The so-called Soft Force.
It’s like hitting with a board, where people nearby can see that it used a lot of strength, and the sound produced is loud when it hits, but those who are struck actually only feel pain, and not even severe pain. It won’t break the skin nor cause any internal injury.
In doing so, it serves as a warning, pacifies the minds of the people in the city, and prevents those who are hit from feeling disheartened.
Shortly after Luo Yong left, Chen Mo thought of something and said to the personal soldiers beside him, "Send someone to gather all the women from the city’s brothels and the wealthy households, confiscating their properties for the public. Once the main force arrives, they may remove their armor and rest for a day, enjoying themselves fully, with all expenses borne by the Court."
After a slap, it’s time to offer a sweet date.
Though the Court is footing the bill, it’s pretty much like getting it for free.
"Understood."
The personal soldiers bowed in acknowledgment.
...
Time had just entered October.
Capital of Jin Xia.
The deep bell tones echoed throughout the Imperial City.
Officials passed through the palace gates and arrived at the Jinluan Hall, participating in the morning court as usual.
The Jin Xia Court adopted the Song System, and the morning court in this aspect was exactly the same as the Great Song.
"Speak if there are matters to present, and recess the court if none." A eunuch loudly declared from above within the Jinluan Hall.
"I have matters to present." Wanyan Xiaji stepped forward.
"Granted." Sitting on the throne, Tuoba Hui raised his hand and said.
"Returning to the Great Khan, since our last battle with the Great Song ended in defeat, I have summarized the lessons learned and instructed skilled individuals under me to replicate a batch of Strange Thunder based on the Great Song’s Strange Thunder. Although its power cannot compete with the Great Song’s Strange Thunder, the damage dealt when launched with a catapult is still remarkable.
I hope the Great Khan will immediately issue orders for a large-scale manufacture based on this replica batch of Strange Thunder, to be quickly deployed for military use." Wanyan Xiaji respectfully spoke.
These words caused an uproar among the ministers.
Though they had never seen the Great Song (Great Wei)’s Strange Thunder, they had heard of its renowned name.
During the last defeat against the Song Army, Wanyan Xiaji attributed the critical cause of failure to the Strange Thunder.
Its astounding strength was evident.
Now hearing about a batch of replicas, it’s naturally shocking.
Tuoba Hui also revealed a pleased expression, eagerly asking, "Is what General Xiaji said true?"
"I dare not deceive the Great Khan," Wanyan Xiaji replied.
"Good." Tuoba Hui heavily slapped the arm of the throne, standing up excitedly, and proclaimed, "General Xiaji is indeed a pillar of our Jin Xia."
"The Great Khan is too kind; I am overwhelmed," Wanyan Xiaji humbly said.
"Approved, the large-scale replication of Strange Thunder will be entirely handled by General Xiaji." Tuoba Hui ordered.
"Thank Your Majesty."
Just as Wanyan Xiaji was about to withdraw, a posthouse messenger’s shout came from outside the hall: "Urgent – Eight hundred li from Haiyan Pass!"
Upon hearing it was an eight-hundred-li urgent message, the assembly fell silent, quickly turning to look outside the hall.
Soon, a posthouse messenger hurried into the hall, kneeled on one knee beneath the golden steps, and urgently reported:
"Urgent – On the night of September 23rd, the Wei Army launched a night assault on Haiyan Pass, breaching the city gate, and shortly after, Prince Ning fell in battle, Haiyan Pass was lost."
"Ah!"
After this report, the Jinluan Hall was filled with sounds of sharp intakes of breath.
Wanyan Xiaji, who was just about to withdraw, staggered slightly, shock evident in his eyes, as he hurriedly asked, "What did you say?"
"The Wei Army launched a night assault on Haiyan Pass, Prince Ning fell in battle, Haiyan Pass was lost," the messenger tersely replied.
"Thud..."
Tuoba Hui slump down onto the throne, his face showing a look of shock and soul-loss.
Below, various noises of panic and chaos arose among the ministers.
"How could the Wei Army launch a night assault on Haiyan Pass?"
"Isn’t Wei Kingdom’s northern side plagued with an epidemic? How dare they attack us?"
"What was Prince Ning doing? How could Haiyan Pass be lost?"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible..."
...
However, since it’s an eight-hundred-li urgent message, it couldn’t possibly be false.
Tuoba Hui was shocked for a while, then gathered his spirit and asked, "Who is the commander of the Wei Army? How did Prince Ning die?"
The messenger was about to speak, but another messenger’s voice resonated from outside the hall.
"Urgent—Eight hundred li from Gansha City."
"Quick, let them in," Tuoba Hui hurriedly ordered.
The messenger entered the hall quickly, carrying the same expression as the previous messenger.
"Urgent, on the morning of September 24th, the Wei Army attacked Gansha City, breached the South City Gate, and shortly after, King Yong and his deputy fell in battle, Gansha City... was lost."
"Boom!"
It felt like an earthquake.
Once the messenger finished speaking, the assembly went into chaos, similar to an earthquake.
Each voice of panic and distress rose one after another.
"Morning of the 24th? That means the Wei Army attacked Haiyan Pass at night, then continued south, conquering Black Water City and Gansha City..."
Wanyan Xiaji’s face turned dark, if Gansha City was lost, then surely Black Water City must have fallen too.
"Cough, cough..."
Tuoba Hui on the throne began to cough violently, sorrowfully saying, "Brother Hong..."
"Quickly, tell me who the enemy’s commander is? To kill Prince Ning, this person’s strength must be within the Upper Three Grades." Wanyan Xiaji asked.
The second messenger responded, "This person claims to be the Emperor of Da Wei."
"Emperor... of Da Wei?" Wanyan Xiaji’s expression showed significant surprise.
The ministers, upon hearing this, began to debate fiercely.
"Could it be a mistake? How would an emperor lead the army personally to besiege?"
"The Great Wei Capital is in Celestial River, thousands of miles away from Haiyan Pass, how is Chen Mo there?"
"What happened to the spy clothes sent to Da Wei by the Court? The Da Wei Emperor launched a night assault on Haiyan Pass and we didn’t receive any prior information."
"There’s an epidemic in Da Wei, and yet Chen Mo dared to lead an army against us, isn’t he afraid of the epidemic infecting his troops?"
"..."
"Chen... Mo." Tuoba Hui gritted his teeth, his voice cold as ice: "I want him dead, dead!"
Tuoba Hui was infuriated.
Wanyan Xiaji nodded to accept the order; given the circumstances, he certainly needed to lead troops to resist.
Not only Tuoba Hui, but Wanyan Xiaji was also extremely angry.
Chen Mo had not only captured three of their cities but ruthlessly taken the lives of two princes, utterly intolerable.
"Great Khan, since the Emperor of Da Wei is personally leading troops, whether for his safety or other reasons, the troop count he’s leading must be substantial, meaning the interior of Da Wei is surely vulnerable, I humbly ask the Great Khan to dispatch another to lead troops westward, attacking Da Wei’s Longyou." Wanyan Xiaji proposed.
"Granted." Tuoba Hui, in his fury, agreed to anything that could result in Chen Mo’s demise.
...
Mid-October.
Chang En’s army of ten thousand arrived at Haiyan Pass.
A day later, they united with Zhao Liang and Sun Meng at Gansha City, joining with Chen Mo.
Chen Mo ordered Chang En and Cui Shuang to maintain a force of five thousand to guard Gansha City, while he led the remaining troops and supplies forward.
In three consecutive days, they captured five cities, acquiring a large sum of wealth, cattle, sheep, and other livestock.
Although wealth is not currently usable in Jin Xia, it was transported back to the homeland.
As for cattle, sheep, and other livestock, Nalan Yiren inspected them for poison and found none, they were slaughtered locally and provided to the entire army for consumption.
After resting for a day, the army continued advancing.
On the second afternoon, they encountered stiff resistance from a Jin Xia tribe called the Qiuqi Tribe. Even after Chen Mo shot their leader amidst thousands, they refused to surrender, fighting to the death; even the elderly, children, and women resisted the army.
By evening, the Qiuqi Tribe was slaughtered, leaving a mound of skulls as a testament.
The fate of the Qiuqi Tribe perhaps intimidated others, for two nearby small tribes surrendered to Great Wei in a crowd.
At this point.
Chen Mo’s army was less than five hundred miles from Jin Xia’s Capital.
The army halted in a town called "Tianxing City."
Chen Mo knew he could not advance further.
In less than ten days, they had ventured deep over three hundred miles.
Without clearing the flanks, they risked the enemy cutting off their retreat.
Additionally, based on reports from scouts ahead, Jin Xia reinforcements had arrived.
Chen Mo intended to fight them head-on.
For this purpose.
That morning, Chen Mo and Nalan Yiren, leading a small squad, left the city to survey the surrounding terrain, searching for a suitable battlefield.
To Chen Mo, an open area is best.