This rebellion lasted for a long time. In order to combat the Tuoba Tribe, the rebel tribes even allied with the Gaoliang Kingdom.

However, the current Jin Xia Khan is a formidable leader, full of strategy, and has read many military books of the Great Song, claiming to have thoroughly understood them.

He did not suppress the rebellious tribes immediately but sent envoys to divide them.

This time, five tribes rebelled.

The envoys he sent did not try to win over the powerful tribes but instead went to woo the smallest tribe, offering various benefits, and at the same time, bribed people around the leader of the largest tribe to reveal to the two smallest tribes that their leader knew they were being wooed by the Khan and wanted to take away their military power.

The leaders of the two smallest tribes were deceived and led their troops to defect to the Khan.

This led to a reduction in the rebel army's power.

Afterward, they continued to sow discord among the three tribes, causing the rebel army to mistrust and turn against each other.

Finally, in the Third Year of Xuanhe in the Great Song, the Jin Xia Khan seized the opportunity and launched a surprise attack when the leader of the largest tribe among the rebels was marrying off his son.

The surprise attack was successful, and the rebellion that lasted nearly two years finally came to an end.

The leaders and chief figures of these three tribes, along with their families, were all subjected to extreme punishment by the Jin Xia Khan to deter those with ambitious plans.

After that, the Jin Xia Khan took a year to recuperate.

At the beginning of the Fifth Year of Song Xuanhe, he launched another expedition against Gaoliang.

Similar to the now declining Great Song, Gaoliang was internally politically corrupt and chaotic, coupled with the fact that Gaoliang's territory was not large, with a population of just over three million nationwide.

Two years prior, the court, though corrupt, could at least marshal the country's troops, but with the sudden passing of the former emperor without naming a successor, imperial power fell, and the court was engulfed in power struggles, leaving them powerless against Jin Xia's invasion.

Now, it is October of the Eighth Year of Xuanhe in the Great Song Dynasty.

Gaoliang officially perished, with all its lands incorporated into Jin Xia's territory.

This evening, the Jin Xia Khan ordered a celebration feast to reward the entire army, indulging them without restraint.

Jin Xia is a kingdom made up of prairie tribes, and even the Khan does not have a palace in the true sense, but resides in a royal tent in the center of the prairie.

In the royal tent, the zither sound resonated, and the drums sang in unison.

Since the Tuoba ancestors learned from the Great Song, they also absorbed a lot of its culture, developed a love for the Song's rites and music, and longed for the elegance of the Song.

On the carpet stitched from animal hides, a dozen beautifully dressed, graceful women swayed their waists in dance to the zither and drum.

Seated upon the throne above was Jin Xia Khan, and below on both sides were the generals who contributed to the conquest of Gaoliang.

Their gazes almost all focused on the women in the center.

These women were all royal women of Gaoliang, the Empress, Consort, Princess, and Commandery Princess.

After the fall of Gaoliang, they were seized by Jin Xia's army and brought back to Jin Xia.

The Khan noticed one general who was not staring at the dancing beauties and said, "General Xia Ji, if you fancy any beauty, Hu Capital rewards her to you, and if you fancy them all, they're all yours."

This time, in conquering Gaoliang, Wanyan Xiaji was foremost.

The Khan and Wanyan Xiaji are related by kinship.

The previous generation's Khan married Wanyan Xiaji's sister, so the Khan called Wanyan Xiaji uncle.

But after the last Khan died, the current Khan married his father's wife and inherited his father's consorts.

So, the current Khan is, in a way, Wanyan Xiaji's brother-in-law.

Wanyan Xiaji bowed to the Khan and said, "Great Khan, I have no interest in these women, please reward them to other generals."

Because learning Song, Jin Xia also adopted the Great Song's palace etiquette, albeit not completely, and now it seems somewhat incongruous, though Jin Xia internally does not mind.

Upon hearing this, the generals in the royal tent fell silent.

The Khan was also slightly surprised: "General Xia Ji does not like beauties?"

"Not so," Wanyan Xiaji shook his head and said, "When I was young, I visited the Great Song, witnessed its prosperity, and witnessed the beauty of Song girls, these beauties before us are far less compared to Song girls."

At these words, the eyes of everyone in the royal tent changed.

After all, having studied the Great Song for hundreds of years and influenced by its culture, there is naturally a yearning for the Great Song to the south.

One general chimed in, "I've heard that in the Great Song, beauties are called thin horses, always fragrant, they bathe with petals, and after bathing, they burn incense to soak themselves, I wonder if it's true.

If it is true, I really want to hold one in my arms and smell it well."

At this, the previously quiet royal tent became lively again.

Suddenly, a general looked at a man opposite him and said, "Tie Muer, didn't your people capture a batch of Song people recently, is there a thin horse that General Xia Ji wants?"

The man called Tie Muer replied, "They're just ordinary Song people who sought refuge on our prairie due to disaster, and my people happened to encounter them."

"Refuge from disaster?" upon hearing this, the Jin Xia Khan became interested.

Over the years, he had spent his time suppressing rebellions and invading Gaoliang, so he hadn't paid much attention to the current Great Song.

"Return to the Great Khan, two years ago, there was a disaster in the Northern Land of the Great Song, barren lands across miles, leaving countless Song people dead from famine, and leading to rebellion, one led by the Celestial Master Army, who enlisted a million people, attempting to overthrow the Great Song Court's rule," Tie Muer accurately recounted all he knew.

The Khan's interest was piqued, and he ordered the dancing beauties to step down, and the zither and drum music stopped, saying, "Tie Muer, bring the captured Song people to the Hu Capital quickly, I want to understand what has happened in the Great Song over these two years."

"Yes."

...

Just before dawn.

Longmen County.

At this time, the sky was at its darkest. The singing in the master bedroom of the rear courtyard had ceased.

In the dim glow of the candlelight, Chen Mo looked down at the beauty in his arms, nearly drenched in sweat. Her fine willow-leaf eyebrows framed tightly closed eyes, beneath which was a straight, jade-like nose and tender, slightly parted lips. A blush had risen on her cheeks.

It is said that the joy of reunion surpasses that of a new marriage. Han Anniang had broken the record she had set herself, now nestled in Chen Mo's embrace.

"Sister-in-law's skin is getting fairer," Chen Mo gently combed her hair, saying, "Didn't I tell you that this beautifies and nourishes the skin? Now, do you believe me?"

A touch of embarrassment and annoyance flickered in Han Anniang's beautiful eyes, but she had to admit that over the past two years, her skin had indeed become much fairer and smoother, especially after a match, as tender as a baby's.

"Stop... talking nonsense," feeling a bit uneasy under Chen Mo's gaze, the beauty lightly patted Chen Mo's hand and whispered, "Erlang, it's time to rest."

Chen Mo pinched Han Anniang's straight jade-like nose, saying, "Sister-in-law, don't be anxious. It's been so long since we last met; I missed you very much."

Chen Mo gently pinched the flesh on Han Anniang's arm, saying, "Sister-in-law should be stronger than before."

Having been with Chen Mo for so long, Han Anniang naturally understood the meaning behind his words, her eyes showing a hint of fear, "I can't go on, Erlang. You should go to Xiaolu and the others."

"But tonight, I just want to be with sister-in-law." Chen Mo kissed Han Anniang's forehead, then said, "Where is the Blood Ginseng I gave you this afternoon?"

"I kept it in the box."

"Take it out and eat it. Tonight, I'll help you step into the ranks of the Martial Artists."

Han Anniang truly lacked aptitude. After several years, not only had she not reached the Entry Grade, but she hadn't even grasped the basics of the Cultivation Technique she practiced.

Trying to reach Entry Grade through hard training alone would take a lifetime; she could only rely on external aid from the Blood Ginseng to make progress.

Han Anniang naturally wanted to enhance her own strength to lessen Chen Mo's burden. Hearing this, she immediately complied obediently.

Han Anniang didn't hang up.

So upon her first taste of Blood Ginseng, Chen Mo let her start with small bites to see the effects.

Seeing that consuming a piece the size of her little finger elicited no reaction, Chen Mo had her eat another piece to see.

After consuming another small piece, Han Anniang finally showed a reaction. Her complexion turned slightly red, and her body felt somewhat warm.

"Anniang, do you feel a burning sensation in your blood now?" Chen Mo inquired.

Han Anniang nodded, clutching Chen Mo's hand, her expression appearing somewhat uncomfortable.

"That's right, it's taking effect. Now start circulating your Cultivation Technique to integrate the Blood Ginseng's energy into your flesh and blood," Chen Mo instructed.

Han Anniang followed Chen Mo's method.

Chen Mo held Han Anniang's hand, feeling the energy merging into her flesh and blood.

"Exactly, just like that," Chen Mo said.

Seeing that she made no mistakes, Han Anniang also sped up the process.

In terms of being a Martial Artist, Han Anniang indeed lacked talent. Very soon, the sensation within her dissipated.

Chen Mo knew this was due to insufficient energy and had Han Anniang continue consuming.

Finally, after using up an entire Blood Ginseng, Han Anniang finally reached Entry Grade.

To outsiders, this might seem wasteful.

But to Chen Mo, it was all worth it.

"Erlang, is it done? I feel my body is somewhat warm," Han Anniang said.

Chen Mo smiled, cupping Han Anniang's face with both hands, "Anniang, you've succeeded. From now on, you are also a Martial Master."

Upon hearing this, Han Anniang's heart tingled shyly, "I'm not some Martial Master, Erlang is."

Chen Mo gazed steadily at Han Anniang for a few moments, then slightly moved down, smiling, "Sister-in-law isn't tired now, right?"

Hearing Chen Mo's change in address, Han Anniang's brows furrowed.

The next moment, before she could speak, her jade-like foot was caught by Chen Mo, her sole facing upwards.

"Erlang, what... are you going to do?" Han Anniang exclaimed.

Chen Mo smiled without answering. A man must shoulder many responsibilities in his life.

...

The following day.

After washing up, Xia Zhining accompanied Han Anniang, Yi Shiyin, Xia Zhiqing, and other women to purchase some daily necessities.

Meanwhile, Chen Mo was reviewing the recruitment of talents.

Upon seeing there was an Advanced Scholar on the list, Chen Mo, who hadn't found a true talent in a long time, was immediately excited and had someone bring this person to him for a personal meeting.

However, just then, news arrived from Huai State.

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