The siege of Fengzhou by the Huai Army lasted for months, and the Celestial Master Army was already experiencing a food shortage. The entire army had been cutting back for a long while. Except for the officers, none of the soldiers below had enough to eat; they were all starving.

And Zhang Feng's navy, after braving the cold wind all night, was now utterly tired, hungry, and cold. Hearing Chen Mo's words, Zhang Feng was immediately moved, especially by Chen Mo's earlier demeanor, which greatly touched Zhang Feng, so he let down his guard.

He immediately called for the soldiers on the ship to dock the warship and enter the city to eat.

Chen Mo had prepared hot porridge and pickled vegetables for them, mainly because there wasn't enough time to prepare anything else.

However, the navy, driven to madness by hunger, was like a starving cat encountering a dead mouse, their eyes gleaming, and they eagerly began to line up.

At this moment, Zhang Feng noticed something was amiss.

Because to receive porridge, you have to grab a bowl and chopsticks from the side, but holding those, it's inconvenient to carry a weapon while eating, so everyone tacitly placed their weapons aside, piling them together.

But seeing Chen Mo smiling and personally serving everyone porridge, Zhang Feng shook his head, thinking he was overthinking.

"One at a time, don't crowd, there's enough porridge and pickles for everyone to eat their fill," Chen Mo greeted with a smile.

"Aren't you going to thank the Marquis?" someone suddenly called out.

The entire navy expressed their gratitude to Chen Mo.

After Zhang Feng finished his porridge, Chen Mo approached him, smiling, "General Zhang, you've traveled all night from Fengzhou; you must be tired. We've lit a fire in the military tent. General Zhang, why not go and rest for a while?"

Zhang Feng was indeed a bit tired. Seeing the navy gathered around the fire to rest after finishing their porridge, he nodded, "Thank you, Marquis."

"It's no trouble at all; we are all family," Chen Mo replied with a smile.

Zhang Feng fell asleep as soon as he lay down.

"Marquis, your calming incense really works; Zhang Feng was nodding off in no time," Sun Meng came to report to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo knew it was time to act.

He instructed Sun Meng to call in Nangong Xian, and once Nangong Xian arrived.

Sun Meng, in Zhang Feng's name, arranged for his own people among the mid-level officers of this navy according to Chen Mo's instructions.

Although the members of Zhang Feng's navy felt something was odd, they subconsciously thought they had come to Qingzhou to join Chen Mo, coupled with the good food and drink hospitality and General Zhang's orders, so no one opposed.

Meanwhile, regarding Chen Mo.

After a few casual formalities with Nangong Xian, Chen Mo immediately proceeded to the main point: "My father-in-law, as the Deputy General of this navy, you surely know it well, right?"

Nangong Xian didn't know what Chen Mo meant by this, but he still nodded.

"Can the soldiers below follow your orders?" Chen Mo asked again.

Nangong Xian's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing something wrong, but he nodded again.

"I plan to incorporate this navy into my Fish Scale Guard, making it a larger camp, and my father-in-law shall be the Captain of this camp," Chen Mo said, looking at Nangong Xian's forehead displaying "239" with a smile.

Nangong Xian was taken aback; from Chen Mo's words, it seemed he intended to annex the Nangong Family's navy.

Nangong Xian's eyes widened slightly.

"Surely, my father-in-law won't refuse to help me; we are family," Chen Mo stared into Nangong Xian's eyes.

Nangong Xian was from a collateral branch, and his only daughter was married to Chen Mo as a concubine. For his own benefits, helping Chen Mo was the best choice and could help his daughter gain a voice in Chen Mo's household.

Therefore, after a brief shock, Nangong Xian quickly thought everything through.

"I'm willing to serve the Marquis," Nangong Xian said, cupping his hands.

"No need for such politeness, my father-in-law; as I said, we are family," Chen Mo said.

...

When Zhang Feng woke up, it was already afternoon.

He rubbed his head, still feeling a bit groggy, but the sleep did do him good, and he felt much more refreshed.

Just as he was about to leave the tent to check on the navy, Sun Meng stopped him at the entrance.

Zhang Feng looked at Sun Meng in confusion.

"The Marquis said that General Zhang should rest well and not move around," Sun Meng said.

Zhang Feng furrowed his brows, "I've rested enough."

He was about to leave but was again stopped by Sun Meng.

"Please don't make things difficult for me," Sun Meng said politely yet firmly.

"Step aside," Zhang Feng uttered in displeasure, speaking softly.

But soon, he felt dozens of gazes sweeping over him from around, all coming from the guards standing there.

"General Zhang, it's cold outside, please," Sun Meng lifted the tent's curtain, inviting him back in.

Zhang Feng: "..."

At this moment, he realized he was under soft confinement.

Although with his strength, he need not fear Sun Meng or the dozen guards around, should he make a move, things would escalate, and he might lose his head.

Furious, Zhang Feng flung his sleeve and went back inside to rest.

This soft confinement lasted five days.

During this time, Chen Mo familiarized himself with, absorbed, and completely took control of this navy. The day before, he had this navy moved out, and then Chen Mo lifted Zhang Feng's confinement.

As soon as Zhang Feng woke, he went to confront Chen Mo.

Chen Mo of course casually deflected, saying his subordinates misunderstood his intentions, adding that he was too busy to manage it, and in front of Zhang Feng, he fiercely reprimanded Sun Meng, insisting that Sun Meng apologize to Zhang Feng.

Though Zhang Feng knew Chen Mo was putting on an act just for him, since Chen Mo went this far, it would be unwise of him not to let it go.

However, once he left Chen Mo's tent and went to look for the navy, he couldn't find his navy anywhere.

Even Nangong Xian was nowhere to be found.

He had no choice but to seek out Chen Mo again to ask where the navy had gone.

Learning that the navy had been relocated, Zhang Feng was dumbfounded; but this was Chen Mo's territory, surrounded by Chen Mo's soldiers; how could he dare to cause a scene? He only asked, "Marquis, does the Nangong Family know about this?"

"Rest assured, General Zhang, I will send an explanatory letter to the Nangong Family for you to take back. Also, I hear Madam Nangong misses General Zhang quite a lot, perhaps you should go back and visit." In Chen Mo's words, Madam Nangong referred to Nangong Jin's wife, Zhang Feng's elder sister from the Zhang Clan.

Zhang Feng: "..."

He realized that Chen Mo had planned all of this just to annex the 5,000-strong navy.

...

On the other side, in Fengzhou.

Luo Guang looked at the barren north shore, with only the Huai King's Navy's defensive line in the distance, and was somewhat bewildered.

Where was his navy?

Upon inquiry, he found out that the navy had gone missing a few days ago, and nobody knew exactly where they had gone, except for those directly involved.

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