Chapter 526: The Opponent

In Baishazhou, northeast of Gucheng County seat, shacks burned everywhere, belching thick smoke that blanketed both banks of the waterway and blurred all sight. Countless figures on foot crossed the dried-up Han River, fleeing in panic toward Henan.

Xie Zhaofa reined in his horse on the official road and watched as a unit of Marine Corps troops ahead left the road, deployed, and advanced toward Baishazhou.

An advisor's voice spoke behind him. "The First Division reports that Magistrate Ruan has been rescued and they are now securing the County Seat."

Xie Zhaofa let out a breath. Ruan Zhitian was the County Magistrate of Gucheng. The minimum Pang Yu had demanded was to hold Gucheng County so the Anqing Battalion could garrison it, and Ruan Zhitian himself was also critical. Garrisoning the place required his support, but it also involved the official determination that the Western Camp had re-rebelled — much like Pang Yu's situation after the Tongcheng civil unrest. The formal report Ruan Zhitian would issue on behalf of the Gucheng County Yamen was absolutely vital.

"Was Ruan Zhitian badly frightened?"

"Somewhat frightened. He refused to leave the Main Hall and immediately began drafting an impeachment memorial against Xiong Wencan. Before I left, he was nearly finished writing it."

Xie Zhaofa turned his head in surprise. "Xiong Wencan is still the Five-Province Supreme Commander. A mere County Magistrate dares impeach him?"

"Magistrate Ruan says he fears no one now. In one breath he impeached the Prefect, the Defense Circuit Intendant, Lord Xiong, and the Minister of War — he's even forgotten that Yang Sichang is no longer Minister of War."

"Who he impeaches doesn't matter. Have the First Division keep Magistrate Ruan well guarded."

"The Thousandth Headquarters Scout Cavalry Banner reports that the Roving Bandits have split into several columns in the initial probe — one heading for Shaanxi, the rest fleeing toward Henan. The Second Unit reports it has cut the road to Fang County; the Third Division is advancing along the official road toward Fang County and has engaged two hundred horse bandits from Cao Cao's Old Camp en route. The cavalry reports they have linked up with the Household Retainers of the Huguang Standard Battalion, routed two groups of Western Camp mounted troops east of Baishazhou, and are continuing pursuit. The cavalry battalion requests instructions: pursue toward Shaanxi or toward Henan?"

"Where is the Eighth Bandit?"

"Not yet found. The cavalry battalion interrogated captured prisoners; no one knows which column the Eighth Bandit is with."

Xie Zhaofa's expression flickered. The advisors around him dared not disturb him. Attacking the Western Camp was an operation the Anqing Battalion had planned for a long time, involving complex preparations. Whether by prior design or because the Anqing Battalion struck early, the Western Camp had abandoned the westward move to Fang County and instead crossed the dried-up Han River from Baishazhou.

Right now the Western Camp was scattering in rout. Their mounted troops crossed the dry riverbed quickly and fled in several columns. The Anqing Battalion and the Huguang Standard Battalion lacked enough cavalry to intercept more than a fraction of the mounted troops. The camp followers fleeing everywhere were easy to catch, but that did little to affect Zhang Xianzhong's real strength.

As long as Zhang Xianzhong was not captured, the entire operation was a failure — so none of the advisors dared provoke Xie Zhaofa.

After a long while, Xie Zhaofa exhaled deeply and said, "The Eighth Bandit is heading into the Yinghuo Mountains. Have the cavalry pursue toward Henan. Tell them to stay on their heels and not let the Western Camp regroup. If they're busy running for their lives, they'll have no leisure to plunder grain, silver, or followers. Send word to Anqing: request that Clerk Yang dispatch the mountain battalion into the Huoshan range to sweep them out. Don't let the Eighth Bandit rest and recover."

He turned his head to look at the advisors behind him. "The Western Camp has re-rebelled. The Central Plains will be thrown into turmoil again. Dispatch relay riders to deliver battle reports directly to the Ministry of War and to Lord Pang. It's already the fourth month — the Tatars must have come out past the border long ago. Lord Pang can return to take charge of the overall situation."

……

At the edge of the hilly region beyond the Ji Garrison border, encampments dotted the surrounding area. Tens of thousands of livestock and carts covered the hills and grasslands all around. Over a thousand cavalry stood arrayed along the main road, the boundless steppe stretching behind them.

The broad-framed Huang Taiji sat high on his horse. Sturdy as his mount was, next to his bulk it still looked like a mule.

Huang Taiji, now grown stout, had a ruddy complexion. He gazed calmly at the group of Qing generals approaching along the official road ahead. In his original plan, the Qing forces that had entered past the border should have come back out around the twentieth of the second month, while he simultaneously attacked the Jinzhou sector to pin down the Liao Garrison Ming Army. By now they should already have returned to Liaodong.

But the exit of the Qing forces had been delayed again and again, only nearing completion by early the fourth month. Huang Taiji changed his plans and came in person to the border pass to meet them.

Dorgon, commander of the Left Wing Army, walked at the very front. Behind him came Dudu, commander of the Right Wing Army, followed by several Banner Commanders of the Left Wing Army. The Right Wing Army was still bringing up the rear, its tail still engaged with Ming forces at Qingshan Pass, so its Banner Commanders were absent.

Dorgon led the group in kneeling to pay obeisance. Huang Taiji remained seated high on his horse and only dismounted after everyone had completed the ritual.

He was now Emperor; he did not perform the traditional reciprocal embrace with them.

Dorgon came before him and said carefully, "Your servant reports to the Emperor: all Banners and the supervised Mongol tribes have reaped abundant spoils. A rough tally of the quantities was previously reported to the Emperor. There were several engagements on the way out of the border, and each Banner's spoils have slightly increased or decreased…"

Huang Taiji waved his hand. "Report the slight increases or decreases after we return to Liaodong. This incursion has lasted over half a year. Our Grand Army has rampaged two thousand li across Ming State territory, defeated scores of Ming Army garrisons, and slain dozens of General Officers from the Supreme Commander down. This triumphant, fully laden exit from the border is entirely thanks to everyone's valiant efforts. We are deeply gratified."

Since this incursion had not been entirely smooth — particularly with Yoto dying of illness — the border-crossing generals present had each harbored worries, all concerned that Huang Taiji might punish them. Hearing these words, everyone felt somewhat relieved.

After exchanging a few words of encouragement with Dorgon and Dudu, Huang Taiji pointed behind them and said, "Take Us to see Yoto."

Dudu hastily led the way. The group walked toward the rear, the other generals falling in behind. Since Yoto was of the Bordered Red Banner, Dorgon edged slightly to the outside to let Dudu walk beside Huang Taiji.

Dudu kept pace as he walked, saying, "In Jinan, he was cremated according to precedent before being carried out. Fearing the pestilence might spread, most of his personal effects were burned as well. Even so, half of those who performed the cremation that day later died of the disease."

As he spoke, they arrived at a cart. Huang Taiji stood two paces away and looked at the items on it: two thumb rings, a Waist Saber, a fine brass basin, a carved saddle with silver ornaments, and a two-section cylinder. Not even his armor was among them — these must have been items Yoto kept close to his person, which no one had dared continue carrying.

"That day in Jinan, many officers and men fell ill. Several of the Yangwu Grand General's personal guards also sickened and died. The survivors were forbidden to remain with the army; they followed far behind at the tail of the column. Only after passing Xianghe were they permitted to move among the troops again. They brought out only a few of the Grand General's personal effects. These items were sorted out, and only after confirming that no one who handled them fell ill were they brought here."

Huang Taiji's face was an unruffled ancient well, betraying no emotion. He slowly approached the cart, his expression sorrowful, as if he were gazing upon Yoto himself. The other generals hurriedly arranged similar expressions, and the atmosphere around them instantly grew solemn.

After a long moment, Huang Taiji recovered. His eyes swept over the items on the cart. "What is that?"

Dudu immediately recovered as well. He knew what Huang Taiji was asking about and quickly replied in a low voice, "It is a Telescope captured when the Ming Supreme Commander Lu was killed at Julu. Ordinarily it is a single section for easy carrying; when in use, one section can be pulled out. It is as clear as the Telescopes used by the Tianyou Army and Tianzhu Army, but more finely crafted. The Yangwu Grand General considered it an excellent instrument for reconnaissance and observing battle formations. After capturing it, he was quite fond of it and had his personal guard carry it with him."

Huang Taiji did not reach out to take it. Dudu drew a brass tube from his bosom. "This was found on the body of a slain Anqing cavalry officer during a night battle outside Tongcheng Post. This Telescope is identical to the one the Yangwu Grand General used. Prisoners have confessed that Scout Cavalry Banner Commanders in their camp all carry Telescopes like this."

Huang Taiji took the Telescope. Inscribed on it were four characters: "Trample White, Shatter Vanguard." Near the front lens were several small characters: "Made by Wang Wenguo, Anqing Workshop Mirror-making Institute."

He looked down at Yoto's Telescope on the cart. On its barrel were only the four characters "Victory from a Thousand Miles." The lens bore no craftsman's mark.

"Identical in length and size, the characters carved in exactly the same positions — they must be the work of the same craftsman. Both came from Anqing." Huang Taiji looked at Dudu. "Earlier reports said the Plain Red Banner suffered two defeats, losing over a hundred elite guards. Was that the work of troops from this Anqing Prefecture of Ming State?"

Dudu hesitated a moment, then replied carefully, "Reporting to the Emperor: it was indeed these Anqing troops. Previous memorials reported two defeats for the Bordered Red Banner — one at Thirty-Li Post in Chiping, the second at the Yongding River. Both were inflicted by a Southern Troops contingent from Anqing Prefecture in Ming State's Nanzhili. The Plain Red Banner's elite guard Commander Holben, Regiment Commander Ye Shan, several Outer Vassal Mongol and captured Chahar Taijis all perished at the hands of these Southern Troops."

"Southern Troops…" Huang Taiji's expression did not change. "Are their tactics comparable to the Zhejiang Troops or Sichuan Troops?"

"Unlike the Zhejiang and Sichuan Troops, who mostly fight on foot, this Anqing force is half infantry and half cavalry. They also differ from the Nine Borders troops. Their cavalry mostly uses Light Armor and Light Arrows; their infantry uses Heavy Armor and Heavy Troops. Their armor is superb, not inferior to the elite guard. They supplement it with firelocks and small cannon. Their artillery is especially ferocious. When defending a position, they have the momentum of an immovable mountain. Even an ordinary village is extremely difficult to assault — that was the case at both Tongcheng Post and the Yongding River. Their cavalry's combat power is mediocre, but their officers and men have high fighting spirit. At Tongcheng Post, their cavalry suffered over fifty percent losses. By the standards of other Ming Army garrisons, one would think they'd lost their nerve. Yet after linking up with Ming State's Sun Governor, they immediately rallied several Border Army battalions, mixing infantry and cavalry, and launched a surprise attack at the Yongding River, cutting the Plain Red Banner's line of march. This caused the Plain Red Banner to abandon most of its grain, silver, and captives. Before exiting at Qingshan Pass, their remnant troops numbered fewer than five hundred, yet they still scraped together men and horses for a night raid, using cannon from across the river to bombard the camp from a distance, throwing two encampments into panic."

Huang Taiji cut him off. "What is this unit called? Who is the commanding officer?"

"This unit comes from Anqing Prefecture in Nanzhili. It was cobbled together from the Anqing Cavalry Camp, the Tongcheng Standard Troops Battalion, the Anqing Prefecture Martial Academy, and the Anqing Water Camp. The commanding officer is called Pang Yu, holding the rank of Vice Regional Commander. He is only a little over twenty years old. It is said that the year before last, he inflicted a great defeat on the Roving Bandits in the south."

Hearing the words "cobbled together," Huang Taiji was not surprised — the Ming State's military system was inherently fragmented. The largest Regional Commander directly commanded only three to five thousand men at most; other battalions were always temporarily combined when battle came. It was the officer's age that gave him slight pause.

For a moment Huang Taiji asked no new questions. Dorgon, who had remained silent all this while, now drew closer and said, "In one battle, this Ming Army unit had a great number of Heavy Armor. In another, their small cannon proved formidable. When they launched a night raid during the exit at Qingshan Pass, they were routed by our elite guard, and one of their cannon fell into our hands."

Dudu immediately shut his mouth. Although the Right Wing Army had achieved higher battle honors in the early phase and ultimately seized considerable plunder, compared to the Left Wing Army, its losses had been grievous — especially in the latter half after shifting operations to Shandong, where they were repeatedly mauled by those Anqing Southern Barbarians. Now Dorgon was producing a cannon and specifically emphasizing that it had been seized from the Anqing Battalion, making the contrast all the more stark.

Dorgon led the way and soon stopped before an oxcart. A small cannon was firmly lashed to it with ropes; only one wheel remained on its carriage.

"The Emperor's discerning eye will note: this is a cannon of that Anqing Battalion. It weighs only four to five hundred catties and can be towed by just two horses. Though it uses a light charge and light shot — far inferior to the awe-inspiring power of the Westerners' red-coated cannon — it excels in speed and convenience."

Huang Taiji turned his head toward Dudu. "Have you personally witnessed this cannon being fired?"

Dudu hesitated, then said, "This small cannon fires with astonishing speed. When the Right Wing jointly attacked that fortified village by the Yongding River and failed to take it, the cannon fire thundered unceasingly for half a day, yet we never saw this cannon burst its barrel. Afterward, by the Yongding River, your slave witnessed it with his own eyes. The Plain Red Banner's withdrawal was disciplined and without error. The Southern Barbarian cavalry had only just arrived when two of these cannon, following right behind the cavalry, hurried up. They were set in place and immediately opened fire. Though the shot was small, shields and armor still could not withstand it. The Armored Soldiers holding the rear guard instantly scattered. No fewer than fifty Armored Soldiers drowned in the river. Du Lei nearly failed to make it ashore. That day, the Banner Commander's Recognition Banner also… went missing."

Huang Taiji's brows furrowed slightly. He noticed several lines of characters on the gun carriage and leaned in close to examine them. On the carriage's thick wooden crossbeam was carved: "No. 1 Field Light Cannon, Batch 2, No. 7. Tongcheng Standard Troops Battalion, First Division, Artillery Banner Team, Artillery Squad 1, Cannon Leader Guan. Charge: No. 1 Light Pack. Shot: No. 1 Light Shot. Horse team: 4. Wheeled carriage, Year 10 model…"

This appeared to be a marking format he had never seen before. Western cannon of this era were meticulously marked with shot and charge weights, and the Qing army followed that same format. The Anqing format was entirely different and seemed quite peculiar. Huang Taiji fell silent for a moment. Dorgon and Dudu dared not interrupt and waited quietly to the side.

After a long while, Huang Taiji finally straightened up. He spoke to a civil official behind him: "Transfer this cannon to Wang Tianxiang. Assign extra skilled Jinhuo Baitangga. First, attempt to manufacture a few usable pieces."

The civil official acknowledged the order. Huang Taiji turned to look at Dorgon and Dudu. "This Ming Army unit is full of oddities. We should pay it extra attention. Imprison captured officers and men of this unit separately. Interrogate them thoroughly: ascertain the unit's organizational structure, the number of mounted Household Retainers, the quantity of equipment and armor, and compile a list of the strengths and weaknesses of its subordinate officers. Spare no detail. If this unit remains garrisoned in the Liaoxi or Ji Garrison area, the next time we encounter them, regardless of casualties, we must annihilate them completely — to eliminate future trouble."