And in the natural barrier between Shenzhou (now Xinyang, Henan) and Anzhou (Anlu, Hubei/I made a mistake) north-south—the east foothills of the ridged Tongbai Mountains and the peaks that meet the north foothills of the Dabie Mountains.
Just as he was in the muddy feet of different shades, Su Wuming, a general of Taiping Third Army Youlang who was struggling with difficulty, suddenly sneezed several sneezes, and the whole person rolled into the bushes. But at the moment when he continued to slide to the outside of the muddy mountain road, he grabbed the branch of the tree and was quickly pulled back by the left and right eyes.
Except for a few wooden thorns on the guard, there is no harm, but the scarlet woolen cloak and bright silver steel armor are full of scratches, and they are stained with a large amount of mud and wet. trace. The guards around him quickly fetched a half pot of spirits for him, and poured it on Su Wuming, who was grinning, before being pushed back by him:
"It's better to save some use. Before you find the next clean water source and a place where you can start a fire, maybe there are more uses?"
"I'm not that delicate. When I followed the generals of the old camp of Stormrage through Fujian, how did I travel a more difficult and rugged road than this?"
"You know, there will be roads where no one can step on, that is, everyone used their hands and feet to climb over forcibly; then they use pickaxes, blood and sweat, and their lives to drive out the mountain road called eight hundred miles!"
"We now have these equipment to open the way through the mountains, build bridges when encountering water, and rope ladders and sections that can be set on the cliffs to climb in turns, but where can we not go?"
"With these convenient equipment, let's not say that these Xu's knife-soldier dry food backpacks, even firearms and workhorses weighing tens to hundreds of catties, can also travel with them!"
He encouraged the left and right with such babbling, and continued to work hard to make new progress with a deep foot and a shallow foot. However, because of the late season in the mountains, there were only two short cold rains, which made this wild road with the shortest distance through the ridge become wet and slippery with mud and puddles.
Therefore, even if most soldiers are wearing military boots with high-top rubber and hard leather inlaid iron soles, it is inevitable that they will be poured into the cold muddy water if they are not careful, and the leggings and hemp socks are wet and slippery. It's soaked, and it makes people's footsteps heavy and makes those who are not able to walk more and more awkwardly.
But compared to the road that the old rebels like Su Wuming took, it was nothing. At that time, most of them didn't even have decent boots or shoes; everyone had their own ideas about what to use.
For example, you can use rice straw, wheat stalks, rattan, rush and reed edges to weave into straw sandals commonly used by farmers in the field, or tie two hemp ropes to wood chips. The simplest result is to cut a piece of cloth. Come to cover your feet, even if it's over.
But most of the time because of the lack of materials, they can't even collect these simple means, and can only wade barefoot through the rugged and dangerous mountains and rivers, and then accidentally get injured and fester without treatment, or It was damaged by frostbite in the ice and snow. Only occasionally in the battle with the army, fortunately, survived and seized a pair of useable shoes.
But I cherish the things I care about, I can’t bear to wear them and I can’t bear to use them. When encountering a dirt road, I simply strapped my shoes to my waist and went barefoot. As a result, I encountered an army brigade or a nearby soil group chased and killed Can't run far and run away; just wear shoes that haven't been worn on the waist, and die on the spot or lose his life in a panic.
At the beginning, the Stormrage Camp, which was responsible for breaking the Queen of Huang, was almost destroyed in the bloody battle. It was also the cook who was unpalatable but always had the ability to use all kinds of miscellaneous materials, but he was consciously wounded by arrows. And the old chef of the same surname who couldn't leave, forced him to wear a pair of tattered steps;
Su Wuming was able to escape from the chasing and shouting to kill in the mountains and plains, and finally met Wang Pan and Wang Touer's last bit, because he was full of scouts and avoided the confrontational Stormrage Camp. The remaining brothers barely managed to get back a life in the unlucky mortal situation.
Therefore, when he stood up in Canton and received the first pair of new shoes in his life because of the new monk chief, he didn't know how to describe his mixed feelings. Therefore, while he loved his feet, he naturally followed the cumbersome rules of washing his feet, soaking his feet, leggings and putting on socks every day, just to be able to maintain these shoes for a longer time.
However, just like the days when he became stable and abundant every day, he had not waited for the chance to wear this pair of steps, and he got another pair of small boots with the smell of fresh leather, and then the whole body inside and outside. Equipped with clothes and tents, blankets, bedding, turbans and hats; then more protective armor and thick scales. . .
It seems that after meeting that person, the days of these old brothers are always getting better day by day, and the treatment and conditions in the army are getting more abundant and better. But instead he became a little panic and dazed. Seeing that the "monk in charge" is step by step to the most prestigious position of the day, but his knowledge, his insight, and his methods of dealing with things, it seems that he is gradually unable to keep up with the new students who came out of the big lectures. Members, or those who are vying to be effective and obey.
After all, he turned out to be just the son of a maidservant whose father didn't even know who it was; he was lucky enough to get the host's surname and was called the son of Su Sanxiao's family. The flow of refugees passing by the big eaters destroyed his host’s manor, but it also allowed him, who was left to die, to take another path in his life. Therefore, he gave himself the name Wuming, also to commemorate the first half of his life when he was confused and awkward.
Perhaps, it’s like another old brother from a small trader who was born with a pair of squinted Wu Xingchen, who asked him to say something drunk when he was drinking; now, the rank of this general you may be them. The end of what I can do now is; like the old acquaintance Lu Fang who asked himself to transfer to the local ministry. However, the arrival of the old Shangguan/Jiantou Wang Pan once again brought them into a certain low ebb and indulgence, giving them a bloody rebuke to wake them up.
Since the chief governor does not use others, but should use them as the deputy of the army to take charge of daily affairs? It is not because they are from the origin of old brothers that can be trusted, but also because they have a bitter hatred with the corrupt officials and powerful gentry in the past; they are also the backbone of the justice and great cause that the Taiping Army has always upheld.
Otherwise, with the rise of the Taiping Army, there are more than tens of thousands of speculators in this world who want to gather under their command. Among them, there are no lack of high-ranking officials from the previous dynasty, and local celebrities. Their humble and dusty mud legs are even more dignified and capable characters.
And they are even less qualified to live up to the trust and hope of the governor. Because what they stand behind is not the gains and losses of their own family and surnames, but also the many bitter people on the road of righteous warfare who are still fighting in order to resist the injustice of the world. They have always fought unremittingly for it. The aspirations of many people.
Besides, even Laoguan and Cheng Dajiao in the Seventh and Eighth Army, who were originally from Hanwei but were arranged to go out to be close people early on; they don’t hesitate to ask their subordinates for advice, and even ask themselves to go to the training center. Re-learning the art of war and military strategy in China. These rebel generals, who are vainly called veteran qualifications, have any reason to stay where they are and continue to complain about themselves
So he asked himself for such a mission to lead light soldiers to cover the attack. Even if he is already inferior to those newcomers in knowledge and talents, at least in terms of the hardship and perseverance of the pioneers, he still thinks that not many people can match it, right? Su Wuming thought so silently, as if he felt that the muddy trek under his feet and the drowsiness of almost unconsciousness in his legs and feet seemed to be relieved a lot.
At this time, the first team suddenly stopped, and in the whispering whispering of the command, they showed a certain relief and relaxed expression one after another. A thin scout who was covered in a mottled grass-green cloak, but was stained with mud and turned into a mud monkey-like scout, fell from a tall tree and said:
"You Lang! The suspected Wuyang Pass (now Wusheng Pass in Xinyang, Henan) has been discovered ahead."
Breaking apart the yellowed withered grass and shrubs, in the distance, with the winding winding road that gradually descends, it becomes increasingly low. Between the intersection of east and west mountains and the photo frame, one is exactly embedded in the lowest part of the mountain pass. Suffering from wind, frost, rain and snow, the gray-brown adobe Guancheng appeared in front of this exhausted and muddy journey.
Through Su Wuming's long single-eyed probe, one could even see the top of the Guancheng wall, leaning around or sitting or leaning on the side of the battlements and wall plates, the yellow-faced defenders in messy clothes. They didn't bother to move for a long time, and they were so lifeless that if they didn't know how to look closely, it was still a dead city.
Su Wuming couldn't help but lifted his spirits, and with a somewhat hoarse voice, he encouraged the left and right again:
"Brothers work harder, maybe you can rest there for a while..."
"promise.."
Suddenly, a deep roar echoed from the left and right: However, even though Guancheng could be seen in the field of vision, it still took them a lot of time and energy to walk from the mountain to the avenue below. Many soldiers were too tired and sleepy, causing people to slip or fall over and over again in the process of climbing with both hands and feet.
But fortunately, even the team headed by Su Wuming has moved to the edge of Panshan Road, and there has been no movement and response from Guancheng, as if it hadn't noticed. However, when re-examining the equipment and luggage, it was discovered that some of the firearms that were brought over easily over the mountains were damaged a lot during the bumping and bumping down the mountain;
Also, the medicine bag in the bag was scraped and spilled, or it was soaked with muddy water. Therefore, the remaining weight is only enough to fight a short battle. Nevertheless, Su Wuming was full of ambitions for the next battle. At least these men and horses under his command were selected from more than a dozen mountain barracks. They were able to climb more and more vigorously, even if they were not supported by firearms in regular combat, they were also first-class players.
After that, they took the last bit of spirits and sugar tea in the kettle, ate some salty biscuits and fried noodles; they also took the remaining kerosene bombs, explosive bombs and flying fire thunders, as well as two bowls of mountain cannons. Sorted it out. At this time, a bullock cart drove up suddenly on the road. (End of this chapter)