The two armies of the Han Dynasty, the north and the south, and the main force led by Wei Yan, marched in a hurry, hoping to capture Yuzhong in the shortest possible time.
But Feng Yong was much more relaxed.
We stayed for a day while passing through Didao.
Longxi Governor Shima Mayong, who was originally stationed at Guguan, had been sent to Daxia Pass by Longxi Governor Chen Shi to replace Liu Hun long before Feng Yong arrived.
Entering July in Longxi, it is already the hottest time of the year.
Fortunately, when they were in Longxi, the army marched along the Tao River, so they would not be too tired.
However, some people have jumped into the water because they were disobedient and sweating profusely, and then collapsed the next day.
Most of these people are from the Tiger Infantry, and a small number are new recruits who joined the Qiang Guards' Mansion last year.
After following Feng Junhou in the past few years, the veterans all know that every rule in the army has its purpose and will not violate it.
When Feng Yong led his army to Guguan, Liu Hun was waiting there early.
The weather was too hot, so Liu Hun didn't wear a helmet and tied up his hair, not covering up the fact that he only had one ear.
Maybe the Hu people don't care about this.
Because there are still a few scars on his face, which he made himself when he swore an oath.
Carrying a long horsetail, he walked up to Feng Yong and saluted: "I have seen the prince."
Jiang Wei, Zhang Yi, and Jufu had learned that their soldiers had fallen ill and had colds a few days ago because they were trying to cool off, so they stepped up their inspections wherever they set up camp.
As for Gongsun Zheng and the people on the staff, they had to constantly revise the battle plan and march plan based on the scouting horses ahead.
So Feng Yong was the only one sitting on the Hu bed by the Taoshui River, admiring the afterglow of the setting sun.
"Oh, Polu is here!"
Feng Yong turned around and said hello, "Come and sit."
"Thank you, Lord."
Liu Hun put the horse's straw on the ground, walked over and sat on the bed beside Feng Yong, sitting upright with his body upright.
Feng Yong watched the Tao water flowing by, and after a while he asked, "How is the situation over there in Wuhan?"
"Going back to Junhou, the leader of the rebellious army sent an envoy to Daxia County, saying that he was willing to surrender to the Han Dynasty, but he was beheaded by the general and asked his entourage to send his head back."
Liu Hun replied immediately.
"The leader of the rebellion?"
Feng Yong narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Exactly. When the rebels besieged Didao, they once again raised the slogan of "pacifying the Han Dynasty at the head of the river." After they were driven to Wuhan by the king, they were trapped in a corner of Longxi."
"When the rebel tribes were in panic and confusion, the descendants of Song Jian took the opportunity to stand up and are now the co-leaders of the rebellion."
Liu Hun looked at Feng Yong with admiration in his eyes.
Feng Yongwei's narrowed eyes quickly returned to normal, and he asked, "Where is the Bald Hair Department in Baishi City? Has the withdrawal been completed?"
"The withdrawal has been completed."
When Liu Hun said this, he couldn't help but tilt his head slightly.
Looking from his direction, we could only see a small part of Feng Langjun's profile, but couldn't see Feng Langjun's expression at all.
Three months ago, Feng Langjun planned to kill Han Chou who led the army from Heguan, and then returned directly to Pingxiang. After the Bald Hair Division in Baishi City learned about it, they panicked.
Tufa Tianli personally brought a thousand good horses, a thousand cattle and three thousand sheep to give gifts to Ping Xiang.
I just heard that Feng Langjun not only failed to meet Bald Khotan Li, but also planned to send someone to drive him away.
Later, Tufa Khotan knelt outside the city of Pingxiang for a day and a night. Mrs. Junhou couldn't bear it and begged Feng Langjun for her love.
Feng Langjun then allowed them to exchange 30,000 livestock for woolen cloth and some grain.
After exchanging supplies, the Bald Hair Division began to return north to Xihai Ranch.
It was inconvenient to communicate between Daxia County and Pingxiang, so Liu Hun could only mechanically carry out Feng Yong's original order, but he couldn't figure out why he did this.
There were only two people by the water at this time, and Liu Hun couldn't help but ask one more question out of curiosity.
"Your Majesty, whether we ask the Bald Ministry to help or accept the surrender of the traitorous Hu, we can defeat Wuhan in one fell swoop and completely pacify Longxi."
"But at the end of the day, when the general looked at the king, he seemed to want to indulge the Wuhan barbarians. Why is this?"
Feng Yong smiled slightly, stood up, and looked to the west. The sun had completely dropped below the horizon, and he could only see a few rays of light shining from behind the mountains.
"Polu, you have lived on the grassland since you were a child, have you ever survived an eagle?"
Liu Hun quickly stood up and said, "Back to the king, although I lived on the grassland when I was a child, the tribe has declined since it was passed down from the eldest father to the adults."
"The villain is not his legitimate son. How could he ever have the opportunity to do such a thing in ordinary times?"
Feng Yong nodded, "I forgot about this. Then do you know how to boil an eagle?"
"This little man has heard something about it. Wild eagles are arrogant and untamed, violent and wild. After being captured, they are not allowed to sleep for several days and nights, and then they are starved, their eyes are covered, and their wings are bound to temper their wild nature..."
The more Liu Hun spoke, the slower he spoke. In the end, he paused. His eyes looking at Feng Yong became frightened and frightened.
Feng Yong nodded and smiled calmly, "In this world, it's not just people who fly in the sky called eagles. In fact, there is also a kind of person on the ground called eagle dogs."
"It doesn't matter if the eagles and dogs are unwilling to obey at first. As long as you grind them slowly like an eagle, your wild nature will be worn away, and then you can let them hunt."
On a July day, when the sun had just set, the heat had not dissipated, but Liu Hun felt a sudden coldness on his back.
"Polu!"
Feng Yong said suddenly.
"The villain is here!"
Liu Hun immediately tensed up his body subconsciously and stood up straight.
Only Feng Yong's voice was heard, "You have been following me for a long time, so you should know my temper."
"I am actually a very soft-hearted person. I treat my own people with all my heart and soul."
"It's just that I can't be tolerant of those who want to go against me, right?"
A drop of cold sweat dripped down Liu Hun's forehead, "Yes...yes!"
"So this eagle, do you understand what I mean?"
"understood!"
Feng Yong then nodded with satisfaction and looked at the rising green smoke. He didn't know whether it was fog or smoke from the military fires.
"Let's go back to camp."
"promise!"
Liu Hun pulled up his horse and followed Feng Yong, just as he had always been by Feng Yong's side.
After leaving Longxi, the army began to leave the Taoshui River and turned north.
The road started to get rough, and it was obvious that the terrain was getting higher and higher.
When the army finally climbed over a mountain, Feng Yong finally couldn't help but spit out one word: Cao!
I saw a continuous mountain range standing so abruptly in front of me. Compared with it, the mountains in front were simply hills.
What's even more terrible is that this mountain range runs east-west.
Looking east, there is no end; looking west, there is still no end!
Just so abruptly blocking the way of the army.
"Bring me the map."
Feng Yong gave an order.
Staff officer Zhang Yuan immediately spread out the map and sent it to Feng Yong.
"Li Jian!"
"Your Majesty, the villain is here."
Li Jian quickly walked to Feng Yong's side.
"Where is this mountain on the map? How long is it? Where is it at the end?"
Feng Yong pointed at the mountains in front of him with his pen.
"Going back to Junhou, this mountain is close to the south of Jincheng. As long as you climb over this mountain, you can reach the foot of Jincheng."
"To the north of Jincheng is a big river. The mountain and the river enclose Jincheng. At the east and west ends of the mountain, there are big rivers."
As Li Jian spoke, he drew pictures on the map.
Feng Yong stretched out his hand and said, "Pen!"
I took the pen handed over by someone, found a large rock with a high point, put the map on it, and then started to draw.
After the rough map was sketched, everyone took a breath.
"No wonder it's so impregnable!"
Feng Yong looked at the terrain and murmured.
The main vein on the west side of this mountain range extends to the Yellow River, tightly protecting the south and west sides of Jincheng.
In addition, Jincheng's head rests on the river, which means that it only needs to guard against enemies coming from the east.
To reach Jincheng, the best way is to follow the Yellow River from the east.
There are the remnants of this mountain range and the narrow pass formed by the Yellow River.
But Feng Yong looked to the east, then looked at the mountain range, and his face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Because standing here, he could only see the continuous high mountains to the east, blocking the sky and the sun, and there was no way for hunters and woodcutters.
And I heard from Li Jian that if you go east, you have to walk to the main road from Longxi through Yuzhong before you can come out of the mountains.
Feng Yong's face turned darker after hearing this.
If that's the case, then wouldn't it be more convenient for me to go to Yuzhong with Old Man Wei from the beginning?
What’s the point of leading an army through Didao?
To make a big circle?
Besides, if I really dare to lead an army into the mountains to the east, there is at least a half chance that I will get lost, and only half of them will be able to get out of the mountains and forests.
"Are you sure you can climb this mountain?"
Feng Yong looked at the mountain range stretching in front of him to the north and murmured in his heart.
This one seems to be higher than the mountains to the east.
"Back to Junhou, this road is actually a side road."
Li Jian explained, "In the past, when the Han Dynasty was in its heyday, you could take the Didao and pass through Huanhan. After crossing the river, you could take the Huangshui River to reach Xiping."
"Then from Xiping you can take a narrow entrance in the Qilian Mountains, and from there you can reach Zhangye."
When Feng Yong heard this, his heart moved and he blurted out: "Silk Road?"
Going from Chang'an to Liangzhou, what is it if it's not the Silk Road?
Li Jian looked at Feng Yong in confusion, not understanding what this meant.
Feng Yong forcibly suppressed Huo Huo's beating heart and asked, "Don't we always take Jincheng from Guanzhong to Liangzhou? Why have I never heard of this road?"
Li Jian smiled and said, "Of course the way we take now is via Jincheng. But before that, there were actually three ways to go to Liangzhou."
One more thing?
Feng Yong swallowed and looked at Li Jian.
Seeing Feng Yong's expression, Li Jian knew that he was very interested, so he explained everything in detail.
"In fact, the earliest way to go to Liangzhou is to go north through Qian County, pass through Xiaoguan, and then cross the river at Zuli, and you can directly reach Zhigu Zang in Wuwei County."
"This road is relatively desolate, so after the south road was opened, it gradually became deserted."
"The South Road is the road that the villain just mentioned. It passes through Didao and Xiping, and you can reach Zhangye by taking the Qilian Mountain pass."
"Because this road was more prosperous at the beginning, it replaced the North Road."
"It's just that the south road has to go around a long way. After the Jincheng is built, it will be shorter to cross the river, so everyone is taking that way now."
"In addition, after the Qiang and Hu rebellions, the southern road was blocked, and now few people know about it." At this point, Li Jian sighed, "But our Li family is rooted in Didao."
"The south road is blocked. Our Li family's caravan has to go to Nan'an first and then to Jincheng. It has to go around the boss's route. It is time-consuming, laborious and inconvenient."
"So in order to find a way to Jincheng, our Li family tried to climb over this mountain."
Having said this, Li Jian smiled bitterly and shook his head, "It's just that this road has high mountains and dangerous roads, so it's difficult to transport bulk goods."
"Coupled with the continuous Qiang and Hu rebellions in Longxi over the past hundred years, our Li family in Longxi has long since declined and will never be as prosperous as it once was."
He did not hide his family secrets in front of Feng Yong.
After listening to his words, Feng Yong understood the plight of the Li family in Longxi.
It's like opening a store in a busy street, with a lot of traffic.
Then one day, the front of this street was blocked, the street became deserted, and no one came to the store anymore, so naturally we had to find another way out.
He thoughtfully took a pen and connected the points of Didao, Wuhan, Xiping, and Zhangye into a line. His eyes began to become dark, and he didn't know what he was thinking.
After a long time, Feng Yong finally raised his head and took a serious look at the mountain range. He found that the hills in this area were indeed lower than the hills on both sides in the distance.
If you want to climb over this mountain range, this is indeed the most suitable location.
"Is there going to be an ambush from above?"
Feng Yong asked.
Li Jian hesitated for a moment and said with some uncertainty, "Probably not. Because this place is not close to Jincheng, and it is not easy to get here from Jincheng."
"After climbing this mountain, what other dangerous places are there?"
Feng Yong asked again.
Li Jian replied, "Over the top of the mountain, you can see a stream of water. Follow the water to the north and you can reach the big river (Yellow River). The most dangerous place is the mouth of the valley, where the terrain is the most dangerous."
Feng Yong nodded, turned around, and told Zhang Yuan, "Go and give me my order. You will rest at the foot of the mountain overnight and start climbing over the mountain tomorrow."
It would be difficult for the army to cross this mountain range.
Fortunately, the logistical pressure was not great, and the engineering battalion did not follow, otherwise the food, grass and baggage alone would have been enough to deter the army.
My army's sergeants include Nanyi and Qianghu. They are all good at walking on mountain roads. Coupled with their daily training, there is no need to worry too much.
The Tiger Infantry Army led by Jiang Wei is also elite, and there are also many Qiang and Yi people, so there should be no problem.
The only thing to worry about is the cavalry led by Liu Hun.
Thinking of this, Feng Yong asked Liu Hun to be called over and ordered: "Tomorrow I will personally lead the army first, Jiang Wei will lead the tiger infantry in the middle, and you will lead the cavalry behind."
"If the cavalry can cross this mountain, they will do so. If they can't, turn back and ask Governor Chen to send more grain and grass. At the same time, they will patrol the grain road to prevent Cao's thieves from crossing east from where the Tao River enters the river to make a sneak attack."
Ever since he heard Li Jian talking about the South Silk Road, Feng Yong felt a little worried.
Although this road has been blocked for a long time, who knows if the Cao thieves on the other side know about it?
What if another famous general that he didn't know about came out of Liangzhou and attacked his food route from the flank unexpectedly, even cutting off his retreat.
When the time comes, seven or eight thousand of our people will be trapped in the mountains, unable to advance or retreat, so why not die of frustration?