"Ahead is the Shanhaiguan Pass built by the Yan people!"
Wanyan Zonghan and several personal guards hid behind the hillside and looked at the magnificent pass built in the distance.
The process of Yan State building the Great Wall was a process of continuously widening the border. Among them, two major passes were built in the Liaodong region.
A building named Yuguan was built along the Chongqing River. It originated from the east foot of Yanshan Mountain. It has abundant water and rapid water flow. It was built in the third year of Emperor Kaihuang's reign in the Sui Dynasty. It was an important military town in the Northeast during the Tang Dynasty. It was gradually abandoned during the Liao Dynasty and was rebuilt now.
Three hundred years later in history, Xu Da and Liu Bowen rebuilt this pass in the early Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. They found that the water volume of the Chongqing River had decreased and the water potential had slowed down, making it no longer suitable for use as a military base. They moved eastward to the Shihe River line and reused the name of the Chongqing River Pass.
Later generations are most familiar with Yuguan because it is the alias of "Shanhaiguan". However, there is a saying that the scholar-bureaucrats in the Ming Dynasty were mostly people who had lived in the Southern Dynasties for a long time and were unfamiliar with the north. When writing books, they confused Shanhaiguan with Yuguan, which caused later
When people misunderstand, they end up making mistakes.
There is no need to be confused now, Yuguan is Yuguan, and sixty miles further east, Shanhaiguan is built.
It relies on Yanshan Mountain in the north and connects to the Bohai Sea in the south, so it is named Shanhaiguan. This is so famous in later generations, "The Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, the first pass in the world", "the throat of border counties, and the guarantee of the capital". Wu Sangui released the Qing army into Shanhaiguan, allowing
The world changes hands and will be reviled by future generations.
Of course, Shanhaiguan at the end of the Ming Dynasty was of unparalleled importance. It was built during the Hongwu, Chenghua, Jiajing, Wanli, Tianqi, and Chongzhen dynasties. It consumed a lot of manpower, material resources, and financial resources to build a chain of seven cities with a line of military defense pierced by the Great Wall.
The system keeps this point.
The Shanhaiguan Pass built by Yan Ting is far from reaching that level, and the starting point of the East Road will not stop there. It is just a transition to ensure the grain transportation line.
First transport the grain to Shanhaiguan, then select key places to build fortress defense lines along the way, such as Xingcheng, Jinxi to Jinzhou, and finally officially enter Liaodong. Although this is expensive and laborious, the options for the Jin cavalry to attack are greatly reduced, otherwise the grain
If the road is too long, the mobility of the light cavalry will be endlessly harassed.
Wanyan Zonghan was outside the customs at this time, and he was very angry when he saw it.
It's great to have money. Xiongguan will be repaired as soon as it is asked, and the fortress will be built as soon as it is asked.
Sorry, you can really do whatever you want with money!
Since the restoration of Yanyun, the Great Wall has been under construction. It is still early to stretch thousands of miles, but the northeastern line has begun to take shape;
The Grand Canal from Damingfu to Yanjing was dredged as quickly as possible, allowing goods to flow from south to north, and the construction of the Forbidden City of the Imperial Palace was officially started, with the foundations being polished;
And the upcoming coronation ceremony...
The national power of a stable Central Plains dynasty is terrifying, especially if the ruler does not act recklessly.
So when he saw the majestic passes rising one after another, approaching Liaodong, even Wanyan Zonghan, the general who was meandering in the rear, felt a sense of pressure rushing towards him, let alone the Jin people who were competing with the Yan army in the front line.
.
"The Yan court must be brought into chaos so that we, the Jurchens, can absorb the Han people, consolidate our rule, and eventually replace the Liao Dynasty and become a powerful northern country!"
After being angry, Wanyan Zonghan became more determined to carry out the task assigned by Wanyan Gao, watching the sunset and waiting silently.
When the sky completely darkened, the sound of gongs sounded, and the fortifications stopped, Wanyan Zonghan made a gesture, and quickly rushed out with his bodyguards, approaching the city wall that had not yet been completely built. Using both hands and feet, he climbed over in a short time.
The Yan army was also stationed here. They were in the mountains and seas not far away. They looked at it fearfully and deliberately avoided places with bright lights. They were led by guides who knew the place well and started running in the darkness.
The target is the Tibetan village not far away.
After the war in the Liao Kingdom, many people fled south, and the Yan court accepted all comers, not only the Han people, but also other ethnic groups.
Even the Khitan people were accepted and resettled as peasants, allowing them to work as helpers in exchange for daily necessities, so as to avoid the military disaster in the north.
The Tibetan people were so happy that they also participated in the construction of the Great Wall. Otherwise, there really would not be so many manpower just relying on felons and bandits.
Of course, during this process, many Jin spies also sneaked in. Yan Ting could not examine them all, so he used a stupid method.
During the war, the Tibetan people were only allowed to move at the border and could report each other. If anyone was found wandering around randomly, he would be arrested for espionage.
This move is somewhat similar to the policy of the early Tang Dynasty. When Xuanzang traveled westward, he was blocked in Liangzhou and was not allowed to go out. In the end, he sneaked out, which inevitably caused accidental injuries.
But it did greatly restrict the scope of the spy's activities, so much so that Wanyan Zonghan had to crawl in personally and run in the darkness.
In the next few days, he stole the horses with his bodyguards, and wandered around several nearby villages in fear, familiarizing himself with the surrounding terrain, contacting spies separately, and arranging strategies to move the tiger away from the mountain. He became more and more concerned about the next actions.
The clearer it is.
"That person is Ren Shenxian!"
On this day, Wanyan Zonghan returned to the Shanhaiguan construction site, dressed as a peasant, and while doing hard work, he finally saw the main target.
It was a group of newly escorted prisoners. The other prisoners were all downcast and anxious. There was only one scholar with a thin face. Even though he was wearing prison uniform, his chin was still raised. He didn't look like a prisoner, but rather like a prisoner.
A fighter.
The other prisoners were surprised by this arrogance. The officers of Shanhaiwei showed resentment, while the officials overseeing the work had a somewhat indifferent attitude...
They just build forts!
But before the Xiongguan construction site could accept this unusual prisoner, a commotion came again.
Because a continuous motorcade appeared in the distance.
As we got closer, we realized that this was a rather strange team.
Those riding on the tall horses are all wearing cool shirts to protect themselves from dust and maintain their appearance. Those sitting in the carriage are wearing hoodies, black gauze hats, and soap shirts, and combined with the bookboys and servants around them, they look like
A group of scholar-bureaucrats went on an outing.
But what they arrived now was the construction site of Shanhaiguan.
The officials at the Ministry of Industry were stunned, they were completely out of place!
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! When this group of people gathered, they ignored the officials and garrison present, and held their hands towards Ren Shenxian: "If you fail in small details, you will not fail in great virtue."
, I hope Mr. Xiaolang will guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and live up to your magnanimity!"
Facing this group of scholar-bureaucrats who were willing to accept the emperor's staff but wanted to protect themselves, and now they came here in person, Ren Shenxian's eyes were red, and he excitedly bowed and returned the gift: "I dare not forget your kindness at all times, but now I only hope to get rid of my sins."
, get fame again and serve the imperial court!"
The two sides bowed from a distance.
The felons who built the Great Wall did not spend their whole lives building the Great Wall until they died. Those who really committed the crime of beheading had already been executed. These can be given a way to survive. The construction period varies depending on the situation, usually one to five years, and some five to ten years.
It is basically impossible to survive more than ten years.
This kind of sentence is different from that of later generations. It is the hardest and most tiring work, and the treatment is not good. Criminals are criminals. There is no such thing as human rights. With Ren Shenxian's weak body, he will definitely not be able to survive ten years.
But then he can get a pardon to reduce his sentence, and maybe he can come back in two or three years. By then, with his current reputation among scholars, he will be taught by great Confucian scholars, and he will have great potential in the imperial examination.
At that time, it will be a good story about rectifying the father's name and finding his way back from the lost path, which can be chosen as an allusion by future generations of Confucian scholars.
"Father, my child is not ashamed of you!"
Before in Yanjing Prison, Ren Shenxian had deeply regretted that he should not have said such words in a moment of anger, but now he put all that uncertainty aside, and his heart was full of excitement: "Gongsun the traitor, my father.
You died because of your anger. As long as one of my Ren family members is alive in this world, I will never let go of this hatred!"
This time, he was smarter and never said it directly. Instead, he expressed gratitude to the Lord for his magnanimity and the guidance given by the senior to the younger generation to correct their mistakes.
When the officials from the Ministry of Works saw that the fortification work had stopped, they immediately wanted to stop this behavior. After hearing this, they could only wait on the sidelines for a while.
"These literati are really disgusting!"
When Shanhaiguan garrison general Shi Yong saw it, he couldn't help but sighed: "While we were waiting for the soldiers to kill the enemy at the front, they were still cursing defeat in the rear, and they came here to disturb the morale of the army. Is there such a ridiculous thing in the world?"
?”
At this moment, a messenger came galloping over on horseback: "General, someone in the Tibetan village is instigating trouble!"
Shi Yong's face changed slightly, and he waved his hand: "They must be thieves and spies with evil intentions... This matter cannot be delayed. I will follow my general to put an end to the chaos as soon as possible!"
"yes!"
Wanyan Zonghan watched Shi Yong leading the team away from the corner of his eye, and then looked at the scholar-bureaucrats who were still reluctant to say goodbye. A sneer appeared on his face, he stepped back and quickly disappeared.
However, it is said that after the Confucian scholars were concerned about Ren Shenxian's situation, they recited poems and wrote poems in front of the border. If there was a wonderful chapter, they immediately applauded and applauded. It was like a literary gathering. After more than two hours, they left without feeling satisfied.
The construction work in this area was basically delayed for more than two hours. The prisoners were happy to rest and waited until the jailer and supervisor came forward with a gloomy face before continuing to work.
Ren Shenxian was also assigned work. He came to the bricks and moved them onto the cart. After working for a quarter of an hour, he felt his arms were sore and he couldn't help but frown.
Although he lived in poverty before, he always studied the books of saints and sages. He had never done such menial and tiring work. He glanced secretly to the left and right, and the movements of his hands became slower and slower.
"Snapped!"
A crisp crack of the whip startled him so much that he almost jumped up. When he raised his head, he saw a supervisor standing in front of him: "Don't be lazy, work quickly!"
When Ren Shen first saw that he was an official with no official status, he immediately raised his chin and said, "I've been trekking all the way down. I just arrived here. Why are you so harsh?"
"You are a prisoner. This is not a place of pleasure. Work quickly!"
The supervisor said coldly, raised his whip, and slapped it in front of him for the second time: "If it doesn't last three seconds, it will fall on you next time!"
Ren Shenxian said angrily: "The punishment is not as good as that of a scholar-official. I have been convicted, but I cannot be humiliated. You are just a small official, how dare you... ow!"
After the pig-like cry, the scholar who bent down shivered in pain and finally began to move the bricks properly.
When the supervisor left, his eyes turned red, and he gritted his teeth in grievance, with great expectation in his heart.
If those scholars were still there, these supervisors would not dare to insult me. They are really looking down on others...
"Huh? Someone is here again!"
Just as he was thinking about it, the voices of other prisoners came to his ears. Ren Shenxian was overjoyed and stumbled to the front. He took a closer look and was stunned.
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Because this time, it was no longer a leisurely caravan, but foreigners with bald heads and braided hair, evil deeds and evil looks. The loud shouts and shouts could be heard in the distance, as if invisible sharp blades were piercing them.
"Enemy attack!
Enemy attack!
"
The Shanhaiguan Pass, which had not yet been completely built, was immediately mobilized. Both the guards and the officials from the Ministry of Industry responded immediately. Even the prisoners rushed into the city gate like crazy.
But some people took the initiative to greet them, waving their arms and shouting: "Take us away! We are willing to be loyal to Daliao!"
But soon, the expressions of these people changed, because they discovered that there were already people on the horses of this group of foreign cavalry.
The scholar-bureaucrats who had come to perform before were sitting stiffly on their horses, their faces pale, and they did not dare to move.
The target of the foreign cavalry was also very clear, and they had no intention of attacking Shanhaiguan. They swung the lasso, aimed at the most incompatible felon, and pulled him over.
"ah--"
When Ren Shenxian screamed in the clouds, Wanyan Zonghan stretched out his arm and lifted the person up as if grabbing a chicken. Then he laughed loudly and said in Khitan dialect: "Tell King Yan that he severely punished the scholar-bureaucrats and punished Ren
His son was enslaved, which aroused public outrage, and all these scholars went north to the Golden Realm and took refuge with us!"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Everyone in Shanhaiguan was suddenly stunned, including Ren Shenxian, who was put on the horse stupidly.
By the time he reacted, his mouth had been blocked by a rag, and his voice suddenly became unclear: "Hu... barbarians... humiliation...!"
Wanyan Zonghanli ignored the whining sound. Since there were many people in the scene who could understand Khitan, he just reported it to King Yan. He led his men and ran towards the gap that had been chosen long ago.
Including the officers and soldiers guarding the pass, before they could react, they saw this group of people roaring back and forth, taking hundreds of scholar-officials out and disappearing from sight. The whole process was extremely fast.
"Hugh—bang!"
By the time the warning fireworks, representing the war, exploded in mid-air, the golden cavalry had already disappeared.
On the horseback, his bones were almost falling apart. Ren Shenxian fully understood what had happened and wailed in his heart: "I have rectified my father's name, been praised by scholars, and have a great future. How can I be kidnapped to a barbarian land? Kill me."
Let me, I don’t want to be humiliated like this!”
"Hahaha! When this news reaches Yanjing, the King of Yan will be furious, and our Jin people's counterattack has begun!"
When he thought that he could successfully kidnap so many once-high-ranking scholar-bureaucrats from the Central Plains, and even resorted to clever tactics to sow discord and cause chaos in the Yan country, Wanyan Zonghan couldn't help but laugh so hard that Ren Shenxian's ears almost went deaf.
But soon, the laughter stopped abruptly.
Because not long after leaving the customs, dust was flying in front and the ground was shaking. It was obvious that another cavalry had arrived.
Wanyan Zonghan's smile quickly disappeared. He judged the size of the incoming force and his face suddenly turned pale: "There are at least a thousand cavalry. Is it my tribe's reinforcements or... the Yan army?"
The reinforcements of the Jin people are really not like that, because if you go deep into this place, there will not be such a large-scale cavalry.
The Yan army's cavalry is indeed scarce. Except for the heavy armored cavalry "Iron Buddha", the light cavalry is probably the same size as the previous Zhao and Song dynasties, less than 10,000 people.
In recent raids on grain roads and defensive battles, they have often been led by the Jin cavalry and cannot take advantage of them. However, since the fortresses have been built enough and they can return to the stronghold at any time, the Jin people cannot take much advantage either.
But now there are more than a thousand people, Wanyan Zonghan only has 300 people, and he has taken so many hostages, which is simply unmatched. We can only hope that the one who comes is the support of the Jin army.
But soon, the knights with neat armor and well-armed weapons broke Wanyan Zonghan's luck. He gritted his teeth and gained wisdom: "King Yan did not dare to offend the scholar-officials, otherwise he would have died long ago. Use them as shields! Use them as shields."
!”
Ren Shen didn't understand the Jurchen language at first, but he soon realized what this group of people were going to do. The powerful arms of Qiu Jie grabbed him and held him in front of him.
"How could you..."
He originally thought that death would be better than being humiliated, but at this moment his survival instinct took over and he immediately began to struggle.
But how could the normally frail literati contend with this group of arrogant and powerful Jurchen cavalry? Each one of them was held up in front of them, and they could not help but greet those who came forward.
All the scholar-bureaucrats could not help but look sad.
Just like Wanyan Zonghan thought, they also thought that the Yan army would throw rat weapons and not dare to shoot arrows. After all, their own characteristics were obvious, but they were all ashamed and angry at the thought of encountering such unexpected changes: "Being captured in the enemy's territory, our reputation will be completely lost."
!The reputation is ruined!”
Fortunately, they didn't have to worry about being captured by the enemy, because the leading general on the opposite side shouted loudly, bent his bow and drew an arrow: "Where can there be so many scholars in the border area?"
After his subordinates all raised their divine arm bows to take aim, he ordered: "Your Majesty has given an order, there are thieves at the border to disturb the morale of the army, the priority is to snipe the enemy, don't worry, kill without mercy!
"
Whoosh——
In an instant, the sound of bowstrings played the cruelest music, the arrows danced the most gorgeous dance, and deadly meteors rushed towards the enemy with cold light.
There are only enemies here!
Phew! Phew!
The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh could be clearly heard, followed by a scream.
There are some Confucian scholars and some Jin people.
For example, Ren Shenxian, who was lifted up, felt several bursts of severe pain in his chest, and then Wanyan Zonghan also screamed in shock and anger: "Ouch!"
Looking at the arrow feathers that were pierced into the shoulder and still trembling, Wanyan Zonghan showed horror and roared: "The Yan army does not care about the life and death of the scholar-bureaucrats, they are a burden, throw them away! Throw them away!
"
"Peng!"
Ren Shenxian soared into the clouds again and fell hard to the ground.
Severe pain spread throughout his body, and he stared blankly as he watched the scholar-bureaucrats being thrown down like rags, blood and water mixed with dust flying over them.
The one who was closest was the old Confucian scholar who met me from a distance not long ago and was full of encouragement...
Why do you dare to kill scholars like this?
Could it be that your Majesty believed what the golden thief said?
Then my posthumous name...isn't my father's posthumous name...
The rag spat out of his mouth, and at the last moment when his energy dissipated, he murmured in despair: "How great it would be if it were still the Song Dynasty..."