Chapter 560: The Day of Decisive Battle

Yulin Fort lay in pitch black under the night sky. Occasionally, Later Jin scouts attempting a night raid would trigger a mine, and in the empty wilderness a burst of flame would suddenly erupt, leaving a glowing afterimage before returning to stillness.

Five li north and south of Yulinpu, however, was a blaze of brilliant lights. Both sides had set up open camps, and lantern light dotted the wilderness like a sea of stars upon the earth.

In the central army camp, Chen Xin reviewed the Operations Staff's battle deployment one last time, then issued the night watchword and rose to inspect the camp. As he left camp, he happened to see the light points of rockets launching seven or eight li away. Chen Xin smiled smugly. These rockets, modeled on the English Congreve rocket, had a range of about three li. Without committing their main force, the Later Jin troops clearly could not defend such a broad front at night.

The rocket company Chen Xin dispatched this time was screened by the First Dragoon Battalion Headquarters and the Special Service Company. They would carry out continuous harassment throughout the night. The rockets had no accuracy at all, but the harassment could reach across the entire Later Jin main camp, disrupting the Later Jin soldiers' nighttime rest and creating an atmosphere of fear, thereby sapping their morale. If the Later Jin sent out a large force to drive them off, then those troops would get no rest either, which would also achieve the effect Chen Xin wanted. After watching for a moment, Chen Xin led his party out of the small village and began his customary night camp inspection.

The Dengzhou open camp followed the practice of the Qi Family Army: lanterns served as nighttime banners. The lowest level was the banner unit; each banner unit had one lantern signal, all of identical make. To make them distinguishable at night, each banner unit painted its own mark on it, with no duplicates allowed within a battalion. Thus, the greatest variety in the Dengzhou garrison was in lantern markings. Chen Xin did not restrict the designs each banner unit chose. There were flying dragons, flying tigers, qilin, and the like. There were also cut-paper designs of the character for fortune, the character for courage, and so on. The most outrageous ones even had pictures of beautiful women.

Accompanying him on the camp inspection was tonight's central army duty officer, Liu Pojun. The two men, leading a squad of guards and carrying the central army's night inspection lantern signal, headed first toward the First Guards Battalion to the south.

Before they reached the camp gate, a voice called out from the field: "Night watchword."

Chen Xin shouted back: "Courage!"

The other side immediately fell silent. The Dengzhou night watchword was generally a single character. After the response, there was no further sound from that side. Chen Xin's party arrived at the camp gate. The side gate opened and a duty officer came out. After checking Chen Xin and his party's waist tags, he saluted and let them pass, still only opening the side gate and having Chen Xin's party enter through it. Chen Xin left his guard squad outside the camp and took only a few staff officers and Liu Pojun inside.

The commander of the First Guards Battalion did not come to the camp gate to receive them. Chen Xin and his party inspected the camp on their own. The tents inside the camp were arranged neatly. Between every two tents there was a latrine pit, a practice also originating from the Qi Family Army. When encamped for only one night, they were covered with earth the next morning; during long-term garrison, they were cleaned early in the morning and, after the camp gate was opened, carried far away for disposal.

Officers on patrol could still be seen everywhere in the camp. According to Dengzhou military regulations, every night, besides the battalion commander, the squad commander or vice squad commander also had to inspect their own unit's area. After the squad commander rested, the military judge and the senior sergeant took turns patrolling the night. Normally, bringing provost guards was sufficient; when battle was imminent, they brought an extra squad or section of combat troops. The night patrol requirements were extremely meticulous. Should any incident of fire, camp panic, or enemy espionage occur in their unit during the night, the squad commander would be held accountable. Therefore, every squad commander was extremely diligent.

When they reached a position near the south side, Liu Pojun asked in a low voice, "My lord, shall we launch a patrol arrow to check the night?"

Chen Xin shook his head slightly. The night patrol arrow was a type of whistling arrow, fired by the night patrol officer when there was an issue. After the arrow sounded, the night patrol officer designated the nearest starting banner unit, and the night duty soldiers of each banner unit would fire arrows in sequence to pass the signal. In wartime, any unit that failed to pass the signal would be executed. During peacetime training in Dengzhou, there were often impromptu inspections, but they caused considerable disruption. Moreover, the First Guards Battalion was currently in the rear, and Chen Xin did not wish to make the soldiers mentally tense.

Chen Xin said to Liu Pojun, "We'll only inspect the First Guards Battalion. We won't go to the other battalions. There's a big battle tomorrow. When you get back, rest early too. A general who can't sleep well on the battlefield is no good general."

Just as he was about to step forward, a small squad of provost guards emerged ahead. The leader growled, "Who comes?"

Liu Pojun quickly responded, "I come."

Chen Xin immediately responded as well. This was also a rule of the Dengzhou night camp. When encountering someone in camp at night, one could only say the two words "I come," and absolutely could not say one's own name. Anyone who said their name would be seized first by the sentries. Even if they recognized the person, they could not let them go. Superiors were seized just the same, until the night duty officer had inspected them and the person's own unit superior came with the unit banner to collect them. Although Chen Xin was the Regional Commander of Dengzhou, the rule was one he himself had set. If by chance he ended up needing the Guards Battalion night duty officer to release him, that would be rather embarrassing.

The Squad Commander, upon hearing this, came closer. The moment he saw it was Chen Xin, he hurriedly saluted. Chen Xin returned the salute with a smile, then sized up the man before him. After a moment's recollection, he pointed at the man and said, "You are Chen Ying, a native of Fenghuang City in Liaodong. Your family…"

Chen Xin paused there. The officer opposite him, somewhat agitated, said in a low voice, "It is indeed your subordinate. I am overwhelmed that Lord Chen remembers so clearly."

Chen Xin waved his hand slightly, tugged Chen Ying's sleeve to signal him to walk along, and Chen Ying immediately fell in on Chen Xin's right side, assuming a listening posture. Chen Xin looked up at the lanterns hung by Chen Ying's unit. The designs on them were mostly cold weapons like broadswords and long spears; some even had a drop of blood painted on them, looking very imposing.

"They have a murderous spirit. That's how soldiers should be," Chen Xin could not help but say with a smile.

"Thank you for your praise, my lord. Your subordinate came from the Kill Squad. My musketeers also practice cold weapons in peacetime, so they like using these designs."

Chen Xin nodded. After walking a few more steps, he asked in a low voice, "Fenghuang City has now been recovered. Have you gone back home to take a look?"

"Not yet. I originally wanted to request leave from Lord Wang, but later I heard that Fenghuang City is still a war zone. The roads are strictly checked by provost guards, and travel there is not permitted, so your subordinate has been unable to make the trip."

Chen Xin made an "oh" sound. "That is indeed the case. Even if you went, you would be stopped and turned back halfway. There's no rush. The Jianzhou bandits are just ten li away. As long as we defeat them tomorrow, Liaodong can be recovered. After that, you can return to Fenghuang City anytime."

Chen Ying quickly acknowledged. Chen Xin continued, "Your family's former house and land can all be reclaimed after Liaodong is recovered."

"Your subordinate has heard about that. It's said that if veteran soldiers are willing to stay in Liaodong, they can also receive thirty mu of land. Everyone is waiting for it. Some say fifty mu, some say a hundred."

Chen Xin chuckled quietly and said, "At least thirty mu. But with Liaodong in the hands of the Jianzhou bandits, we don't yet know exactly how much cultivated land there is. We'll know the precise figure after surveying it later. It will be no less than thirty mu at minimum. However, the future income for professional officers will also be considerable. You are a veteran of Dengzhou, here since the jisi year when we fought the Jianzhou bandits. Staying in the army offers better prospects."

"Your subordinate understands."

By now they had reached Chen Ying's unit. Chen Xin patted Chen Ying on the shoulder. "Tomorrow is the day we exact the blood debt for the people of Liao. Fight well. Your family are all watching you from the heavens."

Chen Ying nodded heavily, then saluted Chen Xin. After Chen Xin returned the salute and continued to the next banner unit, Chen Ying watched Chen Xin walk far away, then raised his head to look at the dark, overcast night sky. He stared blankly for a long time, then clenched both hands and said in a low voice, "Tomorrow, you will all be watching from the heavens. I will exact the blood debt for you. Once Liaodong is recovered, I will return to Fenghuang City to see you."

…

In the central army tent of the Second Guards Battalion, Zhong Laosi secretly lit a stick of incense inside the tent. He did not perform any ritual obeisance. He simply poured a bowl of wine and plopped down on the ground, then raised the bowl toward the burning incense. "Zhao Xuan, we go into battle tomorrow. I'm going to avenge you. Today I'm lighting a stick of incense just for you. Don't think it's too little. I originally brought three sticks, but some son of a bitch made off with them somehow. Forget it. Let's drink a bowl of wine. You put some extra effort in for me. Tomorrow I'll knock Huang Taiji's balls out."

The tent was silent. Zhong Laosi held the wine bowl and tilted his head. "You dog, when you were here, you'd nag me for ages if I drank a little. Now that no one's nagging, it's damn boring. Why is it that every time before a battle, I don't even know who to leave a last letter for, and I can only come say a few words to you, Zhao Xuan? Damn it, I'm worse off than even Zhou Shao'er and Liu Yue. When I get back, I'll marry eight or ten wives."

Zhong Laosi threw his head back and poured the wine down his throat, then collapsed directly onto the bed. Moments later, he was snoring thunderously.

…

In a tent filled with the rising and falling sounds of snoring, Tang Wei tossed and turned, unable to sleep. From outside came the faint whistling of rockets from time to time, along with the footsteps of night patrol officers and provost guards.

Tang Wei lightly kicked Xie Fei beside him and asked in a very low voice, "Xie Fei, are you asleep?"

Xie Fei's voice immediately replied, "Asleep my ass. I couldn't sleep well before the last battle either."

"I'm not asleep either," came Huang Shan's voice from the other side.

Tang Wei ignored Huang Shan and continued to Xie Fei, "If I get killed tomorrow, remember to tell Miss Guan that I really did join the army for her. And also, also my family — you have to help look after them."

Xie Fei spat quietly and said, "Fatty, have you gone stupid? You can't say unlucky things before going into battle."

"My eyelid's been twitching. I have no brothers or sisters. You're the only one who counts as a brother. You even joined the army with me, which makes you better than a real brother. Anyway, just do this for me. When the time comes, find someone like Yuan Guzi and have him be an adopted son for my parents."

Xie Fei was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright. But I don't think you'll die."

"Who the hell knows? There are tens of thousands of Tatar soldiers." Tang Wei turned over and lay on his back, staring at the tent. "If the Jianzhou bandits are wiped out tomorrow and I don't die, I'll at least get a medal… even if it's not first class. Then I'll go tell Miss Guan. A medal's a medal, after all."

Xie Fei let out a puff of laughter. Huang Shan on the other side was also chuckling in the darkness. Tang Wei kicked Huang Shan. "Xie Fei is handsome; finding a wife is dead easy for him. It's one thing for him to laugh at me, but you, Huang Shan, you dare laugh at me too?"

Huang Shan did not kick him back, but said cheerfully, "I haven't thought as much as you. After the war, all us veterans get land. If I have thirty mu of land and a wife to hold, that'll do. I don't care what she looks like. I definitely want to raise three kids. My family used to have three."

Tang Wei twisted his plump body toward Huang Shan's side. "Sleep, sleep. As long as I don't die in tomorrow's battle, I should be discharged by the end of the year. I never want to see a battlefield again in this life."

"Sleeping," Xie Fei said from the other side, rustling as he pulled his blanket around himself, and then said no more.

In the darkness, Huang Shan lay with his eyes open, staring blankly. He recalled that corner of the battlefield outside the earthen wall of Lushun, just as dim as this.

"Zhang Zhongqi, you didn't surrender to the Dengzhou garrison. Are you still alive?"

…

Zhang Zhongqi huddled into a ball outside the tent, his eyes staring blankly at the pitch-black night sky. Every winter in Liaodong was a test of life and death for him. Every time this season came, he would try every means to get more supplies to survive. But this year, Zhang Zhongqi did not think of any way. He simply followed the army like a block of wood. Tonight, it happened to be his turn for night watch.

"You dog slave! Stand up!" An angry shout rang out, followed by a kick. Zhang Zhongqi still did not react. The sound of a blade leaving its sheath rang out. A shiver ran through Zhang Zhongqi's entire body. His head slowly turned. Several tall figures stood before him. Only then did he sluggishly stand up, staring blankly at them.

The patrolling White Armor Soldier cursed in stiff Chinese, "You Nikan dog, don't you know the military regulations for night watch? I could cut you down with one stroke right now."

Zhang Zhongqi's banner captain dashed out of the tent, standing nervously to the side. Seeing the true Jurchen master enraged, he trembled all over with fear.

Facing the White Armor Soldier's blade, Zhang Zhongqi still wore a blank expression. Just as a fierce light showed in the White Armor Soldier's eyes, a figure beside him gently pushed the White Armor Soldier's blade aside, then stepped in front of Zhang Zhongqi.

"Taketan… Master," Zhang Zhongqi murmured.

Taketan said to him coldly, "I give you grain to eat, not so you can stand here in a daze. A great battle is imminent. How can you keep watch like this? If it happens again, you will not be spared."

The White Armor Soldier, hearing this, glared fiercely at Zhang Zhongqi and sheathed his blade. Taketan said to the banner captain, "Change someone else to keep watch."

Zhang Zhongqi grinned slightly and said, "Thank you, Young Master."

Take Tan watched him for a moment, shook his head, and left. The Banner Captain wiped the sweat from his forehead, kicked Zhang Zhongqi twice, and cursed, "Still not rolling back?"

Zhang Zhongqi swayed twice, staring at the Banner Captain with a foolish grin. Just as the Banner Captain was about to kick him again, a shout came from the camp wall: "Each camp hold its assigned ground! No disorderly trespassing!"

"Here they come again." The Banner Captain hurried back to the tent to grab his blade, preparing to maintain order. Zhang Zhongqi slowly turned his head to look south. Over a dozen bright points of light, trailing long fiery tails, streaked across the night sky, and a sharp whistling gradually rose.

It was the rocket troops from Dengzhou Garrison again. Their rockets had a range of about three li. Although they had no accuracy at this distance, they were precise enough against a massive target like the Later Jin camp.

Over a dozen rockets slammed into various parts of the Later Jin camp. Moments after the explosions, two fires broke out. Bronze gongs sounded in the distance. Small disturbances erupted in every camp, and Later Jin officers rushed to suppress them.

Before these two fires had even died out, over a dozen more fiery tails rose from another direction, drawing irregular trajectories across the air as they shot toward the Later Jin main camp.

Zhang Zhongqi stared with his mouth wide open, watching the rockets climb and then dive. He chuckled happily, "Pretty, pretty!"

The whistling of rockets sounded intermittently for half the night. The Later Jin troops were forced to dispatch large numbers of men to search, and even fought several small-scale night skirmishes with the covering Dengzhou army, finally driving the Dengzhou rocket troops beyond three li.

One watch before dawn, both armies began lighting fires to cook. The camps turned into an ocean of lamplight in the darkness. Vanguard squads all set out ahead of the main armies, advancing toward their respective objectives.

Not long after, the signal lanterns at the Dengzhou central army waved, followed by a roll of drums. The various camps immediately sounded their bugle calls, rising and falling one after another. The clamor of voices and shouted orders filled the camps. The silent army awoke from its deep slumber. The day of decisive battle had arrived. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian to cast your votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.)

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