In the evening, on the north bank of the river, the Chu army fleet that was going upstream berthed here and camped on the shore.

It is very difficult to sail against the current. Whether it is paddling (padding) or pulling fibers, it will consume a lot of energy, which makes many soldiers and boatmen (sailors) so tired that they need to have a good rest.

In the camp, in the big tent, the marching governor Liang Sen set up a simple banquet to invite several Qu soldiers who led their troops to surrender.

These Qu Commanders were the chiefs of the Three Gorges Barbarians. Because they had deep hatred with local officials of the Zhou State, they led their troops to help in the war after learning that the king's army was advancing westward.

Speaking of deep hatred, several coaches were gritting their teeth.

More than 20 years ago, Shu was still under the rule of Liang State, and the Three Gorges region was no exception. However, because there were problems within Liang State, it was taken advantage of by Wei State (Western Wei).

The Wei army seized Shu land, and Baidi City, the important land of the Three Gorges River Road, was also occupied by the Wei army.

However, the mountain people in the Three Gorges area (i.e., the barbarians) refused to accept the Northern Barbarians and fought back and continued to fight with the Wei army.

They lived in this land for generations, familiar with the terrain and numerous people. They also defeated the garrisons of the other prefectures and counties, captured the cities, and expelled the officials and troops of the Wei State.

However, the equipment of each unit was too poor, and there were basically no decent armor. The arrowheads were mostly boned. They were facing a head-on battle with the Wei army, which was very disadvantageous and suffered heavy casualties.

The Wei State quickly transferred new troops, but they could not defeat them at all.

Therefore, the prefectures and counties captured were soon lost under the counterattack of the Wei army.

They changed their strategies, first defending the dangerous situation, blocking the Wei army's offensive, then dispersing their troops, blocking roads and waterways, resulting in the interruption of the other party's post.

He also besieged the Wei army strongholds in remote areas and began a long-term confrontation with the other party.

Later, the Wei State became the Zhou State, but the army was still cruel. About nine years ago, the various ministries in Xinzhou area joined forces to attack the capital Baidi City, but were defeated by the Zhou army near Shuiluo City.

The Zhou army killed the surrendered people, and together with the bodies of the dead, they piled up on the riverside outside Shuiluo City to build a "Beijingguan".

In that battle, many tribes suffered heavy casualties, and some tribes could not hold on anymore and had to surrender, with tens of thousands of households.

But there are also tribes that have been insisting on placing the prefectures, counties and cities.

The Zhou State also took many measures to counter them. The most fatal one was to control several salt-producing areas (well salt), which made many tribes lose their salt source and their lives became increasingly difficult.

Later, because there were too many casualties and tribes surrendered, the rest could only escape into the mountains and forests and wait for the opportunity.

Now, after twenty years, the king finally arrived.

Although the country name has changed, it is always the Jiankang court, right?

Several Qu generals had heard of the emperor of the new dynasty, but the famous and victorious general of the previous dynasty, "Li Sanlang", would have been unable to hold on for a few years without this person fighting everywhere.

Therefore, they wanted to serve the new dynasty and avenge the Zhou army at the same time.

In particular, the "Beijingguan" outside Shuiluo City and on the Yangtze River were demolished, and the bones were buried so that the warriors who died in battle could rest in peace.

Liang Sen and several generals present heard the Qu generals talk about it (need to be translated in the middle) and expressed admiration for the continuous struggles of these tribes over the past twenty years, and then asked about the deployment of the Zhou army in Xinzhou area.

The commander of Qu, named Xiang Bainen, said in a nasty official language: "The Beilu pulled up a floating bridge on the river and built a large number of ships. The official army attacked from the waterway head by the front, and it is probably difficult to attack."

"After all, it's going upstream. If the Beilu sets fire ships upstream, they can't be protected."

"If you take the land route, it is not easy to walk. The land by the river is narrow, and even if there are thousands of troops, it cannot be used. The Northern Territories use camps to block the road, and I am afraid that the government troops will be unable to break through in a hurry."

Speaking of this, Xiang Bainian's expression became serious:

"It's winter now, and the river water falls back, but it's okay. By summer, the rain will increase and the river water will surge. Many lands by the river will be submerged and the road will be gone."

"So, if you keep on the river road for a long time, the battle will be even harder to fight in the summer of the next year."

Liang Sen, who was sitting in the upper head, exchanged glances with several generals and asked, "In the past, when the Jin army entered Shu, they had advanced by water and land. Is there no ancient road in the mountains on both sides of the river?"

The Jin army's entry into Shu refers to the incident of Huan Wen's attack on Shu during the Jin Dynasty.

"There is an ancient road, but it's a long time ago. I don't know if it's the one that the Jin army has walked..." Xiang Bainian pondered, talked to several other coaches, and said:

"There are indeed many plank roads in the mountains, but most of them are dilapidated and corrupt. As for the mountain roads, they are mostly covered by plants and trees. It is difficult for outsiders to find them."

"I have lived here for generations and are quite familiar with the terrain. Now I hope that the official army will arrive, and I will be a front pawn..."

He then stood up and saluted Liang Sen: "Grandmaster, I am willing to be the front army of the government army, walk the mountain road around the Beilu camp and attack Baidi City."

"At that time, the official army will attack from the front, and some people will support him from both sides, so they will not worry about not being able to get under the river."

The position of governor cannot be as old as the "Grandmaster" in the end, so the term "Grandmaster" is used to refer to Liang Sen as a "Grandmaster".

Seeing that several other coaches Qu also actively asked for the fight, Liang Sen nodded: "Since that's the case, it depends on your performance. However, you lack armor and arrows and cannot chew hard bones."

"I joined the army and distributed one thousand armors, ten thousand arrows, three thousand swords, and ten thousand hu of grain to help you fight."

Several coaches were overjoyed: "Thank you, Governor!"

"But." Liang Sen changed his tone, "Xinzhou Northern Barbarians are brave and good at fighting. Their general manager is Lu Teng, who was the mighty and prosperous in the Three Gorges area. It is not easy for you to deal with him."

"Even if you attack, it will probably be very difficult to withstand the Beilu's counterattack."

"I will dispatch two thousand elite soldiers to follow you to cross mountains and ridges to attack Baidi City. They are all veterans who have been through battle formations and are enough to compete with the elite Northern Lu."

With strong soldiers to help the battle, several Qu generals certainly couldn't find it. They were particularly excited to be with Bai Nian and wanted to present a topographic map.

He could speak official language and had learned a lot of knowledge from merchants who had traveled to and from the Three Gorges, so he could draw simple maps for marching and fighting.

Of course, Liang Sen wanted to look at the topographic map, so he took out a scroll to Bai Nian, stepped forward, and unfolded it in front of Liang Sen.

A guard behind Liang Sen saw this situation, as if the story of "The picture is missing and the dagger is seen". His eyes became sharp, but his hands did not hold the hilt of the sword, but watched quietly and secretly guarded.

The maps were all unfolded, and there was no dagger. It explained the terrain of Xinzhou area to Liang Sen to Bai Nian.

Because it was a banquet, I didn’t have time to talk about it in a long way. I briefly introduced it to Bai Nian, rolled up the map and left it to Liang Sen to think about it slowly.

Everything was as usual, and the guard behind Liang Sen breathed a sigh of relief and relieved his heart.

But when Xiang Bainian saw a cold light suddenly appear in his right hand, a knife suddenly appeared.

Then he waved his right hand and passed by Liang Sen.

A cold light flashed, Liang Sen covered his throat, and blood overflowed from his fingers.

"Ahhhhh!" The guard roared, pounced on him, punched him in a crooked manner, and then grabbed the other party's hand holding the knife.

The generals present were stunned for a moment, and then they all broke into pieces: "Stir, assassin!!"

They drew their swords and started a melee with several coaches who also drew their daggers.

The melee broke out suddenly, but it ended soon. These Qu generals could not defeat the Chu army generals at all. They were either chopped to the ground or subdued by soldiers who rushed in.

Xiang Bainian was beaten to the point of bruising and swollen. Looking at the "Governor-General" of the Chu army who had died, he opened his mouth with a few teeth and smiled:

"Hahaha, a merely cheap life can actually get the life of the commander of the army!!"

"Die without regrets, die without regrets!!!"

His accent was completely different from before.

Footsteps sounded, and several people entered the tent. One of the middle-aged man was tall and burly. As soon as he came in, he saw the man who had fallen to the ground and died in the upper head, and then looked at the assassins.

"What's your name?" asked the middle-aged man, with murderous intent on his face.

"Xiang Bainian" still smiled: "The surname is Ma and the name is Che. Under the order of General Manager Lu, you will take the life of your commander among the troops!"

"Okay, very good." The middle-aged man nodded, "My name is Liang Sen. I have received this thank you!"

The laughter came to an abrupt end. Ma Che looked at the middle-aged man in front of him in horror, and then at the "Liang Sen" who had his neck wiped and fell to the ground and died.

What, how could it be?

Before he could speak, his mouth was blocked and along with several others, he was taken down.

Liang Sen suddenly felt a little sad when he looked at the dead substitute. Then he asked someone to "clean up" and explained:

"He died for me, and the body should be sent back to his hometown for burial."

After receiving the order from both sides, Liang Sen looked at the guards in the tent who pretended to be generals and felt sighing: As expected, he was always guarding others.

Li Li is right. Now that the world is getting worse and people's hearts are not as good as ever, don't try to "put your heart in mind" to win people's hearts. The risk is too great.

Before going to the war, Li Li wrote a handwritten letter and repeatedly told Liang Sen to pay attention to his own safety, to prevent assassins from sneaking into the camp to assassinate, and to prevent the enemy from surrendering and waiting for an opportunity to assassinate.

You should know that Emperor Guangwu, who was obsessed with his heart, died at the hands of an assassin when he was commanding the general Cen Peng to attack Shu.

‘Don’t be Cen Peng’s second place. Be more careful when you go there.’

A passage written by Li Li in his hand letter appeared in front of Liang Sen's eyes again. He reached out to touch the table, and the blood splashed on the table dyed his hands red.

The smell of blood is irritating, but Liang Sen, who is used to it, does not feel any discomfort.

"It is not polite to come but not come." Liang Sen said lightly, and then ordered: "Send the order and all departments will act according to the plan!"
Chapter completed!