On the occasion of rebirth Zhou Sui

Chapter 216 Exploring the enemy camp at night

Although this wheat iron staff is tall and mighty, it has a strong gait and can run faster than a horse. It can climb over city walls and can escape even if it is discovered. Maybe it is a suitable candidate.

Cui Che knew his abilities and no longer worried about whether his appearance and figure were attractive. He decided on the spot to cross the river with a wheat iron stick to investigate the enemy's situation for himself.

Since Wang Shao, who previously guarded Stone City north of Jiankang, had been transferred back to Daxing at the beginning of the year, the south of the Yangtze River was almost completely lost, and there were not many strongholds left in the Sui Dynasty.

Mai Tiezhang had no choice but to swim across the river at night with a straw hat on his head.

Not only can he walk as fast as he flies on land, but he is also very good in water. He can travel five hundred miles a day, so how can he not be able to swim in a mere Yangtze River?

Under the dim moonlight, the wheat iron staff quietly touched the shore.

In spring, on the south bank of the Yangtze River, the grass and trees were growing, and the iron rod was hidden among them. I found a farmhouse, climbed over the wall, and stole a pair of clean clothes. I didn't dare to stay long for fear of being discovered.

It's not that he doesn't have the courage to kill people and silence them, but just stealing a set of clothes and committing two murders will lead to a different pursuit.

Mai Tiezhang changed his clothes, walked quickly through the jungle, and headed for Jingkou.

He is very familiar with the place Jingkou. In the past, he often visited South Xuzhou, which was located in Jingkou, so he was considered a frequent visitor.

Even though the city wall at Jingkou is so tall, there are plenty of ways to climb over it with iron rods.

However, today he was not here to resume his old business, but to explore the enemy's situation. He did not choose to enter Jingkou City at night, but instead smeared the military camp outside the city near the burning bonfire.

Not even the city wall can stop the iron rod, let alone the fence of the military camp.

He easily sneaked into the camp. How strict could a newly formed peasant army be?

I don’t know where Mai Tiezhang stole another set of military uniforms. He hunched over and tried his best to hide his bulk, but he still managed to get through the rebel camp without any hindrance.

When Mai Tiezhang saw a lone rebel soldier, he was the first to wonder:

"Brother is a new face."

The young soldier subconsciously explained:

"I just came to join Governor Zhu recently."

Although Mai Tiezhang was from Shixing, Lingnan, he had also stayed in Jiankang for many years. When others met him, they would not notice any difference in his accent.

It was because of Mai Tiezhang's Jiankang accent that the young soldier had no doubts.

Mai Tiezhang smiled and said:

"That's a coincidence. I've just arrived here not long ago."

After saying that, he sighed again:

"Alas! We brothers didn't catch up with the good time before we joined the group. The Hulu from the north sent a large army."

Seeing that he was depressed, the young soldier cheered him up and said:

"Zhu Cishi has twenty or thirty thousand people under his command, which is enough to last for a period of time. When the emperor captures Wu County, he will send his troops northward and lead us to fight against the Northern invaders."

The so-called emperor of the young soldier was attacking Wu County of Suzhou Prefecture. Mai Tiezhang guessed that it was Shen Xuanzao from Suzhou who falsely claimed to be the emperor, which also cheered him up. At least Suzhou Prefecture had not fallen yet.

As for the 20,000 to 30,000 people under the command of Governor Zhu, Mai Tiezhang also believed in it. He had already counted the tents and found that they could indeed accommodate 30,000 people.

But he still wondered how this young soldier could know the war in Suzhou.

While Mai Tiezhang asked, he was also ready to kill the young soldier if he noticed something strange.

However, the soldier was not suspicious. He smiled and said:

"I am from Suzhou. I originally escaped from the war and came to Jingkou, but I couldn't bear the hunger, so I joined the rebel army and went to the command of Governor Zhu."

Mai Tiezhang also relaxed. He complained about the "Five Religions" to the young soldiers, which resonated with each other. As a result, the two became closer. Mai Tiezhang suddenly said with emotion:

"The governor Zhu can command 20,000 to 30,000 people and resist the Northern invaders along the river, which is enough to show the emperor's trust."

"Isn't it? Then Zhu Mo asked"

The young soldier subconsciously agreed, telling Governor Zhu's real name, and then quickly changed his words:

"Prince Zhu was with the emperor before the uprising. The emperor gathered together a group of righteous people and appointed hundreds of officials, so he made him the governor of South Xuzhou and allowed him to recruit troops locally."

As he spoke, he regretted:

"Why didn't I have this vision back then? Otherwise, I might be able to get a job as governor now."

The young soldier was also from Suzhou, so he knew the details of Shen Xuanzao, who pretended to be the emperor, and Zhu Mowen, the so-called governor of Southern Xuzhou.

That night, Mai Tiezhang extracted a lot of information from the talkative young soldier and almost got a clear picture of Shen Xuanzao's forces.

Worried about arousing alarm, Mai Tiezhang did not kill anyone. He climbed over the fence silently, retreated along the original path to the river bank, stripped himself naked, and crossed the Yangtze River again.

Sentinels from Jiangbei had already responded, delivering clean clothes to Mai Tiezhang, and also specially prepared a horse for him to ride on.

But the south is no better than the north. After all, there are only a few people who are good at riding. Mai Tiezhang waved his hand and said:

"I just ran back to the camp, no slower than riding a horse."

The sentry knight also followed Mai Tiezhang's wishes, but deep down he still felt that Mai Tiezhang was bragging.

It's just that the sentry riders didn't dare to gallop all the way. When there is no danger, people are no more valuable than war horses.

If they are exhausted, they will be in danger and lose their power, which may cost them their own lives.

When the sentinel rider rode his horse and trotted all the way to the outside of the camp, he looked back and saw that the iron staff was following closely not far away.

It's just that when the manpower is finally exhausted, traveling between Guangling and Jingkou tonight and crossing the river twice, even with a wheat iron staff, I am still out of breath.

It was already dark at this time, and it was Kong Yingda, who was in charge of the military Chinese clerical department, who met him.

Since Cui Che stayed overnight in Guangling City, Kong Yingda gave Mai Tiezhang paper and pen and asked him to write down what he had learned tonight.

But Mai Tiezhang was born in poverty, had never read a book since he was a child, and was illiterate. He held the brush for a long time, but he couldn't write a single word.

Kong Yingda took the pen and paper from his hand and said helplessly:

"Since you can't read, just dictate it and let me record it."

Mai Tiezhang was unwilling, claiming:

"I was ordered by Duke Yan to cross the river, so naturally I have to show my face to Duke Yan."

Kong Yingda smiled secretly in his heart: Could it be that I can still take credit for your achievements?

But Mai Tiezhu insisted on seeing Cui Che, and Kong Yingda had no choice but to send someone to deliver Mai Tiezhu to Guangling City.

Mai Tiezhang arrived at Cui Che's temporary residence, but couldn't get in. The doorman had to ask Cui Che's personal attendant Zhao Wen to wait for him to decide whether to disturb Cui Che's rest.

Zhao Wen heard that it was the spies who had crossed the river and came back to report the military situation. He did not dare to neglect, and quickly ran to Cui Che's bedroom and knocked on the door.

The rustling sounds in the house suddenly stopped.

Cui Che, who was lying on the couch, signaled Yuchi Chifan to get dressed. He sat up and said dissatisfiedly:

"What's the matter? I have to report late at night!"

Zhao Wen replied outside the door:

"Someone calls himself Mai Tiezhang, and he has military information to tell you."

Cui Che let out a long sigh, stretched out his hand to wipe away the drool from the corner of Yuchi Chifan's mouth, and said outside the room:

"Take the iron rod to the main hall and ask someone to bring some cold water."

After that, he told Yuchi Chifan:

"Rinse your mouth later. You can go to bed early without waiting for me."

(End of chapter)