Last year, despite abundant rainfall, the Yellow River had suffered severe flooding.
Yet nature was fickle. As the sixth year of Chongzhen arrived, drought returned. Throughout Northern Shaanxi, not a single drop of rain fell.
From Yan'an Prefecture all the way to Yansui Town (Yulin), a thousand li of yellow sand stretched endlessly. Famine once again gripped the land.
At the same time, Mongol tribes intensified their raids, sweeping through Lingzhou, Hengcheng, Yansui, Xichuan, and surrounding regions.
In an instant, Northern Shaanxi plunged back into chaos.
At this very moment, Shi Jian's unit was preparing for deployment.
Their formation remained unchanged: seven hundred seasoned veterans leading three hundred newly recruited soldiers.
Before setting out, every man carefully inspected his equipment. Soldiers sat in rows, meticulously wiping down their rifles, checking mechanisms, counting ammunition, and adjusting straps.
Meanwhile, at the western bridgehead of Dragon Gate Ferry, a ragged and travel-worn man trudged forward with great difficulty.
This man was named Li Yuan.
He was the same courier previously sent by Chen Qiyu to seek reinforcements—the one who had personally experienced the legendary phrase, "86, go up the mountain."
After witnessing the exceptional rich of the Gao Family Village militia, Li Yuan had been unable to stop thinking about it. The idea of "jumping ship" had taken root in his mind, and he turned it over again and again.
After days of painful hesitation, he finally made up his mind.
He would desert.
He had no family, no dependents. If he ran, no one else would be implicated.
Even so, desertion was no simple matter.
Li Yuan disguised himself, avoided official checkpoints, and relied on his accumulated experience traveling official roads. After countless close calls, he finally made it through and arrived at Dragon Gate Ferry.
Standing before the towering Dragon Gate Bridge spanning the Yellow River, Li Yuan let out a long breath.
He reached into his pocket.
Two copper coins.
That was all he had left.
If he had arrived a single day later, those two coins likely wouldn't have been enough to buy even half a meal.
Li Yuan quickened his pace and headed toward the eastern bridgehead.
A massive cement fortress stood there, imposing and unyielding.
From atop the fortification, a sentry shouted loudly, "Who goes there?"
Li Yuan quickly looked up.
"It's me! It's me! A courier from Yan'an Prefecture! Just a few days ago, I came here to ask for help!"
The sentry peered down for a moment, then recognition dawned.
"Oh? Last time you came riding a horse, looking quite spirited. What happened to you today?"
Li Yuan raised his voice.
"I deserted! I don't want to serve in Yan'an Prefecture anymore. I've come to join Commander Shi Jian!"
The sentry blinked.
"Oh?"
The two sentries exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.
"So that's how it is!" one of them said. "Congratulations, brother, on abandoning the darkness and choosing the light!"
One sentry climbed down from the fortress and led Li Yuan inside, taking him straight to Shi Jian.
As Li Yuan entered the camp, he immediately realized that Shi Jian's unit was deep in pre-deployment preparations. Soldiers moved back and forth, checking supplies, organizing equipment, and transporting crates of provisions.
Li Yuan couldn't help remarking, "Ah… It seems I've come at an inconvenient time."
Shi Jian smiled.
"Wang Chenggong, the surrendered rebel from Xichuan, has rebelled again. He attacked and plundered Shuanghuyi and is now stationed at Wangjia Fork. I assumed you were here to deliver this news. Why do you look so surprised?"
Li Yuan scratched his head awkwardly.
"When I deserted… that news hadn't reached me yet."
Shi Jian laughed.
"Hahaha, I see. Then you must be quite familiar with the terrain around Xichuan, yes?"
Li Yuan's eyes lit up immediately.
"Yes! This humble one knows the terrain and local customs there like the back of his hand!"
Shi Jian nodded.
"Excellent. Then your timing is perfect. You can serve as a guide for this expedition. Someone—get Brother Li a set of equipment… ah, wait."
He paused briefly.
"You haven't learned how to use a rifle yet. We can't issue one casually. Give him a set of retired hand crossbows and waist knives instead."
Hearing the words "retired equipment," Li Yuan subconsciously assumed it would be subpar.
But when the quartermaster brought the gear over, Li Yuan froze.
Before him was a full set of thick cotton armor, a finely forged steel saber, and a well-crafted hand crossbow.
Every item was of excellent quality.
After putting it on, Li Yuan immediately felt different—like an elite soldier. This level of equipment was something even personal guards of military officials might not enjoy.
And that wasn't all.
The quartermaster handed him another bag.
Inside were portable military rations.
Li Yuan recognized them instantly—these were the very same foods Shi Jian's unit had so flamboyantly eaten in front of Chen Qiyu and Luo Xi's troops last time.
"Here," the quartermaster said. "Your share."
Li Yuan's eyes widened.
Elite treatment, right from the start.
Switching sides had absolutely been the right choice.
His spirits soared, and a deep sense of being valued surged in his chest.
As the saying went, a man will die for one who appreciates him. In that moment, Li Yuan felt that even risking his life would be worth it.
Fully equipped and carrying his rations, Li Yuan returned to Shi Jian and clasped his fists deeply.
"Master," he said.
Shi Jian raised an eyebrow.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Li Yuan explained earnestly,
"From now on, I'm your personal guard. Naturally, I should call you Master. Calling you General would make me sound like an outsider."
Shi Jian burst out laughing.
"No, no, that won't do. Gao Family Village doesn't follow the personal-guard system. All militia soldiers serve under Dao Xuan Tianzun's banner."
He continued,
"Your equipment and rations are distributed by the village committee on behalf of Dao Xuan Tianzun, not from my personal funds."
Li Yuan blinked.
"Oh?"
Shi Jian tapped his own chest.
"Look. Dao Xuan Tianzun is right here—and on your clothes too."
Li Yuan looked down.
Sure enough, on the chest of his cotton armor was a gleaming heart-guard mirror. Just above it, embroidered into the fabric, was the image of Dao Xuan Tianzun.
Li Yuan had heard the name "Dao Xuan Tianzun" many times before—during his previous visit, and from others who claimed that even the bridge outside had been built by the venerable Dao Xuan Tianzun himself.
So he accepted this matter without much resistance and clasped his fists again.
"General Shi," he said, "since you wish for me to guide this expedition, this humble subordinate has a few words to offer."
Shi Jian nodded.
"Oh? Speak."
Li Yuan said,
"You mentioned earlier that Wang Chenggong's rebel forces are stationed at Wangjia Fork."
Shi Jian replied,
"That is what our intelligence reports indicate."
Li Yuan continued,
"I've been to Wangjia Fork before. There's an ancient fortress there—likely dating back to the Hongwu era—constructed by the imperial court to resist Mongol incursions. It's extremely sturdy and easy to defend, difficult to attack."
He added,
"Nearby is a dangerous mountain called Gebo Valley. The terrain is treacherous and equally difficult to traverse."
Shi Jian frowned slightly.
"Are you saying we may face both a siege and a mountain assault?"
Li Yuan nodded.
"Exactly."
He gestured with his hands, outlining the shape of a fortress.
"The rebels will certainly defend the ancient stronghold. If they can't hold it, they may retreat into Gebo Valley, using the terrain to resist us. This expedition may require a direct assault on fortified positions."
After a brief pause, he added cautiously,
"Musketeers are extremely effective in defensive battles. But when attacking fortifications… especially if we're forced into street-by-street fighting inside the fortress… they may be somewhat… disadvantaged."
Shi Jian nodded immediately.
"At a disadvantage in close combat."