After avoiding the steaming heat of the day and marching at night and during the cooler hours of early morning and evening, the speed was indeed much faster. Originally, we could travel more than forty miles in one day, but now we can cover fifty miles in one night. What's more, the team does not
No matter how tired I am, I feel much better.
Although there are many disadvantages to traveling at night, and small troubles are not as convenient as dealing with them during the day, but overall the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
After six days of marching day and night, we finally passed through Zhengzhou, passed through Xijing Chang'an City, exited the territory of Jingxi East Road, and arrived at Shaanzhou Prefecture, the southernmost point of Yongxing Army.
In the early morning of this day, the large group of people who had been traveling all night suddenly discovered that the scenery in front of them was different through the growing light of the sky. Overlapping mountains lay in front of them, replacing the northwest plains left behind.
It was the first time for many people to see the scene of hills and mountains, and they were a little excited. Even Su Jin was no exception. After finding a flat open space to set up camp for today's rest, Su Jin led more than ten riders
I immediately climbed up a nearby hillside to observe the terrain.
The official road winds and extends from the hillside, like a python that plunges into the mountains in front and disappears. The construction of the official road in such terrain must have gone through a lot of hardships and used up a lot of manpower and material resources.
Different from the excitement of everyone pointing and pointing, Wang Lang seemed a little worried. He knew in his heart that the most difficult period of the journey had arrived. These official roads were built windingly along the mountains. In order to facilitate the excavation and opening, they only considered the difficulty.
However, safety is ignored. In many places, there is a mountain wall on one side and a cliff on the other. There are also many places that pass through a long and narrow valley between two mountains. If there is heavy rain or other reasons, there will be huge rocks and mud.
Sand trees fell down and blocked the official road, making it difficult for people to move.
This is not the main, the key man-made threat. The section from Shaanzhou to Jiezhou is full of mountains. It is said that there are no less than dozens of gangs entrenched in the mountains. Although the number of people is much different from that of the escort brigade, most of them are just a few.
A small group of ten or even a dozen people, but in such a terrain, the number of people cannot be called an advantage at all. Many places are called "one man can't open it", so we must not take it lightly.
Wang Lang told Su Jin and others all his worries. After everyone's excitement subsided, they suddenly felt that the road ahead was extremely long and difficult, and they all became serious.
"Mr. Wang, you are right. Such a mountain road is indeed prone to errors, and we have already reached the ground of Yongxing Army, which means that we have officially entered the range where the Western Bandit Cavalry can interfere. Everyone must fight
Be very energetic."
Wang Lang said: "Your Excellency, it is clear that the difficult mountain road can be overcome. I guess the bandits would not dare to openly rob the road. At most, they would only be a nuisance. What's more, they are afraid of being targeted by the Western thieves, which would cause big trouble.
"
Su Jindao: "It's not the case yet. The cavalry of the Western Bandits will never dare to go deep into the official road in the mountains. It will be very disadvantageous for them. The official road can only accommodate ten cavalry at most, and it is not conducive to mobile charging. In this kind of terrain, their
The strength is greatly reduced, so there is no need to worry for now.”
Chao Chao said: "Young Master is right. What you are worried about is what happens after leaving this mountain road. What you are most afraid of is that someone will set up an ambush at the entrance of the valley on the other side of the mountain. Then you will be unable to advance or retreat."
Mahan laughed loudly and said: "Everyone is talking about it being lively. I haven't seen a single hair of the Western thief. Where is the danger? Tell me, should we go or not? It's okay if they don't come. When they come, we will just have a pot of it."
If you kill them, you are afraid of a bird!"
Everyone rolled their eyes. If it was really that simple, they wouldn't have been harassed by the Western thieves and took a detour. However, what this guy said is true. It can be used as a precaution, but there is no need to worry about it. After all, there is still no trace of the matter.
After weighing it up, Su Jin ordered to change the time of the march again. He took a good rest today and set off on the road during the day tomorrow. Firstly, it was difficult to walk on mountain roads at night. Secondly, the climate in the mountains was no better than that on the plains. The temperature was much cooler, and it was easier to deal with emergencies.
incident.
After the order was issued, everyone had a precious day to rest and recuperate. They took the time to adjust their bodies and minds. The carpenters accompanying the team were also busy reinforcing and repairing the cart to cope with the upcoming bumps on the mountain road.
Su Jin woke up after a good sleep. It was already late in the afternoon. After eating something with Xiao Sui'er's service and looking around, he returned to his tent and saw Xia Siling sitting there with a sad face and moving non-stop.
, he sighed repeatedly, so he stepped forward and asked with a smile: "What's the matter? Are there lice on your body?"
Xia Siling complained softly: "I don't have any lice, but my whole body is sticky. I haven't showered for six or seven days. It's really uncomfortable. Brother Su, look at me, my hair is all in clumps. It's really ugly."
.”
Su Jin burst into laughter. Her hair was wet with sweat and stained with loess. It was indeed caked in lumps. It was quite miserable. She thought of Xia Siling, a pretty young lady. She was usually washed white and smelled good.
She has never experienced such pain of being displaced; she is still strong enough and has not cried out in pain so far. Even the horse that Su Jin has been riding for several days is in pain all over her body as if it is falling apart, let alone
she.
Su Jin thought for a while and said: "Well, since I have a rest today, I will take you out for a walk and see if you can find a place with water to wash yourself."
Xia Siling frowned and said, "Where did the pond come from in this place? Isn't it said that the northwest is short of water?"
Su Jin laughed and said: "There will never be a shortage of water in the mountains. Otherwise, how can the lush trees and weeds all over the mountains grow? The key is to see if you can find a place. Just now I was looking at the slope in front. Did I see anything?
There is a place in the valley in the distance where the trees are particularly dense, and I dare to say that there must be a water pond there."
Xia Siling said happily: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go quickly."
Su Jin pinched her little nose and said, "Ask Sui'er to come with us. Where is she?"
Xia Siling said: "Sister Xiaosui'er went to play with Lao Getou in the team. She said that Lao Getou looked very much like her father. He was also kind and the two of them chatted and hit it off."
Su Jin rolled her eyes. Xiao Sui'er was born in a farm family and has a better impression of ordinary people than others. Besides being away from home for a long time, Xiao Sui'er might be homesick. Maybe this old Getou aroused her homesickness.
I have never asked her about her family background, and I really don't care enough about her.
Xiao Sui'er was enjoying her time, and Su Jin didn't want to disturb her. Xia Siling packed a bag of clean clothes and carried it on her shoulders, following Su Jin out of the tent. Su Jin said hello to Chao Chao and said he was going to the front.
After looking at the terrain, he led Xia Siling on horseback and rode forward slowly; it was not easy for the Dynasty to send people to follow and protect him. He made it clear that the young master wanted to take Miss Xia out to be alone for a while. The Dynasty was not Ma Han's brain, and he naturally knew how to avoid suspicion.
.
The two walked around the small slope at the mountain pass for two miles. Su Jin pointed to the green trees in the bottomless valley on the roadside and said, "I can guarantee that there is water down there."
Xia Siling frowned and said, "But it's so steep, how do you get down there?"
Su Jin said: "The horses will definitely not be able to go down. If we put them on the slope to graze, it won't be very steep for us to walk down."
The two dismounted and put the horses up the hillside. Su Jin took Xia Siling and carefully went down the official road. They climbed the exposed rocks with the branches and slowly descended, and soon they descended into the valley.
The trees in the valley below are tall, with green grass under them and flowers of all colors blooming. Colorful butterflies are flying and the fragrance of flowers fills their noses. The temperature is also cool and tight. Both of them are a little dumbfounded. They didn't expect that there is such a place here.
It’s really hard to believe.
Xia Siling cheered and ran around in the woods. She picked a flower when she saw it and chased a butterfly when she saw it. She was so excited. Su Jin was also influenced by her and took off her boots and held them in her hands, barefoot.
Stepping on the grass, closing your eyes and feeling the tingling sensation of the soft grass stems on your feet, you moaned in comfort.
While enjoying the meal, I heard Xia Siling's shout of joy coming from the front: "As expected, you were right, there is indeed water here."
Su Jin hurried over in three steps and two steps, and saw that there was indeed a small clear pool at the bottom of a section of the cliff. The rock wall was wet, and water was dripping down. It seemed that this small pool was formed by the water left on the cliff.
It is formed by the collection of water coming down from the mountain. On rainy days, the rain falling on the mountain will also collect and flow into the Tan. There are also flowers of various colors blooming on the cliff, and the decoration is colorful, like a beautifully decorated natural bathtub.
Xia Siling knelt down, reached out and patted some pool water on her face, and said happily: "It's so cool and comfortable, I'm going to be so happy."
Su Jin smiled and said, "Why don't you hurry up? The dirt on your body will be gone today."
Xia Siling said happily: "Yes." She stretched out her hand to take off her armor, but suddenly stopped, looking at Su Jin with a blushing face and saying nothing.
Su Jin said in astonishment: "What are you waiting for?"
Xia Siling said indifferently: "Brother Su...Brother Su, won't you stay away?"
Su Jin originally forgot about this, but when Xia Siling mentioned it, it reminded him.
Su Jin looked at Xia Siling's flushed face with water droplets, and suddenly her heart skipped a beat, and her body gradually became hot.
The two stood facing each other, staring at each other. Suddenly, the sound of birds chirping and cicadas in the entire valley seemed to disappear without a trace, and even the whole world seemed to have disappeared. Everything was silent, except for the sound that could be heard.