Hearing his words, Cui Hongyu couldn't help but smile.
"You've helped us so much. You're the real good person."
Shen Ziyan sighed, "Alas, I won't talk to you anymore. I'm going back to my room to sleep."
At this time, Ma Han arrived at Zhu Meng's camp as planned.
Hearing that someone was willing to lead the way, Zhu Meng was overjoyed.
"Quick, bring him in to see me."
Soon, Ma Han was brought before Zhu Meng. Upon seeing Ma Han's robust physique, Zhu Meng became a little more cautious, recognizing him as a skilled fighter.
"What's your name?"
Ma Han cupped his fists and replied, "Reporting to the General, my name is Ma Han. I'm a hunter from a nearby village and I often go to Qingniu Mountain. I'm very familiar with it."
Hearing this explanation, Zhu Meng nodded slightly.
He took out a map and spread it on the table. "Then tell me, how exactly should we go to Qingniu Mountain?"
Looking at the map on the table, Ma Han suddenly had a thought.
"No, maps are for military operations. How can ordinary people understand them?" With this thought, he put on a bewildered expression. "Marshal, I don't understand your map either. How about I draw Qingniu Mountain for you?"
Ma Han's answer put Zhu Meng a little more at ease.
He nodded. "Alright, then draw it for this marshal to see."
Ma Han stepped forward, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and drew a winding line on the paper.
"Go straight up the mountain, and you'll come to a mountain god temple here. Then go further, there's a big slope, and then further..."
Just as he was about to draw more, Zhang Liao next to him stopped him.
Looking at the crooked drawing, they could be sure of this person's identity. Even if he wasn't a hunter, he was just an ordinary farmer.
"Alright, Ma Han, this is enough. You'll lead us up the mountain early tomorrow morning. Are you willing?"
Ma Han feigned a questioning look. "How much silver will you give me for leading you up the mountain?"
This answer completely put Zhu Meng and the others' minds at ease.
Zhang Liao laughed heartily, "How much do you want?"
Ma Han extended his right hand, spreading five fingers. "At least five taels of silver, enough to buy a donkey."
It had to be said, Ma Han's performance thoroughly convinced Zhu Meng and the others.
Zhu Meng waved his hand and said to the soldiers guarding the door, "Go and get two hundred taels of silver for this brother Ma."
Two hundred taels.
Ma Han's eyes widened, feigning disbelief.
"This, this..."
Zhu Meng stepped forward with a smile and patted Ma Han's shoulder. "Don't worry, brother. I'll give you another two hundred taels after you lead us up Qingniu Mountain."
Ma Han left contentedly with two hundred taels of silver. He saw Zhang Liao and the others looking at him with obvious inquiry.
Zhang Liao smiled and nodded. "I think this person is reliable."
"I think there's no problem either," another blue-faced man echoed.
Zhu Meng nodded. He said to the blue-faced man, "Lu Dong, tomorrow you'll take twenty thousand men and follow that Ma Han up the mountain. First, find the mountain god temple he mentioned, and then we'll make plans."
Lu Dong bowed in agreement and turned to leave.
Zhang Liao stepped forward again, looking at the map of Qingniu Mountain, and said in a deep voice, "Marshal, we've brought so many troops. The small village of Hetou alone won't be enough to deploy them effectively. We can order men to guard all the major and minor routes leading into and out of the mountain, as marked on the map."
Zhu Meng nodded. "Good, we'll do as you say. Seal all the entrances and exits on the mountain and search the mountain bit by bit."
After all arrangements were made, early the next morning, Zhu Meng and the others became busy.
Lu Dong, along with Ma Han, headed to Hetou Village to prepare to enter the mountain, while the other generals dispersed and began to surround Qingniu Mountain.
At this time, on Qingniu Mountain, Chen Xiaobei, Liu Ce, and Ma Biao arrived at the iron chain bridge early in the morning.
The three of them crossed to the other side and carefully examined the binding points of several ropes and the iron nails on the rock face.
Ma Biao couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "It's built so sturdily, it won't break even after decades."
Then he shook his head and sighed, "It's a pity to dismantle it like this."
Chen Xiaobei explained the order of construction to them again, saying that when dismantling, they should do it in reverse.
After explaining, Liu Ce cupped his fists to Chen Xiaobei. "Brother Xiaobei, you go across first. We'll figure out our own way later."
Chen Xiaobei knew that they were skilled in martial arts and it would be inconvenient for him to be there.
After seeing Chen Xiaobei reach the other side, Liu Ce and Ma Biao joined forces, using hammers to strike the steel nails that secured the chains.
The dismantling was as troublesome as the construction. In half a morning, the two of them had only dismantled three ropes.
During a break for water, Ma Biao looked at the opposite bank again, then at the remaining four ropes and two hemp ropes.
"Alas, what a shame."
Liu Ce smiled calmly. "There's nothing to regret. You've seen the surrounding environment. If it weren't for finding the dragon脉, this iron chain bridge would never have been built in the first place."
"Now that we know where the dragon脉 is, reaching the mountaintop is no longer important."
Hearing his words, Ma Biao nodded helplessly. "Yes, after dismantling it, there's no need to go to the trouble of rebuilding it."
After their reflections, the two got up again and worked until noon before dismantling all the iron chains.
After drinking some more water and stretching their muscles, the two looked at the two ropes and smiled at each other.
"Then let's compete and see who is faster."
With that, the two drew their short knives from their waists and swiftly slashed across the ropes.
The wrist-thick ropes snapped under their sharp blades.
The two leaped onto the ropes.
The ropes, which had been pulled taut, suddenly snapped and retracted rapidly towards the opposite bank.
The two alternated their feet on the ropes, flying towards the opposite bank like arrows.
Watching their incredible performance, Chen Xiaobei's eyes widened in astonishment.
A gorge more than ten zhang wide! It was infinitely more perilous than when Shen Ziyan and Huang Ying crossed the Longwang River back then.
After the two landed, the ropes behind them slowly descended, falling into the gorge. Seeing this, Chen Xiaobei held his breath for them.
"You two are truly amazing. You crossed from the other side in the blink of an eye."
This was Chen Xiaobei's heartfelt praise.
Liu Ce and Ma Biao exchanged a look. "Now we can't go back even if we wanted to. Let's go and report back to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing that the iron chain bridge had been dismantled, Xiao Jingyun did not show much regret. He looked at the assembled crowd. "Everyone, although we have luckily survived here, it is not a long-term solution."
"If troops from various regions come to our aid, how will I contact them?" Su Dan Xiao Shuo Wang.
All eyes turned to Chen Xiaobei with expectation. However, Chen Xiaobei shook his head.
"Alas, I'll look again and see if there's a passage down the mountain."
Chen Xiaobei knew that people could only unleash their greatest strength in desperate situations. If he told them now that there was a secret passage out, they would likely become a scattered mess within a few days.