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Tongguan is the gateway to the east of Chang'an. It is backed by the mountains and overlooks the Yellow River. The mountains are steep and the road is narrow. Since ancient times, it has been a powerful pass that can only be opened by tens of thousands of people. However, the Han army stockpiled 50,000 elite troops in Tongguan, but it was not for defense, but for the opportunity to attack.

The death of Liu Xie caused shock to the world. Liu Jing issued an edict to fight against Cao's bandits and officially declared war on Cao's army. In the middle of the month, Zhao Yun ordered the veteran general Yan Yan to guard Tongguan. He personally led a 50,000 army westward to Tongguan and rushed to Luoyang.

From Tongguan to the east, the first stop is Hongnong County. Hongnong County is adjacent to the Yellow River in the north and Xionger Mountain in the south. There is a narrow plain in the middle. The Han army is facing high in Tongguan, and it is easy to break through the defense line of Hongnong County.

When Liu Jing issued the edict, the chief general of Cao's army, Xu Huang, knew that the war was coming, immediately started military deployment. He knew it was difficult to resist the Han army's arrival from Tongguan, so he deployed few troops in Hongnong County, with only more than a thousand people. However, Cao's army's defense was located in the area of ​​Hangu Pass in Wushan at the junction of Hongnong County and Luoyang. Xu Huang reported that the troops reached more than 10,000 people at Hangu Pass.

The Han army was unstoppable. As soon as it advanced eastward, it successively occupied Huxian, Hongnong County, Shanxian, Mianchi, and Cao's army fled in sight. Thousands of troops retreated to Hangu Pass. In just a day, 50,000 Han troops occupied the entire territory of Hongnong County without bloodshed.

The Han army camped at a high point on the north bank of the valley water east of Xin'an County. Tens of miles away were the mountains with peaks standing in the distance. The area of ​​the Han army camp was a terrain of hills and plains. Large areas of farmland could be seen everywhere. The winter wheat in the farmland had grown one foot high. At first glance, it looked like green blankets.

In the Hanying Central Army tent, more than ten senior Han army officials, including Zhao Yun, deputy general Wu Yi, and temporary military advisor Fa Zheng, stood in front of the sand table to discuss military information. There was no way to take advantage of attacking Hangu Pass, especially the opponent's chief general Xu Huang, who had to fight this hard battle.

Although Fa Zheng had been transferred to the official system, at the critical moment of the final conquest of the world, the Han army really needed military advisors to follow the army to provide advice. Not only Fa Zheng, Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi and Pang Tong all transferred to the temporary military advisors. Zhuge Liang was responsible for the Bingzhou front line, Pang Tong planned to send troops to Nanyang, while Sima Yi rushed to Shouchun. All four fronts were controlled by military advisors, and Han King Liu Jing was in charge of Chang'an and commanded the overall war.

Fa Zheng slowly said to everyone: "Xu Huang is worthy of being a famous general and has rich experience. He led tens of thousands of troops. He personally led heavy troops to guard Hangu Pass, and ordered Deputy General Zang Ba to lead 8,000 troops to guard Yique, which shows that he is thoughtful and thoughtful."

Zhao Yun asked: "What the military advisor means is that we can attack Hangu Pass and attack Luoyang directly?"

Fa Zheng nodded and pointed at Luoshui on the south with a wooden pole and said, "If Luoyang is empty, we can march along the Luoshui line Yiyang and launch a surprise soldier to enter Luoyang. But now Yique has deployed 8,000 troops. The number of surprises is small and there is no effect. If there are too many, once our food and grass support is cut off by the other side, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Wu Yi pondered for a moment and said, "What if I walk to the Yellow River in the north?"

Fa Zheng said helplessly: "The Yellow River is not as fast as the Yangtze River. It has many turbulent waters, dangerous shoals and reefs, and it is not possible to use a thousand stone warship. Of course, it is also possible to build a fleet of ships, but it is expensive to build a fleet, and it cannot be completed in one or two years. Pingzhangtai also proposed this plan to build a Yellow River fleet. Later, the whole country fought the Hefei war and was unable to build another fleet. This plan had to be temporarily stranded, but even if it was walking on the Yellow River, it would not be easy to attack Luoyang."

Fa Zheng pointed to the Yellow River with a wooden pole and said to everyone: "Please see, Luoyang is already north of Mangshan, which separates the Yellow River from Luoyang. If you want to enter Luoyang, you can only walk to Mengjin on the east side and detour through Yanshi. There is also Hulao Xiong Pass and Thousand Cao troops guarding it, which shows that Xu Huang has considered the possibility of us attacking Luoyang from the east and has made great arrangements."

At this time, Zhao Yun said in a deep voice: "Let's not think of any shortcuts anymore. The army is going to fight. If Hangu Pass cannot get around, we will fight this hard battle. We cannot show weakness first because Hangu Pass is difficult to fight. More importantly, this is the order of His Highness the King of Han, and we must take Hangu Pass." As the main general, Zhao Yun's clear statement determined the direction of the Han army's combat, and the Han army generals who were in the military discipline and law unanimously decided to attack Hangu Pass with all their strength.

Hangu Pass is located at the junction of Hongnong County and Luoyang, hiding in a mountain canyon. It is a hiking remnant, stretching for dozens of miles, with mountains and steep terrain. Hangu Pass is located in a must-pass valley road.

It is said that Lao Li'er wrote the Tao Te Ching in Hangu Pass, and then rode a cow to the west, but it was the old Hangu Pass, located in the Wushan Mountains in Hongnong County to the west, and it had long disappeared. Now the Hangu Pass that the Han army was going to attack was the new Hangu Pass built during the Western Han Dynasty, close to Luoyang, thus becoming the western gate of Luoyang.

The head of Hangu Pass was about one mile and cut off the valley road that the army must pass. The city wall was tall and strong. An arrow tower was built at the top of the city, and heavy defensive weapons such as catapults were used. About two miles away from Hangu Pass was the valley water, which meandered through a steep valley. However, the valley that could march was guarded by Hangu Pass and was condescending, forming a situation where one man could be held to the pass and ten thousand men could not open.

Cao's army dug two trenches that were ten feet deep and five feet wide outside the pass, covered with sharp spears. These two trenches were meaningless to Han soldiers. Soldiers could easily build bridges, but the Han army's heavy siege weapons were difficult to pass.

At this time, the city of Hangu Pass was full of Cao army soldiers. The chief general Xu Huang stood under the arrow tower and stared at the West with concern. He was not sure about defending Luoyang.

Luoyang was originally part of the Yuzhou defense line and was commanded by Xiahou Dun. However, in the power adjustment last year, Cao Zhen replaced Xiahou Dun. Cao Cao knew that Cao Zhen was not capable enough and could not take into account the Xuchang and Luoyang lines, so he divided the Yuzhou defense, so he made Luoyang's defense come out, and sent famous general Xu Huang to lead tens of troops to lead Luoyang.

Xu Huang's concern was not Luoyang. He built Luoyang's defenses like iron barrels and had sufficient food and grass. Even if he could not defend Hangu Pass, he could still defend Luoyang City. Xu Huang was worried that Xuchang was not as experienced as Xiahou Dun, and that he was fully exposed in the Han army's tentative attack last year.

If the entire Central Plains is a game of chess, the weakest side is Xuchang. Xu Huang doesn't believe that Liu Jing, who is far-sighted, cannot see this weakness, but how will Liu Jing play chess? So far, there is still a fog in front of Xu Huang.

But Xu Huang could not command Xuchang, so he could only do his best to fulfill his duties and hold on to Luoyang. At this time, a team of scouts rushed from a distance and rushed to the side of the valley. The cavalry team held the horses, lit their bows and arrows, and shot a rocket into the sky.

He shot into the sky with a ball of thick smoke. This is a warning. The main force of the Han army had reached ten miles away. Cao army on the top of the city suddenly became nervous. Xu Huang shouted sternly: "Everyone takes the battle position, don't panic!"

On the top of the city, dozens of heavy trenchers were creaking and ready to fight. The seven thousand defensive soldiers on the top of the city opened their bows and arrows, staring nervously in front of them. The cool breeze blew, and the flags on the top of the city snapped.

At this moment, a low trumpet sound came from a distance, "Woo--" echoing in the valley. With the slow and rhythmic sound of war drums, the Han army's flag finally appeared several miles away.

The huge main force of the Han army appeared, with flags like clouds and drums like thunder. The dense Han army spread far west along the valley water, forming another black river with a huge momentum.

The Han army did not immediately enter the siege battle, but instead set up a camp two miles away. The terrain outside Hangu Pass was wide and suitable for setting up a battlefield. However, Xu Huang knew that his troops were insufficient, so he gave up setting up a fierce battle with the Han army, instead guarding the pass and confronting the Han army with the danger of the pass.

An hour later, a huge military camp appeared opposite Hangu Pass. Even the Gushui became an inland river in the Han army camp. One by one, one by one, and dense camp bars and mail towers were laid out around, monitoring every move outside the camp.

In the afternoon, Zhao Yun stood on a huge whistle tower facing Hangu Pass and looked coldly at the majestic Guancheng opposite. He knew very well that this Guancheng was indeed difficult to fight, but if he did not take this Guancheng, he would not be able to realize the Han Dynasty's Central Plains strategy.

Deputy General Wu Yi next to him pointed at the two trenches in the distance and said: "Those two trenches are the first challenge we face in siege. We must overcome tonight, otherwise the siege rams and ladders will not be able to pass."

Zhao Yun would also look back at Fa Zheng. Fa Zheng looked up at the sky. The sky was gloomy and dark clouds were covered with clouds. It was a cloudy day, so he nodded and smiled, "I have a plan, but it's foolproof. The general can first dig a well in the military camp, and I will consider the details in detail."

...........

The night was shrouded inside and outside Hangu Pass. Several torches were lit on the city of Hangu Pass, taking care of Hangu, but the brightness inside would inevitably be black outside. Fifty steps away from Hangu Pass, it was pitch black. However, the Cao army could clearly see several lit torches on both sides of the trench. Once the Han army approached the trench, they could immediately discover it.

This dark night is a good opportunity to carry out sneak attacks. Both sides are particularly vigilant. The Thousand Cao troops stayed asleep day and night, guarding the city, and the Han army also sent thousands of patrols to patrol around the camp to strictly prevent Cao's troops from sneak attacking the Han camp. In particular, both sides were tinder oil, and were extremely vigilant about possible fire attacks.

At this time, two Han troops, with more than 10,000 people from each other quietly moved towards Hangu Pass under the cover of night. They were silently carrying two bags of soil on their backs. They could not enter the range of Hangu Pass trench. Once Cao's trench aircraft was launched, the Han army would suffer heavy casualties.

Xu Huang had already guessed that the Han army would fill the trench at night. He had already ordered the catapult to prepare for war at night and launch at any time. As long as the city alarm was issued, the operators of the catapult would launch huge rocks at any time, severely damaging the Han army.

The two trenches are not only a psychological defense line for Cao's army, but also have important value in actual combat. They can effectively hinder the advancement of heavy siege weapons by the Han army. Even if they are fitted with wooden boards, the wooden boards will not be able to withstand the weight of heavy siege weapons.

Xu Huang also understood this point. Not only did he cut the spike and inserted it into it, he also poured precious tincture oil into the trench. Once the Han army's siege weapons crossed the trench, Cao's army would ignite the trench through the fireball.

Although the Cao army made careful arrangements to prevent the Han army from filling the trenches at night, when it was dawn the next day, Cao army on the city unexpectedly discovered that the two trenches were filled by the Han army overnight.

Xu Huangsi was puzzled. At night, Cao's army was so strict and so vigilant. How did the Han army do it?
Chapter completed!