On the 21st day of the second month in the twenty-fifth year of the Chongzhen reign, the Ming Army had finished assembling, ready to set out. However, a heavy snowfall forced them to postpone their departure for several days. On the 25th, the grand army officially commenced its march. The three contingents were scheduled to converge on Hetu Ala on the 10th of the third month.
Huang Fei led the southern route army out first. Leaving Kuandian Fortress, they headed northwest before reaching the Pushi River, where they turned northeast, then immediately turned northwest again to follow the Niumao Sheng River. Kuandian Fortress was less than four hundred li from Hetu Ala, and under normal circumstances, it should have taken at most ten days to reach. But because the road from Kuandian Fortress was difficult to traverse, they had to start early.
On the afternoon of the same day Huang Fei departed, Li Dingguo also set his troops in motion. The route he took was similar to that of the Kuandian Fortress path, but the distance was somewhat shorter. On the second day after Huang Fei's departure, Wang Yongji also set out with his troops. The three armies slowly closed in on Hetu Ala.
Chapter 1108