Chapter 324: Forest of Long Spears

When Chen Xin received the vanguard battle report, he was still hurrying through the desolate wilderness below Dajian Shan. Knowing that Dorgon's main force had been blocked, he felt somewhat pleased. Liu Pojun swiftly went to relay orders to the Company Commander, directing the troops to increase speed.

Chen Xin was leading the Guard Battalion's First Company Headquarters. The difference between the Guard Battalion and ordinary combat troops was that the soldiers' bright helmets bore a white-painted tiger-head insignia. They were organized in the Mandarin Duck formation, whose flexibility in adapting to different combat conditions far surpassed that of pike-square troops, and it was the formation Dengzhou's generals employed most proficiently. Therefore, in the new organization, Chen Xin had specially retained one Company Headquarters for each battalion, so that when a single battalion operated independently, it would possess greater flexibility.

Now the registered population base of Dengzhou had greatly increased, and would exceed three hundred thousand this year, with refugees from Shandong being the most numerous, along with some from Henan and Northern Zhili who came drawn by its reputation. Many among the northerners had martial training. The Mobilization Department would separately select soldiers with a foundation from the reserve troops to train as reserves for the Mandarin Duck formation. Skilled instructors and standardized drill manuals greatly reduced the time needed for replenishment. The power of the Dengzhou system was gradually revealing itself.

"My lord, the cavalry battalion's losses were somewhat heavy this time," Lu Chuanzong said from the side after hearing the battle report, reflecting for a moment. "Seventy-some casualties out of seven hundred men — that has already wounded their vitality."

Chen Xin nodded. "Ten percent casualties. But the Jianzhou bandits lost even more. As long as morale holds, the fighting ahead will be easier."

Lu Chuanzong agreed, "The report says twenty or thirty White Armor Soldiers were confirmed among them. It takes many years to replace even one of those men. Now that we are in Liaonan, this subordinate thinks they may not be able to replace them at all."

At that moment, the infantry behind began to accelerate. Chen Xin slightly increased his horse's speed, leading his guard detachment forward to pull some distance away so as not to impede the marching column behind. After riding a stretch, he casually said to Lu Chuanzong, "Are your hands itching too?"

"Yes, my lord. Since Shenmi Island last year, the old First Company Headquarters has not fought a tough battle. This reorganization also shuffled things around somewhat. This subordinate would also like the chance to come to Liaonan and lead troops in battle, to temper the men and horses, so that in the future I may serve my lord all the more."

Chen Xin knew that Lu Chuanzong felt somewhat neglected and was trying to demonstrate his loyalty. The reason he had brought Lu Chuanzong along to Liaonan this time was that the main force of the Guard Battalion had been transferred away, and he was slightly uneasy about Lu Chuanzong, so he specifically kept him close at hand to control.

In truth, he was well aware that now each battalion had staff officers, senior sergeants, deputy battalion commanders, training officers, and judge advocates. The authority of the commanding officer was already very limited. The soldiers' families and assets were also under civil administration control. After this reorganization, the old subordinates had undergone a major reshuffling, and no one had the opportunity to pull away and form their own independent faction.

As long as the overall situation in Denglai remained sound, no one would follow any rebellion. But for Chen Xin, maintaining the stability of the team was paramount. Lu Chuanzong had only wavered slightly and had not committed any out-of-line acts; it would not be appropriate to completely cast him into the cold palace. He also wanted to use this Liaonan campaign to give Lu Chuanzong a chance.

Hearing this, he smiled faintly. "There will be chances to fight. Chuanzong, you should have two young masters by now?"

Lu Chuanzong lowered his voice. "It is rare that my lord remembers. Indeed two, and also two daughters. There is another in my concubine's belly — I do not yet know if it is a boy or a girl."

Chen Xin laughed heartily. "So many children already. Life is better now than before, but prices and housing in Dengzhou are also expensive. Is your monthly salary enough? If not, just come and tell this official."

"My lord jests. You know that house of mine cost nothing — it was seized from a wealthy family that was exterminated. Monthly expenses do not amount to much."

"By year's end it will be better. The year is already half over. You have one thousand taels of shares in the Four Seas Trading Company — this year's dividend will be at least two or three hundred taels."

Lu Chuanzong looked up in surprise. "That much?"

Chen Xin gazed at the mountain shadows ahead and said flatly, "This is the power of commerce. But all commerce must have agriculture and military force as its guarantee. Otherwise, the silver will all end up belonging to others in the end."

Lu Chuanzong said with some awkwardness, "This subordinate does not understand these things. In any case, whatever my lord says, this subordinate will do. Silver is enough for this subordinate. My lord, your household expenses are very frugal — this humble one knows that. I also will not compare such expenditures with others. Nowadays I even visit the pleasure quarters less often."

Chen Xin smiled. "There is no need to scrimp deliberately. Silver is meant to be spent. Use what should be used, and go to the pleasure quarters if you should go. We are a military garrison, not a monk's temple. In the past, things were hard enough for all of you. In our Dengzhou garrison, the incomes of soldiers and officers are not far apart. Officers' pay is actually lower than in other garrisons. It is not that this official deliberately treats officers poorly. Officers' treatment will improve, but not at the soldiers' expense. In the final analysis, only when soldiers and officers can live well can we live well."

Chen Xin pointed a finger at a ruined village ahead amid the wild grass. "Look at the desolation all around. Back then, Liaodong had several million Han people. Why could they not withstand a mere few tens of thousands of Jianzhou bandits? Liaodong also had countless wealthy gentry and officials back then. Where have they gone now? Just like when you suffered bitterly in Tianjin back then — would you have been willing to go die in battle for the imperial court?"

Lu Chuanzong immediately said, "I would not. At most I would have gone to scrounge some soldier's pay."

"Exactly. Whether officers, soldiers, or garrison households, each is a member of Dengzhou Garrison. Only together are they called Dengzhou Garrison. Without them, Dengzhou Garrison would be no different from any ordinary garrison. Just like when Kong Youde, Li Jiucheng, and Geng Zhongming were in Dengzhou back then — because there was no strong organization, the Liao troops and Liao people were bullied and humiliated everywhere. Who then was willing to go to Dalinghe to relieve Liao? Who was willing to fight for you, the commanding general? Chuanzong, you must remember: every victory of ours is the result of the combined effort of officers and men. Each person's strength is very small. Separated from the collective of Dengzhou Garrison, it is like a fish leaving water — fighting would not go so smoothly. If our Dengzhou officers were to leave Dengzhou Garrison and serve as officers alone elsewhere, though they would have authority within the camp, they would still have to watch their superiors' expressions, be constrained everywhere in matters of money and grain, and be bullied by the gentry outside. But within our Dengzhou Garrison, each department shares the burden. The commanding general only concerns himself with fighting. Money and grain are ample. Officers and men all have dignity. Only thus do we have today's strong army. Once placed in an ordinary garrison, the troops would have no heart for battle — how could a single commanding general win a victory? Comparing the two, which is superior and which inferior is clear at a glance."

Lu Chuanzong's face flushed slightly from Chen Xin's persuasion. He knew Chen Xin was alluding to something, but being able to hint at it to him was better than being coldly neglected in private. He bowed and said, "This subordinate has thought it through. Henceforth I shall always keep this in mind, loyal to Lord Chen, loyal to Dengzhou Garrison."

Chen Xin smiled and nodded. "Besides loyalty, you must also think more about tactics and strategy. Now that our men and horses are gradually increasing, the regions and scale of combat will also expand. This official must likewise constantly summarize and study. Bringing you to Liaonan this time is also to let you experience it firsthand. After we return, you must summarize your own insights — about large-corps operations, about campaign maneuver of troops..."

Lu Chuanzong nodded repeatedly...

While Chen Xin was talking ceaselessly as he hurried along, Dorgon had already reached two li south of the ford. The Ming army was now drawn up in a strict battle formation. Infantry and cavalry alike sat on the ground resting. The corpses of the Later Jin soldiers killed in the earlier engagement still lay where they had fallen, only their clothing, armor, and heads were all gone.

On Dorgon's youthful face, however, no anger could be seen. Although he was only twenty years old, he was long accustomed to life and death on the battlefield. Never mind the enemy stripping clothes — even the Later Jin army itself often stripped the armor of fallen comrades. It had happened many times during the Dalinghe campaign, and it was even the bondservants who stripped the dead armored soldiers. Huang Taiji had specially punished a batch of men, ordering each banner's company men to keep strict watch over their household members.

What truly enraged Dorgon was that his White Armor Soldiers had suffered grievous losses in the earlier vanguard clash. Over thirty White Armor Soldiers had been killed. He had only a little over two hundred White Armor Soldiers in total. Adding the losses on Shenmi Island, he had already lost sixty or seventy veteran Bayara. This dealt a severe blow to his strength, and the situation before his eyes might well magnify those losses.

Over two thousand Ming troops by the shore were pursuing from behind. If Dorgon did not wish to be caught in a pincer, he could only break through the formation as quickly as possible or bypass it. Looking now at the Ming deployment, neither option seemed easy. Scouts reported that another infantry force was approaching from the east. If he did not seize the moment, he would lose this final chance to break out.

The Ming army's left wing was infantry, arrayed in four square formations, two in front and two behind. Two cannons were placed on the flanks of the squares, their edges not far from the riverbank. Though there was some distance, even a fool knew a large army could not pass through there. The Ming right wing was entirely cavalry, which Dorgon roughly estimated at six or seven hundred men. Beyond them stretched a region of rolling hills. They had deliberately occupied the western side precisely to extend their flank and prevent the Later Jin forces from using their speed to bypass the formation. If Dorgon still tried to force a bypass, his marching column could at any moment be attacked by the Ming cavalry positioned on the inner circle. Once the rear guard was cut off, it would be a great rout.

The official road to the north was empty, without a trace of reinforcements. Dorgon now was filled with resentment toward Manggūltai. The Ming army had come in broad daylight — in such a vast region, many scouts must have seen them. Manggūltai could not possibly be unaware. He was now deliberately waiting to see the young Beile make a fool of himself.

He also blamed himself. If he had held fast in Fuzhou and not come out, the effect might have been better. At least there would have been city walls for protection, and the line of retreat would have been open.

The Bayara commander who had fled back in disarray was right beside Dorgon, his face full of shame. According to his own expectations, with the White Armor Guards as the arrowhead, there was no Ming formation they could not break through — and at that time, the Ming cavalry had even been somewhat disordered. The result had greatly exceeded his expectations. Those Ming troops had fought to the death without retreating. Especially that unit of firearms soldiers that charged in from the flank, firing at close range and then rushing in to kill — it still made his heart tremble with fear.

The deputy commander also wore a worried expression. He had never fought this Denglai army before, but he knew well what Kakduli was capable of. If even Kakduli had been captured alive by these troops, it at least proved that the opposing force was very strong.

The deputy commander leaned in and asked Dorgon, "Master, do we fight or bypass them?"

Dorgon turned his head to look at the hills on the left. The slopes there were thick with waist-high wormwood and stands of dead trees — certainly no good place to pass. The few usable mountain passes were not wide. Withdrawing in the face of the enemy was an inherently very dangerous operation. Soldiers' hearts would be filled with dread, especially those marching in the rear guard, constantly fearing they would be surrounded or abandoned — they were the most prone to waver. Although the Ming army had not yet moved, once his own forces began withdrawing through those narrow passes, the column would inevitably stretch out or even become jammed. Then the Ming army might pursue and strike — whether chasing from behind or striking at the middle — either could easily cause his collapse. The losses then would be pure losses, without even a sound to show for it, just like when the Later Jin army chased down collapsing Ming troops.

To the north there was still no sign of reinforcements. Dorgon gritted his teeth. He could only choose to fight, and the sooner the better. The pursuing troops from behind had not yet arrived. If he delayed until they were within visual range, the moment his soldiers realized they were surrounded, they would become utterly fragile. Although Dorgon had assigned some mounted troops to delay that Ming force, he did not believe that so few horsemen could effectively harass as many as two thousand elite infantry, especially when the enemy also had firearms with a range exceeding that of bows.

Dorgon made his decision instantly. He pointed at the deputy commander. "You lead the mounted troops and spread out to the west. Divide the cavalry into left and right wings. Ride back and forth laterally as much as possible. Detach small units to pin down the two wings of the Ming cavalry formation. Do not give them a chance to charge head-on. Even if engaged, you must tie them down and not let them flank my infantry."

The deputy commander had also heard the details of the Jinzhou battle, where the Plain Blue Banner's cavalry had been utterly routed in a head-on clash. Dorgon's tactic of dividing into multiple groups for skirmishing combat could buy time while avoiding the enemy's frontal power.

The deputy commander turned his head to look at the western side. Before the hilly area, there was a stretch of flat ground, but it was not very open. Conducting skirmishing combat there would be no small difficulty. Yet he also understood that this was a moment of life and death. He could only answer with a "Zha."

Dorgon's intent was to draw away the opposing cavalry, still seeking to exploit his advantage in infantry combat. In fact, he had another option: to concentrate all mounted men and charge straight at the enemy cavalry formation. But the place where the Ming army had formed up was where the hills came closest to the river, leaving almost no room for flanking. And the Bayara commander's recent experience had given him some concern. If the enemy infantry was resolute enough, cavalry held no advantage — just as Later Jin troops also dared to face Ming cavalry in infantry combat, even against the elite Yehe cavalry. Their advantage still lay in infantry fighting.

He turned to the Bayara commander. "Have the armored infantry dismount and form ranks. Whatever they used before, this time the front ranks will all use long spears. The Nikan infantry formation has only a thousand men. Smash them and open the road to Fuzhou. Bakshan, you will lead the assault."

Under Dorgon's baleful glare, Bakshan could only bow his head and accept the order. He and the deputy commander separately organized the troops. Through the command hierarchy of company captains, platoon leaders, sergeants, and corporals, they mobilized the men level by level. Over a thousand Later Jin soldiers dismounted one after another. Armored infantry bearing long spears came in turn to the front ranks. What they held in their hands were spears one zhang and four chi long — nearly equal in length to those of the Ming army.

The battle on Shenmi Island the previous year had been a severe blow to the confidence of the Later Jin military aristocracy. Huang Taiji had many times summoned those who had fought that day for questioning. In terms of armaments, what the Eight Banner lords were most concerned about were the rapid-fire small cannons, the firelocks that needed no lit match, and finally the ultra-long spears. Huang Taiji had arranged for craftsmen to attempt making the cannons and firelocks, but it seemed quite difficult. The easiest to imitate, however, were these long spears.

As the banner lord who had suffered the heaviest losses on Shenmi Island, Dorgon had also questioned survivors many times within his banner. Although all Eight Banners were manufacturing long spears, the first to employ them in large numbers was Dorgon's own fifteen companies.

The Later Jin armored soldiers were highly drilled in battle formations, and the square formation was not a difficult one. The square they formed was likewise very orderly. The mounted troops split into several groups, two of which began moving to the western side, making as if to outflank the Ming line. From within the Ming cavalry formation rose a strange bugle call, and a detachment also began shifting toward the outer flank. This bugle call also puzzled Dorgon somewhat. He recalled that all reports said the Denglai troops were trained according to Qi Jiguang's military manuals, which listed as many as seven or eight types of signals and drums. Yet this Ming army seemed to have only this bugle and the infantry pace drum.

Dorgon had no time to continue wondering. His tactic had basically worked. Now whether he could extricate himself depended on the infantry showdown. Dorgon's infantry slightly outnumbered the Ming infantry, but the advantage was very slim. Much would still depend on his soldiers' superior combat power.

At that moment, the armored infantry finished forming ranks. The formation bristled with blades and spears. Dorgon waved his hand. After a blast of a conch horn, the great drums sounded, and the infantry began advancing with composure.

From the Ming infantry side came a bugle call as well. The soldiers resting on the ground rose as one. A dense forest of long spears stood erect, nearly blotting out the northern background. Another Ming bugle call sounded, and the infantry pace drums beat out a rapid roll, then settled into a marching cadence. All four square formations moved forward simultaneously, like shifting forests of long spears.