Compared with the scenery of the Northland, which is surrounded by thousands of miles of ice and snow, the Daba Mountain Range, located on the edge of the southwestern Sichuan region, is undoubtedly much warmer in winter. But this kind of warmth is also relatively speaking, because it is accompanied by temperatures of only a few degrees to a dozen degrees throughout the year, continuous winter rains, and heavy fog that will not go away for a long time on the rivers and in the mountains and forests. And this ubiquitous fog and rain has become a side-by-side dispatch of troops along the Xiajiang Road north of Litchi Road; the first obstacles and difficulties bear the brunt.
The fog not only brought a bitter and wet chill, but also kept the narrow mountain roads and plank roads in a slippery and dripping state, and it seriously affected the horizon and sense of orientation during the march; coupled with the alternate mountain roads, Among the plank roads, because of the year-round lack of people to walk and maintain, the naturally collapsed and damaged parts have become natural traps and sources of danger that people are somewhat invincible.
Even if the guide who has been accustomed to this route leads the way again, all kinds of accidents such as missteps, falls, and falls, resulting in sporadic non-combat attrition and loss of workhorse supplies, still frequently appear. Among this team. With the ups and downs of the advancing mountains, the ever-changing climate differences and disparity have further aggravated this situation.
Maybe the sun is still shining on the ridge and on the top of the mountain, but the mountainside is covered by clouds and fog as if walking among the clouds. At the foot of the mountain, the bottom of the valley, and between the gorge river, it turns into a drizzle from time to time, or It was a brief rainstorm that fell suddenly at the epicenter of the winter thunderstorm,
Therefore, the robes and armors of the soldiers are always covered with dew. Even if there are raincoats made of special rubber cloth to cover the wind and rain, they can easily become wet and heavy; coupled with the mountain temperature The high and low drop changes occasionally, and occasionally encounters freezing rain and ice particles; therefore, accidentally it can easily become the source of sudden illnesses such as wind chill and diarrhea.
But the hardest thing is to accompany the soldiers of those engineering groups. In the preemptive process of opening roads in the mountains and building bridges in water, they need to fight against their own severe weather and sudden geological disasters. Whether it is mudslides and temporary siltation sections washed by rain, or short-lived turbulent mountain streams, or collapsed and defective roadbeds and plank road panels, they need to clean and repair them bit by bit.
Therefore, when they could temporarily stop to camp and rest, they had to soak in the mud and rain at the work site, struggling to eliminate various obstructive factors. Or in the narrow and misty mountain road, drill drills were laid down in sections and ropes were hung as a safe traction for the follow-up team to follow up. Therefore, the accidental frequency of injuries and disappearances is also the highest percentage in this army.
Therefore, just the distance from Yuzhou to Hezhou (now Hechuan District, Chongqing City) allowed this army to walk for three days and three nights. But when they were covered in mud, exhaustion and scars, they suddenly appeared near Shijing, Hezhou city, under the Tongliang Mountain where the three rivers and four waters converge; among the towns and towns in the local Jiangkou, the officials and people who have been relaxed for a long time , And almost caught off guard and fled away.
As for the governor Fei Liguo in Shijing City of Zhouzhi, although he was only an official and post he bought from the former Jia Shuai Niuxue; but after he got the police, he ignored all four gates and closed most of the fleeing people. Keep it out. After opening the official warehouse and taking the lead in the promotion of the House of Prosperity in the city, they were able to convene and arm a large number of young people, who are bound to be indifferent to the thieves.
However, the so-called "ideal is plump, reality is skinny". As Xu Xuran arrived at the Taiping Army under the city, they began to release the first round of horse-tuoshan cannons; the huge sound echoed back to the police, which actually made Feiming Mansion, who came to the city to scold the thieves and boost morale, was caught on the spot. The size of the shock was incontinent and passed out. As a result, those young men who had applied for a short time had a bad view and fled.
Therefore, these soldiers from the Taiping Army Mountain Barracks just ascended to the top of the city easily with a long ladder after the shelling. There was no damage or resistance at all. There were flags, armors, clothes and shoes everywhere they were discarded. Among the mess of socks and headscarves, some coveted bloodless people have seized the city.
In the following time, the multiple barriers and water villages and defensive strongholds set up against the downstream have become even more defenseless against threats from the upstream. It was quickly swept away by a surprise attack from the rear. It has become a rubble of burning and demolishing everywhere.
Although in the dry season of winter, there are many places that are easy to get stranded underwater, so it is not a good time for boats on the river. However, after clearing the wooden stakes and cross gates set up upstream, the vehicles and ships from the downstream still ventured back to the water. At the cost of many stranded and damaged ships, a large number of military supplies and auxiliary soldiers were transferred in a short period of time. , Minfu.
After spending a day to consolidate the local situation, and after some corrections and supplements, this army of the Gorge River continued to move north along the main source of the Fujiang River. After passing the waterway from the mouth of Shijing/Tongliang Mountain to Qingshi Mountain, the surface of the Fujiang River has become more gentle and open. And relying on the river ships collected locally, as well as some vehicles and ships arriving downstream, a considerable part of the materials and personnel in front of you can be transported by sea and land together.
Therefore, in the following days, relying on the various customs and market towns captured from the coast to obtain alternate rest and supplements from the river surface, although the land is still difficult to walk, the marching speed can be accelerated a lot. In the process of capturing Fangyi and Tongning in Suizhou (now Suining, Sichuan) along the Yangtze River, and the settlement and Lezhi of Puzhou (Anyue, Sichuan), the local government soldiers and civilians became even more defenseless and vigilant.
Especially in the process of seizing the Fangyi of Suizhou Prefecture, we also got the assistance of Yingwaihe from the local salt gang to open the city gate. Because of the massive use of troops to the north and the focus on the Luzhou line, the relatively inland surrounding places such as Guozhou (Nanchong, Sichuan) and Puzhou (Anyue, Sichuan) are quite empty and lacking defense. Don't send troops just to separate out a battalion to try to attack.
The local guards and officials almost died or fled, were captured or voluntarily asked to surrender, and some committed suicide and died in the country. The only highlight during this period was the Jiangkou Salt Inspection Institute in Suizhou. Hundreds of patrolmen from Xichuan, led by the small envoy of the Salt Inspection Institute, fought resolutely. But it is insignificant for the full fall.
However, due to the speeding up of the march and the limited strength of the troops, these dispatched troops were briefly organized locally. After a few temporary garrison regiments and a few staff were left to preside over the situation, they returned with a large amount of food and supplies. And when they set off again, crossed the evacuated Yangtze River County and continued to trace back, what they had to face was Tongquan County, which was already waiting in full battle in Zizhou.
After all, Zizhou is the governing place and core governing area of Dongchuan Jiedu Envoy. Although it has been affected and poisoned by war in recent years, it is still richer and stronger than elsewhere. After the news of the successive fall of neighboring counties and counties came with the fugitives, Song Hao, as the new Dongchuan Jiedu Envoy, even if the news has not been fully confirmed, he prepared for the war immediately and comprehensively. Requisition and issuance of civilian resources.
After all, in the territory of Zizhou, which is located in the heart of Sanchuan traffic, traces of the Taiping Army have appeared; this is enough to shake the whole land of Jiannan Sanchuan. Because this means that foreign "thieves" may cross the Lutou Pass at any time and cut off the entire connection between Xichuan and Dongchuan, mountains (south) and west (roads), and become a situation of catching turtles in the urn, or closing the door and beating the dog. Up.
—I am the dividing line —
In the general governor of Gangneung City, the telegraph lines and the existing signal tower system that have been laid through the Gorge River Road and Shannan East Road have been informed about the progress of the relevant military forces in just one or two days later.
Therefore, it was the turn of the Zhonglang general Cao Shixiong who was on duty in the Map and Public Hall, and couldn't help but laugh loudly at the left and right:
"Reporting from the front, the two teams of Xiajiang and Shan (South) East (Dao) who have surprisingly won, are now in a very good situation, and they are not generally good, but very good!"
"The only thing to worry about is the transportation and support from the rear, whether it can keep up! After all, these two routes are just preparations for a partial teacher..."
Zhang Juyan, another Zhonglang general at the side, is not so optimistic and solemn:
"That has opened up the situation somehow, even if the additional force is added afterwards, it is better than the disadvantage of the teacher and the need for someone to remedy it..."
Cao Shixiong is still optimistic:
"But this is also the truth. If it can threaten the old dynasty's behavior and make Sanchuan shake, and the various units of the Shu army have to turn around to rescue, then the situation of the two-way attack in the pass will naturally be eased? Let's talk about the West. The army came in large numbers during the severe winter, but the sheep, horses, cattle and livestock are not good at the road, and rely on the assistance of the Shu area..."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Juyan nodded slightly:
"On the contrary, it is the advance army in the Guan, which has always been used as a cover to attract the enemy and cover people's eyes; as long as the basic situation can be maintained and there will be no too many changes in the short term, it is considered a success... By the way, there is Cao Niangniang. Did you respond?"
Cao Shixiong emphasized:
"It is said that King Huang still looked very tightly on the other side, and he could only visit it face to face once in the temple, and only offered letters and gifts, but he couldn't say a few words."
Zhang Juyan shook his head slightly and said:
"Now that we have reached such a step, what else can I hold on? Let alone these dull and boring things..."
Cao Shixiong also sighed, but said with some subtle expressions:
"By the way, Lao Zhang, today the general governor has not come to leave for another day... Has that person in your family heard anything about it?"
"It seems to be embarrassing..."
Zhang Juyan said in a somewhat uncertain way: because since he got acquainted with the governor, he has never seen a corresponding illness, just like the natural evil in the folk rumors, and all diseases are not close to ordinary.
And among the buildings not far away. Han Hao, who had just walked out of the Chengfa Hall on duty, was also somewhat worried and overwhelmed with complicated thoughts. Because his cousin Han Jiyue became famous at the Meiyuan Poetry Fair, and after being summoned by the inner house, she never came out again.
This sudden result made him a little dazed and at a loss. What does the uncle's family really want to entrust their daughter to themselves, that would be shameless to the family. Therefore, after waiting for two days and there is still no news, he can only find someone to inquire in private.
However, the expression of the colleague he had secretly questioned was very subtle, and he even congratulated him face to face with envy and hatred:
"Brother Zhiguang, I'm afraid that your old Han family is about to develop. If you have the opportunity in the future, please give me some help!"
Therefore, Han Hao returned to his residence so full of thought, but saw that the door was wide open and there was someone sitting waiting for him, but a woman dressed as a t-shirt and a man with a wheaten skin said:
"Han Zuoji, I've been waiting for a long time..."
"Dare to ask you who?"
Han Hao couldn't help but asked in surprise:
"Li Siya, the official of the political security team... was ordered to come for questioning."
The other party smiled slightly: But Han Hao couldn't help but let out a trace of chill from the tail vertebrae. (End of this chapter)