Hangu Guanxi is located in the Plateau, facing Juejian in the east, Qinling in the south, and Yellow River in the north. It is the throat of Luoyang in the east and Chang'an in the west. It is known as "the sky opens Hangu to Guanzhong, and the dust is shaking the north." "Twin peaks are towering beside the river, and since ancient times, Hangu is a battlefield." In the third year of King Shenliang of Zhou, King Huai of Chu recruited the troops of the six countries to attack Qin. Qin followed the natural danger of Hangu, causing the troops of the six countries to "hide millions of corpses and drifting blood", which is a place that military strategists must fight for.

Luoyang, the capital of the Han Dynasty, had two barriers, one was Hangu and the other was Hulao. Hulao was currently in the hands of Dayan, guarded by Zhang Liao, and the tiger looked at the Central Plains. In fact, it means that Luoyang was in Yuan Xi's hands. However, at this time, Luoyang was even worse than a county government in Dayan. Because the eighteen princes of the eighteen routes attacked Dong and broke through Hulao Pass, the Allied Army was unstoppable. Dong Zhuo took the emperor and civil and military officials to move the capital westward and headed straight to Chang'an. In order not to leave any materials and equipment for the Allied Army, Dong Zhuo ordered: Anyone who could not be taken away,

All burned, and not only burned the palace, but also burned all the government offices and houses in Luoyang. Since 25 AD, Emperor Guang of Han, Liu Xiu, established the capital of Luoyang, and had been in operation for 170 or 80 years. The luxurious and prosperous capital Luoyang was burned by Dong Zhuo. From then on, Luoyang became a scorched earth. Within two hundred miles of surrounding houses were destroyed, and no chickens and dogs were left. Therefore, occupying Luoyang and winning the world has become a joke. Luoyang was burned, and the Han Dynasty was officially exhausted.

However, although Luoyang is gone, Hangu Pass and Hulao Pass still have huge strategic roles.

In the battle of Guandu, in order to force Yuan Xi to retreat, Cao Cao gave Hangu Pass and northern Guanzhong to Han Sui and Ma Teng, forming the strongest alliance and retaining a chance to breathe.

If Da Yan wants to completely recover Xiliang, he must also take down Hangu Pass. Perhaps someone wonders why he did not kill directly from the grassland. Logistics issues have to be raised here. The grassland is vast, the weather is weird, the terrain is complex, there are countless deserts and swamps. Therefore, Yuan Xi wants to build a stable city, but the city still needs a lot of time. Therefore, as a strange soldier, it is still possible. However, once a long war breaks out, the transportation of food and grass will become a great obstacle. In any war, the troops will not move, and food and grass will come first. Once there is a problem with the food and grass, even a million troops will suffer a crushing defeat. This is true in the Battle of Guandu that year.

If you take Hangu Pass, Dayan's iron army can march into Guanzhong, and there will be no obstacles in the food and grass, and the army can travel thousands of miles.

At this time, Dayan and Cao Cao were not concerned about who won and lost the civil war in Xiliang. The key was Hangu Pass.

In Yecheng, in the inner room of the Privy Council, Zhang Nan said to Li Ru with a serious face: "Left Prime Minister, I just got the news that Cao Cao sent Guan Yu to command 50,000 troops and secretly stationed in Chang'an."

In addition to Li Ru, important officials such as Tian Feng, Han Yan, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Sima Yi, and Xin Ping were also present in the Privy Council.

"Cao Cao also wants Hangu," Pang Tong sneered.

"Ma Chao defeated Han Sui in the north, Tianshui and Longxi continuously, and seemed to have gained the upper hand, but after a closer look, you will find that Han Sui was luring the enemy into the depths and looking for an opportunity to wipe out Ma Chao's 20,000 Western Liang Iron Cavalry," Sima Yi said seriously.

"Ma Chao was full of anger and only wanted to kill Han Sui. He fought all the way without stopping. The soldiers would be exhausted. The military strategy was full of chaos. He would lose his energy again and again. Liang felt that Han Sui would fight back soon, and Ma Chao would definitely be defeated," Zhuge Liang affirmed.

"If Ma Chao is defeated, he will inevitably retreat to Hangu Pass to seek assistance. Cao Cao's 50,000 troops stationed in Chang'an in order to cut off Ma Chao's idea of ​​asking for help from our Dayan. Should he immediately order General Zhang Liao's troops to attack Chang'an westward?" Han Yan suggested.

"No, if this happens, Ma Chao will definitely be vigilant. This matter must be voluntarily. In addition, although Hangu is important, Hulao will never allow any mistakes. The king said clearly that without his orders, General Zhang Liao must not be mobilized," Tian Feng said immediately.

"Cao Cao must have sent someone to send a letter to Hangu Pass, and even had the idea of ​​directly annexing Hangu Pass. Now it depends on whether Ma Chao keeps his promise to the king, or whether he has tried his best for the foundation of Xiliang and his own rights." Li Ru said seriously. After Ma Chao sent his sister to him, he had talked with Yuan Xi for a long time. Yuan Xi promised that if there was any change in Xiliang in the future and he was desperate, he would be willing to enthrone Ma Chao's brother-in-law as the Divine Power General of the Great Yan, form the Seventh Legion, and be ranked among the commander of the Great Yan.

"The promise is not very reliable. Since Cao Cao takes action, I, Dayan, must not let it go, otherwise there may be changes," Sima Yi frowned.

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly and said, "Actually, I, Dayan, have another move, which is why the king married the two daughters of Xiliang back then."

"Concubine Ma" Pang Tong immediately said, but soon felt a little embarrassed and said, "I heard that Concubine Ma was disheartened after knowing that the Ma family was destroyed, and she burst into tears. She had already become a powerful force with Concubine Han in the harem. If it weren't for the Queen's mediation, there would have been a mess. Would she be willing to do this?"

"Yes, sure, I will. At this time, Guipin Ma was really the most vulnerable. The reason why the king left was because he had feelings for Guipin Ma. At this time, he could not speak. The departure of the king made Guipin Ma even more need someone to protect her. This person was her biological elder brother Ma Chao. Cao Cao moved him with power, and I, Dayan, moved him with emotion. As long as Guipin Ma could write a letter and hand it over to Ma Chao, it would inevitably have a huge impact." Zhuge Liang said confidently.

"I will go to see the Queen and the Marquis of Runan immediately." After hearing this, Tian Feng immediately said.

"Left Prime Minister, give more promises, the king will not object. As long as Xiliang gets it, the Central Plains will be settled, and the dynasty will be successful." Seeing this scene, Li Ru immediately reminded him.

"Right Prime Minister is at ease" Tian Feng walked out of the Privy Council with a serious face.

"General Secretary Xin, you immediately send the Fourth Legion to inform Yuanzhi and make it ready. Once Hangu Pass is obtained, it will immediately sweep the entire Xiliang without delaying it," Li Ru ordered.

"No" Xin commented.

"Left Prime Minister, in addition to this, there is actually another problem. If Ma Chao really surrenders, what should I do if Concubine Han? The conflict between Ma Han cannot be reconciled. A choice must be made. And I heard that Concubine Han is very popular with the Empress Dowager," Sima Yi suddenly said seriously.

Li Ru was stunned, and after a while of silence, he said, "If Hanguguan really succeeds, he will report to the king immediately. The king is very talented and has a decision."

"No" everyone responded.

Not long after, in a gorgeous palace in the harem, Han Mengtong, dressed in noble and gentle appearance, looked at an eunuch in front of her with a worried face.

"You really saw Zuo Prime Minister and Runan Hou entering the queen's bedroom," Han Mengtong asked again.

"Yes, noble concubine"

"I knew that Hangu Pass was still in Ma Chao's hands, and it must be a huge disaster." Han Mengtong remembered a letter sent by Xiliang a few days ago. Her father asked her to use the identity of a noble concubine to support him in occupying Xiliang. She asked the person who sent the letter at that time. When she learned that Hangu Pass was not in his hands, she knew that something would definitely be wrong.

"Miss, what should I do?"

Han Mengtong immediately stood up and said seriously: "The Zuo Prime Minister must want to use Ma Yunlu to get Hangu Pass and open the Xiliang gate. This is no longer stopping. In addition, as the imperial concubine of Dayan, I cannot stop the king from unifying the world. The cold palace is to shock us, but we must save our father, brother, and their lives, because only they are here can this noble concubine be able to do it."
Chapter completed!