"Quick! Push as hard as you can! No one will be blamed for delaying the march!"
The military officer sternly urged the soldiers, whipping the horses pulling the cart repeatedly, trying to drag a cart out of the mud. The soldiers at the rear kept pushing, but the wheels just lifted a little, and fell heavily into the mud again.
"What's going on?" Zhao Shu came quickly on horseback. Upon seeing this, the military officials quickly handed over their hands and explained the whole story.
This kind of vehicle fortress can be used to carry weapons and equipment when marching on weekdays. It can be used as a stronghold wall when camping. It can also be used to resist charge during battle and allow archers to stand on high places to release arrows. It can be said that it has been tested for a long time.
It's just that in order to withstand attacks, these carriages were built with several layers of wooden planks, and the outside was covered with fire-proof thick leather. In addition, the luggage inside was loaded, making it heavy. In the current rainy and muddy conditions, it is actually Progress is slow.
"You guys push on both sides." Zhao Shu got off his horse and came to the back of the cart. He used his might and strength to lift it up. The other soldiers pushed together and the entire cart successfully escaped from the mud pit.
"You guys speed up!" He clapped his hands casually and mounted his horse again. The surrounding soldiers were shocked and admired as they watched Zhao Shu ride away.
"Have you seen it? Zhao Changshi can lift the entire vehicle barrier by himself!" A soldier shook his head and exclaimed: "These two arms are probably several thousand kilograms strong, right?"
"You can't tell. Zhao Changshi is tall and thin, and even with a beard, he looks like a gentleman. I didn't expect him to be so strong."
"Don't you understand?" The military officer laughed and said: "Zhao Changshi uses magic to bless himself. Even though he looks like an ordinary person, he can pull a crazy horse back with his fingers. You can poke a hole in the bluestone!"
"With such strength, how many acres of land can be irrigated in one day? There is no need to rent oxen from big farmers for plowing in the spring."
"Look at how poor you are! What kind of status is Zhao Changshi? Do you need to work in the fields by yourself?"
"That's right! I am a Marquis, and I have as many as eighty servants at home."
The military official shook his head and said, "I have never seen the world when I say this. What are one hundred and eighty slaves? Those big wealthy families and aristocratic families have thousands of slaves and over ten thousand tenants. The former Gao Pinggong who guarded Jianjia Pass only had There are more than a thousand private soldiers in the tribe, and the manor can be seen as far as the eye can see, and there is also a market set up inside."
"How did you know?"
The military official said as he walked: "I used to go to Gaopinggong's market with my father to sell wild products. When I set up a stall, I had to collect a share of the money."
"People can make money just by lying down. I also want to live like this."
"Do you have this fate? Push the cart obediently!"
"But I don't think Zhao Changshi looks like a big boss. There is more than one immortal in Jianjia Pass. Which one have you seen who would roll up his sleeves and help everyone do the heavy work?"
All the soldiers nodded after hearing this, and the military officials couldn't help but sigh: "Not only that, in Jianjia Pass, we, the chief ministers, were called to the mansion every night. Zhao Changshi took several military chiefs and taught them in person. How do we use weapons and equipment, or how to distinguish flags and drums, and change formations? When we learn it, we will be responsible for teaching you."
"I'm just telling you, why do you have to practice on the school field every day?"
The military officer warned: "Don't take it seriously! When it comes to the battlefield, what Zhao Changshi teaches is a life-saving charm!"
…
It was getting dark, so Zhao Shu ordered the soldiers to set up camp among the ruins.
He released paper cranes to survey the surroundings, and while setting up a stove in the camp to start a meal, Zhao Shui wandered freely among the dilapidated houses.
"Zhao Changshi, be careful. The houses here have not been repaired for a long time, and the beams and pillars are unstable. They may collapse at the slightest movement." Zhang Liwei came on patrol with a few people.
"What is this place? It looks like a big house." Zhao Shu looked around and asked intentionally or unintentionally.
"I don't know, but I just came to explore the road and found a stone tablet. Unfortunately, it was blurry and impossible to identify." Zhang Liwei said.
"Stone tablet? Lead the way."
Zhao Shu followed Zhang Liwei, stepped over a pile of knee-high withered grass, and scattered bricks and tiles, and saw the stone tablet that was nearly a person tall. The words on it had obviously been deliberately erased, and only scattered words could be barely seen.
"Construct a trap, remove the vassal...the clan is so treacherous...the trapped beast wants to fight..." Zhao Shu touched the stone tablet, half-reading and half-guessing.
He Dangguan in the back had a subtle expression: "A trapped beast wants to fight? I seem to have heard these words somewhere. It should be Duke Qingming's message to raise an army."
"Oh?" Zhao Shu asked: "Qingming Gong? Isn't he one of the three men who were involved in the Three Gongs Rebellion more than 20 years ago?"
"That's him!" He Dangguan said.
When the first king of Huaxu Kingdom passed away and had no heirs, the officials and officials argued endlessly in order to choose a new king from among the descendants of the clan. At that time, Liang Tao fell in love with the mediocre Gao Pinggong, while the other three clan members who guarded the vassal were interested.
They competed for the throne and raised armies one after another.
Among them, Duke Qingming, who was in the south, did not hesitate to mobilize the army guarding Jianjia Pass. However, when the troops were halfway through the march, Liang Tao personally killed Duke Qingming, and the court also sent a group of accomplices to the leader, and then most of the troops returned to Jianjia Pass.
Pass to stop the Jiuli Kingdom who intends to invade.
Liang Tao made outstanding contributions during the Three-Gong Rebellion, but the Duke Gao Ping he chose did not inherit the throne. Instead, the current ruler gained power during the chaos, skillfully maneuvered between the government and the opposition, and successfully ascended the throne.
In order to appease Liang Tao, the current ruler of the country also named him a national advisor and gave many rewards and praises to Chongxuan Hall. Duke Gao Ping replaced Duke Qingming and came to guard Jianjia Pass. As for how many overt and covert fights there were in private, I don't care.
Outsiders know it.
"There is a call to arms engraved on the stone tablet. I want to come here and have a close relationship with Qingming Gong." Zhao Shu looked around: "Looking at the dilapidated state of this place, it is estimated that after the death of Qingming Gong, the imperial court sent people to destroy it, and even the words on the stone tablet were erased.
"
"Sometimes I have to admire that Liang Guoshi. If it hadn't been for his decisive action, Huaxu would have been devastated by the civil war." He Dangguan sighed: "It was only a few years ago that my elders and I came to Huaxu.
, if the bloodshed breaks out among the clan members, the common people will never have a chance to live a good life."
Zhao Shu curled his lips and said nothing. He Dangguan knew that what he just said was inappropriate, so he quickly apologized: "I'm talking nonsense, please forgive me, Deacon Zhao."
"Do I look so stingy?" Zhao Shu laughed: "Okay, you guys go and have a rest. Tomorrow we will continue to track the movements of Jiuli Kingdom's troops. If we encounter a military convoy, we will escort it back to Jianjia Pass."
After saying this, Zhao Shu took a deep look at Zhang Liwei, who lowered his head and said yes as if he knew it.
…
"Oops! The convoy escorting military supplies was attacked by the enemy!"
In the afternoon of the next day, Zhao Shui was leading his troops on the road when Zhang Yanshou arrived on horseback and received an urgent report.
"Enemy attack?" Zhao Shu asked: "How many enemies are there?"
"I can't see clearly! As soon as I arrived nearby, I saw a large piece of black smoke blowing from the other side of the hillside, covering the convoy in the blink of an eye. I didn't dare to approach rashly!" Zhang Yanshou pointed to the west and said: "About four or five
It's just a mile away, just around a forest."
Zhao Shu immediately ordered: "All members of the D-shaped battalion, speed up the pace and set up formations along the forest. The cavalry will guard both wings!"
After giving these instructions, Zhao Shu concentrated his attention and used the paper crane in the sky to peer far ahead. He could see that a group of carriages and horse baggage were brought out of the black smoke by an unknown crowd. He moved quickly without any delay and was far away from the official road in the blink of an eye.
.
Moreover, among the crowd who robbed the carriages and horses, there were clearly several monks, including the second brother, who moved the soil on the ground from a distance and erased the traces of the carriages and horses. There were also people who used illusions to distort light and shadow, making the carriages and horses lose their shape.
Gradually disappearing traces.
Zhao Shu secretly marveled, even though he expected that Chiyun would send someone to "rob" this batch of salt and iron medicine, he did not expect that they would act so smoothly, and with the cooperation of many monks, even if he did not secretly plan it, they would really steal it.
It is estimated that this batch of military supplies will not be too difficult.
Originally, Zhao Shui wanted to take advantage of the gap between the D-shaped battalion soldiers and horses to form a formation, leaving an opportunity for Chiyundu's manpower. Now it seems that by the time most of the soldiers and horses arrive, all the military supplies will have been robbed.
, and it is not appropriate for me to delay here.
"Get on your horse and follow me!" Zhao Shu called Zhang Liwei and several others, and headed towards the official road shrouded in black smoke. Zhao Shu used a technique to attract wind, blowing away the black smoke in one fell swoop, and saw hundreds of soldiers and civilians unconscious.
Fall to the ground.
Zhao Shu hurried forward and woke up the clerk who was escorting the military supplies. The clerk choked and coughed several times before he woke up. When he opened his eyes and saw Zhao Shu and others, he looked around in panic and found that all the military supplies were missing. He immediately howled in despair.
Stand up: "Military supplies! This is the military supplies ordered by Marquis Zhenming!!"
"No need to call." Zhao Shu said, "I am Zhenminghou Zhao Shu."
Hearing this, the petty official quickly knelt down and knelt down in obeisance: "Marquis Zhenming, please spare your life. I have neglected my duty and allowed military supplies to fall into the hands of barbarians!"
Zhao Shu was startled. He was still thinking about how to deal with his words, but he didn't expect that this little official covered it up for him like he was smart.
"It's not your fault that I just arrived and was a step too late." Zhao Shu stood up and ordered: "Search immediately for the direction of the carriage and horse. I think the enemy has not gone far yet!"
Zhang Liwei and others were ordered to leave, but he knew very well that there was absolutely no trace of the military supplies stolen by Chiyundu. He was just cooperating with Zhao Shu to play out the scene.
When most of the Dingzi Camp arrived, everyone learned from Zhao Changshi that this time Jiuli Kingdom sent powerful experts to use the smoke miasma technique to stun the soldiers and civilians who were escorting the military supplies, and robbed a batch of valuable military supplies.
.
"Keep looking! I don't believe that such a chariot and horse can disappear out of thin air!" Zhao Shu shouted angrily in front of everyone.
Zhang Liwei spoke at the right time: "Zhao Changshi, could it be that the traces of the carriage and horses were covered up by the magic of Jiuli Kingdom?"
"Huh?" Zhao Shu looked like he suddenly realized it, and tapped his forehead: "Yes, yes, I was so busy that I almost forgot about this method. You camp on the spot, and the cavalry continues to scout around. I will find a higher place to practice the method.
search."
Zhao Shu actually knew very well that even if Chiyun had monks to assist him, it would be impossible for the chariots and horses loaded with military supplies to fly into the sky and escape. Their manpower was probably still not far away. If he really searched hard, he would definitely be able to detect it.
And his move was just to evade the eyes and ears of many soldiers, so that the people from Chiyundu could take the initiative to send the mountain and forest map.
Zhao Shu could not trust Zhang Liwei to handle such an important matter. If something went wrong in the middle, Zhao Shu could not imagine the consequences.
After Zhao Shui had set up the simple altar and was about to summon the officials and soldiers, he suddenly felt a gaze coming towards him.
Using Yingxuan's Scenery Technique and looking around, Zhao Shu noticed a vague outline in mid-air.
The person who came here has a high level of cultivation. Although he deliberately restrained his aura, Zhao Shu still felt a warmth like the sun. It was a light that radiated from the inside out. It was difficult for ordinary people to see with the naked eye, but as long as the mind was sincere, it could be seen.
Feeling.
"The wise eye of the Supreme God, the supreme observer of the sky, one light and myriad changes, with words reaching Yingxuan." Mr. Huaiming slowly fell down and appeared next to the altar. He did not make any seals or recite incantations, but directly suppressed the sound, light and shadow around him, and eliminated all dangers.
Peeping from outsiders.
"The Yingxuan Illuminating Scenery Technique is a technique used by the officials of the Tianxia Dynasty to gain insight into the flow of qi and to see the yin and yang of humans and ghosts." Mr. Huaiming said with his hands behind his hands.
"Your Excellency seems to know the praise officer of the Tianxia Dynasty very well?" Zhao Shu looked up and down when he spoke. He saw that the other person's beard and hair were all red, his eyes were like torches, and he was dressed in ocher-red short-brown clothes with pudding sewn on them. He was already worn, and his feet were bare.
He is dressed like an old farmer from the countryside, but his calm demeanor is a bit majestic.
"The predecessors of Chiyun Mountain were invited by the Zanli officials to assist in the compilation of the Burning Ceremony." Mr. Huaiming said.
"Oh?" Zhao Shu recalled carefully and confirmed that this matter had not been found in previous books. However, the praise officer did have burning rituals, such as burning incense, lamps and candles, etc. Most of the things involving the use of fire can be classified under this category.
"I haven't asked you about your name yet." Zhao Shu asked, cupping his hands.
"The common name has been abandoned, only Huai Ming."
Zhao Shu's face changed slightly: "Mr. Huaiming, one of the three elders of Chiyun?"
"What? Are you scared when you see the leader of the rebellious party?" Mr. Huaiming's eyes were scrutinizing, burning like fire.
Zhao Miao raised his hand seriously and said, "I am really frightened when Mr. Huaiming comes here in person."
"Nowadays, the most popular Marquis Zhenming in the court of Huaxu Kingdom is in charge of Jinding Division, assisting Wu Kuijun, and sitting in Jianjia Pass. He has a great responsibility." Mr. Huaiming suddenly changed the subject: "What will happen if I kill you here?
?”
Before Zhao Shu could speak, a real murderous intention enveloped him. If Mr. Huaiming wanted to take action now, he would not even be able to escape.
The three elders of Chiyun have been famous for a long time. At least they have entered Taoism and practiced cultivation during the chaotic times in the late Tianxia years. Considering that they can still protect themselves in the face of Liang Tao, they are probably similar to their teacher Zhang Duanjing and have the cultivation level of becoming an immortal.
"Chiyundu has just received a batch of military supplies, so he can't wait to cut off the contact?" Zhao Shu couldn't help but asked: "If Chiyundu is really so short-sighted, then I, Zhao Shu, am blind, and I actually put my hope in
Such a bunch of ignorant gangsters!"
"It's exactly the same sophistry." Mr. Huaiming snorted coldly, and his words seemed to have something to say, but it was puzzling.
"I would like to ask Mr. Huaiming, what benefits can you get from killing me?" Zhao Shu quickly said: "It is impossible for Chiyun to hide in Cangwu Ridge forever, isolated from the world."
Mr. Huaiming restrained his murderous intent and said with a smile: "Chiyundu is not just in Cangwu Ridge. Saying these words shows that you are still standing outside the threshold."