Chapter 118: The Qing Army Rendezvous

After returning to the great camp five li outside Xincheng, Abatai had a throbbing headache. Although the Eight Banners army excelled at siege warfare, that depended on what kind of city it was facing — the Ming had countless cities throughout its territories, and many of them had extremely strong defenses.

In the past, the Eight Banners army had conquered everything in sight only by relying on the blessings of their ancestors. Those cities had been held by groups of useless Ming troops who, at the very start of a siege, either abandoned the city and fled or simply surrendered.

But whenever they encountered fearless Ming troops who stubbornly defended a city to the death, it became a terrible headache — even if they took the city, the losses were devastating. For this reason, Hong Taiji had ordered that this incursion through the passes focus on plundering people, livestock, grain, and valuables, and that they should bypass heavily defended cities whenever possible.

This Xincheng was personally held by the Ming Crown Prince, a figure of supreme status, so the defending generals would certainly fight to the death. Moreover, without the cover of shield carts, the Great Qing troops would suffer grievous losses while approaching the walls.

Abatai was by nature a cautious man, and at this moment he recalled the words of that fat bastard Hong Taiji, and the thought of withdrawing began to take root in his mind.

Just then, a scout returned with word that the imperial son-in-law Yangguri was leading an army of ten thousand to rendezvous with them.

That afternoon, in the Qing army camp five li outside Xincheng's south gate, Qing tents densely filled the grounds, banners of every color fluttering in the wind. Before the central command tent stood a huge woven-gold dragon banner.

Inside the spacious central command tent sat Qing generals clad in gilded armor, every one of them with a gleaming shaved forehead and a thin, rat-tailed queue hanging down the back of his head. They were wagging their heads and chattering away in Manchu, discussing the military situation.

Ever since Yangguri had arrived, he had strongly urged continuing the assault on the city the next day, so Abatai had no choice but to convene a war council to discuss how to fight tomorrow.

Among the Qing generals, Abatai sat in the seat of honor, Yangguri sat at the lower left side, and the other generals of the Plain Blue Banner and Bordered White Banner stood on both sides below.

Seeing everyone exchanging pleasantries, Abatai spoke up: "The imperial son-in-law proposes we continue our attack on Xincheng tomorrow. What does everyone think?"

"Since our Great Qing army entered the Ming capital region in the seventh month, we have been unstoppable — taking Changping and Liangxiang in succession, then entering Dingxing, taking Ansu, fighting at Zhuozhou, attacking Gu'an, capturing Wen'an, breaching Baodi — seizing twelve Ming prefectures and counties in all, killing several hundred Ming officers of Garrison Commander and Battalion Commander rank and above, and capturing hundreds of thousands of people and goods. With such a great victory, why should we fear this little Xincheng? Tomorrow we raise the army and wipe it out in one stroke!"

The speaker was Abatai's second son, Bohoto, whose words immediately drew howls of approval from the assembled generals. He seemed to have forgotten that just today he had been toyed with like a sand sculpture by the Ming army.

Abatai shot a glare at his second son, and Bohoto immediately wilted, standing off to the side without another word.

At this point, Yangguri said: "Rao Yu Beile, the Ming Crown Prince is right here in Xincheng. Such a golden opportunity — our Great Qing army must break the city and kill him, to strike fear into the Ming court!"

Abatai said: "Xincheng is so close to the Ming capital. If we launch a full-scale assault on the city, what if the Ming Emperor sends reinforcements? What if the Regional Commanders of every route send troops to reinforce?"

Yangguri laughed: "Rao Yu Beile, do not worry. Prince Wuying has already made all the arrangements. We still have seventy thousand elite troops, of which ten thousand will block the various relief forces. You and I will lead thirty thousand to assault the city, Prince Wuying himself will lead twenty thousand to continue eastward plundering Ming territories while opening the road to Lenggu for our withdrawal through the passes, and ten thousand will transport supplies and war booty while driving Ming commoners out through the passes. After we break the city and kill the Ming Crown Prince, we will rendezvous and head north out of the passes."

Bohoto asked: "Sending only ten thousand to block the Ming's several Regional Commanders — isn't that too few?"

Yangguri laughed: "Beizi, you don't understand. Those Regional Commanders of the Ming only send small detachments to harass our rear a few times. Once our Great Qing troops take the initiative to strike out, they shrink back into their cities like turtles, not daring to fight. My ten thousand Great Qing troops split into several groups to block them — no problem at all."

Hearing this, the generals in the tent burst into laughter, all feeling that Yangguri's description was apt.

Abatai, seated in the main position, considered himself senior in years and naturally could not show his feelings on his face like the others. He gently stroked his rat-like whiskers, slowly nodded, and looked at Yangguri: "Imperial son-in-law, this plan of dividing the troops — it was your scheme, wasn't it!"

Yangguri was taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "Rao Yu Beile is most perceptive!"

Ever since Yangguri had been crippled by a mysterious Ming force at the Battle of Liangxiang, he had tried every means to discover that force's designation. When he learned that its commander was actually a mere boy, he nearly vomited blood from rage and swore he would personally cut down this arrogant Ming Crown Prince who didn't know his place.

However, after that battle, the Ming Crown Prince had actually hidden himself inside Beijing and never come out again, which infuriated Yangguri. If not for Hong Taiji's strict order forbidding any attack on Beijing, he would have led his troops to storm the city long ago.

This time, hearing that the Ming Crown Prince had finally left Beijing — and as the Son of Heaven's deputy on campaign no less — Yangguri, in his excitement, hurriedly requested the assignment from the Regional Commander Ajige and presented this plan.

Abatai sneered inwardly — as if that fool Ajige could have come up with such a scheme? He continued: "Since Prince Wuying has already made his decision, then let us discuss how to take the city!"

Bohoto said: "According to the reports of our Great Qing spies in Ming territory, more than three months ago the Ming Crown Prince received an imperial edict to pacify the refugees in Beijing, and he built this city here. The soldiers recruited in the city were all chosen from among the refugees, and at present the Crown Prince's Yongwei Camp is also stationed here."

A banner master of the Eight Banners Mongols said: "To build this city in such a short time — this Ming Crown Prince does have some ability. Since most of the soldiers in the city are new recruits, they are nothing to worry about!"

Yangguri said in astonishment: "Beizi, you're saying that Ming Crown Prince's Yongwei Camp is also in the city?"

The Yongwei Camp, with just five thousand men, had beaten his ten thousand elite Eight Banners troops until their bones broke and their sinews snapped, leaving them gravely wounded — it chilled his heart.

Bohoto laughed: "Yes. What's the matter, imperial son-in-law?"

The tent fell utterly silent. Many people knew that Yangguri had been nearly wiped out at Liangxiang by a Capital Camps army, and if he hadn't later redeemed himself by taking several places in succession, Ajige would likely have chopped off his head on the spot.

In the silence, Yangguri saw the contemptuous looks on everyone's faces. His expression darkened, and he suddenly rose to his feet, saying to Abatai: "Rao Yu Beile, that Yongwei Camp has formidable firearms, ferociously brave infantry, and even cavalry that is bold and daring, willing to meet our horsemen in open battle. I believe we must treat them with the utmost seriousness!"

He said gravely: "I further believe that the Yongwei Camp must be eliminated. Otherwise, when our great army turns north to withdraw, they will watch us from the side, following step by step — and whenever they choose to strike, our Great Qing warriors' hard-won plunder may prove impossible to transport out through the passes."

Abatai had been continuously following intelligence on the Yongwei Camp and did not take Yangguri's words lightly. He nodded: "The imperial son-in-law speaks with great reason. In that case, we shall utterly annihilate them, to prevent any unforeseen trouble!"

Then they got down to business, each speaking in turn about how to break the city at the smallest possible cost.

The Eight Banners Mongol generals and the several Han Chinese jiala officers all kept their mouths shut. As cannon fodder attached to the Jianzhou barbarians, they had no say in matters of grand strategy and tactics — after all, no matter what was discussed, they would always be the vanguard cannon fodder.

In the end, Yangguri's tactics drew thunderous acclaim from the entire tent, including the Mongol and Han Chinese generals — every face beamed with delight.

It turned out that on the way to the rendezvous, Yangguri's scouts had discovered a large area of shanties nearby, inhabited by roughly ten thousand or more Ming commoners.

Yangguri proposed using these Ming commoners to clear the way at the front — they could not only dig earth to fill the moat, but also shield the Qing troops during the assault.

This method was not Yangguri's original invention; it was a tactic the Qing army had frequently used in the past. Whenever they encountered troublesome Ming troops or formidable cities, the Qing would mostly drive commoners ahead of the army as cover.

Many defending officials, afraid that harming civilians would bring impeachment and damage their reputations, would become hesitant and timid, and the morale of the troops below would easily be affected as well.

Later, as the Ming army's strength declined steadily, the Qing easily routed a few hundred Ming troops, and gradually they no longer needed to use this tactic.

Originally I planned three chapters today, but the third chapter has a cliffhanger ending. To avoid being cursed at as a cliffhanger dog, I'll post it tomorrow — three chapters tomorrow.

Continuing to beg for recommendation tickets. Please, brothers, give me some support — thank you!