In the backyard of the County Government Office in Longmen County, live Chen Mo, Xia Zhining, Liang Xue, Ning Wan, and several maids.

Since Liang Song left, Ning Wan, who was once the owner here, now feels like an outsider. She knows she has been abandoned and there is no one she can rely on.

As for Liang Xue, although Ning Wan has somewhat reconciled with her, at most they can be considered ordinary friends, and expecting her to be deeply intimate is impossible.

Moreover, Liang Xue's situation isn't very good either, so Ning Wan doesn't plan to rely on her.

Therefore, in this backyard, Ning Wan doesn't dare to offend even a maid carrying tea or water. She even greets the maids who serve Chen Mo and Xia Zhining whenever she sees them, fearing they might say something to Chen Mo.

To prove she still has some value, Ning Wan even voluntarily lowers her stature and does what the maids are supposed to do.

Yet she comes from a noble background, and even if she lowers her stance, she's not capable of handling the hard work like laundry and cooking. Fortunately, she enjoys gardening, and when she's free, she tends the flowers and plants in the yard and waters them.

But unexpectedly, she overheard Chen Mo's rebellious talk.

"If I ascend to the throne in the future, I will surely posthumously honor my father-in-law as a Duke, to commend his achievements."

My heavens, he actually desires to become the Emperor.

In fact, Chen Mo is not alone in this ambition; many harbor such thoughts but keep them hidden, not voicing them out. After all, such rebellious words, if spread, could bring great trouble.

Ning Wan was so shocked that she couldn't hold the scissors steady, dropping them to the ground.

Upon hearing the sound, the two turned to look.

"I... I didn't hear anything." Upon being noticed, a hint of panic appeared in Ning Wan's eyes as she hurriedly spoke.

Xia Zhining frowned slightly.

Chen Mo listened to Ning Wan's voice, smooth and soothing, like a sweet, refreshing spring quenching the thirst in the sweltering summer, with an undertone of nervousness that tugged at one's heartstrings. He glanced over.

"I... truly heard nothing, just... passing by." Sensing their gaze, Ning Wan quickly bowed her head. She was very practiced at showing weakness in public.

As she lowered herself, her full curves subtly trembled, her whiteness catching the eye. Whether from heat or fear, a sparkling jeweled sweat on her slender neck seemed to tumble into a deep gorge.

It was indeed a hot summer day, and Ning Wan couldn't possibly wear too much.

Chen Mo gave a quick glance, his heart skipping a beat. Xia Zhining was right beside him, so he dared not gaze too intently. "Madam Ning, right?"

Though living in the same backyard, Chen Mo was usually busy in the front hall during the day and returned to Xia Zhining's room at night. Now that Xia Zhining and Liang Xue were cooperating quite seamlessly, Chen Mo had never met Ning Wan and wasn't very familiar with her.

"Marquis… if you don't mind, call me Aunt Ning like Xue'Er does." Ning Wan said.

Indeed, Chen Mo's title had changed, from Marshal Chen to Marquis.

A beautiful woman is always a sight to behold, inviting tolerance. Ning Wan, dressed in a water-blue patterned palace skirt with lush hair cloud-like and elegantly dignified, had a rosy, smooth face untouched by time's passage. But being married, she carried the enticing aura of a mature woman.

Her voice was gentle and tender, much like Han Anniang's, but her bearing was more noble, and her skin fairer.

As people online might say, a plus version of Han Anniang.

Her bosom was the only one among women Chen Mo encountered that could rival Han Anniang's.

Xia Zhining sensed something but said nothing in Ning Wan's presence, merely clearing her throat lightly.

Chen Mo dared not watch closely, slightly averting his gaze: "Aunt Ning, no need to be formal. You are Xue'Er's aunt, and we are like family. I was just joking with Zhining."

As Xia Zhining said, new acquaintances always surpass the old.

It's akin to those married people who, even upon seeing a beauty, will still enjoy a good long gaze.

Of course, that doesn't mean infidelity.

Upon hearing this, Ning Wan breathed a sigh of relief, yet her heart raced. Women are quite perceptive; she felt the youth's gaze sweep over her neckline just now.

As for what Chen Mo said, Ning Wan didn't take it seriously; we are all adults, and sometimes our words are mere pleasantries. Taking them seriously would be your mistake.

"If the Marquis has no more matters, I'll… take my leave." Ning Wan truly had no issues to discuss with Chen Mo, wishing to depart.

"Aunt Ning's matter, Xue'Er told me. Father-in-law is a man of his word; since he promised you, I believe that once he returns to Hedong, he will immediately send someone to fetch you.

Of course, if Aunt Ning is not assured, I can even send someone to personally escort you back." Chen Mo smiled.

"Ah..." Ning Wan exclaimed, surprised that Liang Xue had shared this with Chen Mo, indeed treating him as family.

Ning Wan awkwardly showed a smile, reached to brush a lock of hair from her forehead, and said, "No need to bother the Marquis, I was joking with Xue'Er earlier, not to be taken seriously."

To mask the awkwardness, she lifted her hand to fan herself, feigning discomfort: "It's quite hot today."

"Very well." Chen Mo agreed with Ning Wan's words: "Recently, the Northern Land has suffered a severe drought; even after a torrential rain, the heat remains unabated. I heard from Xue'Er that Aunt Ning is an ordinary person, you must take care to prevent sunstroke."

The news of the severe drought in the Northern Land was communicated to him by Geng Songfu. Many places in Qingzhou were affected, including Xia Lin's county where the land cracked, making planting impossible.

Pingting County and Qingtian County, being close to Dadong Lake, are less affected.

"Thank you for your concern, Marquis. I remember the county's icehouse stored quite a bit of ice during winter, by the master's orders; I'll fetch some now." Ning Wan gracefully saluted Chen Mo and prepared to leave.

"Wait." Chen Mo called out to her.

"Does the Marquis have further matters?" Ning Wan turned back.

"Scissors." Chen Mo pointed at the scissors on the ground.

"Oh my, I forgot."

Ning Wan bent down to pick it up, and Chen Mo instinctively glanced over, seeing the pendant hidden in her clothes exposed, soft and white against her fragrant skin, as if a sheen of sweat covered its surface like a slick of grease.

Ning Wan, just picking up the scissors, suddenly sensed something amiss. When she stood up and looked up, her autumn eyes met his slightly lost gaze.

He... why was he stealing glances at her again?

Ning Wan felt a mix of shame and annoyance, but deep within her heart, there was an unnoticed sense of satisfaction.

Actually, it's like how middle-aged men with big bellies prefer young, attractive college students—women also like handsome young men.

Of course, this doesn't mean she wants to do anything with Chen Mo.

Rather, as a married woman, being able to attract a young, highly-positioned, and handsome young man naturally brought some joy to her heart.

Ning Wan hid her feelings well and quickly left.

As soon as Ning Wan left, Xia Zhining pinched Chen Mo's waist hard: "Did you enjoy the view?"

"Not really."

"If not, why do you keep stealing glances?" Xia Zhining glared at Chen Mo, then added, "She's Liang Xue's concubine, are you crazy to even think about her?"

"Who said I was thinking about her? Zhining, don't accuse someone of something they haven't done."

"Hehe."

...

July 11th, morning.

Luo Guang's followers reached Longmen County and met Chen Mo, delivering Luo Guang's orders: as soon as Chen Mo received the military command, he should march into Longyou and finally collaborate with the Celestial Master Army to launch a pincer attack on the Western River Land.

Chen Mo did not refuse, outwardly complying, because he had a preliminary plan in mind.

After sending off Luo Guang's followers, Chen Mo summoned Zhang He, instructing him to transfer the new recruits trained in Sanyuan to Shuofei County, which is a necessary passage to the west towards Longyou.

Chen Mo's prestige in Yu State wasn't sufficient, and his reputation in Pingting County hadn't spread there either.

Therefore, without coercion, Chen Mo's recruitment efforts in Yu State weren't progressing smoothly. In nearly two months, he had only recruited just over seven thousand men, even after offering substantial incentives.

If Pingting County had such a population, he was confident in recruiting even twenty thousand or fifty thousand troops.

Chen Mo sent a letter to Pingting County, inquiring about Geng Songfu's recruitment and training progress. If the training was almost complete, he requested Shao Jinneng and Gao Yuming to dispatch the seven thousand troops stationed there to Longmen County.

...

Sanyuan County.

At the horse track on the outskirts.

A squad of cavalry rapidly galloped from the entrance, the horse hooves striking the ground with a "dada" sound, stirring up a cloud of dust behind them.

Mounted on the warhorses were soldiers clad in light armor, holding longbows, their eyes slightly narrowed, gripping the horses' sides tightly, maintaining balance and focus.

In the center of the horse track, there was a row of targets set up, and on the high platforms surrounding the track, designated soldiers were responsible for monitoring and recording scores.

Each person had their own target.

When they reached the appropriate positions, the cavalry aimed at their targets, estimating the speed of their horses, and then released the arrows with a flick of their fingers.

"Thud, thud..." The arrows hit the targets with a muffled sound.

As the cavalry passed through, the soldiers on the high platforms tallied up the scores.

"Ge Dadan, hit the third circle, seven points recorded."

"Gao Qi, hit the fourth circle, six points recorded."

"..."

"Charm, missed."

...

"Four points is the passing line, the above sixteen." Those without passing this, step out to receive punishment; those who missed, carry weight for five li."

Xu Mu held the recorded scores, addressing the sixteen cavalry members in front of him.

Xu Mu did not disappoint, establishing the Brave Cavalry Guard in Sanyuan as per Chen Mo's request, now with a total of one thousand nine hundred personnel and three thousand eight hundred and sixty-three horses.

This allows each person to have two horses.

As qualified cavalry, mounted archery was naturally of utmost importance.

Technically, the Brave Cavalry Guard, consisting of former Profound Leopard Cavalry and Qingzhou Army cavalry, should have excellent archery skills.

Among the Four Guards, Chen Mo focused on developing the Brave Cavalry Guard, making its benefits the best among the Four Guards, double that of the Divine Brave Guards, thus the requirements were naturally higher.

Previously, cavalry training only required archers not to miss the target to be considered proficient.

But now, the requirement was not just to hit; they needed to shoot within the inner circles.

ps: Writer's block, transitioning a bit.

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