Dudu Zhai Mountain was majestic, the cliffs were steep, the trees shaded the sun, thistles and thorns grew everywhere. After several days of torrential rain, the original Sheep Intestine Taoist was unrecognizable. The ground under the grass and under the shade of the trees was still very muddy. After walking for a while, their boots were full of mud, as if they weighed dozens of catties, making it difficult to walk.
The officers and bailiffs of the nearby counties and the strong men were all conscripted to encircle the area, opening up a fire isolation zone. Da Long Tan, Liang Cangkou, Guanyin Ridge, and Da Shidan were the eastern line of defense. The west was separated by Jianwu and Xiaomei. The southwest was Luoyan River, a natural barrier. To the north was the steep mountain road leading to Nine Silk Mountain Stronghold. Along the way, there were cliffs and canyons. In the middle, Song Xiao Ai's army was stationed, so there was no need to send people to guard.
The soldiers at the front no longer raised their shields to guard against the traps and traps under their feet, the arrows and stones in the bushes, and the rolling logs and stones on the cliffs above their heads. When the vanguard entered the mountain, they carried flammable hay and firewood. When they reached the dense forest, they set the fire. The soldiers at the back cleaned up their side, and the fire rolled up the thick smoke and spread deep into the mountain.
The fire not only destroyed all the traps and traps in the forest, but before the fire reached them, the thick smoke drove the barbarian bandits out. Together with the panic-stricken beasts, they ran out of the dense forest and fled deeper into the forest. The soldiers calmly and leisurely chased after them, extinguishing the remaining flames along the way, advancing step by step. The fire had baked the muddy ground until it was hard, so their walking speed was no slower than when they were originally walking in the forest.
When they came across swamps and cliffs, the soldiers reignited the fire. Even if the barbarian bandits were in a place without flammable vegetation, it was difficult for them to deal with the soldiers' attack. Moreover, the thick smoke had already made their eyes red and swollen, making it difficult for them to see clearly. Therefore, it was very difficult for them to form an effective defense.
The soldiers first set fire to Dongbu Ba and Hongyan, and then continued to attack deeper into the forest. Ah Hei hurriedly organized the soldiers to form a second line of defense, and tried their best to clear away the flammable vegetation under the choking smoke to prevent the fire from spreading. Most of the soldiers were deployed in front of the enemy. Right at this time, smoke and fire also came from the left and right, the soldiers on both sides also launched their attack.
Ah Hei was greatly alarmed. Hastily he called Ah Gui and Ah Wa, two people, to lead several tribes to meet the dangerous peaks on the left and right. The soldiers and soldiers used fire as their weapon and followed the fire as they advanced. Both sides were still in a desperate battle amidst the fire and smoke. However, the barbarian bandits who had lost the cover of the dense forest and underbrush were like loaches that had fallen into the ashes of a furnace. On the other hand, the soldiers and soldiers who no longer had any misgivings about the hidden weapons and traps that could appear at any time became braver and braver as they fought. Although the battle was slow, step by step, they resolutely advanced deeper into the forest.
On the afternoon of the second day, Yang Ling and Jiao Gui led 3,600 people to quietly pounce on the five capitals while the main force of the barbarian bandits were busy defending the enemy from the front and defending the left and right.
Liu Lang was lying on a huge rock on the Toad Ridge with a flat top. His head was resting on his arms as he stared blankly at the azure blue sky. A wisp of cloud-like smoke was faintly floating in the sky. It was still somewhat foggy.
This imperial envoy was truly formidable. He had heard that when the barbarians rebelled, very few soldiers and soldiers were able to reach this place. Yue Wang Mountain, Copper Gong Ridge, Lingxiao City, and several other incomparably dangerous places, any one of which could stop the soldiers and soldiers for ten years. No wonder the barbarians did not have the slightest respect for the imperial court. This time, it was all over. In front of the Nine Silk Mountain, only the Dudu Village was left. Since the Ming army was attacking with fire, Dudu Village would not be able to hold for more than a few days.
Fortunately, he had listened to Ji Laosi and established a connection with the imperial court. Otherwise, his father would also be buried here with this group of barbarians. Liu Lang spat out the stalk of grass in his mouth and crawled up to look into the distance. "If my father goes back, he will be a garrison officer. A dignified garrison officer, even more powerful than that bastard Miao Baihu who stole my land and killed my father. I heard that the child's mother has never remarried. Because she was afraid that my son would be bullied by the children of the garrison, she moved to the countryside to live. A good woman, she has never enjoyed a single day of happiness with me.
But I have never dared to inquire about her and her mother's whereabouts. The authorities are looking for me, and that ghost woman is also keeping a close eye on me. This time, my father is also a high-ranking official, returning home in glory. Later on, I will find her and her mother and show them to those bastards who bullied me. Hahaha … "
Liu Lang thought about sitting in an official's sedan, playing gongs and drums as he returned to the garrison, and appearing in front of those who had bullied him in the past. He could not help but throw his head back and laugh loudly.
"What the hell are you laughing about? Brother said that the soldiers are very powerful this time. We have to be a bit more careful here. Maybe someone will sneak in here, "a woman suddenly said angrily from under the rock.
"Hmm?" Liu Lang lowered his head and saw a woman who was less than 1.5 meters tall. She wore a hemp garment and a grass skirt. She was dark and chubby and held a shiny three-pronged steel fork in her hand. Her face was wide, her mouth was flat, her eyes were thin, and her eyebrows were light. She looked very much like a toad spirit in a painting.
Liu Lang jumped down from the rock and chuckled, "What are you afraid of? Just based on this place, there are rocks and water. It's too dangerous to climb. The soldiers' arson is useless. I only sent ten people to throw rocks from above. Don't even think about climbing up. Hehe, has brother left? "
He was more than two heads taller than the woman. This woman was his wife, Ah Dang's younger sister, Ah Ou. She had just sent Ah Dang, who was worried and specially came to check out the situation, down the mountain.
"Yes, brother has returned to the stronghold. The other strongholds are very dangerous. Brother has transferred two hundred warriors from the big stronghold to assist in the battle. The back stronghold is empty, so we have to be a bit more careful this time."
"Hehehe, this Toad Ridge of ours, we only need to send thirty people to guard it. What's more, there are more than one hundred and sixty people." Liu Lang pointed down the mountain. At the foot of the mountain was a stretch of craggy rocks. In the middle of the crater was a clear spring. They were connected to each other through the crater, until they converged into a clear stream even further away.
"Do you see? There is not a single tree within two miles. If the soldiers want to poke their heads out, they will be able to see it from afar. What's there to be afraid of? You go drink some wine. Ji Laosi just sent some old wine two days ago. There is also some freshly stewed roe deer meat. It's very fragrant. I will lead a few people here to watch over it. "
He knew that Ah Ou was addicted to wine. When he said this, Ah Ou was indeed drooling. She beamed with joy and said, "Good! Ji Laosi's wine has always been good. It is much more fragrant than the wine we brew ourselves. " She paused her fork, turned around and walked a few steps. When she reached the entrance of the cave, she suddenly turned around and said, "Hey, do you want to drink some?"
Liu Lang laughed dryly and said, "Hey, the sky is not dark yet. You drink first. I will guard the mountain. We will drink to our heart's content at night."
Ah Ou's black face turned red. She actually glanced at him a little bashfully. Only then did she flash into the cave.
Ah Ou's strength was boundless, and he was even braver than a man. Not only that, he could drink a lot, and when he was drunk, he liked to have sex with him. When he heard what he said and understood what he meant, he happily went into the cave.
Liu Lang saw that she had entered the cave. His face became gloomy, "Damn it. You only have thirty to fifty thousand people in this remote mountain. You dare to raise a flag and rebel against the government? Aren't you courting death? It's not that father is ruthless. If we continue to mingle with you, we will die together. My wife is a virtuous and virtuous woman. She has the opportunity to turn over a new leaf. She can even become an official. If father doesn't agree, the ancestor will jump up in anger. "
Thinking of his soft and delicate wife, who was fair and pretty like a crescent moon, Liu Lang suddenly felt a burst of heat in his belly. He was like a young man waiting to enter the bridal chamber. He wished he could grow wings and fly back to his hometown in Baoning.
He inadvertently looked into the distance. He was startled. When he looked again, he saw that the tallest tree in the distant forest was indeed different. Liu Lang's expression tensed. He quickly climbed up the rock. He put his hand under the shade and looked into the distance. A man, who was also dressed like a Han, hurried over and whispered, "Big brother, the tree fell down. I am afraid it's time."
This person had a sturdy body and a simple and honest appearance. His name was He Shi. He was originally a jobless refugee who had fled into the mountains because he could not survive. He was purely trying to make a living and find a place to settle down. He was especially unwilling to go against the Imperial Court. He was one of the few trusted aides that Liu Lang had roped in.
Liu Lang jumped down from the rock and whispered, "It shouldn't be wrong. How is it? Did you put medicine in the wine? "
He Shi nodded and said with a smile, "Don't worry, big brother. It was Strange Bean who made the medicine himself. The barbarians love to drink. He is in the cave with a few brothers, urging them to drink to their heart's content. It's just that Ji Laosi didn't give enough wine. There were only five jars in total. It's not enough."
Liu Lang laughed and said, "They are not stupid. If we really let them all get drunk, they won't be willing. Five jars is just enough to satisfy the cravings. Didn't we put medicine in the wine? Strange Bean can't do anything else, but the medicine he made is definitely effective. "
Strange Bean was not young. He was in his early sixties and had a stooped body. He was originally a bandit who opened a tavern in the wilderness and specialized in stealing people's money and lives. He had stopped when he got older. Unexpectedly, he saw that a few traveling merchants had a lot of money in their pockets. He became greedy. In the end, those people were also experienced and knowledgeable. He exposed his whereabouts and was wanted by the government, so he fled into the mountain. People say that fallen leaves return to their roots. Now that he was worried that his body would be buried in the wilderness after he died, it became his biggest worry. Naturally, he and Liu Lang hit it off and decided to work for the imperial court.
The night gradually darkened. Night came especially fast in the mountains. Looking at the bottom of the mountain, it was already dark. Liu Lang hurried back to the cave and reported that he was safe. Then, he pretended to patrol one round before he walked out of the cave. Strange Bean followed him out like a ghost.
Liu Lang whispered, "How is it?"
Strange Bean said in a low voice, "All the barbarians, regardless of their gender, are fond of wine. The wine that Ji Laosi brought was not enough, so I drugged the fruit wine that the barbarians brewed themselves. The barbarians guarding the mountain also drank a few cups. I estimate that they will all fall asleep in less than an hour. Our people are ready."
"Mm." There were a few people patrolling nearby. They were all Han people that Liu Lang had roped in. There were also some barbarians who were timid and wanted to surrender. But after all, they were not of the same tribe. Liu Lang was not at ease, so he did not dare to reveal his plan to those people.
He took down the torch on the wall and drew three circles at the bottom of the mountain. After waiting for a long time, he saw a sudden flash of light in the darkness of the night. It was just a flash and then it disappeared. If he had not been staring at that position, he would have thought that his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Liu Lang was relieved. He said, "It's done. Today, the back of the stronghold has sent two hundred people to other places to help. Once this place is taken, the soldiers will be able to drive straight in."
Strange Bean whispered, "What about these barbarians? And your wife? "
Liu Lang spat out a mouthful of saliva. He gritted his teeth and said, "Once the medicine takes effect, we will tie them all up. Official Yan promised not to kill the prisoners. Father can only do this much. I can't accompany these barbarians to their deaths. Ah Ou … Bah, if Father didn't want to gain a foothold here, would he have agreed to marry her? This is purely a f * cking matchmaking. If I didn't agree at that time, her brother would have cut open his stomach and gouged out his heart, eating me and tying me up together! I will think of a way to keep her brother's life. It can be considered as repaying their kindness for taking me in. "
Strange Bean laughed cunningly and turned around to leave … …
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Yang Ling was extremely cautious. The three thousand six hundred carefully selected elite soldiers were still divided into two groups. The six hundred at the front entered the dense forest about two li away from Toad Ridge, while the other three thousand men waited in the distance. When they saw the torches on the mountaintop circle three times, Yang Ling was relieved. He immediately waved his hand. You Ji General Jiao Gui personally led three hundred temporary special forces soldiers in short clothes, carrying swords on their backs and arrows on their arms. They quietly set off towards Toad Ridge.
By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, most of the barbarians on the mountain had already taken effect. The barbarian's fondness for wine was unbelievably strong. Besides, they were supposed to drink ten bowls of wine. One or two bowls of wine was just to quench their thirst. Therefore, there was no one who didn't drink. This also saved their lives. Otherwise, Liu Lang would have assassinated all of the barbarian soldiers guarding outside the cave.
This saved him a lot of effort. Liu Lang led his men to tie up all the sleeping barbarian soldiers and throw them into the cave. He then hurriedly rushed to the entrance of the cave and tossed a dozen or so floating ladders down the mountain. He then pulled down two torches and threw them down the mountain.
When Jiao Gui saw the signal, he first sent a dozen or so of his trusted men of sacrifice up the mountain to see that the situation was indeed under control. Only then did he send a signal down the mountain that only his own people knew. Only then did Jiao Gui feel reassured and let all the soldiers climb up the mountain. The three hundred soldiers quietly climbed up Toad Ridge. Liu Lang hurriedly came forward to welcome them.
Jiao Gui giggled and gave him a calming pill to eat first. "Guard Liu, today you are the first to perform a miraculous service, preventing countless casualties among the army. Let me tell you, the one leading the attack today is the imperial envoy, Sir Yang himself. You have shown your face greatly. In a moment, we will take the five capitals. As long as you perform another meritorious service, with Sir Yang's appreciation, your future will be boundless."
Liu Lang was overjoyed when he heard this. He immediately smiled apologetically and said, "Mr. Yang has come personally? Aiyaya, Daren personally coming to the battlefield, this is really … Don't worry, Official Jiao, I will definitely do my best. "
Immediately, Jiao Gui sent another signal to the foot of the mountain. Liu Lang brought out some barbarian clothes for the soldiers climbing the mountain to change into. Two hours later, all the soldiers and soldiers had climbed up Toad Ridge. The small Toad Ridge was already packed with people. There were soldiers everywhere.
Ah Ou and the barbarians had already woken up. When they saw that they were all tied up and saw Liu Lang and a few Han people walking in and out with the soldiers, they immediately understood what had happened. They couldn't help but curse loudly.
By this time, Yang Ling had also climbed up the mountain. Liu Lang heard that the Imperial Envoy had arrived. He was afraid that he would hear the barbarians' cursing, so he quickly ordered some people to block those people's mouths. However, just as they blocked those people's mouths, Yang Ling had already entered the cave. Jiao Gui and Liu Lang hastily went forward to meet him. They turned a deaf ear to the clamorous cursing.
Fortunately, Yang Ling did not understand the barbarian language. When he saw Liu Lang, he first praised him. It should be known that Liu Lang's surrender did not only reduce the loss of several thousand soldiers and horses. The fire in the mountain also caused a lot of trouble for the Ming army. After they entered the mountain, their next attack was somewhat delayed.
Plus, Ah Hei decisively cut down the trees and cleared out the forest, which also caused a lot of inconvenience for them to continue attacking the mountain with fire. At the same time, although Song Xiao 'ai was guarding between Jiu Si City and Du Du Zhai, who knew whether or not the barbarians had another secret passage? If Liu Lang defended the Five Du Du and Jiu Si City sent reinforcements, victory or defeat would still be uncertain. Perhaps they would fall short of success. This person had indeed rendered a great service.
Receiving the Imperial Envoy's personal praise, Liu Lang was unable to contain his joy. After some discussion, they decided to take the Five Du Du again. First of all, flammable objects were brought out from Toad Ridge and set on fire. The officers and soldiers shouted everywhere, making it look like they were fighting fiercely. Not too long afterwards, spies were dispatched from the back of the mountain to inquire about the situation. As soon as they appeared, they were subdued by the officers and soldiers. Immediately Liu Lang and several of his trusted aides led several dozen officers and soldiers dressed like barbarians toward the back of the mountain.
Between Toad Ridge and the main peak of the Five Du Du there was a narrow ridge. The ridge had been trampled by the people coming and going, not even a blade of grass grew. The other side of the ridge was also guarded by barbarians. If they attacked this place by force, they would be able to break through, but it would inevitably waste a lot of time. At the same time, the number of casualties would not be small.
Liu Lang first led more than a dozen people and rushed up the ridge, shouting loudly in the barbarian language. The barbarian on the opposite side asked about the situation in alarm. As soon as he heard that they were all people he knew, he couldn't help but put down the bow and arrow in his hand and asked, "What happened?"
While running, Liu Lang said, "Not good, the officers and soldiers built scaling ladders and also used fire arrows to attack the mountain. We can't hold them off for much longer. Quick, quick! We have to inform Ah Dang immediately to send reinforcements. "
The leader of the barbarians jumped out from the shadows and exclaimed, "What? Has Toad Ridge been lost? "
Liu Lang said loudly, "Not yet, but the soldiers are attacking too fiercely. Just in case, we need to send more reinforcements. You are Sang Mu, right? Ah Ou is right in front … "
As he said this, he rushed forward and raised his knife. 'Poof!' a good person's skull rolled away. Before the stunned barbarians could understand what was going on, the soldiers following closely behind raised their sabers and dropped their sleeves. Only two barbarians were able to run back several feet before they were also shot dead on the spot by the cold arrows.
Now that this ridge was lost, in front of them was the Five Capitals' rear stronghold gate, the officers and soldiers could drive straight in. Liu Lang took the initiative to volunteer again. Using the same old trick, he led a dozen or so people to escape into the stronghold first. Using the saber to hold Ah Dang back, he used the sleeve arrow to kill the barbarian soldiers guarding him. The large group of soldiers rushed in and killed the barbarian soldiers who were trying to escape. Ah Dang was captured and the five capitals were lost.
※ ※ ※
Some of the barbarian soldiers who saw the opportunity in advance fled to the Four Capitals to report the situation. When the soldiers rushed to the Four Capitals, arrows rained down from the top of the mountain. Rolling logs and stones fell down one after another, injuring and killing some soldiers. Jiao Gui rushed over, rolled up his sleeves and only said two words, "Set fire!"
As soon as the fire started, the mountain top was no longer able to hold people. The barbarians had no choice but to rush down the mountain and stop the soldiers in the canyon. This elite force was personally led by Yang Ling. Behind them was an imperial envoy supervising the battle and in front was the valiant general Jiao Gui. Liu Lang led a group of soldiers dressed like barbarians, with a mark tied on one arm. They mixed in between the two sides of the battle and continuously launched sneak attacks, making the barbarians confused and disoriented. The soldiers only had to pay a very small price to attack the main stronghold of the Four Capitals.
The stronghold was built with wooden fences, how could it defend against a fire attack? This was also because the mountain road was very dangerous, the soldiers' cannons could not be transported up. Otherwise, with just two cannons, they would be able to open up a smooth path. However, the defending general of the Four Capitals, Ali, knew very well what his defeat meant. This person was fiercer and more vicious than Ah Dang. He actually killed his own wife and son, and then forced all the barbarians to defend the stronghold to the death. He engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Ming army in the houses, the bushes, the wells and the houses.
This was a real bloody battle. However, the Ming army had more than three thousand soldiers, while the total number of men, women, old and young in the Du Du stronghold was only about two thousand people. Even though the barbarians were determined to fight to the death and did not retreat, the whole Four Capitals still gradually fell into the hands of the Ming army.
Yang Ling was at the rear directing the soldiers to transport the wounded soldiers and to watch over the captives and the surrendered civilians. At the front, Jiao Gui was already addicted to setting fire. Along the way, he burned down every stronghold he saw, burning down every ridge he saw. Ah Hei heard that the Five Capitals and the Four Capitals had fallen. He also saw that in the darkness of the night, flames were blazing everywhere. The disparity in strength between the two sides was too big. He gave up on the Four Capitals and ordered the Third Capitals and the Second Capitals to abandon their strongholds. Even the women, children, old and young were thrown to the soldiers. They concentrated all their military power to protect the main Du Du mountain. At the same time, they sent people to take a shortcut to Jiusi City to ask for reinforcements.
This way, the speed of the attack of the soldiers increased. In the early hours of the next day, the soldiers surrounded the Du Du mountain.
In the early morning, there was no clear dew on the grass. Instead, there was a layer of dirty black ash floating on the grass. The wounded soldiers were being helped out of the battlefield by a portion of the soldiers. The captured barbarian soldiers, women and children were also being taken out of the mountain. Outside the mountain, Yan Gaocai was in charge of dealing with the aftermath. The women, children, old and young were scattered to the villages of each province and county. Each village did not have more than three to five households. They were closely watched by the local Baojia Li Zheng to prevent them from gathering together again and causing trouble.
For the time being, the mountain entered a quiet phase. Tens of thousands of soldiers were gathered at the foot of the mountain. The mountain was also very quiet. The sky was already bright, but because of the heavy rain for the past few days, the early morning fog was hazy, nobody could be seen more than ten zhang away. It was not a good time to attack the mountain, so the imperial army also entered a temporary rest and reorganization.
They had not rested all night, plus they had been trudging nonstop. Yang Ling was also a bit tired. But these days he had been practicing martial art without rest, especially the authentic Wudang internal energy, which had an indescribable miraculous effect on the body and mind, as well as a strong and healthy body. Plus, he had not personally gone into battle, so Yang Ling looked a lot more spirited than most of the soldiers.
He arranged the soldiers to guard the mountain, while at the same time he ordered the majority of the soldiers to set up camp and rest. When everything was done, Yang Ling and the assembled generals climbed a small slope on the opposite side of the Du Du Mountain. The fog had not dissipated yet. Most of the fog was about four, five zhang high, it was difficult to see the shape of the fog. A high-ranking officer anxiously raised his hand to test the direction of the wind. "Daren," he said, "I am afraid it is going to rain very soon. As soon as the rain falls, the mountain flood will come. Our army is at the foot of the mountain, the enemy is at the top. If we take advantage of the rain to attack, it will be very unfavorable for our army. In my opinion, we should not stop and rest. We should attack the mountain immediately. "
Li Ze also said, "If the battle drags on, I am afraid the reinforcements from Nine Silk City will arrive. Most importantly, there is still the Yinha Mountain. Because it is behind the Du Du Village and in front of the Nine Silk Mountain, we have not sent troops to encircle and suppress them. They have a fork road that leads to Nine Silk City and the Du Du Village, which is very close to here. I am afraid the reinforcements will arrive soon. I think they will send at most two thousand people. Under normal circumstances, they are not afraid, but if it rains heavily, it will be hard to say."
Looking at the sky, Yang Ling also felt that it was going to rain heavily again. In this era, there were no weather soldiers, who could predict the weather a few days ago. But in this kind of weather, it was unthinkable to attack the mountain in this kind of weather. Now the sky was full of fog and nothing could be seen. The barbarians could hurt people by throwing stones from above. How could the soldiers fight?
Yang Ling remembered the surrounding terrain and the path between the Yinha Mountain and the Du Du Village. He closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then asked Li Sen, "How much food did we bring?"
Li Sen said, "It is enough to eat for a day and a half."
Yang Ling paced around with his hands behind his back and asked, "Who knows the weather and how long it will rain in this kind of weather?"
Fengjiang, who was the first to mention the rain, cupped his hands and said, "Sir, I know a little. Looking at the weather, I am afraid there will be another rainstorm. But it just rained two days ago and this rain looks very heavy. It will not last long. One day is the longest it will rain."
Yang Ling's eyes flickered and said, "Once the rain falls, the mountain floods will break out. The barbarians in Nine Silk City will not be able to come because the main road is guarded by Song Zongbing. Only the Yinha Village is worried. If we attack the mountain now, the casualties will be uncountable. And if we can't take it down after a long time, what will happen to our army when it rains heavily? I am afraid the barbarians will take the opportunity to come down the mountain and our army will be defeated. In this dangerous terrain, once the army is defeated … "
He suddenly stopped and said, "We should use surprise to win. But our army is about to win, it is not worth the risk of losing. Send the order, the three armies are to move to the high ground around Dadu and surround it. We will not attack until the rain is over. We need to save our food. If the rain continues, it will be difficult. We need to have enough food for at least two to three days. "
He thought for a moment and said, "The Yin Luo Mountain is deep in the mountains. Originally I wanted to attack the Dudu Zhai and then deal with it when we enter the Nine Silk Mountain. If it sends reinforcements, that would be the best. Li Ze, lead the troops out of Dadu Village and go to the boat immediately. If the barbarians of Yinha Village want to help, that is the only way. "
Yang Ling called Li Ze over and drew the terrain on the ground. He then made some detailed arrangements. Li Ze accepted the order and left. Under Yang Ling's order, the army started to move to the high ground and occupied the high ground around Dadu Mountain. Half a day later, the rain poured down like a curtain. The raindrops were heavy and hurried. When they hit the skin on the hands, it hurt. If one stood in the rain, it would be difficult to see anything.
Seeing this, the officers and soldiers were shocked. If they took the risk to attack the mountain in the morning and couldn't take down Dadu in half a day, this rain would be a great help to the barbarians. Tens of thousands of elite soldiers would be buried here.
The rain lessened when it was dusk. But with a sound like a cow's roar, the mountain torrents that gathered around roared and collided at the foot of the mountain. The torrents were muddy, mixed with gravel and fallen trees, struggling to flow into the distance.
In this kind of situation, no one could think of fighting a battle. They also didn't have to worry about the barbarians coming down the mountain to attack. The Ming army who had been attacking the mountain for two to three days fell asleep and had a good night's rest.
※ ※ ※
When Li Ze's army had just left the mountain, the rain happened to be heavy. Seeing this, Li Ze couldn't help but praise Yang Ling for his foresight. He wasn't sure if the barbarians from Yin Ha Mountain would come to help. But if the barbarians really came, he could set up an ambush and eliminate this main force. First, it could reduce the danger at Dadu Stronghold. Moreover, once this force was eliminated, the Yin Ha Stronghold would be in the bag. There was no need to fight at all. He could just take it when he went to Nine Silk Mountain. So Li Ze didn't dare to delay the opportunity.
He only ordered the army to set up camp. After avoiding the biggest rainstorm, they set off in the rain and forced their way. Finally, they arrived at Boat Ferry in the evening.
Boat Ferry was not very dangerous because there were many boulders in the water. After thousands of years of erosion, they were smooth and smooth. When the water was shallow, they were exposed on the water surface. From afar, they looked like small boats. Therefore, it was called Boat Ferry.
This place had been called a ferry for many years. As the mountain torrents changed their course many times, the water here became much shallower. It could no longer be called a ferry. Usually, people could just roll up their trousers and wade through the water. When Li Ze led the army to arrive, the situation at Boat Ferry was different. The sound of the water was like thunder. The water level was more than three feet higher than usual. The speed of the water was astonishing.
Li Ze knew that such mountain torrents were hard to predict. They came and went quickly. Maybe in the middle of the night, the water level would suddenly drop. Or maybe in the middle of the night, the water level would suddenly rise. In order to prevent the water from flooding the mountain, he set up camp at a high place behind the forest. He arranged many guards by the river and personally went to check it out.
Early the next morning, the sun rose high in the sky. The rain had stopped in the middle of the night. After the flood in the middle of the night, the water at the foot of the mountain was not deep. It seemed that today was suitable for setting fire and killing people.
In Yang Ling's tent, all the generals had already gathered. They sat upright and waited for the Lord's orders.
Yang Ling, wearing a white robe with arrow sleeves, slowly walked in from outside the tent. In this military camp, everyone was dressed in military attire, which made him look even more elegant and refined.
Yang Ling smoothly put his sword into its sheath and handed it to the imperial bodyguard. He took a towel and wiped the sweat on his face. He smiled at the generals and said, "Sorry for making everyone wait. We are just eating together, there is no need to be so serious."
Yang Ling smiled as he sat on the main seat. He let out a long sigh and said, "It's no wonder that Qi Refinement Cultivators often look for remote mountains and forests to stay. By practicing martial arts here, you can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and you can cleanse your heart of distracting thoughts. After practicing Qi Refinement for an hour and sword practice for an hour, I feel so comfortable and full of energy."
Li Sen didn't know whether to laugh or cry and said, "Daren, the whole army is ready. When are we going to attack the mountain?"
Yang Ling smiled and said, "The Emperor doesn't lack hungry soldiers. What's the hurry? The rain has stopped. Now there is only Dadu Mountain in front of us. There are three major obstacles to attack Jiusi. The south is Jinji Ridge. I have ordered the Xingdian and Qian troops to guard it and stop them from escaping. The right is Lingxiao Mountain, which is now the imperial court's territory. The left is Dudu Zhai, we can conquer it in less than half a day. Jiusi City is at our fingertips, what is there to worry about? "
Li Sen said in surprise, "At our fingertips? Daren, we can't be careless. After the rainstorm, the mountain road is muddy and slippery. The big trees that were cut down by the barbarians are gone. The short bushes are wet and difficult to ignite. The barbarian army is guarding the mountain. In my opinion, even if we attack with all our strength, we won't be able to take it down in less than two days. "
Yang Ling laughed loudly and said, "My Daren Li, there are only short bushes and bushes left on the mountain. Even if we ignite a fire, it won't be a big threat to the mountain. If it was yesterday, I thought it would take a whole day and at least eight thousand men and horses to take the mountain. But … "
He chuckled and said, "After the rainstorm, the mountain road is muddy, it seems to be more difficult to attack the mountain. But the fact that it is difficult to ignite the vegetation is actually a very good thing. Don't you know that a smoke attack is ten times more terrifying than a fire attack? "
Li Sen was stunned. "A smoke attack?"
Yang Ling giggled and said, "Let's eat!"
…
After the sun came out, the sky was clear and the mountain was very clear. But now they couldn't see anything. The whole mountain was shrouded in a dark cloud of smoke and dust. The fog was thicker than the previous day, so that they couldn't even see their own fingers.
Most of them were at the foot of the mountain, surrounded on three sides. One side was set on fire. The soldiers and soldiers on the side downwind spent a lot of effort, they even tore down the tents and used them to light the fire. Only with great difficulty did they manage to control the verdant water and bushes. Yang Ling also told the soldiers and soldiers to prepare sand and soil. As soon as they saw where the fire was burning, they immediately sprinkled it to stop the fire. The wet short bushes and bushes became a smokescreen.
This was the last battle, and it was also the strangest battle. The soldiers and soldiers on the three sides were waiting in formation. They quietly looked up at the dark clouds shrouding Mount Dadu. The soldiers and soldiers on one side were setting fire and continuously controlling the intensity of the fire to reduce the smoke. There were no shouts or sounds of killing. There was no scene of swords and spears being raised. Yang Ling and more than a dozen high-ranking officers and officers sat in front of the commander's tent, watching this strange battle scene.
As the boats crossed the river, the flow of the water had slowed down. The figures of the barbarians appeared in the forest on the opposite side. More than a dozen barbarian soldiers stood on the shore and observed for a while. Then they waded across the river and peered into the forest. Then they whistled and called to the other side of the river. In an instant, a dense crowd of barbarian soldiers appeared. They rushed over with bamboo spears and long swords.
About three hundred barbarian soldiers had just crossed the river when a burst of war drums sounded. Li Ze's soldiers shouted and rushed out from the depths of the forest. Brandishing their swords and spears, they met the barbarian soldiers. In an instant, the barbarian soldiers were cut down.
This was not because the Ming army's martial art was superior to the barbarians', but because after the flash flood, the river water was extremely cold. The water did not look deep, and the river surface was not very wide, but just as Yan Gaocai said, although it did not look dangerous, it was actually more frightening than a raging inferno. Even the strongest man would not be able to feel his legs after standing in the water for a quarter of an hour. If there was no one to support and pull him, he could forget about getting out of the river.
Last night, Li Ze originally wanted to play a game of drowning the seven armies by setting up a blockade upstream. But at that time the current was too strong, so he took some soldiers upstream to block the water. When the large rocks were thrown into the water, they were swept away. Several soldiers stood by the shallow water for a while and were unable to move. Fortunately, those who discovered this quickly called people to drag them out. Only then did Li Ze realize that the flash flood and the flowing water were extremely cold.
An astute general must be good at discovering and making use of everything that could be used. Li Ze discovered that setting up a blockade was not advisable, but the water was extremely cold. The people who had just walked out of the water felt their legs numb, and their movements were sluggish for half a day. This was something that could be exploited. Therefore, he hurriedly returned and redeployed the troops. Unexpectedly, it was indeed useful today.
The barbarian army that had just crossed the river lacked combat strength, while the barbarians in the water had not discovered the crux of the problem. They desperately wanted to cross the river to support their comrades. The number of barbarians that had crossed the river had already exceeded seven hundred. The river was full of barbarians who were still hastily trekking. The barbarian soldiers that had rushed ashore were fighting the officers and soldiers who had the advantage in numbers and physical strength. The situation was one-sided.
Another group of soldiers rushed out from the forest upstream, continuously shooting at the living targets in the water from a distance with bows and arrows. The current was so strong that the flowing blood and the overturned barbarian corpses in the water were swept away in an instant. Seeing that the situation was not good, the barbarian soldiers who wanted to wade back to the other side of the river had no way to retreat.
The barbarian general on the other side of the river still had more than three hundred men left. Seeing this situation, he knew that he should decisively lead his men to retreat immediately and return to Yinha Mountain. But the ones who had already crossed the river were all the main forces of the mountain stronghold. If they lost these warriors, even if they returned to the mountain stronghold, what could they do?
But in the current situation, if they sent all three hundred men back, they would only be sending themselves to their deaths. The barbarian general was in a dilemma. In the end, he let out a desperate roar and prepared to abandon the soldiers who had crossed the river and return to the mountain stronghold immediately. Then he would surrender the entire stronghold to Nine Threads City to protect himself. Unfortunately, he realized it too late. As soon as the battle started, a group of two thousand soldiers went around the river downstream and cut off their path of retreat.
The Boating Ferry had turned into a land of death. All one thousand one hundred and forty-seven warriors of Inscribe Mountain were buried at this ancient ferry. The barbarians of Dudu Zhai had never seen this army of reinforcements, while the barbarians of Inscribe Mountain only knew that the army they sent out had been completely wiped out when the soldiers and soldiers descended from the sky.
Li Ze was not a person who underestimated the enemy and advanced rashly. He also knew that with just a few thousand of his men, if they went deep into the forest, a few hundred barbarian soldiers could easily annihilate them. According to the usual practice, an army would always have some men and horses to cover the rear. If the barbarian soldiers discovered the battle at the front, if they had a second troop, it was very likely that they would go around the river downstream and attack Dudu Stronghold from behind. Therefore, as soon as the barbarian reinforcements were annihilated, Li Ze immediately led his men to retreat to the Guanyin Rock to guard against the appearance of another barbarian army.
At this time, Dudu Stronghold had begun to clean up the battlefield. Ah Hei committed suicide, Ah Wa, Ah Gui and the others were captured alive, and the barbarians who were still alive were escorted down the mountain by the soldiers with their hands raised high. The stronghold at the top of the mountain was engulfed in a raging fire. The largest and oldest base of the barbarians had since become a pile of rubble.
Yang Ling and the other generals stood at the top of the mountain and watched the barbarians move out of the mountain in an endless stream. Then, they all turned to look at the depths of the mountains, at Nine Threads City that was shrouded in fog and clouds …
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