The entire Chengdu County was in a state of drowsiness.
Sitting on the throne, the two Shu kings kept waiting for news of the army's return of reinforcements, with bloodshot eyes.
The previous military reports were all bad news. The commoner thief was so brave that he actually divided his troops into three groups and killed them all the way through the pass, just shy of reaching Chengdu County.
"King, good news, good news!" A servant, with a long drake voice, staggered in from outside the palace.
"Speak, speak quickly!" The two Shu kings hurriedly stood up from the throne.
"Dong Rong, the legitimate son of the King of Liangzhou, died in battle in front of Yuguan! At present, the 40,000 Liangzhou army has withdrawn from Yuguan for thirty miles and is preparing to return to Liangzhou."
"Dong, Dong Rong died in the battle? Hahaha, the old bastard King of Liangzhou must not cry to death? This future prince of Liangzhou can bear the hopes of many Liangzhou people."
"In this way, 50,000 troops can return to support Chengdu! Quick, tell me, how many days will it take to return?"
"My lord, we are still hundreds of miles away from here, and the road to Shu is difficult. Even if we march in a hurry, it will take two or three days no matter how fast we go."
"Send red feather scouts and tell them to come back quickly. The civilian thieves are about to kill them in Chengdu! If it's a little later, can't they come back to collect the corpses for me?"
The attendant did not dare to answer, wiped his hands with cold sweat, and hurried out of the palace.
…
"Han Jiu, how many days will it take to arrive in Chengdu?" Standing in the sunshine, Xu Mu frowned.
"Lord, at least three days."
"Too slow." Xu Mu shook his head.
After passing Daoyuan, they were actually on their way. Unless necessary to block the city, Xu Mu would not send troops to attack.
But even so, due to the winding nature of the Shu Road, the marching speed was never very fast.
His idea was very simple. Once Bai Lin was defeated, no matter how stupid the king of Shu was, he would definitely send back reinforcements from Yuguan.
At least 20,000 to 30,000.
This time difference cannot be overcome, and even if we reach Chengdu, it will still be difficult.
"Han Jiu, is there any shortcut?"
"There seems to be one. There were tiger barbarians blocking it before, so we abandoned it. My lord, that shortcut is not easy to take. It is full of poisonous insects."
There are many mountains and forests in Sichuan, and they are extremely humid. Some forest roads are rarely visited by people. As time goes by, it is not surprising that there is a miasma of poisonous snakes.
"Han Jiu, how many days does it take to take the shortcut?"
"It takes more than a day. Taking the shortcut will lead to Linshan on the south side of Chengdu."
This is the benefit of being a guide. Strictly speaking, neither the Xu family army nor the Shunan army can be considered people from Shu.
But with Han Jiu, the situation is different.
The attack is divided into three directions. The road to Dou Tong and Yu Wen's side is farther.
"Han Jiu, light up the army."
…
Arrange for a supporting general to take the baggage carriers who have changed into robes and armor, pretending to be the Xu family army and marching slowly along the way. Xu Mu then led the main army and circled in from the forest.
The remaining 6,000 soldiers, plus the 3,000 Pingman camp, totaled more than 9,000 people. They only brought three days of dry food and began to march through the mountains and forests with Han Jiu leading the way.
"Mrs. Luan Yu, take your troops and march in the mountains and forests."
"If you encounter a savage tiger, shoot him immediately."
Regardless of whether it's a matter of victory or defeat, Xu Mu doesn't want to take it lightly.
The places we passed along the way, as Han Jiu said, were all like forests infested with poisonous insects. Occasionally, there would be something very close, and the poisonous flower snake on the tree would make a "silk" sound when it was startled.
The bow dog raised his hand and shot an arrow, nailing it seven inches, picked it up and hung it on his waist.
Si Hu was beside him, eager to take off his belt.
"Si Hu, what are you doing?"
"Brother Mu, I heard people say that urinating and washing your face will cure the miasma."
Xu Mu was speechless. The monster brother's logic was unreasonable.
"Brother Tiger looks like an idiot."
Meng Huo ran over in disgust and stuffed an antidote grass into Si Hu's mouth.
"General of the Central Plains, I will take you away to avoid the miasma."
"Meng Huo, be careful."
The army of nine thousand people moved forward quickly like a long winding snake among the high mountains.
…
at the same time.
In the palace in Chengdu, two Shu kings were walking around anxiously. Occasionally, if he bumps into his shoulder, he will stop and stare.
"Damn it, I shouldn't have trusted Bai Lin in the first place. The last 20,000 elite soldiers are gone!"
Today, there are less than 2,000 county soldiers left in Chengdu.
"Dou Gang, if not, ask the officials and wealthy businessmen to hand over the guards and soldiers to serve as guards! Even if you only guard for a few days, when the army comes back for reinforcements, you can still defeat the common thieves." Dou Zhu, the king of Western Shu, said with a tone of voice. In a hurry.
"That's a good idea!"
Unfortunately, before Dou Gang could give the order, he got another piece of bad news.
"King, in the city of Chengdu, many wealthy businessmen and officials took their soldiers and treasures and went into the mountains to avoid trouble."
"What kind of disaster are you avoiding! These bitches are making me angry! My king cannot be broken! The commoner thieves will die!"
After missing out, Dou Gang only felt more irritated.
At first, he did not expect that this little commoner who was still in another county could really open the door to Shu, and then marched straight in, approaching the royal capital.
"With the blessing of our ancestors, how can we, Shuzhou, our heavenly home, fall into the hands of thieves?"
There were only a few guards left in the palace, and the expressions on their faces clearly showed traces of panic and fear.
Outside the palace, in the huge city of Chengdu, there were not only wealthy businessmen and dog officials, but also many ordinary people, using donkeys, mules and carriages, carrying their family wealth and trying to rush out of Chengdu.
There will be a war soon, and only a fool will stay in Chengdu.
"Don't crowd, don't crowd!"
A county soldier's assistant general, with more than a hundred county soldiers, drew his sword and shouted angrily.
"The king has ordered that everyone is not allowed to leave Chengdu! As a Shu native, why don't you dare to share the hardships!"
"When the harsh tax administration takes away my fertile land, why don't we see the same wealth and honor?"
"Otherwise, how about letting those rich dogs, who are full of food, share the difficulties with you? The rich dogs have escaped long ago, why can't we escape!"
No one listened to General Pi's words, only some people were heard booing. After a while, the people crowding at the city gate roared and rushed forward crazily.
Hundreds of county soldiers were submerged in the crowd in the blink of an eye.
Scenes like this kept breaking out in Chengdu. The last 20,000 government soldiers were lost, and only a few county soldiers were left, which could not stop the flow of people fleeing.
At dusk, this quaint old city that has experienced hundreds of years is like an old man looking up at the sunset, waiting for a new life amidst the turmoil and uneasiness.
…
"Quick, march quickly!"
On the Shu Road leading to Yuguan, a short and fat Shuzhou general was riding on a horse, constantly looking back to urge him.
His name is Dou Yuan, a descendant of the royal palace in Shuzhong.
This time, they led the Sichuan camp with 50,000 troops to rush to the front line of Yuguan to resist the Liangzhou barbarians. But who knew that the several camps in Shu that intercepted the civilian thief were defeated one after another, so much so that the civilian thief was about to attack Chengdu.
"The four famous generals and the generals can't even stop an outsider!"
"With the blessing of our ancestors, how can we give up the Dou family's royal legacy for hundreds of years to others! Stop the common thieves!"
…
On the other side of the Shuzhou forest road, unknown forest birds flew from the mountain forest, flapping their wings hastily, and flew away into the distance.
"Be careful." Xu Mu raised his hand.
One by one, the generals accompanying the army quickly issued orders. The long troops who were marching in a hurry slowly slowed down their movements.
The closer you get to Chengdu, the more careful you have to be. This round, the nine thousand people he led were a strange army.
Win by surprise and seize the opportunity. Before the 50,000-strong army could return for reinforcements, Chengdu was captured. If we win this time, the thirteen counties of Shuzhou will basically be settled.
Sitting on the entire Shuzhou, he was considered a prince and began to truly look up to the world.
In this world, no one dares to be named Xu Feo!
Xu Mu raised his face, his eyes as bright as stars in the dusk sky.
