Shenyuan Pass of the Eight Passes in Luoyang is located in the south of Luoyang, the eastern capital, at the junction of Yanshi and Dengfeng. The pass is located on Eling Ban, between the famous Taishi Mountain and Shaoshi Mountain. The road is dangerous and narrow, with ten bends.
Second, it loops around and returns again, so it is called Shenyuan Pass.
Such a pass is naturally easy to defend and difficult to attack. Not only is the terrain "one man can guard the pass, but ten thousand men cannot open it", the road is dangerous and long, with many bends like winding trails, making it more difficult to conquer and even difficult to pass through.
Although the scale of Shenyuan Pass is far less than that of Hangu Pass, it is even more steep.
If Hangu Pass was the most powerful pass for the Tang Dynasty to resist the Sui army, then Shenyuan Pass was the most powerful pass for the Tang Dynasty to resist the Li army.
Originally, during the Li Army's Northern Expedition, Shenyuan Pass was guarded by Li Xiaogong, the first general of the Tang Dynasty, who led a heavy army. Later, when the Li Tang Agreement was negotiated, Li Xiaogong was transferred back to the Eastern Capital and replaced by an ordinary general, Li Yiyu.
However, even if Li Yiyu was an ordinary general, it would not be easy for the Li army to capture Shenyuan Pass. If the corpses of the Li army were not filled up in the dangerous pass, they would not be able to capture it. This is the cruelty of war and the importance of the pass.
More importantly, Li Yiyu was a direct descendant of Li Jiancheng, the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. He was extremely loyal to Li Jiancheng and had favors of appreciation, promotion, relief, etc. His personal kindness was even more important.
In the history of Wu Xin's previous life, Li Yiyu was a die-hard loyalist of Li Jiancheng. He once served as the prince Zuo Qianniu and moved to the rank of general.
This day.
Two to three hundred people came out of Shenyuan Pass and went straight to the Lijun military camp outside the pass. However, they were led by Li Jiancheng and Li Yiyu, Li Jiancheng's followers, attendants, confidants, etc., and nearly a hundred generals, commanders, etc. at Shenyuan Pass.
.
Unlike Li Yuanji, Li Jiancheng was the eldest son of the Tang Dynasty and the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. He had extraordinary abilities and was good at winning people's hearts. Naturally, he had already won over many people and gained the support of many civil servants and generals.
It can be said that if it were not for the suppression by Tang King Li Yuan, Li Jiancheng would not have gone too far, and he would have probably been able to take away half of the Tang Dynasty's civil servants and generals.
This is also the reason why the Xuanxiang King Gao Jiong of the Sui Empire lamented why the one who took refuge in the Sui army was not Li Jiancheng but Li Yuanji!
Li Yuanji was at best a first- and second-rate general. Before Li Shimin and Li Yuanba died, he could not stand out at all. He was still someone who followed and supported his eldest brother Li Jiancheng. Of course, the two were incomparable!
As soon as Li Jiancheng and others came out of the customs, the Lijun got the news.
Led by Luo Wuhou Luo Shixin, Luo Wu Jingwei and Xinwu Iron Guard each sent out 10,000 troops and lined up at the Shenyuan Pass to greet them grandly.
"Limited by the situation! I will respectfully welcome Marquis Wencheng, General Annan and other generals, my lord!"
Today's Luo Shixin is no longer honest and simple, but appears to be quite stable and mature, but he also makes people feel straightforward and frank.
"Master Hou, I'm sorry!"
Li Jiancheng and others knew that they were surrendered generals, so they knew what was going on. They responded humbly, politely, and intimately, and returned the gifts one after another. Anyway, the two sides had interacted with each other several times, so they were no longer strangers!
Chengwen Marquis, Li Jiancheng, this is Li Jiancheng's decision to join the Li Kingdom. He was rewarded by Li Wang Wuxin and directly made a marquis. He will be in charge of the territories conquered by the Li Army's northern expedition to the Tang Dynasty. This is considered to be a high degree of trust and attention.
Of course, a big factor was that Li Jiancheng took refuge with Shenyuan Pass, so he should naturally be rewarded heavily.
Think of it as a transaction!
Xuan Xiang Wang Gaojuan also promised Li Yuanji that if he could win Hangu Pass, he would recommend him as the Duke of Qi!
The fourth-rank Annan general is Li Yiyu who guards Shenyuan Pass.
Among the people around Li Jiancheng, Li Yiyu's strength, power, ability, etc. are not outstanding. For example, Ma Sanbao, Lan Mou, Tang Xian and other close confidants are only stronger than Li Yiyu in all aspects, but Li Yiyu is the master of Shenyuan Pass.
Guarding and controlling millions of Tang troops, merit is the key.
Li Wang Wuxin handled it this way, and both parties had no objections.
Regardless of Li Yiyu's ability and reputation, as long as he doesn't nod, not to mention Ma Sanbao, Lan Mou and the Tang army, the people of the Tang state, even Li Jiancheng will not be able to pass the Shenyuan Pass, let alone surrender at the Xianguan Pass!
As for the generals of the Li Kingdom, they were able to take the Shenyuan Pass without any bloodshed. The Li General’s credit is less, but he definitely has it. There is no risk. Why not take the credit for nothing?!
If there is a war, there will be casualties. If the Li army storms Sheyuan Pass, who can be sure that they will not be killed?!
After a while, Li Jiancheng, Luo Shixin and others returned to the Lijun military camp in a warm atmosphere.
After some polite exchanges and handovers, Li Jiancheng took the initiative to resign and said:
"Nowadays, people's hearts are unstable and rumors are spreading. I don't want to stay much longer. If I go to take office earlier, I can serve the people earlier and contribute my little effort. I will trouble Marquis Luo Wu and all of you at Shenyuan Pass and the men who follow me."
General, take care of it on your behalf!"
Li Jiancheng is a smart man and very knowledgeable.
Similar to Li Yuanji, when Li Jiancheng left Luoyang, the eastern capital, Tang King Li Yuan also gave 30,000 cavalry and 100,000 Tang troops. Not counting Li Jiancheng, his close wives, concubines, and accompanying family members who left together, the lineup was much larger than that of Li Yuanjihao.
Many, the total number is about 200,000.
Because Li Jiancheng had been leaning towards Li Guo for a long time and had been in contact with Li Guo for a long time, the surrender this time was quite smooth. Li Guo did not question it and was only secretly monitoring and guarding against it.
On the surface, Li Wang Wuxin was very generous in granting marquisships and entrusting the government affairs of the eight counties of the old Tang Dynasty, including Yingchuan County, Huainan County, Huaiyang General, Ruyin County, Qiao County, Liang County, etc. to Li Jiancheng, known as the "Eight County".
"General Manager" and "General Manager of Huaihe and Huaihe Rivers"!
Neither the title nor the official position is high.
However, in terms of authority, Li Jiancheng can be regarded as the first person to leave the country, no more than Wei Guogong and Yan Guogong. The eight counties of the old Tang Dynasty were in the hinterland of the Central Plains, with dense population and rich economy.
Although the newly surrendered Second Duke controls a large army, he does not control such a large territory. He is like a duckweed without roots. If the Li Army cuts off supplies, the Second Duke will definitely not be able to support so many troops!
Of course, everyone tacitly agrees...
Li Jiancheng's position must be a temporary expedient. When the eight counties of the old Tang Dynasty are stabilized, even if Wang Wuxin does not remove Li Jiancheng from his position, Li Jiancheng will take the initiative to resign. Otherwise, wouldn't he be seeking death?!
When the eight counties of the old Tang Dynasty first fell, the people were unstable and the situation was turbulent. Li Jiancheng, the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, was naturally the best candidate to govern.
Once the eight counties are stabilized and they continue to be in power, they will have the capital, conditions and power to rebel, and they will be suspected.
Li Tang had an example of betraying the Sui Dynasty, seizing the magpie's nest and stealing the eastern capital. Even if Li Jiancheng was upright and not afraid of the shadow, he still had to consider the influence of rumors and people's hearts!
Therefore, Li Jiancheng now left all his troops at Shenyuan Pass and planned to take up his post as a civilian official with his family and some close entourage. This was also a statement.
"My king orally decreed that Marquis Chengwen is the continuation of Li Tang, the brother of Concubine De, and attracts the attention of all. Although he is a civil official, he is specially assigned to Marquis Wu to select 10,000 elite soldiers as personal guards to go to his post, so as to suppress the unrest and stabilize the situation as soon as possible!
"
Luo Shixin, a tall and strong man, straightened his body and spoke seriously as if he was reading an imperial edict.
"Well……"
Li Jiancheng's expression changed slightly and he was stunned. He was quite self-aware and knew that he was good at civil service and was granted the title of Marquis of Wen. He did not expect to command the army.
Now, is it King Li who misses his old love and Concubine De and allows him to continue the style of Li and Tang?
In this way, Tang Wang Li Yuan, who stayed in Dongdu, was sentenced to death by Li Wang Wuxin?!
Li Jiancheng is not resentful. Everyone has their own choice. Li Wang Wuxin has treated him and Li Tang with all his kindness and righteousness. Aren't you afraid that he will rebel in the rear?!
"Don't worry, Marquis Chengwen! My king has specially ordered the army to garrison the Sheyuan Pass. Without an imperial edict, no one can invade the pass without authorization..." (~^~)
