Chapter 434: First Battle

After a moment of suffocating silence, the Banner Commander waved a hand toward Yang Guangdi.

A soft click sounded nearby, and before Tan Laizi could react, a deafening roar filled the shop; through the white smoke, a length of rope twisted past his eyes like a snake.

The white smoke billowed straight toward Tan Laizi, the thick, acrid reek of gunpowder flooding his nostrils, just like the smell of firecrackers bursting during New Year.

Startled cries rose from the opposite bank. Tan Laizi's eyes streamed with tears from the smoke; through the blur, he saw only the Banner Commander dash out of the shop and stand brazenly in the middle of the road, where the thrumming of bowstrings rang out in quick succession.

Amid the chaos, a conch horn sounded from the opposite bank, followed by a whooshing noise. Tan Laizi had heard that sound in Erlang Town — it was arrows in flight. In the cramped shop, arrows zipped across the room, the thuds of them striking the wooden boards ceaseless.

Panic seized him. He rubbed his eyes frantically, finally stemming the tears. Just as he raised his head to look, a muffled thump landed on the counter; a bamboo basket with an arrow embedded in it whooshed over his head, slammed violently into the back wall, and then bounced back onto the floor.

Tan Laizi immediately flattened himself against the ground again. Only then did he notice Yang Guangdi beside him, also crouching and searching the floor for something.

The counter and walls thudded repeatedly. Broken arrow shafts clattered into the room, while arrows that flew up to the roof knocked tiles loose, which crashed onto the stone street slabs with sharp, shattering cracks.

Footsteps sounded at the doorway. A figure dashed in and ducked behind the counter as well. Tan Laizi let out a startled cry before recognizing it was the Banner Commander.

"Those dog-spawned Tartars shoot so damn accurately!" the Banner Commander cursed loudly. "Yang Guangdi, you missed! Reload and fire again!"

Yang Guangdi acknowledged and began reloading. In his haste, he glanced up. A gash ran across the Banner Commander's forehead, his face covered in blood. Lowering his head to load a bullet, he said, "Banner Commander, you've taken another arrow to the face."

"I've already found a wife. If it gets smashed up, so be it — one more scar won't matter." The Banner Commander drew a sharp breath, then straightened up. His body tilted slightly; he drew the bow to its full extent in one swift motion, then released his thumb. His right hand snapped backward, and with a muffled thrum, a light arrow shot forth.

The moment the arrow was loosed, the Banner Commander had already ducked down. An arrow, wrapped in a strip of shop sign, flashed past just above his head.

"That Tartar in the river is hit." The Banner Commander wiped the blood from his eyes and peered out from beside the counter toward the street. "Yu Lao'er, you three grab shields and go capture him!"

Someone outside answered. Amid the sound of arrows flying through the street, footsteps passed by, and shouts rose continuously from both banks of the river.

The arrows flying toward the shop seemed to lessen. Tan Laizi steeled his nerves and peered over the counter. More Tartars were emerging from the streets and shops; they had likely been scattered searching for supplies and people earlier, and were now all rushing toward the riverbank.

The two mounted scouts on the second floor across the street were standing to shoot. More mounted scouts and distant scouts were arriving from behind, and the arrows raining toward the opposite bank grew thicker.

Three mounted scouts holding rattan shields formed a line and advanced slowly toward the river's center. The arrows shot from the opposite bank all flew toward them.

The Tartars and commoners in the icy river wailed loudly. The ice was stained red with blood. The Tartar who had fallen into the river had an arrow lodged in his back and was still struggling to climb onto the ice on the west side. A line spear lay discarded near the bank, and not far away, another fallen Tartar had just scrambled up from the ice and fled toward the shore, an arrow still hanging from his chest, though there was no bloodstain on the ground.

Shadows moved within the shops on the opposite bank, arrows flying out from them incessantly. The Tartars, like the mounted scouts on this side, were seeking cover. A few riderless horses remained at the street corner. Only the Bright Armor Tartar who had first appeared still sat steadily on his horse; even his mount was unspooked. The demonic face on his face armor was staring intently in this direction.

The three mounted scouts with rattan shields neared the riverbank, their objective gradually becoming clear.

The mounted Bright Armor Tartar swung a leg over and dismounted smoothly. Beside his horse, he retrieved a step bow nearly as tall as a man. As he moved, the scales of his armor flashed with dense points of light under the sun.

The Bright Armor Tartar did not take his great blade. Carrying only his step bow, he walked slowly toward the bank. He was the sole exposed target on the riverbank; his bulky figure and slow movement immediately drew the attention of the mounted scouts on the opposite bank, like a magnet for arrows.

A continuous stream of arrows flew toward the Bright Armor Tartar, striking his armor with sharp clangs before skidding off the scales to the side. A few lodged in his skirt armor, swaying back and forth as he walked.

Tan Laizi watched anxiously as arrows flew like locusts yet failed to stop him. The Tartar was about to reach the bank. He desperately wished for the most formidable mounted scout to appear and kill that Tartar with a single arrow.

"At least two layers of armor," the Banner Commander's voice cursed viciously.

Tan Laizi blurted out, "Shoot him in the head!"

The Banner Commander beside him stood up and took aim at the walking Bright Armor Tartar. This time, he drew the bow to its absolute limit. The arrow whistled forth, and Tan Laizi involuntarily raised his head, watching that arrow truly fly toward the Tartar's head.

A sharp clang rang out. Even across the river, Tan Laizi saw a spray of sparks flash across the helmet.

The Tartar's head snapped to the side, his body twisting from the impact. Tan Laizi's heart pounded violently. Just as he was about to cheer, he saw the Tartar had stopped in place. Under Tan Laizi's despairing gaze, the Bright Armor Tartar reached up to adjust his helmet, then steadily moved forward two steps, reaching the very edge of the riverbank.

On the river channel before them, arrows flew like locusts from both sides. The commoners on the ice had each been struck by arrows and were screaming their hearts out. The leather-hatted Tartar in the middle of the river was crying and struggling. The three mounted scouts with rattan shields were nearing the center of the ice, almost within grabbing distance.

The three mounted scouts were also the focus of the opposite bank's attacks. Their rattan shields were bristling with arrows. As the distance closed, the force of the arrows gradually increased; with each hit, the mounted scouts' bodies jolted slightly, their speed slowing.

During the Bright Armor Tartar's pause, two arrows struck his armor. He shuddered slightly, then, as if nothing had happened, took out an arrow with a spinach-leaf-shaped head and began drawing his bow toward the rattan shields.

Having been with the Anqing Battalion for a long time, Tan Laizi recognized this type of arrow as an armor-piercing bodkin arrow, used against armored enemies. The Anqing Battalion, however, was poorly equipped with them, since the Roving Bandits had almost no iron armor, and only a few used cotton armor in winter.

The Bright Armor Tartar's draw was steady and unhurried; the massive bow creaked and groaned. He released the moment it was fully drawn, and the arrow left the string.

A scream rang out on the ice. The mounted scout walking in the middle of the three collapsed, opening a gap in their line. He writhed on the ice, blood gushing ceaselessly from beneath him. The Bright Armor Tartar had actually shot him in the calf beneath the rattan shield.

The Bright Armor Tartar began drawing a second arrow. The Banner Commander, heedless of cover, stood up and roared forward, "Yu Lao'er, get down!"

The two on the ice had just halted when the second armor-piercing bodkin arrow whistled in. It slammed violently into the rattan shield, sending splinters flying. Yu Lao'er, half-crouching, lost his balance and toppled over.

The Banner Commander lowered his head and bellowed at Yang Guangdi, "Is it loaded yet? Shoot the Bright Armor Tartar!"

Yang Guangdi tossed aside a ramrod and replied without looking up, "Not yet tamped. Battalion Commander Tan, help me light the fire rope."

Tan Laizi immediately crouched down to arrange the tinder, helping Yang Guangdi ignite the retrieved fire rope, then assisted in clamping it onto the serpentine lever.

Yang Guangdi finally set up his gun again. Tan Laizi peered out once more. Though he had never believed in firearms, arrows were nearly useless against that Tartar; Yang Guangdi's gun was almost their only hope.

By now, the three-man team was in dire straits. The middle mounted scout struggled in a pool of blood. Yu Lao'er had rolled half a turn on the ice and was now half-kneeling, holding the damaged rattan shield before him. Arrows from the shore whizzed around him, constantly thudding into the shield and sending tremors through it.

The leather-hatted Tartar in the water, seeing someone coming to his aid, wailed and tried once more to climb onto the ice, already getting one foot up.

Yu Lao'er spotted this from the edge of his shield. He immediately drew the throwing sword from his belt, swung his arm in a full circle, and hurled it at the Tartar. The sword stabbed into the Tartar's waist. The leather-hatted Tartar screamed in pain, his grip loosening, and he fell back into the icy water.

Yu Lao'er immediately ducked back behind his rattan shield. With the man in the middle injured, two shields now had to cover three men, and they were instantly in a sorry state. Arrows from the Qing army on the bank came in rapid succession, and the ice was littered with shafts.

The Bright Armor Tartar took two slow steps along the bank. His metal face armor reflected a cold, hard sheen, the eyeholes of the demonic face dark and empty. He had already drawn a third armor-piercing bodkin arrow. Seeming to have found an angle, he once again began drawing his bow slowly.

Tan Laizi turned his head to look just in time to see the trigger snap. The serpentine lever brought the fire rope down. A ball of flame flashed in the priming pan, rapidly expanding outward. A cloud of white smoke suddenly bloomed before his eyes, a tongue of orange-red fire flashing through its center.

A sharp metallic clang rang out. The Bright Armor Tartar's entire body shuddered; the bowstring, nearly drawn, slackened. He staggered two steps back before steadying himself. A red bloodstain quickly appeared on the armor of his right arm.

"A hit!" the Banner Commander shouted. "Anyone with a rattan shield, go help!"

Someone in the street answered. Three more men, holding rattan shields, headed toward the river. These men had little formation. Tan Laizi spotted a familiar figure among them: Tang Ershuan, holding a nine-jin rattan shield, was sprinting at the very front.

Tan Laizi looked back toward the river. The leather-hatted Tartar, wounded in two places and soaked in icy water, now seemed dazed and had actually clambered onto the ice on the east side.

The Bright Armor Tartar's demonic face was turned toward their shop. The white smoke from the shot was obvious; the firearm had to be in this position. Then the dark, empty eyeholes of the demonic face shifted toward the newly arriving shields. After a brief moment, the Bright Armor Tartar suddenly drew an arrow with his injured right hand. Under Tan Laizi's astonished gaze, the Bright Armor Tartar drew his bow with a slight tremble, releasing at only half-draw this time.

The arrow flew straight toward the leather-hatted Tartar, plunging into the center of his back with a thud. The leather-hatted Tartar, wearing no armor, convulsed violently and collapsed limp at the edge of the ice.

Just as he was about to slide back into the water, Tang Ershuan came charging up. He threw aside his rattan shield, sprawled onto the ice, and grabbed one of the leather-hatted Tartar's hands. Yu Lao'er followed, shielding Tang Ershuan's head and shoulders with his shield. With a heave from Tang Ershuan, the leather-hatted Tartar was immediately hauled onto the east bank.

A cheer rose from the mounted scouts on the east bank. After the fierce exchange, both sides were running low on arrows, and most had stopped shooting.

A horn sounded from the opposite bank. The Tartars withdrew from the shops one after another. Though they had suffered no great losses, they wore expressions of dejection and defeat.

Though the Bright Armor Tartar had been shot, he seemed to know that reloading a firearm took considerable time, so he did not hurry away. The bloodstain on his arm was now very obvious, and his movements were somewhat labored. He walked slowly along the riverbank to the street corner, finally stopping beside his mount. Against the backlight, he became a dark silhouette edged with a rim of light once more.

He turned his head to glance in the direction of the leather-hatted Tartar, then looked up toward the shop where Tan Laizi was. The Banner Commander stood up to meet his gaze. Yang Guangdi was nearly finished reloading. Tan Laizi still showed only his eyes.

The Bright Armor Tartar slowly turned around. He drew another arrow, raised his left arm slightly, and pulled the bowstring with his bleeding right arm, aiming directly at Tan Laizi and the others' shop.

Bang! A sharp report rang out. Tan Laizi ducked behind the counter, and from the corner of his eye he saw the Banner Commander still standing upright.

A moment later, he heard the Banner Commander say from beside him, "They were just pulling an empty bowstring to scare us. They've all left."

Only then did Yang Guangdi stop loading and stand up. The Banner Commander gazed at the opposite bank for a long while. There were no men or horses left there now, only arrows and bows scattered across the ground.

At that moment, several roving cavalrymen carried the soaking-wet Leather Hat Tartar to the front of the shop. Yu Lao'er shouted to the Banner Commander, "He's still breathing."

"The firelock needs more practice." The Banner Commander let out a long breath, turned and patted Yang Guangdi on the shoulder, then strode into the middle of the street and said to Yu Lao'er, "Interrogate him at once, before he dies."

……

Chongzhen 11th Year, 12th month, 2nd day. Luqiao Town, Jining Prefecture.

"The Scout Cavalry report back: on the 28th, southwest of Linqing Prefecture, at a ferry crossing called Chujiaquan, they encountered roughly forty Tartar Scout Cavalry. The enemy was probing the ice along the river. The Scout Cavalry engaged the enemy across the river and captured one Bordered Yellow Banner Tartar, who confessed that the banner's commanding officer is Banner Commander Bayintu. The Linqing route has four banners in total, and the overall commander is the Tartar Plain White Banner Lord Beile Dorgon."

"Dorgon." This was probably the Manchu Qing name Pang Yu was most familiar with, even more so than Huang Taiji. He seemed to have an unusual connection to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, though Pang Yu was not entirely clear on exactly what status Xiaozhuang held.

"Where are these four banners at Linqing preparing to go?"

"He confessed that there were too many Government Troops at Linqing, and their banner had issued orders to head west. He mentioned the place name Renqiu…" Chen Rulie said cautiously, "The Tartar was gravely wounded and died right after this question was answered. The next day, the 29th, the Scout Cavalry crossed the river to reconnoiter and confirmed that the main Tartar camp had indeed gone west."

Pang Yu searched all over the map and quickly spotted the two characters for Renqiu, west of Linqing.

He beckoned to Tu Section Clerk in the Advisory Room. "Read out the military intelligence from the Dark Sentinel Division again."

Tu Dianli hurried over. In his hand was the latest intelligence sent by the Dark Sentinel Division. This report concerned Tartar movements, so Zhang Mazi had dispatched some of his few remaining mounted subordinates. They traveled from Tianjin through Shandong, and after reaching Xuzhou it was forwarded on to Luqiao Town, finally delivered into Pang Yu's hands with great difficulty.

Tu Dianli read aloud, "Received a copy of the Dispatch Report from Lu Doutang via the Military Section. Learned that on the 21st, the Tartars exited through Gu Pass and Dragon Well Pass, and are expected to leave the border via Xuan-Da."

Pang Yu asked, puzzled, "If they're leaving the pass via Xuan-Da, then what are these four banners at Linqing doing? Could they be splitting up to leave the pass separately?"

Tu Dianli pointed at the map and said, "The Scout Cavalry reported the place name Renqiu, so it's very clear. The Linqing route is heading west. They should be forming a Combined Camp and then leaving the border via Xuan-Da."

Pang Yu considered for a moment, then nodded. "Then the Tartar force on the Zhending route is simply waiting for the Linqing route. After forming a Combined Camp, they'll exit the pass together. Or perhaps Lu Doutang dealt a heavy blow to one banner, and the Linqing route was forced to hurry and join the camp."

"The Qing army advanced so swiftly this time, I fear they haven't taken many cities." Zhuang Chaozheng thought for a moment, then said, "They're heading west to combine camps. Going via Longgu Pass Pass Pass Pass is only one possibility; they might also withdraw along their original route."

Tu Dianli shook his head. "The Tartars are much the same as the Roving Bandits — seizing rations and pay is their top priority. Taking the original route only brings losses. They'll certainly choose a route they didn't take on the way in. Or perhaps the Zhending route moved along the mountains, and the eastern route moved along the river. On the return journey, the two routes combine and go back through the middle, so the route won't be repeated."

Chen Rulie leaned in and said, "The Scout Cavalry's dispatch report just now mentioned that the Tartars were probing the ice surface. Could it be they intend to cross the river and return via Shandong? That way, the towns along the Grand Canal have more rations and pay, and the route wouldn't be repeated either."

"The Tartars have already split their forces and plundered all the prefectures and counties under Baoding, Hejian, and Zhending." He drew a line on the map, starting slightly east from Linqing, passing through Gaotang Prefecture toward Wuding and then turning back north, finally landing on Tianjin. "Taking this route, they could plunder more county towns. Most of the places along the way are canal cities, rich in goods and people. Finally, they'd exit the border through the Qingshan Pass and Wall Ridge area. The Border Wall there was already destroyed when they came, so it's certain to be unguarded."

Tu Dianli studied the map, then said, "In that case, the Linqing route would not be heading toward Renqiu. They should be waiting at Linqing for the Zhending route to arrive and form a Combined Camp. Since Lu Doutang has issued a dispatch report, it's unlikely to be baseless. The four banners at Linqing moving west confirms they are indeed exiting via Xuan-Da. As for probing the ice surface, perhaps it's merely to cross the river and plunder nearby areas."

Chen Rulie said nothing further, apparently abandoning the Shandong possibility.

Pang Yu pondered in silence for a moment. He had no map of Shanxi in hand, but he knew Shanxi was a land of continuous mountain ranges, with narrow roads and numerous passes inside. Their many military councils had all concluded that the Tartars intended to strike Northern Zhili. Whether coming or going, they had a large number of carriages, and their marching column was enormous. They would not choose to take the Shanxi roads. Yet now, both the Ministry of War's dispatch reports and battlefield intelligence indicated that the Tartars intended to go from Longgu Pass Pass Pass Pass to Shanxi, and then exit the border via Xuan-Da.

Previously, when they had stopped at the Capital, they had drawn the troops of Shanxi and Xuan-Da away on rally to the king duty. Now Shanxi's defenses were surely hollow, so this course of action had a certain logic to it.

Pang Yu looked at Chen Rulie and said, "The route you've chosen is more suitable. But if they intended to exit the border from here, they should have combined camps from west to east, attacked Linqing together, and then crossed the river into Shandong. Now the Scout Cavalry has confirmed that the main Tartar camp has gone west. They are definitely going to Zhending to form a Combined Camp, so they won't choose this route."

Chen Rulie nodded silently.

Pang Yu patted the map. "After the Tartars entered the border, they drew the Xuan-Da Army here. The passes in Shanxi now have no troops available to defend them. Exiting the border via Longgu Pass Pass Pass Pass is indeed unexpected, but we can be certain the Tartars are withdrawing. Send word to the Scout Cavalry: maintain contact with the Tartars, capture as many prisoners as possible, and confirm the Tartars' direction of march. The Advisory Room is to relay orders to all units to prepare. Tomorrow we strike camp and advance toward Linqing. Revise the marching plan: sixty li or more per day. We'll go strike at their column's tail."