Chapter 554: Coming from the South

At the frontline command post in Guotoupu, a document stamped with the Intelligence Bureau's top-secret seal was placed on Chen Xin's desk. Chen Xin looked up at Wu Jianzhong, then picked it up, read it, and handed it to Liu Pojun, saying calmly, "Huang Taiji may be coming."

Liu Pojun quickly took the intelligence report — it was the information on Later Jin conditions in Liaoyang brought back by Zhou Wu, primarily the movements of the Later Jin high command provided by Gao Hongzhong, with particular mention of Huang Taiji's wavering.

After reading it, Liu Pojun said, "It seems they are eager for a battle with us. This information is extremely important."

Having received the news, Chen Xin was visibly much more relaxed. He looked at the two men and said, "So what Huang Taiji fears most is that we will withdraw again. For now he is merely wavering — how do you think we should make him commit?"

Wu Jianzhong said, "We could withdraw the garrison from Yulinpu. That way the Jianzhou bandits will think we are pulling back."

The Yulinpu that Wu Jianzhong referred to had originally been merely an outpost for Gaizhou, and before that only a nominal position with two to three hundred armored soldiers inside. When the Dengzhou garrison army pressed the border, those armored soldiers had fled back to the heavily fortified Gaizhou without offering resistance.

Chen Xin first nodded, then shook his head. At that moment Liu Pojun interjected, "My lord, I believe we must not withdraw. If we pull everything back to Guotoupu, Huang Taiji will likely not come at all. He would never dare use that small force to assault a defensive line held by our main strength."

"Then shall we hit Gaizhou?"

Liu Pojun pointed at Yulinpu and said, "What we currently have at Yulinpu is the Fourth Battalion and a portion of cavalry, with Zhu Guobin himself there as well — our strength far exceeds the Later Jin forces in Gaizhou. Ever since our army occupied Yulinpu, the Later Jin troops in Gaizhou have only sent scattered scout riders across the river, maintaining a posture of desperate defense. If we want to draw the Later Jin main force south, the first priority is to make Huang Taiji believe our main army will remain stationed at Gaizhou. We can advance cavalry and dragoons to the south bank of the Qingsha River and make a show of establishing a forward strongpoint."

Chen Xin clapped his hands and said, "Once Huang Taiji comes to Gaizhou, his supply line will be extended by over two hundred li. The costs will be far greater, and before the winter snows arrive, he will be desperate to force a decisive battle with us."

"My lord sees clearly — this is precisely the strategy from the Military Orders Directorate's most recent exercise. Once Huang Taiji comes to Gaizhou, the conditions for a pitched battle with the Later Jin army will be set. Of course, Huang Taiji will not directly assault the Guotoupu defensive line — he lacks the nerve for that."

Chen Xin looked at the point marked Gaizhou. It was exactly as Liu Pojun had said: Gaizhou was the key to this battle. Forcing the Later Jin troops to fight a pitched battle at a suitable location was difficult, and Gaizhou was a location more advantageous to the Dengzhou garrison.

"Record the order. Order the Eighth Battalion to slow their offensive. Remind them once more: they are not to capture Lianshan Pass before the decisive battle."

Liu Pojun took up his brush and recorded it. The Lianshan Pass direction was a diversion, but it must not be captured — otherwise Huang Taiji would be forced to allocate large forces to defend central Liaodong, and if his forces were too dispersed, it might affect his resolve to fight a pitched battle.

"Order the Fourth Battalion and its attached cavalry to advance to the Qingsha River, seal the river crossings, mobilize two thousand civilian laborers to the Qingsha River to construct trestle bridges, and create the appearance of an imminent attack on Gaizhou."

After watching Liu Pojun finish recording, Chen Xin smiled and said, "Once all this is done, we wait for Huang Taiji."

Over the following two days, the Dengzhou Fourth Battalion advanced its defensive line to the Qingsha River south of Gaizhou. This was a place the Dengzhou garrison had visited many times before. Around the crossing point there were still many ruins of brick and stone structures — all of them the remains of watchtowers the Later Jin troops had once built. In the Dengzhou garrison's many offensives, Gaizhou had always been a key target of raids, and the watchtowers around the crossing had been destroyed every time. This time the Later Jin troops had abandoned building on the south bank, but had still rebuilt on the north bank.

The spring offensive had left the fields around Gaizhou unsown. The Tianyou Army permanently stationed at Gaizhou had relied entirely on support from the Later Jin Ministry of Revenue this year, and many of their family members had starved to death. Since Gaizhou's strategic importance had grown, the Later Jin army had stationed a portion of true Jurchen armored soldiers there, rotated among the banners — partly to strengthen the defense, and partly to keep the Tianyou Army under watch.

This time the Dengzhou garrison was massed between Fuzhou and Gaizhou, with boats coming and going around Lianyun Island. The Gaizhou garrison was in a state of extreme alarm. After Yulinpu was captured, they sent constant pleas for help to Liaoyang. At the same time, Sarhu and Lianshan Pass were also sending urgent reports one after another. Sarhu was besieged by Dongjiang troops, and Jiefan, one of the Later Jin's former capitals to the north, was also under attack. The Later Jin had mobilized the vast majority of its able-bodied men to go to Gaizhou, and the remaining forces still had to be dispersed to garrison various places. Sarhu and Jiefan were both short of defenders, barely managing to hold their city walls.

Shang Kexi's unit had seen a great improvement in equipment. The Dengzhou garrison had issued combat subsidies, and morale was far higher than before. This time they had also received reinforcements from Shang Kexi and Shen Shikui's forces, making their combat power far greater than in the past. Sarhu had been scaled twice already, and the Later Jin troops had only recaptured it by luck. Fushun Pass, the closest point to Sarhu, had twice sent out troops to relieve it, but lacking sufficient strength, they had been driven back to Fushun by the Dongjiang soldiers. If no reinforcements arrived, these two key northern strongholds would eventually fall.

Outside Lianshan Pass, both earthen walls had been taken. The Dengzhou garrison had already begun directly assaulting the walls of Lianshan Pass itself. The road from Tianshuijing Station toward Liaoyang had been cut, and Dudu's relay riders had to detour through Shenyang to reach Liaoyang. Shen Shikui's forces were advancing from Caohebao toward Shenyang, attacking the Later Jin watchtowers built along the mountain roads.

The entire region around central Liaodong was ablaze with beacon fires. The Later Jin main force still remained entrenched at Haizhou and Liaoyang, and urgent reports pleading for help flew one after another to Huang Taiji's field headquarters, piling up on his imperial desk.

Huang Taiji set down the battle report he had just received from Lianshan Pass and glanced at the people in the room. Today, those of Beile rank and above were nearly all present: Dorgon and Dodo of the Two White Banners, Daišan and his son of the Two Red Banners, Haoge and Jirgalang of the Two Blue Banners, Sahaliyan, the Ujen Cooha Gūsa Ejen, Unage, the Mongol Left Wing Gūsa Ejen, and others. Only Ajige remained in Gaizhou, overseeing the defense there.

"Some of you have come from Haizhou, some from Niuzhuang. You've endured a long and tiring journey, and I should have let you rest a day, but matters are urgent." Huang Taiji slowly began to speak. "I have called you here today to discuss the matter of the Dengzhou garrison."

The hall was utterly silent. None of the Later Jin nobles in the room spoke. They all understood the recent situation — central Liaodong was burning on all sides, the Later Jin's position was extremely dire, and in the face of the chaotic circumstances before them, they all needed a clear direction.

Huang Taiji's voice continued: "The Nikans have come this time in four columns. The Liaoxi column counts as one — it has already been beaten back by Ajige and Sahaliyan. Hetu Ala has been captured. Sarhu and Jiefan are besieged, and Dongjiang scout riders have bypassed Fushun Pass and are roaming through central Liaodong — that is the northern column, roughly three to five thousand Dongjiang troops plus one thousand Dengzhou soldiers. At Lianshan Pass, the outer earthen walls have been taken. Dudu's latest dispatch says the city wall is holding, but he still wants reinforcements — that is the central, second column, roughly four thousand Dongjiang combat troops and two thousand Dengzhou soldiers. At Xiuyan and Fenghuang City there may be reserves, but their numbers are unknown. The final column is Chen Xin's Dengzhou garrison force at Gaizhou."

Huang Taiji paused after speaking. The Beile in the room all shifted their postures. Every time they heard the name Chen Xin, their attention sharpened. This enemy at Gaizhou was the greatest threat to the Later Jin regime.

"According to intelligence gathered from Gaizhou, the Dengzhou garrison has come with a massive force. What has been scouted and confirmed so far: at Yulinpu and Guotoupu alone there are three battalions, under the command of Zhu Guobin. Combined with those at Guotoupu, there are at least five Dengzhou battalions in total. Further back at Xiongyue Station and Buzipu, scouting is difficult, but those places are also thick with military camps — the numbers are at least in the tens of thousands."

A few soft intakes of breath sounded in the room. Huang Taiji glanced at Dorgon among them. Dorgon had been at Haizhou previously; although he knew there were many Dengzhou troops south of Gaizhou, he had not known the specific numbers. But hearing this today, it likely exceeded thirty thousand. He had been soundly beaten by Dengzhou forces repeatedly and knew what thirty thousand Dengzhou soldiers meant — his expression could not help but change slightly. Seeing Huang Taiji's displeased look, he immediately straightened his face and lowered his gaze again.

Only then did Huang Taiji say, "Of these three columns, which do you think we should strike?"

The towering Jirgalang was the first to step forward and loudly declare, "No matter how many columns they come in, I go in only one. The northern column of the Dongjiang garrison is a mere skin rash. Even if Dengzhou troops are backing them, they are no more than a nuisance raiding the countryside. Our Great Jin holds the fertile lands of central Liaodong. Sarhu and Jiefan both bear on the larger situation, but as long as Fushun Pass does not fall, the northern column can be ignored. Since Lianshan Pass can hold, give Dudu some more troops. Our first priority is to defeat the Dengzhou garrison in the south."

"Especially since Chen Xin is also among the Gaizhou army!" Haoge also stepped forward and said. "In the past we have always faced one intractable problem: Dengzhou and Liaodong are separated by the Liaodong Sea. Even if we annihilate the Dengzhou troops in southern Liaodong, Chen Xin's foundation remains intact. But if Chen Xin is killed in battle, then Dengzhou will inevitably disintegrate. This is the only way to reverse our Great Jin's predicament."

"Mergen Daiqing, speak."

Hearing Huang Taiji call his name, Dorgon cleared his throat and said, "This slave believes we could first strike the weakest column — the Dongjiang troops at Sarhu. Our Great Jin cavalry moves like the wind and can reach Fushun Pass in a matter of days. Shang Keyi's unit will absolutely be unable to withstand it. If this group of Nikans collapses, it could draw Chen Xin's forces at Gaizhou to move north, and our Great Jin could then fight from advantageous terrain at Liaoyang..."

Sahaliyan said coldly, "Chen Xin will not move north. If he wanted to move north, he would have come long ago. Even if you slaughter Shang Keyi's entire unit, he still won't come, much less attack Liaoyang directly."

Dorgon rushed to say, "Then we will still have eliminated one column, and then Lianshan Pass..."

Jirgalang cut him off again: "Lianshan Pass is all mountain roads. With the battle at Caohe right before us, do you still want our armored soldiers to set aside bow and horse and fight Dengzhou firearms in the mountains again? If the Dengzhou troops at Lianshan Pass do not come out of the mountains, the mountain passes at Liaoyang and Shenyang will all require heavy forces to guard. If this drags on through the winter, where will the grain for each banner come from?"

Dorgon was rebuffed mercilessly by two men in succession, but he did not feel he was wrong — at the very least, striking Sarhu first was feasible. However, his standing had declined sharply, and he did not continue to argue. Beside him, the youngest, Dodo, also did not speak up in his support.

Huang Taiji listened without indicating approval or disapproval and then called on Yoto's name. Yoto looked noticeably thinner. Recently he had been stationed at Haizhou, burdened with many concerns. Haizhou not only had to constantly monitor the situation at Gaizhou but also had to deal with the Dengzhou mountain troops on the mountain paths toward Xiuyan. These mountain troops were mostly composed of Dengzhou mountain folk and miners. Though few in number, they were well-equipped and fierce in combat, held advantageous terrain, firmly guarded the mountain paths leading to Xiuyan, and constantly emerged from the trails to raid scattered Later Jin personnel near Haizhou.

Yoto pondered for a long moment before saying with difficulty, "Chen Xin is waiting for our main army to come to Gaizhou, but this slave still supports sending troops to Gaizhou."

Everyone in the room turned to look at him. Huang Taiji said evenly, "Explain in detail."

"If we look only at this one battle, then what the Fourteenth Brother said is not wrong — it may ultimately result in Chen Xin returning having accomplished nothing. But looking further ahead, it brings no benefit to our Great Jin. Even if the entire Dongjiang column at Sarhu is routed, as long as Chen Xin at Gaizhou does not withdraw, our main army will inevitably be forced to idle uselessly at Haizhou and Liaoyang. If this drags on, the state's resources will be unsustainable. This moment is like the Battle of Sarhu in the old Khan's time — Chen Xin is the strongest column, like Du Song's. Yet Chen Xin is even stronger than Du Song, and far more cunning. He masses a great army at Gaizhou but refuses to fight, using Dengzhou's material resources to wear down our Great Jin in a contest of attrition, forcing us to come south and decide the outcome at Gaizhou. The situation being what it is, though this slave is unwilling, I can only support sending troops to Gaizhou."

Huang Taiji sighed softly in his heart. He too understood Chen Xin's intentions, but it was exactly as Yoto had said — the Later Jin's situation was such that if the Dengzhou garrison truly wore them down through a whole winter, the Later Jin would at most survive another year or two. A decisive battle, however, could still offer a sliver of hope.

He finally turned to Daišan beside him. "Second Brother, what we are discussing today is a matter of life and death for Great Jin. Great Jin does not belong to me alone. You are my elder brother and a meritorious servant of Great Jin. Today you must, one way or another, give us a course of action."

Daišan, who had looked half-asleep, slowly straightened up and sighed. Though they had their conflicts with one another, this was a moment of life and death for the Later Jin. Playing deaf and dumb now would do him no good either. At the very least, he had to support Huang Taiji in attitude.

"At the time of Sarhu, our Great Jin also could not afford to lose. Inside Hetu Ala, when word came that the Ming army was coming in four columns with seventy to eighty thousand men, many were so frightened they wanted to flee. Who could have believed we would win? Without Sarhu, how could we have had the good days of occupying central Liaodong afterward? Seeing Chen Xin concentrate heavy forces at Gaizhou, he means to fight a proper battle. We too have been waiting to fight one. Since both Chen Xin and our Great Jin want battle, then let us go to Gaizhou. Life, death, wealth, and rank — all rest on this one throw of the dice."

A trace of a smile appeared on Huang Taiji's face. Daišan had expressed support for him — this could be considered a unification of the high command's opinion. Only by defeating the Dengzhou main force at Gaizhou could they win a chance at survival.

Huang Taiji rose from his seat, looked around at the brothers, sons, and nephews below him, and said with firm resolve, "Then we go to Gaizhou!"

Three days later, Chen Xin at Gaizhou received intelligence from the Special Operations Unit: the official road from Haizhou to Gaizhou was choked with troops and horses. The Later Jin main army had finally moved south. The two vast armies, both needing a pitched battle, were now only a few dozen li apart.