In the dark night.

Li Ke led more than 150 light cavalry, starting from Chang'an, and after two nights of riding, they finally arrived at Tongguan, a natural hazard.

When they were in the Guanzhong Plain before, in order not to attract the attention of passers-by, they did not take the Yaohan Ancient Road, but took a small path.

At this moment, leaving the Guanzhong Plain, there are only two roads that can be walked, crossing the Yellow River to the north to Jin, and then going south to reach Xinyang directly, but it may take half a month.

The other way is to take the Yaohan Ancient Road, pass Tongguan Pass, Hangu Pass, arrive in Luoyang, and then arrive in Xinyang.

Originally, he wanted to take a boat, but today's shipping industry is controlled by people with the fifth surname and Qiwang, especially the Zheng family in Xingyang.

Wouldn't this be delivered to your doorstep so that people can find out the clues?

Tongguan includes Hantongguan, Suitongguan and Tangtongguan. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the water level of the Yellow River was very high and submerged the river bed, leaving only cliffs along the river. Therefore, Hantongguan had to enter the forbidden ditch first.

Hantong Pass is located on the north slope of Jinggou. Follow the winding road and pass through Hantong Pass to reach the top of the plateau. Then down the mountain, you need to go through five miles of dark alleys. The road is only a few meters wide. It can be said that one man can pass ten thousand men.

Don't open it.

After going downhill, you have to pass through Huangxiang Ban. There is no other way to go. Huangxiang Ban is adjacent to the plateau in the south and Juejian in the north. This is the Jindou Pass, the first line of defense of Tongguan.

The Sui Tong Pass is almost the same as the Han Tong Pass, but Tong Pass has been moved.

In the Tang Dynasty, the water level of the Yellow River dropped and the river bed was exposed. The Tang Dynasty blocked the Forbidden Valley and built a checkpoint directly on the river bed. It was possible to reach Jindou Pass directly without going to the top of the plateau through the Forbidden Valley and continue along the Yaohan Ancient Road.

Head to Hangu Pass.

"Who is coming? Please show the Tongguan ultimatum."

When the general guarding Tongguan saw a group of light cavalry suddenly coming, he immediately lit a torch, lighting up the entire top of the pass.

Li Bingdao immediately stepped forward and shouted: "I am Li Bingdao, and I have been ordered to come out of seclusion."

When the people upstairs heard that it was Li Bingdao, they immediately went downstairs, opened the small door, and came out to check the exit documents.

After checking the procedures, they immediately ordered someone to open the city gate. Li Ke and others left Tongguan and galloped all the way. They had to leave Hangu Pass before dawn.

The distance from Tongguan to Hangu Pass is about one hundred miles. Even if they march in a hurry, it will take four or five hours. It will be dawn by then, and they can rest outside Hangu Pass for a day.

The sky finally dawned. After running all night, Li Ke and others finally came out of Hangu Pass. Suddenly, their eyes opened up and they saw the endless plains.

After that, the troops were divided into three groups. Li Ke took the people from Yanyun's Eighteen Cavalry to live together. Li Bingdao took people to stay at the post station, while the people from Sishe took a rest for a long time after eating and took the ferry here.

Ship, go to Xingyang, make preparations and collect intelligence.

Three nights later.

Li Ke was riding a war horse, standing on a high hillside, looking at Xingyang City in the distance.

Xingyang was built very early. It is a military and political town. There is a chasm in the east (the canal of Wei State during the Warring States Period). Because it is located in the sun of Guangwu Mountain on the west bank of Xingze, it is called Xingyang.

The land here is fertile, the people are outstanding, and the mountains and rivers are beautiful. Historically, it has always been a battleground for military strategists, including Xingyang Pass, Hulao Pass and other dangerous passes.

Qin Shihuang unified the six kingdoms and set up Xingyang County here. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu fought for the world. Most of the stories happened here. The Chu-Han boundary is this gap.

Until the early Tang Dynasty, Xingyang was changed into a county and came under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou.

Nowadays, the Grand Canal connects the north and the south. Xingyang has risen again and become a transportation hub in the world. Food from the south must pass through here before it can be transported to Chang'an.

The Zheng family in Xingyang held the transportation in hand, which blocked Li Shimin's throat.

"Young Master, Xingyang City has been heavily guarded these two days. There are 3,000 soldiers guarding the city, of which 1,500 are government officials and members of the Zheng family."

"As for the Zheng family, they rarely appear on the streets, and they all stay at home."

"At the same time, the people of the Zheng family also have eighteen villages outside the city, all inhabited by the descendants of the Zheng family."

"The county magistrate of Xingyang is named Zheng Qiannian. He is a branch of the second family of the Zheng family. This person was a Jinshi in the third year of Zhenguan. He first went to Wannian County and served as the county magistrate for one year. Later, he was directly promoted to the top of Xingyang by the Ministry of Civil Affairs."

"The name of the Prime Minister of Xingyang County is Cui Yuan. He is a member of the Boling Cui family. He was an official of the previous dynasty and his position has not changed."

"The master's name is Zheng Qianyun, and he is also a member of the Zheng family."

"The county captain Zheng Bin is still a member of the Zheng family."

"Including the governor of Zheng, they are also members of the Zheng family. However, the governor Chen Gan has been sidelined, and the people of the Zheng family can do whatever they say!"

Li Ke had a cold face, listening to Si She's report, he still underestimated the Zheng family's power here, damn, this Zhengzhou is for you Zheng family.

From the governor to the county captain, they are all your people...

Li Shimin is a simple man, no wonder he is itching with hatred, but he can't do anything against the wealthy family.

If you send a fucking high-ranking official here, he will be ignored or corrupted by sugar-coated bullets.

If the Zheng family is like this, the other six families, or the wealthy families huddled in small places, are still not the same?

It seems that he still has a long way to go to kill people.

"Are there any bandits nearby?"

Sishe bowed and said: "No!"

"The Zheng family is the only one in the family. There are still bandits who dare to do evil here. They have been wiped out long ago."

Li Ke was immediately speechless.

"Then look further afield, there will always be bandits."
Chapter completed!