On December 3rd, after surveying the fortifications of Qiong Dan County at the Chongzhou border, the official assault on Chongzhou began. To ensure the 'legitimacy' of the procedure, Chen Mo had a proclamation drafted to denounce King Chong as a traitor.

Repeatedly emphasizing that King Chong was a rebel and that he himself was a loyal minister of the Great Song, Chen Mo hoped the garrison of Qiong Dan County would surrender.

However, the one guarding Qiong Dan County was a confidant sent by King Chong, a Fifth-Grade Martial Artist.

Indeed, though the situation was clear, knowing they were no match for the Chen Army, the guard remained loyal to King Chong and chose to defend the city to the death rather than surrender.

Chen Mo sighed and instructed Yue Ruyan to lead the vanguard. In less than half an hour, the city gates were breached.

The defending general of Qiong Dan County, Chu Ge, personally donned his armor and stubbornly defended the city gate that Yue Ruyan had stormed through, but was ultimately captured alive by Yue Ruyan, resulting in the complete defeat of the garrison.

Afterward, Chu Ge was brought before Chen Mo.

Chen Mo intended to persuade him to surrender in person.

To be honest, this kind of hard-headed loyalty only made Chen Mo admire him more.

But instead of surrendering, Chu Ge cursed Chen Mo as a treacherous villain deserving a miserable death, his eyes glaring in rage like copper bells, spitting blood at Chen Mo continuously.

"General Chu, isn't living a good thing?" Chen Mo sighed and said.

"Pah." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Chu Ge spat and then recounted the kindness King Chong had shown him.

Back when King Chong was still a prince and not yet of age, Chu Ge's father served him.

At that time, Chu Ge was a companion to King Chong, sharing food and lodging in the same courtyard.

Later, when King Chong was sent to govern a distant land, he took Chu Ge with him and even granted him the imperial surname 'Chu'.

Chu Ge's wife was also bestowed upon him by King Chong.

Later still, Chu Ge's daughter was given as a concubine to King Chong's illegitimate son...

Hearing this, Chen Mo knew there was no persuading him; this was clearly a die-hard loyalist.

"Take him away," Chen Mo waved his hand dismissively, granting Chu Ge a swift end.

That afternoon, Chen Army continued southward.

On December 4th, they reached Wanshan County. This county city had barely a hundred defense soldiers, and the local County Magistrate and Defense Army General opened the gates and surrendered as soon as Chen Army arrived.

On December 6th, they took two more cities without a fight.

By December 10th, they arrived at Wanfu Pass.

The terrain of Wanfu Pass lived up to its name; it was a one-line sky gorge. Legend held that, stationed at the pass, a small troop could stop an army of ten thousand from passing.

The pass was a critical strategic point within Chongzhou territory. If Qiong Dan County was the gateway to Chongzhou, then this pass was the last line of defense. If it fell, Chongzhou would have no more strongholds to rely on.

To bypass the pass, Chen Mo would have to take a longer detour to reach the state city of Chongzhou.

Of course, no matter how formidable the pass, it wasn't flawless.

The flaw in Chong Army's defense was evident.

Too weak.

The disparity between them and Chen Army was too vast.

Chen Mo, Yue Ruyan, Xiao Jing, and Wu Yanqing personally led elite troops, divided into two paths, and attacked the gorge's pass.

King Chong's forces had already suffered heavy losses in Huai State, and Chongzhou's main troops were scant.

After allocating some to defend the state city, there were hardly any soldiers left to defend Wanfu Pass.

The defense didn't last long before they either retreated or surrendered.

The main force of Chen Army marched into Wanfu Pass.

It took another five days for the army to reach the foot of Chongzhou City.

King Chong's Mansion was within the city.

Taking Chongzhou City would mean that Chongzhou was effectively under Chen Mo's control.

Nalan Yiren, who had been following Chen Mo, witnessed everything firsthand.

Of course, she didn't lend a hand, purely acting as an observer.

She watched Chen Mo command thousands of troops, observed enemy generals surrendering and submitting to him, saw him pacifying the city folk, directing the land, railing against treacherous ministers in the court, and swearing to maintain peace in the region.

Such an air of grace and style stirred something within Nalan Yiren's heart.

She would have said, "This is what a true man should be," if she were a man.

Several aspects attract a man to a woman.

Beauty, status, and wealth.

In truth, it's the same attributes that attract women to men.

And Chen Mo possessed all these.

An outstanding man naturally attracts women.

Stories of rich women falling for poor men are mostly just fanciful tales by authors.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Nalan Yiren was smitten with Chen Mo.

It only indicates that if Nalan Yiren were to marry someday, she would undoubtedly choose someone like Chen Mo.

...

On December 12th.

Just two days after Chen Mo seized Wanfu Pass.

In Chongzhou City.

When news of the Alliance Army's defeat and total annihilation in Huai State reached Chongzhou City, chaos ensued within the city, with countless noble sons fleeing with their families.

Now that Wanfu Pass was lost, even the lower-class citizens in the city began to panic.

In Chongzhou, the policy of 'confinement' was enforced on the population.

This meant that without a travel permit personally issued by the County Magistrate, the people of Jia County could not travel to Yi County.

Moreover, due to the poor communication in feudal society, the lower-class people had very limited means to learn about the outside world.

Only two options.

See for themselves or hear from others.

King Chong considered Chen Mo his enemy.

Thus, he would spare no effort in smearing Chen Mo's reputation.

As a result, common people feared that if Chen Army breached the city, there would be a massacre.

In Prince Chong's Mansion.

Study room.

Almost everyone was present, including King Chong, the defense generals, officials, and strategists of the city, all with anxious expressions.

"Your Highness, Chen Army's advance is too swift. In just a few days, they've already passed Wanfu Pass. At this rate, they'll be at our gates within five days. When will Lu Sheng's reinforcements arrive?" one of King Chong's generals asked.