Gongsun Zan led his troops and marched for several days before arriving at Sishui Pass.
As one of the eight passes in Luoyang, Sishui Pass is the gateway to the east of Luoyang. It has been guarding the safety of the capital since Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty established his capital in Luoyang.
The general guarding Sishui Pass heard about Gongsun Zan's vanguard army and hurriedly sent a horse to report to Dong Zhuo, the Prime Minister's Mansion in Luoyang, the imperial capital.
Since Dong Zhuo rescued the young emperor and entered Luoyang in Beiman Mountain, he has abolished and established things, monopolized power, drank and had fun every day, caused trouble in the palace, slept on the dragon bed at night, and did all the things that powerful officials can and cannot do.
Here, Dong Zhuo's son-in-law and adviser Li Ru received an urgent document from the Sishui Gatekeeper and immediately went to Dong Zhuo to report it.
Dong Zhuo was enjoying himself here. He was greatly surprised when he heard that there was an emergency at Sishui Pass and hurriedly summoned his generals to discuss countermeasures.
After the generals were seated, Dong Zhuo told them about the emergency at Sishui Pass. As soon as he finished speaking, he saw someone step forward.
But I saw that the man was nearly ten feet tall, with sword-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes, and was extremely brave. He was none other than the flying general Lu Bu.
"Father, there is no need to worry. The eighteen princes outside the pass are like grass and grass. I am willing to personally lead the tiger and wolf army to cut off all the heads of these princes and hang them in the capital."
Dong Zhuo was originally worried about the power of the alliance of princes, but he was very happy after hearing Lu Bu's words.
"I have Fengxian, so I can sit back and relax!"
Before Dong Zhuo finished speaking, he saw a man coming out from behind Lu Bu and shouted loudly.
"How can you use a bull's knife to kill a chicken? Don't bother Marquis Wen to go there in person. I'll cut off the heads of the eighteen princes just like picking something out of a bag."
Dong Zhuo saw that the man was nine feet tall, had a tiger's back and a wolf's waist, and was extremely majestic, so he asked who he was.
"I am Kansai Hua Xiong, that's right!" Hua Xiong answered with his hands raised.
Dong Zhuo said happily when he saw that Hua Xiong was born very majestic.
"Appoint Hua Xiong as the captain of the cavalry school, leading an army of 50,000 horsemen and infantry. In addition, Li Su, Hu Zhen, and Zhao Cen will accompany the army and immediately set off to Sishui Pass to meet the enemy."
...
At this time, Bao Xin, the Prime Minister of Jibei, the allied princes, saw that Gongsun Zan was the vanguard and his troops were strong and strong, and he was afraid that Gongsun Zan would take the lead.
So he secretly sent his younger brother Bao Zhong to lead 3,000 men and horses to take a small road and rush to Sishui Pass in advance. Unexpectedly, Hua Xiong, who was rushed for reinforcements, raised his sword and slashed it under his horse.
Many of the three thousand men and horses were captured alive. Hua Xiong was promoted to governor by Dong Zhuo for his merits.
Because Bao Zhong took a shortcut, his marching speed was faster than Gongsun Zan's vanguard.
Three days after Bao Zhong was beheaded, Gongsun Zan led the vanguard to Sishui Pass.
When Gongsun Zan came to the pass, he saw that the city gate of Sishui Pass was tightly defended and was easy to defend but difficult to attack, so he said to Gongsun Fan who was standing aside.
"Zhong Jing, the Sishui Pass is very tightly guarded. Our army has traveled a long distance and our soldiers are tired. We will set up camp first and wait until night to think of a good strategy to break the pass."
"The last general takes command!" Gongsun Fan bowed his hands and bowed.
Gongsun Zan's vanguard force totaled 15,000 men and horses, among which 3,000 elite cavalry were white horse followers under Gongsun Zan's command.
But it was said that after Hua Xiong killed Bao Zhong, he felt that all the princes in Guandong were just idiots, and even Gongsun Zan, who had just arrived in front of Guan, did not take him seriously.
Hua Xiong summoned generals Li Su, Hu Zhen, and Zhao Cen to discuss matters. After they sat down one after another, Hua Xiong said contemptuously.
"From my perspective, this Gongsun Zan is just like Bao Zhong. The enemy is coming from afar and the soldiers are tired. At midnight and at dawn, Hu Zhen and I will lead five thousand elite troops to attack the camp and defeat it in one fell swoop."
"Captain, Gongsun Zan has been in the northern part of the Great Wall for many years. His subordinate Baima Yicong is the best in the world and is proficient in military formations. You should not underestimate him!" Li Su reminded Hua Xiong when he saw that Hua Xiong was a little arrogant.
"I think Li Su, you are frightened by the bandit army. The Prime Minister ordered me to be the general. I will do it now. How dare you disobey?" Hua Xiong threatened Li Su.
"The general is willing to listen to the commander-in-chief's orders!" Hu Zhen responded, knowing that Hua Xiong was now the popular man in front of Dong Zhuo.
Li Su wanted to say something else, but was stopped by Zhao Cen who was standing aside.
After everyone dispersed, Li Su found Zhao Cen and asked why he had stopped him from speaking.
"Brother Li, you are confused. Hua Xiong is now a popular figure in front of the Prime Minister. What can you do if you contradict him?"
"Taking a step back, Huaxiong's night attack strategy may be feasible. As long as we guard the city, it will not harm us regardless of whether this strategy is successful or not."
Zhao Cen said to Li Su seriously, and Li Su could only sit helplessly and watch the development of the situation.
...
Outside Sishui Pass.
Gongsun Zan's army had already set up camp, and after dinner, the generals gathered in Gongsun Zan's main tent to discuss matters.
In the main tent, Gongsun Zan sat in the first place, followed by Gongsun Zan's subordinate Wen Wu.
"We have been called here to discuss good strategies for breaking through the barrier. If the generals have any good strategies, there is no harm in speaking up!" Gongsun Zan was the first to speak, thus setting the tone of the discussion.
"My lord, Yun Yuan will lead his troops to the pass tomorrow to challenge and test the reality inside the pass!" Zhao Yun was the first to step out and said with his hands in hand.
Since joining Gongsun Zan's army, Zhao Yun has assumed the role of Gongsun Zan's bodyguard. This is such a trust that he wishes he could tie a grass ring to repay Gongsun Zan's kindness.
"My lord, it's better to go at the end of the day tomorrow. My broadsword has long been hungry and thirsty!" Gongsun Yue saw Zhao Yun coming out of the queue and rushed forward.
"Zilong and Shurui are brave. There is no need to fight. Tomorrow you two will go together to test the reality in Sishui Pass. You must be careful and don't take it lightly!"
"Lord, just watch, I will kill you before I go to the border tomorrow!"
"Yun takes command!"
Gongsun Zan had given the order and would wait until tomorrow to test the situation inside Sishui Pass. Cheng Yu got up and went out on the road at this time.
"Ming Gong, our army has come from afar and has been marching for several days. The army is tired and exhausted. We must beware of the enemy's night attack at Sishui Pass."
Chen Gong was shaken when he saw Cheng Yu's words.
After getting along with him these days, he found that Gongsun Zan had the world at heart, was unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness, marched rigorously, cared for his soldiers, and never harassed the people along the way.
Looking around the world, he seemed to be unable to find another prince like Gongsun Zan, so he immediately spoke.
"What Zhongde said is true. Just now I looked at the city gate of Sishui Pass at night and found that soldiers at the gate were frequently mobilized. The enemy's night attack is very likely tonight, so we must be on guard!"
Gongsun Yue stood up after hearing this and said.
"Don't worry, my lord, if the enemy dares to attack at night, the general will kill them by the thousands!"
"Lord, Yun is willing to ambush and kill the enemy together!" Zhao Yun also came out and said.
"What Zhongde and Gongtai said is absolutely true. Our army has just arrived, and the enemy's night attack may be huge. But with Shurui and Zilong, I feel at ease." Gongsun Zan looked at the majestic appearance of the two men and said with a smile.
Immediately, Gongsun Zan decided to use his central army's tent as bait and ordered Zhao Yun to lead an army to ambush on the left side of the camp, and Gongsun Yue to lead an army to ambush on the right side of the camp.
Taking the fire in the Chinese army's tent as a signal, the two men led their troops to fight out one after another, ensuring that the enemy troops would come but not return.
After the discussion, the generals dispersed to lie in wait, waiting for the enemy to come.
