Compared with the scenery of the northern country that is frozen and snowy, the Daba Mountains, located on the edge of Shu in the southwest, are undoubtedly much warmer in winter. However, this warmth is relatively common, because with the temperature of only a few degrees to tens of degrees all year round and continuous winter rain, as well as the thick fog that cannot be dispersed in the mountains and forests for a long time. This ubiquitous fog and rain have become the farewell army along the Gorgeous River heading north along the Lizhi Road; the first obstacle and difficulty is to be affected.

The fog not only brings a biting and wet chill, but also keeps the narrow mountain roads and the royal family on the plank roads slippery and dripping, which seriously affects the vision and sense of direction during the marching. In addition, those alternate mountain roads, the naturally collapsed and damaged parts of the plank roads are a natural trap and source of danger that people cannot guard against.

Even though I was used to the guides of this route, the accidents of various falls, falls, and rolling down, and the sporadic losses of non-combat reductions and pack horse supplies caused by accidents still frequently appear in this team. As the mountains are experiencing ups and downs, the ever-changing climate differences and disparities have further aggravated this situation.

Maybe it is still bright sunshine on the ridge and on the top of the mountain, but the mountainside is surrounded by clouds and fog. When it reaches the foot of the mountain and the bottom of the valley, between the gorges, it becomes a drizzle that appears from time to time, or a brief rain that suddenly falls in the epicenter of the winter thunder.

Therefore, the soldiers' robes and armor are always covered with dew. Even if there are raincoats made of rubber cloth to shelter from the wind and rain, they will easily become wet and heavy. In addition, the drop of temperatures in the mountains changes, and they will occasionally encounter frozen rain and ice particles; so if you are not careful, it will easily become the source of acute diseases such as wind, cold, diarrhea, etc.

But the hardest thing is to accompany the soldiers of the engineering team. In the process of clearing the roads across mountains and building bridges across water, they need to fight against their respective harsh climates and sudden geological disasters. Whether it is the mudslides and temporary silt sections washed by rain, or the turbulent mountain streams that appear briefly, or the collapsed and damaged roadbeds and plank road panels, they all need to clean and repair them one by one.

Therefore, when they could temporarily stop camping and rest, they had to soak in the mud and rainwater at the work site, and strive to eliminate various obstacles. Or in the narrow and foggy mountain road, they would lay down the drills in sections and hang ropes as a safe traction for the follow-up team to follow up. Therefore, the frequency of accidents of injuries and disappearances is also the highest proportion of this army.

Therefore, the distance from Yuzhou to Hezhou (now Hechuan District, Chongqing) alone allowed this dispatched army to walk for three days and three nights. But when they were covered in mud, tired and scarred, they suddenly appeared near the Shijing in Hezhou City, and at the foot of Tongliang Mountain where the three rivers and four rivers converged; the local towns and towns, the officials and civilians who had been comfortable and lazy for a long time fled almost unexpectedly.

Although Fei Liguo, the governor of Shijing City in the prefecture, only bought the official position and position from the former Jia Shuai Niu Xu; after he got the police, he closed the city gates at all costs and kept most of the fugitives away. He also opened the official warehouse and the Xianwang Family in the city to recruit, and was able to gather and arm a large number of young and strong people, who were in a state of irreconcilable with the thieves.

However, as the saying goes, "Ideals are full, reality is skinny." As the Taiping Army slowly arrived at the city, they began to fire the first round of horse-carrying cannons; the huge sound echoed, and the Fei Ming Mansion, who was coming to the city to act and scold the thief and boost morale, was frightened and fainted. As a result, the young men who were temporarily recruited fled when they saw that the situation was not good.

Therefore, these soldiers from the Taiping Army Mountain Barracks easily climbed the city with a long ladder after the shelling, without any damage or resistance. They just discarded the flags, armor, robes, shoes and socks everywhere, and the turbans were everywhere, and some were full of blood-free capture of the city.

In the following time, many river sieges and guard strongholds set up against the downstream were even more unprepared for the threats upstream. They were soon swept away by surprise attacks from the rear and turned into ruins burned and demolished everywhere.

Although during the dry winter, many places underwater are prone to stranding, so it is not a good time to sail on the river. However, after clearing the wooden stakes and cross-bars set up in the upstream, the vehicles and ships from the downstream still ventured to traverse the water. At the cost of multiple strandings and damage, a large number of military supplies and auxiliary soldiers and civilians were transported in a short time.

After spending a day consolidating the local situation, and a little repair and replenishment, the Xiajiang Expeditionary Army continued to head north along the main source of the Fu River. After passing the waterway from the mouth of the Shijing/Tongliang Mountain to Qingshi Mountain, the Fu River surface became more gentle and wider. Relying on the local river ships, as well as some vehicles and ships arriving downstream, and a considerable number of materials and personnel in the past can be transported together by ships and water and land.

Therefore, in the following days, relying on the various cities and towns seized from the coast, and obtaining resumption from the river surface, although it is still difficult to walk by land, the speed of the march has been greatly accelerated. In the process of capturing the peaceful residence and Lezhi areas of Suizhou (now Suining, Sichuan), along the river, the local government and military and civilians became even more unprepared and vigilant.

Especially in the process of capturing Suizhou Prefecture Fangyi, the local salt gang group also received assistance from opening the city gates inside and outside. Because of the large-scale use of troops to the north and the focus of defending the Luzhou front line, the surrounding areas such as Guozhou (Nanchong, Sichuan), Puzhou (Anyue, Sichuan), etc., which are relatively inland, are quite empty and lack of defense. The dispatched troops only divided a battalion to try to attack.

The local officials and officials of all sizes almost died or fled, were captured or surrendered, and even committed suicide. The only highlight during this period was that it was a Jiangkou Salt Patrol in Suizhou, and hundreds of patrol soldiers from Xichuan, led by the envoy of the Salt Patrol. However, the situation of full decline was also an insignificant drop in the bucket.

However, due to the accelerated advance and limited troops, these dispatched troops were organized briefly in the local area. After several temporary garrisons and a few people left to preside over the situation, they returned to the team with a large amount of food and supplies. When they set out again and continued to go up the road through Changjiang County, which had already fled, they had to face the Tongquan County town, which was already on high alert in Zizhou.

After all, Zizhou is the subject of Dongchuan Jiedushi and its core territory. Although it has been affected and poisoned by war in recent years, it is still richer and more powerful than elsewhere. After the news of the destruction of surrounding prefectures and counties has been heard, Song Hao, the new Dongchuan Jiedushi, prepared for war and fully recruited civilian supplies even before the news was fully confirmed.

After all, the Taiping Army has appeared in Zizhou, which is located in the heart of Sanchuan's transportation; this is enough to shake the entire Sanchuan area of ​​Jiannan. Because this means that the foreign "thief army" may cross the Lutou Pass at any time and cut off the connection between the entire Xichuan and the Dongchuan, the mountain (south) and the west (road), and become a situation of catching turtles in a jar, or closing the door to beat dogs.

——I am the dividing line—

Among the great governors of Jiangling City, the telegram lines and existing signal tower systems that have been laid in Xiajiang Road and Shannan East Road have been obtained in just one or two days later.

So, it was Cao Shixiong, the general on duty in the Tuyu Hall, who was on duty, and couldn't help laughing loudly at the left and right Weiran:

"There are reports from the front that the two sides of Xiajiang and Shan (South) and East (Dao) have won surprisingly. Now the situation is great, and it is not ordinary, but great!"

"The only thing I'm concerned about is whether the transmission and support from the rear can still keep up with the pace! After all, these two routes are just preparing for the side teachers..."

Another central general next to him, Zhang Juyan, was not so optimistic and said:

"That's going to open up the situation. Even if we add more troops and support afterwards, it's better than going out with a bad start and needing someone to remedy it."

Cao Shixiong still said optimistically:

"But this is the same. If the old dynasty can threaten the presence of the old dynasty and shock Sanchuan, and the Shu army has to turn around to rescue, the situation of the two groups in the pass will naturally ease, right? Besides, the Western Army has come in a large-scale manner in the severe winter, but sheep, horse, cattle and animal are not good at the road, and they have to rely on Shu to assist them."

Zhang Juyan nodded slightly after hearing this:

"On the contrary, the advance troops in the pass are always just to attract the enemy's power and cover up their goals. As long as they can stick to the basic situation and ensure that there will be no big variables in the short term, they will be considered successful... By the way, has there been some reply from Empress Cao?"

Cao Shixiong emphasized again:

"It is said that the other end of King Huang is still very close. He can only visit him in person in the hall and just present letters and gifts, but he can't say a few words."

Zhang Juyan shook his head slightly and said:

"Now that has come to this point, but what else can I stick to? Let's not talk about these dull and boring things..."

Cao Shixiong also sighed, but said with a subtle expression:

"By the way, Lao Zhang, the Grand Governor has not come for another day today... Has the one in your family ever heard of any inside story and rumors?"

"It seems like I'm having some trouble..."

Zhang Juyan said with some uncertainty: Because, since he met this great governor, he had never seen a corresponding illness, just like the folk rumors that the natural evil epidemics are prone to prevent all diseases.

In the architectural complex not far away, Han Wei, who had just walked out of the Chengfa Hall on duty, was also a little worried and at a loss. Because his cousin Han Jiyue became famous at the Meiyuan Poetry Conference, and he never came out again after being summoned by the inner house.

This sudden result made him feel a little confused and at a loss. The uncle's family entrusted his daughter to him and asked for something, so he was so shameless to treat the family. Therefore, after waiting for two days, he had no news, so he could only find someone to ask for information in private.

However, the expression of the colleague he had asked secretly was very subtle, and even congratulated him in person with some envy and jealousy:

"Brother Zhiguang, I'm afraid your Han family will be developed. If you have the chance in the future, please give me some help!"

So, Han Wei returned to his residence with such thoughts, but saw the door open and someone was waiting for him with a big golden sword. However, a woman dressed in a men's clothes and wearing a wheat-colored skin said:

"Han Zuoji, I've been waiting for a long time..."

"Dare you asking?"

Han Wei couldn't help but ask in surprise:

"Li Siya, the political security team's marriage officer, was ordered to come and ask questions."
Chapter completed!