Daming Northland, Yansui Hutou Mountain.

This Hutou Mountain was actually not a very big mountain originally, and it was just a small dirt bag in the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Later, due to the dense population of the whole Shaanxi, people cut down the forests on a large scale, but did not know how to replant the trees, and as a result, most of the trees near the left side of Hutou Mountain were cut down, and the rest was not enough to consolidate the soil.

It is that as long as there is heavy rain, a huge amount of water will wash away a lot of soil near the left side of Hutou Mountain, so after thousands of years, the surface around Hutou Mountain has been eroded off nearly 300 meters, forming a large and deep ravine around the mountain.

In this way, Hutou Mountain has changed from a small mountain to a rather steep mountain, and because of its steepness, it has also become a place where bandits and bandits gather.

For example, now, the bandits entrenched on Hutou Mountain are the headquarters of Wang Scorpion.

However, it is said that on March 15 of the third year of Chongzhen, the north is still cold in spring, the snow has not disappeared, and the sky is as blue as washing, and the sun is warm. On the opposite side of Hutou Mountain, on a slightly lower peak.

A few people dressed in white, wearing masks, white turbans wrapped around their heads, wearing gloves, and clairballs wrapped in strips of cloth were lying in the snow to observe the situation in the tiger head village opposite.

"Second Master Liu, we've been here for five days, and we've only explored the roads in the mountains and the houses in the cottage. Lying on the ground, Sun Wuxian, who looked worried, said to Liu Renjie beside him.

"That's also something that can't be helped, the bandits' cottages are different from other cities, they are too strictly guarded, and we can't pretend to be beggars, or traders to go in and inquire about the situation." Liu Renjie frowned and replied.

"Second master, if you don't think that's the case, let's find an opportunity to scratch our tongues and ask about the situation, isn't it okay." Sun Wuxian suggested.

"It's not impossible to scratch your tongue and ask about the situation, but will it startle the snake?" Liu Renjie said with some worry.

"Second master, who knows that it was we who arrested their tiger head village, did you say?" Sun Wuxian saw that Liu Renjie was a little overly worried, so he spoke and enlightened.

"You're right, I'm thinking too much." Liu Renjie nodded, indicating that he agreed with Sun Wuxian's statement.

Liu Renjie and Sun Wuxian made up their minds to grab their tongues to inquire about the situation, so they took a few of their men down the mountain and walked towards Hutou Mountain opposite.

****************

On a sheep intestine trail halfway up Hutou Mountain, a thin-faced man wearing a green cotton jacket, white pants, a blue cloth skirt, a dogskin hat, a gong in his left hand, and a wooden stick in his right hand hummed: "The king called me to patrol the mountain," and other minor tunes, while walking straight down the mountain along the winding path.

But it was said that the thin-faced man was shaking his head and humming a small tune, not beware of the sudden snowflakes flying in the snow on the side of the road, and several figures came out, pressing themselves to the ground with lightning speed, at the same time, a big hand wearing gloves covered his mouth, and at the same time, there was a cold and piercing knife on his neck.

Before the thin-faced man could figure out the situation, he heard a voice say, "Shut his mouth." ”

"Okay, second master." Another voice replied.

Then the thin-faced man felt that his hair was grabbed and lifted, and then someone threatened: "Be honest, if you dare to speak, we will cut you into two pieces with a knife, do you understand?" If you understand, nod. ”

When the thin-faced man heard this question, he quickly nodded, signaling that he knew.

Then the hand that tightly covered the mouth of the thin-faced man let go, and the thin-faced man did not shout, but he was still gagged by a cloth ball.

Then the thin-faced man was escorted down the mountain.

It wasn't until he was escorted that the thin-faced man had a chance to see who had tied him up.

It turned out to be a few strongmen dressed in white, wearing hats, and masks, and their faces couldn't be distinguished.

"But I don't know what this gang of strongmen is doing?"

The confused, thin-faced man was lifted and walked a long way before the white-clothed man tied him to a tree and removed the ball from his mouth.

Although the thin-faced man could speak at this time, he didn't know what the man in white wanted to do, so he didn't speak, just waited for the guy in white to ask first.

"Our Lao Tzu has something to ask you, you have to tell the fuck the truth, if you say half a lie, our Lao Tzu will cut you with a knife, do you understand?" A man in white asked.

"Alas, the little one knows, if you have anything to say, just ask, if the little one knows, he will answer truthfully." The thin-faced man nodded repeatedly.

"You're from Hutou Village?" The man in white asked.

"The little ones are the people in the tiger head village." The skinny man replied.

"What's your name? What is your position? ”

"The little one's name is Xiao Jin'an, he doesn't have much position, he's just a little minion patrolling the mountains."

"Let me ask you, how many young people are in your cottage?"

"There are more than 400 people."

"What kind of blades do you use to copycat your young and strong?"

"Broadswords, spears, maces, bows and arrows."

"Can there be firecrackers, artillery?"

"Firebolt!? Artillery!? A few masters, let's laugh! Even the officers and soldiers don't use firearms much, how can we have a few bandits, let alone artillery, we don't have them in the cottage. ”

"That's good. By the way, there is one thing I want to ask you, I heard that you fought Zhangjiabao in the past, and you also fought it, how did you do it? ”

"I don't know much about this little one, but several leaders said that a group of brothers came from the north, and we did this ticket together and grabbed a lot of money and food."

"Yes! Very good. The man in white smiled slightly, then pulled out his knife and slashed at Xiao Jin'an's neck.

Xiao Jinan only saw a flash of white light in front of him, his neck was cold, and then blood gushed out from his neck, scattering a meter away.

"Ahh Xiao Jinan screamed, only to feel that his strength was passing rapidly, and his body was getting colder and colder, and finally he felt very tired, and then he didn't know anything.

One of the white-clothed men saw that Xiao Jin'an was dead, so he frowned and criticized the white-clothed man who was wielding a knife and slashing people: "No disease, it's good, why did you suddenly pull out a knife and kill this tongue?" ”

"Second Master Liu, anyway, after asking, this tongue is not going to be killed." Sun Wuxian replied with a grin.

"That's a good word, but you can't say a word when you fucking kill him, let us stay away? You see we're all splattered with blood. When Liu Renjie said this, he suddenly said angrily.

"Yo, really." Sun Wuxian looked around, and found that his robe was more or less bloodstained, so he touched his head and said embarrassedly: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just thought about killing people and killing people, and I didn't want to stain the clothes of a few of you." ”

"It doesn't matter, you can wash our clothes." Liu Renjie waved his hand and said with a grin.

"It's just a matter of washing clothes, little meaning, our grandson is not sick and will wash a few of you cleanly." Sun Wuxi patted his chest and reassured.

"Yes! Do you hear me, if you ask someone to do your laundry, we're going to beat you 100 sticks, do you understand? Liu Renjie stiffened his face and admonished.

"Yes, Second Master Liu, the little one knows." Sun Wuxian was blocked by Liu Renjie for cheating, and he suddenly couldn't lift his spirits like a frosted eggplant.

Liu Renjie ignored Sun Wuxi, who had nothing to love, and ordered: "Bury this person's body, let's bring the map and sand table, and then go back quickly to report to the adults." ”

"Yes," the people answered, and they buried the corpses of the corpses, and the sand tables of the sand tables, and the scrolls of pictures, each of them went about their own work.

When everyone was busy, Liu Renjie said aloud: "Turn over your clothes and hurry again." ”

"Yes, Second Master Liu." The crowd turned over their padded jackets as they said and put the red side on their bodies.

Then everyone turned their horses and galloped away in the direction of Jingbian Fort.

**************

It was day and night, in the conference room of the Jingbian Fort Garrison Mansion, Liu Renyu was sitting in the center, while Li Jiye, Yang Desheng, Zhang Tieniu, Ma Wenshan and other military attachés of the fort were sitting on chairs on both sides.

At this time, everyone looked at a map opposite Liu Renyu, and next to the map, stood Liu Renjie with a push rod in his hand, and he was preaching the news he had discovered in the past few days to everyone.

"My lord, uncles. In the past few days, I have taken my brothers to carefully investigate, and I have already explored the latest situation in Hutou Village. This Hutou Village, just 60 miles southwest of our Jingbian Fort, there are several paths that can lead to the bottom of the mountain, you can ride a horse, and our carriage can also go. ”

He added: "There are four hundred bandits on the mountain who can carry swords and guns, and the weapons they use are cold weapons such as broadswords, spears, maces, bows and arrows, and there are no guns or artillery. ”

When Liu Renjie said this, he took the push rod and walked to the sand table next to the map, pointed to the model of Hutou Mountain made of clay in the sand table and said: "This Hutou Mountain is about 150 zhang high, quite steep, and the slope of the west, north and south sides is extremely steep, and you need to use your hands and feet to go up the mountain." ”

He added: "Only the east side is relatively gentle, so the gate of the bandits is arranged in the east, and there are 6 guards on duty, who change shifts every hour, and there are also secret posts patrolling the mountains, which may be sent out at any time from time to time." ”

After Liu Renjie finished talking about the information, he put the putter on the sand table, and at this time, Liu Renyu and those Qianzong had already concentrated on the left side of the sand table in order to see the model of Hutou Mountain, so Liu Renyu picked up the putter and assigned the task: "Ladies and gentlemen, you will send troops today, and take your subordinates to lurk in the southeast, northwest, and northwest of the cottage, and give them an ambush on all sides." This time to send troops, Wenshan, you said earlier that you would send people to Hutou Mountain to lurk in batches, I don't think there is any need for this, let's go to lurk in batches, but I am afraid that the possibility of exposure is greater, so you will take people to lurk to the left of Hutou Mountain tonight, as for the location of the lurking. ”

When Liu Renyu said this, he pointed to the north of the mountain with a push rod and said, "Desheng, your troops and horses are in the north." Iron Bull, your troops are in the west. Jiye, your troops are in the south. Wenshan, your troops and horses are in the east. Do you understand everything? ”

"Yes, my lord, I understand." Everyone responded in unison.

"Very good, when you get to the lurking place, be sure to ambush well, and if you encounter someone who may expose our whereabouts, you will either tie them up or kill them, and then when I get rid of the leaders of those bandits, and release the fireworks signal, you will kill the mountain and exterminate the bandits."

"Yes, sir." Several thousand presidents responded in unison.

"Well, the action on my side will be completed by my brother Renjie, and when we kill those leaders, Renjie, you will take the cavalry to swim around to see if there are any fish that have slipped through the net, if there is, kill them, if you encounter some old and weak women and children and the like, you will hand it over to Wang Zuohang to deal with." You get the idea. ”

"Yes, my lord, I understand." Liu Renjie responded.

"Very good, when you finish killing the sturdy bandits, I will send Wang Zuohang and his group to clean up the mess. Do you understand? ”

"Okay, you can go back first, tell the soldiers to bring weapons, dry food, and cold equipment, and then set off at night and go straight to Hutou Village."

"Yes, sir."

A few thousand generals responded to the last word, and then they each returned to the barracks to make preparations.