Chapter 414: Shooting Star

Gao Hongzhong's planned negotiations had yet to begin when Dengzhou Garrison, amid the rumbling of cannon fire, switched from defense to offense, selecting one key point on the left, center, and right for concentrated strikes. Each banner sent out its own cavalry to provide support, and the troops left to hold the earthen wall began to withdraw one by one. The kind of retreat-under-enemy-pressure that Huang Taiji least wanted had begun.

The mixed battalion on the far left flank was the first to pull out, forming up two hundred paces behind the earthen wall to cover the withdrawal of the left-flank troops. Next came the Bordered Blue Banner forces. The opposing Dengzhou Garrison dispatched detachments that continuously harried the rearguard troops, forcing the retreating Bordered Blue Banner men to turn back again. After several back-and-forth clashes atop the earthen wall, the Bordered Blue Banner rearguard collapsed, abandoning heaps of armor and baggage as they fled in rout.

The greatest difference between the rearguard and the vanguard is that the vanguard can count on support from the main force, making holding out a matter of hope, whereas when serving as the rearguard, the main force is moving away from you, and once pinned down, death is the only outcome. The Bordered Blue Banner's rearguard consisted of over three hundred pure Jurchen and more than four hundred Mongols. Facing attacks from four detachments totaling fewer than two hundred men, they could not bring their fighting strength to bear at all. Among them, the White Armor Soldiers actually ran faster than the armored troops, and the armored troops and auxiliaries immediately broke into a frantic sprint as well.

Dengzhou detachments ascended the earthen wall at the Bordered Blue Banner's position. Two of the detachments on the eastern side pursued the routing troops, while the other two advanced along the top of the wall, attacking the Plain Blue Banner's flank from the high ground. Atop the Lüshun city wall, Liu Po's army banner signals waved, and all along the line, Dengzhou troops began sending out detachments to assault the earthen wall. Every type of cannon and rocket fired in dense volleys, the momentum resembling a general assault.

The Plain Blue Banner had suffered heavy losses in the previous days' attacks, and their will to fight was already extremely low. The collapse of their flank swiftly triggered a domino effect. Before the rearguard Meile Ejen could even organize a withdrawal, the Plain Blue Banner's holding force had already crumbled. Nearly a thousand pure Jurchen and Mongols fled in utter disarray.

The chaos on the right flank quickly spread. The Guards Second Division in the center advanced alongside the detachments, their momentum even more overwhelming than elsewhere. Group after group of Mandarin Duck formation combat teams crossed the passageways, pursuing the routed Later Jin troops.

The Later Jin troops in the central sector had no heart for rescue. The defense lines of the Two Red Banners, Ujen Cooha, and the Tianyou Army collapsed like an avalanche. The Later Jin troops on the earthen wall abandoned all remaining baggage and weapons and fled. There were no horses here at the wall; they were all on foot. Some of the bondservants left behind scurried about like headless flies, while others who had prepared in advance hid everywhere in the trenches. The moment Dengzhou soldiers appeared before them, they immediately came out shouting their surrender.

Looking down from West Guan Hill, tens of thousands of ants were seen fleeing madly across the wilderness below. The ground was littered with dropped weapons and armor. The retreat that Huang Taiji had meticulously planned had turned into a massive rout. The troops left to hold the earthen wall numbered roughly ten thousand pure Jurchen and Mongols, plus about five thousand bondservants. According to Huang Taiji's plan, they were originally to withdraw under cover of night, taking all useful baggage with them. Now it was all thrown away to Dengzhou. Many armored troops had even discarded their armor to flee faster.

The last were the Two White Banners on the right flank. After being reprimanded, Dorgon had just received a replenishment of some armored troops when this collapse occurred. Dorgon was frantic with anxiety. In the narrow corridor between West Guan Hill and the Lüshun earthen wall, Dengzhou cavalry was already massing. At any moment, they could inflict massive casualties on the retreating Two White Banner forces.

Just as Dorgon's heart was pounding with fear, the Later Jin troops responsible for the right-flank support braved the cannon fire from West Guan Hill and formed ranks at the foot of the hill. The cavalry numbered as many as three thousand, led personally by Haoge. The direction of their formation faced squarely toward the breach. Huang Taiji had not abandoned the Two White Banners. Both Dorgon and Dodo breathed a sigh of relief.

Affected by the center, the Two White Banners' defense line also quickly crumbled. The Dengzhou Garrison, which had been continuously attacking the Later Jin right flank, reacted with agility. The Guards First Division and several detachments swiftly appeared on the earthen wall and the passageways, using the piles of earth sacks near the horse-stopping ditch to fill in the Later Jin trenches, then began forming ranks behind the Later Jin earthen wall.

The Dengzhou cavalry formation maintained its order, advancing slowly beyond the narrow corridor with one battalion as its frontage.

Chen Xin's command banner appeared on West Guan Hill. Below the hill, all was chaos and turmoil, while Lüshun erupted in cheers. Countless red-clad figures pursued the routing troops, shooting down straggling Later Jin soldiers along the way. The Jianzhou Bandits, always invincible in large-scale pitched battles, had suffered a crushing defeat beneath the walls of Lüshun.

Due to the obstruction of the horse-stopping ditch and the Later Jin earthen wall, the Dengzhou Garrison's pursuit was not very effective, and the casualties inflicted were not severe. However, with the Later Jin main force all concentrated here, the sentiment of rout would infect the entire Later Jin army, causing them to lose their psychological advantage when facing the Dengzhou Garrison in the future, while the Dengzhou Garrison would gain the advantage. This subconscious influence was more effective than a thousand lectures from the indoctrination officers.

"My lord, we could actually have the square-formation Company Commanders move out beyond the earthen wall to form ranks. Perhaps Liu Po is being a bit too conservative," Dai Zhenggang said to Chen Xin as he lowered his telescope. "The Later Jin have been besieging the city for a month; their men are weary and their horses spent. Now that their defense line has collapsed and their army's morale is shaken, our forces could well engage them in a pitched battle."

Chen Xin carefully scanned the area below the hill once, then shook his head slightly. "The Later Jin have as many as thirty thousand pure Jurchen troops. Our forces at Lüshun number just over ten thousand. Their cavalry already formed up exceeds ten thousand. We hold no advantage in troop strength. The horse-stopping ditch and the earthen wall hinder the speed at which we can commit troops, and moving artillery through is also extremely inconvenient. By the time we finish forming ranks, the Jianzhou bandit rout troops will have long since returned to their camp. For the main line, it will suffice to let the various detachments and Mandarin Duck formations occupy the earthen wall. Focus the attack on the Two White Banners."

Dai Zhenggang looked at the positions of several Later Jin cavalry groups. Under Huang Taiji's great banner at the foot of North Hill, there were about three thousand. Each flank had three thousand cavalry, and across the northern slope of West Guan Hill, there were another two thousand cavalry. Once the Dengzhou Garrison infantry entered open ground, they would face the threat of cavalry from three directions. Dai Zhenggang also realized that a major victory was impossible. Seeing the increasing number of red figures atop the earthen wall, which had already achieved the effect of boosting army morale, he abandoned his earlier suggestion.

The six cannons on the hill fired two consecutive salvos, half of which struck the Later Jin cavalry formed up below the hill, causing considerable chaos among those horsemen. The Two White Banners below the hill were in the midst of routing. Dengzhou cavalry appeared at the breach, and the first cavalry division began its charge. The Later Jin troops also dispersed, with one portion guarding against those Dengzhou infantry who had crossed the earthen wall.

Dai Zhenggang continuously issued flag signals. After the left-flank Dengzhou infantry completed their formation, they advanced forward. Their strength consisted of one Mandarin Duck formation division and five detachments, with the detachments deployed on the flanks and in the rear. Two detachments were also sent from West Guan Hill, moving down the eastern slope toward the base of the hill. These two infantry units would tie down the Later Jin cavalry's strength, preventing Haoge from dealing with the Dengzhou cavalry at full force. The movements of these two infantry units forced Haoge into a passive position. Haoge, however, was well-prepared and reacted swiftly. He dispatched three Beizi to lead troops, dividing the three thousand cavalry into four groups. They covered each other as they retreated. Dorgon and Dodo also led over a hundred White Armor Soldiers to coordinate.

Under the cover of infantry on both sides, the Dengzhou cavalry deployed outside the breach into a frontage of one division. The four cavalry divisions would carry out four waves of three-rank charges. Dorgon, who had encountered the cavalry formation before, was terrified. At this moment, tens of thousands of routing troops had cut off the center of the battlefield. Neither the Later Jin cavalry in the center nor the two groups on the eastern side could come to their aid. On the western side, they could only rely on Haoge.

Haoge demonstrated considerable command ability. Several Later Jin Beizi, rich in experience, maneuvered ceaselessly on the western side, even suddenly galloping toward the center to force the pursuing Dengzhou infantry to pull back, thereby covering the escape of the entire Later Jin right flank. Their own formation remained very well maintained.

The cavalry formation began to accelerate, charging toward the Later Jin cavalry directly ahead. The infantry on both flanks also took the initiative to attack the Later Jin cavalry. A thousand horses surged below the hill, yet Chen Xin did not feel the excitement he had experienced the first time he watched a cavalry engagement.

The Later Jin cavalry also knew there was no retreat. Disregarding casualties, they charged head-on against the Dengzhou cavalry. The four cavalry divisions of the Dengzhou Garrison executed four consecutive waves of charges. Although they pierced through the enemy front, they could not shake off the flanking harassment from the Later Jin cavalry. Several Later Jin Beizi, seasoned veterans of many battles, employed cavalry tactics with flexibility, taking turns attacking the flanks of the Dengzhou cavalry. They also continuously dispatched small bands of roving riders to circle behind the infantry formations, forcing the infantry to halt their advance. After over a thousand Later Jin cavalry formed up on the northern slope of West Guan Hill came to reinforce, Liu Po sounded the gongs to withdraw.

Chen Xin shook his head atop the hill. Looking at other parts of the battle line, the routing troops were already far away. The Later Jin cavalry on the eastern side had sent riders roaming the battlefield, using their tactical mobility advantage in cavalry to threaten the scattered Dengzhou pursuers. The small red dots had all ceased their pursuit and were withdrawing back to the earthen wall. Chen Xin smiled at Dai Zhenggang and said, "These savages have a few tricks. Our cavalry has had its weak spot found by them. Without sufficient numbers, pinning down both flanks can halt the cavalry formation's advance. Once it descends into a melee, we hold no advantage whatsoever."

Dai Zhenggang replied in a low voice, "The exit here is narrow, making infantry-cavalry coordination difficult. Coupled with the earthen wall blocking the artillery, that is how the Later Jin managed to plug this spot."

Chen Xin smiled faintly. "True. But it also shows Haoge's flexible use of troops. If I had five thousand cavalry today, not a single horse of Huang Taiji's would return to Liaodong. That's all for today. Preserve the cavalry's fighting strength; we'll still need them for pursuit."

"Then shall we launch a night raid this evening?"

"Of course. From now until the Jianzhou bandits withdraw to Fuzhou, we must not let them have a moment's peace. Tonight, we should also let Huang Taiji have a look at our new toy."

Night fell. Both sides, who had fought fiercely all day, ceased their activities. The Dengzhou Garrison dispatched some detachments to garrison the Later Jin earthen wall. The trenches dug by the Later Jin troops were on the northern side of the earthen wall. With the earthen wall now occupied by the Dengzhou Garrison, Lüshun effectively gained an additional defense line.

At this moment, on the northern side of the western section of the Later Jin earthen wall, over a hundred combat soldiers were quietly assembling. At the very front was Chen Ying. He was now a Company Commander in the Guards First Division. Zhong Lao Si had once wanted to transfer him to the Fifth Battalion, but Wang Zhangfu had not agreed, so Chen Ying had remained in the Guards Battalion. He had once been stationed at Lüshun for a period.

Although his promotions had not been as rapid as Zhong Lao Si's, it was generally held within the army that the Guards Battalion possessed superior fighting strength, and its rank was somewhat higher than that of ordinary officers of the same level. This was reflected in his pay; his monthly salary was one tael more than that of an ordinary Company Commander, and a Guards combat soldier received five mace more than an ordinary combat soldier. Over a year, it added up to quite a bit more. More importantly, there were more opportunities for advancement. Whenever a new battalion was formed, the largest number of officers and non-commissioned officers were drawn from the Guards Battalion. Chen Ying could expect to become a Squad Commander or Vice Battalion Commander in a new battalion in the future. Therefore, Chen Ying felt quite content staying in the Guards Battalion.

The Guards First Division had served continuously as the tactical reserve at Lüshun, engaging the Later Jin troops who broke into the earthen wall many times. Today, they had also formed ranks outside the earthen wall to clash with the Later Jin cavalry. Their total losses had reached as high as thirty percent. Chen Ying's own platoon was left with just over sixty men. Though the losses were heavy, the soldiers' morale was high because of the consecutive tactical victories. Beyond that, there was also the simple ideal of fighting the Tatars to protect home and country. All these factors made the Dengzhou soldiers more tenacious than the Later Jin troops who had come only for plunder.

Without the obstruction of the Later Jin earthen wall, Dengzhou could now harass the Later Jin camp. Today, the Dengzhou Garrison changed its usual practice of raiding in the latter half of the night. Soldiers capable of night movement were selected and divided into fifteen detachments, each ranging from one hundred fifty to two hundred men.

These men were reorganized into three musket squads and two Mandarin Duck formation squads. This evening, they were ordered to stand by at the Later Jin earthen wall. After dark, orders came from the regimental headquarters. Their squad, reinforced by the regimental headquarters' own detachment, totaling roughly one hundred fifty men, was to carry out nighttime harassment. At the same time, over ten squads from other battalions were also deployed.

Chen Ying was not very optimistic about the effectiveness of a night raid on such a small scale, and he suspected they would mostly be discovered halfway by the Later Jin's ambush troops. However, the Vice Battalion Commander spoke with firm conviction: the goal was to continuously shake the Jianzhou bandits' army morale, making them more prone to collapse during their retreat. Moreover, the task given to Chen Ying was not to directly attack the camp, but to cover a strange unit. This unit had only twenty men, carrying some long objects that looked like several wooden frames laid flat. But in the darkness, visibility was poor, and he could not tell exactly what they were. Behind them followed a squad from the Garrison Unit, carrying a long object between two men. The leader was a young officer. Chen Ying judged him to be at most seventeen or eighteen years old, yet he was very capable and efficient when giving orders to his subordinates.

A burst of bamboo whistle sounds came from behind the earthen wall. Chen Ying passed the order back to move out. The men behind him relayed it one by one. The order reached the end of the column, and the signal confirming the order was passed back, ending when it reached Chen Ying. He stood up and walked forward.

The nearest Later Jin camp was a full five li from West Guan Hill. They had to march ten li back and forth every day, precisely because of the cannons on West Guan Hill, which constrained the Later Jin at every turn. That was why the first place they had chosen to attack was West Guan Hill. However, the defenses of West Guan Hill were too tight, and due to the mountainous terrain, they could not use their heavy shielded carts for cover. The fighting will of neither the Mongols nor the Han troops was sufficient to carry out a mountain assault. Only pure Jurchen could be used. The anticipated heavy losses made Huang Taiji unable to resolve to attack, leaving the Later Jin passive throughout their offensive.

A killer squad moved ahead of the main body to serve as the vanguard, clearing the path. In the darkness, there was a continuous rustling sound. Chen Ying looked back from time to time to observe the column, especially those men carrying the frames. The Company Commander had repeatedly stressed that those men must be well protected and covered until they reached the designated location.

After advancing two li in this manner, Chen Ying ordered a halt to reorganize and conducted another headcount. Two Garrison soldiers had fallen behind, having wandered off somewhere. He had no choice but to send a guard back to look for them.

While they waited, several whistling arrows sounded from the eastern side. Their sharp cries traveled far, relayed section by section toward the Later Jin camp. Horn calls soon rang out from the Later Jin forward camp.

Chen Ying cursed under his breath. He knew another detachment had been discovered by the Later Jin ambush troops. The Later Jin troops were now on alert. A direct attack on the main camp would not yield very good results. However, after their recent defeat, the Later Jin likely would not dare to leave camp and attack, and would only hold their camp. Even if they came out for a night battle, Chen Ying was not afraid, because horses could not be ridden in a night battle, and the Later Jin troops would not have the nerve to come out holding torches at night.

That young officer came over and said quietly to Chen Ying, "Company Commander Chen, one more li will be enough. Let's move faster and not wait for the stragglers."

Chen Ying nodded and once again passed the order to move out. This time they advanced about another li, driving off three groups of ambush troops along the way. These ambush troops generally operated in groups of two or three. How could they withstand so many Ming soldiers? After firing their whistling arrows, they fled to the rear.

Chen Ying stopped here. The young officer deemed the distance sufficient. Chen Ying observed the Later Jin camp, estimating it to be roughly a little over two li away. The Later Jin camps on the southern side were set up as dark camps, with black cloth wrapped around their lanterns. Only occasionally could a faint sliver of light be seen leaking out.

That unit stopped and immediately began working busily. They dug some holes in the ground, then erected the wooden frames they had been carrying and fixed them into those small holes. Chen Ying's eyes widened. He saw that the tops of the wooden frames were shaped like forks.

Next, those auxiliary soldiers placed the long objects they had been carrying onto the fork-shaped tops. Chen Ying looked at those long objects, then at the Later Jin main camp in the distance. He could not help but feel some surprise. He deeply doubted that those long things could reach that far. A distance of two li was beyond even the range of field cannons.

There were five frames in total here, each holding only one long object. Seeing that preparations were complete, the young officer ordered the covering combat soldiers to move farther away.

Chen Ying took cover over twenty paces away. Those soldiers reported readiness group by group, and then there was no more movement. Chen Ying could see some of them opening fire-kindling pots and lighting a type of slow-burning match cord.

After waiting a moment, two red fireworks shot up with a bang from the center, bursting into brilliant red in the night sky. Chen Ying narrowed his eyes, watching those two blossoms of fireworks, guessing they were the signal for those strange soldiers.

On the wilderness outside Lüshun city, dozens of brilliant red flames suddenly appeared. Under Chen Ying's astonished gaze, they emitted sharp whistles, trailing long tail flames as they swiftly rose into the sky, carving bright trajectories like a meteor shower as they hurtled toward the Later Jin camp two li away. (To be continued...)

PS: Resuming updates. Will make up for the owed chapters later.