Chapter 602 This road is blocked

Hangu Pass is located between Hongnong County and Taolin County. Together with Tongguan, it constitutes the two-level defense of the eastern gate of Guanzhong.

At this time, Chen Leng was in Hangu Pass, leading three thousand soldiers to defend the pass.

After Chen Ling returned from Jiangnan, he was praised by Emperor Yang Guang, who praised his loyalty and immediately appointed him as the governor of the three passes, leading 10,000 troops to garrison Tongguan, Puzhou Pass and Hangu Pass.

At this time, Chen Leng was standing on top of the city wall, watching the people passing through the border below. Two men on horseback came a mile away. They looked like master and servant. The man was wearing a green Confucian robe and had a long sword on his waist. He was about thirty years old.

The servant behind him was obviously his guard, tall and strong. Chen Leng watched the two approaching. The man in front looked like a scholar, but his temperament was definitely not like a scholar, especially the horse under his crotch, which was not an ordinary civilian horse, but a war horse. Chen Leng immediately became suspicious and ordered his soldiers, "Detain the two horsemen and interrogate them strictly!"

Two cavalrymen were captured, and under the threat of death, the followers quickly confessed that the horsemen were actually Yang Xuangan's brother Yang Xingmin, and they had just returned from Yang Xuangan's camp in Luoyang.

Chen Ling immediately ordered severe torture on Yang Xingmin. Yang Xingmin could not bear the torture and soon confessed his plan to seize Hangu Pass with Yang Xuangan.

In the cover of night, an army of 500 people left Hongnong County and marched rapidly towards Hangu Pass, 60 miles away.

This army was none other than the warriors raised by the Yang family, and was led by Yang Wanxiang, the younger brother of Yang Xuangan. Yang Wanxiang was also an Eagle-striking general who wielded a horse lance and had great martial arts skills.

According to the Yang family's plan, they will lead their troops to ambush near Hangu Pass. At four o'clock tonight, Yang Xuangan's army will attack Hangu Pass, and Yang Wanxiang will attack Hangu Pass from the west. With the help of both inside and outside, they can capture Hangu Pass in one go.

At the first watch, the team came out from the southern official road, and in front of them was the ancient Xiaohan Road. Hongnong County was located in the south of the Xiaohan Ancient Road. There was a fork road about thirty miles away from Hangu Pass. The official road to the east went to Luoyang, while the official road to the south went to Hongnong County.

Yang Wanxiang rode on his horse, looking vigilantly at the woods on the slopes on both sides. It was so quiet that it was a little scary. Even the sound of insects was gone.

Yang Wanxiang suddenly sensed murderous intent in the woods, so he quickly reined in his horse. At this moment, he heard a clapper sound, and crossbow arrows from the woods on both sides shot towards them like raindrops.

The servants and warriors were caught off guard and screamed in agony.

Yang Wanxiang was horrified and waved his spear to block the crossbow arrows. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his calf. His mind was in a trance and the powerful crossbow arrows instantly pierced his whole body.

Yang Wanxiang's eyes went dark and he fell off his horse.

"Kill!"

Ambushes emerged from the woods on both sides and rushed out. The leading general was Chen Leng. The remaining Yang family warriors were so scared that they knelt down and surrendered.

At four o'clock in the morning, Yang Xuangan's army arrived at Hangu Pass. Three fires suddenly lit on the city wall. This was the signal agreed upon by both parties. Yang Xuangan was overjoyed and personally led 5,000 cavalry to rush towards Hangu Pass.

The sound of horse hooves was like thunder and yellow dust was rolling, but just when they were still a hundred steps away from Hangu Pass, there was a sudden chaos of people and horses falling to the ground, horses neighing miserably, hundreds of horses fell, and the cavalry behind them rushed up. Arrows rained down from the top of the city, and the cavalry fell one after another.

Yang Xuangan climbed up with great pain, turned over and rode on an empty horse, shouting: "Retreat! Retreat!"

The cavalrymen behind turned around and retreated in a panic. Yang Xuangan was ambushed and suffered more than a thousand casualties. He himself broke an arm and was hit by three arrows in the back. Fortunately, his armor was thick and the wounds were only minor.

Yang Xuangan led his troops to flee in panic, and the military doctor rushed forward to treat him. Yang Xuangan was extremely angry and at the same time worried about the danger to his family.

At dawn, more than one hundred captured wounded soldiers were released and brought a letter to Yang Xuangan.

It was a letter from Chen Ling, who demanded that Yang Xuangan withdraw his troops before noon, or else he would arrest all members of the Hongnong Yang family. "Behead them for treason!"

Yang Xuangan felt helpless and quickly sent someone to invite Li Mi to discuss the matter. Li Mi sighed and said, "Li Zixiong advised you to take the Wuguan Road because Chen Leng was guarding Tongguan and Hanguguan. We have been attacking Luoyang for almost half a month. How could Chen Leng not know about it? How could he not be prepared? Even if we are lucky enough to break through Hanguguan, we cannot capture Tongguan."

His brother Yang Jishan also stepped forward and said, "Brother, you must make a decision immediately. Once the emperor's army comes and blocks us on the Qiao-Han Road, we will have no way to go up or down, and we will all starve to death."

Yang Xuangan was terrified and immediately said, "Then we should retreat back to Luoyang and head south to Wuguan!"

The army finally reached Hangu Pass, but had to turn around and go back. The soldiers complained and their morale began to drop.

A few days later, Yang Xuangan's army returned to Luoyang. At this time, Emperor Yang Guang's vanguard Qu Tutong led 30,000 troops to fight back.

Yang Xuangan quickly ordered Han Shiye to lead 30,000 troops to fight and cover his retreat to the south.

Yang Xuangan led an army of 80,000 in a hurry and marched south to Nanyang County. Han Shiye led his army to fight against Qu Tutong. Although both sides had 30,000 troops, the combat effectiveness of the armies was completely different. Han Shiye's army was defeated by Qu Tutong in one battle. Han Shiye had no choice but to lead his army to surrender to Qu Tutong.

Ten days later, Emperor Yang Guang finally returned to Luoyang. Although he was exhausted physically and mentally, he first went to the Imperial Study to meet with Yin Shishi and inquire about Yang Xuangan's rebellion.
Yin Shishi reported the process of Yang Xuangan's rebellion and the attack on Luoyang.

"Your Majesty, although Yang Xuangan has an army of more than 100,000, they have almost no training and no actual combat experience. They also lack siege weapons. Although they attack the city every day, they are not a big threat and their combat effectiveness is not strong. I have lived up to your majesty's trust and finally defended the capital."

Yang Guang nodded, "Thank you for your hard work, my dear. How is Yang Xuangan doing now?"

"He went to Hangu Pass first, but couldn't get through, so he retreated back to Luoyang and headed south, towards Jingxiang. I don't know if he will attack Jingxiang. The situation over there has not been reported to me, so I don't know. But I heard that the King of Jin also sent troops, so I wonder if he will block Jingxiang?"

"Have you sent anyone to investigate?"

"Someone has been sent, but no news has come back yet."

Yang Guang was also a little tired, so he ordered the court to appease the people of Luoyang, and he returned to the palace to rest.

That night, Yin Shishi hurried to the inner palace with urgent military intelligence to report.

Yang Guang met Yin Shishi in the Linding Hall.

"Your Highness, I have just received news that Yang Xuangan's 100,000-man army was divided into two groups in Nanyang County five days ago. One group attacked Wuguan and the other attacked Xiangyang. In Xiangyang, they fought a fierce battle with the army of the King of Jin. Yang Xuangan's army was defeated and he led the remaining troops to flee in the direction of Wuguan."

Yang Guang was startled and asked quickly, "Is there any news from Wuguan?"

Yin Shishi shook his head, "There is no news from Wuguan and Shangluo County."

Yang Guang was anxious and ordered: "Send someone to Guanzhong immediately to get information. I want to know the latest situation of Yang Xuangan!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an eunuch reported, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Yu has an urgent matter to ask for your audience!"

(End of this chapter)

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