Chapter 695: The Concave-Convex Formation

Old White Bull: I'm back. Apologies for the hiatus — on my doctor's advice I took a break from the internet for a while, wandering among green hills and clear waters to rest and recover.

The internet truly is something one both loves and hates. Never before has accessing information been so convenient, but sitting in front of a computer for long periods is not only addictive, it easily exhausts the body and leaves one in a sub-healthy state.

In any case, updates have resumed, and this time I'll keep going until the end. Even if I take a break now and then, it'll only be for a day or two. There isn't much left of this book — I estimate it will finish at around three million characters.

Also, some people have gone too far. Just because I wasn't updating, there was no need to curse me. Truly, the hearts of men are not what they once were, and public morals are declining day by day — the innocent atmosphere of the internet is gone forever.

One last thing: Happy New Year, and may the Year of the Horse bring you everything you wish.

……

Cao Bianjiao racked his brains, pondering how to escape the crisis before him.

Under the present circumstances, the army was marching in formation — its speed was too slow, its movement too sluggish, and the entire battle array was rigid and inflexible. Whenever they encountered difficult terrain, chaos often ensued. Surrounded and watched by enemies on all sides, the troops were also utterly exhausted.

Yet if the army did not march in formation, it would be overwhelmed by the bandit cavalry in the blink of an eye. On the open plain, without a formation, no matter how fierce the infantry, they were no match for cavalry — even if most of what they faced were merely the bandits' mounted troops.

Digging in and holding their ground meant waiting for death. Continuing like this, with the soldiers' nerves stretched taut, the army's collapse was only a matter of time. And once Li Chuang's main force arrived, the situation would be even more dire.

What to do?

At this critical moment, Cao Bianjiao displayed the highest caliber of his ability.

He focused his mind and thought deeply. Suddenly he recalled the battle formation the Jingbian Army had used against the Eastern Slaves during the Battle of Jinzhou — at the time, Wang Dou had deployed a grand formation called the Concave-Convex Formation. Each company formed an independent unit, each setting up its own defensive formation, yet every formation could communicate with the others by shouting or via relay riders.

These many small formations then combined into one grand formation, and their mutual coordination was extremely flexible.

Back then, Wang Dou had used this formation to rout tens of thousands of Qing cavalry under Jirgalang, Hooge, Ajige, and others. Afterwards, it spread widely among the various armies and was discussed with great relish by all the commanders. Cao Bianjiao had privately studied it somewhat and kept it in mind.

Of course, the prerequisite for this formation was possessing powerful firearms.

In the past, when Ming armies encountered cavalry in the field, they generally formed a large square or a great circle, defending airtight — as impenetrable as a turtle shell. The enemy cavalry would patiently tear open one gap after another. Often, wherever a breach appeared, that was when the great formation would be annihilated.

Although the Ming army also had the small, dispersed Three-Talents Formation, if surrounded by layer upon layer of enemy cavalry, they too had no choice but to form dense square formations.

There was no other reason: their firepower was insufficient, their might lacking. Small Three-Talents Formations or Mandarin Duck Formations, organized by squad or company, could not withstand the assault of surging enemy cavalry — especially when the army needed to march and maneuver.

Now, however, the conditions within this army were ripe. The cavalry went without saying — they were all battle-hardened veterans.

The two new infantry battalions were likewise well-trained and tempered by war. In particular, each soldier's firelock was lethally effective. Even if enemy cavalry charged into the gaps between the small formations, they could be dealt a devastating blow, rather than the small formations being devoured one by one.

Cao Bianjiao made a prompt decision. Ignoring the fact that his troops had never trained in or practiced this Concave-Convex Formation, he ordered the march halted. After a brief rest and consultation with his commanders, at the middle of the Wei hour (roughly two in the afternoon), Cao's cavalry and the two garrison infantry battalions swiftly formed a new array.

The entire battle formation resembled a huge, uneven sawtooth. The nearly five thousand men of the two garrison new armies, organized by company, formed over twenty small formations of roughly equal size. Emulating the Jingbian Army, each formation consisted of two pike teams and two firelock teams, with a basic fighting strength of two hundred men.

In the deployment, one hundred firelock soldiers were distributed on all four sides, while one hundred pikemen stood behind them in support. Officers commanded from the center. Each small formation was spaced about one hundred paces apart, with each company commander's position roughly one hundred fifty paces from the next. The entire army's baggage, provisions, fodder, and equipment were placed at the very center of the grand formation, guarded by the remaining two thousand-plus cavalry under Cao Bianjiao's personal command, who would also coordinate and reinforce all sectors.

Once deployed, the new army formation was far more expansive and flexible. It was no longer a case of a single part dragging the whole along; instead, each part possessed a certain degree of autonomy and flexibility. The small formations, arranged in an inverted triangle pattern, also seemed far more shadowy and profound, concealing lethal intent within and exuding a fierce, sharp aura.

Although the new formation had not been tested in actual combat, all the troops placed extremely high trust in their commander, Cao Bianjiao. They could see the predicament with their own eyes. A new formation might just free them from the current crisis. They swiftly deployed, silently and resolutely carrying out the orders passed down by their commander.

Once the formation was complete, Cao Bianjiao felt much more at ease. Though the grand formation's appearance was not as polished as the Jingbian Army's had been — somewhat hasty and disordered — a grand formation composed of relatively flexible small formations possessing fierce firepower would undoubtedly double their combat effectiveness. The threat of a single breach causing the entire army's collapse was also greatly reduced.

Through flags or relay riders, he could also calmly conduct overall strategic deployments and provide effective local support to every sector.

It was not only Cao Bianjiao — once the army began to move, the troops' anxious hearts quickly settled as well. The new formation was indeed flexible, especially when traversing complex terrain.

Though this was all flat plain, it was not without rivers and gullies, field ridges and villages. Earlier, when passing through such places, the entire army had been under extreme mental strain, and both men and horses had expended enormous physical energy — because Li Chuang's mounted troops pressed in black masses on all sides, trailing from a distance, waiting with great patience, ready to pounce en masse the moment an opportunity arose.

Even in ordinary times, they circled and prowled in twos and threes or small groups, never actually charging into battle, but the pressure they exerted was immense — because you never knew when they truly would charge.

Earlier, passing through such terrain had always presented the classic opportunity to "strike while crossing halfway." The Chuang cavalry never missed a chance to harass or attack, constantly creating tension for the marching formation and wearing down the strength and fighting spirit of the two garrisons' troops.

After switching to the Concave-Convex Formation for the march, every soldier in the formation felt this tension greatly diminish. When passing through such areas, even if enemy cavalry harassed them, they could simply respond with one or a few corresponding small formations — there was no need for the entire army to suffer alongside them, much less worry that a breach at that spot would affect the overall battle.

Moreover, even if there was a delay in that sector, the cavalry of the central army could quickly move out and escort them back.

Though they trusted Commander Cao, this was ultimately a matter of their own survival, and no one's heart was light. Yet not long after the new formation began moving, the soldiers of the two garrisons once again became filled with confidence about the road ahead. Many could not help but cheer as they marched.

……

"What kind of trick are these government troops playing?"

When Cao Bianjiao halted to change formation, Liu Zongmin, Hao Yaoqi, Yuan Zongdi, and the others on the outer perimeter of the Chuang camp were all baffled, unable to fathom what scheme Cao Bianjiao was hatching. But their objective was merely to delay — it was best if the government troops stopped. So the Chuang cavalry did not move either, only sending a few scouts to observe.

They watched the Ming army, amid shouting men and neighing horses, deploy their troops and arrange their formation, finally producing a strange battle array. Just like Jirgalang and the others back then, as they gazed at the small squares spread across the wilderness before them, the men of the Chuang camp and the Ge and Zuo Five Camps were all utterly perplexed.

"What formation is this?"

"Has Count Cao lost his mind?"

Looking at the new formation Cao Bianjiao had deployed, the various bandit commanders were either rubbing their ears, scratching their cheeks, frowning, or deep in thought — none of them understood what Cao Bianjiao was up to.

In everyone's experience, when infantry encountered cavalry in the open field, if they did not form a tight defensive array, weren't they just serving themselves up on a platter? Such a dispersed formation, with small units placed far apart — what if the cavalry simply charged straight in and broke through in one go?

Opportunity must not be missed. Hao Yaoqi strongly advocated massing the mounted troops and attacking immediately — there was no need to wait for the entire army to arrive.

Liu Zongmin was also tempted. Yuan Zongdi, however, firmly opposed. Li Guo was somewhat hesitant but ultimately supported Yuan Zongdi's opinion.

A man's shadow comes from the tree's bark — Cao Bianjiao was, after all, a famous general of the Great Ming. He had not deployed this formation without reason. Moreover, the tactical formation before him gave Li Guo a sense of familiarity. Though it was merely a crude imitation, that army was one that sometimes startled him awake even in dreams — it was etched into his very bones.

To be safe, it was better to wait until the Chuang King and the main force arrived. The series of battles against the Jingbian Army back then had matured Li Guo, this young commander of the Chuang army.

The Ge and Zuo Five Camps went without saying. Every bandit chieftain who had survived and grown strong was adept at the art of reading auras. They could tell at a glance whether the government troops they faced were strong or weak. In the past, when they encountered powerful government troops, they were unwilling to fight — they either fled or paid a toll to save their lives.

In the battle history of the Ge and Zuo Five Camps, they were notorious for being cunning, ruthless, and evasive. When they encountered many government troops, they scattered and hid; only when outnumbering the enemy did they give battle. When the mountains were scoured and the plains cleared, they would suddenly burst out from the outskirts. When formations were drawn up on the plain, they would rely on dangerous terrain and deep bamboo groves. They liked to use locals, fortune-tellers, and market peddlers as spies, and often used spies to breach cities.

They were unwilling to gnaw on hard bones. Had the rebel forces not been so powerful, had circumstances not compelled them, they would never have joined in besieging such a formidable army as Cao Bianjiao's. Thus, Hao Yaoqi's proposal only gained the approval of He Yilong from the Ge and Zuo Five Camps. The cautious Ma Shouying shook his head and remained silent. He Jin, Liu Xiyao, and Lin Yangcheng likewise opposed it.

They were all masters of reading auras. Though none of them could comprehend the new formation Cao Bianjiao had deployed, they observed that its murderous aura was, on the contrary, even more intense. Only a fool would attack. If they lost their own troops, how would they preserve their status and strength?

So Hao Yaoqi's proposal did not succeed. Everyone felt it was best to observe quietly. In any case, even if Cao Bianjiao changed his formation, he was still trapped within their encirclement.

What concerned them more was whether Cao Bianjiao would abandon his infantry and simply flee with his cavalry. Though their own mounted troops had him surrounded in layers, due to issues of coordination, organization, and combat effectiveness, even if Cao Bianjiao tried to flee with his cavalry now, they probably could not stop him.

Fortunately, Cao Bianjiao did not seem to have such intentions. Though this spirit of the Ming army's new troops — refusing to abandon their comrades — felt different, it was good enough that they were not running.

On the open plain, with the Ming army short on provisions, even if the Chuang cavalry's encirclement was riddled with gaps and far from tight, to marching infantry it was still a wall of bronze and iron — after all, human legs could not compare to horses' legs.

With this mindset, the commanders of the Chuang camp and the Ge and Zuo Five Camps allowed Cao Bianjiao's new formation to proceed, watching them march continuously across the vast wilderness.

But gradually, everyone's expressions grew grave. It was too fast — Cao Bianjiao's new formation was moving far too quickly, several times faster than before. At this speed, they might well reach Xiayi City today.

Liu Zongmin's face slowly turned ashen. He barked, "We cannot let them continue like this!"

……

The Chuang cavalry and the others once again began their frequent harassment. Combined with the Ge and Zuo Five Camps, the mounted troops they had gathered here now numbered as many as forty thousand — a very ample force they could deploy.

If provisions were sufficient, Cao Bianjiao would certainly find suitable terrain to force a decisive battle with them — at the very least a stalemate. Although his combined cavalry and infantry forces were not as numerous as the roving bandits, Cao Bianjiao was confident he could rout them utterly. Unfortunately, provisions were insufficient.

Moreover, if that were truly the case, the bandit cavalry would surely keep far away and refuse engagement. Even if his own side wished to fight, they would be unable to strike — this is precisely the disadvantage of infantry facing cavalry: tactically, they hold no initiative. (To be continued...)