The world was pitch-black. Mortals had poor eyesight, so they couldn't clearly see the situation of people jumping down. Cultivators, on the other hand, had better eyesight than ordinary people, so they could clearly see the situation of the tumbling river swallowing people.
Even so, a large number of soldiers continued to jump in wave after wave.
The group of cultivators was moved, but there was nothing they could do. There was no other way. They had to save time!
Although this place wasn't heavily guarded due to the terrain, it didn't mean that the enemy wouldn't guard against this place. Before the operation, they had already repeatedly investigated the situation in this place. After some calculations, they only had an hour. They only had an hour.
The State of Song's cultivators would be patrolling the riverside, leaving only one hour.
The number of people that could cross in one hour was calculated. Within one hour, the army not only had to cross the river, but they also had to quickly leave the riverside. Otherwise, they would be discovered.
Once they were discovered, Meng Shanming's plan would be in vain.
This time, there were fifty thousand people crossing the river. They needed to have enough people. Otherwise, the next step of the plan would not be very effective.
Fifty thousand men and horses had to cross the river in such a dangerous place within an hour. Time was simply too rushed.
However, this was a surprise attack. They had to make the impossible possible. They had to do something that the enemy thought impossible.
Regardless of whether it was the help of cultivators or the temporary cableways, it was impossible to send fifty thousand people across in one hour.
They could only use the fastest and most dangerous method to send the people across. They had to finish it within one hour.
The soldiers carrying the logs were still jumping down in batches.
The group of cultivators could not bear to watch. Someone said, "Everyone, let's do it together. Help as many people as we can."
No one objected. They quickly carried out the order. Each person carried two people. They jumped into the river and dropped the people on the shore before returning.
The group of cultivators repeatedly sent people across the river. They were prepared to do their best to help as many people as they could in a limited time.
The soldiers who were swallowed by the waves floated up and down in the rapids. They used the current to rush to the opposite side of the river.
This was also the reason why Meng Shanming chose this place to cross the river. The river was winding. If they used the current to rush down, they would definitely hit the shore.
However, the sky was too dark and he couldn't see anything. He could only rely on his senses.
As soon as the log hit the shore, he immediately threw it away, got up in the water, and tried his best to reach the shore. As soon as his hand touched the shore, he immediately climbed up with all his might.
Those who reached the other side first knelt on the shore. Once they felt a comrade's hand on the shore, they would immediately grab it and pull it up, helping their comrade quickly reach the shore.
The people who came ashore quickly spread out along the shore and continued to help those who came ashore.
This was also the reason why Meng Shanming chose to cross the river on a stormy night. Usually, the cliff was too high, and people could not reach the shore with their hands in the water. Even if they crossed the river, they would not be able to climb up. They could only take advantage of the rising water level.
According to the information provided by the villagers nearby, the water level had basically reached its limit.
Again, the sky was too dark.
Some people didn't hit the cliff with a log, but a person. If it was a light hit, it would be fine. But some people hit their head on the cliff, and their brains would burst. When they let go, the log would be carried away by the waves.
This scene made the cultivators on the shore feel like their eyes were going to pop out of their sockets. They couldn't bear to watch any longer. Someone said to a general, "Why don't we release the moon butterfly to illuminate everyone? The enemy might not discover us in a short time."
The general panicked and actually grabbed the cultivator's collar. "Bullshit! Do you want to kill everyone? Once the light comes out, once we're discovered, all our previous efforts will be in vain. Our brothers who can't reach the shore will die in vain, and we will also be surrounded by the enemy. Listen to me, control your people. Don't let anything happen to them! "
Normally, if he dared to be so rude, the cultivator would definitely teach him a lesson. But this time, he actually endured it and remained silent.
The people on the opposite shore held onto the logs and jumped down in groups. On this side, groups of people climbed ashore, dripping wet.
Some people didn't succeed in hitting the shore and were carried away by the waves. In the end, no one knew if they were dead or alive. They could only hope that the log in the dangerous current could help them survive.
Some people didn't hit the shore on this side and were carried away by the waves to the next bend. In the end, they climbed in the wrong direction and climbed back to the opposite shore.
Immediately, a cultivator went over and told those who hit the opposite shore to go back. There wasn't enough time, and they couldn't do it a second time. Besides, the survival tool in their hands was gone, so it wasn't suitable for them to do it again.
The position of the forced crossing was calculated. Only this section was suitable for climbing up. Only a few people were lucky enough to hit the opposite shore. Most people either reached the shore on the Song Kingdom's side or were carried away by the waves.
In less than an hour, all fifty thousand people were in the water.
As for how many people succeeded in reaching the opposite shore, they didn't know for a moment.
In short, there was no time to hesitate. Those who succeeded in reaching the shore quickly left.
"Let's go!" Following the order, those who succeeded in reaching the shore quickly hid in the depths of the river.
A few cultivators stayed on the shore and quickly performed their arts to clean up the traces on the shore. With the help of the wind and rain, the traces on the shore were soon cleaned up.
In the front, there were cultivators opening a path for the army to prevent any accidents and make it easier for the army to advance to the destination without being discovered.
After counting the people on the way, there were only about thirty thousand people. Only about a thousand people were lucky enough to hit the shore on the Yan side.
In other words, in less than an hour, nearly twenty thousand people were swallowed by the river.
They were Zhang Hu's personal guards, which was also Zhang Hu's central army. They were also Zhang Hu's most elite troops. They were all seasoned veterans on the battlefield and old brothers who had followed him for many years.
Because of this, because they were trustworthy, and because they were reliable, Meng Shanming used this group of people under Zhang Hu.
"Twenty thousand old brothers are gone just like that. How many battles, how many times did they escape from death? They didn't die in the hands of the enemy, but they died here. I gave such an order. How am I going to explain to their families when I go back? Boohoo …" A general sobbed in a muffled voice.
Another general looked up at the dark night sky and panted heavily. It was hard to tell if his face was wet with rain or tears.
These two generals were the left and right commanders of Zhang Hu's personal guards. At this moment, they couldn't hold back their tears.
"Sigh!" The cultivators who accompanied them sighed and couldn't help but shake their heads.
Sadness couldn't affect the mission. The army continued to move stealthily. Along the way, the two generals gave the order to eat again.
The rainy night was freezing and they had all soaked in the water. Their bodies were very cold. They had to eat as soon as possible to warm up their bodies. There was a more important mission ahead.
Before they came, they had prepared some dry rations. Cakes that had been soaked in the water were stuffed into their mouths as they moved.
Halfway through the journey, they arrived at the foot of a mountain. The army split into two groups …
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. Heavy rain poured down. A figure stood outside the tent.
When Luo Daan saw him, he reminded him, "Master."
Meng Shanming, who was staring at the map, slowly raised his head and looked at the figure outside the tent. After the lightning flashed, he saw that it was Zhang Hu, who was standing in the rain.
The two of them stared at each other, one in the open and the other in the dark.
Meng Shanming seemed to have realized something. His face tightened.
Gong Lince, who was in another tent outside, noticed that something was wrong. He came out in a flash and landed there. Only then did he realize that the person who was standing in the rain was the provincial governor of Chang Province, Zhang Hu. He couldn't help but ask, "Lord Zhang, why are you standing here in the rain?"
Zhang Hu ignored him and slowly walked into the tent. He walked to the table and stood there, dripping wet. He looked at Meng Shanming.
Gong Lince walked in and noticed that something was wrong. He asked again, "What's wrong?"
Zhang Hu didn't answer him. He only asked Meng Shanming, "Can you tell me?"
Meng Shanming glanced at Gong Lince. Since Gong Lince had found out that he was following them, there was no need to hide it anymore. Finally, he nodded slightly.
Zhang Hu was obviously emotional. His eyes were red. He tilted his head to look at the top of the tent and said in a choked voice, "Twenty thousand men are gone."
Gong Lince was surprised. Twenty thousand men were gone?
Meng Shanming's face twitched. He knew that it was dangerous, but he was still in a bad mood after losing twenty thousand men.
They were both from the military. He knew what those men meant to Zhang Hu. Zhang Hu wouldn't exchange 100,000 men for them.
After a moment of silence, Meng Shanming took a deep breath and asked, "What about the remaining thirty thousand men?"
Zhang Hu said in a short voice, "They passed."
What passed? Gong Lince was shocked and confused.
Meng Shanming heaved a sigh of relief. He straightened his back and said in a deep voice, "Summon all the generals for a meeting!"
"Yes, sir!" Zhang Hu cupped his hands and left resolutely.
As soon as he left the tent, he raised his hand and wiped his eyes. Not only were the twenty thousand men lost, but the remaining thirty thousand men would also have to fight alone in the enemy's rear. How many of them would come back alive? He was very worried. He only hoped that the cold rain could calm him down.
Meng Shanming, who was sitting under the light, watched Zhang Hu leave.
Gong Lince, who was also watching Zhang Hu leave, turned around and asked Meng Shanming, "What's the situation?"
Meng Shanming said, "Didn't Zhang Hu say it already?"
Gong Lince said, "I don't understand."
Meng Shanming said, "Thirty thousand men have already crossed the river."
"Thirty thousand men crossed the river?" Gong Lince was shocked. The river defense was like an iron wall, especially in this terrible weather. How could thirty thousand men cross the river?
Meng Shanming added, "Fifty thousand men. Zhang Hu's most elite fifty thousand men are his old brothers who have followed him for many years. They crossed the river by force and lost twenty thousand men. Thirty thousand men were lucky enough to cross the river. Sect Leader Gong, didn't you urge me to send the troops? We will send the troops tonight. I hope Sect Leader Gong can order all the cultivators to help us. "
Gong Lince didn't care whose old brothers they were. He didn't care about it. He frowned and asked, "Why did you hide it from me?"
Meng Shanming said, "Maybe someone made a slip of the tongue and it could affect the outcome of the war! Tens of thousands of people are gambling with their lives. We can only win. We can't let any information leak out and we can't make any mistakes. Please forgive us, Sect Leader Gong. "He was still reminding Gong Lince to keep it a secret.
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