Longyan City

　　Longyan City, also known as Ma'nao City, is located on Mazui Mountain, 38 kilometers southeast of Nanchuan District. Mazui Mountain is a branch ridge extending northeast from Jinfo Mountain, with a shape resembling a majestic horse soaring through the sky, standing tall. At the "neck" of the "horse," the mountain resembles a dragon’s head, and the gate of Longyan City is built right on this dragon head. The city is surrounded by cliffs on three sides, with only a single path leading up — truly a case of “one man at the gate can hold off ten thousand.” It holds significant strategic military importance and has been a contested stronghold since ancient times.

　　The anti-Mongol fortress ruins of Longyan City were built during the Southern Song Dynasty as a defensive stronghold, covering an area of about 2,400 square meters. Remnants of the surrounding walls still stand, about 1.2 meters high, along with a watchtower and firing holes. The site offers a commanding view from high ground with open terrain. Beneath the “Ancient Cliff Inscription Stele” of Longyan City, there is a descriptive text recounting its construction: “In the fourth year of the Baoyou era of the Song Dynasty (1256), an imperial decree was issued to build four defensive cities in the southern prefectures. Shi Qiejv, the military governor of Nanping Army, followed the order to construct the fortress on Mazui Mountain. Construction began on the day of Dingmao in the fourth month and was completed on the day of Wuyin in the sixth month...”

　　The gate of Longyan City is built with stone slabs, featuring a round arch. The door frame is 1.8 meters high and 1.26 meters wide. Above the lintel is embedded a long stone slab inscribed with three characters: “Pánlóng Zhài” (Coiling Dragon Fortress), each character about 30 centimeters in size. The inner arch of the gate also contains an embedded stone slab with two lines of smaller text: “Constructed in the 4,611th year of the Yellow Emperor’s calendar, in the year of Guichou (1253).”

　　In the sixth year of the Baoyou era of the Song Dynasty (1258), Mongol Khan Möngke personally led an army of 800,000 soldiers in a grand invasion of Sichuan. The Mongol forces advanced rapidly, and the Song army either suffered defeat or surrendered. In the spring of 1259, this army — once hailed as “heaven-sent divine troops” for having conquered much of Europe — entered Fuzhou (now Fuling). Its main force camped 60 li west of Fuzhou in Linshi Town, while another Mongol unit advanced southwest, pushing all the way to the foot of Longyan City. The inscription reads: “In the first month, the rebel chieftain launched a major attack with heavy forces; in the second month, they attacked again. The defenders beheaded the enemy envoy, burned the forged letters, and various officers fought bravely, forcing the enemy to retreat. Captives were presented and spoils awarded — the achievements were too many to record.” After two fierce assaults lasting two months, the Mongol forces, unable to breach the defenses, were driven back by the defenders who hurled logs and boulders down from above. The inscription states: “The court was informed of the city’s successful defense against the enemy. The emperor bestowed repeated honors, and messages of praise from the highest officials arrived one after another. All agreed that this was the most formidable stronghold built since its establishment.” Due to the valor of the Song soldiers in defending the city, they were commended by the emperor, and Longyan City was hailed as “the foremost strategic pass in the region.”

　　On the left cliff of Liangfeng Ridge below Longyan City lies an inscription carved during the early years of the Republic of China when Yuan Shikai declared himself emperor. It was written by a company commander named Zhao Mian under his command. The inscription records that although most provinces agreed to Yuan Shikai’s change of the national title to emperor, generals Cai E and Tang Jiyao from Yunnan and Guizhou refused. As a result, they “raised troops to invade Sichuan.” The 12th Company of the 60th Regiment of the 36th Brigade of the 15th Division of the Army was ordered to strike. They arrived at Mazui in January of the fifth year of the Republic of China (1916). After two battles, by April 7, Yuan Shikai’s short-lived Hongxian Empire collapsed, leading to the withdrawal of northern forces. Zhao Mian defended Longyan City with just a single company, preventing Cai E and Tang Jiyao’s forces from capturing the city in two separate attacks.

　　The Longyan City Anti-Mongol Merit Stele is located about 30 meters outside the city gate on the right, carved into the cliff face. The stele is 3.5 meters high and 4.2 meters wide, with 257 characters in regular script, each about 14 centimeters in size. The elegant double-hook style is vigorous, powerful, and classic, reflecting the bold strokes of ancient calligraphy. It was engraved in the first year of the Kaixing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1259). At the top of the stele is a horizontal groove about 5 meters long and 5 centimeters deep, designed to drain water and protect the inscriptions. Due to long-term weathering, some characters have become blurred. This is the earliest and most well-preserved epigraphic relic in Nanchuan, serving as a valuable historical artifact for studying the history of the Song and Yuan periods.