Li Dingguo had already begun his march north before Dorgon did. Logic dictated that Li Dingguo should have reached Zhen'an Fort first, yet he actually arrived a step behind Dorgon. The reason for this discrepancy lay in their warhorses; both in quantity and quality, the horses belonging to Dorgon’s cavalry were superior to those of Li Dingguo’s forces. Dorgon could maintain a daily march of one hundred and fifty li while still remaining battle-ready, whereas Li Dingguo could march no more than one hundred and twenty li a day without sacrificing his combat effectiveness. By the time Li Dingguo reached Weijialing Pass, Dorgon had just departed, leading his troops eastward to strike at Zhen'an Fort.
Without pausing, Li Dingguo and Liu Wenxiu led their men in a rush toward the fort. A few li outside of Zhen'an Fort, Li Dingguo encountered a messenger sent from within.
"How many troops do the Jiannu have?" one of Li Dingguo’s trusted aides asked.
Chapter 1055