After coming out of the barracks, Jiang Zhong took another messenger, who was also pretending to be a messenger, and galloped away along the same road.

Only a quarter of an hour later, the army of 4,600 men pulled out of camp and rushed directly to the upper reaches of the Hongze River, vowing to reach Longshan as fast as possible. Because of the critical information of Longshan Prefecture, the Second Garrison Brigade even abandoned a lot of baggage supplies, only brought food and grass for five days, and galloped lightly.

Hu Weide, a captain of the Fourth Wing, was ordered to lead three squads to guard the baggage that had been left behind.

You must know that the troops in the county town are different from the border army, and they may not have the opportunity to make meritorious contributions in battle in three or five years. Going to Long Son to quell the rebellion right now is undoubtedly a good opportunity to make a contribution, and no one wants to miss it. Eventually, however, someone had to stay behind to guard the baggage. As the most unpopular of the ten captains of the Fourth Wing, Hu Weide, who is often excluded, was unfortunately "recommended" by his colleagues again.

Looking at the triumphant backs of his comrades, Hu Weide, who was ordered to stay behind, inevitably scolded them in his heart.

However, this guy who thinks he is unlucky doesn't know that he has inadvertently escaped a murder!

Xiayang Valley.

Near the entrance to the northeast, on the top of the valley about 100 meters high, there are people standing in the shade and looking out from afar. Finally, a rider came from afar in the direction of the Hongze River.

"As the general expected, after the official army made a detour from the upstream, they really went straight to Xiayang Valley!"

After struggling to climb up the valley, the cavalry who reported the news did not bother to wipe their sweat and immediately spread the news.

Chen Wu, Dian Yong and others, who were waiting eagerly, had happy faces. Although there is a great deal of certainty before making a plan, everything is subject to change. Now that it was confirmed that the officers and troops were making great strides towards the grave, they could finally rest assured.

"Tell the order to go down, and the departments are ready to fight."

"Repeating the ban, until the agreed signal is obtained, the ministries are strictly forbidden to do it privately. If someone doesn't listen to orders or makes a movement and is discovered by the officers and soldiers, the whole team will be punished! ”

This military order has been ordered before, and now it is reiterated again, and anyone can feel the murderous aura and determination in it. The morale of the army, which was still slightly fluctuating because of the heat and the imminent big war, was suddenly shaken. On the other hand, the people of the Good Friends Association are also carrying out similar propaganda. A good situation is just around the corner, and no one wants to lead the officers and soldiers to escape and fall short at this time because of a little mistake or negligence.

It's noon.

At the end of the horizon, large clouds of smoke and black spots faintly appeared.

Whether it is the Good Friends Association or the Taiping Righteous Army, they have all hidden their figures. Unless the officers and soldiers did not hesitate to delay the time and sent a large number of people to conduct a comprehensive and meticulous search of Xiayang Valley, it would be difficult to find clues. This quiet valley is like a lion that has bared its fangs and opened its bloody mouth, trying to swallow the prey of the official army in one gulp.

………

"Is this Xiayang Valley? Sure enough, it's a fierce soldier. ”

He set up a canopy with his hand to block the dazzling sunlight, and looked at the steep and tortuous valley in front of him from a distance, and Ding Ziming, who was riding on the horse, was a little more vigilant in his heart.

Although he hadn't experienced much battlefield battles, he had read enough military books to naturally know the dangers of this kind of terrain.

If the thieves of Longshan Mansion set up an ambush here and blocked the retreat of the officials and soldiers, it would definitely be a disaster.

However, just thinking about it, he scoffed.

Some untouchables who don't know much about it, it should be their limit to be able to break through a few small counties, and where can they know the art of war. What's more, they should still be desperately attacking the city under Longshan City now, right?

Thinking like this, he knocked the horse's belly with his heel, signaled it to speed up slightly, and at the same time instructed the guards: "Pass the order, and the whole army will speed up through the valley of Xiayang." After a moment's hesitation, in order to motivate these soldiers, who had not rested since the morning after the camp, he paused and reluctantly said: "After the valley, the army can rest in the shade for a quarter of an hour!" ”

When the news spread, the morale of the soldiers of the 2nd Garrison Brigade was lifted.

Knowing that they would be able to rest after crossing the valley in front of them, these soldiers, who had been hurrying for days, suddenly felt more strength in their bodies, and their tired steps were lighter.

At this time, Lin An rode his horse and trotted over.

Although this general is the highest military governor of Taiping County, and he is also Ding Ziming's boss, the identity of the Lin family makes him not interfere in military affairs. What's more, Ding Ziming was promoted by Governor Qian Boming, so all the way over, Ding Ziming, the brigade commander, had the final say on the affairs of the Second Garrison Brigade. Now that Lin Anluo took the initiative to rush over, Ding Ziming knew that the other party must have something to do, so he took the initiative to stop.

"Lord Ding, don't you think the terrain ahead is a little suspicious?"

Lin Anluo pointed at Xia Yang Valley with a horsewhip, looking a little uneasy.

The thief could think of demolishing the Anping Third Bridge and burning the boats along the river, which was already somewhat unexpected to him. If those thieves think deeper, they may not be able to ......

"General Lin can't help but worry too much."

After figuring out the other party's intention, Ding Ziming was a little more disapproving, and said with a smile: "Even our map doesn't mark this Xiayang Valley in detail, how can those thieves in Yicheng know?" What's more, where did they get so many men to besiege Longshan on both sides, and at the same time, separate people to set up an ambush in Xiayang Valley? ”

"That's right."

Lin Anluo also admitted that a group of anti-thieves should not be so capable, but his keen sense of smell still sensed something, and hesitated: "Otherwise, the army will pause for a while, send someone to confirm the safety of Xiayang Valley, and then the army will pass Guò again, which is safer." ”

"So, how many people does General Lin plan to send in to confirm?" Ding Ziming's tone was aimed at nothing, and he asked rhetorically: "There are fewer people to go, and it will take at least half a day to search back and forth, and it will take a few hours at the earliest." Does the general still think that we have not been delayed long enough on the road? If you send more people...... Shall I send the whole army in? ”

When Ding Ziming said this, Lin Anluo, who was quite deep in the city, was not angry, but he no longer insisted on his intentions.

Ding Ziming's words are already very straightforward, in case the final rescue is late and Longshan is captured, then this responsibility is his Lin Anluo. In the end, the center of the empire will naturally be traced down, and even the Lin family will be taken the opportunity to knock it out. This is an opportunity to suppress the eight major valves openly, but it is really rare.

Seeing that Lin Anluo stopped talking, Ding Ziming only thought that he had won again, and he couldn't help but be a little complacent.

However, Lin Anluo's reminder was not useless, which made Ding Ziming's original vigilance a little more. Although he didn't think that the anti-thief had that ability, he still made a compromise decision after looking at the front army that was about to enter the valley mouth: let the first wing take the lead, and the remaining three wings and six brigades of cavalry moved in the rear according to the situation.

In this way, there will not be much delay, and if there is any accident, the wing and cavalry behind can also withdraw in time.

After getting Ding Ziming's order, the guards immediately turned over and passed the news on.

Soon, the 2nd Garrison Brigade came to a halt as a whole. The soldiers of the three wings in the back, in dissatisfaction and complaints, sat on the side of the road in the blazing sun, waiting for news from the front. And the soldiers of the first wing also muttered while stepping into Xiayang Valley with a relaxed expression.

In their opinion, Ding Ziming's decision is simply a redundant move.

"The officers and troops stopped outside the valley mouth!"

This sudden change really startled the rebel generals who were waiting at the northeast entrance of Xiayang Valley. Some people immediately couldn't hold their breath, and secretly speculated if there was a leak of stuffing, and the traces were found by the officials and soldiers. Some of the rebel soldiers who were lying in ambush on the valleys on both sides couldn't help but feel worried.

In case the ambush is discovered, they will not be the opponent of these more than 4,000 officers and troops in a frontal battle.

The changes in the officers and soldiers also did not hide from the people of the Good Friends Association. Xu Maodian rushed over almost immediately, wanting to ask what was going on. Fortunately, at this time, the officers and troops re-moved and marched towards the valley.

However, before the soldiers could breathe a sigh of relief, they immediately discovered that only a part of the army had entered the valley.