Chapter 532: Pressing Toward the Nü'er River (Part 2)

The Ming army successfully attacked and occupied Mount Shimen, completing the first step of the strategy. Hong Chengchou, Zhang Ruoqi, Wang Chengen, and the others were all overjoyed. Welcome to reading.

Hong Chengchou immediately ordered the Shanhai Army and the Miyun Army to tightly guard the mountain ridges and river valleys, ensuring these key positions remained firmly in Ming hands. He also held a victory celebration for Ma Ke, Tang Tong, and the others at the Viceroy's main camp.

For this great battle, his Viceroy's field headquarters had already been temporarily relocated from Songshanbao to east of Huangtuling, right behind the main camp of Wu Sangui and the others.

The various Regional Commanders stationed at Songshan, along with the key Vice Regional Commanders and Assistant Regional Commanders from each battalion, all attended this grand victory banquet. During the feast, Ma Ke and Tang Tong were beaming with delight, clearly proud of their battle achievements. To appear more meritorious and hardworking, the two had deliberately made themselves dusty and disheveled, as if they had just come off the front line.

However, an uproar occurred before the banquet. Because the Miyun Army's coordination was not timely, the Shanhai Army suffered heavy casualties, which infuriated the officers of the Shanhai Garrison's various battalions. Although Ma Ke still appeared intimately cordial when meeting Tang Tong, the officers under his command lacked such composure. Upon seeing the officers of the Miyun Garrison, they could not help but mock and sneer, their words sharp and caustic.

The officers of the Miyun Garrison were not the type to swallow insults willingly either. They immediately rose to retaliate, and what began as verbal disputes nearly escalated into physical brawls. It was only through the strenuous mediation of the Ningyuan Army's officers that a bloody tragedy of mass fighting was averted.

As for why the Miyun Army delayed launching the attack from behind Mount Shimen, Tang Tong had already defended himself when he met with Hong Chengchou after the battle ended. He argued that although the Tatars at Mount Shimen had fled in defeat, the opposite bank of the Xiaoling River was where the Tatar main force lay. If the Miyun Army had not been cautious and immediately dug trenches for defense, and the Tatar main army crossed the river to strike, leading to a great rout, who would bear that responsibility?

Moreover, the Shanhai Garrison had a large force of troops and horses, with Wu Sangui's tens of thousands of troops behind them, so they faced no crisis. But his Miyun Army directly confronted the Tatar slave main force. One misstep, and the entire situation would be lost. Which was more important was obvious at a glance.

He spoke with righteous conviction and argued his case eloquently. Tang Tong had always been a smooth talker with excellent eloquence, and with just a few words, he cleared himself of all responsibility.

In his words, he also subtly implied that the Shanhai Army's greed for merit had led to their losses in troops and officers.

The facts were indeed so. Even at the most critical moment, Ma Ke did not request reinforcements from Wu Sangui. Was it not because he feared the Ningyuan Army would share his credit?

The infighting between the Shanhai Garrison and the Miyun Garrison gave Hong Chengchou and Wang Chengen endless headaches.

At the critical juncture of a great battle, any move to deal with a major general at the front was inauspicious. Tang Tong's merits and battle achievements this time were also plain to see. His reasoning was also upright and honorable. Although there had been some errors, to heavily punish the Miyun Army over such a matter would inevitably wound the hearts of the frontline officers and soldiers.

The Ji-Liao armies were one body, and Hong Chengchou was unwilling to see any divisive behavior among them. Therefore, after Tang Tong and Ma Ke returned, Hong Chengchou only gave Tang Tong a mild reprimand, telling him to keep the bigger picture in mind and to closely coordinate with friendly forces. He greatly comforted Ma Ke and promised to do his best to replenish his lost troops.

The matter was thus settled. Ma Ke displayed the bearing of a great general and instead spoke on Tang Tong's behalf, causing Hong Chengchou to nod in silent approval.

Although the Shanhai Army had suffered defeat west of Songshanbao in previous days, their garrison's performance in this battle at Mount Shimen could be described as commendable.

Only Tang Tong was somewhat suspicious and uneasy. He knew Ma Ke's temperament well. Since when had he become so easy to talk to?

Although Ma Ke, Tang Tong, Wu Sangui, and the others had formed a faction at this time, there was no lack of open strife and veiled struggle among them. Normally, Ma Ke was overbearing in front of him. In today's matter, Tang Tong had not been without the thought of letting Ma Ke suffer a bit of hidden loss. Ma Ke's magnanimous and generous demeanor instead made him uneasy.

On the surface, the matter was over. Hong Chengchou and the others were even unwilling to let the conflicts within the Ji-Liao armies become public and exposed before everyone.

However, just because the superiors had a tacit understanding did not mean their subordinates shared that awareness. As it happened, before the victory banquet even began, the officers of the Shanhai Garrison and the Miyun Garrison nearly came to blows, giving Wang Dou, Wang Pu, and the others quite a show to watch, and causing Ma Ke and Tang Tong considerable irritation.

Of course, aside from this interlude, at this grand banquet, Ma Ke and Tang Tong could be said to have stolen the limelight. Not only did Hong Chengchou and the other officials lavish them with praise, but even Wang Dou went up to offer them toasts.

Regardless of whatever thoughts he had harbored in the past, at least today Ma Ke and Tang Tong had performed well, so Wang Dou did not stint on words of praise.

"Today, Commander Ma and Commander Tang risked their lives for the country, bathed in blood and fought fiercely, greatly boosting our army's morale and crushing the ferocious arrogance of the slaves. They should serve as models for all the generals!"

Receiving such praise from Wang Dou in front of everyone, both Ma Ke and Tang Tong felt greatly honored.

Ma Ke's oily face broke into a blooming smile: "The Loyal and Brave Count flatters me. Compared to your esteemed unit, I, Ma, still have many shortcomings."

Tang Tong also felt somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. He said, "I, Tang, am fortunate not to have failed in my mission. This is all thanks to His Majesty's great fortune and the merits of Viceroy Hong and the Army Supervisor. I, your humble general, have only achieved slight merit!"

He raised his wine cup and said loudly: "I, your humble general, propose a toast to Viceroy Hong, Supervisor Zhang, and Supervisor Wang!"

Ma Ke glanced at the pale-faced young man beside him, but smiled on the surface and said: "Commander Tang speaks reason. Let us drink this cup heartily!"

For a moment, everyone stood up. Hong Chengchou and the others were inwardly satisfied. Regardless of Tang Tong's skill in battle, at least he had a certain way with people and situations.

Hong Chengchou stood up with a smile and, in his official speech tinged with a Min region accent, raised his voice: "Today's news of victory comes from General Ma and General Tang's wholehearted service to the country, and General Wu's bravery in coordinating support. As long as you gentlemen fight to the death, what fear have we of these slaves? Come, gentlemen, please drink this cup full, to toast the Sage Emperor, to toast our Great Ming, to toast the officers and soldiers!"

Everyone raised their voices: "To toast the Sage Emperor, to toast the Great Ming, to toast the officers and soldiers!"

After that, the tent was very lively. Zhang Ruoqi was also stroking his beard and smiling. With Ma Ke and Tang Tong capturing Mount Shimen and winning the first battle, he could also claim a share of the advisory credit.

Such were the regulations of the Great Ming: civil officials devised the strategies, and military officers beheaded enemy generals and seized banners. Although the strategy was offered by Wang Dou, the advisory and other credits would only be recorded under the names of Hong Chengchou, Zhang Ruoqi, Qiu Minyang, and the others.

During the banquet, they also discussed the next day's military affairs. The initial strategic step had been completed. The next day, Wu Sangui, Ma Ke, and Tang Tong only needed to put on a show of crossing the river to draw the attention of the Tatar slaves. The key was whether the Tatar main force would be drawn to the banks of the Nü'er River when the main Ming force advanced west. If not, Wu Sangui and the others would not dare cross the Xiaoling River.

It could also be seen from the terrain that from Mount Shimen to the edge of the Xiaoling River, due to the narrow terrain and lack of flat open land, their own troops could not be fully deployed. They could only cross the river slowly, a few thousand men at a time, which was a piecemeal reinforcement tactic. The Qing army, however, could deploy several times, even over ten times, the number of troops east and north of Jinzhou City all at once.

This was also why Wang Dou did not advocate for the main force to attack from this direction. No matter how many troops they had, they could not be deployed here. Each time, the Qing soldiers could adopt the tactic of using superior numbers to strike inferior numbers.

The Ming army's combat strength was originally weaker than the Qing soldiers. If they were then struck by superior numbers, the consequences would be unimaginable.

However, Wang Dou believed that the slave chieftain would not dare to bear the consequences of the Ming main force crossing the Nü'er River. If that happened, the threat to the garrisons at South Jinzhou, Jinchangbao, and Baimiaobao would be too great. Huang Taiji was no ordinary figure and would not fail to see this point. He would certainly assemble heavy troops to intercept them. Both sides would then fight a great battle on the banks of the Nü'er River.

Seizing this opportunity, Wu Sangui and the others could cross the Xiaoling River. Although Jinzhou City was now heavily surrounded, Zu Dashou inside the city was also an extraordinary figure. He would certainly seize the moment to come out and engage, attacking the Qing troops east of Jinzhou City from front and rear, increasing the chances of victory for Wu Sangui and the others.

The key to this battle was to quickly capture Shuangzi Mountain and Maojiagou before the Tatar slaves could react, clearing the obstacles for the standoff. According to the plan of the Jingbian Army's Staff Department, when the Ming main force moved west, although the Qing army would be confused for a period, they would quickly react and send heavy troops for rapid reinforcement. Crossing the river would not be so easy.

However, for the Ming army, whether they crossed the Nü'er River or not was secondary. As long as the Qing main force was drawn over and the siege of Jinzhou was lifted, it would be a victory.

The atmosphere inside the tent was heavy and solemn. The next day's battle was of tremendous importance. One misstep, and it would be a decisive battle between both sides.

Opposite them were the fierce and ruthless Tatar slaves. With hundreds of thousands of troops locked in slaughter, life and death were unpredictable, and fortune or disaster hung in the balance of a single moment. Whether you were a great general or a common soldier, you could die in battle on the spot. Bai Guangen was a cautionary example.

Hong Chengchou did his utmost to boost the generals' morale. Wang Chengen also spoke in a grim tone, stating that in the next day's battle, anyone who showed cowardice, retreated, or failed to serve the country with all their might would be truthfully reported and impeached by him.

Zhang Ruoqi also spoke a great deal of encouraging words, rousing the morale of the generals. In particular, the Shanxi Regional Commander Li Fuming and the Reinforcement and Suppression Regional Commander Zuo Guangxian were especially fired up.

After entering Liaodong as reinforcements, neither general had shown any outstanding performance. Seeing other generals all racking up great merits, they were naturally unwilling to be left behind. Among them, Zuo Guangxian even roared like a thunderclap, determined to let every army see the brilliance of their Qin troops.

Although Zuo Guangxian was considered part of Hong Chengchou's direct line, having followed Hong Chengchou out of Shaanxi back then, he now increasingly showed signs of being marginalized.

Currently, in Hong Chengchou's eyes, he only valued the Ningyuan Regional Commander Wu Sangui, and his regard for Zuo Guangxian was diminishing. This was also related to his unit's combat strength. Historically, the Qin troops had never shown outstanding performance. They could handle fighting peasant armies, but against the Qing army, they were somewhat out of their league.

Among the various Liaodong generals, Wu Sangui's unit was inherently strong in combat and had deeply entrenched connections in Liaodong. This was also why Hong Chengchou, instead of giving Zuo Guangxian important roles, went to great lengths to win over Wu Sangui. Zuo Guangxian appeared rough and bold on the outside, like Zhang Fei, but he also had a meticulous side. Naturally, he was displeased and wanted to change this situation.

……

Stepping out of the tent, the setting sun was in the west, and nightfall gradually descended. Looking out, whether it was Mount Shimen to the north, Huangtuling to the west, or Niangniang Palace to the south, all had become an ocean of banners and military camps. The great banners of each camp flapped and snapped in the wind.

The scattered lights of the camps had already been lit. Many of these camps were also the encampments of the civilian laborers accompanying the army. They were working through the night, bustling with activity, constructing siege equipment.

For the next day's battle, whether it was Wu Sangui, Ma Ke, and the others crossing the Xiaoling River, or Wang Dou and the others crossing the Nü'er River, a large number of wooden rafts and pontoon bridges would be needed. The more of this equipment, the better. Not only that, Qiu Minyang, the Liaodong Provincial Governor responsible for logistics, under the supervision of Army Supervisor Wang Chengen, had also found some fishing boats and sent them north along the Xiaoling River, so that they could quickly build pontoon bridges for Wu Sangui and the others when the time came.

A starving camel was still bigger than a horse. With the frontline army operating at high speed, a steady stream of supplies was being gathered.

Of course, these fishing boats all traveled up along the west and north banks of the Xiaoling River to avoid being raided and destroyed by the Qing troops.

Tang Tong's army even camped along the narrow river valley strip. True to the cautious style of the Miyun Army, they had dispatched who knew how many dense patrol teams along the riverbank.

A part of Ma Ke's Shanhai Army camped at Mount Shimen. They were equally very cautious, digging multiple trench lines in the area of West Mount Shimen to prevent a surprise attack from the Qing troops at Rufeng Mountain.

Banners were everywhere, and dense clusters of tents stretched on and on. The shouts of men and neighs of horses filled the air, permeated with an aura of armored warhorses and clashing metal.

At the foot of Huangtuling, Wang Dou, Yang Guozhu, Wang Pu, Li Fuming, and Fu Yingchong sat on their horses, quietly watching Mount Shimen to the north. Not far behind these great generals, the officers under their command also sat silently on their horses, not a single one making even the slightest sound.

A great battle was about to begin. Looking at Yang Guozhu and Li Fuming, both had calm and steady expressions. The wind howled before the mountain storm, but on their faces, there was not the slightest trace of perturbation.

Only Wang Pu kept rubbing his nose. From his expression, there was tension, and even more excitement. Fu Yingchong’s body trembled slightly — clearly, tomorrow’s great battle weighed heavily on his mind.

A light breeze stirred; the weather was slowly turning cold. In this Little Ice Age, winter always came early.

Seeing Wang Pu beside him sniffing and rubbing his nose, Wang Dou smiled and said, “What is it? Is General Wang very nervous?”

Wang Pu started, then immediately puffed out his chest and belly and said loudly, “Not nervous. Mere caitiff slaves — I, your younger brother, have seen plenty of them.”

Fu Yingchong, shivering even as he chimed in, added, “Where the banners of my Divine Machine Battalion point, that rabble will surely scatter like ashes and smoke. Mere caitiff slaves are not worth mentioning.”

The people around them all laughed. Wang Dou said with a smile, “Indeed. Mere caitiff slaves — there is no need to fear them.”

After a pause, he said, “Tomorrow’s battle — you will all leave your names in the annals of history!”

Wang Pu’s face blossomed into a grin: “This is all thanks to the Loyal and Brave Count’s patronage.”

Fu Yingchong said, “Yes, it all depends on the Loyal and Brave Count’s patronage and cultivation.”

Looking at Wang Pu’s smiling face, a strange feeling welled up in Wang Dou’s heart. Historically, Wang Pu was a notorious runaway general. After the Battle of Songshan, he was beheaded and exposed in the marketplace for the crime of being the first to flee. Yet on this expedition to relieve Liaodong, his troops and his conduct had been commendable. Perhaps this was what was meant by “he who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and he who stays near ink gets stained black.”

He smiled faintly and said, “You two generals are too courteous!”

He gazed ahead, his eyes narrowing habitually. Countless memories flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

He remembered his vow: to turn the land of China into a paradise, to ensure that the many regrets of history would never happen again. The Battle of Songshan was one of those regrets, and he was determined to change it!

……

After the various generals had left, Hong Chengchou’s heart surged with emotion, and he could not calm down for a long time. After pacing back and forth in his tent, he decided to go outside for a walk to dispel his nervous mood.

He brought his trusted private secretary Xie Sixin and some personal guards, and arrived at the banks of the Xiaoling River. Chilly gusts of wind blew by the river, and from time to time a sea breeze followed the river upstream, carrying a sense of bleak desolation.

Looking around, the surrounding military camps were dotted with specks of lamplight, shining in harmony with the starlight in the sky.

Seeing Hong Chengchou remain silent for a long time, Xie Sixin beside him said, “Lord Hong, are you worried about tomorrow’s battle?”

Hong Chengchou sighed and said, “Yes. Weapons are instruments of ill omen, and war is perilous. The slave chieftain’s power is great. One misstep, and our finest troops will be utterly lost. If that happens, what face would I have to see the Son of Heaven, and how could I live up to His Majesty’s and the imperial court’s weighty trust?”

Xie Sixin stroked his beard and said, “Lord Hong need not worry. Our army’s fighting strength is roughly on par with the slaves’. As long as we use our troops prudently and advance step by step, our chances of victory remain high. Moreover, with the Loyal and Brave Count and the General Who Guards the North present, tomorrow’s battle will surely be without worry!”

Hong Chengchou sighed and said, “I hope so.”

He glanced at Xie Sixin. The Xie Sixin before him was in his forties, a native of Xin’an, and had a long-standing family friendship with Hong Chengchou. When Hong Chengchou, as Viceroy of Ji-Liao, took command of the Liaodong campaign, he employed Xie Sixin as an Army Advisor and greatly valued him. Historically, after Hong Chengchou surrendered to the Qing and led Qing troops south, Xie Sixin rejected Hong’s recruitment, replying with four poems to make his position clear.

Because of Wu Sangui’s vigorous efforts to win him over, Xie Sixin had by now also become a close friend of Wu Sangui. During the War of the Three Feudatories, when Wu Sangui’s military power was at its height and wherever his long whip pointed, Hunan, Guangxi, and Sichuan surrendered at the mere rumor of his approach, he sent envoys to Huizhou to invite Xie Sixin. Xie Sixin likewise refused, and replied with a poem reproaching Wu Sangui for shifting allegiance as often as morning and evening and for betraying trust.

He could be considered a man of some principle.

Hong Chengchou pondered for a long while and finally said, “Master Xie, what do you think of this man Wang Dou, and of Changbo — between these two, who is superior and who is inferior?”

Xie Sixin shook his head with a wry smile. “Although Changbo and I are close friends, and Changbo can be considered a young hero, I must say that Changbo is far inferior to the Loyal and Brave Count.”

Hong Chengchou sighed and said, “Indeed.”

In his heart he understood: Wang Dou came from the grassroots, from commoner stock. No matter the era, it is always difficult for those of low origin to rise. But if one can climb step by step to high office, one is invariably a man of unyielding resolve and decisiveness. By comparison, Wu Sangui’s path had been far too smooth. The essential difference between the two was like the difference between an egg and a solid rock.

He sighed inwardly. Although within the Liaodong army he had vigorously supported Wu Sangui to counterbalance Wang Dou, he had to admit the effect was far too weak. At critical moments, one still had to look to the Jingbian Army. And Wang Dou’s presence was the morale, the pillar, of the hundred-thousand-strong Liaodong army. No one dared show him disrespect.

Xie Sixin’s eyes were deep and profound. “This man Wang Dou — a capable minister in times of order, a ruthless hero in times of chaos.”

Hong Chengchou said in a deep voice, “In the past, Baigu once told me that this man Wang Dou has the glare of a hawk and the gaze of a wolf, and that his mind is exceedingly deep. I did not take it to heart — at that time, Wang Dou was merely a Mobile Corps Commander. Now…”

He said, “I earnestly hope the Loyal and Brave Count will keep firmly in mind the principle of loyalty and righteousness in service to the nation. Otherwise, he would be more fearsome than the eastern slaves and the roving bandits.”

……

The night was quiet. Beneath Mount Shimen, in the main camp of Ma Ke’s main-force battalion.

Ma Ke threw on a robe and rose, feeling restless and troubled, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

In the past, when he was agitated, the effect of “two flats are not as good as one round” would usually let him sleep soundly. But today, that effect seemed to have vanished.

The faint sound of the night watch drums reached his ears from outside. Irritated, he stood up, lit a candle, and paced back and forth in his tent.

The candle flame flickered unsteadily, and his heart was in turmoil as well. Would tomorrow’s battle bring disaster or good fortune?

The brutal fighting of today was still fresh in his memory. A few thousand Tatars, many of them not even armored troops, had inflicted heavy casualties on the various battalions of his garrison. Tomorrow’s great battle — even if the Tatar main force was drawn off to the Nüer River, it would surely still be a bloody fight. How many of his garrison soldiers would survive? He could not be sure.

Thinking of the dissatisfied looks some of his garrison officers had given him after today’s battle, he felt a surge of anger. These louts were growing more insolent by the day — he ought to find an opportunity to properly discipline them.

But then he grew despondent again. After tomorrow, who even knew whether his main-force battalion would survive?

Thinking of how hard he had fought today, he felt a twinge of regret. That day, under shock and fear, he had instinctively wanted to clear himself of any involvement and, incidentally, earn some merit, to show his face before the other generals and let Wang Dou see that he was no coward.

But the result of fighting so hard was the loss of troops and officers. For him, raising troops was no easy matter — was this outcome worth it or not?

He thought of Tang Tong again, and his anger grew. That treacherous scoundrel — though he had spoken plausibly and given all sorts of reasons, Ma Ke saw through his scheme at a glance. He had deliberately wanted to wear down Ma Ke’s own troops so that afterward he could climb over his head. Thinking of Wu Sangui, he was also displeased. Wu Sangui had not moved a single soldier, yet in Lord Hong’s words, he was even credited with providing support. How unfair.

Hmph, none of them were any good. If you won’t be righteous, don’t blame me for being unkind. In tomorrow’s battle, should he trip them up a little?

But then, in tomorrow’s great battle, he and they were like leeches on the same rope. If they suffered a setback, his own Shanhai Army would be no better off.

And if an investigation was held afterward, Hong Chengchou and Wang Chengen would not let him off either.

He and Tang Tong already wore the hat of “atoning for crimes by meritorious service.” If more mistakes occurred…

Ma Ke’s heart was in turmoil, and for a long time he could not make up his mind.

……

Old White Ox: Many things to do after arriving in Xiamen. Fortunately, I have a little free time today…)