With 100,000 elite soldiers at the start, what should you call me?

……

Geng Zhongming committed suicide out of fear of punishment.

This result shocked the Qing court's high-ranking officials.

Geng Zhongming held a high position and initially followed Kong Youde in betraying the Ming Dynasty. He fought for the Jurchens outside the Liaodong Pass and belonged to the Plain Yellow Banner of the Han Army. His son-in-law was Aisin Gioro Bahana.

Bahana was a Manchu of Emperor Zhenzong, a member of the imperial family, and the Minister of Revenue who held real power in the court.

Therefore, although Geng Zhongming was a Han Chinese, he had many people in the court and held a high position. Moreover, he was one of the founding heroes of the Qing Dynasty, and he had made great contributions. Even if he broke the law, his crime would not warrant the death penalty.

When Chen Shaozong reported that Geng Zhongming was harboring fugitives, and the report was verified, many people wrote letters to speak on Geng Zhongming's behalf.

But Geng Zhongming chose to hang himself, which surprised everyone.

However, from the perspective of the Manchurian leadership, Geng Zhongming's approach was perfect.

This both upheld the Manchu law against fugitives and deterred Han Chinese groups that sought to band together for mutual support.

After Geng Zhongming's death, Kong Youde stopped associating with Shang Kexi, Shen Zhixiang, and others.

Although a king has died, the war must continue.

"The matter concerning Prince Gongshun was sent to the court along with the battle reports from the front lines."

Lekedehun and others gathered in the main hall. This meeting was chaired by General Gong Adai, the General Who Protects the Nation.

Gong Adai continued;

"According to the latest news from the front, Li Chengdong has already engaged in battle with Li Tianzei's army, and Li Tianzei's momentum is very strong. In Yanping Prefecture, 5,000 elite troops defeated Li Chengdong's 100,000-strong army."

Upon hearing this, everyone showed expressions of astonishment.

"Five thousand against one hundred thousand? Does this bandit army have such a formidable figure? Who is this person?"

"I heard that he is Yan Naichao, the commander of the First Army of the Dragon Cavalry under the rebel army. His five thousand men defeated one hundred thousand, truly reminiscent of the ancient Battle of Xiaoyao Ford, where Zhang Liao and Zhang Wenyuan defeated one hundred thousand with only eight hundred men!"

"Yan Naichao is as capable as Zhang Liao, but Li Chengdong is not like Sun Quan, who knows nothing about military affairs."

The conversation about the Three Kingdoms made the atmosphere a bit more lively, since the Manchus weren't very cultured, but they were very familiar with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

I heard that their ancestor Nurhaci learned all his schemes, tricks, and strategies from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

This also led to the Manchus having some understanding of the Three Kingdoms period.

"I never expected that Li Tian could be such a formidable person. You all must not be careless when fighting against the enemy. However, since Yan Naichao has the bravery of Zhang Liao, I am not a narrow-minded person. I will send someone to inform him in advance. If he is willing to surrender, I guarantee that after we take Fujian, he will have outstanding military achievements and will definitely be ennobled."

Lekedehun became very interested in Yan Naichao. Being able to defeat Li Chengdong with 5,000 and 100,000 was not something that just anyone could do.

None of the people present possessed this ability, not even the fierce generals who followed Emperor Taizu.

Li Chengdong was no nobody; he had previously led his troops to conquer the entire Guangdong province and was a man of remarkable achievements.

This further highlights Yan Naichao's extraordinary qualities.

"Your Highness, now that the remnants of the Ming dynasty are fighting with the traitor Li, it is the perfect time for us to march south. Please give the order, Your Highness." At this moment, General Babutai of Fengguo volunteered for battle.

"Very well, I hereby order Zhao Guozuo and Babutai to attack Shaowu Prefecture from Guangchang, Chen Tai, Dong Alai and Shang Kexi to attack Shanguan, Bashan, Tan Tai and He Luohui to attack Gukouguan, and I, the general, will personally lead the army to attack Xianxiaguan."

At Lekedehun's command, thousands of troops were mobilized.

He felt great pleasure in having power and controlling others.

Before long, the Qing generals dispersed and led their men back to their respective territories.

Everyone obeyed the orders, except for Kong Youde, who was left behind to guard the city without any command.

Meanwhile, several letters were sent from Nanjing to the capital.

He informed the court of the excellent situation in Fujian, thus reassuring the people of the court.

After all, the Qing army had voluntarily abandoned territory for the first time in history for this operation, which put them under considerable pressure in the court, with impeachments coming one after another.

If this battle fails to eliminate Li Tian and the remnants of Zhu Ming, even Lekedehun will lose his head.

Xianxia Pass is known as the "key to Zhejiang and the throat to Fujian". It is also one of the four major passes in China, along with Jianmen Pass, Hangu Pass and Yanmen Pass.

This pass is located amidst towering mountains and deep valleys. The terrain is treacherous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The Qing army was able to easily enter Fujian from Zhejiang because Zheng Zhilong surrendered to the Qing, and his army abandoned the city and fled, which allowed the Qing army to gain an advantage.

Now this pass is in the hands of the new army, and the enemy has no way to take it without special means.

At this time, the person stationed at this pass was Wang Lin, the company commander of the 2nd Company of the Shenji Battalion of the Longxiang 2nd Army.

At this time, Wang Lin was patrolling this pass. Although the company only had three hundred men, they were enough to guard this small pass.

The road ahead was narrow, making it impossible to set up a battle formation, and there were high mountains on both sides, making it impossible to climb or cross them.

There are also firing ports in the more than five-meter-high city wall, and two heavy machine guns are placed at the left and right firing ports, so there are no blind spots under the crossfire.

Moreover, there are two mortars in the city, so Wang Lin is not worried if the enemy wants to exchange fire.

The valley was utterly still, but then a strange movement occurred. The birds in the mountains seemed to be startled by something and flew away from the branches into the sky.

This scene caught the attention of the patrolling soldiers, who locked their gaze on the narrow road ahead.

Before long, a group of merchants appeared ahead on the winding road.

They were pulling mules and horses, and the carts were loaded with goods. There were about twenty or thirty people in the group.

"Halt! No entry into the city!" Two soldiers guarding the city gate immediately raised their guns and stopped the caravan.

The soldiers on the city wall also raised their guns and aimed them downwards.

"Gentlemen, we are merchants from Zhejiang traveling to Fujian. Please have mercy and let us pass."

The person leading the conversation wore a fawning smile and was dressed in a brocade robe, but the round hat on his head looked somewhat out of place.

As he spoke, he stepped forward, intending to give some benefits to the soldiers guarding the city.

However, the soldiers guarding the city took a step back, their eyes revealing murderous intent.

"I'm giving you this warning: don't go near the city gate."

The man's smile froze, and he didn't move forward.

"Gentlemen, this is a desolate wilderness teeming with venomous snakes and tigers; it's extremely dangerous. Are you really going to bear watching us be devoured by wild beasts outside the city?"

"Please, gentlemen, accept this." The leader raised his hand again, holding a heavy piece of silver.

However, the gatekeeper remained unmoved and instead gave a cold laugh.

"You merchants don't take the convenient sea route, but insist on taking this remote mountain road. You really know how to do business. Could you be spies sent by the Qing army?"

"No, we are definitely not. If you gentlemen won't let us in, that's fine too."

Unable to enter the city, the man left in disappointment and returned with his men by the same route. Before long, they arrived at a relatively spacious camp.

"Master, the bandits are on high alert; it's impossible for a merchant to sneak in." The speaker was the same merchant wearing the round hat from earlier.

The person he referred to as his master was none other than Jue Luo Lang Qiu, the vanguard general who led the attack on Xianxia Ridge.

"Once the gates of Xianxia Ridge are closed, one man can hold off ten thousand. If strategy fails, then we have no choice but to launch a direct assault."

"A night raid tonight."

That night, Jue Luolangqiu organized three hundred people to sneak close to Xianxia Pass. In the pitch black of night, they could not see their own hands in front of their faces.

The only firelight was around the city walls, and anyone within a few meters would be able to detect it.

Three hundred Qing soldiers, fully armored, suddenly lit torches, and a group carrying ladders rushed toward the pass.

"kill!"

Under the cover of darkness, a group of men successfully approached the city wall, placed a ladder on the tower, and the Qing soldiers behind them rushed up one by one.

The city gate was narrow, and at most two siege ladders could be erected. Soon, a second siege ladder was erected on the other side.

At this moment, the soldiers of the New Army on the city wall also reacted, blowing a piercing whistle and picking up their guns to fire at the Qing soldiers below.

However, the archers below the Qing army were not to be outdone. At such close range, firearms and attacks were the same; as long as they could kill, that was enough.

The Qing archers retaliated, and the New Army soldiers quickly crouched down under the parapet and used the gaps in the crenellations to fight back.

Meanwhile, some Qing soldiers had already climbed ladders and rushed up the city wall.

Just then, two firing ports in the city wall suddenly spewed out fire, the continuous volleys of which instantly killed the Qing soldiers who charged forward.

In just a few dozen seconds, most of the Qing soldiers exposed to the fire were killed or wounded!

The Qing army was terrified and dared not advance any further.