By the time Pang Tong led a large force of nearly 5,000 men into the mountains and forests, the screams that had been heard one after another could no longer be heard.
But out of caution, Pang Tong was even determined not to advance rashly even if Wei Yan was seriously injured or even killed by the enemy.
"Eldest Young Master, how is the situation ahead? Have you found any trace of General Wei Yan and his companions?"
Liu Feng's team walked in the front. Pang Tong walked a relatively flat mountain road a little later. On the other side, several lieutenants improvised a third team to ensure that the army could penetrate as deep into the forest as possible.
Don't let anyone cut you off.
Upon hearing Pang Tong's inquiry, Liu Feng quickly sent someone to send back the news:
"There were bloodstains on the ground, but no sign of the army was found. It seems... General Wei Yan and the others also chose to take the high road."
"Understood…"
After Pang Tong agreed, he led the army onto the main road first, followed the direction of the road, and walked all the way to higher ground.
Regardless, the view from a height is definitely a huge advantage.
However, just when Pang Tong led the army to speed up again, the sound of leadership in the forest couldn't help but make Pang Tong and others alert.
"Put up your shield, don't be greedy for speed, be careful of traps nearby - Shanyue people are not good at frontal combat, traps are their usual method when fighting in the mountains and forests!"
With that said, Pang Tong sent out scouts again, asking them to expand the search area as much as possible, and also to increase the alert area of the army as much as possible.
It was difficult for the cavalry to fight on the mountain road, so Pang Tong had already left some men at the foot of the mountain to look after the horses.
The current situation... It is impossible to achieve a quick victory. After all, it is easy to fall into the enemy's trap.
——
A moment later, Pang Tong's army seemed to have never suffered any ambush. This situation could not help but make some people relax their vigilance.
Of course, it is also because of the high level of tension that many people feel mentally exhausted.
Logically speaking, they did not suffer an ambush and should not have been so tired. However, compared to sieges or positional battles where both sides go back and forth, fighting in the mountains and forests, especially when one side is dark and the other is bright, is like that at any time.
They are all likely to suffer the psychological pressure of an enemy ambush, and even some battle-hardened veterans will find it difficult to adapt.
In such deep mountains and old forests, the slightest disturbance can make people's hair stand on end, not to mention the danger of death lurking around them at any time.
If you really don't pay attention and get shot with an arrow, you don't know how you will die.
People...are all afraid of death. This is an eternal truth.
"Still...haven't you found any trace yet?"
There were frightened soldiers muttering in the ranks.
"This is too strange... let alone enemies, even General Wei Yan and the others were not seen... Could it be..."
"Huh...what are you talking about!"
"No, we... we've walked most of this... this mountain road, and we can't see a single person in the forest..."
“…”
Emotions of irritability and fear seemed to be spreading.
But Pang Tong didn't have much time to take care of the spirits of these soldiers - no matter what, speaking loudly and making noise might cause problems.
Just as panic spread, changes suddenly occurred...
"It's not good! The military adviser! The military adviser is not good! It's..."
“Ahhhhh——”
The team on the side, the one led by Liu Feng, suddenly broke out into a commotion.
Hearing the noise and shouting, Pang Tong's team also broke into a commotion.
"What happened!"
Pang Tong immediately went to inquire about the situation.
When someone shouted just now, he really panicked, but in an instant he heard that there was no so-called sound of weapons clashing in the commotion.
In other words, it’s probably not like we met an enemy…
So...what is it that makes Liu Feng and others so panicked?
I saw a soldier from Liu Feng's side rushing out of the forest. He rolled and crawled over, the fear on his face telling his desperate mood at the moment.
Under everyone's attention, he stuttered and said:
"The military...strategist...sent...found the body..."
"Corpse? Whose? The corpse of our army? Or..."
Pang Tong frowned and continued to ask.
The soldier was trembling, as if hesitating whether to continue, but the atmosphere around him forced him to tell the truth:
"It seems...it seems to be the body of General Wei Yan..."
After saying this, the soldier fell to the ground as if he had lost his soul, and the stagnant atmosphere in the field showed how shocked everyone was at this moment.
Wei Yan...is dead?
"No...don't...I...I don't want to die!"
"I still have my mother at home, I...I can't die!"
Someone was really scared.
Wei Yan is dead, so if they stay here, aren't they just being slaughtered?
Another thing is, who is the other party?
Even...even Wei Yan was killed by them. Is there something evil in this...this mountain?
All kinds of chaotic emotions exploded at this moment.
Immediately, some people lost their will to fight and ran down the mountain.
However…
Pang Tong just looked at the deputy general next to him. The deputy general was quite calm. At least... at least they absolutely trusted Pang Tong.
Therefore, after receiving the instructions, several lieutenants bent their bows and arrows at the same time, and immediately shot the soldiers who fled first on the spot.
"Anyone who escapes from battle will be killed without mercy!"
After Pang Tong said this expressionlessly, the chaotic army finally stabilized a little.
However, the mystery of Wei Yan's death was still not explained clearly, which cast a shadow on Pang Tong's heart.
"Is he really dead?"
He murmured, quickly stopped the army, and led some troops towards Liu Feng.
——
Liu Feng was a little broken.
When Pang Tong arrived, Liu Feng was losing his temper.
"How could this happen? General Wei is very skilled! He is brave and resourceful, how could he be killed by these bastards?"
"There must be something wrong!"
"This is absolutely impossible!"
Liu Feng covered his head and walked around in the field.
And his lieutenant was on the side of the road, seeming to be directing the team to carry the corpse...
Pang Tongyi saw the location of the corpse at a glance - naturally, there was more than one corpse there.
"Eldest Young Master, don't be anxious first, let me take a look at the situation."
"military adviser…"
Hearing Pang Tong's voice, Liu Feng immediately walked to Pang Tong with a sad face. In addition to the anger and panic just now, his eyes were full of confusion and helplessness.
It can be seen that Liu Feng is not good at dealing with such emergencies.
Pang Tong patted Liu Feng on the shoulder, and the deputy general on the side quickly led Pang Tong to the group of corpses.
As a result, Pang Tong sensed the problem before he even arrived, turned around and said to Liu Feng:
"My eldest son, maybe General Wei Yan is not dead yet."
