173: Sit back and wait

"A Rong!"

"This humble general is here!" Xing Daorong responded.

"Are there any locals from Shenmu City in the White Horse Camp, preferably someone familiar with the terrain of Xishan?" Lin Yue asked.

Xing Daorong thought for a moment, then said, "One of This humble general's personal guards is a Squad Leader from Shenmu City. As for someone familiar with the terrain of Xishan, This humble general will need to go and ask."

"Go ahead." Lin Yue nodded.

Soon after, Xing Daorong brought a Soldier.

"My Lord, This humble general has brought the person."

"This Subordinate Tian Liang, greets My Lord." A burly man cupped his hands in greeting.

"You are a local, are you familiar with the terrain of Xishan?" Lin Yue asked.

"This Subordinate knows it well. Xishan is rich in medicinal herbs, and when This Subordinate was young, his father often took This humble general up Xishan to gather herbs," Tian Liang said.

"That's good. Do you know where the halfway point of Dongxiaogou Peak in Xishan is?" Lin Yue asked.

Tian Liang said, "This Subordinate knows! That place is about five li west of here!"

"How many roads at the foot of the mountain lead there?" Lin Yue asked.

After careful recollection, Tian Liang said:

"That place has steep terrain, and there's only one small path leading to it. But the path is rugged and difficult to traverse, and with the snow accumulation now, it's even harder to get through."

"Good, I trouble you to lead us to the small path." Lin Yue smiled.

Only one path, Heaven truly helps me!

"It's no trouble. It is This Subordinate's fortune to be able to serve Colonel Lin Yue!" Tian Liang smiled.

"My Lord, how many people should we bring?" Xing Daorong asked.

"You take Tian Liang and Li Mu. I will take Zi Long and a few personal guards. No need for too many people, lest we alert the enemy." Lin Yue said.

"Won't that be too few people? I'm worried that with many Mountain Bandits around, My Lord might accidentally get injured." Xing Daorong said with some concern.

"No, with you and Zi Long here, nothing will go wrong." Lin Yue said.

Subsequently, a small team consisting of nine people: Lin Yue, Zhao Yun, Xing Daorong, Tian Liang, Li Mu, Yang Dengshan, Wu De, Ma Baoguo, and a personal guard, set off into the night, leaving behind only the sound of hooves.

"Sir, that is the path up the mountain!" Tian Liang reminded them.

Lin Yue saw that they were still a hundred meters from the path, so he ordered them to dismount. A personal guard led the nine warhorses to hide them in the distance, then Lin Yue led the rest towards the small path.

"Who is stationed here?" Lin Yue asked.

They walked all the way to the small path but didn't encounter any Soldiers. How were they guarding this place?

What kind of mountain was being sealed?

"The troops stationed here are those of Colonel Liu He, along with some Shang Commandery garrison Soldiers.

This humble general does not know which Commandant is specifically in charge." Xing Daorong said.

Liu He, along with Gao Hui and the previously deceased Yang Shao, were all Colonels under She Jian. He had distinguished military achievements, so Lin Yue couldn't say much more.

"Let's go, we're going up the mountain.

No torches." Lin Yue said in a deep voice.

Tian Liang stepped forward to guide the way for everyone.

After walking for a short while, Lin Yue noticed that there were no footprints on the path up the mountain, which made him a little puzzled.

"Is it true that no one usually comes this way?" Lin Yue asked again.

"Yes, Sir, This Subordinate dares to say that not many people even know about this small path, let alone climbing the mountain at a time like this," Tian Liang replied.

Lin Yue lowered his head and looked carefully, realizing that the fine snow blown by the wind had covered the footprints, but some outlines were still visible.

When he stepped on it, he could still feel that the snow underneath was very solid, while the snow on top was very light.

Moreover, the footprints were heading upwards, which meant his prediction was correct: there truly were grain merchants coming to deliver grain!

"Yang Dengshan, Wu De, Ma Baoguo, you three go down the mountain and guard it. Be careful to stay hidden.

Do not come out without my command." Lin Yue said in a deep voice.

"Understood!" The three responded, then turned and went down the mountain to hide.

Lin Yue scanned the surroundings, found a large tree nearby, and hid behind it.

The others followed suit, also hiding themselves.

Lin Yue remained motionless, like a hunter, silently waiting for his prey to appear.

But after a long time, Lin Yue was stiff from the cold, and no one came.

He opened the regional chat channel; those who had been chatting animatedly earlier were all silent now, presumably gathered together.

"Did I miss them? Or did they take another path?" Lin Yue thought to himself.

Just as he was wondering, he suddenly heard Zhao Yun whisper, "They're here!"

Lin Yue looked down the mountain and vaguely saw a figure walking towards them.

Everyone remained still, quietly waiting for the person to approach.

"It's a Soldier!" Xing Daorong exclaimed, and Zhao Yun quickly covered his mouth.

It wasn't a grain merchant? Lin Yue was also a little surprised.

"Could he be on patrol?" Xing Daorong whispered.

"I don't know either." Lin Yue shook his head.

But whether he was on patrol or not, they would soon find out!

The man looked left and right, then walked straight up the mountain, quickly reaching a spot not far from Lin Yue and the others.

"Go!" Lin Yue whispered.

Pan Feng nodded upon hearing this, leaped out, and then said with a sinister grin:

"Halt! This mountain is mine to open!"

"This tree is mine to plant!"

The Soldier looked flustered, but upon seeing the attire of the people in front of him, he suddenly let out a sigh of relief.

"This humble one is Song Lin. May I ask which unit you brothers belong to?" Song Lin asked, cupping his hands.

"Which unit do you belong to?" Xing Daorong scratched his head, a bit dumbfounded. Why wasn't he afraid of them?

"I am Military Marquis Song Lin, under Colonel Liu He, and Commandant Zhao Jiu!" Song Lin said.

Military Marquis? Lin Yue pondered to himself.

"We are from the White Horse Camp. What are you doing here?" Xing Daorong asked.

"Oh, so you're from a brother unit. I just thought you were Mountain Bandits, you scared me." Song Lin laughed.

"You still haven't said what you're doing here?" Lin Yue asked.

"I was ordered to come here to scout the enemy's situation, to find a small path for the Army to attack the mountaintop.

What are you brothers doing here?" Song Lin looked at them suspiciously.

At this moment, Yang Dengshan and the others from down the mountain also caught up, surrounding Song Lin.

"What are you brothers trying to do? Could it be that you are working for the Mountain Bandits?"

"Bullshit!" Xing Daorong cursed, but without Lin Yue's command, he did not act rashly.

"Whose orders are you following?

Why are you alone?" Lin Yue asked.

"I am following Commandant Zhao Jiu's orders. Because I am a local, I know the mountain better, so this task was given to me!

As for being alone, that's because this matter needs to be covert. Am I supposed to bring my three thousand brothers up the mountain to scout the enemy?" Song Lin said, laughing in anger.

Lin Yue considered it repeatedly, and finally said, "Then you may go."

Seeing this, Song Lin said no more, cupped his hands, and continued up the mountain.

It wasn't until he brushed past them that a voice made his hair stand on end!

"Take him down!"