The cough was the root cause of Jiangdu's military coup, but the frown was the remnant of the Wei Dynasty who was keenly aware that both he and Bai Yousi seemed to have underestimated the natural dangers here.

Although he had already learned information about this city and this mountain from various military reports in the past ten years, and had even seen similar models, he would not be aware of some of the situation until he actually arrived here.

First of all, this city is a city, or fortress, specially built according to the terrain by the Dongyi people in order to prepare for large-scale marches from the Central Plains. If you really count its overall area, it seems to be larger than Dengzhou City, because it is simply along the

The city wall was built along the slope of Longgu Mountain, so that it encompasses the entire mountain. However, due to the steepness of the mountain and the rugged rocks of Longgu Mountain, there is almost no grass growing, so the actual usable area is pitifully small.

As he said before, this city is so cramped that only a thousand people can enter it. And if Li Ziqi had personally entered the town to defend it during the first expedition that day, then there would be someone who stood out. How could it be for nothing?

Sanniang's opponent?

With such a scattered defense design, it would be difficult for even a grandmaster to form a formation.

So what's the problem?

The problem lies in the narrow passage beneath this natural barrier.

Cao Ming could almost imagine that even if this city was easily acquired, it would take a long time for hundreds of thousands of people to pass through here, and it would be naturally separated into two sections by this mountain.

In fact, looking at this dark mountain city, even the topography is different from the east and west sides... Although it looks yellow at first glance, there are hills and interlaced plains to the east, and there are everywhere on it.

It is a plant withered and yellow after autumn, and there are also dotted forests and rivers; the west is gray and yellow, but it is a typical Gobi Desert. It only follows the river and generates a large number of swamps. At this time after autumn, there are dense reeds and rivers everywhere.

Just Puliu.

For a moment, this remnant of the Wei Dynasty wanted to go back and remind Bai Yousi, and even wanted to suggest that he take a detour from the north passage. However, after much thought, Bai Yousi could not ignore this problem. Instead, so many people detoured.

On the way to the north, he was afraid that he would encounter the winter weather at Luolongtan, where he would be killed or injured... At this thought, Cao Ming only felt that he had a long way to go on this trip, and he had to do his best for the sake of his mother and his only remaining son.

So he ignored it and headed west.

As the sun sets in the west, heartbroken people are at the end of the world. Cao Ming is not the only one who is running hard. On the banks of the Hutuo River in the northernmost part of the river, there are also people in Fox Lake who stop running until late at night and light bonfires.

There is a saying that there are so many cattails and reeds here that they are very similar to the swamps in the Gobi Desert that Cao Ming stepped into.

On the contrary, we are both fallen people in the world, so why should we meet each other?

Beside the campfire, smelling the smell of burnt fish, Cui Silang and Cui Xuanchen reached out impatiently, as if to rescue the fish from his clan brother, but at this moment, he suddenly felt a strange sensation on the side of his right thigh.

Feeling itchy, I reached in and touched it, and found out the shell of a dead caterpillar. I was speechless and quickly threw it into the fire. I couldn't help but scratch it a few times through my clothes.

Among the people nearby, except for Cui Erqilang, who had a lower cultivation level and was concentrating on grilling fish, the other two people all saw this scene and were a little sad. However, these two people were considered deep-minded people and did not

Just showing it.

And Cui Shilang was so shrewd that he quickly sensed the atmosphere, but he didn't know how to deal with it, so he could only continue to keep a straight face, and even forgot to rescue the grilled fish from his clan brother.

After a while, it was Cui Erqilang who spoke... He thought he had grilled the fish well, but when he handed over the grilled fish, he discovered that the other side of the fish had been licked by the fire and was completely burnt.

, but quickly turned back: "Uncle, the other side of the Hutuo River is Muxian County. Why don't we cross the river and settle there, but camp here? With your cultivation, are you still afraid of someone having evil intentions?"

It seems that there are complaints.

The eldest person in the group, Cui Tuan, the head of the Cui clan who was sold by Bai Hengqiu that day, just smiled when he heard this, and then took the burnt grilled fish, but did not say a word, as if he was waiting.

Cui Shiro, a junior, came to explain for himself.

"Twenty-seventh Lang misunderstood, we are afraid of someone." Unexpectedly, the last person who took the initiative to explain was the gang traitor Li Shu who had a bounty on his head. He smiled and laughed as soon as he opened his mouth, showing his elegant demeanor.

You Cun. "I'm just worried that my whereabouts will be exposed..."

"Isn't it because you are afraid of being chased by the gang if you expose your whereabouts?" Cui Erqilang was still puzzled.

"I'm really not afraid of this." Li Shu said with a smile. "If I am only offered a reward of a few dozen taels of silver, it can be seen that people don't bother to pay attention to us at all. They just want to humiliate me. Wherever we go, we have to be there.

Wherever we gather our strength to do something, it would be ridiculous to expose it so easily... Cui Gong is very famous in Hebei, it is best for us to hide for a while."

Cui Erqilang nodded in half understanding.

"It's ridiculous that Xue Changxiong has such a great reputation, but he just sits there and waits for death." After hearing this, Cui Silang, whose mouth had turned black, finally couldn't help complaining, but looking at him like this, it was more like diverting attention.

Ignore the smell of fish in your hands.

"The gang made this matter clear before." Li Shu held the grilled fish and squinted his eyes slightly. "After the Three Expeditions, Xue Changxiong took the title of Hebei Marching Commander, plus Xue's origin, Grandmaster

With his cultivation, his status as Duke, and the military strength of the Hejian camp, he was famous and powerful, but he was unable to integrate the Wei forces in Hebei within two years... He did not cross the river south that day, but helped Li cross the river north.

, he has already lost."

"Not to mention crossing the river south, he can't even hold Dou Lide and the others to death." Cui Erqilang couldn't help complaining. "If Gaojibo can be wiped out, then Cao Shancheng and our Cui family will fall to him.

Now, Cao Shancheng and the Cui family have turned to him. Qinghe is his foundation in the south of Hebei. When Bohai and Wu'an are unable to stand on their own, won't he be able to overwhelm Hebei? Overwhelm all.

Eighty-eight, and then entered Yecheng, took Li Ding, and surrendered Luo Shu. Feng Wuyi would only obey him when he came back. He was simply the most powerful force in the world! They followed him north and south! But he couldn't even Gaoji

Bodu was unable to clean up, but instead allowed Doulide and the others to wait until they got to the gang, which led to the gang's situation in Qinghe and Bohai... He also deserved to be in the situation where he is now waiting to die."

"How can Dou Lide be so easy to press?" Li Shu thought thoughtfully under the light of the fire. "At that time, Hebei Province suffered very much from the Three Marches. Zhang Jinheng, Gao Shitong, Sun Xunzhi, and the two high-ranking officials who are still hanging out in Shanggu.

, including Han Erlang and Liu Heifu who are now challenging each other, they are all from Hebei Rebels, and Dou Lide is the most tenacious among them. This was also the confidence that Zhang Xing had to cross the river that day... But no matter what, Xue Changxiong cannot integrate

The official power of the Wei Dynasty is that he is incompetent."

"Marrying, garrisoning, setting up official positions..." Cui Silang thought for a while, but still felt confused. "He himself clearly used the name of Hejian Camp to appoint many military attachés, and recruited many Hebei powerful people and spiritual masters, but why?

He didn’t even go so far as to garrison troops in various counties? He brought six or seventy-eight of his sons here, and he didn’t marry into the noble families of Hebei? Uncle, has he contacted us about marriage?”

"No." Cui Tang, who was eating fish seriously, finally spoke, and even for a master, the corners of his mouth and beard were blackened.

"Even Cheng Dalang of the gang knew that the first person to be related to us was Zhang San... Although Zhang San was hostile to our family and specifically suppressed Cheng Dalang, he also knew how to use us and gave two leaders positions. This Xue Changxiong

What on earth are you thinking?" Cui Shilang was originally just talking about the topic to divert his attention, but now the more he thought about it, the more absurd he felt.

"I know a thing or two about his thoughts." Cui Tang put down the fish and sneered. "Isn't it because he thinks that his family belongs to the Guanlong clan, so he doesn't regard Hebei as his basic place? Even if they are married, they still need a few of the Xue family.

It would be reasonable for a son to marry the Bai family, the Dou family, or the Sima family, but at worst he would marry the Zheng family in Xingyang, the Zhang family in Hedong, and other more recent big families. What is the use of marrying our Cui family?"

Everyone was stunned and had different reactions.

Without him, this sounds absurd, but it seems reasonable... Xue Changxiong has been the direct descendant of the famous Guanlong family since he was born. Until four or five years ago, he continued to follow the progress of this political group, and together he witnessed the Guanlong Group reaching its peak.

Brilliant, isn’t it reasonable to have this idea about Long’s position?

Is he the only one like this?

Thinking of this, even Li Shu had to lower his head to look at the bonfire.

"You all said that he never thought about being a king and could not escape from the realm of ministers, so he was thrown away by Zhang San and Bai Hengqiu." Cui Suan continued to sneer. "Is it possible that this guy just doesn't like Hebei?

, I just feel that my family is basically in Kansai, and if I had stayed in Kansai, I would have become emperor and king long ago?"

Li Shu and others remained silent, just staring at the bonfire.

"According to this, if we go to Luo Shu's place again, we won't be shelved and ignored like we were here with Xue Changxiong?" After a while, the silence was still broken by Cui Erqilang.

"Luo Shu should be more pragmatic." Li Shu tried his best to comfort him with a smile.

"It's difficult." Cui Silang sighed. "In the current situation, if you want to make some achievements in Hebei, the premise is that Luo Shu and Xue Changxiong join forces, that is, Luo Shu is more pragmatic and proactive, but one slap can't make a difference, Xue Changxiong

How can we get them to join forces like this?"

"Defense is still feasible." Li Shu said seriously. "Even if Zhang Xing delays any longer, he will definitely attack Xue Changxiong within half a year. Although Xue Changxiong is unable to take the initiative to attack, it is still feasible to hold on to the city and defend it for a while.

Yes, when the time comes, as long as Luo Shu is mobilized to come out of Youzhou in time to attack from inside and outside, it will be enough to turn the situation around."

"Then what?" Cui Tang finally asked with a frown. "We can hold on for a while, but the gang can retreat. If Luo Shu really wants to be pragmatic, he should try to annex Xue Changxiong, right? And if the gang is so powerful, what if it comes back again?

After a lot of back and forth, the two families no longer have trust, and the gang can naturally annex them calmly."

"It's too difficult." Cui Silang also kept nodding. "The trend of helping is already established... In that battle at the beginning of the year, Bai Hengqiu saw the trend of helping Jackie Chan. Even before going to Kansai, he wanted to try to stab him, but...

After all, I was helped to get through it, so naturally it is difficult to control it.”

"It can be suggested that Luo Shu form an alliance with Xue Changxiong. It is best to put down his position and live under Xue Changxiong in name. Then let him go south to use Xue Changxiong as a shield against Zhang Xing, and then go north to attack the Northland, and wait for the Eight Lords and Seven Guards of the Northland

With it in hand, we can naturally turn around and head south." Li Shu seemed to have already had an idea. "It is time for us to make great achievements by promoting the Youzhou-Hejian Alliance, including conquering the Northland."

"Beidi...it's not impossible." Cui Silang was stunned for a moment, then looked at his great-uncle.

"It seems that this is the only way." Cui Tang thought for a long time, and finally nodded in approval. "The help is great, but we have to go back to Qinghe... Besides, if we don't count on the local forces in Hebei at this time, how can we still count on Guan

Long people? From Bai Hengqiu to Xue Changxiong, I can see clearly that no one is willing to regard us as the same class!"

Obviously, this person still remembers Bai Hengqiu's betrayal of the Cui family.

Why did you think Bai Hengqiu could knock down the gang with one blow that day?

On the other side, Cui Erqilang wanted to nod in agreement, but suddenly thought that Li Shu beside him seemed to be from the Guanlong family. He didn't know what they were thinking. His uncle's words seemed to be a bit of a temptation.

He quickly pretended not to know and lowered his head to eat the fish.

Li Shu, on the other hand, couldn't help but laugh while holding the fish: "Zhang San is lenient on the outside and taboo on the inside, monopolizing the gang and controlling Henan and Hebei. We have no choice but to live in exile, but the world is so big, there is always a glimmer of hope, not to mention that we know the true and false status of the gang.

And Cui Gong has the hope of Hebei and shows off his strength as a master. He has something to rely on. There are many princes outside who can take refuge... The current situation is much better than when I was living in Dongyi... You don't know, I just entered

When I came here, I noticed that this place was very similar to the swamp in the Gobi to the east of Luolongtan. On that day, Yang Shen was defeated, and I was living alone in it, with no future at all, and there was no town in front of me or five people behind to rely on, and there was no one beside me.

None of my colleagues even thought about drowning in the river, but they just managed to survive. How can it be like now, when all of you colleagues have grilled fish to eat?"

Cui Silang smiled, Cui Erqilang also laughed, and even Cui Tuang clicked his tongue.

A few people ate fish together, and the atmosphere became much better.

However, after eating most of the fish, the corners of their mouths were turning black. Three of the four people had top-notch cultivation levels, but they smelled the formation of horseshoes outside the swamp first... Several people looked at each other, and Cui Tang, the one with the highest level of cultivation, casually
To be continued...