Early that morning, Wei Qing led three hundred cavalry ahead, spreading out at a distance to keep watch on both sides.

Currently without horse armor, Chen Mo could only use them as light cavalry.

Afterwards, Zhang He and Hu Qiang led the logistics team and civilian workers with part of the rations and supplies following behind, then the main army followed. Chen Mo personally led over ten thousand troops in a grand procession. Liu Ze took charge of the remaining cavalry, escorting the last portion of rations, supplies, and the civilian workers transporting them.

That night, despite carrying a large amount of rations and supplies, they still hadn't left the borders of Pingting County, so they could only camp in the countryside.

Chen Mo patrolled with his personal soldiers, and when he reached Zhang He's camp, he was somewhat annoyed, and said to Sun Meng, "Bring Zhang He here."

Zhang He quickly arrived. Nowadays, he was living in the lap of luxury, having reached the pinnacle of life. Being one of Chen Mo's earliest followers, he not only received land and took a concubine but also bought a big house in the county town, living a boundlessly happy life. However, seeing Chen Mo's displeased expression made him uneasy.

"Vice General Zhang, has there been any shortage in the reward granted by this Marshal?"

Zhang He was taken aback, not knowing what this meant, he could only answer with trepidation, "No."

"Are you dissatisfied with this Marshal then?"

"No."

"Then why are you not following orders?" Chen Mo asked angrily, Sun Meng standing behind him had a dangerous glint in his eyes, unconsciously placing his hand on the knife hilt.

Zhang He's eyelid twitched, "What does Marshal Chen mean?"

"Go look at other camps and teams, are there any like yours, camping on farmland? Didn't you see the freshly tilled soil?"

Entering March, spring plowing had already begun, and fields outside the city were being tilled in preparation for sowing.

Now with all the trampling, the effort has gone to waste.

Understanding dawned on Zhang He upon hearing this, and he immediately said, "I will relocate the camp right away."

"Fortunately, planting hasn't begun yet, otherwise this Marshal would have had your head by military law; being an old soldier, you still made such a basic mistake." For this expedition, the reason Chen Mo brought Zhang He was simply that he was living too richly, somewhat forgetting himself, so Chen Mo wanted to take him along to knock some sense into him, thus replacing Han Wu.

A cold sweat broke on Zhang He's back, and he hurriedly said, "Thank you Marshal Chen for sparing me."

After leaving Zhang He's camp, with the light from his personal soldiers' torches, Chen Mo climbed a high slope and carefully overlooked the vast fields.

This was the place where he started, and he must manage it with heart.

On March 18th, each camp arrived in Quanyang County.

Liang Song of Quanyang County still hadn't dispatched troops to garrison, but scouts were present, who, upon discovering the army's entry, mounted swift horses and returned to report.

The army rested for a day in Quanyang County before continuing their march.

...

March 25th.

The area of Longmen County was indeed small, with no direction exceeding forty li, thus it could be traversed in a day, but being at the rear of Yu State, it was adequately secure.

Main hall of the Government Office backyard.

Looking at the letters coming from Hedong, Liang Song slapped his palm hard on the desk before him, which instantly shattered into pieces.

Ning Wan quickly stepped forward to tidy up, and as she bent over, it seemed as though something was about to tumble from her bosom, she softly asked, "Master, what happened?"

"According to reports from Hedong spies, the Celestial Master's Rebel Army has already launched toward Jing County, clearly aiming for Hedong. The rebel army has blocked all the roads, so Xue'er's wedding has to be postponed." Liang Song's face was sour.

Liang Xue's wedding was scheduled for April 16th.

Since Chongzhou was far from Yu State, this was the time King Chong's side needed to send people to fetch the bride.

But due to the southward advance of the Celestial Master Army, coming to fetch the bride now definitely wouldn't escape their eyes.

After all, the wedding convoy was significant, needing to transport dowries and gifts, making it hard to remain unnoticed.

With fewer people, it might have been possible to sneak through.

Upon hearing this, Ning Wan's willow-leaf brows knitted tightly, speaking softly, "How long will the delay be?"

"It won't be short, at least a half year or a year." Liang Song was distressed, and by that time, Xue'er would be nearly twenty, considered an old woman.

Ning Wan's brows tightened even more, she'd have to contend with that girl for another year or half a year?

"Report——"

Suddenly, the urgent footsteps had the two in the main hall looking outside.

Qin Lang entered in armor, which clanged with metallic friction as he moved.

"Sir, bad news, front scouts report that the rebel army from Qingzhou has moved to invade, and arrived at Quanyang County on the 18th." Qin Lang respectfully clasped his hands and declared.

Liang Song's expression altered as he moved to the map and found Quanyang County's position.

"They arrived on the 18th, it's now the 25th, if they moved quickly, they'd be at Celestial Water Town by now."

Liang Song pondered for a moment before raising his head, "Who is leading the rebel army this time? How many of them are there?"

"According to the scouts, observing through the military flags, it seems to be Chen Mo's rebel army, likely led by him, numbering no less than twenty thousand, carrying large-scale supplies, clearly prepared." Qin Lang responded.

"Him again…" Liang Song ground his teeth; Chen Mo was now a thorn in his side.

Repeatedly invading Yu State's heartland, killing his soldiers, and beheading two of his generals, escaping his grasp several times.

This year, as spring just began, he invades once more.

"Shi Meng." Liang Song called.

"Here, sir."

A tall, sturdy figure entered, his missing right ear quite conspicuous, lending him an intimidating air due to scabbing.

"Give orders, ready the troops for battle, no matter what, we can't let this rebel escape again."

"Yes, Sir."

...

On the other side, Celestial Water Town.

Standing atop the walls, Chen Mo rubbed the familiar arrow marks on the battlements, considering how many times he had come to Celestial Water Town?

Chen Mo extended his hand, seeing Xia Zhining bewildered, he said, "Bring the map."

Startled, Xia Zhining rushed to fetch the map.

"Exiting Celestial Water Town to the left, passing by Yangcheng, journeying a hundred li leads to Shiling County. To the right, fifty li leads to Zhuima City, capturing Zhuima City allows a direct path to Longmen County."

Studying the map intently, Chen Mo reflected that Yuan Youchun's division obliteration taught him that the route through Yangcheng to attack Shiling County was unfeasible, but taking Zhuima City, though Lu Yonggang had not succeeded before.

However, unlike Lu Yonggang who captured Zhuima City only to be ambushed, Yuan Youchun hadn't even breached Shiling County.

This is the advantage of battle-hardened experience — learning from failures to correct them.

"This path is..." Observing the narrow mountain pass between Yangcheng and Zhuima City on the map, Chen Mo folded the map, intending to conduct field reconnaissance: "Have Wei Qing come here."

Wei Qing quickly arrived.

"Come ride with me for a trip outside." Chen Mo mounted the Snow Dragon Steed, and along with Wei Qing, headed out of Celestial Water Town, navigating toward the mountain path.

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