The last three kingdoms

Chapter 87 Tracking all the way

There are only four ancient roads connecting Hanzhong, Guanzhong, and across the Qinling Mountains, but it does not mean that there are only four roads in this majestic mountain. The ancient roads are more difficult and difficult to pass, and these trails are naturally formed according to the mountains and valleys. When they reach the end, they may connect with the four ancient roads or become a dead end.

The Wei spy, disguised as a woodcutter, did not choose a path, climbed the five or six zhang high cliff in a hurry, and fled towards the depths of the mountain along the steep mountain road.

It turned out that Zhang Le had a sure chance of winning. The right side of the Dujiaping checkpoint was a cliff, and the left side was a river valley. There was only one pass that could only accommodate a carriage. Mucha refused to block the horse, while Zhang Le led people to block the way back.

After Zhang Le saw the real face of the spy, he thought he could catch a turtle in his hands, but he never expected that this spy of Wei State was so vigorous, and he climbed up the cliff five or six feet high with his bare hands in just a few breaths.

"Damn it!" Zhang Le was unprepared for a moment, and let the spy of Wei Guo escape. He couldn't help cursing secretly, and immediately led his men to chase after him.

Facing the nearly vertical cliff five or six feet high, Zhang Le thought that he had no means of rock climbing, but this would definitely not trouble the servants of the Lieutenant's Mansion. They hunted down murderers and robbers. It's nothing.

An officer took out his flying claw, threw it high, and hooked it firmly to a big tree on the edge of the cliff.With a rope as an aid, it is not difficult to climb the five or six feet high cliff. Immediately, a nimble guard grabbed the rope and climbed up the cliff.

Zhang Le also went up the cliff, but there was no trace of the Wei spy.

"Zhang Duwei, what should we do?" An officer under his command asked anxiously, trying to find someone in this vast mountain was almost like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Zhang Le bent down in a calm manner, carefully inspecting the traces left in the wild path.

It has been several years since he served as Captain Zuofu in the Lieutenant's Mansion, and Zhang Le can be regarded as an expert in arresting and investigating cases. If there are many people coming and going on the Chencang Ancient Road, it is really not easy to find the trace of a person passing by. But on the barren hills and mountains above the cliff, there are few people. Even if there are some traces, they are left by wild beasts. No matter how you say it, human footprints are different from those of wild beasts.

Sure enough, Zhang Le quickly found a clear footprint in a clump of weeds.

"Chasing in that direction!" Zhang Le decisively pointed to the direction deep in the mountain, and dozens of servants from the Lieutenant's Mansion rushed forward like wolves.

This mountain road is even more steep than the Chencang Ancient Road. Strictly speaking, it is not a road at all. It is full of thorns and bumpy. On the thorns, there is obviously a thread of broken cloth hanging on it. , which was obviously left behind by the spy of the State of Wei.

Zhang Le grinned loudly, it seemed that he was really in the right direction.

"Speed ​​up, we must catch up with that spy before dark!" Zhang Le gave the order.

But they soon ran into a problem. The further they went, the more dangerous the road was, and there were many forks.Zhang Le became worried, and divided several groups of people to go to several different fork roads to find out the way.

"Lieutenant Zhang, some rags were found here!" The guard who explored the road returned to report.

Zhang Le's spirit was shaken, and he was about to follow in that direction, when the guard on the other road also came back to report: "Report to Captain Zhang, a few drops of blood were found on that road."

While Zhang Le was hesitating, another officer came over and said, "Captain Zhang, I found a few clear footprints on the road over there, which are exactly the same as the ones found earlier."

Damn, this spy is really cunning!

Zhang Le couldn't help cursing, but he was really worried. There were traces left by spies on these three roads, which were obviously left on purpose to confuse the public and lead them astray. If there is a shortage of manpower, it will be dark soon, Zhang Le has no idea whether there are Wei Guo spies in front of him, whether there is an ambush or not.

However, I have already chased here, if I give up easily, this is definitely not Zhang Le's style.

Just when Zhang Le was in a dilemma, Liu Yin also led his men to catch up.

"How is it? Did you catch up?" Liu Yin asked immediately as soon as he caught up.

Zhang Le said with a helpless face: "This guy is very cunning, knowing that walking in this barren mountain and wild ridge, it is impossible to avoid leaving traces no matter what, but he simply left obvious traces on every fork in the road, so that we can't do anything." track."

The Cunning Rabbit still has three caves, not to mention the spies of the State of Wei who are more cunning than the Cunning Rabbit, this is not beyond Liu Yin's expectation.

"Brother, what should we do? Should we divide our troops to chase after him?" Zhang Le had no choice but to ask Liu Yin.

Liu Yin looked at the red sun, and said: "Dividing the troops is the worst policy. Wei Guo's spies arranged this way to try to let us divide the troops. How can we fall into the trap? The enemy is dark and we are bright, and it will be late. I don't know if Wei Guo's spies have set up an ambush ahead, so I blindly pursue them, fearing that I will fall into the trap."

Zhang Le widened his eyes and said: "Then let's just watch Wei Guo's spies escape under our noses? When I was at the checkpoint just now, I cut off the spy's pole with a single knife. In the middle, a roll of cloth fell out, and I really doubt that what was drawn on the cloth was the defense map of Hanzhong, if we let him escape, wouldn’t our previous efforts be wasted?”

Liu Yin's eyes lit up, and he said, "Are you sure that roll of cloth is related to the defense map of Hanzhong?"

Zhang Le muttered, and said: "I didn't see what was written on the silk with my own eyes, but the spy hid the cloth and silk in the hollow pole, it must be an extremely important document. I can’t think of any important documents that Wei Guo’s spies are trying so hard to sneak out. At that time, I was half a step too slow, and the spies picked up the cloth first, otherwise..."

Liu Yin nodded thoughtfully. What Zhang Le said was very reasonable. The roll of cloth was probably the defense map of Hanzhong, which Wei Guo's spies spared no effort to sneak out.

But this spy is really too cunning, and it is not easy to catch him.

"Lord You Cheng, there are people on the top of the mountain ahead." A guard with sharp eyes saw someone on the top of the mountain from a distance, and immediately reported to Liu Yin.

(End of this chapter)