The Ming Army moved forward in a long, winding column along the rugged mountain path. Because the terrain was so treacherous, certain sections were too narrow for heavy artillery, war wagons, or supply carts to pass, requiring the path to be cut and widened. Even where the baggage train could pass, the road was so narrow that their pace was agonizingly slow. The Ming Army could potentially do without gunpowder or war wagons, but they could not afford to run out of food. To maintain a rapid pace, Li Dingguo had moved the baggage train to the rear, allowing his infantry and cavalry to push ahead with only their rations.
Li Dingguo served as the vanguard for Huang Degong, and the Brocade Guard served as the vanguard for Li Dingguo. They traveled in small squads of ten, branching off to scout every fork in the road. During their march, they encountered two Jiannu scouts. To identify their loyalties, both sides closed the distance to sound each other out.
"Which unit are you from?" one of the Jiannu scouts shouted in Manchu.
Chapter 1174