Daybreak.

"Your Highness, this is Phoenix Mountain." General Liu looked at the mountain in front of him and explained, "Subordinate has already sent people to investigate. Those bandits live on this hill and built a village within the mountain called Black Peak Stronghold. The stronghold's population is around a hundred people …"

"Alright." After Ming Jiling heard this, he nodded and instructed: "General Liu, you go gather the people you need now."

"This subordinate understands." General Liu replied in a low voice.

Before long, General Liu had gathered his men and was ready for departure.

Su Zongwen's injuries were not light this time, the wounds were repeated and did not improve, so the matter of the attack was completely under Ming Jiling's command, while he was forced to stay in the camp to recuperate.

General Liu sent two vice generals to guard the two exits, and then together with Ming Jiling, they led five hundred men to split up, and at the same time started attacking the village.

The people of Black Peak Stronghold had long heard that the capital was going to dispatch people to eliminate them. Therefore, they had long since prepared for battle. The round logs, rolling stones, and crossbows had all been prepared.

"Attack!" General Liu made a gesture with his hand, and with a loud shout, he led five hundred men to rush to the front.

"Prepare the crossbow!" "Shoot —"

At the same time, on the high platform of the village, a dense cluster of short arrows were fired at the army.

The group of people held shields in their hands. There weren't many casualties, so they gradually approached the stronghold while facing the flying arrows.

"Boss, these crossbows are useless against them."

On the high platform, a person reported hurriedly.

"Put the rocks down." The Great Master of Black Peak Stronghold said in a deep voice.

The young and strong men in the stronghold quickly put down the rolling stones they had prepared beforehand. Then, the two of them started to work together and threw down the logs.

The Black Peak Stronghold was surrounded by rivers on all four sides and the terrain was very steep. To the west was an abnormally steep cliff, and there were only two paths that led up and down the mountain. It was easy to defend but hard to attack.

The rocks fell off one by one, and very soon more than half of General Liu's men were dead, while Ming Jiling's side was also injured, and the group could only retreat in a sorry state.

In the next few days, the army attacked the mountain stronghold many times, but they all returned disappointed.

Su Zongwen, who was supposed to be resting in the camp, heard that the great army was unable to succeed even after attacking the fort a few times. After suffering heavy casualties and being unable to sit still, he took his sickly body to Ming Jiling's camp to discuss about countermeasures with the few of them …

Shen Zhu wandered around, and upon returning, he heard that they were discussing on how to attack the fort.

She had wandered around here for the past few days and figured out the terrain here. Seeing that there were a few people who could not come up with a suitable solution, she could not help but suggest, "I heard that the materials from Black Peak Mountain came up from the foot of the mountain. If we burn their granary, and then block all the roads down the mountain, wouldn't we be able to win without even a single battle without the loss of food?"

General Liu's eyes lit up when he heard this, but he quickly changed the subject. "But, our people can't go at all. How do we burn their granaries?"

"That's not difficult." Shen Zhu smiled slightly and continued: "Everyone says that when rats cross the street, people scream and fight. When it comes to food, naturally rats have the most sensitive nose."

"I'll have to trouble General Liu to send some people to catch some rats. The more, the better."

"Why does sister-in-law need so many rats?"

Shen Zhu's words completely confused the three of them.

"You'll know soon enough."

Shen Zhu then found an excuse and returned to his tent, upon seeing this, Ming Jiling immediately ordered General Liu to send people to catch the rats, and did not continue to ask.

Su Zongwen was also very confused about this, but like everyone else, they left their curiosity behind, waiting to see how Shen Zhu would burn down their opponent's grain depot.

After Shen Zhu returned to the tent, he found the coal powder from the spatial space and brought it back to Abou. Not long later, General Liu sent someone to invite her, saying that they had already prepared the rat, after Shen Zhu heard this, Shen Zhu left with the coal powder.

"Hunger these rats for a few days, then tie these things to their backs." Shen Zhu passed a bag of coal powder to General Liu and explained: "There isn't anything to eat in this mountain, these mice would naturally go to the granary in the stronghold when they are extremely hungry. The thing in this bag is called pulverized coal, this kind of fine coal powder is very likely to cause spontaneous combustion, once the rats bring it into the granary …"

"So that's how it is. Madam Su is very scheming." General Liu realised and admired Shen Zhu, he did not expect her to be so smart.

"But, what is this pulverized coal for? I've been marching and fighting for so many years, but I've never heard of it. "

General Liu asked curiously.

"This …" Shen Zhu's words paused for a bit, before finding an excuse to fool him, "I only obtained this thing by chance, so I don't understand it too much."

"So that's how it is." Seeing this, General Liu did not pursue the matter further.

"In that case, I'll leave these matters to you, General Liu." Ming Jiling glanced at Su Zongwen and continued: "Cousin brother, your injuries have not healed yet, so you shouldn't work too hard. I think it's getting late, you and sister-in-law can go back first."

"Your Highness is right, this subordinate will take care of this matter. Master Su should go back and rest first." General Liu agreed.

"Alright, if there's anything, call someone to look for me." Seeing that he had a solution, Su Zongwen was relieved, and brought Shen Zhu back to his own tent.

Three days later, General Liu followed Shen Zhu's instructions and tied the rats with powdered coal, letting the starving rats out.

That night, there was indeed a place on Black Peak Mountain where the fire was blazing.

The people from Black Peak Mountain had always thought that the army would attack forcefully and had long prepared for battle. However, they didn't expect that their granary would suddenly have problems. For a moment, the stronghold was in chaos.

Ming Jiling led his huge army and wasted no time with them.

Five days later, the raiders were finally unable to hold on any longer and sent their men to deliver their orders. Ming Jiling led the army and walked up the mountain unhindered.

Black Peak Stronghold.

Once they reached the mountain, the group of soldiers quickly surrounded the people in the village. The old and young members of the village had a total of one hundred and fifty people, of whom only forty were young and strong.

The one standing in front of everyone was the head of the Black Peak Stronghold, Wang Da Li. Wang Da Li didn't look like a bandit at all. Although he looked big and tall, he looked honest and kind.

"I am the head of this mountain stronghold. In the past, I was the one who did all those things. I did everything by myself." Wang Da Li shouted, "Since ancient times, the winner has always been the king, while the loser has always been the loser. Since I've lost, I will do whatever I want to kill."

Wang Da Li turned his head to look at his companions and the elderly and child behind him. He continued, "Only, they are all innocent. In order to atone for their sins, I wish for death. I only hope that Your Highness can let them go."

"Boss …"

The people behind Wang Da Li all kneeled down to plead for mercy, "Our boss is a good person, please observe."

"We want to live and die with the Great Master. If the Lord wants to kill, then kill us too."

Some of the young men spoke as they took two steps forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Wang Da Li.

The spacious courtyard immediately became noisy. The pleading voices, mixed with the crying of the children, made the scene even more desolate.

"When did I say I was going to kill you?"

Ming Jiling looked at Wang Da Li, and the more he looked, the less he felt that they were evil people.

With these words, the people of Black Peak Stronghold were all shocked.

Wasn't this the army that was sent to destroy them?