Chapter 122: Gate of Ghosts

Hongwu Year Five, August 17.

Deep in the Qilian Mountains, a large army is marching along a rugged mountain path.

Zhu Yong rides his horse at the front of the column, followed by ten thousand Longxiang Army cavalry and ten thousand Shaanxi cavalry, and behind them twenty thousand infantry and a logistics convoy.

The mountain wind is bitterly cold, making the great banners flap and rustle.

"Prince, once we cross that mountain ahead, we'll be out of the Qilian Mountains," the guide said, pointing to a snow‑capped peak in the distance.

Zhu Yong looked up; the peak towered into the clouds, its snow‑capped summit flashing a dazzling light in the sun.

The scenery here is beautiful; if it weren't wartime, it would be nice to bring Guanyin Nu here to relax.

However, those matters will have to wait until after the war ends.

"How much farther?" Zhu Yong turned his head to ask the guide.

"If we're fast, three days; if slow, five. But… the Tuyuhun say there's a canyon there, a necessary passage called Gate of Ghosts, easy to defend, hard to attack."

The guide hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Gate of Ghosts… tell me the details," Zhu Yong asked after halting his horse.

The guide swallowed and then explained, "The canyon is five li long, its cliffs on both sides are sheer, only wide enough for five horses side by side. If the enemy sets an ambush there, even a thrown stone could kill a man."

Zhu Yong squinted, looking toward the distant mountain shadows.

"Zhang Wu, Chen Heng."

"The junior commander is here!" the two rode forward.

"Take three hundred elite cavalry to scout ahead; if you spot the enemy, report immediately, do not engage," Zhu Yong ordered.

"Understood!"

The three hundred riders broke from the main force and galloped away.

Zhu Yong turned to Guo Ying and said, "General Guo, order the whole army to slow down and stay on guard."

"Yes!"

The army continued onward, but the atmosphere grew noticeably tense.

The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes constantly scanning the cliffs on both sides.

After marching for two hours, the sound of horse hooves suddenly came from ahead.

Zhang Wu returned with a few riders, his face urgent as he shouted, "Prince, at the canyon entrance there are enemy troops, about three thousand, constructing fortifications!"

"Did you see their banners clearly?" Zhu Yong asked.

"There are Turpan banners, also the Bie Shi of Eight Li, and by their attire the remnants of Northern Yuan," Zhang Wu replied.

Zhu Yong nodded, telling Guo Ying, "Order the whole army to halt and set up camp here."

Horn Sound sounded, and the forty‑thousand troops stopped in the valley.

The Central Command Tent was quickly erected, and Zhu Yong summoned the generals for a council.

"We must pass Gate of Ghosts; what good plans do you have?" Zhu Yong spread the map.

General Guo pointed to the map and said, "Prince, besides Gate of Ghosts there are two routes: one southward, a detour of eight hundred li passing Qinghai Lake and Chaidamu, but that road has scarce water, making it hard for a large army."

"The other goes north, a detour of a thousand li through Juyan Lake; time would not permit."

"So that means we can only force our way through Gate of Ghosts," Zhu Yong said.

"Exactly, but the enemy is building fortifications at the entrance; a direct assault would cause heavy casualties," Guo Ying nodded.

The generals fell silent upon hearing that.

At that moment, an Old Soldier spoke, "Prince, the junior commander has an idea."

The speaker was a Thousand Household from the Shaanxi army, surname Yang, in his fifties, with a knife scar on his face.

"Speak."

Yang, the Thousand Household, said, "When I was young I traded horses in He Xi, crossed the Qilian Mountains several times; the Gate of Ghosts canyon is dangerous, but its cliffs are not unclimbable."

"If we send an elite unit to climb the side at night, strike the enemy's rear, then launch a strong frontal attack, we might break through."

Zhu Yong's eyes brightened as he asked, "How high are the cliffs… can they be climbed?"

"The north side cliffs are a bit gentler, with fissures to climb, but it requires skill; I estimate them thirty to fifty zhang high," Yang said.

Zhu Yong rose and stepped outside the tent, gazing into the distance.

The setting sun sank, and the mountains were like ink‑washed silhouettes.

"Zhang Wu, select the five hundred most skilled men, go with Yang to scout; if they can climb, we act tonight," Zhu Yong ordered.

"Understood!"

Zhang Wu and Yang took the orders and departed.

Zhu Yong again told the generals, "Everyone else, prepare for a strong assault; tomorrow at the Yin hour we will cook, at the Mao hour we set out, and must reach the canyon entrance before Shi Jing."

"Yes!"

The generals took their orders and each returned to camp to prepare.

Night fell, and the Qilian Mountains' night was bone‑chillingly cold.

Zhang Wu and Yang, leading five hundred elite soldiers, slipped quietly to the base of the north side cliffs of Gate of Ghosts.

Looking up, the cliffs rose like knife‑carved walls, yet in the moonlight faint fissures and jutting rocks could be seen.

"I'll go first," Zhang Wu sheathed his weapons, taking only a dagger and rope, and began to climb.

He was indeed agile, using hands and feet, leaping through the fissures like a monkey.

One zhàng, two zhàng, ten zhàng…

The men below held their breath and watched.

About half an hour later, a rope dangled down from the cliff top.

"It's done!" Yang exclaimed joyfully, ordering the soldiers to climb one after another.

Five hundred men spent two hours and all climbed to the cliff top.

Zhang Wu stood at the cliff edge and hurriedly looked down.

At the gorge entrance, campfires flickered, and the enemy camp was clearly visible.

"Yang Qianhu, you take three hundred men and loop around behind the enemy; I will take two hundred and creep down from the side, first dealing with the sentries," Zhang Wu said.

"Good!"

The two groups moved forward separately.

Zhang Wu led two hundred men, feeling their way south along the ridge.

The wind atop the cliff was strong, making it hard to stand steady.

But these were elite soldiers, well‑trained, advancing silently.

An hour later they reached the cliff top directly above the enemy camp.

Looking down, they could see patrolling soldiers, passages between the tents, and even hear faint voices.

"Prepare the rope; after descending, kill the sentries first, then set fire," Zhang Wu whispered.

The soldiers secured the rope to the rock and slid down one by one.

Zhang Wu was the first to hit the ground, rolled, and hid behind a pile of timber.

Two patrolling soldiers happened to walk over.

Zhang Wu struck like lightning, covering one man's mouth as his dagger sliced across the throat.

The other man hadn't reacted before a nearby soldier pounced and dealt with him.

"Spread out, follow the plan,"

The two hundred men divided into twenty squads and slipped into the camp.

In the center of the camp, inside the largest tent, several generals were drinking wine.

Seated on the Main Seat was a Strongman with a full beard, the Turpan General Abdullah.

"The Ming troops are blocked outside the gorge, unable to enter; once their grain and fodder run out, they'll retreat on their own," Abdullah said, raising his cup and laughing heartily.

A general from Eight Li beside him said, "General, we must not be careless; I hear the Ming army's commander this time is that King Wu, exceptionally brave."

"King Wu... no matter how brave, he's still human; he can't fly over the Gate of Ghosts. Come, let's keep drinking!" Abdullah replied disdainfully.

Just as he spoke, shouts and cries of battle suddenly came from outside.

"What's happening?" Abdullah tossed his cup and rushed out of the tent.

He ran outside and saw fires blazing all over the camp, the shouts of battle shaking the heavens.

A Ming force descended like divine soldiers, charging through the camp.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" Abdullah shouted, drawing his sword.

But it was already too late.

Zhang Wu led fifty men straight at the Central Command Tent, killing anyone they saw.