weaving

Chapter 1628 Retreat, all supplies abandoned!

March 8th, noon.

Zhang Guangda received a letter requesting assistance from someone sent to Jinbao. Only now did he realize that the number of Jurchens on the west bank of the Shu River was three times that on the east bank.

He thought to himself, "That was close!" Only then did he realize that he had almost fallen into Abatai's trap. He was also glad that he had sent the light cavalry in time, otherwise the western route would have been in real danger!
Without hesitation, Zhang Guangda immediately ordered the heavy cavalry to cover the rear, while all the soldiers of the supply wagon battalion immediately retreated south. They first traveled nine miles south along the Shu River, and then crossed the river to the west to reinforce Xiang Jinbao.

"General, we mustn't abandon the supply wagons!" Wang Tieren, the deputy commander of the Vermilion Bird Battalion, advised from the side.

Zhang Guangda waved his hand and said decisively, "The Tartars are all cavalry; their advance and retreat are only a matter of moments. How can we escape without abandoning our supply wagons?"

Yang Qing, the commander of the supply wagons, was not far away. Upon receiving the news, he rushed over, panting heavily, and pleaded, "General, it's not easy to make large wagons, and there are also those medicinal grains. Wouldn't it be a waste to leave them all to the Tartars?"

"Pass down the order: distribute the medicine, grain, and cereal to our soldiers, and each person should take as much as possible. The rest, along with the carts, should be blown up and burned. We will not leave any for the Tartars."

“But…” Yang Qing wanted to try again: “General, we have plenty of medicine and can hold the line. There’s no need to retreat so quickly.”

"Bastard!" Zhang Guangda cursed without any politeness, "Are you blinded by greed? We can hold the line, but so what? If we get there late, the brothers of the cavalry, light cavalry, and chariots might be wiped out. Do you even know that, you bastard?"

Wang Tieren immediately stepped in to smooth things over: "General, don't be angry. I'll make the arrangements right away. We'll retreat south immediately, abandon all the medicine in the carts, and make sure we can catch up with Brother Jinbao."

As he spoke, he grabbed Yang Qing and strode away, whispering to him as they walked, "'If you save the land but lose the people, you will lose both; if you save the people but lose the land, you will save both.' Have you forgotten the principle that the Commander-in-Chief said in the Military Academy?"

Yang Qing was being dragged forward by him, saying, "I understand the principle. But all these carts are left here, it breaks my heart, and besides, there are still those medicinal herbs and fodder..."

"Stop." Wang Tieren tightened his weathered old face and said in a deep voice, "The general's orders must be carried out resolutely without the slightest hesitation. Have you thrown away the military regulations of my Yongyi Army along with your excrement?"

"Yes, sir." Upon hearing this, Yang Qing immediately stood at attention, loudly accepted the order, and his spirits instantly returned to full strength.

"Don't get emotional anymore. You are the commander of the supply wagons. If you get emotional, how can you expect your subordinates to carry out military orders?"

"Oh. Also, gather all the mules, donkeys, and cattle together, feed them all with concentrated feed, and use them as pack animals except for those used to carry wounded soldiers. Prioritize carrying medicine, especially those that can kill ten thousand men. Take all the unused ones with you. We still have a big battle to fight when we get to the west bank."

"Here."

"Also... plant landmines along our retreat route, so the Tartars don't catch up too easily."

"Okay, I've got it."

"Go."

…………

Hu Shibu and Suna were not really fighting. Their main task was to contain Zhang Guangda and prevent him from going to the west bank to reinforce. So although their offensive looked fierce, it was not a real fight at the core.

Zhang Guangda had actually noticed this, which is why, upon receiving Xiang Jinbao's plea for help, he abandoned his carts and provisions to immediately go and reinforce him. In the afternoon, the Ming army's defensive lines at Gaomiyu were unusually quiet.

This surprised Hu Shibu and Suna. However, the quieter Gaomiyu was, the more cautious they became. They sent out cavalry to scout from the flanks while urging their infantry to launch a frontal attack to test the waters and see what the Ming army was really up to.

But when they cautiously approached the Ming army's defensive line, only fifty or sixty paces away, there was still no movement. The usual booming cannon fire and fierce volleys of gunfire did not occur...

Although the Ming army's position at Gaomiyu was very close, the Tartars did not rush in. Instead, they were very cautious, because what they saw was too strange.

Just as they were feeling quite surprised, a series of loud explosions suddenly rang out!
The Mongol soldiers in front were so frightened that they all lay prostrate on the ground, but no cannonballs were fired. Instead, flames rose from the Ming army's position at Gaomiyu on the opposite side, and quickly spread to the entire defensive line, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.

"Master Hushibu, all the Ming dogs have run away," a scout from the Bordered Blue Banner of Mongolia reported.

Hu Shibu was taken aback at first, then shouted, "Are you telling the truth?"

“Master Hushibu, let’s take a closer look. They’re just some wooden and straw-made dummies, all tigers. We can’t even find a single dog.”

"Ah!" Hushbu turned his head to look at Suna, and suddenly shouted, "Mount up! Tell the warriors to mount up! Chase after them... Chase after them!"

Suna glanced at Hushibu and reminded him, "Hushibu, you're a treacherous and cunning Ming dog. The situation in Gaomiyu is still unclear. Don't rush into this pursuit and fall into the Ming dog's trap again!"

Hu Shibu ignored him, took the reins of the warhorse handed to him by his subordinate, mounted the horse, and said, "Suna, I think Ming Gou must be going to rescue the west bank. The fact that the camp has been emptied in such a short time shows that Ming Gou is in a panic. How can this be fake?"

Seeing that Suna still had some doubts and worries, he said impatiently, "Suna, since you have such concerns, go to Gaomiyu yourself to find out what's going on. I'll go ahead and chase after Ming Gou."

"Giddy up! Giddy up!" Hu Shibu shouted, and before Suna could reply, he whipped his horse and galloped off.

…………

Watching the Mongolian Bordered Blue Banner cavalry gallop by, Suna pondered for only a moment before making his decision.

He shouted, "Ebutu..."

"Your subordinate is here."

"You will lead a squad to occupy Gaomiyu for the master and wipe out the remaining Ming dogs there. Remember... all those carts that were not taken away must be brought back for the master."

"Yes, sir!" Ebutu loudly accepted the order and left.

Seeing the trail of dust raised by the Hushbu Mongol Bordered Blue Banner, Suna shouted again, "Warriors, mount your horses and follow me to chase down the Ming dogs!"

The Mongol cavalry of the Bordered White Banner, led by Suna, followed closely behind the Mongol Bordered Blue Banner of Hushibu, crossed the Ming army's Gaomiyu position, and headed south in pursuit.

Suna was both concerned about the Ming army's wagons, supplies, and money in Gaomiyu, and unwilling to let Hushibu take all the credit for pursuing the Ming army. That's why he split his forces into two groups, wanting to take it all by himself.