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

Chapter 159 Crossing the River
Unable to resist Zhang Xianzhong's persistent pleas, Jiang Han had no choice but to "reluctantly" agree to his request.

Thus, Zhang Xianzhong used his adopted son Li Dingguo as a hostage to exchange for 500 shi of life-saving rations from Jiang Han.

Having secured the supplies, Zhang Xianzhong felt somewhat relieved.

The next night, he and the old Hui quietly gathered their three hundred remaining soldiers, packed their bags, and prepared to leave the plateau under cover of night and head towards Wangwu Mountain.

Jiang Han, along with leaders such as Li Zicheng and Liu Guoneng, personally saw Zhang Xianzhong off.

"You two, the journey ahead is fraught with peril, please take good care of yourselves!"

Jiang Han stood in the firelight, his face showing concern and solemnity, and bowed to say goodbye.

Zhang Xianzhong, in the darkness of night, turned back to look at the brightly lit camp on the plateau, and then glanced at the man who had personally come out of the camp to see him off, speaking earnestly. A feeling of indescribable guilt and gratitude welled up in his heart.

He returned the greeting with a firm fist salute, his voice slightly hoarse as he said:
"Great General, your righteousness is truly admirable!"

"Brother Ma and I are deeply grateful for your help today!"

"I will repay your generous gift today with ever greater gratitude in the future, and I will never forget it!"

Having said that, he turned his horse around, said no more, and led his troops into the night without looking back.

However, Zhang Xianzhong was wrong.

Jiang Han came in person not to express any brotherly affection, but simply to see Zhang Xianzhong leave the camp with his own eyes, lest he change his mind.

As he watched Zhang Xianzhong's figure gradually disappear, he couldn't help but sigh to himself:

"Brother TuTu is such a good person."

Jiang Han was still racking his brains trying to figure out how to win over Li Dingguo, this rough gem, when Zhang Xianzhong unexpectedly delivered himself to his doorstep.

Zhang Xianzhong's side, having obtained the supplies, wanted to make a quick getaway, without even having time to rest.

Both sides felt they had gotten a great deal and were afraid the other would back out.

Beside Jiang Han, Li Zicheng, Zhang Tianlin, and others who witnessed the entire event felt only admiration and respect for Jiang Han's actions.

Look at their demeanor and manners in dealing with people; they are indeed beyond our reach.

If we were to name the most confused and bewildered person at this moment, it would be Li Dingguo.

He was left behind in this unfamiliar camp by his father, watching helplessly as his own troops drove away, his heart filled with loss and confusion.

Beside the drill ground, Yu Chengye pulled out two golden-brown roasted wild potatoes from somewhere, handed one to the dejected Li Dingguo, nudged him with his elbow, and comforted him:
"Hey, I'm telling you, don't be discouraged, just stay put."

"Although your father has abandoned you, our commander is kind-hearted and he will definitely not abandon you."

"Besides, you still have your brother to protect you."

Li Dingguo took the wild yam, but had little appetite for it. He just kept his head down, his voice somewhat muffled:

"I hope so."

"I just never imagined that my father would actually leave me here all alone."

Not far away, Jiang Han had just seen Zhang Xianzhong off and was preparing to return to his tent to rest when he inadvertently caught sight of Yu Chengye and Li Dingguo by the training ground.

The two boys were huddled together, arms around each other's shoulders, whispering something to each other.

A thought struck him, and he unconsciously slowed his pace, quietly circling around to the back of the two.

Jiang Han was also very curious about how Yu Chengye had become so familiar with Li Dingguo in such a short time.

They were as close as brothers, as affectionate as siblings.

Yu Chengye patted his chest, striking a pose like an older brother:

"Don't worry, just stick with me."

"I'll go to the commander-in-chief tomorrow and plead with him to get you a minor military post."

"It's better than what you're like now, where you're not in a legitimate position."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light flashed in Li Dingguo's previously dim eyes:
"really?"

He had always been extremely interested in matters of war, and after hearing Yu Chengye's words, the gloom in his heart was dispelled considerably, and a smile finally appeared on his face.

"Cough cough!"

Just as the two were having a pleasant conversation, a slightly authoritative cough suddenly rang out from behind them.

Upon hearing that familiar cough, Yu Chengye and Li Dingguo were startled and quickly jumped up from the ground, turning around in a flustered manner.

Jiang Han stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the two of them with a half-smile:
"What are you two doing hiding here?"

When Yu Chengye saw Jiang Han's slightly mocking face, he was startled. He wondered if Uncle Jiang had overheard what he had just said to Li Dingguo.

He stepped forward, about to explain:
"Uncle Jiang, we're just having a casual chat."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han glared at Yu Chengye:
"I've said it so many times: after joining the army, you must be properly addressed in your military post!"

Yu Chengye was startled and quickly straightened his back, imitating the soldiers in the army, and loudly replied:

"Yes! I will follow the Commander's instructions!"

Jiang Han nodded, then looked at Li Dingguo, who seemed somewhat uneasy beside him:
"Li Dingguo, I heard you want to become a military auxiliary officer?"

Seeing Jiang Han looking at him, Li Dingguo felt even more uneasy, so he quickly lowered his head and whispered in response:
"General Huihui, I would like to give it a try."

Jiang Han looked at Li Dingguo in front of him, his heart was already overjoyed, but he still maintained the dignity of a regional commander.

He patted Li Dingguo on the shoulder and encouraged him:

"Yes, that's right. A true man should be a warrior, fighting on horseback and sweeping away all injustices in the world."

"From now on, just settle down here and do your job well. Don't let me down."

Yu Chengye, standing to the side, was so shocked his jaw almost dropped.

He thought Jiang Han would refuse without hesitation.

After all, he had clamored to join the army in Majia Village, but Jiang Han had ruthlessly rejected him.

Later, he was captured by the government troops and severely beaten in Yan'an Prefecture before he finally got his wish and barely became an auxiliary soldier.

Why is Uncle Jiang so easy to talk to when it's Li Dingguo?

Jiang Han was too lazy to explain; he was busy with military affairs and simply didn't have time to deal with these two half-grown boys.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Han decided to include Li Dingguo in the auxiliary troops as well, and then hand him over to Shao Yong.

Let him and Yu Chengye do some odd jobs in the army first, to temper their character and become familiar with military affairs.

When he has more free time in the future, Jiang Han will take them under his wing and personally teach them.

Having repelled Cao Wenzhao's night raid, Jiang Han thought he could have some peace and quiet for a while, to properly reorganize his troops and plan his next move.

However, he underestimated the imperial court's determination to suppress the bandits, as well as his own prestige among the rebels.

Just a few days after Zhang Xianzhong left, many more rebel leaders led their remaining troops to join him.

Most of these people were forced to come by the government troops who were suppressing bandits.

Among them, led by Cao Cao Luo Rucai, Ma Jinzhong of the Ten Thousand Huns, Xu Kebian, the King of Changing the World, and others, along with other leaders of all ranks, they gathered on the plateau where Jiang Han was located, like rivers flowing into the sea.

In a short time, Jiang Han's camp expanded rapidly, with various forces mixed together, banners everywhere, and a force of 30,000.

Although the majority of them were elderly, weak, women, children, and starving civilians, and the actual number of soldiers capable of fighting was less than 10,000, their sheer numbers were enough to make the government troops take notice.

Faced with such a large number of bandits, Cao Wenzhao and Ai Wannian also attempted to launch an offensive several times.

However, Jiang Han's main force remained as stable as Mount Tai, and with numerous bandit camps serving as a barrier on the periphery, the government troops' repeated attacks all failed, and many even lost their lives.

Seeing that the enemy's strength was overwhelming, Cao Wenzhao dared not fight them head-on. He could only temporarily consolidate his forces and form a stalemate with the enemy, waiting for reinforcements to arrive before launching a counterattack.

Jiang Han, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by the sight of the 30,000 troops surrounding the camp.

Thirty thousand people! Their daily needs for eating, drinking, and relieving themselves are enough to drive Jiang Han crazy.

No wonder that when Wang Jiayin was in Hequ, he insisted on enfeoffing the various rebel kings under his command.

There simply isn't enough food to feed so many people.

With no other option, Jiang Han could only take advantage of the fact that the main force of the government troops was still gathering, and command the leaders of various routes to cross the Zhongtiao Mountains and launch a preemptive attack.

With the power of artillery and the successive waves of starving civilians, they successively captured Jiezhou and Xia County in the southern part of Pingyang Prefecture, seizing a considerable amount of grain and supplies.

Their military might once threatened Yuncheng, a key town in southern Shanxi.

However, the good times did not last long.

As time went on, government troops from all directions who came to pursue and suppress them began to arrive at the battlefield one after another.

Xuanfu Governor Zhang Zongheng personally took charge of Yuncheng, mobilizing troops and generals. Zhang Yingchang, Zuo Guangxian and other fierce generals from northern Shaanxi also led the elite border troops south.

On the opposite bank of the Yellow River, Zuo Liangyu personally led two thousand elite troops to garrison at Maojin Ferry, constantly on guard against bandits crossing the river and fleeing south.

As the government forces grew stronger and their encirclement tightened, the rebels' space for maneuver was drastically reduced.

As a result, Jiang Han had no choice but to abandon the newly occupied prefectures and counties, shrink his defenses, cross the Zhongtiao Mountains again, and retreat to the vicinity of Pinglu on the north bank of the Yellow River.

In the blink of an eye, it's early winter, with a biting wind and withered vegetation.

In November of the fourth year of the Chongzhen reign, the weather grew colder year by year, and broken ice had appeared on the Yellow River.

However, it will take at least another month before the Yellow River completely freezes over, allowing large groups of people to travel freely.

But the government troops would not let the bandits have their way. As winter approached, the government troops' offensive became increasingly fierce.

Emperor Chongzhen repeatedly issued orders to all generals, urging them to completely annihilate the bandits before the Yellow River froze over, and to never allow them to infiltrate the heart of the Central Plains and wreak havoc on the region.

Over the course of more than half a month, Jiang Han led various leaders in several fierce battles of varying scales against the various government troops that came from all directions, both on and off the plateau.

In just over ten days, the group fought no fewer than twenty battles, including ambushes, night raids, and direct confrontations—all sorts of battles.

The two sides exchanged blows, resulting in heavy casualties. Thanks to its superior equipment and valiant soldiers, Jiang Han's main force, despite suffering considerable losses, was able to maintain its organizational structure and combat effectiveness.

However, the other leaders who were attached to him were not so lucky.

Under the intense onslaught of the government troops, they suffered repeated defeats, heavy casualties, their camps were breached, their supplies were burned, and their morale plummeted.

Some leaders attempted to wage guerrilla warfare in the Zhongtiao Mountains, but they were chased around like rabbits by the government troops, and many of them froze to death in the mountains.

In desperation, some rebel leaders, driven to the brink of desperation, began cutting down trees in the mountains to build rafts in an attempt to forcibly cross the Yellow River.

But how could Zuo Liangyu let them have their way?

At this time, Commander Zuo was still a loyal and capable general of the court, so he resolutely carried out the emperor's order.

Those rebels who attempted to cross the river were often killed by the dense arrows and cannon fire of the government troops on the south bank before they even got close to the center of the river, their boats capsized and they all perished in the icy Yellow River.

With nowhere to go but heaven and nowhere to go, they could only gather more closely around Jiang Han's camp, seeking refuge and trying to prolong their lives until the Yellow River froze over.

However, Cao Wenzhao and other veteran generals of the government army were not easy to deal with.

Seeing that Jiang Han's camp was well-defended, they simply abandoned Jiang Han and turned their attention to the surrounding weak and demoralized troops.

Cao Wenzhao commanded his troops to launch continuous harassment and attacks on these small bandit camps on the outskirts, day and night.

The government troops used the mobility of their cavalry to launch rapid raids, hitting and running away;

Or they could use the advantage of artillery to bombard from a distance and destroy the camp's defenses;
Or they could take advantage of the darkness to launch small-scale night raids, creating chaos and panic.

In short, we must do everything in our power to give these small groups of bandits no chance to catch their breath, constantly weakening their strength and wearing down their will.

Even more viciously, Cao Wenzhao also resorted to a divisive tactic, claiming that the imperial army would only punish the ringleaders, regardless of whether they were coerced into following him.

As long as those small groups of bandits repent and take the initiative to make contributions, the government troops will not only forgive their past mistakes, but will also reward them according to the size of their "merits", and even grant them official positions!
The "merit" referred to here is, without a doubt, Jiang Han's main camp.

To increase credibility, Cao Wenzhao even brought out Bai Guang'en and had him personally appear on the battlefield to give his testimony.

The traitor Bai Guang'en surrendered to the government army in the Battle of Tiejiao City, and was granted the position of Guerrilla General by Hong Chengchou for his "meritorious service in informing on others".

Bai Guang'en rode a tall horse, showing off his power in front of the battle. He told the various rebel armies that as long as they surrendered to the government army, they could easily obtain a wife and children, wealth and honor.

Thus, under the continuous military attacks and attempts to recruit defectors by the government forces, many people began to be tempted.

Among them, King Xu Kebian, who changed the world, was the first to consider surrendering.

Xu Kebian was not a man of strong will; he rebelled simply to make a living.

Now, seeing the overwhelming strength of the government army, and witnessing the heavy casualties suffered by his own small force under repeated attacks, his will to resist had long been worn away.

Especially after seeing Bai Guang'en's appearance, he felt even more longing. He felt that rather than being trapped and dying on the north bank of the Yellow River with Shangshanhu and the others, he would rather learn from Bai Guang'en.

If I surrender to the government troops with my pledge of allegiance, I might be able to secure a future of wealth, honor, and prosperity for my family.

Therefore, Xu Kebian secretly sent people to contact Cao Wenzhao, expressing his desire to "abandon darkness and embrace the light" and submit to the imperial court.

He even offered to emulate Bai Guang'en by betraying Shangshanhu's military intelligence to assist the government troops in setting up an ambush, using this as a stepping stone for his advancement.

The night is dark and the cold wind is howling.

Inside Xu Kebian's camp, several dark figures slipped out of the camp silently, like ghosts.

Under the cover of night, the group ran towards the government army camp.

They thought they were acting discreetly, but little did they know that their every move had already been seen clearly by the spies Jiang Han had sent out.

The scout dared not delay and immediately relayed this important intelligence to Jiang Han.

Inside the central command tent, the lights were bright; however, the atmosphere inside was incredibly oppressive.

Jiang Han summoned his core generals, Li Laowai, Shao Yong, Dong Erzhu, and his clerk Zhao Sheng, to discuss how to handle the matter of Xu Kebian.

Upon hearing this, Li Laowai was furious. He immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said in a deep voice:
"General, I don't think we need to waste any more words on this treacherous traitor who betrays his country on the battlefield!"

"I will immediately lead my troops to capture that scoundrel Xu Kebian, and then, in front of the other leaders, publicly execute him as a warning to others!"

Jiang Han raised his hand and gestured to stop Li Laowai:

"Wait!"

"If you go and take him, what will the other leaders think of me?"

Li Laowai got anxious:

"General, this traitor is clearly going to defect to the enemy. Are we going to keep him around for the New Year?"

Jiang Han looked at him and calmly asked in return:

"Words are meaningless. Who would believe you if you said Xu Kebian wanted to defect to the enemy?"

"Do you have any letters from him treasonous, or have you captured any messengers he sent out?"

"You killed a leader who came to surrender without any evidence. What will others think?"

Jiang Han sighed and continued his analysis.
"From the initial 30,000-plus people, we've managed to hold on until now, with only half of us remaining. What's the secret to that?"

"Isn't it because everyone trusts me and is willing to stick together and fight against the government troops?"

"If we kill Xu Kebian without evidence, we'll probably be in chaos before Cao Wenzhao even attacks us."

"If morale is low, how can you lead the team?"

Old Li opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately swallowed his words back.

He knew Jiang Han was telling the truth, but he was seething with anger and could only retreat in silence.

Inside the tent, silence fell for a moment. Everyone frowned, clearly finding the matter troublesome.

After a long silence, everyone turned their gaze to Jiang Han, waiting for him to make a decision.

Jiang Han slowly walked to the map, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at the winding Yellow River waterway on the map.

His finger moved slowly across the map, finally stopping at Bailangdu on the south bank of the Yellow River.

"The government troops are closing in on us every day. If we don't find a way to break the deadlock, I'm afraid even more people will want to defect to the enemy."

Jiang Han took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"Let's cross the river; only by crossing the river can we have a chance of survival."

"Isn't he trying to take our intelligence to Cao Wenzhao to curry favor?"

"Then I'll give him that chance!"

"Pass down the order that our army is running out of food and supplies, and morale is wavering. Prepare to gather our main force three days later, launch a night attack on Bailangdu, and force our way across the Yellow River southward!"

The generals inside the tent were completely bewildered. Wasn't this tantamount to sticking their necks out to be cut off?

Only Zhao Sheng was quick-witted. His eyes darted around, and he tentatively asked:

"Does the commander mean to use a feint attack in one direction while attacking in another?"

Jiang Han nodded approvingly:

"Exactly."

"I plan to send the main force to launch a feint attack on Bailangdu, so as to draw the attention of the government troops to Bailangdu."

As he spoke, he drew a line on the map and pointed to another ferry crossing.
"In reality, it was a feint; a team of elite soldiers was sent upstream to Modi Ferry to secretly cross the Yellow River."

Upon hearing this, the generals' eyes lit up, and Li Laowai and Shao Yong even stepped forward to volunteer:
"General, I am willing to be the vanguard and lead my troops to secretly cross the Yellow River."

But Jiang Han shook his head and looked at the two of them, saying:
"No, in this battle, I want you to personally lead the main force of the army to launch a feigned attack on Bailangdu."

"I will personally lead the troops across the river!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng immediately became anxious and quickly advised:
"General, you mustn't! Crossing the Yellow River secretly is extremely dangerous!"

"You are the commander of the three armies. If something were to happen to you, what would become of us?"

"That's right, I'll go, Commander!"

For a moment, voices of dissuasion rose and fell inside the tent, all hoping that Jiang Han would retract his order.

Jiang Han frowned and said in a deep voice:
"What's the noise?"

His gaze swept over Li Laowai, Shao Yong, Dong Erzhu, Zhao Sheng, and the others in turn, and he asked:

"Which of you can swim?"

After hearing this, the four looked at each other and shook their heads in silence.

These men, who came from northern Shaanxi, were usually fierce and powerful on land, but they were completely clueless when it came to water skills.

Jiang Han sighed:
"Let alone you, out of the thousands of people in the entire army, I'm afraid you can't find more than three hundred who can actually swim."

To put it bluntly, these border soldiers from Shaanxi, besides eating sand in Yansui Town all day long, what water could they possibly know?

Jiang Han could swim, but he was still intimidated by the wide Yellow River.

Not to mention the soldiers who can't swim; their legs would probably go weak at the sight of the Yellow River, let alone dare to cross it.

Therefore, Jiang Han, as the head coach, had to personally take charge and lead by example.

Besides, there are only so many capable people in the army right now, and it's not yet time for Jiang Han to sit comfortably in his tent and issue orders.

The military situation was urgent, and he had to go.

Jiang Han glanced around at everyone and took a deep breath:

"There's no need to discuss this further; my mind is made up!"

"Three days later, you will lead your troops in a feigned attack on Bailangdu; while I will personally lead eight hundred elite troops to secretly cross Modidu under cover of night!"

"We must fight this battle and fight for every possible chance of survival!"

　6K, you can't say I haven't updated enough! I really tried my best, and I still need to do some research!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)