Black Wind Ridge After the First World War, Team A rested for five days in Xinyang Pass.
During the past five days, Qin Tiexin still went to Craftsmen's Camp during the day, taking Zhou Nan to continue to improve Horse-Cutting Sickle, and continued to polish his three sword skills at the school yard at night. Zhou Cang recovered well from his leg injury and was able to walk slowly around the camp with a cane.
When Shi Meng watched Tiexin practicing swordsmanship, he would occasionally mention a few words in a hoarse voice. "The 'Mountain Collapse' style should be powerful, the 'Sever the Flow' style should be strong, and the 'Return to Stillness' style... should be hidden deep."
Qin Tiexin Write them down one by one and practice more frequently.
On the evening of the fifth day, Shi Meng summoned ten people from Team A to the barracks.
"There is a new mission." He spread out a simple sheepskin map and drew some marks on it with charcoal. "Seventy miles north, Di People set up a temporary grain store. It is not large in scale. There are about fifty defenders, mostly auxiliary soldiers. Our mission is: burn it."
He pointed at a triangular mark on the map. "The grain is stored here. It is backed by a low mountain and there is a depression in front of it. We will do it at night." He raised his head and scanned everyone, "Lin Feng, Chen San, you two go out for reconnaissance to find out the sentry posts and patrols." Route. Zhao Ling, Li Shun, occupy the commanding heights and are responsible for remote suppression and early warning. Tu Dazhu, Qin Tiexin, break the door from the front and attract attention. The rest of the people, follow me around and set fire."
"Teacher, there are fifty people, are there ten of us..." Zhou Laowu rubbed his hands, hesitating a little. He was from a cooking class and was good with a knife, but he was not the most courageous.
Shi Meng's hoarse voice interrupted him, "It's not a forced break-in. Attack at night, burn the food, and leave after burning it." He looked at Qin Tiexin, "Your knife is very noisy and can be used when breaking down a door. But remember, our target is food, not people. If there is no blood, there will be no blood."
Qin Tiexin nodded. "Understood."
At midnight, the moon is hidden and the stars are sparse.
The grain store was located in a leeward mountain col, with more than a dozen felt tents surrounding several grain stacks covered with oilcloth. As the intelligence said, there were not many defenders, and they obviously didn't think anyone would touch this remote place late at night. There were only a few scattered firelights in the camp, and two sentries were dozing next to the grain stacks with their spears in their arms. The patrol took half an hour to complete a circle.
Lin Feng and Chen San were like two shadows, quietly sneaking to the edge of the camp. Lin Feng lay down behind a slope, closed his eyes, and moved his lips slightly, His fingertips lightly scratched the soil a few times. After a while, he opened his eyes and whispered to Chen San beside him, "There is someone awake and drinking in the tent in the southeast corner. There is a gap in the west fence, and the lock is old."
Chen San nodded and reached down to the west fence. He took out a small leather bag from his arms, poured out two thin iron sticks, and put his hand into the keyhole to fiddle with it under the faint light of the sky. After three or four breaths, there was a soft "click" and the lock opened. He pushed open the fence door and gestured towards the back.
Zhao Ling and Li Shun had already climbed up a mound outside the camp. Zhao Ling raised his bow and set an arrow, and the tip of the arrow moved slowly with the occasional figures walking around the camp. Li Shun lowered his body and twitched his nose slightly - he could distinguish dozens of smells such as fireworks, horse manure, leather, etc. in the wind, and was sniffing the air carefully for abnormalities.
"The wind direction is steady and northerly." Li Shun whispered, "After the fire breaks out, the smoke will drift southward and will not affect the line of sight."
Zhao Ling said "Hmm", the arrow slightly adjusted its angle, and locked onto a Di Bing who stood up to urinate.
Ahead, Qin Tiexin and Tu Dazhu have reached the main entrance of the grain store. It is said to be a door, but it is actually two simple wooden fences tied with iron chains. There is a faint sound of snoring inside.
Qin Tiexin nodded towards Tu Dazhu. Tu Dazhu took a deep breath, raised the newly replaced thick wooden shield, and leaned sideways against the door. Qin Tiexin took two steps back, and Edgeless unsheathed it.
He did not use the "Mountain Collapse" style to chop with all his strength - the movement was too loud. Instead, he turned the Edgeless upside down, used the end of the handle of the Heaviness, aimed at the door bolt connection, and slammed it!
"Boom!"
The muffled sound was particularly clear in the quiet night. The wooden fence shook violently, and the mortise and tenon joints at the joints cracked. Surprised shouts came from inside.
Qin Tiexin Without waiting for the second sound, there was another collision!
"Crack!"
The door bolt broke, and the fence door collapsed inward! Tu Dazhu held up his shield and rushed in like a bull, knocking the two Di soldiers who rushed towards him to the ground!
"The water has leaked! The water has leaked!" Shi Meng's hoarse voice suddenly sounded from the other side of the camp - he and four others, Zhang Shan, Zhao Ziliang, Zhou Laowu, and Wang Meng, had sneaked in from behind, poured kerosene on the grain stack, and threw the flaming sticks, and the flames rose with a "boom"!
The camp was instantly in chaos!
Di soldiers rushed out from various tents, their clothes were disheveled, and some did not even have all their weapons. They had obviously not experienced a night attack, and they were in a panic like headless chickens.
"Whoosh!" An arrow shot from the mound, accurately piercing the throat of a Di soldier who was about to strike the gong as a warning! Zhao Ling had no expression on his face and took the arrow again.
Li Shun's arrow followed closely and shot down a small boss who was trying to organize a counterattack.
Lin Feng and Chen San have blended into the chaotic crowd. Lin Feng Movement Method is weird, always moving through the gaps in the crowd, and occasionally hitting the back of Di Bing's neck with the hilt of the sword, with precise force, which only stuns but does not kill him. Chen San is even more slippery, specializing in picking out isolated targets. The short knife grazed his hamstrings and wrists, making the enemy lose their combat effectiveness but not fatal.
From the front, Qin Tiexin and Tu Dazhu form a moving "Iron Wall". Tu Dazhu's shield protects their flanks, while Qin Tiexin holds Edgeless, did not take the initiative to attack, but only forced back any Di soldiers who tried to get close to the grain pile to put out the fire. His sword was slow, but with an insurmountable sense of oppression. Occasionally, he swept across with "Sever the Flow", forcing three or five people to retreat in succession.
"We can't keep food! Evacuate! Evacuate north!" Di People, who looked like a leader, yelled in Di dialect.
Shi Meng understood Di's language and immediately hissed an order, "Let them go! Seize the moment and pour the rest of the oil on them!"
Team A Everyone carried out the operation with a tacit understanding. They did not chase down the defeated troops, but only focused on expanding the fire. Within a quarter of an hour, the entire grain store had been plunged into a sea of flames, and the heat wave was scorching.
"Withdraw!" Shi Meng waved his hand.
The ten people quickly left the battlefield and retreated into the darkness according to the predetermined route. Behind them, there were flames rising into the sky and the desperate cry of Di People.
After running five or six miles and confirming that there were no pursuers, everyone stopped to take a breath.
"It's great!" Tu Dazhu wiped the cigarette ashes from his face and grinned.
Zhao Ling checked the quiver. "Seven have been used, and there are twenty-three left."
Lin Feng breathed calmly and didn't even sweat much. He just said lightly, "The jar of wine in the tent in the southeast corner is good, but it's a pity."
Chen San took out a small cloth bag from his arms and weighed it. "I touched some dried meat and will eat more later."
Shi Meng didn't say anything. He just carefully counted the number of people and made sure that there were many, and then hissed, "Go back to camp."
The mission was completed neatly. No one of the ten people was injured, and the food and grass burned by Di People was estimated to be enough for two hundred people for half a month. When Li Zhenwei learned about it, he only said "not bad", but each of Team A was recorded a merit in the military merit book.
Five days later, the second battle came.
This time it was an encounter on the plains. A group of about twenty Di People rangers deviated from their usual route for some reason and bumped into Team A who was on a reconnaissance mission.
The two sides suddenly met each other in a depression covered with dead grass, less than a hundred steps away.
"Form up!" Shi Meng roared.
The ten people moved instantly. Tu Dazhu and Qin Tiexin stepped forward almost at the same time, standing side by side, forming the most solid front row. Tu Dazhu shielded, Qin Tiexin Edgeless points obliquely. Zhang Shan and Zhao Ziliang hold spears on both sides, while Zhou Laowu and Wang Meng fill in behind. Zhao Ling and Li Shun quickly retreated, looking for the slopes to draw their bows. Lin Feng and Chen San were like two wandering ghosts, quietly spreading to the flanks.
The Di People cavalry obviously did not expect to encounter an established Great Xuan infantry here. But they reacted very quickly. When the leader whistled, the twenty cavalry immediately divided into two groups and outflanked them from left to right - a typical cavalry division tactic.
"Hold on!" Shi Meng's voice was hoarse but calm, "Archer, shoot the horse! Front row, squat!"
The arrows of Zhao Ling and Li Shun left the string almost at the same time! The two arrows accurately hit the chest of the front horse of the two groups of cavalry! The horse neighed and fell over, and the formation of the following cavalry was slightly chaotic.
At this moment, Shi Meng moved.
Instead of rushing towards the cavalry, he bent down, grabbed two handfuls of sand from the ground, and threw it violently toward the group of cavalry on the right! It was the north wind at this time, and the sand hit the cavalry's face with the wind. The horses were frightened and slowed down a bit.
"Left side!" Shi Meng ordered in a hissing voice.
Qin Tiexin and Tu Dazhu understood and stepped out towards the group of cavalry on the left at the same time! Tu Dazhu tilted its shield and deflected the momentum of a war horse; Qin Tiexin Edgeless swept across with "Sever the Flow", forcing the three cavalry to rein in their horses to avoid it!
But the cavalry has a speed advantage after all. The cavalry on the right has adjusted, and the five cavalrymen are thrusting their spears towards the side and rear of Team A - there are Zhou Laowu and Wang Meng!
A critical moment!
Shi Meng actually did not retreat but advanced, rushing towards the thrusting spear! He turned sideways at the last moment to pass the tip of the spear, and at some point his right hand had taken out the cowhide belt from his waist, flung it out, accurately wrapped around a spear, and pulled it with force! The cavalryman exclaimed and was pulled out of balance and fell off the horse!
At the same time, there was something in his left hand - it was actually a wooden spoon for eating! The handle of the spoon stabbed the eye socket of another war horse! The horse jumped wildly in pain and threw off the cavalryman on its back!
This move was ruthless and decisive, without any flashiness, but it destroyed two knights in an instant!
"Kill!" Qin Tiexin saw this, Blood Qi surged up, Edgeless struck hard with "Mountain Collapse", smashing the sternum of a fallen Di Qi with his armor into pieces!
Tu Dazhu The shield slammed and knocked down one person.
On the flanks, Lin Feng and Chen San cut in like ghosts. Lin Feng's sword was so fast that only cold light could be seen, specializing in stabbing the horse's belly and human neck; Chen San's short knife was specially designed to pick at the hamstrings and wrists.
Zhao Ling and Li Shun's arrows are continuous, specializing in shooting horse legs and human faces.
Within half a quarter of an hour, eight of the twenty Di People riders were killed, six were injured by falling off their horses, and the rest fled in panic. Team A Only three people were slightly injured - Zhou Laowu had a cut on his arm, Zhang Shan was hit by an arrow in the leg (not deep), and Wang Meng sprained his ankle.
Shi Meng After checking the wounded, he hissed, "It is not suitable to stay here for a long time. Clean up the battlefield and evacuate immediately."
On the way back to the camp, the atmosphere was somewhat silent. This was the first time that Team A defeated an equal number of Di People cavalry in front of the plain. Although they won, everyone knew that if not for Shi Meng's almost life-threatening emergency response and cold determination, as well as the two inhuman front rowers Qin Tiexin and Tu Dazhu, withstood the fiercest impact, and the outcome was still uncertain.
"Instructor," Qin Tiexin walked to Shi Meng and whispered, "You just... were in too much danger."
Shi Meng glanced at him and said hoarsely, "On the battlefield, there is no danger or danger, only whether it is worth it." He paused, "It is worth it to exchange one of my lives for ten of your lives. It is even more worth it to exchange my belt and rice spoon for two of the enemy's lives."
A few days later, the third mission arrived, which made everyone's hearts sink.
There was an abandoned beacon thirty miles north of Xinyang Pass, and the two scouts sent before lost contact here. One day later, the Night Scouts team operating nearby accidentally or intentionally let out the news: the man was still alive and locked up in the cellar under the beacon.
This is a conspiracy. Either give up, or rescue him - it's probably a trap.
The atmosphere in the barracks was solemn.
"Instructor, this is clearly a trap." Chen San frowned, "I have been to that beacon, it is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and the underground structure is complex. If Di People dares to spread the news like this, there must be an ambush underneath."
"But people have to be saved." Zhang Shan said in a dull voice, "It's Liu Wu and Sun the Lame. They drank together last time."
Zhao Ling wiped his bow and said nothing. Li Shun lowered his head and smelled a piece of cloth in his hand - it was the sweat towel left by the missing scout. He was trying to remember the smell.
Shi Meng sat on the wooden pier, and the three claw marks on his face looked particularly ferocious under the oil lamp. He was silent for a long time, so long that everyone thought he would give up.
"Help." He finally spoke, his voice hoarse like sandpaper sharpening iron.
Everyone looked at him.
"Scouts are the eyes of the army. If your eyes are caught, if you don't get them back, who will dare to look forward in the future?" Shi Meng stood up, "But how to save them, I have the final say."
He walked to the map. "There are three steep slopes on the beacon, and there is only a small road in the south. Di People must be waiting for us to attack from the small road." He pointed at the north side of the beacon, "Here is a cliff, but there are old vines. Lin Feng, Chen San, you two go up first to find out the situation."
"Qin Tiexin, Tu Dazhu, you two feint to attack from the front of the alley, make a lot of noise to attract attention. Zhao Ling, Li Shun, occupy the commanding heights on the east side of the beacon, cover and observe. The rest of the people, follow me up the cliff. Once Lin Feng and they succeed, they should cooperate inside and outside."
"Remember," he glanced at everyone, "The first goal is to save people. Once people are rescued, they must retreat immediately. Don't be reluctant to fight."
"Yes!"
That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.
The abandoned beacon looked like a giant beast crouching in the darkness. On the south path, swaying figures and firelight could be faintly seen - Di People was indeed on guard.
Qin Tiexin and Tu Dazhu reached a hundred meters away from the entrance of the path. Qin Tiexin took a deep breath, raised Edgeless, and struck down a huge Shi Meng piece of ground next to the road!
"Boom!!!"
The loud noise spread very far in the silent night. The gravel flew out!
Immediately there were shouts and footsteps from the direction of Fengsui, and at least twenty or thirty people were rushing this way!
"Coming!" Tu Dazhu raised his shield.
At the same time, under the cliff on the north side of Fengsui, Lin Feng and Chen San clung to the rock wall like geckos, using old vines and rock cracks to climb up silently. Lin Feng's fingertips occasionally flashed an imperceptible light blue halo, and the vines where they touched seemed to become tougher.
On the top of the cliff, two Di People sentries were looking towards the south path, not paying attention to what was behind them.
"Tsk tsk!"
There were two extremely soft sounds piercing the air, and Lin Feng's short crossbow fired two fine needles dipped in anesthetic, accurately hitting the back of the sentry's neck. The sentry fell limp without saying a word.
Lin Feng and Chen San climbed to the top of the cliff and took a quick look. The main part of the beacon had collapsed in half, but the entrance to the cellar was in the southwest corner, covered with stone slabs, and four Di soldiers were guarding it.
Chen San gestured to Lin Feng, and the two of them walked around to both sides of the cellar.
On the southern path, a battle has broken out.
Qin Tiexin and Tu Dazhu are fighting and retreating, attracting more and more Di People. Qin Tiexin must remember the "feint attack" explained by Shi Meng, and do not use all strength, just They used the "Sever the Flow" style to sweep across a wide area, forcing Di People to dare not get close. The Tu Dazhu shield blocked the sporadic arrows. The two of them cooperated tacitly, like a hard bone that could not be chewed, and held back nearly twenty Di soldiers.
On the east slope, Zhao Ling and Li Shun stared in the direction of the beacon by the starlight.
"There are four people next to the cellar, and there are six more in the tent in the southeast corner who are not moving." Li Shun whispered, "There are about twenty of them on the other side of the path... No, there are still people in the beacon, at least ten, hiding in the dark."
Zhao Ling The bow string is fully drawn, and the arrow tip is slowly adjusted with the movement of a Di soldier next to the cellar. "Wait for the instructor's signal."
On the cliff, Shi Meng took four people, Zhang Shan, Zhao Ziliang, Zhou Laowu, and Wang Meng, and climbed up with ropes. Seeing that Lin Feng and Chen San had solved the sentry, Shi Meng made a gesture.
Lin Feng understood, took out a small paper bag from his arms, and blew it gently. A stream of smoke that was almost invisible floated towards the four soldiers next to the cellar. After a few breaths, the four people's eyes began to lose focus and their movements became sluggish.
"That's it now!" Chen San sprang out like a civet cat, flashed his dagger and cut the throats of two people! Lin Feng's sword was like lightning, piercing the hearts of the other two!
Shi Meng led people to rush towards the cellar and lift the stone slab!
Sure enough, there was a cellar below. Two Great Xuan scouts had their hands and feet tied up, and cloths were stuffed in their mouths. They were injured, but they were conscious. When they saw Shi Meng, ecstasy burst into their eyes.
"Let's go!" Shi Meng ordered in a hissing voice, and Zhang Shan and Zhao Ziliang jumped down to carry him away.
At this moment, a sudden change occurred!
In the darkness of the beacon ruins, ten armored soldiers suddenly stood up! The leader, holding a long knife, shouted in blunt Great Xuan words, "You are the ones waiting! Don't even think about leaving!"
At the same time, Di Bing on the southern path also noticed something was wrong and began to fight back crazily!
"Fell into a trap!" Zhou Laowu's face turned pale.
Shi Meng was unusually calm. He glanced at the situation: the people in the cellar had been rescued, but their retreat was blocked. The Di soldiers below were returning for reinforcements, and he was caught in the middle.
"Zhao Ling! Li Shun! Shoot that leader!" he roared, grabbing a handful of gravel from the ground and throwing it at Di Bing's head and face as he rushed towards him!
On the slope, Zhao Ling's arrow and Li Shun's arrow left the string almost at the same time! The leader swung his knife to block Zhao Ling's arrow, but was hit in the shoulder by Li Shun's arrow and staggered back.
"Qin Tiexin! Tu Dazhu! Go back and kill! Respond!" Shi Meng roared again.
On the path, Qin Tiexin heard the roar, his eyes sharpened, and he had no reservations!
"Tu Dazhu! Follow up!"
He stopped feinting, and Edgeless struck down with all his strength with the "Mountain Collapse" move, knocking a Di soldier who was blocking the road away with his sword! Tu Dazhu shields slammed into each other, breaking open a passage! The two of them were like two mad bulls, rushing towards the beacon against the flow of people!
On the beacon, Shi Meng had led his men to engage in battle with the ten armored soldiers. He had no knife in his hand, but he grabbed a broken wooden rafter on the ground and used it as a short stick. He used vicious and tricky moves, specializing in hitting the joints, Adam's apple, and temples! Wang Meng was not able to use his legs and feet, but he defended the two injured scouts, and the knife in his hand danced so hard that water could not penetrate.
Lin Feng and Chen San were walking on the edge of the battle group. Every time the sword light and sword shadow flashed, one of the Di soldiers would fall or be injured.
Qin Tiexin and Tu Dazhu finally arrived! They were covered in blood, just like Baleful Intent God. Qin Tiexin saw Shi Meng being attacked by two Di soldiers at a glance, and without thinking, Edgeless threw it out!
"Ugh--!"
The heavy knife wheel roared past, cutting off one of the Di soldiers! Shi Meng The pressure was light, and the wooden rafter stabbed another Di soldier's eye socket!
"Let's go!" Shi Meng hissed.
The crowd protected the two wounded men and ran towards the cliff rope. Zhao Ling and Li Shun fired arrows like rain, suppressing the pursuers.
When the last person slipped down the cliff, the pursuers had reached the edge of the cliff, but they could only curse into the darkness.
When we returned to Xinyang Pass, it was already dark.
Everyone in Team A was injured, the most serious one was Wang Meng - he blocked the knife for the wounded man, and a half-foot-long gash was opened on his back, with the bone clearly visible. The wound on Zhou Laowu's arm collapsed, and the arrow wound on Zhang Shan's leg also oozed blood.
But the man was saved.
The two scouts knelt in front of Shi Meng, sobbing.
Shi Meng just waved his hands and said hoarsely, "It's all Pao Ze's duty to do." He turned around and looked at Dongfang Yumabai, "Go and treat the injury and rest for three days."
After everyone dispersed, Qin Tiexin was about to go back to Craftsmen's Camp to clean up, but was stopped by Li Zhenwei.
On the sidelines of the school field, Li Zhenwei looked him up and down, and his eyes fell on the Edgeless with dried blood in his hand.
"Your sword is getting more and more impressive." Li Zhenwei said in a low voice, "Shi Meng told me about those three moves."
Qin Tiexin lowered his head. "It's still far from enough."
"Don't be afraid if it's far behind. What's scary is that you don't know where the difference is." Li Zhenwei patted his shoulder with a heavy force, "But remember, the fastest knife on the battlefield is not the fastest sword technique."
He paused and looked at the Team A people in the distance who were supporting each other towards the medical tent. "The fastest knife is the knife of the brothers around you. You protect them and they protect you. Only with this knife can you become really fast."
Qin Tiexin followed his gaze and seemed to have some realization in his heart.
The fastest knife is the knife of the brother next to you.
He gripped the handle of Edgeless tightly.
The blade is heavy, but it seems to be more "handy" than ever before.