Chapter 566: Shot Dead

Kong Youde’s heart felt as if pierced through by something. He stared at Wang Dou, clenching his teeth in a ghastly sneer: “You think I wanted this? Our Dongjiang army shed blood and toiled for the imperial court — yet how did the court treat us?”

He roared hoarsely, his expression turning savage and terrifying: “They killed Marshal Mao, and afterward they suppressed and bullied us at every turn! When we, the remnants of Dongjiang, reached Shandong, how did the local officials, the gentry, and the common folk treat us? Were the days our brothers lived in Dengzhou fit for human beings?”

A gurgling sound came from his throat. His coarse, dark face had flushed to the extreme: “What is even more hateful is those treacherous scoundrels in the court — they dispatched us toward Liaodong, clearly intending to send us to the Dalinghe to die!”

He bellowed: “I am not resigned, not resigned, not resigned, not… resigned…”

He screamed hoarsely, his voice turning so hoarse and piercingly shrill that, from the excessive force and urgency, he finally broke into violent coughing.

Wang Dou said coldly: “And that is your reason for defecting to the barbarian slaves?”

He looked at Kong Youde and said icily: “The court sent you to the front to kill the enemy. The remnants of the Qi Family Army, the White Rod troops — they all went without hesitation. What gives you the right to refuse? Bullying is an excuse; the truth is sheer cowardice and fear of death!”

His expression grew even colder: “There is an old saying: every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor. Whoever bullied you, go kill them. Did the women and children of Dengzhou’s various prefectures bully you? Did the infants in swaddling clothes bully you? When you ran amok in Shandong, how many innocent commoners did you slaughter? If you say the officials and gentry bullied you, did those women bully you? Kong Youde, oh Kong Youde, your hearts are plainly crooked — in your bones you are beasts! Before this Count, how can you quibble?”

Kong Youde was left speechless. The officers of the Jingbian Army and the Xuanzhen New Army beside them all nodded slowly — the Grand General’s words had struck straight into their hearts.

Several new-army officers from Xuanfu Garrison also looked at Wang Dou with heartfelt admiration. Loyal and Courageous Count, so eloquent in speech, had rendered the traitor Kong utterly speechless — formidable!

After a long silence, Kong Youde gave a cold laugh: “Rebellion and chaos — how could they not spill over onto the innocent? Without killing and massacring cities, where would the brothers find the will to fight? Blame them for their bad luck.”

Wang Dou laughed coldly. He flicked his fingers: “So, that you have fallen into my hands — is this not heaven’s justice manifest, retribution swift and sure? Heaven is fair: evil has its evil recompense, good has its good reward. Not that there is no retribution — only that the hour had not yet come.”

Kong Youde was once again speechless. Wang Dou looked at him, and the life and deeds of these men in history flowed past like running water. He raised his head to gaze at the sky and said quietly: “The Dongjiang Army can be counted a pity. If, back then, you had gone to seize a mountain and become kings, or turned sea bandits and fled beyond the seas, this Count might have let you off. A pity — you chose to defect to the barbarian slaves…”

He turned his gaze back to Kong Youde, his tone once more surging with killing intent: “Therefore — all of you shall die!”

Kong Youde could not help but shudder. Tough as his words were, deep in his heart, how could he not fear death?

Yet he knew Wang Dou would not spare him. He could only struggle and roar: “The victor becomes king, the loser a bandit — that is all! A fine bird chooses the tree to roost in. The Great Khan is brilliant and martial — why should I not pledge allegiance? If the Great Qing wins the realm, how do you know we will not earn fair praise, that later generations will not revere us? The victor king, the loser bandit! The victor king, the loser bandit!”

Wang Dou sneered: “Fair praise? Reverence?”

He slowly shook his head: “Justice resides in the hearts of men. Those who serve as jackals for an alien race have never enjoyed a fine reputation — nor have they ever met a good end!”

He waved his hand and said coldly: “Since you are bent on death, this Count will naturally grant it to you!”

He studied Kong Youde closely: “In my camp, Assistant Regional Commander Wen Daxing was wounded by your cannon. I will hand you over to him, to dispose of as he pleases. Prince Gongshun — savor it well!”

The Jingbian Army and Xuanzhen New Army officers around him burst into raucous laughter. Xie Yike even made a gesture toward Kong Youde that sent a chill of dread through him.

Kong Youde’s face changed drastically. His coarse, dark face turned ashen and utterly bloodless in an instant: “Wen… Wen Daxing? That skin-flaying demon? … No, no! Loyal and Courageous Count, I beg you, kill me, kill me right now…”

“Kill me…”

Even long after he had been dragged down from the hill, Kong Youde’s wails still spiraled and echoed far above the hilltop.

Wang Dou looked toward the center. From that distant zone, faint sounds of firearms and cannon could be heard. Because communication by scout riders was difficult, the latest intelligence was that the center and the right wing were locked in fierce battle with the Tatar slaves. According to the prior disposition, the forces there were substantial and should be able to hold against the Qing cavalry’s fierce assault.

Seeing that the Jingbian Army and the Xuanzhen New Army had finished regrouping, and although casualties in the army were considerable, Wang Dou resolved to summon their remaining valor and, following the original plan, drive straight at the slave chieftain’s central army, coordinating with the great battle on the center and right wing.

Wang Dou swiftly issued orders: the Jingbian Army would leave one battalion commander, and the Xuanzhen New Army would leave one battalion of troops, to guard and escort the prisoners; the rest would follow him into battle.

But at that moment, dust billowed from the right rear. Several Night Scouts from the Sharp Scout Battalion came riding in a difficult, weaving dash. They reached the front of the hill, tumbled from their saddles, and reported to Wang Dou that several waves of envoys from the Viceroy’s Personal Battalion had fought desperately to get through, bringing urgent military intelligence from the center.

Urgent military intelligence?

The officers broke into a hubbub of discussion. An ominous feeling also welled up in Wang Dou’s heart.

“Loyal and Courageous Count, save Viceroy Hong!”

A staff envoy from the Viceroy’s Personal Battalion, brought forward by the Night Scouts, dropped to his knees while still far off. He shuffled forward on his knees, wailing and kowtowing with such force that his forehead was soon streaming with blood. Finally, he clutched Wang Dou’s leg, sobbing too hard to speak.

Wang Dou frowned: “What has happened? Get up and speak.”

When the envoy rose, his face was covered in blood and tears. He was one of Hong Chengchou’s trusted retainers. He wailed: “By the time this humble officer set out, the forward and center formations of the central army had both been overrun by the Tatars. Right now, the Tatar cavalry is fiercely assaulting the rear formation. If we are delayed even one more step, Viceroy Hong and the others…”

With a wail, he broke into loud sobs again.

Wang Dou’s frown deepened. This envoy was a big, burly fellow, yet he had so many tears. At the same time, Wang Dou was secretly alarmed. Considering the fighting strength of the central army — the forces left there were the largest, a full fifty thousand and more — how could it be that, in so short a time, only the rear formation was left struggling to hold on?

As if a hornet’s nest had been poked, the Jingbian Army and Xuanzhen New Army officers on the hill also erupted into loud, clamorous debate. All the officers found it unbelievable, inconceivable.

Han Chao said: “Grand General, the military situation is urgent. Our division must immediately go to the central army’s rescue. If the central army collapses, even if our left wing has won a great victory, it will be of no use.”

Zhong Xiancai also agreed with his opinion.

Advisor Qin Yi’s eyes flickered faintly. He said in a loud voice: “Grand General, according to the prior plan, our division is to strike the slave chieftain’s central army. Right now, we can also use the tactic of besieging Wei to rescue Zhao — drive straight at the slave chieftain’s position, strike where they must defend. If the Tartar Emperor is in peril, the troops they have sent to attack the central army will have no choice but to withdraw!”

Han Chao shook his head: “Difficult. Our division has already suffered casualties. Moreover, we have no cavalry. Once we enter open ground, with their heavy cavalry massed, we can only advance in formation — slow going at best. The place where the slave chieftain is entrenched has high, steep mountains and a large number of defensive works; it likely cannot be taken in a short time. Meanwhile, Viceroy Hong’s side…”

As the officers debated, the envoy was extremely grateful to Han Chao and Zhong Xiancai, but toward Qin Yi he was utterly furious, thinking to himself that these literati were never any good — their bellies full of twists and turns, who knew what they were scheming. Yet he dared not voice his anger. He could only kowtow desperately to Wang Dou: “I beg the Loyal and Courageous Count, I beg the Loyal and Courageous Count!”

The thudding sounds rang out, and in the blink of an eye his forehead was again streaming with blood. Zhong Xiancai could not bear the sight and looked hopefully at Wang Dou.

Wang Dou sighed. Truly, the tides of battle shifted in an instant. According to the prior strategy, after the left wing’s victory, they were to strike Huang Taiji’s central army immediately. But the imminent collapse of the center had thrown his arrangements into disarray.

He concentrated and thought carefully. The rout of the Han Eight Banners had surely already reached Huang Taiji’s ears by now. While it would shake the morale of the Qing army, it would also make Huang Taiji stake everything on one throw, committing even more troops to the assault on Hong Chengchou’s forces. Indeed, there was no room for delay.

In that instant, Wang Dou made his decision. He rapidly issued orders: “The Jingbian Army will leave one battalion commander, the Xuanzhen New Army will leave one battalion of troops, to guard and escort the prisoners and equipment. All remaining units are to advance immediately in rapid-march formation. Once we reach open ground, form a strict, solid grand formation!”

He said: “Our division will advance along the mid-to-rear zone and strike directly at the head and waist of the bandit slaves.”

He looked at Zhao Xuan: “Brother Zhao, your cannon battalion will be the spearpoint of every battalion. When we close in on the slave bandits, your cannons are to fire continuously at their waist without pause!”

He sighed. The great battle of Jinzhou allowed no defeat. He waved his hand: “The military situation is urgent — to the rescue!”

…

Ma Ke stared blankly ahead. Another wave of Manchu and Mongol Qing cavalry, clad in red cotton armor or red cotton armor with white trim, launched a tidal-wave-like ferocious assault on the outer battalions. The thunderous, torrent-like, shuddering sound rolled from the distance to close at hand, converging into a red tide that seemed to surge endlessly toward the war wagons at the front of the Shanhai Army.

It seemed Dudu had massed even more men and had also transferred part of his cavalry from the formations attacking Tang Tong. As far as the eye could see, countless armored riders surged like mountain-toppling, sea-splitting billows — a terrifying momentum, a heaven-and-earth-enveloping aura of slaughter piercing the clouds.

The outer battalions were already on the verge of collapse. When the Qing cavalry charged, they seemed frozen with terror. The moment one soldier let out a despairing cry, in mere moments, one camp after another disintegrated. All the soldiers and officers fled for their lives in every direction, throwing away their helmets and armor, shrieking heart-rending howls.

Ever since the assault on Mount Shimen, the Shanhai Army had suffered continuous casualties, and its morale was extremely low. Now they could hold on no longer.

Several battalions of troops collapsed in an instant. Countless Qing cavalry poured in. Ma Ke stood dumbstruck, only managing in time to order his main-force battalion to form a defensive formation. Beyond that, only blankness and helplessness remained. The Miyun Army, which had originally come to the rescue, rapidly pulled back, retreating in orderly formation.

In the blink of an eye, all around Ma Ke’s formation were ferocious, fiendish riders of the Two Red Banners, along with a dark, dense mass of laborers and bondservants, also racing over to complete the encirclement.

Those Two Red Banner cavalrymen continuously circled Ma Ke’s formation, loosing wave after wave of sharp arrows. Soldiers inside the camp fell in a steady stream of casualties. Looking outside the formation, more and more Two Red Banner heavy-armored troops and Bayara were dismounting, preparing to form up and assault the formation.

“Grand Commander, what do we do, what do we do?”

Ma Zhiren shrieked at Ma Ke in terror.

But Ma Ke seemed as if his soul had scattered. To Ma Zhiren’s shouts, he made not a single sound.

"Surrender and you will not be killed, surrender and you will not be killed…"

Suddenly, from outside the formation came a deafening, stiffly shouted Han-language cry; countless Qing riders were roaring toward the inside of the formation.

Ma Zhiren's eyes lit up: "Grand Commander, let us surrender. If we fight on, every one of us will die without a burial place!"

Some of the trusted generals beside him also urged him loudly in desperation. Ma Ke's dazed and muddled eyes seemed to recover a trace of clarity, and he hesitated: "Only… only what about Wang Dou's side…"

Ma Zhiren shrieked: "Let that Wang Dou go to hell!"

At that moment, an officer suddenly cried out in terror: "The camp is breached!"

Ma Zhiren looked over in fear, turned back and dropped violently to his knees, clutching Ma Ke's thigh and shouting: "Grand Commander, make your decision quickly — if you delay, it will be too late!"

"Grand Commander!"

"Grand Commander…"

The generals around him also shouted urgently in unison.

"It's over, no chance left — save your life!"

Ma Ke sighed. He slowly raised his right hand, about to bring it down and make his decision.

With a swish, the taut thrum of a bowstring sounded, and an arrow shot fiercely over, piercing Ma Ke's neck from the left side.

Ma Ke was sent staggering and stumbling out by the shot. He clutched desperately at his neck, convulsing and struggling frantically on the ground. In that instant, his eyes held confusion, fear, and agony. His eyes were wide open, and in the moment before death, no one knew what he was thinking.

Seeing Ma Ke suddenly shot dead by a cold arrow, Ma Zhiren let out the last shriek of his life. A heavy arrow came speeding over as well and shot him down not far from Ma Ke's side.

"Dared to strike me — did Old Hu finally get his chance?"

Not far away, a Shanhai Army soldier with a folded-mountain kerchief wrapped around his head and a face full of brutal flesh put away his bow with satisfaction. After being whipped by Ma Zhiren that day, he had nursed the grudge in his heart ever since, brooding day and night, and now at last he had found the perfect moment for revenge.

Though he had misfired one arrow and shot Grand Commander Ma dead as well.

Dead was dead. In the life-or-death moment of a rout, what difference was there between a common soldier and a great general?

Watching the Qing riders pour into the wagon formation like a flood tide, he snatched up a long spear: "Heaven protect me — if Old Hu can escape alive and survive this calamity, he'll head to the Eastern Route!"

"The Grand Commander is dead!"

"The Grand Commander is dead!"

Wails of grief as if they had lost their parents rang out, and the entire Shanhai Army line collapsed.