A forest eagle seemed to be frightened by the noise, and flew out from the mountains. The three thousand figures passed by below and continued to roar for hundreds of miles. It was not until the sky turned dusk that they reached the river surface and landed on an old tree on the bank. They turned their eagle eyes and looked at the people marching in front of them. Another long team.
Tap tap tap.
The muddy ground near the river bank was covered with green grass, and the horses' hooves stepped on it, splashing up particles of wet mud.
"Xu."
Stopping his horse, Xu Mu raised his head steadily.
At dusk, the river surface not far away seemed to be covered with a layer of molten gold. Two or three awnings, probably without passengers, slowly moved towards the river bank.
"General Xu, it's getting dark." Yu Wen, who was wearing a robe and armor, said in a solemn voice.
He didn't move forward immediately. If he was too close to the river bank, he might be discovered. Therefore, the six thousand men and horses hid themselves in the woods.
The two river bandits who rode on the sentinel were all shot dead by bow dogs, and their bodies were dragged into the forest.
"Brother Mu, if not, just capture the one in Bailu County." Si Hu cheered.
Xu Mu shook his head.
It is not difficult to attack the county. We have seen before that there are less than a thousand troops left behind. But it would be meaningless to capture Bailu County without destroying the two nearby water villages.
After attacking Bailu County, these river bandits made a fuss and made trouble on the river boats, constantly invading the river banks, which was not worth the gain.
"Yu Wen, you lead three thousand cavalry troops and retreat to the grassland beside the forest. When you see the signal arrows, you immediately kill the river bandits who come ashore."
Yu Wen was startled, "General Xu, will the Jiang bandits come ashore?"
Logically speaking, if these gangsters who live off the river are in trouble, they are more likely to take a boat and enter the river immediately.
"I'll find a way to force them ashore."
As long as they are not in the river, there is no need to worry about the river bandits who come ashore.
Although he was a little confused, Yu Wen quickly nodded, led the figure of three thousand riders, and left on horseback.
"Brother Mu, what should we do?"
"Get the boat."
"Brother Mu, where is the boat?"
As early as a few days ago, when he entered Bailu County, he had already discovered that on the beach outside the county, the boatmen had dragged three or four merchant ships and stranded them on the river beach.
It must have been looted by the river bandits, and since there was no shooting pole and arrow cabin, it was impossible to build a warship, so it was not dragged away by the river bandits.
"General Xu, we can't have a water fight here." Among the entourage, an old soldier who was familiar with water said hesitantly.
The old pawn was not wrong.
The four stranded merchant ships in front of them don't even have the most basic paddles. If they engage in a boarding battle, they may be beaten all over their heads.
Xu Mu also knew that, but under the current situation, these stranded merchant ships were all that could be found.
shipbuilding? Even if it is a small boat, it still needs to cut down the wood and raise the sail. Even if the boat only carries a thousand people, it will take a lot of time.
He was too late.
Otherwise, his Poison Eagle military advisor would not have led three thousand men deep into the south to stop the enemy.
call out.
Gongou crouched on a high place, led dozens of people, and shot to death on the spot more than ten patrolling bandits who were approaching.
Some boatmen and boatmen were frightened and walked back in shock. The bow dog silently retracted its bow and did not shoot.
"The four merchant ships Xu will use can only carry a few hundred people, which is a bit risky."
The largest carrying capacity should be the building ship. The hull is larger and it is said that it can carry 3,000 soldiers.
"I don't want to engage in a boarding battle." Xu Mu said calmly, "Now, our biggest advantage is the three thousand cavalry troops on the river bank."
"General Xu, if not, I will take people to look for other ships nearby."
"I'm afraid it's too late—"
Before he finished speaking, Xu Mu's face was startled and he looked back hurriedly.
At this time, dozens of ragged figures suddenly appeared on the river beach in the night.
"My boss is not a river bandit, but some boatmen."
Xu Mu paused slightly. For a moment I didn’t understand what these poor people were going to do.
"I saw the general killing the river bandits and looking for a boat everywhere. We, we are here to offer a boat!" An old boatman walked in the front and kowtowed to Xu Mu.
Jiang bandits raided the people's lives and were unpopular. At first glance, these men who also make a living from the river water are no longer living like human beings.
"The awnings and river boats can all be presented to the general. I only hope that the general will drive away the river bandits so that the 130,000 people in Bailu County can survive."
Dozens of boatmen and boatmen all knelt down on the river beach and worshiped.
Xu Mu's heart was agitated. What he wanted was this kind of people's support.
"Get up."
"As you can see, we have come to Bailu County to wipe out the Jiang bandits. We will definitely live up to your wishes!"
"Si Hu, take people to get the boat."
In the river wind, dozens of tattered figures expressed their sorrowful worship again. After that, under the reminder of a general, he quickly left the river bank.
"General Xu, there are more than seventy ships in total. They can carry more than a thousand people."
Including the merchant ships, there were at least nearly two thousand people.
"Chen Xiao, you lead a thousand people to stay here. If there are river bandits escaping to the city, they will block the road and kill them. If something goes wrong, hide near the river beach and make plans later."
A middle-aged general, holding his fist firmly.
"The remaining people, count the fire oil in the arrow pots, and follow me into the river."
They are just ordinary merchant ships, without even arrow cabins. The only thing they can do now is to take advantage of the darkness and make a surprise attack.
As if something suddenly occurred to him, Xu Mu turned his head and looked at Bailu County not far away. The whole person's expression suddenly fell into silence.
…
"He is worried about whether I will take action." Li Zhiqiu stood on the high platform, and the cloak he was wearing was suddenly puffed up by the wind.
"Then what does the helmsman think?"
Li Zhiqiu was silent for a long time, "I once met the young Marquis. It was rare that the young Marquis poured a bowl of tea for me. I was thinking that a person like him clearly inherited the legacy of the young Marquis, but he didn't... The dynasty takes it seriously."
"He's a complicated man."
Turning his head, Li Zhiqiu looked at the forest outside the city. It was crowded with people. Occasionally, a knight with Qinggong skills would jump up to the top of a tree and whistle.
"I suddenly felt that he and I are the same person." Holding the sword on his waist, Li Zhiqiu sighed.
"I have formed an army of one hundred thousand chivalrous men, and gathered righteousness from thirty states."
"The little boss killed the traitorous prime minister and ran to the grassland, but he turned the common people into an army. He didn't know it, but in fact he was also a chivalrous man. He was brave and righteous, and sympathized with all the people in the world."
Turning around, Li Zhiqiu slowly walked down the platform.
"The people respected him and gave him river boats and awnings. I guess he will win this battle."
"Master, what if we seize Bailu County? Based on Bailu County, we can occupy several nearby counties and then enter the middle of Sichuan——"
"I'm a step late."
"Master, it's not too late."
"I mean, compared to my little boss's righteousness of saving the country, I am still a step too late."
Li Zhiqiu's body flew away, like a dragonfly touching water, and flew far away.
"The mountains and rivers are shrouded in mist and rain, and in ten years the dynasty will be cut down with one sword."
…
