A tough woman

Fei Yanggu was an expert in military campaigns and had a deep understanding of the ways of serving as a minister. Since Kangxi had sent someone, he couldn't just beat them back or punish them harshly. At a glance, it looked alright, so he'd put it aside and observe for a couple of days.

Two days passed. Qingde actually endured it. He didn't act arrogantly because his uncle was a high-ranking official in the camp, nor did he pick and choose his food and clothes because he was a child of a wealthy family in the capital. On the contrary, if there were any guards who were dissatisfied, he would persuade them: "Military orders are like mountains. It's not an exaggeration to say that you are making noise and causing trouble. If we use this to send you away, the emperor won't be able to say anything. Since you have come here, are you going to leave like this?"

Regardless of whether it worked or not, they've finally calmed down. Guard A: Brother, I was just grumbling! I'm not that stupid.

Fei Yanggu was pleased with these men's discipline. After a moment's reflection, he decided that since their temperaments were similar and they wouldn't cause trouble, he should at least send them out for some experience, otherwise it would be embarrassing for the emperor. However, as previously mentioned, the Eight Banners were kept in captivity. Apart from accompanying the emperor on parades, none of these men had ever participated in a true military formation. Even if there were two or three guards who had accompanied the emperor last year, they had only stayed in front of the emperor and had never fought in battle, merely guarding the emperor.

Second, considering their age, the last battle took place in the 29th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, seven years ago. They might not have been eligible to participate then. The time before that was even longer.

In other words, these people don't have much battlefield knowledge. Even if they do, it's only theoretical. Sending them directly into battle is like letting them die.

Therefore, Fei Yanggu organized a training class for them, and asked the veterans to take them to do some work such as patrolling the camp first, and then do some reconnaissance work near the camp - not too far away, and then let them lead the team to search for Galdan's stragglers and explore Galdan's escape route.

This would be considered training a group of young generals for the emperor, and it should be enough to complete the task. As for himself, the years of military service had taken a toll on his health, and he was beginning to look a bit like a hero in his twilight years. Fei Yanggu's current thoughts were: 1. Win this great battle; given his current attitude, this would likely be his final battle. 2. If nothing unexpected happened, victory would brighten the future of the entire clan. 3. Train a few 'students' to pass on his legacy.

The person he had originally favored wasn't among these twenty, but having more friends meant more opportunities. He'd done his best, both to satisfy the emperor and to build good relationships. It seemed the results were quite good. Fei Yanggu was quite satisfied with their achievements. He took advantage of the situation and let them each lead a small team, officially recognizing them as full-fledged employees of the system.

Everything seemed to be on the right track, achieving a win-win situation, and Fei Yanggu was relieved.

Upon arriving at the military camp, Qingde behaved quite well. Shi Wenying, remembering his usual decent duties in Beijing, assumed his nagging at home was simply a manifestation of his "stubbornness in small matters, but not in big ones." Come to think of it, it's possible, like his third uncle who passed down his strange genes to his grandson.

After arriving at the army, Qingde acted like a good young man, diligent and hardworking, accepting no complaints. He stayed quiet when told to, studied when told to, and endured hardships when told to. Shi Wenying felt relieved. Oh, she had been too worried earlier. With that diligent cousin around, her uncle's negative influence would be limited!

Therefore, when Fei Yanggu finished the crash course for this group of people and assigned the task to Qingde, Shi Wenying was still very pleased. He specially instructed his nephew and his classmates and took them to Fei Yanggu's central military tent to thank the general for his cultivation.

Then, the army marched, supplies arrived, and rest was complete. Why not work again? Waiting for the emperor to come and punish them? Qingde and the others were successively assigned more important tasks. Seeing that he was the best among the group, Shi Wenying was extremely pleased and privately praised his nephew.

He should never, ever, think that Qingde would be honest.

As for those sent down to the countryside for training, they were naturally full of energy after receiving the mission. Every time they took turns leading the team on patrol, they would see the little brothers following behind them, whips raised, and give orders. This is what a real man should do!

What tantalized everyone's senses was another incident. Among the twenty men, a young man from the Xidalai clan led a team and, by sheer luck, caught two nomadic families, said to be members of Galdan's army. The Mongols are a nomadic people, and this vast grassland is like home. It was truly unfortunate for them to be caught by these rookies, raised in the capital.

When they were escorted to the scene, everyone immediately understood why the veteran bird had been caught by the rookie. The men from both families were injured, making them easy to identify.

Fei Yanggu remained calm, merely signaling to give the boy a credit, which made the students, who had originally thought, "If you were careful, you might as well not have caught these old, weak, and disabled people," jealous. The rookie student happily returned to the tent, only to be stacked like an Arhat by his classmates—pushed to the bottom.

Qingde was the most aggressive. He shouted, "Press him!" and with a wave of his claws, more than a dozen people rushed forward. He finally clapped his hands and jumped up, because he knew that whoever rushed forward first would also be pressed down by the people behind him.

Only after the men had been silenced did they finally stop. Then they all demanded, "How did you find that person?" Fei Yanggu, the general's namesake, practically grabbed the rookie by the neck and demanded a confession.

The rookie classmate said, "I don't know either... Hey, wait, let me sort it out slowly. I forgot everything after you guys made such a fuss. This morning, I went out with my men and headed northwest. Didn't they say a while ago that Galdan had been migrating westward from Kulunbolezier since October of last year? I think he's probably going to continue west..."

"Nonsense! He's been heading west! The Junggar tribe's lair is to the west! Of course he has to go home after being defeated!"

"Don't interrupt me, I forgot again! Oh, go west. Think about it, the general is going to attack Galdan this time, and we are also heading west. I just... walked twenty more miles, hehe..."

"You are such a cunning boy!" Everyone beat him up again, then ran away satisfied.

Only Qingde, after running out, waited for a while, then quietly came out again and slipped into Shi Wenying's tent. He still had questions.

When you meet your uncle, greet him first.

Shi Wenying raised her eyelids: "What's the matter? You can't sit still when you see others making achievements?" Those who are new to the battlefield all have this problem. No matter whether they are steady or not, they always have their own thoughts in their hearts.

"Hehe. No, well, uncle, is Galdan like this? Why... I saw women and children among the people we captured today?"

"You know nothing!" After spending so much time among soldiers, it was hard to remain polite. Shi Wenying blurted out, "The imperial edict also said that Galdan was extremely exhausted..."

Qingde's butt shifted on the mat, making a slightly harsh sound. Shi Wenying glanced at him, making sure he was obedient, before continuing, "You just arrived, so you don't know. If we could capture more than ten people earlier, it would be considered a big harvest. If we could capture more than a hundred, we could write a memorial to the emperor to commend you! Galdan's nephew, Tsewang Arabtan, raided his lair and is even trying to incite his generals to revolt. Galdan's men have dispersed. Of the tens of thousands originally, some have defected since the war began."

"Ah? No, uncle, I have heard some of this. Galdan killed Tsewang Arabtan's brother. Tsewang Arabtan was afraid that he would be killed, so he ran away and also hated his uncle who killed his brother."

"You understand."

"No, uncle, what I'm asking is... why are the people captured this time still carrying their families?! Isn't this a war?" Shi Wenying was definitely not deviating from the topic.

Shi Wenying glanced at him with disdain. "Galdan originally led his tribe eastward, hoping to conquer Mongolia in one fell swoop, and then... hmph! Naturally, he had to bring his people with him to settle down. Otherwise, after the battle, wouldn't he leave a way out for others? So he had to move his tribe eastward bit by bit to multiply. He could feel at ease if there were Dzungar people on every inch of land. Now that he's defeated, it's hard for the Dzungars to stay here. They'll have to retreat with the elderly, the weak, the women, and the children."

"So that's how it is. So, they can't run fast?" Qingde did some mental calculations. He'd done a lot of research before coming here. They'd just passed the Zasaktu Khan Banner for two full days. To the north was Uliastai, the army's next encampment. From Uliastai, they'd head west. In other words, the general believed Galdan wasn't heading purely west, but northwest? That was a good idea.

Well, maybe I should ask my uncle to find out something from today's captives so I can find out where Galdan is going next. Then...

Qingde smirked. It was difficult for rookies on the battlefield to maintain composure. Seeing him like that, Shi Wenying couldn't help but slap him on the back of the head. "Wake up! Marching and fighting is no joke!"

Qingde immediately jumped up and stood solemnly with his hands dropped: "Nephew, I understand." Then he pestered Shi Wenying to find out whether the results of the interrogation had been released. If there was, we would have inside information, which would also make us a small contribution, right?

"Uncle, uncle, you're my uncle! If this keeps going on, Galdan's men will be wiped out. How many people are there in our camp alone? I heard that Masika is leading a pack of hungry wolves! There are too many wolves and too little meat. If you don't help me, my shameless and courageous trip to beg for mercy will be in vain. It doesn't matter if I made a wasted trip, I can just consider it an experience. But if I don't achieve anything, isn't it embarrassing for you?"

Shi Wenying stared in amazement at Qingde, who had become an Ama, was seven feet tall (according to the old system), quite burly, and had a very masculine appearance. He, he, he, he actually came forward and pulled his sleeves back and forth to act cute! (Cosplaying his second sister's behavior when she asked him to bring her in from outside)

Confucius said that when it comes to things like this, "Aunts can tolerate it, but uncles can't." Shi Wenying happened to be Qingde's uncle. After the beating, Shi Wenying felt refreshed and said, "Okay, I'll ask for you."

This question stirred up a hornet's nest.

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According to the confession of the captives, they were indeed from the Dzungar tribe of the Oirats Mongols: "After the Battle of Zhamodu, Boshoktu Khan still had more than 5,000 people. Arabtan took away more than 1,000 people, Danjin Ombu took away 1,000 people, 500 of whom were recovered, Chahun Taiji took away 100 people, and Namashishi Taiji took away 400 people." Qingde calculated in his mind that 2,000 people had left, and 3,000 people were left. "Last year, the snow fell early and there was a shortage of food. Many people froze to death or starved. Boshoktu Khan went all the way west... Kulunberzir... Baiger Chahan Erge... Earlier last year, Hami was occupied. Boshoktu Khan said that as long as the grassland was taken, everything would be gone, and it would not be too late to fight back then. Now he has been defeated. Those who cannot keep up with the team will be left behind, and they can't take care of us. We wanted to go home, so we quietly went south. Unexpectedly..." he was captured.

Qingde was very excited when he received the absolutely reliable news conveyed by Shi Wenying. He thought about it and summarized the key points as follows:

First, due to internal strife, Galdan has been severely depleted, leaving him with no more than two thousand men. This includes women and children, so the estimated number of combat-capable men is only about half—assuming no further losses. However, judging by the fact that even the rookie has captured some, this possibility is unlikely. In other words, the remaining threatening enemy forces are probably only a thousand or so. If we don't act now, we'll be left with nothing.

Second, according to captive confessions, Galdan was severely short of food. It was precisely because of this that his son was sent to the area near Saksatugulik to fish and hunt on his own, where he was captured by the Hami Hui tribe. (Hami, by the way, was originally Galdan's base.) Without enough food, one loses strength, combat effectiveness, and running speed. At this time of year, when the grass hasn't even grown yet, if people can starve, how can you expect a horse to survive?

Third, he also knew Galdan's general route. It just so happened that tomorrow the army would arrive at Uliastai, rest for a day, and then set out. He wasn't on duty that day, nor the day after, so it was a good time to rest. The day after that, it would be his turn to march. He was a squad, and he was given a deputation. Based on experience, they would send out several squads simultaneously. In fact, four of them were traveling together. He could convince them to go together.

The Mongols lived wherever there was water and grass, and Galdan was no exception. With a guide, if they found a place suitable for human habitation, they would likely reap rewards. While Qingde had his sights set on making a killing, he wasn't so daring as to lead dozens of men to raid Galdan's lair. That was a pipe dream. He simply wanted to capture a few stragglers for the fun of it. Otherwise, all this march without even a glimpse of the enemy would be a wasted effort. His companions must have had the same thought.

After counting the number of people he had, one small team was not enough. Based on the principle that everyone would reap the benefits and share the risks, Qingde quietly made connections.

First, he used the example of Xidala to motivate everyone, his tone naturally lamenting: "We all came out together, and only he got the limelight. Oh, when we get back and are compared to him, won't we get punished?"

With all the incitement, everyone was aroused, and even those with more straightforward minds began to be tempted. Well, now that everyone was gathered together, and they weren't talking about anything else but this one thing, who wouldn't know what everyone else was thinking? Wasn't it all just envy, jealousy, and hatred?

"That day, I was above him. If I had walked twenty more miles, I could have intercepted his beard..." This was the regret expressed by an unwilling colleague.

Seeing that the time had come and someone else had taken up the conversation, Qingde immediately offered his own idea, and he put it very nicely: "Let's march a few dozen miles further and change into good horses. My uncle said that Galdan has less than two thousand men left, and half of them are women and children. If we act too late, they won't even get a sip of soup. I'm thinking that it may not be our turn to fight, as we're new to the battle, and the general can't ignore the future of his men. But before that, the general sent us out on scouts. Isn't this giving us a chance to make a contribution?"

Oh~ The little rascals who grew up in the Beijing officialdom instantly realized that this is a game of balance, with benefits shared equally, which is good.

With such a delicious bait, it's hard to miss a fish. Qingde's analysis perfectly aligns with officialdom logic, and everyone assumes the general thinks the same way. Since it's all known, there's no need to shout about the father's son, not the other way around, right? Everyone just quietly makes a fortune.

Thus, the man who had behaved very well and was very motivated all the way finally stirred up a hornet's nest. When he arrived in Uliastai, Shi Wenying was very pleased to see his nephew carefully checking the equipment and taking care of the horses. He finally confirmed that the new generation of their family was reliable.

Fei Yanggu asked his personal guards, "What are the people from the capital doing?"

"I personally feed the horses, sharpen my swords, and pack my armor..."

Fei Yanggu nodded: "You look a bit like a soldier. If you want to do your job well, you must first sharpen your tools."

Qingde took inventory: "Tinder? It's all loaded. Sabre (standard issue, Hua Shan specifically said this one is useful), a dagger (sponsored by Fuda Li), a bow and arrow (specially made for him by Shi Wenbing), a clairvoyant (private, I forgot which loser I got it from), a purse containing some medicines (given by the Crown Princess), a whistle (how did this get in?), two leather bags (prepared by my wife), a bag of dry food (distributed by the quartermaster)..."

Okay, time to go on a big adventure. My Marfa said there's no danger left on the battlefield, so we should seize the opportunity and make a great contribution.

He set out quietly, and did not jump about all day, but occasionally flirted with his companions as they rode side by side.

They set up camp that night and held a small meeting, everyone's faces brimming with excitement. A map was spread out on the small table, and Qingde pointed. "There's a lake here. It's not even rainy season yet, so the rivers are dry. There is a river here, but it's too close to Uliastai. Galdan wouldn't dare stop there. He'd probably fetch water near the lake and then head west along the river... I reckon he's already gone. This place is two hundred miles from our camp..."

"Wait, brother, that's not right. Two hundred miles? How many miles can an army travel in a day?" Someone noticed something was wrong.

A look of contempt: "Wealth and honor are sought in danger! The army drags baggage, and we don't have to carry anything, more than twice as much as they do! Two hundred miles today, and dozens more tomorrow, and we're even closer to the camp. If you're afraid of hardship and fatigue, you don't have to come with us!"

"Who's afraid?" He calculated that Galdan's men were dwindling. If he didn't act now, he'd get nothing. So far, except for the thousands captured in Zhaomodo, the rest of the time, at most, they'd captured a hundred or two hundred people, or even just a few families, with very few strong men inside. (My own judgment, combined with Qingde's successful brainwashing.)

"Alright, we've already agreed. No one can tell anyone. They say... they ran so far because... they saw what looked like tracks ahead and wanted to take a closer look. But then they strayed too far and stumbled upon them, so they just grabbed them. After all, didn't Huo Qubing win a battle because he got lost?"

"I've read the Records of the Grand Historian, and it doesn't seem to be written that way."

"Go, go, go! Brothers, we're going to arrest someone, not to take the imperial examination. Everyone, disperse. Rest one more day tomorrow, and we'll have to work the day after tomorrow."

The illegal gathering ended, and everyone quietly retreated to their tents to rest. Lying on their simple camp beds, they tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Most people had already ignored the danger, and were now imagining the glory of capturing a few prisoners. Tsk, tsk, if we were lucky enough to run into a large group, that would be great. We might even be able to capture a hundred or eighty people in a fight. We're all elite soldiers here, and they're just remnants over there, with families...

I couldn't sleep until late at night. Only when the excitement passed did I close my eyes in a daze.

The next day, the brother who had been counting the distance was a bit cautious. He ran to the rear guard and urged them to hurry up so he could travel less the next day. My thoughts: The more I listened to Qingde's words, the more I felt something was wrong. It would be safer to stay closer to the main army.

In the morning, they received orders to set out, each leading a team. They were originally divided into several directions, but after they dispersed, they made a small circle and reunited.

Following the pre-arranged route, they hurried on in silence. Excitement and worry coexisted. Worry stemmed from the fact that this time, they were acting on their own initiative. Excitement, however, stemmed from the high chance of success. Clearly, this was a highly profitable business, and everyone perked up.

A hundred miles, or less than a hundred kilometers, including the time they'd meet up, meant they'd arrived around noon. A glance revealed no trace of horse traffic. They circled the lake, but there were no horse tracks at all. By this time, the sky was overcast.

The guys were so confused that they thought, "All this hard work has paid off, but there is no harvest. It's so frustrating!" Not giving up, they circled around again, and hey, it started to rain.

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The standard equipment included oil jackets, so they pulled them out and put them on, huddling together and mumbling. Now was not the time to complain. Everyone was sensible and, out of consideration for Qingde's face, only mocked Qingde symbolically: "Military Advisor, you guessed wrong!" Then they began to discuss what to do.

Of course, return the same way.

Relying on their memories, several people grabbed the guide for directions. The guide was on the verge of tears: "Rainy days are different from sunny days, and the paths are different in different seasons. It's even harder to walk when it rains. Why don't you wait until the rain stops? The army moves slower in the rain anyway." The guides were Mongolians, gifts from various banners to the army. They were less fortunate. While others had already rested and taken their rewards to live in the east, they were assigned to Fei Yanggu and had no choice but to continue to toil.

No, they were on a time limit, and the army was still waiting for them to report back on tomorrow's route. They'd already wasted quite a bit of time. The guide refused to leave, but the group insisted. After a long argument, the rain-soaked men, irritated by the lack of a fight, got angry and thrust their knives at the guide's neck, asking, "Are you leaving or not?"

Let's go. The eerie oil coat, set against the ink-splashed sky, looked particularly unsightly.

The bullies felt a little better, put away their knives, and mounted their horses: "Let's go."

After their oppression succeeded, one of the bullies rode away. In a small group, under unfavorable circumstances, if one person takes the lead, everyone else will likely follow suit to escape the shadow of the situation. This is especially true when the action is universally accepted—returning to camp. Everyone tacitly accepts that "mounting a horse" equals returning to camp, forgetting to ask the guide and simply following suit. The guide, freshly threatened by the bully, is still reeling from his wits and soul, and doesn't react to the request for directions.

Now, those in a hurry to get going were forced to march in the pouring rain. It was hard to talk in the pouring rain, and the only thing left to do was to hurry, and there was a military trial waiting in the camp ahead. One can imagine how depressed they were. So, they didn't spare their horsepower and rushed as fast as they could.

The clatter of horse hooves against the gloomy background echoed everyone's gloomy mood, making them even less inclined to talk. The rain on the grasslands came and went quickly, and they hurried along, but it soon stopped. Now, after shaking off their oiled jackets and spurring their horses, they felt much more relaxed and ran even faster.

Qingde was deeply depressed. He'd always been a very accurate strategist, but now he was nothing more than a nagging military advisor whose words were useless. His reputation in everyone's eyes would plummet. What was he supposed to do? He mechanically followed the group forward. By the time he came to his senses, two hours had passed. He finally realized something was amiss.

"I say, this is not the right way!" Qingde whipped the group a few times and stood in front of them.

"What's wrong now?" Disappointed people are always in a bad mood. Moreover, they hadn't eaten since they set out, and they were hungry, which made their tempers even worse.

Qingde pulled the guide over and said, "Look at where this is."

The guide shuddered, as if... they'd taken the wrong path. Qingdra pulled out his pocket watch to check the time. It was the first quarter of the evening. Meanwhile, the clouds had dispersed, and the blazing red sun revealed a truth: they'd strayed. They should have gone east, but they'd gone north.

In other words... lost!

Now they should continue south, to the lake, then turn east. But while the men could make it, the horses were exhausted, and they couldn't make it back on their own. They had to stop to rest. Rest was indeed necessary. They had been so focused on the journey, believing they would be back at camp in no time. They didn't care if they were beaten or scolded, as at least they had dry clothes and a bed waiting for them. Now they needed to wring out the water from their sleeves, eat something, and let the horses rest.

Qingde shrank back in silence, chewing his cold dry food silently. He drank a sip of water and choked. Everyone saw how pitiful his stunted appearance was and could not bear to scold him anymore. Although they were unhappy, some people still patted him on the back.

After dinner, while the horses were still resting, we figured we had a clear direction and the sky was clear, so we could continue to adjust our route based on the stars. Since it was already dark, we could still reach the destination, but it would be late by the time we got back, so a meal would be necessary.

Qingde was very embarrassed, but he seriously admitted his mistake: "It's my fault this time. I have implicated everyone. When the time comes, you can just put the blame on me."

"Forget it, doesn't that mean we are disloyal?"

"No one thinks you're Zhuge Liang, not even Sima Yi. If everyone agreed to come out together, it means you all think it's okay. Don't take all the responsibility on yourself."

The damp cold is more torturous than the dry cold. When the night wind blows, it is so refreshing that you can't help but shiver. He keeps stamping his feet and simply starts telling jokes to distract himself. After talking and laughing, it is already dark. Fei Yanggu cheered up and said, "It's almost time, let's go back! It's dark now, and we can't see people clearly. Let's stay close together. Let's not get separated, otherwise we will really be lost."

He leaped onto his horse, dejected, yet still trying to cheer himself up. A group of hapless children, blessed by the god of misfortune, were turning their horses' heads as they set off. The guide dared not neglect them any longer. If they continued to follow him, they might go in the wrong direction and be dragged down to death! He looked up at the sky, then around to determine his direction.

Huh?!

Fire! Due north.

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A horse-drawn cart, though new, was already quite worn out. The old ox pulling the broken cart was a true portrayal of it. It was a scattered family: a husband and wife, a son, a daughter, and an old mother.

The head of the household, a man in his thirties, had followed Boshoktu Khan, his family in tow, to the eastern steppes. Boshoktu Khan's promises were beautiful and alluring: vast pastures, countless cattle and sheep, and even slaves for those who contributed greatly. If things went well, they could head further south, where prosperous cities, glittering jewels, and silken satins awaited them...a good life for the whole family! His father had died young, and his mother had raised him with great difficulty. Now it was her turn to enjoy the good life.

He mounted his horse and came with his family. As he journeyed eastward, he had increased the number of his horse-drawn carts from a single digit to ten, and acquired two slaves, setting him on the road to prosperity. Unfortunately, his boss was targeted by the god of misfortune, and his fortune was utterly ruined, taking him with him.

He saw that after the bombing of Camel City, only two rickety carts remained, and one had been lost on the way west. This couldn't go on any longer. Even if he could survive and reunite with Boshoktu Khan, even if his wife died and he could remarry, even if his child died and he could have another, his mother would be a burden to death from all this travel. So, he deserted, prepared to fall behind. No need to apply for permission, just pretend to be dead; being a burden and falling behind was perfectly normal.

He still had a strong ability to survive, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to take care of his family all the way to this day. Since that was the case, it was better to stop and not rush around anymore. He quietly packed up his belongings and prepared the necessities for his escape. He hid a few cows and sheep, and specially picked out the ones that were good for breeding. Spring was coming soon, and once the grass grew and the cows and sheep multiplied, he could get rich again. With the arrival of spring, there would be more and more wild animals on the grassland. If he hunted a little, he could expand his family's diet and the whole family would be able to survive. If he continued south, the weather would get warmer. If he turned a little west, he would be back in Hami. Taijis and princes all liked people to take refuge with them.

He remembered two of his acquaintances who had previously escaped in the same way. He noticed them and pretended not to notice. If he retraced his steps and walked faster, he would meet them. Once the three families merged, their team would be larger and their livelihoods more secure. He made up his mind and fled with his entire family.

Another family was missing from Galdan's escape team.

The first two days went smoothly. Without pursuers, they could decide their own route and speed. Not in the group, his wife didn't have to serve the ladies of higher status, and had more energy to care for the elderly and children. After resting, she felt much better.

But it rained today.

It was cold, the rain chilling. Adults could bear it, but not children! My son was already coughing, and my daughter was shivering from the cold. The sky was clearing up, and I remembered there was a lake not far south, with trees nearby, so I could gather firewood. So I took out the few dry firewood I had and boiled some water. Back then, there were no streetlights or neon lights, especially on the grasslands. Once it got dark, and the moon wasn't strong enough, it was... pitch dark.

Therefore, a little light from a distance is also very attractive.

The people who were directionally challenged not far away cheered up instantly!

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Over a hundred miles away, at the central army tent, Shi Wenying sat down on a stool to Fei Yanggu's right. Both of them had dark faces as they heard the report that none of the explorers had returned today.

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have come here in the first place." Shi Wenying muttered to herself, "I should have returned to the capital immediately after seeing that brat. Even if I hadn't, I should have stopped the general from sending this unreliable guy to investigate. Even if I hadn't stopped him, I shouldn't have been trying to find out information for him. I was wrong, I was really wrong... Where the hell did this little bastard go? How am I going to explain this to my brother and sister-in-law?"

Fei Yanggu, having failed to capture Galdan alive last year, wanted to avenge this regret this time. However, he was a cautious man, so when he heard from his garrison that Galdan had fled northwest, he did not rush in pursuit. Instead, he sent out scouts while marching.

Galdan was already trapped. His tribe was steadily declining, and his home base had been raided by his nephew. His younger brothers had already defected, most notably the Hami Hui. Emperor Kangxi had blocked all his escape routes. His fellow Tibetans were already struggling, and the Khoshut taijis in Qinghai were afraid to take him in. He could only flee northwest, through Khobdo, and continue westward.

Fei Yanggu could roughly guess Galdan's route with his eyes closed. He sent out scouts mainly to find out where to find water sources and suitable places to camp. Since last winter, he had captured many stragglers, which was enough to prove that his route was correct.

He'll be worn out! The Bannermen are still few in number, and the Battle of Zhaomodo cost over a thousand lives. Galdan can't afford the losses, and neither can the Bannermen. It's better to drag it out like this. It's not bad to follow Galdan and pick up any that slip through the net. It's better to waste more military supplies than more casualties. That's the principle.

He had sent these gilded individuals to explore the area, which was exactly what Qingde had analyzed. Since he wasn't planning a full-scale war, he'd let them take advantage. These individuals weren't particularly bad, but the families behind them weren't exactly easy targets.

Unexpectedly, something really went wrong!

"Have the people we sent out found any trace?" Fei Yanggu finally spoke.

The personal soldier had a bitter face: "It rained..." All traces were washed away, there's no point in finding any trace!

Shi Wenying couldn't sit still any longer, but he was a high-ranking general and had to remain calm. His mood grew darker as the sky darkened. As darkness fell, survival and rescue became more difficult. If he sent more people to look for him, they might even be killed. He couldn't afford to lose them. Shi Wenying's breathing became heavy, and Fei Yanggu's eyes widened. This was someone sent by the emperor for training.

Shi Wenying reluctantly comforted herself: "They have a guide with them, they must know the way..." You guessed wrong, they are lost.

Fei Yanggu had more to consider, his mind racing. If they weren't lost, then what could have caused several teams heading in different directions to disappear simultaneously? Could it be that Galdan wasn't that weak? Had the previous defeat been a facade? Had he... actually set a trap for them? Fei Yanggu shuddered. "Pass the order down, double the patrols! The horses must be well-fed, and the men must remain in their armor. You're all sleeping with your swords and guns as pillows!"

Shi Wenying's face paled. Fei Yanggu's order reminded him of this terrifying thought. If... Qingde and his men were systematically ambushed... then the entire army would be doomed!

The army stopped and waited nervously until dawn.

They sent out more people to investigate, but this time, they didn't dare to spread themselves too thin. They sent dozens of people in each direction, but they didn't dare to go too far. The result was... nothing. Everyone pondered, could it be that Qingde and the others had deserted? There was no need for that.

What happened to them?

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Classmate Qingde was excitedly accepting everyone's praise: "You are great!" Everyone was beating his back hard.

"You're lucky, you little bastard."

"Fools have good fortune."

Qingde finally came back to life. "Okay, okay, let's ask them." Many people knew Mongolian, including Qingde himself. The guide said the family's attire resembled that of the Moxi people. Upon inquiry, it turned out to be exactly that, so everyone got excited and congratulated each other. Was this also a find?

After his excitement subsided, the host approached them first, claiming he was going to join the organization, setting a tone to make life easier. Because of this, he was very cooperative with Qingde and the others' questions. "Boshektu Khan is seriously ill and can't walk fast. He camped by the lake not far to the north two days ago."

Galdan was indeed a character who had troubled Kangxi for many years. Even though he was now seriously ill, he still did not change his cunning nature. When Fei Yanggu had guessed the general direction of his escape, he stepped on people's psychological blind spots and ran out of his way.

Qingde was stunned. "I thought he would camp by the lake in the south. There's no big river to the west of the lake in the north. He has no water source, so he won't leave. The general probably thought so too. When he told us to explore the way, he didn't tell us to turn north. I didn't expect him to actually leave."

Fei Yanggu said, "If we hadn't lost our way..." "Pa pa pa pa!" "How dare you say such an embarrassing thing?" Someone slapped him in the face, interrupting him.

Qingde concluded solemnly, "So, it was God who wanted to destroy him! He sent this rain to show us the way, so we can repay the general, capture Galdan alive, and relieve the emperor's worries. This is because our emperor is the Holy Son of Heaven, and he has the protection of the gods!"

A group of people nodded solemnly in agreement and took careful notes. This was now the official statement.

Guard A cleared his throat and looked at the stunned host—oh, his name was Hadanbaatar—and asked quickly, "Is there anything else? Who else is with Galdan?"

Hadanbaatar said, "There's Danlaji, who has a bad relationship with Boshoktu Khan's daughter..." It's said that Galdan's daughter, Zhong Qihai, was also in the army, and she seemed quite a woman. Hadanbaatar told him everything, and Galdan explained that while there were no rivers, there was a third lake further north that could provide fresh water. From there, heading west, they could bypass a large portion of their pursuers and distance themselves from their murderous nephew, allowing them to advance calmly and attempt a comeback. Finally, they even revealed the hole in the horse-drawn cart, which had been inflicted by the Qing army's artillery when they attacked Tuocheng. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Rumors circulated that Galdan was not far ahead, and their fast horses would catch him in two days—because Galdan was seriously ill and ran slowly. Everyone was excited. But what about this family? What if the rookies were ruthless and idiotic? They could kill them to silence them, eliminating the burden, and then march directly to Galdan's camp... That would be the end of it. Then they could die for their country.

After some discussion, it was decided that the young Fei Yanggu (to distinguish him from the general Fei Yanggu) would escort this family of heroes to the main camp to report the situation and request reinforcements. The rest of the people would continue forward, find Galdan, and follow him.

Finally, we've done something damn good. If it weren't for our poor sense of direction, er, wrong, it was God's will, Galdan would have gotten away. After dividing the work, we split up and went our separate ways with great enthusiasm.

Qingde, wary, noticed the family still had several blankets. He realized they had to pursue the enemy, and sleeping on the grass at night would be a dangerous endeavor. Then he noticed the two children looked a little sick. After some thought, he shamelessly requisitioned all the blankets before leaving. His fellow comrades quickly caught on, nearly stripping the blankets from the car.

Qingde ordered his men to move other people's belongings in a very bossy manner, then took out a small packet of medicine from his purse: "I won't take your things for nothing. This is top-grade medicine, given to me by my sister. Give it to your child. Getting sick in this area is no joke." Finally, everyone felt guilty and left two felt blankets for the child, and took out valuable things from their bodies as collateral.

Hadanbaatar originally wanted to fight to the death, but when he saw that they were smart enough to use medicine and money as collateral, he did not go crazy.

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The old ox was pulling the broken cart, moving very slowly. There were also women and children. Since they were going to seek credit, the more people alive, the better. Little Fei Yanggu finally understood why Galdan was walking so slowly. With such a large group of family members, it would be strange if he could run fast!

In other words, their army had taken the wrong route, and they didn’t expect Galdan to take a long detour. Otherwise… they would have caught up with him in less than half a month. [1]

It had taken them less than a full day to get here, but dragging their entire family along, they'd been walking for two and a half days! Those two days were enough for Shi Wenying to blame herself until half her hair turned white, and for Fei Yanggu to write a letter of apology before the emperor—Your Majesty, I'm sorry, I've evaporated a quarter of the people you sent.

Upon seeing this, Kangxi first asked, "Are Shi Wenbing and Fu Dali still in the imperial court? Have they not been sent out?" Receiving a positive reply, he breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately wrote back to the crown prince, "Qingde's life or death is uncertain, and Huashan is already old. Don't alarm her. As for the crown princess, tell her slowly, but don't overly grieve her. The flowers in the western palace are about to bloom, so take her there to relax. And ask her to counsel the old lady."

After writing the letter and sending it off, Kangxi paused for a moment, remembering the good boy who had said, "I and my brother both have sons." He felt a pang of displeasure, his nose aching for a moment. What a pity! Why did he bring this up with Shi Wenbing? I sent him away!

Before Kangxi could come up with a plan, the crown prince received the letter and turned green. His wife had deep feelings for Qingde, and he was right there with her while she was busy packing up Qingde's things. This was a disaster. When he returned home, his wife was muttering, "I don't know how they are doing out there. Khan Ama wrote back saying that the fur coats were awarded to them. I wonder if they fit. I haven't seen them for a long time. I wonder if the size has changed."

The saliva in Yinreng's mouth was sour, and he spoke with difficulty: "It should fit..."

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doesn't know how to comfort people. After thinking about it, I had to start from Dzungar. I hope to talk about how Galdan was cunning and that his second brother-in-law died. Although it was very sad, it was not too abnormal.

Shujia had no idea what he was thinking, but she was still very happy to listen to Yinreng's stories. When she saw Yinreng draw a map, she realized that although Galdan was a Mongolian, he was from Western Mongolia, a completely different impression from her memory. She had always believed that even Western Mongolia would be within the boundaries of Inner and Outer Mongolia in later times, but in fact, that was completely different.

Galdan was a truly remarkable man. The Dzungar Khanate under his rule actually encompassed the entire territory of later Xinjiang and extended into West Asia. A while ago, they had also taken over Inner and Outer Mongolia. Unfortunately, they were defeated by the "Khan Ama's extraordinary wisdom." Before this, the Dzungars had never been defeated, and it was they who had made the Russian Cossack cavalry bleed. [2]

Oh! That’s why he dared to challenge Kangxi. He definitely had the confidence!

Seeing Shujia's face full of satisfaction at having gained a little more knowledge, Yinreng suddenly became speechless. Such peace and tranquility was too much to be shattered.

Oh, wait a little longer, until the son can talk and call him "Mom." Then we can talk. Maybe Qi can use his son to comfort his wife? Little Hongdan, after being used by his father to show his cuteness to his grandfather, is now used by the same man to comfort his wife. Really...multifunctional!

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As the facts prove, it is not possible to play sad games with Qingde for the time being, and you can only end up in a dilemma.

Fei Yanggu slammed the table and said, "What? How many of them are back?!!! Call him over!"

The young Fei Yanggu stepped forward and introduced himself: "My name is Fei Yanggu..." Previously, Fei Yanggu had always been summoned with the others, making him inconspicuous. Now, he was alone. The guards on both sides were about to collapse. Fei Yanggu was interrogating Fei Yanggu. It was hard to say whether Qingde, who had come up with this idea, had any malicious intentions.

Without being asked, Fei Yanggu excitedly said, "General, we're almost finding Galdan!"

"Hurry" and found Galdan?

Little Fei Yanggu said according to the lines written by Huatou Qingde: "We saw that it was still early, so we walked a few more miles. We encountered rain and lost our way in the heavy rain. When the rain stopped, it was dark. We saw the fire and chased after it. I took them back to report to the general, and they continued to explore the way forward." The second half of this statement is basically true.

The generals present at the meeting kept whispering, "I remember you were in charge of checking the southeast. How did you get lost by chance with those people who were heading in different directions?"

But Galdan is the most important. Even if you say aliens kidnapped you all, just tell us where the thief leader is and let everyone make a contribution!

Fei Yanggu spread out the map and asked the child to show him how to go. The child immediately frowned. He didn't quite recognize the road and had to rely on the guide to lead the way. He thought: "It's probably north. There's a lake here. Galdan might have been here a few days ago, but he was seriously ill and couldn't walk fast."

Fei Yanggu stared at the map for a long time. Galdan was indeed cunning; he had nearly let him escape again. If he let him escape again this time, if he survived, it would be another fierce battle in the future. Fei Yanggu decisively invited everyone to re-examine Hadan Bater. Shi Wenying walked lightly. Great! Now I can confess.

After confirming the situation, Fei Yanggu made a decisive decision. He abandoned his heavy luggage, carried ten days' worth of rations, and marched quickly. He had subsequent supplies delivered slowly from behind. He selected his troops and personally led 5,000 cavalry, marching day and night. "Oh, since we don't know whether we'll succeed or fail, I won't write this memorial yet. Well, Your Majesty, just wait and see."

I have captured Galdan, along with your few 'lost and recovered' talents, to make you happy.

[1] I don’t know if Fei Yanggu took the wrong path, but in history, Galdan was never caught until his death.

[2] This is also true. The Dzungar Khanate was very powerful. There is a place called the Dzungar Basin in Xinjiang today. I don’t know whether the place was named after the people or the people were named after the place.

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Qingde and his group of rookies, struggling and relying on a guide, finally caught up with the enemy group after three days of pursuit. They were extremely excited, but they had to restrain themselves. There were only a few dozen of them, and there were thousands of them... There was no way they could win!

When you've been hungry for three days and are faced with a feast, someone tells you not to eat it: "It's poisonous."

This feeling is enough to make people use their last bit of strength to point it out.

The worst part is, the main army hasn't arrived yet! They can't even fire to keep a close eye on us, so they're just munching on hard rations. And they're almost done with that little ration. "Thank goodness I was smart," Qingde patted his chest. "He was the one who said we'd eat the wild goats we hunted, and we could even build a fire and grill them in the wild." Now that we're close to the main camp, we have to stay hidden to avoid being spotted.

Counting the number of people, there are really not many. I can even hear the crying of a child in the middle. What a sin, to be so young...

After following them for two more days, I realized they were running incredibly slowly. Galdan's calculations were accurate, as he'd avoided Fei Yanggu. If they'd taken the same route, they'd have been captured alive. Holding a piece of grass in his mouth, Qingde thought idly. Damn it, sleeping outdoors again! This is so damn cold. Fatty Chun is warmer, so I'll sleep with him today.

Don't get carried away. Spread two people's oilskins on the ground, one person's felt blanket on top, and the other's blanket on top. That's the only way to keep out the cold. This is the treatment for senior officers. Soldiers can only share two people and cover themselves with their own clothes.

Waited and waited...Finally, finally, finally, my loved ones came!

Qingde's eyes were filled with tears. "Uncle, if you don't come soon, I won't be able to bear it any longer. I want to throw myself into Galdan's arms and drink some hot water. I will turn against you when you come."

There is relatively little suspense in this battle.

Fei Yanggu led a large group of people and horses, with each one holding a gag in his mouth and the horses wrapping their hooves (this really didn't make much difference, as there would definitely be noise when thousands of horses were moving together), and they marched quickly. Three days later, the advance troops came into contact with Qingde.

Shi Wenying led two hundred men and took his nephew back. When Qingde met Fei Yanggu, he was not asked how he found Galdan's whereabouts. He just asked: "Where is Galdan?"

"It's twenty miles ahead. When they light a fire, you can see the smoke!" He wanted to ask for some hot water to drink, but found out...they were a raiding force, and they were also carrying dry food.

Fei Yanggu looked at Qingde: "You are in good spirits."

Qingde was almost in tears. For the past two days, he had been lying on the grass every day. Galdan walked slowly, but he could catch up after a nap. He was so tired from resting that he wanted to die!

Fei Yanggu ordered everyone to dismount and rest: "Send out more scouts, but don't alarm Galdan. Wait until they put out their cigarettes..."

He didn't even let people have a good meal before being executed. Who said this general was kind?

"Can you still ride horses and hold swords?" he asked Qingde and other meritorious cunning men.

"Yes!" he answered decisively.

"You guys go ahead."

Who said the general wasn't kind? He was quite kind! Qingde's hands were shaking, and the others were too embarrassed to object. After all, Galdan was discovered by others, and the army... had taken the wrong path.

——————————————————————————————————————————

There was widespread grief in Galdan's camp.

Galdan himself was already frail, but even though he only stopped to eat and rest, he was still well-paid as a leader, and his tent was set up. Inside the tent, Danlaji seized the moment before dinner to persuade him, "Boshektu Khan, let's return to Hami. It's our home, and so many people are eager for you to come home! Even though Tsewang Arabtan has occupied it, the hearts of our people are still with you."

This is pure nonsense! Although Tsewang Arabtan was a generation younger, he was the eldest son of Galdan's brother Sengge (the previous Khan), and he deserves more sympathy than Galdan, who killed his nephew.

Galdan's daughter, Zhong Qihai, was not pleased. She was a young woman, perhaps in her twenties or thirties, and the journey hadn't darkened her complexion much. Fair and tall, she looked vaguely beautiful. Her brocade clothes, though somewhat worn by travel, were still neat and tidy. Well, a lot of luggage had been lost during the escape, leaving her with fewer spare clothes. She always wore the same few pieces, so they were easily worn out.

Even in her old clothes, she was a strong woman: "Dad, why bother with so much trouble? Didn't the emperor send people to persuade you to surrender last year? What would happen if you agreed? Those emperors all care about reputation and face. If you surrender temporarily, they will have to settle you down, give you cattle, sheep, food, and take good care of the people in the tribe. You can ask him to help you defeat your cousin. Their emperors like to do this, borrowing one person to fight another. We understand in our hearts, so we will borrow him for a while. When the time comes, we will return to Junggar. That is our place. Even if they turn against us, what can they do?"

"You started saying this last year, but Boshoktu Khan didn't agree then! How could Boshoktu Khan endure such humiliation?"

Such arguments happened several times a day, and they kept coming at the same time. It was almost like a drug to accompany his meal. Galdan was irritated. "Let me be quiet for a while, all of you go out."

The two men glared at each other and reluctantly returned to their tents to rest.

Eat... and hit the road...

Everyone is eating, which is the most relaxing time besides sleeping. They gather together in groups, focusing on eating more, and eating less and less...

The reason for not choosing night was that they were afraid that Galdan would take advantage of the darkness and escape, and they could see him clearly during the day. At the same time, Fei Yanggu also assigned his men to intercept him from all sides.

Zhong Qihai and Dan Laji's tents were farther away. By the time they heard the noise and sent people to investigate, Qingde had already rushed to Galdan's tent. Regardless of the situation, the leader's quarters were always the best, the most obvious target, and the easiest to find.

So, we should be low-key in life, and even more so when we are escaping!

While Zhong Qihai and Danlaji were counting the heads, Qingde was hacking away. Even without food, Galdan's guards were not so easy to deal with. Qingde waved his hand and said, "You guys take the lead. I'll go to the back and take a look."

I don't believe Galdan is so cunning that he won't cut a hole behind the tent and run away.

Guessed wrong.

He's not even willing to surrender; his cunning nature is his character, and his unyielding spirit is his essence! Galdan came out from the front door! Everyone at the front door shouted.

Qingde waited behind the tent for two minutes. He heard the commotion growing louder up ahead, and vaguely heard someone shouting, "Catch him!"

Damn it!

Qingde raised his hand and tore a large hole in Galdan's tent. He jumped in, almost bumping into the bed. When he looked up, he saw an old man holding a steel knife, his back to him, and the clothes he was wearing looked very valuable.

In no time, the bandit Qingde knocked the old hostage unconscious from behind...

The guards in front were desperately fighting with the bandits, unaware that the bandits' accomplices had already tied up the hostage in the back, with a steel knife at his neck: "Stop it, damn it! No, wrong, this time speak Mongolian, let's do it again - stop it, damn it!"

The world is quiet.

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Danlaji, a man of great foresight, heard that Galdan had been captured and fled with his men. They encountered the Qing army, who had been assigned the unfortunate task of picking up the slack. In a rage, he was killed and his men were captured. Huh? That was a great achievement! His anger was replaced by joy, and he went to claim his merit.

Zhong Qihai and his daughter were close friends. They wisely led the thousand or so men they had gathered to negotiate with Fei Yanggu: "I long ago urged father to do good, but that villain Danlaji urged him to return west. Now I also have over a thousand brave warriors here (actually, the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled). If we fight to the death, the general will be in a difficult position. How about we both compromise, so that my father and I can survive and the general can achieve complete success? What do you think?"

Fei Yanggu said cautiously: "This matter requires the Holy Lord's judgment. Your father has offended the majesty of Heaven. Your Majesty, Heaven is merciful. We have sent people to persuade him to surrender many times, but your father has not repented. I cannot make the decision. But now, I can ensure the safety of your tribe until you see the Emperor. What do you think?" The lackeys below cooperated and clamored.

Zhong Qihai sneered inwardly. "You emperors are really obsessed with saving face." "I'll surrender if I want to, but if it doesn't suit me, I'll run away." "Okay! I'll listen to you and tell them to stop. But... my father is seriously ill, you can't insult him."

Nonsense, catching a live one shows your ability, a dead one is inferior.

Fei Yanggu nodded: "Okay. Pass the order down, don't harm Boshektu Khan's life." Hoping it was still in time, he signaled everyone to get ready. If Galdan had been hacked to death and this woman wanted to turn against him, everyone should pick up their weapons.

Zhong Qihai ordered the tribesmen to gather around her and not to act rashly. Fei Yanggu tilted his head, and the generals went out to control the situation. The warriors around Zhong Qihai clashed their swords and arrows, expressing their opposition. At this time, the people who were sent out also came with Danlaji's head. Zhong Qihai wiped the sweat in his heart, fortunately, I am smarter. He looked at Danlaji's head with contempt: You fool!

The author has something to say: Isn’t this chapter delicious?

I hadn't seen any comments when I wrote this chapter, but after I finished writing it, I saw that hey, I didn't guess everything...

Those who guessed that he was carrying a head, you guessed wrong. Based on this embarrassing guy's meritorious service, the fate that a certain meat arranged for him will also be embarrassing. Because of him, many people will have embarrassing performances...

Stay tuned for the next chapter.

The more I write, the more I like Zhong Qihai! She only has a name in the Qing History Draft, so why do I think she's so cool? So I used her as the title, and Qingde was relegated to the summary.

Hmm, I wrote a lot over the weekend and posted them all today TT. I really can’t keep my manuscripts. TT