In the morning light, the swordsmen rode forward with the group of craftsmen. It's just a brisk walk along the way, not a Mercedes-Benz. Change horses every ten miles to maintain a proper speed. Those swordsmen usually take their sons and grandchildren out like this, and they are no strangers to this way of riding, but they are not used to taking a group of adults, but they are also quickly adapted.

Despite the many protective measures taken, along the way, some craftsmen fell from their horses and were injured, but fortunately they were not serious; But there are also people who can't move on, so they have to arrange for them to recuperate in the nearest home. Only twenty-four people finally arrived at Duanshi. After a long journey of 400 miles, it was already sunset. To Sima Jin's surprise, when he was stationed in Duan's clan, Duan's order told him that he had received Bai Qi's order, that one hundred prisoners in the county had been assembled, and that the grass-roots officials were knights who had previously made meritorious contributions to road building, and Duan's lieutenant personally served as the doctor. Sima Jin asked when Bai Qi would convey the order? Tuan's order replied: The order will arrive at sunrise today. Sima Jin and Pi Juan glanced at each other, and felt that they were so ashamed, so they did not dare to requisition the prisoners from the neighboring counties in Hedong.

Most of the inhabitants of Hedong, especially the Qin people, were convicts from the counties of Guanzhong who followed Zhang Lu to build roads in Hedong, as well as the knights of Shangjun, who were themselves a powerful road-building force. After Bai Qi took over, every time he took a city, he had to build roads. Fighting wars and building roads have not stopped in Hedong in recent years, especially in Hanoi (Nanyang). It's just that due to the influx of a large number of convicts from other places, the people of Hedong have to undertake heavy logistical support tasks, and the convicts are still "eating white rice", and everyone's mind is on using the convicts from other places, and they do not think about Hedong itself.

was dialed through this section by Duan's order, and the two immediately felt that their thoughts were opened: not only Duanshi County can be recruited, but also Gaodu, Yi County, and Wen County...... Where can I not be recruited?

The Hedong prisoners marched forward, attracting everyone's attention, and the spies of various countries immediately transmitted information to the capitals of various countries. Correspondingly, the requisitions of prisoners in Gao Du and Hanoi were generally understood to be part of this transfer, and were not even specifically reported.

After a day's rest in Duanshi, Sima Jin and Pi Wan and their entourage, twenty-four craftsmen, one hundred swordsmen, two hundred horses, and one hundred road builders with baskets, shovels, and rammers, set out from Duanshi and entered the Duanshi River Valley. The two military envoys who had just entered the Duan clan with Bai Qi the day before yesterday led the way.

After entering the river valley, they found that at least the lower reaches of the Duanshi River valley were basically gentle, with wide alluvial zones on both sides, which could even be cultivated, and a small river in the middle was a natural water source. The group walked for a day, but did not find any place to start. The craftsmen praised the scenery of the two mountains. Sima Jin was a little more vigilant, and asked ten people to go up on each side of the mountain to observe the movement outside the mountain.

When the sun was about to set, the swordsman who was on guard on the mountain in front of him came down the mountain and reported: This mountain has come to an end, and in front of it is a three-pronged area, and from a distance, there are still people.

Sima Jin didn't expect this to be the result, and his worries seemed to be all useless. He asked the group to live in the gathering of more than a dozen families. When the dozen or so families saw that these people had horses, they were afraid and did not dare to refuse it. There was no wealth in grain, so they stewed a lot of wild vegetables they dug and hunted game for everyone to eat. The Qin people were not accustomed to this taste, so each person drank a bowl of hot soup and ate two mouthfuls of fried millet, even if they had eaten dinner. Seeing that these people were still kind, the people also brought out the straw they had accumulated and fed them horses. The quality of the forage was not good, so the swordsmen selected it, left some of the night's ingredients, and each led his horse outside to eat grass and drink water. These horses were improvised rations, and they were not familiar with them, so they could not be manipulated as expected, so the knights had to find every opportunity to get close to the horses and make a heart-to-heart relationship as soon as possible.

Sima Jin dictated a report and asked Pi Juan and his two entourages to ride back to report to Bai Qi and listen to Bai Qi's instructions; Tell them that tomorrow will move on.

In the early morning of the next day, when Sima Jin and his party were about to continue their departure, Duan's post guard found them and said that the 500 prisoners from Gaodu had arrived at Duanshi last night and would enter the valley at dawn. It is said that there are still prisoners from various counties coming one after another. Sima Jin left ten swordsmen to answer in the city, two messengers returned, and the others continued to set off.

After traveling a few miles, turning the corner of a mountain, the front suddenly becomes narrow, and one has to climb over uneven platforms to continue on. Everyone laughed: they thought they could be lazy, and they were immediately slapped in the face.

Everyone stopped, and several craftsmen climbed up and down, carefully explored the terrain, and said: "It will also chisel stones, but it will be passed." ”

Sima Jin told the ten swordsmen waiting behind him that after the prisoners from Gaodu came up, he ordered them to open this passage and then continue to advance. Leave a craftsman behind to guide the construction. The rest of the people used their hands and feet together, climbed over the big rocky slope, and continued to offer themselves to the mountain.

After this rocky slope, the road is open again, and although it is not the kind that can be cultivated, it is generally flat. The military envoy pointed to the hill in front of him and said, "Under the other mountain, there is the general's tent." ”

Everyone was taken aback, and just like that, they went to the front line? Sima Jin asked everyone to be quiet, climbed on the ground and listened, and said, "There is sincerity." ”

The swordsmen were all excited, and let the craftsmen mount their horses, lead themselves, and walk briskly on the meteor, trying to reach the hill before dawn. On the one hand, let the military envoy go to report it, so as not to misunderstand.

While the military envoy indicated the hill, the lookout post also saw the team. Everyone thought that the military advisor who had just left had returned, so they sent someone down the mountain to report to Wang Di. The men had noticeably quickened their pace and were approaching this way, and the two envoys had arrived first. They reported: "Twenty-five doctors will come and build roads." ”

The doctor didn't know what to say, and went out with the two military envoys and a team of soldiers to meet him. Sima Jin saw that there were soldiers coming down the mountain, and the leader was a doctor, so he and Pi Juan stepped forward.

The doctor saluted and said, "Doctor Wu of Chengdu in Chenshu County, I would like to see the five doctors." ”

Pi Wan saluted and said: "Chen Hedong Lieutenant five doctors, see you!" ”

Sima Jin said: "The five doctors of the minister, the fifth doctor, see you!" ”

Doctor Gong had seen Pi Juan when he was stationed in Anyi, but he had never met Sima Jin, only that he was a general who had already made great achievements at a young age. At this time, seeing that these two dignitaries were in person, they didn't dare to slack off, and said: "The minister has reported to the general, and he will definitely come." "Invite them up the mountain.

Since there was not enough camp on the mountain for the army to rest, the prince had to temporarily station the swordsmen and prisoners at the bottom of the mountain. There were no houses in the vicinity, but fortunately the climate was mild and the water and grass were abundant, and when the craftsmen had gone up the mountain, the swordsmen patiently communicated with their horses and led them around.

Sima Jin and Pi Juan went up the mountain, and the Qin army camp and the Zhao army position at the foot of the mountain are vividly visible. Sima Jin saw that a small part of the Zhao army and the Qin army were still retreating to the camp gate, and most of them were resting in the camp. Smoke was already curling in the Zhao army camp opposite.

Sima Jin asked the doctor, "Is there a war during the day?" ”

Doctor Gong said: "A daily battle, not only today!" ”

Sima Jin said: "What are its casualties? ”

Doctor Gong said: "All of them will stop at one touch, so there are few casualties, or one or twenty, or thirty or fifty, all of them are few injuries, and there are no serious injuries." ”

Sima Jin said: "The minister came late, and he didn't witness the battle between the two armies. ”

The doctor said: "There will be a battle in the future, and the doctor will look at it!" ”

While the two were talking, Wang Yi came up the mountain with someone, and saw Sima Jin and Pi Juan at a glance, and said in surprise: "How can you have the second son!" It was once a million troops. ”

Sima Jin said: "I heard that Zuo Shu wanted to get through to the party, so he ordered someone to build a road. Your Ministers are hereby ordered! However, all the way to this point, there is no road to build. Dare to ask for advice. ”

Wang Dao said: "I look at the people next to the road, dare to go together? ”

Sima Jin said: "Wu Anjun gave him a hundred swordsmen and two hundred horses, so he got this." ”

Wang Yi said: "Sons, go down the mountain with me." ”

Sima Jin and Pi Juan glanced at each other and followed Wang Yi down the mountain. The prince was left on the mountain by Wang Ji.

After Wang Di descended the mountain, he first gathered the swordsmen and prisoners, and said to them: "If you wait for your trip, you will not be seen by the Zhao army." Whoever sets up camps, eats, and feeds horses, shall be allowed to go down the mountain, and where the mountain is hidden, shall not enter the mountain." He especially pointed to the deep mountain valley, and said in an accentuated tone: "If the Zhao people know, my plan will fail!" The swordsmen all nodded solemnly.

Wang Yu summoned the swordsmen and the prisoners, led them to a valley in front of them, and said, "The water and grass here are abundant, and the mountains can be restored, so that the troops can be stationed. "Let everyone set up camp in the location of their choice. He took Sima Jin and Pi Juan and continued to walk more than ten miles to the lookout post in the north. The three of them climbed the mountain together, and the fields in the distance rushed to their faces. When I looked back, the valley I came from disappeared at the end of the mountain.

Sima Jin pointed to the place where the valley disappeared and said: "Whoever passes through it must be there." If you visit it every day, you will get it. ”

Wang Yi said: "It is difficult to ram and build, and those who are difficult are not Zhao Jueye." I have challenged every day, so that Zhao Jun has no other care. The doctor should also plan carefully, don't make dust, don't show fireworks, and don't be noticed by the Zhao people. ”

Pi Wan was a little embarrassed: "The other is okay, if you don't have dust on the road, how can you do it?" ”

Wang Yi said: "But if you sprinkle water to do it, you can't afford the dust." ”

Sima Jin said: "I should visit it, and the camera can be everywhere." ”

The three of them came down the mountain again. Wang Yu returned to the camp, and Sima Jin and Pi Juan called two swordsmen to accompany them, and they walked along the valley together until they reached the end of the valley, and then abandoned their horses and climbed up. At the top of the hill they saw a faint path leading down the mountain, which might have been the way the wild beast had come out; And there is a valley at the bottom of the mountain that leads to the outside of the mountain. This road is difficult, and the difficulty of construction is not the main thing, but the road up the mountain is okay, how can the road down the mountain be hidden? Tens of thousands of people are earth-shattering, and even wild beasts will be frightened; And build a way, hang it on the mountain clearly, as long as you are not blind, you can see it!