prosperous age

On the streets of Daejeon, Ming soldiers had lit bonfires, and a group of people gathered around the fires to keep warm and share the food on the grills.

Every so often, there were makeshift stoves built by cooks, with large pots of delicious meat broth simmering on them.

Soldiers who were tired from eating and drinking would simply push open the doors and enter the rooms on either side to rest.

The entire city of Daejeon was bustling with activity, just like a giant military camp.

As for the original residents of the city, they were all relocated to two streets in the west of the city and were guarded by government troops, with food delivered to them regularly every day.

Not much, just enough to keep us from starving.

Even the passageway to the outside was built by the Ming army with two walls of stones, just like the concentration camps of later times.

This was also to prevent the residents from causing trouble in the city and affecting the defense when the siege was at a critical stage.

As for inhumanity, in this world, at this time, there really is no such thing as human rights.

The Ming army merely adhered to the principle of not arbitrarily killing Japanese soldiers; it was "not arbitrarily" rather than "not able to".

In this era, massacres of entire cities were commonplace in wars, and similar incidents were not uncommon even in Chinese history.

However, such indiscriminate killings were already considered a violation of international conventions after the Allied Powers signed the Treaty of Peace with Turkey in 1920.

In 1945, the Nuremberg Charter became the first international legal document to define crimes as punishable offenses.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 1998 listed it as one of the four core crimes under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, covering 11 acts including murder, extermination, and slavery.

These acts include violations of human rights or the right to life, the abolition or deprivation of rights that people should enjoy, and acts of dissection, humiliation, enslavement, expulsion, imprisonment, torture, rape, and persecution or other inhumane acts based on interests, political class, religion, ethnicity, etc., which are commonly referred to as "crimes against humanity".

Because this awareness had been established since 1920 and was widely recognized by the international community, the ringleaders of the numerous massacres that occurred throughout World War II ultimately received their just deserts and were hanged.

The Ming soldiers were happy tonight. Even though each of them only received an extra half bowl of wine, and it was the kind of bland wine, it was still a rare treat to relieve their fatigue after a day of fighting.

After drinking a bowl of wine, I felt lighter and more relaxed.

It's a pity; if we had a few more bowls, it would have felt even better.

While the soldiers were laughing and joking in the street, a group of Ming army officers were gathered in a large house inside the East Gate, drinking wine from large bowls and eating meat in large chunks.

"Ah, it's been so long since I've had such good wine."

"Yeah, those dilapidated ships in the navy, they always say they don't have enough space to load up with some liquor, I almost forgot what liquor tastes like."

"Go away, don't think I don't know, do you have several water sacs filled with water?"

"Don't you have any?"

A group of generals chatted and laughed. Although bringing alcohol was prohibited, they were not naive and obediently brought nothing.

They all tried to get some drinks, but by now, they've all been drunk up.

Fortunately, the rewards sent by the imperial court this time included not only silver coins but also wine and meat, which encouraged them to indulge themselves.

As for the soldiers below, they can just make do with Japanese-made alcohol.

Ten jars of wine may seem like a lot, but for a group of military generals, it's really not enough.

He only got about five or six tenths drunk, and all ten jars of wine were gone.

After a general picked up the empty wine jars and shook them, he said to Liu Ting, who was in the main seat, "General, all the wine is gone. Shall we open two more jars?"

"It's gone, so fast."

Upon hearing that there was no more wine, a nearby general quickly went over and shook a few wine jars, then spoke to Liu Ting in the same manner as the previous officer.

"Alright, alright, I know everyone hasn't had enough to drink, but now is not the time to drink freely."

Once the Japanese pirates kneel and surrender, the court will surely celebrate, and everyone will drink heartily.

That's ten jars for today, that's all, so don't worry about the rest.

During the New Year's Day period, ten jars were opened each day, and some were also distributed to the soldiers below. That was all.

The white wine was simply not enough for the nearly ten thousand soldiers.

These officers and soldiers have already gotten a huge advantage, yet they still want to drink.

"Haven't had enough to drink, boss?"

A deputy general near Liu Ting also spoke with a mournful face.

"After the war is over, I'll soak you in the liquor store and let you drink your fill."

Liu Ting said irritably.

"Ha ha."

"hey-hey."

The group laughed and were amused by Liu Ting's words, "That jar can be made into ginseng wine."

"Yes, ginseng wine, and we also need to tie this old rascal up with a red thread so he doesn't run away."

The general, who came from Liaodong, naturally knew about ginseng wine and had also heard stories about ginseng harvesters, who said that when they encountered old ginseng, they would tie a red thread around it to prevent it from running away.

Naturally, this is something to joke about at this time.

Liu Ting had half a pot of wine left in front of him. He poured some for himself and gave the rest to the adjutant who had just arrived that day to deliver the rewards.

"General, General, you mustn't do that."

The adjutant hurriedly reached out to stop him, but he was no match for Liu Ting.

After the wine was poured, Liu Ting tossed the empty wine pot aside, picked up the wine bowl, and said, "General Lin, let's not talk about anything else. Today, you delivered the imperial reward before the New Year, allowing all the soldiers to have a bite of meat. I, Liu, thank you."

"This humble general is merely acting under orders and dares not accept the general's thanks."

Lin, the military officer, hurriedly said.

"Of course I'm thanking you, you've been a great help to me."

During this period, the Japanese pirates attacked the city very urgently, launching attacks early every morning with tens of thousands of soldiers besieging it. The soldiers are working very hard.

Moreover, my troops in the city are currently stretched thin, and the two thousand men you brought have come to my rescue.

Liu Ting grasped Lin Canjiang's hand and said.

"No, General Liu, I was only responsible for escorting the rewards; the commander-in-chief did not order me to enter."

Upon hearing this, Lin, the military officer, immediately knew that Liu Ting was going to conscript him. It must be because the fighting was too fierce and the troops in Datian City had suffered heavy losses, so he needed his soldiers to replenish the numbers.

However, he was interrupted by Liu Ting before he could finish speaking. Liu Ting, slightly drunk, said, "It's alright. I'll write to the commander-in-chief first thing tomorrow morning to explain this matter."

Actually, I've already sent out the request for help today, and the commander-in-chief will definitely send me reinforcements.

Given the weather, and knowing you must have had a long and tiring journey back, why don't you stay here in Daejeon and await the commander's orders?

To be honest, the reason we all came to Japan this time wasn't to earn military merit.

If you can't go to the battlefield, it's wishful thinking to expect promotions, titles, or privileges for your wife and children.

"And across the entire front, only my Daejeon City has this opportunity."

At this point, Liu Ting paused slightly, looking at the military officer Lin, and said in a slightly tempting tone, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; don't miss it. Think it over before you speak." "This..."

Lin hesitated for a moment. To be honest, he was a little afraid of Liu Ting, whose backing was too deep.

Even Qi Jiguang had to give him some face, so how could a mere brigade commander like him dare to show him any disrespect?

Just as he was hesitating about what to choose, Liu Ting's seemingly drunk eyes were also fixed on Lin Canjiang, and he was ready to use force if Lin said anything he didn't like.

Among the generals of the Liaodong Army, Liu Ting was definitely a simpleton. Not only was he strong, but he was also straightforward. He liked to punch anyone he didn't like.

Over the years, he has beaten up many generals and their sons in Liaodong.

He was skilled in combat. Although he was from the South, he had a large frame. Like his father, he was a born soldier and a fierce general on the battlefield.

Such a person would probably not fare well in other places, unless they were to become a bandit, but in the military, with connections and ability, they would naturally thrive.

Lin Canjiang was unsure whether he would be beaten up by Liu Ting in court that night if he refused.

Even if the commander-in-chief investigates it afterward, it will likely be difficult to hold him accountable.

Although Liu Ting's place of origin is listed as Sichuan, everyone knows that he was actually from Jiangxi, and was a fellow townsman of the Grand Secretary.

Let alone Qi Jiguang, even if it were Wang Xijue, the Ministry of War probably wouldn't dare to touch him; he would be the one who suffers.

"This humble general thanks you for your kindness, sir. I will then lead my men to garrison the city for a while, report the situation to the commander-in-chief, and await further orders."

Lin Canjiang had no choice but to agree for the time being.

"Snapped."

Liu Ting patted Lin Canjiang on the shoulder and laughed, "That's right. From now on, we'll all be brothers who share the same food. The imperial court will definitely reward Brother Lin for his contributions."

"Follow me, and I'll make sure Brother Lin doesn't suffer any losses."

"Yes, yes, we're all brothers now, let's have a drink."

The lieutenant next to him immediately chimed in, while holding up the remaining half bowl of wine in his hand.

Laughter and cheers filled Daejeon Castle, while the atmosphere outside the Japanese army camp was much quieter.

In the military tents, the daimyo and samurai were treated much better than those in the city, but the treatment of the more than 100,000 Japanese soldiers was far worse.

A load of dry rations was poured into the pot, then it was all mixed together and stewed, eventually turning into bowls of fairly thick soup—that was the soldiers' light food.

With the army stationed in the freezing wilderness, being able to eat a hot meal was already considered quite good.

After the hot meal, their bodies seemed to warm up a bit. Then, a group of people huddled together around the small fire, unsure whether the warmth they felt came from the fire or from the body heat of their comrades.

In any case, the Japanese soldiers in the field had a very hard time.

Even so, they would only endure it. This is perhaps the obedience of the Japanese people. From childhood to adulthood, they only obey the orders of their lord.

As for the later tradition of younger officers in the Japanese army overthrowing their superiors, it is unknown when it originated.

But subjugation was absolutely not something that lower-ranking soldiers like them could do; that was something only noble children would dare to do.

Because they have powerful connections and influence, they can act without fear.

Nothing happened that night. The Japanese pirates were unaware that the Ming soldiers in the city had been going crazy all night. They got up early and ate hot meals from wooden bowls. Each of them was given two rice balls, which was their food for the day. They had to keep eating until nightfall when they returned to their camp for dinner.

A new day has begun, and it's uncertain whether they'll survive until nightfall.

Meanwhile, the Ming soldiers in the city got up early and had a hearty meal. As a group of officers and soldiers drove up the city wall to relieve the soldiers who had been on night watch the previous day, both sides were ready to prepare for a new day of fierce fighting.

"Whoa Whoah"

Liu Ting led the Ming army officers up the city wall, the scales of their armor clanging against each other. They were already very familiar with the route; what they did every day had long since become instinctive.

The only one I'm not used to is Lin Canjiang, who was forced to stay last night.

When I saw the dark mass of Japanese pirates marching towards Daejeon Castle, I felt a chill run down my spine.

A thousand people can reach the sky and the earth; ten thousand people can fill the boundless expanse.

What Lin Canjiang saw was an endless array of Japanese pirate troops rushing towards him, and he knew the pressure he would have to endure guarding this place.

It's not to say that all Liaodong generals had killed people and seen blood; in reality, among the officers, only a handful had actually fought in battles.

Most people were stationed in different places, and some might be lucky enough to never fight a war in their lives, but they could still be promoted based on seniority through family connections.

Lieutenant General Lin was one of those people; thanks to his family connections, he always took on the role of the internal guard.

Anyway, he was just transporting supplies to various towns and fortresses according to military orders. He didn't participate in the battle, but his military achievements were still real.

Military merits don't necessarily have to be earned on the battlefield; logistical support can also be valuable.

He was later selected for the new military camp, but never participated in actual combat.

When I arrived in Japan, I was also on a transport mission. I traveled to many places, but I had never actually fought a war. This was the first time I had been so close to the battlefield.

Seeing the corpses below the city walls made my breakfast taste unappetizing, and I even felt a little nauseous.

This is the battlefield.

"Dong dong."

As a burst of cannon fire rang out, Lin Can was startled by the sudden sound.

The Japanese pirates were far from the walls of Daejeon, yet several large cannons on the walls were already spitting fire, their scorching bullets tearing through the air and crashing into the Japanese army's ranks.

When a shell is fired, all Lin Canjun can see is a cloud of dust rising in front of him. There are no awe-inspiring scenes of towering flames like in later movies and TV dramas. It's just a cloud of dust, and then a bloody alley appears before his eyes.

As the Japanese troops got closer to the city walls, the large and medium-sized breech-loading cannons gradually opened fire.

The Ming army was already very skilled in the use of firearms, and had even figured out the concept of layered firepower. They could also unleash wave after wave of firepower against groups of Japanese pirates.

So far, what Lin Canjun has witnessed is only one-sided slaughter.

The Ming army relied on its powerful firearms to continuously kill and wound the Japanese pirates below the city.

As they drew closer, small breech-loading cannons and arquebuses opened fire in droves, billowing smoke from the city walls and filling his nostrils with the acrid smell of gunpowder.

The Japanese pirates below the city began to rush towards the city wall, while large cannons were constantly firing at the top of the wall. Every now and then, bullets would hit the top of the wall, and the cries of wounded Ming soldiers could be heard.

At the same time, he also saw several groups of Japanese pirates carrying cannons rushing towards the city wall.

Just as Lin Canjiang was engrossed in watching, his sleeve was tugged.

As he turned back with a puzzled look, his personal guard stepped forward and whispered, "The general's orders are that officers cannot be gathered together during wartime, lest they be wiped out by the Japanese pirates' cannon fire."

"Oh, I know."

Lin Canjiang stood with Liu Ting's personal guards, away from Liu Ting, to continue watching the battle. At this time, the Ming army's generals at all levels either went up the city wall to personally command the battle or watched the battle from various places in the city.

Every now and then, someone would be called upon by Liu Ting to lead troops to support a certain place.

"Boom."

Another deafening roar followed, and General Lin realized that a cannon, almost vertically aimed at the sky, had fired a shot not far from his position, followed by a hail of bullets falling ten paces in front of him. (End of Chapter)