The reason why the General's Mansion is located in Beiping City is because it is the center of the sixteen states of Yanyun, and it is also the apex of Xu Da and Chang Yuchun's life's achievements.

From the topography of the 16 prefectures of Yanyun, this narrow area of 1,200 miles from east to west and 400 miles from north to south has vertical and horizontal mountains and large rivers, and the terrain is very complicated. The majestic and precipitous Yanshan Mountains and the North Taihang Mountains are like two connected city walls standing in the north of the North China Plain, building a natural defense line for the Chinese nation to resist the southward movement of the northern iron horse.

Therefore, since ancient times, the Central Plains Dynasty has built a defense line here, built the Great Wall and five passes, firmly resisted the nomads outside the country, and guarded the Chinese people to live and work in peace and contentment.

However, the five generations of warlords at the end of the Tang Dynasty fought in a melee, and there was an ancient traitor Shi Jingjiao, who actually dedicated the sixteen states of Yanyun to the Liao State, which has since become a big heart disease of the Central Plains Dynasty, but several Northern Expeditions have all been defeated, and it was not until Xu Da and Chang Yuchun Northern Expedition that they recaptured Youyan, which had been lost for 400 years.

In the past 400 years, Youyan was in the hands of nomads, the Great Wall and the five passes were destroyed, and the entire defense facilities needed to be rebuilt. However, at this time, the Ming Dynasty formed an absolute advantage over the Northern Yuan, and the whole mind was the Northern Expedition, and it was all in one battle.

However, after more than ten years of catching mice, the Ming Dynasty gradually realized that the world in Mobei was too big, and as long as the Mongols wanted to escape, they could always flee to the vast places further north and west. Even the peerless general Xu Da could not annihilate him, but needed to maintain a huge Northern Expeditionary Army and consume national strength.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang, under the suggestion of Hou Huayunlong in Huai'an, adjusted his strategy in time and decided to rebuild the Great Wall and restore the five passes, 'more than 2,000 miles west of Yongping, Jizhou, and Miyun, and nine out of 120 passes were guarded'.

In this way, only a small number of border troops need to be stationed, and then cooperate with the elite cavalry to fight out of the customs to maintain the security of the border defense.

Xu Da's important task this year is to inspect the ancient Yanyun defense line and prepare for the official start of construction in the coming year.

Therefore, after the beginning of the year, he took the time to take Zheng Guogong, Changxing Hou and other major generals to inspect from west to east in the vast mountains in the north of Youyan, and spent nearly half a year inspecting Jinpo Pass, Juyong Pass, Gubeikou and Songting Pass, and then inspecting the easternmost Yuguan, Yanyun Five Passes were inspected.

Yuguan is located at the eastern foot of Yanshan Mountain, and has been an important military town in Northeast China since ancient times.

According to ancient records, the Yushui River was abundant in water and the water flow was turbulent, so the Sui and Tang dynasties set up passes to defend against natural dangers with the help of mountain rapids.

But when Xu Da took people to the former site of Yuguan, he was disappointed to find that the water volume of the Yushui River had decreased, and the water potential had slowed down, even in summer, it was not enough to be a barrier.

For the sake of rigor, he took water conservancy experts to inspect the source of the Yushui River. After some argumentation, it was determined that the reduction in water volume was not temporary, and it was impossible to return to the prosperity of the Sui and Tang dynasties in the future.

This conclusion silenced Xu Da, and he stood alone on the ruins of the ancient Yuguan, wanting to be quiet.

"Alas," Geng Bingwen looked at the worried general under the pass, and he was also very depressed. "Just by hearing what Mr. Storyteller is talking about, I can understand it now. The emperor's heart and mind of Yuguan, I am afraid that it will no longer be considered a natural danger. ”

"It doesn't matter if you want me to say it, you can cultivate it casually." The young Zheng Guogong Chang Mao said with a look of indifference: "The Tartars don't know where we went, and they dare to go south?" It's okay to dare to go south, we have been looking for a needle in a haystack all day long. ”

"Hehe, that's what Grandpa said." Geng Bingwen is known for his good temper, and he can also talk to an arrogant second-generation general like Chang Mao. He smiled and said:

"But it's hard to say what will happen in the future, thirty years in Hedong and thirty years in Hexi, thirty years ago, who dares to say that our Han people can drive the Tartars out of the Central Plains and recover Youyan?"

"That's right." Chang Mao nodded, and said with a smile: "I heard that the Tartar Iron Rider was invincible in the world back then, and this depravity is also very fast." ”

"How dare you say that in another thirty years, will our Ming army be invincible in the world?" Geng Bingwen looked at Chang Mao and said in an accentuated tone. The second generation of generals is still like this, and the next three or four generations are really not confident.

"Thirty years later, I will be invincible in the world...... Right? Chang Mao's words were put behind, and his heart was bottomless.

"Probably so, but I'm afraid of what if." Geng Bingwen said in a deep voice: "So we must rebuild an impregnable line of defense, so that in case the descendants are not good, we will have a basis for the future." It's called a plan. ”

"Hey, okay. You old people have the final say. Chang Mao saw Xu Da coming down from the ruins of the ancient city tower, and hurriedly greeted him to help. General, watch your step. ”

"Haha, you don't need to help, your uncle's legs and feet are still neat." Xu Da smiled and refused Chang Mao's support, at his age, he was very sensitive to these things.

"General, have you made a decision?" Geng Bingwen asked in a deep voice.

"Well, it's decided." Xu Da nodded, and said slowly: "This commander will give the emperor, the ancient Yu Pass is no longer controlled, and it is necessary to choose another dangerous place to build the pass." ”

"Understood." Geng Bingwen had expected this result, and he also knew that with the character of a general, he would definitely not throw the problem to the emperor. Since he said that he wanted to play, he must have a better location.

"Does the general have a charter in his heart?" He asked.

"Hmm." Xu Da nodded, pointed to the east and said, "Sixty miles to the east." ”

"Then go to the beach." Chang Mao interjected.

"Yes, it is to replace Yushui with the sea, and build the Great Wall to the sea, so that you will never have to worry about drying up and cutting off the flow." Xu Da said in a deep voice: "Take advantage of the natural danger of the Yanshan Sea to build a new Guancheng, control the western Liaoning corridor in the north, and also prevent the sea route!" ”

"If it can be built, it will be much better than here." Geng Bingwen said excitedly.

"Without further ado, let's go and see on the ground." Xu Dalei was resolute and immediately beckoned his soldiers to lead the horse over.

However, the plan could not keep up with the change, and at this time, a horse of his own soldiers galloped in.

"There is an urgent matter to report to the general!" The soldiers took out their waist cards, held them high through the layers of guards, came to the general, turned over and dismounted, knelt down on one knee and said: "Report to the general, my wife is sick, please go back quickly." ”

"What disease?" Xu Da asked in a deep voice.

"This, the villain doesn't know ......" The pro-soldier shook his head and said: "Madame explained it like this, and she didn't say anything else." ”

"It's normal not to say anything, how can a woman's problems be told to outsiders?" Geng Bingwen said: "General, go back quickly, Madam must be very sick, otherwise no one will call you." In the end, he will go to the beach with Zheng Guogong, and he will report in detail when he comes back. ”

"Ugh." Xu Da frowned and did not agree immediately.

"Yes, uncle, go back quickly." Chang Mao also helped to persuade: "My aunt is alone in the north without relatives, and when she is sick, there is no family around her, and now she neither fights nor performs, and it is really unreasonable not to go back." ”

"Hey, okay, I'll go back as soon as I go." Xu Da finally nodded and said, "You have arrived and waited for me for two days, and Ben Shuai will arrive later." ”

"No hurry, no hurry." Geng Bingwen and Chang Mao agreed to send the general back.

Seeing the general galloping away, the billowing smoke and dust raised by the horse's hooves were obviously like arrows.

(End of chapter)