Under the tranquil night sky, sparks flickered and danced, the streets were filled with a bloody and murderous atmosphere, the heavy silhouettes of the soldiers projected onto the city walls, and the distant sound of war drums was deep and soul-stirring.

"Stop, stop right now."

Cui Shuang, Sun Meng, and others hurriedly rushed over, urging the forces tangled in battle within the city to halt.

However, the three involved factions were already killing madly. Moreover, the laborers, seeing Cui Shuang bringing people over, thought it was another suppression effort, and thus charged even more desperately towards the outside of the city.

"Quickly, make your people stop." Sun Meng watched as more and more people fell, including members of the Three Guards, and couldn't help but urge Cui Shuang.

Cui Shuang felt his scalp tingle, quickly brought along two people to find his former subordinates, and ordered them to cease fighting.

Upon learning that the laborers had revolted again and that a three-way conflict was occurring, Cui Shuang's expression slightly changed. He quickly withdrew from the melee, saying, "General Sun... It's not working. There are not only our people on the battlefield but also the revolting laborers. We need to make both our sides stop to end this."

Sun Meng's face crumpled, but he also realized the gravity of the situation. While ordering someone back to notify Marshal Chen, he shouted, "Sound the drums and raise the command flags."

"Understood."

Soon, a rhythmic drumbeat began resounding in the city, accompanied by the continuous flapping of command flags. Zhang River, surrounded by the Divine Brave Guard, perked his ears up instantly, looking towards the direction of the sound.

The rhythm of the drumbeats and flag signals were fundamental for the Divine Brave Guard, Divine Martial Guard, and Xianzhen Guard to master. Only by mastering these could they understand the specific commands from higher-ups on a complex battlefield.

"Reform the array, quickly reform the array!" Zhang River yelled urgently, "Retreat to the city gate, switch to the Fish Scale Array."

The Fish Scale Array was a military formation used by the forces under Lu Yonggang. After his subordinate, Shao Jinneng, surrendered to Chen Mo, the Three Guards naturally learned the Fish Scale Array as well.

The Fish Scale Array concentrated its forces, was adept in attack and defense, and was primarily easy to contract, making it very suitable for the current situation.

Orders are followed without question, top-down compliance.

Following the transmission of commands, the Three Guards forces quickly retreated, forming an array at the city gate amid the melee.

"Heave!" Shield Soldiers were at the front, raising their shields for defense, while Long Spear Soldiers behind them thrust their spears through the gaps between shields.

With the beats of the drum changing again upfront, accompanied by flag signals, Zhang River promptly ordered, "Ceasefire, defend."

"Hooah!"

"Hooah!"

"Hooah!"

The Three Guards blocked the city gate, shouting in unison, their powerful momentum intimidating everyone from approaching.

Cui Shuang jumped onto a rooftop as he was having the Celestial Master Army soldiers stop. When he saw the orderly and disciplined Three Guards, his entire body couldn't help but shudder.

In these people, he saw the shadow of the Qingzhou Army of the past.

In contrast to the Three Guards' cessation, the Celestial Master Army had much more trouble. It wasn't until Cui Shuang killed more than a dozen people that they finally stopped.

The three sides each held their ground, all showing heavy and panicked expressions.

Sun Meng sent people back to report and encountered Su Wen. Several people returned along the same route.

...

Inside the warehouse, based on Chen Mo's experience, he estimated that these weapons could arm at least five thousand troops, though the only shortfall was armor. If they had armor, it wouldn't just be about making a small fortune—it'd be like a poor young man inheriting a billionaire fortune.

But this was also normal, as even the regular army of the Court found it difficult to fully equip with armor, let alone the Celestial Master Army.

"Marshal Chen, bad news." At this moment, Su Wen rushed into the warehouse, arriving in front of Chen Mo.

"What's wrong?" Chen Mo frowned.

Su Wen glanced at Zheng Guozhu and then whispered into Chen Mo's ear.

"Get a few carts, load them with Copper Coins, and follow me to reassure the citizens." After pondering for a while, Chen Mo looked at the abundant weapons in the warehouse and made his decision.

"Understood."

Soon, Su Wen found four carts and loaded up the warehouse's Copper Coins, stowed in baskets, filling all four carts.

"Su Wen, you stay here with a few people to keep watch. You, come with me." Chen Mo finished instructing, pointing at Zheng Guozhu.

"... Understood." Zheng Guozhu quickly agreed.

...

At the East Gate, the three factions were still in a standoff. Zhang River, standing on high, was mimicking Chen Mo's approach to pacifying the populace, comforting the citizens.

Chen Mo arrived at the east gate of the city, first heading to the Celestial King Hall, bringing along Yang Minggui's head, and then, under Zheng Guozhu's guidance, reached the East Gate.

Chen Mo rode at the forefront, with Zheng Guozhu trailing half a step behind.

Behind them were four carts loaded with Copper Coins, the carriages dismantled, and the baskets of Copper Coins caught everyone's attention.

The area around the East Gate was densely built; the recent chaotic battle had left the place in ruins, with a few houses even catching a raging fire.

Under the reflection of the firelight, Zhang River spotted Chen Mo and said to everyone, "This is our Marshal Chen. Rest assured, our Marshal Chen is not a person who kills indiscriminately; on the contrary, he has compassion for everyone.

Know Pingting County, right? It's under Marshal Chen's governance. To date, it has accepted tens of thousands of citizens, allowing them to live new, stable lives.

Now that Marshal Chen is here, whatever demands you have, you can tell Marshal Chen."

With that, Zhang River squeezed through the crowd and approached Chen Mo, speaking with a hint of nervousness, "Marshal Chen, are you alright? We've been blocked here and can't get in at all."

Chen Mo waved his hand: "I'm fine."

Zhang River breathed a sigh of relief.

Cui Shuang saw Chen Mo coming over and quickly said to the Celestial Master Army soldiers: "Now that Marshal Yang and the Military Advisor have died, from now on Marshal Chen will be our Commander-in-Chief. Why are you standing there, hurry and salute Marshal Chen."

The soldiers of the Celestial Master Army looked at each other upon hearing this, some were bewildered, but seeing the Three Guards soldiers watching fiercely and the rebelling laborers opposite, they quickly knelt on one knee facing Chen Mo:

"Greetings, Marshal Chen!"

The voices of several thousand people echoed together, causing the faces of the laborers to change greatly, they were filled with fear, realizing these people were also Celestial Master Army, allied with Xia Lin City.

Each one of them immediately showed panic.

Chen Mo stepped forward, gestured, and a Personal Soldier tossed Yang Minggui's head in front of the laborers.

Chen Mo had already understood roughly what had happened to the laborers and loudly said: "I know you were forced, first oppressed and exploited by the Court, then this man, for personal gain, built the Celestial King Hall for pleasure, and enslaved you. Now he has met his fate, you are liberated."

When his words fell, the bodies of the laborers trembled, but they didn't fully believe Chen Mo's words. Previously, whenever they were suppressed, Yang Minggui would deceive them with good words, only to become even more tyrannical once things settled down.

They worried Chen Mo would do the same.

"I understand your disbelief, I empathize with you, but I, Chen Mo, swear here to grant you freedom. Not only that, I will give each of you one thousand coins. After receiving the money, you may leave."

After speaking, Chen Mo clapped his hands, and the Personal Soldiers behind him moved baskets of Copper Coins down from the carts.

Following Chen Mo's indication, the baskets were poured in front of the laborers.

"Divine Brave Guard, Divine Martial Guard, Xianzhen Guard, hear orders." Chen Mo called out loudly, and the Personal Soldiers below passed the message down.

"Open up the city gate." Chen Mo continued.

The Three Guards soldiers followed orders, quickly dismantled the Fish Scale Array, and opened up a path.

"Alright, line up properly, each person claims one thousand Copper Coins, then you may leave from here." Chen Mo said.

Crash!

Chen Mo's action instantly caused the laborers to explode in chatter, none could believe it, filled with shock and doubt.

Yet none dared to move.

Seeing everyone stunned in place, Zhang River slightly frowned and shouted: "What are you waiting for, hurry up and take the money and leave. Marshal Chen shows compassion for you, don't be ungrateful."

"Watch your words." Chen Mo frowned and kicked over.

But the kick on Zhang River didn't hurt at all.

After hearing his words, the organizers of the rebellion among the laborers exchanged glances, then stepped forward one by one, picked up one thousand coins from the pile, and walked towards the city gate.

Seeing several people leave the city without hindrance, the laborers stirred, beginning to line up orderly, take the money and leave.

"Go, these Copper Coins are not enough, bring more from the storeroom." Chen Mo ordered Sun Meng.

"Understood." Sun Meng called Zheng Guozhu to lead the way.

After all the laborers left with one thousand coins, Zhang River couldn't help but say: "Marshal Chen, just letting them go like this, isn't the money spent for nothing."

Previously when money was given, it was either to recruit soldiers, hire workers to develop the county, or increase population.

But now, ten thousand coins are given out, yet nothing is gained, the people have left.

"One must look far ahead." Chen Mo gazed into the distance outside the city.

The Qingzhou Army was harmed enough by the Celestial Master Army.

Those captured by Yang Minggui to be laborers basically had their families ruined, now leaving with nowhere to go, giving them money, they still have nowhere to spend it in Qingzhou.

Even if they could, one thousand coins wouldn't last long.

In the end, they will most likely go to Ping Court or Qingtian.

Rather than forcefully making them join him, let them come willingly instead.

The effect of this is vastly different.

After dealing with the laborers, the next step was to count casualties and organize the army.

By now, even without Chen Mo's directive, Sun Meng and the others knew how to incorporate the captives.

It's simply dispersing and merging them into the Xianzhen Guard.

This siege resulted in over a thousand casualties on Chen Mo's side, mainly losses in the Xianzhen Guard, Personal Guard Team had dozens of deaths and injuries.

For this trip to Xia Lin, Chen Mo brought eight thousand men, leaving more than six thousand seven hundred.

However, by incorporating these Celestial Master Army soldiers, the force can quickly expand to over eleven thousand.

By noon the next day, the inventory work in the storeroom was initially completed.

There were over six thousand each of Long Spears and Ring-Headed Sabers, one thousand two hundred Strong Bows, fifty thousand Arrow, eleven Catapults, three Siege Vehicles, thirty-six Crossbow Carriages.

Fifty-three ten thousand coins of Copper Coins.

The grain currently counted was twenty-one ten thousand stone, still being tallied.

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