As the day moves westward, dusk begins to rise, and both sides of the Dadu River are noisy. Both warring parties hope to occupy more favorable terrain before nightfall.
"Whose turn is it to cross the river?!"
Yan Wu was commanding for the first time, and he was actually very unskilled. But he was born with a fierce aura, and he would yell out and ask questions when he didn't know something, as if the next general who wanted to cross the river didn't take the initiative to inform him, and he was the one who made the mistake.
"It's the last general's turn! Three regiments and two teams, Tian Shenyu is the leader!" Tian Shenyu answered with a smile on his neck.
In the Tang army, the guards were divided into regiments of three hundred, with captains in the regiments; teams of fifty, with captains in charge. For Tian Shenyu, who was born in a humble family, being captain was already a considerable military position.
However, by this point in the march, he had only thirty-six men left under his command. Some of the soldiers were seriously rebelling. Those who were injured along the way were all left on the road to recover from their injuries and then return to Yizhou on their own.
Yan Wu took a look and saw that thirty-six people had lined up, so he nodded, arranged two boats, and shouted: "Cross the river!"
"Cross the river!"
Tian Shenyu immediately divided the soldiers into two teams and went upstream to board the boat. Eighteen people per boat crowded the boat.
Not long ago, a boat capsized, and the twenty people on board were swept away by the rapids.
"Whose turn is it next?!"
"Three regiments and three teams, the team is at Hou Zhongzhuang!"
"..."
Tian Shengong was leading his troops at the rear. He turned to watch Tian Shenyu's team leave, thinking that he would be able to go there soon to support them.
At this time, a messenger came over and said: "Colonel Tian, Commander Jie ordered you to come over."
"Here."
Tian Shengong is very calm and takes a long stride when walking without appearing to be in a hurry.
Wang Zhongsi saw him approaching and ordered directly: "Take your guide and find a crossing point downstream. Cross the river before dawn without being noticed by the Tibetan army. After crossing the river, report quickly and I will send someone immediately
Support you."
Tian Shengong's regiment already had three groups crossing the river. He was worried that Wang Zhongsi had just given Yan Wu command and had not noticed this. At this time, it was rare that he did not take the order immediately, but asked: "Commander Jie, three
Half of the regiment has crossed the river."
"I know that the Tibetan army also saw your flag."
Wang Zhongsi stretched out his hand, patted Tian Shengong's shoulder, and said: "I have to use someone I can trust when crossing danger at night."
He had many powerful generals under his command. This was because Wang Tianyun, Guan Chongsi, Li Sheng, Qu Huan and others had already taken the lead in crossing the river to fight. Then it was Tian Shengong's turn. However, Tian Shengong was still very encouraged and received the military order with clasped fists.
"The last general takes orders."
"For specific details, you will be assigned by Xue Lang."
"Here."
After hearing the last sentence, Tian Shengong subconsciously felt much more at ease.
~~
Xue Bai was still talking to Luo Zhui.
He asked questions to obtain information, and his ability to judge the authenticity of the news was obviously much better than Tian Shengong. At this time, he had found out that there might actually be a place to cross the river downstream.
Luo Zhui is a veteran of Tubo. He crossed the Dadu River once before when he attacked Liuzhao. At this time, he recalled: "We were not crossing the river at Zida. I remember that there was a walled city on the south bank, and there was a tree in front of it.
The very big tree is called 'Big Tree Village'."
"Downstream?"
"It must be downstream."
Xue Bai was sure that this was correct, because he had observed with a telescope before that the troops and horses of the Yi tribe came from downstream. It is very likely that Dashuzhai is where the Yi tribe is, and now the Yi people are sending their troops there.
Purple hits the ground to fortify it.
The martial artist next to him might have been in a hurry to leave after asking these questions. Xue Bai was different. He first roughly drew the contents of the inquiry, and then took the map and asked Luo Zhui many questions.
"What is the terrain like around Dashuzhai?"
"It's sandwiched between two canyons."
"What about here? What is the terrain?"
"There is a mountain on the other side of the river, which means Yangnao Mountain in Si language."
"How far is the distance between the walled city and the river?"
"Three to five miles."
Xue Bai didn't give up and asked: "Three miles or five miles? How long have you been walking?"
"I crossed the river in the morning and walked to Dashuzhai before noon."
Xue Bai then revised the map he drew and adjusted the location of Dashuzhai.
He kept asking until Tian Shengong was ready to go, and then he stopped asking.
"Let's go, I'll go with you."
"Lang Jun." Tian Shengong came closer to Xue Bai, lowered his voice and said, "In case you are in danger."
He did not say this as a general of the Tang Army, but as a benefactor to Xue Bai.
"Don't worry, I can't cross the river." Xue Bai said, "Go over and give you some advice."
His tone did not allow for any comments, and he walked away as soon as he had finished speaking, not giving Tian Shengong a chance to talk anymore. He did not forget to turn around and give instructions to his personal guards.
"Take your things and let's go."
Behind him, the Diao brothers, Zhao Yuliang, Qiao Erwa and others followed immediately.
In fact, Xue Bai has been following Wang Zhongsi from the time he left Chang'an until now. This time he performed military duties with Tian Shengong, which was also an experience for him. Unlike the old and spicy people who quarreled with others in court, he was a little nervous.
, excited, just deliberately to appear determined.
"Set off!"
Tian Shengong issued a military order and immediately sent people to pull the boat.
But Luo Zhui blocked it and said: "You can't take the boat. There are canyons on both sides of the downstream and there are many whirlpools. The boat will definitely crash."
As he spoke, he waved his hands repeatedly and added: "We can't go through the valley, we can't get through, we have to take a detour and go through the mountains."
Tian Shengong looked towards the lower reaches of the river and said suspiciously: "I think the lower reaches are very open."
People always believe in what they see more than those of other races, and they will never be reconciled until they have tried it.
However, Xue Bai made a decision in an instant and said: "Those who are pursued by Xinluo should take a detour and bring the leather bag."
He was not a blind believer, but after careful inquiry, he understood the terrain and concluded that there must be a deep valley with steep cliffs between Zidadi and Dashuzhai, which was why the two ferries were formed.
If you don't trust the guide, go further downstream, reach the point where there is no way to go, and then want to turn back, the military plane will be gone in an instant.
You have to have rationality and decisiveness beyond ordinary people and be very lucky to win on the battlefield.
~~
Night has completely fallen.
Both sides stopped fighting and rested.
The Tang army ate mare's milk and dried meat all the way. Today they finally dared to light a fire and slaughtered some of the cattle and sheep accompanying the army and roasted them.
It was also thanks to the fact that many of them were Longyou soldiers and herdsmen of all ethnic groups, and their herding skills were good, that they were able to drive the cattle and sheep all the way. Xue Bai once praised them for making as much concessions as the Mongolian army... No one could listen to this joke
Understand.
When the aroma of barbecue filled the air, the soldiers cheered and said that fighting was much more enjoyable than marching.
The Tibetan soldiers smelled the smell of the spices and salivated. I don't know who went to war and didn't forget to bring the spices from the Western Regions. They were worth their weight in gold.
As a result, the Tubo army also moved its troops back and camped in a small village in Zidadi. At the same time, they sent small groups of troops to shout and harass the Tang army.
In this case, there is no need to worry about the Tang army crossing the river at night. What Zhujie Gongbu wants is to tire out the Tang army crossing the river.
"Zhujie Gonpo, I don't understand. Zampu didn't even give the order. Why are you so willing to fight with casualties?"
Faced with the questioning of Chisangdun Yang, the leader of the Yi tribe, Zhujie Gonpo did not tell the truth, but said: "We have the best chance to defeat the Tang army before the Tang army has crossed the river. When the Tang army crosses the river, we will burn the
This is your homeland, and the sacrifices are made by your people."
"I know." Chisang Dunyang said, "But I'm curious, why are you trying your best to help us resist the enemy?"
"Because the Tang army has plundered my tribe!" Zhujie Gonpo said angrily.
After hearing this, Chisang Dunyang paid more and more attention to the Tang army. He walked a few steps, called his confidants, and urged the reinforcements transferred from Dashuzhai to arrive as soon as possible.
The Yibu were the most familiar with the terrain, and were the only ones among the troops who could travel at night. If they increased their troops at night and launched the offensive at dawn, they might be able to directly destroy the morale of the Tang army.
For Sibu, this battle is a battle to defend their homeland. Chisangdun Sheep looked at the Tang Army camp, which was dimly visible in the night, with firm eyes.
Zhujie Gonpo, on the other hand, completely blamed the Tang army for his son's murder. He was more willing to accept that his son died at the hands of the powerful Tang army, not just a small figure like Luo Zhui.
In the darkness, more and more Si soldiers and horses arrived.
Their strength was five times that of the Tang army on the south bank, and they completely occupied the strategic location on the river bank.
Unfortunately, the tribesmen were loose and it was difficult to organize a strong attack across the river. After Zhujie Gonpo and Chisangdun Yang discussed it, they believed that they could not rush to defeat the Tang army and drag down the Tang army calmly.
The Tang army could neither advance nor retreat, and was trapped deep in the Dadu River Valley.
~~
Xue Bai ran like flying in the mountain forest.
He was wearing a pair of new shoes. Ruan Chengzong, a soldier of the Tang Dynasty, carried them with him and was reluctant to wear them. He had only worn them for two or three days, but they were already stained and scratched in several places by stones.
Because of the inappropriate fit, his toes developed blisters and were torn, and blood stained the soles.
According to Xue Bai's estimate after asking Luo Zhui, it should only take two hours from Zidadi to Dashuzhai. He also used this to encourage the soldiers to march with all their strength.
But gradually, two hours passed. Not only did they not reach the ferry, but they could no longer hear the sound of water flowing in the Dadu River.
Morale quickly dropped, and Xue Bai could feel their fatigue and uneasiness without the soldiers opening their mouths.
Xue Bai then called over Luo Zhui and asked in a low voice: "How long until we arrive?"
"I don't know either." Luo Zhui was also a little anxious and said, "The night is too dark to see clearly. It was daytime when I left last time."
This situation made Xue Bai feel how difficult it was to march and fight.
No matter how cautious you are, no matter how much preparation you make, you may not be able to find a sure path, because every fork in the road is a gamble. What’s even more troublesome is that there are no forks in the road. There is no road at all. You can only move forward blindly in one direction.
... In his previous life, he relied on navigation and smooth roads to travel, and he had never felt such helplessness.
So Li Guang is always lost.
After walking forward for a long time, Xue Bai picked up the telescope and looked forward, and suddenly said happily: "Yangnao Mountain is just ahead!"
As he said that, he turned back and asked Luo Zhui: "That mountain has two horns, like a sheep's horns, so it is called Yangnao Mountain, right?"
Luo Zhui didn't pay attention to this question and nodded stupidly.
"Really?" Xue Bai asked again.
"Yes." Luo Zhui responded loudly.
But Xue Bai actually didn't see any mountains at all. He was just trying to deceive the soldiers and boost their morale.
The soldiers quickened their pace and continued to march eastward. Finally, the mountains ahead gradually eased and they ran down the hillside. They saw "the mountains ended with the plains, and the river entered the wilderness."
After finally arriving at the riverside, everyone took a short rest.
Tian Shengong sent scouts to investigate and found that there were no Si people stationed on the north bank, but there were no ships either.
Zhao Yuliang volunteered to swim across the river first and set up ropes, saying that he had worked as a tracker before, was good at water, and had the confidence to cross the river with his leather bag.
"There's no rush." Xue Bai observed the terrain and said, "Look around first. There may be ships."
Everyone didn't believe it and thought his speculation was groundless. Although they were ordered to find it, they were murmuring in private.
"It would be amazing if Xue Lang said that if you have a boat, you can have a boat, right?"
However, not even half an hour later, some soldiers actually discovered a fishing boat deep in the grass. Soon, another soldier discovered two ferries.
Tian Shengong couldn't help but ask: "How did Xue Lang know there was a boat?"
"There are only two ferries along the river for more than a hundred miles. The Yi people must have boats for hunting and trading. And it has only been one day since they discovered our army, not to mention the two or three of us who marched all the way.
At this time, I never believe that Xibu can organize the people to destroy or take away all the ships in such a short period of time."
Xue Bai knew that many warlords in later generations could not achieve such a dispatching ability, so how could a loose tribe like Xibe do it?