Chapter 3546 Life and Death


    Spring rain is as precious as oil.


    But the rain in the mountains is not so gratifying.


    The rain slid down the rugged rocks of Taihang Mountain, making the already difficult mountain roads that were already difficult to walk on are becoming more rugged and difficult to walk.


    Le Jin wiped the rain from his face and tried his best to control his body to avoid slipping on the slippery plank road.


    Five hundred soldiers behind him entrenched on the mountain road like black pythons, and everyone''s armor was flowing down.


    Suddenly, a few screams suddenly sounded in the rain.


    Le Jin and others were shocked.


    "General, the outpost came to report, and the Yingchou Cliff Plank Road ahead collapsed more than ten feet. 』


    After a moment, the deputy general who came in a hurry, the sound of the report was broken by the rain curtain.


    『Send the order! The entire army stopped! ''Le Jin raised his head and looked into the distance.


    Le Jin did not scold the deputy general or the outpost. After all, choosing this path was also a temporary decision.


    Yingchou Cliff is like half a human face split by a giant axe, and the twisted rock is a broken crack, as if ready to swallow all the lives that are coming and going. The blue-gray rock walls are embedded with twisted wooden stakes. The mortises chiseled out by the Western Han Dynasty soldiers three hundred years ago are now covered with dark red lichens, which look like scabbed wounds from afar.


    The so-called plank road is the centipede feet that are built between these mortises with mixed woods from the mountains. The narrowest part needs to be sideways and close to the wall. When the tip of the boot is slightly lit, the gravel falls into the abyss, and it feels like the soul falls. It takes a long time to hear the dull sound of collision.


    During the period when Wang Mang usurped the power, Liu Xiu rebuilt this plank road in order to march to Bingzhou, with the purpose of bypassing the military defense line of Taihang Mountain and being able to raid the Hedong area and then disrupt Guanzhong.


    But this road is really hard to walk, especially in the section of Yingchoujian...


    Just by listening to the name, you can know the difficulty of this road.


    Le Jin grabbed a piece of hanging iron chain, and his palm was pricked by the wet cold cold.


    I don’t know when this winch was left. The chain ring, which was originally the size of a bowl, has now been eroded by the mountain wind. The rust **** falls as it moves.


    Two or three meters ahead of him, half a trench was inserted obliquely into the rock crack, and the wooden stubble at the fracture was stained with blood.


    The sentry soldier, who was still scared, couldn''t help but tremble slightly, talking about the situation at that time intermittently.


    The plank road wooden board broke too quickly, and the sound of the plank road burst was heard. The whole plank road collapsed and there was no time to do anything. He could only watch the unlucky soldiers falling into the deep ravine with the collapsed wood and stones.


    Le Jin looked down slightly and saw that the collapsed place in front of him was still a piece of the unlucky robe, which was swinging strangely with the air currents surging from the bottom of the valley, like a banner that summoned the soul.


    The fog at the bottom of the stream was churning, as if it was a smoky snake nest. Countless snakes were wriggling, and some spit out fishy snake letters towards the flesh and blood on the cliff plank road.


    Even though Le Jin was extremely brave, he couldn''t help but feel a little nervous when he saw such a scene.


    Le Jin looked at the broken plank road, and this distance could only be completed after a section of repair before it could be passed.


    "Send the order to find a place to shelter from the rain!" Maintain the plank road first! In addition, I will send people to the surrounding area to check to see if there are roads that can bypass this section of the plank road! 』


    …


    …


    The bonfire casts twisted shadows on the rock walls, and Le Jin twists the rain stained from his robe.


    Although it has already begun to spring, the rain in the mountains is still cold.


    The soldiers finally found some relatively dry caves, which seemed to be left by the people who built the plank road back then.


    There was still some rotten and dry wood in the cave, so I hurriedly found a dry place in the cave to raise a bonfire.


    When the flames rose, although there was still black smoke coming from the firewood, which was very choking, everyone around them cheered. It is already very good to have a bonfire on a rainy day, and at least it can provide warmth and hot soup.


    Not everyone can enter the cave.


    Although Le Jin tried his best to make arrangements, there were still many people looking for shelter from the cave.


    However, Le Jin ordered that those who went to build a plank road in the daytime in the rain could go to the cave to shelter from the rain and cook fire at night, and there was a bowl of hot soup.


    This may be an extremely subtle matter on weekdays, but it has become a rare sense of happiness at present.


    The guards were either alert or resting, but Le Jin sat alone on the stone in the cave, reaching his hand into his arms. Grasping through the military orders Cao Cao gave him. Military orders are not afraid of blisters. After all, they are carved from wood, but the cinnabar inside the carved patterns is somewhat stained with water vapor. When they reach out to look, Le Jin''s fingers have already dyed blood.


    Marching on rainy days.


    Not a good thing.


    This is a taboo in military law, so it is also extremely concealed.


    Lejin can understand this, but what Lejin cannot understand is why he is still him?


    Le Jin suddenly remembered that when he was a small town chief, he also attacked on a rainy day, curled up under a rock wall like a cave in the dark night before dawn. At that time, Xiahou Yuan and his guards kicked over the remaining fire at the entrance of the cave, with Mars and ashes, and kicked him awake with his boots, "Le Wenqian, right?" Take your people to rush to the city gate. 』


    He first got on the way, then got Cao Cao''s praise and was promoted in front of the battle!


    At that time, he felt...


    "call…"


    Le Jin exhaled a long breath and suddenly felt that the copper tiger talisman on his waist hurt his side ribs and felt a little painful.


    Xiahou Yuan is dead, and Xiahou Dun is still alive.


    He hated Xiahou Yuan before, but his impression of Xiahou Dun was OK, but later he realized that Xiahou was a family.


    Many times, Xiahou Yuan is more intuitive and simple.


    For example, when Xiahou Yuan saw Le Jin, he would sometimes say like a joke, "Le Wenqian, your life is strong enough! 』


    hehe. Le Jin thought it was a good thing before, but now he understands it.


    After all, what good things can Xiahou Yuan say with such a slutty mouth?


    Just like someone praises his personality and praises his temperament, it is actually focusing on another aspect.


    Who has the hardest life?


    Of course, people are cheap, but their fate is hard.


    Look at those people who are like grass, are their lives tough? Those who lack a little fate either die in childhood or cannot hold on with the heavy work.


    The slurry poured out of the skin seemed to have a rotten smell.


    Le Jin stared at the shaking reflection in the water, watched his face shaking, and then reunited.


    Le Jin couldn''t help but touch his face. Even though his fingers were rough, he could touch a face that was hit by wind and rain. Compared with the pale and plump face of some Cao Xiahou''s family, it was more like the blue rock in the Taihang Mountains in front of him.


    Everyone wants comfort, no one wants to face death.


    It''s like winning or losing among military strategists.


    So what about this time?


    『General, find a hunting path! 』


    The scout''s voice interrupted Le Jin''s contemplation.


    "Come on the torch! 』


    Le Jin opened the map he carried with him while giving instructions.


    The map of the sheepskin is relatively old, with creases and ink, like a messy chessboard.


    The guards drew a pine wood from the bonfire and held it in front of Le Jin.


    『Hunting Trail…』


    Le Jin was on the map, distinguishing the path found by the scout.


    Suddenly, a drop of pine resin, as hot as magma, fell on the three words "Yingchoujian".


    Le Jin was stunned for a moment, subconsciously wiped it with his hands, and it was burned and retracted, but he saw that the ink word had been etched into a charred color...


    The guard next to him whispered, "I don''t know some things..."


    "If you don''t know, don''t talk! ''Le Jin didn''t look up, as if he wanted to wipe the charred black off, but it was obviously unlikely. Instead, he got darker and darker as he wiped. In the end, he simply gave up and began to look for the hunting lane reported by the scout at the edge of Yingchou Spark.


    However, it is obvious that this hunting path does not have any signs on the map, so Le Jin is not sure whether this hunting path can spare this plank road.


    Maybe it''s OK, maybe it''s not.


    Normally, a small team should be sent to explore the way first, and then come back to report.


    But in this way, it will inevitably consume a lot of time, and the more serious problem is that the supplies carried by Lejin and others are not endless. If the time is delayed on the road is too long, then it is impossible to guarantee the combat effectiveness after crossing the Taihang Mountains, the plank road, and you may even die directly in the Taihang Mountains...


    He died silently, not even a cemetery!


    『…』The guard grunted for a while, but still couldn''t help but say, "Master, why are we here?" 』


    "Why aren''t we here?" ''Le Jin asked back, ''Who can come except us? 』『But that was Xiahou…』 The guard’s voice was low, and before he finally disappeared, he could vaguely hear a few words, 『We are not Xiahou…』


    Lejin paused for a moment when his fingers sliding on the map.


    Le Jin pursed his lips tightly and stood up.


    The guard looked at Le Jin with some anxiety.


    "Go and see how the situation is on the other side of the plank road repair? 』


    Le Jin ignored the guard''s complaint just now and changed the subject.


    The guard seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, answered, and then left the cave and went to check. After a while, the guard came back, "Master, the situation is not very good...it is mainly because it is too difficult to collect wood...


    Le Jin nodded slightly.


    In this kind of weather, it is already inconvenient to just walk, let alone have to cut down from the mountain?


    Moreover, most of the surroundings of the plank roads are without any wood. If you want to get the wood, you have to go further. There are no handy tools. You can only process the wet wood with knives and axes...


    "Why! ''Le Jin breathed a long sigh, ''Let everyone who built the plank roads come back... squeeze here tonight... tomorrow... let''s change to the hunting road! 』


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    "Hunting track?" ''The guard whispered, ''Master...why should I take a few people to check first? 』


    Le Jin patted the guard''s arm, "No need... life or death... not this time... go find more dry firewood, set up more bonfires, so that everyone can have a good rest..."


    The guard answered and retreated.


    Le Jin sat down again, lowered his head, and hid his face in the shadow. He didn''t want the guards, or other soldiers, to see his frustrated and disappointed expression.


    There are some things that he doesn''t know, but...


    Pretend not to know.


    …


    …


    A war often determines life and death.


    Perhaps there is only a line of separation, which is both ends of life and death.


    Tactical arrangements may be complicated, but they are often very simple in strategy.


    Especially for large legion combat, there are actually two options: fighting or not.


    Without fighting, it means deep ditches and high bases to eliminate the enemy''s aura.


    War means choosing the right opportunity to force the enemy to fight in unfavorable situations and gain more advantages for one side.


    At Tongguan, whether it was Pang Tong or Zhang Liao, they knew that the war in front of them was at its last moment, and they also knew that this war was no longer just a simple military issue, but would also change the entire Han Dynasty. Therefore, in this case, being cautious and cautious, preparing and preparing has become the top priority before military operations.


    The mountain wind blew the wetness of the river, and Zhang Liao gently patted the war horse''s neck to calm the war horse''s temper.


    The war horse shook its head, sniffed, and stopped shaking its hooves.


    The horse''s feet were covered with linen cloth wrapped in horse''s hooves. After all, it was not so comfortable. Moreover, after passing through the wet road, it would be stained with more mud, which would of course make the horse a little irritated.


    The personal guards and cavalry around Zhang Liao were also sneaking in equipment like Zhang Liao, wrapping the horse''s hooves...


    This is a former investigation.


    Zhang Liao could not have used it, but he found Fei Qian and took the initiative to lead the team to conduct this reconnaissance.


    As the front-line commander general who is about to attack Heluo, Zhang Liao felt that he must know the terrain of Heluo very well.


    This kind of "knowledge is not just about looking at the map, but about having a more intuitive understanding of the terrain in the Heluo area.


    It is of course dangerous to do this. After all, Zhang Liao doesn’t bring many troops, but Zhang Liao feels it is necessary to take the risk this time.


    Zhang Liao was not very familiar with Heluo area, but Zhang Liao knew that this was once a prosperous place for the Han Dynasty.


    He has been here once...


    Zhang Liao''s eyes patrolled around, trying to merge the impression in his memory with the Heluo scene in front of him.


    Zhang Liao held the war horse and the dust stained on the bronze horse leash fell.


    The thirty cavalrymen who came out were scattered in the night like ink dots, vaguely pulling out a net-shaped structure.


    And around Zhang Liao, there were twenty other guards.


    More than ten miles ahead is Yique Pass.


    The Yishui and Luoshui flow into the river near Luoyang.


    Yique Pass is a pass and a military city on the Yi River.


    During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was a great war here, fighting for Heluo. It can be said that in Heluo area, there have been many battles of life and death at every pass.


    So Zhang Liao did not go straight to Luoyang City, but walked along the mountain road and earthen plateau to Yique Pass.


    One of the eight passes of Luoyang.


    On the mountain east of Yiqueguan, there are also Ogu Pass and Yuyuan Pass.


    In the north of Luoyang City, there are Xiaopingjin, Mengjin and other places, which are equally important.


    It’s just that Xiaopingjin and Mengjin are both by the water, and it is obviously difficult to do something under the surveillance of the Chang''an naval army...


    And it''s different here.


    Yique Pass is located about twenty-five miles southwest of Luoyang City, and this distance is very subtle.


    It stands between Longmen Mountain and Xiangshan Mountain. The Yi River flows through it, forming a natural canyon gateway. The two mountains are towering and form a barrier. Yique Pass is located on it. The mountain on the east side is high, while the mountain on the west side is slightly lower. The mountains are steep, the rock walls are as sharp as the water is turbulent, forming a dangerous terrain of "two mountains confront each other, looking like a vein", which also makes this place an important channel for the southward exit of the Heluo Basin.


    Of course, this Yique Pass can only be used to defend against the route of marching north along the Yishui River from the south, blocking the military forces in this direction into Heluo, and cannot play a decisive defensive role in the cavalry that has already controlled Hangu Pass.


    However, we should not take it lightly. After all, the narrow canyon here can only allow one car to pass through, and ambush can be set up on the cliffs on both sides, forming a situation where one man is at the pass and ten thousand men cannot open it.


    In addition, because it is surrounded by mountains and rivers, it is also a Feng Shui treasure land that is loved by the great officials and nobles. It is the second choice outside of Beimang Mountain. Even the ten regular attendants of that year were buried here.


    Under the moonlight and starlight, Yishui is filled with iron-gray waves.


    The vegetation on the mountain is still very rich, with pine and cypress trees endlessly spreading. From a distance, it looks like black moss, attached to the mountain.


    Zhang Liao looked at the two mountains of Yique, and his heart moved slightly.


    If Cao''s army relied on the Luoyang Basin to connect Yique Pass, Beimang Mountain, and Dahe Ferry...


    "Is this Yishui?" ''The guard beside him whispered, ''It seems to be normal...''


    "generally? ''Zhang Liao smiled, ''I defeated 240,000 soldiers here back then! 』


    "What? ''The guard was stunned for a moment, ''Twenty-four thousand? so much? Who beat it? Is it a cavalry? 』


    Zhang Liao laughed, "Tell you to read more books... and send orders to spread them a little, carefully check the surrounding situation, and report any findings immediately! 』


    The fifty elite cavalrymen brought by Zhang Liao suddenly dispersed under the command, like a big net, heading towards Yiqueguan.


    『There is a stone here! 』


    A cavalry found half of the stone lying on the ground in the silt near the river beach.


    Zhang Liao rushed over and frowned.


    Shi Jie Xie is a legendary divine beast that symbolizes auspiciousness and evil. It is like a lion with wings. It is said that it can drive away evil and filth and eliminate ominousness. Most of it is used in tombs. The beast''s head should have a gem inlaid as its eyeballs, but now it has been taken away. Only half of the mud is left with the broken black hole, which seems to be looking at the world in a turbid manner, and it seems to be defiled by this **** and dirty world...


    "How come this thing is here?" ''Zhang Liao raised his head and looked at Yi Que in the distance, "Is it flowing from there?" 』


    Zhang Liao looked around and saw that the unusual earth color on the ground attracted his attention.


    Zhang Liao took a step forward, bent his knees and looked down. His black armor almost blended with the night color, and only the ring-headed knife on his waist occasionally reflected a few cold stars.


    Zhang Liao stretched out his hand and crushed the dirt in front of him.


    He seemed to think that this kind of soil looked familiar, but he couldn''t remember where he had seen it for a while.


    "Come on, put this earth...


    Zhang Liao ordered the guards beside him, clapped his hands and stood up.


    "What about this stone?" 』


    A guard asked.


    Zhang Liao smiled and said, "Just throw it here, this thing is too heavy... Then go to other places to find out if there are any new discoveries..."


    At this moment, Zhang Liao suddenly felt like a hunter in the mountains, and then found some traces left by the prey.