Hulao Pass, also called Sishui Pass, is located to the west of Xingyang County and is one of the famous passes in the world.
Hulao Pass is connected to Songyue Mountain in the south and the Yellow River in the north. The mountains are intertwined, making it a natural danger. In addition, the pass is towering and extremely strong, forming a situation where one man can control the pass and ten thousand people can't break it. It has been a battleground for military strategists of all ages.
Although the Jin army had large firearms, these black powder weapons were not explosives after all. They could be used to blast wooden city gates and mud rammed city walls, but they were unable to deal with city walls made of large bluestones.
General Li Ji also knew that the Jin army's iron fire thunder was powerful, so he simply blocked the city gate tightly with huge rocks. Even if the Jin army used the iron fire thunder to blow open the city gate, it would not be able to blast through the tens of thousands of kilograms of large bluestones inside.
In the evening, Jin army general Li Bing led 70,000 troops to the gates of Hulao Pass. At this time, horns and alarm bells were ringing on the top of the city. Li Ji personally led 5,000 defenders to the city and quickly deployed defenses.
Li Ji looked at a black line that appeared in the distance. The weather was clear and the defenders were high up, so they could see very clearly. The enemy should still be ten miles away, but they were marching very fast. Not long after, a large army appeared in the distance.
Three miles away.
Li Ji took a breath of air. The opponent had at least 70,000 to 80,000 troops. This was not a simple provocation. This was a massive attack. Is the Jin army going to attack Henan Prefecture?
Li Ji didn't know the situation on Mengjin's side, and there was no news from Luoyang, but he knew very well that Hulao Pass could only deal with troops from the Central Plains. If they came from behind, they would be completely unable to resist them.
In particular, the Jin army is most likely to come from Mengjindu.
Li Ji was originally a general of the Tang Dynasty and had rich experience in fighting feudal towns for a long time. From the scale of the Jin army's attack on Hulao Pass, he speculated that the Jin army was about to launch a large-scale war.
But what to do? It is obviously unrealistic to abandon Hulao Pass and return to Luoyang without firing an arrow, abandoning the materials and food in Hulao Pass, and continue to defend Hulao Pass. If the Jin army comes from behind, his army may be destroyed.
Wanting to destroy the entire army, Li Ji was caught in a dilemma.
At this time, Li Bing led an army of 70,000 to the Hulao Pass. Li Bing looked at the majestic Hulao Pass in the afterglow. The golden-red afterglow was scattered on the city wall, and the entire city was shining with golden light.
"It is worthy of being the most powerful pass in the Central Plains!"
Li Bing sighed softly. He had fought from the south of the Yangtze River to Qingzi and the Central Plains. He had never been to Hulao Pass. This was the first time he saw this majestic pass.
"Go and deliver a message to the city!"
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Li Bing gave an order, and a messenger soldier rushed to the bottom of the city, stretched his bow and shot an arrow at the top of the city.
There was a letter on the arrow shaft. A soldier found the letter and immediately ran to give it to Li Ji.
The first is to attack the enemy, the second is to attack the enemy, the third is to attack the army, and the third is to attack the city.
Although Hulao Pass cannot attack the city, it can defeat the enemy. In any case, Guo Song will never let Li Bing adopt the worst strategy to attack the city.
Li Ji took the letter and was shocked. It was written to him by King Guo Song of Jin Dynasty. He quickly opened the letter and saw that it read:
"The red thieves have gone against the grain, and the people have lost their support. They have been spurned by everyone in the world. Now the red thieves are about to die. The building has collapsed. Liu Xiao is in internal strife. Luoyang is in danger. Weihan has been pacified. Mengjin is about to cross. The general is guarding the isolated city alone. What's the use of the soldiers?"
?
The poison of the red thieves will surely bring infamy for thousands of years, so why should the general use it?
I know that the general was originally a general of the Tang Dynasty, but unfortunately he was trapped in a bandit camp. Now he has joined the Jin army. He has given up the secret and surrendered to the light. Why should he worry too much?
The general is a majestic seven-foot Han general. Why not carry the sword of Wu Gou in his hand, imitate Wen Chang's ambition, conquer foreign lands in the west, regain the Han Dynasty, succumb to his descendants, fight hundreds of battles on the yellow sand, and win a reputation before and after his death?'
Guo Song personally wrote this letter to Li Ji with the dignity of the Ninth Five-Year Plan, which caused great waves in Li Ji's heart. This letter is extremely sharp and profound. He points out the reality first. Zhu Si will be destroyed and civil strife continues. You must defend Hulao Pass.
What's the point of you and the soldiers?
He also mentioned that Zhu Si will be infamy for thousands of years, why should you suffer with him and bear the world's infamy?
Then the conversation changed and he relieved Li Ji. Although you were once a Tang general, the one you are surrendering now is the Jin army and has nothing to do with the Tang Dynasty. In fact, this is also a disguised hint that a new dynasty is coming.
Finally, he mentioned that he could lead the army to the west, conquer the foreigners, regain the Han Dynasty, leave glory to his descendants, and leave a name for himself after his death.
But what shocked Li Ji was that at the end he mentioned "imitate Wen Chang's ambition and conquer foreign lands in the west." Wen Chang was the name of Liu Sigu. It turned out that Liu Sigu was still alive and went to Anxi or Beiting.
Only now did Li Ji understand why the King of Jin wrote to him. It must have been recommended by Liu Sigu. Li Ji's father, Li Ping, was a good friend of Liu Sigu's classmates. Li Ji was recommended by Liu Sigu to Zhu Si and was promoted to general.
Li Ji pondered for a moment, and the letter of persuasion to surrender stated very clearly that Mengjin was about to cross, and as expected, the Jin army would cross Mengjin and attack behind him. It could be said that he only had a few hours of chance.
Li Ji looked at the expectant eyes of the soldiers again, and he finally let out a long sigh, "How could I, Li Ji, be so virtuous? I was personally persuaded to surrender by His Highness the King of Jin. How could I not be self-aware?"
Li Ji immediately ordered, "Put up the white flag and surrender Kaicheng. Those who do not want to surrender can leave!"
A white flag of surrender was erected on the top of the city. The soldiers moved away the big stone blocking the city gate and opened the city to surrender.
...........
At the same moment when the Hulao Pass garrison surrendered, thousands of sails were racing on the Yellow River. Hundreds of three-thousand-stone ships transported tens of thousands of Jin troops across the Yellow River at one time. Although the Yellow River was densely covered with eddies and undercurrents were rapid, the three-thousand-stone ships were
The big ship was no longer affected. Compared with the cautious approach of crossing the Yellow River last time, the Jin army was stronger this time.
Mengjinguan originally had 10,000 defenders, but they were also transferred to conquer Qiu Jingzhong. First, half of them were annihilated by Qiu Jingzhong. Finally, the epidemic broke out. Only less than 2,000 of the 10,000 troops returned and continued to be stationed at Mengjinguan. At the same time, they were still stationed in Beimang.
A sentry tower and beacon were built on the mountain. If there is any situation, Luoyang will be notified immediately with the beacon.
The commander of Mengjing Pass is named Zhao Wensheng, and he belongs to the Baotao Guard. Like all Zhu Si's troops, the morale of the Mengjing Pass defenders is low, their morale is turbulent, and they are just living in confusion.
Some time ago, the soldiers received news that the imperial court decided to increase their salary from two guan to five guan per month. The soldiers cheered, but soon they were no longer happy.
Salaries have increased, but prices have also skyrocketed, especially the price of rice, which has tripled in two days, from 2,000 fen per meter to 6,000 fen per meter. A visit to a brothel has also risen from 500 fen per meter to 1,000 yuan.
Going to a restaurant once will cost you at least two or three dollars.
The soldiers' salary is mainly used to support their families. How can the soldiers accept it when their salary cannot even afford a bucket of rice?
Zhao Wensheng was sitting gloomily in the tent drinking wine and having dinner. Just now, a group of soldiers came over and made a noise, demanding that the daily food supply be increased from one catty to two catties so that they would have food to subsidize their families.
But how could Zhao Wensheng agree? However, he did not dare to refuse outright. He just said that he would report to his superiors for instructions.
Seeing that Zhao Wensheng was in a bad mood, Lieutenant General Liang Yue filled a glass of wine for him and persuaded him: "General, don't be upset. Just say that your superiors don't agree. But think about it, food is so precious now. One pound per day."
The noodles are already very good, but I still need to eat two kilograms, and no one else would be able to agree to it."
Zhao Wensheng picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, and sighed: "I was originally a captain of the Longyou Army. I hate myself for following Zhang Tingzhi and seeking refuge with Zhu Si. At that time, many brothers went to Hexi. If I had gone to Hexi at that time, I would not be here now.
At least he is a tiger general, I regret it so much!"
Liang Yue cursed in his heart, if a person like Zhao Wensheng, who would rob money at the sight of money and rape women at the sight of a woman, would have died seventeen or eight times in the Jin army, could he still be alive today?
Although Liang Yue despised him in his heart, he comforted him by saying, "The general is doing well now! General Zuo Tunwei, from the third rank, is second only to the general."
Zhao Wensheng sneered disdainfully, "So what if I'm the first grade? What if I can be crowned king? The only dynasty left in Henan Prefecture will probably give me less than an acre of fiefdom."
"That's true. I heard that the emperor fell ill and his condition is still very serious. The Xiao family and the Liu family are constantly in trouble. This dynasty really can't last long. We have to think carefully about our future."
"Brother Liang, it's easier for you. Just surrender. You have no bad deeds. You are not like me. I am full of bad deeds. It can be said that I have done many evil deeds. I don't know how many people I have killed and how many women I have raped.
It's impossible for me to surrender. The worst I can do is go crazy before I die and go back to Luoyang to kill and have fun!"
At this time, a soldier suddenly said outside the tent: "Report to General, brothers have discovered that the Jin army has crossed the river!"
Zhao Wensheng was shocked, stood up and said: "Light the beacon fire and notify Luoyang!"
Liang Yue hurriedly advised: "General, it's not too late to light the beacon fire if it's confirmed. What if it's not the case?"
Zhao Wensheng shook his head, "The Emperor once said that it is better to make a false report than to omit it, so hurry up and light the beacon!"
The soldiers rushed away, Zhao Wensheng drew his sword and rushed out, Liang Yue stared at Zhao Wensheng's back with a very complicated expression.