Chapter 201: Section 18: The Wheel

"Thrust right." The deputy commander of Firefighting Battalion's Yi Company, standing at the far left of the formation, bellowed the order. The soldiers in the front rank thrust right without a second thought. Seven or eight Later Jin sword-and-shield men instantly fell under the Ming army's multi-directional pincer attack. The deputy commander had just pulled his long spear free and had no time to make the next guiding thrust when a Later Jin Heavy Armor Soldier lunged at him, slashed down and severed his left arm at the elbow — the arm still gripping the spear shaft — then flipped his blade and drove it into the Vice Battalion Commander's belly.

As this Heavy Armor Soldier pulled his blade out, he took a heavy blow from a long spear in the rear rank. A foot-long spearhead sliced his throat open with ease, and a jet of blood shot three feet into the air. The Ming officer and his foe knelt face to face on the ground. The Later Jin Heavy Armor Soldier then pitched headfirst into the dirt, blood gurgling from his half-severed neck.

The deputy commander of Yi Company seemed to want to clutch the wound in his abdomen, where intestines mixed with blood and feces were spilling out of his body, but his half-severed left upper arm only flailed uselessly a few times, the severed hand still gripping the spear shaft tightly. The officer, head drooping, caught sight of approaching boots in his field of vision. He raised his head, his eyes now filled with nothing but blankness and exhaustion. A flash of blade danced before the officer's eyes again, and by ingrained habit he made another counter-thrust. By now the man's movements were already very slow and dulled… The deputy commander of Firefighting Battalion's Yi Company had followed Huang Shi since Guangning, had served as a retainer under He Dingyuan, later joined the Changsheng Island training unit to become a reserve officer, and had fought in every battle from Lüshun to Fuzhou. When he fell, dying for his country on the official road between Fuzhou and Gaizhou, the Vice Battalion Commander's long spear was still raised with all his remaining strength, pointing obliquely upward, so that his killer, charging forward, impaled his own waist on the spearhead…

The battle situation before him made Huang Shi shake his head repeatedly. The Later Jin army had once again launched a tenacious counter-assault. Although the Later Jin army had suffered heavy losses, they had regained considerable momentum in one stroke. After Firefighting Battalion's Yi Company charged past three rows of chevaux-de-frise, their casualties were enormous. Few of the frontline long-spearmen still wore iron armor, so the Heavy Armor Soldiers charging from the opposite side began shooting arrows again in droves. Firefighting Battalion therefore had no choice but to keep pressing forward, using cold-steel charges to push the enemy's ranged troops back to their rear ranks.

Not long before, Huang Shi had ordered Firefighting Battalion's Yi Company to shift early to the flank for screening duty, while Wu Company behind them took over Yi Company's position and began a massed charge. But no one expected that shortly after Wu Company began its charge, thirty fully armored cavalrymen in dense formation, divided into several ranks, would suddenly charge down the opposite official road. The horses these riders rode not only wore front blinders, but their ears seemed to have been pierced deaf as well. The armored warhorses, carrying their riders, crashed straight into the Ming army's forest of spears amid the deafening roar of Ming firelocks.

Horses fitted with front blinders and deafened could not run very fast in open country, but on this official road they still possessed tremendous power. The impact of these thirty horses and riders, along with their death throes, killed or gravely wounded several dozen Ming soldiers on the spot. The Heavy Armor Soldiers behind these Later Jin cavalrymen also seized the chance to surge forward in a frenzy of slashing. In the end, Wu Company had to make its firelock soldiers all switch to long spears and engage in hand-to-hand combat, barely managing to stabilize the situation after great difficulty and beat back this wave of Later Jin assault.

"Ding Company, take the front. Pull Wu Company back. Have Wu Company withdraw beside Yi Company. Yi Company and Wu Company will cover the left flank of the official road. Have Ding Company enter the front from Wu Company's right, then have Jia Company fill Ding Company's position." As Huang Shi spoke, he clasped his hands into a ring shape, making a diagram of an elongated circle formation: "Firefighting and Rock Battalions will deploy along the official road, forming a long circular formation with the auxiliary troops screened in the center. Then the troops on the right flank of the official road will enter the front at an angle, then roll to the left flank to rest, one unit after another. The entire army will advance along the official road toward Fuzhou in a rolling motion, attacking as it goes."

"Zhang Mobile Corps Commander, Shang Dusi."

"Your subordinate is here."

"Your humble servant is here."

Huang Shi said with a solemn expression: "I request you two to each deploy your own troops, dispersing them by company to fill the gaps between the companies of Firefighting Battalion and Rock Battalion, and to screen the flanks of each infantry company of these two battalions."

Zhang Pan answered readily: "Your subordinate obeys the order."

"Your humble servant obeys the order." After Shang Keyi acknowledged, he frowned and asked: "Lord Huang, the commoners fleeing Fuzhou have already reached the rear of our army's formation. Your subordinate dares to ask how they should be handled?"

Huang Shi pondered for a moment and asked Shang Keyi: "Are you worried that there might be Jianzhou slave spies among them who would seize the chaos to strike?"

"Lord Huang sees clearly." That was exactly what Shang Keyi was worried about. The Ming army had not yet won victory and did not quite dare to admit these commoners into the formation.

"Mm. Leaving them behind the formation is also not good. If the Jianzhou slaves drive them to charge our formation, we certainly cannot refrain from killing them, but killing them will also land us in trouble." Huang Shi lightly tapped his helmet. This problem gave him some headache. Officials of the Great Ming's Tianqi reign were still very conscientious — every severed head had to be inspected. For example, Yuan Chonghuan of Ningyuan Circuit and others, to prevent military officers from killing civilians to claim merit, would even check whether the stubble left from head-shaving was fresh or had been shaved post-mortem. The severed heads of ordinary commoners and Han troops were quite distinct. The Ming armies in Liaodong and Liaoxi nowadays dared not kill indiscriminately. If Huang Shi today ordered the massacre of over ten thousand commoners, such a huge matter would almost certainly be impossible to conceal, and then, regardless of whether they were from Jianzhou-ruled territory, he would be impeached by the censors.

Moreover, when Jinzhou was recovered last time, the imperial court had inquired about the commoners inside the city and even sent people to offer relief. Fuzhou, like Jinzhou, was a prefectural city. If Huang Shi drove all these commoners away without protecting them, he would definitely be impeached by the remonstrance officials. Even if Huang Shi forcibly claimed that not a single one had managed to flee, it would still seem hardly credible. Besides, there would certainly be survivors among these people, and they might well expose his lies.

Wu Mu, standing nearby, had heard the entire exchange between Huang Shi and Shang Keyi clearly. He then saw the shifting expressions and hesitant gaze on Huang Shi's face and immediately understood what Huang Shi was worried about in his heart. Wu Mu spurred his horse and rode between Huang Shi and Shang Keyi, loudly proclaiming: "Whatever thoughts Lord Huang has, speak them freely to me. This military order shall be issued by me, the Army Supervisor."

Originally, Wu Mu's job as Army Supervisor, besides guarding against military officers plotting rebellion or engaging in graft, included another important task: preventing military officers from allowing their troops to harass the people. But Wu Mu was a eunuch. The civil official bloc basically had no recourse against him. As long as the Emperor thought well of him, even if he punched a hole through the heavens, the civil official bloc could not go into the palace to deal with him.

Hearing Wu Mu's stance, Huang Shi felt greatly relieved. Had he encountered a rigidly orthodox civil official today, he would have been in danger. It seemed there was good reason military men liked colluding with eunuchs. Huang Shi hurriedly inclined his body and said to Wu Mu: "Eunuch Wu sees clearly. Your subordinate believes our army can barely look after itself and only has spare capacity to protect women, children, and the elderly. If we add those able-bodied men, there will be too many people."

Wu Mu, the Resident Coordinating Army Supervisor of the Great Ming's Dongjiang Garrison, nodded and loudly agreed: "Lord Huang's insight is profound." He turned with authority and addressed Shang Keyi: "Where is Dusi Shang?"

Shang Keyi also hastily bowed with clasped fists: "Your subordinate is here."

"Transmit my order as Army Supervisor. Admit into the formation the elderly who have difficulty moving, all women, and children under four chi in height. As for those able-bodied men, order them to scatter and flee for their lives at once, and to find their own way back to Fuzhou. Any who dare to trail our army shall all be treated as Later Jin spies. Soldiers who kill them shall earn merit, not guilt!"

"Your subordinate obeys the order." Shang Keyi bowed happily and ran swiftly to the rear to transmit the order.

This decision was certainly very cold-hearted, but Huang Shi believed that these able-bodied adult males still had a relatively good chance of escaping the battlefield alive. After all, it was now the warmer weather of late June, and the main force of the Later Jin army had its attention entirely drawn here by the Ming army. The intense fighting had probably scared off all the wild beasts in the woods as well. As long as these able-bodied men could cross through the woods, they could safely return home.

With this pressing worry relieved, Rock Battalion and the other Ming army units also stepped onto the battlefield, and the fighting grew increasingly fierce. The Later Jin army's subsequent resistance became more and more skillful. Large numbers of unarmored troops, under the cover of the woods, hurled storm-like volleys of stones onto the official road. Many Later Jin archers also climbed into the trees, raining arrows down upon the crowded masses on the official road.

The swarm-like stray arrows and flying stones posed little threat to Firefighting and Rock Battalions. Every man under Huang Shi had a helmet. The long-spearmen each had a set of iron armor, and the remaining cavalry and firelock soldiers also had basic armor. But the commoners in the center of the official road, the unarmored friendly troops, and the auxiliary soldiers were very unlucky. Among them, people were constantly being struck with bleeding heads or pierced by sharp arrows.

Huang Shi's cavalry had also dismounted to fight on foot. His two battalions of combat troops stood shoulder to shoulder with friendly forces, defending the order of the official road and the army. The Ming army's elongated circle formation was still slowly rolling, grinding away the obstacles ahead like a track belt.

The narrow frontage of the official road brought the Later Jin army many advantages. They had been steadily pulling back, avoiding direct clashes with the Ming army's immensely powerful spear formations. This limited engagement distance greatly reduced Later Jin casualties. The Later Jin army was now employing a layered resistance model, slowing the Ming army's advance while minimizing their own losses. Now, whenever the situation looked unfavorable, the Later Jin troops would voluntarily withdraw from the flanks of the official road rather than fight the Ming army head-on. These soldiers would reorganize and rest in the rear before returning to the battlefield. Just like the Ming army's rolling attack, the Later Jin side was also striving to restore its soldiers' stamina, always ensuring the combat effectiveness of those on the front line.

On the other hand, the Ming army's previously unstoppable momentum had also been considerably dampened by the Later Jin army's heavy cavalry charges. Now the Ming army no longer dared to carry out bold, long-stride assaults. Just as the Ming army began another charge, it once again suffered a fierce counter-assault. Twenty Later Jin heavy cavalrymen launched another suicidal charge, and the Heavy Armor Soldiers behind their cavalry unit again seized the chance to surge forward and hack for a while. Once the Ming army repaired its formation, the Later Jin troops very sensibly withdrew.

A warhorse let out a long, mournful neigh, reared up, and threw the rider on its back to the ground. Manggūltai crashed heavily to the earth, stunned and seeing stars. Before he could roll over, several long spears stabbed toward him. Two Plain Blue Banner Heavy Armor bodyguards lunged forward simultaneously. One, eyes glaring wide and arms spread open, shielded the banner lord behind him with his own chest. The other, a step slower, swiftly dragged Manggūltai away from the ground. Then two more pairs of hands reached out, and in the blink of an eye, Manggūltai, still seeing stars, was hauled into the rear of the formation.

"Give me another mount." After being dragged back, Manggūltai sprang up again in no time. He spoke, then snatched a waterskin, tilted his head back, and drank in great gulps, water streaming down his collar and soaking his body. After drinking, Manggūltai grabbed his seven-chi horse lance and large round iron shield again: "A satisfying fight! Bring the horse over. I'm going back to kill for another spell."

"Fifth Brother, rest a little. You've already changed horses three times." The speaker was Hong Taiji. He was vigorously shaking his sore right arm. Hong Taiji had also run over and shot many arrows earlier.

Manggūltai looked at the battle line being pressed steadily backward by the Ming army and gave a long sigh: "No need." Then he brandished the horse lance and iron shield in his hands, ready to plunge back into the fray.

"Fifth Brother, take care." Hong Taiji hastily shouted again: "No matter how much we lose today, Father Khan will compensate us."

"Ai, since you made everything clear just now, even if Father Khan doesn't give me replacements — do you think I would stand by and do nothing?" Manggūltai suddenly reined in his horse and, without turning his head, gave another long sigh: "I haven't read many Han books, but I still know the saying: 'If the skin does not exist, to what can the fur attach?'" With that, Manggūltai fiercely kicked his horse's belly, his right hand brandishing the horse lance, his left hand raising the iron shield high as he charged forward.

…

On the walls of Fuzhou, Jin Qiude, Li Yunrui, and Deng Ken all watched the north with tense expressions. Scouts occasionally rode back below the walls. After hearing the latest scout report, Shang Kexi shouted: "The two niru defending against us have also been transferred away. Let us sally out at once!" He grabbed Jin Qiude's sleeve and pleaded bitterly: "Sir Jin, give the order to sally out. Your humble servant will definitely be able to protect the artillery unit well."

Jin Qiude narrowed his eyes and looked at the sky, then looked at the official road that Shang Kexi had basically filled in. The corners of his mouth twitched as if he were about to speak.

"General Jin, you have no authority to give me orders. I am the Artillery Company Commander of Firefighting Battalion. Only the battalion commander of Firefighting Battalion — that is, the General himself — can command me." Deng Ken's face was taut, his eyes still fixed on the north: "Or the acting battalion commander of Firefighting Battalion, such as General Yang when we were in Japan. And I do not recall the Lord giving you such authorization."

Jin Qiude's expression shifted several times before he gave a bitter smile: "Sir Shang, according to the Changsheng Island regulations, I do not have the authority to give orders to Company Commander Deng."

"Regulations, regulations!" Shang Kexi stomped his feet and cursed: "I've listened to you talk about regulations all day. What damned nonsense is this? If you won't go reinforce Lord Huang, I'll go myself."

Deng Ken glanced back at him and said coldly: "As you please."

Shang Kexi glared at Deng Ken furiously for a moment, suddenly puffed out his cheeks, but in the end only spat on the ground: "Bah, you cowardly foreign devil who fears death. Lord Huang personally raised you up, yet your heart is that of a wolf and a dog!"

"I am not afraid of death, nor of having my head displayed on a pike." Deng Ken shrugged and turned his head back to watch the north, muttering: "Think what you will."

Li Yunrui took a deep breath and shook his head slightly at Shang Kexi: "Dusi Shang, I firmly believe that Company Commander Deng is by no means a coward who fears death. But the order the Lord gave him is to hold Fuzhou firmly and absolutely not allow Fuzhou to be lost. Company Commander Deng is not wrong!"

"But…" Shang Kexi still wanted to argue.

Li Yunrui said solemnly: "On our Changsheng Island, rules are made to be followed."

…

Song Army Supervisor's long spear stood ramrod-straight in the ground. He and the remaining officers and soldiers of Yi Company stood in a line below the official road, guarding the people in the rear. Not far away in the woods was a crossbow mechanism that had been shooting at their company for a long time. But the company commander had never given the order to collectively switch to firelocks, and the few cold firelocks could do little against the Later Jin soldiers hiding behind trees dozens of meters away, cocking their crossbows.

Another crossbow bolt shot over from the opposite side. This time those two Later Jin soldiers successfully hit the man next to Song Army Supervisor. After that man fell, he was immediately dragged away by the auxiliary soldiers behind. Song Army Supervisor glared angrily at those two Later Jin soldiers, who had again lain down on the ground to cock their crossbow mechanism. Firefighting Battalion's Yi Company had been standing here letting those two shoot at them for a long time, but the orders from above were not to be disobeyed — no company was to pursue enemy troops into the woods.

Several thousand auxiliary soldiers carried the wounded and the dead, slowly advancing. Huang Shi did not permit abandoning a single wounded soldier or a single corpse, whether they were his own direct subordinates or not. Huang Shi heard many wounded soldiers groaning: "Water, water." For the ten-thousandth time he looked up at the sun. The Later Jin army's determination to drag the battle into the night was already very clear.

Once night fell, the battle would inevitably spread into the entire forest. The moon might also be obscured by clouds. In the darkness, whether raising torches or shouting verbal commands, one would become a target. Once plunged into pitch-black night where one could not see one's hand in front of one's face, Huang Shi knew he would not even be able to command Hong Antong beside him. It would not even be strange if he died at his hand — Hong Taiji, are you truly so confident in your own luck? Do you not know that your chance of dying at Oboi's hand is also very great? Are you truly determined to gamble on character against me?

"Pass the order: accelerate the rolling attack speed."

The drums sounded once more, and the company commanders' mouths issued continuous orders. Song Army Supervisor licked his dry lips. It was Firefighting Battalion Yi Company's turn to attack again. He turned and took a few steps to the right. Several crossbow bolts shot over from the opposite side. Bing Company's firelock soldiers also fired one last covering volley.

The Later Jin troops opposite, wielding weapons of every description, had again assumed their stances, ready for slaughter. Song Army Supervisor also saw several men raising javelins and taking aim in this direction.

"They've never hit me before. They won't this time either, right?" Just as Song Army Supervisor was pondering this question, the waist drums behind him sounded fiercely. That sound, like the whip during usual training, made Song Army Supervisor shudder and stride forward in great steps.

The commander of Yi Company, standing in the front rank and holding a long spear, bellowed loudly: "Heeey~~~~~~~~~ Brothers, up! Skewer them into meat kebabs."