Autumn is high in August, and even the remote areas in the southwest are already immersed in a strong sense of autumn. In the northwest of Dali, between the mountains and canyons, a large army was walking along the mountain trails that could not be called roads.
Surrounded by cliffs and steep peaks, dense vegetation, and rugged rocks are all obstacles to the advance. The journey is difficult. In front of the army, there are thousands of people who are opening the road. It is like this all the way.
Although there is no military flag raised high, the identity of this army is easily identifiable as the Han Army. Not to mention the uniforms and armor, in the entire southwest, except for Dali, only the Han Dynasty could arm and mobilize tens of thousands of troops.
Different from the Han army's Zhishi uniforms and equipment, this army was obviously adapted to local conditions. There were few heavy equipment in the whole army, and everything was mainly light and convenient for trekking and marching in the mountains.
In addition to swords, guns, bows and crossbows, each person had a woodcutter in his hand, violently destroying the original vegetation along the way, and forcibly opening up a passable road.
There is no special baggage team, the food is carried with you, and the officers and soldiers are integrated. Fortunately, there were a large number of horses, donkeys and mules, especially Dali horses, accompanying the army. The use of animal power relieved the sergeants' considerable burden.
Over the years, in the exchange of trade with Dali, the advantages of Dali horses have been fully demonstrated in the mountains and forests of the southwest. Tens of thousands of Dali horses have been introduced by the government and the people in the southwest. Today, these dwarf horses with sufficient endurance have become a powerful aid to the Han army in their southern expedition.
Even so, for the Han soldiers who climbed over mountains and crossed canyons, it was still a difficult journey. If it was difficult, it would be fine, but it would also cost lives. Not to mention the crisis at every step, there were attrition every day during the journey south.
Like previous Han army battles, this time the Han army marched south to Dali, but they still did not concentrate on one route, but chose to divide their troops into two routes: east and west. Of course, this does not include the army on Guangnan West Road, which only plays a leading role and is basically a soy sauce.
There were more than 50,000 people on the east side, led by Wang Renfan, the deputy envoy to recruit. They set out from Qiongbu County in southern Sichuan, intending to pass through Jianchang, Huichuan, and Nongdong, and then attack westward to attack Yangjumei City, the capital of Dali. This is the main force and the right path. It is the most important road for communication between the two countries. It is also the main defense direction of Dali's army.
There are those who follow the right path, and naturally there are those who take strange paths. This strange army is the above-mentioned army, with more than 25,000 people in total. It was personally led by Wang Quanbin, the envoy to recruit, and set out from Dadu County at the junction of Sichuan and Tibet, traveling lightly. The target is also the capital of Dali.
The 25,000 Han troops on the West Road are basically capable officers and soldiers, including the results of Wang Quanbin's many years of training in the southwest. The more than 5,000 troops are recruited from various chieftains. In terms of actual combat strength, they are much lower than those of Wang Renfan. The vigorous Eastern Route Army was much stronger.
This is destined to be a long and arduous journey. After crossing the Dadu River, and walking along the river valley for a while, we plunged into the high mountains and canyons in Yunnan and Tibet. There was basically no man's land along the way. Of course, The cost of not taking the usual path is probably this.
The straight-line distance from Dadu County to Yangjume City is about 800 miles. However, when we actually walked down, just through the mountains and canyons, the distance traveled more than doubled.
When he received the imperial edict, it was only early autumn. Wang Quanbin spent half a month mobilizing troops and horses, making arrangements for the expedition, and then began to march. Now, nearly a month has passed, and this arduous journey still has no end.
The morale of the army has been weakened. The soldiers dare not complain, but the irritability has spread. It was because of the strict military laws and Wang Quanbin's example that he persisted silently. The sixty-year-old general led it personally, what else could anyone else say?
Of course, if you don't persist, there is no other way. If you become a deserter, regardless of the punishment of military discipline, if you leave the brigade, there will most likely be nothing but dead bodies in the wilderness in this deep mountain.
The only thing that can make people feel at ease is that this is not a dead end. During the years of military training in the southwest, Wang Quanbin sent people to explore the geographical situation in Dali, and sent people to travel through the march route of the West Road several times. Just to find a marching route, more than 300 people were lost before and after.
No matter how bold Wang Quanbin was in using his troops, he would not dare to make fun of the safety of more than 25,000 sergeants. It was not easy to gather an army of this size in the southwest region. As for the two armies, no matter which one has problems, this southern expedition to Dali can be declared a failure.
It was another section of steep mountain road. Wang Quanbin also dismounted and led the troops on foot. The distance was less than three miles long. It took almost a full day for the entire army to cross it. Then, hundreds more soldiers and mules and horses were lost.
At dusk, the soft light of the setting sun spreads across the vast mountains. The soldiers of each battalion are resting on the spot. Due to the terrain restrictions, it is impossible to bury pots and cook rice. From officers to sergeants, they can only drink clean water and nibble. Dry food.
The long march had exhausted the Han soldiers physically and mentally, and they no longer had the strength to complain. In the depressing atmosphere, they all fell asleep on the spot holding their marching blankets.
The place where Wang Quanbin rested was relatively open, but there was no special arrangement. A pile of firewood was placed using local materials. We were almost out, and we didn’t even light the bonfire.
Like the soldiers, Wang Quanbin also ate hard and dry pancakes. For a veteran general in his sixties, such a march was indeed difficult. If compared with before departure, the whole person has almost lost weight, and the whole body is filthy. If you get close, you can smell the smell of copper that has almost turned into substance.
But in this case, who cares? Before dividing the troops, Wang Rengan suggested that Wang Quanbin should take the west route because Wang Quanbin was old, and let Wang Quanbin take command of the east route.
Naturally, Wang Quanbin stubbornly refused. This was not because he was trying to be brave. The Southern Expedition had been prepared for many years, and he even took the lead in formulating the military strategy. Wang Quanbin naturally had to shoulder the most important and arduous task.
Of course, the reason is that, according to his deduction of the war, the most threatening thing to destroy Dali is still the West Route Army. As long as you leave the mountains, approach the Jinsha River, and after crossing the river, you can go straight to the city of Yangju.
In Dali, the terrain is dangerous and the roads are difficult to navigate. These are indisputable facts. However, these geographical advantages are often confusing. What Dali relies on is the danger of the Dadu River and Jinsha River, as well as the many tribes in the northeast, which will become obstacles to the Han army's advance. The route Wang Quanbin chose was a route that could avoid these constraints to a great extent. As for the front, he left it to Wang Renfan, who would personally attack the vital points.
"This road is more difficult than I imagined!" However, after nearly a month of marching, even the strong-willed General Wang couldn't help but sigh like this.
"They are both handsome!" While he was sighing, a middle-aged general came over, followed by a short and capable subordinate: "The guide has brought him!"
"How long until we can leave the mountain?" Wang Quanbin nodded and asked the guide directly without any nonsense.
The gradually darkening sky enveloped Wang Quanbin, seeming to add a bit of hostility to him. The guide was a Yi man. Although he was nervous, he quickly replied: "Commander back to the capital, this place is already in Dali, and to the east is Ru Kubu can leave the mountain in less than two days and reach Chengdian in Dali."
"Are you sure?" Wang Quanbin's eyes lit up at first, and then his tone became more severe.
The guide spoke with a Yunnan accent and replied firmly: "I've walked through it twice, I'm sure!"
"Commander, some mountain people have been discovered in the front camp. What the guide said is true!" The Han general also said.
In this way, Wang Quanbin's expression finally softened and he asked: "Have those mountain people been under control?"
The general said calmly: "It's all solved!"
Nodding, his expression relaxed, and looking at the guide, Wang Quanbin showed a rare smile: "You guides have made great achievements. When you go out and conquer Dali, I will ask you for credit. No, I will directly upgrade you to level three! "
"Thank you, handsome!" the Yi guide was overjoyed.
