Chapter 939 The suffering of war


    The clouds and mist in the mountains are coming as soon as possible. Although it is only past noon, rain and mist suddenly fill the valleys. The water vapor is pressing downwards. Not long after, thin wisps of rain begin to float.


    The rain is not heavy, but it is annoying.


    Zhao Yun led more than a hundred horses, and he just led the horses forward along the mountain road that was soaked with water vapor and seemed a bit slippery. The bodies of the group were gradually soaked by raindrops, and their hair stuck to their necks and faces. I don''t know if it was sweat. The rain was still flowing down my face, and the muddy mountain road sometimes made my feet slippery. Fortunately, I was walking through a valley. Otherwise, if I were on a high mountain road, I might have died from this slip.


    Zhao Yun walked at the front, walking steadily and looking around fearfully.


    The guide followed Zhao Yun and said breathlessly: "Further...further forward, there will be a...larger valley...where you can rest..."


    Zhao Yun nodded slightly and said, "Does this place have a name?"


    The guide shook his head and said: "There is no such thing as a name, it''s just... I just walked a lot, so I called this place Laoyukou..."


    Yukou is where the valleys converge.


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    From Sucheng to Pinyang, taking the spacious Baishuigou route is naturally the first choice for marching, but this mountain road also has to be guarded. When Xu Shu proposed that someone should take this route, Zhao Yun stepped forward.


    ?But this road is indeed difficult to walk. Even those tribesmen who originally climbed the mountain road in Montenegro are now exhausted.


    War horses don''t like humidity. When encountering this kind of weather, they become very irritable. They shake their heads and snort loudly. From time to time, they shake off the rainwater stained on their fur, and splash it with mud spots on the surrounding people and horses. …


    ??The people who followed Zhao Yun on the mountain road, except for the twenty tribesmen from Heishan, were basically the Bingzhou troops assigned to Zhao Yun by Fei Qian before setting off from Sucheng. They were half Han and half Qiang.


    These Qiang people are pretty good, they are used to wind, frost and rain, and they were used to traveling long distances and suffering during their previous nomadic migrations, so they followed Zhao Yun without saying a word, but the forty people who were deployed were People and state cavalry, but there were low complaints.


    Although these Bingzhou cavalrymen are not from rich families, their equipment has improved since they followed Fei Qian. Even compared to the Qiang people who were traveling with them, they are much better. They are all equipped with iron armor. With the addition of some cowhide soft armor, the protection is strong, but in this weather, it becomes a huge burden.


    Not to mention iron armor, those leather armors alone, even if wrapped in cloth, are not very effective. The water vapor still penetrates, and then it becomes more heavy and stuffy. In order to maintain the horse''s physical strength, it is not willing to let the war horse carry too much burden. , I can only take care of myself and move forward step by step.


    ?When this person gets tired, he complains more.


    The Bingzhou soldiers who had followed Fei Qian for a longer time also knew a little bit about Zhao Yun''s origin. If Ma Yan still had Huang Cheng, these Bingzhou veterans would naturally keep their mouths tightly shut, but facing their younger age, Zhao Yun, whose qualifications are not very high, more or less does not have so many worries in his heart...


    ??Furthermore, Zhao Yun''s appearance may not necessarily make people admire him. He is not that powerful and burly, and his face is plain and unpretentious. Although his face is usually stern, it does not have much sense of majesty. It just makes people feel a little calm. The most important thing is his age. Compared with many old soldiers from Bingzhou, it is a bit small. Adding up these few items, it is obviously a lie to say that Zhao Yun can dominate all directions with a shock of his body.


    “What a shabby road! I’ve been wandering in and out of the mountains for several days, which makes me dizzy!”


    “Damn it, God, either get off as fast as you can, or don’t get off at all. It’s boring to death if you can’t get up or get down!”


    "How many days will it take to walk? We are all cavalry, why not let the infantry come?"


    “Stop chattering, just have some energy left...I just want to find a dry land, drink hot soup, and have a good **** sleep!”


    ?The voices of these soldiers'' complaints were neither loud nor quiet. In addition, there were no people in the surrounding valleys, so it was naturally very quiet. Therefore, Zhao Yun, who was walking in front, could naturally hear them. Ban Er, who was following Zhao Yun, was a little upset when he heard what was said on the left and right, so he was about to turn around and scold him. Just as he was about to turn around, he was grabbed by Zhao Yun.


    ?Zhao Yun shook his head, said nothing, and continued to move forward.


    ?To convince these veterans and warriors, it depends not on words of military law, but on the ability of a general. Now that Fei Qian has given him his status, whether he can fulfill his lifelong ambitions and truly fulfill his dreams depends only on himself!


    Although I participated in the battle of Yinshan and achieved some achievements, not all soldiers knew and understood these things. Therefore, the current situation is naturally normal. Complaining is a soldier''s natural right, and it''s just complaining. When he was in Montenegro, didn''t any of his subordinates complain?


    ?So if you could bear it before, why can’t you bear it now?


    Seeing Zhao Yun not even turning his head, but just moving forward step by step, the Bingzhou soldiers behind him said a few words and felt that it was meaningless. Coupled with the exhaustion of physical strength, they gradually closed their mouths and followed silently. forward.


    ?Unknowingly, we arrived at the Laoyu Kou mentioned by the guide.


    This is a valley shaped like a "Y". In addition to the path Zhao Yun took, after passing through a relatively wide mountain valley, there are two forked roads, one heading to the southwest and the other to the west.


    The guide wiped the water on his face and said: "Both of these roads can go to Pinyang... The one to the west can go directly to the north of Pinyang, while the one to the southwest is about eight miles east of Pinyang. Out of the mountain..."


    “Which one is closer?” Zhao Yun looked as far ahead as possible through the mist and rain. The mist made Zhao Yun''s young face wet without even realizing it. Whether it was sweat or rainwater, it flowed down Zhao Yun''s eyebrows and cheeks.


    "The one to the west is closer, but it''s all mountain roads and a bit difficult to walk. General, you all have horses. This..." the guide gestured and said, "...the one to the southwest is a little further, but after leaving the mountain, it''s flat land..." ” ??? Zhao Yun nodded and silently estimated the time in his mind. His troops were only used for early warning and containment. It would be somewhat unrealistic for such a force of more than a hundred cavalry to capture Pinyang, so naturally it was necessary to fight with them. Only when the large forces on Fei Qian''s side cooperate with each other can they play their due role.


    “…Set up camp first!” Zhao Yun pointed to a sunken piece of flat land on the side of the valley and said.


    Above this place is a large sloping rock, which just blocks the rain, so the lower part is relatively dry, suitable for camping. Under the rock, there are still some vague remains left by people who have walked this road before. Some dry firewood proved to some extent that such a valley was indeed a must-go place.


    Hearing that they could set up camp and repair, the soldiers breathed a sigh of relief and immediately got busy in that large, drier open space.


    Zhao Yun was still looking at the two forked roads, and for a moment he didn''t know which way to choose. The two exits are more than eight miles apart. If one of them is chosen, the traffic on the other road may not be detected...


    Or should we say here first and then wait?


    ??Just when Zhao Yun was hesitant, Ma Teng, who came from Wuzhangyuan to Xinfeng, was a little happy.


    Flags were fluttering, and nearly three thousand light cavalry were not wearing armor. Some of them were not even wearing helmets. They were just wearing leather robes. At most, they were leather armors that could protect their henchmen. If their protective capabilities were indeed poor, But the victory lies in excellent riding skills. Just like this, one man and two horses went straight to Xinfeng!


    This is part of the Qiang Qingqi that Ma Teng brought out. In order to allow each of these Qingqi to be equipped with two horses and rush to Xinfeng as soon as possible, Han Sui and Fan Chou, who were lagging behind, and even quite a few of them changed from cavalry to Qiang Qingqi. Infantry.


    Li Li''s failure became the last straw to overwhelm Li Jue and Guo Si''s tough attitude. Under the current harsh situation, turning enemies into friends with Ma Teng and Han Sui, who was also from the Xiliang clan, became Li Jue and Guo Si''s best choice. …


    Fan Chou had already known Han Sui. After seeing Li Jue and Guo Si''s order, he rode straight into the camp alone. While bringing back the captured Li Li, he reached a verbal agreement with Ma Teng and Han Sui. Agreement, of course, the specific distribution of benefits will still need to be discussed later.


    Fan Chou''s behavior is exactly in line with Ma Teng and Han Sui''s appetite. The other party''s generals are all on their own territory. What else can show the sincerity of the alliance?


    Therefore, the stalemate in Wuzhangyuan basically came to an end, and in order to repay him with kindness, Ma Teng quickly rushed to the hinterland of Guanzhong with his troops, on the one hand to confirm the effectiveness of the alliance, and on the other hand Show your strength.


    Although he is now considered to be in alliance with Ma Teng and Han Sui, Fan Chou was originally an outspoken warrior. In addition, he stayed in Wuzhangyuan and did not know much about the changes in Guanzhong. He thought that it was Li Jue who decided to make an alliance with Ma Teng and Han Sui for Li Li. So he compromised, but he didn''t have much good looks towards Li Li, and even scolded Li Li in front of everyone...


    Of course, these have nothing to do with Ma Teng. It is good to be able to form an alliance. He is not necessarily afraid of Li Jue and Guo Si if they cannot. What makes him even more delighted is that his son Ma Chao has already shown his leadership in commanding troops. General potential, this is the most important thing!


    Isn’t it because I have worked so hard for my family’s fortune and fame for my own children? When you learn that your child is still capable, can inherit the family business, and even shows signs of moving forward, no matter who you are, you will feel relieved and feel that the burden on your shoulders seems to be light. Less?


    Therefore, some of the original grievances and dissatisfaction with Li Jue and Guo Si were greatly reduced by such good news. In addition, Li Guo and Li generously promised to divide Guanzhong, so Ma Teng took these nearly three people with him. Thousands of cavalrymen rushed to Guanzhong to join Li Jue...


    As for the current situation, basically everyone with a discerning eye knows that Li Jue and Guo Si have not yet established a stable foothold in Guanzhong. The movements of the troops of Hongnong and others in front are unknown, and new defeats have been added. Under this situation, Li Jue Guo Si''s choice to cooperate with Ma Teng and Han Sui had a certain basis. After all, the original conflict was just that Ma Teng and Han Sui felt that the distribution of benefits was a bit uneven. Now, since they have unified with each other, they can naturally sit down and talk without having to What kind of sword or gun was used?


    Ma Teng and Han Sui were far away in Xiliang. They had been hanging out with the Qiang people for a long time. Their thinking and behavioral principles were basically similar to those of the Qiang people. When they got on the horse and got upset, they would fight. When they got off the horse, everyone drank and laughed. They were basically part of the Qiang tribe. This is a normal state. It is precisely for this reason that the relationship between the Qiang tribes has been good and bad, and they have never been able to unite into a big alliance.


    ?The nomadic weather and hardships made these Qiang cavalry endure hardships and endure hardships, and they came and went like the wind.


    Throughout the ages, as long as the farming people in China did not change their model, the Hu army still had the upper hand in terms of cavalry. And because of the nomadic nature of the Hu people, they have always respected the spirit of active attack. Therefore, it has never been difficult for the Hu cavalry to limit their death with battle lines, or to completely eliminate them. As long as there is a little living space, it is like a wildfire on the grassland. There is no telling when it will come back again.


    Even the stubborn Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty only managed to beat the Northern Huns until they fled. It would be difficult to completely wipe out all the surrounding barbarians.


    ??In this seemingly vast land of Guanzhong, cavalry all over the mountains and plains galloped eastward, leaving trails of dust and smoke.


    Ma Teng looked at the indigo mountains that seemed to be on the horizon, and then looked at the blue sky and green grass in front of him. He felt a little like he was galloping in the desert of Xiliang grassland, and he couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief in his chest. Standing on his back, he raised his head to the sky and let out a long roar of unknown meaning.


    Hu Qi, a Qiang man, followed Ma Teng and started shouting and yelling. For a while, it even covered up the muffled sound of the horse''s hooves and spread far and wide...


    When Ma Teng rushed to Xinfeng, Li Jue stood on top of the city of Xinfeng County, pressing the crenellations of the city with a gloomy face. Even the personal guards surrounding him had expressions on their faces. There is some solemn look.


    The matter of Tongguan can be concealed for a while, but it cannot be concealed forever.


    Therefore, when these people knew that they were about to face a two-sided battle, it was naturally impossible for the soldiers who followed Li Jue to say that they did not have any worries and worries.


    Although there was a fierce battle under Chang''an City before, it was not too tragic, and now the tragic news coming from Tongguan, the practice of taking people''s lives and not caring about burying them in the city, made Li Jue Their views on these Shandong nobles have changed somewhat.


    ?Anyone, as long as they are not stupid, will always feel a little nervous when faced with a group of desperate people rushing towards them, right?


    Xiliang soldiers are indeed relatively brave, but that doesn''t mean they can ignore swords and guns and fight as they please without getting hurt or dying. Therefore, when the news of Fei Qian going south came, they immediately felt troubled. .


    They had to fight against the armies in the east and north at the same time. Such a situation immediately made Li Jue''s soldiers feel that this time might not be an easy task. This battle might not be what they imagined before, and it could be won in one battle. Certainly…


    Li Jue looked at his troops under Xinfeng City. As long as there were thousands of troops, they seemed to be quite large. In addition, Xinfeng was not a big city, so the city could not accommodate many troops and horses at the same time. , we can only build a camp based on the city.


    The scouts and Qingqi who came and went in small groups ran to the distance, bringing the latest information here. Although Li Jue had ordered not to let the news spread, it is inevitable that some people would rely on their friendship with each other to do this kind of thing. Make inquiries, and then someone must be unable to bear it and say mysteriously: "I will only tell you one person, you must not tell others..."


    As a result, nothing could be completely kept secret, and news of the surrounding situation gradually spread among Li Jue''s troops...


    (End of this chapter)