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Although spring had already arrived, the weather remained bitterly cold.
Fei Qian recalled that the late Eastern Han Dynasty coincided with the onset of a minor ice age. The first victims of this climatic shift were inevitably crops.
Humans could bundle up in more layers or light fires to ward off the cold, but crops had no such luxury. Especially during the Han Dynasty, most farmers still relied on outdated almanacs and traditional experience for planting. When faced with an unexpected cold snap in spring, watching their wheat seedlings freeze to death left them utterly helpless and despairing.
Grain was the foundation of human society. Thus, as the world transitioned from the second to the third century, many great empires collapsed—Parthia, the Kushan Empire, and even Rome. It was likely that the harsh climate played a significant role in their downfall.
Now, the frozen winter soil had yet to fully thaw, and with Dong Zhuo forcibly relocating the capital, the Luoyang region would likely face a complete harvest failure this year…
Of course, everyone knew that the Si Li region was vast. No matter how gluttonous Dong Zhuo was, he couldn't possibly consume everything. For instance, Hedong and Henei Commanderies, though part of Si Li, were separated by the Yellow River. Even if Dong Zhuo and Li Ru had the ambition to extend their control there, geographical constraints made it impractical.
However, Hongnong Commandery and Henan Yin were crucial grain-producing areas. With Dong Zhuo's reckless actions now…
Originally, Fei Qian had only planned to send Huang Xu to escort the second shipment of books. But first, they encountered Li Ru's checkpoints, and second, the atmosphere in Luoyang had grown increasingly ominous these past few days. An inexplicable sense of foreboding weighed on his mind, so he decided to accompany the convoy himself to assess the situation.
In any case, familiarizing himself with the route would be beneficial.
Since Fei Qian was traveling with the convoy, Huang Cheng naturally followed, bringing an additional twenty soldiers.
This time, Dong Zhuo's forces were dead serious. Outside Luoyang, every major thoroughfare had checkpoints, each guarded by a squad of soldiers watching with predatory intensity, as if they would pounce at the slightest provocation. The tension was palpable among the travelers and merchants passing through.
Fortunately, with the travel pass issued by Li Ru and Fei Qian's status as Left Attendant Gentleman, they were able to pass through inspections without much trouble.
Heading west, the journey bore some similarities to Fei Qian's previous trip south to Jing and Xiang, yet it was also different. From Henan Yin, where Luoyang stood, the path to Hongnong Commandery led through Gucheng and then Xin'an. Between these two counties stood one of the most famous passes in the land—Hangu Pass.
Hangu Pass actually consisted of two distinct fortresses: the Qin-era Hangu Pass and the Han-era Hangu Pass. They were not located in the same place. Originally, the Qin Dynasty had established the pass at the western end of the Yao-Han Corridor in western Yu Province to defend against invasions from the eastern states, naming it Hangu Pass.
Later, when the Han Dynasty made Chang'an its capital, much like how people in later generations took pride in being "city dwellers," many during the early Han took pride in calling themselves "people within the pass." During Emperor Wu's reign—before Hongnong Commandery even had that name—a man named Yang Pu, having distinguished himself in quelling rebellions, was on the verge of being enfeoffed as a marquis. However, most of the land within the pass had already been allocated. Emperor Wu thus suggested, "How about we grant you a fief outside the pass?"
Yang Pu, whose hometown was in Nanwan, Xin'an, was unwilling to become a "marquis outside the pass." He petitioned Emperor Wu, offering to contribute his family's wealth to relocate Hangu Pass eastward to present-day Xin'an. Emperor Wu, seeing the strategic advantage of expanding the Guanzhong region and tightening control over the eastern territories, agreed.
Thus, the Han Hangu Pass came into being.
Between these two passes lay the critical passage from the western frontier into the Central Plains—the Yao-Han Corridor! To the north was the Yellow River, to the south stood the Qinling Mountains, and in between ran the only route into Yong Province and Chang'an. Its strategic importance was self-evident.
As the carriage jolted along, Fei Qian pondered. Once Dong Zhuo retreated into Guanzhong, there were historically only four routes to attack the vast Qinchuan region surrounding Chang'an.
The first was, of course, the so-called "Yao-Han Corridor" between Luoyang and Chang'an—the very road Fei Qian was now traveling. With Hangu Pass blocking the way, the narrow terrain and formidable fortress would drive any attacking general to despair.
The second route was crossing the Yellow River westward from the Yuncheng Basin in Shangdang. Though this path appeared broad, in reality, there were few viable crossing points for large armies. Moreover, attempting to cross under enemy observation was exceedingly perilous.
The third route was the one Liu Bang had taken when he entered Guanzhong—passing through the Nanyang Basin, traversing the Qinling Mountains, capturing Wuguan and Lantian before finally entering Guanzhong. However, this path required either crossing the Dan River or scaling the Qinling Mountains, all while assaulting Wuguan. Had the Qin Dynasty's main forces not been tied down by Xiang Yu, Liu Bang would have had little chance of success.
The final route was the Longyou Path, which Zhuge Liang had attempted during his northern campaigns. Both he and Jiang Wei had repeatedly demonstrated just how difficult it was to attack Guanzhong from this direction…
Thus, once Dong Zhuo retreated into Guanzhong, the aristocratic families from Shandong, Nanyang, and other Central Plains regions would find it nearly impossible to challenge him effectively.
This time, Fei Qian wanted to see Hangu Pass with his own eyes, to witness this ancient, impregnable fortress firsthand—at least to prepare himself mentally…
About a dozen li beyond Gucheng, the road grew increasingly desolate due to Dong Zhuo's checkpoints. Unconsciously, Fei Qian's convoy became the only travelers on the road. The grinding of wheels against gravel, the clopping of hooves, the steady tramp of soldiers' boots, and the clinking of armor plates only accentuated the bleak silence around them.
Then, as they marched onward, Huang Cheng, positioned in the middle of the convoy, suddenly barked an order to halt.
Fei Qian asked, "Shuye, is something the matter?"
Frowning, Huang Cheng scanned their surroundings before replying hesitantly, "Lord Fei, it seems someone is watching us…"
Fei Qian tensed. In this remote wilderness, unseen observers were rarely a good sign. Warriors like Huang Cheng possessed sharp instincts—much like when they had encountered Huang Zhong at the Huang family's hidden estate. Back then, Fei Qian had stared at Huang Zhong for too long and was immediately detected. Now, it was likely that someone atop the nearby mountain was observing them, and Huang Cheng had sensed it.
The road ahead skirted the mountain, bending inward at the foothills, obscuring the view beyond. To the right, not far away, flowed the Yellow River, leaving no room for detours.
"Form a defensive formation and retreat!" Since Huang Cheng had sensed danger, it would be reckless to proceed blindly into uncertain terrain. Their lives were not worth gambling on curiosity…
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A/N: Today, I reread "Chu Shi Biao" (Zhuge Liang's "Memorial on the Case for War")… It reminded me of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 38, where Zhuge Liang, upon leaving his thatched cottage, declared: "I have received the kindness of Imperial Uncle's three visits—I cannot refuse to serve. You may continue farming here; do not let the fields lie fallow. When my task is accomplished, I shall return to this life…"
I wonder, when the stars fell at Wuzhang Plains, did Zhuge Liang recall those few acres of land back home…