Xingyuan Prefecture, before Dezong, was also called Liangzhou, which was Hanzhong.
In the first year of Xingyuan, Dezong fled south to Liangzhou to avoid Zhu Pi's rebellion. At that time, Liangzhou was in the midst of spring and the flowers were blooming. Wherever he passed, the people greeted him and ate pots of juice, which made Dezong have a good impression of this place.
Later, while Dezong was living in Liangzhou, and because of Liangzhou's rich material base, he was able to control the Guanzhong officials to put down the rebellion. Later, when he left Liangzhou and returned to Chang'an, he issued an edict to "promote Liangzhou to Xingyuan Prefecture", and Xingyuan became the first place in ancient times to name a prefecture with an era name. Soon after, Dezong issued an edict to raise Xingyuan Prefecture to the same level as Jingzhao Prefecture, and its jurisdiction included Hanzhong, Nanzheng and other places.
If you gain Xingyuan, you will control the gateway to Sichuan and Shu.
If you get Long to look at Shu, it means that if you get Hanzhong, you can control the lifeline of Shu.
…………
The shrill sound of the horn echoed in the rain curtain, lifting layers of white mist in the rain.
The trail was already muddy. On the high slope next to the trail, Liu Zhijun was wearing a thick raincoat, guarded by soldiers on the left and right, looking resolutely at the arduous march below.
The heavy rain in summer came quickly and fiercely, but Qi Jun just hurriedly put on his hat and raincoat and continued marching in accordance with Liu Zhijun's order.
This battle is all about the word "quick".
The Qi army has been losing battles with the Shu army in recent years. If they can win a big victory this time, they can restore the situation between the two countries.
"Jie Shuai, twenty miles further ahead is Qingni Ridge. The passes there are very difficult to attack. Although the spies said that Wang Zongkan of Lizhou has not moved, but do you think we should let the brothers rest for a while before marching? ?”
Liu Zhijun did not look back, but looked down through the rain curtain at the sergeant pushing the grain truck while shouting slogans.
"By the time you have rested, I'm afraid Wang Zongkan has already blocked you. What we're going to do is catch someone by surprise. Even if it's hard to chew, we have to gnaw him down! After leaving Qingni Ridge, you can follow the old road straight down to Xingxing. Yuan, even if Wang Zongkan leads his troops in time, we can retreat accordingly."
The general behind him, who was also wearing a raincoat, said nothing and just followed Liu Zhijun down the slope.
"The order goes down, the ordnance goes first, and the food and grass come later. We must fight quickly in Qingni Ridge."
"Follow the order."
…………
Qingni Ridge is the only way for Qinlong to enter Shu. It stretches for dozens of miles and is the most dangerous.
Li Bai once wrote "The Road to Shu is Difficult" during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. In the article, "How is the green mud rolling around, and the rocky mountains are covered with nine twists and turns at a hundred steps", which is the Qingni Ridge.
The Shu army has garrisons at the seven passes in between. Although there are not many, they are enough for one man to guard the pass just because of its dangerous terrain.
But also because of this, the Qi army only brought lighter siege equipment such as ladders and ballistae.
As long as the heavy rain hits Guanxia by surprise, the low city wall alone cannot stop the Qi army's surprise attack.
The heavy rain just kept pouring on the ground, and a string of black lines slowly jumped out from the gray horizon.
Liu Zhijun was riding a horse, and the big flag with the word "Qi" behind him was wet by the rain and hung down, dripping wetly with rainwater.
At the front were the armored infantry moving forward in a dark mass. Under the cover of the rain, when the garrison on the opposite side saw them, it was too late to prepare.
Along the way here, I don't know how many small villages were pulled out by Qi Jun, just for now.
Some generals who were holding the reins tightly could not help but breathe a sigh of relief when they saw Liu Zhijun's calm and calm look.
Starting from Fengzhou, if we rush here in less than two days, there should be no defense on the other side.
"Tap tap tap..."
The rapid sound of horse hooves rushed over from the front, and the muddy road was trampled with mud and water splashing everywhere, which made the generals feel tense for a moment.
"Commander Genjie, Qipan is closed, no Shu army is stationed..."
As soon as the knight with the small flag on his back saw Liu Zhijun, he immediately tightened the reins, reined in the horse's hooves and made an urgent sound.
Liu Zhijun had a strange look on his face, and then he heard a general beside him making a confused sound.
"Could it be that because of the news, the Shu army abandoned the pass and left?"
Liu Zhijun didn't answer, he just pulled the reins, bypassed the large group of infantry in front, and ran forward.
The generals behind him did not dare to delay and followed closely at the same time. In the canyon obscured by rain and fog, the sound of horse hooves trampling through muddy water instantly resounded.
After running forward for a while, everyone reined in their horses and stopped, looking at Liu Zhijun frowning through the heavy rain and looking at the dark shadow of the pass not far away.
According to experience, this distance is just outside the range of the Shu army's crossbows.
"How did you see such heavy fog?"
Liu Zhijun raised his riding whip, pointed at Qipanguan in the distance, and turned to ask the knight.
"Commander Genjie, my subordinate took another two hundred steps forward. But there was no one behind the door, not even the Shu flag..."
Liu Zhijun kept frowning and was about to lift the reins. Everyone heard the sound of a city gate being pushed open in the rain and mist ahead, amid the continuous pounding of rain.
"Be careful, Commander!"
Amidst the exclamations, Liu Zhijun pushed away a soldier blocking his side and stared at the rain and mist in front of him.
Amidst the sound of horse hooves, a black horse's head first poked out from the rain and mist, and then its slender figure in green clothes emerged from the horseback.
"Everyone, Li has been waiting for a long time."
Amidst the young man's faint laughter, everyone could only see a bamboo hat on his head.
But neither the young man nor the dark horse seemed to be wet by the raindrops.
All the generals were stunned for a moment, holding the sword at their waist and trying to pull it out.
Liu Zhijun, who had the highest rank among the generals, suddenly understood and whispered.
"dismount."
While the generals were still puzzled, they saw that Liu Zhijun had dismounted and knelt on one knee.
"Your Majesty Liu Zhijun..."
Before he could say anything, his knees seemed to be supported by a hand, making him unable to kneel down.
Li Jing held the horse's belly and rode it slowly over with a smile. Looking at the bewildered generals and Liu Zhijun who wanted to kneel but could not, he dismounted and held his arm.
"General Liu has led all the generals to work hard all the way. King Qi asked me to welcome you here."
The generals who were still riding on their horses saw Liu Zhijun's respectful look and did not know that this ordinary young man had a high status. They immediately dismounted and stood behind Liu Zhijun.
But looking at Li Jing who was holding Liu Zhijun's arm, he couldn't say anything.
Li Jing laughed, patted Liu Zhijun's arm, and reached out to Qipanguan as an invitation to move forward.
"Generals, please lead the soldiers into the pass and take a good rest."
Liu Zhijun nodded slightly, with a calm expression on his face, and turned to look at the tall, strong man with scars on his face.
"Chu Shan, you stay and make arrangements. If there is no room for everyone in the pass, a camp will be set up outside the pass. The grain trucks will be sent into the pass first, and the ordnance must not be damaged."
The big man Chu Shan just scratched the back of his head and raised his hands to Liu Zhijun in a military salute.
"Follow the order."
