Chapter 26: Beneath the Night Sky: A Plan Against the Tartars!

Northern Frontier!

Jianzhou Tartar territory, Blue Banner Tribe.

At this moment!

Night has fallen.

Outside this Blue Banner Tribe, many Tartar night patrols can be seen, clearly on guard against a sudden Ming attack.

Beneath the night sky,

a cavalry unit quietly approached the Blue Banner Tribe, moving with minimal noise and keeping a considerable distance.

“Garrison Commander.”

“We just captured two prisoners—they’re Tartar night patrol scouts from this tribe.”

Liu Lei led his personal guards, dragging two Tartars before Zhu Ying.

Seeing Zhu Ying and the surrounding Ming soldiers,

the two Tartars looked terrified, yet deep in their eyes lingered hatred.

“I ask, you answer,” Zhu Ying said to the two Tartars kneeling on the ground.

“Kill us if you will.”

“You damned Ming dogs—someday, our people will crush your Ming realm alongside the Great Yuan.”

One Tartar spat out angrily.

Zhu Ying had no patience for words.

He raised his hand.

His war saber drew from its sheath.

A sharp crack.

Blood sprayed—the Tartar’s head fell to the ground.

“Slain Tartar foot soldier: +20 Strength.” System prompt.

“I ask, you answer,” Zhu Ying turned to the remaining Tartar.

“I… I’ll answer,” the Tartar soldier said in terror.

“How many troops does this tribe have?”

“How many people?” Zhu Ying asked directly.

“Our chieftain has been mobilizing troops these past days—our tribe now has over thirty thousand soldiers. This tribe is our people’s pastureland, with nearly a hundred thousand souls scattered around the surrounding areas,” the Tartar soldier, terrified of death, blurted out without hesitation.

“What is your chieftain’s next plan? When will he launch an attack on our Great Ming?” Zhu Ying asked again.

“The chieftain ordered the tribe to focus entirely on defense—no offensive actions.”

“As for the exact… exact reason, I don’t know.”

“But… but the Great Yuan has already mobilized and will send reinforcements to our tribe.”

“That… that’s all I know, my lord…”

The Tartar soldier knelt on the ground, trembling.

But the next moment,

a sharp crack.

Zhu Ying slashed down.

“Slain Tartar foot soldier: +20 Spirit.” System prompt.

Watching Zhu Ying act so decisively,

all five Battalion Commanders regarded him with awe.

Such ruthless decisiveness was utterly incongruous with Zhu Ying’s young age.

Of course,

leaving no survivors was correct.

The main Ming army that had invaded the Northern Frontier had already moved toward Liaodong; only five thousand troops remained here. Keeping survivors alive would be betraying the lives of their own comrades.

“Gentlemen, what are your thoughts?”

Zhu Ying sheathed his saber and looked at the five Battalion Commanders before him.

Four of them.

One familiar face: Wei Quan.

The other three were new to him.

One named Li Tao, one named Zhuang Wei, and another named Luo Hua.

As for the Battalion Command he originally commanded, Zhu Ying had entrusted Zhang Wu to temporarily lead it.

“Garrison Commander.”

“In my view, our forces need only roam within Tartar territory to draw their attention.”

“Once we complete the delaying mission, we can retreat back to the Ming,” Battalion Commander Li Tao said immediately.

“Li Battalion Commander speaks too lightly.”

“Our forces have already penetrated over a hundred li into the Northern Frontier—if we could simply turn back whenever we wished, this mission wouldn’t be so perilous.”

“Roaming here is tantamount to seeking death.”

“Do you truly believe the Tartars won’t act? Do you truly believe the Northern Yuan won’t move?” Zhang Wu glanced at Li Tao with a hint of mockery.

“Then what do you suggest?”

“We have only five thousand troops—can we really launch an offensive against this Tartar tribe?” Li Tao retorted angrily.

At the very moment he spoke in anger,

“Correct.”

Zhu Ying spoke: “Passive defense is not my way. Initiative is the way.”

“Garrison Commander.”

“You just heard what the Tartar said.”

“This tribe has over thirty thousand troops—even our Ming cavalry’s strength cannot hope to fight several-to-one, can it?”

“An offensive would be suicide,” Li Tao said, his face paling.

Zhu Ying glanced at Li Tao, said nothing more, and simply stood still, waiting.

Seeing Zhu Ying ignore him, Li Tao’s face darkened with anger.

But bound by rank, he dared not retaliate.

At this moment!

Beneath the night sky,

a dozen cavalrymen returned on horseback.

“Reporting, Garrison Commander.”

“We’ve thoroughly reconnoitered the Tartar tribe’s situation.”

A Squad Leader of scouts stepped forward to report.

“How?” Zhu Ying asked.

“Though this is a large tribe, it is divided into five sections.”

“The one directly ahead of us is the southern section—the barrier protecting the main Tartar tribe.”

“In the other three directions, each has a smaller supporting tribe,” the scout Squad Leader said respectfully.

“It seems these barbarians have learned some military tactics.”

“By placing four tribes at each cardinal point, if one is attacked, the others can swiftly reinforce and ensure the main tribe remains secure,” Zhu Ying said with quiet admiration.

“Garrison Commander.”

“What’s our next move?” Zhang Wu asked Zhu Ying respectfully.

“Li Battalion Commander.”

Zhu Ying turned to Li Tao.

“Garrison Commander, what are your orders?” Li Tao replied reluctantly.

Clearly,

he resented Zhu Ying—a boy so young holding the rank of Garrison Commander.

“Since Li Battalion Commander is so eager to retreat to Danning, I’ll grant your wish,” Zhu Ying said sternly.

“What do you mean?” Li Tao frowned.

“In one hour,”

“you lead your troops to harass the southern Tartar tribe. Create chaos, draw their attention—ideally, lure them out to chase you.”

“If you complete this mission, if you wish to remain in the Northern Frontier, it counts as merit; if you wish to withdraw, I won’t charge you with desertion—merit and offense cancel out.” Zhu Ying stared coldly at Li Tao.

He showed no goodwill; Zhu Ying wouldn’t coddle him.

If he wanted to retreat?

Then Zhu Ying would let him.

But he wouldn’t get any credit.

Hearing this,

Li Tao stared at Zhu Ying for a long moment: “Garrison Commander truly means to lead the men to their deaths?”

“I’m giving you a choice.”

“Stay or withdraw?” Zhu Ying snapped coldly.

“Since the Garrison Commander says so.”

“I naturally choose to withdraw—I won’t let my men die for nothing,” Li Tao said at once.

“Have all you Battalion Commanders heard?”

“The choice given to Li Battalion Commander, I offer to you as well.”

“If you do not wish to stay, you may raid and then withdraw.”

“Those who choose to stay will earn great merit upon our triumphant return,” Zhu Ying said, looking at Luo Hua, Zhuang Wei, and the other Battalion Commanders.

“We swear to follow the Garrison Commander to our deaths.”

Wei Quan, Luo Hua, Zhang Wu, and Zhuang Wei said at once.

“Good.”

Zhu Ying nodded.

He gave Li Tao a long, piercing look, then issued his order: “Li Tao, listen: in one hour, raid the Tartar tribe. If you disobey military orders or waste the opportunity, I will hold you accountable.”

…

(End of Chapter)