Chapter 5 Reed Dangxing

The weather in late spring is already very hot, especially in the Huainan area, where there are many lakes and rivers near the river. The sun is a little stronger, and the water evaporates quickly.Jiangzhongzhou, which belongs to Huainan, is a sediment-deposited island located in the middle of the Yangtze River, so it is more affected by this climate. Zhao Kuangyin took people to the island by boat overnight.Regardless of their identities and positions, the dozens of people wore light clothes of the same color, fanyang felt hats with red tassel tops, and linen boots with leggings. The only difference was in the weapons they carried, as well as their different momentum and temperament.This approach is to prevent others from targeting and assassinating important targets among them, but for themselves, it can facilitate mutual identification and traces, so as to avoid misunderstandings and loss of group in times of chaos.

Originally, I thought that an island in the middle of the river would not be too big, and it would take only a few steps to walk around it.But when they landed on the island, they found that they were wrong.The area of ​​this island formed by the silt deposits in the river far exceeded their expectations. It is simply a large plain separated from the north and south shores.There are no high hills and mounds on the island, nor tall trees and jungles on the island. There are only endless, dense reeds and wormwood growing in the reeds.As to what else was in the reeds and wormwood, they had no way of knowing.

However, Zhao Kuangyin was still prepared, and he was also afraid that the trip would be too abrupt and cause misunderstandings, which would cause harm to both parties but would be unsightly.So after going to the island, each section of the trip was shot with a ringing arrow with a letter, which stated that their purpose of this trip was to discuss cooperation and seek common money.However, more than a dozen ringing arrows have been shot successively, and there is still no response on the island.Whether these arrows fell into the hands of the "one river, three lakes and eighteen mountains" people, they couldn't be sure at all.In the vast swamp of reeds, even they themselves don't know where the arrow landed.

The wormwood and reeds on the island are different from other places. They grow particularly tall and strong under the nourishment of river water and silt.A burly figure like Zhao Kuangyin's is still submerged in it, and it's impossible for him to stand on tiptoe and look far away without aids. Such dense and tall wormwood and prodigal reeds often mean the existence of danger.First of all, they cover the line of sight, making it impossible to judge the route, and it is even more difficult to find the hidden crisis.In addition, the ground where these hydrophilic plants grow is generally very muddy and slippery. Under the wet soil, there are tangled and tangled dead roots from previous years, making walking very difficult.And those wormwood and reeds can't be used for support, so if you are not careful, you will fall into the mud.Not to mention that there are natural quicksand, silt, and puddles in certain places. Once you step on it and no one rescues you in time, you can only wait for yourself to die slowly.

Although these imperial guards of the Great Zhou Dynasty have experienced countless dangers and killings, walking in such an environment is still like losing their eyes and legs. The psychological tension and physical exhaustion will soon make them sweat profusely.Coupled with the hot weather, the reeds and wormwood are airtight, and you can't even breathe smoothly. It really feels like being locked in a steamer. Zhao Kuangyin stopped and rested for a while, then wiped his face with a sweat towel.The thick smell of sweat on the sweat towel smeared on his face, making him very uncomfortable, as if there was a lingering feeling of hopelessness and helplessness.Being in this thick and large reed felt, if they can't get out smoothly, their bodies will smell as bad as the sweat towel after a while.

The best way to observe the surrounding terrain in the reed marshes is to "build more buildings". Zhao Kuangyin can't remember the specific number of times he asked his subordinates to "build more buildings", but he remembers the situation reported after each inspection.This is because the content of each report is exactly the same, only the vast reeds and wormwood can be seen, there is no road, no field or house, and no one can be seen. In fact, now Zhao Kuangyin has the desire to observe the surrounding situation again, but he suppresses this desire secretly.We can no longer let these tent-guarding soldiers and tiger guards look up and down, because their eyes already contain too much fear and despair.Although these soldiers from the north are all brave and good at fighting, they have never seen such a geographical environment.In such a place where you can't see and walk endlessly, even if you are full of pride and strength, you don't know how to vent these two energy.It's like wielding a sharp machete vigorously, but can't cut off the rejoicing silk yarn.The current situation must be resolved immediately. If they can't get out of this reed grass felt in a short time, some of them may completely collapse.

"My lord, I'm afraid it's not an option to go straight ahead like this. Leaving aside the terrain and climate, the people on the island with one river, three lakes and eighteen mountains still don't know the intention of our trip. If you think we are here to attack a heavy enemy, If we set up a formation in secret, we may not even have a chance to explain the reason for the attack in one fell swoop." Zhao Kuangyin's subordinate Zhang Jin'ao, the leader of the pro-army tiger guards, put forward his own views.Zhang Jin'ao was originally born in Jianghu, and was once a guest in Jiuliuhou's Mansion in Nanping.Not only is he knowledgeable and skilled, but he also has the unique skill of hitting flying stones with both hands.Looking at the family lineage of famous generals in the Song Dynasty later, he is likely to be an ancestor of the lineage of Zhang Qing, the hero of Shuibo Liangshan, Wu Yujian.

"It is indeed very possible to set up a formation. Our current situation seems to be in the opponent's urn. But it is not necessarily a surprise attack, because there are only a few dozen of us on the island, and we cannot be distinguished from our clothes. What aspect is it? People from one river, three lakes and eighteen mountains are oil rollers who have been in the rivers and lakes for a long time (the name of the rivers and lakes refers to the meaning of countless experiences and rich experience in the rivers and lakes.), and they will not implement it without knowing the situation at all. Attack and kill. But we really can't stay long in the reeds and wormwood bushes that can't be seen, we must find a way out quickly; otherwise, if we lose our way, fatigue and hunger will make us lose the strength to protect ourselves, and finally wait to die , At the mercy of others. This may be the reason why the people on the island have not taken any action until now. We cannot let this happen. Because this time we are here to discuss cooperation matters, so we should be in a state of being able to compete with the other party Otherwise, people from one river, three lakes and eighteen mountains will not believe our requirements and the conditions we can provide." Zhao Kuangyin's analysis is thorough, but light analysis is useless. What is more important at this time is to Come up with a decision.Obviously, Zhao Kuangyin doesn't know what to do for the time being, and he needs more advice now.

"Otherwise, let's go back here. Although I don't know how to go, I made some marks along the way when I came here. It should not be difficult to find the location of Shangdao by following the marks." Come on, he came to Jiang Zhongzhou this time, and he did everything according to the way of the rivers and lakes.Zhao Kuangyin knew Zhang Jin'ao before he joined the army, and later recruited him for his own use and appointed him as his personal lieutenant. Apart from his unique skills, there is also a very important point that he is familiar with the ways of the world. "Going back may be a solution, but we have already walked such a long distance on the island, I guess it may not be possible to go back even if we want to." Although Zhao Kuangyin said so, he still waved his hand to signal everyone to go back.He is a person who is very good at weighing interests, and he will never insist on doing things for the sake of fame and face.

Facts quickly proved that Zhao Kuangyin's worries were not wrong. They had just turned their heads and walked dozens of steps away when a faint mist suddenly rose from the reeds.These are by no means the smoke caused by the evaporation of water after being irradiated by the sun, but someone ignited something, because it has a strong and choking smell of fireworks. "No, someone wants to set us on fire. We have nowhere to hide this big bastard!" Zhang Jin'ao's voice was startled and miserable. "Don't panic! It's the time when the grass and trees are green, and the grass can't be burned. The smoke is set to make us confused and we can't find the way back. Everyone, don't move around, put the 'balong cover five' Live bats' formation defense." Zhao Kuangyin said with certainty.

At this time, it is very appropriate to defend with the formation of "eight dragons cover five live bats".This is a formation in which the outer circle is connected into eight sides for defense and resistance, and the inner circle is five-sided, and the eight sides of the outer circle are reinforced according to the situation.According to the inscription of the Tang Mausoleum in Luotu Mountain, "Balong Covering Five Living Bats" was created by Tang general Guo Ziyi from the Eight Linglong's Wufu revolving lantern. It is a defensive formation that can change and move quickly. But this time Zhao Kuangyin's judgment was only half right: the green reed and wormwood can't be burned, but the second half of the judgment was wrong, because although the smoke lit by others was very strong and choking, it was always burning. is faint.This kind of smoke is not to make them blind, but to force them to walk in the direction set by others. Just when Zhao Kuangyin and the others had just set up their positions to be on high alert, they heard a voice.The sound was like wind, and in fact there was indeed some wind, but the wind was not enough to disperse the faint smoke, instead it was driven away by the strong and choking smoke.However, the wind that could not disperse the smoke dispelled the formation of "eight shields and five live bats" in an instant, and the defensive formation composed of many soldiers who were accustomed to fighting was not as strong as a faint mist at this time. The sound of the wind is made by countless small wings, which are the wings of a group of wasps.The ignited smoke is to drive away the wasps, and the wasps driven by the smoke will become manic and fierce.Even if they are facing a powerful soldier wielding a sword, they will fearlessly use him as an object of vent. More than half of Zhao Kuangyin's men ran away amidst the intense pain, and soon disappeared into the dense green reeds and wormwood, and they could no longer know the consequences.The dozen or so most trusted guards near Zhao Kuangyin did not move. They lay down on the ground under Zhao Kuangyin's instructions, and quickly smeared the exposed parts of their bodies with muddy water on the ground. The flying wasps disappeared quickly, because they took the fleeing people as their targets and pursued them persistently.After a while, the smoke also dissipated. It should be that the people who burned the smoke thought that their purpose had been achieved, so they quickly left their position just now.This is the cunning that people in the Jianghu are used to, waiting for work with ease, moving quickly, and not confronting opponents of unknown strength.

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