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

Chapter 161 Night Raid on Maojindu

Night fell, and the moonlight grew dim.

The garrison stationed near Maojindu hastily completed its routine patrol and hurriedly returned to its camp.

In their view, since the main force of the bandits had already headed for Bailang Ferry downstream, their Maojin Ferry should be safe.

At first, the garrison was on high alert, patrolling constantly every day.

Seeing that nothing had happened on the other side, and with the general leading his troops away from the camp, they gradually relaxed.

The two centurions at the head were even bolder.

They actually had their personal guards bring in tables and candles, openly setting up a gambling den in the camp, shouting and joking around, gathering people to gamble.

"Brothers, we live in constant fear at this godforsaken ferry crossing. We deserve to have some fun!"

One of the centurions, showing off, took out a pair of mahjong tiles and laughed loudly.

"that is!"

"The meager monthly salary that the imperial court just issued won't amount to anything if I keep it in my pocket, so I might as well take it out and have some fun!"

At his shout, many soldiers who were eating or resting were immediately drawn over.

Military camps are already boring, not to mention they've been stuck at this ferry crossing for months, spending all their time staring blankly at the bandits on the other side of the river.

Now that everyone had some spare money and could kill some time, they opened their money bags and bet the copper coins and silver pieces that were still warm from their bodies.

As the gambling game unfolded, the camp became lively and filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Just as these officers and soldiers were engrossed in their gambling and completely oblivious to their surroundings, Jiang Han had already led his men, under the cover of night, to quietly sneak up to the vicinity of the camp.

"Damn it, Commander Zuo has some good soldiers; they actually gambled it out in the camp!"

Seeing the bustling gambling in the camp, Jiang Han spat inwardly and then sent dozens of his capable men to carefully search for the visible and hidden sentries of the guards outside the camp.

These guys were all focused on the gambling inside; they had no interest in guarding the place. They couldn't wait to put down their weapons and go back to play a few rounds.

As expected, the group of people had their throats slit without making a sound.

Having dealt with the outer scouts, several dozen soldiers, carrying tinder such as kerosene and sulfur captured earlier, quietly slipped them into the garrison's camp from several different directions.

"Hey, what's that burnt smell? Can you smell it?"

"Screw you, I'm going to win this hand!"

"Give me the money now!"

Dry tents and hay catch fire easily, and with the river wind blowing in the winter night, the fire suddenly bursts up and spreads rapidly in all directions!

"Damn it, there's a fire!"

"Stop gambling, put out the fire!"

Only then did the officers and soldiers still at the gambling table wake up as if from a dream. Seeing the flames soaring into the sky and the thick smoke billowing, they were thrown into chaos.

The group of people, without even bothering to get dressed properly, hurriedly grabbed buckets and wooden basins from the camp and rushed to the river to fetch water to put out the fire.

However, they had only rushed out of the camp gate a short distance when suddenly a group of men emerged from the darkness. The leader, holding two maces and with a cold expression, was none other than Jiang Han himself.

"who?!"

Jiang Han sneered and, without saying a word, smashed the man's head open with a hammer.

"Enemy attack!"

"The enemy soldiers are attacking!"

Seeing their comrades collapse to the ground, the guards finally realized what was happening and turned to run away. They no longer cared about putting out the fire.
Everyone dropped their wooden basins and buckets and turned to run back, but when they looked back, the camp was ablaze with flames, and their escape route was cut off.

With nowhere to run, the garrison turned and fled towards the nearby Mao Village, hoping to blend in and escape the bandits. But since Jiang Han had already made his move, why would he leave them a way out?
Feng Chengxuan, the captain of his personal guards, had been waiting for a long time. He led two squads of men and circled around from one side of the camp, blocking the direction in which the soldiers were trying to escape.

Seeing that all three roads were blocked, the group had no choice but to run towards the banks of the Yellow River.

Looking at the wide river, they jumped in without a word. Swimming across offered a glimmer of hope, but if the bandits caught up with them, they would surely die on the spot.

Jiang Han led his men in a relentless pursuit, driving all the garrison troops down to the Yellow River before finally stopping.

"Alright, stop chasing."

"Even if these people swim across, they'll freeze to death."

Seeing the government troops struggling desperately on the river, Jiang Han waved his hand, signaling his men to stop the pursuit.

In less than half an hour, the hustle and bustle of Maojindu completely subsided, leaving only the fire in the camp burning quietly, making crackling sounds.

After dealing with the incompetent garrison, Jiang Han brought over the boatmen who were hiding in the upstream river bend.

Maojin Ferry has been the foremost of the three ancient ferry crossings on the Yellow River since ancient times.

The river here is wide and the current is calm, making it a vital transportation hub connecting Shanxi and Henan provinces, and its military and commercial importance is paramount.

On both sides of the ferry crossing, there are sturdy stone wharves, where official ships and merchant ships come and go and moor all year round.

Jiang Han looked at the several large patrol boats and troop transport ships moored at the ferry and a thought popped into his head: he was going to use the same trick again.

He planned to continue by boat, going downstream along the Yellow River to Bailangdu, where he could ferry the main force still on the south bank of the Yellow River.

But just as he was about to order boarding, an old boatman he had hired suddenly came running over, stumbling and crawling.

"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable!"

"This boat can't go downstream!"

The old boatman was panting heavily, and his voice was distorted.

Jiang Han frowned and asked in a deep voice:

"Why can't we sail? Is there something wrong with the boat?"

The old boatman waved his hands repeatedly, pointing downstream, his face filled with solemnity:

"No, it's not a problem with the boat!"

"Your Majesty may not know this, but about twenty miles downstream from this ferry crossing lies the most treacherous section of the Yellow River."

"This area is riddled with reefs and has a rapid current."

"Let alone a large army sailing across the river, even we boatmen who make a living on the river year-round wouldn't dare to cross without thorough preparation!"

Fearing that Jiang Han might not believe him and would think he was deliberately making excuses, the old boatman quickly pulled Jiang Han and several guards upstream.

Jiang Han was puzzled, but then he saw the old boatman lead him up to a higher earthen slope.

The boatman pointed to the bend in the river ahead and explained to Jiang Han:

"Your Majesty, please look. Not far away is the most treacherous section of the Yellow River, called Sanmenxia."

By the dim light of the stars and moon, and the flickering firelight on the distant shore, the boatman carefully explained the conditions of this section of the river.

"Your Majesty may not know this, but there are many tricks to the Yellow River. Your Majesty is kind and thinks highly of us boatmen, so we will naturally tell you the truth."

"We boatmen, who have rowed and transported goods on the Yellow River for generations, all remember one thing:..."

"Looking at the Three Gates, the Three Gates open, the Yellow River's waters come from the sky; the Divine Gate is perilous, the Ghost Gate is narrow, and above the Human Gate is a hundred-foot cliff."

(End of this chapter)