Chapter 465: Deliberations and the Brutal Wagon Fort — Part One

Everyone in the hall felt their spirits lift. Just now, Grand Coordinator Hong had killed the chicken to warn the monkey, suppressing all dissent. But who was the Loyal and Brave Count? How could Grand Coordinator Hong dare show him disrespect? It seemed that after the reinforcements arrived, Grand Coordinator Hong's situation was not good. First there was Army Supervisor Zhang, then Military Defense Circuit Zhang questioning him, and now the Loyal and Brave Count — the Grand Coordinator's prestige seemed...

Flames blazed in Hong Chengchou's eyes, yet his face remained refined and gentle. He chuckled and said, "The Loyal and Brave Count's skill in military command and battle goes without saying. I wonder if he has any guidance to offer this Grand Coordinator?"

Wang Dou smiled faintly. "I dare not presume to guide. Merely some shallow, humble opinions. I beg Grand Coordinator Hong and all gentlemen to correct me."

He said, "Just now, intelligence reported that the slave rebels have increased their forces. We still do not know their total numbers. Are they reinforcing with fifty thousand, a hundred thousand? Or are they coming with the entire nation's strength, their total troop count matching our own?"

Everyone's expressions turned grim. If the slave army came with the entire nation's strength, as Wang Dou said, the situation would not permit optimism.

Wang Dou continued, "Taking the worst-case scenario: the slaves come with their entire nation. Our great army masses at Songshan. The slaves will certainly make a major move at Xingshan. If they engage our army in fierce battle at Songshan, tying us down, and then send another large force across the Nuer River — thirty thousand, fifty thousand, or even a hundred thousand to attack Xingshan — and immediately dig several long trenches in front of Xingshan Fort, what does Grand Coordinator Hong think?"

Everyone in the hall felt a chill in their hearts. If that happened, the supply route would almost certainly be severed. Looking at it this way, the garrison at Xingshan was indeed far too small.

Hong Chengchou immediately sank into deep thought.

At that moment, a strange, mocking voice rang out. It was again Ma Ke, Regional Commander of Shanhai Pass. He grinned and said, "The Loyal and Brave Count is fearmongering. Would the slave rebels truly come with their entire nation?"

Wang Dou said, "In military command and battle, every possibility must be considered."

Ma Ke said, "In that case, as Regional Commander Wang just said, once the great army reaches Xingshan, we must divide our forces. Loyal and Brave Count, divided forces are weak. The defeat at Sarhu must not be forgotten."

Wang Dou laughed. "If the supply route is severed, defeat is just as certain."

Ma Ke grinned. "I find the possibility the Loyal and Brave Count speaks of very small. This lowly general supports Grand Coordinator Hong's proposal."

Bai Guangen, Regional Commander of Jizhen, said boorishly, "We haven't even figured out how many rebels there are now, and the Loyal and Brave Count says they'll attack Xingshan with a hundred thousand... heh heh. Truly fearmongering. If the rebels don't come and we've divided our forces, isn't that just serving up a dish to the Tatars?"

His rough voice echoed through the hall. This towering, burly man then burst into wild laughter. "Damn, you're killing me with laughter."

He slapped his own thigh with loud smacks. His crude behavior made the civil officials frown unceasingly.

Wang Dou only smiled, refusing to lower himself to the level of this brute.

Wang Pu let out a loud snort, extremely displeased with Ma Ke and Bai Guangen, and also signaling his loyalty to Wang Dou. He shouted, "I think the Loyal and Brave Count makes great sense. Fortresses like Xingshan must have more major generals assigned to guard them."

Fu Yingchong, Vice General of the Shenjiying Forward Battalion, immediately said, "Aiyo, the rear route is indeed vital. This lowly general seconds the Loyal and Brave Count's opinion."

Yang Guozhu, Cao Bianjiao, and Wang Tingchen, who had been sitting quietly, also voiced their support for Wang Dou's proposal, believing that precautions should be taken, the rear route indeed needed heavy troops, and more major generals should be assigned to guard it.

Tang Tong, Regional Commander of Miyun, supported Ma Ke. Zuo Guangxian, Regional Commander of the Reinforcement and Suppression Forces, was a Qin man who had followed Hong Chengchou out of the Pass. Although he found Wang Dou agreeable, he still supported Hong Chengchou.

Liu Zhaoji, Regional Commander of Liaodong, naturally stood on Hong Chengchou's side. Li Fuming, Regional Commander of Shanxi, hesitated somewhat. He was now considered part of the Xuan-Da faction, but Grand Coordinator Hong valued him, and he was also a Liao man himself. Torn between both sides, he refrained from taking a stance for now.

Seeing the major generals in the hall suddenly split, Hong Chengchou could not help but frown, casting a deep look at Wang Dou.

This Wang Dou had impressive skill. With just a few words, he had instantly pulled several major generals and seventy thousand troops to his side. Even Army Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi was on his side. What was his intention? To hollow out his own authority? Involuntarily, a surge of anger rose in his heart.

But his shrewdness ran extremely deep. The angrier he felt inside, the calmer his face became.

This situation was not what Wang Dou wished to see either. He laughed heartily and said, "It is all for the Liaodong campaign. There is no question of supporting anyone. This Count is merely filling in gaps for Grand Coordinator Hong."

This statement eased Hong Chengchou slightly. He thought to himself, "The Loyal and Brave Count has always been loyal and righteous, not a man who struggles for power and profit. This Grand Coordinator has wrongly blamed him."

Zhang Ruoqi also feared the army splitting, which would betray the heavy trust of the Minister of War and His Majesty. Stroking his long beard, he chuckled and said, "The Loyal and Brave Count's words deeply accord with my heart. Indeed, we are all here for the Liaodong campaign, not targeting any individual. Filling in gaps is how we secure victory, is it not?"

He said meaningfully, "That day when His Majesty gave a banquet and summoned this humble official and the Loyal and Brave Count to the Imperial Garden to discuss affairs, the Loyal and Brave Count raised this proposal, and His Majesty praised it endlessly."

Wang Pu shouted, "Right, right! That day, His Majesty was also extremely concerned about the army's rear supply route."

Everyone in the hall was taken aback. Men like Tang Tong, Regional Commander of Miyun, immediately leaned toward Wang Dou's side.

For a moment, the voices in the hall advocating for assigning major generals to guard the rear route grew loud again. Even Ma Ke, Regional Commander of Shanhai Pass, Bai Guangen, Regional Commander of Jizhen, and Tang Tong, Regional Commander of Miyun, fell silent.

Hong Chengchou also felt a chill. He pondered Wang Dou's words again, carefully calculating over and over. Intelligence analysis showed that the slaves at Song-Jin were growing more numerous. They had indeed reinforced. The possibility Wang Dou spoke of was high and could not be left unguarded against.

Wu Sangui, who had remained silent all along, suddenly said, "If we divide our forces, there will be too many places to defend. For example, Xingshan, Tashan, Gaoqiao, and other places are all potential targets for the rebel slaves. Dividing forces everywhere will weaken the main army's strength. And who will defend these places?"

Hong Chengchou looked toward the others, but saw men like Ma Ke with their eyes on their noses and mouths shut, not uttering a word.

Everyone knew that when the army was massed in one place, courage was bold and hearts were united. Moreover, attacking Song-Jin offered abundant military merits. If assigned to defend separate places, they instinctively felt unsafe. And guarding the rear route offered too little military merit. Concerned for their own safety and achievements, they all sat like old Buddhas entering meditation.

Wang Pu and the others also hesitated. They too did not wish to be assigned to guard the rear route.

Wang Dou said, "In that case, let my Jingbian Army stay behind to guard the rear-route forts and protect the army's provisions and fodder."

"No!"

Everyone in the hall cried out in unison.

Ma Ke, Regional Commander of Shanhai Pass, said with righteous solemnity, "The Loyal and Brave Count's Jingbian Army is famed throughout the realm. It can be called the very heart and courage of our hundred-thousand-strong reinforcement army! How can such a powerful army be placed in the rear? That would be a tremendous waste of the army's fighting strength. It should be concentrated within the main force to win new merits for the Imperial Army!"

Even Bai Guangen, Regional Commander of Jizhen, and Tang Tong, Regional Commander of Miyun, concurred. Although they envied Wang Dou, everyone was convinced of the Jingbian Army's fighting strength.

Moreover, Wang Dou had always been generous and amiable toward allied forces. In years past, Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, Cao Bianjiao, Wang Tingchen, and others had all gained considerable benefits fighting side by side with Wang Dou. They naturally did not wish for Wang Dou to stay in the rear.

Even Hong Chengchou and Zhang Ruoqi urged him otherwise, so Wang Dou had no choice but to drop the matter.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Dou said, "Just now, General Wu mentioned that the army needs to defend many separate places. Actually, this Count believes we only need to hold a few key points. It does not require many troops."

Wu Sangui's eyes flickered. He still cupped his hands and said, "Please, Loyal and Brave Count, speak. Sangui listens with respectful attention."

Wang Dou said, "First: on Changling Mountain, several li north of Xingshan Fort, we can station one battalion of troops to dig trenches and establish a stronghold, coordinating with the Xingshan Fort garrison to the south. In this way, we can control the vital route between Songshan and Xingshan, preventing the slave rebels from digging trenches to sever it. This battalion will be guarded by the soldiers of my own Supply Battalion!"

Seeing everyone deep in thought, he continued, "Second: about ten li southwest of Xingshan is the Wudaoling range of hills and undulating terrain, stretching across the plains. At the northeastern and northwestern feet of the hills lie Daxing Fort and Dongqing Fort. Both forts have rivers in front of them. We can select one or two of the reinforcement generals' subordinates to station heavy troops on Wudaoling, deploying deep trenches and cannons, coordinating with the garrisons of the two forts."

He glanced at Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen, then continued, "If the rebels attack Xingshan, they must come via the Nuer River. A dozen or so li from the Nuer River lies Wudaoling. When they approach Xingshan Fort, they will face a pincer attack from our forces on the left and right. Moreover, without first uprooting Daxing Fort, Dongqing Fort, and the garrison on Changling Mountain, how can they attack Xingshan Fort with peace of mind? Would they not fear having their own rear route severed?"

Hearing Wang Dou lay it all out, displaying intimate knowledge of the mountains and terrain around Songshan and Xingshan as if enumerating his own family treasures, Hong Chengchou and the various Liaodong generals were filled with admiration. They thought to themselves that the Loyal and Brave Count's fame was certainly no fluke.

There was terrain even they did not know, yet Wang Dou knew it all. The depth of his local knowledge was astonishing.

However, Wang Pu and the others listened in utter bafflement. What Wudaoling, what Daxing Fort — they had never even heard of them.

Seeing that some officers were confused, Wang Dou asked Hong Chengchou to hang up the map of Liaoxi. This map was somewhat inferior to the one Wang Dou had seen at Emperor Chongzhen's — a bit more impressionistic — but the cities, mountains, rivers, and so on were still clearly marked.

Wang Pu and the others looked and immediately shouted, "Marvelous! Without first taking Changling Mountain, Dongqing Fort, and Daxing Fort, how would they dare attack Xingshan Fort? And with cannons on the ridge bombarding down, a pincer attack from the mountain and below would certainly give the Tatars more than they can handle."

"The several locations are not far apart, so mutual reinforcement would also be much easier."

Fu Yingchong, Vice General of the Shenjiying Forward Battalion, cried, "Aiyo, this way, places like Tashan and Gaoqiao truly won't need many defensive troops. Wudaoling, Changling Mountain, plus Xingshan Fort — such a forward and rear defense line is indeed sufficient."

Wang Dou said, "It is still not enough. We also need a mobile force — at least ten thousand cavalry — to maneuver and respond, seeking out the enemy's weak points to attack when the slave rebels assault various positions."

He mused, "Perhaps ten thousand cavalry is insufficient; we may need to add more. Of course, if the slaves do not attack Xingshan, these ten thousand cavalry can be used as part of the main army."

Hong Chengchou pondered. According to Wang Dou's view, this arrangement was optimal. Although he was displeased that his own strategy had not been fully adopted, he also knew that persisting would risk splitting the army.

Wang Dou, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Cao Bianjiao, and the others each commanded what could be called the strongest contingent among the relief forces, and now it seemed they all looked to Wang Dou as their leader. Even that Army Supervisor Zhang Ruo was exchanging knowing glances with Wang Dou. If he himself firmly rejected this, then Wang Dou…

And then he thought again of the Minister of War Chen Xinjia, and even His Majesty thinking the same way. It seemed compromise was the only path — better to take a step back than to fight and split into factions. Fortunately, Wang Dou still respected him and submitted to his authority, which set Hong Chengchou's mind considerably at ease. He smiled slightly and said, "With the Loyal and Brave Count filling in the gaps, this Viceroy's mind is much relieved. We shall do it this way, Fox Your Highness txt download."

He burst into hearty laughter, and the hall filled with laughter as well, the atmosphere turning harmonious once more.

Only Wu Sangui bit his lower lip lightly — he still could not compare to Wang Dou.

However, choosing who would garrison Wudaoling was also a difficult problem. Bai Guangen, Tang Tong, Ma Ke, and the others all kept their eyes on their noses and their mouths shut, clearly unwilling to split off their forces and stay behind.

Just moments before, Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen had both keenly noticed Wang Dou glance at them, and they understood his meaning in their hearts. Thinking that Wang Dou himself had left a battalion of troops on Changling Mountain, and judging by the way things were shaping up, there would be battles to fight at Xingshan and other places — and likely no small amount of military merit to be won.

The two exchanged a glance, a mutual understanding passing between them, and both volunteered eagerly, willing to garrison Wudaoling.

Hong Chengchou was overjoyed. The two generals each led ten thousand troops, and within each force was a battalion of the new army with outstanding combat strength; the remainder were also mostly cavalry. In this way, the ten thousand cavalry for coordination were also accounted for.

That day the military affairs were settled, and the various Ming officials deliberated in detail, weighing and refining every matter. Affairs great and small were discussed for an entire day before they dispersed.

That same day, the choice of vanguard commander was also decided.

The vanguard officer builds bridges where there is water, scouts ahead for enemy movements, and ensures the main army's smooth advance. Ideally, he should possess outstanding combat strength and be familiar with the local conditions — the selection of this man was of the utmost importance.

Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji volunteered eagerly; he wanted to prove himself and salvage his perilously endangered position as Regional Commander. Seeing such loyalty and valor, Hong Chengchou readily agreed.

However, recalling the incident with He Renlong in years past, Hong Chengchou cautiously ordered Xuanfu Regional Commander Yang Guozhu to provide support, with the two armies keeping no more than forty li apart. After that, the main body of the central army would follow, with Shanxi Regional Commander Li Fuming and Ningyuan Regional Commander Wu Sangui bringing up the rear.

He also assigned Liaodong Provincial Governor Qiu Minyang to transport provisions and fodder, with Army Supervisor Wang Chengen overseeing the task.

With all plans settled, three days later — that is, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month of the fourteenth year of the Chongzhen reign — over a hundred thousand Ming troops held a oath-taking ceremony at Ningyuan and began their advance on Jinzhou!