"Wet the cloth with water, cover your face, form a group of ten, connect with ropes, and support each other."
"Apply the exposed skin with mud to avoid bites, and take all the elixirs to avoid poisons and obstacles."
At the Wuyue border, the Leibao Guards led by Xiang Liang were making serious preparations.
The swamp has always been a chilling place.
Sludge, trap, rot, stink.
The most dangerous thing is not these, but the ubiquitous methane gas.
Biogas is poisonous, making it difficult for plants to grow and animals to survive, resulting in a ghostly atmosphere and a desolate scene.
Except for the Baiyue people who have lived here for a long time and have adapted to the environment, foreigners almost always escape death if they enter.
Therefore, when the Xiang family led the Chu army to destroy Wu and Yue, they always avoided such areas, even if they took long detours and attacked the city.
But this time, Xiang Liang only had a thousand personal guards under his command, and they were going to use beheading tactics. In order to avoid the Wuyue scouts patrolling the border, they had to go deep and roundabout, so this swamp became the only way to go.
Xiang Liang showed the leadership ability of the Xiang clan, and issued orders one after another. Everyone worked together, one foot deep and one foot shallow, to walk on the dry ground at the edge of the swamp.
In the swamp, it seems that it is always autumn. Looking around, there are dead trees everywhere, puddles and muddy ponds one after another. The sludge formed by rotten leaves has turned into a natural trap. Animal feces is mixed in it, making it disgusting.
The stench.
There was silence all around, no sound could be heard, only the rustle of soldiers stepping on fallen leaves broke the gloomy silence.
If it's really psychological pressure, don't worry about it. The key is that the creatures in the swamp don't welcome these uninvited guests who break into their homes.
The first ones to come out were the snakes. These slender poisonous snakes snaked through the swamp, striking with lightning.
But the Thunder Leopard Guards were well prepared. They held poison pills in their mouths and formed a group of ten to guard all directions and stabbed out their spears frequently.
The seven-inch Hydralisk is fast and accurate. It relies solely on strong personal combat power and tacit cooperation to move steadily.
At this rate, crossing the swamp will not cause much damage.
It's a pity that as we go deeper, more terrifying enemies appear.
If you were walking well, the tree trunk next to you would suddenly move, screams would start, and a living person would be bitten in two, with half of his body gone.
If you look carefully, you can see where the tree trunk is. It is clearly a crocodile. With a swing of its huge body, it swallowed the unlucky soldier.
In this era, crocodile was the name in the "Book of Rites", and ordinary people called it earth dragon, which shows its power. Not to mention the look of the Thunder Leopard Guard, Xiang Liang did not dare to provoke the overlord of the swamp, so he had to go to Luohuang.
And escape.
Fortunately, the crocodile didn't have a big appetite, so he ate a few. After he was full, he rolled lazily in the mud, climbed to the shore to bask in the sun, and did not pursue him.
What is really scary are the small lizards, which are not much bigger than venomous snakes. Not only do they move extremely fast, they have webbed toes and move their feet at high speed without making any sound. They are like masters of light kung fu in the swamp.
Like walking on flat ground.
Compared with the snakes that snake and crawl, you can be alert. These guys are elusive and are undoubtedly more terrifying killers. They often pounce out of sight of the Thunder Leopard Guards and bite at the ankles. Once they are attacked, it means death.
Before long, there were nearly a hundred casualties. The deputy general discovered a secret and hurriedly reported: "Major General, these beasts have been trained by the Baiyue people, and they have the mark of Wu on their backs!"
Indeed, there is a mark engraved on the back of the lizard, which is the unique mark of the Wu Kingdom.
"Damn savages, so despicable!"
Xiang Liang cursed angrily in a low voice.
After the restoration of Wu Yue, the methods changed, making people wary. This can be seen from the previous frictions on the border. I never expected that there were even "ambushes" in the swamps.
"No! Even lizards can use it, but what about the poison method that Baiyue is good at? If they are surrounded by Baiyue people, the consequences will be disastrous!"
Xiang Liang's expression changed. He made a decisive decision and fired his spear: "No, we can't waste time in the swamp. Untie the rope and charge forward!"
"yes!"
The rope around their waists was cut, and the Thunder Leopard Guards used their greatest strength in running thousands of miles and began to run quickly.
As long as I run fast, the trap can't catch up with me. This is undoubtedly a way to deal with it.
But going all the way recklessly is bound to cause huge casualties.
Almost every moment, soldiers fell through the air and fell into the mud. In order not to affect their comrades, they did not call for help. They gritted their teeth and sank into the mud without saying a word.
Xiang Liang took the lead. He didn't look back, but his eyes were full of tears and he rushed forward.
Finally, the soft light of the sun shone down, and the mottled light and shadow reflected on the land, bringing the breath of life, and the swamp passed!
"Come out! We're coming out!"
Xiang Liang wanted to look up to the sky and roar. Although the Lei Bao Guards behind him suffered heavy casualties, at least they did not fall into the enemy's encirclement.
However, at this moment, the sharp-eyed deputy general suddenly pointed forward: "Major General, look quickly, there is a wooden sign over there!"
"Array up!"
Xiang Liang felt as if he was facing a formidable enemy. After completing his formation, he slowly stepped forward and saw two wooden signs standing at the exit of the swamp, every hundred steps apart.
The first wooden sign reads: "Wu Yue welcomes you."
The wooden sign at the back reads: "There is no ambush inside, so don't rush on."
They are all written in Chu language.
"Ugh!"
Xiang Liang's body swayed, his energy and blood flowed backwards, and a mouthful of blood almost spurted out.
After doing this for a long time, he battled wits with the air, causing nearly half of his men to be killed or injured?
"These wooden signs have been erected here for at least a month. At that time, Wu Yue began to prepare for us to cross this swamp?"
"General, this is a woman's handwriting. You can write my Chu character in such a standard way. Not many women in Shouyang City can do it!"
There are also resourceful people among the personal guards, all arranged by Fan Zeng. At this time, he looked at the wooden sign looking for clues, and his face became more and more solemn.
Soldiers have a deceitful way. If they are imaginary, they will be real, and if they are real, they will be imaginary.
The enemy this time was actually proficient in military tactics and took advantage of their psychology to defeat others without fighting.
"Can we really kill Yan Lingji?"
At this moment, Xiang Liang also realized that Xiang Yan was wrong.
After the restoration of the country, Wu Yue was obviously no longer the same Wu Yue as before.
"Swear to kill the witch! Let's go!"
But there was no turning back when he fired his bow, and it was undoubtedly impossible to return to Chu State now. Xiang Liang took a deep breath, and continued on his way with the belief that he would die.
The combined territory occupied by all the Baiyue tribes is comparable to half of Chu State, and larger than that of Wei, Han and Qi, but it is vast and sparsely populated.
The harsh environment prevented the aborigines from leaving the village and city for a long time. In addition, after the Leibao Guards were killed and injured, there was less movement. There were no dangers along the way. In a few days, Gusu City was in sight.
As the capital of the Wu Kingdom, it used to be a magnificent city. However, Wu was destroyed by the Yue, Gusu was destroyed in the war, and later the Yue was also subjugated by the Chu. The remnant people of the two enemies who had been attacking for generations began to unite and feel warm.
Rebuild the capital.
Rather than being said to be a city, Gusu at this time was more like a huge village. Even the city walls were incomplete and many places were surrounded by fences. It had long lost its glory.
There is no way to catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's den, so Xiang Liang ordered the Leibao Guards to stay behind and led several personal guards to easily enter the city.
Xiang Liang hid in the alley, and the guards who were proficient in Wu Yue dispersed and quickly returned to report: "Major General, we have found the location of Yan Lingji."
"oh?"
Xiang Liang was delighted: "Is it so smooth?"
The guard hesitated to speak, but finally said: "It's actually very simple."
It's really simple. When Xiang Liang and his party came to the street, they saw a long team approaching amidst the cheers of the people.
First, there are dozens of maids in pleated skirts, with ornaments hanging on their heads, necks, waists and feet. They jingle as they move around, warm and generous;
Behind them are hundreds of strong guards. Even though they no longer have the majesty of three thousand Yue Jia who can engulf Wu, they are still imposing and cannot be humiliated;
Yan Lingji, on the other hand, was sitting on a large and simple throne, carried on the shoulders of a strong man about ten feet tall, overlooking the people.
Unparalleled ghost!
Xiang Liang's eyes were solemn.
The aura exuding from this giant man is even more terrifying than that of Xiang Yan. He is the most difficult guard around Yan Lingji to deal with.
"King! King! King!"
As the troops approached, the people of Wuyue knelt down spontaneously, making the sound of mountains roaring and tsunami roaring.
"Is this woman's prestige already so high? Queen Baiyue, don't even think about success..."
Xiang Liang was even more wary and looked up.
No less secretive than those in the Central Plains, Yan Lingji faced her people head-on, her stunning face imprinted in her eyes, making people feel dazzled.
Xiang Liang's heart had been hardened by the battlefield, but his focus was on the clothes she was wearing, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
"Wait a minute! Isn't this my Da Chu's Vulcan?"
He was thinking hard, and suddenly an idea flashed through him.
Although some minor changes have been made, the costumes worn by Yan Lingji are very similar to the most important fire god among the six gods of Da Chu.
It is related to the possible god worship ceremony held in Shouyang. Is this a coincidence? Or is there some kind of connection?
He was shocked when a strong arm suddenly stretched out from behind, wrapped around his neck, and dragged Xiang Liang into the alley.