At the beginning, for at least the first quarter-hour, according to Chen Mo's standards, over eight thousand Celestial Master Army warriors could still stand like statues on the training ground without collapsing.

But as time passed, suddenly some began to feel dizzy and lightheaded, with a tightness in the chest, making it hard to hold on and causing them to fidget a bit.

However, as soon as they moved, Divine Brave Guards walking around with their sheathed swords immediately struck at them with the scabbards, making the fidgeting Celestial Master Army warriors jump around in pain.

"Stand still, all of you." The Divine Brave Guard acting as their instructor barked a stern order.

Soon, another quarter-hour passed, and more people began to falter.

Although they were all farmers, and farm work was much harder than this, they were currently malnourished and weak, with sallow faces and lean figures, so standing with a straight back and tight abdomen was understandably uncomfortable at first.

As long as they did not incite those around them or abandon their duties, at most they would suffer some physical discomfort.

"Alright, everyone rest where you are for a quarter-hour, relieve yourselves if you need to, drink water if you need to, and continue after the break." Chen Mo sounded the gong, giving the entire army a break.

The crowd immediately felt liberated, and amid cheers, they relaxed in the most comfortable positions, some pounding their legs, others drinking water.

The instructors who were responsible for their training took the opportunity to jot down the names of the Celestial Master Army warriors who stood the best and did not move at all earlier.

Soon, after resting for a quarter-hour, they stood up again.

Still stood for three quarters of an hour, rested for one quarter of an hour.

This time, those who held out last time did not hold out this time, and the instructors marked a check and a circle after their names.

Those who held out both times had two checks marked.

Those who did not hold out at all were not recorded.

Time ticked away between the breaths of everyone, and as noon approached, the aroma of food filled the entire training ground.

The Divine Brave Guards pushed carts with dozens of food barrels to the front of the training ground.

Chen Mo slowly stepped onto the high platform and, after glancing around at everyone, struck the copper gong behind him.

Now, to them, the sound of the gong meant rest, and they immediately stopped standing, and the previously orderly ranks suddenly became disordered.

"Silence!" The instructors, knowing Chen Mo was about to speak, hurriedly called for quiet.

When everyone quieted down, Chen Mo began, "I believe you all see it now, yes, these barrels contain food, not only dry rice and tree roots but also pickles and meat soup."

As soon as he said this, all eyes locked onto the dozens of wooden barrels in front, eyes gleaming, mouths watering.

"However," Chen Mo emphasized the however, "the meat soup and dry rice are not for everyone. Only those who held out all morning are eligible to eat dry rice, tree roots, pickles, and meat soup. Those who held out once, get only dry rice and tree roots, no pickles or meat soup. Those who held out two or three times, get the addition of pickles. Those who did not hold out at all, only get thin gruel and tree roots."

As soon as these words fell, the crowd was shaken, looking at each other.

But soon, those who held out completely began cheering and told their comrades nearby, "I held out, I held out all the way, I can eat dry rice and meat soup."

"Me too."

"I only held out twice, so I only get dry rice, tree roots, and pickles."

"..."

The crowd started to stir.

And some who had been lazy, thinking they could take advantage and laughing at those standing dutifully, now had a change of expression.

While some who had held out three times but slacked off the last time now felt deeply regretful.

No meat soup.

Thinking of the delicious meat soup from last night, they couldn't help but want to give themselves a slap.

And more were lucky, thinking Chen Mo did not know how many times they actually held out, so they could just argue they held out completely.

However, what happened next extinguished their notion.

With Chen Mo's command, "Everyone who held out, step forward."

The instructors immediately took out their notebooks and read the names of those with four checks marked.

It was then that they realized every move had been recorded by the instructors.

People fear comparison.

Those drinking thin gruel watched those not as good as them now eating dry rice, pickles, and even mixing meat soup with rice, feeling envious yet determined to drink it themselves come evening.

Comparison between friends.

Comparison between fellow villagers.

Chen Mo, satisfied, looked at the crowd before him, knowing that only by dividing them into different tiers can they become "vain" and thus motivated, ensuring not everyone is treated equally.

Only when everything is nearly equal can true fairness be achieved.

...

In the afternoon, while all the Celestial Master Army warriors were standing in queue, a convoy of about three hundred people left Celestial Water Town through the back gate.

The convoy was carrying strings of copper coins.

Simultaneously, Chen Mo sent a pigeon message to Geng Songfu, instructing him to send someone to meet them as soon as he received the letter.

What Chen Mo did not know was that, after the lesson at Zhuima City, Liang Song had dispatched scouts through the mountains, sneaking to the back of Celestial Water Town, keeping watch.

This way, whether Chen Mo withdrew troops or the Celestial Master Army sent reinforcements again, Liang Song could know everything clearly.

Of course, being able to sneak to the back of Celestial Water Town without being detected meant the scouts were naturally few in number, so they did not have the strength to intercept the convoy leaving the city.

They could only send someone back to deliver the news from here.

...

Yangcheng.

The night was as cool as water.

In the main hall of the government office, several fire basins were burning. Liang Song lifted an iron pot from one of the fire basins and poured the hot water into a wooden basin with some cold water.

Liang Song took a silver cup, poured some strong liquor into it, and finally placed the silver basin into the wooden basin to warm the liquor through the water.

During this process, Liang Song sat down and dealt with the day's military affairs.

At this moment, Shi Meng hurried in, the armor leaves on him clashing and creating the sound of metal.

"Master, scouts ahead report that a convoy of about three hundred people has left from behind Celestial Water Town. According to the scouts, the horses pulling the wagon seem strained, likely transporting some supplies." Shi Meng handed the scout's report to Liang Song and shared his guess:

"Master, do you think this group of rebel army intends to escape?"

Liang Song casually finished reading the scout's report, then picked up the silver cup from the wooden basin, sipped the warm strong liquor, and felt instantly warmed, saying:

"This number of people can only transport some private goods, but you're right, this group of rebel army is likely trying to escape."

"Should we..." Shi Meng gestured with his hand.

"Don't the rebel army have winter clothing?" Liang Song suddenly asked.

Shi Meng was taken aback, then said: "According to scout reports, the rebel army defending the city wall is still dressed rather lightly."

"How about our warriors?"

"Warm clothing has been distributed to every warrior."

"Then there's no hurry." Liang Song looked at the night outside and said: "If they retreat within a week, we'll let them leave."

"What if they don't retreat?"

"If they don't retreat, it would be great. The weather is getting colder, and without winter clothes, how many of the rebel army can last? We can take Celestial Water Town without much effort then."

Liang Song drank the strong liquor in one gulp. Currently, the weather is not too cold, and attacking the city now would meet prepared rebel army, Celestial Water Town being a key town would result in severe casualties even if taken.

Now they have the advantage of time and can afford to wait.

...

Three days later.

November eighteenth.

"Haven't they retreated yet?"

Xia Zhining raised her hand, tiny snowflakes settled on her palm, appearing transparent, slowly melting as the cold wind roared past her ear; she looked at the young man on the city head with silver-like hair, whispering softly.

"Sigh." A wisp of white mist escaped from Chen Mo's mouth, then he glanced at the attribute panel.

[Name: Chen Mo.]

[Cultivation Technique: Purple Sun Transformation Skill (Proficient 8249.9/10000).]

[Realm: Qi Absorption (Fifth Grade).]

[Power: 712.]

[Skills: Great Sun Qi Slash (Basic 2334580/5000000), Cloud-Chasing Arrow (Advanced 94321/200000).]

"Retreat." Chen Mo turned around and said.

Retreat requires strategy; it can't all happen at once, there must be someone to cover the rear.

Under Chen Mo's arrangement, after noon, the Divine Martial Guard took three camps and escorted the provisions to withdraw from Celestial Water Town first.

At night, the Xianzhen Guard led two more camps to retreat.

The next day, Celestial Water Town had only the Divine Brave Guard and three camps of Celestial Master Army soldiers left.

Chen Mo left two camps covering the rear, instructing them to wait an hour before retreating, leaving Liu Ze and Su Wu in charge; he also left with the Divine Brave Guard and one camp from Celestial Water Town.

An hour later, based on Chen Mo's instructions, Liu Ze specially opened the city gates and then left with Su Wu and two camps from Celestial Water Town.

By the afternoon that day, Liang Song arrived with the Profound Leopard Cavalry three miles outside Celestial Water Town.

Scouts observing from outside reported: "Master, there's no longer any defending army on the city walls. Brothers behind the city say rebel troops withdrew both from noon yesterday and last night, totaling about six thousand.

This morning, two more groups retreated, also totaling around six thousand."

Liang Song nodded, glad he held his impatience and didn't choose to attack aggressively. With twelve thousand defending, he wasn't sure he could take the city with what he had.

"Send someone into the city to check for ambushes."

"Yes."

A dozen riders galloped off, heading straight towards Celestial Water Town.

As these men left.

"Tatatata."

A rush of hoofbeats sounded from behind Liang Song.

"Report—"

Whether from cold or urgency, the rider fell off his horse before reaching Liang Song, ignoring the pain to hobble up before him and handed him the urgent report:

"Master, bad news, Fengzhou has fallen, Luo Guang has led the rebel army main force across the river."

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