Inside the camp tent.

Xia Zhining looked at the map on the table. On the map, there were routes drawn by Chen Mo, but the routes were based on the thoughts in Chen Mo's mind. Therefore, those who did not understand the intention might find the map somewhat chaotic.

Lying on the wooden bunk and reading the military books was Chen Mo, who said, "Hey, when exactly do you plan to attack the city? We can't outlast them."

The military book in Chen Mo's hand belonged to Xia Zhining.

It should be noted that military books can't be bought on the market. What can be bought are only some well-known military strategies, and they are too superficial.

But these military books of Xia Zhining, to commanders eager to improve, are like a wine-lover seeing fine wine, definitely worthy of being treasured.

These military books also brought Chen Mo great benefit; every time he read them, he gained new insights.

"No rush. Liang Song is most adept at strategy and being overly cautious. We can't break through from the front, we must proceed slowly and see how it goes." Chen Mo was not in a hurry.

On the night of April 5th.

Zhang River led a team of laborers out of Celestial Water Town.

Zhang River had the team of laborers all wearing battle armor, each carrying one or two torches, heading towards Zhuima City.

Shortly after Zhang River left, Hu Qiang also led a team of laborers out of Celestial Water Town. This team also wore battle armor and deliberately made a loud show of force.

Chen Mo knew to send people to infiltrate the rear of the Yu State Army.

Liang Song, being someone with seasoned strategies, would naturally do the same.

The scouts of the Yu State Army saw teams heading toward Zhuima City and their expressions changed slightly. Due to the distance and the darkness, they couldn't see clearly, and could only estimate by approximation that these two teams consisted of two to three thousand people each.

"Not good, the rebel army sent reinforcements, quickly report back to the General."

...

Meanwhile, on the walls of Celestial Water Town.

A larger gust of night wind swept by, causing a guard standing on the wall to suddenly collapse.

A nearby soldier was startled, looked around, and quickly helped up the fallen "guard." Upon closer inspection, one would find this guard was actually a straw dummy.

Liang Song received the scout's report on the morning of the sixth.

The rebel army had reinforcements at midnight the previous night, numbering about five thousand people, carrying supplies.

Liang Song furrowed his brows immediately.

It was at this moment that Shi Meng hurriedly entered, holding a letter of war in his hand, saying, "Sir, the rebel army has sent us another battle challenge, asking us to come out and engage in battle with them."

Shi Meng handed the war letter to Liang Song.

After reading it, Liang Song thought of the scout's report; the rebels added five thousand troops, clearly a tactic to lure the enemy.

"Ignore it." Liang Song's fingers lightly tapped the table. Even if the rebels didn't have reinforcements, he wouldn't fight outside the city; abandoning the city to fight outside was something only a fool would do.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

Suddenly, the sound of drums rolled outside again, and the rebel army started another challenge.

Liang Song became more convinced of his thoughts.

That afternoon, Chen Mo launched another feigned attack, with catapults assisting. This time they didn't throw fire bombs but stone bullets.

Liang Song naturally wouldn't sit and do nothing, and also responded with catapults from within the city.

However, one side was outside the city and the other inside.

The amount of stone bullets Liang Song stored would undoubtedly not outlast Chen Mo's.

Chen Mo also had more catapults.

On the night of the sixth, Chen Mo launched a night raid, this time a genuine attack on the city.

Half an hour later, Chen Mo ordered the troops to retreat; in this attack, a thousand Xianzhen Guards were killed or wounded.

The Yu State Army inside the city also suffered casualties.

On the night of the seventh, almost all the laborers and logistics teams in Celestial Water Town were mobilized, leaving only a few hundred, creating a false image.

Seeing this scene, Liang Song's scouts hurriedly reported back in fear.

On the morning of the eighth, after receiving the news, Liang Song frowned tightly and said, "It seems the rebel army is getting impatient and wants a full-scale assault on the city. Send someone quickly back to Shiling County to dispatch five thousand troops here for reinforcement."

"Yes, sir."

A swift horse darted out from the rear gate of Zhuima City.

Lying on the hilltop, disguised as simple villagers, Wei Qing and Sun Meng witnessed this scene. The two exchanged glances, and Sun Meng quickly sent a personal soldier back to report.

Upon receiving the news, Chen Mo's eyes lit up slightly, "Liang Song is finally getting restless, issue orders to sweep and clear enemy scouts around the camp."

"Yes, sir." Liu Ze received the order and retreated.

...

April 20th.

Just over ten days left till the Beginning of Summer, with temperatures rising significantly, Wei Qing, Sun Meng, and others lay on the hilltop, each wearing a grass ring on their heads, sweating under the blazing sun.

"Captain, have some water." A personal soldier handed over a water bag.

Sun Meng took the water bag and gulped down a few mouthfuls before handing it to Wei Qing, who was about to take it when a swarm of hundreds of cavalry appeared on the distant horizon, followed by a large, dense mass of shadows.

Wei Qing quickly ducked down a bit to avoid being discovered.

This mass of shadows took a long time to pass by the foot of the hill.

Sun Meng's face changed drastically, "This is bad, enemy reinforcements are coming."

"We need to report back to Marshal Chen quickly." Wei Qing looked at Sun Meng and said, "Captain Sun, you are a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist, you're fast, you should personally return to report."

Sun Meng nodded.

...

The wilderness five miles outside Zhuima City.

"Whoosh!"

Chen Mo released his fingers, like a dragon rising from the sea, ready to strike. In an instant, the arrow left the string like a shooting star chasing the moon, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. In a flash, a pine tree as thick as a thigh, standing two hundred paces away, had a hole as wide as an arm pierced through it, followed by cracks spreading around the hole.

"Crack..." The pine tree fell with a sound, stirring up a cloud of dust.

[Name: Chen Mo.]

[Age: 18.]

[Cultivation Technique: Purple Sun Transformation Skill (Mastery 43312.8/50000).]

[Realm: Transcendence (Fourth Grade).]

[Power: 1333+99.]

[Skills: Great Sun Qi Slash (Basic 2719681/5000000), Sun-Shooting Arrow (Basic 13/1000000).]

Chen Mo glanced at his system panel.

His Cloud-Chasing Arrow had broken through to Sun-Shooting Arrow.

The additional power of the bow had surged from the original 56 to the current 99.

And the lock-on aiming range had also increased to two hundred paces.

"Marshal Chen, Divine Shooter!" Cui Shuang, momentarily stunned, immediately stepped forward to compliment.

"Captain, you're back."

At this moment, the voice of a personal soldier rang out.

Chen Mo turned his head to see Sun Meng rushing over and stopping about three feet in front of him, respectfully saying, "Marshal Chen, a batch of troops arrived at Zhuima City on the morning of April 20th. I suspect this is Liang Song's reinforcements, numbering over four thousand."

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow and extended his hand holding the bow to the side. Cui Shuang hurriedly took it, while Xia Zhining, a step slower, retracted her foot.

Chen Mo looked at Xia Zhining, "Issue an order for all squad leaders and above to come to the tent for a meeting."

...

April 22nd.

The Three Guards launched another night raid on Zhuima City.

This time it was again a feigned attack.

During the feint, Chen Mo, accompanied by Sun Meng and Xia Zhining, led the Divine Brave Guard and the Divine Martial Guard, over six thousand troops in total, retreating from the camp, bypassing Yangcheng, and then straight toward Shiling County.

In the camp, all Xianzhen Guards remained, with Cui Shuang, Liu Ze, Zhang River, and others in charge, acting according to Chen Mo's instructions.

In the mountain forest outside Yangcheng, Liang Song's scouts were stationed to prevent any troops from passing through, enabling the scouts to report in advance.

At this moment, the scouts saw a large fire in the distance, resembling a dragon.

This sight made the eyes of the two stationed scouts bulge wide open.

Both were Grade-Entering Martial Artists, since becoming a scout required greater strength than ordinary people.

"Boss, that seems like the rebel army," said one scout.

"It's the rebel army, quick... whoosh, thud..."

Just as the scout turned to mount his horse to report back, a feathered arrow flew from nearby, striking him down from the horse, where he died on the ground.

The other scout was just about to flee when another feathered arrow came, piercing through his back.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

The dull sound of horse hooves echoed, and a white warhorse appeared in the scene. If the two scouts were still alive, they could see that the four hooves of the white horse were wrapped in burlap. Atop the warhorse was a youth clad in crimson and gold battle armor, holding a strong bow.

After confirming the two were thoroughly dead, the youth continued riding, leading ahead towards Shiling County.

The night passed.

"Whoosh!"

A feathered arrow sliced through the air with a piercing shriek. In an instant, a scout with a feathered arrow sticking out of his back fell from an ancient tree several meters tall, dying with no further sound.

Chen Mo rode up to this scout, dismounted and searched the corpse, then said, "So many scouts."

After retreating from Zhuima City, Chen Mo hadn't rested all night, traveling relentlessly. He had discovered Yu State Army's scouts on several forested high grounds along the way.

He had already shot down no fewer than five.

"Xue Ling, are you tired? Take a break." Chen Mo took out a water bag, gave Snow Dragon Steed some water, and seized the dead scout's water bag.

Two hours later, a long line of troops appeared on the mountain road through the forest. It was the trailing forces of the Divine Brave Guard and the Divine Martial Guard.

"Marshal Chen," Sun Meng and Xia Zhining galloped over. The former said, "You're too fast; we couldn't keep up at all."

Having just rested for a moment, Chen Mo stood up, patted Snow Dragon Steed's head, and said, "I know. Order the whole army to rest. I must go ahead first to clear the scouts on the road."

After giving instructions, Chen Mo mounted his horse and rode off.

...

Meanwhile, in the barracks five miles outside Zhuima City, Zhang River, wearing Chen Mo's battle armor, strolled outside the barracks. After a round of walking, he returned to the barracks.

Half an hour later, the deep sound of war drums resounded again. Zhang River ordered two battalions of Xianzhen Guard Soldiers to launch another feigned attack on Zhuima City, creating a significant uproar.

Liang Song climbed the city wall, observing the retreating rebel army with furrowed brows, feeling that something was off.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.