In March, when the grass grows and the warbler flies, the warm sun shines on the earth, making people feel warm.

Winter turns to spring, the snow melts, and the slight chill in early spring is now blown away by the spring breeze.

In the second year of Xingping of the Han Dynasty, March 20.

On this day, Zhang Yan, Tai Shici, Xu Chu and others, who had just arrived in Luoyang City, did not stop in Luoyang, and continued to lead 10,000 cavalry to Xin'an County.

Xin'an County is only seventy miles away from Luoyang, and there is a Xiongguan in the territory, called Hangu Pass. It is reported that the Son of Heaven who returned to the east has arrived in Xin'an County, which is only a few miles away from Hangu Pass, and those troops who guard the Son of Heaven must know that they occupy Hangu Pass and snipe Li Dao, Guo Yan, Zhang Ji and others.

Therefore, Zhang Yan's goal is Hangu Pass, as long as he occupies Hangu Pass, with his dangerous terrain, he will block the advance of Li Dao, Guo Yan, Zhang Ji and others, and prevent it from going further.

The Hangu Pass here is not the Hangu Pass built by the Qin State during the Warring States Period, but was built during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Qin's Hangu Pass, in the Hongnong area, after the establishment of the Han Dynasty, the Qin Dynasty's Hangu Pass was gradually abandoned, during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the general of the building boat Yang Fu in order to be able to make himself a Guanzhong person, he played Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, moved the Hangu Pass to the east for more than 300 li, and re-established a new Hangu Pass here, and the Hangu Pass of the Qin Dynasty was gradually abandoned and re-established as Hongnong County.

Zhang Yan and others rushed west along the official road non-stop, passing through Henan County and Gucheng along the way, leaving 1,000 cavalry to garrison and stay for reception.

At this moment, there was a fierce battle inside and outside Hangu Pass, and Zhang Yang, Yang Feng, Yang Ding, Li Le, Han Xian, Hu Cai, Qubei and others led their soldiers and horses to stick to the west gate of Hangu Pass. successfully blocked the soldiers and horses of Li Dao, Guo Yan, and Zhang Ji from closing the door. Dong Cheng led his troops to guard today. and civil and military officials hiding at the east gate of Hangu Pass.

Zhang Yang, Yang Feng, Yang Ding and others relied on the danger of Hangu Pass, guarded the city, and kept firing arrows at Li Dao, Guo Yan, Zhang Ji and others outside the pass with bows and arrows, and Li Dao, Guo Yan, Zhang Ji and others also let the archers counterattack.

For a time, hundreds of arrows flew between the two armies, and people were constantly killed. However, as soon as this side was shot, it was replenished by the other side. The area of Hangu Pass is narrow, although Li Dao, Guo Yan, and Zhang Ji have many soldiers and horses, they are never useful, and Zhang Yang, Yang Feng, Yang Ding and others do not dare to leave easily, and the two armies confront each other with bows and arrows, from noon to now, it has been almost two hours.

Seeing the sun set, the twilight is four, and one can't attack it. One couldn't leave, and the two armies were stuck here.

Gradually. Both armies were exhausted, and the archers were so tired that their arms were tired enough to choke on them, so they had to change a group of archers every once in a while.

Just when the two armies were at a stalemate, the sound of thunderous horses' hooves came from far and near, and the earth seemed to tremble, and this majestic and magnificent sound, like a blunt weapon, kept knocking on the door of everyone's hearts.

Dong Cheng, who was located at the east gate of Hangu Guan, was the first to feel this majestic change, and immediately climbed the gate to look east.

But I saw that on the narrow official road in the twilight, groups of cavalry roared in, extending along the official road for a long distance, thousands of horses galloping, the river was endless, endless, and there was no end in sight.

Since moving west to Chang'an, Dong Cheng saw such a majestic army for the first time, and he was surprised by such a momentum and such a military appearance.

Dong Cheng looked carefully, but saw that a big flag with the word "Zhang" in the team was fluttering in the wind, and the person who rushed to the front was wearing a helmet and armor, his eyes were like torches, his face was cold, and he looked mighty from a distance.

When he got closer, Dong Cheng finally saw this person's face clearly, and he who had been worried about not knowing where the soldiers and horses were, suddenly showed an extremely joyful smile on his face, and couldn't help but shout: "It turned out to be Zhang Yan......"

Dong Cheng never dreamed that Zhang Yan would have such a majestic army, looking at the world, how many princes could have 10,000 cavalry under his hands?

"Reinforcements are coming, reinforcements are coming......" Dong Chengxing shouted loudly and happily, and while ordering someone to open the gate and let Zhang Yan and others enter the gate, he ran down from the city wall and hurried to see the Son of Heaven and tell the Son of Heaven the good news.

The Son of Heaven hid in the Guancheng in despair, surrounded by hundreds of civil and military officials, everyone had a sad face, their clothes were tattered, and they were even more tired.

The screams have been in my ears for a long time, and as soon as the sound of rolling horses' hooves came, the Son of Heaven and the civil and military officials all felt that the situation was worse, thinking that it was Li Dao, Guo Yan, and Zhang Ji's soldiers and horses coming, and they trembled.

“bixia…… bixia……”

Dong Cheng shouted loudly while running, his face could no longer suppress the joy in his heart, and he ran towards Tianzi quickly.

Liu Xie, who was only fourteen years old, was the son of heaven in the Han Dynasty today, and Liu Xie's face at this time was haggard, and he was physically and mentally exhausted and unkempt in order to escape for his life along the way, and even his clothes were scratched a lot by branches and shrubs, and he looked like a flower child who asked for food.

However, with a fair complexion, he has a sense of nobility all over his body, and the clothes on his body are also extremely luxurious, and his luxurious identity can be distinguished at a glance.

Liu Xie's face is thin and dry, his body is thin, his stature is relatively short, and there is another circle of blackening around his sunken eye sockets, which seems to be caused by not resting well.

As for his appearance, he is extremely handsome, and he can be regarded as a creamy little student.

Hearing Dong Cheng's shouting, Liu Xie, who was already hungry in his belly, asked weakly: "What happened outside the gate?" ”

Dong Cheng knelt beside Liu Xie with a happy face, and shouted loudly: "Qiqi bixia, our reinforcements are coming......"

"Reinforcements?" When Liu Xie heard this, he was taken aback, and his whole person became much more energetic, and he hurriedly asked, "Where are the reinforcements?" ”

"Bixia, Zhendong General Zhang Yan personally led thousands of troops and horses to come to the rescue, now that he has arrived at the gate, I have asked people to open the gate, and now Bixia no longer has to worry about not being able to return to Luoyang!" Dong Cheng said excitedly.

"What do you mean...... It's all true? General Liu Xie asked suspiciously.

"What Weichen said is true, and there is no lie. If Bixia doesn't believe it, she will go with Weichen to take a look at the closed door. ”

Civil and military officials. Hear the good news that Dong Cheng said. The sorrow on his face was all gone. Follow Liu Xie and walk towards the east gate of Hangu Pass.

At this time, the east gate of Hangu Pass was wide open, and Zhang Yan led the cavalry, taking the lead, taking the lead, rushing to the front, and seeing the gate wide open. Without hesitation, he galloped into the gate.

As soon as he entered the gate, Zhang Yan hurriedly reined in his horse, stayed at the gate, and asked the soldiers guarding the gate arrogantly: "I am Zhang Yan, the general of Zhendong, where is Bixia now?" ”

Zhang Yan's voice was still swirling in the air, but he saw a group of people in tattered official robes walking out of the city with a fourteen-year-old boy in their arms, and Dong Cheng even supported the boy.

Zhang Yan saw that this boy was wearing a dragon robe and a crown on his head, who would it be if it wasn't Liu Xie, who would it be.

Thereupon. Zhang Yan immediately turned over and jumped off the horse, and walked straight in front of Liu Xie. Immediately knelt on one knee on the ground, clasped his hands into fists and said: "General Zhang Yan of Chen Zhendong, it's too late to save the driver, please forgive Bixia!" ”

Liu Xie saw that Zhang Yan was tall, strong, and quite powerful, so he immediately helped Zhang Yan up, and said with a smile: "Aiqing quickly calm down, Aiqing came at the right time, not too late at all." ”

Zhang Yan stood up from the ground, and Tai Shici and Xu Chu led the cavalry to arrive separately and directly blocked the city.

Liu Xie saw that Zhang Yan's subordinate cavalry were all strong, and he was overjoyed, thinking that with Zhang Yan's help this time, there was hope for him to return to the east.

Zhang Yan glanced at the huge Hangu Guancheng, and immediately hugged his fists and said: "Bixia, the minister brought eight thousand elite cavalry, and the rest of the soldiers and horses are behind, Hangu Guancheng is too small for Bixia to stay here, and please lead Bixia to lead the civil and military officials to move to Gucheng, and the minister will lead the army here to be responsible for blocking the army of Li Dao, Guo Yan, and Zhang Ji." ”

Liu Xie nodded again and again, grabbed Zhang Yan's hand, and said tremblingly: "My life is entrusted to Aiqing!" ”

"Bixia rest assured, the minister has already asked people to prepare everything in Gucheng, I will send someone to escort Bixia first, wait for me to repel Li Dao, Guo Yan, Zhang Ji and others, and then go to Gucheng and Bixia round!"

"That's very good."

So, Zhang Yan sent a thousand elite horsemen to escort Liu Xie, Dong Cheng, the son of heaven, and hundreds of civil and military officials, all the way to the east, in the direction of Gucheng.

Zhang Yan led Tai Shici, Xu Chu and seven thousand elite horsemen to gallop into the Hangu Pass.

Although Hangu Guancheng was narrow, it was long enough, several miles long, and it was built on a narrow strip of land, enough to accommodate seven thousand elite horsemen.

As soon as Zhang Yan entered the Hangu Guancheng, he went directly to the west gate.

At this time, near the west gate of Hangu Pass, the battle between the two sides was not so fierce, but the battle continued, and seeing that the sky was about to get dark, the two sides never had the intention of stopping.

Outside Hangu Pass, Li Dao, Guo Yan, and Zhang Ji were all in a hurry, Hangu Pass was easy to defend and difficult to attack, everyone came in a hurry, and they did not carry siege weapons, they could not attack for a long time, seeing that the sky was about to darken, but they did not dare to have the slightest slackness, for fear that something would go wrong.

"Give me an attack, keep attacking, no matter what, you have to break this level!" Li Wei brandished his spear and commanded the soldiers to fight, letting out a hysterical shout.

On the city wall of Hangu Pass, Zhang Yang, Yang Feng, Yang Ding and others all shared the same hatred, and with the help of the high wall, they desperately defended it, and no one dared to retreat. Because they know that Hangu Pass is a line of defense for them, once it is breached, there will be plains to the east, and if they want to fight with Li Dao, Guo Yan, and Zhang Ji, it will be the same as sending them to death!

However, the soldiers were exhausted, and the repeated battles for several days also made the soldiers complain, most of the soldiers were injured, and the liliang of defense became smaller and smaller.

At this moment, the sound of thunderous horses' hooves suddenly sounded in the city of Hangu Pass, which made Zhang Yang, Yang Feng, Yang Ding, Li Le, Hu Cai, Han Xian, Qubei and others very nervous, and their hearts were full of fear, and they were all secretly thinking, could it be that the soldiers and horses of Li Dao, Guo Yan, and Zhang Ji bypassed Hangu Pass and killed from behind?

(Note: The Hangu Pass mentioned later in this article is the Han Dynasty Hangu Pass in Xin'an County, not the Qin Dynasty Hangu Pass in Lingbao, Sanmenxia City. (To be continued......)