[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-stealing-ming":3,"chapter-stealing-ming-stealing-ming-chapter-235":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Stealing Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1220852,1614,"Chapter 235: Section 50: The Defensive Line","stealing-ming-chapter-235",235,"\u003Cp>While Huang Shi was touring Juehua to boost morale, the forty instructors of the provisional engineer corps were also busy all over Juehua Island. Their captain Ouyang Xin held a map in his hand, and the assistant beside him was using an artillery rangefinder to measure the distance between several vertical poles, then calculating the elevation of their position through simple computation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early this morning, as soon as they got up, the engineer corps studied the map of Juehua, marked the key points that needed measuring with ink circles, and then assigned each group to collect data separately. Ming dynasty feng shui practitioners already had to use a great deal of trigonometric knowledge — though of course they did not know this knowledge was called trigonometry, nor had they ever systematically studied its formulas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after receiving the simplest theoretical training on Zhangsheng Island, these former feng shui masters and tomb robbers rapidly surpassed their first instructor — Deng Ken, Company Commander Deng. Every one of them was already thoroughly versed in the double-pole ranging method; now with the theoretical framework of trigonometry, they were like tigers given wings. Ouyang Xin, for instance, often sighed that if he had learned this set of theories a few years earlier, he could have long since become a master and taken on disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last figure was also marked on the map. Ouyang Xin was the first to finish the area his group was responsible for. He took paper and a charcoal pencil from the engineer cloth bag he carried, then crouched on the ground and began sketching a draft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If any elementary school student who had ever taken a geography class had glanced at the map in Ouyang Xin's hand, they would have known at once that he was drawing contour lines. The Zhangsheng Island engineer map course first of all taught the concept of contour lines. Huang Shi did not know how modern military maps should be drawn, but he believed contour lines were certainly the foundation of modern maps, and also an essential prerequisite for three-dimensional sand tables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dusk, Zhang Pan, Hong Antong, and Hu Qingbai were summoned by Huang Shi to the silver vault for a meeting. The first report was delivered by Hu Qingbai. Taking advantage of the Zhangsheng Island army's day of rest, the military physicians — all those brought this time were male — had been busy dealing with the aftereffects of the sea voyage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military Physician Hu Qingbai believed the army's condition was very optimistic. Although this sea voyage had been the longest the Zhangsheng Army had undertaken in years, already two thousand five hundred officers and soldiers had recovered their combat capability today, and Juehua Island had ample supplies and manpower. So Hu Qingbai estimated that apart from a hundred or so seriously ill cases, the rest would recover their combat capability by tomorrow evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhangsheng Island Internal Guard had now taken over Juehua's grain depot and silver vault. On Huang Shi's orders, they had taken out large quantities of stored grain and frozen meat. Today the Zhangsheng Island soldiers had eaten three meals, and there would be a midnight snack as well. Starting today, every day the Zhangsheng Island combat troops would eat four meals of cooked rice, large chunks of stewed meat, and hot soup just like today — though of course, alcohol was absolutely forbidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The army chaplain corps had not been idle either. With ample supplies, their morale-boosting work had become twice as effective with half the effort. Zhang Pan reported that the entire army, from top to bottom, was in high spirits; as the officers and soldiers feasted on fish and meat, they were all brimming with confidence in victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After these internal affairs were concluded, Huang Shi summoned Jin Qiude, Deng Ken, and Ouyang Xin. The engineers had completed a rough survey of Juehua Island, so everyone could analyze the island's terrain and situation against a fairly detailed sand table. Jin Qiude believed that the places where the Ming army had originally dug trenches were indeed the possible approach routes for the Later Jin, but the Zhangsheng engineers had narrowed the scope of the danger zone. They believed that most of the peripheral areas could only allow small bands of men to cross the ice, and were unlikely to accommodate the passage of a large army — this already cut the length by about half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on the remaining ice surface, there was still a long stretch connected to the complex terrain of Juehua Island, facing either cliffs and steep slopes, or rocky beaches and woods. Jin Qiude believed this terrain would make it very difficult for a large army to pass through quickly, and crossing such terrain in the depths of winter would also be extremely draining on physical strength. Besides, on the open ice the Later Jin army could not conceal its troop strength or movements. As long as the Guan-Ning army on the island held the strategic passes and did not suffer a camp panic due to unclear enemy movements, it would be very hard for the Later Jin army to break through such treacherous terrain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, the staff officers unanimously agreed that the truly dangerous area was the central defensive line of the frozen zone, roughly three li long. Here the ice was thick enough, the ground was flat, and a breakthrough would allow entry into the plain region between the two hills of Juehua. This area was not only where most of the military households lived, but also the main supply storage area of Juehua — it absolutely could not be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Qiude suggested that Huang Shi deploy the Zhangsheng Army on the central position, construct a protruding defensive core, and deploy the two battalions of Guan-Ning Iron Cavalry on the defensive lines on both flanks. If the Later Jin army was foolish enough to bunch up and throw themselves at the cliffs and precipices on the flanks, the firepower of the Guan-Ning army on the defensive line should be able to inflict heavy casualties on them on the ice, and the firepower from the central position could also provide flanking fire, and even take the initiative to sally forth and catch the enemy in a pincer when necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The other two battalions of Guan-Ning troops will be deployed behind our army, ready at any time to reinforce the flanks or fill gaps in the center.\" Jin Qiude pointed at the battle map and explained his concept to Huang Shi. Behind the defensive line, the military households would also build some thatched huts, dig fire pits, and prepare hot water and bandages so that the wounded could receive timely aid. He believed there were no major problems with this deployment. Following the officers' discussion, the staff officers continuously placed small wooden blocks of various shapes — representing different buildings and facilities — on the map, and arranged various units and fortifications on the sand table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi also believed there were no major problems. The four battalions of Guan-Ning Iron Cavalry basically formed a straight, continuous defensive line, while the two battalions of Zhangsheng Army jutted far forward in the middle of this line. Even the ice-edge areas that could only accommodate infiltration by small forces had been assigned defenders. From here to the mainland was over a dozen li of empty ice, and the Ming troops on both flanks would also hold the cliffs and defend from strong positions. If the Later Jin army could still achieve a surprise attack effect against the Guan-Ning Iron Cavalry under these conditions, that would be too fantastical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was just one small problem…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Move all the cannons from these two battalions behind us to the flanks. We don't need the Guan-Ning Iron Cavalry to establish a second defensive line. If our Zhangsheng Army cannot hold the central position, then there will be nothing left.\" As he spoke, Huang Shi examined the detailed central defensive line deployment map. With a broad stroke of his brush, he crossed out the several dozen Guan-Ning army cannons that Jin Qiude had drawn over: \"We'll just use the eight cannons we brought ourselves. Send the rest of the artillery to the flanks. The close-combat ability of those Guan-Ning troops cannot be trusted at all. If… I mean if the Jian slaves really do squeeze through those marginal areas, the friendly forces on the flanks can at least blast them back with massed cannon fire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the plan was revised, Deng Ken and Ouyang Xin continuously offered opinions from the perspectives of their respective branches, and Jin Qiude also rapidly proposed various strategies for Huang Shi's consideration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Juehua was the supply center for goods sent from inside the Pass to Liaoxi, and the largest transshipment and storage base. So apart from grain, silver taels, and cloth, gunpowder, bricks, stone, and other materials were also available in abundance. Hong Antong handed over a detailed inventory list drawn up by the Internal Guard. After carefully reading it through, Huang Shi decisively ordered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Immediately transmit my military order: bring out all the bricks in storage. Good steel must be used on the blade's edge. So most of the bricks will be used to reinforce the defensive lines on the flanks. Cheval de frise and timber will be used on our Zhangsheng Island central position. Hmm, we can also use gunpowder to blast trenches, then use that earth to build protective walls. As for the area behind us, no construction materials need be allocated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The work of blasting trenches would naturally be carried out by the engineer corps. Ouyang Xin, brimming with confidence, loudly acknowledged the order. Huang Shi praised him briefly, then picked up the defensive line draft map that everyone had contributed to, and made a concluding statement to the group: \"Regarding the central defense, my plan is settled. Our Dongjiang Army will be responsible for the entire one-thousand-six-hundred-meter central defensive line. On this line, our army will construct four acute-angled ice bastions, each side fifty meters long, with an opening cut in the middle of the two walls to build an artillery emplacement. On either side of each bastion, construct a fifty-meter horizontal low wall. Build the wall foundations with timber first, then pile earth on top. The bastions will be reinforced with city bricks. The artillery emplacements will be low — build them thicker. The low walls can just use the earth from the trenches.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Xin, who had been rapidly taking notes to one side, suddenly interjected: \"May I ask, my lord, how thick should these walls be built? And what height?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi was about to give him the figures, but suddenly stopped. He turned his head and asked Deng Ken on the other side of the table: \"Company Commander Deng, what do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Ken smugly raised an eyebrow, gravely stroked his small mustache twice with an air of great importance, then coughed twice and looked around at everyone with a solemn expression: \"Based on my many years of experience and professional judgment as an artillery officer, the rebels lack artillery, so our acute-angled bastion walls need only be one meter thick and two meters high. As for the horizontal protective walls, one and a half meters high and half a meter thick will suffice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These figures were roughly what everyone had in mind. No one raised any objection. Ouyang Xin recorded them and began calculating the earthwork volume.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Behind these two walls, we need to prepare wooden ladders — two every five meters should do. Collect all the tables from the military households. When there's time, have the arquebusiers practice the coordination of firing from behind the walls.\" By coordination, Huang Shi meant the primary shooter standing on a table, bracing the arquebus on the low wall to fire, while several others stood behind the low wall responsible for loading ammunition. This was to solve the reloading difficulty caused when arquebusiers fired while standing on ladders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Qiude nodded in acknowledgment: \"Your subordinate obeys the order.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also, prepare plenty of grease and deerskin gloves. Don't forget to inspect them repeatedly. And have hot dishes, hot rice, and hot soup all prepared in the rear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your subordinate understands. My lord, rest assured.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers sliding repeatedly over the protective walls on the sand table, Huang Shi, without looking up, asked a few more questions about the cheval de frise and timber. The protective walls of each bastion would be linked by wooden palisades and cheval de frise, forming a continuous field fortification about one meter high. Four arquebusier company commander units would be deployed behind the bastions and their horizontal protective walls, while three companies of pikemen would form battle arrays behind the wooden palisades, with the remaining companies deployed behind the defensive line ready to maneuver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finalizing the deployment of the main defensive position, Huang Shi and the others turned their attention to the field fortifications in front of the defensive position. They had already sketched three wavy outer walls on the draft map. Ouyang Xin would blast the trenches and simultaneously pile the trench earth into earthen walls, then pour water over them to form a hard frozen outer surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The trenches don't need to be too deep, but it would be best if they are half a meter to one meter wide.\" As he spoke, Huang Shi used his hands to demonstrate the shape to the officers: \"These three outer walls only need to be half a meter wide. As for the height…\" Huang Shi glanced at the defensive zone plan that had just taken shape on the sand table, gestured in the air to compare, roughly about one meter above the ground: \"This high will do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that no one had any further questions, Huang Shi slapped the table and stood up: \"The entire field fortification must be completed within two days. There must be no delay!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers in the room also stood up ramrod straight at the same time and answered in unison: \"We obey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing off his subordinate officers, Huang Shi prepared to attend the welcoming banquet hosted by several Guan-Ning Army generals, and to discuss military deployments with them along the way. The military households and soldiers on this Juehua Island were all the private property of those generals. Without the support of these people, no matter how well he, Huang Shi, planned, the fortifications still could not be built. Fortunately, now everyone was like grasshoppers tied to the same rope — even if they wanted to run, they couldn't. The Guan-Ning Army officers had no choice but to pull together with him in the same boat. Huang Shi prepared to win them over with as many benefits as possible, and not give them any reason to deliberately hold things back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he walked out the door, an Internal Guard came over and whispered a few words in his ear. Huang Shi then saw a veiled woman in the distance looking toward him. This morning, Zhao Yin had rushed out of the house in a fury before hearing the full story, and his two younger sisters knew at once that great trouble was afoot. Later, as expected, they heard that their elder brother had been arrested. Now, when facing Huang Shi, the civil officials on Juehua Island were all so terrified they dared not even breathe loudly, so the two sisters could find no one to intercede on their behalf. As for Zhao Yin's eldest brother-in-law, he had always felt there was something wrong with the Zhao family's moral standards, so the sisters naturally dared not tell him what had happened, and even less could they let their elder sister come to plead…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your esteemed brother is just in the back. This morning I merely wanted him to calm down a bit; I meant no harm. Then military affairs grew so busy that I forgot to release him.\" Huang Shi sighed as he spoke, then gave a few instructions to an Internal Guard, and said to the second young lady of the Zhao family: \"Young lady, go with my guard to see him. I will first give you half a shichen to speak with your esteemed brother through the bars and explain things. After half a shichen, my guard will naturally go and unlock his chains.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason he did not immediately release Zhao Yin was mainly that Huang Shi feared he would get hot-blooded after hearing just a few words and come running back to cause trouble for him again. Without waiting for the second young lady of the Zhao family to thank him again, he hastily cupped his hands in salute and left with his guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month, the fifth year of the Tianqi reign. Fengji Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ming army's red banners already covered the sky above the fort. The troops of the Right Brigade of Dongjiangzhen were rolling past the fort in a long marching column that stretched beyond sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless scouts circled around two red banners six zhang high. Beneath the banners, a military officer in full armor, riding one of the rare piebald horses of Dongjiangzhen, held his head high and puffed out his chest as he marched at the very front. The cavalrymen behind him surrounded him like a host of stars circling the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dongjiang Vice Regional Commander.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Left Chief Commissioner of the Chief Military Commission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two banners, identical to Huang Shi's general's banner, were the insignia of Chen Jisheng, Vice General of the Right Brigade of Dongjiang. After listening carefully to the vanguard's report, he burst into a bout of triumphant laughter and lashed his horsewhip northward through the air: \"Mobile Corps Commander Mao Yongshi has once again routed the enemy. Our army has successfully forced a crossing of the Hun River.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Report to the Grand Commander at once: our division is advancing north at top speed to link up with General Mao Yongshi.\" Chen Jisheng impatiently dispatched men to report this good news to Mao Wenlong, while also preparing to accelerate the march and strive to reach the walls of Shenyangcheng as soon as possible: \"Announce to the entire army: Shenyang is right before our eyes, and the Jian slaves have already scurried back inside the city. Haha, let the lads raise the cry!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very soon, wave after wave of cheers drifted above the Dongjiang Army, the surging voices rising higher and higher:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fight our way to Shenyang for a good New Year… Fight our way to Shenyang for a good New Year…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, forty li away, the four gates of Shenyangcheng were already tightly shut. Jirgalang, the Bordered Blue Banner's Beile, stood atop the southern gate tower, watching the Ming army sweeping in from below. So enraged that he slammed his fist heavily onto the battlements. The Later Jin soldiers around him had all strung their bows and nocked arrows, nervously aiming down at the base of the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly a thousand Ming cavalrymen charged howling straight toward Shenyangcheng. Several dozen of them dragged captives behind their horses, only stopping when they were an arrow's flight from the city gate. Even if the captives dragged behind their horses still had a breath of life left, they were already a bloody mess of torn flesh. The leading Ming general swung his right arm, and the Ming soldiers behind him dismounted one after another, dragging the half-dead captives before the gates of Shenyangcheng. Right before the eyes of the defenders on the wall, they stripped them completely naked, then used their sharp-eared daggers to cut out hearts, gouge out livers, and slit open bellies one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this performance of live dissection, the Ming general spurred his horse and charged toward the southern gate of Shenyang, brandishing the cavalry lance in his hand. Jirgalang on the wall saw it clearly and barked out an order: \"Loose!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wave after wave of feathered arrows instantly poured down toward the Ming general. He continued forward utterly unconcerned, not even bothering to dodge most of the off-target arrows, only occasionally and lazily swinging his lance a few times to swat away the few that posed a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After riding a few more steps forward, the Ming general suddenly rose in his stirrups, leaned back in a full arch, then abruptly pitched forward with a great roar. His lance flew from his hand, streaking like a meteor straight toward the southern gate of Shenyang, and embedded itself heavily into the iron-hard frozen earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am Mao Yongshi, Training Mobile Corps Commander of the Dongjiangzhen of the Great Ming!\" By now Kong Youde had drawn his saber. While parrying the feathered arrows shot at him, he bellowed toward the top of the wall with full-throated vigor: \"You rats and cowards, do you dare to fight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dongjiang officers and soldiers behind Kong Youde first roared out a thunderous cheer in unison, then shouted together at the top of their lungs: \"Gutless rats, do you dare to fight? Do you dare to fight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jirgalang on the wall did not answer, only shouting repeatedly: \"Loose! Loose! Loose…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Youde parried a few more shots, then withdrew from the Later Jin army's bow range with ease. At this moment, the tail of the lance, pointing straight up to the sky, was still faintly quivering in the air. Kong Youde spurred his horse and raised his saber, galloping and shouting before his loyal guard: \"Our Dongjiang Army…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mighty and powerful! Mighty and powerful!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the cheers, Kong Youde flourished his saber in a few fancy patterns, then abruptly reined in his horse and shouted sternly: \"Make camp! Conduct a thorough search of the surrounding countryside. Wherever there are Jian slaves, be they men, women, old or young — slaughter them all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",3646,"2026-06-04T07:54:54.057Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","8295800f5fd47835867ae7ce45b787eae4dae3f1dd4a965b5173b3e7f12ef821","stealing-ming-chapter-236","stealing-ming-chapter-234",323,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstealing-ming-cover.jpg"]