Xiaoguan is the north gate of Guanzhong. It is actually part of the Great Wall. Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty rebuilt the Great Wall, and Xiaoguan was also renovated. Xiaoguan is located on a platform with a relatively gentle terrain. Nomadic cavalry can enter the pass from here.
Its importance and strategic position need no elaboration.
Just as Cui Kuan wanted to seize Xiao Pass, as long as he took the position of Shuofang Jiedu, seizing Xiao Pass and opening the passage to the south would inevitably become an important goal of the rulers, and Guo Song was no exception.
On his way back from Fengzhou, he was thinking about how to capture Xiao Pass. Although he did not plan to attack the pass for the time being, it was still necessary to seize the strategic initiative. As long as he held Xiao Pass, his army could go south to capture it at any time.
Yuan, Qing, Yan and Suizhou.
It was originally planned to withdraw the troops back to Hexi after resting for two days in Lingzhou, but the withdrawal route of the Hexi troops was slightly changed and moved a little eastward, which was the direction of Xiaoguan.
That afternoon, in a huge mountain col about 20 miles north of Xiaoguan, 10,000 cavalry were resting and having dinner. An elder of the Liang family went to Xiaoguan and asked Liang Ju'er for a debt. At the same time, he sent Guo Song's
The news was brought to Liang Juer.
Time is not forgiving, and Liang Ju'er is already in his early thirties. Just because his martial arts is not outstanding, he is not the legitimate son in the Liang family, and he is not doing very well, he still has no chance to be promoted after so many years.
But Guo Song's capture of Shuofang gave Liang Ju'er a glimmer of hope.
At present, there are 3,000 troops stationed in Xiaoguan. The garrison envoy of Xiaoguan is a general called Pan Nong. He has three generals and ten lieutenants. Liang Juer is one of these ten lieutenants and has 300 soldiers.
, the status is not very high.
"Captain Liang, there is someone looking for you outside!" the soldier shouted in front of the tent.
Liang Ju'er quickly walked out of the tent and saw that the person who came was his cousin. He quickly said: "Third uncle, why are you here?"
"Xiao Ju'er, it's time to pay back the twenty dollars you owe me. I'm in urgent need of money to buy land. Please stop delaying and give it to me quickly."
Liang Ju'er was startled, when did he owe money? When he saw his third uncle winking at him, he understood immediately. He waved his hand to the soldiers watching the excitement and said: "Go aside, don't be curious about this kind of thing."
All the soldiers covered their mouths and walked away with a smile. It was so embarrassing that they actually came to the military camp asking for debt!
"Third uncle, go and talk to the account! I'll scrape together some money and give it to you."
The visitor followed Liang Juer into the tent. He took out a piece of paper from his belt and handed it to Liang Juer, "This is what Ambassador Guo gave you. You can read it yourself."
Liang Juer quickly opened the note and read it carefully. Guo Song hoped that he would make an appointment tonight and promised that once Xiaoguan was captured, he would be appointed as the guardian of Xiaoguan Town. Liang Juer was overjoyed and quickly said to the old man: "Third uncle, go back."
Tell Ambassador Guo that I will be on duty in the middle of the night, but I am responsible for the eastern section of the city wall. Come tonight and light a fire as a signal, otherwise it will take five or six days for it to be my turn to guard the city gate."
"I remember, but you can't let me go back empty-handed!"
Liang Juer smiled bitterly and said: "Third Uncle, I really have no money now. I will buy a few bottles of good wine later to honor Third Uncle."
"That's what you said, you owe me three bottles of good wine!"
The old man said goodbye with a smile and left.
At this time, General Pan Nong stepped forward and asked Liang Juer with a smile: "I heard that someone is coming to press for debt?"
Liang Ju'er sighed and said, "I have to repay the debt my father owed during his lifetime. I don't have any money to give him now. I can only leave with the promise of twice the high interest rate."
Pan Nong patted Liang Ju'er on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Work hard. When I get back, I will try to ask Captain Zhu to give me a sum of money to cover everyone's salary, and you will have money to pay off your debts."
"Thank you for your concern, General!"
.........
Guo Song had received the news from Liang Juer, so he left and opened the map of Xiaoguan. Xiaoguan was actually a defense system, including a military city, Guancheng and two sections of the Great Wall that were several miles long in the east and west, with a radius of about several miles.
The eastern section of the Guancheng wall mentioned by Liang Juer actually refers to the eastern section of the Great Wall, which is about two miles long.
The Great Wall mainly blocks nomadic cavalry, but infantry can cross mountains and ridges to build ladders and climb up the city wall. Of course, if the infantry has no logistical supplies, there is no point even crossing the Great Wall.
Xiaoguan is not located in high mountains, but on a low and gentle platform. The city walls on both sides are also on the platform, making it easier for infantry to scale the city walls.
Guo Song looked at the sky. There were dark clouds in the sky and there was no sunlight. It was a good opportunity to tackle the problem at night. He immediately ordered: "Let Zhang Yun come see me!"
.........
At the fourth watch, it started to drizzle and everything was dark. Guo Song led 10,000 cavalry several miles away and waited for the news of Xiao Guan. Tonight was a matter of cooperation between the inside and the outside. He did not need to take action personally. Zhang Yun was enough.
.
In the darkness, Zhang Yun led three hundred scouts as they gradually approached the eastern section of the city wall. Only Liang Ju'er and a dozen of his close men were on the wall, and the other men were sent to sleep by him.
Liang Ju'er stared outside with all his concentration, and couldn't see anything outside through the mist.
"Boss, is it possible that the old man did not convey his message correctly?" a close soldier whispered.
"Don't talk nonsense. You can't go wrong with such a big thing."
Although he said this, Liang Juer was still a little uneasy. His third uncle was old, what if he remembered it wrong? He secretly regretted that he should have written a note at that time.
At this moment, there was a sudden flash of fire not far away, and then another flash of fire.
Liang Ju'er suddenly became energetic. He immediately took out a piece of fire paper, leaned under the city wall and swung it. The fire was shining. He quickly put it out, and swung it again. The fire shone twice, and he responded to the other party.
His soldiers immediately threw a dozen soft rope ladders down, and hung the other side on the battlement.
Liang Ju'er stood up and looked towards Guancheng, which was a mile away. There were two large lanterns on the city tower. Under the dim light, he saw a group of soldiers guarding the city patrolling back and forth on the top of the city. They did not show any surprise, indicating that
They did not see the fire outside the city.
At this time, there was a rustling sound from below the city, the rope ladder tightened, and people began to climb up.
After a moment, Zhang Yun was the first to jump onto the city. He held a shield and had a sword in his mouth. He took off the sword and asked, "But General Liang?"
Liang Juer quickly said: "I am!"
"I am following Zhang Yun, the commander of the Hexi Army Scout Battalion, to seize the city on the orders of Guo Shijun. Please support General Liang!"
Liang Juer nodded, "Hurry up and get your men up!"
Five rope ladders were climbed simultaneously, and the soldiers of the Hexi Army climbed up one after another. In just a moment, all three hundred soldiers were on the top of the city.
Liang Ju'er took a breath of air. He could feel the strength and murderous intent of these three hundred people, just like three thousand people.
Zhang Yundao said: "General Liang, we will deal with the soldiers on the top of the city. You take two hundred brothers down to the city and open the door."
Liang Ju'er nodded, "Today's command is "The sun and the moon have no light, so you just say that the seventh battalion is on duty!"
They divided their troops into two groups. Liang Ju'er led two hundred men and walked towards the city, while Zhang Yun led one hundred soldiers and walked quickly towards Guancheng.
They were still dozens of steps away from Guancheng when they were spotted by a patrolling soldier. The leading brigade commander shouted loudly and asked: "Who are they? Password!"
Zhang Yun replied: "There is no light from the sun and the moon. We are on duty in the seventh battalion."
The brigade commander was relieved, frowned and said: "Your area is in the east, what are you doing here?"
"I don't know. It was Captain Liang who asked us to come here. It seems that we are here to take over your duty."
Everyone laughed, is there such a good thing?
As everyone approached, the brigade commander suddenly discovered that their weapons were wrong, they were all short spears, and shouted sternly: "Who are you?"
Zhang Yun shouted, "Do it!"
Hundreds of soldiers started at the same time, stabbing with short spears. They cooperated with each other tacitly, and they were extremely fast. Dozens of enemy soldiers were stabbed down one after another before they could react. For a while, screams continued, and screams were also heard from the city. Soon
Calmness returned again.
The soldiers of the Hexi Army acted together, pushing the winch on top of the city, pulling up the big iron gate bolt, and the soldiers below the city opened the city gate.
The soldiers then shot three gunpowder arrows into the sky, emitting a particularly dazzling red light.
Guo Song immediately ordered: "Send troops!"
Ten thousand cavalrymen rushed up the gentle slope towards Xiaoguan. In just a moment, the Hexi Army cavalry rushed into Xiaoguan.
Pan Nong was woken up by his own soldiers in his sleep, "General, the Hexi Army cavalry has entered Guancheng!"
Pannon was shocked and sat up. He could already hear the shouting of killing outside, getting closer and closer.
He was so anxious that he didn't even put on his shoes. He grabbed his coat and sword and ran outside.
Their military camp was still two miles away from Guancheng, but countless Hexi Army cavalry had already entered the camp. The soldiers could not escape, so they knelt down and begged for mercy. Only a few fled in panic.
A soldier pulled his horse over. Pannon got on his horse and ran away without caring about the others.