The setting sun is like blood, and the mountain breeze is gentle.
Qin Huaidao and the other two stopped at the entrance of Lan Martial Arts Road. Next to them was a stone tablet with the three characters "Lan Martial Arts" engraved on it. The stone tablet was obviously eroded by wind. In some years, the road ahead was not wide and winding, disappearing among the green trees.
In the middle, there are obvious wheel marks on the ground, as well as the feces of various mules and horses.
"Young Master, there is something unclear about Xue, and I would like to ask Young Master to clarify his confusion." Xue Rengui couldn't help but ask.
"tell me the story."
"The Qinling Mountains are long and winding. There are Kugu Road, Yigu Road, Ziwu Road, Chencang Road and other post roads leading to the Qinling Mountains from Chang'an. Bandits may be hiding somewhere in any of these ancient post roads. Why did the young master choose the Lanwu Road?"
Xue Rengui asked.
"There are two considerations. First, Lantian County is the closest to Chang'an, which makes it easier for bandits to contact the Wang family. Second, Lanwu Road leads to Nanyang, Jingxiang, Jiangnan and even Lingnan Road post roads, which are prosperous places. The Wang family secretly supports thousands of people.
What are the bandits trying to do in the Qinling Mountains? Is it possible that they are willing to rob families?"
"Young Master, what you mean is that even if they are bandits, they are also a caravan that trades between the Wang family and the rich places in the southeast. They are good at business and banditry?" Xue Rengui thought thoughtfully.
"There is another possibility. The only way from Chang'an to the prosperous land in the southeast is through the blue martial arts road. Once occupied, the Wang family can use this to win over and suppress a large number of families. Those who are friendly can pass, and those who are hostile can rob it and guard other post roads.
How can it be better than this one?"
"Young master is wise, Xue has learned a lesson." Xue Rengui said sincerely.
"The mountains are high and the forests are dense. Be careful of cold arrows and move on."
Qin Huaidao reminded him, took out the long knife from his back, clamped his legs under the horse's belly, and walked forward.
Xue Rengui and Luo Zhang also took out their long swords and stood ready.
Walking slowly and not very fast, Qin Huaidao focused half of his attention on the ground. After walking for about ten miles, he suddenly stopped and stared at the woods next to him.
There are no roads in the forest, but the grass and trees on the ground have been trampled to create a passable path, and there is also mule and horse excrement. This is very abnormal in the vast primitive mountain forest. What is even more abnormal is that the vegetation on the post road has been artificially lifted up, for fear of being discovered.
There are general traces of trampling, but the disguise is not careful enough and it is a bit perfunctory.
It's right to think about it. Someone in the DPRK reported the news, and the officers and soldiers would know it as soon as they moved. Even if the bandit leader asked, the following people would implement it hastily without worrying about being exposed.
Seeing this scene, Qin Huaidao felt confident.
"Hey, it seems to be traces of people passing by." Xue Rengui came over and said.
Luo Zhang also said: "There is a lot of mule and horse excrement in the woods ahead, something is wrong."
"Look at the wheel marks on the ground, don't you think it's a little strange?" Qin Huaidao reminded.
Xue Rengui and Luo Zhang looked down and found nothing unusual. Luo Zhang couldn't help but said: "Uncle, there are wheels all the way, and there are also wheels in front. There is nothing strange about it."
"Young Master, do you have any questions?" Xue Rengui also asked curiously.
"All the way here, the wheel marks are all in the middle of the post road. That's because the caravans were worried about the carriage overturning and tried to walk in the middle. But the wheels here are very close to the side and deeper than other wheels. There is only one explanation. Carriages carrying heavy objects often
Pull over here to unload.”
"Grain truck?" Xue Rengui and Luo Zhang said in unison.
Seeing Qin Huaidao nodding, Xue Rengui felt a little emotional, feeling that he had read the military manual in vain, and said sincerely: "Young master is thoughtful and observant, and Xue is not as good as him."
"Whether it is or not, just go and have a look and you will know. Let's go." Qin Huaidao turned over and led the horse forward. There were dense trees in front of him, making it inconvenient to ride a horse.
The three of them led the horses forward for a distance, and the front became more open. Qin Huaidao felt something was wrong, so he tied the horse to a tree and whispered: "There is a smell of rotting corpses."
"It seems so." Xue Rengui also quickly tied up the horse.
"Shall I go take a look?" Luo Zhang suggested after tying the horse.
"Don't worry." Qin Huaidao looked ahead carefully with his cold eyes. The path he stepped on extended from the middle of two hills. In front of him was a towering mountain. The road led to the cliff halfway up the mountain. The sky was dim.
, no matter how far away it is, it cannot be seen.
There were thick bushes on the two hillsides, and it was not known whether there was anyone hiding there. Qin Huaidao observed for a moment and said in a deep voice: "I will take the lead, Brother Xue will be in charge of the rear, Luo Zhang, you will be in charge of staring at the two sides, keep your body about ten meters apart from each other, and keep your body low.
, be careful of cold arrows."
"Understood!" The two men responded in a low voice.
"Walk!"
Qin Huaidao drew out his long knife, hunched his body and rushed forward. His feet were as fast as flying. He quickly reached the middle of two hillside and hid under a bush. He looked around vigilantly and listened to the movement with his ears.
In addition to the rustling of tree branches swaying in the mountain wind, the sounds of various unknown insects, and the chirping of birds in the distance, everything was normal.
Generally speaking, hidden sentries would be posted near the base. Qin Huaidao became confused. Is it because these people were too poorly educated and did not know how to arrange hidden sentries, or were they too cautious and overestimated the bandits of this era?
After observing for a moment, nothing unusual was found. Qin Huaidao hunched his body and continued to rush forward. With the help of the cover of the nearby bushes, he quietly approached the target like a hunting wild leopard. After walking for tens of meters, Qin Huaidao suddenly stopped and saw the ravine next to him.
He was so red that he was bursting with blood, and his murderous intent was soaring to the sky.
There were more than a dozen corpses lying in the ravine. The bodies had been eaten by wild beasts and only the bones were left. The clothes were in tatters and covered with blood. They could be vaguely identified as women. One of them, whose head was still intact, was a teenager.
The woman's eyes were wide and lifeless, showing endless despair and helplessness.
The thick stench of corpses drifted away in the wind.
"Why are there so many dead bodies of girls? Is this it?" Qin Huaidao thought of a possibility, and his murderous intent could not be contained, and he rushed forward quickly.
There is a cliff in front of it. There is a path paved with stone slabs and wood on the cliff, which is only for one person. In front of it is a stone cave with a small entrance. There is green smoke floating out from inside, and there are voices.
Qin Huaidao hid quickly and watched the surroundings vigilantly. When Xue Rengui and Luo Zhang came over, he pointed to the cliff in front and said, "It should be hidden inside."
"It's hidden enough. It's actually hidden in a cave. No wonder the officers and soldiers couldn't find it. However, the terrain here is difficult, easy to defend and difficult to attack." Xue Rengui said in a low voice as he looked ahead.
Qin Huaidao sniffed the air hard, and there was a faint smell of meat, and said quickly: "The people inside should be eating at the moment, otherwise there is no reason to come all the way without a sentry. The opportunity is rare, don't separate after fighting in, old rules
, I will take the lead, Brother Xue will come from behind, and Luo Zhang will support you."
"Uncle, let me take the lead." Luo Zhang asked.
"Obey the order."
Qin Huaidao didn't say anything more and rushed over quickly.
The path on the cliff is quite strong. Once exposed, it only takes one person and one bow to rush through. The opportunity is fleeting. Qin Huaidao sprints with all his strength, walking as fast as flying. When he comes to the entrance of the cave in one breath, he sees a man holding a piece of meat.
He walked out while eating, humming something, as if venting his dissatisfaction.
Qin Huaidao rushed forward, broke the opponent's neck, dragged the body back, avoided the front of the cave, and flicked the body, and the body was thrown down the cliff. His movements were clean and neat, and no sound was made.
"Hey, is this still possible?" Xue Rengui was amazed by Qin Huaidao's whistle-touching method.