In that case, we can leave a piece for sister-in-law. She's been cultivating for a long time, but hasn't reached entry grade yet. Now with the Blood Ginseng, it might help her get there, and also Xiaolu.

"Zhi Ning, have you ever eaten Blood Ginseng?" Chen Mo asked.

"Of course." Xia Zhining nodded: "When I first reached entry grade, I took a piece of twenty-year-old Blood Ginseng."

Xia Zhining gestured, indicating it was as long as a pinky finger.

"Will it still work if you eat it again?" Chen Mo asked.

"I only use it for breakthroughs, unlike you who uses it for cultivation." Xia Zhining pursed her lips.

Chen Mo touched his nose. He had climbed up from the bottom and didn't understand these things.

"If it's useful to you, then take a few more pieces." Since it wasn't very effective for him, he should leave it for those who needed it.

"What do I need so much for? This one seems to be twenty years old too. I estimate I can't even finish one piece." Xia Zhining said.

"Then use it for cultivation, keep eating until it doesn't work anymore."

"That would be a waste." Xia Zhining rolled her eyes at Chen Mo, but in her heart, she felt delighted that this bastard was willing to let her use it, making her feel valued.

Chen Mo put the brocade box away one by one.

Xia Zhining thought of something and asked, "What do you plan to do with them?"

"Of course, take them as my own." Chen Mo did not hide his ambition and said, "A girl from one of the Seven Great Noble Families, the Liang Family, is of great use to me."

Xia Zhining was stunned, not expecting this bastard not to even hide it, and said angrily, "You're crazy. She has a marriage agreement with the Crown Prince of King Chong. What you're doing will completely offend King Chong."

"Then what do you suggest? Letting her go wouldn't avoid offense, and releasing her wouldn't benefit me or gain gratitude." Chen Mo never considered himself a gentleman. If she were ordinary, he might have let her go. But a beauty like her, of course, should be taken as his own.

Xia Zhining felt a bit like vomiting blood, "There are benefits, at least temporarily you won't attract a formidable enemy, and you can use her to demand a considerable ransom from the Liang Family or King Chong."

"Come on, in their eyes, we're lawless rebel army. Even if we don't act that way, it won't change their ingrained impressions.

You can imagine, a stunning beauty falling into the hands of the rebel army, what's the first thing people will think? They'll definitely think the beauty was defiled, and nobles value their reputation the most. So, since the moment I attacked Longmen County, I had essentially offended King Chong.

Since that's the case, why should I bother?" Chen Mo said.

Xia Zhining stomped on Chen Mo's shoe with her foot, "I think you just fancy her and are finding excuses."

"It's human nature to be drawn to beauty, and the Chen Family has few descendants, naturally we need women to expand the Chen Family line."

"Shameless."

"Thank you."

"Lustful scoundrel." Xia Zhining glared fiercely at Chen Mo.

"Don't be mad, she's just a tool for me to recruit the Yu State Army. The only one I truly have feelings for is you, so why are you jealous." Chen Mo wrapped his arm around Xia Zhining's waist, tapping her on the millstone, "Even the Grand Ancestor Emperor married a former dynasty's princess to appease the remnants."

"You bastard dare compare yourself to the Grand Ancestor?"

"Why not, where do I fall short?" Chen Mo caressed Xia Zhining's tender face, smiling. It was the first time he openly revealed his ambition to someone.

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhining trembled all over, her heart inexplicably tingling, she pushed Chen Mo away, "You better... think clearly."

"Don't worry." Chen Mo put away his grin, seriously said, "Take the time to rest, there's still a big battle coming."

The news of Shiling County's fall would soon reach Liang Song's ears, at which point he would definitely return to aid, and Longmen County was the only way along the path, whether he was escaping or rescuing his wife and daughter, he had to pass through Longmen County.

...

April 28th.

Zhuima City.

For two consecutive days, the rebel army hadn't attacked the city, seemingly retreating.

But Liang Song's eyelid kept twitching, feeling something bad was happening.

But he didn't know what that bad thing was.

At this moment, a swift horse arrived outside the back of Zhuima City, its rider was Xiaosanzi, whom Qin Lang had dispatched earlier to inform Liang Song.

Zhuima City Government Office.

"Sir, something's wrong, there's a problem."

Liang Song was having lunch when Shi Meng hurriedly walked in, followed by a Yu State Army soldier.

Xiaosanzi, upon seeing Liang Song, immediately stepped forward and knelt down with a thud, "Sir, the rebel army attacked Shiling Pass on the night of the 24th, General Qin ordered me to notify you immediately to send reinforcements."

"Clatter..."

The chopsticks in Liang Song's hand suddenly dropped to the ground, and he stood up, swearing uncontrollably, "What? Say that again, damn it?"

Shi Meng was startled, grabbing the soldier in front of him and lifting him up.

Xiaosanzi, clutching his collar, still had a terrified look on his face, and said,

"Sir, on the night of the 24th, the rebel army launched a night attack on Shiling Pass, the situation is critical."

"What nonsense are you spouting, on the 24th, the rebel army was still fighting with our forces in Zhuima City, how could they suddenly appear in Shiling County, there are so many scouts on that route, how could there be no news?"

Liang Song found it hard to believe Xiaosanzi's report.

"Sir, what I said is true, if I'm lying, may I die a horrible death." Xiaosanzi quickly said.

Upon hearing this, Liang Song's vision blurred, his head felt heavy and his feet light, and he slumped to one side, there was no one beside him to catch him, so he fell directly to the ground.

He finally realized what had been bothering him these past few days.

The military books explain a feint attack as a strategy to prevent the enemy from determining our specific attack direction, location, and strength.

Previously, he had always thought the rebel army was just trying to lure him out of the city, without realizing that they were actually striking east to attack Shiling County.

Most of the forces in Shiling County had been withdrawn by him, and if the rebel army captured Shiling County, then Longmen County, which lacks natural barriers, would become theirs.

Additionally, Longmen County is not far from Shiling County, reachable within a day.

If everything went smoothly, the rebel army might have already taken Longmen County.

Once Longmen County falls into rebel hands, they would be at a disadvantage.

Simply relying on the supplies in Zhuima City would not last long.

The most crucial point is that most of the family members of the Yu State Army soldiers are in Longmen County.

If they knew about this, the morale would disperse.

"Nonsense, disturbing the morale of the army." A surge of innate spiritual qi erupted from Liang Song's body, striking Xiaosanzi dead at a distance, saying, "Disturbing the morale of the army deserves death!"

Shi Meng's pupils contracted, understanding the lord's intention.

"Pass the order, gather the entire army, and return to assist Longmen County," Liang Song commanded.

"Yes, sir."

...

The Yu State Army marched grandly out through the rear city gate, and seeing this, Wei Qing's breath quickened as he quietly retreated from the rear to hurry and inform Marshal Chen.

After exiting the narrow mountain path, he mounted his warhorse, hidden in the forest, and raced towards Shiling County at full speed.

The speed of a single rider is faster than that of marching troops.

...

Liang Song did not head to support Shiling County, as it was too late to take a detour by then. He could only hope that Qin Lang could hold on for a while longer and that Longmen County hadn't fallen to the rebel army yet.

But as he encountered deserters from Shiling County on the road and learned that Shiling County had already been breached by the rebel army on the night of the 24th, his heart sunk completely.

It had been nearly four days since the 24th.

By this time, not only could he have quickly captured Longmen County, but also turned around to set up an ambush on the necessary path from Zhuima City to Longmen County.

Because anyone with a little knowledge of military tactics would know that when the rear is attacked, the front must be reinforced.

However, Liang Song couldn't care about these anymore.

Longmen County is extremely important to him and to the Yu State Army.

Longmen County cannot be lost.

Liang Song could only hope that the rebel army hadn't thought of this.

Hope that the rebel army hadn't set up an ambush along the way.

He, who was skilled in plotting, was actually hoping for a stroke of luck now. How laughable.

But heaven didn't favor him.

April 30th.

Wei Yang Slope.

This place is a fork in the road: turning right leads to Shiling County.

Going straight leads to Longmen County.

But the troops faced an ambush here.

As soon as the vanguard had crossed Wei Yang Slope, the sound of drums thundered from the surrounding hills.

Arrows rained down from all directions as if they were free.

The Yu State Army instantly fell in heaps.

The Yu State Army led by Liang Song was not a ragtag group; they stubbornly withstood the arrow rain, formed a battle array, and amidst the chaos, found a point to break through, dispatching the most elite Profound Leopard Cavalry to charge forward.

However, this was a deliberate flaw revealed by Chen Mo.

The Divine Brave Guard, hidden in the forest, instantly charged out, forming a square formation: the front had twelve rows of battlefronts, six hundred men per row, three rows in total, and they immediately set up an obstacle.

The battlefronts were spaced out to allow archers to intersperse and advance to shoot enemies.

What flaw was this? It was practically a meat grinder, and the first volley was from the crossbow arrows of the Divine Arm Crossbow.

Yet, elite is elite. After enduring three or four rounds of frontal arrow rain, the Profound Leopard Cavalry finally reached close quarters, and the warhorses leaped over the obstacles into the formation of the Divine Brave Guard.

"Change formation," Sun Meng, positioned at the center of the formation, immediately ordered.

"Boom boom boom..."

The drumbeats from the surrounding hills became increasingly urgent. The two guards stationed in ambush first drove the defectors down, and once the defectors were entangled in a melee with the Yu State Army, with flesh and blood flying.

The Divine Brave Guard and the Divine Martial Guard finally joined the battle.

"Anyone who dares to retreat, execute on the spot!" A Divine Brave Guard cavalryman chopped down a retreating defector. Fearing the defectors might turn against them, Chen Mo only issued weapons to them, without battle armor.

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