Yanmen County was first established by King Zhao during the Warring States Period. It is located at the northern foot of Gouzhu Mountain (i.e. Yanmen Mountain) in the western section of Beiyue Hengshan Mountains.
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the administrative seat of Yanmen County was located in Shanwu City, with a total of 14 counties under its jurisdiction.
Yanmen County is located on the front line of the border with the grassland peoples and at the throat of the three Jin Dynasties. It is a veritable border county with constant wars.
Therefore, its official setup is different from that of inland counties.
In addition to the governor's seat at Zenwu, there were also east and west captains located near the pass, arranged in an east-west direction to flexibly resist the Huns.
At present, the prefect of Yanmen, who is in charge of the military affairs and people's livelihood in the county, is named Chen Huan (huàn), and he is an old subordinate of Chen Xi (xī), the hero of the veteran group.
Chen Xi was a native of the old Wei State. He was also a knight-errant in his early years. He was Zhong Rannuo and practiced martial arts. He was a reckless hero who responded to a hundred calls.
In the first year of King Huai of Chu, when the Chu army led by Liu Ji passed through Wanqu (qú) County, Chen Xi's hometown, Chen Xi led more than 500 rebels under his command and joined Liu Ji's command. Since then, he has become the most core hero and general in the early Han Dynasty. one.
Chen Xi had always been acquainted with Zhang Cang. Before Zhang Cang was transferred to Zhao State by Liu Ji to serve as prime minister, the two of them were both civil and military. They had been stationed together around Dai Di all year round, and they had a tacit understanding.
This time, it was rare for Zhang Cang to return to Yanmen County in Daidi from Zhao State, but he went out to the fortress specifically for Liu Jing.
Seeing two old superiors, Zhang Cang and Chen Xi, personally giving guidance, the county guard Chen Guan worked hard and prepared all kinds of supplies for Liu Jing and his party that might be needed to go deep into the Xiongnu. He even took the hooves of the horses in the team, Checked them one by one.
In order to make sure nothing went wrong, Chen Wei discussed with Nie San, the border merchant who led the team, for a long time, and found several tall and strong "exotic animals" for the mission from unknown sources.
This is the first time Liu Jing from Qi has seen the legendary camel with his own eyes.
He originally had some grudges against this strangely described creature, but after hearing that they could be ridden, drawn, and carried on a pack, and could travel two hundred miles a day without fatigue, and could even go without food or drink for several days, he gladly accepted the creature. Several behemoths were included in his traveling team.
Everything is ready, just waiting to leave Yanmen and head north.
***
The day before Liu Jing and others got ready to set off, Chen Wei led Zhang Cang and Chen Xi along the winding ancient path to the Great Wall built on the ridge of Yanmen Mountain.
Yanmen Mountain is not extremely high, but the east and west mountains are steep and steep, forming a confrontation between two mountains. It is shaped like a door, as if only flying geese in the sky can enter and exit it, hence its name.
In addition to the inherent natural dangers, there is also a towering and majestic Great Wall, which snakes on the ridge and stretches to the sky. It contrasts with the steep terrain and together creates the famous "Yanmen Eighteen Passes".
Unless you fly over it from the air, the only passable middle road on the ground is winding and rugged. Yanmen Pass, known as "The First Pass of the Nine Fortresses", is firmly stuck on this middle road, making it the most difficult to defend and difficult to attack.
The three of them looked down from the ridge and saw deserted flat fields to the south, and endless grassland to the north. The two were separated by mountains and were clearly separated, forming a sharp contrast.
This is a barrier formed by earth, stone and flesh and blood, distinguishing the inland and beyond the Great Wall, the Central Plains and the Mobei, farming and nomadic life, and also symbolizing the frontier and defense against enemies, battles and farewells, loyalty and martyrdom——
If the Central Plains regime wants to expand outward, it needs to cross Yanmen Mountain;
Nomads who want to let their horses peep south also need to cross Yanmen Mountain.
Those who gain Yanmen will gain the world; those who lose Yanmen will lose the Central Plains.
Therefore, as early as a hundred years ago, Zhao Suhou, the father of King Wuling of Zhao, took advantage of the terrain here to build Zhao Beicheng, the predecessor of the Qin-Han Great Wall.
Later, Prince Wuling of Zhao inherited his father's legacy and used Hu clothing to ride and shoot. Foreign tribes such as Dapoloufan and Linhu established Yanmen County. Later, Zhao general Li Mu stationed there for a long time to resist the Huns.
But now, Liu Jing has to go out of this pass and go into unknown dangers. With his sharp tongue, he can buy the court several years of peace and breathing time.
Zhang Cang silently counted the endless watchtowers and beacon towers, and couldn't help but sigh,
"I originally thought that Liu Jing must be a coward since he offered the marriage plan.
But he dared to take risks and went deep into the barren area, which truly made the heroes of the world feel ashamed.
Come to think of it, in order to defend the Tao he believed in, he would probably go through fire and water, no matter what. "
***
Standing on the tower of Feng Sheng Hunter, the farewell crowd looked down at the group of envoys with reluctance, watching them follow Nie San's lead as they walked out of the pass in a mighty manner and walked into the distance.
"Is this Nie San reliable?"
"It is said that Nie San is a guest of the Xiongnu family, so it shouldn't be a big problem..."
"Mr. Liu, after all, he is also a famous person who was given the national surname by His Majesty. Will he just leave and never come back?"
The figures of the messengers became smaller and smaller, and gradually, even the straight bright red knot stuck in the car behind Liu Jing could no longer be seen.
Seeing them gradually disappearing into the gray and green sky, the doubts and worries in the eyes of the county governor Chen Guan and his generals became more and more obvious.
Chen Xi saw the doubts of these warriors, glared at them fiercely, then turned to Zhang Cang and said,
"...Um, Lao Nie won't sell Liu Jing, right?"
"You are just like them, just making unfounded worries.
Liu Jing has already left. If something happens to him, can you still send troops to rescue him? "
Zhang Cang looked at Chen Xi angrily. Seeing that he was speechless, he softened his tone and said,
"Nie San led the caravan to do trade with both sides. It has been so many years in the blink of an eye, and it can be said that it was done under our noses.
Don’t you still know his details?
When Liu Jing went there, at most he could not reach an agreement, his property was confiscated by the Huns, and he returned without success.
As long as he doesn't talk nonsense, Mao Dun may not let his blood splatter on the spot. "
Zhang Cang's words were not so much about comforting Chen Xi as they were about comforting himself.
"Look at Liu Jing's dull look, does he look like he's going to act by ear?"
Chen Xi curled his lips and expressed that the prospect of Liu Jing's departure was very bad.
"There's no point in looking through the autumn water now, you just stay on guard and wait for him to come back.
Lao Nie is pretty reliable. "
Zhang Cang patted Chen Xi on the shoulder, nodded to Chen Quan, and walked slowly down the tower.
***
Liu Jing, who was rated as dull, got along particularly well with Nie San.
Originally, Liu Jing kept an eye on it and memorized it silently along the way, hoping to use his memory to draw the location of the Xiongnu royal court;
But as their cavalry continued deeper into the grassland, what they could see, except for the same green grass, were the same flock of sheep on the hillside.
Even the rolling mountains in the distance look exactly the same, and there is not even a scene to mark them.
Liu Jing then gave up the idea of drawing a map and concentrated on chatting with Lao Nie.
Hearing that Nie San had been supplying goods to the Yan family in Maodun all year round, he couldn't help but be curious and asked the question that had been bothering him.
"How did I hear that Maodun Chanyu's Yan family had been shot to death by him with a hammer?
Could it be that Chanyu has renewed his relationship? "
Old Nie couldn't laugh or cry.
"Sir, why are you all just talking about things based on hearsay and making random assumptions in a serious manner?
The Yan family does not specifically refer to the queen of Chanyu. Various concubines among the Han people are also called Yan family in the Xiongnu.
Even Shanyu's mother and the wives and concubines of the kings below Shanyu can also be called Yan clan. "
"Oh I got it.
Then do they have the status of the big and small Yan clan? "
"Yes, the Yan clan we are going to meet this time is the Da Yan clan in your mouth.
Maodun Shanyu would not dare to shoot this Yan family to death. "
