Chapter 470: Pressing Toward Songshan

Voices rose in a hubbub of different accents. When mealtime came, under the watchful, intimidating stares of the Pacifying Border Army soldiers, the newcomers lined up in orderly fashion to receive their food.

A large flatbread, bigger than an extra-large bowl, was handed over. As the bowl in their right hand was extended, a big ladleful of piping-hot meat broth was poured in, instantly filling the large bowl to the brim. In the thick, rich broth, chunks of meat were clearly visible, along with floating scallions, garlic, and other seasonings. The crowd was beside themselves with excitement—for many, this was the kind of meal they only had during the New Year.

For any ruffians who tried to stir up trouble, cut in line, or snatch someone else's food, the Pacifying Border Army soldiers maintaining order showed no mercy. Leather whips lashed out and army cudgels came crashing down, beating them until they howled for their parents and begged for forgiveness. The onlookers roared with laughter, each one gloating over the misfortune. Trying to bully the weak in front of the Pacifying Border Army lords? Not checking the occasion? They were simply asking for trouble.

Amid the cheerful chatter and laughter, the civilian laborers and army conscripts, grouped by their hometowns and work teams, each found a spot to squat down and wolfed down their food with loud slurps. Many ate while marveling that they never imagined they could enjoy such good days following the army beyond the passes.

Sun Sanjie led the officers of the supply battalion as they watched silently from the side. Seeing that everyone had eaten their fill, he waved his hand. The battalion's staff advisors and clerks understood and began shouting, "Work starts! Work starts! Now that you've eaten your fill, get to work quickly. After work ends, you'll also receive your wages."

"Get to work, get to work."

The team leaders and deputy leaders of each squad also began shouting. The civilian laborers and army conscripts, their bellies full and every one of them content, all stood up and began working with full vigor.

From the mountainside of Changling Mountain upward, white lines had already been drawn with lime according to the construction blueprints. Under the leadership of the supply battalion's staff advisors and clerks, each team of laborers was assigned a section and took responsibility for their own area.

Most of the conscripted laborers possessed considerable strength. Chanting work songs, they swung their hoes and iron picks, continuously digging trenches and turning soil with all their might. Others carried winnowing baskets and large bamboo baskets, responsible for hauling away the earth. Still others worked on building walls, using clamping boards, dumping soil inside, and pounding it down with all their strength using tamping poles. The thudding sounds were incessant, and the scene was one of feverish activity.

Because the work was divided into assigned sections and no one was allowed to wander about at will, and with the Intelligence Bureau personnel keeping a close watch, even if there were slave spy agents among them, Sun Sanjie was not worried, nor did he fear that the Changling Mountain defense line would be scouted and discovered by the slaves.

Because of the large number of workers, before the hour of Shen, the layers upon layers of low walls and trenches across the entire mountain had already been dug and repaired.

By this time, the arrangements on the mountain were taken over by the soldiers of the supply battalion, and these civilian laborers and army conscripts were no longer needed.

They were paid their wages, ate an early supper, and were all sent away. This left the laboring civilians extremely regretful, wishing they could work for a few more days.

That day, the Changling Mountain defense line was basically set up. After inspecting it, Wang Dou expressed his satisfaction. This was a place even more terrifying than the Julu defense line. If the slaves attacked the mountain, it would surely become a meat grinder, making them shed their last drop of blood!

The next day, the Viceroy of Jiliao, Hong Chengchou, leading a vast entourage of officials and generals, arrived at Changling Mountain. They were all uniformly shocked. Was this still Changling Mountain? After not seeing it for just one day, Changling Mountain had turned into this. Wasn't this kind of defense line a bit too terrifying?

What they saw was...

All the trees and weeds on the entire mountain had been completely cleared away, making the line of sight extremely clear both up and down the mountain.

Starting from the foot of the mountain and walking upward, the mountain seemed to have become gentler, and the path easier to walk. At first, the group did not understand why—wasn't this making it easier for the enemy to attack?

According to everyone's thinking, shouldn't the hillside be made as rugged as possible? Hong Chengchou also asked, puzzled. Wang Dou explained that this was to make the Tatars concentrate their troops as much as possible on this section of the mountain, so that the cannons on the mountain could better concentrate their firepower for maximum casualties.

The group collectively let out an "Oh," and then a chill rose in their hearts. The first reaction of those who didn't understand was also to think that a gentle slope would be convenient for one's own side to attack. Naturally, heavy troops would be deployed on this section of the slope, but they never imagined it would become a target for the cannons on the mountain.

Although this psychology was simple, it was extremely vicious. Truly, one thought leads to heaven, another thought leads to hell...

Then, as they neared the mountainside, the slope became difficult to traverse. Everywhere were deep trenches and traps. Beneath the trenches were sharp wooden spikes, a sight that sent chills down one's spine. If one fell in, they would surely become a human skewer.

Moreover, these trench traps were quite cleverly camouflaged. In front of each was a gently sloping low wall or an earthen mound for concealment, making it hard to see clearly from behind. But the consequence of jumping over...

And what was even more vicious was that these trench traps were all interconnected in chains. Jump over one and there was another; sometimes seven or eight were linked together. If one didn't fall to their death, they would be exhausted to death.

These trench traps were also irregular, arranged in a zigzag pattern across the various slopes, making every section of the hillside extremely difficult to navigate. If one tried to use shield carts for cover, it would be utterly futile—neither forward nor backward, neither left nor right. Without digging through countless low walls and filling in innumerable trenches, there was no hope of pressing forward.

Looking at the cleverly camouflaged yet deeply terrifying trenches, and the sharp wooden spikes below, everyone except Yang Guozhu—even someone as arrogant as Bai Guangen, the Regional Commander of Jizhen—subconsciously kept their distance from Wang Dou. This fellow was too insidious. What kind of people did he have under his command? To come up with such devilish ideas—they weren't human.

Of course, if the entire slope were filled with traps and trenches, it would be difficult for the enemy to advance, but also difficult for one's own side to sally forth, which would violate the Pacifying Border Army's principle of combining defense with offense. Therefore, on the southeastern and northeastern slopes of Changling Mountain, five flat passageways were left open for entry and exit.

The ten passageways, each about twenty paces wide, ran straight from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside without any obstacles, convenient for the enemy to attack, but also causing them to swarm and bunch together, making them excellent targets for the marksmen. They could be defended with the fewest troops while achieving the greatest results. If the Pacifying Border Army soldiers wanted to launch a sortie, they could also do so through these ten passageways.

This was the arrangement before the first wave of low walls and trenches. Upon reaching the first low wall, they saw that the ground ahead suddenly became steep. It was evident that this section of the hillside had clearly been remodeled. Following the mountain's contour from north to east and from south to west, it had all been cut into a sloped shape.

On the slope stood a low wall, not very tall, only reaching about chest height, but it was rammed extremely thick and solid. Soldiers behind the low wall could use it for cover while firing at targets ahead.

With the slope and the low wall combined, the wall was effectively about two zhang high. In front of the low wall was a deep, large trench, and before that, two smaller trenches encircling it. The large trench was one zhang deep and one zhang wide; the small trenches were half a zhang deep and half a zhang wide. Beneath all the trenches were placed sharp wooden spikes, their tips fire-hardened, incredibly sharp and hard.

The three trenches were spaced two paces apart. On the flat ground between them were placed layers of chevaux-de-frise and abatis, like jagged wolf-teeth stones. The sharp barbs on them seemed ready to choose their victims and devour them.

The day before yesterday, Wang Dou had said that every three low walls and trenches constituted one wave of defense, and that whenever the enemy attacked one low wall, they would face fierce firepower strikes from three levels above and below. At the time, the group hadn't understood what kind of strike he meant. Now, seeing it, they were shocked. Hearsay was not as convincing as seeing with one's own eyes. Only by seeing the actual scene did they understand what Wang Dou was talking about.

Empty words were far less shocking than seeing it in person. They saw that not far behind this low wall was another slope, and on that slope was a wall (of course, there were no trenches in front of this wall), and then another slope, and another low wall. Three low walls, following the mountain's contours, each higher than the last, towered before their eyes.

Looking at the three sloped low walls, the group finally understood what was meant by "three levels above and below"—a three-dimensional firepower strike.

At this time, the Pacifying Border Army's supply battalion had already moved into Changling Mountain. Seeing their solemn, orderly, and exceptionally fierce appearance, such warriors would surely be utterly fearless and fight to the death without retreat. Their arquebusiers held sturdy, finely crafted bird guns. Imagining them firing simultaneously from the three low walls... everyone couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

The group guessed that even if they themselves were leading an attack, their first reaction would also be to focus on and press toward the first low wall, dealing with the soldiers firing from behind it.

But they would never imagine that above their heads, soldiers on two more low walls were coldly watching them, aiming their sharp bird guns down at them from above. Indeed, one couldn't look down and up at the same time. And from time to time, a "Ten-Thousand-Man Enemy" bomb or a lime-pot grenade would be thrown down. Just thinking about it made one's hair stand on end...

The group sighed in admiration. The arrangement before them alone seemed simple, but upon careful thought, it had quite extraordinary aspects. Among the accompanying officials and generals, some considered themselves outstanding in fort defense, but their defensive strategies, compared to the defensive system before them, fell short by more than a mile.

It seemed that the day before yesterday, the Loyal and Brave Count had spoken conservatively. Just to attack these three low walls, the slave thieves would probably not succeed even if twenty thousand of them died.

Wang Pu, the Regional Commander of Datong, and Fu Yingchong, the Vice General of the Forward Battalion of the Divine Machine Camp, gaped and gasped. Cao Bianjiao, the Regional Commander of the Eastern Coordinated Area, and Wang Tingchen, the Regional Commander of Qiantun Guard, excitedly whispered to each other, deciding that after returning, they would copy the Changling Mountain arrangement for their own defense lines at Wudao Ridge.

Hong Chengchou gazed thoughtfully at the two sides of the passageway ahead. That passageway was like a gaping, dark maw, flanked not far to the left and right by two protruding walls that guarded it. One could imagine that if the slaves attacked this passageway, they would face flanking fire from both ends. Coupled with cannons, this passageway would be a place that devoured flesh and blood.

Moreover, the front ends of the protruding walls were sharp, leaving not even the dead angles of a bastion. Looking ahead at the several low walls, they were all concave and convex, like a complex gear pattern, quite different from the traditional square, four-sided defense lines of Great Ming cities.

The officials and generals all marveled at this defensive arrangement. Each of them entered the interior through the passageway, walked a few steps to the right, and entered the second low wall, then walked a dozen or so steps to the left, entering behind the third low wall. This was a relatively gentle slope, about several dozen paces wide.

Here, some busy soldiers were building many neat little houses with stones, to serve as quarters and rest areas for the troops.

However, what puzzled the group was that in front of and on top of each house were piled densely packed earthbags, along with numerous winnowing baskets and large bamboo baskets, also filled with soil, stacked row upon row on the open ground.

The group did not understand what this meant. Wang Dou explained that it was to prevent ricocheting cannonballs from the Red Barbarian cannons.

The group collectively let out an "Oh," and many people's eyes darted around. Earthbags and baskets filled with soil could prevent ricochets? The Loyal and Brave Count had once again broadened everyone's horizons.

The group continued onward. Behind the slope area were again trenches and low walls, identical to the previous defense line.

After three consecutive waves, as they neared the mountaintop, they saw a gun emplacement under construction. The emplacement was built on a protruding rock, with a wide field of vision. From here, one could overlook the entire mountain. Presumably, firing cannons from here would effectively suppress and bombard enemies at the foot of the mountain or on the flat plain.

Then the group reached the mountaintop. The top of Changling Mountain was quite wide and long, with some undulations, composed of several small ridges, hence the name Changling Mountain. Here, around the front and back of the beacon tower, numerous soldiers of the Pacifying Border Army's supply battalion were busily constructing a fort.

The group let out a breath. They finally saw a fortification they were familiar with... but, it seemed somewhat different.

The fort on the Pacifying Border Army's mountain ridge—its walls, gates, and dwellings—were mostly being built with large, solid mountain stones. The fort walls also seemed concave and convex. At intervals, towers were also being built, presumably to form overlapping fields of fire for multiple strikes.

However, this project was massive and could not be completed in a short time. Fortunately, with the forward defense line completed, the fort in the rear could be built at a leisurely pace.

Inside the main fort, many granaries would also be built to serve as grain storage for the Pacifying Border Army.

Looking at the massive scale planned for those granaries, it seemed they could store a great deal of grain and fodder. For a moment, the Viceroy of Jiliao, Hong Chengchou; the Provincial Governor of Liaodong, Qiu Minyang; the Army Supervisor, Zhang Ruoqi; and others all had their interest piqued. With the Changling Mountain defense line so solid, storing a portion of the grain and fodder here would be quite good.

Finally, the group went to the northeastern part of the mountain. There, similarly, were multiple low walls and trenches, following the river and winding to the northwestern face of the mountain. On the northwestern face, several stone walls had been built according to the terrain. If the enemy climbed up from there and were hit by the defending soldiers, they would either be beaten to death or fall to their deaths.

After inspecting the entire Changling Mountain defense line one by one, looking at the completely transformed mountain terrain, the group felt an indescribable mix of emotions.

In just a short time, this mountain ridge had become a terrifying and treacherous place. What was certain was that if the slave thieves forcefully attacked this place, they would surely weep without tears and shed all their blood.

The group had a feeling that with the rise of the Loyal and Brave Count, the future strategies and tactics of the Great Ming were becoming increasingly different.

……

The Changling Mountain defense line won unanimous praise from all the patrol personnel. Whether civil officials or military officers, everyone agreed that this place was as solid as a golden fortress and would become a crucial safeguard protecting the rear. The various areas of Wudao Ridge could well imitate the defenses here and establish fortified stronghold lines.

On the twenty-sixth, the new armies under East Association Regional Commander Cao Bianjiao and Qiantun Guard Regional Commander Wang Tingchen remained to guard Wudao Ridge.

The two Regional Commanders, together with Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji, Coordinating Chief Patrol Meritorious Assistant Regional Commander Dou Chenglie, Xingshan Road Vice Regional Commander Zheng Yilin, and others, along with over twenty thousand Liaodong garrison troops, were stationed in and around Xingshan Fort, Daxing Fort, and Dongqing Fort. Together with the Jingbian Army logistics troops on Changling Mountain, they guarded the rear for the reinforcing grand army.

At Wudao Ridge, Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen likewise conscripted large numbers of civilian laborers and military conscripts to dig trenches and build walls, adapting to the terrain and topography and imitating the measures taken at Changling Mountain. To this end, the Jingbian Army Logistics Battalion supported the two Regional Commanders with quite a few skilled men, surveying the terrain and drawing up plans for them.

Afterward, large numbers of civilian laborers and military conscripts came and went, breaking ground and starting construction at various points on Wudao Ridge. The Qing forces seemed to have detected the Ming army's activities, and their scouting cavalry constantly came forward to harass them. The two sides engaged in a battle of reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance.

Ming army scout riders reported back that the slave rebels, on the north bank of the Daughter River over ten li from Wudao Ridge, also seemed to be engaged in large-scale construction, apparently plotting something significant.

Because slave cavalry swarmed both banks of the river, the Ming army scout riders found it difficult to approach and could not obtain any concrete intelligence.

On the twenty-ninth day of the seventh month of the fourteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, matters in the rear were settled.

That day, Ji-Liao Viceroy Hong Chengchou, Army Supervisor Zhang Ruo, Army Supervisor Wang Chengen, together with the General of the Punitive Expedition Against the Slaves, Loyal and Brave Count Wang Dou, Xuanfu Regional Commander Yang Guozhu, Datong Regional Commander Wang Pu, Auxiliary Punitive Regional Commander Zuo Guangxian, Shanhai Pass Regional Commander Ma Ke, Jizhen Regional Commander Bai Guangen, Miyun Regional Commander Tang Tong, and Shenjiying Forward Battalion Vice Regional Commander Fu Yingchong, with infantry, cavalry, and artillery advancing together, raised the entire army and surged mightily toward Songshan.

The Ming army's martial display was exceedingly grand. Including Shanxi Regional Commander Li Fuming and Ningyuan Regional Commander Wu Sangui, who were already at Songshan at this time, the army numbered one hundred fifty thousand strong, a vast host of men and horses that seemed to stretch to the edge of the sky.