When Song Min brought the hot water, Chen Mo had already finished building the snowman, which was simply two balls stacked together.

While building the snowman, Chen Mo even found some childhood joy.

"Brother Mo, the hot water is here." Song Min walked over with a wooden basin, steam still rising from it.

Not only did she bring hot water, but also some toiletries for Chen Mo.

Chen Mo asked Song Min to place the wooden basin on the ground, then he scooped a cup of clean hot water to set aside, tested the water temperature, added some snow, and said, "Put your hands out."

Song Min obediently stretched out her hands, her fingers red and swollen from playing in the snow.

Chen Mo grabbed her hands and placed them into the basin.

"Ah, it tickles..." Song Min instinctively wanted to pull her hands back, but Chen Mo held them.

"Soak them for a while longer, your hands are swollen, play less with snow, or they'll get frostbite." Chen Mo wasn't joking, as frostbite was common among the people at the bottom.

Song Min quieted down, looking at Chen Mo's profile, her face slightly flushed, and her big eyes turned into crescent moons.

"Alright, you can soak them on your own now."

Chen Mo, having no inappropriate thoughts towards the young girl, stood up and went to wash up.

Neighbors gradually began to wake up and upon seeing Chen Mo, greeted him warmly and respectfully, calling him Immortal Master Chen or County Magistrate.

Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, along with the indoor temperature rising, causing the snow on the roof to melt into droplets, eventually gathering into streams and dripping like rain from the rooftop.

Chen Mo found a handy hunting bow and brought bundles of feathered arrows to the back mountain, starting to shoot swiftly.

Chen Mo's goal was to shoot a thousand arrows a day, so that by spring, the Cloud-Chasing Arrow could break Tier, which would not be a problem.

With increasing strength, Chen Mo's physique and endurance naturally improved a lot, allowing him not to tire quickly after shooting for a while.

The morning hours flew by like arrows leaving the bow, never to return, passing in the blink of an eye.

...

Several days later.

December 8th.

The followers of the Celestial Master arrived in Quanyang County on the 4th, officially appointing Chen Mo as one of the Thirty-Six Commanders, replacing Song Niu, as Small Commander, with the territory Song Niu formerly managed in Qingzhou also handed over to Chen Mo.

Since Chen Mo wasn't in Quanyang County, it was Sun Meng who assisted him with the appointment, finding a reason for Chen Mo to be deep in Yu State scouting for news, sending away the Celestial Master's followers, and immediately heading to Pingting County.

Thus, Chen Mo found out about it four days later on the 8th.

After reading the letter, Chen Mo immediately gave Sun Meng the order to withdraw the troops.

Letting Sun Meng bring back the troops from Quanyang County and station them in Qingtian County, where the residential houses are nearly built, some can be allotted as military camps.

As for Song Niu's former territory, it was mostly ravaged by Song Niu's army.

Chen Mo initially didn't care, but suddenly thought of something.

The Celestial Master Army mostly lacks a base, so when these troops move, they carry their property with them.

But in Celestial Water Town.

Chen Mo only found Lu Yonggang's property.

Yet, the properties of people like Song Niu, Li Gan, and Huang Da were nowhere to be seen.

So, Chen Mo had reason to suspect that their property was likely hidden in their previous territories.

Thinking of that, Chen Mo immediately instructed Li Yunzhang, Wei Qing, Lu Yuan, and Hu Qiang, each to lead two hundred men, to inspect Song Niu's territory in Qingzhou and if Song Niu's property was found, bring it back intact.

...

December 10th.

Hedong Region.

The Loyalist Army had a total of twenty-one forces, of course, the leaders of these twenty-one forces were well-known figures of the Great Song Dynasty, if counting those unknown as well, there would be over fifty forces.

The largest force, of course, belonged to Prince Huai, not only having the most soldiers but also the most supporters, with the Seven Great Noble Families, Xiao and Liang families openly supporting Prince Huai.

The smallest force had only one or two hundred soldiers.

And today, Lu Sheng, who had originally surrendered to the generals of the Loyalist Army, previously a confidant general of Xu Guozhong, unexpectedly rebelled again, collaborating with a force from the Loyalist Army bought by Xu Guozhong, suddenly attacking the left flank army of Prince Huai.

Such a sudden event was unexpected by everyone, during this mid-winter period where everyone was supposed to cease fighting, Xiao Chongrong leading the left flank army had no preparation, the military formation in chaos, despite other flank armies responding swiftly and rushing to aid, still allowed the opponent to kill Xiao Chongrong and break through.

As of this, since the establishment of the Great Song Dynasty, Xiao Chengren became the highest-ranking general killed on the battlefield.

Xiao Chengren was the Court's General of Cavalry, a Third-Grade Martial Artist, Prince Huai's brother-in-law, and the future Patriarch of the Xiao Family.

Prince Huai was furious upon hearing the news, in his rage, he disregarded the rear, gathering the army to fight against the shamelessly treacherous Lu Sheng.

Despite his rage, Prince Huai had a political mind, knowing many surrendered officials and generals were watching to see how he would handle Lu Sheng.

If handled poorly, the impact would be very adverse.

Moreover, Xiao Chengren was not only his confidant but also his brother-in-law, if revenge was not sought, it would chill the hearts of his subordinates.

Therefore, this battle must be fought well, and Lu Sheng must die.

Meanwhile, Zhao Hongsen fleeing towards the southeast of Hedong was both enraged and frustrated.

Zhao Hongsen's force was the one bought by Xu Guozhong, part of the Loyalist Army, also Xiao Chengren's deputy general, responsible for the left flank.

"I told you to capture him alive, who told you to kill him? Do you know who he is? Damn it, now you've gotten me killed." Zhao Hongsen angrily shouted at Lu Sheng beside him, now thoroughly offending Prince Huai and the Xiao Family.

"Xiao Chengren is a Third-Grade Martial Artist, not some powerless woman, he's not so easy to capture alive." Lu Sheng, mounted on a tall horse over eight feet in height, clad in a brown-red battle robe, tall and large-framed, with a face like powdered white and a nose like jade, wasn't in a great mood either.

Muttering to himself, even as a Third-Grade Martial Artist, he couldn't last ten rounds against me, a flower pillow.

Lu Sheng, highly skilled in martial arts, was Xu Guozhong's top warrior, and for this reason, Prince Huai cherished talent, seeing Lu Sheng surrendered, wanted to set an example, didn't kill him, yet unknowingly raised a tiger.

Zhao Hongsen knew the fact already occurred, yelling wouldn't change it, he was merely venting his frustration.

He said, "Now we are being besieged on three sides, it's possible to be blocked by Prince Huai in the northeast of Hedong, do you have a way to breakout?"

"Hmm, a bunch of self-promoting fools, once my divine power displays, they'll fall under my Heaven-piercing Halberd, relax, with me here, we can break through safely, reaching the south is the Prime Minister's territory, then we'll be safe." Lu Sheng said.

Zhao Hongsen felt slightly reassured seeing Lu Sheng's confidence, after all, Xiao Chengren of the Xiao Family wasn't even his match.

Three days later.

The two were still slower than needed, surrounded on three sides by the Loyalist Army, Zhao Hongsen had thought Lu Sheng would cover their escape.

Unexpectedly, Lu Sheng left him, fleeing with his troops.

Zhao Hongsen was stunned, faced with Prince Huai's furious wrath, intending to surrender, only to be slashed by Prince Huai's sword, blood pouring out, his corpse would also turn into nourishment for cultivating Blood Ginseng.

Zhao Hongsen's force, originally one of the twenty-one routes in the Loyalist Army, might have become a powerful figure, now became a skeleton.

Despite Lu Sheng escaping with his troops, Prince Huai's army pursued closely.

To survive, Lu Sheng abandoned his troops, fleeing single-handedly, escaping the Loyalist Army's pursuit.

Prince Huai, enraged, issued a bounty, whoever slays Lu Sheng can bring his head to exchange for a high position, ten thousand gold coins, and a hundred ten-year Blood Ginseng.

...

Chen Mo was still unaware of the events in Hedong.

The soldiers stationed at the city gate exhaled mist, rubbing their hands, slowly turning the winch to lift the Thousand-Pound Gate.

As the city gate opened, a fast horse galloped out, heading straight towards Fu Ze Village.

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