Chapter 428: Definitely Give Wang Dou a Show

Or perhaps at this moment, the Eight Banners Manchu Plain White Banner Lord Dorgon and the Bordered Blue Banner Lord Jirgalang were near Jinzhou. In the hall were the Eight Banners Manchu Bordered Red Banner Lord Dudu, the Bordered White Banner Lord Dodo, the Plain Blue Banner Lord Hooge, and others. Because his son Yoto had died, the elderly Daišan was acting as regent over the Plain Red Banner, and Yoto's son Lolohun was also present.

Also present were the two Yellow Banner lords, various lords of the Eight Banners Mongols and the Eight Banners Han armies, and some high ministers of the Qing state.

The battle from several years ago had been deeply studied by everyone afterward, and they had summarized their experiences and lessons.

Regarding Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, Cao Bianjiao, and the others, those in the hall thought nothing of them. But toward Wang Dou, they all began voicing their own opinions in a hubbub.

Dudu still felt lingering fear toward the fierce gunfire of Wang Dou's army at that time. He said: "Wang Dou's firearms and cannons are indeed formidable. It is not that our Great Qing elite cavalry cannot break through, but the losses would be too great, and the gain would not be worth the cost. In this slave's opinion, their weakness lies in their cavalry. We can first concentrate our mobile cavalry to hunt down and kill the scouts in their army, cutting off the battlefield early so they cannot gather intelligence."

"Furthermore, every time Wang Dou's army fights, they rely on allied cavalry for coordination, which is a considerable flaw. If we engage in battle, we can first attack both flanks, eating them up bite by bite, destroying their flanking cavalry, and even driving them back toward Wang Dou's main force to cause their collapse."

The Bordered White Banner Lord Dodo disagreed. He said: "Hunting down their scouts is acceptable, but as for cavalry, Wang Dou's army now has quite a few. According to intelligence, no fewer than five thousand cavalry. They no longer need the coordination of allied elite cavalry."

Dudu said: "Even if it is five thousand, our Eight Banners iron cavalry rose to power on horseback. Our elite cavalry numbers in the tens of thousands. Do we fear his mere five thousand cavalry? Those cavalrymen have no firearms. There is no reason our Eight Banners warriors cannot defeat them. Besides, if Wang Dou comes to relieve Jinzhou, how could he not coordinate with allied forces? Then we can specifically strike the Ming generals coordinating with Wang Dou and see who dares to stay by his side."

Everyone nodded. The imperial son-in-law and Eight Banners Mongol Bordered Red Banner Lord Buyandai said excitedly: "After hunting down and killing the scouts in Wang Dou's army, we can set ambushes, even surround and trap them, and cut off their grain and fodder."

Someone disagreed: "Is Wang Dou coming to the rescue as an isolated army? When the time comes and a hundred thousand or more of them arrive, how do we set an ambush? Besides, according to intelligence, every time Wang Dou's army goes on campaign, they carry a month's worth of grain and fodder with the army. Cutting off their supplies is easier said than done."

Another person said: "Attacking their flanking cavalry is feasible. Maximize strengths and avoid weaknesses. If we press them toward their infantry positions, our iron cavalry can then charge their formations."

"Their cavalry is likewise not to be underestimated. A few years ago, their cavalry crossed hands with our Great Qing iron cavalry and could charge head-to-head against us."

"Yes, but our Great Qing iron cavalry has the advantage. If we defeat their cavalry, our forces will have freedom of movement everywhere. If their infantry forms up, we can simply leave."

Seeing the heated atmosphere in the hall, Huang Taiji coughed once: "If none of the above strategies are feasible, do the soldiers of our Great Qing lack the courage to face Wang Dou's army in a decisive battle? The battle of Jinzhou will clearly be a bitter fight, unavoidable. We will face Wang Dou's army head-on."

Everyone fell silent at once. Facing Wang Dou's army head-on, each person was indeed uneasy at heart. Every banner had been beaten by Wang Dou and was terrified.

Besides, against fine bird guns, a single tiny pellet could carry away the most elite warrior of one's banner. Dying that way was too worthless. Each elite warrior trained bitterly in martial skills, just to take this one bullet? If struck by an arrow, one could still recover from the wound. If struck by a lead bullet, even if one did not die, one would be crippled.

It was still the Graceful Prince Abatai who spoke: "In a head-on confrontation, we must use firearms to counter firearms."

At once, all the Manchu and Mongol ministers in the hall turned their eyes to the Han officials present.

Huang Taiji said: "Minister Ma, Minister Ding, how goes the casting of the Divine Might Grand General cannons?"

The red-barbarian cannon casting supervisor, Han Army Bordered Yellow Banner Gūsa-i Ejen Ma Guangyuan, and the manufacturing supervisor Ding Qiming stepped forward. Ma Guangyuan knelt and replied: "In reply to His Majesty, over these years, the cannon foundry has cast a total of sixty Divine Might Grand General cannons. Each weighs four thousand jin, uses five jin of gunpowder, and fires a ten-jin iron ball."...

He said: "As for bird guns, a total of fifteen thousand have been forged, all of fine workmanship."

Huang Taiji nodded with satisfaction. Everyone in the hall also discussed it excitedly. The Great Qing state now also had sharp firearms and cannons. However, since this power was controlled by Han officials, each person's heart was also complicated.

Huang Taiji looked again toward Kong Youde: "Minister Kong, how many cannons are in the Ujen Cooha Artillery Camp?"

Kong Youde hurriedly stepped forward and said: "In reply to His Majesty, in your minister's camp, there are forty Divine Might Grand General cannons, currently in use at Jinzhou. There are also some smaller red-barbarian cannons that fire three-jin or five-jin balls."

The consequence of Kong Youde's defection to the Qing back then was that the most elite artillery unit at Dengzhou, painstakingly built by Sun Yuanhua and the Portuguese, was taken away by Kong Youde. That unit's familiarity with gun sights, gunner's scales, and range-finding instruments was unmatched by other Ming armies, and they also possessed advanced cannon-casting and shot-making techniques.

What Huang Taiji received was not only Kong Youde and his soldiers, but also the Ming army's elite artillery and technology.

Huang Taiji said: "The sixty newly cast Divine Might Grand General cannons will be handed over to your camp. You must use them properly and render further meritorious service for our Great Qing."

Kong Youde was overjoyed. He knelt in the hall and repeatedly kowtowed: "Many thanks to His Majesty. Your minister will surely exhaust his loyalty and strength for His Majesty, going through fire and water without refusal."

He was in high spirits. Back then at Pinggu, he had suffered greatly from Wang Dou's cannons. Now, he would also let Wang Dou have a taste of suffering.

When the time came for the battle of Jinzhou, he would concentrate the one hundred and fifty red-barbarian cannons in his camp and definitely give Wang Dou a show.

Huang Taiji's expression turned serious. Looking at the beaming Kong Youde below, he said: "The lethal weapons of the state, I have now handed them to you. If you face Wang Dou's firearms and cannons, what will you do?"

Everyone in the hall looked at Kong Youde. Even many Han ministers, seeing Kong Youde in control of the sharp Ujen Cooha Artillery Camp, felt no small amount of jealousy in their hearts.

Under Huang Taiji's gaze, cold sweat instantly broke out on Kong Youde. He said: "If they bombard with cannons, I will meet them with cannons. Use their own methods against them."

Huang Taiji was noncommittal: "Can the Ujen Cooha Artillery Camp defeat them?"

Kong Youde said: "The red-barbarian cannon has the character for 'barbarian' in its name. From this, it is clear that in operating cannons, the red barbarians are superior. The gunners of my Ujen Cooha Artillery Camp were all trained by the Franks, and there are still red-barbarian instructors in the camp. Your minister believes that when my artillery camp faces Wang Dou's artillery camp, it will certainly not be at a disadvantage."

Huang Taiji remained noncommittal: "If the artillery battle is indecisive and you cannot destroy their cannons, when the Han army's bird gun formations face Wang Dou's bird gun formations, what then?"

Kong Youde said: "His Majesty, before planning for victory, first plans for defeat. Your minister is full of admiration. Your minister has long considered this. We can use shielded carts in front of the bird gun formations, using hardwood shields wrapped in thick leather and iron plates. They will surely block the enemy's bullets."

Huang Taiji said: "What if they bombard the shielded carts with cannons?"

Kong Youde was speechless for a moment. If the enemy used cannons, no shielded cart would be of any use. Even a crouching-tiger cannon bombarding a shielded cart would leave it riddled with holes.

Moreover, after a cannon bombarded a shielded cart, the cart would shatter and splinter, causing damage that could not be underestimated.

Huang Taiji stared at Kong Youde and said, word by word: "The warriors of our Great Qing state rose from the white mountains and black waters. Wang Dou's bird gun soldiers can fight without cover. Why can you not do the same? Shielded carts can be used, but if it truly comes to facing them directly, you must also fight to the death to repay the state."

Kong Youde lay prostrate on the ground. After a long while, he said: "Yes, your minister obeys the edict. Your minister will certainly not fail the trust His Majesty has placed in him, and will not lose the prestige of our Great Qing."

Everyone in the hall felt somewhat schadenfreude. Facing Wang Dou's firearm battle formations directly was not so comfortable.

It seemed that grasping the power of firearms brought both gain and loss.

The fourteenth year of Chongzhen, early fourth month. Zhending Prefecture, Gaoyi County.

Early in the morning, the commoners entering and leaving Gaoyi County were astonished to see a scene that shocked them. Lady Xu, whom they revered as a deity in their eyes, leading several of her top generals, along with the local county magistrate, the garrison commander, and the renowned gentry and elders of Gaoyi, was respectfully waiting outside the south gate for something...

Xu Yue'e's prestige in places like Zanhuang and Gaoyi was extremely high. The local commoners knew only Lady Xu and knew nothing of the government officials. This was especially true now that Lady Xu had been promoted to Mobile Corps Commander.

Moreover, the commoners inside Gaoyi County knew that two days earlier, Lady Xu had led her one thousand elite cavalry, hurrying from Zanhuang to Gaoyi. Those elite cavalry were clearly crack troops at a glance, far superior to the camp soldiers of many official armies. Looking at the scene before them, what great personage had arrived to make Lady Xu welcome them so? Judging by her expression, it was genuine anticipation and joy.

Although the commoners were surprised and puzzled, many still focused their attention on Xu Yue'e herself, gazing at that wonderfully graceful woman astride her horse, heroic and imposing, cold as frost. Many faces showed expressions of adoration. With Lady Xu in places like Gaoyi, she was truly a living Buddha to ten Battalion Commander. Not only had bandits vanished from the region, but during the great drought and famine years, she had repeatedly relieved the commoners, far better than those corrupt officials.

Xu Yue'e had always been cold, proud, and icy before others, with an appearance that kept strangers away. Yet the commoners saw this as endearing, believing that every move Lady Xu made carried authority, and was full of charm, possessing a full measure of womanly allure and mystery. The colder and prouder Lady Xu was, the more admirers she had. It was said that in places like Zanhuang, Gaoyi, the prefectural seat of Zhending, and the prefectural seat of Baoding, there were many scholars and officials who secretly admired and adored her.

"Lady Xu is too beautiful."

"Lady Xu is a heroine who yields nothing to men. With her guarding Zanhuang, she is a living Buddha to ten Battalion Commander..."

The commoners praised her one after another.

At this moment, however, no one knew where the thoughts of the much-watched Lady Xu lay. She sat on her horse, from time to time craning her neck to gaze southward, her cheeks slowly flushing red, lost in thought about something.

After paying his respects at Julu, Wang Dou continued to lead his army north. However, along the way, his mood was not very good.

This was precisely the critical period for the wheat's growth and ripening. Yet what he saw along the way were large fields cracked open. Carrying water for irrigation was a mere drop in the bucket and utterly futile. Not to mention that the weather was dry now, with water channels and rivers everywhere cracked and parched. Even if one wanted to carry water for irrigation, one had to find a water source first.

After entering Gaoyi, the terrain there was flat with a relatively thick soil layer. Historically, there had been no lack of years of "abundant wheat harvests" and "bountiful autumn crops." Among the counties under Zhending Prefecture, it was considered quite prosperous. However, the situation was still not very good; the fields remained parched by drought.

But what differed from other places was that here they vigorously dug irrigation wells. The local commoners, along with some refugees, under the supervision of the government, were putting great effort into constructing water channels, building bridges and paving roads, and so on. There were also porridge kitchens distributing congee for relief. The situation was much better than in other prefectures and counties.

Wang Dou couldn't help nodding. He knew that places like Gaoyi were actually under Xu Yue'e's control, and from what he saw before him, Xu Yue'e had indeed put thought into it.

The staff advisors and planning officers of the Central Army Division also expressed approval. Advisor Qin Yi sighed and said, "Though not equal to the Eastern Route, it is already rare. No wonder the common people from the surrounding areas rush to pour into Gaoyi and its various districts."

The night scouts came to report that the Zanhuang Mobile Corps Commander Xu Yue'e had long since led the various officials and gentry of Gaoyi to wait outside the south gate of Gaoyi County. They had been waiting since early morning until now.

Looking at the sky, it was already approaching the hour of You, around five in the afternoon. Wang Dou said, "Lady Xu has been most considerate. Today the main army will encamp and rest at Gaoyi." (To be continued)