Hangu Pass was the first pass between the Great Sui and the Eastern Turks. Hangu Pass was located on a plateau in the west, a mountain stream in the east, Qinling Mountains in the south, and the Yellow River in the north. It was one of the earliest fortresses built in our country. It was built in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It was the throat of Luoyang in the east and Chang 'an in the west. It was known as the "Heaven opens the Hangu Pass, and the ten thousand valleys shock the dust to the north"."The twin peaks stand beside the river. Since ancient times, the Hangu Valley has been a battlefield". It has been a battleground since ancient times. In the third year of King Shenliang of Zhou, King Huai of Chu led the army of the six countries to attack Qin. Qin relied on the natural barrier of Hangu Valley and sent the six armies to " bury millions of corpses and shed blood." In the sixth year of Qin Shihuang, the Chu, Zhao, Wei and other five armies invaded Qin." When they reached Hangu, they were all defeated." Liu Bang guarding the pass and rejecting Xiang Yu was carried out here. Hangu Pass guarded the throat of Xiaohan. It was connected to Hengling in the west, Juejian in the east, Qinling in the south and the Yellow River in the north. The terrain was dangerous and the road was narrow. It was known as "a car with no square track and a horse with no reins" and "a man guarding the pass could not open it". Since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Hangu Pass had experienced the struggle of the Seven Heroes and the war between Chu and Han. Whether it was to fight for the Central Plains or to advance into Guanzhong, Hangu Pass had always been a strategic location that military strategists would fight for.
The last time the Turks attacked was two years ago. The last time the Turks invaded from Dingxiang County, the border troops of the Great Sui were forced to retreat. The Turks fought all the way to Hangu Pass and besieged it for more than half a month. Although the Turks were forced to bypass Hangu Pass after failing to take it for a long time, the defenders of Hangu Pass suffered heavy losses in that battle. The pass was also damaged by the Turkic army and only repaired after a year of major repairs.
Due to the favorable weather in the grasslands over the past two years, and the fact that the Great Sui had signed an alliance with the Turks, Hangu Pass had not seen war for a long time. The garrison and residents here had slowly gotten used to a peaceful life.
Jiang Buttface yawned loudly. He hugged his spear and climbed up the watchtower unsteadily. He complained in fear," Damn it, I'm so tired. That brat Qiao Guai insisted on meeting his lover in the brothel last night and made me watch for him for the night. I just went to sleep in the morning, and now it's my turn to be on duty before noon. I had to get up right after I went to sleep. I'm so sleepy."”Jiang Buttface yawned again, looking tired.
It was not easy for them to climb all the way to the watchtower. Ma Gousheng, who was on duty on the watchtower, complained to the listless Jiang Buttface,"Buttface Jiang, you've only just arrived. I've been waiting for you for half a day. The weather is so damn hot, and I'm sweating all over.”Jiang Buttface said weakly,""Don't mention it. Last night, I stood for Qiao Guai the whole night. I just lay down and haven't woken up yet.”Then, he reached out to wipe his sweat." This damn weather is too damn hot! Alright, I'll stay here and watch. You can go back now. Remember to give me a cold bowl of water.”
"Yes!" Ma Gousheng said tiredly. He took off his leather helmet and dragged his heavy body down the watchtower. Suddenly, his expression changed and he said,"Gou 'zi, come over quickly. Look at what that is!”
Jiang Buttface yawned again." What's the matter? Why are you making such a big fuss? The Turks are also herding sheep at home now. In such terrible weather, they won't…" Jiang Buttface suddenly stopped. He stared straight ahead with his eyes wide open, wanting to see something clearly.
At noon, the sun was lazily shining on the ground, as if it was trying to vent all the fire in its body. The ground was a little dry, and some places even had some cracks. Occasionally, there was a short plant on the ground that drooped its head. The ground was scorched red, and when one looked into the distance, the scenery was distorted.
A small black dot appeared on the crooked land in the distance. It looked so strange in this blurry scene. Gradually, the number of twisted black dots increased. Jiang Buttface tried his best to open his eyes and look at those small black dots. They were getting closer. Jiang Buttface's expression finally changed. He suddenly shouted in horror,"The Turks! That's the Turkic army, quickly…quickly go light the smoke.”Ma Gousheng's face was also pale. He staggered all the way to the Beacon Tower. He picked up a pile of dry wood, weeds, and cow dung, poured a bucket of water on it, turned on the lighter, and fanned it desperately. Soon, a black smoke rose into the sky, which was so eye-catching in the clear day. Jiang Buttface ran desperately to the General's Mansion, shouting at the top of his voice,"There's a situation. The Turkic army is invading.”
Hearing Jiang Buttface's shout, the crowd and the guards became restless like acid on a slope. Some of the soldiers of the guards rushed to the barracks to put on their armor and weapons, while some of the well-dressed soldiers rushed to the top of the city wall. The ordinary residents shouted and ran home to pack up and escape Hangu Pass.
Hangu Pass was in chaos.
When the garrison general of Hangu Pass heard Jiang Buttface's report, he kicked a table where a banquet was being held. He put on his armor and picked up his saber, running up to the city walls. He saw a black mass of Turkic cavalry reorganizing their ranks below the city walls. These Turkic soldiers were all exceptionally valiant, and they were so dense that one couldn't see the end of them. It was as if the entire world was filled with Turkic cavalry as far as his eyes could see.
The garrison general of Hangu Pass was Xue Shixiong, the Great General of the Left Military Guards and the provincial governor of Hangu Pass. He was from Fenyin, Hedong, and a famous general of the Sui Dynasty. He held three door blades in his hands and stood upright on the city walls. He shouted at the Turkic soldiers in front of him,"Whose Turkic tribe are you? Don't you know that this is the territory of Great Sui? Moreover, Great Sui has an alliance with your Turks, and we usually don't invade each other. What are your intentions in coming to my city? Why are you attacking? If you retreat, Great Sui will not hold it against you, or else we will send out heavenly soldiers to trample on your Turks.”
After Xue Shixiong finished speaking, he saw a commotion among the Turkic soldiers below, but it quickly calmed down. Then a man rode through the ranks and arrived at the city wall at the gate. The man was wearing a leather armor, revealing his right arm. On his head was a hat made of long feathers, and he was riding a red dragon steed with a hard horn bow hanging from the saddle. He shouted to Xue Shixiong on the city wall,"I am Great General Tuer Huli of Qimin Khagan of the Eastern Turks. Today, my army has arrived, so if you know what's good for you, you should surrender and welcome us. Otherwise, our hundred thousand Turkic men will flatten Hangu Pass.”
"That scoundrel, what arrogant words! Could it be that you Turkic Qimin brat are disregarding the alliance between our two countries and our marriage?”Originally, in the 19th year of Emperor Kai (599), Princess An Yi, who was close to Qimin Khan of the Eastern Turks, died. In order to show good relations with the Turks, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty married the daughter of the imperial clan to Qimin Khan. In the Sui Dynasty, the leaders of ethnic minorities married two princesses in succession, only Qimin Khan. Princess Yicheng lived in the Turks for nearly 30 years. She successively served as Qimin Khan, Shibi Khan, Chuluo Khan and Kedun of Jieli Khan. In February 630, the fourth year of Zhenguan of Tang Dynasty, he was killed by Li Jing, the general of Tang Dynasty. Xue Shixiong couldn't help but fly into a rage when he heard the arrogant words of Tuer Huli."What a good kid Qimin, what big words. This provincial governor wants to see how you Turkic barbarians will flatten Hangu Pass. Let's see if the soldiers of Great Sui will kill you back to the grasslands or if you Turkic barbarians will flatten Hangu Pass first!”
The two sides were at loggerheads with each other, and it was not until nightfall that the Turks retreated a mile and set up camp. Xue Shixiong also gave orders to prepare provisions and evacuate the residents of the pass, preparing for war with the Turks.
At the same time, the beacon tower at Shanhaiguan in the eastern part of the Great Sui Dynasty was also filled with smoke. Soon, in the tent of Yang Yichen, the commander of Shanhaiguan, an urgent military report was placed on Yang Yichen's table. The surrounding generals stood silently on both sides, their eyes fixed on Yang Yichen, who was looking at the military report expressionlessly.
"Pa!" Yang Yichen threw the military report to the ground. The generals 'hearts skipped a beat as they stared at Yang Yichen. Yang Yichen glanced at the generals in the tent and said in a deep voice,"Ying Prefecture Governor Gao Baoning colluded with the Goguryeons to join forces and invade our Pingzhou with 130,000 soldiers. 'He will arrive at my Shanhai Pass in a few days. Gao Baoning is really an ingrate who can't be fed. He colluded with outsiders to invade. He even did such a thing.' He did not know how he could face his ancestors. Pass down the order. The civilians in Shanhai Pass should pack up their things and leave the pass immediately. Leave enough rations for their own journey and the rest as military rations. Prepare to fight to the death with the bandits and never let the bandits set foot on an inch of land inside the pass.”
"We will follow the general's orders and swear to live and die with the city pass!”The generals said in unison.
In the summer of the fourth year of Renshou of the Great Sui Dynasty, the Turks, Goguryeo and Gao Baoning came to the Great Sui Dynasty and arrived at Hangu Pass and Shanhaiguan. Emperor Wen was furious and ordered the generals Qu Tutong and Luo Yi, Marquis of Jizhou, to lead 100,000 troops each to help the two passes.
The border of the Great Sui Dynasty was filled with smoke. Qu Tutong and Xue Shixiong joined forces to block Qimin Khan and Hangu Pass with 160,000 troops. By October, the Turks had retreated and lost 20,000 people. They robbed the border of money, grain, women and livestock. The soldiers of the Great Sui Dynasty suffered 40,000 casualties. The emperor was angry and demoted Qu Tutong and Xue Shixiong.
In the winter of the fourth year of Renshou, Luo Yi led 10,000 Youyun Cavalry to defeat the army of Goguryeo and Gao Baoning, and the bandits retreated.
Emperor Wen was very happy and rewarded Luo Yi with food. The smoke of the two passes on the border was extinguished and the people returned.
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