Chapter 83: Stripped
"If I hadn't accidentally fallen and fallen into the tiger's den, I wouldn't have found it."
"The fire inside is out. I think they have been retreating for at least a day."
"The footprints on the mountain were all covered by snow, but there were still some traces of branches and dead grass. They retreated westward."
This situation was also within Chi Ming's expectations. Before he came, he had ordered his troops to ambush on the west side of Mengbai Mountain. As long as they escaped from the west, they would be discovered.
There is no need to consider the east, because the sea is within a hundred miles and there is no way to hide.
"Lead the way, I will go check it out."
"All soldiers, follow up and conduct a blanket search. Form rows of five, shoulder to shoulder, and don't miss any clues."
"yes."
The soldiers arrived in the afternoon and had rested for half a day. Now their strength has almost recovered.
Shu Feng led the way, and Chi Ming followed, and they soon arrived at the mountain.
The entrance to the mountain was actually in a tiger cave halfway up the mountain.
No wonder the hunters around didn’t notice it. When they saw the tiger, they were scared away. No one dared to get close to it.
Seeing another person coming, the tiger instantly went into fighting mode, baring its teeth, raising its tail upright, and making a roaring sound.
Chi Ming didn't have time to waste with the tiger now, so he used his internal strength to swing the tiger aside with one palm and smashed it hard on a rock nearby.
He is dead.
They passed the stone wall behind the tiger cave and went down the mountain along the steps.
The breeze ignited the stove, and flames burst out, illuminating the mountain wall and the surrounding space.
They looked around and found that the mountain was really big.
There is a stove, containers, hammer, etc. inside, all indicating one thing.
“Iron is being smelted here.”
Maybe because of the hasty retreat, not all the things were taken away.
Or if they can't find it, those people will come back and continue smelting iron after the matter is over.
The secret guards also became serious: "They are making weapons."
There are also scattered iron ore in the corners.
Everyone had only one thought in mind:
"Someone is planning a rebellion."
Once the iron ore was discovered, all of it was taken over by the imperial court.
In addition to the markets in each city, those who smelt iron and make iron pots, kitchen knives, and farm tools are all registered with the government.
In other cases, privately smelting iron is tantamount to treason, and the nine generations of the clan will be executed.
"Who is it?" Their secret guards are spread all over the world, supervising the activities of officials, wealthy businessmen, and some gentry.
An entire mountain was hollowed out, and they didn't let anyone around them notice any movement.
This guy is so awesome.
Besides, Mengbai Mountain does not produce iron ore, so transporting the iron ore here without anyone noticing is not an easy task.
Chi Ming's mind was also turning back and forth in his mind about who it could be.
"Who do you think His Majesty is investigating recently?"
Shu Feng thought of the news that the secret guards had found out in recent days: "They are investigating Master Yun."
"Your Highness, do you mean Master Yun?"
"Li Lingcang, the prefect of Fuzhou, is a disciple of Grand Tutor Yun, if I remember correctly?"
Shu Feng gasped: "He is a civilian official, does he know how to command the army?"
They previously thought that Master Cha Yun was simply dissatisfied with Concubine Yun, or was dissatisfied with Master Yun's status in the Empress Dowager's mind.
So I didn’t pay too much attention to this matter.
If Master Yun had the intention to rebel, he might really succeed.
It is a bit of an exaggeration to say that the civil servants under his command account for half of Dongxi's power, but they are still quite a few.
If everyone responds to the call, Dongxi will really be thrown into chaos.
What's more, he may have his own private army now.
"You continue to investigate."
"yes."
This is the only clue now.
However, Chi Ming did not relax his vigilance. In addition to Master Yun, everyone else had to be checked.
The most urgent task is to find the missing 50,000 troops.
It is not easy to get 50,000 people to follow you out of the mountains without resistance.
Outside, the soldiers also arrived near the peak of the mountain and continued searching westward, searching bit by bit.
Chi Ming also walked westward, but as time passed, there was still no news from the army outside Mengbai Mountain.
This means that the army is likely still wandering in the mountains.
"Shufeng, are the two peaks ahead empty?"
If it were empty, a lot of people could hide inside.
Two days later, the army finally followed the traces of tree branches and arrived at a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides.
The entrance to the valley is on the north side, and if they hadn't gone around it, they would never have found this place.
After Vice General Tao discovered it, he hurried over to report: "Your Majesty, we found the sound of soldiers in the valley."
"Walk."
When they reached the valley, the sound became louder and louder as they went deeper.
There were groans, screams, and cries.
Deputy General Tao rushed over and saw such a tragic scene.
The soldiers were naked. Everywhere you looked, they were all naked.
Not even a piece of cloth!
They huddled together in groups of three or five, huddled in the snow.
My feet jumped back and forth to avoid the coldness of the snow.
But it was of no avail.
Some people could not bear the cold anymore and ran naked in the snow, but they had no source of heat and would feel even colder once they stopped.
Either you'll die of exhaustion, or you'll be frozen into a popsicle.
They had no choice.
Some of those who did not move had frozen to death, and some had feet that had turned black from the cold, which were so obvious when they stepped on the white snow.
Obviously, the foot could no longer be saved.
Some even sat on the bodies of their companions, reluctantly, but the bodies had already turned into popsicles, as cold as ice and snow.
Even though Lieutenant General Tao was used to the tragic scenes on the battlefield, after seeing this moment, he, a eight-foot tall man, could not help but burst into tears.
These are all good boys of Dongxi, why are they treated like this?
Who is it?
“Ahhh…”
His uncontrolled screaming also woke up the soldiers.
Many of these soldiers knew Deputy General Tao. When they saw him, they grinned with difficulty:
"We...are saved!"
"It's Vice Admiral Tao. Vice Admiral Tao is coming to save us."
Many soldiers even let out a deep breath and fainted.
Chi Ming's face also turned pale. These were living people, how could he let them freeze to death here?
He wished he could pull out the person behind the scenes, strip him naked, and freeze him to death.
He waved his hand, asking the soldiers to rescue the people in the snow.
The soldiers rushed forward with tears in their eyes as fast as they could, distributed their clothes, and then tried to carry them all into the mountain where they had been before, at least to protect them from the wind and snow outside.
Without any instructions, Deputy General Tao ordered his men to return to the capital immediately to urgently deliver clothes and food so that these people could survive.
But as soon as they reached the exit of the valley, they were blocked by soldiers so dense that there was no end in sight.
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