After Zhang Di fled in panic, he and his remaining troops hid in the vast mountains and forests. After this battle, the conquest army had gained a comprehensive advantage. Wang Huan and Zhang Kai led their troops into Tongdi County and took command.
The troops from various ministries formed several teams to search where Zhang Di's remaining troops were hiding.
During this period of time together, Xiao Tang has also gotten along with Zhu Jing, Sun An, Qiao Daoqing, etc. more and more tacitly. After being tempered by several wars, he has become more and more like a military general, with more gestures and gestures.
An iron-blooded soldier who is capable, yet more wild and aggressive.
On this day, Xiao Tang led Hua Rong, Suo, Sun An, Zhu Jing and Shi Qian to lead his troops and horses to search Tonglu Mountain along the west direction. The unified infantry camps of Zhou Jin and Wang Ding in Daming Prefecture were also several miles away from Xiao Tang.
cooperate in the search.
Nowadays, the staffing of Xiao Tang's team, and the generals and warriors are all at the level of five tigers and eight quills. Even Shi Qian, who is not good at fighting on the battlefield, is also a light kung fu master who is alert and agile, and is very good at detecting sounds, even if he encounters an enemy unexpectedly.
, I’m afraid it’s hard to stop these clever beasts.
Unsurprisingly, Li Tianxi, who was born in Tongtan Mountain in the southern Hebei army, has already abandoned Dazhai, and it is unknown where he and Zhang Di and his strong men are hiding. Since there are extensive mountainous plateaus nearby, Tongdan Mountain is closely related to Shiti Mountain and other large mountains.
In addition, the surrounding terrain is very complicated. It will probably take a lot of effort to find Zhang Di's hiding place in this dangerous mountain and dangerous water.
"Superintendent Xiao, I learned from Tongtian County Neiyamen Dutou that further along this road, there are some hunting families who rely on the mountains to live in the mountains, gathering in groups of three or five. Do we want to go and interrogate them?
"
Sun An pointed to the front of the long mountain trail and reported to Xiao Tang. This Sun An committed a life-threatening lawsuit and fled the rivers and lakes, but he learned a skill, and I am afraid it was also to fulfill his ambition and build some fame. It was just to repay his father.
He killed a local bully in a vendetta, and later evaded capture and took advantage of Tian Hu, who was waiting for an opportunity to cause trouble. When he was appointed as the commander of the puppet Jin Dynasty, he immediately adapted to the role of commander in charge of tens of thousands of soldiers. At this time, Xiao Tang was beside him
Although he has no official position or position, his speech and behavior are somewhat like a son-in-law in the army.
Xiao Tang looked around at the terrain and saw rugged rocks and rugged mountain roads. It was really a dangerous place. He nodded and said, "It's just that there are many strongmen running rampant in this mountain. It is impossible to say that the villagers in the mountain have suffered endless suffering.
It's best to ask for some clues. If you can't find out anything, they are just miserable mountain people. Don't make things difficult for them, and don't frighten the villagers anymore."
Xiao Tang led his team through several mountain cols and came to a canyon. The canyon was only two or three miles away and the terrain was flat. There were four or five thatched huts in the middle. At first glance, they looked very dilapidated. All they could see were ruins, broken walls, and thatched huts.
The earthen wall is extremely desolate and in ruins.
When a group of soldiers and horses surrounded those thatched huts, Xiao Tang and his men had just arrived at the mouth of the canyon when a pair of officers and soldiers rushed in and drove out the mountain people door by door.
Four or five people built a hut, and a dozen mountain hunters and hunters were sallow and thin, and their clothes were in tatters. It seemed that they were all people who had lived here for generations. Even though the place was extremely barren and there were bandits and strongmen causing trouble, they seemed to be used to this kind of thing.
Life. Even when they were driven out of the house, those people looked at the officers and soldiers holding sharp swords with numb faces.
Xiao Tang frowned, waved his hand to signal his soldiers to put down their weapons, stepped forward to greet the mountain people and asked: "Dear fellow villagers, we are here to encircle and suppress the bandits hiding in Tonglu Mountain. I have lived in the mountains for a long time and am familiar with the terrain, so I would like to ask you, have you heard anything in recent days?"
A man in his forties or fifties with a blank expression stood out from the mountain people. He replied stiffly to Xiao Tang: "Master Guan, we don't know."
Xiao Tang heard the man's cold words and asked again: "So is there a place around where a large number of thieves can hide?"
But the man still replied dully: "Master Guan, we don't know either."
The impatient Suo heard this and said angrily: "Hey! Since you were born in this mountain, grew up in this mountain, and are familiar with the mountain topography, how can you not know? How dare you prevaricate like this!!"
The mountain people saw Suo Lei's wrath, but remained indifferent. Only two skinny children hugged their parents beside them and looked at the ferocious-looking military attaché with beards, their eyes full of fear.
The leading mountain man raised his lips imperceptibly and said: "A few days ago, King Li Tianxi in the mountains has broken off several mountain trails, so we don't know." After the man finished speaking, he rolled his eyes again. His dilapidated thatched hut, when he turned to look at Xiao Tang again, his face was still numb, indifferent, and indifferent.
Looking at the man's subtle actions, Xiao Tang seemed to understand why these mountain people had such an attitude towards him. Thieves passed by like a comb, and soldiers passed by like a grate. In the past, although there were green forest strongmen who cut the paths randomly in Tongtian Mountain, these mountain people Being oppressed and exploited by officials and soldiers, I'm afraid it will only be a lot more.
The life of these mountain people is extremely difficult. I am afraid that the bandits and bandits will see that they have no profit and will let them fend for themselves here. Without those bandits and bandits, the ones who come to the door will be the officials who are easy to plunder. Exploitative petty officials, so for these mountain people, does it make any difference whether they are soldiers or thieves?
Xiao Tang looked behind the man and saw a yellow-faced and muscular lady holding a four or five-year-old child, so he asked the man: "Is this your child?"
The man was startled, then clenched his fists, his face full of wariness and anger. Xiao Tang called his confidant Shi Qian, took out twenty taels of silver and handed it to the man, saying: "You are living a miserable life. Don’t be miserable for your children and your wife. When I lead my army to clear out the strong men raging here, I will let you live a peaceful life."
After that, Xiao Tang ordered his sergeants to unpack bags of dry food and place them in front of the dozen or so mountain people. He said, "There are strong men running rampant in this mountain. I'm afraid you have to pay filial piety to them from time to time in order to stay safe." If you are successful in leading the way, I will be rewarded by the government and you will be rewarded heavily. If you are still willing to live in chaos, that is up to you."
The hostility in the man's eyes immediately disappeared. In the past, those who served as soldiers would only draw their knives, use words to intimidate and threaten, and act arrogantly. How could anyone ever send money and food like this? The wishes of these bitter people are actually easily fulfilled. Xiao Tang's move has won the trust of these mountain people. The man thought carefully about Xiao Tang's words and now he has taken advantage of him. If this official can really keep his word and just show them where to go, what's the point? Happy but not doing it?
Thinking of this, the man raised his eyebrows and said: "My lord, we and other officials have always paid tribute to Li Tianxi for the prey he brought. Li Tianxi was afraid that the army would encircle and suppress him, so in addition to Dazhai, he set up a hidden stronghold in the deep ridge of Nanshan Mountain.
, but the villain only knows a small path to the deep ridge of Nanshan Mountain, and now it has been cut off by the thieves. In the past, he could not... But, no matter whether the official can kill this guy, please don't make any noise.
I was the one who waited a lot, I was afraid that the thieves would find out and take revenge on me..."
"Don't worry, these thieves will die if they work together. How can we allow them to harm the people again!" Xiao Tang comforted the man, and then murmured: "The cut off mountain road... this is a bit troublesome."
"It's okay! Since there is a way to find it, I'm not afraid of him being cut off. Is there any other way to find it?" Shi Qian suddenly said: "Besides, the thief must not only have set up a way, otherwise he will be trapped alive."
?”
After hearing this, Xiao Tang was overjoyed and said, "This time we have to rely on the skills of Brother Shi Qian again."
Xiao Tang led his group to find a path in the deep mountains, passed through the forest and ridges, and quietly reached the edge of the Nanshan Mountains. They saw steep mountains and craggy stone walls. Originally there was a small intersection between the mountains, but thieves pushed down large rocks from the top of the rock.
They were piled on top of each other and built several feet high.
Shi Qian smiled at Xiao Tang and said, "Brother, let's lead the men and horses to rest here for a while. I will go and find out the way." After saying that, Shi Qian went to the broken stone and used his ability to fly over eaves and walk over walls.
There were already cracks and gaps, so Shi Qian was asked to flip with his fingers, and he flew up several feet with a swish swish. Shi Qian climbed up the stone wall, grinned at Xiao Tang and others below, then turned over, and his figure suddenly changed.
not see.
Suo, Sun An, Hua Rong, etc. were watching below, and they were all dumbfounded. Suo was dumbfounded and said: "My dear! Inspector Xiao, is your brother a human or a ghost? This is not climbing with bare hands, it's just out of thin air.
It’s like flying up!”
Xiao Tang smiled and said nothing, now he has close brothers who are not only capable generals who are good at fighting on the battlefield, but also heroes with skills that no one can get close to.
All of them. Since I am lucky enough to be associated with these heroes, how can I not let them make full use of their talents and show their abilities...
Shi Qian climbed over the stone wall and saw a mountain trail stretching for several miles. Not far away, he saw several towers in the distance. There were men standing guard with several torches above. Shi Qian smiled slightly and did not leave.
However, he climbed the vines along the steep cliffs and explored the tower step by step. The sentry was unaware that the flea on the drum had found the hinterland where the Jinnan bandits were hiding.
Shi Qian bent down and ran quickly, and climbed up a big tree in one leap. He climbed straight to the top of the big tree using his hands and feet. He leaned on the dense branches and looked down. He had a panoramic view of the empty hinterland below, and he could see several of them.
There were ten wooden tents with strong people from all walks of life gathered together, and there seemed to be still two to three thousand people and horses. At this time, the candles were brightly reflected, and several groups of people and horses gathered together. It seemed that they were about to discuss something.
"Now that Zhang Dina's lair has been discovered, it seems that we need to find out the secret path here early so that brother Xiao Tang can sneak in with his army and catch them off guard." Shi Qian made up his mind and turned around.
The figure seemed to disappear out of thin air in the night without a trace.
