After the great battle of Luzhou, the situation of the rebel forces changed drastically.
Due to the unexpected intervention of the Gao Family Village Militia, what had originally been a chaotic but expansive rebel alliance collapsed in a single stroke. The armies of the seventy two allied rebel groups were utterly routed, scattering in all directions like startled birds. Some fled into the hills, others vanished into forests and valleys, and the once intimidating main force of the rebel army dissolved almost overnight, hiding deep within the vast Dabie Mountains.
This was not unique to the late Ming era.
Even in modern times, once an armed force hid itself in complex mountainous terrain, it was nearly impossible for an outside army to completely wipe them out. In an age without radar, without satellite positioning, without fast transport or real time communication, the imperial forces could only stare at the endless mountain ranges in frustration, knowing the enemy was there, yet unable to grasp them.
The imperial troops were powerless.
The Gao Family Village militia was no exception.
Bai Yuan and Shi Kefa had both attempted pursuit after Luzhou, but after several futile searches through treacherous terrain, they were forced to acknowledge reality. Bai Yuan led his men back to Luoyang, while Shi Kefa withdrew his forces to Anqing Prefecture. Other imperial units continued hunting scattered bands of roaming rebels, but the core threat had already slipped through their fingers.
As a result, the rebel force still active in Henan, the one led by Lao Huihui, became the primary target of the imperial armies.
Lao Huihui's troops were all cavalry.
On open plains, they were swift as the wind, striking and retreating before enemies could react. But in the mountains, that same advantage turned into a crippling weakness. Horses struggled on narrow paths, slipped on rocky slopes, and tired quickly at altitude.
Recognizing this, the imperial army spread out a wide net.
From the east, the west, the north, and the south, multiple columns advanced, sealing off escape routes and steadily tightening the encirclement. Each movement was deliberate, each step calculated, forcing Lao Huihui to retreat again and again, until there was nowhere left to go.
Eventually, he was driven into Pingdingshan.
At that moment, Lao Huihui stood atop a mountain peak more than five hundred meters above sea level, staring silently toward the southeast. The distant ridgelines overlapped endlessly, layer upon layer, while faint traces of smoke from imperial camps drifted in the valleys below.
A scout hurried up the slope and knelt. "Chief," he reported, his voice strained, "our horses are suffering badly in this terrain. Several have already injured their legs. I am afraid… they can no longer be used."
Lao Huihui nodded slowly, his expression dark and heavy.
The situation had truly become dire.
By refusing to align himself with Li Zicheng and the other major rebel leaders, he had chosen independence, but that choice had also isolated him completely. Now, trapped in Pingdingshan, commanding a cavalry force unsuited for mountain warfare, he knew that if the imperial troops launched a full scale assault, he would have no effective way to respond.
All he could do was hope they would hesitate.
Yet deep down, he knew better.
Among the pursuing generals, Zuo Liangyu was the one he feared most. In the past, Zuo Liangyu had fallen into his ambush and narrowly escaped with his life. The humiliation and hatred from that defeat ran bone deep. Now that the imperial army held the overwhelming advantage, how could Zuo Liangyu possibly resist the temptation to crush him completely?
"Chief," one of his subordinates said carefully, "we can retreat west. The imperial troops have blocked the east, south, and north, but they cannot fully encircle the west. It is all continuous mountain ranges. As long as we cross those mountains, we can break free."
Lao Huihui asked calmly, "And after crossing the mountains, where do we end up?"
The subordinate hesitated before answering. "After crossing the mountains, we would reach Luan County. Further west from there lies Shangnan County."
"Shangnan County…" Lao Huihui repeated softly.
The name stirred an old memory. Back when the roaming rebels wreaked havoc in Yunyang, Shangnan had been the site of several brutal engagements. He frowned deeply. "The Shangnan garrison is no pushover. What was their commander's name again? Luo… Xi. Yes, Luo Xi."
The subordinate nodded. "That's him. Reports say he has repelled several rebel forces already. He is extremely difficult to deal with."
Lao Huihui let out a long sigh. "I truly do not wish to retreat toward Shangnan County. Luo Xi alone is troublesome enough, but once we move that way, we will be buried deep in continuous mountain ranges. Communication with Master Bai will become extremely difficult. Without his grain supplies…"
His voice trailed off, his expression souring. "Without food support, we will return to being nothing more than a roaming bandit army."
Silence fell.
These men were originally border garrison troops. They had never wanted to become bandits. In their hearts, they did not see themselves as criminals. They had risen only because of unpaid wages, discrimination as surrendered troops, and years of mistreatment.
Recently, with Master Bai providing steady grain assistance, they no longer needed to pillage towns or raid granaries like common bandits. For a brief period, they had even begun to remember what it felt like to be proper soldiers again.
If supplies were cut off now, forcing them back into looting, the psychological blow would be unbearable.
Just as despair crept in, another scout came running up the mountain, nearly stumbling in his haste. "Urgent report! Master Bai's people have arrived!"
Lao Huihui's eyes lit up instantly. "Quickly, bring him here!"
Moments later, a Gao Family Village intelligence agent was escorted forward. He was dressed in night black clothing, blending naturally with the shadows, yet embroidered on his chest was the image of Dao Xuan Tianzun, marking him unmistakably as one of Master Bai's men.
Lao Huihui laughed, genuinely pleased. "With so many imperial camps surrounding us, it must have taken considerable effort for you to get in."
The agent smiled faintly. "It was not difficult. Zuo Liangyu's army lacks discipline. Their camps are full of gaps. Slipping in was easy. I am here to deliver a message."
Lao Huihui's expression turned solemn. "What does Master Bai say?"
The agent replied calmly, "Instructor Bai advises that you lead your army west, cross the mountains, proceed first to Luan County, but do not attack the county seat. Bypass it entirely, move only through mountain roads, and continue on to Shangnan County."
Lao Huihui's heart sank slightly. "Even Master Bai suggests Shangnan…" He shook his head. "I had already considered that route. There is no other way out. But once we enter Shangnan, communication with Luoyang will be extremely difficult. And Luo Xi is no ordinary opponent."
The agent chuckled softly. "General, you need not worry about Luo Xi. Once you enter Shangnan County, avoid attacking towns or villages. Simply move through the mountains. Luo Xi will not fight you. Not only that, he will provide you with grain. You may send someone to inform him of your location, and supplies will be delivered."
Lao Huihui stiffened. "Luo Xi… is one of yours?"
"Indeed," the agent replied lightly.
Lao Huihui's pupils shrank in shock.
The agent continued, "After that, you may proceed to Shangluo Pass, then cross Wu Pass."
"I can just cross Wu Pass?" Lao Huihui blurted out. "That is heavily guarded!"
"The Wu Pass garrison will pretend not to see you," the agent said calmly.
A cold breath escaped Lao Huihui's lips. There was no need to ask further. Wu Pass was also theirs.
"After crossing Wu Pass," the agent went on, "you will reach Shanyang County. There is a mountain there called Tianzhu Mountain. You may camp there. People inside will receive you and provide provisions."
Lao Huihui's heart pounded violently. "That is dangerously close to Xi'an. The closer we get, the stronger the imperial resistance should be."
The agent shook his head. "No. The closer you get to Xi'an, the more support we will provide. At that point, you will never lack food or safety."
Lao Huihui's body trembled. "Xi'an… is it also… yours?"
The agent smiled and said nothing. "I cannot say more. Spies are everywhere. General, if you trust us, follow this route."
Lao Huihui straightened, his doubts swept aside. "Understood. How could I not trust Master Bai? Among everyone in this world, he is the one I trust most."
The agent clasped his hands and withdrew.
Lao Huihui clenched his fists, made his decision, and issued the order with a firm voice, "The entire army moves west. Cross Pingdingshan. Head for Shangnan County."
In the rolling mountains, the rebel cavalry began to move once more, unknowingly stepping deeper into a web far larger than they could yet comprehend.