Holding the letter, Xu Mu looked at it silently and remained still for a long time.
What he thought of, his own military advisor also thought of it, and he used it to create a puzzle.
There were not many words in the letter, but it was written on thick paper. Fearing that Si Hu would not be able to eat it, Xu Mu calmly threw it into the brazier.
Outside the Shunan County Sheriff's Mansion, there was still some wet rain. Three or two village women broke off a branch and used it as an umbrella, and hurried past with their heads held in their hands.
"Dou Tong, you and I will go to the plank road and have a look."
"Lord, it's rainy and slippery, so please be careful."
Xu Mu nodded. Jia Zhou has already set off to do a round of lobbying. Linjiang County did not have Jia Zhou in charge, so he was still worried.
Simply, taking advantage of this time, it is better to go to the plank road and have a look. There are only two roads into Shu, and the plan has been set, so Banan County can only be chosen as the siege battle into Shu.
But if you want to attack Banan County, you need to think of a way to sneak the army into southern Sichuan. Of course, there are also the weapons and armor that were transported, as well as grain, grass and various baggage.
"Dou Tong, is there no other way?" Although he knew it was in vain, Xu Mu couldn't help it.
Dou Tong smiled bitterly and shook his head, "No more. If you want to enter southern Sichuan, the plank road here is the only way."
It's not surprising, otherwise the people of southern Shu would have been trapped here.
Xu Mu frowned and stood on the edge of the plank road, silently looking at the scenery in front of him. In the current situation, the army was about to enter southern Sichuan, so he could only try his best to open up a passable road.
"Build a bridge?" Dou Tong was stunned, "My lord, there is no way. I have thought about it before, but to build a bridge, you have to pass under the cliff."
As he said this, Dou Tong's body shuddered.
"My lord has also seen those bones under the cliff before... It has been passed down in southern Shu for hundreds of years that there are several mountain ghosts living at the bottom of the cliff, eating the corpses that fell off the cliff day after day."
Xu Mu smiled.
He suddenly understood why Dou Tong would rather risk the dangers of building a plank road than pass under the cliff and build a bridge with a hanging rope.
Even if there is only a pontoon bridge, it will be much better than the plank road in front of us.
"Dou Tong, have you ever stayed nearby at night?"
"How dare you? When we were selling horses out of Shu, we just took advantage of the daylight and left early."
Xu Mu fell into deep thought.
The more chaotic the times, the more ignorant they become. For example, the old temple dwellers in Tangjiang City, the people in Orion Village who cut off their legs to worship their ancestors, and now there are mountain ghosts at the bottom of the cliff.
Of course, he didn't believe it.
When he was young, he went to his grandma's house in the countryside. At one or two o'clock in the middle of the night, he dared to walk half a mile to the thatched toilet in the forest.
If you are brave enough to hang your eggs, all kinds of ghosts and ghosts will avoid you.
"Dou Tong, stay here tonight."
Dou Tong was startled, and when he looked up and saw Xu Mu's determined expression, he finally gave up the idea of persuading him again and could only nod his head steadily.
"Come here, pick up dry wood."
Even though it was almost dusk, there was still drizzle in the sky. If you want to collect dead wood, you can only go deeper into the forest.
Although the more than a thousand Shunan soldiers accompanying them were a little confused and worried, when they saw the appearance of Xu Mu and Dou Tong, they finally gritted their teeth and divided into groups to go to work.
"My lord, if not, prepare a foot-bow formation first." Dou Tong was still a little worried, "I heard from the old man that those mountain ghosts are good at climbing. In a few seconds, they can climb up and drag people to the bottom of the cliff."
Xu Mu smiled and said, "Dou Tong, just watch and see what it would look like if there were a mountain ghost at night."
…
Completely nightfall.
Even if they set up a wooden shed and lit a bonfire, Xu Mu still asked people to stay away.
The things under the cliff are nothing more than wild beasts. If they are unable to come out after being exposed to fire, it will be a bit fun.
"Si Hu, throw another sick horse away."
Si Hu approached in shock and threw a sick horse to the bottom of the cliff.
Xu Mu remained calm and motionless.
Just like the old temple people who sacrificed children, in this world, the monsters like mountain ghosts and river mothers are nothing more than an idea to deceive the people.
At the bottom of the cliff, a wolf howled suddenly, low and hoarse.
Xu Mu smiled and stood up slowly, "Listen."
Dou Tong and many Shunan soldiers who were standing by had expressions of astonishment. Like them, the mountain ghost stories have been passed down from their ancestors, so that every time they pass by here, they always take advantage of the daylight.
Naturally, you won't find that there are a group of old wolves under the cliff.
"Come here, go into the cliff and kill the wolf!" Dou Tong's face suddenly became furious.
Xu Mu exhaled. Unlike a tough guy like Dou Tong, what he relied on most was the five thousand years of knowledge treasure in his mind.
"After killing the wolf, we began to raise the rope and use the sling method to build the suspension bridge first."
"Lord, what happens next?"
"When I return to Bailu County, I will send more craftsmen to dig mud and bake bricks on the spot. Within half a year, a stone bridge must be built."
"In addition, whether it is recruiting soldiers or small siege equipment, we must also start preparing."
"After the suspension bridge is built, I will have people transport the utensils, food and fodder first."
"Half a year to hide the weapon. Half a year later, we will point our sword at Banan City."
Xu Mu said comfortably, raising his head and closing his eyes slightly.
No matter what, now, he finally has the direction to enter Shu. Coupled with Dou Tong's map, as long as he breaks Banan City, he is confident to march straight in and sweep through the entire nine counties in central Shu.
"Dou Tong, don't let anyone know about the construction of the bridge."
"Lord, don't worry."
"Tomorrow you write another letter and join the Sichuan Alliance."
"My lord, they will not agree... Central Shu and western Shu have always looked down upon my land in southern Shu."
"I know, you just need to bring your intention. Don't let anyone guess that you and I have formed an alliance."
Dou Tong was startled, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
"My lord is wise."
"That's it for now." Xu Mu raised his head and looked at the night in the distance, "The military advisor should be ready to arrive."
…
After leaving Shuzhou, we not only had to cross the river, but also had to travel thousands of miles. The official road was deserted and detoured into a deserted road that was difficult to navigate. It took at least a month to come and go.
In the carriage, there was no ripple in Jia Zhou's ancient well. However, at the age of more than forty years old, his whole face seemed to be much older due to his busy schedule during this period.
"There are bandits again! Boys and men, follow me and kill them!" Wei Feng, who was outside the carriage, roared angrily.
Jia Zhou closed his eyes slightly, his expression neither sad nor happy.
…
"Confirmed for the second round, Poison Ou is indeed dead." On the river bank in Cangzhou, the dusty white swallow grinned.
In front of him, a figure in black robes swayed slightly.
"seen it myself?"
"seen it myself."
The black robe was silent for a while, then took out a viscount official badge from his arms and raised his head. The eyes under the mask were extremely handsome.
"What about Thief Xu?"
"I heard that I went to another city to recruit troops."
The black robe frowned slightly and thought deeply.
"Let me ask you again, do you accept the order from the little boss?"
"No!" Bai Yanzi took the viscount's official badge and said hastily.
"Bai Yanzi, you need to remember that if things go wrong, you can't escape Cangzhou."
"Can the person who has been stabbed seven or eight times by me, Bai Yanzi, survive?"
"It shouldn't be possible."
The black robe stood for a while, then slowly turned around and stepped forward to leave.
