Chapter 685: Etiquette
Xiaoguan is located in Gaoping County, Anding County (not Gaoping in later generations), 200 miles away from Yuezhi City.
It is not an independent pass, but refers to the nearly 30-mile-long defensive zone in the Watting Gorge area.
With two peaks confronting each other on both sides of the canyon, and the Jingshui flowing in the valley, the canyon can be used to build large and small forts and forts by taking advantage of the vertical and horizontal terrain, forming a three-dimensional defense system.
Xiaoguan stands on a high place and always captures dangerous points.
However, since Emperor Guangwu re-established the Han Dynasty, there were no forces in the north or west that could threaten Guanzhong.
Even in the Tanshihuai era, most of the invasions were from Youzhou, Bingzhou, and at most Liangzhou.
Few people have mentioned the southward route to Xiaoguan in Anding County, which is located between Bingzhou and Liangzhou.
During the Liangzhou Rebellion in the Later Han Dynasty, most of the Qiang and Hu also took the Guanlong Avenue, passed Longguan, crossed Longshan, and entered Guanzhong.
I have to say that compared to the former Han Dynasty, the importance of Xiao Guan has dropped a lot.
In addition, the recent large-scale Qiang rebellion in Liangzhou ended at the hands of Cao Cao. By the time Cao Pi usurped the Han Dynasty, Liangzhou, Longyou, and Guanzhong were all under the control of Wei.
To the north of Xiaoguan are scattered Qiang and Hu, which do not pose any threat at all.
As a result, Xiaoguan's status further declined and it was basically in a semi-abandoned state.
That's why Zhao Guang was able to easily capture Xiao Pass while Anding County was responding to the Han Dynasty's Northern Expedition.
Yang Tiao, escorted by his own soldiers, ran all the way westward all night, and arrived at Xiaoguan City in the afternoon of the next day.
Zhao Guang, who was making hot pot, heard that Yang Tiao and his tribe came to Xiaoguan. He was so frightened that the mutton on the chopsticks fell to the table.
“Why is Yang Tiao here at this time? Could it be that something happened to Yuezhi City?”
As the guard general of Xiaoguan, Zhao Guang naturally does not cook hot pot and eat mutton all day long, but he still has some reflexes.
Thinking of this, he quickly stood up, picked up the mutton that fell on the table, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Then he rushed to the city gate in a hurry and saw more than a hundred people at the gate, and the leader was Yang Tiao.
Seeing Zhao Guang sticking his head out, Yang Tiao, who was so tired that he stuck out his tongue, perked up and said, "General Zhao, the Wei thieves are chasing after them in a hurry. Please open the city gate!"
There were footsteps coming from beside him. Zhao Guang turned around and saw Yang Wanwan coming over in a hurry, "General, there are no Wei troops outside the canyon."
The original main purpose of Xiaoguan was to defend the west and north, and did not pay much attention to the east.
So the location for building Xiaoguan was initially chosen to be on the east side.
Compared to the west, the canyon in the east is much shorter and the terrain is not so dangerous, so the role of Guancheng is even more important.
Although Zhao Guang is not good in other aspects, he is still qualified in leading.
At the same time, he has an advantage, that is, he is obedient and listens to Feng Yong.
Feng Yong asked him to stick to Xiao Pass and never leave lightly, and he always remembered it.
Hearing what Yang Wanwan said, Zhao Guang groaned, "This only means that the Wei army is not outside the canyon. We still have to be careful. Wei Ran, take the people down personally."
“Remember to disarm those people outside the city before letting them in, and be very careful. Also, after bringing them in, they must be closely guarded and not allowed to move around at will.”
Yang Qianwan cupped his fists and said, "No!"
After a while, Yang Wanwan led Yang Tiao to Zhao Guang.
"what happened?"
Before Yang Tiao could salute, Zhao Guang asked.
Yang Tiao's face was full of shame, "Go back to the general, Yuezhi City is lost."
Zhao Guang's heart sank and he took a deep breath, "How did you lose it?"
“The Cao thieves are so rampant that they attack secretly at night. The villain is unprepared for a moment and is captured..."
The more Yang Tiao spoke, the more ashamed and angry he felt.
After hearing what he said, Zhao Guang's face immediately turned livid.
At the beginning, he asked Yang Tiao to move to the west, so he didn't attach too much importance to Yuezhi City. What he valued was that the rebel army led by Yang Tiao could echo Xiaoguan.
The attitude towards Yuezhi City is that it is best to defend it. In that case, it can exert greater pressure on Guanzhong.
It doesn't matter if you can't defend it. As long as Xiao Guan is in hand, you can go south at any time.
As for Yang Tiao, his symbolic significance is more important than that of Yuezhi City, and we must try our best to protect him from death.
Now that Yang Tiao was able to run to Xiaoguan safely on his own, it was a blessing among misfortunes.
Just thinking that Yuezhi City was attacked and lost, but I didn't even know when the Wei army went north, it was simply extremely careless!
If the Wei army came towards Xiao Pass this time, wouldn't he suffer a big loss?
Thinking of this, Zhao Guang asked about the situation of the Wei army that attacked Yuezhi City. Unexpectedly, Yang Tiao could not explain clearly. He only said that the Wei army had at least ten thousand people.
Zhao Guang had no choice but to send someone to take him down to rest.
When he returned to the general's mansion in Guancheng and sent everyone out except Yang Wanwan, Zhao Guang gritted his teeth and cursed: "Trash!"
“We lost the city because we were confused. Not to mention how many people the opponent had, even the opponent’s general didn’t know who he was!”
“I shouldn’t have expected anything from such a rabble!”
Yang Wanwan said: "Didn't Yang Tiao say that there are at least ten thousand Cao thieves?"
Zhao Guang sneered: "More than 10,000 people? If there are more than 10,000 people, how about a night attack? Can we still give him a chance to take his wife and children to Xiaoguan?"
Recalling that he had persuaded Yang Tiao several times to move to the west, he insisted on defending Yuezhi City.
Now, like a bereaved dog, it came to look for him, but failed to bring even a scrap of useful information from the thief Cao. Zhao Guang became even more angry.
"Wei Ran, in the past few days, you have sent sentries to find out what is going on in Yuezhi City."
Yang Wanwan nodded: "Okay."
“After all, our vision is not as good as that of my brother.” Zhao Guang sighed, “My brother decided to train the troops in winter to adapt the soldiers to fighting in the cold winter. It was indeed foresight.”
Yang Wanwan heard Zhao Guang's words and said with a little worry: "Yiwen also wants my brother to train in the winter? I'm afraid something is wrong."
“Why don’t I know?” Zhao Guang smiled bitterly.
Not to mention myself, even my own master, who is the governor of Longyou, does not have the ability of his brother to dare to carry out a large-scale military training plan in winter.
In the past, whether in Nanxiang, Southern Expedition, or even stationed in Ju County, my brother would arrange the rear. I only had to lead the army, and I didn't have to worry about so many things. I felt that leading the army was very easy.
There are so many things to consider, and I always feel like my hands are tied. It is far less smooth than when I have the full support of my brother behind me.
“We must be extremely careful in these days until we know clearly the true and false status of the Wei army.”
Zhao Guang thought for a moment and said, "Let's do this. The two of us will take turns to patrol the various forts outside the pass every day to avoid repeating the mistakes of Yuezhi City."
The two discussed how to strengthen the defense. At the same time, they sent someone to quickly inform the Governor of Longyou about the loss of Yuezhi City.
By the time Feng Yong got the news from the Longyou Governor's Mansion, it was already December, entering the coldest season.
An engineering team in Pingxiang built a yard and dug pits in advance.
Shouyang does not have this condition. The usual way to keep warm is to sit by the fire and warm up.
"Xiahou Bahan attacked Yuezhi City at night?" Feng Yong took the official document and threw it away casually, "Even if Erlang was dragged down by Yang Tiao this time, he is really sitting at home, and disaster comes from the sky."
Although the fall of Yuezhi City was not Zhao Guang's fault, who told Xiaoguan to be closest to Yuezhi City?
Moreover, nominally Yuezhi City is still under the protection of the Xiaoguan garrison.
The fall of Yuezhi City is not a big problem.
But I don’t know how Yuezhi City was lost. It was really a big loss.
Now we can only find out that the defender of Yuezhi City is Xiahou Ba. Isn't this funny?
If he were the governor of Longyou, he would be angry too.
Yang Tiao is a man of great righteousness, how can he be punished?
So the blame will definitely fall on Zhao Guang.
What's more, the Governor of Longyou is still the old man Zhao who beat Zhao Guang from childhood to adulthood?
Feng Yongxian observed a second of silence for Zhao Guang.
Guan Ji picked up the official document and was about to read it carefully when she heard Feng Yong murmur again: "Has this Xiahou Ba finally appeared?"
“Alang knows this Xiahou Ba?” Guan Ji asked curiously.
“I don’t know him, but he’s heard of it.” Feng Yong shook his head, “His lord, Mr. Xi, should know that he is Xia Houyuan who was killed by General Huang.”
Xiahou Yuan was killed by Huang Zhong, and his son Xiahou Ba seems likely to confront Zhao Guang in the near future.
And Zhao Guang is most likely the son-in-law of the Huang family.
Thinking of this, Feng Yongyong couldn't help but smile strangely. This fate is really wonderful.
Guan Ji, on the other hand, saw Feng Yong's look and kicked him directly: "Xia Houyuan is the uncle of the old lady of the Marquis House in Xixiang."
"I heard that Xia Houyuan would rather starve his youngest son to death to support his old lady. He was closer to her than his own daughter."
"Later, Xia Houyuan died in battle at Dingjun Mountain. It was the old lady who asked the late emperor to collect Xia Houyuan's bones and give him a grand burial."
Zhang Xiahou is actually not too old, just over forty.
Just seeing the firelight reflected Guan Ji's face red, making her look even more beautiful, Zhang Xiahou... she was a proper old lady.
The only thing that Feng Yongyong didn't understand was that Xijun's reaction seemed a little too big, so he muttered: "Even if the old lady is Xia Houyuan's biological daughter, what does it have to do with me?"
Guan Ji had a half-smile on her face: "In that case, isn't Xiahouba Siniang's cousin? No wonder Alang is so familiar with him."
Feng Yongdeng was sweating all the time.
Xijun, this is a misunderstanding, please listen to my excuses, ah, no, listen to my explanation!
But how should I explain why I know Xiahou Ba?
Feng Junhou began to think hard.
After a long time, his eyes fell on Guan Ji and he said, "Xijun, have you noticed that your body has become more and more rounded since you were born?"
Guan Ji:…
At this time, the maid standing outside rescued Feng Yong: "Junhou, Madam Mu has arrived in Shouyang and is entering the city."
“Oh, so fast?”
Feng Yongyixi.
Although you can take the Western Han River from Hanzhong to Qishan, you can also go west along the Wei River from Jicheng to Xiangwu.
But after all, in such a cold weather, Li Mu was able to arrive so quickly. He was really fast enough.
"Mrs. Mu has been traveling back and forth these past two months, worrying about Alang's affairs and for my concubine. It must have been hard work, and Alang needs to be grateful."
Guan Ji reminded from the side.
“I know.” Feng Yong nodded and stood up, “Xijun, just sit here and I’ll go out and pick you up.”
For a dignified prince to go out to greet a lady, is this enough to give him face?
When Li Mu, who had just come from the city gate, saw Feng Yong standing at the gate of the Commander's Mansion, his expression changed. He quickly stepped forward, knelt down and saluted, "I have seen you before."
“Get up quickly, no need to be polite.” Feng Yong motioned for her to get up, “It’s been a hard journey from Hanzhong.”
As soon as Li Mu heard what Feng Yong said, he stood up and looked around, opened his mouth, but didn't dare to ask.
Although she didn't say it clearly, Feng Yong still saw in her bright eyes the question that she didn't dare to ask.
He smiled at that moment and said, "I came out specially to greet you. Please come inside."
Without these words, not only did Li Mu have a look of fear on her face, but even the entourage behind her also looked horrified.
“I really don’t dare to be a concubine for such a great gift from a king.”
The famous Lady Mu's face suddenly turned pale with fright, she took a few steps back and stood in awe with her head lowered.
"Others can't do it, but you can do it." Feng Yongyong smiled nonchalantly, "It's cold outside, let's go in first."
Li Mu pursed her lips and did not dare to take a step forward.
"This is what Mr. Xi means. It's too hard for you to travel back and forth between Longyou and Hanzhong. Let me thank you."
Feng Yong explained again.
Li Mu didn't hear the rest of this sentence clearly, and only remembered the first half of it.
Hearing that this was also the intention of Madam Junhou, she dared to say, "Your Majesty, please come first."
Feng Yong:…
Why do I feel like something is slightly wrong?
(End of this chapter)