Autumn is high in August, and even the remote areas of the southwest have been soaked in the strong autumn mood. In the northwest of Dali, between the mountains and canyons, a large army is walking along the mountain trails that cannot be called roads.
Forward.
Surrounded by cliffs and steep peaks, dense vegetation, and rugged rocks are all obstacles to the advance, and the journey is difficult. In front of the army, there are thousands of people who are opening the road. It is like this all the way.
Although there is no military flag raised high, the identity of this army is very easy to identify. The Han army. Not to mention the uniforms and armor. In the entire southwest, except for Dali, only the Han Dynasty can arm and mobilize an army of tens of thousands of people.
Different from the Han army's Zhishi uniforms and equipment, this army was obviously adapted to local conditions. There were few heavy equipment in the whole army, and everything was mainly light and convenient for trekking and marching in the mountains.
In addition to swords, guns, bows and crossbows, everyone was armed with a woodcutter, violently destroying the original vegetation along the way, and forcibly opening up a passable road.
There was no special baggage team, the food was carried with them, and the officers and soldiers were integrated. Fortunately, there were a large number of horses, donkeys and mules, especially Dali horses, with the army. The use of animal power relieved the sergeants a lot of burden.
Over the years, in the exchange of trade with Dali, and in the mountains and forests of the southwest, the advantages of the Dali horse have been fully demonstrated. Tens of thousands of Dali horses have been introduced by the government and people in the southwest. Today, these short-footed horses with sufficient endurance
, and became a powerful aid to the Han army in their southern expedition.
Even so, it was still an arduous journey for the Han soldiers who had climbed mountains and crossed canyons. If it was difficult, it would only cost lives. Not to mention the dangers at every step, in the process of going south, there were attrition every day.
.
Just like previous Han army battles, this time the Han army marched south to Dali. They still did not concentrate on one route, but chose to divide their troops into two routes: east and west. Of course, this does not include the army on Guangnan West Road, which only played a leading role.
It's basically soy sauce.
There are more than 50,000 people on the east side, led by Wang Renfan, the deputy envoy to recruit. They set out from Qiongbu County in southern Sichuan, intending to pass through Jianchang, Huichuan, and Nongdong, and then attack westward to attack Yangjumei City, the capital of Dali. This is the main force
, is also the main road, the most important road between the two countries, and also the main defense direction of Dali's army.
There are those who follow the right path, and naturally there are those who take strange roads. This strange army is the above-mentioned army, with a total of more than 25,000 people. It was personally led by Wang Quanbin, the recruiting envoy, and set out from Dadu County at the junction of Sichuan and Tibet. They traveled lightly.
The target is also the capital of Dali.
The 25,000 Han troops on the West Road are basically capable officers and soldiers, including the results of Wang Quanbin's many years of training in the southwest. The more than 5,000 troops are recruited from various chieftains. In terms of actual combat strength, they are inferior to those of Wang Renfan.
The vigorous Eastern Route Army was much stronger.
This is destined to be a long and arduous journey. After crossing the Dadu River, we walked along the river valley for a while, then plunged into the mountains and canyons of the Yunnan-Tibet Plateau. There was basically no man's land along the way. Of course, there was no way to go
The cost of taking the ordinary road is probably this.
The straight-line distance from Dadu County to Yangju City is about 800 miles. However, when we actually walked down, just through the mountains and canyons, the distance traveled more than doubled.
When he received the imperial edict, it was only early autumn. Wang Quanbin spent half a month mobilizing troops and horses, making arrangements for the expedition, and then began to march. Now, nearly a month has passed, and this arduous journey still has no end.
The morale of the army has been weakened. The soldiers did not dare to complain, but the irritability has spread. It is because of the strict military law and Wang Quanbin's example that he persists silently. The sixty-year-old general personally leads
, what else can anyone else say.
Of course, if you don't persist, there is no other way. If you become a deserter, regardless of the punishment of military discipline, if you leave the brigade, there will most likely be nothing but dead bodies in the wilderness in this deep mountain.
The only thing that can make people feel at ease is that this is not a dead end. During the years of military training in the southwest, Wang Quanbin sent people to explore the geographical situation of Dali, and the march route of the West Road also sent people
I have gone through it several times. Just to find a marching route, I lost more than 300 people.
No matter how bold Wang Quanbin was in using his troops, he would not really dare to make fun of the safety of more than 25,000 sergeants. It is not easy to gather an army of this size in the southwest region. And the two armies, no matter which one came out
Problem, this southern expedition to Dali can be declared a failure.
It was another section of steep mountain road. Wang Quanbin also dismounted and led the troops on foot. The distance was less than three miles long. From the beginning, it took almost a whole day for the whole army to pass through. Then, hundreds more were lost.
Soldiers and mules and horses.
At dusk, the soft light of the setting sun spreads across the vast mountains. The soldiers of each battalion rested on the spot. Due to the terrain restrictions, it was impossible to bury pots and cook rice. From officers to sergeants, they could only drink clean water and nibble.
Dry food.
The long march had exhausted the Han soldiers physically and mentally, and they no longer had the strength to complain. In the depressing atmosphere, they all fell asleep on the spot holding their marching blankets.
The place where Wang Quanbin rested was relatively open, but there was no special decoration. He used local materials and placed a pile of firewood. As soon as he walked out, there was no bonfire anymore.
Like the soldiers, Wang Quanbin also ate hard and dry pancakes. For a veteran general who was over sixty years old, such a march was indeed difficult. If compared with before the departure, the whole person was almost exhausted.
He lost weight and was covered in filth. If you get close, you can smell the smell of copper that has almost turned into substance.
However, in this case, who can care about whom? Before dividing the troops, Wang Rengan suggested that Wang Quanbin should take the west route and let Wang Quanbin take command of the east route because Wang Quanbin was old.
Naturally, he was stubbornly rejected by Wang Quanbin, and this was not an attempt on his part. The Southern Expedition had been prepared for many years, and he even took the lead in formulating the military strategy. Wang Quanbin naturally had to shoulder the most important and arduous task.
Of course, according to his deduction of the war, the most threatening person to destroy Dali is still the West Route Army. As long as they leave the mountains, approach the Jinsha River, and cross the river, they can go straight to Yangju City.
.
In Dali, the terrain is difficult and the roads are difficult to navigate. These are indisputable facts. However, these geographical advantages are often confusing. What Dali relies on is the Dadu River, the danger of the Jinsha River, and the many tribes in the northeast.
These will all become obstacles to the Han army's advance. Wang Quanbin chose a route that could avoid these constraints to a great extent. As for the front, he left it to Wang Renfan, who would personally attack the key points.
"This road is more difficult than I imagined!" However, after nearly a month of marching, even the strong-willed General Wang couldn't help but sigh like this.
"You are all handsome!" While he was sighing, a middle-aged general came over, followed by a short and capable subordinate: "The guide has brought him!"
"How long until we can leave the mountain?" Wang Quanbin nodded and asked the guide directly without any nonsense.
The gradually darkening sky enveloped Wang Quanbin, seeming to add a bit of hostility to him. The guide was a Yi man. Although he was nervous, he quickly replied: "Come back to the capital, this place is already in Dali, and to the east is
For example, in Kubu, it will take less than two days to get out of the mountain and reach the city of Dali."
"Are you sure?" Wang Quanbin's eyes lit up at first, and then his tone became more severe.
The guide spoke with a Yunnan accent and replied firmly: "I've walked through it twice, I'm sure!"
"Commander, some mountain people have been discovered in the front camp. What the guide said is true!" the Han general also said.
In this way, Wang Quanbin's expression finally softened and he asked: "Have those mountain people been under control?"
The general said calmly: "It's all solved!"
Nodding, his expression relaxed, and looking at the guide, Wang Quanbin showed a rare smile: "You guides have made great achievements. When you go out and conquer Dali, I will ask for your credit. No, I will directly upgrade you to level three!
"
"Thank you, handsome!" the Yi guide was overjoyed.