The night was silent, the evening breeze caressed, bringing a faint chill, the moonlight bright, illuminating the boundless night sky like a small lamp.

Chen Mo, with five to six thousand men, gradually approached Pingting County.

It was already the third watch of the night; the county was silent, with the townsfolk deep in slumber. However, on the city walls, soldiers clad in armor patrolled back and forth.

Chen Mo dared not get too close, for even five to six thousand men, crouched and moving quietly, could not avoid making noise.

"Do not move from here," Chen Mo's gaze shifted to Zhang River, Han Wu, and Hu Qiang, then said, "Act only when you hear movement, understand?"

"Understood." The three nodded in agreement.

After giving instructions, Chen Mo, along with Lu Yuan and Su Wen, donned the clothes of the Wang Family's guard sent to pay ransom, then smeared some dirt from the ground onto their faces, and led by a Martial Artist of the Wang Family's branch, with Wang Ran, they came under the city wall.

Pingting County's city wall stood three meters high, made of yellow earth and stones. Without external tools, it was not something Chen Mo could climb or break through.

As for the city gate,

it wasn't a simple wooden door but a sturdy construct made from ancient trees over hundreds or thousands of years old, using highly fire-resistant birch or jujube wood, then painted and reinforced with steel, exceedingly robust.

Additionally, there were over a dozen bars behind the gate, followed by a thousand-pound gate.

In ancient times, before Chen Mo's crossing, not even cannons could breach it unless using modern thermal weapons.

Otherwise, why would there be such a saying: "In siege warfare, attack if the enemy is three times your number, lay siege if ten times your number."

Chen Mo and his group reached below the city wall, and the guards on top noticed them. The centurion guarding the city sternly asked, "Who goes there?"

"General Cai, it's me, Wang Chu from the Wang Family. We've ransomed our Second Young Master back, let us in quickly," said the Martial Artist from the Wang Family's branch.

Wang Ran, who carried a bow, also stepped forward, "I am Wang Ran."

"Oh, it's the Second Young Master! Are you alright? Did those bandits do anything to you?" asked Centurion Cai.

"Don't mention it, those bandits were outrageous. When I return, even if my father has to sell everything, he must send people to destroy them, or my resentment will not be appeased," Wang Ran replied.

"Please wait a moment, Second Young Master." Centurion Cai said as he instructed his men to shine torches over. However, with the city walls so tall and it being the third watch, it was difficult to see everything clearly.

Chen Mo looked up, seeing a red number 53+5 on the centurion's forehead.

After examining them for a moment, Centurion Cai suddenly exclaimed, "Leader Lu has also returned."

Lu Yuan, who had long been prepared, cupped his hands and said, "Thanks to the Wang Family's help, they also ransomed me. Now that I'm entering the city, I plan to find some friends to collect money and ransom my wives as well."

"Those bandits are indeed hateful. Once you enter the city, you can request soldiers from the lord. If given a chance, I am willing to aid you in exterminating those knaves," said Centurion Cai while instructing subordinates to lower two willow baskets.

Wang Ran and Lu Yuan climbed into the willow baskets, and the defense troops above turned the mechanism, hoisting them up.

It was then the turn of Chen Mo and Su Wen.

Once everyone was up, Centurion Cai suddenly stared at Chen Mo, scrutinizing him, and then asked, puzzled, "Why haven't I seen this brother before? He looks unfamiliar to me."

Wang Ran and Su Wen's faces slightly changed, but Chen Mo remained perfectly calm and said, "I am merely a small guard of the Wang Family, it would be normal if General Cai hasn't seen me before."

Centurion Cai nodded, then looked at the three pottery jars Chen Mo was carrying, and asked, puzzled, "What are those?"

Chen Mo unfastened one jar and showed him, "Fine salt, compensation that those bandits gave our Second Young Master."

Chen Mo even took out a handful.

Seeing such fine salt, Centurion Cai curiously tasted a bit, and upon realizing it was salt, expressed astonishment, "Such refined salt exists?!"

"If General Cai likes it, how about we gift you a jar," Wang Ran suddenly said.

Chen Mo handed the pottery jar to Centurion Cai following Wang Ran's cue.

"How embarrassing," he said, but his hands readily accepted it.

He wasn't foolish, knowing that such refined salt in a jar was worth quite a sum. If given, why not accept it without hesitation?

"Well, General Cai, we shall take our leave," Wang Ran said.

"I will see the Second Young Master out,"

Centurion Cai handed the pottery jar to the personal soldiers beside him, then escorted Chen Mo and his group down from the gate tower.

"Second Young Master, slow..."

Before Centurion Cai could finish his words, Chen Mo suddenly pulled out a dagger from his bosom, slashing across his throat with force.

In truth, as soon as Chen Mo drew his dagger, Centurion Cai reacted and tried to step back, but the opponent's speed was far too swift.

"Uh... uh..."

Clutching his throat, Centurion Cai fell unwillingly to the ground.

The personal soldiers nearby were also swiftly dealt with by Lu Yuan and the others, who then dashed toward the bridge tunnel, intending to operate the winch and lift the thousand-pound gate.

Meanwhile, large flames burst from civilian houses in the city, and several hundred to nearly a thousand armored guards emerged, led by the defense army's Commander General Sun.

Simultaneously, dozens of defense troops emerged from the bridge tunnel, raising shields one by one.

Wang Ran and the others' faces instantly turned ashen; it was clear even to a fool that they had sprung a trap.

"It seems the lord's guess was right, the Wang Family harbors malicious intent, having defected to those bandits. Release arrows!" General Sun waved a large hand, and behind him, dozens to hundreds of arrows rained down upon them.

"If you don't want to die, quickly open the city gate," Chen Mo shouted to Lu Yuan and the others, then promptly unfastened one pottery jar, throwing it toward the tunnel inside the city gate.

Clang—

The Tang blade unsheathed, Chen Mo turned and swung fiercely several times, the invisible Sword Qi sweeping out in a character resembling rice, slicing down most of the arrows.

"Explode."

Chen Mo softly uttered, and the jar thrown into the bridge tunnel exploded instantly, thick smoke with flames spewed out, and a gap was blown in the formation of armored guards within the tunnel. Those nearby couldn't dodge and were shredded to a bloody pulp by flying shrapnel and stones.

The sudden explosion and Chen Mo's frightening methods left everyone shocked, their eyes filled with fear of the unknown.

Lu Yuan and the others, upon blocking the remaining arrows with their blades, regained their senses and hurriedly charged toward the bridge tunnel.

General Sun was likewise astonished, and the personal soldiers beside him were dumbstruck. Some even shouted words like "Duke Lei, demon technique," completely at a loss.

In this moment of bewilderment, Chen Mo tossed the last pottery jar toward General Sun's troops.

"Boom!"

Upon explosion, more than ten defense troops in the front were immediately affected by the shrapnel from the pottery and metal pieces, writhing on the ground in agonized cries.

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