Chapter 286: Requesting Reinforcements

Everyone in the hall looked at each other in dismay. After the Battle of Julu, all the banners that had invaded had grown fearful of the Xuan–Da Army, and they were especially terrified of Wang Dou’s Shunxiang Army. From Tongzhou to Dingzhou to Julu, Wang Dou’s three thousand–plus troops had made every banner suffer bitterly. The Eight Banners’ Manchu Plain Red Banner had likewise lost many soldiers and horses, and even Tan Bai, the Jalangga of the Bayara Camp, had died in battle at Julu.

They had thought that after the great battle at Julu, Wang Dou’s army had suffered such heavy casualties that it was no longer a threat — at least not for the remainder of this invasion. They never imagined that the Xuan–Da Army would come again, and that Wang Dou’s forces would grow stronger the more they fought: three thousand men striking like six thousand, perhaps even far more. This truly caught everyone off guard.

After a long silence, Yoto sighed: “After the great battle at Julu, our Great Qing troops did not press the victory to utterly destroy Wang Dou and the others. In the end we have nursed a tiger only to court disaster — too late for regrets!”

Everyone’s expression turned grim. His eldest son, Luo Luohong, his face equally ashen, barked at Buyantu: “Does Wang Dou really have six thousand men? Buyantu, you slave — did you see clearly?”

Luo Luohong was only twenty-three, yet his cheeks were covered by a curly beard, making him look even older than Yoto. He was thick-set and violently short-tempered, lashing his subordinates at the slightest provocation. Even Buyantu had tasted his whip, and everyone in the banner feared him deeply.

When Luo Luohong glared at him like that, Buyantu’s heart pounded with terror. He said hastily: “In reply to the Beise, it is absolutely true, absolutely true. Your slave scouted very clearly: Wang Dou’s troops number no fewer than six thousand. If the intelligence is wrong, then let the Beise cut off your slave’s head.”

Luo Luohong’s face grew even uglier. Seeing that his son was about to lose his temper again, Yoto waved his hand and made Luo Luohong shut his mouth. With a great enemy before them, it was all the more important to win over his subordinates and make them unite to kill the foe. After another violent fit of coughing, he gently told Buyantu to withdraw and rest, and even had a household slave bring Buyantu a cup of hot tea to warm himself, which moved Buyantu to tears of gratitude.

Yoto’s second son, Luoluohuan, though only two years younger than his elder brother Luo Luohong, was quite steady and very much took after his father. Within the Plain Red Banner he commanded five hundred armored soldiers and another fifteen hundred unarmored banner men. Now, after pondering a moment, he said to Yoto: “Ama, my lords, the intelligence is surely correct. There is only one explanation for Wang Dou having six thousand men: he concealed his troop strength.”

“There is a precedent. In the first year of Chongde, when the Bordered White Banner’s Raoyu Beile attacked Wang Dou’s military fort, he already had three thousand troops inside the fort. At that time Wang Dou was merely a minor Defense Commander of the Ming, authorized to command only three or four hundred men, yet he privately drilled a force ten times that size.”

“After the first year of Chongde, Wang Dou was promoted to Ming Mobile Corps Commander. Knowing his cunning, he must have drilled even more troops. When he led his troops out to battle, the forces under his command could not have been fewer than eight or nine thousand. Three thousand marched to war with him; the remaining troops were likely deployed in places like Yizhou. After the Battle of Julu, without making a sound, he picked the exact moment when our Great Qing troops were dividing their forces to appear. This man’s scheming runs far too deep — he is indeed a mortal threat to our Great Qing.”

Deep inside, one thing faintly puzzled him: why had Wang Dou deployed and concealed his troops in places like Yizhou, and why had he chosen precisely this moment to strike? Could he have the power to foretell the future, certain that after the Great Qing troops finished plundering they would stockpile the captives and valuables in Zhuozhou, while the main force headed for Shandong?

The more he could not figure it out, the more terrifying Luoluohuan found Wang Dou. He sighed deeply: “It is only a pity that the best chance to annihilate Wang Dou is gone. Now over ten thousand of the Xuan–Da Army are coming. Even counting the unarmored warriors, our Manchu Plain Red Banner has no more than four thousand men at Zhuozhou. To face these Ming troops — and half of them are Wang Dou’s men…”

His face was filled with worry. Urgently he said to Yoto: “Ama, there is only one way out. We must have the banner warriors left to guard Tongzhou abandon their camp and rush here with the entire force, and at the same time send word to the Imperial Commissioner Grand General in Shandong to request relief. We hold our camp firmly — perhaps then there is still a path to survival.”

Like a single stone stirring a thousand waves, everyone in the hall immediately broke into heated discussion. Some approved of Luoluohuan’s proposal; others did not.

Luo Luohong shot his younger brother a sidelong glare. He had always found this second brother of his an eyesore. A banner man, yet so fond of Han literature and Han rites, with none of the heroic, untamed spirit of a Manchu warrior. Last year he had inherited the title of Duoluo Beise, making his rank equal to his own, which only deepened Luo Luohong’s resentment.

Now, hearing Luoluohuan’s defeatist words, he bellowed: “Second Brother, those words only puff up the Ming army’s prestige and crush the morale of our Great Qing warriors! It’s merely ten thousand–plus Ming troops? Our Great Qing soldiers are worth a hundred each. Even a thousand warriors against ten thousand Ming troops can send them fleeing, throwing away their armor and helmets.”

He went on: “Our Great Qing troops excel in field battle and are poor at defending cities. To not defeat those Ming troops in open country, but instead huddle in camp and take a beating — how could this Beise swallow such an insult?”

A shadow of gloom flickered across Luoluohuan’s face. Hearing his elder brother even misuse a Ming idiom, he sneered inwardly, but his expression remained calm.

He said: “May I ask how Elder Brother plans to fight the Ming army in the field? At the battles of Tongzhou and Dingzhou, the Eight Banners’ Manchu Bordered Red Banner and Bordered White Banner both fought Wang Dou and the others in the field, and the result was severe losses. Does Elder Brother intend to throw away all our banner’s warriors? At the Battle of Julu, Elder Brother also experienced firsthand the fighting power of Wang Dou and his men.”

The veins on Luo Luohong’s neck bulged. He roared: “Of course this Beise is not that stupid. I would use the strengths of our cavalry. In the words of the Ming, we would intercept their supply routes, cut off their passes and bridges, strike where they least expect, throw their battle gear into chaos, pursue them when they scatter and flee — and toy them to death.”

He shouted: “Our cavalry excels at raiding and at close-quarters melee. The Xuan–Da Army’s firepower is sharp, true, but we do not need to attack their formations head-on. We avoid their strengths and exploit their weaknesses. When they finish forming ranks, we refuse battle and simply keep watch from a distance. When they march, we again assume an attacking posture, forcing them to form ranks once more. After this repeats several times, they will be utterly exhausted. Then our troops seize the moment to strike, and across these several dozen li we can rout them.”

Luoluohuan’s face grew even darker, though his tone remained calm: “Strike where they least expect, throw their battle gear into chaos, pursue them when they scatter and flee? It is true that the Ming Wang Dou’s troops are all infantry, but Elder Brother must not forget that the rest of the Ming Xuan–Da Army consists entirely of cavalry — five or six thousand of them! Our Zhuozhou camp needs to be defended. How many warriors can Elder Brother send out to harass them? Five hundred? A thousand? Two thousand?”

“The remaining troops of the Xuan–Da Army also fought us in bloody combat at Julu; their fighting strength cannot be underestimated. If they send out just three thousand cavalry, they could fight us to a standstill. Once the cavalry forces are locked in melee, if they then send a few more men to tie us down, those warriors would face total annihilation!”

“…Intercept their supply routes, cut off their passes and bridges? Buyantu’s jalan has already scouted very clearly: this time the Xuan–Da Army, just as at Julu and Dingzhou, is carrying large quantities of fodder and provisions with the army — perhaps enough to feed the entire force for a month or half a month. Where would we intercept their supply routes or cut off their passes and bridges? Even if they carry only half a month’s provisions, if the warriors from Tongzhou do not come to join us, our banner’s warriors cannot possibly hold out for even half a month.”

At these words, the hall fell even more silent. Luoluohuan’s argument forced everyone to recognize a fact: the question was not how to rout this Ming force, but the great question of life or death for their Plain Red Banner.

Though Luo Luohong’s tone was bold, who among those present had not fought a bloody battle against the Xuan–Da Army at Julu, especially against Wang Dou’s troops? The fighting power of those Ming soldiers had long since struck terror into everyone’s hearts. Luo Luohong’s tactics might be feasible in ordinary times, but the Xuan–Da Army was different. They had cavalry in abundance; every cavalry advantage they themselves possessed amounted to nothing before them.

Moreover, after the Battle of Julu, that kind of savage combat had left everyone with lingering dread. Subconsciously, none of them wanted to fight Wang Dou’s army again, and even less did they want to let their own troops suffer easy losses.

The remaining jalan janggin in the hall and some of the niru janggin inwardly leaned toward Luoluohuan’s opinion. Now that the Xuan–Da Army was bearing down with overwhelming momentum, a swift decision was the most critical matter. They all looked toward Yoto at the head of the hall.

At that moment Yoto also roared: “Enough!”

Watching his two sons argue until their faces were red and their necks thick with fury vexed him. Inwardly he too inclined toward his second son Luoluohuan’s view. The Xuan–Da Army had numerous cavalry; the tactics the Qing army habitually used were simply unworkable. And they had come so suddenly — the only choice was to hold the camp firmly and quietly await the arrival of reinforcements.

In truth, Yoto had another option: abandon all the captives and valuables plundered at Zhuozhou and withdraw swiftly to Tongzhou. But who in the banner could bear to give up the wealth they had toiled so bitterly to seize? And Yoto did not dare be certain that after he led his troops in retreat, Wang Dou and the others would not pursue them again. Would he then have to abandon the Tongzhou camp as well, flee somewhere else, and have Wang Dou and the others pursue yet again? Holding the Zhuozhou camp was the only choice.

After another violent fit of coughing, he straightened his body and swept a commanding gaze over everyone in the hall: “Pass the order: the entire army is to go on emergency alert. Drive those slaves and aha to deepen the trenches and make every defensive preparation. All the warriors outside the camp guarding the Ming captives are to withdraw entirely into the camp and join its defense.”

Everyone in the hall roared their assent. But Luo Luohong was stunned for a moment: “Ama, without guards and escorts, won’t those captured Ming commoners seize the chance to flee?”

Yoto said: “In the midst of a great battle, with the situation unclear, I expect they will not dare flee. Even if they do, in this bitter cold they cannot flee far. If our army is victorious, we can round them up again afterward. Right now, the most important thing is to concentrate our forces to defend the camp.”

Luo Luohong would not give up: “Why don’t we drive more Ming commoners into the camp? Then we can force them to defend the camp and block the Ming army’s bullets and shot.”

Yoto shook his head: “These commoners are useless for defending the camp. Faced with the Ming army’s cannons and firelocks, they will only collapse and flee, throwing our warriors into disorder. The Battle of Julu is a lesson from the past; we must guard against it.”

Luoluohuan recalled something: “If the Xuan–Da Army seizes the valuables and captives outside the camp, but does not attack us, and instead withdraws escorting the livestock and goods — what then?”

Yoto sneered: “If they truly do that, then an army so greedy for wealth and goods is not worth worrying about. Our Great Qing warriors would have an opening to exploit.”

He shook his head: “Wang Dou and the others are not that foolish. There will be several days of bitter fighting.”

He ordered Buyantu, the jalan janggin of the Bayara Camp, to rush men to Tongzhou to seek reinforcements. Looking at Buyantu, he said: “I will write a personal letter. You will deliver it personally into the hands of the jalan Heshute, who is guarding the Tongzhou camp. Tell him to bring his entire force to our aid. Tell Heshute that within three days he must lead his troops here; otherwise, this Grand General will cut off his head.”

The Plain Red Banner jalan janggin Heshute, left to guard the Tongzhou camp, had under him a thousand armored banner men, another thousand unarmored banner men, and five thousand laborers. If all these men arrived, Yoto would have some hope of victory. After saying this, a cold gleam flashed in his eyes: “Before you depart, tell Heshute to burn every last bit of the plundered valuables, grain, and rice. Do not leave a single grain for the nearby Ming troops.”

Everyone in the hall looked ashen as the dead. This time their Qing troops had suffered far too great a loss. All the wealth, goods, and provisions they had toiled so bitterly to seize would come to nothing. It was all the fault of those accursed Xuan–Da troops, and even more the accursed Ming general Wang Dou.

Buyantu knocked his head heavily on the ground, his expression one of tragic resolve: “Your slave will certainly deliver the letter, and will certainly make Lord Heshute lead his troops to our aid.”

Yoto then ordered a niru janggin of the Bayara Camp to lead men to Shandong to urgently request reinforcements from the Imperial Commissioner Grand General Dorgon. Finally, he ordered his eldest son, Luo Luohong, to take five hundred men of the Plain Red Banner Bayara Camp, plus five hundred armored soldiers and a thousand unarmored banner men — a combined force of two thousand cavalry — to probe the field and attempt to harass the advancing Xuan–Da Army.

He carefully admonished his son: “After you lead the troops out, do not engage them in battle. If there is no opening to exploit, return quickly.”

One by one, everyone acknowledged their orders. Yoto drew a deep breath and murmured: “I hope that with these arrangements, we can hold off the assault of Wang Dou and the others.”

…

At the mid-hour of the afternoon, the Xuan–Da Army reached a place called Linjiatun, less than thirty li from the Qing camp and likewise less than thirty li from Zhuozhou city.

Zhuozhou was a famous grain-storage center in the Great Ming’s northern region, with sturdy city walls. West of the city there was even a hidden passage leading to Zijing Pass and Yizhou, and it was garrisoned with a defense force. However, in late October of the previous year, when the Qing troops bypassed the capital and advanced from Liangxiang toward Zhuozhou, Zhuozhou city fell, and all the commoners and valuables inside were plundered clean.

After the Qing troops withdrew and moved south, the Ming court again dispatched troops to occupy and defend it. Inside it was already empty; apart from the officers and soldiers, there was not a single commoner. At present there were several thousand defending troops inside Zhuozhou city, but they only dared huddle inside the walls and did not have the slightest inclination to attack the Plain Red Banner Qing troops by the Liuli River.

The Xuan–Da Army likewise had no interest in paying any attention to the Ming troops inside Zhuozhou city, and sent no one to contact them. After crossing the Juma River, their pace never slackened. The vast, mighty army pressed straight toward the Qing camp by the Liuli River.

Once they reached this area, even more Plain Red Banner scouts were spying on them from the periphery. From time to time, Night Scouts of the Xuan–Da Army would gallop out, whooping, to drive them off, making it difficult for them to approach within ten li of the Xuan–Da Army. The Night Scouts of the Shunxiang Army in particular, each man with three horses, were outstanding in both combat power and mobility. Even the Bayara soldiers of the Plain Red Banner could gain no advantage whatsoever against them.

At this moment, however, many Night Scouts came galloping back, reporting that a large force of Plain Red Banner cavalry had appeared ten li ahead. Wang Dou and Yang Guozhu exchanged a glance: “Could it be that the Qing troops intend to fight a decisive battle with our grand army here? Then we shall replay the Battle of Dingzhou!”