early morning.
Lei Yuan stepped to the top of the high ground in a few steps and looked around. He saw a thick morning mist still spreading on the water surface, covering the undulating hills. At some passes, the wind on the water surface quickly passed, so the mist poured in like flowing water and rolled up again.
In his sight, the tops of slopes or hills seemed to be floating on the upper layer of milky mist. Such beautiful scenery was almost impossible to be found in the mortal world.
But in the past few days, he has become accustomed to it. Once the fog dissipates, what is exposed will be endless water, mud, and swamps, filled with all kinds of terrifying scenes and dangers.
The water began to fade, but the terrible impact of the flood was slowly reflected at this time.
Because the water in many places is shallow, soldiers need to go into the water to drag the boat. However, the dirty water of the mud is mixed with all kinds of sharp and sharp things that are rushing down from the upstream, including gravel, broken branches, broken arrows and even blades. Viper snakes and various strange creatures are active in the water, and they are easily injured when wading and walking.
What’s even more terrifying is the corpses everywhere. These corpses are human, livestock, and various mountain animals.
The military uniforms worn by the human body have been scratched and even the flesh has broken open, bursting out the gray bones inside. Some of the corpses are probably Cao Jun's generals, with leather or metal armored belts. Because their bodies are soaked and their belts are still moving, the two ends of the person swell up, floating like a hideous gourd on the water surface.
This situation may even make the soldiers a little confused.
They didn't know what kind of thing the Cao army was. They couldn't understand why an army was still fighting to such an extent? Cao Cao's methods were so powerful?
These corpses are everywhere, and each corpse is the source of the spread of the disease. Only special animals can be active in this hell.
At this moment, the water surface was clattering from time to time. Lei Yuan estimated that it was crocodiles moving. These crocodiles were usually entrenched in Yunmengze, south of Jiangxia and east of Jiangling. At this moment, they went up two hundred miles against the water and ran to Xiangyang and around Fancheng to have a feast.
A gust of wind blew and the fog was dispersed.
It was indeed a group of crocodiles on the edge of the swamp on the side.
These monsters made low screams, ripping the carrion in the harbors where many corpses were piled up. Perhaps they had eaten too much, and some crocodiles had round belly and were bleak white.
Behind Lei Yuan, several soldiers who took turns to watch the night watch noticed these crocodiles.
Although it was eaten by the body of the Cao army soldiers, it was also a human being. In an instant, many soldiers couldn't help but curse, and some people set off their bows and shot several arrows in disgust. Because the distance was too far and the power of the arrow was insufficient, the crocodile that was caught twisted its thick body and swam into the water.
The soldiers in the camp were awakening one after another, and from time to time, the officers' inquiries and urging sounds came. Several bonfires outside the camp were shaking in the fog, and thick black smoke came out, which was the chef who continued to boil water.
Lei Yuan's troops marched here yesterday and could not find a clean water source at all.
However, the Jiaozhou Army's operations depended on the supply of logistics supplies. This time, the army rushed northward, and every soldier had to carry a huge amount of weapons and arrows. Because he was afraid that moisture would damage the weapons and affect the operations, many crossbowmen also carried multiple sets of spare bow arms, crossbow machines, etc., which weighed twenty or thirty pounds alone.
In addition to their armor, slings, waist knives, flags, ropes, caltrops, camp tents, axes and necessary personal supplies, all of which are counted together, a person's weight is less than seventy or eighty kilograms.
Even if there are ships accompanying you, the soldiers will be too heavy to carry. Apart from this, they can only carry dry food and cannot carry enough water.
Even if I carry it, during this arduous march, the water consumes too quickly and I can't hold on for a few days no matter what.
So starting last night, the soldiers had to drink filtered and boiled water.
There was also a bowl in front of Lei Yuan. The water did not look dirty and was steaming. Perhaps because he saw too many muddy scenes after the flood, Lei Yuan even felt that the water was very clear at first, but when he looked at it and smelled it, he always felt that there was a suspicious smell in the water.
When the troops are sent out, the water must be boiled before we welcome it. This is the rule that Lei Yuan has adhered to for many years. At present, the water must be thoroughly cooked, otherwise the chefs will not dare to bring it.
But Lei Yuan decided not to drink it first.
His lips were already dry and cracked and he needed water. But he became a doctor for a long time and knew that his arm injuries were affected by cold and dampness in the past few days, and it has been very serious. The medical officer said that this is the poison of cold and dampness. Lei Yuan himself knew that it should be of some kind of inflammation, and it was an inflammation that caused a few days of low fever.
At this time, the resistance of the whole body is decreasing. If drinking unclean water causes serious illness, who will command the next battle?
Many of his generals and schoolmen were promoted from low-level officers and even ordinary soldiers. With Lei Yuan in charge, they were all brave and good at fighting, but in fact, there was a lack of coaches who could stand alone.
Guo was barely considered one, but after his serious injury in Runan, his body had not fully recovered. As for the others... Lei Yuan was a little looking forward to Deng Fan. However, this kid sent an urgent report the day before yesterday. After Lei Yuan saw it, he felt that this person was too brave and could hardly bear it even if he was so big.
Since that's the case, when it comes to a critical moment, Lei Yuan can only trust himself and rely on himself.
He asked: "Can the departments still contact each other now?"
Li Zhen replied: "General Kou Feng is opposite this water area, about fifteen miles away from us. Behind Kou Feng's troops is General Ren Hui. More than 2,000 people from General Ren Hui's troops returned from Jiliuyan. The military supplies were short of a little, and Ma Changshi was allocating them in the back."
"Bosheng's troops had previously resisted Cao Xiu's fierce attack in Fengya. Many soldiers were injured and never recovered. Please squeeze our own supplies and send more ships to let Bosheng's soldiers accumulate strength on the boat."
"yes."
"What's the news about Wu Ban and Lei Tong?"
"We marched too fast, and the silt swamp along the way became increasingly difficult to walk. After yesterday afternoon, we did not meet the messengers of Wu Ban and General Lei Tong again."
“…”
Li Zhen looked at Lei Yuan's expression: "Do you want me to send someone to search back and contact us as soon as possible?"
Lei Yuan pondered for a moment.
Since learning that the main force of Cao's army was moving south in large numbers, Lei Yuan once intended to withdraw his troops. However, Guan Yuli, who was on the battlefield in Xiangyang, was confident that he would break Xiangyang within three days and wanted Lei Yuan to resist the enemy for three days. Lei Yuan finally decided to march north and take the initiative to welcome the guests.
Since we want to intercept the main force of Cao's army, the battlefield must not be placed in the Lumen Mountain area.
On Lumen Mountain, Cao Xiu's troops still had a considerable amount of troops. Due to the influence of the terrain of the mountain, the two armies were arranged intertwined. The west side of Lumen Mountain was separated by the water, and there was an elite Cao army stationed by Deng Sai. If Lei Yuan met the main force of Cao's army in the north at the foot of Lumen Mountain, it would no longer be the level of being attacked from both sides and would be dismantled at any time.
Therefore, Lei Yuan decided to leave Wu Ban and Lei Tong to restrain Cao Xiu in the Lumen Mountains, and also to protect the retreat of Ji's army in Paishan and Jiming Mountains. He himself led Ding Feng, Kou Feng, Wang Ping, Ju Fu, Ren Hui and other generals to march north quickly, intending to deal with Cao's army based on the complex water situation around Jianpo, which He Song was defending.
To what extent the military strength of Wu Ban and Lei Tong can achieve, to some extent, the key lies in how weakened Cao Xiu's troops were by the flood.
Before leaving, Lei Yuan solemnly warned the two generals that they had to do their best to bother Cao Xiu, and that they would die. As for the specific war, although he was concerned, he was unable to care.
After all, what is about to appear in front of Lei Yuan is the most powerful opponent he has ever met in his life.
Lei Yuan always remembers the terrible situation of Cao's army sweeping across Huainan back then; he still remembers his almost trembling mood when he and Guo Jing and other entourages came overwhelmed by Cao's army. Fortunately, Lei Yuan is no longer the inexperienced Lei family man who was the young man who was inexperienced back then.
Nowadays, whenever Lei Yuan encounters a strong enemy, his spirit is only more energetic and his fighting spirit is only more elevated.
With the rich experience and the number of times on the battlefield increased, Lei Yuan became less and less aware of what fear was. He persisted in passing many difficulties, and defeated many powerful enemies, not only the King of Wei in front of him.
Chapter completed!