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

Chapter 290 Zheng Zhifeng Goes Deep into the Front Lines
As blank declarations of allegiance were sent out from Guiyang, local chieftains and bandits soon began roaming the mountains and waterways, harassing the Han army's supply lines.

These men dared not confront the enemy head-on, so they could only take advantage of the night to continuously sabotage roads at various strategic valley entrances, hindering the Han army's logistics.

This situation quickly caught Shao Yong's attention.

These people usually act like cowards, so why did they suddenly change their ways and dare to launch an attack?

Shao Yong keenly realized that the various reactionary forces in Guizhou had likely reached some kind of agreement in secret, intending to unite and resist the Han army.

The messages brought back by Qiao Hong and Zheng Yufei further corroborated his conjecture.

"General, according to An Wei, the Pacification Commissioner of Shuixi, the chieftains of Gulin and Shuixi not only refused to submit, but also made contact with the Ming army in Guizhou, wanting to form an alliance against our army."

Almost simultaneously, two more quartermasters in charge of logistics rushed into the tent to report that the grain supply routes in the Tongzi area had been completely blocked.

Several groups of bandits of unknown origin have appeared in the Dalou Mountains. Relying on their familiarity with the terrain, they specifically target dangerous sections of the road.

Many places were already rugged and difficult to traverse, and now these bandits have blown them up with explosives.

This series of attacks has severely disrupted the supply lines, and troops must be dispatched immediately to quell them; otherwise, the supplies simply cannot be transported.

Hearing the reports coming from various places, Shao Yong had a bad feeling.

If his supplies run out, his 50,000-strong army will be in a bind, and he must immediately change his battle strategy.

Thinking of this, Shao Yong immediately summoned his personal guards and said sternly:
"Beat the drums, raise the tent, and summon the generals for a meeting!"

Soon, several key generals in the army gathered in the central command tent, and Shao Yong then informed them of the current grim situation.

Upon hearing this news, Yu Chengye, who was sitting in the hall, immediately stood up:
"Commander-in-Chief!"

"These chieftains actually dared to collude with the Ming dogs!"

"Please grant me five thousand men. I am willing to lead the vanguard, to raze Shuixi and Gulin to the ground, and slaughter these barbarians as a warning to others!"

"No!"

The deputy general Liu Ning immediately voiced his objection.

"Shuixi, the area around Gulin, is characterized by high mountains, dense forests, and numerous caves."

“Each chieftain held a strategic position, making it easy to hide.”

"If our army ventures too far into the territory rashly, it will not only be difficult to find the main force of the chieftain for a decisive battle, but it will also be very easy to be ambushed."

"I think we definitely have to fight, but we need to prioritize."

Liu Ning looked around at everyone and explained,

"In my opinion, although there are many chieftains, they are a disorganized bunch, each with their own ulterior motives."

"The reason they dared to oppose our army was simply because they had the support of the Ming army in Guizhou."

"To catch the thief, first catch the king. If we can crush Xu Chengming's main force with lightning speed and capture Guiyang, then the local chieftains will surely be terrified."

"At that time, we can divide and conquer them one by one."

After listening to Liu Ning's analysis, the generals in the tent also felt that what he said made sense, and most of them nodded in agreement.

Shao Yong, who was at the head of the table, also strongly agreed with this opinion:
"That's right, Xu Chengming is the real threat."

"As long as we can take him down, these chieftains are nothing to fear."

With the strategic direction set, the next step is to plan specific tactics.

How should we defeat Xu Chengming?
Xu Chengming relied on the natural barrier of the Wujiang River to deploy defenses, and heavily guarded all the river crossings. A direct attack would inevitably result in heavy losses.

Shao Yong spread out a map and beckoned his adjutant, Shen Zhixing:

"When I sent you to investigate the ferry crossings along the Wujiang River, did you find anything?"

Shen Zhixing nodded, pointed to the north bank of the Wujiang River on the map, and said loudly:

"General, I believe we can cross the river at Chashan Pass."

"The river is relatively narrow here. Although the current is rapid, there is an eddy not far downstream, which makes it easy for boats and rafts to dock."

"After the army crosses the river here, it can quickly penetrate and rush to the flank and rear of Xifeng, disrupting Xu Chengming's entire Wujiang defense line deployment."

"Although Chashan Pass is guarded by Ming troops, there are several hidden crossing points forty miles upstream from the ferry crossing, where small boats and rafts can be used to cross the river."

Shao Yong stared at the location of the Chashan Pass ferry crossing, lost in thought for a long time.

Crossing the river from here is indeed feasible. As long as he sends troops to assemble on the north bank of the ferry, the Ming army's attention will be drawn to it.

Then another small team will sneak across the Wujiang River upstream, allowing them to attack the defending troops from behind.

"it is good!"

"Let's settle on Chashan Pass Ferry!"

"However, a forced crossing would result in too many casualties and is not advisable."

He then looked at Li Dingguo beside him and gave instructions.

"Dingguo, I want you to lead a detachment to cross the river secretly at night and join forces with my main force to attack the Ming army at the ferry."

"The time is set for three days from now. Three days later, I will lead the main force to garrison at Chashan Pass to attract the attention of the Ming army and cover your crossing of the river upstream."

Upon hearing this, Li Dingguo was overjoyed and immediately stepped forward:

"As ordered!"

Seeing this, Shao Yong immediately gave instructions:

"Don't be so happy. Let me tell you, your mission with this detachment is extremely difficult."

"I need you to act quickly. After crossing the river, march forty li under the cover of night to reach the vicinity of the ferry crossing. Then, launch the attack at daybreak!"

"If you fail to reach the designated location by the next day, I will have to deal with you through military law!"

Li Dingguo nodded, his expression turning solemn:
"Guaranteed to complete the mission!"

Seeing that he had accepted the task, Shao Yong nodded in satisfaction, then changed the subject and gave instructions to Zheng Yufei, who was standing beside him.

"As for the Tusi..."

"Didn't that Shuixi Pacification Commissioner Anwei tip you off in advance?"

"This person has a rather duplicity-like nature; perhaps we can make use of him."

"In that case, you take two or three more people, disguise them as merchants, and sneak back into Dafang County to make contact with Anwei."

"Tell him that as long as he's willing to secretly provide information on the movements and troop deployments of local leaders and chieftains, I'll make sure he gets his share of the benefits!"

"If he dares to outwardly comply but inwardly defy me, once my army is free to act, I will ensure his death and the extermination of his entire clan!"

After arranging all this, the generals accepted their orders and returned to their camps to prepare for the battle.

Shao Yong rubbed his temples wearily, intending to get some rest.

But just then, a guard suddenly came to report:
"General, a group of about fifty people has arrived outside the camp, carrying travel documents."

"The leader claimed to be a guest of the king, saying he wanted to come to my army to observe and learn from him."

Upon hearing this, Shao Yong frowned. With a major battle imminent and military affairs so complicated, why did a group of guests suddenly arrive?
But since he was the king's guest, he couldn't refuse him entry, so he had his personal guards bring him into the camp.

Soon, the curtain was lifted.

A middle-aged man dressed in a long silk robe and with a silver belt and jade ornaments around his waist walked in, followed by three attendants.

"My name is Zheng Zhifeng. Greetings, General Shao!"

The newcomer was Zheng Zhifeng. He smiled and bowed first, his posture very humble.
"I apologize for disturbing you, General, and hope you will forgive me."

"I have just arrived from Chengdu Prefecture. I had a very pleasant conversation with His Highness the Prince of Han and we agreed on some trade cooperation."

"I happened to hear that the general was using troops in Guizhou. I admired him very much, so I shamelessly asked the Prince of Han for a warrant, hoping to come to the army to observe and learn and broaden my horizons."

"I'm so sorry for arriving late and disturbing the general's rest."

"I have prepared a small gift, which is of little importance, but I hope the general will accept it."

As he spoke, his attendants brought out several gift boxes. Upon opening them, they found the boxes filled with gleaming silver ingots, exquisite Suzhou embroidery, and a gleaming Japanese sword.

Judging from its appearance, it was made by a master craftsman.

Shao Yong glanced at it only once and shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum:
"Absolutely not!"

“Mr. Zheng, I appreciate your kind intentions, but please take these gifts back.”

"There are strict orders in the army, and I apologize that I cannot accept them."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhifeng's smile froze, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

He had traveled extensively throughout the country and met countless officials, both high and low, and had never seen one refuse a gift.

Is it too little?
That's impossible! These things are incredibly valuable. If they were placed in the southeastern coastal region, they would be enough to impress a third or fourth-rank official in the Ming Dynasty.

Could it be a case of feigned indifference to lure the prey into a trap?
Zheng Zhifeng was still unwilling to give up and insisted:
"General, why stand on ceremony?"

"These few small gifts are merely my token of appreciation and have nothing to do with military regulations..."

Shao Yong raised his hand to interrupt him, leaving no room for argument:

“Mr. Zheng, military regulations are military regulations, and they are not just targeting you personally.”

"Please take back the gifts, otherwise I will have no choice but to have them registered and confiscated."

Seeing that Shao Yong's attitude was resolute and did not seem to be fake, Zheng Zhifeng's doubts deepened.

He could only awkwardly have his attendants take back the gifts, while at the same time becoming even more curious about the King of Han's entourage.

Seeing that he had put away the gift, Shao Yong's expression softened slightly, and he changed the subject:
"Mr. Zheng has come all the way from Chengdu, you must have had a long journey."

"I've heard that the Zheng family is also a powerful force in the southeast. May I ask what advice they may offer?"

Zheng Zhifeng composed herself and put on a smile again:

"Don't take advice seriously."

"As I just mentioned, my main purpose is to observe your army's training and combat methods up close."

"Although my Zheng family has some business at sea, we are not good at land warfare. This is a good opportunity to learn."

Shao Yong nodded, understanding the other party's purpose.

"Since they are Your Majesty's guests, I, Shao, will do my best to make arrangements."

"How about this, Mr. Zheng will stay in my central camp and move with my main force from now on. This way, his safety will be better guaranteed."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhifeng immediately shook her head:

"Thank you for your kindness, General."

"However... I have limited time and must return to Fujian to report back as soon as possible after the observation."

"Staying in the central command is good, but it's hard to witness the prowess of the soldiers on the front lines."

"General, would you do me the favor of allowing me to visit the camps below?"

Fearing that Shao Yong might not agree, he added,
"General, rest assured, I am not just a theorist."

"I have experienced many battles, both at sea and on land, and I will never cause any trouble for your army."

Seeing his sincere attitude, Shao Yong had no choice but to confirm again and again:

"At present, each battalion has combat missions, and the front line is extremely dangerous."

"Swords and spears have no eyes; Mr. Zheng, would you please reconsider?"

Zheng Zhifeng said solemnly:

"This is a rare opportunity, General. Please grant my request."

Seeing his insistence, Shao Yong stopped trying to dissuade him.

"In that case, let's go."

"Three days later, two groups of people will be dispatched."

"One route is to carry out a surprise attack across the river, which is extremely risky; the other route is to clear out bandits in the rear, which is relatively safe."

"Where would Mr. Zheng like to go?"

Zheng Zhifeng replied almost without hesitation:

"Since it's for observation and learning, we should naturally go to the most dangerous places."

"I'd like to join the troops crossing the river!"

Shao Yong was not surprised by Zheng Zhifeng's decision. He walked back to the case, quickly signed a warrant, and handed it to Zheng Zhifeng.

"In that case, Mr. Zheng, please take this order and report to the crossing troops immediately."

"The one leading this team is my guerrilla general, Li Dingguo."

"Although General Li is young, not yet twenty, he is already a fierce general who can stand alone. He has even killed a Ming army adjutant, so he can be described as both resourceful and brave."

"Mr. Zheng is welcome to have more exchanges with General Li."

Zheng Zhifeng accepted the warrant as if it were a priceless treasure, and happily replied:
"So you're a promising young talent! I, Zheng, should definitely get to know you better!"

"Speaking of which, my Zheng family has quite a few daughters of marriageable age. If fate allows..."

Seeing that he was going off on a tangent, Shao Yong quickly interrupted him:
"Mr. Zheng, let's discuss this matter another day."

"Since you've led troops before, there's something I have to say upfront."

"Now that you've joined my army and are on the front lines, regardless of your status, you must obey the command of your commander in all actions and must not disobey!"

"Otherwise, military law is merciless, and even I, Shao, cannot protect you!"

Zheng Zhifeng's expression turned solemn, and she immediately cupped her hands and said in a serious tone:
"Don't worry, General, I understand!"

"Now that we've joined the army, we must obey orders and never dare to disobey them!"

Shao Yong nodded:
"That's good."

"It's getting late. I've already ordered a guest room to be prepared. Mr. Zheng, please rest for the night and you can go to General Li's camp tomorrow morning."

But Zheng Zhifeng was rather impatient. He scratched his head:

"Thank you for your kindness, General."

"But... could we go tonight?"

Shao Yong glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions:

“No problem, there’s no curfew yet. Mr. Zheng can take my warrant to General Li’s camp.”

"I will have someone personally escort you there."

Zheng Zhifeng was overjoyed and bowed deeply with her hands clasped in front of her.
"Thank you for your kindness, General!"

Having said that, he left the command tent excitedly with his entourage and the warrant in hand.

Zheng Zhifeng's urgency was naturally for a reason.

Besides observing and learning, he also had the important task of inspecting the Han King's army for his elder brother.

Theoretical knowledge is ultimately insufficient; only by immersing oneself in the frontline combat units, living and eating alongside ordinary soldiers, and observing firsthand the details of their training, discipline, equipment, and daily life can one truly understand the true nature of warfare.
Only then can he truly assess the army's combat effectiveness, potential, and the commander's ability to govern.

This relates to the Zheng family's future investment in and cooperation strategies with the Han King's forces.

That's why he was so eager to immerse himself in the process and get firsthand information.

Led by Shao Yong's personal guards, Zheng Zhifeng, accompanied by three attendants, headed towards Li Dingguo's military camp south of Zunyi City.

On the way, Zheng Zhifeng even tried to get closer to the personal guard leading the way.
"How should I address this brother?"

"How old are you this year? You look quite handsome. How long have you been serving General Shao?"

(End of this chapter)