Huarong (not Huarong Road in Gangneung).

The remnants of the sunset shone on every corner of the earth, and the green buds of the ancient trees were covered with a faint layer of five-colored light. The hot cicadas are still chirping endlessly. This is the middle of summer, the scorching and dry sky, the wind blows, and there are also gusts of heat, only under the green sprout of a big tree, there is a trace of coolness.

At sunset on the ancient road, there were two occasional neighing of horses, followed by two low rebukes in the wind, and then calmed down.

In the depths of the green forest, the branches and foliage are very lush, and the sunset can't penetrate the dense foliage at all, if it weren't for the swaying figures from time to time, the people outside would not have guessed that there were nearly 10,000 horses secretly gathered here. What's even more terrifying is that although there are nearly 10,000 people gathered here, no one speaks loudly, at most they are talking to each other, and their voices are extremely soft. Although he was resting, the horse was not unsaddled, the knife was not left on his body, and he always maintained his awakening, and the seriousness of military discipline was obvious.

Yes, this is Zhang Lang's troops, since they succeeded in attacking Tang, they immediately bluffed to the public security, deliberately leaving a trace of clues on the road, so as to mislead Liu Biaojun and attract all the troops to the past. But when Zhang Lang arrived at Huarong, he suddenly began to turn around secretly, ready to kill a horse pistol.

In fact, Zhang Lang's soldiers were already very tired, and after a month or so of high-intensity marching, even if they were beaten with iron, they couldn't withstand it.

Although Zhang Lang is alone, he still has a certain ear and eye, and the news and location of Liu Biaojun's soldiers and horses have been continuously transmitted to Zhang Lang. These men and horses who surrounded themselves added up to more than 50,000 troops, and only when they had not yet formed an encirclement could they jump out of it to ensure that they would not suffer losses under the pursuit of Liu Biaojun.

On the surface, Zhang Lang and Guo Jia sat under a big tree together, taking advantage of the tree to enjoy the shade, talking and laughing, in fact, Zhang Lang still has no bottom in his heart, joking, although he took it as Tang, and attracted Liu Jun's attention to the public security, but at the same time he fell into a heavy encirclement, there are Liu Biao's troops in all directions, if a single army fights, he may not be afraid, he is afraid that they can be organically connected into one, one side is fighting, and the other party quickly supports him, then he can't finish eating and walking.

Guo Jia seemed to see Zhang Lang's thoughts, and comforted: "My lord, rest assured, we will turn the path from Huarong to avoid the enemy scouts, and it will be impossible for them to find out for a while." ”

Zhang Lang's voice was a little low, obviously because of the continuous march, coupled with the pampering over the years, it also made him a little unbearable, and his face was a little tired. However, Guo Jia is still in good spirits, and there is no sign of tiredness at all. Zhang Lang said: "Now Liu Biao already knows that we are in the public security area, whether it is the enemy or not, they are blocking the route checkpoints layer by layer, if we follow the normal march route, I am afraid that it will not be difficult to find out." Besides, although the public security succeeded, I have to admit that the plan has completely failed, and no one could have imagined that Wang Wei would only send Cai Zhong, Cai and 10,000 horses out of Baling. They still have about 20,000 soldiers stationed in Baqiu, and they have not attracted their main force at all, even if we can retreat safely, I am afraid that we will have to take Baqiu from a new plan. ”

Guo Jia smiled mysteriously: "That's not necessarily, the lord's conclusion is too early." ”

Zhang Lang looked at Guo Jia with some confusion, seeing that his confident eyes were shining with a light that he couldn't even understand, and he didn't know what kind of thoughts he had in his heart. didn't come, Zhang Lang's heart was cold, and he had a feeling of weakness all over his body, fortunately he was not his opponent, otherwise he would have died ten times eight times earlier.

Guo Jia seemed to understand the thoughts in Zhang Lang's eyes, and was secretly stunned in his heart, not knowing why his lord suddenly had a somewhat discouraged expression, Guo Jia rarely said with an extremely serious expression: "Wang Wei, this kid is really a good general, so far, no matter what changes occur, he firmly remembers his duty and does not leave Baqiu half a step." But this time, I'm afraid that if he takes a wrong step, it may also cause a complete collapse. ”

Zhang Lang slightly retracted some of his mood and half-jokingly said, "What is the wrong move?" ”

Guo Jia said: "Who are Cai Zhong and Cai He?" This is Cai Mao's cousin, as long as he can trap them in one fell swoop, Wang Wei will definitely not be able to sit still, and he will come out of the nest closely. Even if he doesn't do it, Cai Mao will force him to do it. ”

Guo Jia, who was extremely surprised by Zhang Lang, didn't seem to believe his ears, and asked again and again: "What did you say?" ”

Guo Jia said with a smile: "My subordinates know that the main guild is very strange, especially when they are chased by many parties, and they have to trap Cai Zhong and Cai He's troops, obviously pushing themselves to the tip of the blade." ”

Zhang Lang nodded and said: "That is, it is easy to kill them, but if you kill them unconsciously and do not alarm other troops, it will be a great difficulty." ”

Guo Jia laughed and said: "What's the difficulty, now they haven't formed a real team to fight, there is a certain distance in each army, as long as you can grasp the time, nothing is impossible." ”

Zhang Lang suddenly thought of a question and said: "So what, even if we can really trap Cai Zhong and Cai He, transfer Wang Wei, and then we recapture Baqiu, I am afraid that in the end, we will attract all the troops, and when the time comes, we will not be able to withstand their strong counterattack, and Baqiu will change hands sooner or later, isn't that equivalent to a bamboo basket for water?" ”

Guo Jia shook his head and said: "Baqiu's defense line has been formed, it is an easy to defend and difficult to attack stronghold, but we are not occupying it for a long time, as long as we block the Yangtze River waterway for one day, Liu Biao's navy will have one more day of difficulty." With the ability of the main army, it can be at least more than thirty years, and it does not take twenty years, and the Hanyang area, without the support of the Jingzhou naval army, is afraid that it will be difficult to withstand the attack of our army. Hehe, this is put to death and then reborn, a cone. ”

Zhang Lang gasped, stunned by Guo Jia's bold idea, and said after a long while: "Fengxiao, you are really crazy, have you thought clearly, we have to face endless reinforcements, even if we really defend for two months, how many soldiers do we have to lose, what I am bringing now are the most elite troops in Jiangdong, even if I only lose one, I will feel distressed, and according to what you say, I am afraid that no one will be able to return to Jiangdong alive." This move is too risky. Do you see if there is any other way? ”

Guo Jia still looked like he was in his chest, he stood up, patted the thick tree trunk on the side with his hand seemingly unintentionally, and then proudly said: "The lord is obviously too worried, Wang Wei has 20,000 soldiers, and the turtle guards Baqiu is not out, even if the lord is a large number of soldiers, as long as Wang Wei does not make a big mistake, it is quite difficult to take it." On the contrary, the lord occupied the Baqiu territory with 10,000 soldiers, and even if the enemy weighed 100,000, it would be difficult to capture it at once. What's more, this will inevitably attract Liu Biao's forces to Baling, so Tian Feng and them in Xiakou can take the opportunity to find a breakthrough and defeat Liu Biao in one fell swoop. This is the true intention of the lord to seize Baqiu. Lord, don't you say? ”

Zhang Lang sighed and said: "That's the case, but the skeleton soldiers and the Shanyue soldiers are the two arms I rely on the most, and the other soldiers are also the most elite in Jiangdong, all of them are veterans of the battlefield. ”

Guo Jia understood what Zhang Lang meant, and sighed: "Life and death on the battlefield are always inevitable, if their lives can open the gate of Jingzhou, I believe their sacrifice is also very glorious." And his subordinates also believe that the soldiers will not say a word, and they will take the lead bravely, and they will succeed in the hegemony of the Lord, and they will not hesitate. ”

Zhang Lang glanced at his subordinates with slightly sentimental eyes, and what surprised Zhang Lang was that all the soldiers in the woods were focused on Zhang Lang, each of them had a very calm expression, and the unwavering gaze in their eyes seemed to indicate their determination.

Huang Xu was very excited: "The subordinates are willing to fight to the death for the lord, they are willing to fight the last bit of strength for the lord, and shed the last drop of blood, as long as the knife in their hands can still fight, as long as the subordinates can still stand and not fall, then they will not succeed." Unless we walk over our corpses. ”

At the same time, the generals expressed their loyalty.

And the soldiers below were even more excited, and couldn't help shouting at the same time: "My subordinates are willing to live and die with the lord." ”

Zhang Lang only felt that his eyes were a little moist, and there was an indescribable taste in his heart.

Zhang Lang took a few deep breaths, controlled his breath, and slowly stretched out his hands to stop the blood-boiling soldiers. In the originally majestic forest, it immediately became as quiet as death, and everyone was waiting for Zhang Lang's words. Zhang Lang cleared his throat and said slowly: "This trip to Baqiu, it is very dangerous, I am not afraid of anything to make it clear, many of our brothers here, I am afraid that they will die in the next Baqiu offensive and defensive battle." You are all good warriors and my good brothers, and you know best what I have always done to you. Well, I won't say anything, we just know something. ”

The soldiers below shouted loudly: "My subordinates swear to follow the lord to the death." ”

Zhang Lang was ruthless and shouted, "Let's go." ”

The army, which was still resting, immediately moved smartly to shrink things and prepare to come out.

At this time, a detective hurriedly ran and said to Zhang Lang: "Lord, we found a long-abandoned path in the south of Huarong, according to the Tunong here, this road can be extended to the north of Yunmengze, and there are few people who know it. It's just that this road is really difficult, with thorns, overgrown weeds, ravines and dangerous mountains in many places, and fierce beasts infested. This native was also discovered by accident when he was hunting with several villagers. ”

Zhang Lang perked up and shouted, "God has mercy on me." ”

Zhang Lang glanced at Guo Jia, who nodded slightly.

Zhang Lang immediately said to several generals on the side: "Immediately change the route of the march and take the path south of Huarong." Huang Xu, you take a few soldiers to invite this peasant over and tell him that as long as you can put forward conditions, we will unconditionally satisfy him. ”

Huang Xu led Zhang Lang's order down.

Huarong Shilongling.

It's an extremely difficult road. It seems that it can't be called the road, and when you look at it, it is all barren weeds, about one person high, on one side is a majestic and tall mountain, on the other side is a slope that cannot be touched, all kinds of poisonous snakes, bush beasts, wild boars shuttle around the soldiers' feet without any scruples, and occasionally a few show their fierce teeth, and are on alert to the soldiers.

The soldiers in front of them were facing the scorching sun on their heads, stepping on the soft mulberry leaves and mud piles, holding swords in one hand, and constantly weeding and clearing the way.

Zhang Lang's face was covered with fine beads of sweat, and his face, which was already a little white, had turned black and red after a few days of wind and sun, and dozens of soldiers could not stand the scorching heat and collapsed. Guo Jia is even more miserable, a weak scholar, where can he suffer such hardship, not only heat stroke, but also a poisonous snake bite on his calf, if it weren't for the guide who knows how to apply herbs to the body, Zhang Lang knows how to use first aid, Guo Jia is only afraid of his life.

Before Zhang Lang joked: "This idea is yours, you should be the first to dedicate yourself." ”

Guo Jia laughed.

In the pristine mountain forest, Zhang Lang and his army walked for nearly a week.

Each of them was more or less detached, and some were even worse, with a few large holes in their uniforms, and a bit of a savage statue.

This day, the guide led Zhang Lang and his soldiers over another mountain, the front was wide and cheerful, and the guide suddenly pointed to a mountain peak in front of him, with an inexplicable excitement. Zhang Lang knew that things had finally taken a turn for the better, and hurriedly looked at it, the mountain peaks in the distance were towering into the clouds, white clouds surrounded it, and the mountains below surrounded it like stars and moons. The guide is about fifty years old, but he was excited like a child at this time, and said loudly: "General, look, there is the cloud peak in front, cross this mountain and wade a few rivers, and then climb over about a dozen mountain ranges, you can see the shore of Yunmeng Lake." ”

Zhang Lang was originally happy in his heart, but when he heard the guide say this, the whole thing immediately withered, hugged his head and said in frustration: "Dizzy, there are still so many roads, and I still have to walk for more than ten days." ”

The guide said embarrassedly: "Yes, the grass people have only walked this road once, and it was ten years ago, and it is already very good to remember it." ”

Zhang Lang sighed helplessly.

The guide continued: "The mountain road that inserts the cloud peak is the most difficult and dangerous of the whole journey. Generals need to be careful. ”

Zhang Lang nodded heavily.

(To be continued)