Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

The news of Fu City being breached had not yet reached Chen Mo’s ears.

At this moment, he was meeting with Huangfu Hao and the others.

Outside Yunshan City, along both sides of the road, were soldiers arranged by Chen Mo.

Chen Mo opened the city gate, bringing Xu Dabang and others to welcome Huangfu Hao’s arrival.

”Commander, you’ve worked hard. Everyone, you’ve worked hard,” Chen Mo said softly to Huangfu Hao and the others as he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

Originally, Huangfu Hao was in a bad mood because of Gao Fen’s matters, but seeing Chen Mo now, he managed to force a few smiles onto his face.

In recent days, he had been the target of several assassination attempts, but it was Chen Mo who had sent messages to warn him. If he hadn’t been forewarned, he might have fallen into the trap, so he was still grateful to Chen Mo in his heart.

He dismounted, stepped forward, and said, ”Chen Mo, it’s been a while. Congratulations, congratulations on being promoted to Military Commander.”

”The pleasure is mutual,” Chen Mo replied with a faint smile.

Although there was much Huangfu Hao still wished to ask, it was evident that this wasn’t the place for conversation, and the group entered the city.

Inside the government office of Yunshan City,

All the generals of the three armies had gathered in one place.

One of the generals was the first to challenge Chen Mo: ”General Chen Mo, the Commander has urged you several times to join General Gao, why are you still in Yunshan City?”

There were people from Gao Qiu’s faction in the army as well.

At this moment, they naturally worried about Gao Fen’s wellbeing.

Gao Qiu wielded significant power in the court and was aligned with Prime Minister Cai Si.

If anything happened to Gao Fen, they would face serious repercussions upon returning to the capital.

”And who might this general be?” Chen Mo frowned slightly.

”Second Army Fourth Camp Commander Liu Xing,” the man responded.

”Camp Commander?”

Chen Mo’s eyes fixed threateningly on Liu Xing as he said coldly, ”No one has ever told you that when speaking to a superior, you must be respectful. Your rank is lower than mine, and yet you dare question me in the main hall, defying superior orders—who gave you the guts?”

The oppressive aura of an Innate Martial Artist was sparingly released.

”I am merely discussing matters based on facts, and I haven’t...”

But Liu Xing’s words were cut off as Chen Mo interrupted, ”Furthermore, according to the plan, General Gao was supposed to wait in Muyou County for my troops to arrive before taking action.

Yet he did not heed this and, according to reports from my scouts, he has already advanced into Fu City alone. Such a reckless pursuit of achievement, against military orders—am I to lead my men to die with him?

According to the plan, I was only to wait in Muyou County until the Commander arrived. Moreover, to assist General Gao, I’ve advanced hastily to Yunshan City. If the Rebel Army had set up an ambush, the lives of over a thousand men under my command would be in danger, and I...”

Chen Mo’s words thoroughly silenced Liu Xing.

Based on Chen Mo’s words, one step away from calling Gao Fen a fool,

This clearly was a trap set by the Rebel Army, and yet Gao Fen leaped into it.

The generals raised their eyebrows.

It was the first time they’d seen Chen Mo like this; before, he was always rather unassuming and amiable—why was he now so assertive and blunt?

After speaking, Chen Mo handed over the secret letter Gao Fen had written to him, for Huangfu Hao to see.

Huangfu Hao looked at the letters, which nearly all bragged about his solo capture of Sha City and Fu City, how he anticipated the enemy’s moves and rendered them powerless.

Huangfu Hao was infuriated to the point of clenching his teeth.

He pulled out a map, pointing to the location of Fu City on it.

Apart from the captured Sha City and Fu City, all around was the Rebel Army.

Moreover, the main force of the Rebel Army was stationed at Yellow Armor City, yet to make a move.

Gao Fen had effectively entered the enemy’s lair.

His death would be inconsequential in isolation, but it implicated the elite troops Huangfu Hao had assigned to him.

”Hmph,” Huangfu Hao slammed the table with his hand angrily and said, ”If he really fell into a trap, he only has himself to blame.

He’s repeatedly disobeyed my military orders. According to military law, even if he survives this time, he must be executed.”

The generals fell silent as one.

Liu Xing understood that Gao Fen’s fate was uncertain.

However, as a member of Gao Qiu’s faction, Liu Xing still spoke on Gao Fen’s behalf: ”General Gao’s actions were also motivated by a desire to quickly eliminate the Rebel Army; it is understandable. Now that he has isolated himself in Fu City, the current strategy should be to quickly rescue him.”

After speaking, Liu Xing added, ”After all, General Gao is Grand Commandant Gao’s son...”

However, this further infuriated Huangfu Hao, who replied, ”His life is valuable, but the lives of the two camps’ soldiers are not?”

Liu Xing fell silent, his face paling slightly.

Still, his point held some validity.

Gao Fen’s life was, after all, considered more valuable than that of an ordinary soldier.

However, these sentiments couldn’t be openly expressed, for it would dampen the morale of the troops.

Ultimately, Huangfu Hao decided to rest the army for the night under the pretense of rescuing the two camps’ soldiers, and march to Fu City’s aid at dawn.

Although Gao Fen hadn’t called for reinforcements, in Huangfu Hao and the others’ eyes, Fu City was already a city at risk.

After discussing the offensive plan, the generals gradually departed.

Huangfu Hao specifically kept Chen Mo behind.

This caught Wei Xian’s attention as he left.

...

Once everyone had left,

Huangfu Hao surprisingly bowed and saluted Chen Mo.

This left Chen Mo slightly taken aback, and he quickly helped Huangfu Hao to stand, ”Commander, this is unnecessary.”

”It is necessary,” Huangfu Hao insisted, grasping Chen Mo’s hand and motioning for him to sit by his side, adopting the demeanor of a close friend. ”If not for you, Chen Mo, I might have died at an assassin’s hands.”

”Commander, you’re being too kind,” Chen Mo refrained from claiming credit and withdrew his hand from Huangfu Hao’s grasp; such intimacy between two men made Chen Mo uncomfortable.

Huangfu Hao chuckled, expressing gratitude as one reason, and on the other, inquiring how Chen Mo had learned of the assassination plot against him.

”Commander, to be honest, I was attacked by an assassin a day earlier and learned of this from the assassin’s mouth,” Chen Mo presented the explanation he had long prepared.

As for the assassin, he was already dead.

Dead men tell no tales.

Huangfu Hao arched an eyebrow and then inquired with concern if Chen Mo was unharmed.

Chen Mo assured him that he was unharmed.

”To think that the rebels are so brazen, sending assassins after both of us,” Huangfu Hao said with a deep voice.

Chen Mo nodded and then spoke up, ”It’s strange, though. Logically, I was the one who killed Zhang Ping, why would they send assassins after the Commander as well?

Furthermore, if there are so many top masters within the Rebel Army, then why is the rebellion in Nanyang so easily quelled?”

Chen Mo aimed to divert Huangfu Hao’s attention.

”You’re suggesting that not all the assassins were sent by the Rebel Army?” Huangfu Hao was a smart man and naturally picked up on the implications in Chen Mo’s words.

As for why the rebels would want to assassinate him, it was not hard to understand, for he was the army’s commander-in-chief.

Chen Mo nodded.

”But besides the Rebel Army wanting us dead, who else could it be?” Huangfu Hao asked in puzzlement.