Hulao Pass is a powerful pass in the world. Legend has it that King Mu of Zhou once kept the tigers he presented here, so it was named Hulao Pass.

Hulao Pass is located on a narrow road between mountains and rivers, connecting Songyue in the south and Yellow River in the north. It is surrounded by mountains and ridges, making it a natural danger. This pass is blocking the road to the east of the Yiluo Plain and is the gateway to Luoyang. It has the momentum of one man as a pass and ten thousand men cannot open it.

Hulao Pass is close to Aocang, Xingyang. Aocang is the largest granary in the world. The grain in the Central Plains is sent to Guanzhong and the north. It is a national grain transit station. The military significance is self-evident.

Although the Yellow River flooded from the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, silt accumulated in the canals near Xingyang, and waterways were not smooth, which greatly affected shipping and Aocang's storage dropped significantly, its reserves were still considerable.

The terrain of Hulao Pass is too important, so Cen Peng is so anxious after receiving the news of Hulao’s loss.

Even now, although he has won Yanshi, he has lost Mengjindu and Hulao Pass in succession, which not only opened the gates of Hanoi, but also opened the gates to the east of Luoyang. Strategically speaking, it was simply a complete defeat.

However, as Feng Yi said, it is easy for Ren Shang to get Hulao Pass, but it is difficult to defend it. As long as Fu Jun guards Ao Cang in the east, and then uses a army to get stuck on the road to Hulao west, breaks his food route, and blocks Hulao Pass in the middle, Ren Shang is trapped to death.

Hulao Pass is built at the narrowest point of the road between mountains and rivers. There are no other paths to choose from east to west. To trap this Pass, you only need to pinch it on both sides.

The east of Hulao Pass is the area controlled by Wuhan. Fu Junke has a lot of resources, and Ren Shang has at most 10,000 soldiers. It is very difficult for him to advance eastward. The key now is to the west, and he must strangle his connection with Luoyang.

Zang Gong said: "This Hulao Pass was lost because of my negligence. I want to make the merits and then take back Hulao!"

Cen Peng said calmly: "I don't have so many soldiers to fill the pits under Hulao Pass. I only have 10,000 people to give you, but you are not allowed to rob Hulao Pass. You can only dig ditches in the narrow road west of Hulao Pass. Even if you dig the road, you can't let Ren Shang get a grain of food from the west!"

Feng Yi also said: "No need to attack the key points, just intercept the main road. As long as you have deep ditches and high bases, you can firmly establish the camp and defend the main road. If you still haven't attacked, you will defeat yourself."

Cen Peng's face became more and more gloomy, "Ren Shang's son thought he had obtained a fortress, and I wanted him to know that what he had received was his own grave!"

Zang Gong didn't dare to talk nonsense at this time, so he only brought 10,000 troops and took the order away.

Cen Peng said: "I lost Mengjin Ferry and Hulao Pass. Our army's food and grass can only be provided by Yingchuan. The Qing family must not lose any more on the road from Yingchuan to the Yiluo Plain."

Feng Yidao: "The grain in Yingchuan is enough to support it for a while. When the Hulao Pass is recaptured, the grain road will naturally be smooth, so the general does not have to worry too much."

Cen Peng said: "Ziwei has always been a steady person, so I trusted him with the important city of Hulao, and for some reason I made such a mistake."

Feng Yidao: "Hulao Pass is backed by Xingyang, and it is the land of my Han Dynasty. It is absolutely foolproof. Who would have thought that the enemy would appear? In terms of military use, Ren Shang's move was too sudden, his ideas were strange, and he was brave, and Fu Jun didn't notice it for a while. Junran, have you noticed that there are a group of young generals in Jianhan now. They really dare to use military service. Maybe they are not stable enough, but they are definitely accurate and ruthless. Even their chief general, Liu Mao, the King of Hejian, is only in his early twenties, but he knows the tactics of war and dares to use people. Once he comes, the situation in the whole Luoyang has completely changed."

Cen Peng said: "The land of Luoyang is a place for martial arts. Zhu Yu is incompetent and only knows to guard a corner. Although we have not taken Luoyang, we have gained the upper hand everywhere. In fact, with the 200,000 soldiers in Luoyang, can't even control the Yiluo Plain? This war should have existed long ago, but it was just postponed to this day. Liu Mao wanted to squeeze our army out of the Yiluo Plain. He blocked Mengjindu and Hulao Pass and closed the Yiluo Plain. Then Luoyang could be integrated. You can attack everywhere, and even defend and operate slowly. If you have been operating for two years, you will not need much support from Chang'an. At that time, even if you accumulate food and grass, it will not be so easy to win back to Luoyang! Gongsun, this time, we have a great relationship with both of us, and we must not make any mistakes!"

Feng Yi said: "You have dragged me into the water. I didn't say anything. Put state affairs first in everything. We will work together to fight against Liu Mao."

Cen Peng said: "Gongsun, I'm afraid you will fight against Liu Mao alone for a while."

Feng Yi looked at him and suddenly smiled, "Junran, I knew you had no good idea, you just could cheat me."

Cen Peng also laughed, "Looking at the young enemy soldiers who use military force in such a way, I have a bold idea..."

Liu Mao also received the news that Ren Shang had won the Hulao Pass at this time. Because the road directly to Hulao Pass in Luoyang was isolated, the news turned from Mengjin, so Liu Mao got the news one day later than Cen Peng and others.

Liu Mao was overjoyed, "Ren Shang's move was really a move from the sky. Now our army is closing the door and beating the dog!"

Suddenly he slapped again and sighed: "If Su Mao could send troops from Luoyang, seize the Huo family, and cut off the road between Cen Peng and Yingchuan County, he would be the dog locked in the house and had nowhere to escape. What a pity!"

Liu Mao once ordered Su Mao to send troops to capture the Via clan and block the gateway between Yingchuan and the Yiluo Plain. However, Su Mao delayed the dispatch of troops on the grounds that the elite troops in Luoyang were outside and the soldiers in the city were useless and were only enough to protect themselves, which made Liu Mao very angry.

But he had no choice. Now he has not completely controlled Luoyang. If he handed over Luoyang to his confidants, he might not even be able to suppress Luoyang City and would become in chaos. He could only hand over Luoyang to Zhu Yu and Su Mao, so that at least he could protect Luoyang from danger.

Now that Liu Mao has received support from Fangdan and Mu Hong, his strength has increased greatly. He fought against Cen Peng, but unexpectedly, Feng Yi came to support, and the opponent's strength also increased. The little advantage that Liu Mao had just obtained was wiped out again.

Liu Mao said: "Hanoi's troops were newly defeated and there was pressure from Hedong. We should not dare to launch a large-scale counterattack. Mengjindu had Cui Xiu led 10,000 elite troops to guard it, so we could not protect it. However, the Hulao Pass Ren was an isolated army, and the road must be smooth before we could defend it. But the enemy was closer to Hulao Pass than our army. What if it did?"

Cheng Guangdao: "The road leading from Luoyang to Hulao Pass is between Yanshi and Gongxian, both under the control of the enemy. Now, only from Mengjin to the east can we connect with Hulao. However, this road is located between high mountains and rivers, and some areas are relatively narrow. If the enemy is guarding it, it will be difficult to pass."

Liu Mao said: "Where is Dongfangying now?"

Fangdan replied: "In Mengjin."

Dongfang Ying was originally sent to Mangshan to harass the enemy troops supporting Mengjin, but Cen Peng did not support Mengjin, which made Liu Mao’s tactic useless. After that, Dongfang Ying did not return to Luoyang, but went straight to Mengjin nearby, and is now stationed in Mengjin.
Chapter completed!