Yuanwang ditch winds in the direction of the Qinling Mountains, although the southern plains seem to be flat, but from time to time there will be some smaller ravines to avoid, and some ruins of Seoul and Tangcheng have become part of the local Tunpu military fort. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

Everyone rode their horses to the south end of the original, and the Yuanwang ditch extended obliquely to the west, intersecting with the forbidden ditch and at least a dozen ravines, forming a very complex place in the southwest.

Standing on the edge of the ditch, the drop at the bottom of the ditch here is relatively gentle, and more is the kind of natural echelon defense terrain, which is like a large piece of terraced fields.

Each "terrace" also has a steep slope, almost 90 degrees, and the height varies from one zhang, half a zhang to two or three zhang, and this kind of terrain is also very conducive to defense.

Everyone's eyes looked over the ditch and looked to the southeast, and there was a large plain above the ditch, and some tunbao were distributed. A few miles to the southeast of the plain, cross a large ditch called the diagonal ditch by the locals, it is a larger plain, and there is a guard fort such as the code camp.

"Our division can arrange soldiers and horses in the Daizi battalion, and if the thief attacks Yuanwanggou here, our division can be condescending, attack its rear wing, and mess with its soldiers and horses."

A staff member makes a suggestion.

Sun Chuanting was a little moved, but in the end he shook his head, arranging troops and horses on that side to attack his belly and back, this idea is very tempting, but once the war is carried out, it is difficult for that side of the soldiers and horses to echo with the main force of this side, and there are too many variables when the army is alone.

When the thieves found this army, they must not sit idly by, and they may cross the ditch and attack its flank. If you have to defend even the inclined ditch, then you need too many troops, so it is better to concentrate your forces and focus on the ditch such as Yuanwang.

Soon Sun Chuanting made a decision: "Within a few days, all the tunbao guards on the east side of Yuanwanggou were withdrawn. lest they be used by thieves. ”

"Forbidden ditch!"

Sun Chuanting and the others went west again, and finally looked at the deep ditch in front of them, which was the forbidden ditch that was famous for thousands of years.

This "blockade trench" that is dozens of miles long completely blocks the east-west passage, the ditch is deep and wide, the loess wall stands, the miscellaneous trees and wild grasses grow horizontally, the gentle place is quite few, and it also forms a long and narrow plain with the Tonggou, called Tongluochuan.

The beacon towers above the beams stand one by one, and the bottom of the ditch is the key place. There are also castles. The garrison ranged from 100 to 300 people, and even the city wall was connected to the original fire piers on both sides.

The staff beside him praised that the danger of the forbidden ditch and the twelve cities should be strong.

Sun Chuanting frowned for a long time, these fire road piers and fortresses are not unstrict. However, the inspection of Taojiazhuang brought a shadow to him. If it is still garrisoned by local guards. It is very likely that the thief will be knocked down, so it must be replaced.

That Wen Shiyan exchanged words with Wu Zhengchun and others, obviously this is also the meaning.

Their fears are not unfounded. In history, Bai Guangen guarded the forbidden ditch and Tongluochuan, which was defeated by Li Zicheng's drum, and Gao Jie on the West Plains was so frightened that he fled immediately, and they fled into Nanshui Pass, and were chased by the breaking army, and the Tongguan city was broken.

Whether a castle is strong or not has a close relationship with people.

Sure enough, everyone went to a fort at the bottom of the forbidden ditch from the south plain to the west, and there were more than 100 soldiers guarding the fort, but there were less than ten people, and they were still the kind of people who were too old to walk.

Or Zhang Eryou said embarrassedly, that always took two family members, to Artemisia Chayukou to do business, some Luonan, Shangzhou businessmen will cross the Qinling Mountains, to Tongguan to do some business, Artemisia Chayukou is the road of many businessmen, so there are some shops on the pass, that is the general ......

"Zhang Eryou, immediately arrest this fang, behead it to show the public, and use the military law!"

Sun Chuanting shouted loudly, his face was blue and murderous, and he could no longer hold back the anger in his chest.

Zhang Eryou bit his lower lip and arched his hand: "Yes!" ”

The staff next to him all looked serious, Wu Zhengchun and the others were silent, Taojiazhuang that Qian Zong was still hoeing at the edge of the fort, but this general manager left his post without permission and ran to the far pass, in the context of this kind of great enemy is coming, there is no reason to live.

After that, Sun Chuanting had a cold face and didn't say a word, just walked at the bottom of the ditch, and everyone followed.

The valley is walled, the bushes and vines are everywhere, if there are people who have walked through the Hangu Pass, there is a feeling of being in the Hangu Ancient Road at this time.

However, the bottom of the forbidden ditch is quite flat and wide, there are more than ten zhang or so, the meandering ditch water flows slowly, there are quite a lot of wheat fields and vegetable fields at the water's edge, even if it is forbidden to reclaim at the bottom of the ditch, in the face of livelihood, all the prohibitions are empty talk.

Sun Chuanting had a cold face, and after several checkpoints, and several were about to lose their heads, Zhang Eryou didn't say anything anymore, he had already issued repeated orders, recruited the guards to discuss matters, and emphasized the importance of defense, they should not be the same thing, and they lost their lives, and they were also to blame.

If it weren't for the on-the-spot inspection, the forbidden land would have become a thoroughfare, and the thieves had outflanked the West Gate, and Tongguan would be in danger of being isolated.

Soon, a group of people arrived at the mouth of the ditch, where the ditch is steep and steep, the water of the forbidden ditch flows straight down, the droplets splash everywhere, as if the white practice hangs high, and then forms a deep pool below, the edge of the pond is shaded by green trees, but it is a famous local scenery, the dragon of the forbidden ditch.

But how can Sun Chuanting and others have the heart to look at it? They went down the ditch from the path, and when they reached the west side of the southern plain, they looked at the plain, and then they looked at the plain, and it was like a continuous mountain range, and only some trails went down from the plain to the west.

There is Tonggou water coming, and the forbidden ditch water converges, forming the Tong River, and then flows to the south water pass, the west bank of the Tong River is not far from the Phoenix Mountain. There is a city wall extending from Nanshuiguan, winding along the Phoenix Mountain, there is a tower at the southernmost end, thick and tall, very close to Tongluo River, not far from the Tong River.

The building is the stone gate pass, and there is a city wall at the west end to connect with the west gate, and there are enemy platforms on it, together with the Tongluo River, forming a firepower strike site on both sides.

Everyone looked at the Tonghe River and the Shimen Pass, and a staff member said: "It is not easy to come down from the South Plains, and the thieves attack the Nanshui Pass, so be careful that the defenders of the Shimen Pass attack the flank behind it." The thieves attack the Shimen Pass, and the defenders of Tongluochuan can also attack the rear of its flanks. The forbidden ditch and the stone gate are not lost, and the thieves cannot copy the west gate. ”

Sun Chuanting nodded, the forbidden ditch and the stone gate pass are not lost, how can the thieves dare to transport troops and grain in front of the pass? Not to mention the road problem, it is the defenders who take advantage of their unpreparedness and suddenly copy their backs. Some of the thieves who were lucky enough to pass have also become rootless duckweed, which is the role of an important pass.

There are city walls connected, it is easy to transfer troops from the south gate and the west gate to Shimen Pass, and the thieves want to cross the Tong River, turn around this place, and face the fire blows of the two wings, they will bear a heavy price.

Moreover, from the west of Tongluo River to Xiyuan, there are passes at various critical intersections, together with the entire Tongguan. Form a tight line of defense.

Although there is a bridge in the distance. Everyone still rode over, the Tong River was a hundred paces wide, and it was not deep at this time, only to the waist of the person. Strategies are shallower on the horse.

Got to the other side. A few dozen steps from the river is the city wall. Completely within the strike range of the defenders above. Looking south, the valley in front of you is Tonggou, which is about the same length as the forbidden ditch. The width is more than 200 steps, and the ditch is the West Plain.

Sun Chuanting and others walked south for a while, looking at the Tongluo River and the West Plains on the left and right, and the two plains were densely covered with fire piers and castles.

They randomly chose a small fort that controlled the intersection to enter, and to Zhang Eryou's relief, the fort was always down in the pass, although in fact he was fighting with his subordinates with great interest, which was also his way of making money.

The governor suddenly came, scared him into a cold sweat, this person was still "loyal to his duty", and avoided the danger of losing his head, but Sun Chuanting passed the fort without a sound, and decided to replace him, and the local guards could not be used.

After the small fort, there is an upper plain trail in the back, winding and twisting, and the ravines and ravines are full of wheat fields, and the sparse and sparse growth is not good.

I don't know how long later, the group went up to the West Plains, and the same flat and vast plain as the South Plains, with some castle villages distributed. Soon after, everyone's eyes lit up, and they saw the Wei River, as well as several plains with different heights in front of them.

These are the attached places of Tongguan City, and the plains are densely populated, and the houses and buildings have spread to the foot of the West City. The buildings in the city are also in sight, the West Gate Tower, the North Gate Tower, all in the eyes, and the Yellow River is also seen.

On the avenue along the Wei River, the tide of marching soldiers and the red torrent are approaching Tongguan City.

Standing on the edge and looking out, Sun Chuanting exhaled deeply, and he said to himself: "I will definitely defend Tongguan and Shaanxi!" ”

……

That night, Sun Chuanting didn't care about his fatigue, and discussed with all the officials and generals in the line all night.

His governor's line is located on the Qilin Mountain, close to the upper south gate, where there are many main buildings and arrow towers, on the mountain plains, and towers, barracks, temples are numerous, more condescending, with a broad field of vision, as an important place, it is no better.

A city tower not far from Lingyun Gate, the banner of "Three Armed Forces Division" is flying high.

At this time, the lanterns on the upper and lower floors are high, and the staff of the praise and painting come and go, and on the top floor, the mercenary battalion department is busy hanging maps, setting up sand tables, and deploying this place as a headquarters, and the lower two floors also have their own duties.

Seeing that the mercenaries were busy, Wu Zhengchun, Gao Xun, Wen Shiyan and others were also talking to each other, Sun Chuanting suddenly had a feeling that he couldn't intervene.

He watched the praise paintings busy, according to the map marking, the various sand tables carried by the continuous splicing and forming, and the terrain near Tongguan appeared in front of his eyes, especially with the Yuanwang ditch and forbidden ditch that he had inspected today, it was like mountains and rivers, condensed in front of his eyes.

He also looked at Wu Zhengchun, Zanhua and others, constantly marking the important parts, planting all kinds of small flags, sure enough, the form was clear at a glance, Sun Chuanting thought: "In the future, this Tongguan sand table must be in your own hands." ”

He listened to the mercenaries whispering, writing and drawing, and constantly listing all kinds of things, and the details of their planning were jaw-dropping.

For example, guarding the Yuanwang ditch, the entire ditch, how many strategic points there are, how many places that need to be guarded, how many sections of parapet walls need to be built, how many troops are needed in each place, how should they respond, how should they supply logistics, and there are more platoon number markers, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3.

Even the medical aid, the names of the officers, the composition of the military branches, etc., made people dizzy to hear.

Sun Chuanting thought to himself: "Since the appearance of the Jingbian Army, this combat situation is completely different from the past. ”

Over the years since he dismissed the government, the staff he collected was also considered an elite, but at this time, he could only give a hand to those praise paintings and do some errands and carry them.

The lack of talent is the biggest gap between himself and Wang Dou.

According to Wen Shiyan's plan to collect the praise paintings in the camp, and finally handed it over to Wu Zhengchun, he reported to Sun Chuanting, defending Tongguan, there are many affairs, and two points are in a priority position, first, repair the defense line of Yuanwanggou, and second, relocate all the Tunbao guards in the east of Yuanwanggou.

The zan painters calculated the local standard of living and possible property damage. After relocating these military households, it was felt that it would be better to compensate each household with ten taels of silver, and after moving them to the southern or western plains, they could also be allowed to do some logistical work and provide rations.

If the military households in Nanyuan are to be relocated eventually, they will do the same.

"Ten taels of silver per household?"

A few close staff members beside Sun Chuanting almost screamed, it is necessary to clear the field during the war, but it has always been an order from the government and the people to enforce it. What compensation is there? Apply a little porridge at most. It's already a great benevolence and righteousness, and it's still ten taels per household?

Only Zhang Eryou's eyes are shining, if the military families have compensation, at least they can spend this year unharmed.

Sun Chuanting's face was ugly. Each household will be compensated 10 taels. That's not a small number. Although he borrowed two million taels of silver, he spent money like running water, and he had huge expenses every day. The battle of Tongguan, I don't know how many ...... to fight

In the end, he was heartbroken, anyway, he already owed two million taels of silver, and at most he would borrow it after spending it, he waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "Just follow General Wu." ”

Wu Zhengchun praised sincerely: "The governor is sympathetic to the people, and the general will admire it." ”

Looking at his admiring face, Sun Chuanting had a heart attack, but he couldn't do it.

……

Tongguanwei inherited the tenth generation of commanders Zhang Eryou has a quiet temperament, but at this time he can't hold back his inner excitement, as a local guard, his task, of course, is to follow the order of the governor, lead the military households and people in Dongyuan to relocate.

At first, he summoned the officers of the guards to announce the matter, and everyone was still skeptical, but when he led his own family and the cavalry of the tiger master, with boxes of silver yuan, to a military fort called Beitoubao in Dongyuan, a local city of a thousand households.

He recruited all the military households, and after opening the box on the spot, he revealed the layers of white flowers and round things inside, and all of them gasped.

Recently, there have been thieves riding around to spy around, and legend has it that hundreds of thousands of thieves are approaching, and the military households are all panicking, not knowing whether to stick to it or join the thieves? At noon, the general came back to Yan Sun Du to let the military households relocate, and each household was compensated, and everyone was skeptical, there would be such a good thing?

Most of them do not want to leave their homes, and when people leave, what if their houses and the surrounding wheat are spoiled by thieves? The poor family is also their own treasure, and the home is destroyed, how will they live in the future?

However, when Shangguan ordered it, how could the humble people dare to resist and not be afraid of being caught in the Fa? was hesitating to see if he hid in a ditch to avoid, but the scene in front of him proved that the legendary thing turned out to be true.

The well-informed also exclaimed: "That's the silver yuan of Xuanfu Town." ”

The silver in front of me is so strange, flattened, and round, each shape, fineness, weight looks almost the same, well-informed knows, this is the silver dollar of Xuanfu Town, currently only in the provincial capital and some big cities circulation, full of hard currency.

Not to mention the silver round, even those who have seen the copper round can brag with the neighbors for a long time when they come back.

Emigrants, each household can get these ten silver yuan? Move! Why not move?

Sometimes good things can also be spread thousands of miles, under the powerful silver yuan offensive, the people of Dongyuan did not have the slightest resistance, one by one happily took the silver yuan, helped the old and the young, drove pigs and sheep, with belongings, from the distant ditch to cross over continuously.

The migrating team was huge, and even many military households who didn't know where to run ran back again, and the hidden households that had disappeared for a long time also appeared one after another. ”

After getting the compensation of the silver yuan, they also knew how to feel the feel, caressing the pattern on it, the way to blow and listen to the buzzing sound of the silver yuan to distinguish the real from the fake, and it spread quickly among the military households.

The supervising battalion is everywhere, guarding the safety of the people, and is responsible for supervision, so that each household has ten silver yuan, a lot, and the military households are grateful.

"Lord Sun, Marquis Wandai."

The relocation of Dongyuan was orderly, and the flow of people poured along the path on the ditch to Nanyuan, and then they saw the banner of Lord Sun on the plain, and saw Lord Sun under his banner, he was draped all over his body, and the generals around him were crowded, like the stars and the moon, and the image was so tall.

All the military households and the people sincerely cheered to the banner, and many people also knelt down one by one, thanking the patron saint in their hearts, the generous and benevolent Lord Sun, looking at their sincere appearance, Sun Chuanting suddenly felt that ten taels of silver per household was not a lot.

He was even more stunned and thought: "My generation has read the books of the sages and sages, and it is also for the well-being of the people...... Money is something outside of the body. ”

……

Gao Jie, the new commander-in-chief of Shaanxi, arrived at Tongguan on the afternoon of 17 July, and by this time the new army had all arrived, and Tongguan City was in full swing of defensive preparations.

After receiving the plan, their army camped along the Wei River and Xiyuan, and then entered Guancheng, Nanyuan, Forbidden Ditch and other places one by one to see the arrangements made by the Shuai camp for them.

Among the towns in Shaanxi, Gao Jie, Zheng Jiadong, and Niu Chenghu defended Tongguan with the new army, and they were in the barracks, ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 each, and then the guerrilla-level generals in the town needed to send troops, ranging from more than 1,000 soldiers, more than 2,000 soldiers, and even several hundred soldiers per person.

There are about 15,000 soldiers in the three towns, and it is impossible for the real number to be so many.

After all, it was normal for each battalion to eat empty salaries and drink soldiers' blood, and even Yang Guozhu and others could not avoid it at that time, and the hinterland was even more corrupt, and their actual total strength was about 10,000, or 11,000 people, and the Neima infantry ranged.

Because Sun Chuanting has Wang Dou's assistance, he is considered to be wealthy, and he has paid all the arrears for half a year in one go, and now he also has a monthly salary, so the morale of the soldiers is very high.

Although many people in Shaanxi are now resentful of Sun Chuanting, the army generally supports him, and they don't care where Sun Chuanting's money comes from, in short, it's good to have money.

However, the shortcomings of the old army can be sorted out in a moment? Gao Jie arrived at the end of the day, but with him, there were only more than a thousand horsemen, and thousands of infantry were still far behind, and it might take a few days to arrive.

The rest of the tours and reinforcements from all walks of life, the soldiers and horses of Guyuan and Lintao two towns, will take longer to arrive.

The arrangement of the battalion soldiers, the meaning of the commandery, was to let them fight in the field, and as guerrillas, only part of them would accompany the new army to defend.

The soldiers and horses of all sides continue to arrive, inside and outside the city of Tongguan, full of horse infantry troops, the tent is extended, the breath of Jin Ge iron horse spreads, as the news of the horse continues to come, the thieves are approaching more and more, Sun Chuanting stepped up the defense line of the second ditch to repair.

The Jingbian military admirers believe that by allowing the new army to participate in defense construction, they can accumulate their practical experience.

There are also military households and civilians inside and outside the cities of Nanyuan, Xiyuan, and Tongguan, and they should not be allowed to be idle, and they should be let know that this war has nothing to do with them, but they should pay attention to ways and means, and they should be lured by profit.

Sun Chuanting also let go, and according to the opinions of Wu Zhengchun and others, a large number of military households and ordinary people were hired to do things, and they were incorporated into the baggage team, giving wages, food and clothing, so that the enthusiasm of the soldiers and civilians was very high.

On the 20th, Sun Chuanting inspected the city defense, from inside the city to outside the city, from the south to the west, everywhere he went, there was a cheer, and countless people cheered at his banner: "Governor, governor, governor." ”

Sun Chuanting suddenly felt a feeling of tears in his eyes, and Wen Shiyan beside him said happily: "The army and the people are concentric, their strength is broken, and Tongguan is already an iron wall!" (To be continued.) )