The scout's words struck Yang Minggui and Xu Mu like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, causing their faces to change dramatically. Xu Mu's reaction was even stronger than Yang Minggui's, as his mighty Innate Spiritual Qi erupted from his body, lifting the reporting soldier's collar from a distance. He roared, "What did you say?!"

The reporting soldier was trembling with fear but still mustered the courage to say, "The... the East Gate has fallen, and bandits have broken into... the city."

"Crack."

The bone handle of the feather fan was directly snapped by Xu Mu, but his expression quickly calmed down. He released the reporting soldier and cupped his hands towards Yang Minggui, saying, "Commander, the situation is dire. The Celestial King Hall might be damaged by the bandits. Please quickly dispatch troops for reinforcements."

Hearing this, Yang Minggui showed a panicked expression. He left some people to guard these laborers and hurriedly led others to rush to the city's aid.

But it was already too late because the thick smoke rising was in the direction of the Celestial King Hall.

In an instant, Yang Minggui's eyes turned blood-red, knowing that a great fire could likely render his efforts futile. He roared, "Put out the fire, quickly put out the fire..."

However, the city was filled with laborers who had gone mad with killing, led by those in spy clothes, setting fires everywhere. Yang Minggui's men were also blocked and a bloody battle unfolded between the two sides.

"Die for me!" Yang Minggui was utterly frantic. The billowing thick smoke seemed to have swallowed his sanity, making him lose his mind. He directly crushed a laborer's skull with his bare hands, causing red blood and white matter to splatter.

"Fight through them." Xu Mu led three thousand heavily armored Celestial Master Army soldiers with long spears, forming a battle array, advancing towards the Celestial King Hall.

Cui Shuang knew the Celestial King Hall was like the Commander's inverse scale, so he didn't dare to slack. He swung his great saber swiftly, and the laborers before him fell one after another like wheat.

The laborers were not even a mob, each so hungry they couldn't lift their pickaxes.

Watching their fellow villagers and companions fall one after another, their hearts were filled with uncontrollable panic.

At this time, the military formation of the Celestial Master Army crashed into them. The fierce impact dealt a devastating blow to the front rows of laborers, almost wiping out the first three rows.

With just one assault, this group of laborers was defeated and scattered in all directions.

An arrow rain fell, and more fell into pools of blood one after another.

Xu Mu did not linger, taking soldiers straight to the Celestial King Hall.

Yet it was already too late. A considerable portion of the grand Celestial King Hall was almost engulfed in flames.

Yang Minggui, who arrived later, felt his heart dripping blood at the sight, but still ordered his men to extinguish the fire.

However, the fire was too fierce that pouring water was like a drop in the bucket.

During the hot autumn season, when the weather was dry, the fire spread rapidly. At this rate, it wouldn't take half an hour for the entire Celestial King Hall to be burned to the ground.

"Drip..."

At this moment, a drop of water landed on Yang Minggui's head.

He looked up and another drop quickly fell into his eyes, causing him to involuntarily close them.

Soon, the water drops... no... raindrops became more frequent.

"It's raining, Commander, it's raining." Cui Shuang raised his hand to catch the raindrops.

The gloomy sky, which had been overcast all day, now poured down heavenly rain.

The rain fell harder, gradually extinguishing the overwhelming fire.

Yet there was not a hint of a smile on the faces of Yang Minggui and Xu Mu.

Because by the deadline, the Celestial King Hall, supposed to be completed by the year's end, was now more than half destroyed. After clearing up and restarting construction, it would likely not be finished until spring next year.

"Kill, kill them all for me." Yang Minggui's anger required blood to wash it away.

Cui Shuang knew Yang Minggui was furious, dared not to stop him, glanced at Xu Mu beside him, and seeing Xu Mu remain silent, led the men to carry out the order.

"Rumble..."

A flash of lightning streaked across the sky as the rain fell harder.

A bloody massacre unfolded in Xia Lin City.

Mournful wails and screams could not be drowned out even by the thunder in the sky.

The crimson blood spilled on the ground couldn't be washed away even by the torrential rain.

Xu Mu, soaked to the skin by the rain, came to his senses and advised Yang Minggui, "Commander, we can't kill any more. If this continues, we'll have to rely on our own people to rebuild the Celestial King Hall."

It was a bit of a blessing in disguise.

The granary in the city was heavily guarded, and even with troops set in ambush in the barracks, the soldiers guarding the granary were not withdrawn, so it was spared from being burned.

...

October 15th.

A night's rain had washed Guangming County anew.

After the rain, the sun shone beautifully.

On the training ground, Chen Mo held the roster in his hand, scanned the soldiers of the Xianzhen Guard, then looked down at the roster and said, "Military law inspection, Zhao Xiao, step forward, and recite the third article of military law."

Upon hearing Chen Mo's words, an upper soldier from the Xianzhen Battalion stepped forward and recited, "In battle, if a rank soldier retreats, execute the rank soldier. If the squad leader retreats, only the squad leader will be executed. If the squad leader fights to the death and the rank soldier retreats, causing the squad leader's death, execute all rank soldiers.

If the whole team retreats, only the team leader will be executed. If the team leader fights to the death and ranks retreat first, causing the team leader's death, execute all team leaders."

"Military law article eleven," Chen Mo said.

Zhao Xiao: "Disobeying a superior officer, commands not carried out, prohibitions broken, and killing civilians for false credit... behead."

"Well recited, note that Zhao Xiao is to be rewarded with a meat meal," Chen Mo said.

A clerk behind recorded the reward accordingly.

Zhao Xiao returned to the lineup, and Chen Mo selected a few more people to recite the military law, but most were stuttering, with some completely unable to remember.

At the training ground, those soldiers who couldn't remember the military code started running laps.

"It's been a week, and there are still people who can't recite the code. I'll give you three more days. If anyone in a group can't recite it, the whole group will be punished. If any group in a squad can't recite it, the whole squad will be punished!"

Chen Mo shouted.

Some of these military codes were newly added by Chen Mo, inspired by the military discipline of Qi's Army. Since Qi Jiguang's army could adhere to it, it proves that this discipline is reasonable.

"Yes," the crowd responded.

Over the past half month, the Xianzhen Battalion has been restructured by Chen Mo. Now, the group leaders, deputy leaders, squad leaders, and squadron leaders in the battalion are all soldiers from the Divine Brave Guard.

"County Magistrate, the government gazette and urgent documents from above have arrived." At this moment, Han Wu hurriedly approached.

Chen Mo first looked at the urgent documents. These were sent from the main battlefield in Fengzhou, originating from the Celestial Master's general camp.

The letter explained that the Celestial Master was deploying forces from all four regions to reinforce Yu State.

Among the four regional forces, only one is Grand Commander, and the others are Small Commanders, totaling 80,000 troops.

Equipped with large logistics, such as catapults, siege vehicles, and bed crossbows.

The four regional forces are led by Grand Commander Lu Yonggang, with the three Small Commanders and Yang Minggui serving as deputy generals under Lu Yonggang's command.

These four regional forces are expected to arrive in Yu State by October 20th.

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, seeing this arrangement, it seems they want to capture Yu State completely before winter.

Chen Mo instructed Han Wu to notify the squadron leaders and team leaders to come to the military tent for a meeting.

While waiting, Chen Mo looked through the military government gazette.

As the name suggests, it's the internal gazette of the Celestial Master Army, recording all the happenings within the army during this period.

Compared to the court's gazette, there is a significant difference.

Take one entry as an example; the Celestial Master Army's gazette only records favorable events, with no negative reports, all victories.

The court gazette at least records some unfavorable events.

The Celestial Master Army's approach was purely to report good news, not bad.

Concerning his matters, even Chen Mo found amusement in it.

The total enemies eliminated, including captives, was just over 3,000.

But on the gazette, the numbers were doubled.

Killed 5,000 enemies, captured 6,000.

Additionally, with some flattering words, he was depicted as a fearless War God, far surpassing his actual "Sixth Grade" Martial Artist rank.

More boastful than he could be himself.

In the initial report to Yang Minggui, he only mentioned 3,000 captives.

...

On October 16th, Chen Mo received another letter from Yang Minggui.

The letter instructed Chen Mo to replace him as deputy general and join the four regional forces, with a special note explaining he had withdrawn from Yu State due to illness.

Chen Mo's mouth twitched slightly; now he needed to help him lie.

You've never been to Yu State, where does the withdrawal due to illness come from?

But Yang Minggui had given these instructions, so Chen Mo had no choice but to comply with the lie.

That afternoon, he received a letter from Lu Yonggang. The letter was addressed to Yang Minggui, inviting him to join at Quyang Town before October 20th. Who knows how Yang Minggui managed to have the letter delivered to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo took out the map and found the location of Quyang Town.

It's west of Guangming County, less than fifty li in a straight line.

However, Yu State is mountainous, with a large mountain in between, therefore, to reach Quyang Town, he must take a detour, which would take a few more days.

But overall, there's still enough time.

Early the next morning, before dawn.

In the side room of Guangming County Government Office's rear courtyard.

Chen Mo opened his eyes on time, feeling a heavy weight on his body because Xia Zhining was sleeping soundly on his chest. He tried to get up but found...

He rubbed his forehead, recalling that he was too tired last night, and it was Xia Zhining... After that...

Morning is when one's energy is at its peak.

He hugged her tightly, not wanting to get up, but he had to, as he needed to depart for Quyang to join forces today and might miss the hour if delayed.

Chen Mo took a deep breath, in the room, a sound of a wine bottle being opened followed, and Xia Zhining woke up too, dazed for a moment before suddenly pushing Chen Mo away, her face flushed.

"We've been together this long, what are you shy about?" Chen Mo kissed Xia Zhining's forehead.

"Who... who is like an old couple with you?" Xia Zhining retorted angrily.

She's not even a concubine yet, let alone an old couple.

Chen Mo had urgent matters to attend to, so he didn't tease her, patted the millstone, then got out of bed to dress and wash up.

Right at the hour, the Three Guards set off, leaving Guangming County.

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