Lu Ming

The wild pine forest where everyone hides is backed by the stone ridge, and the area is not large, so it will only be able to hide the convoy.

But just as the convoy entered the pine forest, shopkeeper Wu, who had entered the forest first, had already joined Wu Qian, the leader of the guards who had already been waiting in the forest.

After meeting, ignoring the other guards behind Wu Qian, shopkeeper Wu anxiously grabbed Wu Qian's forearm: "Is it possible?"

"It works!"

"Okay, take me to see!"

"This way!"

The next moment, the mystery was revealed: in the deepest part of the pine forest, where it meets the stone ridge, a passage was exposed.

This is a natural mountain gap, very narrow, and it will be able to pass a carriage. It is located between the two stone ridges.

The original passageway was blocked by naturally stacked black flaky stones.Now, the stones have been removed in advance by Wu Qian, who had set out secretly before, revealing a winding path leading behind the stone ridge.

At this time, shopkeeper Wu, who was under great pressure, finally showed a smile on his face: "Hehe, I didn't expect that the 'Golden Toad Road' we walked once in 15 years, and this time we will repeat the same mistakes."

"We were all buddies back then."

Looking at the passage in front of him, Wu Qian also sighed with emotion: "This bandit, really thinks that my Wu family in Weizhou only has a foundation outside the mouth? Hmph, when it's free, we have to kill a few gangsters to vent our anger."

"Well, don't talk about it, there are urgent things to do."

This "Golden Toad Road", which is only known to the senior members of the Wu family, is about seven or eight miles long, and it was accidentally discovered by the Wu family when they were doing business.Over the years, the Golden Toad Road has been rarely used, so the secret can be preserved.

This secret mountain path is actually only separated by a stone mountain from the official road outside, leading to the direction of Yixian County.

In other words, if you follow the secret road, the convoy will eventually return to the way it came from.

Now, everything is clear: the Yixinlong caravan did not intend to go to the capital, which is more than a hundred miles away.The ultimate goal of the golden cicada escaping its shell is to walk the Puyinxing Mountain Road, pass the Feihu Trail, and return directly to Weizhou.

Just having a secret path is not enough.There is still a lot of work to be done if the golden cicada wants to escape from its shell.

After entering the secret passage in person, shopkeeper Wu returned to the camp after exploring a short distance.Immediately, he assigned five men to wrap their hands and feet with thick cloth, bring a rake, and go into the secret road to clean up the gravel along the way, so as not to pierce the horse's feet later.

Next, the tarpaulins were lifted from the two carriages that had previously been short-sold.

At first glance, these two vehicles are also covered with tarpaulins to cover the square cargo underneath, which is no different from other vehicles.However, when the tarpaulin is lifted, apart from a few empty boxes for modeling, there is only a spare frame and a small pocket left.

The spare frame is actually two wheels and the connecting shaft in the middle.

Under the order of the shopkeeper, the guys quickly hung the spare frame to the back of the carriage.In this way, two carriages are equivalent to changing from four wheels to six wheels.

Then throw a few big rocks on the car, pretending to be the weight of the cargo.

After everything was ready, Wu Qian reached out and grabbed a handful from his car pocket.What he took out was a triangular barbed wire specially used to deal with cavalry.

Looking at the fineness of the barbed wire, Wu Qian nodded with satisfaction, and then said to the guards around him: "Just these two small pockets, I have already searched the county seat of Yixian County, there is not much more, you look at the dangerous place and look at it again." sprinkle."

"know!"

After the confession, Wu Qian and the shopkeeper looked at each other. After receiving affirmative glances, he whistled and signaled the surrounding team members: "Brothers, go out and take a look around to see if there are any mice."

Before Wu Qian finished speaking, more than [-] cavalry guards got on their horses and drew out their weapons one after another. Amidst the sound of shouting, they fanned out of the pine forest.

This is a tactical action called battlefield cover.Its purpose is to prevent possible battlefield reconnaissance by the enemy.

The current position of the caravan is actually very difficult to be observed: the small pine forest blocks the peripheral view, the opposite is a clear and flat river bank, and behind it is a group of sharp rocky mountains, no one can climb up.

But the so-called battlefield cover is to be foolproof and create an absolutely safe blind spot on the battlefield in a short period of time.

The guards who fanned out began to search the front and sides.

At this point in the plan, it can be said that the Yixinlong Caravan has taken the initiative strategically.

The gangster was really led by the nose this time.The large army that was ambushing at the mountain pass of Yi County did not expect that the caravan would suddenly change its route, so it was left behind. It must be heading here.

But when the bandit troop rushed over, the caravan turned around and returned through the secret passage, playing tricks on the gangsters.

A quarter of an hour later, news came from the front and surrounding areas: there was no one around, no gang spies.

Only there was no news from behind.This is because Wu Qian did not send anyone to find out where he came from—everyone knew that there were two spies following him a mile behind.

After learning that the front was safe, Wu Qian got on the horse himself this time, drew out his knife, and led the monk and the dumb warriors, and headed straight for the way they came with a murderous look.

Not long after, about as long as Guan Gong warmed up a glass of wine, Captain Wu came back.

Returning with him is the head of the spy Huang Xu'er.

"Happy!" Throwing the head on the frame with a "gudong", Wu Qian laughed loudly: "I saved a living, and went back to report to his king."

"Well." Shopkeeper Xiang Wu saw that everything was in the plan, so he hurriedly arranged the next step: "In that case, you can wait and set off. Remember that there is no need to save horsepower on the way, and the stones and nails will be scattered!"

"Don't worry, shopkeeper!"

The team members driving the "six-wheeled carts" flicked the reins and drove the horses slowly out of the pine forest.

These two cars, and the accompanying two and four horses, are the decoy convoy.They will leave deceptive wheel footprints along the way, and will cast barbed wire in dangerous areas and throw stones to delay pursuers.

After watching the bait convoy go away, shopkeeper Wu came back to his senses, looked around at all the rest of the forest, his face gradually became vicious, and he said word by word: "Give me a bite, a horse's hoof, and a bit." Set it up."

"Whoever dares to speak out on the road below is a spy, don't blame me for being cruel!"

The guys immediately became trembling when they heard the words, and they all worked hard to clean up.

It didn't take long for all the luggage of the convoy to be cleaned up, the hoofs of the mules and horses were wrapped in thick cloth, and the bridles were put on their mouths.

Next, eleven trucks filed into the secret passage.Wu Qian and the others who stayed outside, held branches and wiped away the traces of the convoy entering the secret road.

Finally, when the guys re-stacked the stones blocking the road, Wu Qian was the last one to jump off the stone pile.

From this moment on, the convoy began to slowly return to the way it came along an isolated mountain gap.

And just an hour after the convoy entered the "Golden Toad Road", an echo gradually came from the silent stone ridge.

Further on, one could clearly hear the sound of horseshoes and noisy human voices on the official road separated by a mountain.

The bandits are here.

"Stop the horse, silence!"

The next moment, Wu Qian jumped onto the roof of the car and drew out his knife, making a gesture of a complete stop.

In fact, Wu Qian didn't need to signal, the guys had already stopped the vehicle - after passing the amplified back and forth between Shiling, the sounds made by the gangsters seemed to be right next to them, making the people hiding in the dark shudder.

The gangsters come and go quickly.Probably because of impatience and anger, the sound of horseshoes came one after another, accompanied by a large number of dense footsteps and chaotic human voices, whizzing away.

After about half a cup of tea, the secret passage became silent again.

At this moment, the caravan, with their hearts on their throats, finally took a breath and began to pull their horses forward.

After the greatest danger has passed, the next itinerary can be said to be uneventful.Except for the speed reduction due to clearing the mountain road, there were no other accidents.

In this way, in the afternoon, the convoy quietly got out of the secret road and appeared on a forest slope away from the official road.

From the position in front of the caravan, you can clearly see the county town of Yi County in the front left.

In other words, as long as you continue to walk along the foothills to the right, you will be able to enter the Taihang Pass.

Shopkeeper Wu then ordered the guards to go out to explore the road, while the convoy repaired on the spot.

After a cup of tea, the convoy set off again.In the evening, facing the last rays of the setting sun, the convoy arrived at the Taihang Pass smoothly and entered the gate of Wuhuodun.

The imperial court set up multiple checkpoints at the Taihang pass.

These levels vary in size and function.

The Wuhuodun where Yixinlong's convoy moved in temporarily was not a Guancheng used to garrison troops, but a large square pier that was usually responsible for calling the police and delivering beacon news.

Wuhuodun is located at the entrance of the mountain, and there are still seventeen or eight miles of mountain roads away from the checkpoint where officers and soldiers are actually stationed.

In the pier, there are ten people who should be registered and eight people are actually stationed below Ma Youbu, the chief official.

Theoretically, it is impossible for a professional military outpost like Wuhuodun to receive caravans.However, the Wu family has been doing business in various places for many years, so it is naturally supported by its deep network of contacts.

This time, Ma Youbu, the chief official in charge of guarding Wuhuodun, saw that it was an acquaintance of Yi Xinlong calling for the door, so he immediately ordered the door to be opened to welcome the guests in.

The small Wuhuodun suddenly rushed in with a hundred and ten people, more than a dozen carts plus mules and horses, so it was naturally overcrowded.

So it was not until the stars gradually came out and the moon was on the branches that the caravan finally settled down.

Even so, the amount of reserved water used to drink so many people and animals is also urgent.But after dark, the door could not be opened as a rule, so I had to hang people in a basket and go to a nearby river to fetch water.

Standing on the high wall of the pier, shopkeeper Wu twisted his short beard under his chin, and finally showed a trace of color on his face: this time he strategized, attacked east and west, mobilized a large group of enemies far away, and survived unscathed The caravan can be described as consummated.

Wu Fazheng, who was also standing on the wall with his hands behind his back in the shape of admiring the moon, seemed to see through the shopkeeper Wu's thoughts at this moment: "Uncle Nine, you should be the first in this battle!"

The wrinkles on Shopkeeper Wu's face disappeared: "Hehe, the second young master was joking. We haven't escaped danger yet, and it depends on how far the gangsters are led."

"Ten to ten will not be able to make it back," Captain Wu Qian, who was silent on the side, interrupted at this moment.

Although shopkeeper Wu is humble, everyone knows that the gangster will definitely not be able to return before the convoy enters the main checkpoint tomorrow morning... Not to mention how far the decoy convoy can take the gangster, even if the gangster reacts , then you have to turn back and start searching carefully along the road.

After going back and forth, the gangsters searched the dozens of hundreds of miles away, and the caravan must have reached the Bauhinia Pass.

However, Lu Xun said that if a real warrior pretends to be aggressive, he probably should not leave.

At this moment, the trio of caravan leaders suddenly widened their eyes and looked forward with a dull expression.

Chapter 685 Returning to the North ([-])

The hidden peak of the mountain appears, and the jade plate is empty.Star-studded, Moonlight Town.

In the night sky, a slender firework rushed up.Under the blue sky, the silver-white fireworks with long tail marks are dazzling, as if they are going straight into the heavenly palace and never stop.

However, the moment it rushed to the top of the mountains, the beautiful fireworks exploded, forming a beautiful crocodile... an ax... Wrong, it was a silver dandelion pattern.

Watching helplessly as a cloud of silver light exploded above his head, in the Wuhuo Pier, one counted as another, and they were all shocked by the spectacle.People raised their heads, opened their mouths wide, with dumbfounded expressions, and let out a sound of "ah" and "oh" in surprise.

The last one to speak out was the shopkeeper who had reacted.He didn't feel the joy of seeing the free fireworks at all, but shouted in a terrified and shrill voice: "Flag Flower Rocket, there are spies!"

The first one to roar was the shopkeeper.The first one to move was Wu Fazheng, Young Master Wu.

For some reason, at this moment, Young Master Wu suddenly had a vague feeling that this flag flower was related to him.

The next moment, Wu Fazheng drew out the dagger at his waist, carried a windproof kerosene lamp in his hand, ran two quick steps, turned over and jumped into the hanging basket: "Quick, quick, send me down."

So the hanging basket began to wobble and descend.

After a few breaths, before the hanging basket hit the ground, the impatient Young Master Wu jumped out.

The flag flower flew into the sky in front of the pier, so the location where it was cast just now must be not far ahead.And in the short time before the hanging basket fell to the ground, Wu Fazheng also had an inference in his mind: the person who put the flag flowers was most likely someone who went to the small river to fetch water just now.

As expected.Going around a pile of rocks, Wu Fazheng saw two men carrying canvas buckets.

He remembered clearly: there were originally three men who went to fetch water from the city.

The two fellows were obviously frightened by the fireworks just now, and they stood in front of a mound of dirt, looking down at something.

After Wu Fazheng came over, he picked up an oil lamp... As expected, the scene of the crime was here.

On the top of the low mound, a black pipe with lingering smoke was quietly inserted there.

Bending down and reaching out, Wu Fazheng pulled out the tube.

The black tube is made of fine iron, round and long, just the right thickness to hold in the palm of the hand, very suitable for the grip of something.

Seeing the unique screw on the top of the pipe, a smiling face in the setting sun appeared in front of Wu Fazheng: "This knife is easy to use. It was exchanged by the young man from the seafarers at the dock. He has saved money for food for two months."

...Gently unwrapped the layer of jersey wrapped around the iron pipe, and slowly unfolded it.

Revealed by oil lamps is a handsome gray men's Scottish plaid cotton sweat towel.

Another scene under the setting sun appeared in front of Wu Fazheng: "You are rewarded. Wrap this on the handle of the knife to absorb sweat and not slip your hands."

"Thank you, Master, for the reward!"

After thinking about the cause and effect, Wu Fazheng slowly turned his head and asked expressionlessly, "The one who fetched water with you two is called Huogui, right?"

"It's Huogui." The two guys finally realized the seriousness of the problem at this time, their faces were pale, and they stammered back: "It was still there just now, and the flag flower disappeared together."

At this moment, Wu Fazheng, facing the mountains shrouded in darkness ahead, let out a gurgling sound in his throat, filled with grief and indignation.

Before it was too late, an endlessly reverberating roar sounded from the mountains: "Huogui, you thief, I swear to kill you! Kill you, kill...kill..."

……

Things have developed to this point, the caravan has already completed its last move, and there is no room for maneuvering.

Right now, I can only hope that the flag flower has no effect, and wait passively, taking one step at a time.

So there was nothing to say all night.

The next morning, the thief arrived as promised.