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

"I don't have time to listen to your nonsense. I'll give you half a day. If you still refuse to come down the mountain and surrender by tomorrow morning, then don't blame me for ordering a full-scale attack."

Xiao Yunling's voice remained icy, showing no intention of listening to Chen Mo's sophistry.

She naturally knows who is good and who is evil.

"Isn't half a day too short, General Xiao? Why don't we talk some more? Or you could just lead your troops up here now and end my life."

Chen Mo teased again.

Xiao Yunling was too lazy to listen to Chen Mo's endless rant on the mountaintop, so she turned and left.

"Pass down the order: a night raid tonight."

She turned her head and gave the order in a low voice, her cold and beautiful face full of authority.

Now, the soldiers are outwardly encamped and besieging the mountaintop. The bandits on the mountain will surely relax their guard and think that the government troops will not dare to attack again. Xiao Yunling is going to take them by surprise.

There was no sound at the top of the mountain.

The sky was already pitch black.

On Xiling Peak, only the government troops' camp halfway up the mountain had a few flickering lights.

Night was falling.

Xiao Yunling personally selected a unit, equipped them with light gear, and prepared to launch a night raid on the bandits.

"On my command, do not make a sound."

The squad leader whispered the order.

Then, the fifty-odd soldiers carefully made their way up the mountain path.

At this moment, only the whistling wind could be heard, drowning out the footsteps of the soldiers.

Behind them, reinforcements were ready to provide support at any time.

The mountain path was already steep, and it was even more difficult to walk at night.

The soldiers used both their hands and feet to carefully climb up.

In the camp halfway up the mountain, Xiao Yunling stared intently at the direction of the summit.

She calculated the time; as long as the vanguard didn't encounter any obstacles, the main force could quickly catch up, and they could wipe out Chen Mo's gang of bandits tonight.

Time passed slowly, and there was still no movement from the mountaintop. It seemed that everything was proceeding according to plan.

Just when everyone thought the bandits were off guard, a burst of light suddenly lit up the mountaintop, illuminating the entire summit.

In the firelight, dozens of figures could be seen standing on the mountaintop.

"kill!"

Shouts echoed from the mountaintop.

The vanguard on the mountain path had just climbed to the steepest point when, before they could dodge, they were pierced by the enemy's spears.

Moments later, stones began to fall from above.

The soldiers were caught off guard and fell to the ground one by one.

"Let's retreat!"

The captain immediately roared.

Although the soldiers were in a state of panic, they still retreated in an orderly manner.

Taking advantage of their superior position, the people on the mountaintop continued to shoot arrows and throw stones, making it impossible for the government troops to raise their heads.

Xiao Yunling hid behind a wooden shield soldier halfway up the mountain, coldly watching everything before her, her willow brows tightly furrowed.

The bandits on the mountain seem to be on guard at all times, waiting for her people to come to them.

"withdraw troops."

Xiao Yunling immediately gave the order.

The troops on the mountain path have already begun to retreat down the mountain.

Of the fifty-odd advance troops, twenty were killed or wounded.

"Why did you retreat? General Xiao, keep fighting!"

A burst of laughter came from the mountaintop.

It's Chen Mo again.

Xiao Yunling looked at the men in front of her and gripped her sword tightly.

He knew perfectly well that the terrain of Xiling Peak gave the bandits a complete advantage.

The only road that allows one to easily ascend the mountain has long been occupied by bandits.

Chen Mo only needs to send a dozen or so people to guard that place, and even if the government troops have thousands of men, it will be difficult for them to break through.

The night raid was intended to catch the enemy off guard, but if it continues like this, it will only lead to the soldiers dying in vain, which is completely unnecessary.

"Continue to retreat to the mountainside; there's no need to attack."

Xiao Yunling suppressed her inner anxiety and remained calm.

The soldiers obeyed orders and returned to the defensive line, once again surrounding Xiling Peak completely.

The fire on the mountaintop was still burning, and Chen Mo's teasing words could be heard from time to time.

"General Xiao, don't leave! Weren't we supposed to launch a night attack? We can't hold out much longer! Hurry up and give us a quick death!"

Upon hearing these words, not only the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army, but even the usually composed Xiao Yunling showed a hint of anger on his face.

"A general of the Zhenbei Army, how could you resort to such a despicable tactic as a sneak attack? General Xiao, this is really not right of you."

Chen Mo continued his sarcasm.

His words reached the ears of the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army, and many soldiers were so angry that they gripped their weapons tightly, wishing they could rush up the mountain immediately and tear this bandit leader who spouted nonsense to pieces.

Xiao Yunling stared coldly at the mountaintop, completely ignoring Chen Mo's clamor.

In her view, this was not the death throes of a dying person.

What's the use of bragging? They're still trapped on the mountaintop, without water or food, and they won't last more than a few days.

But Chen Mo was still chattering away on the mountaintop, his voice growing louder and louder.

"General Xiao, how can someone as beautiful as you be such a cold-blooded and ruthless female demon? Your hands must be stained with a lot of blood, right?"

At the mountaintop, mocking voices reached everyone's ears, sounding extremely harsh.

"A woman as ruthless as you, what man in the world would dare to marry you? He'd probably be stuck guarding your military power for the rest of his life, dying alone..."

Chen Mo sneered again.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunling's expression changed drastically.

As a woman who rose from an ordinary soldier to become the commander of the Yunzi Battalion, she had long been accustomed to the awe and slander of others.

She never cared if anyone called her cold-blooded or heartless.

But Chen Mo's words alone made it difficult for Xiao Yunling to calm down.

She is, after all, a woman. No matter how strong and aloof she may be, she has a soft side.

Years of fighting had stripped her of her feminine gentleness. There had been times when she had thought about being able to retire from the military and return to a life like a young woman.

At this moment, Chen Mo's sarcasm enraged her, and her usually cold and beautiful face showed a rare expression of loss of composure.

"Traitor, how dare you utter such arrogant words! We will surely make you die a horrible death!"

Before Xiao Yunling could speak, the other soldiers couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward to argue with Chen Mo.

"What? Did I say something wrong? General Xiao, am I telling the truth? A cold-blooded woman like you probably doesn't even have anyone to propose marriage to, right?"

Chen Mo's words grew increasingly harsh, undoubtedly intended to provoke Xiao Yunling's anger.

"Since you'll never get married in this lifetime anyway, you might as well just bring your men and charge up here, let us die a quick death, and save yourself from wasting the imperial army's food supplies and causing so many people to die in vain."

Hearing these words, Xiao Yunling took a deep breath and tried to suppress the anger in her heart.

This foul-mouthed bandit was undoubtedly trying to provoke me.

This provocation was shameless, but Xiao Yunling wouldn't fall for it at all.

"Traitor, no matter how foul your mouth is today, it won't change your trapped situation. Once I catch you, I will make you wish you were dead."

Xiao Yunling responded coldly.

Killing this traitor directly would be too lenient; he must be made to endure all kinds of torture to avenge this day!