From Wang'an County heading northwest, the Chen Army found its path smooth.

It was not only a geographical smooth path but also one in military terms.

Having eliminated the Zhang, Gao, and Yan families in the Western River Land, and made an example of them, the noble families there seemed to have their spines broken, not only cooperating greatly but also not daring to speak harshly.

Whenever the Chen Army arrived at a place, the people welcomed them lining the path.

On February 6th, the Chen Army reached Jushan Pass.

This was the last defense line before Luonan,

Breaking through Jushan Pass, less than a hundred miles ahead was Luonan.

It was nearly at the gates.

Back when Prince Huai rallied support for the King, and Xu Guozhong moved the capital to Luonan, the allied army supporting the king did not reach Jushan Pass.

Recently, Chen Mo's infiltration of Luonan's Inspector brought frequent intelligence, letting him understand various aspects.

The first was Jushan Pass.

From the intelligence, it appeared Lu Sheng intended to hold it to death.

Because Jushan Pass had heavy troops stationed, not only the court's imperial guard and Lu Sheng's private army but also troops from Xiliang.

Back when Lu Sheng sent Hui Cheng to lead troops to destroy Xiliang, they captured and incorporated thousands of Xiliang soldiers, now all deployed to Jushan Pass by Lu Sheng.

Apart from these "regular troops", there's an unknown yet estimated number over fifty thousand "miscellaneous troops".

These tens of thousands include prison conscripts, and robust men Lu Sheng captured from Luonan and surrounding counties, suddenly swelling to tens of thousands, directly sent to Jushan Pass.

This suddenly made Chen Mo and his group believe that Lu Sheng intended to make a desperate gamble.

Such reckless requisitioning of labor shows he doesn't intend to maintain Luonan.

There is historical precedent for large-scale requisitioning of labor, but not from one's own main base, rather from peripheral areas of one's influence.

And Lu Sheng's direct requisition from Luonan turns it into a mess, setting his own house afire.

However, this also confused Chen Mo, making him think perhaps Lu Sheng and King Chong were at Jushan Pass.

Chen Mo didn't become complacent; that afternoon, thirty thousand Chen Army and ten thousand Yang Family Vine Armor Army formed ranks along Jushan Pass; fifteen Red Coat Cannons were pushed forward by the Vermilion Bird Guard, as fifteen flames shot forth, accompanied by thunderous blasts, the powerful Flower Bullet struck the city's key defense for the first time.

The Jushan Pass, silent for nearly four hundred years, in this winter's end once again ignited in warfare.

As they say, one knows their own situation best.

Chen Mo thought Lu Sheng and King Chong were at Jushan Pass, but in reality, these two weren't present at all.

Even the general stationed at Jushan Pass was merely a Fifth Grade eunuch in strength.

Moreover, the military's leaders were only old soldiers hastily appointed in crisis, not even martial artists.

Though there were many troops, the combat effectiveness was severely lacking.

Taking those tens of thousands "miscellaneous troops" for example, these were peasants pulled from the fields; not only without armor, the weapons they held were hoes and sickles brought from home.

Using them for labor duties to work on city defenses was plausible, but they fled during artillery bombardment, nearly half of them running, shouting it was an immortal technique, divine retribution, thinking Lu Sheng's actions made the heavens wrathful.

Although the regular army was equipped well, upon knowing the court hadn't sent a decent commander, their confidence waned, and without confidence, there is no morale.

As Chen Mo formally began the siege, a third of the regular army fled.

When the Chen Army attacked the city walls, even the lead eunuch fled.

The most desperate defenders were the prisoners pulled from the jails, especially the death row inmates.

Because Lu Sheng promised them, if they took the head of a Chen Army soldier, their death penalty would be lifted.

It was merely about killing a Chen Army soldier, not defeating the army, less difficult and thus more motivating.

But despite their desperation, it was akin to a praying mantis blocking a cart.

That night, the Chen Army captured Jushan Pass.

From atop the gate tower, Chen Mo looked down on the soldiers cleaning the battlefield, never imagining they'd capture Humen Pass so easily; then he frowned and said: "What medicine are Lu Sheng and King Chong selling in their gourds? Sending so many to defend, yet they themselves are absent; isn't this just wasting their own power?"

This point puzzled Liu Ji and Diwu Fusheng too.

Given previous battle conditions, Lu Sheng should have realized, if he didn't personally oversee defenses, it wouldn't hold against Chen Army.

Knowing Tiger Mountain Pass couldn't be held, yet sending so many troops to defend, is like gifting it away.

Isn't it just wasting their own power?

"Sun Meng."

"I am present."

"Select a squad from the Personal Guard Battalion, explore the front, especially the mountain forests on both sides, investigate thoroughly to prevent enemy ambush." Chen Mo remained vigilant, avoiding falling into enemy's deceptive tactics.

"Understood." Sun Meng retreated.

"Xia Zhining, Yue Ruyan, Jiang Li, Wu Yanqing, Nangong Xian." Chen Mo said.

"I am present." Xia Zhining, Yue Ruyan, Jiang Li, Wu Yanqing, Nangong Xian each stepped forward.

"Convey my military orders, the army halts for rest, tomorrow morning we promptly break camp, advance on Luonan."

"Understood..."

...

The news of Jushan Pass's fall spread like the wind, reaching Luonan overnight; the court couldn't suppress this massive information.

Within Luonan City, panic ensued.

As the capital of a nation, it should be solemn and respectable, but at this moment, it was chaotic.