Chapter Fifty Ambush

  Only when he was in the midst of it did Zhu Yongxing truly realize how difficult it was to fight on Mount Gaoligong. The mountain top was shrouded in mist and cloud, with biting cold that made people shiver; the middle section had no sweltering heat in summer or bitter cold in winter, making it a spring-like climate; while at the foot of the mountain, the sun beat down fiercely, enough to make one sweat profusely while eating watermelon. In this environment where seasons changed in an instant, what was being tested was the soldiers' willpower, not their combat strength.

  And it's not even the rainy season yet, when the locusts that devour humans haven't emerged, and the beautiful Gaoligong Mountains are still cold as the underworld. The rainy season in Gaoligong Mountains is far from being just a matter of getting soaked without an umbrella. Those wet clothes will become a deadly noose for countless people on Mount Gaoligong.

  Zhu Yongxing did not dare to hope that the soldiers he led would have the kind of disgusting tenacity as the Japanese devils, nor did he dare to hope that they would have the historical toughness, courage and tenacity to be inspired, not afraid of the Chinese Expeditionary Force known for their bravery in the face of death.

  What's also worrisome is the logistical support, as the road from Tengchong to Gaoligong Mountain will become muddy and impassable during the rainy season, making it extremely difficult for the already insufficient supplies to be transported, and Zhu Yongxing dare not imagine his soldiers having to resort to eating their comrades' corpses like the Japanese devils.

  After much thought, Zhu Yongxing reluctantly discovered that no matter how powerful the blockade was and whether the Qing army retreated or not, once the rainy season arrived, his best choice would be to retreat and withdraw from this beautiful yet treacherous and unpredictable Gaoligong Mountain.

  What's the point, it should be called "a clever woman can't cook without rice"! Without a reliable and brave army in hand, even if you have many innovative ideas and tactics that surpass the times, you cannot exert your full strength. Just like Taizu, even if he was given a group of rookie soldiers, he couldn't display the essence of guerrilla warfare.

  It is also a similar situation now, the ambush site chosen is not the most advantageous mountain top, but the second best mountain waist, which takes into account the impact of climate and environment on the troops. Although Zhu Yongxing made some preparations in advance, it was obviously unrealistic to ask people living in subtropical areas to take out enough clothing and bedding to defend against the cold winter.

  Deep in thought, weighing his options, Zhu Yongxing unknowingly fell back asleep. Meanwhile, the clouds in the east were turning white and brightening, as a new day's sun was about to burst forth.

  ……

  The morning fog dispersed under the sun's drive, and the surrounding scenery also became clear. The wildflowers in the grass cluster showed off their respective colors towards the rising sun, and the fragrance dissolved and evaporated in the scorching heat, but around was a dead silence.

  After a night of marching, the Qing army looked somewhat dispirited and listless. The mountain road was rugged and difficult to traverse, with some places having no road at all, only allowing them to cut through the grass and branches to make a path. Even though they were advancing lightly, their armor was still a must-carry item, now wrapped on their backs like small mountains, weighing heavily, indicating that the Qing army's energy had been exhausted.

  Wang Jinbao wiped the sweat from his forehead, looked around for a while, and ordered the soldiers to continue advancing. He knew that the troops needed a rest, but the surrounding environment was not suitable, and the water they carried with them was being consumed extremely quickly in the arduous march, leaving very little left. He had to find a source of water before he could let the troops stop and recover their strength.

  The complex terrain of the high mountains and canyons made Wang Jinbao feel that flanking would be a relatively difficult task. In this place where rocks were clustered and forests were dense, he couldn't see where Hui Slope was, and could only roughly judge that they had already bypassed it and entered the belly of the mountain.

  Despite this, Wang Jinbao did not lose confidence and instead felt that the encirclement had already succeeded for the most part. The enemy should not have been aware of it; otherwise, they would not have failed to set up an ambush in the treacherous terrain they had just passed through.

  The sun became scorching, the Qing army's footsteps became heavier, the terrain was high and low, the small path on both sides was dense with trees and grass, and the mountain grass reached two meters. Some sections were low and thorny thickets, while others were steep canyons. Strictly speaking, it wasn't a canyon, but rather a gap between two strangely shaped giant rocks.

  The sound of gurgling water was faintly audible, a gentle babbling that seemed to be coming from up ahead. After determining it wasn't the rustling of leaves in the wind, Wang Jinbao silently prayed for good fortune and excitedly shouted: "Brothers, there's a small river up ahead! Let's speed up!"

  It was hoped that the exhausted and hungry Qing army would bring strength, they turned into a small road, which was a few meters wide canyon, tens of meters high, no more than forty or fifty meters long, looking up, sunlight projected from above, making people dizzy and palpitate.

  Looking ahead, a small stream gushes out from the mountain gap, making a tinkling sound, winding its way like a green snake to an unknown destination. After stopping for a moment, the Qing soldiers entered the valley, having already crossed the dangerous terrain, and although the terrain here could also be ambushed, it was no longer a concern in their minds.

  When Wang Jinbao led the central army to arrive at the mouth of the valley, the vanguard of the Qing army had already passed through, cheering and rushing towards the clear stream. Their actions undoubtedly brought encouragement to the Qing army behind them, setting an example, even Wang Jinbao was infected.

  Zhu Yongxing abandoned the ambush setup in several strategic locations, and taking care of the Ming army's thoughts actually made Wang Jinbao lower his guard. This created an illusion for him, thinking that the flanking maneuver was completely beyond the enemy's expectations, and apart from the treacherous terrain, there would be no other trouble.

  The Qing army poured into the valley in an endless stream, the vanguard had passed, more than half of the central army had passed, and the rear guard also began to rush towards that thrilling and sweet creek. For the soldiers who climbed over mountains and ridges, came out of the ancient forest, and were dying of thirst, the gurgling of the brook was a song that moistened their lungs.

  Suddenly, a dark cloud blocked the sunlight, and a huge boulder fell from the sky, crushing several Qing soldiers who were in a state of excitement. Amidst the screams, rocks on top of the canyon came crashing down one after another, the cries of the Qing army rose and fell, blood and flesh flying everywhere.

  Ambush! Just as Wang Jinbao had savored the cool and refreshing creek water, his heart's delight was suddenly driven away by a surprise attack, leaving no trace. His heart involuntarily "thudded" with a shock, a kind of fearful terror surged up to his head, and his body and mind seemed to be soaked in the creek water, filled with icy coldness in an instant.

  The rocks kept falling, not only massacring the Qing army in the valley, but also showing a trend of blocking the road. However, the Qing army passing through the valley was at a loss and could only stare blankly because they couldn't find the road leading to the top of the valley.

  "The whole army puts on armor, the vanguard prepares to attack, and rushes up the mountain." Wang Jinbao's loud shout awakened the Qing army who were at a loss.