Chapter 480

After passing Xiangcheng, there were no rebels stationed for nearly 300 miles. This area is extremely barren. Many land has been desertification. There is a section of road more than 50 miles that can't even see a plant. Sandy land is not common in Shandong Road, and one third of Shannan road is desert.

When Fang Xie went to Chang'an three years ago, it was not so desolate when he passed by. In just three years, the desert has swallowed up all the officials. Fortunately, the North-South width of the desert is not very large. You don't have to worry about getting lost if you find a right direction and go straight ahead.

Nearly three hundred miles away, I only met three villages along the way, but because of the desolation, this place did not suffer any military disaster. People in the Central Plains often say that they depend on mountains and rivers, but there is nothing to eat near the desert. Even where there is no desertification, crops cannot be planted in the dry and hard land.

Fang Xie observed that the people in several villages actually moved to take refuge later. They would rather starve to death than be involved in the disaster of war. It can be seen that in the eyes of the people, the pain of natural disasters is easier to accept than the disaster of war.

After crossing the desert, Fang Xie asked the team to stop and rest. He asked his own soldiers to unfold the map, squatted on the ground, pointed and said, "this map was surveyed and distributed by the military department of the great Sui Dynasty. Although we revised and marked it later, it is not clear from here to the East. We can only March by scouts, and the map has little effect."

Zhuo Buyi nodded: "further ahead is the heavily guarded area of the rebels, and it is getting closer and closer to Xiangcheng. There are rare rebels along the way, which has something to do with Li Yuanshan's transfer of the troops in the rear. If we go further east, we should be careful in every move and try not to expose our whereabouts."

Fang Xie refers to a location track on the map: "There is a xingcang mountain about 300 miles away from Xiangcheng, which can hide. I plan to take people and horses there, and then station down. Send scouts to Xiangcheng to inquire about the news. Our troops are not enough to affect the war situation, and I don't think I'm so overconfident. We have only one goal. If something doesn't happen as I expected, I'd rather take people back immediately."

Wanyan Chongde said, "but before that, we have to worry about food and grass."

He looked back at the shriveled grain bags hung by the cavalry on their horses: "we have enough grain and grass for two days at most. If we can't find supplies again, I'm afraid we'll starve to death halfway even if we turn back now."

Fang Xie said, "I've been thinking about it these two days."

He sat down cross legged on the ground and said, "according to the information collected by the people in the flying fish robe these two days, there must be a rebel camp within a hundred miles. Too small outpost can't meet our food and grass needs. It's best to move a larger team. But once it moves, I'll change my mind."

"Once you start fighting against the rebels, it will certainly arouse Li Yuanshan's idea in this area. So it's difficult to hide your whereabouts... If you're not careful, you may not be able to reach xingcangshan."

Wanyan Chongde said, "so be careful, but don't worry too much. All the cavalry under Li Yuanshan are in Xiangcheng, and the wolf of kuketai menglie is there. We can't find an enemy who can catch up with us within a few hundred miles. So it's not difficult to fight and go."

Fang Xie smiled: "this is the second plan I want. If we can't hide it, we simply won't hide it."

Just as he was saying this, the dusty Chen Xiaoru came back with a team of flying fish robes. Seeing that his lips were dry and cracked, he knew that he had suffered a lot these days. Fang Xie untied the water bag and threw it to him. Chen Xiaoru took it and filled half of the bag in one breath: "General, I've made it clear that suixian county is 90 miles ahead. Although it's not a big county, there are not many troops stationed, and... My subordinates also inquire about a secret."

"Say!"

Fang Xie said eagerly.

"My subordinates took people to observe in suixian County for a day. At first, they didn't care. Later, they found that the rebels stationed in suixian county were different from what we had seen before. When we lurked, we happened to see the rebels out of the city for training. In such a small county, almost 10000 rebels could be stationed, and they were still the elite of the rebels! My subordinates looked carefully and found that the equipment of these rebels was much better than ours It's better to meet before. Not only is the leather armor uniform, but also the queue is very neat when traveling. It's obviously well-trained. "

"The elite under Li Yuanshan?"

Fang Xie frowned: "this place is not close to Xiangcheng, at least 500 miles away. How can this place have the elite layout of Li Yuanshan? At this time, Li Yuanshan's elite is not in Xiangcheng, but behind Xiangcheng?"

Zhuo Buyi thought for a moment and said, "if Chen Xiaoru's information is correct, there will be a lot of doubt. As soon as we came from Fengcheng, Li Yuanshan in Fengcheng transferred at least 25000 rebels, and many rebels in counties and counties in the rear have been transferred. So many people have been transferred to the front line. Why do the elite rebels still stay behind Xiangcheng?"

"I'm going to Sui County."

Fang Xie stood up and patted the dust on his body: "the team will rest here and arrange the ride. If the rebel scouts find out, we will kill them. If they don't find out, let them go. Your highness, you will preside over. I'll take the flying fish robe and be back by noon tomorrow at the latest. Since there are 10000 elite rebels in suixian County, there will be no shortage of food and grass!"

"Jue Xiao, be careful"

Wanyan Chongde told, "after all, it's not a mob."

Fang Xie nodded: "wait for my news."

After that, he turned over and mounted the horse, and rushed out with a hundred and ten confidants.

……

……

There are many mountains in the northwest. The farther north, the more desolate it will be. Suixian county is the nearest county to the small desert. In contrast, it is particularly prosperous. There are many earth cities in the northwest. I don't know what secret method they are made with. The walls of earth cities are stronger than those made of green bricks.

Looking at the past, it was earthy yellow.

This is the season of green and yellow, and the northwest is desolate, so it gives people the illusion that there has never been green here.

Suixian county is located in the middle of a plain with a radius of 200 Li. Of course, the plain is also relatively. At least I can't see any towering mountains. Because of this, I can't see the road in front of me when the wind rises. The sand is swept up by the wind, trying to paint the color all over the world.

Fang Xie and his men stopped more than ten miles away from suixian county and found a high slope to take shelter from the wind.

"In such a strong wind, you don't have to worry about the rebel scouts finding out. Even if you walk face to face, you can't see each other within 20 steps."

Chen Xiaoru spat the sand in his mouth and felt that his lips were about to be cut open by the wind.

Fang Xie covered his mouth and nose with a black towel, leaned against the earth slope and rested for a while and said: "Chen Xiaoru, take everyone and wait here. I'll take a few people to suixian. Whether the inquirers come to inquire or not, we will go out of the city before dawn tomorrow morning. If we don't see us back after dawn, we'll go up with fireworks. There's no terrain to refer to, so we can't avoid meeting each other."

Chen Xiaoru hurriedly said, "I'd better take my subordinates into the city. The general will be here later."

"If I had the mind to wait for the news, I wouldn't come by myself."

Fang Xie tidied up the black towel, looked back at Shen Qing fan and Mu Xiaoyao and asked, "how's it going?"

The two women put down their scarves with their hats. It's not easy for the sand to get in, but it's not easy for the wind to blow. But at least they are practitioners, who are much better than ordinary people.

"No problem."

The two men nodded at the same time.

"Yan Kuang, Nie Xiaoju, big dog, plus you two, six of us will go to the city."

After Fang Xie gave the order, he didn't ride a horse. The six people walked to suixian and ran wildly in the wind. Fortunately, the cultivation of the six people was good. Coupled with running along the wind, they jumped up and could float out two meters more than usual. After running more than ten miles, the six people had been outside suixian in less than half an hour.

Nie Xiaoju handed the rope on her shoulder to the big dog. The big dog tied one end of the rope to his waist, then took out the pair of steel claw gloves, put them on, moved his arms and climbed up the wall. The wind roared and blocked the sound of the steel claw clasping the wall. This weather is just suitable for sneaking in.

The city wall of suixian county was two feet long. For fear of disturbing the rebels on the city wall, the big dog climbed over the city wall for nearly ten minutes and moved very slowly. He peeped his head out of the hole in the battlement and found that there was no shadow of the garrison on the city wall. The wind was too strong, and the garrison said that they had gone into the house to escape. After the big dog went up, he tied the rope and put it down to relieve them One followed the rope and quickly reached the top. Then he followed the same pattern and climbed down the wall to the city.

In the city, the wind is much less and the line of sight is much better.

"General, where are you going?"

Nie Xiaoju asked the cat.

"First explore the situation in the city and find a place to stay. Don't spread out. We'll work separately when we find a place."

After Fang Xie gave the order, he rushed out first and ran close to the wall. There was no one in the street, even the soldiers on patrol. After all, it was still the rebel rear, and the four doors were closed, so it was expected that the guard was not strict. When Fang Xie crossed the alley, he turned into a family and came out again soon.

"No one"

He frowned, then let the people spread out and sneak into the yard. Soon, the people came back here.

"Most of the yards are empty and there are no people."

"The courtyard where my subordinates go in is occupied by rebel soldiers."

Nie Xiaoju lowered her voice and said, "there are not many people. It is estimated that the patrolling soldiers took shelter in the yard."

"What about the people?"

The big dog was surprised and said, "is there no people in the whole county, all soldiers?"

Fang Xie pointed to the yard next to him and said, "go in first, and then jump into the yard." when they entered the house, it was certain that no one had lived in this place for at least a month. The house was full of dust, the windows were not closed, and the sand on the shabby wooden table was as thick as a finger.

"There are only rebels and no people in the city. How do I think it doesn't bode well."

The big dog squatted down and spat at the sand in his mouth.

After a moment of silence, Fang Xie said, "taking advantage of the strong wind, the soldiers on patrol are all lazy. They go out separately, mark outside the yard, and come back before dark. First, check whether there are no people living in other places in the city. Second, it's best to find out where the rebel's grain and grass are stored. Third, find out where the rebel's guards live."

Fang Xie said after giving orders: "in a group of two, be careful and try not to kill."

The crowd nodded. Fang Xie asked Nie Xiaoju and Yan Kuang to form a group, he and big dog to form a group, Shen qingfan and Mu Xiaoyao to form a group. After a short rest, they turned out of the yard, chose a direction respectively, and soon disappeared from each other's sight.

Fang Xie leaned down and rushed forward. What he thought in his mind was where the people of Sui county had gone. If this is just a barracks, what is the purpose of Li Yuanshan to keep this team?