The earliest Xiao Pass was not an independent pass.
It was the town fortress of the Qin Great Wall defense system during the Warring States Period.
Among them, at the eastern foot of Liupan Mountain and south of Guwating Gorge, there is a dangerous canyon with the source of Jingshui River. It is surrounded by green peaks and has deep and dangerous valleys. It is the only way out of Guanzhong.
It is also a battleground for military strategists.
After entering the Han Dynasty, in the 14th year of Emperor Wen (166 BC), the Xiongnu Chanyu led an army of 140,000 to attack the pass, killed Sun Ang, the captain of Beidi County who was stationed at Xiao Pass, entered the fortress, and sent troops to destroy the pass.
The Han Dynasty recaptured this place and built the fortifications again, so it was renamed Wating Pass.
When Weixiao separatized Longyou, he heard that Lueyang had been captured and ordered his general Niu Han to hold on to the Watingchuan (pass).
Later, during the Qiang Rebellion during the Ling Emperor's period, the Qiang and Hu tribes in Beidi County and Anding County above Guanzhong also rebelled. Liangzhou and Guanzhong became the paradise of various warlords for decades. Xiaoguan once again faced the Qiang Rebellion.
The disaster of insurrectionary troops came.
He stayed until Xia Houyuan came to the right of the pass, and Xiao Guanfang repaired it again.
However, due to insufficient financial and material resources at that time, today's Xiaoguan is just a pass that must be guarded.
Now, after the Han took back the land of Longyou, Cao Wei once again repaired and strengthened it along the mountain and water flow, and it became a pass for garrison and defense on both sides.
If you have enough food and supplies, and your generals are well versed in military affairs, you can easily outnumber the enemy ten times as much!
Coincidentally, Wei Ping, the general stationed at this pass against the Wei Dynasty, was a frontier general who had been in the army for a long time.
With five thousand soldiers at his command, he was considered to be impregnable.
Wu Ban had previously provoked and showed weakness many times, trying to lure him out of seclusion to fight, but to no avail.
Therefore, Zhang Bao looked at it silently for a long time. When he looked back, he couldn't help but sigh in regret, "It is such a majestic pass that even apes can hardly cross it. If I, a big man, want to break through it in the future, I don't know how many soldiers I will lose in battle!"
"Yeah~~~"
Hearing this, Zheng Pu also sighed loudly, "If we take Liangzhou, we must first cut off the reinforcements from Wei Guanzhong. If Xiao Pass is not broken, our army will send troops to Liangzhou, and it will be twice the result with half the result." Immediately, he smiled suddenly again, "Wen Rong
Brother, are we putting the cart before the horse? Now the Wei Dynasty is about to launch a massive attack, and we came here to observe the appearance of the enemy's army so that we can go back and take precautions. However, we didn't expect it, but we lamented how strong the Xiaoguan Pass was."
"Hahaha~~~"
Zhang Bao, who gently pulled the horse's reins, turned the horse's head and walked back, also laughed.
After laughing, he joked, "That's right! That's right! Don't say it's too early to think about how to break through the barrier now. Even if you think about it in the future, it won't be my business. I just don't know how Zijin will do it.
How long will Xiao Guan keep his frown on his face?"
Well, he is the commander of the armored cavalry, and he really has nothing to do with things like attacking the city and blocking the road and defending it.
As for why the prime minister sent him here when he clearly had nothing to do.
It's just in case.
Although Zheng Pu controlled a lot of troops this time, no one can be sure how many troops there were to rebel against Wei and invade Longyou.
If tens of thousands of troops leave Xiaoguan and more than ten thousand cavalry come from the north of Wuwei County, Zheng Pu, who relies on garrison defense, will inevitably be surrounded by heavy siege, and even Chen Shibu will be unable to rescue him.
But with Zhang Bao's armored cavalry, he can protect him in full.
Because the road here is not wide, only more than 200 people can be put into the place where the two armies meet in close contact.
If Zheng Pu's troops were unable to support themselves due to the huge disparity between the enemy and ourselves, and were pursued by Ni Wei when they retreated, Zhang Bao's armored cavalry could suddenly rush out. In front of the torrent of horses wrapped in steel, the soldiers of Ni Wei whose formation collapsed due to the pursuit would face
Come to the fate of being crushed.
It can also take away the morale of Wei!
Make him scared and not dare to pursue again.
Even if the generals against the Wei army gather their troops again to pursue them, Zheng Pu and Zhang Bao can use this time to escape back to Ayang City.
Naturally, this is a precautionary measure.
What to do when the battle comes, it is up to Zheng Pu and Zhang Bao to act according to the situation.
As for whether using armored cavalry here would overkill the equipment, it is a helpless move.
The creation of horse armor and the training of cavalry capable of riding in formations cannot be accomplished overnight.
Originally, the prime minister's plan was to have Zhang Bao train five hundred armored cavalry.
However, more than a year later, Zhang Bao's men could only manage a hundred cavalry.
This number would not be of much use elsewhere.
But at a time when the soldiers in various ministries were dying, he did not want to be idle, so he asked for orders to join the expedition. After some thought, the prime minister sent him to Zheng Pu's tribe.
You should be prepared for any trouble.
At least like Zheng Pu's last farewell letter, the Prime Minister no longer wanted to receive it again.
"Hey, Brother Wenrong is wrong!"
Zheng Pu, who was smiling and riding side by side, also raised his eyebrows in mockery and retorted, "We are both fighting for the country, but my brother doesn't want to join forces and only wants his own comfort. How can he be so evil!"
"Hahaha~~~~"
Hearing the sound, Zhang Bao burst out laughing again.
After a while, he put away his smile and nodded solemnly, "Well, what Zijin said makes sense! Then I will offer some suggestions for Zijin to refer to!" He looked around and pointed.
Pointing to the trees on the mountain and the tributaries of the Jing River next to it, he said, "The most powerful way to kill an enemy is water and fire! Zijin can have his soldiers cut down trees and attack with fire, or he can build embankments to store water and flood them!"
Even after I said it, I couldn't help but laugh.
Walking and laughing, the two of them returned slowly with horse hooves.
After traveling for two or three miles, when he was about to cross the Wating River, Zheng Pu suddenly pulled the reins of the horse, causing the horse to stop with its hoofs raised and neighing.
Zhang Bao was also shocked.
Instinctively, he put his hand on the handle of the knife at his waist and looked around cautiously, but the mountain road was empty.
Didn't you discover the enemy situation?
Surprised for a moment, Zhang Bao turned his head and looked at Zheng Pu, only to see that he was thinking about something with his eyes closed. He didn't know what he was thinking of.
Could it be that Zijin has thoughts about breaking Xiaoguan?
Zhang Bao thought to himself and did not make any noise to disturb him. He reined in his horse and waited quietly.
When he was young, Zheng Pu opened his eyes and said nothing, but drove his horse slowly along the flow of Wating Water.
The Wating River, which originates from Longshan Mountain, flows westward and passes through the north of Wating; the other flows southeastward and passes through the south of Wating.
And the southwest merges into one water, so this place is called Wating River.
The water flowing through Xiaoguan is one of the sources of Jingshui.
The two do not converge, but the distance between them is not too far.
Zheng Pu drove his horse around and around, and soon returned to the place where he had just looked at Xiaoguan.
Leaping off his horse, he climbed to the top of the gentle slope and looked far into the distance.
Zhang Bao, who didn't know what was going on, abandoned his horse and climbed up in curiosity, looking towards Xiaoguan.
I saw that Xiaoguan was built along the mountain road. It is high in the west and low in the east. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides. It is true that no one can open the pass. Only the tributary of Jingshui breaks through the mountains and winds from the side of Xiaoguan.
Go east.
"Brother Wen Rong, when you recruited the people of the Dragon Boat Festival as soldiers in the past, were there any medicine collectors who were good at climbing, or were they hunters?"
Just when Zhang Bao was once again shocked by the majesty of Xiaoguan, Zheng Pu turned his head and pointed at the mountains on both sides of Xiaoguan and asked softly, "You need to be extremely agile. If you don't alert the Wei defenders,
Come down and climb up the mountains on both sides."
Um?
Hearing the sound, Zhang Bao looked sideways in surprise and saw that Zheng Pu's face was solemn and did not seem to be laughing. He twisted his beard and carefully looked at the mountains on both sides of Xiaoguan.
There was no answer for a long time.
The people of the two tribes live in Fuling County, which is surrounded by mountains, and there are many people who are good at climbing. However, the mountain on which Xiaoguan is located is a fractured canyon in the Liupan Mountains. The canyon looks like it has been split by a huge axe. , extremely steep.
If a climber is not careful, he will fall to pieces.
However, since ancient times, kindness has not commanded troops.
Zhang Bao didn't say anything immediately, not because he didn't want some people to try, but because he was afraid of missing Zheng Pu's affairs.
After all, Zheng Pu, who is known for his resourcefulness and good judgment, will never make a blind move.
Since you asked about it, there must be something planned.
"Of course there are some, and there are quite a few."
After a long while, Zhang Baofang nodded lightly, "When I recruited soldiers in the past, most of the applicants were 'beggars' who had no place to stand. Their families' livelihoods were derived from the mountains and swamps. However, although the mountains in Fuling County are also steep, they are not rocky. It's easy to climb with bare hands. The mountain here is too steep, and there are few boulders to use when climbing, so I can't say for sure."
After saying this, without waiting for Zheng Pu to say anything, he waved his hands to the left and right subordinates to keep them away, and then asked in a low voice, "Zi Jin asked this question because he wanted soldiers who are good at climbing to sneak into Xiao Xiao." Guan, waiting for an opportunity to burn the grain of the rebel Wei defenders?"
"Haha~~~"
Involuntarily, Zheng Pu laughed out loud, shook his head and said, "No. How can the food and fodder in the army not be heavily guarded by soldiers? If I have this thought, I will behead the rebel Wei! Well, Brother Wenrong, I just want to know if the water used by the defenders of the Wei Dynasty to make food in the morning and evening is a tributary of the Jing River."
"So best! So best!"
Suddenly, Zhang Bao breathed a long sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly.
He originally thought that if Zheng Pu wanted to send people to burn food, he would try his best to dissuade him!
After a pause, he smiled and said, "If you just check the water source, you don't have to worry about it. The people have been living in the mountains and swamps for a long time, and their eyesight is very good! You don't need to climb to the top of the mountain to see everything at a glance. Hmm. , there is no need to dispatch from the army of dragons, I can just select twenty people from the army for you."
Well, when Zhang Bao was recruiting troops in the past, there were 300 people who were recruited from his family's wealth as a private corps.
This time he was transferred from the Zhenliu Army, and the Prime Minister also allowed him to take those tribes away.
Today, some of these three hundred people serve as Zhang Bao's followers, and some manage the Zhang family's fields and pastures in Longyou.
"Okay, thank you very much, Brother Wenrong!"
Zheng Pu was overjoyed and said, "No matter whether my brother Bu Qu can find out the situation or not, I will reward him with my salary!"
"Hahaha~~~"
He didn't want to, but Zhang Bao raised his eyebrows and laughed, his tone slightly sarcastic, "This is Zijin's family matter, just discuss it with my little sister, there is no need to tell me."
My family affairs?
Ask me, Mr. Zhang Yan?
After hearing this, Zheng Pu was puzzled.
It also made Zhang Bao smile even brighter and explained in a low voice.
It turned out that Zhang Bao had planned to give some of his retinues to his younger sister Zhang Yan after she came to Longyou.
Quan should be trying to make up for the guilt that Zhang Yan’s dowry was too thin when she got married because he had exhausted his family’s resources by recruiting soldiers.
However, now that the Wei Dynasty is about to invade in large numbers, Zhang Yan, who was originally scheduled to leave for Longyou in autumn and August, must postpone her departure for safety reasons and wait until the war subsides before setting off.
According to the law at this time, all dowry items belong to the wife's private property and cannot be used by the husband or her husband's family.
Now that Zheng Pu has used it first, Zhang Yan will inevitably have to scold Zhang Yan a few times.
Therefore, Zheng Pu was speechless for a while.
This brother-in-law is like my uncle Zhang Fei in that he is both coarse and fine!
They had only been married for a few months, but even when they were busy with state affairs, they did not forget to find ways to help their little sister suppress her brother-in-law.
However, it doesn't matter anymore.
If you lose in swordsmanship, what else is there to care about?
"That's fine."
Zheng Pu glanced at Zhang Bao and said angrily, "In that case, please ask my wife to select my subordinate's followers as soon as possible."
Zheng Pu took these words particularly seriously for Xijun's retinue.
It made Zhang Bao smile happily.
Later, he felt some regrets.
Because on the way back, no matter how he asked, he wanted to know what Zheng Pu found out about the water used by the defenders of the Wei Dynasty to make rice. Zheng Pu would either talk to him or keep silent.
Just don't let him understand, just worry!
It was not until five days later, when the retinues who had climbed up the mountains on both sides of Xiaoguan and observed the Wei defenders collecting water and cooking for three days, returned to report, that he vaguely guessed the reason.
After confirming that the defenders against the Wei Dynasty were taking the tributaries of the Jing River for food, Zheng Pu wrote an urgent letter to Zhuge Liang, the prime minister in Ji County, asking for the allocation of two thousand sheep to work for the army.
Well, "Lao Jun" was what Zheng Pu said casually when he was asked.
Zhang Bao didn't believe it.
The military has its own laws.
He wrote a letter asking the Prime Minister to mobilize sheep to labor the army. Even Wei Yan, the general of the left, who was known for his unruliness, did not dare to have such an absurd idea!
And Zheng Pu, who is known for his scheming, could be so unwise?
And I still want two thousand if I open my mouth!
Four days later, the Prime Minister replied and unexpectedly agreed!
Zhang Bao also read the letter, which contained only a few words.
say:
"Yes! The sheep will arrive within ten days. However, if you are not careful with this plan, you will hurt yourself. Zijin should be careful with it."
Why do you want to use sheep?
Could it be that they wanted to drive the sheep outside Xiaoguan and lure the Wei defenders to become greedy and come out to rob them? While our army was ambushing on the side, we could take the opportunity to seize the pass?
Zhang Bao speculated in his mind and found it difficult to make a decision.
But Zheng Pu's next plan made him overturn what he had thought.
Zheng Pu not only did not set up an ambush, but instead asked the Xuanwu and Zhenliang armies to move their camps, and retreated more than twenty miles for one of them to set up camp.
Afterwards, Yang Ji was first asked to lead five hundred cavalry to guard the outside, and then more than a thousand people from the Xuanwu Army were dispatched to dig a hole in a hidden low depression between the Wating River and the tributary of the Jing River.
Quite a big pit.
Zhang Bao thought to himself based on visual inspection that this pit could accommodate the burial of more than a thousand corpses.
And ditches were dug on both sides of the pit.
The ditch connecting Wating Water is higher in the east and lower in the west, so water should be diverted to fill it.
The ditch connecting the tributaries of Jingshui River is completely opposite. It diverts water from pits.
Therefore, Zhang Bao finally understood what Zheng Pu was thinking and planning.
When he was young, he was familiar with hundreds of schools of thought, and had carefully studied many wars from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States to the Qin and Han Dynasties. This also included the period of Emperor Wu, when Wei Qing and Huo Qubing sent their troops to attack the Xiongnu, and the Xiongnu fled.
The usual tactic of not fighting.
What Zheng Pu is planning and doing now has some similarities but the same purpose.