Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 161 The Target! Hulao Pass!

North Midtown.

When Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty moved the capital to Luoyang, he used the latest bridge-building technology from the Southern Dynasties to build a pontoon bridge across the Yellow River, connecting Henan and Luoyang. He also built two cities, North and Central, north of the pontoon bridge and appointed the General of the North Central Army to defend Luoyang.

Now, this place has become a temporary command post.

When Yuan Shen entered Ye City and proclaimed himself emperor, he also pardoned the rebel army of the Six Garrisons, brought them under his command, and granted them official positions and titles.

However, Yuan Shen's empty promise could only be fulfilled after he entered Luoyang.

The scouts ahead were constantly bringing back the latest intelligence, and Yuan Shen's integration speed was far beyond what everyone present had imagined.

The Six Garrisons were originally a militia of refugees, and they did not engage in any management or operations, only plundering.

Yuan Shen took this style of play to its extreme.

After occupying Lunu City in Dingzhou, he also captured the cities of Yinzhou and Xiangzhou.

Yuan Shen not only pardoned the rebels of the Six Garrisons, but also did not make things difficult for the Han Chinese noble families. After capturing a city, he did not kill the officials in the city.

Those Xianbei officials and Yuan clan members who were willing to surrender surrendered, while those who were unwilling were imprisoned.

Unless it was an insurmountable obstacle in his path, Yuan Shen did not resort to drastic measures.

Just like Li Yuanzhong in Li Yuchuan, he neither surrendered nor made things difficult for Yuan Shen's army, and Yuan Shen went with him.

The main theme is that one's only goal is to go to Luoyang.

Erzhu Rong and Li Shengui each held their own views.

Li Shuang took the main seat.

After listening to the military briefing, Erzhu Rong understood the situation.

"This is going to be a tough battle; Yuan Shen is going to fight to the death!"

Yuan Shen used this method to quickly win over everyone.

But trying not to offend anyone means offending everyone.

Yuan Shen can only satisfy all his subordinates by quickly capturing Luoyang and using the city's vast resources.

After thinking it through, Erzhu Rong looked at Li Shengui and asked:
"General, what do you think?"

Luoyang is a place that, to put it nicely, is well-connected in all directions; to put it bluntly, it's a place that's leaky on all sides.

Now that we need to defend, it's time to be blunt.

The eight passes of Luoyang have existed for countless years, but at the latest, during the Han Dynasty, they had formed a defensive system.

However, these eight passes do not have a decisive strategic advantage and are not as formidable as passes like Hangu Pass, Tong Pass, and Jianmen Pass, which can be defended by one man against ten thousand.

If Erzhu Rong were in command alone, he would already have a strategy for how to defend.

But that's not the problem.

Erzhu Rong is not a main character in the Luoyang area now.

He couldn't fully allocate the resources in Luoyang, and he couldn't even control the area south of the Yellow River.

Therefore, we can only discuss it.

Li Shenggui pondered for a moment after hearing this.

"Tianba, what do you think?"

Hearing the words, Erzhu Rong looked at Li Shuang.

"Tianbao, are there any problems in Shangdang?"

"Tian Mu will keep a close eye on things and won't give Yuan Shen any opportunity to take advantage."

Li Shuang felt somewhat relieved after hearing this.

Yecheng is too close to Fukouxing. If Yuan Shen sends a detachment to attack and occupy Shangdang, he can cut off Erzhu Rong's army's connection with Taiyuan, making them unable to attend to both sides.

"Given the current situation, I still need to trouble you, brother, to lead the army to guard Hanoi and defend against the enemy."

Erzhu Rong had already anticipated this.

The imperial court could not allow his army to cross the river at this time, both as a precaution and to prevent his army from clashing with Li Shengui's army and causing a mutiny. Each side should manage its own affairs; this was the best course of action at present.

"Qingzun, has Changsun Zhi set off yet?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shengui said:
"We've already set off for Tongguan."

Li Shuang listened and nodded.

"We must ensure he holds Tongguan Pass; otherwise, the pressure on Hedong will be immense."

"Don't worry, Changsun Zhi is also a great general, he knows the stakes involved."

Li Shuang reasoned that Xiao Baoyin's rebellion at this time was due to the fact that Li Shengui and Erzhu Rong were fighting each other, and Yuan Shen had raised the banner of rebellion in Hebei. The court was too busy to deal with its own problems, so he could handle the situation calmly.

However, their reaction time was much faster than Xiao Baoyin had imagined, and they should be able to catch him off guard.

"With unrest in Hebei, it's possible that someone in Henan might have ulterior motives and respond to Yuan Shen's call, so we must be on guard."

As Li Shuang spoke, he placed the military chess pieces one by one on the map.

"Let Fei Mu guard Guangcheng Pass, Li Shuren guard Dagu Pass, Yuan Ziyong guard Huanyuan Pass, and Qingzhun, you take Hebayun to guard Yique Pass."

Erzhu Rong listened to Li Shuang's plan with a playful smile. He had thought Li Shengui would be dissatisfied, because Li Shuang's plan completely relegated him to a supporting role, placing him on the sidelines.

But to everyone's surprise, Li Shenggui not only wasn't angry, but also patted Li Shuang on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, I, as your older brother, won't let you down."

Erzhu Rong felt inexplicably angry upon hearing this, but he couldn't show it at the moment. He could only think to himself: "He got the benefit but is still acting innocent!"
He looked at the map and saw a gap in the defenses on the battlefield.

"Tianba, what are your plans for Hulao Pass?"

Without a second thought, Li Shuang placed the military flag representing his army at Hulao Pass.

"I will take responsibility!"
-

On the city wall of Jinyong City, Yuan Yong looked at the cavalry in the city and said:
"What a magnificent sight!"

These men were all Li Shuang's retainers. They were currently preparing in Jinyong City, having received the finest armor, weapons, and warhorses from the imperial court, and were ready to depart.

Yuan Yong also followed Emperor Xiaowen Yuan Hong in the southward migration and saw many elite soldiers and generals in his life.

He looked at Li Shuang's troops with a mixture of admiration and surprise.

However, Yuan Ziyou, who was standing next to him, was much less knowledgeable.

"With only three thousand five hundred cavalry, Li Shuang dares to go to Hulao Pass. What is he planning to do?"

Yuan Shen marched south. Although we do not know his specific marching route or how he planned to fight, he was leading the charge. The troops under the greatest pressure were Erzhu Rong's and Li Shuang's troops guarding Hulao Pass.

Upon hearing Yuan Ziyou's words, Yuan Yong simply said:
"Look at the troops under his command!"

Yuan Ziyou couldn't understand the trick at all, and simply said:
"Looking again, there are only three thousand five hundred people!"

"The imposing presence of these troops is unmatched by the pampered sons of nobles in the Imperial Guard. Only those who have fought countless battles can possess such military might."

Yuan Ziyou listened and seemed to be deep in thought, but soon his thoughts were shattered by a feeling of restlessness.

"Even if they are elite troops, what can they do? Yuan Shen has more than 200,000 men. If he takes Hulao Pass, he can march straight to Luoyang. What should we do then?"

Yuan Yong didn't care and simply said something.

"Does Yuan Shen no longer have the surname Yuan?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ziyou felt instantly at ease.

At that moment, a bugle call sounded in the city.

Li Shuang rode in on horseback, clad in armor, and glanced at Yuan Yong and Yuan Ziyou, who seemed to be sitting calmly on the city wall, before giving them a disdainful smile.

Without a moment's hesitation, he immediately issued the military order.

"set off!"

Target! Hulao Pass!

……

(End of this chapter)