The continuous drizzle made the mountain roads muddy, and most of the soldiers of Qi came from the north, and they were especially unaccustomed to the wet weather. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

After a long period of immersion in muddy water, many soldiers had begun to develop red spots on their feet and legs, which were itching and then ulcerating.

Zhao Yuan's life is not easy, the south is damp and cold, he wears heavy armor every day, and a large rash on his back, which is painful and itchy, in order to hurry, the armor does not leave his body, it is difficult to take medicine, and he doesn't know what has become on his back.

He looked around and saw that both the generals and the soldiers were depressed and listless. He sighed secretly in his heart: "This is really not a good time to send troops. ”

But sending troops was also a last resort.

After obtaining the defense of the country, Zhao Yuan originally wanted to stay here for a while, rest the team, and when the time was ripe, send troops to benefit the country, and then obtain Korea and Lu.

But the other party didn't give him such a chance. As soon as the army of Qi entered the defense of the country, the battle letter of Yiguo had been delivered. The wording in the war letter was fierce, telling the Qi army that Yiguo had re-formed an alliance with Korea and Lu to advance and retreat together.

Yiguo also submitted an alliance letter to other neighboring countries, and if these countries were willing to become allies, then the battle of Pingnan of Qi would definitely be a fiasco.

After receiving such a war letter, how could Zhao Yuan be indifferent, since the Qi army entered the south, it has conquered everything, and the army is prosperous, how can he be afraid of the small Yiguo. Moreover, if the troops are dispatched quickly, it will also form a deterrent to the allied countries that are interested in the benefit of the country, causing them to suspend their actions and enter a wait-and-see state.

There is a third reason, which cannot be explicitly stated, that is, the follow-up grain and grass have not arrived for a long time, and officials at all levels in the recital pass the buck to each other, listing various reasons. In fact, Zhao Yuan knew in his heart that Taifu had already made a killer move and officially broke with him.

At the beginning, Zhao Yuan didn't know who the ministers in the court and Yiguo were involved, he just had some suspicions, so he used the practice of surrounding Lu and accumulating gold to test Taifu, but he didn't expect Taifu to be so uncomposed, and immediately turned his face with Zhao Yuan.

"But that's fine." Zhao Yuan thought in his heart: "At least I know who the black hand in Luoyang City is, and Cheng Xin has a target to do things." ”

But the matter of food and grass is imminent.

In order to prevent the army's heart from being shaken, Zhao Yuan privately checked the grain and grass in the camp, plus some of the reserves of Fuyue in Baicheng, which was enough for the entire Qi army for thirty days, so the time was urgent, and the battle line must be quickly pushed south......

"Report to the boss, the fog is thick, the advance general Sun Fen asks for instructions on whether to continue to move forward?" A sentry ran to Zhao Yuanma to report.

Zhao Yuan ordered someone to bring the map, he looked at it and said: "The terrain here is rugged, and there are many swamps. If you stop, it will be even more dangerous when it gets dark. The order was given, the torches were lit, and the advance troops continued to move forward, and in case of a swamp, the advance troops set up pontoon bridges on the spot. ”

Not long after the sentry left, he turned back breathlessly: "Report to the commander, the swampy area ahead has been marked, and all the difficult sections of the road have been built with pontoon bridges, and General Sun is afraid that there will be fraud in it, so he does not dare to rush forward." ”

When Zhao Yuan heard this, he was secretly surprised in his heart. He ordered his troops to rest on the spot, and he himself came to the front of the swamp with his personal guards.

Sure enough, in the dense fog, the road ahead was unpredictable, but there were a few conspicuous wooden signs standing next to them. The wooden sign indicates the size and characteristics of the swamp ahead, and also marks the walking route around the swamp. Zhao Yuan looked at the words on the sign and gasped - this place is really full of crises, if you go in as hastily as just now, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get out alive. Because in this swamp, there are those who spit out miasma at regular times, some who spit out mud bubbles, and some that are as hot as boiling water...... It's a place that worries even the gods and ghosts.

According to the report of the advance troops, Zhao Yuan came to a muddy swamp again, where a pontoon bridge had been built. He dismounted and took a closer look at the bridge, and saw that the wood was cut completely, unpolished, and the nails used were all black iron nails of one color, not like the technique of folk craftsmen.

After reading it, he said to the left and right: "Quickly lead the troops to retreat three miles, these are all controlled by the Yiguo army, I'm afraid there will be an ambush!" ”

At night, except for the sentries standing guard in the Qi army camp, the rest of the generals and soldiers had fallen asleep due to the fatigue of the day.

After Zhao Yuan took the guards on patrol, he was walking towards the tent. From a distance, I saw Fu Yue wearing a silver-gray thin linen robe and standing in front of the tent with a long sword in his hand, as if he had something to say.

Zhao Yuan beckoned him in, and after Fu Yue entered the account, he arched his hand and said: "Father, the son thinks that everything arranged in the swamp today is not an ambush for Yiguo. ”

Zhao Yuan said while taking off his armor: "How can you see it? ”

Fuyue said: "This place is so dangerous, if Yiguo wants to set up an ambush, there is no need to make any signs, as long as our army steps into the swampy area, there will definitely be heavy casualties without guidance." They have to make a sign to lure the enemy, isn't it redundant? ”

Zhao Yuan felt that it made sense, but he still asked, "What if this is exactly what they want to do?" ”

Fu Yue replied: "If the monarch of another country still has the ability, but in terms of Yi Guohou, it is impossible. Yi Guohou has always attached great importance to money, even if the war with Daqi is in full swing, his borders have not been closed, and he is still constantly transporting his country's loans out. Most of the signs here are reserved for traders. ”

Zhao Yuan heard this and sneered: "The Yiguo Hou I know is really as you say. But what if this is a trap for Yi Guohou? ”

"What my father said is very true." Fu Yue took over, "But if our army is trapped by these wooden signs of his and cannot advance, it will damage the prestige of the army in the future." ”

"Besides, if he deliberately did this, specially pointed out the way, and built a pontoon bridge, but our army did not dare to go over, wouldn't it have boosted his arrogance, and it was extremely unfavorable to the situation of the war. Early tomorrow morning, Erchen is willing to be the vanguard and explore the way for the army! ”

Zhao Yuan looked at him with some surprise: "Son, the matter of exploring the road is extremely dangerous, you are the royal nobles of the Great Qi Kingdom, how can you take your life lightly?" ”

Fu Yue arched his hand and said: "Since Erchen joined the army, what has been done is not obtained from danger, Erchen trusts his own judgment, and it is expected that Yiguo Hou will not have time to deceive here." Moreover...... "he lowered his voice" The grain and grass in the army cannot allow the team to stay. ”

Zhao Yuan looked at him and fell silent.

The next day, when the sky was bright, Fuyue set out with his own soldiers. They rode horses, wore no armor, wore thin shirts, swords around their waists, held long bamboo poles in their hands, and had wall climbing ropes wrapped around their wrists. This is so that in case of accidents, you can use a long bamboo pole to rescue, or throw a wall climbing rope and hook the branches with its sharp claws so that people will not fall into the swamp.

Zhao Yuan personally sent Fuyue out of the camp, and the two didn't say much, as soon as Fuyue gave up, Zhao Yuan nodded lightly, which was regarded as goodbye.

Watching Fuyue and his party gradually disappear into the dense fog of the swamp in front of them, Zhao Yuan did not leave. He kept staring at the mist, thoughtful.

About an hour later, the sound of horses' hooves after the dense fog sounded, and one of Fuyue's personal soldiers hurried back, turned over and dismounted in front of the camp gate, knelt down and bowed: "Report to the commander, according to the guidance of the sign, Fuyue has successfully crossed the swamp." On the route, Fuyue sent people to sprinkle white lime along the way as a mark, and the army could reach safely as long as they followed the lime imprint. ”

Hearing this, Zhao Yuan's hanging heart was finally put down.