The Prince Huai is being stopped by the Fish Scale Guard, so he won't be able to get here soon; we'll have to rely on Huai State. If we can defeat the main Chen Army led by Chen Mo personally, we can bring King Anping into play.

Diwu Fusheng listened below and his gaze sharpened slightly, thinking carefully, then shaking his head: "Although we have more troops than them, they possess a weapon with a terrifying destructive power. The Jin Xia Barbarians were also defeated by it; they call it 'Strange Thunder.' If Chen Mo has brought the Strange Thunder, it would bridge the strength gap between our forces and theirs.

An with Chen Mo's capabilities, defeating the main force he leads is as difficult as climbing to heaven. Chen Mo is like a monster beyond human comprehension, only twenty-three, with Liang Xuan and Tie Muer of Jin Xia gone, if Chen Mo intends to break through, no one here can stop him."

Diwu Fusheng didn't speak too directly.

To put it bluntly, with Chen Mo's arrival, we are essentially not his opponents.

After all, Xiongmen County already has two Third-Grade Martial Artists. With Chen Mo, there are three.

The alliance has only two.

Without a military advantage, how can we contend with the Chen Army?

Those seated in the hall are not fools and understood what Diwu Fusheng wanted to express.

Gong Ruyan rubbed his fingers and looked at Hui Cheng, saying: "General Hui, it's not that this general wants to speak ill of Chancellor Lu, nor belittle you, but since we're cooperating, naturally we should give our all. Yet Chancellor Lu only sent you here and did not come himself; is that not a lack of sincerity?"

Hui Cheng's gaze sharpened slightly as he spoke: "King Chong has not come either."

Gongsun Yan furrowed his brows and said: "The Prince has important matters to attend to and cannot get away, but he has deployed two upper-grade martial artists nonetheless. Chancellor Lu, however, hasn't sent a single one. We have completely torn our alliance with Chen Mo apart this time; if defeated, Chancellor Lu would also feel the repercussions."

"The Prime Minister is also quite busy dealing with the imperial examinations and the cultural affairs of Xiliang. But rest assured, General Gongsun, the Prime Minister has already sent Mr. Luo and an additional ten thousand elite troops, more than enough to handle Chen Mo and his forces," Hui Cheng said.

"Luo Qingyang?" Liang Mu asked.

"Indeed, Mr. Luo is the current Patriarch of the Luo Family, an upper-grade martial artist for many years," Hui Cheng replied.

The Luo Family in Luonan, one of the Seven Great Noble Families of the Great Song, tends to be more low-key compared to the Liang and Xiao families.

Not that the Luo Family wishes to be low-key, but their strength is indeed inferior to the other six families.

The reason lies in the sacrifice of the Dragon Qi underground in Luonan by the Grand Ancestor Emperor to break through to First-Grade Martial Artist. The depletion significantly reduced the innate spiritual Qi in the area, slowing down the cultivation of local warriors. Only now has the Dragon Qi of Luonan begun to recover.

"Even with him, we only have three Divine Power Realm martial artists here, equaling their number, still holding no advantage," Liang Mu stated.

"Duke Liang may not be fully aware; the Prime Minister possesses a secret technique that can temporarily boost one's strength; he has taught it to Mr. Luo and me. With Mr. Luo's abilities and the secret technique, he can be invincible below Second-Grade, and I, leveraging this secret technique, can barely count as a Divine Power Realm martial artist, sufficient to deal with Chen Mo's forces," Hui Cheng explained.

"Does such a secret technique exist?" Liang Mu asked curiously.

Gongsun Yan also took interest, jokingly saying: "If Chancellor Lu shares this secret technique, allowing me and Duke Liang to learn it, wouldn't confronting Chen Mo be more assured?"

"General Gongsun's statement contains discrepancies. Regardless of the secret technique, it requires a certain time to cultivate. With Chen Mo approaching, even if General Gongsun began now, you wouldn't learn in time. Additionally, this secret technique requires personal transmission from Chancellor Lu; I can't make such decisions," Hui Cheng laughed.

Gongsun Yan understood this was a polite refusal, and a flash of displeasure briefly crossed his eyes.

Diwu Fusheng gazed at the scene before him, sighing inwardly, feeling a sense of familiarity.

Though they say cooperation, they guard against each other.

What important matters?

King Chong not coming is mainly due to concerns that leaving would allow Chancellor Lu to seize control of Chongzhou.

Chancellor Lu not coming is purely due to concerns of leaving Luonan vulnerable and causing turmoil.

Luonan still has many ministers loyal to the Emperor. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Should Chancellor Lu, King Chong, and the Prince Huai genuinely cooperate fully without suspicion, six upper-grade martial artists could be mobilized, and the troop count could exceed two hundred thousand; how could Chen Mo be a match?

But everything is not as ideal as hoped.

At this moment, Diwu Fusheng seemed to foresee a future.

Whether it be the Prince Huai, King Chong, or Chancellor Lu, they ultimately cannot become rulers of the realm but will become stepping stones for Chen Mo, helping him rise to the summit.

Thinking of these things, Diwu Fusheng laughed at himself.

I still dreamed of revitalizing the Fifth Family.

Yet, I don't even have the basic foresight.

...

Yu State.

Shuofei County.

Shuofei County is situated in a mountain hollow, surrounded by steep mountains, initially defending against the Yuezhi Clan, later against Jin Xia, causing many residents to move away. After the Jin Xia Barbarians withdrew, they set fire in the city, burning everything.

Currently, the only people in the city are the stationed Chen Army and their accompanying families.

In the September heat, the weather grew increasingly sweltering as laborers fortified the city walls, cutting trees in the nearby hills to make beating woods for defense, digging trenches for battle preparations.

At this time, five swift horses galloped from the far-off official road, kicking up dust along the way.

Leading them, Zuo Lianglun saw the outpost ahead is set up with obstacles and hastily pulled out the mobilization token given by Chen Mo from his chest, raising it high and shouting: "Behold Duke An's military token! Seeing it is akin to seeing the Duke himself. Clear the way for me."

The soldiers blocking the road were stunned. As the riders got closer, recognizing Zuo Lianglun, they immediately cleared the way and informed General Li in the city of the arrival.

Shortly, Li Yunzhang, accompanied by city officials and leaders, came out.

Upon seeing Li Yunzhang, Zuo Lianglun raised the token high and ordered without dismounting: "Li Yunzhang, listen to orders."

Li Yunzhang, familiar with Chen Mo's token and recognizing Zuo Lianglun, did not doubt and promptly approached to listen: "Subordinate Li Yunzhang listens to orders."

Now arriving in front of Li Yunzhang, Zuo Lianglun dismounted and solemnly announced: "By order of Duke An, Li Yunzhang is commanded to lead two thousand Divine Brave Guards, three thousand Divine Martial Guards, five thousand Xianzhen Guards, totaling ten thousand troops, swiftly heading to Qingzhou, crossing the river to aid Fengzhou without delay."

After relaying Chen Mo's orders, Zuo Lianglun's tone softened: "General Li, Huai State is in emergency, the Prince Huai attacked Fengzhou, General Deng died nobly, Fengzhou is also in critical danger, leaving no choice but to requisition troops from Yu State."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunzhang's expression changed, immediately leaving to mobilize troops without lingering in small talk with Zuo Lianglun.

...

On the other side.

After rushing without rest for a day and night, Chen Mo had no choice but to order a halt on the second night for rest.

The Personal Guard Battalion camped between mountain ridges, preparing to resume the march at dawn.

The Personal Guard Battalion is more elite than the Divine Brave Guard within the Chen Army, obeying every command without complaint, resting diligently after setting up camp.

Inside a makeshift tent, Xia Zhining entered after washing up, dressed in a light robe. As she came in, a gentle breeze blew, carrying a trace of her delicate fragrance.

She glanced at Chen Mo, who was engrossed in studying the map, then got down on her knees, arranging the bedding on the ground in the firelight within the tent, her hips raised high, rocking slightly.

But even after she finished preparing the bed, Chen Mo didn't lay a hand on her.

"It's late; time to rest," Xia Zhining said.

"Mm, you go ahead to sleep; I need to study this further," Chen Mo replied.

Xia Zhining paused, realizing that usually by this time, Chen Mo would have made a move, yet this time he remained motionless.