In the ninth year of the Great Cause, that is, in July 613 A.D.

The founding father of the Great Sui Dynasty, the son of Yang Su, the Duke of Chu, the general of the Zhu State, and Yang Xuangan, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, rebelled from Liyang. In a short period of time, hundreds of thousands of people gathered to come to the eastern capital of Luoyang. The king of Yue, who stayed in Luoyang, Yang Guangchang's grandson Yang Tong, ordered Luoyang to stay behind Fan Zigai to send troops to counterattack. However, the rebels were like a rainbow, and they clashed several times under Luoyang City, and the Sui army was all defeated and returned.

However, although the rebels won one after another, they were never able to break through Luoyang.

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

First of all, Yang Xu, the acting king who stayed in Chang'an, ordered the Shangshu Weiwen of the Criminal Department to go out of the customs, and camped in Jinguyuan, fighting with the rebels more than 100 times. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, and only Ilo was killed. In the end, Wei Wensheng set up a trick to ambush and kill Yang Xuanting, one of the three main generals of the rebels and Yang Xuangan's younger brother. After this battle, Yang Xuangan had to lead his troops back for a short rest.

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

Qu Tutong, a general of the Sui army, arrived in Heyang County (now Jiaozuo City, Henan Province) on the north bank of the Yellow River, followed by Yuwenshu; The head of the Donglai Navy also hurriedly returned to the army, and the soldiers arrived in Jiyin County, a stone's throw away from Xingyang. There is Laihuer in the east, and Wei Wensheng in the west.

To the north is Yuwenshu and Qu Tutong......

And the divisions of King Qin from all directions approached Luoyang one after another.

Xin Wenli, the general of the Hongni Pass, Wei Wensheng, the secretary of the Criminal Department, Wei Wentong, the general of the Tongguan Pass, and Zhang Cong, the commander of Shangluo County, etc., launched an attack on the rebels at the same time. Xin Wenli crossed the river by force, captured Jindi Pass, and beheaded Zheng Yan, the son of Zheng Shanguo, opening the way for the Sui army to cross the river.

Jindi Pass is located in the northeast of Hugao Pass, bordering the Yellow River in the north.

It is also the bridgehead to Niuzhukou, and it is a strategically located and extremely important checkpoint.

With Jindi Pass, the Sui army could continuously cross the river, approach Niuzhukou, and approach the Tiger Pass. After the Tiger Prison Guard learned that Jindi Pass was lost, he immediately reported to Xingyang County and invited Zheng Shanyuan to send troops from Xingyang County in an attempt to defeat Xin Wenli and recapture Jindi Pass.

Zheng Shanyuan did not hesitate to choose to cooperate with Laiyuan.

But before he could send troops to attack, Fang Xuanling, who had been defeated by Yang Xuangan before, made a comeback. This time, Fang Xuanling gathered Xu Shiji, Xie Ke, and Su Dingfang, and the villagers he later recruited, a total of 3,000 people. changed the earlier tactics of raiding and harassing and stormed Xingyang County. Although Zheng Shanyuan's subordinates have many soldiers and horses, the opponents they face this time are very different from before.

Xu Shiji and Su Dingfang are all familiar with the art of war and have excellent strategies.

And Xie Ke is even more experienced, strange in the use of soldiers, and unpredictable. The effect of the three future masters of the art of war joining forces is by no means as simple as one plus one equals two. Zheng Shanyuan was defeated three times in one day, lost his troops and surrendered, shrank in Xingyang, and closed his door.

As a result, only Lai Yuan was left alone, and he confronted Xin Wenli.

The war in the Xingyang area began to become confusing. Yang Xuangan was in Luoyang, and Yue Yi felt heavy pressure. Under Li Mi's proposal, Yang Xuangan finally made up his mind to give up Luoyang and go straight to Guanzhong. If he can capture Chang'an, with the influence of the Yang clan in Guanzhong, he may be able to gain a firm foothold. So, Yang Xuan ordered his brother Yang Jishan to lead a large army to garrison Emperor Tianyuan to attract Wei Wensheng's attention. Then he led a cavalry army around Michi and Kungu to attack Chang'an. At this time, Chang'an was empty of troops.

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

After Hongnong Taishou heard that Yang Xuangan had invaded Guanzhong, he immediately ordered that all the ancestral graves of the Yang family be excavated, and Yang Su's body was exposed to the wilderness.

In ancient times, this was an extremely murderous method.

When Yang Xuangan learned the news, he was furious. No matter how Li Mi persuaded him, he refused to listen, and waved his troops to attack Hongnong, vowing revenge. However, Hongnong, who had already been prepared, was too guarded, stubbornly guarding Hongnong, and refused to attack. Tongguan guard Wei Wentong sent troops to rescue, and Wei Wensheng ordered people to return to the army. Yang Xuangan was defeated under Hongnong City, and fled back to Huangtianyuan in a hurry with only more than ten horsemen.

But when he arrived in Huangtianyuan, he unexpectedly learned a news: Xingyang was lost, and Tiger Prison Pass was lost......*****

As Li Yanqing guessed, Yang Xuangan really did not use troops against Gong County again.

It's not that Yang Xuangan doesn't have the ability to break through Gong County, it's that he doesn't need to spend this effort at all. Yang Xuangan felt that as long as Luoyang was captured, the Sui army would inevitably be in chaos. Because in this eastern capital, the families of the ministers of civil and military affairs of the Sui army mostly stayed in it. Yang Xuangan could rely on these family members to cause a split within the Sui army. As long as the Sui army is infighting, he can achieve great things. At that time, Yang Xuangan will no longer need to attack Gong County, and Gong County will not be attacked. Li Yanqing knows this truth, and Yang Xuangan also knows this truth very well.

The key to success or failure is time.

As soon as Luoyang is not broken, the Sui army will frantically return to help; But once Luoyang was broken, the Sui army collapsed without a fight.

Yanqing gambled, that is, Yang Xuangan could not break through Luoyang.

However, in order to ensure the smooth flow of the grain road, Yang Xuangan set up a team of soldiers and horses at Heishi Pass and firmly monitored Li Yanqing's every move.

If Yan Qing moves recklessly, then the eight thousand soldiers and horses of Heishi Pass will attack immediately.

Of course, if Yan Qing didn't move, the rebels at Heishi Pass wouldn't act rashly. This is a check and balance, whether it is Heishiguan or Gongxian, no one dares to take the lead. However, as the battle in Luoyang became more and more intense, the footsteps of the Sui army reinforcements were approaching, and the rebels at Heishi Pass also appeared variables...... At the end of July, the fighting had been going on for more than a month.

In the past month, Gong County has been extraordinarily calm.

The walls of the city have been repaired, and the gaps that had appeared earlier have been plugged. Yan Qing ordered the city wall to be taller and thicker in order to deal with the battle that might arise next. In addition, he sent scouts to keep an eye on the news. In the city, the vigilance was strengthened, and Ma Sanbao, Han Zhong, and Xie Anmin were ordered to patrol continuously to prevent the movement of those with ill intentions.

The rest of the time, he stayed in the county office, dealing with all kinds of cumbersome things.

After the beginning of autumn, Zheng Shi'an's condition suddenly worsened and he was bedridden. The doctor said that Zheng Shi'an was dying...... Even if Yan Hu used qigong to condition his body, he still couldn't restore the fact that his body was declining. Especially in the few days of the bloody battle in Gongxian County, Zheng Shi'an can be said to be frightened. He's not afraid of death! In fact, at Zheng Shi'an's age, life and death have long been looked down on by him. The blessings that deserve to be enjoyed, and the blessings that should not be enjoyed are also enjoyed. There is still Yanqing under his knees, and he can be said to have no regrets in this life.

Zheng Shi'an is worried about Yanqing's safety.

He said to Mao Xiaonian: "Since Yanqing followed me, he hasn't had a good day.

In the past, he sent people under the fence and snorted on people; And then they have to intrigue and seek benefits. I originally wanted him to earn military merits and have a greater future in the future. But who wants to ...... The child almost died in Goguryeo, not to mention, he was framed and wronged.

Now, he is facing a big war again, which is really bitter for him.

It doesn't matter if I die, but if Yanqing has three longs and two shorts, even if I die, I won't be blind. ”

Whether it is Pei Shuying, Mao Xiaonian, Wang Zheng, and Xiong Da Hammer, they all comforted Zheng Shi'an. But the old man's heart was together, and he could no longer let go. Even after the war calmed down, Zheng Shi'an was also inexplicably nervous. For a moment I wonder if the rebels will be victorious; After a while, I wondered if Gongxian would be breached. In addition, the autumn is bleak, it is the season of slaughter, and the body bones have become more and more unsuccessful.

After Li Yanqing finished handling official business, he often went home to accompany Zheng Shi'an.

As I get older, I talk a lot, and I like to remember. Especially when the male sledgehammer Wang Zheng is also there, Zheng Shi'an will talk about Yanqing's childhood. Every time I mentioned it, I gushed endlessly, and I was quite proud. Xiong Da Hammer and Wang Zheng did not express their envy, and his words categorically would not stop. Every time, Yanqing would sit quietly next to him and listen.

Zheng Shi'an recalled that for Yanqing, it was not a kind of beauty.

In fact, in the past fifteen years, perhaps the most carefree and most lively is the six years of Zheng Jia'an Yuantang...... After serving Zheng Shi'an to sleep, Yanqing prepared to return to the county office.

Ma Sanbao suddenly sent a letter, "Childe, this is an arrow book shot from the city just now, saying that it was going to be handed over to Childe." ”

"Arrow Book?"

The letter of the result of the celebration is seen in the form of a roll.

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

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

The letter writer is none other than the general of Hongni Pass, Xin Wenli, the commander of Guoyi of the Sui Army's Zuowuwei Mansion who has just occupied Jindi Pass.

This Xin Wenli, not Xin Wenli, is the nephew of Xin Shixiong, the general of Zuo Wuwei. When Yanqing was in Goguryeo, he rescued Xin Shixiong. However, due to the environment, Xin Shixiong was not able to be rescued alive in the end. Only Xin Shixiong's ashes and armor were brought back, and after Yanqing returned to Gong County, Feng Zhiying handed them over to Xin Wenli. Since then, Li Yanqing has never had any contact with Xin Wenli.

There are not many people who know that there is a connection between Yanqing and Xin Wenli.

Except for Mai Zizhong, Feng An, Xie Ke and Zheng Hongyi, the others didn't know.

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

The letter said: Gongzi sent my uncle home before, this great kindness, Xin Wenli dare not forget. Now that the rebels are raging, it is time for us to serve our country. Now that I have occupied Jindi Pass, I am bound to be attacked by the rebels of Tiger Pass and Xingyang. I hope that Gongzi can help me to defend the Jindi Pass. Just wait for the army to cross the river, and the rebels will collapse without a fight, and then the prince should be the first to take credit.

Thinking about it, Xin Wenli also knew that Yan Qing was still guarding Gong County, so he asked him for help.

After thinking about it, Yan Qing decided to help this Xin Wenli. On the one hand, he secretly sent people to contact Fang Xuanling, Xu Shiji and others, and asked them to join forces to attack Xingyang County. Zheng Shanyuan is just a paper tiger. It only takes one or two to scare him out of action.

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

There is only one sentence in the letter: Jindi has experienced wind and rain, and the water flows backwards.

Tiger Prison Pass, also known as Bishui Pass. When Laiyuan sent troops to attack Jindi Pass, it was my time to recapture Bishui Pass. Then, Yan Qing ordered scouts to closely monitor the movements of the Tiger Prison Pass. And secretly from the home of the gentry and wealthy families of Gong County, forcibly recruited 500 horses, made up a cavalry army, ready to go.

Yang Xuangan advanced towards 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 in Huai County and could cross the river at any time. He knew that he could not wait any longer, so he ordered 3,000 rebels at Tiger Pass, leaving only 500 soldiers and horses to garrison Tiger Pass and launch an attack on Jindi Pass.

For a time, the wolf smoke of Jindiguan rose again.

Because Xin Wenli was a sneak attack on Jindi Pass, he didn't have too many soldiers and horses, only three or four hundred people.

Therefore, in the face of the challenge of coming to the yuan, Xin Wenli stubbornly guarded the Jindi Pass and could not come out. With the unique geographical location and fortifications of Jindiguan, he and Laiyuan were dragged under the city of Jindiguan. On July 30, Yan Qing led 500 cavalry troops and quietly left Gongxian in the middle of the night. He pretended to be reinforcements from the rebel army Xingyang, and in the early morning of the next day, he fraudulently opened the tiger prison and closed the city gate. The rebel generals who stayed behind in the Tiger Prison Pass were beheaded by Kan Leng, and the 500 rebels only held out for less than a stick of incense before scattering and fleeing. Yan Qing immediately seized the Tiger Prison Pass.

The loss of the Tiger Prison Pass means that Laiyuan has lost its foundation.

After learning the news, Lai Yuan immediately returned to his division and prepared to seize the Tiger Prison Pass. Not wanting to be ambushed by Li Yanqing at Niuzhukou, Xin Wenli then pursued, and under the two attacks, the rebels were defeated and returned. Lai Yuan was on the bank of the river crossing, and was caught up by Yan Qing, so he had no choice but to kill himself with a horizontal sword.

The Tiger Prison Pass was recaptured, making the Heluo portal open.

Sui reinforcements arrived......

*****

Zheng Shanyuan sat quietly in the ancestral temple, looking at the spiritual position of the ancestor, with a blank look in his eyes.

"Gui Changgong, if you can't recapture the Tiger Prison Pass as soon as possible, the general will definitely face the embarrassment of facing the enemy on several sides. At this moment, there can be no more hesitation. ”

The one who spoke was none other than the patriarch of the seventh room, Zheng Shize.

"Shi Ze, recapture the Tiger Prison Pass, and you can get victory?"

Zheng Shanyuan's eyes lit up, stared at Zheng Shize, and asked expectantly.

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

Zheng Shi firmly bowed: "This is nature.

As long as the Tiger Prison Pass is recaptured, the Heluo Portal can be closed. When the time comes, we will rely on the Tiger Prison Xiongguan and the ancient city of Xingyang to block the Sui army's attack. The general has no worries about Xingyang, and he can go all out to capture Luoyang. Hugh must forget that the general is in Huangtianyuan, and there are still 100,000 soldiers. ”

100,000 soldiers!

This is undoubtedly a huge incentive.

Zheng Shanyuan couldn't help but take a deep breath, nodded again and again, and said, "That's right, with the general, it is only in the evening to capture Luoyang...... However, there are Fang Xuanling and those guys outside Xingyang City who are disturbing, and I am afraid that as soon as I send troops on the front foot, they will intercept them on the back foot. ”

Zheng Shi said: "I have a plan, which can be described as a big brother to share worries."

Fang Xuanling made a comeback this time, and his fierce generals were like clouds, and they could not be defeated, they could only outwit. I should lead a team of soldiers and horses, fake the banner of brother, and attract the attention of Fang Xuanling and others. At that time, the elder brother will take half of the generals, go out of the southern city, quietly walk around the city, and attack the tiger prison pass.

By the time Fang Xuanling found out, his brother had already walked away.

I will lead the troops back to Xingyang, and with the city of Xingyang, it will be enough to stop them. ”

Zheng Shanyuan was overjoyed when he heard it, and praised it again and again.

In fact, he had no other choice now. In the past, it was just on the wrong line, and it was understandable; This time, it was a rebellion, which was a capital crime. Zheng Shanyuan could only go one way in the dark, so he hurriedly asked Zheng Shize to go down to arrange, and he bowed three times and nine times in front of the ancestral spiritual throne, praying for the blessing of the ancestors. Only by seizing the Tiger Prison Pass will he have a chance. Otherwise, there is only one death.

Zheng Shanyuan ordered 3,000 soldiers and horses, and brought his five sons with him.

The eldest son Zheng Yu, the second son Zheng Fang, the third son Zheng Ai, the fourth son Zheng Lan, and the younger son Zheng Antong. This time, he's out of the way! When Zheng Shize led his troops out of the city, Zheng Shanyuan took his soldiers and horses and quietly went out of the south gate, bypassing Xingyang City, and went straight to the Tiger Prison Pass to kill.

From Xingyang to Hugao Pass, you must pass through the red soil slope (now Gongyi tea shop section).

Zheng Shanyuan is not a person who leads troops to fight, if he wants to make him literate and hyphenated, he is a good hand at quoting scriptures. Coupled with the hurry, he did not divide the soldiers and horses. Almost crowded together, they quickly rushed to the Tiger Prison. By the time they reached the red clay slope, the 3,000 soldiers and horses were already sleepy and lacking. It is not far from the Tiger Prison Pass, as long as you cross the red clay slope, you can see the majestic posture of the Tiger Prison from afar.

"Dad, from morning to now, the big guy has not rested.

This person is sleepy, even if he reaches the Tiger Prison, he may not be able to defeat the Tiger Prison. That Li Yanqing, who is scheming, may be waiting for us. Why don't you take a break here and wait until noon and the weather is cooler?

Anyway, over the red clay slope, that is, more than ten miles of road.

When the time comes, you will give an order, and we will attack the Tiger Prison in one go. Even if Li Yanqing has three heads and six arms, he doesn't want to live. ”

Zheng Antong offered advice to Zheng Shanyuan, which attracted Zheng Shanyuan and nodded again and again.

So he ordered to rest under the laterite slopes. Zheng Shanyuan moved his fat body, surrounded by several sons, and walked under a big tree.

The fragrance of osmanthus flowers in August is the season of high and refreshing autumn.

However, at the end of the day, it was scorching. After a long noon journey, Zheng Shanyuan was really tired. After taking two sips of water and eating a cool giant cake, he leaned against the tree and pretended to sleep. The head is spicy, but the shade of the trees is cool and breezy. Zheng Shanyuan only worked hard for a while, and then he fell asleep. As for the soldiers, they all ran to the shade, or chatted, or squinted and napped.

Autumn nap is extremely comfortable.

Zheng Shanyuan slept very comfortably this night.

Just when he was sleeping comfortably, there was a sudden sound of 'Peng' in his ears. Immediately after that, from the red clay slope, a green firework erupted.

Fireworks appeared on the laterite slopes, and from the other side, there were also fireworks.

Zheng Shanyuan was awakened by the exclamation, looked in the direction of his son's fingers, and couldn't help asking, "My son, what is that?" ”

"Like flames?"

"You've seen green flames...... Oh, and the purple flames? ”

"But that's obviously a flame!"

Fireworks had never appeared at the end of the Sui Dynasty. So much so that when people see these fireworks, they are excited and curious.

Zheng Shanyuan also thought that the fireworks were very interesting, and couldn't help but look at them.

Suddenly, a convoy of iron horsemen appeared on the red clay slope.

As the first member of the young general, silver helmet and silver armor, covered with a mask, a big horse in the crotch, and a long lance in the palm.

Behind him, there were two generals, black and white. It is also a straddle of the Great Wan Liang Horse, one holding a double axe and a horizontal knife horse. The silver-armored young general pointed at Zheng Shanyuan, and shouted: "Anti-thief Zheng Shanyuan, Li Yanqing has been waiting for a long time again, and he still doesn't sacrifice his head?" ”

Dawan Liangju raised his head and hissed, and in an instant, Zheng Shanyuan's face was bloodless, and his finger was on the red clay slope to ride the army.

He trembled, and only after a while did he shout: "The enemy is attacking, and there is an ambush...... Block them. ”

But the soldiers and horses under his command, after resting for a while, wanted to regain their spirits, but it was extremely difficult. In an instant, under the red clay slope, the rebels were in chaos.

Yan Qing urged the horse to rush down the red clay slope, and the long lance in his palm flew over, towards Zheng Shanyuan, and rushed straight over.

(To be continued)