In the military camp of Sa City.

Ling Zhi spoke, "Since those black iron balls have limited numbers, we must find a way to deplete them first, to prevent our army from suffering significant losses."

"Right, Your Majesty, didn’t we capture a batch of Song Army captives a while ago? When we clash with the Song Army, we can have these captives act as the vanguard. This way, we can deplete the black iron balls General Ling mentioned and prevent casualties on our side," Barbaro suggested.

However, Wulin Wood was somewhat disapproving, saying, "Your Majesty, although this batch of Song Army is currently captives, once on the battlefield, they are soldiers. By then, if they turn against us, won’t they become an asset to the Song Army?"

The song army captives numbered tens of thousands, even though they were currently controlled, once on the battlefield, they would not be so easily controlled. After all, they were Song soldiers, how can one be sure they would help us against their own people?

"Did General Wu forget Your Majesty’s Charm Skill..." Ling Zhi chuckled softly.

...

That afternoon.

The drawbridge of Sa City slowly descended and the city gates swung open!

War drums beat in unison, horns sounded loudly, and a massive Loulan army surged out of the city. The cavalry, clad in heavy armor, raised their long spears in unison, holding shields in their left hands and leveling spears with their right hands. The long shaft was tucked under their ribcages, and the sharp spear points were aimed directly at the Song formation.

The Loulan cavalry was numerous, and the soldiers were strong and robust. Leading the charge were the remaining Dragon Oath Guards, their spear points were sharp triangular spear blades, over two feet long with distinct blood grooves. In a split second after a thrust, they could swiftly break through the surface True Qi Defense, exuding a killing intent.

Meanwhile, five miles out from Sa City, the Song Army was also arrayed for battle. As they chose not to avoid the brunt, Chen Mo naturally gathered the army to meet them head-on, and the two sides were locked in confrontation.

On the city wall, Loulan Queen Yue Yuxi personally oversaw the battle, her gaze scanning the distant Song Army encampment but failing to spot either Chen Mo or Zhao Qianyi.

As she expected, both were injured and still recovering.

"Relying on such a powerful weapon, they dare confront my army head-on?" Yue Yuxi murmured, then waved her hand.

The Loulan generals on the wall saw Yue Yuxi’s gesture and immediately beat the war drums, altering the rhythm, as Loulan’s main forces began to advance.

In the distance, Li Weiqiu frowned: "These Desolate Kingdom savages intend to use the Dragon Oath Guards as the vanguard from the start? That’s not what Master anticipated..."

Just as Li Weiqiu’s expression was uncertain, the Dragon Oath Guards advanced two miles and then halted. Slowly, they made way, and a disjointed formation of Song Army soldiers was driven to the front by the Loulan forces.

Great Song soldiers were stunned.

"Those are our men."

"These Desolate Kingdom savages actually have our men as the vanguard."

...

"Brothers, don’t come over."

Seeing them advancing step by step, the Great Song soldiers quickly shouted to halt them.

These people seemed not to hear their words, even without Loulan soldiers driving them. They continued to advance, shouting, "Kill them all! Kill them all..."

"General Li, should we let loose some arrows to intimidate them? We can’t let them advance further. Once they get close, the enemy’s Dragon Oath Guards will definitely charge, putting us at a disadvantage," Chu Ang proposed.

"Let’s await the Master’s command," Li Weiqiu held his position.

Behind the scenes, Zhao Qianyi, wearing Chen Mo’s robe, observed the scene from afar and furrowed his brow, "They must have fallen under Loulan Queen’s Charm Skill to behave this way."

The Charm Skill was a secret technique unique to the Loulan royal family, capable of manipulating others’ consciousness and emotions.

The lower one’s strength and the less steadfast one’s will, the more easily they fall under the Charm Skill’s control.

Since these people were captured by the Desolate Kingdom, they must have had their cultivation sealed and suffered humiliation by the Desolate Kingdom’s army, facing devastation both physically and mentally.

In such circumstances, how could they withstand the Loulan Queen’s Charm Skill?

"They are all our own people. What do you intend to do?" Zhao Qianyi asked Chen Mo, who remained calm beside him.

"In war, there are deaths," Chen Mo had anticipated all this and had passed down the orders.

In the central army, Gao Zheng received Chen Mo’s command and couldn’t help but shudder slightly, then loudly proclaimed, "Angle the cannons higher, eight tubes loaded, prepare for a test firing."

The artillerymen before him, upon hearing Gao Zheng’s orders, immediately adjusted the cannons’ angles and loaded the munitions.

Simultaneously, Li Weiqiu also received the command, raising his hand. The Order Flag Soldiers beside him saw Li Weiqiu’s sign and raised their command flags, waving them overhead.

The archers behind the frontline shield-bearers had already been poised to strike. Seeing the flags waving, their fingers released in an instant.

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

Arrows fired into the sky, raining down on the Song Army under the control of the Charm Skill.

The arrows did not distinguish friend from foe.

"Thud... Ah..."

After a round of arrow rain, the Song Army under the Charm Skill suffered heavy casualties, their pitiful cries echoing far and wide.

Witnessing this scene made even the Loulan soldiers shiver in their boots.

Such ruthlessness, to turn on their own.

On the city wall, Yue Yuxi was both surprised and slightly admired, "There is some determination there."

"Yet, those under my control know nothing of fear."

Ordinarily, people would consider retreat after enduring an arrow volley and witnessing so many comrades fall.

Yet the Song Army under the Charm Skill knew nothing of fear as they watched their fallen comrades, continuing their advance.

And it would take quite a while to eliminate the tens of thousands of controlled Song soldiers.

This was also Yue Yuxi’s objective: by the time both forces were entangled, even if the Song Army had such powerful weapons, they would be ineffective.

"Fire," Gao Zheng ordered.

The eight Red Coated Cannons fired simultaneously, tongues of fire shooting out from the barrels.

With a loud boom, explosions erupted beneath the feet of the controlled Song Army. With smoke billowing, corpses lay strewn amidst a devastated landscape.

The enormous sound reverberated, causing a buzz in the ears of the distant Dragon Oath Guards and making battle steeds whinny.

"Is this the Song Army’s powerful weapon?" The Loulan commanders were dumbfounded.

This power was even more terrifying than Ling Zhi described.

Yue Yuxi’s pupils contracted; despite her preparation, seeing it firsthand was still hard to believe, as this was beyond human capability of resistance.

Fortunately, her objective was finally achieved—using this large number of Song soldiers as cannon fodder, her vanguard had reached the Song Army’s front lines.

Yes, among the controlled Song soldiers, there was a group disguised as Loulan Death Warriors. Upon approaching, they charged fearlessly, attempting to throw the Song Army’s formation into disarray.

Witnessing this, Ling Zhi was elated.

"Charge!" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

He personally led the Dragon Oath Guards straight toward the Song Army.

The ground began to tremble, and the sound of hooves thundered like a storm.