Late Ming Dynasty: Starting with the overthrow of the county magistrate, a rebellion was launched to

Eastern Sichuan, Daning Pass

If future generations could visit this place, they would be amazed by the wonders of nature.

The sheer cliffs on both sides are as solid as cast iron or bronze, with only a narrow, winding path wedged between the mountains, so narrow at its narrowest point that only one person or one horse can pass through.

It is said that the mountain winds blow through the gorge year-round, and the resonant whistling sound is like the wailing of ghosts. In addition, the autumn mountain mist rises from the valley floor, making even the daytime gloomy.

A combination of factors created an atmosphere so eerie and gloomy that it felt as if hundreds or thousands of people had died.

Yet, in this godforsaken place, Meng Ruhu and Zhang Yingyuan have been holding the position for seventeen days in accordance with Yang Sichang's military orders!

Three thousand government troops blocked the pass completely, constructing countless defensive fortifications.

Unfortunately, this place is located halfway up the mountain, where water cannot be retained, so there are no springs or wells here.

Therefore, just for the sake of drinking water, the officers and soldiers had to specially send soldiers to climb down the cliffs and down the valley to carry it back, a round trip taking half an hour, and often resulting in deaths.

Food supplies were also a major problem. The mountain paths were difficult to traverse, and sometimes the supply trains couldn't even manage to bring up wheat cakes and brown rice, let alone vegetables.

In such harsh conditions, colds, malaria, and diarrhea spread among the troops...

"Zhang Da! I'll fuck your mother!"

At this moment, a centurion leaned against a cliff, rubbing his swollen and festering feet, and began to hurl insults at Zhang Da, a complete stranger. Immediately, a dozen or so soldiers surrounded him, their resentment bursting forth like a long-suppressed flood.

"We've been guarding this place for half a month, and we haven't even seen a single hair of the bandits!"

A young soldier, wrapped in a tattered uniform, his teeth chattering, cried out, "What kind of beast is Zhang Da? How could the commander-in-chief believe his lies and leave us here to suffer like this!"

"Zhang Xianzhong roamed seven provinces, his actions were fickle and unpredictable. That beast isn't even worthy to carry his shoes, yet he dares to presume to discuss state affairs!"

"If we hold out for another ten days, even without the bandits attacking, half of us will freeze, starve, or die of disease!"

"We might as well quietly retreat down the mountain; at least we'll have shelter and hot meals. We can always come back when the bandits arrive!"

The complaints grew louder and louder, turning from whispers into open discussions. Many soldiers put down their weapons, and some even collapsed on the ground, refusing to stand guard any longer.

Upon seeing this scene, Zhang Yingyuan's first reaction was actually relief.

When he first led his troops to this location, he confidently asserted that Zhang Xianzhong would inevitably escape to eastern Sichuan via this route, and he would often boast to his soldiers that this was his deduction.

After several days of hardship for the entire army, Zhang Yingyuan suddenly changed his tune, speculating that the order to garrison the area was proposed by Commander Yang.

A few days later, Zhang Yingyuan changed his story again, saying that it was Zhang Da who suggested it...

Luckily, I changed my mind quickly, otherwise my subordinates might have really rebelled.

After the initial relief came a surge of anger. What if Zhang Xianzhong had actually taken this path? With his army looking like this, how could they possibly win a battle? Wouldn't all their suffering have been for nothing?

So he grabbed his riding whip and charged forward, lashing out three times at the centurion who was leading the clamor, shouting fiercely.

"Damn it! Military orders are absolute! Anyone who dares to undermine morale deserves to be executed! I'll say it again: anyone who dares to suggest withdrawing the troops will be beheaded and offered as a sacrifice to the flag!"

The soldiers, startled by the incident, shrank back in silence, picked up their weapons, and retreated to their sentry posts.

After scolding the soldiers, Zhang Yingyuan put away his whip, looked down at the winding mountain path below the cliff, and felt a pang of regret.

Could Zhang Da's prediction be wrong? That doesn't make sense. If he were wrong, he would have objected back in the military tent long ago...

Surely not everyone can be wrong?

Zhang Yingyuan walked up to Meng Ruhu and asked, puzzled.

"Lord Meng, in just half a month, our army has already lost more than a hundred brothers. At this time, our food supplies are running out and our morale is low. If we continue to drag this out, we will collapse on our own without the bandits even attacking us."

Meng Ruhu hadn't said it, but Zhang Yingyuan could see hesitation and doubt in his eyes.

"Zhang Da... is that guy trustworthy? In the end, he's just a rebel who occupied a county. He probably hasn't even grown a beard yet, and he's never even fought Zhang Xianzhong... how could he know his route into Sichuan so accurately?"

Meng Ruhu stroked his beard, also regretting that he had spoken up for Zhang Da in the central command tent earlier.

He had initially thought Zhang Da's speculation made a lot of sense, but after spending half a month in the mountains, he realized that there were flaws everywhere.

Zhang Xianzhong was adept at feinting and attacking from the sidelines, and his routes into Sichuan were complex and varied. Why did he choose to venture into the perilous Daning Pass instead of taking the many mountain roads through Fang County and Zhushan?

"The commander-in-chief's orders are hard to disobey!" Meng Ruhu sighed, blaming Yang Sichang for everything. "I've been here for half a month, and I feel that Zhang Da's plans are full of flaws, but I don't know where to begin. What if Zhang Xianzhong changes his course and goes to Zhenping, Wuxi... or even worse, to eastern Sichuan and Henan? What will we do then?"

"In that case, our army will surely be ridiculed by the world! I think that kid is just making things up to divert our attention..."

Thinking this, Zhang Yingyuan suddenly slammed his fist on the cliff in anger. "Damn it, after this battle is over, I will definitely write to the commander-in-chief and punish him for deception!"

After the two finished cursing, they whispered to each other whether they should send a light cavalry to scout the direction of Jiudaoliang and Baima Pass. Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats and the urgent sound of whistles came from the lower reaches of the mountain road.

A scout, drenched in sweat, scrambled forward and knelt down.

"Generals! Three miles downstream along the mountain path, we have spotted the vanguard of the bandits! About one hundred and twenty riders, all lightly armored and riding swiftly, are charging towards the pass! Leading them is a young general, whose banner reads 'Li'!"

Meng Ruhu and Zhang Yingyuan's expressions changed drastically. They immediately rushed to the cliff edge and took cover behind it, holding up their binoculars to look into the distance.

At the end of the mountain road, a troop of elite cavalry came galloping towards them. The riders were all wearing short armor, carrying long spears, and had curved swords at their waists. The horses moved like arrows, and the formation was tight and orderly.

The young man at the head of the group was only seventeen or eighteen years old. He was wearing light silver armor, holding a long spear, and had a handsome face but cold and sharp eyes. It was obvious that he was Li Dingguo, the number one young and fierce general under Zhang Xianzhong!

Zhang Yingyuan placed his hand on his waist knife, his eyes gleaming.

"Good heavens, they actually came! Meng Gong, let's fight! If we kill Li Dingguo, we'll both be famous throughout the land!"

Having said that, Zhang Yingyuan was about to give the order to act...

"slow!"

Fierce as a tiger, he forcefully grabbed his arm, furious and disregarding all manners.

"Useless fool! If Li Dingguo can personally act as the scout, who will follow behind? We should play the long game, let them pass first, and then once Zhang Xianzhong's main force enters the middle of the pass, we'll block them from the front and back, and ambush them from all sides. As long as we capture and kill Zhang Xianzhong in one battle, this achievement will be enough to earn us a title and make our names known in history!"

Zhang Yingyuan felt a jolt, his blood rushing to his head.

That's right! Capture and kill Zhang Xianzhong!

This was a feat that countless government and military generals dreamed of. As long as Zhang Xianzhong died at Daning Pass, the bandit group would be leaderless and collapse in an instant. At that time, he and Meng Ruhu would be the most meritorious officials of the court.