Royal road

Liu Gong was panting badly. Although riding on a horse did not require much physical strength, his breathing was heavy, like a bellows next to a forge, blazing from the inside out.The wind poured into the throat along the nose and mouth, and also blocked the channel of the sound, so he could only gallop his horse desperately, leading his men to rush deep into the mountain path.

Three hundred steps, five hundred steps, one thousand steps...

"Stop! Get off your horse and lie in ambush!" Liu Gong grabbed the reins and stopped at a pass.It is wide on the outside and narrow on the inside, in the shape of a trumpet, and there are mountains on both sides to cover it, so it is a good place to set up an ambush.

"One team draws bows, one team holds crossbows, and the rest lie in ambush on both sides, listen to my orders!" Liu Gong jumped off his horse and took out his longbows.The others didn't need to give any instructions. Those who are good at bows took their bows, and those who were weak in physical strength or had injuries to their arms replaced them with hand crossbows, and lay in ambush in the bushes beside the ridge.

How long can 400 men stop the enemy?How much can survive?The general entrusted him with the task of setting up an ambush, and stayed behind to cut off the rear himself.If he couldn't complete the ambush again, what face would he have to meet the general? !

Leaning behind a tree, Liu Gong blinked fiercely and squeezed out the dampness that got in the way.At this moment, time was unbearably slow.Everyone forgot their fatigue and held their breath.

Soon, the sound of horseshoes came from the mountain road.The one in the front is a Wusun horse, whose color is no longer visible, the gray part is dust, and the brown part is blood.Carrying it on the back and following behind, it was even more bloody, like an evil ghost. More than 100 people rushed across the pass without stopping for a moment.Behind, there was an even more chaotic sound of horseshoes, thundering like thunder, shaking the valley trembling.

Liu Gongman pulled the bowstring, but did not let go immediately.Only when the four or five hundred forwards with ferocious faces rushed out of the narrow passage, they roared loudly.

"Fire arrows!"

The sound is like a string, and the flow of arrows is like rain.Hundreds of arrows are densely packed, attacking the enemy!In the narrow passage, many enemies fell off their horses.This time, the enemy soldiers rushing out of the pass were startled, and just as they were about to bend their bows to fight back, the soldiers ambushing on both sides also rushed out.For a while, the sound of killing and screaming was endless.

With a click, Yi Yan broke the arrow shaft that pierced into the armor, turned the horse's head again, and rushed back.This time, he didn't take out the knife to hold the gun, but took out the strong bow, and suddenly drew it to the full string.Blood flowed down the arrowhead buried in the flesh, but his hand didn't tremble at all.There was only a sharp cry, and among the enemy troops, a school lieutenant who shouted loudly fell off his horse.Then came the second one, and the third one... Following his movements, the shooters who were ambushing at the side also began to use their bows and crossbows to kill them.

Without the general commanding in the center, the enemy line became more and more chaotic.Many people want to retreat, but the narrow passage has been mostly blocked by human corpses.If you are timid, you will die faster.The more than a thousand rear troops stranded on the mountain road were also stopped by this offensive, hesitant to move forward.

The enemy in front of him was about to die, Yi Yan retracted his bow and said loudly: "Withdraw!"

It will take a lot of time to cross the mountain road and chase again.This is the best time for them to shake off the enemy.

A chance at the cost of one's life.

Following the order, more than [-] people stepped on their horses again and fled southward to where they came from.

■

There is also a soldier who is also fleeing.

In just two days, Duan Ji and Lu Juan had blisters on their lips, anxious and angry.He couldn't care less about Wang Chang's thoughts.The previous battle in Leping really destroyed the only remaining arrogance in his heart.

The Bingzhou Army is too strong!

This is not about defending the city and not leaving the city, or sneaking out for a sneak attack, but an upright army confronting each other.Those methods that I have seen before, not only did not lose because of this, but on the contrary became countless times stronger!As long as he thinks of the crossbow formations like locusts and the sharp peaks like dense forests, he will feel fear in his heart.Such pawns are really not afraid of cavalry!

They couldn't attack, and they couldn't be defeated. Instead, because the opponent favored light cavalry, they lost a lot of troops.How could Duan Ji Lu's family members take the risk of staying in Bingzhou?If you want to return, the fastest way is to go north to Yanmen.However, with this detour, even if they are all cavalry, it will take a few more days to return to Youzhou.

A road to escape without food and grass, followed by pursuers.How can this be the battle that Xianbei cavalry should fight? !

But what can Duan Ji Lu's family do?Once Wang Jun died, Youzhou might be in chaos.In chaos, any force is valuable.If Wang Xuan inherits Wang Jun's family business, the relationship between the Duan family and the Wang family may continue for a while.If it were Wang Zhou's yellow-mouthed kid, things would be difficult.

It's all because Wang Jun is too greedy.If they don't move to Bingzhou, maybe it won't be such a trouble.

Duan Ji Lu's family didn't care about what he thought when he first attacked Bingzhou, and secretly pushed all the crimes on Wang Jun.For Wang Chang, the supervisor, he became more and more negligent.More than half of the Youzhou soldiers in Wang Chang's hands were lost, and the escape now depends on the Xianbei troops of the Duan clan, so how dare they talk nonsense?It was rare for the two to reach an agreement on commanding troops.I don't care about other things, I just want to escape from Bingzhou wholeheartedly.

I don't know whether it is because there are too few cavalry in Bingzhou, or the opponent's intention to stick to it is more serious.Although the city gates were closed everywhere along the way, there were not many pursuers.When the army finally jumped out of the border of Bingzhou and entered Youzhou, Duan Ji and his family members breathed a sigh of relief.As long as you return to Youzhou, it will be much easier, and you can always collect food and grass.As for the guilt of the big defeat, with Wang Chang standing in front of him, what is there to be afraid of?I just need to quickly discuss with my father, how they should act this time, the Duan Xianbei...

The expeditionary army, from the commander to the soldiers, all loosened their tense heartstrings and began to reorganize and pay for food.A group of soldiers and horses quietly appeared on their flanks.

"The group of dogs finally arrived?" Tuoba Yulu spit out the grass stalks in his mouth and stretched himself, "How many soldiers and horses are there?"

"Less than [-]. Moreover, there is a lack of food and grass, and they are collecting food everywhere." The scout quickly reported.

Paying grain is a more elegant way of saying it, but it means forcing counties to open warehouses and prepare grain for them.But they came to the wrong place.After several months of expansion, the Tuoba Department has controlled three of the four counties in Daijun, and they are only a little short of regaining the whole territory.The biggest obstacle is Duan's Xianbei.Now that this group of tired soldiers is in his hands, even if Mr. Liang Shijun didn't entrust them, they would still be beaten by a dozen.

What's more, Liang Shijun is really generous.It has been pointed out early that Youzhou will be in chaos, whether it is territory or property, let them take it.In this battle, how can we expand the territory and occupy Guangning County, which is next to Dai County?Going further north is the domain of Duan, Yuwen, and Murong.If these tribes can be annexed, how strong will the Tuoba clan be?

It is a wise move for my uncle to form an alliance with the envoy of Naliang!

"While they are short of food, hit them up by a dozen." Tuoba Yulu had a wolf-like smile on his lips.

What's the point of a tired soldier?

■

"Uncle, Wang Jun died, Jicheng was in chaos, and even Duan's Xianbei lost tens of thousands of soldiers, and there may be no peace in Youzhou." Taking off his filial piety, Zu Ti knelt in front of the hall and said to his uncle who was the patriarch.

The patriarch of the Zu clan frowned: "Are you really going to vote for that Liang governor?"

"Not only to vote, but also to bring some things." Zu Ti smiled slightly, "Now that others are too busy to take care of themselves, wouldn't it be a good time to occupy the city and cede the land? What if we send some private soldiers to help Liang Shijun take down Zhongshan County?"

Zu's family lives in Fanyangguodi County, which is close to Zhongshan County, Jizhou.Now that Bingzhou has captured Changshan County, the next step must be to devour the remaining counties of Jizhou.The Zu family's private soldiers are not too many, but they are very familiar with the surrounding situation and have a close relationship with the Liu family in Zhongshan.If they persuade the other party to send troops together, they will definitely be able to take Zhongshan faster.

Such an opportunity is really rare.

"But in this way, how will the Zu clan live in Youzhou safely..." The patriarch's face became more worried.How can I say that they are also Youzhou rich family, if they really take refuge in Bingzhou Governor, what will happen to their family business?

"Where to live is no longer the key." Zu Ti's face became serious. "The world is in chaos today, which is no longer the situation in the Taikang period. Just in Youzhou, how many nobles fled to Jiangdong, wanting to avoid War? Even if the ancestors do not move south, staying in Youzhou is not a long-term solution. Once Wang Pengzu dies, Liang Zixi can take advantage of the trend to occupy Bingzhou and Jizhou, and half of Sizhou will fall into his hands. The king of Donghai just died suddenly, Luoyang said If it is not good, there will be more chaos. Instead of sticking to one corner, it is better to find another way out!"

Zu Ti is the most outstanding person in Zu Shi's generation, and every sentence he said is penetrating.The patriarch couldn't help twisting his long beard and pondered for a moment, then finally nodded: "Since Shi Zhi sees it that way, I will follow what you say."

This remark made Zu Ti heave a sigh of relief, and said a few more words with the patriarch before leaving the hall.At the end of July, the weather in Youzhou began to turn cold, but in his heart, it was like a fire burning.

It's just that the two months of keeping filial piety have changed the world.Who would have thought that what Liang Zixi said that day was not false?Before he could leave the mountain, the battle of Youbin came to an end.He didn't put in half his strength, and didn't make any meritorious deeds. In fact, he missed a good opportunity to show his talents.When Liang Zixi really became a character like Wang Jun and Sima Yue, would he still have the courtesy he had back then?

So in the battle of Zhongshan County, he is bound to help.Zu Ti is quite confident in his vision.At least he is much smarter than his old friend Liu Kun who joined Sima Yue's command.

On that day, he retired to the thatched cottage in the name of keeping filial piety.Now is the time to return to this troubled world.

Smiling proudly, Zu Ti stepped up and walked towards the Buqu barracks.

■

There was a long neigh, and the horse's front hooves gave way, throwing the knight on its back.

"General!" Several soldiers exclaimed, and someone had already charged forward.

However, before anyone could help him, Yiyan struggled to support himself and stood up slowly.This time, the fall was really not light.His eyes were blurred, his steps were unsteady, and even his helmet fell to the ground.But the gray-blue eyes remained motionless, staring at the exhausted horse at his feet.

The color of the suit has long been lost, the horse's buttocks and body are covered with knife wounds and arrow marks, and now even the hind legs are bent at weird angles.I don't know if he hit a sharp object when he fell, and the thick blood flowed down the dirty mane and fell to the ground.

That was his day-to-day.The lord gave him the first Wusun horse.his beloved horse.

The horse seemed to be convulsed, struggling violently and moaning continuously, but it didn't get up from the ground.Yiyan's knees softened, and he knelt down in the pool of blood.Seeing the master, Chasing became quiet instead, no longer struggling, just panting heavily, rubbing his dirty head against Yiyan's knees.

"General, it's dying... There are still pursuers behind..." Liu Gong limped over and said in a low voice.

They were all cavalrymen and knew what a horse meant to a knight.This horse is the only mount the general has had since he joined the army.Brave, alert, and extremely human.In the tiger wolf camp, who is not envious?

But now, it doesn't work.After trekking for more than ten days, they charged several times and narrowly escaped death.It suffered as much as General Yi suffered.Until now, the stumbling has been in a place where it is impossible to stagger.For no reason, he just ran out of energy and died by the side of the road.

No one can heal such an injury.They don't have the time either.

Yiyan didn't answer him.He just stretched out his hand and touched the bridge of Zhu Ri's nose.This is the place where it loves to be touched, and it comes to rub against people from time to time to ask for some comfort.But today, the horse didn't shake its head and tail, but just pressed its nose against the owner's palm wearily.

Its snort was even stained with blood.Below the knees, the stain expanded a bit.The horse began to tremble, its muscles twitched, its mane trembled, and even its severed limbs trembled.It was as if he couldn't bear the severe and long-lasting pain.Only this time, it didn't neigh, but looked eagerly at its master.

Yiyan's stable, reliable, invincible hands trembled.Reaching into his arms, he took out a short dagger.This dagger was also given by the lord, just like every day.

As if aware of his master's intentions, the Wusun horse blinked and closed his eyes meekly.

The dagger pierced the horse's chest and abdomen, and the knife sank.There is no pain or struggle, it is like falling asleep and relaxing the body.

"General..." Liu Gong's voice choked up again.How many times have they escaped chase these days?More than just horses, the brothers who died in battle don't know how many.

Those who can keep up now are only in their early seven hundred.And they are still more than two hundred miles away from Qinghe.

"Bypass the Bohai Sea and enter Sizhou from Pingyuan Country." Yi Yan stood up slowly.His eyes were dry and his voice was cold.

He didn't plan to go to Qinghe.Liu Gong Yilin: "But Qinghe is in the way?"

"Go directly to Fukouxing." Yiyan didn't answer this question.The people he killed caused a lot of trouble.And who can guarantee that Ding Shao and the county guards and generals who came along the way will not act according to circumstances?

He wants to go back to Bingzhou and Shangdang.He wants to return to the lord's side.This time, nothing can stop him!

The road ahead is so long, but looking at those pair of different-colored pupils, Liu Gong's heart suddenly arose with longing.He is also from Bingzhou, so what can stop him from returning to his hometown? !

"General, ride my horse!" Several soldiers beside him said in unison.Yiyan took a deep breath, chose a barely passable horse, and wanted to get on the horse.He didn't know whether he was injured or fell too hard, he climbed twice before he managed to climb onto the horse's back.However, after sitting firmly, the back was straight again like a javelin.

Yiyan raised his volume and shouted loudly: "Follow me back to Bingzhou! Back to Shangdang!"

Bingzhou!Party!The morale that had fallen silent was boosted again.

All the remnants tightened their grip on their horses and shouted loudly: "Go back to Bingzhou! Go back to Shangdang!"

Back to their hometown!

The sound of hoofbeats sounded again, carrying smoke and dust rolling away into the distance.