……

After sitting in Xia Yuancheng for a few days and explaining some things, Liu Zhibang only took a company of guards of the Guards Regiment to Hukou Pass, from sunrise to sunset, Liu Zhibang spent a whole day to arrive at Hukou Pass when the sun was about to set, along the way he saw new settlements being built everywhere, large tracts of wasteland were reclaimed, neat square-shaped fields, Liu Zhibang seemed to see the magnificent scenery of thousands of miles of rice fragrance, and his mood was very happy, slightly diluting his melancholy last night.

"Who is coming, the city gate is closed, if you want to pass the pass, come back tomorrow!"

Raise your eyes and look at the huge city wall in front of you, not slightly weaker than the Xia Yuan city wall, and even worse in defense, Hukou Pass is a canyon, because the shape is like a downed kettle and get the name, the narrowest part of the canyon is only more than two hundred meters wide, both sides are full of steep cliffs, only this road can pass through within hundreds of miles, it has always been a place for soldiers to fight.

"We have an important military situation to report to Hukou Pass, Hongtai Hongguan, please report it!"

On the castle tower, he asked, "Do you have a certificate?" ”

"I have a waist card here, please take it and give it to Lord Hongguan!"

A guard respectfully took the waist card handed over by Liu Zhibang, and threw the waist card on the head of the city with a flick of his hand across the twenty-meter-wide moat.

"Ah...... This kid has a lot of arm strength, and he can throw such a light thing, it's not simple......" The soldiers on the city tower talked for a while.

"What kind of person...... These clothes don't show their identity, but they all look like they are tigers, are they the personal soldiers of the commander of the mountain fierce division? ”

Liu Zhibang's eyes swept around the city, although it was already dark, there were still hundreds of soldiers holding on to the city, and all of them looked vigilant and full of spirit, Liu Zhibang nodded with satisfaction.

After a while, suddenly there was a gathering of copper trumpets behind the wall of Hukouguan, followed by countless footsteps, and in less than two minutes, after the footsteps stopped, the sound of the number was heard at the throat.

"Put the drawbridge and open the gates!"

A voice full of joy sounded, there was a click, the huge drawbridge was slowly lowered, and as soon as the city gate opened, a figure rushing out laughing while running.

"Report to the commander, Hukou Pass Lord Hong Tai will report to you!"

Hong Tai rushed to Liu Zhibang's horse, knelt on the ground and clenched his fists, and reported loudly.

"Master Hong has worked hard, please get up quickly!"

Liu Zhibang jumped off the horse and picked up Hong Tai, both of whom couldn't hide their joy.

"Chief, the team is assembled, please review!"

Groups of soldiers stood neatly on the school ground, their bodies standing straight, but their curious eyes were fixed on Liu Zhibang.

"Hello comrades!"

"Hello Chief!"

"Comrades have worked hard!"

"Serve the people!"

In addition to the soldiers defending the city, the soldiers of the five regiments stood densely on the school grounds, and the response of the soldiers echoed in the valley for a long time.

Liu Zhibang inspected and said, "Well, that's good, Master Hong has a good way of leading the troops!" ”

Hong Tai said with a smile: "There is a training outline and a detailed military discipline manual given by the commander, and everyone can lead the troops, hehe, commander, why don't you notify me before you come, and let me prepare well!" ”

Liu Zhibang smiled and said, "If I had told you in advance, would I still know the real situation?" Master Hong, Hukou Pass is very important to us Han people, this is the only barrier to resist the Jinguang Empire, you have put this place in order, you have worked hard! ”

Hong Dao continued: "Commander, you are so important to me, how can I not do my best, this is what I should do......"

After inspecting the team, Liu Zhibang went to look at the other wall facing the Golden Light Empire, and at this time, the night had fallen, and he could only vaguely see a few lights a mile away in the distance.

Pointing to a light in the distance, Liu Zhibang asked, "Where is that?" ”

Hong Tai smiled and said: "That is the newly built border market, temporarily called the Oriental Trade Square, there are currently more than 20 large and small merchants resident, only military households live in Hukou Pass, civilian merchants are not allowed to stay, they only live there......"

Liu Zhibang nodded, and asked again, "How far is Dushan City from here?" ”

Hong Tai replied: "Dushan City is still two hundred miles away from Hukou Pass, it is a big city, with 500,000 residents, it is the most prosperous city in the south of the Jinguang Empire......

Liu Zhibang asked again: "It seems to be comparable to Wumang City, since the Hukou Pass changed guards, has there been any change on the side of the Golden Light Empire?" ”

Hong Tai continued: "There has not been a large-scale army movement yet, occasionally a few rangers come to snoop, but since the opening of the Oriental Trade Square, there is a mixture of fish and dragons, and there are often small craftsmen of the Golden Light Empire pretending to be merchants to spy on the military, we have caught some, but we can't prevent it, they are more and more clever in disguise, it is difficult to see through the ......"

Liu Zhibang nodded and said, "Well, you are in charge of Hukou Pass, you can set up an intelligence department, select smart and capable soldiers to mix in those vendors, and get first-hand information, so that Hukou Pass can be safer......

Hong Tai spread his hands helplessly and said: "Commander, I'm a big boss, how can I understand this!" ”

Liu Zhibang looked to the side and said: "I brought some people over this time, this is Ah Yun, he is from the Old Fire Dance Clan, and he has learned a lot from my side, and he will be responsible for the intelligence work of Hukou Pass and even the Jinguang Empire in the future." Shanyun, you have to help Master Hongtai a lot in the future! ”

"Yes!" A young man in high spirits walked out behind Liu Zhibang.

Shanyun is a member of the Fire Dance Clan, only in his early twenties, but he is a veteran in the Han army, because he is very clever, he is very loved by Liu Zhibang, and he has been a guard by Liu Zhibang's side, hearing and seeing it every day, learning a lot of knowledge, and worshiping Liu Zhibang very much, regarding Liu Zhibang as a god, the most loyal.

Shanyun put his feet together and saluted: "Senior Commander Hong, Shanyun of the Guards Regiment reports to you, please instruct!" ”

Hong Tai laughed, patted Ah Yun's shoulder happily and said, "I see you kid again, the young eagle has finally grown up, and the sky belongs to you......"

Liu Zhibang stayed at Hukou Pass for a day, leaving two platoons for Ah Yun to form an intelligence department, and after explaining some things, Liu Zhibang left Hukou Pass with only one platoon of guards.

After walking less than five miles, you will see a bustling market ahead, and you can see from the new building materials that it has not been built for a long time, and people of different costumes have shuttled in front of the various shop stalls, haggling with the shopkeepers. Liu Zhibang and his entourage entered the market after passing the inspection of the guards in the trade square, there were two rows of brand-new shops on both sides of the wide road, and the signboards of various businesses hung on one side of the street.

……