Chapter 321: Bleeding

ps: Still fifty votes short of 500, continuing to ask for monthly tickets.

"The number of troops led by Huang Taiji to campaign against the Chahar is unclear, but his movements have been confirmed. According to news from the Guanning intelligence station, the Later Jin Khan held a league meeting at Zhagunwuda this time. The Mongol Khorchin, Kharaqin, and Khalkha tribes came to join, along with the Tumed, Barin, Aohan, and other tribes previously attacked by Lin Danhan. The Mongol tribes value sworn oaths above all. The Junlingsi judges that Huang Taiji could not use this as a feint, nor would he handle it perfunctorily. He will certainly launch a real attack against the Chahar, at least as far as the area beyond Xuan-Da. Even if this expedition goes smoothly, it will take at least two months. Because of the severe cold on the steppes in winter and the lack of horse fodder, the Later Jin troops led by Huang Taiji will return by November at the latest."

In the operations room of the Jinzhou Fourth Mixed Battalion, Liu Pojun's resounding voice echoed through the meeting hall. All officers of Squad Commander rank and above attended this meeting, using it to understand the overall situation and have a clear picture in their minds. After returning, these Squad Commanders would also convene briefings for Company Commander rank and above, thereby improving the awareness and judgment of junior officers.

This was also a deliberate requirement by Chen Xin, aimed at changing the malady of officers in this era who only knew to follow their superior's arrangements. Under the training system of Dengzhou Garrison, soldiers knew why they fought and also knew that everything about them was controlled. What Chen Xin needed was for each combat unit to possess a certain degree of initiative, so that when they encountered unexpected situations on the battlefield, they would not collapse and flee for a thousand li.

Historically, Hong Taiji should have set out to campaign against the Chahar in the third month. Disrupted by Chen Xin, the Dalinghe siege also dragged on, forcing him to delay the advance to early in the seventh month. By the time Chen Xin and others confirmed this, it was already the end of the month.

Liu Pojun used a bamboo stick to point at the large map on the wall—a very abstract map, of course, because for areas north of Gaizhou they could only refer to the Ministry of War's Nine Border Garrisons map, and beyond the Sancha River it was even more vague. "According to consecutive days of reconnaissance by our army's outriders and special service teams, the Jianzhou Bandits have deployed between Fuzhou and Gaizhou parts of the Plain White, Plain Blue, and Bordered Red Banners, with the Plain White and Plain Blue being the most numerous. The number of true Jurchen is estimated at three to four thousand, of which the total troops in Fuzhou number about one thousand five hundred. Among them are three hundred Fishskin Tatars."

Wang Zhangfu, who had also just arrived with Chen Xin, raised his hand upon hearing this and asked, "Are these Fishskin Tatars newly arrived?"

"The Fishskin Tatars among the Jianzhou Bandits mostly come from various tribes along the Heilongjiang River or the eastern seaboard of the Changbai Mountains. Those who arrived earlier have already adopted Jurchen customs. As for these Fishskin Tatars in Fuzhou, when the special service teams interrogated prisoners, they only obtained scattered information. This year, Huang Taiji sent Meng Atu with a force to campaign against the Warka tribe, going as far as Ningguta, capturing over a thousand adult males and nearly two thousand youths and women. These were distributed among the Eight Banners to fill the missing quotas in the Niru. It is still impossible to determine whether the Fishskin Tatars in Fuzhou came from this capture."

Chen Xin gently tapped the table. "In short, they are tribes from Tungus. Many were forcibly captured by the Jianzhou Bandits to fill the Eight Banners and fight at the front. These people have not been on the plains for long and are more feral, but their discipline and battle formations still lag far behind the Jianzhou Bandits. To us, they are all enemies, and nothing to fear. Liu Pojun, continue."

"In Haizhou there is a unit of Ujen Cooha. In Gaizhou there is also Kong Youde's Tianyou Army. Among them, the Ujen Cooha's assault troops number around a thousand, and the Tianyou Army around one thousand two hundred. The total available troops the Jianzhou Bandits can use is estimated at five to six thousand."

Another hand shot up high. Liu Pojun's expression darkened slightly. His tone dropping, he said, "Squad Commander Zhong, please speak."

Zhong Lao Si could not sit as casually as Wang Zhangfu. He stood up and asked bluntly, "If we don't know the number of troops led by Huang Taiji, how do we know the Jianzhou Bandits can only use five to six thousand troops? According to the last intelligence briefing, the Jianzhou Bandits have between forty and fifty thousand available men, with twenty to twenty-five thousand armored men. I think that Lin Danhan is a coward. Huang Taiji bringing five thousand men is enough to deal with him. Even if the Dongjiang Garrison lot can stir up some trouble and divert some Jianzhou Bandits, the armored men available for Fuzhou should still be over ten thousand."

The other officers in the meeting room exchanged glances, also feeling that what Zhong Lao Si said made some sense. The Chahar Mongols had low-quality equipment, and their organization and discipline were far inferior to the Later Jin. Five thousand men dealing with Lin Danhan was very possible.

Liu Pojun lacked goodwill toward this Zhong Lao Si, especially remembering when the two were confined together, Zhong Lao Si was keen on kicking someone when they were down, rubbing salt into Liu Pojun's wounds. But now was not the time to settle scores with him.

"Regarding the number of Jianzhou Bandit troops, it can indeed only be estimated. The numbers just mentioned are the true Jurchen of the Jianzhou Bandits currently discovered between Gaizhou and Fuzhou. A small number of Bordered Red Banner troops once appeared in Gaizhou. The troops taken away by Hong Taiji can likewise only be estimated. The Junlingsi believes it is between seven and ten thousand. As for the remaining Eight Banner troops, they cannot be assembled in the short term. The Jianzhou Bandits are currently in the busy farming season and not in a state of assembly. Moreover, it has only been four months since Dalinghe ended, and their material losses are severe. Given the Jianzhou Bandit system where soldiers and horses provide their own weapons and provisions, before this year's autumn grain is harvested, most Banner Lords are unwilling to mobilize their own men again unless there is definite news. And we can precisely exploit this point."

Liu Pojun was very composed, clearly having put in considerable effort. This type of operational meeting was very helpful in enhancing his prestige, and Chen Xin had specifically instructed him to prepare thoroughly.

"Judging from the deployment of Jianzhou Bandit forces, they roughly know the number of our troops in Jinzhou and Lushun. Therefore, they have deployed five to seven thousand men between Haizhou and Fuzhou, with restored relay stations and military forts along the way, sufficient to secure the Southern Three Garrisons area. This is because they do not know we urgently transferred two Company Commander departments from Denglai, giving us an advantage in troop strength. An urgent report from Fuzhou to Shenyang would take at least two days. If troops were to be transferred from north of Haizhou, assembly would take at least two days, and marching on the road about five days. Before the urgent report is sent, the Fuzhou garrison must confirm our army's strength; otherwise, they would be falsely reporting military intelligence to the Beile left in Shenyang. Therefore, as long as we deceive the enemy regarding our troop strength, we can gain several more days. With about ten days, that is enough for us to conduct an offensive operation."

Zhong Lao Si opened his mouth. "In other words, the repeated maneuvers to the Pingyang River in the past few days were to confuse the Jianzhou Bandits?"

Liu Pojun felt a sense of having intellectually bested Zhong Lao Si. After all, Zhong Lao Si had only just now realized it, which gave him great satisfaction. Thus, brimming with confidence, he said, "Squad Commander Zhong is correct. These several feints all drew the Jianzhou Bandits south of Yulinpu to maneuver. It not only fatigued them but also allowed the special service teams to confirm their numbers. Does Company Commander Zhong have any other questions?"

"None." Zhong Lao Si showed no sense of frustration whatsoever, and added, "None for now."

Liu Pojun glanced at him twice and continued, "Next is our army's dispatched forces. This time, taking advantage of the absence of the Jianzhou Bandits' main force, our Dengzhou Garrison will dispatch the majority of the Liaonan troops, primarily to attack Fuzhou. In the northeast direction of Jinzhou, only a small number of outriders will be retained to coordinate with the various Dongjiang Army units on Guanglu Island and the Greater and Lesser Changshan Islands to harass the eastern seaboard."

"Our Dengzhou Garrison will dispatch this time four Company Commander departments, one cavalry battalion, along with the central army's outriders, special service teams, the Fourth Mixed Battalion headquarters, the Fourth Battalion's organic artillery company, the Guards Battalion's organic artillery company, the logistics team, and other directly attached units."

Unexpectedly, Zhong Lao Si did not give up. He raised his hand again and asked, "Deputy Director Liu, the Jianzhou Bandits have already suffered several painful blows from us. This time we are going with so many people; they may not engage us in a frontal battle. If they choose to retreat and evade, we cannot force them to accept a pitched battle. It is said that in previous years when Mao Wenlong went to raid, the Jianzhou Bandits also kept their city gates shut and refused to come out."

Chen Xin watched the two sparring with keen interest. Liu Pojun was clearly better prepared, while Zhong Lao Si, having been focused on training recently, seemed to be raising questions on the spot. Yet they were still very challenging.

"What Squad Commander Zhong mentioned has long been considered by the Junlingsi. The main army will be divided into two routes, east and south. The Eastern Route Army consists of the central army's light cavalry, the Guards Battalion's First Company Commander Department, the Fourth Battalion's cavalry, and the mounted infantry Company Commander Department, advancing via the official road to Fuzhou. The Southern Route Army consists of the Guards' Second Phalanx Company Commander Department and the Mixed Battalion's Phalanx Company Commander Department."

Liu Pojun still maintained a composed demeanor. "The two Company Commander departments of the Southern Route will be transported by sea to Niangniang Palace to land. All seagoing vessels of Fujian junk form and above will dock at Niangniang Palace. After landing, they will proceed due south along the Fuzhou River toward Fuzhou, drawing the Jianzhou Bandits north of Fuzhou to assemble southward. The Eastern Route Army will then cut off their retreat and annihilate the main Jianzhou Bandit force in Fuzhou. If the Jianzhou Bandits in Fuzhou do not move, the two routes will converge on the west side of Dongping Mountain and jointly attack Fuzhou. Eastern Route Army commander: Zhu Guobin. Southern Route Army commander: Wang Zhangfu. Lu Chuanzong will accompany Lord Chen's central army to observe..."

Seven days later, by the Pingyang River, the cavalry formation was fording the river. On the surrounding hilltops were mounted sentries on alert and killer squads. Behind them stretched the long infantry column. At the very end were large numbers of two-wheeled logistics wagons.

This was the boundary river between Fuzhou and Jinzhou. Crossing the river meant entering Fuzhou territory. After exiting the Jinzhou isthmus, the land area was broad, making it impossible to completely screen against Later Jin reconnaissance. This area was a zone of frequent clashes between the outriders of both sides. With the support of large combat units from Dengzhou Garrison, the Later Jin army in Fuzhou could no longer establish a foothold nearby, but observing the marching column from a distance was possible. This required the cavalry to speed up and catch the Jianzhou Bandits off guard.

Liu Pojun hurried over to Chen Xin and reported in a low voice, "News just received from the Southern Route. Yesterday morning at dawn, the Southern Route Army began disembarking. By afternoon, a defensive line had been established. It was not until the Shen hour that over five hundred Jianzhou Bandits arrived. It is unknown today whether any follow-up Jianzhou Bandits have come."

"A fly is still meat; five hundred is still heads." Chen Xin smiled smugly. "Pojun, this time we are fighting on open land. Do you have any feelings about it?"

Liu Pojun said in a low voice, "I'm on tenterhooks. We have too few cavalry. Although we've had the upper hand in recent skirmishes, it was mainly in mountainous terrain. Our special service teams have systematic training and all kinds of equipment surpassing the Jianzhou Bandits. But after passing Jianzi Mountain, the terrain is relatively flat, and our outriders no longer have the advantage."

Chen Xin smiled slightly. "Indeed. I would rather engage the Jianzhou Bandits between Jinzhou and Lushun, where the terrain is narrow and there's no worry of being outflanked."

Liu Pojun looked at the surrounding terrain and said, "Troop movement is also difficult. These official roads have been neglected for years; even wagons struggle to travel, and men and horses move slowly. If the roads were in the condition of those in Denglai, we wouldn't need to divide our forces and could take enough logistics teams by land."

Chen Xin nodded. "We don't want to go to Fuzhou, and Hong Taiji probably doesn't want to come to Lushun either. We can also transport provisions by water; Hong Taiji doesn't have that advantage. So I won't repair the road to Fuzhou. If we can teach the Jianzhou Bandits a lesson this time, then Hong Taiji will eventually be unable to resist pulling out Lushun. Otherwise, his strategy cannot unfold at all."

Liu Pojun smiled obsequiously. "That would make fighting much easier."

Chen Xin looked back at a damaged eight-pounder gun carriage by the roadside. Several artillerymen were sweating profusely as they replaced a wheel spoke. He couldn't help but remark with emotion, "Heads and cities are not important. We just need to prove we have the ability to harass central Liaodong. In the past, the old chieftain could afford to ignore Mao Wenlong's raids, but Hong Taiji will certainly care. He will find us unbearable. If he comes this way then, we'll see how many bondservants he can work to death."

"Your Excellency has great insight. The Jianzhou Bandits have a sparse population, and Liaodong's output is limited. If they cannot plunder, they will eventually be bled dry. If they go out to rob, the troops left in Liaodong will be limited. As long as we prove this time that we have the potential to attack central Liaodong, then Hong Taiji will have no choice but to come and attack Lushun."

"When he goes out to plunder, we'll bleed him from behind. Let's see how long he can endure. When he comes to Lushun, we'll have to give him a proper welcome." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian () to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)