"It was definitely King Chong and Lu Sheng who had planned this long ago. They have people in all Four States, just waiting for the moment to spread the news when they act," Xia Zhining said.

"What a clever tactic."

As Chen Mo spoke, he walked out of the backyard: "And what about King Chong and Prince Huai?"

"They have been legitimized by the Court."

"As expected. Are you and Ru Yan ready to leave?"

Xia Zhining nodded, "It's already packed into the carriage."

"Alright then, you and Ru Yan head to Huai State first. I'll come over immediately after handling matters here," Chen Mo said.

"Okay."

Exiting the backyard, Chen Ming and Sun Meng, who had been waiting for a while, quickly came forward. Chen Ming nervously said, "Duke An, I ask for your forgiveness."

"What for?"

"You asked for the denunciation statement yesterday, and I only finished writing it now." Chen Ming nervously presented the completed statement to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo glanced at him, noticing the bloodshot eyes, and said, "Didn't sleep a wink last night?"

"...I slept."

Chen Mo handed the statement back to Chen Ming and said, "Take it to Mr. Geng. If there are no issues, make it public immediately. As for your punishment, I'll forgive it this time. Next time, there will be a heavy penalty."

"Thank you, Duke An, for your forgiveness." Chen Ming sighed in relief.

Chen Mo said to Sun Meng, "Bring Zuo Lianglun to see me in the study."

"Yes."

...

In the marketplace.

The local exams had ended, and scholars from various places came out of the examination hall, but instead of leaving Xiangyang, they found inns in the city to stay.

When the inns were full, they paid for lodging in the homes of locals. The locals, seeing the opportunity to earn money, were eager to have scholars stay, as their presence brought good fortune. If one of their tenants happened to pass with top honors, it would be a favorable omen, so why not?

As the scholars awaited the exam results,

the news that Chen Mo had been dismissed from his official post and title by the Court, and labeled a traitor, spread overnight in Xiangyang, causing a stir and unrest.

The Great Song had stood for four hundred years, and its people identified strongly as Song citizens. Upon hearing this news, they couldn't hide their surprise, but they also soon worried for Chen Mo.

Though they identified as Song citizens, they knew all too well that while the Court treated them poorly, Chen Mo treated them well.

If the news were true and Chen Mo was indeed a traitor, they'd still support him.

The scholars, however, felt conflicted.

The more they read, the more they know, and the more they consider.

Take the current imperial examinations for instance.

If Chen Mo were a grand traitor,

could they still become officials if they passed?

If they could, would it be as officials of the Court or under Chen Mo?

If under Chen Mo, would they not also become traitors?

In the end, Chen Mo was just a separatist power, not the Emperor.

Yet among the scholars, there were those who had long seen through the situation.

Sun Cheng was one of them.

In a small tavern in the city, Sun Cheng's friend anxiously said, "It's over, it's over. I was hoping to do well in the local exams and go to the capital for the national exams next year. But now, Duke An is a traitor, which makes us traitors too. We should have gone to Luonan to take the exams instead."

After speaking, the friend suddenly leaned close to Sun Cheng and whispered, "Sun, why don't we go back to Jiangdong?"

"You can go back if you want to. I'm not going back; I'm still hoping to bring glory to the Sun Family," Sun Cheng said, taking a sip of wine.

"Are you serious? Duke An is now a traitor, what glory is there?" his friend asked.

"Have you heard this saying?"

"What saying?"

"Fortune favors the bold." Sun Cheng drained his bowl of wine in one go.

Friend: "..."

Sun Cheng's Sun Family, once a prominent clan before the Great Song was founded, chose the wrong side when the dynasty was established. They avoided extermination by forfeiting fortunes and have been in decline, their descendants barely scraping by in Jiangdong.

Over four hundred years, the family's past glory had faded. Besides the secret cultivation techniques and martial arts, Sun Cheng's situation was barely better than the average commoner.

Without money for cultivation resources, even with top-notch techniques and martial arts, at twenty-six, Sun Cheng was still a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist.

His reason for coming to Linzhou to take the exams was that he foresaw Chen Mo's rebellious intentions, knowing the latter wouldn't be easily satisfied, and current events seemed to support his prediction.

If Chen Mo did ascend to that level, Sun Cheng would truly become an Emperor's Disciple.

He was absolutely confident that he would excel in these local exams, with a high ranking.

Seeing his friend's anxious demeanor, Sun Cheng smiled, patted his shoulder, and said, "If you believe in me, stay. With your talents, this local exam should be no problem."

Friend: "..."

While his friend was lost in thought, suddenly unrest erupted outside the tavern, and a crowd ran towards the Government Office.

His friend was stunned, went out to inquire, and learned the Government Office had posted a bulletin related to the city's rumors.

He quickly pulled Sun Cheng to the Government Office.

When they arrived, a large crowd surrounded the Government Office.

The two squeezed through with difficulty.

Some students were explaining the bulletin's content to the citizens in plain language.

The gist was that the current decree from the Court was forged by Lu Sheng.

Lu Sheng had seized the Emperor and was causing chaos in the Court. This could be testified by Empress Xu and Princess Zhaoqing.

Moreover, to maintain power, Lu Sheng had conspired with the traitorous King Chong and Prince Huai, attacking Fengzhou and Huai State.

To save the people from suffering and the Emperor from danger, Duke An decided to deploy troops today to support the King, purging the Court of traitorous ministers.

The onlooking crowd at the Government Office erupted in chatter.

"I said it, how could Duke An be a traitor? What traitor would reduce our taxes, spend money to build our houses, and distribute land to us?"

"Exactly, Duke An is not a traitor. King Chong and Prince Huai are."

"So Lu Sheng is the true hidden traitor. Why else would he support two known traitors?"

"Agreed. Chancellor Xu must have discovered Lu Sheng's scheme, so he was murdered."

"..."

This bulletin from the Government Office instantly reversed public opinion.

Even the late Xu Guozhong was suddenly hailed as a loyal minister of the Great Song.

"Sun, I knew it! Duke An wasn't a traitor," Sun Cheng's friend laughed.

Sun Cheng: "..."

You weren't saying that when we came here.

Sun Cheng was excited, not because of the shift in public opinion.

But because Chen Mo was deploying troops to support the King.

If successful, Chen Mo would surely become the Emperor's right hand.

From there, a further rise would only be a matter of time.

Sun Cheng flushed with excitement and abruptly turned to leave.

His friend caught up and asked, "Sun, what's wrong?"

"Going home to study."

"Didn't we just finish the exam?"

"Preparing for the national exams."

"Huh? The results for the local exams aren't even out yet?"

"I'm definitely on the list."

"Huh?" His friend was even more shocked, thinking Sun Cheng was overly confident.

...

Meanwhile.

In Duke An's Mansion, in the study.

"About the situation in Fengzhou and the Court's news, you're aware, I presume," Chen Mo said solemnly.

Zuo Lianglun nodded, "Their speed is too fast."

"Therefore, I plan to dispatch ten thousand troops from Yu State, crossing the river via Qingzhou to reinforce Fengzhou. The generals will be deployed from Huai State. You head to Yu State immediately, wielding my token to command them." Chen Mo handed his token to Zuo Lianglun and then said, "As for your duties here, quickly find someone for the handover."

Zuo Lianglun understood the gravity of the situation, acknowledged, and left.

Afterward, Chen Mo summoned Geng Songfu and Wei Linchun, instructed them on some matters, and that afternoon, he led his Personal Guard Battalion to Huai State.

ps: Thanks to everyone for the rewards and monthly passes, many thanks!!!