The news reported by Li Wuling quickly spread among the soldiers, and everyone seemed to see Bayanhot waving at them. The soldiers were enthusiastic and punished, and their tired bodies were trembling with great strength, and the whole army worked together to step out of a muddy path in the forest, cut through thorns and thorns, and it took two hours to rush to the source of the stream that Li Wuling had spoken.

This huge lake is located between several towering peaks of Helan Mountain, and the peaks are lined up, like knife-cut bamboo shoots soaring into the sky. The alluvial flow of water for 10,000 years has formed a majestic canyon between the mountain peaks, and it is difficult to walk through a forest of gravel and gravel. This Tianchi is in the middle of the canyon, covering an area of dozens of acres, as if it is a clear spring falling from the sky, clean and quiet, not contaminated with a trace of dust and sand of the world. The clear water of the lake is rippling, reflecting the shadows of people, and a few small underground springs not far away are spewing hot steam, and the smoke is curling, and it seems to be a little closer to the sky.

The lake flows gently along the canyon, gently lapping against the rocks on the shore in the breeze, making a gentle sound, like a chapter of harmony and tranquility. This Tianchi embedded in the top of Helan Mountain, ethereal and quiet, without a trace of dust, is actually a holy place that no one has ever visited.

Lin Wanrong took a sip of the lake water, and the faint warm fragrance soaked into her mouth and nose, like her mother's milk, which was unusually sweet.

"Brother Lin, how is it, isn't it here?!" Li Wuling picked up the lake water and sprinkled it on his face, wiped the water droplets indiscriminately, and smiled triumphantly.

"This is it," looking at the lake in the distance, Lin Wanrong suppressed the excitement in his heart: "Only this pure and snow-like spring water in the sky on Helan Mountain can irrigate the fertile grassland of Bayanhot." I'm sure, the Hu people fortress. Right in front of us. ”

Hu Bugui clapped his hands excitedly: "Then what are you waiting for, let's just march quickly tonight, walk a hundred miles in one go, and go directly to Bayanhot."

"Don't be rash and reckless." Lin Wanrong shook her head and said, "We should have walked most of the way." The area of this Wangtian Pond is so large. But no one has ever found it, in addition to being on the top of the mountain, there must be a natural obstacle ahead. That's why no one was able to find it here. ”

Chief Gao nodded approvingly: "Then what should we do now, do we stay in place or continue to move forward?"

Three days have passed since Xu Zhiqing's ten-day deadline for giving land, and counting the turnback time, she must rush to Bayanhot within three days at the latest. If it is more than ten days, even if the surprise attack is successful, then the Helan Mountain Pass has already been broken. At that time, the 8,000 of them will be cut off from retreat, and the ferocious Turks will hunt them like rabbits on the steppe, and the distant desert is where the bones of these tens of thousands of children are buried.

Time waits for no one. Lin Wanrong sighed, gritted her teeth and said, "You can't camp now, take advantage of the sun not setting." We will go around this heavenly pond and advance another fifty miles. Brother Hu, tell the brothers to fill the water bladder, and the war horses are also full of drink, and we will take another ride. ”

Hu Bugui understood his intentions. Nodded and went. Looking at the golden lake under the sunset, Lin Wanrong stopped for a long time and waved her whip violently. Go first.

The Tianchi of Helan Mountain occupies a vast area, and it has not been completely bypassed after walking along the shore of the lake for an hour. The further you go, the softer the ground becomes, and the more silt is deposited, making it difficult for not only horses but also people to set foot in the past. Everyone had to be careful of Li Yi's leading the horse.

"Brother Hu, it doesn't seem to be good." Lin Wanrong wiped the cold sweat on her forehead, Lala didn't return to the ground, and glanced around cautiously. The sound was extremely low. More than a dozen feet in front of them, Li Wuling and his scout team were exploring the way.

"What's wrong?" Hu Bugui asked in a low voice.

"It's quiet, it's too quiet." Lin Wanrong swallowed her saliva and looked around anxiously. They had reached the end of the Heavenly Pond, and in the dense forest in front of them, the rotting leaves and pine needles fell to the ground, piling up a thick layer of felt. At sunset, it was supposed to be the time for the tired birds to return to the woodland, but there was a deathly silence in the woods, and there was no sound to be heard except for his own breathing.

It is indeed too quiet, such a big forest, I can't hear the birds and insects, I can't see the weeds and wild flowers, the faint sunset, the woods are flashing with a strange light of pale yellow, a little bit shining, the cold hair of Hu Bu is standing up, and he subconsciously pulls the sleeve of the high chief next to him. Before a few people could speak, they heard a sudden scream in front of them: "Retreat, brothers, retreat, ah-"

The five or six scouts marching in front of them had just landed on their front feet, and their bodies were planted straight forward, and the cry of "ahh

"It's a quagmire - stop, stop." Hu Buhui's shout was a little late, and the dozen or so scouts who were at the front of the line were crooked, and before they could blink, the mud flooded their heads.

"Winter Plum-" Seeing that Li Wuling, who was at the end of the scout team, stepped into the air, and his head arched straight into the mire, Lin Wanrong was furious, and with a roar of fire, he pounced forward like a mad wolf.

The high chief who was following him suddenly had his heart broken, and said angrily: "Brother Lin, it's a quagmire-" Lin Wanrong moved very fast, and rushed over, Gao Chieftain couldn't stop him, he pounced forward with a loud bang, and hugged Lin Wanrong's legs. The moment Lin Wanrong fell to the ground, she grabbed Xiao Lizi's hand tightly.

Li Wuling was deep in the mud, the mud had already sunk into his nose, his face was red, he shook his head desperately, and his body struggled to sink.

"Winter plum, you hold on!" Lin Wanrong screamed angrily, grabbed Li Wuling's hand with both hands, and pulled him up desperately. It's just that the mire has been accumulated for thousands of years, and the strength is extremely great, and even if he exerts all his strength, Li Wuling's body is still slowly sinking towards the mud surface.

"I'm coming!" Hu Bugui shouted, threw himself on the mud, grabbed Li Wuling's other hand, and several soldiers behind him fell to the ground, hugging Hu Bugui's legs tightly. With such a momentum of pulling radishes, more than a dozen people worked together to drag Li Wuling's body out of the quagmire inch by inch.

Of the more than 20 scouts, only Li Wuling, who was at the end, was saved, and the rest were all submerged in this deep quagmire, and even the body was not found. Li Wuling clenched his fists, his face turned pale, and his eyes were full of tears as he looked at the quagmire where his comrades had disappeared. In an instant, the carefree teenager matured a lot.

"Don't cry." Lin Wanrong's face was like ink, and she silently picked up a leftover big knife in the mire, stroked it for a long time, handed it to Li Wuling, and shouted viciously: "You straighten my waist for me - Li Wuling, you remember, men, only cry when you win."

Li Wuling wiped his tears and snot, and the expression on his face instantly became solemn. Lin Wanrong nodded, patted him on the shoulder, and looked extremely solemn: "Write down the names of these brothers here - if I can go back alive, I promise you that they will be the most honorable people in my Dahua."

Lin San's promise has never been disappointed, this is a well-known truth, Li Wuling hummed gratefully, wiped away his tears, but his face was no longer the innocent color of the past.

After losing more than 20 good brothers for no reason, the atmosphere in the camp suddenly became dull, but this swamp was the only way to the northwest, and it was necessary to go. Hu Bugui organized people to cut down trees overnight, and countless wooden planks were combined to increase the stressed area, and spread them along the swamp inch by inch. The newly formed scout team stepped on the planks and leaned forward cautiously and slowly, walking five or six miles before breaking through the forest and stepping onto the thick black soil.

After receiving the scout's report, Lin Wanrong nodded lightly, looking at the swamp that engulfed more than twenty brothers, and a fire-like flame flashed in her eyes.

"Salute to the fallen warriors!" Lin Wanrong let out a long snort.

"Brush-", countless snow-white steel knives drew sharp arcs in unison, and held high on the chests of the warriors. The glittering cold light broke through the forest peaks and into the depths of the sky.

It was already five o'clock the next day, and the sky was still dark, and the plan to camp had already been ruined. Lin Wanrong simply didn't do anything, neatly arranged the team, and advanced dozens of miles in one breath.

"General Lin, look-" Hu Bugui's cry woke up Lin Wanrong, who was still pondering. When he looked up, he saw that the clouds and mist under his feet were faint and bottomless, and it was actually a cliff that was cut off. Thirty zhang on the opposite side is a towering mountain peak, straight to the sky, dangerous sky. Helan Mountain Tianchi flows here. Falling vertically, it forms a beautiful waterfall that goes straight for nine days, and the sound of rushing water hits the rocks. Crisp.

Wall!!! Lin Wanrong's eyes were wide open, and cold sweat was dripping down. It took so much time and energy, and sacrificed dozens of good brothers, thinking about crossing Helan Mountain, but I didn't expect it. A cliff kills all hope.

"What's there to see about this?" He shook his head and was speechless: "A bitter cliff!"

"No, it's not." Hu Bugui hurriedly said: "It's not this cliff. Look, look into the distance—"

In the distance, a crescent moon is as white as snow. A faint glow fills every corner of the desert steppe. In the dim sky, the morning stars are bright or dark, twinkling faintly. Mixed in the distant heaven and earth, there is an unusually fiery red star, constantly fluttering and flickering.

"Isn't it just a star, what's there to see?" Chief Gao said.

Hu Bugui shook his head hurriedly: "My brother Gao, you are confused, how can it be a star?" That's where we're sworn to find - Bayanhot !!"

"What, what did you say?! Bayanhot?!" Lin Wanrong was shocked. grabbed Hu Bugui: "Brother Hu, that's not a star?" How do you know it's Bayanhot?"

Hu Bugui smiled and said: "Brother Lin, when it comes to this Turkic customs, you are not as good as me. It is common for Turks to live on horseback, ride hundreds of miles in one night, and get lost in the desert steppe. The Turkic tribes lit huge bonfires at night to show the tribal warriors the direction of their home, and this bonfire was also a symbol of the strength of the tribes, and the stronger the tribe, the bigger and brighter the bonfire. After the Turks established the khanate, the custom evolved into the practice of lighting bonfires at important points due to the many conquests. Judging from the direction, the brightest 'star' you see is in the northwest, and it should be Bayanhot. Looking at this distance, it should be a hundred miles away. ”

That's Bayanhot?! The excitement in Lin Wanrong's heart is really indescribable. In the most desperate time, the sudden appearance of the destination surprised him, but also ignited a glimmer of hope in his heart.

Silently staring at the fiery "star, for a long time, Lin Wanrong squeezed her palm tightly, and turned her eyes to the opposite cliff: "Brother Gao, do you know how to shoot arrows?"

Chief Gao was ashamed to say, "Brother Lin, didn't I tell you that I was an all-rounder?!"

"Good!" Lin Wanrong shouted, took the strong bow and crossbow from Hu Bugui's hand and handed it to the old master: "Brother Gao, if you see the big tree opposite, shoot through him!"

This strong crossbow is a modified ground, and a very thick rope is tied behind it, which is dozens of zhang long, and it is heavily coiled on the ground.

Chief Gao was surprised: "Brother Lin, you mean we slipped along the rope?" But what about the war horses?"

Lin Wanrong clenched her fists and gritted her teeth and said, "At this time, I can't take care of it so much." Bayanhot is the granary of the Turks, so there is no shortage of horses! Brother Gao, you just have to answer me, can you go over?"

Gao Chieftain nodded vigorously: "Grab the Turkic war horse, grab the Turkic woman - my old Gao has been training hard for thirty years, and it can finally come in handy." Look at my arrows, shoot—"

He roared, pulled his crossbow and raised his bow to shoot. The arrow galloped with a rope, and with a loud bang, it hit the trunk of the old tree opposite, and the arrow was gone.

"Good kung fu!" Lin Wanrong praised and took the lead in applauding.

The high chief laughed and shot two more ropes, both of which were right on target. He tied the rope around his waist, hugged his fists at everyone, and his body slid like a meteor, and ran straight to the opposite cliff.