The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 113 Jiang Han's Plans
Deng Yang returned to Kulong Pass, took two boxes of silver, and hurriedly went to Shilou Mountain.

Jiang Han had stayed up all night and was just drifting off to sleep when he was woken up by his personal guards who rushed in.

"What's all the noise about? Can't you see I'm catching up on sleep?"

Jiang Han, who had been woken up, was annoyed and yelled back.

The guard stood by the bed and cautiously reported:
"General, Deng Yang is here again! He says he has something urgent to discuss with you!"

Deng Yang is back? Didn't that guy run away in a panic?

But we still have to meet, because there might really be something urgent.

Jiang Hanqiang suppressed his impatience, put on his outer garment, and hurriedly went to the central command tent.

As soon as he entered the tent, he saw Deng Yang pacing around like an ant on a hot pan, sighing incessantly.

Jiang Han didn't waste any words, looking at Deng Yang with annoyance:

"Speak, what's so important that you have to disturb my peaceful sleep?"

When Deng Yang saw Jiang Han, it was as if he had seen a lifeline; his eyes instantly reddened.
"General, save me!"

After saying that, he was about to kneel down on the ground with a thud.

Jiang Han reacted quickly, grabbing Deng Yang and pulling him up, frowning as he said:
"Talk about something!"

"Stop kneeling all the time, it's not proper!"

Deng Yang, panting heavily, pulled a crumpled transfer order from his pocket and said in a trembling voice:
"General, please take a look at this."

"The imperial court ordered me to lead troops to Ningwu Pass to intercept Wang Jiayin, but you know how few men I have!"

He then recounted to Jiang Han in detail how Hou Bin had come to inspect the area and then wanted to summon him to Ningwu Pass.

Jiang Han took the transfer order, glanced at it, and his brows immediately furrowed.

Is Deng Yang to be conscripted to Ningwu Pass to intercept Wang Jiayin?
Jiang Han had met all of Deng Yang's men. Apart from a dozen or so servants who could fight, the rest were all old, weak, sick, or disabled.

Taking these people to the battlefield is just suicide.

He put down the transfer order and said in a deep voice:
"Forget it, it's pointless for you to go with such a small group."

Deng Yang was sweating profusely and pleaded, tugging at Jiang Han's sleeve:

"Of course I know it's a waste of time, but I don't want to go and die!"

"General, please give me some advice!"

Jiang Han tapped his chin lightly with his fingers, lost in thought.

He looked Deng Yang up and down. Although this guy was afraid of death, he wasn't entirely useless. If used properly, he might actually be able to cause some trouble in the government army.

So Jiang Han tentatively asked:

"Why don't you just submit a memorial to the higher-ups, saying that you suffered heavy losses and were severely weakened in your previous campaign against bandits in Shilou Mountain, and that you have no troops left to send?"

Upon hearing this, Deng Yang shook his head with a bitter face and said:

"I'm afraid... I'm afraid that won't work."

"I exaggerated the good news I sent out earlier in an attempt to claim credit."

Jiang Han raised an eyebrow, looking quite puzzled:

"What did you write in your battle report?"

Deng Yang scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face, and whispered:
"My battle report stated that my elite troops were each worth a thousand men, suffering almost no casualties, yet still managing to behead dozens or even hundreds..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han rolled his eyes at him:
"Can't you at least stop bragging a little?! You think you can take on a thousand men single-handedly?!"

"I bet your small force wouldn't last an hour at Ningwu Pass before Wang Jiayin breaks through!"

He thought about it again:
"What about feigning illness? You know how to fake it, right?"

"Just say that you have suddenly fallen ill with a serious disease, are bedridden, and are unable to lead the troops."

Deng Yang looked miserable:
"It doesn't seem like it will work either. Hou Bin saw me with his own eyes, and I have no problems at all."

"Besides, I fell ill as soon as I received the transfer order. No one could tell that I was faking it."

Jiang Han shrugged, spread his hands, and gave a helpless look:

"Then there's nothing we can do."

"General Deng, just wait to go to Ningwu Pass and have a fierce and bloody battle with Wang Jiayin, and do your best for the country!"

"I will burn paper money for you."

Upon hearing this, Deng Yang knelt down with a thud, wailing and crying with snot and tears streaming down his face:
"General, please think of another way to save my life!"

"As long as we can get through this, my life, Deng Yang's life, will belong to you, General!"

Jiang Han looked at his pathetic state and felt somewhat helpless.

"You said it yourself, so I'll think of another way."

He turned and walked to the map in the tent, his gaze slowly moving across it.

According to historical records, Wang Jiayin should have died at the hands of Cao Wenzhao this year.

This turning point was crucial, directly leading to a leaderless situation for the Shanxi rebels, who then fought independently, plunging the uprising into a minor slump. Therefore, Jiang Han decided to lend a helping hand to Wang Jiayin.

After all, if Wang Jiayin were to die now, the government troops would certainly be free to deal with other rebels.

At that time, I would also be exposed to the government troops.

Therefore, no matter what, Jiang Han had to let Wang Jiayin live a little longer so that he could share the burden with him.

Of course, it would be even better if we could take this opportunity to place Deng Yang in a more important position!

Jiang Han's finger moved slowly across the map, eventually landing on Fenzhou Prefecture and its surrounding area.

"Wang Jiayin was defeated at Hequ and wanted to make a comeback, but what he lacked most was food and supplies."

"Judging from the direction of his breakout, Wang Jiayin has his sights set on the Fenhe Plain."

Jiang Han tapped his finger on the map, muttering to himself.

The Fenhe Plain, a vast and fertile land, is the most precious and prosperous granary in the entire Shanxi province.

As long as we can break in, we can easily seize a few large households, and then we won't have to worry about feeding our 3,000-strong army for a year.

To be honest, Jiang Han himself had been eyeing this place for a long time.

But if he rashly rushes into this heart of the region alone, he will inevitably become the target of everyone's criticism.

At that time, let alone seizing grain, the various government troops in Shanxi will probably abandon their pursuit of Wang Jiayin and turn around to kill Jiang Han first.

But what if we could find a way to bring Wang Jiayin's rebel army in as well?
When the time comes, their two forces, one in the south and one in the north, will simultaneously launch attacks on the Fenhe Plain, which should reduce the pressure considerably.

Thinking of this, Jiang Han's eyes grew brighter and brighter!

He beckoned Deng Yang over and analyzed:
“Look, Wang Jiayin came from Hequ. If he wants to enter the Fenhe Plain, he must cross the Lüliang Mountains. Other routes are too far.”

"The first route is the northern route, which will enter from Ningwu Pass, which you are responsible for defending, and then attack Jingyue County."

"The second option is to head south first, attack Kelan County, which will also put pressure on Jingyue County, and then open up a passage into the Fenhe Plain."

Looking at the map, Deng Yang echoed:

"Yes, I'm afraid Wang Jiayin will take the northern route; that's a very likely possibility."

How could Jiang Han get Wang Jiayin to abandon Ningwu Pass and head south to attack Kelan County? Jiang Han frowned.

On their side, nobody knew Wang Jiayin, let alone could persuade him to change his route.
and many more!

A thought suddenly struck Jiang Han! He suddenly remembered that Li Zicheng was still resting in his army camp.

Li Zicheng was Wang Jiayin's subordinate; perhaps he could persuade Wang Jiayin to change course?

Jiang Han turned around, looked at Deng Yang who was full of anticipation, and said:

"General Deng, I have a way to get Wang Jiayin to change his route."

"Why don't you give it a try?"

Deng Yang quickly stepped forward, his eyes shining:
"General, please speak!"

Jiang Han explained:

"The daring leader on my side was previously Wang Jiayin's subordinate."

“I sent him to persuade Wang Jiayin to abandon Ningwu Pass and attack Kelan County instead.”

Upon hearing this, Deng Yang was overjoyed, but then he suddenly remembered something and quickly dissuaded him:
"General, I'm afraid this won't work!"

“You’re from out of town, so you don’t know the specific situation in Kelan County.”

"Kelan County is an important town. It underwent major repairs during the Hongwu period. The city wall is seven li long and 38 chi high. It also has a barbican and twelve gate towers, making it as solid as a rock!"

"With too few people, we simply can't break through."

Jiang Han was somewhat puzzled:
"Didn't you just say that the nearby garrison troops were all transferred away in order to attack Hequ?"

"A fortified city without a garrison is just an empty shell, isn't it?"

Deng Yang shook his head:
"That's true, a lot of the garrison troops have indeed been transferred out."

"But in an important town like Kelan County, there must still be a garrison inside the city, and the number of militia members inside the city must also be considerable."

"The drought in Shanxi is not as severe as in Shaanxi; the local people and able-bodied men can still be supported."

"Even if Wang Jiayin has tens of thousands of men, it would take him three to five days to take Kelan County from the outside!"

"When the pursuers arrive, we'll block him right under the walls of Kelan City!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han's lips curled slightly upward, and he looked at Deng Yang with a meaningful expression:

"Isn't there still you?"

Deng Yang was taken aback, pointed at himself, and looked puzzled:
"Me? What use am I?"

Jiang Han patted his shoulder and said slowly:

"Go and act as an inside man to get my men into the city."

"If we can't break through from the outside, then let's open it from the inside!"

(End of this chapter)