A daily intelligence report; in chaotic times and famine years, grain is plentiful.

"That's right, we're just walking into a trap."

Chen Mo said calmly.

Hearing this, the people next to him were also stunned.

"Don't worry, with me leading the way, you'll be absolutely safe."

Chen Mo assured him, without offering further explanation.

Now he knows every mountain and road in Black Wind Ridge like the back of his hand.

Everyone was filled with doubt.

Chen Mo used that fake intelligence trick to scare away many soldiers searching the mountains, which made the area around the camp much safer.

But now they're actually heading into the government troops' encirclement. Could it be that, as he said, they're really walking into a trap?

Looking into Chen Mo's eyes, Liang Ming quickly understood.

He was using himself as bait to lure away the main force of the government troops and buy time for everyone in the camp.

"Let's go."

Chen Mo packed his things and left the camp.

The group followed closely behind, cautiously descending the mountain, ready for battle at any moment.

The team crossed one mountain ridge after another, and the terrain became increasingly complex.

After walking for almost a day, and as darkness fell, Chen Mo finally stopped.

He raised his hand and gestured for silence to the people behind him.

Everyone stopped and looked in the direction Chen Mo was looking.

Before us stood a precipitous mountain peak, with only two winding paths leading from the bottom to the top. At the foot of the mountain, many figures were moving about.

Those were soldiers and local militia patrolling the area; just by looking at them, there were at least two or three hundred of them.

What are your plans?

Liang Ming asked in a low voice.

"Go up the mountain."

Chen Mo replied.

"Go back up?"

Liang Ming was utterly puzzled. Although he understood that Chen Mo wanted to make a scene to attract the attention of the government troops, this action was far too risky.

"They've already surrounded the mountain; how are we supposed to get up there?"

Dong Shuo, who was standing to the side, also asked in confusion.

"This way."

Chen Mo said no more and continued to lead the group toward the cliff.

It seems that Huang Chengyue's side really believed this false intelligence and took Xiling Peak as the hiding place for the people of Lingtou Village.

I believe that the main force of the government troops will arrive soon.

Going up the mountain now might seem like walking into a trap, but in Chen Mo's eyes, it was the best opportunity.

They continued walking forward, silently bypassing the soldiers' patrols, and arrived at the foot of the cliff.

……

Inside the northern city, the Zhenbei Army began to assemble.

Five hundred elite cavalrymen of the Northern Army marched in formation through the street, causing the people on both sides to make way for them.

They heard that General Xiao's troops had wiped out two bandit strongholds in just ten days. Although the Zhenbei Army was indeed disciplined, the people now only kept their distance from these government troops.

The Zhenbei Army is about to assemble and head to Xiling Peak to wipe out the remaining bandits led by Chen Mo.

Xiao Yunling did not want to make a big fuss, but he also did not want to leave any hidden dangers, so he simply mobilized five hundred soldiers and went to Xiling Peak in person.

The group set off immediately and arrived at the foot of Xiling Peak after two hours.

From a distance, one could see a group of people dressed as government officials guarding the road at the foot of the mountain.

Upon seeing the government troops arrive, the leading clerk immediately rushed forward, bowed, and said, "Greetings, General Xiao. I have already surrounded Xiling Peak with my men, ensuring that not a single bandit has escaped."

Xiao Yunling slowly stepped forward, surveying the precipitous mountain peaks before her.

The mountain is quite barren, with only a few trees and rocks. From a distance, it is impossible to tell whether there are any bandits hiding there.

"Are there really bandits up here?"

Xiao Yunling's tone was icy.

These past two days, they have been sending frequent messages confirming that the bandits are indeed at Xiling Peak, which is why Xiao Yunling personally led his troops here.

If she comes up empty-handed, she will definitely punish these people.

The clerk's face stiffened, and he said with a wry smile, "Reporting to the general, we did indeed find traces of bandits up there, but the terrain of Xiling Peak is too complicated. We were afraid of alerting the bandits, so we dared not go forward rashly."

Xiao Yunling ignored him and slowly rode her horse around the foot of the mountain to observe the surroundings.

Xiling Peak is indeed precipitous, with only two narrow paths leading up, and the other side is a near-vertical cliff.

Such a place, easy to defend and difficult to attack, is indeed an excellent place to harbor bandits.

"Go and find some people to scout ahead."

Xiao Yunling suddenly gave an order to the minor official.

Upon hearing this, the clerk turned pale instantly and bowed his head, saying, "General, I'm afraid there might be bandits lying in ambush on the mountain. Why don't we continue the siege? Within five days, the bandits up there will surely show themselves."

The constables and local militia behind him nodded in agreement, clearly no one wanted to go up and die.

"You keep saying there's a major bandit force up there, but now you don't even dare to scout ahead. Could it be that all these so-called clues are fake?"

Xiao Yunling's gaze suddenly sharpened as she scanned the people in front of her.

"I wouldn't dare! I'll take some men and scout ahead right away!"

The clerk nodded repeatedly.

They are now in a dilemma. If there are no bandits above, Xiao Yunling will definitely punish them. But if there are bandits, their lives are in danger...

After saying that, he dawdled and gathered dozens of his men, who, armed with weapons, headed toward one of the paths.

The road up the mountain was much more difficult than I had imagined.

The road in front of us is lined with rocks of various shapes, and you could easily slip and fall if you're not careful. There are also many huge rocks that we need to climb over, and one wrong move could send us tumbling down.

Those responsible for scouting the way were already worried about bandits lying in ambush, and the complex terrain made their ascent even slower.

"Send a small squad to follow them."

Xiao Yunling turned to the soldiers beside him and gave them instructions.

The soldier nodded, then led about twenty men up the mountain with him.

About half an hour later, the vanguard of the mountain climb finally reached a relatively open area.

Looking up, there is an even more complicated road ahead.

"General, there are indeed signs of bandit activity on the mountain."

Soldier's report.

"Keep going up."

Xiao Yunling gave the order, and then personally led his men up the mountain.

Upon reaching the mountainside, she instructed her subordinates to prepare for defense, and then ordered the group of government officials to continue scouting the area.

This time, the leading official gathered nearly a hundred people before daring to climb to the top of the mountain.

Just as they were struggling to climb up, a stray arrow suddenly shot out from behind the stone forest at the top of the mountain, directly hitting the soldiers at the front.

Before the soldier could even react, an arrow pierced his throat. He screamed and fell to the ground on the mountain path.

"There's an ambush!"

Someone shouted.

The crowd behind them panicked and dared not go forward. They turned around and fled towards the government troops' encampment halfway up the mountain.

But the next moment, even more arrows were shot at them.

The advance scouts panicked and stumbled, with many falling off the narrow path and landing in the pile of rocks nearby.

Arrows continued to rain down from the mountaintop, leaving the officers and soldiers no way out.

Xiao Yunling noticed the commotion and led the soldiers to look up.

Sure enough, there were remnants of bandits on the mountaintop!