On the morning of May 24, Li Dingguo divided his forces into two. He ordered Dou Mingwang to lead his elite infantry up the peaks flanking the mountain pass, intending to bypass the exit and strike the flanks of the Jiannu. Li himself led the main force in a feint attack against the Jiannu soldiers blocking the pass.
The blockade was commanded by Xihan of the Plain Yellow Banner. To prevent the Ming Army from attacking from the heights, Xihan had made extensive preparations, including digging pits, stationing sentries, and setting up ambushes. He had believed his defensive layout was impenetrable, but he had overlooked one critical factor: the defectors.
As the campaign progressed, more and more Eight Banners soldiers had switched sides to the Ming. To earn the trust of their new commanders, these defectors would urge their former comrades to surrender whenever they encountered them. If they refused, the defectors would be the first to lead the charge. Under the pressure of these men, the forces Xihan had deployed on the mountains either surrendered or were forced to retreat after being ambushed. By that evening, all the surrounding hilltops had fallen into the hands of the Ming Army.
Chapter 1175