When we came down from the dam, light snow started to fall in the sky.
The general rode on his horse, followed by a dozen night crows, and headed towards Yuansong Mountain.
At every hilltop that is to be used as a stronghold, the general will take the trouble to personally go up the mountain to check the terrain, so that he has a clear understanding of the terrain.
The terrain of each mountain top is different, so the fortifications built at that time will naturally be different.
Only by knowing the terrain well can we better plan our defense.
From the beginning, the general was mentally prepared for the possible war in Xiling. In the war with the Wutuo people, it was absolutely impossible to confront them head-on, and he would never engage in a decisive battle with the main force prematurely.
For more than ten years, although he was in the pass, the general was studying the next battle in Xiling all the time.
In the next war, when the main force of the Tang army was unable to advance westward, the only option was to defend.
Taking advantage of the favorable terrain with Xiling, they deployed strong defensive strongholds one after another, forcing the Wutuo cavalry to engage in mountain warfare, which they were not good at, thus consuming the enemy's morale and strength.
When the Wutuo people invaded Xiling, Fan County evacuated the people and strengthened the walls to clear the country.
In that battle, the Wutuo people plundered food and grass on the spot after they invaded Xiling to support the war. Of course, the general would not allow this to happen.
The Wutuo people could not get food and grass from Xiling, so they could only transport it from the rear to the front. This forced them to ensure the safety of their food routes, and the mountain strongholds scattered along the way became targets that the Wutuo people had to clear out.
, otherwise the logistics food channel will always be in danger.
The purpose of the general was to force the Wutuo people to use their weaknesses to deal with the Xiling people's advantages.
This is also the only opportunity that may force the Wutuo people to return without success.
"Is there any news about Qin Xiao?" the general suddenly asked.
A look of worry immediately appeared on Meng Zimo's face, and he shook his head and said: "He left from the grain depot that night. Since then, there has been no news. Changyu sent people to search for him in the city, but there was no trace, and his whereabouts are still unknown."
"That child is not ignorant." The general frowned slightly: "He left his post without permission, and his crime is not light. If he really encounters any difficulties, he will not leave quietly."
Meng Zimo said: "There must be a compelling reason for him to leave the granary that night. But he never came back, so something big might have happened." He said with worry: "Although he is smart, he doesn't know the sinister nature of people's hearts. He only wants to look forward to it."
It would be better if he turned a bad situation into a good one, and it would be better if... nothing really happened."
After a period of silence, the general said: "There seems to be no news about Yuwen Chengchao."
"Not yet." Meng Zimo said: "But the first batch of people from the Yuwen family to migrate to the pass should be arriving at Jiayuguan soon. What I was most worried about before was that Chang Yihou was assassinated, which would affect the migration of the Yuwen family to the pass. Fortunately, it did not happen
Too big an impact.”
The general said: "The person who ambushed Mr. Yuwen was Tang Wuhen, the deputy commander of the Wolf Cavalry. However, the whereabouts of this man and his family members in Turtle City are unknown. Yu Nong has inspected the scene and there are no signs of fighting in Tang Wuhen's home.
, so there are two possibilities. Either Tang Wuhen returned to Turtle City and took away his family members, and the other possibility is greater, that Yuwen Chengchao took control of Tang Wuhen's family members and used this to hold Tang Wuhen hostage.
.”
"Kiding Tang Wuhen hostage?"
"Old Marquis Yuwen was killed, and Yuwen Chengchao naturally couldn't let it go." The general said: "Tang Wuhen led people to ambush him, and he knew exactly who was behind it. Yuwen Chengchao wanted to find out the truth from Tang Wuhen's mouth.
Fierce, find the mastermind behind this, so that you can avenge Mr. Yuwen."
Mencius Mo said: "Previously, notices were posted in the streets and alleys of Turtle City, placing the responsibility for the murder of Lord Yuwen on the general. Does the general think Yuwen Chengchao would believe it?"
"If Yu Wen Chengchao can force out the real culprit from Tang Wuhen, he will definitely eradicate him at all costs, which will naturally be of great benefit to us." The general said: "But if Yu Wen Chengchao firmly believes that the murderer is me, then of course he will be eliminated.
They will also lurk in secret, looking for opportunities to cause trouble."
"The Yuwen clan has begun to migrate into the pass." Meng Zimo said: "Their family wealth has also been donated, and the tiger cavalry has been reorganized. No one in Yuwen Chengchao has money. Even if he is really bewitched, he will not be able to escape.
What kind of storm is going on?"
The general shook his head and said: "Don't underestimate Yuwen Chengchao. The Xiling family has been recuperating and living on this land for hundreds of years. It is deeply rooted. It is not as simple as it seems on the surface. This time, since someone wants to frame him, it was us who killed Mr. Yuwen.
Lord Marquis, it shows that there is a force secretly creating chaos here. Their purpose of doing this is not only to alienate the major families in Xiling from us, but also to make the people of Xiling feel dissatisfied with us."
"Who could be behind this?" Meng Zimo's face was solemn.
The general looked ahead, thoughtfully.
When the general mentioned Yu Wen Chengchao, Yu Wen Chengchao was sitting cross-legged on a futon in a dark room. In front of him, there was a spiritual card covered with a black cloth. It was Mr. Yu Wen.
The spiritual place of the Marquis.
The dark room was deathly silent.
Yuwen Chengchao closed his eyes tightly and sat cross-legged in front of the spiritual throne, like a stone sculpture.
After a long time, the door creaked and opened a gap. Then a figure slowly walked through the gap. He turned around and closed the door, then walked lightly behind Yuwen Chengchao.
"Everything is ready." The visitor said softly: "Chengchao, have you made your decision?"
Yuwen Chengchao finally opened his eyes, looked at the spiritual statue in front of him, remained silent for a long time, and finally said: "I have made up my mind, and I will try my best."
"Okay." The visitor said, "If you have made the final decision, then everything will go as we planned and everyone will perform their duties."
Yuwen Chengchao did not look back, but just asked: "Has your plan been decided from the beginning? Or is it just an accident?"
"If you want to know, I can tell you." The visitor said: "This plan has indeed been discussed for a long time, and every step has been carefully planned. Just in case, there are not many people participating in this plan.
But each one is extremely important." After a pause, the man walked to sit on a chair aside and said softly: "Actually, at the beginning of the plan, we really wanted to include you. As long as you exist,
This time the plan is even more foolproof.”
"Then why wasn't I included from the beginning?"
"Because we can't take risks." The man said calmly: "We have no control over the attitudes of you and your father. Once you have different ideas from us and the plan is known to you, the consequences will be disastrous."
Yu Wen Chengchao's voice was low: "Your worries are indeed reasonable." After a pause, he said: "Then why did you let me join in the end?"
"Because our interests are ultimately the same." The man said: "Maybe you still had a glimmer of hope and fantasy before, but the facts now should make you sober up. Cheng Chao, no one can save you, and no one can save you.
Who can save me? If there is any last hope, I can only rely on myself."
"You should know that as long as we embark on this road this time, we will never look back." Yuwen Chengchao said calmly.
"Turn back?" The man chuckled, stood up, walked to the door, and said word by word: "I can't turn back for a long time." Without another word, he opened the door and went out.
Yuwen Chengchao looked at the memorial tablet, suddenly stretched out his hand, picked up a big knife on the ground in front of him, raised his arm, held the knife horizontally in front of him, then held the handle of the knife, and with a "choking" sound, he pulled out the knife from its sheath, and the light of the knife flashed.
, the cold is overwhelming.
Horses galloping on the snowy road.
Qin Xiao seized the horse from Kunlun Pass and ran away, followed closely by dozens of cavalrymen from the pass.
Fortunately, Qin Xiao worked hard to practice his horse skills at Baihu Camp, and his ability to control a horse has long been different from what it used to be.
Moreover, Qin Xiao captured the horse at night and the pursuers had poor visibility, but it still took him several hours to shake off the pursuers behind him.
He didn't dare to stay.
They kept running non-stop until dawn the next day, only to realize that they had already deviated from the mainland under the hot pursuit of the pursuers. Fortunately, they met two hunters on the way and asked about the direction of Heiyang City, so they continued to rush towards Heiyang City.
It's just that the snow on the road is too thick, and the horse can't run too fast.
At dusk, when people and horses were exhausted, Qin Xiao saw a forest on the edge, so he rode into the forest, got off his horse, and dragged Yin Bupo off the horse.
The food he carried with him was placed on another horse that entered the customs. The situation was urgent and he seized the border army's horse, but he did not prepare any food. After running for a day, although he was a little hungry, he could still hold on.
But the horses had not eaten for a day and had been running all night, so they looked very tired.
Yin Bupo struggled to sit up and leaned against a big tree. He saw Qin Xiao grabbing two handfuls of snow from the ground and stuffing it into his mouth. He didn't say anything, but looked at Qin Xiao with a strange expression.
Qin Xiao took two mouthfuls of snow and then looked at Yin Bupo. Seeing his strange expression, he didn't take it seriously. He just said: "Tomorrow is the 30th of the twelfth lunar month and also New Year's Eve. If we go fast, we can reach Heiyang tomorrow night."
The city celebrates New Year’s Eve.”
"The horse is exhausted. With your current speed, you may not be able to arrive tomorrow." Yin Bupo said calmly: "If you kill me, it will be easier and faster for you to be alone. At midnight tomorrow, you still have a chance.
Arrive."
"Yin Bupo, you can be regarded as a man who is ready to die. I really can't understand why a person like you would rebel against the imperial court." Qin Xiao said coldly.
A disdainful smile appeared on Yin Bupo's lips, he looked up at the sky, shook his head and said: "I advise you not to take all the trouble. You took me on the road just because you wanted to hand me over to General Black Feather and ask questions from me.
It's a pity...it's already too late."
"Too late?" Qin Xiao frowned and said, "What do you mean?"
"Qin Xiao, I admire you very much for being able to break out of Kunlun Pass." Yin Bupo said lightly: "Actually, it won't help you to find those Wutuo cavalry, and nothing will change because of this. Do you think I'm colluding with you?"
You want to capture the Wutuo people and let them enter the pass while Xiling is unprepared? Do you think that group of cavalry is going to enter the pass to plunder and then quickly withdraw?"
Qin Xiao stepped forward, grabbed Yin Bupo's collar, and said sternly: "What on earth do they want to do?"
"To build a house, you need to hire masons and masons. To transport goods, you need to hire carters and horsemen." Yin Bupo said with a smile on his lips: "To kill people, hire assassins, and capture cities and territories. What do you think is needed?"