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

Chapter 90 Deceiving Yanshui Pass
After winning the battle, Jiang Han sent out fast horses to inform Hei Zi and Zhu Zi in Yan'an Prefecture to withdraw their troops immediately.

Jiang Han did not choose to send men to meet him; instead, he wanted to press his advantage, break through Yanshui Pass in one fell swoop, and open up the road to Shanxi.

But if you want to attack Yanshui Pass, you must first understand the situation of Yanshui Pass.

So Jiang Han sent his personal guards to the prisoner-of-war camp to see if there were any government soldiers who had been to Yanshui Pass before, and brought them over for questioning.

Before long, several disheveled government soldiers were brought into the main tent.

The prisoners entered the tent trembling with fear. Seeing the two captains, Shao Yong and Li Laowai, standing menacingly in the tent, they were immediately terrified and knelt down with a thud, fearing that Jiang Han would kill them.

Seeing this, Jiang Han offered them a few words of comfort.
"Don't worry, it's just a question. We won't kill you. Just tell us the truth."

Jiang Han randomly pointed to someone:

"You! Get up and answer!"

"What's your name? Which department of Li Bei are you from?"

The prisoner he pointed to didn't dare to stand up, keeping his head down and cautiously speaking:

"Reporting to the general, my name is Huang Ming, and I am from General Li's cavalry."

Jiang Han nodded slightly, squinted at him for a moment, and continued to ask:

"Since you've been to Yanshui Pass, tell me, who is the garrison commander of Yanshui Pass?"

How many soldiers are guarding the pass?

Huang Ming thought for a long time before answering:
"The garrison commander is Pang Hui, and there are about three hundred officers and soldiers."

Jiang Han frowned, somewhat skeptical:

"Yanshui Pass is a vital transportation route connecting Shanxi and Shaanxi. How come such an important pass is guarded by only three hundred people?"

Huang Ming hurriedly explained:
"General, you may not know this, but Yanshui Pass is a strategically important location and cannot accommodate many troops."

"Besides, given the terrain of Yanshui Pass, if we only have 300 men to guard it, it would take 3,000 men to attack it, and even then, we might not be able to take it!"

Jiang Han was startled:
"That dangerous?"

Huang Ming nodded repeatedly and continued to add:

"Absolutely true!"

"That place is a ferry crossing. In front of it are hills, behind it is the Yellow River, and on both sides are cliffs. There is only one narrow path to get up there."

Upon hearing this, the generals in the tent frowned. After hearing Huang Ming's words, they realized that Yanshui Pass was a tough nut to crack.

Jiang Han pondered for a moment, then gave instructions to the prisoners:
"Take off all your clothes!"

Huang Ming and the other prisoners were confused, but intimidated by Jiang Han's power, they had no choice but to obey.

One by one, they stripped down to their inner garments, took off their outer mandarin duck battle coats, and threw them aside.

Jiang Han nodded and waved for his personal guards to take them out.

After the prisoners left, Jiang Han quickly took off his outer leather armor and grabbed the jacket the prisoners had changed out of, putting it on himself.

As he put on the protective suit, he instructed Shao Yong and Li Laowai:
"Quickly, change into prisoners' clothes and trick them into entering the prison under cover of night!"

"Yanshui Pass is a strategically important location, and a direct assault would likely result in heavy casualties."

Seeing this, Li Laowai quickly stepped forward to stop him:
"Sir, deceiving the authorities is too risky. I'll go instead!"

Jiang Han shook his head, his tone firm:
"No, this matter is of utmost importance, I must go in person!"

"I'm worried."

At this moment, Shao Yong also came over to offer his advice:
"A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. Lord Jiang, you should let Lao Wai go."

After saying that, he snatched the mandarin duck battle coat from Jiang Han's hand, threw it to Li Laowai, and winked at him.

Li Laowai understood, grabbed his clothes, turned and ran, afraid that Jiang Han would stop him. Jiang Han had no choice but to sigh and nod in agreement.

As soon as Li Laowai left the main tent, he immediately ordered his personal guards to bring Huang Ming and his group of prisoners back to him.

The guards nodded, accepted the order, and left, then led Huang Ming and the others to Li Laowai's tent.

The prisoners stood in the open space, wearing only their underwear. The cold wind made them shiver, and they stared at Li Laowai, whose face was covered in blood, with trepidation, wondering what he was going to do next.

Li Laowai looked at them and said coldly:

"We are all brothers in the border army. Now that you have surrendered, do your job well. The general will not treat you unfairly!"

"I have something I need your cooperation on."

Huang Ming and the others looked at each other, puzzled. They were already prisoners, so what did they need to cooperate with?
Li Laowai didn't beat around the bush and said directly:
"I need you to help me sneak into Yanshui Pass."

Upon hearing this, and glancing at the tattered battle coat in Li Laowai's hand, the prisoners immediately understood:
These rebels are trying to trick us at the gate!

But just then, a squad leader snorted coldly and said, his neck stiff:
"If you want to clear the level, just go and fight it yourself!"

"Why resort to such despicable means? It completely undermines any heroic spirit!"

"I'm not going! You can go yourselves!"

Upon hearing this, the other prisoners also lowered their heads and remained silent, adopting a posture of silent resistance.

Seeing this, Li Laowai frowned. "Still so tough even as a prisoner? It seems I've been too merciful."

Without saying a word, he immediately ordered his personal guards to drag out the leading squad leader and behead him.

He then closed his eyes, his right hand gesturing randomly among the prisoners, muttering something under his breath.

The guards beside him curiously leaned closer to listen, only to hear Li Laowai muttering repeatedly, "...selecting soldiers and generals, whoever's name is chosen!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly opened his eyes, pointed at the prisoner he was pointing at, and chopped him down without saying a word.

With that slash, the other prisoners were instantly terrified, staring blankly at Li Laowai, at a loss for what to do.

But Li Laowai remained expressionless and said nothing. Instead, he kept his eyes closed and began poking around with his fingers again.

This terrified everyone, who avoided Li Laowai's fingers as they jabbed around erratically.

This random killing of prisoners puts them under psychological pressure no less than the pressure of being defeated head-on on the battlefield.

They could no longer hold on and begged for mercy one after another:

"General, we'll do whatever you say, please don't order any more!"

But Li Laowai ignored him and showed no sign of stopping, shouting louder and louder:
"Whoever's pointed at is the one!"

The finger struck Huang Ming squarely on the head.

Li Laowai gestured with his lip, indicating that his personal guards should come forward and drag Huang Ming out.

Huang Ming, who had been singled out, collapsed to the ground, his legs giving way beneath him, pleading incessantly:

"General, I...please...please don't kill me! I'm willing, I'm willing to deceive the gatekeeper!"

Li Laowai stared at him without saying a word, and after a long while, he finally nodded slowly:
"Fine, I'll spare your life."

After saying that, he closed his eyes again and prepared to start the count for the other prisoners.

The remaining people, seeing this, were terrified and immediately knelt down, begging for mercy.

"Don't order anymore, General, we're all willing to go!"

Upon hearing this, Li Laowai opened his eyes and grinned.

What a bunch of scoundrels, they insisted on making him kill someone.

(End of this chapter)