Yunzheng said it very confidently, because in his heart, he has a more intuitive understanding of the entire land of China than anyone else in the world. Yes, these are the various maps of China's mountain and river geography that he has memorized in his mind.
Combining these satellite maps with the military qualities he inherited, he felt that he had the upper hand strategically.
In fact, in Yunzheng's current view, the military geography pattern of ancient China was a chessboard pattern.
From the perspective of military geography, China's geographical pattern is like an irregular Go board. On this irregular Go board, Guanzhong, Hebei, Southeast and Sichuan are its four corners, and Shanxi, Shandong, Hubei and Hanzhong are its four sides.
The Central Plains is its central hinterland
Although China's territory is vast, the nine major regions mentioned above have played a decisive role in the wars of the past dynasties. They are generally distributed on the second and third steps of China's topography.
Yunzheng's so-called decisive role mainly means that in the wars of the past dynasties, the importance of the above-mentioned nine regions is often related to the unity and division of the world, the rise and fall of a dynasty, or the relationship between the Central Plains regime and the nomadic people outside the Great Wall.
The war between ethnic groups is related to the survival and death of the Central Plains regime.
The ancients used to talk about "cities with mountains and rivers". Generally speaking, strategic locations are easy to form in places where there are dangerous mountains to rely on and rivers and waterways to circulate.
Several rows of east-west mountains and rivers and several rows of north-south mountains and rivers crisscross each other, dividing China's hinterland into several relatively independent regions. China's three-step ladder of terrain is generally distributed in a northeast-southwest direction, and the eastern edge of the second step is
A series of mountain ranges - starting from the Yanshan Mountains in the north, following the Taihang Mountains to the south, passing through the Songshan Mountains, Fangcheng Mountain, connecting Tongbai Mountain and Dahong Mountain, and then turning to western Hubei and the Xiangxi Mountains to connect with the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau - is a link between the east and west of China.
The important dividing lines between north and south are also divided into several levels. The main dividing lines are the Yangtze River, Yellow River, Huaihe River and Qinba Mountains. In addition, Zhongtiao Mountain and Dabie Mountain also play a supplementary role.
These rows of criss-crossing mountains and rivers divide the hinterland of China into several relatively independent geographical units. The hinterlands of these geographical units generally have a certain spatial capacity, and there are dangerous mountains or rivers on the periphery to block them; there are large and small rivers flowing around them.
Inside and outside are not only the transportation lines for the internal circulation of these regions, but also connect different regions. This connection is an important basis for the formation of strategic relationships between regions.
The strategic significance of mountains and rivers is different. The significance of mountains is to block, but it is important to have channels to pass through; the significance of rivers is to circulate, but it is important to have strongholds to guard.
Generally speaking, the fault zones of mountains or the valleys and lowlands formed by rivers flowing through mountains and ridges can be conveniently used as transportation channels through mountains, such as the Guanzhong Si Fortress, Taihang Bajing Passage and several plank roads through the Qinba Mountains.
Mainly used as transportation lines for human and material transportation, rivers are used as obstacles. It is also necessary to establish strongholds at those important ferries or intersections of tributaries and main rivers to ensure the control of these rivers, such as Mengjin and Pujin on the Yellow River, and Guazhou on the Yangtze River.
The crossings and Caishi crossings, Yingkou, Wokou, Sikou and other places on the Huaihe River were all accompanied by the formation of important military strongholds.
If there are dangerous mountains to rely on, it will be easier to establish a base in a chaotic situation, form local order, and accumulate strength; if there are rivers and waterways to circulate, it will be easier to deliver strength to the outside, expand outward, and intervene in the overall nine strategies mentioned above.
Most important places have these conditions
Of course, the nine major strategic locations in Yun Zheng's mind are not all divided according to the provincial administrative divisions of later generations, but mainly because they constitute a relative position in the military geography pattern due to their topography and topography.
Independent geographical units, they have indeed shown their status as independent units in the wars of the past generations.
Among them, Guanzhong mainly refers to the northern part of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province; Hanzhong area is a strategic location due to its relative independence; Southeast mainly refers to the central and southern parts of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces; Zhongprin mainly refers to other places in Henan
The naming method is basically the same as that of the provincial administrative divisions of later generations. Guanzhong and the Central Plains both followed the ancient naming method, because this method of naming itself is very strategic.
On the periphery of the above-mentioned strategic locations, there are some areas that are also very important under certain special circumstances; but due to their location, the dangerous mountains and rivers in these areas protect themselves, but at the same time hinder them to a certain extent.
Its connections with the outside hindered its full involvement in the overall situation. Therefore, in the rise and fall of past dynasties, it failed to show decisive significance to the overall situation. Of course, after modern times, China's national defense situation changed, and their status in the military geography pattern also changed.
The only change is that this is no longer within the scope of Marshal Yun's consideration.
In this checkerboard pattern, Guanzhong, Hebei, Southeast and Sichuan are divided into four corners. Each has its own unique geographical conditions. Generally, it has a relatively superior mountain and river situation, a relatively stable rear and mountains and rivers that can be relied on.
Danger and obstacles can be used to advance and attack, retreat and defend; have superior economic conditions, enough to support and support a huge political and military group; have a certain social foundation, and can easily form a certain social and political force.
At the beginning of the rise, occupying the four corners of the mountains and rivers, you can establish a base, manage it calmly, accumulate strength, and lay the foundation for future progress in the world.
Guanzhong is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with the Qinling Mountains running across it in the south, the Longshan Mountains in the west, the Loess Plateau in the north, Huashan Mountain, Xiaoshan Mountain and the mountains of southwestern Shanxi in the east, and also surrounded by the Yellow River. It can be said that it is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the momentum is gathered on the terrain.
The eastern plain area is a high-rise building. Guanzhong is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and there are several important transportation channels. Passes are also established to guard their important positions. Hangu Pass blocks the danger of Xiaohan and controls the exchanges between Guanzhong and the Central Plains.
Passage; Wuguan controls the danger of the eastern section of the Qinling Mountains, guarding the entrance channel to the southeast of Guanzhong; Sanguan controls the danger of the western end of the Qinling Mountains, controlling the communication throat between Guanzhong, Hanzhong, and Bashu; Xiaoguan controls the danger of Longshan, guarding
The northwest passage in Guanzhong is surrounded by dangerous obstacles. You can defend yourself in seclusion, and you can advance when you leave the pass. If the situation is favorable, you can go out and advance; if the situation is unfavorable, you can retreat and defend yourself. This gives Guanzhong a situation in which you can advance, retreat, attack or defend.
Hebei, where the Yun family is based, also has its own advantages. Hebei is surrounded by mountains and seas on three sides. The Yanshan Mountains in the Central Plains to the south act as a barrier against the nomads from the north of the Great Wall from the south. They also shield Hebei and even the entire Central Plains from the security of Juyongguan, Shanhaiguan, and Songting.
Passes such as Gubeikou, Lengkou, Xifengkou and other passes guard several traffic routes through the Yanshan Mountains. The Taihang Mountains are an important barrier on the right flank of Hebei Province. Zijingguan, Daomaguan, Jingxingguan, Fukou and other passes guard the crossing.
There are some east-west rivers in the hinterland of the Hebei Plain in the Taihang Mountains, such as the Juma River, the *Tuo River, the Zhang River, etc., which can also be used by the Central Plains regime in its war against the northern nomads, and a river defense system can be established for the purpose.
As far as the minority political power from Saibei takes over the Central Plains, the significance of Hebei, especially the northern part of Hebei, is that it connects the Central Plains region with an agricultural economy and the Saibei with a nomadic economy. This connection becomes apparent when their rule is challenged by the Central Plains.
It is particularly important, but now Yun Zheng is doing the opposite, using his strong economic strength to start implementing the horse herding policy at the same time, so that the Han army can use Hu horses to fight, thus greatly strengthening the power of the Yun family's cavalry.
The Yun family can't take care of Southeast and Sichuan at the moment, so Yunzheng won't think about it much for the time being.
For the status of the four corners of Guanzhong, Hebei, Southeast and Sichuan to be formed, there is another condition that cannot be ignored, that is, superior natural conditions that are conducive to economic development. The natural conditions are superior and suitable for the development of agricultural production, so that they can store grain, raise troops, support, and support.
A huge political and military group
The hinterland of Guanzhong is an alluvial plain formed by the Wei River, Jing River, Luo River and their tributaries. It is known as the "Eight Hundred Miles of Qinchuan". The land is fertile and irrigation is convenient, making it suitable for the development of agricultural production. Although the agricultural production conditions in ancient Hebei were not as good as today,
Hebei, especially the northern part of Hebei, has relatively good conditions for trade between the inland and the outside of the Great Wall, between the agricultural economy and the nomadic economy. This economic feature is consistent with Hebei's status as an important connection zone between the Central Plains and the outside of the Great Wall.
Correspondingly, Hebei's current economic strength has reached a higher level due to Yunzheng's relationship. If it dominates the world, its economy should not be too much of a hindrance.
According to the four corners of mountains and rivers, most of them can achieve hegemony. But to unify the world, geographical conditions alone are not enough. There must also be a certain social foundation to integrate a powerful social and political force.
Strong social and political power is the social foundation for the advancement of the world. Among the strategic locations located in four regions, the regimes established in Guanzhong and Hebei have accomplished the great cause of unifying the world. Most of the national regimes in history have their capitals.
In these two places, most of the regimes established in the southeast can unify half of the country in the south of the Yangtze River and form a confrontation with the north, but few can unify the world (except for Zhu Yuanzhang in the Ming Dynasty, but he has not yet appeared); many regimes established in Sichuan
They are separatist regimes, and no regime has ever unified the world. The root causes can be explored from the social foundations on which these regimes were built.
Whether a strong social and political force can arise in a region has a great relationship with the region's folk customs, social and cultural characteristics and its level of development.
Now we only talk about Guanzhong and Hebei. Guanzhong is close to Xirong. The customs are strong and brave, and the people are all accustomed to war. Since the Shang Yang Reform, the Qin people have been based on farming and war. The legacy has been passed down and has far-reaching influence, forming a social custom that is completely different from that in the eastern region.
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, there was a saying that "the prime ministers came out of Guandong and the generals came out of Guanxi" [Wu Feng's note: The biography of Yu Xu in Volume 58 of "Book of the Later Han"]; in the late Northern Dynasties, the Xianbei military aristocrats combined with the Tu people with Han surnames in the north to form a group.
Power - Guanlong Group, Guanlong Group became the basis of the rule of Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui and Early Tang
Since the Warring States Period, Hebei has been an important frontier in the fight against northern nomads. The formation of Hebei's fierce war customs has a lot to do with this. Since King Wuling of Zhao reorganized the system, Hufu, cavalry and archers, Hebei's elite soldiers have become heroes for the world.
A large part of Hebei's political power was established by nomadic peoples who originated from outside the Great Wall. These people grew up and lived on horseback. The men were all good at riding and shooting. They were born warriors. They were nomadic and hunted in peacetime, and went out to fight in wartime.
Moreover, most of the nomadic peoples who settled in the Fortress were able to accept the advanced culture of the Han people. In this way, the emerging vigor of the emerging peoples, the nature of the nomadic peoples suitable for war and the acceptance of the advanced culture of the Han people were combined to form
At least in military terms, the strength of the Han people is difficult to compete with.
Shanxi, Shandong, Hubei and Hanzhong are located on four sides, and generally have relatively dangerous mountain and river conditions. However, the comprehensive conditions of these regions are not as good as those of the four corners. They are sandwiched between two corners. You can come here and go here. They are connected by both sides.
Links are also the focus of contention during the confrontation between the two sides. Their terrain characteristics are also consistent with their status. There are both transportation channels for both sides to enter and exit, as well as dangerous points that can be guarded; moreover, relatively short passages have emerged between them and the Central Plains.
If the political forces in the four corners want to get rid of the hegemonic situation in one corner and expand outward, they must first fight for two wings and control both sides of the corner.
Shanxi plays a pivotal role in the entire northern region. The main terrain of Shanxi is composed of mountains on the east and west sides sandwiched by a series of bead-shaped basins. The Taihang Mountains in the east form the western barrier of Hebei, and the Luliang Mountains and Zhongtiao Mountains in the west form the Yellow River.
The eastern barrier of Guanzhong is complicated by the distribution of mountains and rivers in Shanxi, forming a series of small bead-shaped basins. The terrain of these basins is relatively closed, becoming relatively independent small areas. Within these small areas, some important military towns and important passes have been formed. They are respectively facing the
Different directions show different strategic significance. The mountain and river situation in Shanxi gives Shanxi an extremely favorable position for internal operations. The terrain of Shanxi is high enough to overlook three sides; the several traffic channels leading to the outside are mostly conducive to going out but not conducive to going out.
Attacking this is a favorable condition for Shanxi's internal operations, and it is also the geographical basis for the formation of Shanxi's hub position in the north. The Huns and Liu Han's battle to destroy the Western Jin Dynasty, the rise and fall of the Northern Wei Dynasty for hundreds of years and the frequent rise and fall of the Five Dynasties regimes can all typically reflect Shanxi.
a pivotal position in the north
The significance of Shandong's terrain is particularly prominent in the great plains of eastern China. The main body of Shandong's terrain is low mountains and hills in central and southern Shandong. It is surrounded by plains on three sides and is surrounded by the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea to the east. Some important military strongholds in Shandong are basically distributed in central and southern Shandong.
The four sides of low mountains and hills are mostly surrounded by mountains and rivers. The Yellow River runs from east to west in the northern region, forming a major transportation artery between the east and west. The Grand Canal runs from north to south on the great plains of eastern China, forming a link between north and south.
Before the construction of the Grand Canal, the main transportation artery, the Sishui River, a tributary of the Huaihe River, was excavated to connect the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, thereby connecting the north and the south. Shandong was at the intersection of these two arteries. In addition, the Jiaodong Peninsula was the ancient maritime transportation
Shandong, a major transit place, occupies a pivotal position between the north and the south. During the confrontation between the north and the south, Shandong is often the focus of contention. After China's political center of gravity moved eastward, the Grand Canal, the north-south transportation artery that connects the political center of gravity and the economic center of gravity, is located in Shandong.
Under the supervision of the Ming Dynasty, Shandong's status was of great importance. In the early Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang's Northern Expedition captured Shandong and opened the door to Dadu. During the "Battle of Jingnan", Zhu Di jumped over Shandong and went south to Jinling. This especially shows that after China's political center of gravity moved eastward, Shandong was in the north and south.
position in the equation
The Qinling Mountains and the Daba Mountains with the Hanshui River Valley form the main body of Hanzhong's terrain. The two mountains stand parallel and stretch from east to west. Hanzhong is sandwiched between them. There is Wuguan at the east end of the Qinling Mountains and Sanguan at the west end. There are also three valleys, which can be called Hanzhong.
The passages between Hanzhong and Sichuan are Baoxie Road, Tangluo Road and Ziwu Road. There are also two valley roads passing through the Daba Mountains: Jinniu Road and Micang Road. Hanzhong is sandwiched between the two upper reaches of Guanzhong and Sichuan.
The degree of stalemate between regions is far beyond that of the Huaihe River in the east. There is still a vast area to the north and south of the Huaihe River to maneuver, but there is little room for maneuver in the Hanzhong area. The temporary gains and losses of the north and the south in the Hanzhong area are often enough to produce decisive decisions.
The successes and losses affecting the business operations in Hanzhong area from the founding of the Shu Han Dynasty to its demise typically reflect the importance of Hanzhong's status between the north and the south.
The interests between the north and the south in the Hanzhong area are so stalemate, but the world stretching from east to west is very vast. The lowlands of the Western Hanshui River Valley provide a relatively flat passage from Hanzhong to Longxi. The terrain of Longxi is obviously higher than that of Guanzhong and Sichuan. From Guanzhong, it is more difficult for Sichuan to attack Longxi from above.
, but it is easier to conquer Central and Sichuan from Longxi. This provides an idea to the contenders in Hanzhong, Guanlong and the area: instead of competing for short and long positions in the north and south of the Qinling Mountains, it is better to take the long-distance fight for Longxi and gain a place.
This geographically favorable situation was due to this idea that the Northern Expedition of the Shu Han Dynasty led to the Qi Mountains. If it extends from the Hanzhong area to the southeast, the terrain on both sides presents an amazing symmetry.
Mountains such as Mount Huashan and Huashan are connected to form the Tongguan strategic point; Daba Mountain extends eastward and then wraps around to the south, connecting with Wudang Mountain, Jingshan, Wushan and other mountains to form the Three Gorges strategic point. These dangerous points are Sichuan and Shaanxi forming the "Land of Abundance".
geographical basis, but it also gives Sichuan to a certain extent
