Yesterday was National Day, the whole country celebrated,
I was also drunk and didn’t write a single word!
Today’s fifth update, I would like to thank Brother Meng,
You and I both love Ming, and we can only travel in dreams!
I also love rewards,
Brother Meng thinks of himself,
Ten thousand days is not enough,
I only enjoyed it for two days!
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Outside the south gate of Dushikou Castle, one hundred large wooden stakes stood, with a small wooden stake on top, and bloody human heads hanging on them.
Zhang Cheng sent an order to hang a hundred heads of bandits chopped off on the eighth day of the lunar month and display them outside Nanguan for ten days as a warning to others!
Every time it gets dark, no one walks around outside Nanguan. According to rumors from merchants living in Nanguan, every night late at night, you can hear bursts of small crying sounds like pleading.
Although everyone laughed and scolded them for being too cowardly and actually hearing the wind as the sound of ghosts crying, they were just scaring themselves.
But for many years after that, the military households in Dushikou Castle still did not dare to go out alone in the area outside Nanguan at night.
…………
On the 10th day of the fifth lunar month, eight miles north of Dushikou Fort was the Beizhazi Pass, the first important point of defense on the North Road of Xuanfu.
In June of the fifth year of Xuande's reign, due to repeated Tatar attacks on Kaiping and the weak national strength at that time, Xuanzong moved the Kaiping Guards to Dushi City on the advice of his ministers, abandoning the territory 300 miles away.
As a result, Dushikou Fort City became the forefront of the capital, "controlling the north and south", while Beizhazi Pass was the forward position and choke point of Dushi City's defense.
"Xuanfu Town Chronicle" records that "Beizhakou" eight miles north of Dushikou City, the gateway to Bashang, "is flanked by two mountains, and only a single rider is allowed."
Zhang Cheng, led by Chen Zhong, Zhang Guangda and other generals, accompanied by fellow commander Jin Xinpeng, ministers Yan Qingrong and Xue Liangqing, were inspecting this pass.
The group of them just passed through Beizhazi Village, where a hundred households were stationed and cultivating the surrounding land. Zhang Cheng simply took a look and went north to the pass.
This Beizhazi Pass is an important defense system. It consists of a gate connected to the Great Wall, a water pass, attached walls, and piers. Because the pass is located at a high altitude and resembles a stone platform, it is also called a single stone platform.
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According to the regulations, this place should be guarded by a general with more than 400 troops, but this is only in name at this time. In fact, this general only has more than 100 troops.
They are only responsible for checking whether there are prohibited goods in the passing business trips, and taking advantage of the opportunity to get rich. If there is really a prisoner, they only have the ability to warn the castle. It is only a dream to expect them to guard this pass and wait for rescue.
When Liu Guangwu, the original garrison general, was there, he sent five hundred battalions under his command to help guard this pass, as well as Xizha Pass and Dongzha Pass. Those two places were guarded by a hundred troops each led by a hundred men.
However, those two places are not as convenient as Beizha Pass. There are very few business travelers in the past, and the defense is even more neglected.
There is a brick-covered watchtower built on a high mountain collar next to the Beizha Pass. For the purpose of defense, this nearly four-foot-high watchtower has no stairs.
There is only a gap left in the south, nearly three feet high from the ground. On the edge of the gap, there are two rocks sticking out, with a hanging ladder hanging on it. It can be folded up in time of war, so that the enemy cannot climb the city. Zhang Cheng slowly
board.
The bottom of this watchtower is solid. Only the ground where you come up by the hanging ladder is paved with bluestone. The interior is quite spacious and can accommodate nearly fifty people. There are two rectangular windows on the north side and two rectangular windows on the east and west sides.
Each has a window.
The commander stationed here was called Sha Zhongwang, who looked like a very honest man. He stood beside a vertical staircase and said to Zhang Cheng very humbly: "General, you can climb to the rooftop above and have a panoramic view of the pass.
.”
Zhang Cheng walked to the vertical ladder and climbed up. He saw a terrace above, surrounded by chest-high walls, covered with bricks inside and outside. There was also a tent on the terrace, presumably for the night watch.
Used by sergeants.
Walking to the edge of the observation deck, holding on to the protective wall and looking out, you can have a panoramic view of the surrounding Great Wall and Beizhazi Pass.
In the 23rd year of Jiajing, Weng Wanda, the right minister of the Ministry of War, was appointed as the military governor of Xuanda, Shanxi, and Baoding. Since the border at that time was often harassed by the Anda tribe, causing heavy losses, Weng Wanda petitioned to build a border wall.
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"History of the Ming Dynasty" records: "Shanxi starts from the bank of the Yellow River in Baodian County, passes through Piantou, and reaches Laoying for 254 miles. It starts from Yajiao Mountain on Datong West Road, passes through Zhongbei 2nd Road, and reaches Dongyanghe Town Koutai in the east for 640 miles.
Seven miles. Xuanfu starts from the Xiyang River, passes through the Zhongbei 2nd Road, and reaches Yongning in the east. It is a thousand and twenty-three miles away. Every nine hundred and twenty-four miles, there are giant invaders, and the danger is outside, which is called the extreme edge."
"History of the Ming Dynasty" also praised: "Wanda planned carefully and was good at hooks. The battlements were near and far, and the trenches were deep and wide. They did everything they could. The bandits did not dare to commit frivolous offenses, and the garrisoners within the walls had free time to farm and herd, and the border expenses were also paid.
Japan Province.”
Zhang Cheng looked down from the top of the watchtower. This section of the Great Wall was clearly visible. He estimated that it was more than two feet high, about four feet wide at the top, and more than ten feet wide at the base below.
The nearby Guancheng at the Beizha Pass is also panoramic. The gate is narrow and steep cliffs stand on both sides. When the gate is closed, no one can open it.
Not far away, the Baihe River flows through. At the narrow spot of the Baihe River next to Guancheng, a water gate stands there. It also takes advantage of the mountain to build a gate wall, with an iron gate in the middle to prevent the river from flowing.
Passed by, but could not pass by people and boats.
Looking at the Great Wall and the pass below, Zhang Cheng was silent. He just guarded the border like this. If the guards and soldiers were well prepared and attentive, why should they fear that the captives would invade the border?
He asked in a deep voice: "Where is the gatekeeper?"
Sha Zhongwang knelt down on one knee and replied in a deep voice: "General Sha Zhongwang, the special guard of Beizhazi, is here. General, please give me your instructions?"
Zhang Cheng turned around and looked at Sha Zhongwang in front of him and asked: "How many soldiers are there in Beiguan?"
"Back to the general, Sha Zhongwang was ordered to guard Beiguan, Xiguan, and Dongguan. There should be a total of 449 sergeants in the first division and four bureaus. In fact, there are 199 sergeants, including 90 in the Beiguan garrison.
Nine, fifty each from Xiguan and Dongguan!"
Sha Zhongwang replied in a deep voice. Seeing that his reply was neither humble nor overbearing, neat and clear, Zhang Cheng was very satisfied. He continued to ask: "Sha Zhongwang, how many soldiers do you think are needed to defend these three places?"
pass?"
Sha Zhongwang was stunned, and after thinking for a moment, he said: "Reporting to the general, if we have a strong army, one force is enough."
Zhang Cheng nodded, waved his hand, and asked Sha Zhongwang to step back. Then he turned to look at his fellow conductor Jin Xinpeng. The two of them walked to the edge of the top platform together and looked at the mountains and passes outside.
Zhang Cheng asked softly: "Master Jin, do you understand this person Sha Zhongwang?"
"Reporting to the general, this Sha Zhongwang was originally a subordinate of Yan Qingrong. In the ninth year of Chongzhen, the Tartars invaded from the north. The general who was originally stationed here was charged with breaking the customs. Sha Zhongwang was the one who retreated after the Tartars retreated.
He was promoted to guard the gate here.
This man is very loyal and has served in the army for many years. Unfortunately, food and pay are now insufficient, and soldiers are fleeing seriously. Everyone seems to have never seen this, and there is nothing they can do about it."
Zhang Cheng understood that Sha Zhongwang was Yan Qingrong's man, and Jin Xinpeng couldn't say too much, but in general Sha Zhongwang was qualified as a general.
And Zhang Cheng is also very optimistic about his, but he still needs to continue to observe.