was the most excited. He licked the still-damp blood off his claws and shouted, "Father! Our men are not yet ready to attack such a small city!"
I've heard that the Great Zhou has stockpiled large quantities of grain, provisions, and military equipment in Mizhou Prefecture, and that the routed troops are fleeing there—why not press the attack, strike hard, and strike right at the heart of the enemy's defenses?

Wolf Marquis, a wiry man with cunning eyes, immediately chimed in: "Your Highness is wise! Mizhou is the key to the northern frontier. Once we capture it, not only will our grain and weapons be in our hands, but we will also cut the Great Zhou's northern defense line in half!"
At that time, the entire northern frontier will be like a rootless duckweed, at the mercy of our wolf kingdom!

"March into Mizhou!"

"Seize their grain and fodder, plunder their wealth!"

"We must make the people of the Great Zhou tremble with fear at the mere mention of the name Snow Wolf!"

The victory of just conquering Iron Mountain City burned like strong liquor in the throats of every wolf general.

If even such a formidable border fortress is so "vulnerable", then the prosperous city of Mizhou behind it is surely within our grasp.

Ample provisions, illustrious military achievements, and the opportunity to hold one's head high among the northern kingdoms—the immense temptation lay before them like a blood sacrifice, causing the pack of wolves to pant heavily and their eyes to gleam with ferocity.

The Snow Wolf King surveyed his generals, whose fighting spirit and greed had ignited, and then his gaze pierced through the mountains to the south, as if he could already see the city, piled high with resources and teeming with scholars.

The easy capture of Tieshan City did indeed shake his judgment of the strength of the Great Zhou army, and the flame of ambition in his heart burned even more fiercely.

"The Zhou people are constantly fighting amongst themselves, and the border troops are so weak in their resistance... The rumors are indeed true."

The Great Zhou has consolidated its forces, holding onto a few key towns, while the rest of the border fortresses have been abandoned.

The Snow Wolf King's mind raced. "If we can take Mizhou in one fell swoop, it will not only be a great achievement, but also a declaration to the entire northern frontier: the Great Zhou is strong on the outside but weak on the inside!"
At that time, the covetous tiger demons and bear barbarian kingdoms will swarm in like jackals smelling blood... and my Snow Wolf Kingdom will deserve the greatest credit and reap the most rewards!

Once he made up his mind, he no longer hesitated. He looked up at the sky and let out a long, drawn-out wolf howl that tore through the cold wind!

"Ouch——!"

The howl, like a horn on an icy plain, instantly spread throughout Iron Mountain City and even to the distant snowfields.

All the wolf demons, whether they were fighting or devouring their spoils, stopped what they were doing and pricked up their ears to listen to the king's command.

"My lords!" The Snow Wolf King's voice, like the clash of cold iron, reverberated across the land. "Iron Mountain City is now in my grasp; I'll leave it to the other tribes to clean up! All elites, follow me south immediately!"

His claws pointed straight south, and his eyes burned with the flames of greed and destruction.

"Target—Mizhou Prefecture!"

"Go and tear away the Great Zhou's facade of weakness!"

"Fill our stomachs with their provisions! Let the blood of Wenxiu stain the Snow Wolf's battle flag!"

"Roar--!"

A deafening wolf howl rose up in response, like thunder rolling across the earth.

The main force of the Snow Wolf Kingdom's army barely stopped, like a black, raging tide bursting its banks, carrying the arrogant arrogance of its new victory, and surged across the ruined city walls toward the fertile land to the south—Mizhou Prefecture.

The council hall of the Mizhou government office.

The atmosphere in the hall was heavy, almost tangible, making it hard to breathe. Although the hall was full of people, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

At the head of the table sat Tang Xiujin, the Minister of War, with his white hair and beard and a solemn face. Although he was old, his spine was straight and his old eyes shone with a sharp light, exuding an imposing aura.

As the nominal supreme commander of this war in the northern frontier, and also Jiang Xingzhou's mentor, his presence here is like a pillar of stability, enough to suppress any disloyalty that might arise among the many arrogant and fierce generals of the northern frontier.

Right next to it was Jiang Xingzhou, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

He was not wearing official robes, only a simple blue shirt, yet his demeanor was calm and composed, as if he had become the hub of the entire hall, drawing everyone's attention.

On the other side, Xue Chonghu, the prefect of Mizhou, had a calm expression and sharp eyes as he slowly swept over the crowd.

On either side below, dozens of commanders and generals from the northern frontier sat, all fully armored, their hands on their sword hilts, their bodies radiating a chilling aura of battle veterans.

Among them were many scholars who had passed the imperial examinations, some exuding an aura of grandeur, others with their sharp edges concealed. Most of them had their eyes fixed on Jiang Xingzhou—most of them had come to witness firsthand how this leading figure in literature would display his extraordinary talents in this dangerous and dangerous place.

Just as the room fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop—

"Report——!"

A hoarse, urgent shout came from afar, and a scout with three blood-red feathers stuck in his back rushed into the hall like lightning.

He disregarded etiquette, immediately kneeling on one knee. His voice, hoarse from exertion, struck each word like a hammer blow to everyone's heart:
"Urgent military news! Iron Mountain City...has fallen!"

Although it was expected, the moment the news was confirmed in a bloody manner, a chorus of suppressed gasps and gasps of shock still filled the hall.

"boom!"

A fierce-looking general from the northern frontier slammed his fist on the table, sending splinters of wood flying as his iron palm struck.

His eyes widened, pointing directly at the stones on the sand table that symbolized Iron Mountain City, his voice like muffled thunder:

"Iron Mountain City! That is the closest and strongest bulwark protecting Mizhou!"

The city is high and the moat is deep, and the runes are bright. Why did Lord Jiang only send a thousand old and weak people to guard it?

This is no different from handing it over to someone!

If a large force had been deployed to defend the city and fight from its strategic locations, the main force of the Snow Wolves could have been pinned down beneath the walls, blunting their advance. How could they have fallen so quickly?

"General Wang is right!"

Another old general with graying temples replied in a deep voice, his tone solemn: "Lord Jiang, Minister Tang, we are well aware of your profound strategies."

To so easily abandon the fortified city of Iron Mountain would only embolden the demons and demoralize our border troops! We could have fought a bloody battle to the death against the wolf demons!

Their words were like stones thrown into a pool, immediately stirring up ripples.

The many generals and commanders from the northern frontier whispered in agreement, their faces filled with incomprehension and resentment.

They had guarded the border for many years, fighting countless battles against the demons and barbarians. They found it difficult to accept such a strategy of "abandoning without fighting" both emotionally and rationally.

All eyes, some direct and some subtle, were cast upon Jiang Xingzhou, who remained seated.

Minister of War Tang Xiujin coughed lightly to quell the commotion and said slowly, "Generals, please calm down for now. The strategic plan has been carefully considered."

He then turned to Jiang Xingzhou and said in a gentle tone, "Xingzhou, please analyze this for everyone."

All eyes in the room instantly focused on them.

Jiang Xingzhou's expression remained unchanged; he even calmly raised his cup, took a small sip of tea, and then stood up.

He walked to the huge sand table of northern Xinjiang in the hall, and his demeanor exuded a calm power that quickly silenced the noisy hall.

"General Wang, Marshal Liu, it is understandable that our colleagues are confused."

The sound of the boat on the river was clear as jade, and each word was distinct: "If it is only for defense, Tieshan City is indeed a formidable pass."

However, have you all considered this—what would happen if I were to send all 30,000 elite troops and several hundred scholars to Iron Mountain to defend it to the death?

Before anyone could respond, he lightly circled the Iron Mountain City area on the sand table with his long, slender fingers, then suddenly pushed it outwards:
"If the Snow Wolf King sees our army's heavy troop concentration and the city's strong defenses, would he rashly launch a strong attack?"

They will surely divide their forces to outflank us and attack the cities behind our weakened defenses!
Or perhaps they could surround us without attacking, cut off our supply lines, and wait for the demons of the northern frontier to respond.

"At that time, my 30,000 troops will be trapped in the isolated city of Tieshan, with no reinforcements from the outside and no food supplies from within. What will be the outcome then?"

His gaze swept over the bearded general and the old marshal, and their expressions suddenly hardened, clearly having glimpsed the despair they were facing.

Jiang Xingzhou's expression remained unchanged, as calm as a still well, as if what he said was nothing more than the common sense of the universe.

He raised his hand and pointed to the model of the now-destroyed Iron Mountain City on the sand table, his voice steady, yet each word seemed to be carved into metal and stone:
"Although Tieshan City is known as a strategic stronghold, it is small in area and lacks depth, and can only accommodate 20,000 to 30,000 of my troops at most. With this scale, it is not capable of waging a war that will determine the fate of the nation."

His gaze, sharp as frost, swept over the bearded general and the old marshal who had just questioned him, his tone growing increasingly cold:
"If I station a large force here, and the Snow Wolf King fails to conquer it after a long siege, will it stubbornly fight to the death? It will surely retreat to its lair in the icy plains. How will our army pursue and annihilate it then? Should we venture deep into the snowy wilderness and engage it in a decisive battle in the heart of the demon realm?"

His fingertips traced the pale area on the sand table that symbolized a harsh, desolate land, his tone laced with a chilling sarcasm:
"Or should we stand here at the foot of Iron Mountain City and confront them for years, watching the Snow Wolf Kingdom recuperate and wait for them to make a comeback? If we keep going back and forth like this, when will the northern frontier ever be at peace? How long will this war drag on?"

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over their faces, causing the generals, who had long suffered from demonic strife, to look grave. They were all too familiar with the bitterness of border troubles, the constant, relentless pain of being cut like a dull knife.

The old general frowned, seemingly understanding something but unsure, and hesitated before asking, "What does Lord Jiang mean...?"

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly turned around, facing the assembled civil and military officials. His gaze was as calm as a deep pool, yet seemed to hold a hidden thunder within. Each word he uttered was clear and resounding:

"Jiang's meaning is very simple."

"This battle——"

"No probing, no entanglement, no procrastination."

"Abandon all defensive lines from Tieshan City to Mizhou Prefecture!"

Let the Snow Wolf Kingdom's army march all the way to the gates of Mizhou City!
"Let's fight a decisive battle beneath the city walls!"

His voice paused, like a bowstring taut, then burst forth from the sky:

"The first battle is the decisive battle!"

Long, slender fingers suddenly pressed down, striking the three characters "Mizhou Prefecture" on the sand table with a resounding thud that shook the roof tiles.

"Right here at the foot of Mizhou City, we have gathered 100,000 iron cavalry and 100,000 archers and infantry, totaling 200,000 elite troops!"

Furthermore, it gathers scholars from all over the world here, creating a vast and comprehensive network!

"Using the fortified city of Mizhou as a shield, and the surrounding mountains and rivers of Mizhou Prefecture for eight hundred li as a chessboard, we will achieve victory in one battle!"

"A decisive strategic battle will be waged against the main force of the Snow Wolves—"

"The first war crippled the Snow Wolf Kingdom!"

"boom--!"

Despite the premonition, these words still caused a thunderous uproar throughout the hall!
Jiang Xingzhou's words shocked everyone in the room!

Even Tang Xiujin, the Minister of War who sat in the main seat, had a barely perceptible twitch at the corner of his eye.

He knew his disciple was exceptionally courageous, but he never expected his determination to reach such a point—he was willing to stake the fate of the Northern Frontier of the Great Zhou on this one battle!
"Two...two hundred thousand troops, a direct decisive battle?!"

"Without any buffer or testing?"

This...this is far too risky!

Amidst the uproar, doubts arose once again, this time not only among the generals of the northern frontier, but also among the military advisors and civil officials accompanying the army, who all wore solemn expressions.

This strategy completely violates the common sense of military strategists, which is to seek victory first and avoid defeat later. How can it not be alarming?
However, faced with the astonishment and unease of the room, Jiang Xingzhou showed no fear; instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a calm composure that seemed to have a comprehensive understanding of the situation, and even... a hint of disdain for the enemy, and even for the cautiousness before them.

"Take a risk?"

He repeated softly, then his gaze swept over the crowd like a cold lightning bolt, and his voice suddenly became clear and resonant, with an undeniable penetrating power, “My fellow colleagues are only concerned that our army has not yet fully grasped the Snow Wolf Clan’s secrets, how many Demon Kings there are, and what their shamanic magic is like.”

He paused slightly, deliberately leaving a moment of silence to allow the invisible pressure to build in the air, before speaking each word with resounding force:

"However, have you all considered this—"

"That Snow Wolf King, how could he truly know how many heavy troops my Great Zhou has prepared for him in this Mizhou Prefecture?!"

boom!
This question struck like a thunderclap in the silence, instantly shaking the minds of all the civil and military officials present, leaving them speechless!

A chill, mixed with shock, crept up the spines of everyone present.

Yes!

The Snow Wolf Clan only knew that Mizhou was rich in resources and that reinforcements had arrived.

But how could they know how many geniuses like Du Zining and Zhang Xu, born into semi-saint families, were among the literary cultivators gathered here? How could they measure how devastating Jiang Xingzhou, the world-renowned literary master, would be on the battlefield with his war poetry?
They could hardly imagine how many deadly schemes were hidden beneath this city, which was regarded as "plump prey"!
The unknown is a game of chess that is fair to both sides.

But Jiang Xingzhou had clearly taken the initiative and was absolutely confident that he could turn this fatal "unknown" into a great gift for the arrogant Snow Wolf King!

In an instant, all doubts in the hall vanished.

Instead, there was an immense awe of the impending, earth-shattering final battle, and a chilling killing intent that permeated the air, almost suffocatingly intense.

Jiang Xingzhou's gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed on the huge map of the northern frontier.

As his fingertips slowly traced the bitterly cold land north of Iron Mountain City, he seemed to feel the biting chill and the stench of wolves emanating from that land.

The generals and commanders in the hall were still reeling from the shock of the "first battle being the decisive battle," when Jiang Xingzhou suddenly looked up, his eyes as deep as night, and began to dissect the deeper strategic intentions—both to strengthen morale and to unify will.

"As you all know, the Snow Wolf soldiers have always been a major threat to the northern frontier."

Jiang Xingzhou spoke in a low voice, but each word was clear: "The most troublesome thing about them is not their brute strength, but their mobility, which is as swift as the wind."

With a light tap of the fingertip, the markers on the map symbolizing barren hills read: "Wolf demons are born in bitter cold, endure hunger and thirst, and are skilled at raiding."

If our army were to engage them in a protracted struggle in the vast northern frontier, it would play right into their hands.

If they encounter our main force, we will never engage in a direct confrontation; instead, we will immediately break into smaller units and flee far away.

When our strategists are exhausted and our troops are running low on supplies, they will reappear like ghosts, harassing supply lines and gradually encroaching on border towns—a predicament many border generals throughout history have suffered.

These words struck a chord with many generals from the northern frontier, who nodded in agreement, their faces grave.

This is precisely the most troublesome problem in the battle against the wolf demon.

However—

Jiang Xingzhou's tone suddenly shifted, his voice sharp as ice, "They are not invincible. Their greed is their greatest death warrant!"

His finger swept swiftly southward from Tieshan City, finally landing heavily on Mizhou Prefecture.

"What we need is to take advantage of this situation!"

Abandon Iron Mountain City, a place that seems fortified but is actually a shackle, to show the enemy weakness and lure them into thinking that the Great Zhou is internally weak, and to see the mountains of grain, fodder and military equipment stockpiled in Mizhou as easy prey!

Let them become arrogant, let them underestimate their enemy, let them lose their minds and become obsessed with seizing this "unparalleled achievement," and recklessly penetrate deep into our territory!

Jiang Xingzhou's eyes gleamed with wisdom, as if he held the universe in his hands: "Once their main force is lured to the city of Mizhou, and they engage in battle with my 200,000 well-rested elite troops and the literary cultivators gathered here from all over the world, their advantage of mobility, which they rely on for survival, will be greatly diminished!"

Therefore, this place—the decisive battleground we have carefully chosen—has been thoroughly surveyed, its terrain designed to allow for the movement of a large army while preventing the wolf pack from roaming freely.

Jiang Xingzhou surveyed the assembled civil and military officials, his voice sharp and resolute, like the clash of metal and stone:
"And the most crucial point is—once they are completely defeated at the gates of Mizhou!"

His hand swept across the map from Mizhou Prefecture northwards, tracing a long and sharp arc, his tone carrying the chilling, northern winds and snow:

"If they want to escape back to their old home on the ice plains, they must retreat hastily for seven or eight hundred miles along this route!"
This journey home, spanning seven or eight hundred miles, will no longer be a smooth road, but a death corridor meticulously prepared for it by our army!

"Our elite cavalry can repeatedly intercept and attack along the way, and the accompanying military officers can use various spells to trap, slow down, and confuse the enemy, continuously devouring and eroding their strength!"
A series of defeats, shattered morale, and a long and arduous journey home… these seven or eight hundred miles are enough to bury seven or eight tenths of the Snow Wolf Kingdom's so-called 100,000 main force!

The hall was deathly silent, except for the clear and cold voice of Yu Jiangxingzhou echoing between the beams and pillars, each word carrying immense weight.

The generals stared at the long arc on the map, shrouded in an invisible killing intent, their hearts trembling, as if they had already witnessed the Snow Wolf army fleeing in disarray, their bodies strewn across the field.

First, they used the isolated city of Tieshan as a pawn to embolden the enemy;

Then, using the key town of Mizhou as bait, they would concentrate their forces to annihilate the main force.

In the end, the long journey home becomes a graveyard, where the courtyard is plundered and the graves are swept clean!
Interlocking steps, meticulously planned and executed!
Only then did everyone in the hall realize the profound strategy and ruthless killing intent behind Jiang Xingzhou's bold statement that "the first battle is the decisive battle."

This is by no means a risky gamble, but a strategic annihilation war that was destined from the beginning to sweep away all the enemy's strongholds and achieve victory in one battle!
Minister of War Tang Xiujin nodded slowly, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration. Xue Chonghu clenched his fists, his heart pounding like a war drum.

The northern generals, who had previously harbored doubts, were now filled with fervor, their eyes burning with intense fighting spirit that shone through their brows.

"Now!"

Jiang Xingzhou stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the entire room like lightning. "Do you all still think that abandoning Tieshan is cowardice? And that fighting the decisive battle in Mizhou is taking a risk?"

The answer is self-evident and obvious!
The Snow Wolf Kingdom's 100,000-strong army, like a black tide carrying death and destruction, surged over the dilapidated border wall of the northern frontier.

Wherever the iron hooves went, the weak resistance of towns and villages along the way was crushed in an instant, leaving only broken walls and towering demonic fire, which swept the cries and bloody stench into the biting wind of the northern frontier.

But this destructive torrent has no intention of lingering over any scorched earth.

A deeper, more intense greed, like venom, surged and burned in the blood of every wolf demon, driving them to rush south at an almost frenzied speed.

In the towering city of Mizhou ahead, there are stockpiles of grain as large as mountains and enough weapons to arm a large army!

For the Snow Wolf Kingdom, born in harsh conditions and yearning for warmth and sustenance, this was a divinely bestowed treasure that could drive the entire tribe mad.

However, what truly made the Snow Wolf King and his leaders' blood boil and nearly tremble was another message that the wolf scouts risked their lives to bring back—

Jiang Xingzhou, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue of the Great Zhou Dynasty who plotted to ambush and kill the Seventh Prince, bringing great shame to the entire Snow Wolf Kingdom, is now actually in Mizhou City!

"Ouch——!"

The Snow Wolf King roared to the sky, its voice tearing through the twilight, filled with long-suppressed hatred and a sudden burst of ecstasy. "Heaven has not abandoned me, the Snow Wolf! Not only has it bestowed upon me a granary, but it has also personally delivered its enemy! Good! Excellent!"

The eldest prince's eyes were bloodshot, and his sharp claws dug deep into the frozen earth with extreme excitement: "Father! When we conquer Mizhou, we must not only seize its grain and fodder, but also cut off Jiang Xingzhou's head, and use his blood to pay tribute to our seventh brother!"

"Avenge the Seventh Prince!"

"Let Jiang Xingzhou's life be used to wipe away our national shame!"

"Conquer Mizhou, and settle accounts for both wealth and blood feuds!"

The wolves were completely enraged. The arrogance brought by conquering Iron Mountain City, combined with the stimulation of their desire for revenge, pushed their fighting spirit to its peak.

Fate had already bound the greatest spoils of war to the most hated enemy, delivering them before their sharp teeth. Compared to Jiang Xingzhou's head and the mountain of wealth, everything else had long since become insignificant.

As for the city's defender, it was the newly appointed Prefect of Mizhou, Xue Chonghu, the hereditary Duke of Xue of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The Snow Wolf King scoffed.

A family of military commanders? Descendants of noble families?
It may have some ability, but in its view, the Great Zhou has been at peace for too long, and these noble sons have long lost their fighting spirit, so there are probably not many elite soldiers under its command.

The ease with which it conquered Tieshan City further convinced it of this.

Several days later, billowing smoke signals announced that a massive army was at the city gates.

The Snow Wolf King reined in his roaring ice wolf mount, gazing at the distant horizon where the city silhouetted against the setting sun resembled a lurking beast, its crimson glow casting an ominous radiance.

“Woo—ah—!”

The order to attack transformed into a penetrating wolf howl. The surging black tide finally came to an abrupt halt dozens of miles from the city, and began to spread along the terrain into a vast, menacing camp, with soaring demonic energy stirring up the wind and clouds.

The Snow Wolf King surveyed his restless subordinates, his voice growing increasingly low and hoarse with suppressed bloodlust: "The entire army, set up camp, eat your fill, and prepare for battle! Send out all scouts and, like shadows, keep the four gates of Mizhou pinned down. We must not let Jiang Xingzhou escape!"
When the sun rises tomorrow, it will be time for us to smash down the city walls, seize all the provisions, and drink the blood of our enemies!

In Mizhou Prefecture, the massive city gates were already tightly closed, and the heavy iron gates slammed shut.

Above the city wall, a black flag with a golden dragon fluttered wildly in the howling north wind, its surface torn straight as iron by the wind and snow.

Behind the battlements, soldiers were densely packed, their iron armor gleaming coldly, spears and halberds standing like a forest, and bows and crossbows all nocked.

Countless gazes pierced through the wind and snow, locking onto the ever-surging, ever-approaching plume of dust on the distant horizon.

The air was filled with the smell of saltpeter and kerosene, and there was also a chilling atmosphere that could be described as "deadly".

High atop the city tower, a group of figures who held the fate of the northern border of the Great Zhou Dynasty stood leaning against the railing.

Minister of War Tang Xiujin had snow-white hair and beard, and his face was calm and still like an ancient well. Only his fingers, which were resting on the city bricks, tightened silently, revealing a hint of solemnity.

Prefect Xue Chonghu's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his body as steady as a rock, yet his eyes burned with the fierce fighting spirit of a noble duke of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The veteran Marshal Liu, gazing at the billowing smoke that almost met the dark clouds on the horizon, and the countless black dots that appeared and disappeared in the smoke like a surging tide, couldn't help but gasp, his voice trembling with barely suppressed emotion:
"One hundred thousand men... This is practically the entire nation's army! The Snow Wolf King actually dares to lead the entire nation's forces straight to the walls of my Mizhou City!"

He had guarded the border for decades and experienced countless battles, but he had never seen such a large-scale demon kingdom force penetrate deep into the heartland and besiege the mighty city before.

Jiang Xingzhou stood quietly before the crowd, his blue robe fluttering slightly in the wind, his expression as inscrutable and indifferent as ever.

Hearing Liu Laoshuai's exclamation, a faint smile played on his lips. His voice was calm, yet each word was clear and distinct, reaching the ears of every general:

"This is what it means to be blinded by greed."

"The capture of Iron Mountain City went too smoothly. Once the sweetness was tasted, the wolf demon's inherent greed and ferocity were completely aroused and could no longer be suppressed."

At this moment, even if the Snow Wolf King retained a sliver of reason, he couldn't stop the collective rage of his wolf lords and generals, who were blinded by bloodlust and only coveted the mountains of gold and silver in the city.

His gaze seemed to have traversed dozens of miles of desolate plains, reaching the Snow Wolf Kingdom's camp, where he saw the demon generals driven almost mad by greed and revenge.

"What they're after now isn't weighing the pros and cons, but rather the mountains of grain and fodder they'll get after the city falls, and..."

Jiang Xingzhou paused slightly, his tone revealing a cold sarcasm, "And what rewards and pleasure can I get in return for this head of mine!"

Tang Xiujin spoke slowly, his voice deep and steady, like a mountain: "Greedy! Order all troops to be on high alert and await the opportune moment!"

"The general will obey the order!"

The generals responded in unison, their voices echoing through the city walls.

Marshal Liu, his expression excited, bowed deeply and said in a loud voice, "Lord Jiang, please give the order on how to fight this next battle!"

Jiang Xingzhou looked up at the sky.

Dusk is falling and the setting sun is blood-red.

"The 100,000-strong army of the Wolf Kingdom had marched 800 li and were exhausted. This was the time for them to light fires, cook, and prepare a full meal and rest."

Judging from their posture, they plan to attack the city again tomorrow.

He turned his gaze to Xue Chonghu, his tone calm yet firm: "Father-in-law, would you dare to go hunting with your son-in-law?"

Upon hearing this, the city tower fell into complete silence, and even the howling north wind seemed to suddenly stop.

Out of town?

Faced with a massive army of 100,000 wolf demons stretching dozens of miles outside the city, instead of relying on the fortified city walls for defense, why not take the initiative to attack?

And it was in the evening when night was about to fall?
General Liu and his entourage exchanged bewildered glances, hardly believing their ears. This completely defied the common sense of military strategy!
However, after a brief moment of astonishment, a chilling glint suddenly flashed in Xue Chonghu's eyes!
Without the slightest hesitation, he slammed his hand on the crenellation of the city wall and laughed loudly, his voice booming like a bell.
"Hahaha! Good! Good son-in-law! What is there to be afraid of?!"

Born into a military family, he had a fighting spirit running through his veins; holding out and waiting for reinforcements was never his style.

Jiang Xingzhou's seemingly crazy suggestion hit the nail on the head regarding the combat style he most desired deep down—to take the initiative and strike first to crush the enemy's morale!
"Father-in-law, you are so generous!" Jiang Xingzhou smiled slightly, then his expression turned serious as he glanced at the generals around him who were still in shock. "We are not launching a full-scale attack. My father-in-law and I will only be leading a thousand elite cavalry."

Upon hearing this, Qingfei and Xuan Nu, who were standing to the side, simultaneously showed a fighting spirit that was eager to try.

"Lord Jiang! Absolutely not!"

Commander Liu hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade them, "You are the commander-in-chief of the three armies, and Prefect Xue is the lord of a city. Both of you are of noble birth. How can you lightly venture into dangerous territory? Outside the city, wolf demons roam the mountains and plains. If a thousand cavalry were to attack, it would be no different from sheep entering a pack of wolves!"

Upon hearing this, General Liu and his generals became even more anxious and stepped forward one after another: "Minister Jiang, Lord Xue! The smoke of war is obscuring the fields outside the city. The enemy outnumbers us, and it would be far too dangerous to send out a thousand cavalry!"

"It's alright." Jiang Xingzhou raised his hand to stop everyone's advice, his tone calm and firm. "It's just a matter of going forward for about ten miles to investigate the situation."

He looked again at the wisps of smoke rising from the wolf demon camp in the distance, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"The wolf army is exhausted from their long journey and is currently cooking their meal, so their morale is at its lowest. They would never have imagined that we would dare to leave the city at this time."

He paused briefly, then turned to Xue Chonghu, his voice carrying a hint of ruthlessness: "Besides, my father-in-law and I are not going to storm the central command tent. We are merely going to give them a 'greeting' under the cover of night to dampen their spirits."

Xue Chonghu, already brimming with fighting spirit, raised his arm and shouted: "General Liu, the city defense will be temporarily under your and Minister Tang's command! If you see any unusual movements in the enemy formation, send troops to provide support immediately! — Men! Prepare the horses! Take a thousand of my personal iron cavalry and accompany me and Lord Jiang out of the city!"

"promise!"

The messenger responded with a resounding roar and rushed down from the city wall.

Tang Xiujin remained silent throughout, only giving Jiang Xingzhou a deep look before slowly nodding.

He knew his student was meticulous and deliberate in his planning, and that this action must have a purpose. Since the operation was only taking place within a dozen miles outside the city, the risks were still manageable.

Before long, the side gate of Mizhou slowly opened a crack amidst the sound of the winch turning.

Jiang Xingzhou, his blue robes fluttering, and Xue Chonghu, fully armored and clad in helmet, longbow on his back and sword at his waist, stood side by side at the front of the army. Behind them, a thousand horsemen stood in solemn silence, their killing intent palpable. Qingfu and Xuan Nu also rode alongside, their eyes burning with intensity.

Jiang Xingzhou looked back at the city tower, nodded slightly to Tang Xiujin and the generals, and then gently spurred his horse.
"set off!"

Like an undercurrent, a thousand riders silently disappeared into the vast twilight, heading straight for the distant, sporadic camp where lights flickered and wolf howls could be faintly heard.

(End of this chapter)