Chapter 122 - Mark

Chu Xiangtian unexpectedly answered like this. The child in front of him is no more than ten years old. The one in his arms is smaller and thinner like a little chicken, but his eyes are extraordinarily big and dark, and he always hides in his big arms. Inside, look out warily.

"well."

Chu Xiangtian laughed. Without erasing the map on the ground, he patted the older child's shoulder with his big hand, "At any time, you can't put all hope on others."

The older child glanced at him, lowered his eyes and did not answer.

Outside of the mountains, Fu Tian and his party rushed to Shanyu Pass non-stop. They brought dry food, and when they arrived at the meal, they stopped to eat a piece of dry cake, and then swallowed with a cold drink.

The captain of the guard originally wanted to make a fire and cook some hot water for Fu Tian, ​​but he refused. Fu Tian chewed on the hard pancakes, poured a sip of cold wine, swallowed, wiped his mouth and got up, "Let them hurry up and eat. Continue on the road afterwards."

Seeing him like this, the captain of the guard did not dare to persuade him, so he had to let his subordinates hurry to finish the meal and set off.

After traveling day and night, he finally reached Shanyu Pass at midnight on the third day.

The foreigners were still staring outside, and Shanyuguan was nervously guarded. Even though the lights were still bright on the city wall in the middle of the night, soldiers armed with knives and guns patrolled the city wall. Suddenly they heard movement under the city gate and became alert.

"who?"

The captain of the guard showed his waist card, "Xue Qingshan, Lieutenant of the Imperial City Guards Army, was ordered by the emperor to escort Kanglehou to Shanyu Pass. Please open the gate and let me wait in."

The torches gathered on the city wall, and it was impossible to distinguish the authenticity of the waistband through the deep dark night, but this group of people was indeed wearing Chu people's clothes, and the soldiers who sent the order hurriedly passed on the news.

After a while, the city gate slowly opened, and a group of soldiers, holding a torch, with their right hand vigilantly pressed the saber on their waist and slowly walked out.

Xue Qingshan threw the waist card in the air, and the soldiers in the lead took it and carefully identified it under the firelight. It was indeed true. Looking at the person surrounded by them, the whole person was wrapped tightly in the cloak, although it was covered with wind and frost. It's really not like ordinary people.

Welcoming the people in, the leading soldiers led them to the inner hall to rest. "We have sent someone to invite Lord Zhou. Please feel wronged. Once Lord Zhou has confirmed his identity, he can go back to rest."

Fu Tian took off the cloak on his head and looked around. They were all warriors in armor with spears, their eyes locked firmly on them, as if they were afraid that they were spies in disguise to prevent them from rioting.

Thinking of the border situation that Chu Fengyuan had told him, he said clearly, "Is the war urgent now?"

The soldier nodded and cautiously said: "It's midwinter. The foreigners have cut off their food and grass. There is only one dead end if they can't attack the city. So now everyone is crazy." The siege of the city day and night, all cunning and cruel methods have been used. Not guarding.

The group of people sat in the inner hall for a while, and Zhou Chuanqing hurried over. Before anyone arrived, he heard, "Who did you just say is here?"

"Kang Lehou?" As he wrapped his cloak on his body, he looked at the group of people on one side again and again, and the surprised voice stopped abruptly when he saw Fu Tian.

After a moment of silence, he strode in, with a splitting headache, "Why did you run here? Does mother know?"

Fu Tian tightened his jaw and shook his head, "Mother doesn't know, I'm afraid she is worried, but the emperor agreed."

Zhou Chuanqing was dumb and didn't know what to say about him.

Chu Xiangtian lost his whereabouts for nearly ten days. In these ten days, the foreigners were madly attacking the city day and night. In addition to the lack of supplies in the city, he did not dare to fight rashly and had to defend the city gate.

At this time, Fu Tian still ran over without permission. He pinched his eyebrows, "Don't be fooling around, now the war is critical. In case of trouble, how can I explain to Feng Zhang and Shuyue?"

He looked at Xue Qingshan and his entourage, "The foreign offensive is too fierce, and I am not sure that I can keep on guarding it. At that time, I can only open the city gates and fight hard. The city is too dangerous. How can you send people over? How can you give them to me now? Send it back!"

Fu Tian was still arguing. He heard a long and piercing horn sound, and then there was a clear cry for killing. Zhou Chuanqing's expression changed and his expression suddenly became awe-inspiring, "Everyone will go out with me to meet the enemy!"

The soldiers behind him followed him neatly, Zhou Chuanqing turned around and explained in a hurry, "Go back to Qingyang immediately, this is not where you should be!"

Fu Tian took a step forward and shouted to him: "When I came, the food and payment had already been raised. You can hold on. It should be delivered in a few days."

Zhou Chuanqing paused, nodded with his back to him, and then quickly left with someone.

Fu Tian looked at their backs, put their hoods back on, and said to Xue Qingshan: "Take a good supply of dry food and follow me into the mountain."

Xue Qingshan's expression changed suddenly, and he was so scared that he knelt on one knee, "You can't do it, Lord Hou! You are fighting outside, if there is any accident out of the city..."

Fu Tian's face was calm, he knew that it was dangerous to go out of the city at this time, but if he couldn't get the person back as soon as possible, perhaps Chu Xiangtian's situation would be even more dangerous.

And... he glanced at the direction of the North City Gate. There was a fierce fighting sound coming from there. Da Chu soldiers lost their commanders, and foreigners took advantage of the vacancy to enter, and the offensive would only be more violent. It was not just that he needed Chu Xiangtian. The border crossing also needs Chu Xiangtian to take control.

"Do you want to resist the decree?" Fu Tian looked down at Xue Qingshan, who was kneeling. "The emperor ordered you to escort me to find King Yu. Do you want to resist the decree before entering the mountain?"

Xue Qingshan showed a bitter expression, and after struggling for a long time, he gritted his teeth and said: "Don't dare."

Fu Tian didn't want to waste time, turned around and walked out. "Then get ready for supplies immediately, and we will go straight into the mountain from the pass."

There are many mountains in Yuguan, and the city wall is built on the mountain. The long dragon-like city wall has guarded the Great Chu from generation to generation, but in fact the mountains and rivers within the Guan are connected to the outside of Guan, but there are dangers hidden everywhere in this lofty mountain, and few people dare to go deep into it. .

Fu Tian touched the warm long-life lock between his neck and prayed silently, hoping to find Chu Xiangtian as soon as possible.

The number of people entering the mountain was reduced to twenty. The steeds were replaced by local ponies that were more resistant to frost, snow and cold. The supply camels were on the backs of ponies, and a group of people quietly walked around the battlefield in front of them. Into the mountains.

Fu Tian wore heavy fur clothes and covered his entire face with a hood, only showing a pair of eyes looking at the road ahead.

The mountain was covered with white snow, and the sky did not know when there was snow again, but for a moment, the horseshoe prints behind him were buried, and he went deep into it. He didn't know the way to go, and the way he came from was unknown. It was easy to get lost.

Xue Qingshan made marks along the way as he walked, while Fu Tian walked far ahead. This was extremely dangerous. They would not have time to react if something happened.

But Fu Tian insisted on this. He rejected Xue Qingshan's suggestion to protect him in the middle, and rode forward alone, separated from Xue Qingshan and the others by ten paces away.

Every time Fu Tian walked a section of the road, he would quietly ask the trees on the side of the road if he had seen a group of people in the mountains. The man headed by him was very tall.

Some trees will answer him ignorantly, and some will not respond altogether. Fu Tian is very patient and still asks the past tree by tree. If he encounters someone who speaks clearly, he will use his original power in exchange, and ask them to help. Ask around for news.

They searched for three days in the mountains. During these three days, the snow in the mountains became heavier and the mountain roads became more and more difficult to walk. Fu Tian led the way and seemed to be looking aimlessly, with Xue Qingshan behind. , Watching him chattering around the tree and wondering what he was doing.

He remembered the emperor's confession before he left, and secretly decided to spend another two days. If there is no news, he can only forcibly knock the person out and send him back.

Fu Tian didn't know the thoughts in his mind. These days, he asked countless flowers and trees. Some said he had seen them, some said he hadn't. If he had seen them, he pointed out a direction, and then he walked in that direction. Asked all the way, except for eating and sleeping, he spent the rest of the time dealing with these plants.

When he asked about an old tree again, he didn't even have any expectation, "Have you ever seen a group of people? You should all be riding horses in armor. The leading man is very tall, and should still be holding a spear..."

The old tree dragged his voice, and then slowly said: "I saw it the day before yesterday or yesterday. Many people passed in front of me..."

Fu Tian was ecstatic in his heart, "Do you know where they went?"

The old tree said: "Go ahead."

Fu Tian pointed to the direction ahead to confirm with it, "Is this way?"

The old tree replied yes. Fu Tian thanked him and pressed his palm on the trunk of the old tree for a while, then greeted Xue Qingshan and the others, "I found it, go here!"

This is the most accurate news he has asked in the past three days, and the time interval is not long. If they are fast enough, they might be able to follow the traces they left.

Xue Qingshan chased up half-heartedly. Seeing that he was so sure, it was hard to say anything, so he had to follow him to speed up and rush forward.

When the group of people walked for about an hour, someone stared at the side of the tree and exclaimed, "Here is a mark!"

The soldier who exclaimed was responsible for making marks along the way. He habitually looked for suitable places to mark, but accidentally found a mark left on another tree trunk.

"It was left by our people." Xue Qingshan stepped forward to check. The army had its own set of secret codes, and what Chu Xiangtian found now was the one commonly used. There was a slight easing of the originally low atmosphere, and Xue Qingshan smiled with joy, "Keep looking forward!"