There are more than 2,000 people in the village. In addition to women, children, the elderly and the weak, there are only about 600 soldiers capable of fighting, guarding various strongholds around Huangtu Village.
Although the suspension bridge is broken, in addition to attacking from the front, the troops at the foot of the mountain can still climb up the mountain from some dangerous places around. Although the mountain wall is steep and the climb is extremely dangerous, it does not mean that they will not do so. After all, these
People who have lived in Montenegro for many years have experience in climbing cliffs. If Huangtu Village uses all its troops to deal with the enemy from the front, if the enemy climbs the mountain from other directions and attacks from behind, the consequences will be disastrous.
Therefore, Yang Shixin did not dare to be negligent and deployed half of his troops on the front, while the other half was deployed at other important locations on the mountain.
The women and children on the mountain learned that there were soldiers and horses attacking at the foot of the mountain, but they also took action. Not only did some people quarry stones on the mountain and transport them to various strongholds, which were used to attack the enemies at the foot of the mountain from a high position, they also sent people to patrol various places around the mountain stronghold to avoid
The enemy stole the opportunity.
However, Yang Shixin understood that if Zhou Hongji was determined to capture Huangtu Village and mobilized all the troops in Montenegro to attack, Huangtu Village would eventually be unable to stop him.
The opponent had a large number of people, so they did not want to attack the mountain immediately, but pushed forward bit by bit at all costs. Even if they paid heavy casualties in the end, they were able to break through each checkpoint one after another. With the strength of Huangtu Village, they were still no match for the opponent.
The current defenses on the mountain are only slowing down the opponent's offensive.
Du Zitong was obviously determined to capture Huangtu Village. Although he had suffered hundreds of casualties in two days, he still let his men take turns to launch an offensive on the mountain. The defenders on the mountain had to deal with the enemy's attack at all times and did not dare to slack off.
There was almost no rest for two days, but Du Zitong's thousands of people could take turns to rest. They even set up iron pots and tents at the foot of the mountain to eat on time, and the bandits under him could also take turns to get news.
Yang Shixin and other leaders of Huangtu Village knew that if things continued like this, the energy of their subordinates would be exhausted little by little, and the company would eventually hit rock bottom.
After repelling the enemy's attack again, Yang Shixin bit into the rice balls brought up from behind to replenish his strength and looked down at the dark crowd at the foot of the mountain with an unusually solemn expression.
"Du Zitong is really crazy." Jiubao sneered: "He doesn't care about the lives of his brothers at all."
Yang Shixin said calmly: "If he wants to re-establish prestige in each village, he must win the Huangtu Village. If he cannot win the Huangtu Village, he will not continue to work in Black Mountain. For his own prestige, other people's lives are at stake.
What kind of?"
"This bastard is really cruel and ruthless." Jiubao said with an angry face, "I have never seen him so brave in battles with officers and soldiers before." He frowned and said, "Second leader, he doesn't take the lives of his brothers seriously.
That’s fine, but if we continue to fight like this, we’re afraid we won’t be able to hold on for long.”
Yang Shixin naturally knew this very well.
Although Du Zitong's attack regardless of casualties was blocked by the fortifications on the mountain, Huangtu Village would also lose several brothers with every attack. If it continued like this, it would indeed not last long. The situation was much more severe than he had predicted before.
many.
"Jiubao, come with me." Yang Shixin was silent for a moment, and finally got up and walked to a secluded place. Jiubao followed, and seeing Yang Shixin's serious expression, he asked softly: "Second leader, what's wrong?"
Yang Shixin was thoughtful, and after a while, he finally said: "There is something you need to do."
"Second leader, just give me your orders." Jiubao immediately said, "Go up the mountain of swords and go down into the sea of fire. I will go all out."
Yang Shixin nodded slightly and said: "There is a road leading to the back valley on the west side of the mountain. You can take a few people to the back valley tonight and check if there are other people around the back valley. If you are sure there is no one, arrange a few
Brothers guarded several small intersections around the back valley to ensure that no one could enter the back valley."
"Okay." Jiubao nodded and asked: "Are the two leaders worried about their sneak attack from the back valley? However, it is very difficult to cross the mountains from other villages into the back valley. A few people may be able to climb over the mountains by themselves.
We ran into the back valley, but it was impossible for the large group of people to enter."
Yang Shixin shook his head and said: "Don't worry so much, just do as I tell you. In addition, go and talk to Tian Rui and ask him to bring some people to inform the old, weak, women and children on the mountain that they will all gather at the Xishan Mountain before dusk tomorrow.
Just wear some clothes, bring food rations, and don’t bring too much other things.”
Jiubao suddenly understood something and whispered: "Second leader, are you... do you want everyone to evacuate from that trail?"
There is an extremely secret road in the Hou Valley at the foot of the West Mountain, which leads directly to the Black Sky Valley. Only few people know about it, but Jiubao is also one of the insiders.
To the west of the Black Mountain Mountains is the Tianji Mountain Range. The two mountain ranges are in the shape of a figure of eight. The Black Mountain Mountains spread from east to west, while the Tianji Mountain Range spreads diagonally from the northeast to the southwest. Between the two mountains, there is a valley that can be walked through.
, God's miraculous workmanship, this valley is also a shortcut from Yingping County to Zhenyu Grassland. Going north through the valley will enter Zhenyu Grassland, and going south will enter the ground of Songyang Grassland.
As soon as Jiubao heard Yang Shixin's instructions, he understood Yang Shixin's intention.
But he never thought that Yang Shixin would think of everyone in Huangtu Village evacuating from that trail.
"Before the Second Master went to Heishui Village, he gave me instructions." Yang Shixin said slowly: "He expected that we would be besieged, and told us to evacuate decisively from that trail if we were in trouble." Looking at the dense crowd at the foot of the mountain.
, said: "They must not give up until they achieve their goal. Du Zitong insists on taking down Huangtu Village regardless of casualties. There is no need for us to fight them to the end."
Jiubao thought for a moment and then said: "When we evacuate, we need someone to guard this side. Second leader, if you can trust me, give this side to me. I will lead the brothers to guard the road up the mountain and never let any of them pass. You
Take everyone and evacuate."
"The second master is no longer here. If I withdraw again, how can the remaining brothers be willing to fight to the death?" Yang Shixin patted Jiubao on the shoulder and said with a smile: "You are familiar with that road. When the time comes, you and Tian
Rui leads everyone to evacuate. I am here to buy you time to evacuate. The trail is rugged and difficult to navigate, and it is deep in the mountains. Plus there are many old and weak people. I estimate that it will take you at least two days to evacuate.
Go out, the remaining brothers and I will buy you two days here."
Jiubao shook his head and said: "Second leader, the brothers left behind are to protect their families, so they will fight to the end. If you leave fifty people for me, we will be able to last for two days. The second leader is gone, and everyone will evacuate.
At that time, without your leadership, we would be even more confused and uneasy." Suddenly he thought of something and frowned: "Second leader, after withdrawing from Black Mountain, where can we go? When we reach Heitian Valley, we will reach the territory of the Siler people if we go north.
, we naturally will not go to them, even if we go, they will not dare to take us in. If we go south, then... then enter Songyang Grassland, Long Ruijun is over there, wouldn't we just fall into a trap?
?”
But Yang Shixin said very firmly: "We can't go to the north. The Zhenyu tribe doesn't dare to offend the Liaodong Army and fall into their hands. They will definitely hand us over to the Liaodong Army and go south to find Qin Xiao!"
"Qin Xiao?" Jiubao was surprised. Before he could say anything more, Yang Shixin had already taken out a letter from his arms, took the letterhead and handed it to Jiubao, saying softly: "This is the instruction left by the second master before he left.
, I just opened it and read it, you can read it yourself and read the second master's instructions."
Jiubao took the letter and looked at it carefully, and said in a voiceless voice: "Recruit...recruit?"
"This is the second master's final arrangement." Yang Shixin sighed and said with a wry smile: "At that moment, I finally understood his painstaking efforts. Over the years, the second master has been trying to find a way to survive for the brothers in Montenegro.
I hope I can find an opportunity to be recruited by the imperial court." He raised his head, looked at the sky, and said slowly: "In recent years, he has not only repelled many attacks by the Liaodong Army, but even led everyone to frequently attack the Liaodong Army. There is an important reason.
I just hope to attract the attention of the imperial court, so that the imperial court can directly send imperial envoys to recruit people."
Jiubao nodded and said: "Although the second master didn't say it clearly, I can see that he has the intention to recruit people."
"He knew that going to Heishui Village this time was very risky, but he went there resolutely, just to exchange his life for our survival." Yang Shixin's eyes were slightly red, and he clenched his hands: "He was loyal to Zhou Hongji, and he was even more worried about us people.
He was accused of being ungrateful and betraying his brother, so he had to bear all this himself. As long as Zhou Hongji and his gang were cruel to him, we would have no choice but to evacuate Montenegro, and no one could blame us. That day he took us to see Qin Xiao, and he had already made up his mind
I wanted to take everyone's attention and hope to lead everyone to surrender to Qin Xiao. However, Du Zitong attacked Long Rui's army at night, and the situation changed instantly. The second master had no choice but to lay down his life to pave a way for our Huangtu Village."
Jiubao closed his eyes and raised his head to face the sky, but tears were already pouring out of the corners of his eyes.
On the Guimen Cliff, Xuanyuan Chong was huddled in a corner of the stone house. The cold wind was biting, and the drifting snow penetrated into the stone house through the gaps between the iron railings. There was a layer of snow on the ground. Even as strong as Xuanyuan Chong,
It is already unbearable for a man without food to replenish his body's calories.
Guimen Cliff is located at a high place on the cliff. It is cold at high places, and the cold wind blows day and night. In addition, snowflakes fall from time to time. If it were an ordinary person, he would have frozen to death in the past two days.
The sound of trampling on the snow came, and Xuanyuan Chong turned his head with some difficulty. He followed the sound and saw three strong men walking towards the edge of the cliff. The first one was carrying a big sword and holding a big knife, while the two men behind him were walking towards the cliff.
They are all armed with spears.
As if he realized something, a faint smile appeared on the corner of Xuanyuan Chong's mouth.
"Tieniu, do you want to give me a ride?" Xuanyuan Chong's voice was obviously much weaker, but his enunciation was still clear. He smiled at the strong man holding the knife and said: "The master can't bear to see me suffer, so he wants to go earlier."
End my pain?"
Tieniu looked at Xuanyuan Chong with very complicated eyes, showing awe, pity, and more of helplessness.