After the time entered September, the weather became colder and colder. In later generations, September was still the golden autumn season. At this time, snowflakes had already begun to fall in the Qinling Mountains.

A week after the Double Ninth Festival, when the first snow cleared, Xie Xiaoni found Wan Jun and found that all five thousand sets of Chinese military uniforms had been completed.

According to the predetermined plan, Wan Jun immediately changed the uniforms of the Chinese Army. With the new military uniforms, the entire Chinese Army had a completely new look.

Subsequently, the old clothes of the Chinese army were collected and distributed throughout the county to the naked people. The first step was finally completed. Before entering the deep winter, these people finally had a piece of clothing to protect themselves from the cold.

Xie Xiaoni's belly became more and more obvious, but she still persisted under the willow tree at the east gate and looked at the mountains to the east. With tears in her eyes, Xie Xiaoni murmured to the snow-covered mountains to the east, "Third brother, winter is here.

Are you okay?"

The big willow tree has withered all its leaves, leaving only dead branches hanging down. Xie Xiaoni reached out and broke off a dead branch, "Third brother, when you left, this willow tree was still full of green branches. When the wind blows,

The willow branches danced, and in a blink of an eye all the leaves had fallen."

As the cold wind blew, the snowflakes accumulated on the willow trees fell from time to time. Xie Xiaoni looked at the official road leading to Lucheng County, but apart from the pedestrians coming and going, there was no returning visitor.

Just when Xie Xiaoni was about to cry, a pair of warm hands came from behind and put a piece of clothing on her shoulders.

Xie Xiaoni looked back and saw it was Qi Weilong, the guard at the east gate, "Are you here to visit your husband again?"

Xie Xiaoni wiped her eyes quickly, and sighed with red eyes, "I was just wondering if he had put on more clothes now that the weather is cold, or if he would be cold."

Qi Weilong let out a long sigh, took two steps forward, and looked at the snow-white mountains and rivers to the east.

Xie Xiaoni asked curiously, "Brother Qi, why are you sighing?"

Qi Weilong turned around and said with a smile, "I'm jealous, your husband married a good woman!"

Xie Xiaoni blushed and said, "Captain Qi, what are you talking about? I am a woman who was kidnapped by bandits."

Qi Weilong said, "What does that mean? What does a person's good or bad have to do with the suffering she has experienced?"

Xie Xiaoni smiled and said nothing more.

Qi Weilong laughed and said, "It's okay. I heard that in the south, winter is as hot as our summer here."

Xie Xiaoni has stayed in Qinshan for half her life, and has never been out of the mountains. She has never been to the south, but she has heard this saying, "I heard that people in the south can go shirtless all year round."

"Yes!" Qi Weilong said, "Then if you are still worried about him being cold, you should take good care of yourself. When he comes back, bring a big fat boy to greet him."

Xie Xiaoni blushed, nodded, turned around, and suddenly tears appeared in her eyes again.

Since the third group set out for Xichuan, Lucheng County has become more and more lively. At first, many heroes and refugees came to seek refuge, and then from the mountainous area in the south, more and more mountain people came down to seek refuge.

It was Cui Ziyi who explained to Wan Jun that he understood that as soon as it started to snow heavily, many places would soon begin to close the mountains. In the past, when the world was chaotic, the mountain people would survive the winter in the mountains. Now with Lucheng County like this

A place where mountain people are willing to spend the winter.

Wan Jun took Cui Ziyi out of the south gate of Lucheng County. In the past few days, many shacks have been added outside the south gate. "In just a few days, nearly a thousand people have been added outside the south gate!"

Cui Ziyi responded, "Yes, it is a blessing for the mountain people to have a stable place to spend the winter."

On the official road, there were several cars preparing to set off. It was Chen Xinmin!

After meeting Wan Jun, Chen Xinmin came up to greet him, "Sir, this is going to be sent to Xichuan for the third regiment."

New military uniforms.”

Wan Jun looked at the car, nodded and said, "There is snow on the road, please pay attention to safety this time."

Chen Xinmin grinned and said, "Don't worry, sir, I'm familiar with the road to Xichuan. I haven't been back for many years, and I feel a little timid."

Wan Jun said, "You are going back in a dignified manner on behalf of our Chinese army. Why are you so timid? I heard that you applied for this mission yourself."

Chen Xinmin smiled sheepishly, "I had no choice but to leave Xichuan for many years. This time I want to go back and see how my hometown is doing."

Wan Jun patted Chen Xinmin on the shoulder and said, "The prodigal son returns home in exchange for gold. This time you go back and do more for your hometown. Go ahead!"

Chen Xinmin was moved to tears, "Thank you sir, I'm going."

Wan Jun watched Chen Xinmin's motorcade heading south until only empty ruts were left in the snow.

Cui Ziyi said, "What are you thinking, sir?"

"I'm wondering if this snow will hinder our army from heading to Danfeng!"

Cui Ziyi said, "Your Excellency, you are too worried. Our second group just set off for Danfeng yesterday."

Wan Jun said as he walked, "We still have too few people. Even if we put two regiments in Danfeng, it's still not enough!"

"Don't worry, sir. The four regiments have completed training at the beginning of the month, and this time the new army is also in training."

While Cui Ziyi was talking to Wan Jun, a man behind him suddenly said, "Sir, two more groups of mountain people came yesterday. However, another group of mountain people were robbed by bandits in Dadou Ridge!"

Wanjun turned around after hearing this, and it was Yang Qingshan, the mountain people general who had been recruited not long ago.

"Qingshan, go and call some mountain people who were robbed, and I'll ask about the situation."

Cui Ziyi also said, "Since we came to Xichuan's aid, heroes from all walks of life have given us three points. What is the situation in this big steep mountain range?"

Wan Jun said, "No matter where he comes from, we can't act weak and bully now."

After a while, Yang Qingshan came over with a few people. When he saw Wan Jun and several mountain people, they knelt on the ground and cried, "Sir, make the decision for us!"

Wan Jun asked the older mountain man in front of him, "What's going on? Please tell me in detail."

The man cried, "We walked for three days with food to seek refuge with the Lord. When we passed through Ganchaigou, we were stopped by a group of people and all the food and bacon we had stored were robbed."

Things started a month ago. After Wan Jun mobilized the whole county to support Xichuan, Li Youtian's propaganda team attacked everywhere. Just like what Wan Jun encountered in Jingziguan, many mountain people and bandits in the mountains to the south also brought them with them.

Thousands of people came to join Wanjun with their families and food. Thousands of people came out of the mountains one after another. Wanjun organized the young and strong mountain people among them into mountain militia groups. The rest were placed outside the south gate. Wanjun allocated wasteland to each family.

, distribute old winter clothes.

However, Wanjun received warnings one after another that there was a group of mountain bandits in Dadou Ridge. This group of thieves was not affected by the propaganda of the Chinese army. Instead, they focused on the mountain people who came down the mountain to offer food, and robbed five or six groups of mountain bandits.

food for the people.

This time it was like this again. They robbed the food and then released the people to the army. They said in a beautiful way that the Chinese people would not kill the Chinese people.

But what Wanjun lacks most now is food, but these people steal the food and give the population to Wanjun.

After September, the situation became increasingly urgent. After the Qing army captured Guguan last month, the Qing army commander Duduo returned to Beijing to report his orders.

Li Zicheng took the opportunity and spent half a month recalling the garrison troops from each state capital, assembled 200,000 troops in Lantian, left Tongguan before the Double Ninth Festival, and stormed Huaiqing Mansion, where the Qing army was stationed.

According to historical trends, the Qing army originally planned to attack in two directions, attacking Li Shun along the way and destroying the Ming Dynasty along the way.

, Li Zicheng's attack directly caused the Qing army to change its strategy, causing a devastating blow from the Qing army.

Wan Jun is deeply worried. The Eight Banners Army in Manchuria in history will soon defeat Li Zicheng and go south. But now Wan Jun has the strength of eight regiments, including the four newly trained regiments. Counting the training

The Hero Regiment, the Mountain Folk Regiment, the two regiments reorganized by Xichuan Xiangyong, and the two new regiments formed by Danfeng, totaling only fourteen regiments, with a strength of more than 10,000 people.

The four regiments of Xichuan and Danfeng have not even started the most basic training.

Wan Jun thought over and over in his mind, and finally made up his mind, saying coldly, "We are going to Danfeng soon. We don't have much energy to be involved here. We must ensure that the situation here is stable before leaving. Qingshan, you investigate

Is it clear? Are you sure it’s the work of the Dadouling Bandits?”

Yang Qingshan said, "I have sent people to investigate and confirm that it is them. The villages near Dadouling have some contacts with them. They give them money and grain every year, which is called 'disaster relief money.' This time the surrounding people came down to join us.

They were a little dissatisfied, so they came out to rob the Tao."

Wan Jun said angrily, "Now the whole county is united to fight against natural and man-made disasters. These bandits usually do not do their job and suck the blood of the people, but now they are taking the opportunity to cause chaos and stand on the opposite side of the people. It is really abominable. If I don't go to him, he will

If they come out to seek death, this time I will use the Great Dou Ridge to establish the military prestige of our Chinese army! How many people do they have?"

Yang Qingshan said, "Dadouling established a stronghold early, and there are probably more than a thousand people!"

Wan Jun said, "Instruct Chang Jian to lead the musketry battalion to join me in Dadou Ridge to suppress the bandits. You lead the mountain militia to cooperate. The army will strike with thunder. We must fight quickly to show the power of our Chinese army!"

When it comes to marching and fighting, the most important thing is speed and confidentiality. No one in Wanjun made any announcement, and secretly mobilized the mountain militia regiment and the new musket battalion built in Chang'an.

Early on the next morning, the army was assembled. The mountain militia regiment led by Yang Qingshan was in the front, and Wan Jun led the Chang Jian Musket Battalion behind, and marched southward in a mighty manner.

Lucheng County is in a valley, and the flat land in the valley forms a T-shape. The army walked south along the tail of the T-shape, and after an hour it completely entered the mountains.

The weather in the mountains is very cold. From a distance, you can see the picturesque scenery of undulating mountains and white snow. When you get closer and step into the snow-covered mountains and forests, you realize that the snow-covered mountain road is difficult to walk.

The road in the mountain is very narrow, barely enough for two people to walk side by side. Going further south over the mountains and ridges, the road becomes narrower in many places, and you can only pass by holding on to the branches one by one. One side of the road faces the valley, and you can get there if you don't pay attention.

Maybe it fell down the cliff.

Everyone walked until it was almost dark, when Yang Qingshan ran over and found Wan Jun.

"Sir, our army is only half an hour away from Dadou Ridge. Now that it is dark and the mountain road cannot be walked, the army can only rest here."

Wan Jun looked around, and the night was still hazy just now, and it turned dark almost in the blink of an eye. "Then, the army is commanding, the terrain in the mountains is dangerous, don't wander around, just find a leeward place to rest nearby!"

Yang Qingshan clasped his fists and accepted the order. Seeing that he was hesitant to speak, Wan Jun said, "Qingshan, just say whatever you want. Why are you so hesitant? You don't look like a straightforward mountain man."

Yang Qingshan said, "The general is worried that this place is too close to Dadou Ridge. If the army lights a fire to keep out the cold, Dadou Ridge will definitely be able to see it very clearly in the night."

Wan Jun suddenly realized this problem, "You are right, it is true. The whole army is ordered to strictly prohibit lighting fires."

Yang Qingshan received the order and was about to retreat when Wan Jun said again, "The nights in the mountains are very cold. Let's pour out the cold-warming wine we brought so that each of us can keep warm."
Chapter completed!