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

Daning Pass in Eastern Sichuan

The north wind whips up shredded snow, sweeping across the pass, past the banners, past mountains of corpses and seas of blood, blending the cold and the stench of blood into the mist...

There is no peace anywhere in the world, let alone the strategically important Daning Pass, the gateway between Sichuan and Hubei.

By this time, the stone walls at the Daning Pass had been blasted into jagged patches by cannon fire, and the red helmets and iron armor of the Ming army were mixed together with the blue turbans and short jackets of the Great Western army.

One of the main figures responsible for this tragic situation was Li Dingguo, Zhang Xianzhong's adopted son.

At this moment, he was standing on the high slope on the east side of the pass. His dark scale armor was covered with countless dents and bloodstains. Even though the battle was over, Li Dingguo still had his sword at his waist sheathed. He stood to the side, looking at the sky to check the enemy situation, which made him look even more handsome and sharp.

you do not say!

That year, Li Dingguo had just turned nineteen, but he was already one of the top generals under Zhang Xianzhong. He was seven feet tall, with a handsome face, and was extremely brave in battle, earning him the nickname "Little Yuchi".

Not only was his martial prowess exceptional, but he also possessed a rudimentary understanding of military strategy, unlike ordinary bandits who only knew how to kill. Therefore, he was the most valued among Zhang Xianzhong's four adopted sons, possessing both strategic acumen and bravery!

Since Zhang Xianzhong's rebellion in Gucheng, Li Dingguo followed him in battles across various regions, capturing countless cities and killing dozens of Ming generals. In terms of combat prowess, he was considered one of the best among all the rebel armies.

However, even such a brilliant person fought for a full two hours in the face of this feint attack.

According to the original plan, he and Sun Kewang led the two wings separately, making a show of force here, and then launched a fierce attack on the pass guarded by the Ming general Meng Ruhu and Zhang Yingyuan. The purpose was to attract the main force of Zuo Liangyu under Yang Sichang to come to the rescue, so as to create an opportunity for his adoptive father Zhang Xianzhong to personally lead his elite troops to sneak through the salt road and break through into Huguang.

Li Dingguo knew that this battle was of great importance. From the start of the battle at Chenshi (7-9 AM), he personally led his elite soldiers to launch repeated attacks from above. Under the rain of arrows and stones, they managed to disrupt the Ming army's defenses and make them feel like the main attack was about to begin.

"General, General Sun's left flank has retreated to three li away, and the Ming army has indeed pursued them for half a li. Zuo Liangyu's scouts are already heading towards Daning Pass!"

The siege and reinforcement operation went smoothly once again.

Li Dingguo nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the movements of the Ming army at the pass.

The Ming army flags on the fortress walls were waving wildly, and the shouts of battle were gradually subsiding. They had clearly been intimidated by the Ming's "fight to the death" and were now busy gathering their routed troops and reinforcing their defenses.

However, Li Dingguo did not think this was good, and instead issued another order.

"Order the vanguard to beat the drums three more times and fire ten volleys of arrows, making a great show of force so that the Ming army doesn't notice anything amiss."

"yes!"

The war drums sounded again, and the whistling sound of arrows piercing the air never ceased.

As expected, the Ming army fell for the trap. The muskets on the wall roared even louder, and hot oil and stones were poured down one after another. Clearly, they had focused all their attention on Daning Pass.

Li Dingguo watched coldly, but secretly calculated in his heart—his adoptive father had been secretly traveling along the salt route for three days. If everything went smoothly, according to the itinerary, he should have already broken through Baima Pass and entered the territory of Zhushan in Huguang by now, with no reason to turn back.

This show should come to an end.

As Li Dingguo was pondering, a rider suddenly galloped up from the mountain path on the west side of the pass. The messenger was wearing a red uniform, and his voice preceded his arrival.

"Urgent order from General Anxi! My adoptive father's command has arrived—!"

Li Dingguo's eyes flickered, and he raised his hand to stop the attack.

The drumbeats stopped abruptly, and the battlefield fell silent once more, with only the faint sounds of the cold wind blowing through the gaps and the low gasps of the wounded soldiers remaining.

The messenger rode his horse to the high slope, knelt down, and crawled forward on his knees, holding a wax-sealed letter in both hands.

"General, my adoptive father has broken through the salt route, entered Huguang, and captured Zhushan and Fangxian. He has ordered my troops to immediately abandon Daning Pass and advance into Chu to join forces!"

Li Dingguo took the letter, tore off the seal, and examined it closely. He saw that the handwriting on the paper was vigorous and unrestrained, indeed Zhang Xianzhong's own handwriting, each character still carrying a murderous aura.

"I have entered Chu and captured two counties in succession. My momentum is unstoppable. The government troops are routed at the mere sight of me. The situation is excellent!"

You shall immediately lead your troops out of Sichuan and advance eastward along the salt route. There is no need for siege warfare; travel light and simply, and you shall reach Huguang within three days. As for the rearguard action, Kewang shall take charge of it. He shall be responsible for guarding the passes in eastern Sichuan, gathering the remaining troops, pacifying the surrendered soldiers, and holding off the pursuing government troops as reinforcements.

The princes of Huguang have amassed immense wealth, and the three fiefdoms of Jing, Hui, and Gui are fertile lands with full granaries and vast tracts of arable land. Once the entire army has assembled, we will seize these territories to replenish our supplies, pacify the displaced people, and thus advance our grand undertaking. Do not delay, lest the government forces encircle us and we miss our opportunity.”

Li Dingguo finished reading the letter expressionlessly, then folded it back into the envelope and looked up at the rolling mountains of eastern Sichuan.

After going through so much trouble to get into Sichuan, are we really going to have to come out now?

Li Dingguo was still somewhat disappointed. For some reason, he felt very comfortable in Sichuan and always felt that he belonged there...

"Fine, I'll just take the wealthy regions of Huguang, borrow the princes' wealth to support my army, and then come back to fight my way out."

"Where is General Sun?" Li Dingguo asked loudly.

"We await orders at the foot of the left flank mountain, awaiting the general's decision!"

Li Dingguo handed the letter to the soldier beside him who was giving the order, and said...

"Go and show this letter from the Marshal to General Sun, and tell him to make proper arrangements. When you meet again in the future, invite him for a drink."

After saying this, Li Dingguo immediately turned his horse around, causing the armor plates to clang loudly, the sound echoing across the high slopes and reverberating through the valleys.

"Order the entire army! Break camp immediately, travel light and with minimal supplies, and enter Huguang along the salt road!"

When the military order was issued, although the soldiers of the Great Western Army complained and were disappointed, they were already used to fighting in all directions. So they moved swiftly and without any disorder. The battlefield, which was just now filled with the sound of fierce fighting, was in a short time only with the banners falling and the troops retreating.

Li Dingguo personally led 300 elite troops to guard the strategic pass until the vanguard retreated into the mountain path. Before leaving, he set fire to the abandoned Ming army camp outside the pass, sending thick smoke billowing into the air.

The army marched swiftly along the salt road through the southern foothills of Shennongjia. The mountain path was rugged, shrouded in cold mist, with ancient trees reaching for the sky on both sides, the cries of monkeys echoing, and the depths of the forest unknown.

On the fourth day of their journey, the army finally entered the territory of Huguang, and was no more than a hundred miles away from Zhushan County, where Zhang Xianzhong was stationed.

However, just after passing a mountain pass, another messenger came galloping towards them. This time it was Zhang Xianzhong's personal guard, now clad in heavy armor, his expression even more urgent. Seeing that he had finally encountered Li Dingguo, he rushed to Li Dingguo without stopping, and knelt down before him.

"General Anxi! The Grand Marshal has issued a new order: there has been a sudden disturbance in Baoqing Prefecture. It is suspected that Zhang Da is not dead, and his troops are currently mobilizing. It is feared that they will send troops to block our army, attack our rear, and cut off our supply lines!"

Upon hearing this, Li Dingguo's brows furrowed abruptly, and a sense of surprise and doubt arose in his heart.

Wasn't Zhang Da supposed to have been buried? How come he's still alive?

Did he win the revival match?

Previously, a spy in Sichuan reported that Zhang Da had been assassinated in Wugang and was poisoned. Baoqing Prefecture was under martial law and leaderless, and was already in the bag.

Unexpectedly, after only a few days, it came back to life and even dared to make unusual troop movements.

Li Dingguo took the letter and read it carefully. He saw that the letter was more urgent and the handwriting was more messy than before, indicating that the military situation was extremely urgent.

"According to the spies, Zhang Da of Baoqing Prefecture is suspected of faking his death. At this time, Baoqing Prefecture has already mobilized its troops for battle. Troops from Shaoyang, Wugang and Xinhua have been dispatched to deploy along the Zi River. Scouts have entered Huguang territory to spy out, seemingly preparing to launch an attack on our flank."

Regardless, Baoqing Prefecture is well-equipped with well-trained and well-supplied troops, and with Yang Sichang's backing, it is a major threat to our Huguang region, far more troublesome than the vassal kings. You need not go to Zhushan to join them; immediately change course and guard the key northeastern route of Baoqing, blocking their advance and preventing them from crossing the line. Once I have defeated the Jing vassal, I will return to join you in annihilating this scoundrel! Remember, if this fellow is not dead, he is extremely cunning and unpredictable; do not underestimate him!