Chapter 50: Urging Surrender

Morning mist rose slowly from the bottom of Shen'er Valley, draping Erdao Liang with a thin veil.

In the Great Ming Military Camp, the soldiers had already gotten up, set up kettles to cook rice, and polished their weapons.

Cooking smoke mingled with the morning mist, swirling through the valley.

Inside the Central Command Tent, Xu Da was discussing matters with the generals.

"Kuokuo has been besieging Erdao Liang for three days, grain and fodder are nearly exhausted, the troops will surely lose morale. Last night a scout reported that soldiers have already slipped down the ridge to surrender."

Xu Da pointed to the sand table and said.

Chang Yuchun grinned and said, "Then what are we waiting for! Today we charge in one go and capture Kuokuo alive!"

Mu Ying shook his head and said, "General Chang, Erdao Liang's terrain is treacherous; a direct assault would cause heavy casualties. Better to besiege for two more days and let them collapse without fighting."

"Wait for what..."

Chang Yuchun glared and said, "If we linger here another day, grain and fodder will be consumed another day. In my opinion, attack today!"

The two looked at Xu Da.

Xu Da pondered briefly, then turned to the silent Zhu Yong and asked, "Prince, what do you think?"

Zhu Yong was squatting at the tent entrance watching ants relocate, and upon hearing this he looked up and said naively, "I follow Xu Shu; if Xu Shu says to fight, we fight; if he says not to, we don't."

The generals all laughed.

Xu Da also laughed, "Prince, you're easygoing. Fine, we'll besiege for another day, but today we must apply pressure so Kuokuo knows he is a turtle in a jar."

He looked at Mu Ying and said, "General Mu, lead five thousand men to make a feint attack from North Slope; the display must be grand, but no need for a real assault."

"Yes, sir."

"General Chang, lead eight thousand elite troops to block the retreat route at West Ridge; if Kuokuo breaks out, you must stop him."

"Got it!"

"General Li, position your musket troops beneath the ridge; if any enemy troops come down the mountain, shoot them all down."

Li Wenzhong clasped his fists and said, "As you command."

Finally, Xu Da looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Prince, lead the Imperial Troops to stand by at the valley mouth, ready to reinforce at any time."

Zhu Yong stood up, brushed the dust from his hands, nodded and replied, "Hmm."

The generals exited the tent.

Zhu Yong returned to his own camp, where Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng had already organized their units.

Five thousand Imperial Troops, each full of vigor.

"Prince, there is a battle today..." Zhang Wuhe asked, rubbing his hands.

Zhu Yong shook his head and said, "Not necessarily; Xu Shu said we might not fight."

Chen Heng, a bit disappointed, asked, "So we just wait here idle?"

"Waiting! That's how war is; sometimes we wait several days," Zhu Yong said, pulling an oiled paper packet from his chest, which contained the leftover biscuits from last night; he broke them into three pieces and gave two to the others.

The three squatted by the camp tent, gnawing the biscuits.

From afar, drums sounded.

Mu Ying began the feint attack.

Shouts of killing rang from North Slope, shaking heaven and earth.

But from the magnitude of the noise, one could tell it was empty posturing.

After finishing the biscuit, Zhu Yong licked his fingers and suddenly said, "Tell me, what is Kuokuo doing right now!"

Zhang Wuhe thought for a moment and said, "He's definitely frowning, wondering how to escape."

Chen Heng said, "If I were him, I would have broken out in the dark last night; why wait?"

Zhu Yong shook his head and said, "He can't run; West Ridge is blocked by Uncle Chang, East Ridge is a cliff, South Ridge has General Li's musket formation, and North Ridge has General Mu attacking.

All four sides are our men."

"Then he's doomed?" Zhang Wuhe asked.

"Not necessarily; Uncle Xu said Kuokuo is a talent, if he surrenders he can live," Zhu Yong said naively.

Just then, a swift horse galloped over.

It was Xu Da's Imperial Troops.

"Prince, the Grand Marshal asks you to come over."

Zhu Yong stood up, brushed the dust from his rear, and followed the troops into the Central Command Tent.

Inside the tent, besides Xu Da, there was another person.

He was a middle‑aged man dressed in Northern Yuan attire, his hands bound, kneeling on the ground.

"Prince, this is a messenger sent by Kuokuo," Xu Da said.

Zhu Yong glanced at the messenger, who also looked up at him, a flash of fear in his eyes.

Obviously, this messenger had seen Zhu Yong charging on the ridge.

"What does Kuokuo say!" Zhu Yong asked.

Xu Da gestured for the messenger to speak.

The messenger spoke in stiff Mandarin, "My general says he is willing to negotiate peace with Great Ming, provided Great Ming withdraws its troops; he will then submit and pay tribute, never again breach the border."

Xu Da sneered, "Negotiate peace? Does he still have the right to negotiate now?"

The messenger broke into sweat on his forehead, yet forced a calm tone, "My general, though at a disadvantage, still has over ten thousand soldiers on the ridge; if we fight to the death, your army will also pay a price.

Better to each step back one..."

"Each step back... fine! Go back and tell Kuokuo to bind himself and come down; I will guarantee he won't die. Any of his soldiers who lay down their weapons will not be killed; this is the final chance," Xu Da interrupted him.

The messenger still wanted to say something, but Xu Da waved his hand and said, "Take him away."

The Imperial Troops escorted the messenger out.

Inside the tent only Xu Da and Zhu Yong were left.

"Uncle Xu, will Kuokuo really surrender?" Zhu Yong asked.

Xu Da shook his head and said, "It's hard to say. Kuokuo is proud and arrogant; getting him to surrender is harder than killing him, but …"

He paused, then looked at Zhu Yong and said, "His sister is in our hands; that might be a bargaining chip."

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "Uncle Xu wants me to go persuade them to surrender?"

"No, let that girl go persuade." Xu Da replied with a smile.

"Minmin …"

"Right, Kuokuo is deeply attached to his sister; if she personally goes up the mountain to persuade him to surrender, it might work."

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "What if Kuokuo takes the opportunity to capture his sister?"

"Capturing her is no problem; a woman can't change the battle. But if we can persuade Kuokuo to surrender, that would be a great achievement."

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Then I'll go tell her."

He left the Central Command Tent and walked toward the tent where Minmin Temur was being held.

Two soldiers were guarding outside the tent.

Seeing Zhu Yong arrive, they quickly saluted.

"Has she eaten?" Zhu Yong couldn't help asking.

"Yes, Prince, the breakfast was delivered, but she hasn't touched it."

Zhu Yong lifted the curtain and went in.

Inside the tent, Minmin Temur sat on the mat, and the food in front of her had already gone cold.

Her complexion was pale, her eye sockets sunken; clearly she hadn't slept well these past nights.

Hearing the movement, she looked up, saw Zhu Yong, and a hint of complexity flashed in her eyes.

"What are you doing here again?" she said hoarsely.

Zhu Yong squatted down, looked at her and said, "Your brother sent a messenger, saying he wants to negotiate peace."

Minmin Temur's eyes brightened and she said, "Really …"

"But Uncle Xu won't agree. Uncle Xu says that sending you up the mountain to persuade your brother to surrender is the last chance." Zhu Yong said honestly.

Minmin Temur was stunned.

"I… I'm to persuade surrender?"

"Hmm, your brother is now trapped on the ridge, the Grain and Fodder are running out, morale is scattered, at most he can hold out two more days; then he'll either starve to death or be breached."

Uncle Xu said that if he surrenders, they will guarantee he won't die.

Minmin Temur bit her lip, remained silent for a long while, then said, "My brother… he won't surrender."

"Why?"

"He is a descendant of Chengjisihan, a soaring eagle of the grassland; he would rather die in battle than bow his head."

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "But even an eagle needs to eat! There's no grain on the ridge; how can you fight on an empty stomach …"

The words were plain, yet they struck at the core.

Minmin Temur looked at him and suddenly asked, "If my brother doesn't surrender, will you really launch a full assault?"

"Yes."

"Then how many will die?"

"I don't know, but certainly many; your brother's men will die, and ours will die as well."

Minmin Temur lowered her head, her hands twisting together.

The tent fell silent.

From afar came the sounds of drums and battle cries; Mu Ying's feint attack was still ongoing.