年羹尧征青海日,营次忽传令云：“明日进兵,人各携板一片、草一束.”军中不解其故.比次日遇塌子沟（淤泥深坑也,满语云尔）,令各将束草掷入,上

　　铺板片,师行无阻.时贼人方倚此为险,不意大兵骤至也,遂破贼巢.又年征西藏时,一夜漏三下,忽闻疾风西来,俄顷即寂.年即呼某参将,领飞骑三百,往西南

　　密林中搜贼,果尽歼焉.人问其故,年曰：“一霎而绝,非风也,是飞鸟振羽声也,夜半非（飞）鸟出,必有惊之者.此去西南十里,有丛林密树,宿鸟必多,意必

　　贼来潜伏,故鸟群惊起也.”年虽罹大谴,其兵法之灵变,实不愧一时名将之称.

　　WhenNianGengyaoleftforQinghaitoattackhisenemy,acommandfromthemilitarycampcamethatthesoldieraresupposedtotakeapieceofboardandabunchofglass.Allthesoldiersdidn'tknowwhy.Thenextday.whentheprocessionweremakingprocess,theyunlucilygetcaughtinmudpits.Justatthattime,NianGengyaocommandedthesoldierstothrowtheglassdownandplacetheboardonit.Thentheenemywasguardingthepass,notrealizingNian'ssoldiersweregettingcloser,thoughfinallyitwasdefeated.InanotheryearwhenNianattackedXizang,itwasrainingheavily,makingtheroofleakterribly.SuddenlyNianfeltaandstrongwind,whichsoondisappeared.Nianthencommandedasubordinatestafftosearchtheforestforthe

　　enemy,followedby300soildersandeventuallyhecaughttheenemy.OthersaskedNianwhyhewassosuccessful.Heanswered,'hewindwasveryshort,whichwasweird.Probablyitwasevennotawindbutathesoundfromaflyingbird,whichmeanttheremustbeapersonwhodisturbit.What'smore,therewasdensejungles10milesawayfromhere,wheremanybirdsperched.Judgingfromthat,Iknewtheremustbeanenemyoutthere.

　　ThoughNianboremuchblame,hewasabsolutelyanexcellentgeneral,whosemilitarystrategyandtacticswerereallytactful.