How important is Xiangyang City? Why did it become an important military town in ancient times?

When looking at the importance of Xiangyang City, we must look at the integrity of China, the development history of Chinese history, and the strategic nature of war development, not just the importance of a geographical location. . From the geographical point of view of China, the land of China is flowed from west to east by the two most important rivers, which are the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. Therefore, the Yellow River Basin and the Yangtze River Basin are also the earliest activities of the Chinese ancestors, and the location of Xiangyang City is almost the same as the Huaxia The dividing line between the Yellow River Basin and the Yangtze River Basin can also be understood as the location of the north-south dividing line. Since it is the dividing line, it must be an important location for exchanges between the north and the south. From Haojing, the capital of the Western Zhou Dynasty (now northwest of Xi'an) to the sea in the east, you will find that Xiangyang is the best place to travel from the north to the south. .

In the west, from the Guanzhong Plain to the south, you can only reach Hanzhong by crossing the Qinchuan River, which is 800 miles away. The road to Shu is difficult, and it is difficult to reach the sky. It is also very difficult to cross on foot, let alone a large-scale folk exchanges and military invasions. In the east, from the Jianghuai area, you can only go south by crossing the Yangtze River, which was called a natural barrier at the time. Don't think it is easy to cross the Yangtze River now. In ancient times, transportation was underdeveloped and there was no bridge across the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River was a difficult road to cross. The natural barriers between the south and the north, or the north and the south, are all isolated due to the existence of the Yangtze River. In the central part, going south from Luoyang, the hinterland of the Central Plains, you can only reach the hinterland of Jianghan Plain by passing through Xiangyang City and crossing the Han River. It is also the important town of Jingzhou, Jiangling City, and you can reach the core of Jingzhou without crossing the Yangtze River. The most important node supporting civil exchanges or the Civil War was Xiangyang City.

There is another very important reason for Xiangyang City, which Guanzhong to the west and Jianghuai to the east do not have. That is, the Xiangyang area can allow large-scale cavalry regiments to pass through, because as long as they cross the Han River, they can Use the powerful cavalry corps from the north to pass through Xiangyang and reach the vast Jianghan Plain. There are mountains to the west and water networks to the east. Only the Xiangyang area is most suitable for cavalry regiments to fight. From the perspective of Chinese history, among the nine ancient states of Yugong, Xiangyang was the northernmost location of Jingzhou and bordered Yuzhou, which was at the center of the world at that time. At that time, Xiangyang could be said to be the only place that Yuzhou must pass through on its way south. The early activity center was still in the core position from Xi'an to Luoyang in the Yellow River Basin. Xiangyang's role in ancient times was limited to the node of China's southward expansion. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Xiangyang was a strategic location for Chu's northern advance and Qin's attack on Chu. When the Central Plains Dynasty was not a unified dynasty, Xiangyang's role could only be a partial north-south strategic location. When the Central Plains Dynasty was a unified dynasty, Xiangyang could only serve as a local strategic location for the north and south. , Xiangyang's role is a core strategic location in the north and south of the empire.

In times of peace, Xiangyang is an important trade channel for people-to-people exchanges between the north and the south. Once in troubled times, Xiangyang is an important strategic location in the war. During the Three Kingdoms period, Jingzhou, where Xiangyang is located, was the most contested by Wei, Shu and Wu. An important strategic location is the battlefield where the three parties compete. Cao Cao went south to attack Jingzhou and carry out the war to unify China. He went to Xiangyang. As long as he captured the city of Xiangyang, he would control the core area of ????Jingzhou. As long as he controlled Jingzhou, he would be able to enter. With the core of the South, unification of the world is unstoppable. During the two Jin Dynasties and the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Xiangyang was a strategic location with the most Northern Expeditions by the Southern regime and the Southern Expedition by the Northern regime, with the most convenient warfare and the most geographically important location. For example, during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Huan Wen's two Northern Expeditions both set out from Jiangling City and passed through Xiangyang. , marched north to the Central Plains and reached Luoyang. During the Song Dynasty, Xiangyang was an important base to resist the Mongols from the north. As long as Xiangyang was defended, the Song regime in the south could be safe. Once Xiangyang was lost, the south would not be safe. For example, the Battle of Xiangfan when the Mongols attacked the Song Dynasty in 1267. The Mongolian iron hoofs besieged Xiangyang City for six years before they captured Xiangyang City. Three years after Xiangyang City was captured, the Southern Song Dynasty perished.

From the strategic point of view of the development of the war, Xiangyang is the favorite place for the northern regime to go south, because the north is good at cavalry and infantry, but not good at mountain warfare and water warfare. From Xi'an to the mouth of the Yangtze River near Shanghai On the three thousand-mile route, only Xiangyang is like a canyon in the mountains, which can allow cavalry and infantry regiments to pass through. Guanzhong to the east is full of mountains, and the Yangtze River and Huaihe River to the west is full of water, which is not conducive to cavalry and infantry fighting. Finally, let’s look at the geographical location of Xiangyang. To the east of Xiangyang is Wudang Mountain, to the west are Dahong Mountain, Tongbai Mountain and Dabie Mountains, to the southwest is Jingshan Mountains, to the southeast is Yunmengze with dense water network and forest, and to the south is the core of Jingzhou Jiangling City is located to the north of Nanyang, which had a relatively large population in the ancient Central Plains. In other words, Xiangyang can only be easily accessed from the north and south directions. The other directions are not conducive to traffic due to geographical factors. Xiangyang is located on a flat land between mountains, just like a canyon, and is a must-pass for both north and south. This family has no choice. This is the uniqueness and uniqueness of Xiangyang.

Xiangyang City is 400 miles away from Jiangling City (today’s Jingzhou, Hubei) in the south, 500 miles away from Yiling City (today’s Yichang, Hubei) in the south, and 500 miles away from Wancheng (today’s Yichang, Hubei) in the north. Today's Nanyang, Henan Province) is 300 miles away, Xiangyang City is 700 miles away from Luoyang in the north, and Xiangyang City is 1,000 miles away from Chang'an City in the northwest (today's Xi'an, Shaanxi Province). According to the speed of ancient cavalry, starting from Xiangyang, reaching these The central city is basically within 7 to 10 days. According to current terms, Xiangyang is in the 10-day economic circle of the ancient political center.

Fighting from Xiangyang to the north, first attack Nanyang, and then directly reach the political center of Luoyang. The cavalry can reach Luoyang City within 10 days. Fight from Xiangyang to the northwest. As long as they break through Wuguan, they can enter Guanzhong and attack the political center. In the center of Chang'an, the cavalry can arrive at Chang'an in about 10 days. As long as they control Luoyang and Chang'an, they basically control the world. If we fight from Xiangyang to the south, it is basically the vast Jianghan Plain, and we can go directly to Jiangling. The cavalry can reach Jiangling City within 7 days. If we fight from Xiangyang to the southwest, it is Yiling City. Once you reach Yiling City, as long as you control Jiangling and Yiling, you basically control Jingzhou.

Why is Xiangyang City said to be an important military town in ancient times and the first city in China? It is because Xiangyang is unique and unique in many aspects and has irreplaceable importance. The importance of Xiangyang is reflected in: 1. The unique geographical location. Xiangyang is located on a flat land between mountains, just like a canyon, which can facilitate the passage of cavalry and infantry. 2. Located at the dividing line where the north and the south meet, it is the most convenient route for the northern regime to conquer the south. Because of the high mountains in the west and the dense water network in the east, it is most convenient to go from Xiangyang, where many large-scale battles between the northern and southern regimes took place. In Xiangyang. 3. The reason why Xiangyang is relatively close to the central city of ancient China is that it is relatively close to the political center and economic center of ancient China, Luoyang and Chang'an. At the same time, Xiangyang is also close to Jingzhou and Yiling, the political and economic centers in the south. Therefore, Xiangyang City is well deserved to be called an important military town in ancient times and the first city in China.