In the woods, a large group of men and horses were advancing eastward along the dirt road, and in the procession there were men in unarmored and only military uniforms, these people were tied behind their backs, and they were in groups of ten, strung by a long rope, and staggered forward.

Among these people, Wang Wei limped along, and was ambushed that night, although he was lucky to save his life, but his right ankle was sprained, and he was a little unsuitable for walking.

The armor has been stripped off, and the clothes on his body are stained with blood, both his blood and the blood of his comrades, looking at the front and back, left and right, looking at the captured comrades who are only three or four hundred people, Wang Wei is not a taste in his heart.

They were selected elites of the army, and when they set out from Xiaoguan, there were more than two thousand, but now most of them are dead, and only three or four hundred people remain, and the task that they once swore to complete is now impossible to complete.

Wang Bian's trip was to bypass the enemy's camp outside Tongguan and go to Hongnong to the east of it, and burn the mountains of grain and grass, but now they are also going to Hongnong, but they can't set it on fire, but wait to be slaves.

When they became captives, they were either incorporated into the army and continued to serve as soldiers, or they were given as slaves to all kinds of people, or they were assigned to a certain government office as official slaves.

Under normal circumstances, when you become a slave, it is difficult to turn over for the rest of your life, unless you run away, or if you are favored and promoted by the lord of Lang, if you make military achievements, you may have the opportunity to get rid of slavery.

Wang Wei didn't have the heart to think about the future, and now his mind was full of thoughts about the tragic situation of his own people when they died in battle, and the pool of dried blood on his chest was the blood of his brother Wang Ben.

Wang Ben is two years younger than Wang Bian, and has been following Wang Bian as a small tail since he was a child, whether it is fishing in the river or hunting in the mountains, Wang Ben follows Wang Bian's side, and when he is a teenager, as a member of the clan soldiers, he follows Wang Bian to the battlefield.

War is not hunting, bloody and cruel, Wang's soldiers fought bloody battles with Wang Wei, exchanging their lives for military merits, in order to give themselves and their families the opportunity to get ahead.

In the past ten years, many people have died in battle, and many young children of the Wang family have joined Wang Bian's team, one by one familiar faces have passed away, and new faces have been familiar to him, and Wang Ben has always been by Wang Bian's side.

Now, too, he is gone.

The general will inevitably die in battle, it is normal to die in battle, take the clan soldiers to the battlefield, every time someone dies, it will make everyone sad, Wang Wei looked a little dazed at this time, because Wang Ben's death was related to him.

Although the ambush meant that the enemy was fully prepared, and it was even more difficult to break through, Wang Wei was unwilling to wait for death or surrender, and wanted to lead his subordinates to break through in the dark.

And Deng Xiaoru, the chief general of the Yongzhou Army and Sima Deng Xiaoru of Yongzhou, who guarded Tongguan, once told him that once he was ambushed, he would rather surrender than be trapped in a beast fight, and save his life first.

In this attack, the person who wants to do the internal response may not be reliable, so it is both an opportunity and a trap, Wang Wei knew that Shangguan explained like this, which was considered sympathetic to the situation of the soldiers, but he did not want to surrender without resistance.

And his idea of taking advantage of the chaos to break through is actually meaningless, because the other party's encirclement is very tight, and this move only increases casualties.

At the moment of the ambush, under the rain of arrows, the Yongzhou soldiers suffered heavy casualties, and it didn't take long for more than half of the casualties to be killed, and Wang Wei, who wanted to break through, suffered more casualties, and his subordinates did not have one out of ten, and Wang Ben was to block arrows for him and was killed by random arrows.

A mouthful of blood spit on Wang Bian's chest, Wang Ben didn't say a word, he broke off in Wang Bian's arms, and saw his relatives who had followed him for many years die in his arms, Wang Bian's heart was like a knife.

If he had asked everyone to surrender at the beginning, so many people would not have died, and if he hadn't taken risks for that bit of luck, then Wang Ben would not have died.

Now, Wang Wei is alive, and most of the Wang clan's disciples and tribes who followed him on this expedition have suffered casualties, and for the first time, he feels that his conscience is not going to go, and if he can return to his hometown in the future, he doesn't know how to face these people's families.

If the Wang family, like many families, watched the decisive battle between the Yuwen clan and the Yuchi clan, and threw themselves at the winner after dividing the winners and losers, it would be the safest thing to do, although the benefits were low, but the risks were also low.

The Wang family lives in the mountains of Shangzhou Rejection, which is not a place where soldiers must fight, so the Wang family only needs to hide in the mountains like hermits to live their own small life, stay at peace in the world, and then....

Come out again to be a businessman who is looked down upon? In order to do business, he bribed the petty officials of Liucao in a low voice, and groveled to the domestic slaves of those powerful people?

That's impossible!

Wang Bian's mood soon turned from a low point, he was wounded and captured, he was lucky to live for a while, and then he could be killed or reduced to slavery, but as long as there was still breath, he would not give in.

Wang Wei had a knife hidden in his body, and for emergency purposes, he pondered for an opportunity to escape, but he had to wait patiently for the opportunity to come, and the soldiers who escorted them were heavily guarded, and it was difficult to escape in a hurry.

So with the help of terrain.

The team marched in the woods, Wang Wei roughly observed, and found that this was a large peach forest, and according to the distance they traveled, the front out of the woods should not be far from Ma Muze, and to the east of Ma Muze is Hongnong.

In the battle of Xiaoguan in the East and West Wei Dynasty, the Eastern Army was defeated and fled to the east, and was caught up by the pursuing soldiers in Ma Muze, and the whole army was annihilated.

It is said that after King Wu fell, the world was decided, and the Zhou army herded horses in a large Ze in Taolinsai, so this Ze was named "Ma Muze", and Taolinsai is now the south bank of the Yellow River in the east of Tongguan and west of Hongnong.

Ma Muze has water, grass and woods, and wild horses are often infested, Wang Wei plans to cut the rope and jump into the water to escape when passing through Ma Muze, and after avoiding the pursuit, hide in Ma Muze and then make plans.

However, many people can't swim, so what to do?

Wang Wei didn't think about escaping alone, he wanted to save his comrades as much as possible, but when he thought that many people couldn't swim, he couldn't help but get entangled.

Putting aside the friendship of the robe, purely from the success rate, it takes a lot of people to escape in the wilderness, he escapes alone, and he will be shot to death if he can't run far, but if he chooses to escape in Ma Muze, those who can't water can't escape.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at both sides, the team is still in the peach forest, the forest covers a wide area, if you escape here, you can get into the dense forest, the enemy cavalry can't chase it, and it is inconvenient to shoot arrows....

With a "whoosh", an enemy soldier riding a horse not far in front of Wang Wei was hit by an arrow in front of him, and before he could react, he fell down from his horse, and the woods on both sides suddenly shouted loudly, and more feathered arrows shot over.

The sudden attack threw the marching ranks into disarray, and the captives, strung together with ropes, were desperate to break free, so they could only crouch or lie on their sides on the ground to avoid being shot by stray arrows.

The soldiers who were escorting the captives fought back in a panic, and before they could form a formation, they were rushed in front of them by the ambush soldiers, and in the confusion there was no time to pay attention to the captives, Wang Wei asked his companion to draw a knife from his bun and cut the rope that bound him.

Get a long knife from the hands of the fallen soldier next to you, cut the ropes that bind your companions in three or two strokes, and free the captives to pick up the weapons on the ground to get more companions out of trouble.

Wang Wei and a few companions carried long knives and fought with the enemy soldiers who arrived to buy time for the others to get out of trouble.

The uninvited guests in the woods on both sides were menacing, and soon gained the upper hand, most of these people were dressed in cloth clothes, without armor, and looked like ordinary people, but they fought bravely, and fought with the enemy soldiers in armor with their swords and cards, and Wang Wei felt that these people might be some powerful troops.

They and the enemy soldiers were dressed in black uniforms, and it was easy to get confused in the melee, and Wang Wei shouted loudly for his comrades to gather together, so as not to be injured by the enemy soldiers in armor, so as not to be accidentally injured by uninvited guests.

He didn't know if these people were strongmen who cut the path, or if they were instructed by someone to come here to kill people, but since they dared to attack the army, I am afraid it was not as simple as blocking the road and robbing them, if they were strong in the place where their hearts were towards themselves (Yuwen clan), then they would be saved.

An ambush battle was quickly decided, and the uninvited guests routed the soldiers escorting the prisoners, except for some of the people who were chasing the rout, and the rest surrounded Wang Wei and the others who had gathered together.

When the two sides were tense, someone shouted: "Is Wang Yi together?" ”

Hearing that the other party was shouting about himself, Wang Wei responded without hesitation, and now, the other party wants to be a friend, otherwise he will release the arrow without saying a word, so he has nothing to fear.

Hearing Wang Bian's response, a person stepped forward surrounded by left and right sides, looked at Wang Bian, withdrew the knife from the scabbard, and then clasped his fists and saluted: "Wang Yitong, Hongnong Yang Yue, have been waiting here for a long time." ”

"Are you a son of the Hongnong Yang family?"

"Exactly."

"How do you know we're going to pass through here?"

"Someone knows why Wang Yitong came, and naturally knows when he passed by here."

After Yang Yue finished speaking, seeing Wang Wei's vigilant look, he smiled and stepped forward alone: "Wang Yitong, this place is not far from Hongnong, why not hurry up, so as not to leak the news." ”

"Hurry? Do what? ”

Wang Wei stared at the other party's eyes, while Yang Yue looked at him: "Of course, it is to burn the granary." ”

When Wang Wei and several companions around him heard this, they couldn't help but be shocked, they were going to Hongnong to burn the granary, but they were betrayed by the people who answered, and after being ambushed, they suffered heavy casualties, and the survivors were captured.

originally thought that even if they were not executed, they would be escorted to the camp outside Tongguan to work as coolies, but the other party sent troops to escort them to Hongnong, and this Yang Yue led people to ambush them halfway, and he should know this situation.

So what's going on here?

"Wang Yitong, without further ado, let's leave quickly."

"I, I want to know." Wang Wei suddenly asked, "Is that beacon guard in the same group as you?" ”

"Of course."

As soon as the words fell, Yang Yue was punched in the face by Wang Bian, staggered back a few steps, and Wang Biao roared and rushed up to chase after him: "Bastard!" Do you know how many of us have been killed by doing this! ”

Yang Yue's entourage rushed forward, Wang Bian's comrades also rushed over, the two sides were about to break out into conflict, Yang Yue stopped the entourage who was about to start, spit blood foam, stepped forward again, and looked at Wang Wei calmly: "Wang Yitong, if you fight, you have to die, don't you?" ”

"So it is right to let the soldiers die meaninglessly? How many lives have you killed my Wang family, and what do you have to pay for! ”

"The lives of the children of the Wang family are worth money, and the lives of my children of the Yang family are also worth money!" Yang Yue stared at Wang Wei and said loudly: "In order to plan today's affairs, my Yang clan has taken a much greater risk than you!" ”

"If you fight, you have to die! It doesn't matter if you charge into battle and die, or if you die as bait, if you don't die, how can Wei Chijing take the bait, he can't deceive him, how can he burn the granary! ”

Wang Wei was a little dazed by the other party's rebuttal, Yang Yue's words contained a lot of content, and he probably heard that the other party had carefully designed a bureau, in order to deceive the governor of Heyang, Wei Chi Jing, and even deceived them.

No, no, before leaving, Deng Sima specially instructed me that if I was ambushed, I should surrender, I should surrender, could it be.....

Wang Wei only felt that his heart was numb, and Yang Yue didn't have time to talk to him: "Wang Yitong!" Yang set up an ambush here, it is impossible to wipe out the enemy soldiers, if you don't rush to Hongnong in time, everything will be over! Your comrades and clansmen died in vain, and none of Yang's clansmen could escape! ”

When Wang Wei and his comrades heard this, they gradually came back to their senses: this place is not far from Hongnong, and if they can touch the city, I am afraid that they will really have a chance to burn the granary, so the comrades who died in ambush will not die in vain.

"Then how are we supposed to get into Hongnon?"

"It's very simple, you are still prisoners, we put on military uniforms and armor, and pretend to be soldiers to escort you to Hongnong, Hongnong's guard has been ordered by Wei Chijing, knowing that there will be a large group of soldiers escorting the captives into the city today, and after we can enter the city, we will go to the granary..."

Yang Yue tried his best to explain the strategy in concise sentences, this was his carefully planned strategy, at the cost of the lives of several brothers and the whole family, a desperate gamble, as long as the Hongnong granary was burned, the situation would be reversed in an instant.

Yang Yue and his brother Yang Su were born in the Hongnong Yang family, when Yang Jian was called the emperor by Zen, the brothers of the Yang family became Sui ministers, and most of the children of the Yang family of Hongnong were also like this, and after the fall of the Sui State, Yang Yue saved his life but lost his official position and title, and he had nothing to do at home.

A few months ago, he suddenly received a secret letter from his brother Yang Su, in which Yang Su said that he had encountered a fallen emperor on the way to take office, and was going to escort him to Shannan.

Yang Su and Yang Yue have always been friendly, so Yang Yue would not take this secret letter to report to the official, he quietly prepared to flee, but then the situation developed, so that his plan failed.

Yu Chi and Yuwen broke up, sent troops to attack Guanzhong, Shannan, where Hongnong is located, located between Guanzhong and Luoyang, became the front line of the two armies, Hongnong Yang is a first-class clan in the local area, the imperial army attacked Tongguan, and ordered Yang to contribute people and food to help, and Yang Yue brothers are also among them.

The Yongzhou army was stationed at Tongguan and on the west bank of the Yellow River, and the two sides confronted each other for several months without seeing a victory.

At this moment, several news came to Hongnong one after another: Xiyang Wang Yuwenwen made a sneak attack on Yuzhou Hanging Gourd, met the Son of Heaven who should have died in the city, and called on the world's soldiers and horses to be kings.

After Yuwen Wen won two battles in a row, Prime Minister Lieutenant Chi Dan personally led a large army south to besiege Xuan, and the Son of Heaven moved to Shannan before his arrival.

After Yang Yue heard these news, he immediately pondered the current situation: his brother Yang Su was afraid that he had already arrived in Shannan with the Son of Heaven, and the Yuwen clan seemed to have a firm foothold, and the Zhou State was very likely to split into Eastern and Western Zhou.

So he didn't have to think of a way to escape to Shannan, because there was a more direct way to turn the Yang family into a safe place: as long as Wei Chijing, who attacked Tongguan, was defeated and retreated, and the Yongzhou army invaded Shaanzhou, wouldn't the Yang family be safe?

Hongnong hoarded the grain and grass needed by Wei Chijing's army, as long as it was burned down, Wei Chijing would inevitably withdraw from the army, and he couldn't even stay in Shaanzhou, so Yang Yue felt that if he was desperate, the chance of success was not small.

The Yang clan is deeply rooted in Hongnong, and if the clan soldiers and troops are mobilized, they can have a lot of troops, but the problem is that the imperial court is wary of them, and it is basically impossible to arrange so many people to enter the city.

Gather clan soldiers and troops to attack the city, and the movement is too big to inevitably leak the rumors, but there are fewer people entering the city, and it can't be done, so you need to have a "Li Dai Taozhuang".

Yang Yue tried his best to persuade the reliable people of the Movement Clan to act with him, and finally made a crazy plan at the risk of extermination, and now, the first few steps of the plan were successfully completed, and the last step was missing.

"Wang Yitong! Without further ado, if you don't want your comrades and clansmen to die in vain, please act with Yang immediately! Yang Yue said eagerly.

He and his clansmen finally deceived Wei Chi Jing's trust and agreed to send troops to escort Wang Wei and other captives to Hongnong, while they ambushed them halfway, pretending to be soldiers escorting the captives, and took this opportunity to swagger into the city and attack the granary with the captured Wang Wei and others.

Wang Wei looked at Yang Yue, looked at the part behind him, and quickly made up his mind, looked back at his comrades who were full of anticipation, he raised the long knife in his hand and shouted: "Go!" Go to Hongnong! ”