Under the dim sky.

Fengzhou, in the military camp of the Chen Army stationed in Luan Mountain County, which is the southernmost county of Fengzhou and borders Yan State.

Since Fengzhou and Huai State are now both under the "Chen Mo Regime," the Chen Army stationed in Fengzhou no longer needs to guard against Huai State from Jing County, but only needs to be vigilant to the south.

This led most of the Chen Army stationed in Fengzhou to Luan Mountain County. In the commander’s tent of the military camp, serving as Minister of the Xianzhen Guard, now the defending general of Fengzhou, Deng Tian, had just finished his dinner and was engrossed in a military book.

On the table in front of him was a newly drawn map of the area around Luan Mountain County. Some places were not yet completed, as the Chen Army had only recently occupied Fengzhou. The old maps of the area around Luan Mountain County were too outdated to be useful, necessitating the new drawings.

"Tatatat..."

A series of hurried footsteps ran in from outside the tent. It was Deng Tian’s personal soldier, who anxiously said upon entry, "General, something bad has happened. Xing County has been attacked by the enemy, suffering heavy losses. We hope the general can send reinforcements."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Deng Tian immediately stood up, his expression changing slightly as he quickly examined the map on the table before him.

Xing County is to the east of Luan Mountain County, less than fifty miles apart. Although it is also close to Yan State, there is a thousand-foot-tall mountain on the side near Yan State.

Fengzhou only has enemies to the south. If the southern enemies were to attack Fengzhou, the easiest way would be to invade from Luan Mountain County. To invade from Xing County, they would have to cross that thousand-foot mountain, with no available route for marching. Did the army that raided Xing County fall from the sky?

Deng Tian frowned deeply, noting that the newly drawn map of Luan Mountain County was incomplete to the east.

"Whose troops, how many people?" Deng Tian asked.

"General, according to the comrades who came for help, the enemy army wears Chong Army armor, and their numbers are unknown."

"What, Chong Army armor?" Deng Tian’s eyelid twitched. If Xing County were attacked by the Yan State Army, he wouldn’t be too worried, but if it were the Chong Army, he knew there might be a major upheaval.

With the sudden urgency of the battle, Deng Tian had no time to think further and hurriedly said, "Send orders to gather five thousand troops to follow me to reinforce Xing County. Also, send a signal soldier to Huai State to inform General Xiao and General Zhao that Fengzhou has discovered the presence of Chong Army forces, and they should be on guard."

As he spoke, Deng Tian donned his armor.

"Yes."

...

Soon, Deng Tian, leading five thousand troops, set off overnight to reinforce Xing County.

However, less than twenty miles out of the city, when passing through a valley.

"Attack!"

Countless soldiers clad in Chong Army armor swooped down from the mountains on both sides of the official road.

At this moment, it wasn’t completely dark yet, allowing them to see the road, but the sky was dim enough that the number of people couldn’t be estimated. Listening to the overwhelming sounds of battle, they only felt like there was a huge army.

Deng Tian, sitting in the middle of the army on horseback, showed some panic on his face but remained calm, quickly ordering the infantry to form a military formation and to use the Divine Arm Crossbows.

Amid drumming, the infantry formed a turtle shell formation, with shield soldiers raising heavy shields at the forefront, long spears resting on the shields to prevent the charging enemies from breaking their formation.

Whoosh!

The first enemy to reach the formation was instantly pierced by four or five long spears.

Seeing more and more enemies charging up, the crossbowmen and archers within the turtle shell formation quickly prepared, firing volleys of arrows.

"Whoosh...whoosh..."

"Ahh..."

The sounds of battle cries, screams, and roars mixed together, filling the once-quiet valley with thick bloodshed and chaos.

Deng Tian sat on horseback, scanning the surroundings, observing for any gaps to fill.

But at that moment, his ears perked up, instinctively sensing uneasiness, and he looked up to see an arrow shot from above with incredible speed. Even though he dodged quickly, the arrow still knocked off his helmet.

The protective spiritual qi around him seemed like a thin paper, vulnerable before the fierce arrow.

Deng Tian’s face changed drastically, realizing that the person shooting the arrow had superior strength.

On a high point in the mountains on the right of the official road, Prince Huai lowered his bow, frowning, muttering, "He actually dodged it."

He waved his hand, his tone icy, "Don’t let a single one escape."

...

The battle lasted for half an hour before it ended early.

Prince Huai personally led the troops in ambush, and with such greater numbers, Deng Tian wasn’t leading the most elite Divine Brave Guard of the Chen Army, how could he win?

Not only that, the five thousand men Deng Tian brought out to assist were all wiped out, not a single one escaped.

At this moment, the sky had already darkened.

In the valley, firelights flickered, illuminating the official road, with corpses everywhere, fresh blood had stained the yellow mud road red.

Beside a burning tree, Deng Tian, covered in blood, was tightly bound, kneeling on the ground.

Of course, the blood wasn’t his, it was the enemy’s.

All around him were Huai Army warriors clad in Chong Army armor, brandishing swords and spears at him.

Deng Tian was captured personally by Prince Huai, whose confidants in the previous battle either died or surrendered, thus even facing a Fifth-Grade Martial Artist like Deng Tian, he had to take action himself to capture him.

Under the gaze of those eyes, Prince Huai, with a sword hanging by his waist, approached Deng Tian, looking at him bound and kneeling before him, Prince Huai was very pleased:

"Fengzhou, I have returned again. What I lost before, this time I will recover it all..."

Just as Prince Huai was speaking with excitement, Deng Tian spat, mocking, "A defeated dog barking madly here."

"Impudent." Prince Huai’s personal soldiers shouted sternly, a whip cracked through the air with a snap, but it did not strike Deng Tian.

Prince Huai reached out to block it.

"Stand down."

The personal soldier looked at Prince Huai puzzled for a moment, but ultimately dared not defy orders, and stepped back.

Prince Huai said indifferently, "I indeed suffered a severe defeat before, but that was then, I underestimated him. This time I’ve returned to let him taste the feeling I had then. Now you must be very curious, wondering how I set up the ambush here, right?"

Perhaps after losing many battles, and finally winning big now, Prince Huai couldn’t wait to display his triumph in front of Deng Tian.

Looking at Prince Huai’s smug demeanor, Deng Tian merely smirked disdainfully, turning his head aside with an expression showing contempt for Prince Huai.

Prince Huai’s smile froze, Deng Tian’s reaction clearly unexpected, and he immediately said, "You can’t have imagined there’s a small path on the south side of that large mountain near Xing County, right?

Indeed, my real target wasn’t Xing County; attacking Xing County was merely a blinding technique. My real aim was to lure you out for an ambush, and unexpectedly, you fell for it, hahaha."

Yet faced with Prince Huai’s mockery, Deng Tian remained silent.

This feeling was like punching into cotton, making Prince Huai feel rather uncomfortable.

He pondered, then changed his approach, saying, "Do you want to live? As long as you surrender to me, I will give you a way to survive. Not only that, I will petition the court to grant you the title of Marquis."

Prince Huai felt that simply killing Deng Tian was too easy and wouldn’t retaliate against Chen Mo effectively. If he could turn Deng Tian, only then could he truly avenge Chen Mo, making him taste betrayal from his own.

Yet Deng Tian remained silent, with a composed look as if ready to embrace death.

Prince Huai’s personal soldiers couldn’t help but shout sternly, "Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit; the Prince is offering you a way out, don’t fail to appreciate his kindness."

"Humph." Deng Tian snorted coldly, "You treacherous ministers and traitors, defeated dogs, beaten by Duke An till you lost wife and children, you think you deserve my surrender, bah."

Deng Tian brazenly spat thick saliva at Prince Huai.

Unfortunately, it was blocked by Prince Huai’s Innate Spiritual Qi.

"Outrageous!"

"Audacious!"

Prince Huai’s personal soldiers immediately glared angrily, and just awaited Prince Huai’s command to skin Deng Tian alive.

Prince Huai was infuriated by Deng Tian’s words, especially the phrase "beaten by Duke An till losing wife and children," which hit his emotional limit, his face turned stern.

But he still maintained restraint, coldly said, "Treachery? Bring out the Holy Decree and show it to him, let’s see who indeed is the traitor."

"Yes."

Soon a personal soldier brought the Holy Decree before Deng Tian, opening it, and holding a torch close to let Deng Tian see clearly.

Prince Huai meanwhile said, "The court has pardoned me, Chen Mo is the real rebel traitor. His Majesty has issued a decree dismissing Chen Mo’s titles and official posts, appointing me as the governor of Fengzhou, overseeing all matters, and commanding me to lead troops to suppress Chen Mo the traitor."

Since Lu Sheng had allied with King Chong and Prince Huai, their legitimacy was naturally restored, and troops sent to suppress Chen Mo needed justification.

Fortunately, during Chen Mo’s rise, there were quite a few ’black marks,’ being a rebel who killed officials—all could now be utilized against him.

Hearing this, Deng Tian’s heart sank, secretly thinking it was not good.