Chapter 123: Section Seven: Deception

Huang Shi nodded: "First we'll hold the military council, then you'll report that matter."

"As ordered."

Zhangsheng Island had not convened such a formal council in a long time. The four old brothers were all present, including Yang Zhiyuan, who had just rushed back from Shandong. Li Yunrui also stood in attendance at the rear. With a stern expression, Huang Shi dismissed all the guards before he began to speak: "Dongjiang headquarters has issued an order. Lord Mao intends to move on Jinzhou and commands our unit to coordinate with the Lushun army in battle."

Jinzhou is Jin County of the Republic period, situated north of the bend in Lushun Bay.

"If the Jianzhou slaves do not hold Jinzhou and Nanguan, they cannot spy on Lushun. And if our Dongjiang army does not hold Jinzhou, we will be hemmed into a corner at Lushun." Jinzhou was the southern gateway to the Liaodong Peninsula. If the Ming army wished to recover Liaonan and then advance north to retake Liaodong, it had to seize this place to break the situation open.

"Li Yunrui, give us the intelligence." Huang Shi stepped away from the map.

"My lord, my lords." Li Yunrui saluted Huang Shi and the four Garrison Commanders one by one: "Jinzhou Fort holds seven hundred Jianzhou slaves, of whom nearly three hundred are true Tatars. The fortifications are sturdy, and provisions are ample. The nearest Jianzhou reinforcements are at Fuzhou, roughly a thousand cavalry. It would take them at least a day to reinforce Jinzhou. General Zhang Pan will deploy one thousand battle troops and fifteen hundred support troops. The date is mid-September, pending confirmation from our unit."

Li Yunrui then bowed to the group in a circle, indicating he had finished.

"It is now the agricultural off-season. According to my lord's classification, our Firefighting Battalion has only the five hundred soldiers of the training unit counted as battle troops," Yang Zhiyuan spoke next. He had always felt the island could count at least over a thousand battle troops, so the training unit could be deployed in full: "Our Firefighting Battalion can deploy two hundred horses, five hundred battle troops, and fifteen hundred support troops. If the target is Jinzhou, provisions can sustain the army in the field for eight to ten days."

He Baodao said dismissively: "Since we are attacking Jinzhou, horses are of little use. My lord, at such a time the men should fight and the women should transport. This humble officer believes we should commit every man and woman of our Zhangsheng Island, striving to take it in a single day, lest delays bring trouble."

"Then what does Garrison Commander He estimate are our chances of taking it in one stroke?"

"Replying to my lord, speed is the essence of war. Our Firefighting Battalion and the two Lushun battalions have no time to build siege weapons and can only swarm the walls. If we commit all battle troops and support troops, our army will outnumber the defenders roughly eight to one, and we are very likely to succeed in one rush. Even if not, we can still withdraw safely."

Huang Shi struck the table and laughed: "Well said. Our army can advance or retreat at will. This general sees it the same way. In his letter to me, General Zhang has a plan for a direct assault, but General Zhang also has another plan…"

Since the Lushun campaign, the Later Jin army in Liaonan had been utterly terrified. That was why the Nanguan garrison had voluntarily retreated and the Jinzhou garrison shut the city gates in broad daylight. Over the past few months, the Liaodong refugees fleeing to Lushun had suffered almost no harassment from Jinzhou scouts, further proof that local Later Jin army morale had sunk very low.

"…Since the Jianzhou slaves at Jinzhou are already birds startled by the mere twang of a bow, General Zhang Pan plans to make a show of force — raising torches and shouting war cries at dawn — to try to frighten the enemy out of the city. If that fails, then we launch a direct assault, which can also avoid troop losses."

Historically, Zhang Pan's ploy had succeeded, so Huang Shi asked with full confidence: "What do you all think?"

But none of them shared this confidence. They exchanged glances, and Zhao Manxiong spoke: "The odds of success are no better than even."

"This general, on the contrary, considers it a foolproof plan." Huang Shi did not waste more words with them: "I intend to ambush those seven hundred Jianzhou slaves as they flee."

The Ming army was mostly infantry, making it difficult to block fleeing Later Jin cavalry. Moreover, Zhang Pan's stratagem had to be executed at night. Dividing forces in pitch darkness was no good idea, and there was no time to dig trenches, which would further complicate any encirclement.

Zhao Manxiong also objected to Huang Shi's plan: "My lord, a cornered rat will bite the cat. Not to mention that their desperate breakout would be very hard to stop — even forcing them back into Jinzhou Fort to hold fast is not necessarily a good thing."

He Baodao, for once, agreed with Zhao Manxiong: "My lord, the art of war says: do not block a returning army, and a siege must leave an opening. For our unit to forcibly block six or seven hundred cavalry is too much of a stretch."

Huang Shi merely smiled faintly and turned to Li Yunrui: "Company Commander Li, it falls to you to speak again."

Just as Li Yunrui was about to open his mouth, Hong Antong, who was standing sentry outside, called out: "My lord, Eunuch Wu has arrived."

It turned out that Huang Shi's secret convening of the military council had been discovered by Wu Mu after all. He felt Huang Shi must be hiding something from him, discussing matters behind his back, so he had rushed over in haste.

"Company Commander Li, tell them that matter which was originally to be discussed after the council," Huang Shi immediately ordered Li Yunrui and his subordinates to get their stories straight, while he himself hurried to the entrance: "I will go receive Eunuch Wu." Huang Shi dared not invite Wu Mu to listen in on the military council. He feared this former armed escort would treat his bodyguard tradecraft as military expertise and meddle with foolish suggestions.

The moment he ran out of the tent, Huang Shi saw Wu Mu storming toward him. Upon seeing Huang Shi, Wu Mu launched into a barrage: "General Huang, why did you not call us to discuss military affairs? Could there be some impropriety afoot?"

"Eunuch Wu, what are you saying?" Huang Shi replied with an apologetic smile: "It was merely a small personal matter of this humble officer."

Wu Mu gave a snort, lifted the tent flap, and entered. Huang Shi hurried in after him.

Li Yunrui secretly threw him a glance, signaling that their cover story was set. Huang Shi put on a very embarrassed expression and had Li Yunrui report the course of events anew.

Because the imperial court had ordered that heads from Dongjiangzhen be sent to Ningyuan for inspection by Yuan Chonghuan, the Army Supervisor of the Forward Guard, Zhang Pan had ambushed a small Later Jin patrol last month and sent the heads to Juehua Island.

Among them, a Lushun soldier, while boasting on Juehua, had mentioned Huang Shi and also bragged about him. As a result, Zhao Yingong, the Assistant County Magistrate of Juehua, found an excuse to have him flogged. It was said that when Huang Shi's name was mentioned, Lord Zhao's tone had been far from friendly.

That unlucky fellow and the Lushun officer leading the detail reported this strange incident to Zhang Pan. Out of concern, Zhang Pan informed Huang Shi. Huang Shi immediately ordered Li Yunrui to investigate, and it turned out that the Miss Zhao he had encountered at Shanhai Pass was Zhao Yingong's younger sister.

Originally, the Zhao family would certainly never bring this matter up. But after Zhao Yingong had a dispute with a colleague, that colleague somehow dug up this affair and deliberately spread it around to mock the Zhao family's reputation. Zhao Yingong was naturally enraged beyond all measure and insisted that Huang Shi had harbored ill intentions, while his Zhao family's daughter had naturally observed every propriety with the utmost strictness and had certainly not been taken advantage of in any way.

That unlucky Lushun soldier had walked right into the line of fire and was unjustly beaten severely for nothing.

Huang Shi, wearing an apologetic smile, explained to Wu Mu: "The future battle trophies of our Firefighting Battalion will also have to be sent to Ningyuan for inspection. Having poor relations with a colleague is never a good thing, so this humble officer summoned his subordinates to discuss how to resolve it. Although this humble officer has a clear conscience, if word spreads it would harm Lord Zhao's reputation. That is why we closed the door to discuss it."

"General Huang speaks rightly." Wu Mu nodded repeatedly. To continue listening in on such a private family matter would make him seem utterly lacking in decency: "Then we shall take our leave. We ask the General to give the matter of deploying troops his full attention."

After Wu Mu had left, Zhao Manxiong suddenly spoke: "Since the Zhao family still has a younger daughter, what if my lord were to seek a marriage alliance with the Zhao family?"