In the midst of the lush Yanshan Mountains in summer.

The shouts of thousands of people chasing or fleeing, the sound of blades handing over, and the occasional sound of arrows missing through the air broke the tranquility of this mountain forest, and from time to time frightened birds fluttered their wings and flew into the sky.

This is the northeast of the capital, near the Gubeikou Pass in the upper reaches of the Chaohe River.

Half a month ago, the Gubeikou guard Dulu Timur received an order from Dadu, saying that Langfang intercepted a pseudo-Ming spy, not only found a map around Dadu, but also confessed under torture, and the pseudo-Ming sent more than 300 people to disguise themselves as various people to sneak into the north two months ago, specially drawing a map, thinking that the army was a guide.

Therefore, most of them asked the garrisons at the customs and passes in various places to strictly check the passing merchants and displaced people.

Du Lu acted as usual, and he has caught a lot of suspicious people these days, etc., these years, I can't tell too much, and I have directly cut things.

Today, a caravan came from the north, seeing that this side looked like a strict investigation, and turned around directly, what does it need to say, the guards caught up and tried to interrogate, as soon as they made contact, the other party decisively moved their weapons, and then turned around and fled.

After receiving the report, Dulu sent a hundred-man team to chase after him, and soon the return was that the caravan had fled into the mountains.

Directly drew his knife and slashed the centurion who was routed back with fewer blows and more kills, Dulu was keenly aware that it might be a big fish, and personally ordered a thousand people to catch up with the mountain.

A big fish indeed.

A few days ago, Lao Zhu hand-picked the Zhengwupin Surveying and Mapping Division, Tu Xiao, in early April, out of Juyong Pass, all the way from Yuan Dadu to Yuan Shangdu, and then went around a big circle, returning from Gubeikou.

Unexpectedly, the stall that was about to enter the customs encountered such a change.

Seeing the strict inspection of the pass from afar, the Gongwei Si Baihu Rong Xun, who had traveled thousands of miles all the way to lead everyone to avoid many dangers, decisively ordered to retreat, but it was still a little late.

Killed the Yuan soldiers who came forward to inquire, and repelled a hundred-man team, and more than 30 people simply gave up those pretentious goods and went to the mountains.

Present.

Even if the Yuan soldiers can't ride their horses, even if they are all elites in a hundred, they will suffer the loss of few people.

Seeing that the pursuers were getting closer and closer, and there were fewer and fewer brothers around him, Rong Xun had to make a decision again, pause his pace, pick two younger subordinates, and finally said to Tu Xiao: "Tu Langzhong, if you want to go, I'm afraid it won't work, let San'er and the two escort you to the top of the mountain in front of you, and this thing ......"

As he spoke, he pointed to a large basket on the ground that no one had abandoned: "...... If we can escape, oh, we will be able to escape, let's go, let's try our best to delay. ”

In this situation, Tu Xiao was in a bookish mood, and many copies of the map had been sent back in advance, he felt that he had fulfilled his mission along the way, and was about to open his mouth to stay, begging for a pleasure, Rong Xun had already pushed him: "Go, don't show off the book, I've seen you these days, you are really a talent, if you can be a marquis in the future, you can also take care of each of my families by the way." ”

After finishing speaking, he stopped looking at Tu Xiao, and Rong Xun turned to the two people who had just ordered: "Go, go quickly." ”

The two of them listened to the order and pulled up the basket tow rope, and shouted Tu Xiao again.

Tu Xiao felt that his eyes were a little wet, and when he saw Rong Xun's expectant gaze, he nodded, gave a deep look to his companions around him, and after getting up, he looked at another person in the crowd, who was Xu Yin, another scribe he had brought from Yinghai Division.

Xu Yin, who had also turned into a rough man after running for thousands of miles, patted the shoulder knife on his waist and grinned: "Langzhong, I will stay, I can't let you think that our scholars are afraid of death." ”

Rong Xun urged again: "Hurry up, hurry up." ”

Tu Xiao nodded at Xu Yin, no longer hesitated, and pulled up the basket tow rope with the other two and headed towards the top of the mountain.

The shouting behind him was getting closer and closer, and after a while, the screams could still be heard.

Tu Xiao and the other two just kept walking, and when they were about to lose their strength, they finally came to the ridge of the mountain, and were lucky to find a stone platform that was not covered by trees and shrubs.

In the middle of the jungle.

When he was hit by an arrow in his chest, but he was blocked by armor and only suffered some skin wounds, Du Lu took the lead, while pulling his bow to find the target that kept flashing in front of him, and at the same time urging his subordinates to copy it as soon as possible, for which he had already cut down a few timid soldiers.

It's a pity that because of the trees in the forest and the constant sniping in the forest, I can't move forward too fast.

Du Lu, who was secretly gritting his teeth and wanted to put a fire here afterwards, had just fired another arrow, feeling that he had shot down a person, and was about to rush over with a knife, when he suddenly heard someone nearby shouting in horror: "God...... Oh God. ”

Then there was a voice: "Monster, there is a monster ......"

Du Lu followed the sound and found that a handful of people not far from his right hand had knelt down like that and looked up at the sky.

So he looked up.

Because of the shade of the trees, I didn't see anything at first glance, and I was about to rush over to reprimand those people who had disturbed the hearts of the army, when I felt that I was being pulled by the pro-soldiers, and moved a few steps, and the pro-soldiers pointed to the sky.

Looking again, Dulu saw a big white ball, slowly rising into the air in the direction of the top of the mountain, and it seemed that it was still floating towards him.

This......

The largest flying creature Dulu had ever seen was nothing more than a golden wither on the grassland, however, it was only seven or eight feet long when it spread its wings.

This big white ball...... but the size of the felt bag.

How can felt bags fly into the sky!

It must be......

Oh gods.

Du Lu is a well-known warrior, however, how can a warrior fight against miracles, looking at the big ball that seems to be spewing flames, he only feels that his knees are a little weak, and he endures it so he doesn't kneel.

The movement in the sky quickly attracted the attention of all the soldiers in the forest.

No one thought about fighting anymore, they just stared blankly at the sky.

Seeing that the thing was drifting closer, finally someone couldn't help it, screamed strangely, and ran down the hill with a rolling belt.

This time, Du Lu didn't stop again, he felt that the soldiers on the side came over, called a few words, he finally came back to his senses and raised his hand: "Withdraw...... First, withdraw, down, down! ”

After saying that, he turned around.

I don't want to make myself look too embarrassed, but I don't consciously speed up my pace.

Mengdi was tripped up, the soldiers didn't have time, and Dulu, who had gnawed a mouthful of mud after falling down, just bounced up, trembling and continuing down the mountain without saying a word, not even paying attention to the loss of his beloved strong bow on weekdays.

on a hot air balloon.

Tu Xiao, who was looking down with a telescope in his hand, found that the Yuan soldiers had receded like a tide, and immediately said to the other two: "The Yuan soldiers have retreated, go down, let's go down, and he should still be there for a hundred households." ”

It's just that Tu Xiao has already reacted after speaking.

This is not the past.

In the past, in order to view the terrain, hot air balloons were released in remote places, and there were long ropes hanging underneath.

Not this time.

Moreover, the dense woods below, even if the fire is extinguished and the hot air balloon is allowed to land naturally, it is not a suitable location at the moment.

I can only search with a telescope.

Soon, in the occasional gap in the dense forest, Tu Xiao found the figure of Rong Xun and others, although it was a flash, but there were still more than ten people.

Rong Xun was still gesturing at him, signaling them to continue to go first, and the others themselves would follow.

Tu Xiao also hurriedly responded.

Looking at the Yuan soldiers again, they have become farther and farther to the west.

At the same time, Tu Xiao also figured out why Yuan Bing retreated.

I was scared by this hot air balloon.

Mo said that Yuan Bing, that is, these people around him, when they first saw this hot air balloon that could fly into the sky, even if they saw how this thing rose into the air with their own eyes, they couldn't help but kneel down and kowtow.

Even, even if Tu Xiao himself knew the principle of the hot air balloon very well, and the first time he took off, he also had a feeling that he had created a miracle.

After surviving this catastrophe, Tu Xiao exhaled and remembered what was going on.

Turning the telescope to the direction of Gubeikou Pass, Tu Xiao observed the surroundings while instructing the two people next to him to find a pen and paper, and he wanted to take the opportunity to draw the nearby terrain.

……

Jinling.

When Zhu Yuan's letter was delivered again, Lao Zhu was losing his temper.

Or the Suzhou Wei commander Wu Liang who made him uneasy.

The local government inspected Wu Liang again, this time intervening in a matter that led to the death of a brother who split up and turned against each other, and Wu Liang believed that the Suzhou government had handled it unfairly, and complained about one of the parties.

What's the?

This Wu Liang can't let himself worry about it!

If it weren't for the current Northern Expedition, Lao Zhu really wanted to summon Wu Liang to Jinling and reprimand him on the spot.

After thinking about it, Lao Zhu summoned the courtiers over and asked them to send this impeachment chapter to Wu Liang intact, which could be regarded as a reminder. If this general doesn't listen to the admonition again, and waits for the northern affairs, Lao Zhu plans to adjust his position.

Yang Jing has already hit Jingjiang, Guangxi.

In the southwestern barbarian land, there is still a lack of a town guard general.

Thinking like this, I was in a bad mood, but when I received Zhu Yuan's letter, I first heard Wen Zao say that the child refused to come back, and my mood was even worse.

However, after patiently reading the letter and thinking about it, Lao Zhu dispelled the idea of forcibly letting Zhu Yuan return.

Lao Zhu felt that what Zhu Yuan said made sense.

That kid, stay in Mingzhou, or be more able to perform.

Zhu Yuan also said good things for Li Shanchang in the letter, saying that Zuo Xiangzu could be trusted, which Lao Zhu did not expect.

And relieved.

This open-mindedness.

As for transferring Liu Ji back, although the letter was not too clear, Lao Zhu also understood someone's intentions, but he just laughed and scolded.

Somewhat exciting.

However, after weighing it, Lao Zhu still dispelled the idea in the end.

That kid's personality is too slippery, and Lao Zhu doesn't plan to be affected by this.

Since after a long talk, some general strategies were determined, and Lao Zhu was the first person who didn't want to implement it, so he gave up halfway.

That Liu Ji ...... In the end, it is also a great contribution to his laying down this country, so let him rest assured, and it can be regarded as the first good beginning and good ending.

As for Jinling, the left phase ...... There really isn't much to worry about.

It's just that since the kid doesn't want to come back, Jinling's side, before leaving, still has to take careful measures.

This was followed by Zhu Yuan's proposal for the Battle of Dadu.

Lao Zhu has also been thinking about it these days, and he also referred to "Book from Heaven", but after all, he was fascinated by some authorities.

Zhu Yuan, a bystander, has a clearer and more thorough view of many things than Lao Zhu.

For example, in the expansion of Timur, Zhu Yuan judged that Wang Baobao had no value in wooing, but after taking Henan, Lao Zhu immediately tried to let Xu Da contact the expansion of the outline.

Kuokuo also responded.

After receiving Xu Daxin, Kuokuo did not detain the envoy again this time, and gave a gift back, so Lao Zhu felt that Wang Baobao might be able to recruit him.

Zhu Yuan can be regarded as bursting Lao Zhu's illusions.

After weighing left and right, Lao Zhu decided to believe in his precious twenty-third grandson.

There are also the main words 'fast' and 'blocking' in the proposal, as well as the father and son of Emperor Zhizheng as the main strategic goal of this attack on Dadu.

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Strategic Objectives.

Oh, it's another new word that makes people suddenly brighten, and it also makes Lao Zhu's thinking these days more clear.

And then there's the final 'Darkness Chencang' plan.

Lao Zhu saw at a glance that it was feasible and very feasible. Because, there are some corresponding records in the "Book of Heaven".

Moreover, among the maps that have been received from the north for a long time, Lao Zhu can also find that if he can land from Zhigu and send cavalry, he can force his way to Dadu, which is 300 miles away, within two days.

In comparison, starting from Bianliang, not to mention attacking the city, even according to the letter of the twenty-third grandson of his own treasure, all the way to fight fast and rush, thousands of miles, even if there is no accident, it will take at least half a month.

Comparing the two, there is no need to hesitate at all how to choose.

After reading the second half of the letter several times in detail, Lao Zhu even wanted to recall Zhu Yuan again and discuss it in detail in person, after all, there are not many things that can be said in the letter.

However, since you have made up your mind, you should give up.

Just let him do things in Mingzhou with peace of mind.

So I wrote a reply letter on the spot, mainly about some thoughts and doubts after reading the suggestion just now, after I wrote it, I didn't let Wen Zao stay this time, and directly asked him to rush back to Mingzhou.

Then Lao Zhu instructed the courtiers to gather a group of central ministers, intending to strike while the iron was hot and discuss one according to Zhu Yuan's suggestion.

After the order was finished, another letter arrived.

It's Liu Ji.

Lao Zhu sighed, it was really a coincidence, and he opened the letter.

Regarding the drought in Huaidong, there is no way for his own baby twenty-third grandson, so Lao Zhu thought of Liu Ji.

After reading Liu Ji's reply, Lao Zhu was a little disappointed.

Liu Ji believes that Lao Zhu imprisoned the wives of tens of thousands of war soldiers to observe festivals for their husbands, so that the yin qi was depressed, which led to a warning from heaven and a great drought.

If Zhu Yuan hadn't appeared, Lao Zhu might have believed it.

However, because of his own baby twenty-third grandson, Lao Zhu unconsciously accepted too many materialist views, just like the essence of this cloud and rain, Zhu Yuan made it very clear in his previous letter, so that when he saw similar idealism, Lao Zhu was full of doubts.

However, regarding the matter of the widow's camp, many courtiers have been advised in recent years.

At that moment, Liu Ji mentioned again, Lao Zhu thought about it, and decided to take advantage of the trend, after all, it was just a big expense to feed tens of thousands of women.

All of them are sent away, and if they are allowed to return home or marry another, the court can still save money and food.

The matter was finalized, and when Li Shanchang, Yang Xian, Tao An, Zhang Yi and other important ministers arrived, Lao Zhu first mentioned the matter and asked Zhongshu to make a proper severance plan.

After all, you can't just let people leave as soon as the camp door is opened, and the rations that should be given are still given.

In the process of saying this, thinking of the letter of his baby twenty-third grandson, Lao Zhu couldn't hold back some teasing thoughts, and deliberately pointed out that this was Liu Ji's suggestion.

Then, Zuo Xiang's face was really wonderful.

100 rooms.

This open-mindedness really can't be changed.