Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

”I ask you, is Huangfu Hao dead?”

Chen Mo raised his hand slightly, and suddenly a large knife gleaming with cold light was pressed against the necks of the two delivering the edict.

A hundred thousand men, just like that, fell under the control of Hu Mei’Er, even the General’s Seal was lost. Chen Mo feared that Huangfu Hao was in a dire situation.

The two Order Transmission Cavalry delivering the edict trembled, stammering, ”Reporting to the Commander, Your Majesty only summoned you back to the Capital, and did not charge you. When we left, the Capital had not yet dealt with General Huangfu Hao.”

”With foreign invaders infiltrating the Central Plains and domestic rebellions on the rise at such a perilous time, a group of petty scoundrels actually planned to harm me. I had already given them an opportunity in the Capital, yet they didn’t know how to appreciate it.”

As Chen Mo spoke, he stood up and walked out of the Government Office, followed closely by Gao Zheng, who lifted the two Order Transmission Cavalry with one hand on each, adhering to the situation.

Military men lounging outside quickly stepped aside.

Walking out of the Government Office, Chen Mo glanced up at the azure sky and said in a deep voice, ”Since they don’t want decorum, I will give it to them.”

Chen Mo closed his eyes, and Gao Zheng, who had been with him for a long time, immediately understood his meaning, nodded, and two sword-bearing soldiers came over, taking care of the two Order Transmission Cavalry.

”What happened?”

”The Lord’s face is so dark!”

”Even during the invasion of the Desolate Kingdom, I never saw the Lord with such a dark expression.”

”Something big must have happened?”

Zhao Qianyi found Gao Zheng to ask what had happened.

Gao Zheng briefly recounted the incident to Zhao Qianyi.

Zhao Qianyi’s face changed dramatically.

Their home had been robbed, no wonder his face was so dark.

”Li Weiqiu,” after a while, Chen Mo opened his eyes and called.

”I’m here,” Li Weiqiu stepped forward.

”Zhang Lie.”

”I’m here.”

”Bai Yongtao.”

”I’m here.”

”Zhao Qianyi.”

”Here.”

”Assemble the troops. Return to the Capital!”

”Understood.” The commanders responded loudly, full of spirit.

Chen Mo left behind seventy thousand soldiers and considerable supplies, entrusting Dai Xishan to guard Tiger Pass, while he embarked with the army’s provisions for the coming days, swiftly heading towards Bianliang.

The weather changed suddenly, the sky turning dim, with dark clouds accumulating, and the pattering rain raised a gale which made the banners rustle.

The army was silent, marching along the official road, like a long line reaching beyond the horizon.

After understanding the situation, Li Weiqiu and others felt extremely indignant. We fought at the forefront, and meanwhile, you stabbed us in the back.

Moreover, now that the court is in your hands, our credit for driving away the Desolate Kingdom will be taken by you. How can we not feel pent-up and resentful?

...

On the 227th day of the Great Chaos.

Chen Mo received a secret letter stating that on the third day of February, Yi Yao and the others were attacked by the Black Shadow Killer Organization during an outing, and Jiang Ruoqing was injured by the assassins. Thankfully, Xiao Jiu displayed divine prowess and with the timely arrival of Wu Lu and others, disaster was averted; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Yi Yao and the others are undoubtedly Chen Mo’s reverse scale; this act undoubtedly ignited the fury in Chen Mo’s heart.

Coincidentally, at this time, the charges against Chen Mo being spread in the Capital also reached here.

Not only is Chen Mo guilty, but Li Weiqiu and the others are guilty too.

Chen Mo climbed onto the carriage overseeing Yue Yuxi, looked down at everyone, and angrily said, ”For the Great Song, we have battled many times, and won victories with numerous military achievements, meritorious to the Imperial Court, and to the world, yet we now have monstrous crimes.

This is all because of the traitors around Your Majesty. I want to march to Bianliang to kill those vile people all over, who is willing to follow me?”

Chen Mo’s prestige in the army was unmatched; as soon as he got angry, the generals and soldiers responded.

”We swear to follow the Lord to death!”

”We swear to follow the Lord to death!”

”We swear to follow the Lord to death!”

...

At the right moment, Gao Zheng and others brought his armor, draping it over Chen Mo, who stood on the carriage, looking around with countless soldiers and generals wielding their weapons and cheering.

They already hadn’t raised the sword to Bianliang for the first time, the blood in their veins was boiling.

As the rain fell harder, horses’ hooves splashed mud, yet it did not dampen the fervor in people’s hearts.

The light cavalry sped straight towards Bianliang.

...

The changes in the Capital had spread all around in these days, and Zhao Jiang, who had already headed to the Southwest, naturally received the news.

Upon learning that Chen Mo’s home had been robbed, Zhao Jiang happily organized a banquet, feeling an inexplicable joy as someone avenged the big loss he suffered in Qinyang County.

However, at this time, he received two messages.

One was that Chen Mo defeated the enemy army and captured the Queen of Loulan alive.

The other was an edict from the Imperial Court, commanding him to intercept Chen Mo on his way back to the Capital.

Receiving these two messages, Zhao Jiang was dumbfounded.

Seriously?

How long has it been?

The Desolate Kingdom is already defeated, and he hasn’t even reached the Southwest yet.

According to the previous plan, he was supposed to first reclaim the Southwest, win the hearts of people, strengthen the army, and then confront Chen Mo, who had already fought a bloody battle with the Desolate Kingdom. Now the battle ended so quickly, rendering all his plans useless.

Moreover, the court asked him to intercept Chen Mo on his way back to the Capital.

He would have to make it in time, but he was heading to the Southwest, completely the opposite direction.

Besides, his proclaimed aim was to reclaim the Southwest, so how could he suddenly turn back and explain this to his troops?

Once the morale dissipates, it’s hard to manage the troops.

Although it indeed could severely strike Chen Mo to vent his anger, Zhao Jiang still understood the priorities.

Furthermore, how could he not know that Hu Mei’Er was using him as a tool?

...

Hu Mei’Er scattered the charges in the Capital precisely to keep the hundred thousand soldiers in her grasp.

She gained control over these hundred thousand through the various levels of military leadership; the hearts of the common soldiers were not with her, and if anyone incited them, a mutiny might happen.

Additionally, these common soldiers were dull-witted; after all, the world still belonged to the Great Song, and the charges against Chen Mo included treason.

In other words, these soldiers would have to face opposing the entire world if they wanted to follow Chen Mo; moreover, being at the bottom, unable to see the way the situation was shaping up, they would be intimidated by Hu Mei’Er.

As soon as news of Chen Mo’s defeat or severe injury reaches the Capital, Hu Mei’Er would be able to completely control this army.

Therefore, she sent a message to Zhao Jiang, who had suffered a great loss at Chen Mo’s hands and viewed him as an enemy, asking him to intercept.

Meanwhile, she also promised a significant reward to the Yellow Turban Army, inviting them to take action as well.

Delivering the edict to Chen Mo was intended to scare him into returning to the Capital alone.

Hu Mei’Er knew that Chen Mo would not be fooled easily, but what if he was? There was no harm in trying.

No matter what, Chen Mo would still find out.

All of this, Hu Mei’Er was gambling.

She could only gamble, if she won, she could overturn the situation.

And if she lost, it would be no different from sitting there waiting for death.

She had no choice.