There are two ferry crossings in the Huangshui River, one in Shancheng County and the other in Huangshui County. The river water in Huangshui County is relatively turbulent, and ordinary people can cross the river, but it is inconvenient for the army to cross the river in Huangshui River, so the crossing point of the army is in Shancheng County.

Shancheng County is about a hundred miles away from Huangshui County, with a population of only more than a thousand people. On that morning, Shancheng County gathered more than 4,000 Tang troops, but they did not cross the river, and everyone was very nervous. The generals just received news that the Zhou army had already captured Dadoubagu and Pipa Valley, and the 4,000 Tang troops stationed in the two places were completely destroyed. The Zhou army's vanguard had already reached the other side of Huangshui.

In the afternoon, Hou Junji also led a thousand soldiers to Shancheng County. Hou Junji, who received the news, was shocked and rushed to the shore to inspect. General Zhao Lin pointed to a banner on the other side and said, "General, look at where, the Zhou army has already set up a camp."

Hou Junji also saw a big flag fluttering opposite the wind, and he asked again: "Who said that the defenders of Dadoubagu and Pipagu have been completely destroyed?"

"Report to the general, at noon today, more than a dozen Tang soldiers escaped from Huangshui, and they brought news."

"Where are the soldiers? I have brought them to see me."

"After a while, more than a dozen Tang soldiers were brought up, and they quickly knelt down and saluted, "See General!"

"I'll ask you, how did Dadou Bagu be lost?" Hou Junji asked angrily.

"Report to the general, we are the defenders of Pipa Valley. We don't know how the Zhou army captured Dadouba Valley. However, the Zhou cavalry came very suddenly. We were caught off guard. The Daying Gate was broken through by the Zhou cavalry before they could even close it and were defeated."

"A bunch of cowards!"

Hou Junji pointed at several Tang soldiers with a horse whip and cursed, "What has it become like if you don't fight for a year? The spear has sprouted! Even the enemy cavalry is not ready to come. What's the use of raising you?"

A group of Tang soldiers were scolded and full of shame, but they didn't know that General Hou was not much better. A few days ago, they were still making trouble for the marriage of a concubine.

"Get out of here!"

Hou Jun gathered the horse whip and waved it. A group of Tang soldiers were so scared that they rolled away. Several generals asked, "General, what should we do?"

Hou Jun gathered to ponder for a moment, and then ordered everyone: "First guard the ferry, and do not allow the enemy to cross the Huangshui River to the south. I will immediately report to His Highness the King of Qin and listen to His Highness the King of Qin's arrangements."

The Zhou army was unstoppable. After snatching the Pipa Valley, Guest Li led three thousand cavalry to the north bank of the Huangshui River in just one night. However, Guest Li did not immediately order to cross the river. He also saw the Tang army on the other side, but their plan was not to rush to cross the river, so he sent several teams of scouts to continue to investigate the situation in the east.

Two days later, Liu Lancheng and another general, Longxiang Fan Wenchao, led 20,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry to the north shore of the Huangshui River. They began to build a camp on the shore and put on a long-term confrontation.

But this was just that Fan Wenchao led 20,000 infantry to confront the Tang army across the river. That night, Liu Lancheng led 20,000 cavalry to leave the camp and continued to run east along the north bank of the Huangshui River. The next afternoon, the 20,000 Zhou cavalry crossed the Huangshui River at the junction of Xiping County and Jincheng County and rushed into the Qinghan County. The prefect of Qinghan County immediately offered the city to surrender to the Zhou Dynasty.

Liu Lancheng led his army to rest in Kuanghan County for a night and replenish food and grass. They continued to set out after dawn. Their target was not Kuanghan County, but Tianshui County to the east.

It took only one day to enter Longxi County. Longxi County did not have garrison troops to defend it. This was also a relatively concentrated place for Guanlong noble manors. Prince Li Jiancheng once squatted here for several months, with rich food and grass. The prefect Xu Mai surrendered when he heard the news. Liu Lancheng did not order the army to enter Xiangwu County, but entered the original Tang army camp, and at the same time asked the prefect Xu Mai to come to the camp to meet.

In the camp, Liu Lancheng looked at the map on the table and pondered. This time they were carrying out the task assigned by the emperor himself. Under the guise of capturing the Huangshui Valley, Liu Lancheng led 20,000 cavalry to capture Tianshui County and Dasan Pass in a flash, and control the western gate of Guanzhong.

Of course, Dasan Pass was also crucial to the Tang Dynasty. Five thousand Tang soldiers were stationed here, and the pass was difficult and dangerous, so it was not easy to capture it. Liu Lancheng knew that he could not always be lucky and could send surprise troops to break through the pass every time, but he had another backup strategy.

According to the information provided by the Chang'an Intelligence Agency, the head general of Dasan Pass is Zhou Wenhou, a native of Taiyuan. His father died early and his mother raised his brother with great difficulty. Currently, his mother and younger brother are in Taiyuan City. Is this a piece of information that can be used?

At this time, a soldier reported outside the tent: "You reported to General Xu, the prefect of Longxi County, was here, and he followed his staff, and the prefect asked to come to see the general together."

Liu Lancheng nodded, "Let them come in!"

After a moment, the personal soldiers brought in two civil servants. The head civil servant was about fifty years old and looked quite elegant. It was the prefect Xu Mai, followed by a scholar in his thirty years old. He had a slightly dark skin, thick eyebrows and heavy eyes, and his eyes were particularly bright.

Liu Lancheng was very polite to meet Xu Mai and asked him to sit down. His aides stood behind him. A year ago, Zhang Xuan issued a public order that all officials of the Tang Dynasty were willing to surrender to the Zhou Dynasty. As long as there were no serious crimes such as corruption and abuse of power, they would remain in their original position in the future. After this news came out, many prefects and county magistrates secretly sent people to Zhongdu, and Xu Mai was one of them. He had long surrendered to the Zhou Dynasty and received a letter of appointment of the prefects issued by Zhang Xuan himself. He would continue to serve as the first prefect of Longxi County of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Xu Mai smiled and said, "I have prepared 10,000 stones of grain and 40,000 dan of forage for the general, and there are 4,000 sheep. The general should rest in Longxi County for a few days!"

"Thank you for your good wishes. We will only rest for one night tonight and we will set off tomorrow."

At this time, the aide behind Xu Mai smiled and said, "General Liu's trip should be to seize the Dasan Pass!"

Liu Lancheng was shocked and asked quickly: "Premier Xu, this gentleman is."

Xu Taishou smiled slightly, "This is Wei Zheng, who is wanted to capture by the Tang Dynasty. He has been hiding here for several days."

Liu Lancheng quickly stood up to greet him, "It turns out that the envoy of Wei is hiding in Longxi County, and our general also sent someone to Xiaoguan to pick up Mr. Ying."

Wei Zheng fled from the post station and felt suspicious in the back of the station. However, in fact, he crossed the Wei River and headed south, returned to Longxi County, and hid in the mansion of the prefect Xu Mai. This time, Liu Lancheng led a large army into Longxi, and he also followed Xu Mai to the military camp.

Wei Zheng was stunned and asked in confusion: "General Liu, why did General Li respond to me?"

"It is our emperor who is paying attention to Mr. He ordered the general to find Mr.."

Wei Zheng didn't expect that Zhang Xuan was so concerned about him. He was also moved and nodded silently.

Liu Lancheng asked Wei Zheng to sit down again and asked with a smile: "How did you know that we were going to seize the Great San Pass just now?"

Wei Zheng smiled and said, "A month ago, I was here. Prince Jiancheng and I talked about this. I said that the next step of the Zhou army would be to come from Hehuang, pass through Longxi County and Tianshui County, and seize the Dasan Pass. If the troops are to be fast, then cavalry is the most suitable. Today, General Liu is indeed here."

Liu Lancheng still asked in confusion: "How did Mr. Wei know that we will seize the Great San Pass?"

"This is an extremely clever deployment. After the Dasan Pass, the Hehuang to Longxi Tianshui line was basically abolished. The King of Qin could only transfer the army to Pingliang and Anding line. In this way, the Zhou army captured the five Hehuang counties, Jincheng, Longxi and Tianshui counties without any effort. At the same time, it also formed a state of attack on the Hanzhong area from north to south. So I infer that the Great Zhou would not wait until the end of the armistice before taking action. Only by taking action in the middle can it have unexpected results."

Liu Lancheng secretly praised Wei Zheng for his thorough understanding and that it coincided with the emperor's strategy. However, Wei Zheng did not consider the fact that the emperor was smart enough to consider the fact that seizing the great sanctuary would attract Li Shentong's army's defense to move westward, which was extremely important to Li Yuanji.

Liu Lancheng sighed and said, "Although the plan is good, it is really difficult to seize the Dasan Pass, and I can't do it."

The prefect Xu Mai smiled and said, "Do you know, why did I bring Mr. Wei?"

Liu Lancheng suddenly realized, "Is Mr. Wei a way?"
Chapter completed!