Chapter 573: Changling Mountain Meat Grinder (Part 1)

Old Bai Niu: Another chapter in the afternoon or evening.

……

On the hill behind Songjiagou, Huang Taiji watched helplessly as the Two Blue Banners scattered, his own son Hauge trapped deep within the encirclement, Ming troops charging and slashing around them in waves — at this moment, he felt utterly powerless.

Finally, Huang Taiji saw amid the dust and smoke in that direction, thunderous cannon fire erupted, great billows of dense smoke surging high into the sky.

The scene before his eyes — how familiar. Back in the great battle of Dalinghe, had the troops of the Great Qing not likewise used cannon fire to blast open the grand formation of the remnants of the Qi family army? Was this not retribution repaid in kind?

At last, through his spyglass, Huang Taiji saw Hauge's great dragon banner topple. It was over — his own son was finished!

Huang Taiji sat frozen on his horse. Abruptly, a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed forth, and he toppled straight down from the imperial steed.

Ubai, the Gabsihiyan Gala Amban who had long been watching Huang Taiji's expression, along with the minister Inggūldai and others, cried out in alarm and scrambled chaotically to his aid. Ubai, agile and swift, caught Huang Taiji's heavy frame — over two hundred jin, plus the weight of heavy armor — in one scoop.

The assembled Manchu, Mongol, and Han ministers crowded around, wailing as if the world were ending: "His Majesty! His Majesty!"

Geng Zhongming, Shang Kexi, and Ma Guangyuan had been kneeling for a long time. With great difficulty, Huang Taiji had allowed them to rise.

Perhaps Huang Taiji had already thought it through earlier — he had always intended to use the Han Eight Banners as cannon fodder. That they could inflict some casualties on the Jingbian Army was already quite good. To continue recruiting surrendered Ming generals, he also needed to put on the posture of paying a thousand gold for a horse's bones, of humbly honoring worthy men.

After Geng Zhongming and the other two rose, they all obediently shrank to one side without a sound. Of course, they too had been staring dumbfounded at the battlefield situation. Seeing their master suddenly spurt blood and collapse, they likewise threw themselves to the ground, wailing with heaven-rending cries: "His Majesty! His Majesty! We slaves deserve death…"

At the same time, terror gripped their hearts. The Emperor's health was poor, and now Hauge had died in battle — the future of the Great Qing…

The Qing ministers massaged his chest and pulled at his limbs. The army physician accompanying the troops also rushed forward urgently. With great difficulty, Huang Taiji regained consciousness, yet he stared blankly as tears streamed down: "…Hukou, my Hukou, just like that you have left your Ama…"

The assembled Manchu, Mongol, and Han ministers knelt in a tight circle, wailing with earth-shaking grief: "His Majesty, restrain your grief and accept what must be — by all means, preserve the dragon body…"

Huang Taiji's expression was only one of profound sorrow. Suddenly, he saw below the hill the banners of the Two White Banners approaching this direction, along with the Bordered Blue Banner and others. Abruptly, sharpness returned to his eyes. He struggled: "Help me up… quickly, help me onto the horse…"

The ministers all exclaimed in alarm to dissuade him: "His Majesty's dragon body is unwell — you absolutely must not move rashly!"

Huang Taiji said angrily: "Help me onto the horse!"

He spoke too urgently and began coughing violently again.

The Qing ministers had no choice but to scramble and help Huang Taiji back onto his horse. However, to be safe, they all gathered around him to prevent him from falling off again.

Very quickly, Dorgon, Dodo, Jirgalang, and the four Mongol Banner Gūsa Ejens — Ibai, Suna, Ūrai, and Hūšibu — arrived atop the mountain ridge.

Looking at them, Huang Taiji's face was expressionless. The brothers Dorgon and Dodo, for their part, very carefully observed Huang Taiji's complexion.

The several Banner lords and the Mongol Gūsa Ejens begged Huang Taiji's forgiveness, mentioning Hauge's likely death. The skin of Huang Taiji's face twitched uncontrollably. He covered his mouth and nose with a silk kerchief, coughing now lightly, now violently.

"We slaves deserve death for allowing Prince Su to fall deep within the encirclement."

Dorgon delivered the summary statement, kowtowing forcefully on the ground, his expression several times more grief-stricken than Huang Taiji's.

His speech, full of both voice and emotion, drew a chorus of wails from those around him. Huang Taiji watched him, uttering not a single word.

But Dorgon's subsequent words made the hand with which Huang Taiji held his spyglass tremble slightly.

"The battle of Nüerhe has cost the Great Qing considerable losses. To avoid continuing to lose more troops and shaking the very foundation of the Great Qing, this slave weeps blood to offer remonstrance: we beg His Majesty to withdraw the army and return to court."

Dodo quickly said: "This slave agrees with Prince Rui's proposal."

The several Mongol Gūsa Ejens exchanged glances, then all kowtowed and said: "We slaves second the proposal. Benevolent and Sacred Emperor, this battle truly cannot be fought any longer."

Huang Taiji's cold, piercing gaze swept over them, then fell upon Jirgalang. He said flatly: "Prince Zheng, what do you say?"

In the short time since they had last met, Jirgalang seemed to have aged several years. Hauge's death had dealt him an equally heavy blow. He sighed: "Your Majesty, in the battle of Jinzhou, our Great Qing already has no chance of victory. To avoid even greater losses among the banners, this slave also feels that withdrawing the troops is best."

Huang Taiji sneered inwardly. He knew that Jirgalang was loyal to him, utterly devoted, and also had the Great Qing's interests at heart. He simply did not realize that his current words were forcefully aiding the brothers Dorgon and Dodo!

He himself had overruled all objections, painstakingly and single-mindedly, years ago, planning the Jinzhou campaign. Now to suffer such losses in officers and men, to return in utter defeat — what would that count for? Even if his body could hold out, once back in Shengjing, under the resentment of all sides, his time as Emperor would be at an end.

No, absolutely not. I absolutely will not!

Like a drowning man clutching at a straw, Huang Taiji's last hope was the battle of Xingshan being fought by the Two Yellow Banners.

Because of the distance, battle reports from that direction were even more obscure than those from the earlier Han Eight Banners engagement. Only a few waves of scout riders had returned, reporting that the Two Yellow Banner lords Ashan and Baintu were fiercely attacking various points around Xingshan, with a particular focus on assaulting the Jingbian Army's Changling Mountain.

If they withdrew now, all the Two Yellow Banners' prior efforts would be wasted, and his own prior efforts even more so. His son Hauge would truly have died for nothing.

Moreover, to go and recall the Two Yellow Banners' troops now was already too late. There was nothing to do but wait, hoping that good news would come from that direction. In this way, if they could capture Xingshan and the other positions, cut off the Ming army's rear path, and annihilate them all in one sweep, then even with the Great Qing's losses in officers and men, it would be worth it.

The elite troops of the Ming's Nine Frontier Garrisons were all gathered here. In particular, the Jingbian Army, which he loathed to the marrow, was here. Once annihilated in one sweep, the Ming would have no more soldiers capable of fighting in the future. As one side waned and the other waxed, bright prospects would still await the Great Qing.

Moreover, though the Qing army's losses were indeed heavy, the Ming army's were heavier still. They had already lost five Regional Commanders in battle: Zu Dashou, Ma Ke, Li Fuming, Zuo Guangxian, and Bai Guangen. In particular, Zu Dashou's death allowed him to vent a deep, foul grudge. So although both sides had suffered heavy losses, the overall situation still favored the Great Qing. He could not withdraw — he must hold on.

The Dorgon brothers had grown increasingly arrogant and domineering, and had even caused his own son's death. Hateful as it was, he could not act rashly now. But he need only catch his breath, and he would have ample opportunity to deal with the two brothers.

Seeing the Emperor cold and silent, Ejei and the other Mongols also hesitated. As the Emperor's trusted minister, Inggūldai naturally had to step forward.

He also understood Huang Taiji's thoughts. He cleared his throat and said: "Prince Rui, Prince Yu, Prince Zheng, and all Taijis — though our Great Qing has lost troops, is withdrawing now not a bit premature? At the very least, should we not wait for word from the Two Yellow Banners?"

He continued: "Analyzing the current situation, the Ming army here at Nüerhe has suffered even heavier losses than our Great Qing. They no longer have the strength to attack our military formations. Word has also come from Jinzhou — although the Ming forces inside and outside the city have linked up, the Imperial Army slew the Ming Regional Commanders Ma Ke and Zu Dashou!"

"Especially Zu Dashou — his death will surely deal a heavy shock and blow to the Ming, and make them fear our Great Qing all the more. Wu Sangui and the others above and below the city are already not worth worrying about. Taking everything into account, our Great Qing's chances of victory remain high. Let us wait a while longer."

Bādālǐ, the Tüsheetu Prince of Khorchin, also came forward to smooth things over: "Both the Minister and Prince Rui speak with reason. Both have the Great Qing's interests at heart — there is no division between you… However, this slave feels it is better to wait a while longer. It will not be too late when word comes from Xingshan…"

Although Bādālǐ was advanced in years and frail, he was also an old fox. He keenly perceived Dorgon's power and influence and tried his utmost not to offend him. Yet the meaning behind his words still betrayed a leaning toward Huang Taiji's side. After all, the Khorchin tribe had the deepest ties with the Manchus and also enjoyed Huang Taiji's greatest favor.

Dodo suddenly interjected: "The Han Eight Banners have already been defeated. The Ming army is very likely to cut the link between Jinzhou and Baimiao Fort."

Inggūldai said with full confidence: "Prince Yu need only set his mind at ease. Baimiao Fort is well-stocked with provisions and fodder. Even if the Ming army cuts the link, it is of no consequence. Moreover, our Great Qing holds the advantage — they are too busy fleeing to even think of it. Cutting the link? Easier said than done."

Dodo curled his lip and looked toward his elder brother, but saw that Dorgon had already fallen silent.

Huang Taiji waved his hand: "Prince Rui and Prince Yu's loyalty — I am aware of it… However, my decision is made. Withdrawal is postponed. We await word from Xingshan."

He then issued a series of edicts: "Order Dudu, lord of the Manchu Bordered Red Banner, and Buyandai, Gūsa Ejen of the Mongol Bordered Red Banner, beneath Jinzhou's walls, to immediately shift their forces and come to Jinchang Fort. Daišan and Enggetu are to closely monitor the movements of Wu Sangui and his men. Prince Zheng is to reorganize the troops and watch over the army's right flank, preventing the Ming army from cutting the link between Baimiao Fort and Jinchang Fort, and ensuring the Two Yellow Banners' rear path is not lost… Prince Rui and Prince Yu are to deploy formations to guard against Ming attacks. Whether to fight or withdraw — we shall decide after Ashan and Baintu send their battle reports…"

Dorgon listened quietly as Huang Taiji issued his commands. Seeing everyone clinging to wishful thinking, still hoping for success in the battles at Xingshan and elsewhere, he sneered inwardly: "Still dreaming of taking Xingshan and Changling Mountain?"

In his mind flashed the great battle of Julu from years past. He also glanced coldly at the bloodstains on the chest of Huang Taiji's armor and thought: "Go on waiting. When you receive the battle reports from Xingshan and those other places, and vomit a few more bowls of blood, then you will withdraw!"

……

The Changling Mountain defense line, the hour of Mao.

Upon seeing the wolf-smoke signals rising from Daxing Fort, Dongqing Fort, Xingshan Fort, and other positions, the Jingbian Army's logistics troops on Changling Mountain not only immediately lit their own beacon fires to warn Songshan Fort and other points, but also sounded brass gongs with a deafening clang. Every unit and every company assembled urgently. Sun Sanjie, the commander of the logistics battalion, bellowed: "All personnel on full alert! We must hold this mountain ridge and ensure the army's rear supply depot is not lost!"

He roared: "Where we stand, no enemy passes!"

The soldiers beside him also roared in response: "Where we stand, no enemy passes!"

Although Sun Sanjie had an effeminate manner, which paired oddly with his big and burly appearance, the soldiers of the logistics battalion all deeply respected him.

General Sun was one of the old hands who had followed the Grand General since Shunxiang Fort, and he was always considerate toward the troops, so he enjoyed the wholehearted support of every soldier in the logistics battalion. Under the orders of Sun Sanjie and the other officers, they swiftly entered the various low-wall, trench, and parapet defense lines on Mount Changling, every man strictly on guard and full of confidence in victory.

They were logistics soldiers, but they were also warriors of the Jingbian Army.

Moreover, the logistics soldiers of the Jingbian Army differed only in their technical specialization — it did not mean they were rejects from the cavalry and infantry battalions. They trained just as hard in firearms and spears on ordinary days. Thanks to the Jingbian Army's excellent nutrition and the nature of their work, the logistics battalion was full of big, burly, muscular men and towering, brawny fellows.

Bold and straightforward, meaning what they said — that was the style of the Jingbian Army's logistics battalion! (To be continued.)