Chapter 85: Zheng Shan of Hongtupo is willing to return to heaven

In the ninth year of Daye, that is, July 613 AD.

Yang Xuangan, the founding elder of the Great Sui Dynasty, the son of Duke Yang Su of Chu, the general of the Zhu Kingdom, and the Minister of Rites, set off a rebellion from Liyang. In just a short period of time, he gathered tens of thousands of people and arrived at the city of Luoyang. King Yue, Yang Guangchang, who was left in Luoyang, ordered Fan Zigai, the remaining guard in Luoyang, to send troops to fight back. However, the rebels were as powerful as rainbows and fought several times at Luoyang City, and the Sui army was defeated and returned.

However, although the rebels won one after another, they never failed to capture Luoyang.

After the first ten days of great victory, the battle situation began to change in July.

First, Yang Xiu, the King of Dai who stayed in Chang'an, ordered Wei Wensheng, the Minister of Justice, to go out of Guanzhong and camp in Jinguyuan, and fight with the rebels for more than a hundred times. Both sides suffered heavy casualties and only killed Yiluo Liuhong. In the end, Wei Wensheng set up a trick to ambush Yang Xuanting, one of the three main generals of the rebels, and Yang Xuanting, who was also Yang Xuangan's younger brother. After this battle, Yang Xuangan had to lead his troops to retreat and take a short rest.

At this time, the Sui army reinforcements were quickly returning to the army and approaching Heluo.

The Sui army general Qu Tutong arrived in Heyang County (now Jiaozuo City, Henan Province), on the north bank of the Yellow River, with Yuwen Shu following closely; Lai Huer, the general manager of the Donglai Naval Army, also quickly returned to Jiyin County, just a few feet away from Xingyang. There was Lai Huer in the east and Wei Wensheng in the west.

To the north is Yuwen Shu, Qu Tutong...

And the king-stricken troops from all directions approached Luoyang.

The guardian of Hongni Pass, Xin Wenli, the younger brother of Wei Wensheng, the minister of the Ministry of Justice, Wei Wentong, the guardian of Tongguan, Zhang Cong, the magistrate of Shangluo County, etc., also launched an attack on the rebels. Xin Wenli also forced the river to cross the river in Huai County, captured Jindi Pass, and killed Zheng Yan, the son of Zheng Shanguo, and opened a road for the Sui army to cross the river.

Jindi Pass is located in the northeast of Hulaoguan and is adjacent to the Yellow River in the north.

This is also a bridgehead to Niuzhukou, and it is an extremely important level in a strategic location.

With Jindi Pass, the Sui army could continuously cross the river, reaching Niuzhukou, and reaching the Hulao Pass. After the general of Hulao Pass learned that Jindi Pass had fallen, he immediately informed Xingyang County and invited Zheng Shanyuan to send troops from Xingyang County to try to defeat Xin Wenli and seize Jindi Pass again.

Zheng Shanyuan chose to cooperate with Laiyuan without hesitation.

However, before he could send troops to attack, Fang Xuanling, who had been defeated by Yang Xuangan, made a comeback again. This time, Fang Xuanling gathered three troops from Xu Shiji, Xie Ke and Su Dingfang, and the village warriors he later recruited, a total of 3,000 people. He changed his previous harassment tactics and attacked Xingyang County. Although Zheng Shanyuan had many soldiers, the opponents he faced this time were very different from before.

Xu Shiji and Su Dingfang are both familiar with military strategy and outstanding strategies.

Xie Ke is even more experienced and has the strange ability of using troops. The combination of three future military strategies is by no means as simple as one plus one equals two. Zheng Shanyuan is defeated three times a day, loses his troops and loses his generals, retreats to Xingyang, and stays in his door.

In this way, only Yuan was left to confront Xin Wenli.

The war in Xingyang area began to become confusing. Yang Xuangan felt increasingly heavy pressure in Luoyang. Under Li Mi's advice, Yang Xuangan finally made up his mind to give up Luoyang and go straight to Guanzhong. If he could seize Chang'an, he might be able to gain a foothold with Yang's influence in Guanzhong. So, Yang Xuangan ordered his brother Yang Jishan to lead a large army to station troops in Huangtianyuan, attracting Wei Wensheng's attention. Then he led a cavalry to circle Mianchi, Gugu, and attack Chang'an. At this time, Chang'an had empty troops.

But who would have thought that when they passed by Hongnong, they got unexpected news.

After hearing that Yang Xuangan had invaded Guanzhong, the prefect of Hongnong immediately ordered the Yang family's ancestral tombs to be dug out and Yang Su's body was exposed to the wilderness.

This was an extremely cruel method in ancient times.

After learning the news, Yang Xuangan was very angry. No matter how Li Mi persuaded him, he refused to obey and attacked Hongnong fiercely, vowing to avenge his revenge. However, Hongnong, who had already been prepared, defended Hongnong to death and refused to attack. The guardian of Tongguan, Wei Wentong, sent troops to rescue him, and Wei Wensheng ordered people to return to attack. Yang Xuangan was defeated in Hongnong City, and with only more than ten cavalry, he fled back to Huangtianyuan in a hurry.

But just when he arrived at Huangtianyuan, he unexpectedly learned a news: Xingyang was lost, Hulao Pass was lost...

As Li Yanqing guessed, Yang Xuangan did not use troops to Gong County any more.

It was not that Yang Xuangan did not have the ability to break through Gong County, but that he did not need to spend this effort at all. As long as Yang Xuangan captured Luoyang, the Sui army would inevitably be in chaos. Because in this Eastern Capital, the families of the Sui army's civil and military ministers stayed in it. Yang Xuangan could use these families to split the Sui army. As long as the Sui army had internal strife, he would accomplish great things. At that time, Yang Xuangan would no longer attack Gong County, and Gong County would be defeated without attacking him. Li Yanqing knew this truth, and Yang Xuangan also knew this truth very well.

The key to success or failure is time.

If Luoyang is not broken for a day, the Sui army will return to support frantically; but once Luoyang is broken, the Sui army will collapse without fighting.

Yan Qing gambling means that Yang Xuangan cannot break through Luoyang.

However, in order to ensure the smooth flow of food channels, Yang Xuangan set up a military force at Heishi Pass and firmly monitored Li Yanqing's every move.

If Yan Qing moves rashly, the eight thousand soldiers and horses at Black Stone Pass will attack immediately.

Of course, if Yan Qing had no action, the rebels of Heishi Pass would not act rashly. This is a check and balance. No one dared to take the lead in taking action, whether it was Heishi Pass or Gong County. However, as the war in Luoyang became more and more intense, the footsteps of the Sui army's reinforcements approached, and the rebels of Heishi Pass also showed variables...

At the end of July, the war has lasted for more than a month.

Gong County has seemed particularly peaceful in the past month.

The city wall has been repaired, and the gaps that appeared earlier have been blocked. Yan Qing ordered the city wall to be raised and thickened to deal with the possible wars that may occur in the future. In addition, he sent scouts to explore the horses and closely followed the news from all parties. In the city, he strengthened his vigilance and ordered Ma Sanbao, Han Zhong and Xie Anmin to patrol uninterrupted throughout the day to prevent abnormal movements of those with ulterior motives.

For the rest of the time, he stayed in the county government office and dealt with all kinds of cumbersome and miscellaneous things.

After the beginning of autumn, Zheng Shi'an suddenly became worse and he was bedridden. The doctor said that Zheng Shi'an was almost out of control... Even if Yan Hu used Qigong to regulate his body every day, he still could not recover the fact that his body was getting worse. Especially during the seven-day bloody battle in Gong County, Zheng Shi'an was afraid. He was not afraid of death! In fact, at the age of Zheng Shi'an, life and death had long been taken lightly by him. He enjoyed the blessings he should have, and he also enjoyed the blessings he should not have. There was still Yan Qing at his knees, and he could be said to have no regrets in his life.

What Zheng Shi'an is worried about is Yan Qing's safety.

He said to Mao Xiaonian: "Since Yan Qing followed me, he has not had a good life.

In the past, I was dependent on others and relied on others to seek benefits. I originally wanted to make military achievements and have a greater future in the future. But who would have thought... the child almost died in Goguryeo, but he was framed and wronged.

Now, he is facing a big war again, which really makes him suffer.

It doesn’t matter if I die, but if Yan Qing had a few shortcomings, even if I die, I wouldn’t be in peace.”

Whether it was Pei Shuying, Mao Xiaonian, Wang Zheng and Xiong Dahammer, they all comforted Zheng Shi'an. But the old man's thoughts were together and he could no longer let go. Even after the war calmed down, Zheng Shi'an was also inexplicably nervous. He thought about whether the rebels would win; and then whether Gong County would be broken. In addition, the autumn was bleak, and it was the season of sternness, and his body became increasingly unsatisfactory.

After Li Yanqing handled his official duties, he often went home to accompany Zheng Shi'an.

As he gets older, he has more words and likes to recall. Especially when Xiong Daehwas King Zheng is also here, Zheng Shian will talk about Yan Qing's childhood. Every time he mentions it, he talks endlessly and is quite proud. Xiong Daehwas and Wang Zheng do not express any envy, so his words will definitely not stop. Every time Yan Qing will sit next to him quietly and listen.

Zheng Shi'an recalled that it was not a kind of beauty for Yan Qing.

In fact, in the past fifteen years, perhaps the most carefree and happiest day was the six years of Anyuantang of the Zheng family...

After serving Zheng Shi'an to bed, Yan Qing prepared to return to the county government.

Ma Sanbao suddenly sent a letter, "Young Master, this is someone who shot an arrow from the city just now, saying that he would hand it over to you."

"Arrow book?"

When the words celebrate the result, the letter was turned into a roll.

The so-called arrow book is to roll the letter on the arrow and shoot it out. But at this time, who will send the arrow book?

Yan Qing opened it and glanced at it, and his face changed suddenly.

The letter was the commander of Hongni Pass. Xin Wenli, the commander of Guoyi, the Sui Army who had just occupied Jindi Pass, had just occupied Jindi Pass.

This Xin Wenli is not Xin Wenli, but is the nephew of Xin Shixiong, the general of Zuowu Guard. Yan Qing rescued Xin Shixiong when he was in Goguryeo. However, due to the circumstances, he was unable to rescue Xin Shixiong alive. He only brought back Xin Shixiong's ashes and armor, and after Yan Qing returned to Gong County, he asked Feng Zhidai to hand it over to Xin Wenli. Since then, Li Yanqing never made any contact with Xin Wenli again.

Not many people know that there is a connection between Yan Qing and Xin Wenli.

Except for Mai Zizhong, Feng Ang, Xie Ke and Zheng Hongyi, no one else knew about it.

This time, after Xin Wenli seized Jindi Pass, he immediately sent people to Gong County.

The letter said: The young master sent my uncle back home before, and this great kindness and virtue is not forgotten. Now the rebels are raging, and it is the time for us to serve the country. Now that I have occupied Jindi Pass, it will inevitably lead to the attack of the rebels from Hulao Pass and Xingyang. I hope that the young master can help me defend Jindi Pass. Just wait for the army to cross the river, the rebels will collapse without fighting, and then the young master will be the first to be the master.

I think that Xin Wenli also knew that Yan Qing was still defending Gong County, so he asked him for help.

After Yan Qing thought about it, he decided to help Xin Wenli. He secretly sent someone to contact Fang Xuanling and Xu Shiji and others, asking them to join forces to attack Xingyang County. Zheng Shanyuan was just a paper tiger. It only took one or two times to scare him so hard that he dared to go out again.

At the same time, Yan Qing sent someone to contact Xin Wenli.

There is only one sentence in the letter: When the golden dike experiences wind and rain, the water flows backwards.

Hulao Pass, also known as Sishui Pass. When Laiyuan sent troops to attack Jindi Pass, it was the day when I seized Sishui Pass again. Then, Yan Qing ordered a scout to closely monitor the movements of Hulao Pass. He secretly conscripted 500 horses from the homes of the gentry and wealthy families in Gong County, gathered together a cavalry and was ready to go.

Yang Xuangan advanced to Guanzhong, and Lai Yuan also realized that the situation was not good.

On July 28, Laiyuan could not wait for Zheng Shanyuan's assistance, and saw that the Sui army was coming to Huai County and could cross the river at any time. He knew that he could not wait any longer, so he lit up 3,000 rebels in Hulao Pass, leaving only 500 troops to guard Hulao Pass and attack Jindi Pass.

For a moment, the wolf smoke rose again at Jindiguan.

Because Xin Wenli was sneaking into Jindi Pass, he did not have too many soldiers and horses under his command, only three or four hundred people.

So in the face of Laiyuan's challenge, Xin Wenli was unable to leave Jindiguan. With the unique geographical location and fortifications of Jindiguan, Laiyuan dragged him to the city of Jindiguan with Laiyuan. On July 30, Yan Qing led 500 cavalrymen and quietly left Gong County late at night. He pretended to be reinforcements from the rebels Xingyang, and in the early morning of the next day, he pretended to open the Hulaoguan gate. The rebel general who stayed in Hulaoguan was beheaded by Kan Ling. The 500 rebels only lasted less than a stick of incense and fled in all directions. Yan Qing immediately seized Hulaoguan.

The loss of Hulao Pass means that the root of the abyss has lost its foundation.

After learning the news, Laiyuan immediately returned to the army to capture Hulao Pass. Unexpectedly, he was ambushed by Li Yanqing at Niuzhukou, Xin Wenli followed him and attacked him. After two attacks, the rebels were defeated and returned. Laiyuan was caught by Yan Qing, but he had no choice but to use a sword to commit suicide.

The resumption of Hulao Pass made the Heluo gate open.

Sui army reinforcements arrived one after another...

Zheng Shanyuan knelt quietly in the ancestral temple, looking at the ancestor's spiritual position, his eyes were filled with a confused look.

"If Duke Guichang cannot retake Hulao Pass as soon as possible, the general will face the embarrassment of facing the enemy several times. At this moment, you must not hesitate anymore."

The person who spoke was the leader of the seventh house and Zheng Shize.

"Shi Ze, can you win if you take back Hulao Pass?"

Zheng Shanyuan's eyes lit up, he stared at Zheng Shize and asked with anticipation.

He bet all his bets on Yang Xuangan. His gambling fortune has been not very good in his life. He thought he could be lucky this time, but he didn't expect it to be a sudden change.

Zheng Shi nodded firmly: "This is natural.

As long as Hulao Pass is regained, the Heluo Portal can be closed. At that time, we rely on Hulao Xiong Pass and Xingyang Ancient City to block the Sui army's attack. The general has no worries about Xingyang and can capture Luoyang with all his strength. Don't forget that the general still has 100,000 powerful soldiers in Huangtianyuan."

A hundred thousand soldiers!

This is undoubtedly a huge incentive.

Zheng Shanyuan couldn't help but take a deep breath, nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, the general can only seize Luoyang in a daze... However, there are guys such as Fang Xuanling who are harassed outside Xingyang City. I'm afraid that as soon as I send troops, they will intercept them."

Zheng Shize said: "I have a plan, and I can say that my elder brother shares his worries.

Fang Xuanling made a comeback this time, and his powerful generals were too strong to compete with him, so he could only be wise. I should lead a soldier and a fake brother to attract the attention of Fang Xuanling and others. At that time, the brother brought half of them and generals, came out of the south city, quietly circled the city, and attacked Hulao Pass.

By the time Fang Xuanling discovered it, his brother had already walked away.
To be continued...