As March approaches, the warm sunshine shines on the earth, bringing vitality to the world.
Xingyang, the gateway to the east of Luoyang, has been occupied by the coalition forces fighting against Dong.
In the Yamen of Xingyang County, various princes held a meeting.
"Everyone, please see, Luoyang is the center of the world. It is a land where tigers and dragons sit. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides: south, west, north, and even this east side is also very dangerous."
Chen Mu, wearing a Jin Xian crown and a fluttering robe, marked various pass points on the map for explanation.
Don't think that Chen Mu's status is not high. In fact, when it comes to official positions, many princes here are not as good as him.
Because he once served as a minister, sitting in the center and in charge of the world's government affairs. Although he was only a thousand stones, his position was low and powerful. He was one of the three independent seats, second only to the three ministers and nine ministers.
And many of the princes here are governors. If the world is at peace, these princes will still have to look at his face. There are two thousand shicao in Shangshutai, who are responsible for the affairs of governors and ministers in various places, and have the ability to remove them.
What's more, Qingzhou has the largest army and the greatest power, so no one here dares to underestimate him. Even if Chen Mu is only twenty-three years old, he is here to guide the country, and everyone thinks that he is young, promising, and wise.
"Needless to say, there are two passes in Pingjin and Mengjin in the northeast. The Hulao Pass is also very tight. There is a big river to the north and Shaoshi to the south. It is between the river and the mountain. One man can guard the pass and no ten thousand people can open it."
The Yellow River was called a big river in the Han Dynasty, Shaoshi was Mount Song, and Hulaoguan was actually a town built between the Yellow River and Mount Song, named Chenggao County.
Therefore, Hulao Pass is also called Chenggao Pass and Sishui Pass.
As for what Lao Luo said about Hua Xiong guarding Sishui Pass and Lu Bu guarding Hulao Pass, it is actually a fiction.
Because these two levels are originally the same place.
Chen Mu was not misled by the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He had lived in Luoyang for a long time and knew very well how dangerous the terrain of Luoyang was. It could be said that without an army that was twice as large as the enemy, it was almost impossible to invade Luoyang, so he had to control his troops.
"However, compared to the four passes of Guangcheng, Taigu, Yique, and Shenyuan in the south of Luoyang, Hulao Pass in the east is considered the best pass to pass, because the other passes are between mountains and rivers, such as Dagong Pass
There are two mountain roads with Shenyuan Pass, which can only accommodate an army of 10,000 to 20,000 people to attack. No matter how many people we have, we cannot deploy them all. If we attack by force, it will be like adding fuel to the tactic, killing one group at a time. This can be said to be a great military strategist.
Taboo, must not be advisable."
Chen Mu faced the princes of the world and talked eloquently, and continued: "Only Hulao Pass has a relatively open terrain and can accommodate our two hundred thousand troops to attack at the same time. It is equivalent to attacking a city. As long as Chenggao County is broken, there will be a vast plain behind it.
The coalition forces can pass through Gongxian, Yanshi, and enter Luoyang without having to break through other checkpoints."
If you open Google Maps and look at the terrain of Luoyang, you will find that this place is indeed one of the most difficult to defend and very dangerous places in the world.
To the north is the Mangshan Mountains, to the southwest is the Funiu Mountains, and to the east is the Songshan Mountains.
The only plain area was the Northern Henan Plain in Hanoi County in the northeast, which was later known as Jiaozuo and Xinxiang, which could be suitable for a large army to attack.
But it is a pity that there is a natural moat of the Yellow River as a barrier, and there are Pingjin and Mengjin passes as passes. Even if Dong Dajun wants to cross the river, if there are no boats, he will be attacked halfway across the river, which is extremely difficult.
Therefore, the only place left that is easier to attack is Hulao Pass in the east.
That is to say, attack from Zhengzhou City to Xingyang City, then from Xingyang City to Gongyi City, then continue to attack Yanshi City, and finally enter Luoyang City.
Because Hulao Pass is actually Chenggao County, blocking the boundary between the Yellow River and Songshan Mountain. After passing through, the terrain behind will be much wider, while other passes are completely mountain passes between the two mountains, unless the coalition forces cross the mountains individually.
It's like walking on flat ground, otherwise it would be impossible to break through and enter.
Chen Mu continued: "So I think that the main force of our army should be based on Hulao Pass, and then send out several roundabout forces to pretend to be the main force. One force will bypass Shaoshi Mountain and attack Shenyuan Pass. The other force will be along the Jing River.
Take Yique Pass, and the last force will attack Dagu Pass from the west side of Shaoshi Mountain. Disperse Dong's army and gain opportunities for the main force."
Liu Bei nodded. He had served as a commander in Henan Province, so he naturally knew the steepness of these passes. He looked around at everyone and said, "Everyone, our army is twice as powerful as Dong Zhuo. If we can disperse Dong Zhuo's army, it will be a great achievement. I will definitely do it."
I should like to ask the emperor to ask for merit for you, who is willing to hit the three passes of Yique, Dagu, etc.?"
Everyone looked at each other, and soon Zhang Chao and Zhang Miao, two good brothers, stood up and said: "My brother is willing to fight at Fuyuan Pass!"
Liu Daiqiao Mao also said: "Let's go to Yique Pass."
Yuan Yi Tao Qian said: "Let's go to Dagonguan."
Sun Jian had previously set out from Suanzao to attack Xingyang and occupied Xingyang County to clear obstacles for the army at the rear. Now he stood up and said: "I am willing to be the vanguard of the army and march towards Hulao Pass."
"good."
Liu Bei was overjoyed: "The generals listened to the order. Zhang Chao and Zhang Miao will lead their troops to attack Zyuyuan Pass. Liu Dai, Qiao Mao and others will lead their troops to attack Yique Pass. Yuan Yi and Tao Qian will lead their troops to attack Dago Pass. Wentai
Lead our troops as the vanguard and set off for Chenggao. Now that traitor Dong is still wreaking havoc on the world and the emperor is in dire straits, I leave everything to you. Please be careful."
"only!"
At that moment, everyone followed the order and left. The six princes led their own troops, totaling about 50,000 people, and pretended to attack the three passes south of Luoyang to create pressure on Dong's army in Luoyang.
The other 150,000 troops were the main force, and Sun Jian's 8,000 Danyang elite troops were the vanguard. They set out from Xingyang and marched directly to Chenggao County.
The Dong army launched an offensive, and the war began with great vigor.
And just when the coalition forces were preparing to attack, what was Dong Zhuo in Luoyang doing at this time?
He was on his way to Hulao Pass.
Historically, Dong Zhuo was very afraid of the Kwantung Allied Forces and ran away without even confronting the Allied Forces head-on.
A total of two battles were fought between the two sides.
One of the battles took place near the Bin River outside Hulao Pass. At that time, it was heard that Dong Zhuo was fleeing to Chang'an. The heroes of Guandong were still afraid in front of the Hulao Pass. Cao Cao went to pursue him, but was defeated by Xu Rong in the Bin River.
The other battle was at Daguguan and Yangrencheng. When the heroes of Guandong were afraid to advance, Sun Jian attacked from the south of Luoyang, defeated Lu Bu and Hu Zhen in Yangrencheng, killed Hua Xiong, and went north to attack Daguguan.
They were about to attack Luoyang, but they were defeated because Yuan Shu refused to provide food and grass.
The next year, Sun Jian continued to attack and defeated Dong Zhuo in front of the late emperor's tomb in Luoyang, before being defeated by Xu Rong.
Therefore, the real fight against Dong's coalition forces actually started but ended at the end. Except for Cao Cao and Sun Jian who had a head-on confrontation with Dong Zhuo, the heroes of Guandong were almost the same as waving flags and shouting. It was not as exciting as what Lao Luo wrote.
Now, although Dong Zhuo has the intention to move the capital to the west, he intends to use the customs to defend it.
The reason is that his military strength is now much stronger than in history. With the help of the Northern and Southern armies and the heroes of Guanzhong, the total strength is close to 100,000, and he has the confidence to fight against the coalition forces.
Therefore, after detecting that the main force of the coalition forces was already in Xingyang County, fifty miles east of Chenggao County, Dong Zhuo, as a veteran on the battlefield, quickly understood that Hulao Pass to the east must be the main battlefield, so he deployed heavy defenses early and the army gathered here .
In fact, Dong Zhuo also had to send troops not only to the west and south, but also to the northwest, because Bingzhou was in a quagmire, Zhu Jun's officers and soldiers were fighting fiercely with Xianbei, and the people of Bingzhou were living a very difficult life. There were remnants of the Yellow Turbans in the Baibo Valley of Bingzhou. Announced an uprising, gathered a hundred thousand people, united with Yu Fuluo, the leader of the Southern Huns, and attacked Hedong County.
Dong Zhuo was worried about the alliance between the Baibo Army and the Kwantung Allied Forces, so he sent Dong Min, Li Jue, and Guo Si to lead 20,000 people to guard Pingyin, Mengjin, and Shaanxi County, that is, Xiaopingjin and Mengjin Passes.
If you look at the map, you will know that although Hedong County is northwest of Luoyang, in the Linfen area of Shanxi Province, it has to cross the Yellow River and climb the Taihang Mountains, Funiu Mountains, Mang Mountains and other mountains before it can threaten Luoyang.
Therefore, as long as the main traffic route to Chang'an in the west is controlled, Dong Zhuo actually has a way out, and there is no need to worry about being stolen by Bai Bo's army.
As for the three passes in the south, Dong Zhuo also sent 30,000 people, each with 10,000 horses, to firmly control the three passes.
Because these three passes are not towns like Hulao Pass, but real mountain passes.
For example, Dagu Pass and Shenyuan Pass are both in the Songshan Mountains. They are a mountain road between two mountains. They have the same terrain as Jianmen Pass, but the terrain is not as dangerous as Jianmen Pass.
Yiqueguan is located to the north of Yichuan County in later generations, sandwiched between the Songshan Mountains and the Funiu Mountains. The terrain seems quite open, but there is a river here, Zhishui.
The river flows vertically, so unless the coalition forces go north by boat, they can only go by the river, or they will be stuck at the pass.
Therefore, if we attack from these three levels, let alone 200,000 troops, even if we attack with 50,000 troops, we will not be able to form a formation because the terrain is too narrow.
You only need to dispatch an army of 10,000 people to withstand the attack of an army of 100,000 people. The real situation is that one man can block the barrier and no one can open it.
It was too dangerous to attack from the south, and Dong Zhuo also knew very well that as long as the coalition forces were not stupid, it would be impossible to place the main attack point in the south.
Therefore, he only sent Niu Fu, Dong Yue, Hu Zhen and others with a small number of troops to firmly control these three passes.
Of course, saying it is difficult to break is actually a theoretical concept.
Once it is breached, the strategic losses will be huge. The coalition forces can enter the Luoyang area from the three passes, and then attack Hulao Pass from both sides. By then, Dong Zhuo will be completely defeated.
So Dong Zhuo knew that he would pay a heavy price if any level was breached, so why did he choose to fight?
the reason is simple.
It was the improvement in strength that made Dong Zhuo's heart begin to expand.
Historically, Dong Zhuo did not have many troops, only 40,000 to 50,000 in total. Faced with the threat from the coalition forces and the Baibo Army, he had no choice but to retreat to Chang'an, imitate the Qin State and occupy Guanzhong to watch the world and watch the changes in the world.
Now Dong Zhuo has a total force of 100,000, and coupled with the dangerous terrain of Luoyang's Eight Passes, he can completely rely on the geographical location for defense without worrying about being breached.
This gave Dong Zhuo the illusion that he could defeat the coalition forces.
So he immediately mobilized his troops and generals to defend.
Dong Zhuo was well prepared and very particular about arranging his troops this time.
First of all, Shaanxian County in the northwest is the escape route to Chang'an in the future, and must be guarded by the closest people.
So who is Dong Zhuo’s closest person?
Naturally, it’s his younger brother Dong Min.
Although the three passes in the south are steep, they are also very important. Second only to the retreat in the west, not only people close to them, but also people with certain military abilities must go there.
So he asked his son-in-law Niu Fu, who could not betray him, and his veteran general Hu Zhen and Duan Xuan, who had followed him for the first time, to guard it.
In the final direction of the main force, he personally led an army of 50,000 to Hulao Pass to meet the enemy.
In this way, the city of Luoyang was empty, with only thousands of soldiers guarding the city gates. However, Dong Zhuo appointed his eldest brother's son and nephew Dong Huang as the city gate captain, and stayed in Luoyang, firmly controlling the government.
With such an arrangement, Dong Zhuo confidently and boldly led his army to Hulao Pass to garrison in person.