Gao Min's heart skipped a beat. His original intention was to encourage Niu Dejin to send someone so that he could claim credit for offering a suggestion, but he didn't expect Niu Dejin to directly appoint someone.
But the words had already been spoken, and Niu Dejin was staring at him. If he backed down now, not only would all his previous efforts be wasted, but he would also likely be looked down upon by this boorish superior.
Thinking of the rewards he would receive if he succeeded, and his brother-in-law's influence in the court, he gritted his teeth, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This humble general is willing to go! I will certainly not fail the General's trust!"
"Good! You've got guts!" Niu Dejin nodded in satisfaction. "I'll assign you five hundred elite soldiers, the bravest and most skilled in mountain terrain!"
"I'll give you double the reward! Set off tonight! If you succeed, I will personally petition the Emperor for your honor!"
"Thank you, General!" Gao Min responded loudly, feeling both excited and a little nervous.
Zhang Tao stood to the side, watching the excited Niu Dejin and the eager Gao Min. He opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed back all his words of dissuasion.
He knew that Niu Dejin had made up his mind, and that as a military governor who had surrendered and had no powerful backing, any further words from him would only arouse disgust and suspicion.
He could only pray silently, hoping that Xiao Cheyun was truly unprepared and that this risky move would succeed by sheer luck…
Although, based on his understanding of Xiao Cheyun, this possibility was extremely slim.
Soon, five hundred "daredevils" selected from various battalions were assembled, most of them either desperados or fierce soldiers eager for military merit.
Gao Min changed into clothes that were easy to move in, gave a brief pep talk, promised a generous reward, and then, under the cover of night, quietly left the camp and headed towards the dark mountains to the south.
Niu Dejin stood on the watchtower of the camp, looking in the direction where the squad had disappeared, and grinned widely: "Xiao Cheyun, I'm going to give you something fresh! Let's see if you can still hide in your turtle shell!"
Zhang Tao stood to the side, the night wind was cold, but he felt his palms sweating.
For some reason, he had a bad feeling. The precipitous mountain shadows of Eagle's Sorrow Gorge seemed to him to be a giant maw waiting to devour life.
Unbeknownst to them, almost at the same time Gao Min led the team to set off, inside Lantian Pass, Xiao Cheyun received a message by carrier pigeon from a secret outpost south of the pass.
He unfolded the note, read it under the light, and a faint, knowing smile appeared on his face.
"As expected... Niu Dejin, such a reckless man, can't stand the loneliness. He wants to go to Eagle's Sorrow Gorge? Not too stupid."
He walked to the sand table and ordered the left battalion to proceed according to the third plan. Remember, try to capture them alive, especially the commanders leading the troops.
Furthermore, the various camps in front of the pass lowered their flags and ceased operations in the latter half of the night, feigning exhaustion and relaxation.
"Yes, sir!"
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