"What is the name of the mountain in front of you? Have the people down there found out?"
Guan Xing looked at the hazy distant mountains in front of him, frowned, and asked.
I saw that the mountain was covered with a layer of gauze, and its shadows were blurry, far and near in the misty clouds and smoke, almost as if they were far away.
It looks beautiful standing here, but Guan Xing knows that none of the mountains in Nanzhong can be taken lightly.
Because the further south you go, the more likely you are to encounter miasma on the mountains you encounter.
From the moment they entered Yueqi County, the number of casualties and sick soldiers in the army was almost the same, which illustrates the seriousness of the epidemic in Nanzhong.
Therefore, stop when you encounter mountains. You need to find out clearly from the local people before you can go there.
"After asking, the locals called that mountain Mantis Mountain. The reason is that there are many insects and ants in the mountain, especially mantises, so it got this name. Later, after the former Han Dynasty destroyed Yelang, they set up a county here and felt that the mantises were there.
If the word "worm" is indecent, remove the word "worm" and change it to "tanglang".
Zhang Bao pointed to Tanglang Mountain and continued, "Over this mountain, there is a county behind. It was named because it is close to this mountain, so it is called Tanglang County. It is the place where Yong Kai is based."
Guan Xing nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "Then Meng Huo captured Yong Kai's troops and retreated in a hurry. He was afraid that he would not have time to win over the soldiers. If the people's hearts are unstable, it is impossible to fight, so he didn't even think about turning back.
Fight with us."
"Since Tanglang County is where Yong Kai is based, when he arrives in Tanglang County, he will definitely stay for some time to win people's hearts."
Zhang Bao scratched his head after hearing this. He knew that his sworn brother's strategy was much better than his own, so he always relied on his opinion when encountering problems.
At this time, he asked: "What Anguo means is that we will catch up with them in Tanglang County?"
"That depends on what Meng Huo means."
Guan Xing looked at the mountain tops shrouded in clouds and mist, "If I were Meng Huo, I would deceive others to come all the way and not be familiar with the terrain. I would definitely send my trusted followers to lead my headquarters to set up an ambush in this mountain. I can drag them down even if I don't say anything."
Two or three days.”
"In this way, I will have more time to organize the troops in Tanglang County. If I am lucky and successfully set up an ambush, I can also improve the morale and damage the opponent's spirit."
Zhang Bao nodded, feeling that this was reasonable, "What if they didn't set up an ambush in the mountains?"
"That's even simpler. It means that Meng Huo just wants to take his troops back to Yizhou County as quickly as possible and has no intention of entangled with us."
"In that case, let's follow the old rules. I will lead the team to explore the road, and you will sit in the rear. If there is an ambush, you can respond from the front and back."
"Okay, be careful."
"clear."
After the division of labor between the two, Zhang Bao led a group of troops and carefully began to explore the way into the mountains, while Guan Xing took the remaining troops to camp and defend in case of changes, and at the same time, he was ready to respond at any time.
It wasn't until the last ray of the sun disappeared behind the mountain that Zhang Bao rushed back with his people and found Guan Xing with a strange look on his face. "There was no ambush. I dispersed all the people into the mountains and found no one with an ambush."
trace."
"I found a few woodcutters, and they all said that a large group of people did pass by here the day before yesterday, and they didn't stop at all."
Guan Xing nodded slightly in surprise, his expression became a little relaxed, "It seems that Meng Huo is anxious to return to Yizhou County."
"It's a good thing that he has no intention of organizing an army. As long as we hold on tightly and find ways to hold them back. When the prime minister comes from behind with his troops, I'll see where he can go."
Zhang Bao nodded and suddenly smiled, "I think he must not be able to figure out why he is so familiar with the terrain, and most of the troops he leads are barbarians who run very fast in the mountains, and they have never stopped. Why?"
We will catch up with you so easily."
Guan Xing smiled knowingly.
There is no other reason than that each of their former soldiers carries dry food with them.
If time is urgent, they can just eat dry food. If time is not urgent, they can make rice in a pot.
On the other hand, Meng Huo, who was running in front of them, was hanging so far away, and his morale had dropped a lot these days.
Mentioning dry food, Guan Xing thought of a certain guy again.
That guy was good at everything, but the fact that he coveted his girl made him very unhappy.
If you put aside this point, that guy is indeed an extremely rare talent.
But just because it was too rare, Guan Xing didn't want his sister to follow him.
There are very few women in the world who can control this kind of man.
He was of extraordinary origin, talented and wealthy.
That incomparable ingenuity, not to mention among his peers, not many people can match it, even if we look at all the big men.
As for his character... you can say that he values love and justice, or you can say that he is extremely vicious.
You simply don't know which one is the real him.
If someone else's girl had a husband like this, which brother would be relieved?
Just remembering that Sanniang has reached the point where she will not marry him, I feel depressed.
They say that an elder brother is like a father, but when it was my turn, why didn't I feel it?
The biggest income of the Guan family now is in the hands of Sanniang. She snorted, she is more intimidating than herself, the nominal head of the Guan family, it's so easy!
Thinking of Sanniang, Guan Xing also remembered what she had said to him before leaving, so he couldn't help but ask Zhang Bao, "Do those woodcutters have anything to say about this mountain? Is there such a thing as a miasma?"
"That's not true." Zhang Bao shook his head, "I just said that there are many poisonous insects on this mountain. People who lived nearby in the past were injured by poisonous insects and snakes a lot, and some even died from it. So I will go there tomorrow.
You still have to be more careful.”
Guan Xing nodded and said, "As long as there is no miasma, poisonous insects and snakes can always be prevented as long as you are careful."
Zhang Bao smiled and said, "Anguo, I think you have been mentioning this plague frequently since you went south. Are you being too cautious?"
"It is said that the miasma in Nanzhong is very powerful, but since you and I followed the Prime Minister into Yueqi County, although the soldiers in the army have fallen ill due to the miasma, they have all accidentally entered the place where the miasma is. Just be careful and avoid it.
If the miasma is cleared, what will happen?"
Guan Xing glanced at Zhang Bao and said "tsk", "I also heard people tell me to be more careful. It is said that Nanzhong is extremely hot and humid, so miasma will occur. And the miasma is the most serious in the year.
It’s summer time.”
"We didn't see it before, maybe because we haven't gone deep into the land of Nanzhong yet. And it's already entering the hot summer, so it's always right to be careful."
As he spoke, Guan Xing pointed to Tanglang Mountain and said, "Look at that mountain. It's not too high during the day, but it is shrouded in clouds and mist. This should be a scene just after it rains on the mountain.
, this is when the miasma arises.”
"Is there anything else?" Zhang Bao looked at Tanglang Mountain, but the sky had begun to darken, and he could only vaguely see the black mountain top, lying there quietly like a ferocious beast, "
But I don’t know who told An Guo about it?”
Guan Xing said vaguely, "He is just a kind-hearted person."
He was actually a little confused in his heart. He didn't know how true or false what the boy asked Sanniang to tell him.
I have been in Nanzhong for so long, and although I have seen miasma a few times, it has never been so severe. As long as you are careful, you can avoid it, so how can it harm people invisibly?
But what I have to admit is that he does have real talent and knowledge. Even the Prime Minister had to seriously consider his suggestions.
Since he made the miasma in Nanzhong so mysterious, it seems that there should be some truth to it.
While the two were talking, the sky turned dark.
In summer in Nanzhong, it is the time when mosquitoes are most abundant. People standing outside can see swarms of mosquitoes hovering in the sky not far away in the dark sky.
The buzzing sound penetrated directly into the ears, which was really frightening.
Guan Xing made a few "papa" sounds, patted himself a few times, and said, "This Tanglang Mountain really lives up to its name. Even the mosquitoes are more powerful than elsewhere."
Zhang Bao had to go into the mountains to explore the road during the day, so he put a lot of insect repellent plaster on his body, but there were not many mosquito bites.
"Let's go back to the tent first. Standing outside, listening to this sound is annoying."
A night of silence.
When they got up on the second day, the whole army buried pots to make rice, and then began to climb over the mountains.
The sun was getting up gradually. Normally, he would have been sweating all over his body, but for some reason today, Guan Xing always felt a little chilly.
After a while, he felt a little dizzy again and felt terribly uncomfortable. He touched his forehead with his hand, but he couldn't feel anything.
Because the sun was so strong that everything I touched felt scalding hot.
The sun above his head was getting stronger and stronger, and large beads of sweat began to appear on Guan Xing's forehead. At the same time, he felt that his chest was tight and his breath was short.
He finally felt that something was wrong with him, "Go...go to the front and call General Zhang over."
Guan Xingqiang exerted his last strength, panted heavily, and gave an order.
"Anguo, what's wrong with you!"
Zhang Bao heard that his bodyguard said that Guan Xing was feeling unwell, so he ran back quickly and saw that Guan Xing had already sat down, leaning against the shadow of a mountain stone, under the care of his bodyguard.
"Xingwu, I may be suffering from miasma."
Guan Xing was sweating profusely. When he saw Zhang Bao arriving, he quickly reached out and held his hand, with a slight look of horror on his face.
Guan Xing, who was not afraid of fighting life and death, actually felt a little scared at this moment.
Legend has it that this miasma is a life-threatening ghost released from the underworld to the human world. It wanders around the human world and demands human lives all the time.
As long as anyone is targeted by it, there will never be any escape.
Guan Xing is not afraid of the coming of bright swords and clear guns, but this kind of invisible and intangible thing makes people feel fear from the bottom of their hearts.
He only felt that something was wrapped around his body, sucking his soul, making him feel weak.
Zhang Bao's face also turned pale after hearing this, "An Guo, could it be that the weather is too hot and you have Sha, which is why you are like this?"
"Won't."
Guan Xing shook his head, his body trembling slightly, "I felt something was wrong the past two days. I always felt a little weak, and even lifting the knife felt a little difficult. At that time, I still thought I was tired.
.”
"It's such a bright sun today. I felt cold just now, then I suddenly felt hot, and now I'm sweating profusely. It's unmistakable. This is miasma..."
When Zhang Bao heard this, he felt as if he had been struck by thunder, and with a loud bang, he almost fainted.
"How is it possible? No, An Guo, how could you..."
Zhang Bao didn't believe this was true at all and shook his head repeatedly.
How long did it take for the brother who was joking with him this morning to suddenly contract such a serious disease? And it is also an incurable disease?
He simply couldn't accept what he was seeing.
"Xingwu, don't do this."
Guan Xing smiled bitterly. He was ill, but he had to comfort Zhang Bao, "Now the entire front army is watching you. How can you lead the army forward with your appearance?"
After hearing this, Zhang Bao finally realized that he had now become the only backbone of the former army. He quickly calmed down and asked, "What should we do?"
When the two of them encountered something, Guan Xing always made the decision. At this moment, Guan Xing collapsed, and Zhang Bao was anxious and a little panicked. He couldn't think of any good solution for a while.
"I can't make it."
Guan Xing shook his head, "I can't go any further. I can only go back and see the prime minister first. You are leading the front army alone, so be careful."
When Zhang Bao heard this, his eyes almost shed tears, and he choked up and said, "Anguo, don't do this. We said it when we were sworn brothers, we must work together to revive Handing. It's only been a few years? How can you bear it?
Abandon me?"
With that said, he cheered up and comforted Guan Xing, "The Prime Minister and his wife are both learned people. They will definitely be able to come up with a way to save you. Please cheer up."
Guan Xing watched Zhang Bao suddenly reveal his true feelings, his heart was sour and his eyes were hot, and at the same time he was a little bit dumbfounded, "Where did you want to go? I just said that I couldn't go forward, so I turned back, and didn't say I would.
die."
If you have a miasma, how can you save yourself?
It's just that he dies early or dies late.
If you die early, it will be within the year. If you die late, you will have to suffer for an extra year or two, which is simply more painful than dying early.
Who doesn’t know that Nanzhong is a place of plague? So Zhang Bao had already learned about the plague in Nanzhong before going to Nanzhong.
But now he couldn't bear to say this.
"I didn't expect that even though I was careful along the way, I still couldn't avoid this thing." Guan Xing sighed, "I thought that as long as I didn't touch the miasma, nothing would happen, but I didn't expect that he would still tell me
bingo."
Zhang Bao was only thinking about whether there was a way to keep Guan Xing alive. When he heard that there was someone who could predict this, he quickly asked, "Who? Who said that something like this would happen to you?"
"It's not that he said this would happen to me, but he said that this plague is not only tangible, but also invisible. Especially the mosquitoes and water sources in Nanzhong also carry the miasma."
"He asked me to try not to get bitten by the mosquitoes when I got to Nanzhong, and to drink boiled water on weekdays, otherwise I might contract the miasma."
Now that things have happened, Guan Xing also has some regrets in his heart, "I believe that drinking boiled water can reduce the incidence of disease. After all, we have captured so many laborers from Nanzhong, so it would be better if we just give them boiled water."
Get sick less often.”
"It's just that I think it's too mysterious that even being bitten by mosquitoes can lead to miasma. We don't get bitten by mosquitoes on weekdays. Isn't it okay? And after arriving at Nanzhong, I discovered that in Nanzhong,
How is it possible to avoid mosquitoes?"
"So I was a little worried about the idea of miasma caused by mosquito bites. Later, I was bitten by mosquitoes from Nanzhong for several months, and I didn't find anything wrong, so I didn't take it to heart. Now that I think about it, this
It is estimated that nine out of ten times it is true."
"Who? Who said this to you?"
After Zhang Bao heard this, he asked questions again and again. He thought that since this person knew about such things, he might also have a way to cure him.
Guan Xing's face was complicated. He glanced at Zhang Bao and muttered, "That's the boy."
"Which boy... hmm? That one?!"
Zhang Baogang was about to ask again, but when he saw Guan Xing's expression, he suddenly thought of someone.
"Um."
Hearing Guan Xing's admission, Zhang Bao's expression was also very complicated.
A certain guy who seduced all the girls in their family at the same time... really haunts him!
Zhang Bao finally understood why Guan Xing was unwilling to listen to those words. If it were him... he would feel awkward too!
But now, Zhang Bao still has to say one more thing: "Anguo, it's not me. Now that things have reached this point, I will send someone to find him and ask him if there is anything he can do."
Guan Xing closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, "Before I left, Sanniang told me that if I really contract such a serious disease, I must inform her as soon as possible and let him think of a solution."
The reason why Guan Xing could still show some composure after the initial fear was because of what his Sanniang once said to him.
Although he doesn’t believe that he can come up with any solution to the plague that no one has been able to cure since ancient times, in the face of death, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, who wouldn’t want to hold on tightly?
Zhang Bao couldn't hear the difference between "she" and "he", but that didn't matter.
Because it will eventually fall on "him".
Not only being dominated by my own girl, but now I have to fall into the hands of a boy who covets my own girl. This feeling is really uncomfortable...
Zhang Bao felt sad and looked at Guan Xing with some pity.
