Chapter 108 Battle of Elephant Lake

Lu Erniang declined Zeng Chongxiu's suggestion to find a husband for her, which made Zeng Chongxiu puzzled: why? Lu Erniang said: "I've made up my mind, you don't need to ask any more." Zeng Chongxiu refused to give up: girl, since you have made up your mind, let me go through it for you, what are you afraid of?Tell me the secret way into the mountain... Zeng Chongxiu grabbed Lu Erniang tightly, begged with sweet words, knelt down to beg, cursed and swore, and finally said something that moved her: "Okay, if you must go, I will tell you the secret way to enter the mountain, but Erniang is a person who has already died once, no matter what the result of your entry into the mountain is, it has nothing to do with Erniang anyway.

After thinking about Lu Erniang's words, Zeng Chongxiu understood that this girl had already lost the courage to die.She claimed to have died once, which meant to imply that he could pursue her.Zeng Chongxiu was overjoyed, and said: Don't worry, Er Niang, you will wait on the boat, and when I come back, I will take you away with me. Erniang blushed and said: If I knew you were not a good person, who would go with you?Although the words were not false, he still picked up a branch and drew on the ground the detailed secret path for Zeng Chongxiu to enter the mountain. Zeng Chongxiu climbed the mountain according to the secret path drawn by Lu Erniang.This secret path is really hidden. It was not a road at all at the beginning, but once you pass the most difficult pathless road, the road ahead is very easy to walk, but this road is hidden in the jungle. The locals living here, outsiders can't imagine that there is such a shortcut that can go around the cliff.

It took two full days before Zeng Chongxiu climbed to the top of the cliff. From a high position, the Elephant Lake below was as small as a small puddle, and also like a mirror, reflecting the clouds and birds in the sky.On the top of the cliff, there are dense bushes and strange rocks, like a wild land, and there seems to be no way to go.But among the strange rocks, under the cover of brambles, there are many caves covered by autumn grass as tall as a person.Zeng Chongxiu walked in along a cave, and within a short time, he heard muffled voices. He hid behind the boulder and looked down quietly.Below you can see piles of grain and drinking water as high as hills, and a dozen little bandits sitting on stone chairs drinking and chatting.In the deep cave below, there are still many children running around, and the sound of women beating and scolding children and children crying can be heard from the depths.

What a paradise! After finding out the terrain, Zeng Chongxiu returned and took Lu Erniang away from Xianghu Lake. After returning, he settled Erniang first, and then informed Mr. Yangming.After hearing this, Mr. Yangming said: You should take a rest first, and then take twenty strong men and set off secretly, and lie in ambush in the cave on the top of the cliff in advance, and once you hear the sound of attack and killing outside, you should immediately throw the torch, Burn the food in the cave first, and the thieves will be defeated by then. Zeng Chongxiu quietly led people there, and waited for the place to ambush, Mr. Yangming personally supervised the troops here, divided the troops into two groups, marched hurriedly to Xianghu Lake, seized all the fishing boats by the lake, and then took advantage of the dark night to go to the cave on the cliff. Launch a strong attack.Mr. Yangming's visit here was also carefully planned. At the beginning of the attack, he ordered everyone to shout in unison, and set up straw men with lanterns and torches. In fact, it was just a bluff.

In the hole on the cliff, the bandits were sleeping soundly. They were awakened by the shouts of killing outside, and they also shouted loudly. Whenever the frequency of falling stones decreased, Mr. Yangming immediately ordered the drums to be beat, and then the soldiers roared crazily, luring the bandits in the cave to polish the stored stones.After a few rounds like this, the frequency of stone throwing on the cliff decreased significantly. Although there were repeated shouts from below, the number of stones thrown down did not increase. Mr. Yangming was happy: The thief's stones have been thrown away, you wait and rush with me!

The crossbowmen took cover, and the soldiers began to charge.The thieves above had already thrown away all the stones. Seeing the enemy climb up, they had no choice but to retreat to the cave on the upper floor. But the officers and soldiers had already entered the cave, and still followed the old method, shouting and bluffing, luring the bandits in the cave on the upper floor to throw away the stones, and then rushed up to seize the second floor with the cover of a strong bow. The battle started in the early morning and continued until noon. Seeing that the officers and soldiers had seized two floors of the cave, the bandits could only retreat step by step.

But bandits also have opportunities for bandits. They are trying to delay the battle now. After noon, when the officers and soldiers rushing to the cave are hungry and hungry, the bandits will attack again from the heights and cut off the transportation of food and grass for the officers and soldiers. Officers and soldiers, even if they are dead. Therefore, the bandits are not in a hurry. But suddenly, the temperature in the cave suddenly rose, and thick black smoke was seen coming out from all the caves.For a moment, the bandits were all stunned. Grain is on fire! Cave-dwelling animals are afraid of fire in their holes.Once this happens, there is no chance of escape.All of a sudden, all the bandits let out howling ghosts and howling wolves, and ran around in the cave in a mess.