The weather was fine, and the warm sun shone on my body, dispelling the chill. The leaves of the trees in the mountains have long since fallen, revealing red and yellow wild fruits, swaying in the breeze. Small beasts such as deer and rabbits roam leisurely in the mountains and forests.

It is rare to have such good weather, and many people from the mountains came to Dongjiazhai to buy and sell various goods. With the influx of a large amount of cash, even the families in the mountains have a few dollars in their hands. These people have formed a habit over the years, and as soon as they have a few dollars in their hands, they will feel uncomfortable if they don't spend it. With such fine weather, it is also good to go to Dongjiazhai for a walk and drink a bowl of wine.

The sun slowly moved overhead, the weather became hotter and hotter, and the Dongjiazhai ferry port was crowded with people, and it was very lively.

At this moment, a large group of soldiers and horses appeared at the ferry port and slowly concentrated on the ferry.

A Tibetan man who was eating noodles under the shed was taken aback, pushed the noodle bowl, jumped up with a "puff", and shouted: "Alas, it's not good, the officers and soldiers have crossed the river to rob the Tibetan department!" Quick, quick, go back and let the people hide! ”

As soon as these words came out, the surroundings were in chaos, and the people who were hanging out jumped and jumped.

An errand officer who patrolled the streets walked quickly into the shed, gave a big mouth to the shouting man, and shouted, "What nonsense! This is the patrol of the soldiers and horses, crossing the river to patrol the border. What kind of possessions do you Tofan people have, worthy of so many soldiers! If you want property, how much is there in Dongjiazhai? Go across the river into the mountains! Shut up, it has nothing to do with you, and you can't make a noise! ”

With the intervention of the patrol officers, the commotion gradually subsided, and the army squeezed into the ferry, silent, and uneasy. In the past few years, various Song armies crossed the Yellow River to loot the Tibetan tribe from time to time, and the imperial court was powerless to restrain it. Even the area around Tanglong Town was badly damaged, and the imperial court also issued a special decree ordering the imperial court soldiers and horses not to loot them. As for the others, who cares about them?

The detachment of the Tibetan tribes in this area is related to this confusion. In winter, the Song army will rob, the Khitans will also rob, and the large and small Tibetan tribes will also rob each other. Most of the Tibetan tribes were nominally oriented to the Great Song Dynasty, which was related to the Song army's least grabbing.

Since Dongjiazhai crossed the ferry, there is a mountain road leading directly to Tanglong Town, and the distance is less than 100 miles. Zhang Qi commanded the soldiers to cross the river, and under the guidance of the guide, went straight to the north. The soldier is fast, and he wants to take it before the parties react. As for what the surrounding Xiaofan tribes think, they can't take care of it at all, and their strength, no matter how you think about it, can't affect the actions of the Song army.

As the Song army entered the mountains, the people of Dongjiazhai no longer had the interest to hang out, and they crossed the river and returned. Regardless of whether it will be plundered by the Song army or not, with so many troops suddenly entering the mountains, something big must have happened.

On the other side of Dongjiazhai, Du Zhongxiao took 200 Guangrui troops and most of the Baojie army, as well as 100 musket villagers, along the road at the foot of the mountain, quietly advancing towards the side head village. As soon as Dongjiazhai passes, the valley of the Yellow River suddenly becomes narrow, the high mountains on both sides of the river stand steeply, the Yellow River rushes in the middle, and there is only one line of blue sky on the head, which is very steep. This is the main road, but the border has been closed for many years, and there are no pedestrians on the road.

Du Zhongxiao rode on the horse, a little excited. After the abandonment of the partial head village, after the Dongjia village, it was out of the actual control area of the Song Dynasty. Although the information was carefully gathered before leaving, the situation in this area can still be grasped. Unlike on the other side of the Yellow River, the Tibetan tribes in this area were harassed by the Khitans, and the Song army did not come to protect them, so they were much more vigilant. Fortunately, it is late autumn now, and all the Tibetan tribes are concentrated in the valley for wintering, and the surroundings are quiet.

Thirteen Lang followed Du Zhongxiao's side closely, as a guard. Looking at the surrounding steep terrain, Thirteen Lang was both nervous and excited, and whispered to Tao Seventeen, who was following behind: "Seventeen, the terrain here is dangerous, if there are enemy troops in ambush on both sides——"

"Bah, bah, shut your crow's mouth! Our northward journey is secretive, and we don't know it, where is there an ambush! Besides, this is the territory of this dynasty, and the officers and soldiers are marching, who doesn't open their eyes and dare to rob us! ”

Thirteen Lang said in a low voice: "I mean just in case, in case you don't understand?" Those talking gentlemen, speaking of marching and fighting—"

Tao Seventeen shook his head again and again: "What kind of world has the speaker seen?" You listen to their nonsense! Hurry with peace of mind and be careful if something goes wrong! ”

No one talked to him, so Shisanlang lost interest and had to follow the team and hurry.

Shi Kaicheng, the head of Baojie, rode on a horse, listening to the roar of the Yellow River nearby, he was a little frightened, and said to Shao Qun, the head of Guangrui beside him: "In such a cold and freezing weather, why did the Zhijun think of rebuilding Dongjiazhai?" Why not wait until next spring, when the weather is good and there is no harassment from the Khitans. ”

Shao Qun said lightly: "We just act according to military orders, what do we do so much?" We, the intellectuals, are young and have not been through the battle formation, who knows what is in our hearts? He wants to make meritorious contributions, and we have to work hard. ”

Shi Tiancheng sighed, silently rode on his horse, and followed the team. The Khitans and Tibetans were nomadic, and when spring came, there would be no more wars. At that time, it was the best time to build a walled fort, this was a practice for many years, why did Du Zhongxiao go at this time when he was confused.

These armies of the Volcano Army, how many years have passed, let them go to the bitter mountains to guard the cottage, and they are ten thousand unwilling in their hearts. In the military city outside the mountain, there is no shortage of money and food, the family is reunited, and the life is harmonious and beautiful, why do you go to war?

Less than ten miles to the east, the Yellow River flows north-south, and the valley is about to become narrower. Everyone walked a little tired, and no one spoke, but followed the brigade, moving forward mechanically. Only the sound of horses' hooves knocking on the ground echoed through the valleys. After walking more than ten miles, the Yellow River narrowed again, the water became extremely turbulent, and the roar was endless.

Du Zhongxiao looked at the Yellow River rushing down, the river was close to the mountain, and the banks were no longer pedestrian. Not far ahead, the road bends northeast and slowly rises up to the riverside hill along a relatively gentle mountain beam.

The guide stepped forward: "Official, when you come here, you must not walk through the valley, but climb the mountain beam and march along the mountain beam." A few miles up the hill, there is an abandoned castle. Rest there for the night, and tomorrow you will be able to go to the side head village. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded. Before the head village was abandoned, there should be a handing shop in front of it for pedestrians to replenish, perhaps the abandoned castle that the guide said. The roads on the mountain beams are different from the river valleys, and the first thing is to have a water source, and the resting places are selected.

looked at the team behind him, everyone had tiredness on their faces, and they didn't seem to have high morale when they first came out of Dongjiazhai.

After summoning the herald's own soldiers, Du Zhongxiao said: "The herald will go down, and the whole army will go up the mountain along the road!" The road up the mountain is steep, and the soldiers are instructed to take good care of the horses and camels carrying grain, grass, guns and cannons, and there must be no mistakes! There is no accumulation there, so don't throw away the materials! ”

The soldiers agreed with their hands, beat their horses and went back, and loudly conveyed Du Zhongxiao's military orders.

On the other side, Zhang Qi's soldiers and horses crossed the mountains on the other side of the Yellow River with great difficulty and entered a relatively open valley. After calling the guide to ask, I learned that along the valley, all the way forward, you can get to Tanglong Town.

The mountains here are much more gentle than those on the east bank of the Yellow River, and the population is more dense, and you can see the Tibetan people along the way.

Zhang Qi rode on a horse, looked at the red sun in the west sky, the cold wind rose, and said loudly: "Pass my military order, camp here tonight." Make dinner early tomorrow, hit the road tomorrow, and get to Tanglong Town before dark! ”