The spring rain continued continuously and did not stop until the evening. In this cold weather, even horses are sleepy, let alone people. The road was muddy, and just as this section of the official road was in disrepair and dilapidated, the silver carts got stuck in the mud from time to time, and they had to be pushed by officers and soldiers to move forward. In this case, the speed of the advance can be imagined.
"***," Hu Bugui spat, threw his poncho aside, revealing his bearded face, "If we go on like this, we won't be able to reach the capital for another ten days. If we miss the great cause of resisting Hu, we will be forever Sinners. What do these dog officials in Shandong eat, and they don’t even repair a single official road. They are so dilapidated that even wild donkeys don’t walk. Let us officers and soldiers pass by?”
The soldiers and horses under him are all temporarily deployed Shandong garrison. A hundred households clasped their fists and said, "General Hu, you haven't returned to your hometown for many years, so you don't know what's going on. Our Shandong's tax money is hundreds of thousands of taels every year. But they were all taken away by the imperial court with nothing left. In the past two years, the White Lotus Sect had civil strife and established itself as the king, and the people paid taxes at both ends, and they were extremely poor. It’s really embarrassing if you can’t get the money together. To say something disrespectful, this official path is not easy to follow, and you can’t blame others, you can only blame the elders in the court, they have never considered our local construction in Shandong.”
When it comes to the right and wrong of the court, Hu Bugui has nothing to do, so he can only snort: "Unlucky, really unlucky. It's better to follow General Lin. With him alone, it will not be our brother who suffers. If one day he insists on Chao Gang, with his ingenuity, it is easy to get some money to build a place."
"Brother Hu, what are you complaining about?" A clear voice came from behind. Hu Bugui turned around, but couldn't help laughing out loud. I saw a small oil-paper umbrella that Mr. Lin found from nowhere, holding it over his head just to cover the top of his head, pretending to be a fake gentleman. It is really ridiculous to appear nondescript among the ten thousand armies.
"I'm talking about the official way." Hu Bugui smacked his lips, and said helplessly: "It's raining, there are mud puddles everywhere, and the carriage got stuck in the mud and couldn't get up. Today, the army has only traveled more than ten miles. , If this continues, we will all be exhausted before reaching the capital. Hey, Master Lin, where did you find this little umbrella? Compared with your majesty and magnificence, it is really different!"
"I can't help it. My wife loves me so much that she insists on getting me a small umbrella. It's such a fucking little thing, and it doesn't cover the rain. It's still a burden to hold in my hand. If it wasn't for my wife's kindness, I would have lost it long ago." Lin The lord folded the oil-paper umbrella that Ning'er had asked to give away, and said with a grin.
"It turned out that it was Miss Luo who sent it off. No wonder the general loves it so much. To be accompanied by a beautiful family like a flower, the general is very lucky." Hu Bugui showed a smile that a man could understand, and the two laughed wildly.
Lin Wanrong stood still and looked forward. In front of it is a steep mountain, towering into the clouds, mighty and straight, and its momentum is very extraordinary. The official road stretches across the mountainside, as if hanging on the mountain ridge. Lin Wanrong frowned. It is not a problem to hide thousands of people in such a big mountain, but this road cannot be walked at night.
It was dusk, the wind and rain were heavy, and it was very difficult for the silver car in front to push forward. Lin Wanrong thought for a while, and said resolutely: "Brother Hu, tell the brothers to camp. If we don't leave today, we will camp at the foot of the mountain for one night."
"Set up camp so early?" Hu Bugui was puzzled, "Today we are moving too slowly, if we don't catch up, we may delay our journey even more."
"That can't be helped." Lin Wanrong said in a deep voice: "It's windy and rainy, and it's difficult for chariots and horses to travel. There are mountains ahead, the terrain is dangerous, and the mud is unbearable. If you venture into the dark, I'm afraid it will be more dangerous. Safety first, command Brothers, stop your horses and set up camp, and take strict precautions. Just stay here for one night, and leave early tomorrow morning."
Hu Bugui glanced forward, and saw that the official road in front of him stretched up to the mountain, and it was very difficult to walk with twists and turns. The vanguard of tens of thousands of troops had already arrived at the foot of the mountain. If you don't set up camp at this time, you can only rest on the mountain tonight, and escort 350,000 taels of silver to spend the night on the mountain. Nodding at the moment, he deeply agrees with General Lin's wise decision.
"By the way, Brother Hu, have all the scouts been sent out?" Seeing that Hu Bugui passed on the general order, the army stopped, Lin Wanrong asked again.
"Sent out, more than ten squads, more than two hundred brothers, all smart people, it is expected to return in the middle of the night today." Hu Bugui replied.
Lin Wanrong felt a little more at ease, and was about to turn around to go back, when he saw a figure walking in the distance, holding an oil umbrella, walking towards here on tiptoe.
"Miss Xu, why did you get out of the car?" Seeing that Xu Zhiqing's dress was mostly wet and her hair was covered with rain, Lin Wanrong was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly asked.
Looking at the mountains in the distance, Xu Zhiqing frowned slightly, and said softly: "The mountains ahead are steep and densely forested, so I can't move forward today, it's serious to set up camp as soon as possible."
This was the same as Lin Wanrong's point of view. Hearing Hu Bugui say that General Lin had ordered the camp, Xu Zhiqing nodded, picked up her long skirt with one hand, and continued walking through the rain.
Hu Bugui hurriedly stopped in front of her: "Miss Xu, camp is already set up ahead, you should go back earlier and rest!"
"I want to take a look at the mountain in front." Xu Zhiqing kept walking, and said lightly: "This is the last hurdle to the capital, if the thieves don't make any changes, then they have no chance, I don't believe they will be like this Let go easily."
Xu Zhiqing's expression was stubborn, she didn't intend to stop at all, Hu Bugui looked at General Lin in embarrassment. Lin Wanrong smiled wryly. This girl has a strong personality and is easy to evacuate and not easy to block. She nodded immediately and said to Hu Bugui: "Brother Hu, go and arrange for the brothers to station here. Pay attention to strengthening the guards. The sentry post extends for two miles. , don’t be careless at any time. I will accompany Miss Xu to the front to have a look.”
Miss Xu shook her head, and snorted out of her small nose: "If you want to accompany me, I can go by myself!"
Are you addicted to talking back, girl? And rebelled against you! Lin Wanrong's complexion changed, and he said with a straight face: "I said go. Then I have to go! I am leading the army on this trip, whether you are convinced or not, you have to obey me. If you dare not obey the military order, I don't care who you are. It's the same as hitting a board and spanking!"
Speaking of spanking, he couldn't help but feel agitated, thinking of the wonderful feeling of sneaking that night, he couldn't help but sneak a glance over.
Miss Xu seemed to have thought of the same thing, her face became hot, she lowered her head angrily, and snorted softly: "Shameless!" It's just that his expression at this time is completely different from his usual laughing and joking, and it's quite a bit strange. Majestic, so that she can no longer talk back. [Paradise Kiss Hand Slap]
This spring rain is getting heavier and heavier, and it seems that there is no sign of stopping. Going forward along the slope, there is more and more water, and it is getting more and more difficult. The soldiers in front have stopped and are setting up camp.
After walking a few steps, Lin Wanrong looked back when he heard that the footsteps behind him seemed to be far away and scattered. I saw Miss Xu's gown was soaked, her long hair was flying in the wind and rain, and the oil-paper umbrella was scratched in several places and couldn't block the wind and rain at all. Xu Zhiqing gritted her teeth tightly, and followed behind him without saying a word, stepping forward stepping on the water well.
The girl asking for trouble, Lin Wanrong shook her head helplessly, hurried back a few steps, and was about to hand her the paper umbrella in her hand, Miss Xu shook her head stubbornly: "I don't want it! You can keep it for yourself!"
The raindrops fell on her face, making her cheeks crystal clear and spotless. Lin Wanrong sighed and said, "You go back first. I'll check it out and report back to you!"
"You can go, why can't I go?" Xu Zhiqing's expression was serious and meticulous: "This is a march to fight a war, regardless of gender, we are equal!"
"Equality? Equality ass!" Seeing that this chick was as stubborn as a rock, Mr. Lin couldn't help becoming angry, and stretched out his hand, "Give me your hand."
"What are you going to do?" Seeing that his face was darker than this day, Miss Xu was startled, and hurriedly took a step back, but she was stepping on the rain, and the embroidered shoes were soaked through.
"Troublesome girl!" Lin Wanrong snorted secretly, took her little hand involuntarily, and led her forward.
"What are you doing! Men and women don't accept kisses!" Ms. Xu shouted in embarrassment and annoyance. Seeing Lin San ignoring her and pulling her forward, the soldiers on both sides looked at the two of them in amazement. She blushed with shame, and her voice was much lower: "Don't let others see it. You, let me go quickly."
The two hurried for a while and rushed up the mountain road. Lin Wanrong threw away her little hand. Ms. Xu was panting, her face was smeared with bright red, and she said angrily, "Why are you so rude?"
rude? There are more rude you have not seen it! Master Lin's face darkened, and he said angrily: "Miss Xu, I've told you all the good and bad things, you don't want to challenge my bottom line. Either you shut up and follow me honestly, or you go back!"
Miss Xu snorted and said nothing. Lin Wanrong glanced at her, only to see that her clothes were soaked and her lips were purple with cold, but she stubbornly remained silent. Such a woman is really rare! He sighed secretly in his heart, made an evil look on his face, and said fiercely: "Did you hear clearly?"
Xu Zhiqing gritted her teeth, nodded, and saw that he reached out to her again, her face blushed slightly, and she let him hold on. Just now I didn't feel much when I walked fast, but now I hold his big rough hand again, but I feel a heat coming from my body, dispelling the cold a lot. Her palms trembled slightly, and she involuntarily clenched them a little more.
The two of them stood on a steep hillside, and there was no one else in front of them except the faint mobile sentry. Lin Wanrong looked around, green pines and cypresses in the distance, heavy clouds and mists, and a long official road circling in the mountains, with no end in sight. Both sides of the official road are covered with leaves and pine needles, which are extremely slippery and difficult to walk on.
"What do you think of the situation?" Miss Xu asked with an indescribable strange feeling in his heart as he held his little hand, her face was hot for bursts, and she pretended not to feel it.
"I was cursing God just now, but now it seems that God has helped us a lot. The spring rain is really timely—hey, be careful, Miss Xu, hold my hand tightly, don't slip and fall." Lin Wanrong grinned, and lightly stroked Miss Xu's palm. The soft feeling made his heart tremble. With a serious face, he pointed to the dense bushes in the distance and said, "This official Taoist leader is more than tens of miles away, and he is circling the mountainside. , We lined up tens of thousands of people, and lost the advantage of density, that is weak everywhere."
"Are you still worried that the thieves will rush down from the mountain to fight you?" Miss Xu wanted to withdraw her little hand, but felt that his palm was tightly grasped like a vise, and she couldn't move at all. She could only give him an annoyed look. Turning his head away, he thought, it was because he was holding on too tightly, it had nothing to do with me. Using this reason to comfort myself, my heart suddenly became much more peaceful.
"Fighting? Except for fools, who would come to rob the way of the officers and soldiers?" Lin Wanrong shook his head, his face suddenly became solemn: "Good rain knows the season, when spring will happen! If it weren't for this timely spring rain, at this time, the mountains and plains would be full of fear." It's already a sea of flames, even if there are 100,000 troops, they won't be able to hold back the fire. As long as they sprinkle tung oil on both sides, the fire will take advantage of the wind, and I will have nothing to do. ***, I will burn incense when I go back tonight !"
Miss Xu glanced at him, obviously very dissatisfied with his swearing, snorted and said: "At least you still have some brains, and you didn't make such a stupid mistake. We march and fight, and there are rules. The snow does not pass the bridge, and the night does not pass. Lin, it is to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of it. If you are greedy for merit and rush forward, you will definitely suffer a big loss in the end."
Seeing that Lin San listened to his lectures honestly, for some reason, Miss Xu felt a faint surprise in her heart. She had never felt such a sense of accomplishment when she led a hundred thousand soldiers to fight against the barbarians, as if teaching him alone was better than teaching a million soldier.
I just taught her a lesson, this girl is looking for a place to educate me back. Seeing that Ms. Xu's clothes were all wet and her lips were purple from the cold, Lin Wanrong couldn't open her mouth even if she wanted to fight with her, so she took her little hand and smiled slightly: "Let's go back quickly."
When did he become so gentle? Seeing the love and affection flashing in his eyes, Miss Xu's heart was pounding, and she was about to speak, when Lin San's expression suddenly became serious.
Far away in the sky, a trace of fireworks rose into the sky, and withered in the wind and rain, leaving behind a long blue smoke.
"No, something has happened!!!" Miss Xu screamed, and Lin Wanrong's shout had already spread throughout the army: "Hu Bugui, rectify the army!"