Mo Lingxi was a man of great patience, especially when it came to interrogating enemies. He was incredibly patient, unconcerned with when the prisoners would confess.
However—
"Commander, something has happened!" Old General Fu hurried over and whispered into Mo Lingxi's ear, "Many soldiers and civilians in the city are suffering from diarrhea, and the military doctors and physicians cannot cure them or ascertain the cause."
Upon hearing this, Mo Lingxi shot up and walked out, asking calmly, "What exactly is going on?"
Old General Fu followed a few steps behind. "It first started with a few soldiers guarding the city who suddenly experienced diarrhea. They thought it was something they ate, but the military doctors found it wasn't."
"Then, within an hour or two, more and more soldiers and civilians began to suffer from diarrhea, some to the point of near collapse. The military doctors and physicians in the city have been treating them, but with little effect."
Mo Lingxi suspected the Southern Jin Dynasty was behind this, but the question was, how had their spies managed it?
"Seal off Chengmen Pass, allow no one to enter or exit, and then search the city!"
Old General Fu took the order and went to carry it out.
Mo Lingxi summoned two hidden guards and instructed them to investigate the movements of the Southern Jin Dynasty army, focusing on their specific situation.
If he guessed correctly, within the Southern Jin Dynasty army, there was someone who followed the Southern Jin Emperor's orders, a general or similar, who was responsible for handling these matters.
Afterward, he quickly went to the military doctor's tent.
Before he even entered, he heard cries of agony, accompanied by pleas for help.
"Help! Military doctor, please save me, I'm really suffering!"
"Military doctor, help, I can't stop. I'm even bleeding. If this continues, I'll die."
Mo Lingxi flung open the tent flap and was met with a strong stench, yet he walked in as if he hadn't noticed.
What greeted his eyes were rows of suffering soldiers and civilians, with filth everywhere on the ground, and people unable to hold back, squatting down and continuously defecating.
The two military doctors were completely overwhelmed, their bodies covered in filth, wishing they could split themselves into countless pieces to cope.
Mo Lingxi, with a grim expression, surveyed the scene and then exited the tent, standing outside to ponder the situation.
He had taken every precaution to prevent the Southern Jin Dynasty from interfering, yet he still couldn't stop them.
It seemed he needed to investigate Chengmen Pass more thoroughly.
"Commander," a副将 (fùjiàng - deputy general) approached and saluted, "More civilians and soldiers are experiencing diarrhea, and the situation is uncontrollable. If this continues, we won't be able to fight."
As if he were a harbinger of bad luck, as soon as he spoke, the high-pitched cry of a sentry was heard.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! It's the Southern Jin Dynasty army!"
Mo Lingxi narrowed his cold eyes and said to the deputy general, "You stay here to handle matters and try your best to figure out what's causing this diarrhea."
After giving his instructions, he quickly returned to his room, changed into his armor, and then assembled the army, preparing to march out of the city to meet the enemy.
However, with so many soldiers suffering from diarrhea, and many having to care for their comrades, only less than three thousand men could be gathered for now.
Mo Lingxi remained unfazed. After organizing the few thousand soldiers, he calmly led them into battle.
As soon as they exited the city, they were faced with tens of thousands of Southern Jin Dynasty soldiers.
"Greetings, Prince Mingrui!" The commander of the Southern Jin Dynasty army saluted Mo Lingxi with a rather pleasant demeanor. "Prince Mingrui, the soldiers and troops in Chengmen Pass are all suffering from incessant diarrhea and are unable to resist.
"For the sake of the civilians within Chengmen Pass, I advise Prince Mingrui to surrender and not engage in futile resistance."
He had only learned of this matter recently.
Now, he finally understood why His Majesty had initiated the war; it turned out His Majesty had made arrangements long ago.
Mo Lingxi's right hand rested on his sword. He indifferently glanced at the commander. "Is that all you have to say?"
The commander immediately understood that the imposing man before him had no intention of surrendering.
This was not surprising.
This was the renowned God of War of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and also Prince Mingrui of the Eastern Jin Dynasty; he would not surrender easily.
"Since that is the case, then we shall not be polite."
He raised his right hand and shouted, "Attack!"
Countless Southern Jin Dynasty soldiers charged ferociously towards the army led by Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi was extremely calm. He took the bow and arrows handed to him by the deputy general, aimed at the Southern Jin Dynasty commander, and fired three arrows in rapid succession.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
The three arrows struck with formidable force towards the Southern Jin Dynasty commander.
The commander remained composed under pressure, standing his ground on horseback. "Shield bearers!"
Several shield bearers quickly moved in front of him, using their shields to block the incoming arrows.
Mo Lingxi had no intention of defeating the Southern Jin Dynasty commander with just a few arrows. He drew his sword, his eyes filled with murderous intent, and charged forward. "Kill!"
The melee began!
As the commander of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, numerous Southern Jin Dynasty soldiers surrounded and attacked Mo Lingxi, hoping to kill him for merit.
Mo Lingxi dispatched one Southern Jin Dynasty soldier with a single sword stroke, then kicked another away. However, there were simply too many Southern Jin Dynasty soldiers around him. He was covered in blood, yet there were still many more.
His brow furrowed.
Suddenly, he pushed off his horse's back with his feet, used his Qinggong (lightness skill) to fly towards the Southern Jin Dynasty commander, intending to take the enemy's head to end the battle quickly.
However—
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* Countless archers stood in front of the Southern Jin Dynasty commander, raining arrows down on Mo Lingxi.
Mo Lingxi used his blood-stained long sword to block some of them, and they fell to the ground.
The moment he landed on the ground, he scattered a handful of medicinal powder.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Several soldiers and archers collapsed, unconscious.
The Southern Jin Dynasty commander's eyes widened as he stared at Mo Lingxi, clearly unable to accept what he was seeing. "Prince Mingrui, you actually used medicine?"
Was this still the God of War he knew?
Mo Lingxi, without a word, raised his hand and scattered another handful of colorful medicinal powder. The powder his wife had prepared was truly effective.
"Retreat!" The Southern Jin Dynasty commander recognized the danger in the color of the powder, but it was too late. Countless soldiers writhed on the ground in pain.
"My face! My face hurts so much!"
"Ah! Help, someone save me, my hands and feet are turning into blood!"
Mo Lingxi distributed the medicinal powder to his soldiers. "Sprinkle it where there are many Southern Jin Dynasty soldiers!"
In a battle for survival, who cared about the methods used? All that mattered was whether they could live.
The soldiers followed Mo Lingxi's instructions, specifically targeting areas with a high concentration of Southern Jin Dynasty soldiers, scattering the powder and felling them in swathes.
Even if they didn't die, they lay on the ground howling in agony, completely devoid of fighting capability.
As the casualties of the Southern Jin Dynasty mounted, the soldiers of the Eastern Jin Dynasty fought with increasing ferocity. The Southern Jin Dynasty commander's face darkened. "Withdraw!"
He dared not gamble on how much medicinal powder Prince Mingrui possessed. He knew that if this continued, his tens of thousands of troops would suffer immense casualties.
The Southern Jin Dynasty army, which had advanced with imposing might, retreated shamefully like stray dogs.