Jiangnan, Zhuqian County

Today is New Year's Eve, and there is a team slowly moving forward on the official road leading to the south in Zhuqian County.

There were also many honor guards and flags accompanying him. At first glance, he was not a simple person.

This team was led by an old man, and was guarded by cavalry in armor at the front and rear. There were also many infantry armed with spears and shields on both sides.

There were many trucks in the team, which were pulling a lot of supplies and covered with tarpaulins. Some peasants were driving the carriages forward. The ruts left two deep marks on the muddy ground.

Among them, the most eye-catching thing is the magnificent carriage in the middle of the procession. Sitting in the carriage is Shangguan Taiqing, the uncle of the dynasty and the minister of the Ministry of Industry.

Shangguan Taiqing was wearing a thick fur coat, and the hot breath exhaled from his mouth could be clearly seen. From time to time, he would lift the curtain of the car and look out, and his face was not very good-looking.

The two sides of the official road were extremely deserted, and not a single common person could be seen. On New Year's Eve, there was not even a sound of firecrackers.

In other words, Shangguan Taiqing didn't even feel the flavor of the New Year at all.

Zhuqian County is close to Jiuchang Road. Now the imperial army and the rebels are fighting fiercely in Jiuchang Road. How can the people in Zhuqian County still have the intention to celebrate the New Year? All those who can escape have already escaped.

Not only the ordinary people, but also the rich and wealthy families ran faster, because when the rebels came, they were the first to be dealt with.

Shangguan Taiqing's trip was originally to reward the soldiers in the frontline army and to criticize Yuwen Chenghua.

Yuwen Chenghua suppressed the rebellion for nearly half a year, but made no achievements. The court could not show no sign at all.

Not even if you are from the Yuwen family!

Unexpectedly, there were many rogues in the south of the Yangtze River, and dangers continued on the roads. The convoy's journey was repeatedly delayed, and the uncle was still on the road on New Year's Eve.

"It's really unlucky. Why should I make this trip?" Shangguan Taiqing closed the car curtain glumly.

If he hadn't wanted to take this opportunity to take away the Yuwen family's military power, Shangguan Taiqing would never have come to this war-torn place.

The accompanying cavalrymen were two thousand elite soldiers drawn by Wu Xinrou from the right guards in the capital. Without these two thousand guards, Shangguan Taiqing would not even be able to sleep peacefully.

Feeling the bumps of the carriage, Shangguan Taiqing, who had been quiet for a while, impatiently opened the curtain and shouted softly:

"Someone is coming!"

A fast horse galloped over, and the general on the horse cupped his fists and said:

"Sir! What are your orders?"

"General Su, how long until we can enter Jiuchang Road?"

This military general was the commander-in-chief of the accompanying guards, and Su Yang, the right guard general, could be regarded as a confidant of the Shangguan family.

Originally, Su Yang was just a small captain in the capital's patrol camp, and he was not even considered a big official in the huge officialdom of the capital.

However, Su Yang accidentally met people from the Shangguan family, and was favored by Shangguan Taiqing. From then on, he rose to prominence and his official position rose steadily.

After Wu Xinrou became the minister of the Ministry of War, Su Yang was inserted into the right guard. He wore a rank-5 official hat on his head and could be regarded as a serious general.

Su Yang raised his head and glanced at the distance, and replied in a deep voice: "In response to Master Shangshu, we can enter Jiuchang Road in three days!"

"Three days? So long?"

Shangguan Taiqing frowned and said dissatisfiedly: "Speed ​​up your speed, the New Year is here, and you haven't even arrived at the front line yet. What a shame!"

The original plan was to go to the front line to work before the New Year, so that the soldiers could feel the emperor's grace. However, it was so slow now, which made Shangguan Taiqing very unhappy.

After saying this, Shangguan Taiqing retracted into the carriage.

"promise!"

Su Yang nodded in response, then rode away and shouted:

"Speed ​​up! Speed ​​up!"

The transport team, which had been a little sloppy just now, quickened its pace after hearing Su Yang's shout, urging the carriage loaded with goods to move forward faster.

A young civilian husband who was following the motorcade cursed and said:

"It's really terrible. He's sitting in a carriage out of the wind and out of the rain. He opens his mouth to speed up and speed up.

He didn’t even look at us, we were freezing to death, he didn’t even give us enough to eat, and he was still traveling all day long!”

"Shh! You don't want your life!"

An old man following him quickly covered his mouth, looked around carefully and said:

"If the soldiers hear it, they won't be able to chop you off even if you have ten heads!"

The young civilian husband who was scolding me shuddered a little, closed his mouth and followed the team forward obediently.

After a while, the team arrived at a small mountain col.

Because the terrain in this area is gentle, it is said to be a mountain col, but it is actually just a slope of about ten feet high.

The slope is covered with trees that have lost their leaves, plus some gray-white rocks. At first glance, it looks quiet, with only wisps of cold wind whistling.

General Su Yang, who was riding a tall horse, frowned and looked around. He didn't know why, but he felt a little uneasy ever since he entered this mountain col.

Su Yang, who was quite irritated, shouted to the cavalry beside him: "Move quickly, get through first!"

"promise!"

"Drive! Drive!"

"Boom! Bang!"

Unexpectedly, the seven or eight soldiers at the front had just stirred up their horses, and before they had gone very far, the ground suddenly sank sharply downwards, and these unlucky guys fell into it with a somersault.

"Bang bang bang!"

Before the soldiers behind them could react, countless logs and boulders rolled down from the slopes on both sides of the mountain col, knocking down the officers, soldiers and civilians.

"rub!"

Su Yang was a little panicked, but he still suppressed the panic in his heart, drew his sword and shouted angrily: "Be on guard! Right Guards, be on guard!"

"Ouch!"

Many right-wing cavalrymen holding shields immediately lined up on both sides, looking around vigilantly.

Shangguan Taiqing, who was sitting in the carriage, also felt something was wrong and immediately stuck his head out and asked: "What's wrong?"

"Oh oh oh~"

"Kill~"

Before anyone could answer Uncle Guo's question, dense crowds of people appeared on both sides of the slope.

Almost all of them were wearing ordinary people's clothes, in ragged clothes, and holding various weapons and farm tools in their hands.

Shangguan Taiqing's expression changed drastically. Looking at this posture, there were thousands of people.

Since Shangguan Taiqing left the capital, he has not encountered bandits or bandits, but they were dozens or hundreds of idiots who couldn't even open their eyes. You Weiwei just gave them a few scares and ran away.

But today's posture may be a bit dangerous.

"Guard, guard!" Shangguan Taiqing roared tremblingly.

"Protect your lord! Protect your lord!" Su Yang also rode his horse to Shangguan Taiqing's side, commanding the most elite cavalry to surround the luxurious carriage.

"Run, run!"

The officers and soldiers could still organize a formation to resist, but the civilian men holding the escort carriages had never seen such a battle.
Chapter completed!