Ming Dynasty: He was ordered to give lectures in prison, but Lao Zhu eavesdropped and made people nu

Chapter 703: Border Crisis, Hu Guang Meets the Enemy

Spring in Liaodong comes very slowly. It is already mid-March, and the snow in the mountains has not completely melted. The biting north wind carries tiny ice crystals, which whip the faces of the soldiers guarding the city like a knife. Hu Guang stood on the wall of Ningyuan City, looking at the gray horizon in the distance, his brows furrowed.

"General, scouts report that Jurchen cavalry have appeared again in Lijia Village, thirty miles away." Deputy General Zhao Yong walked over quickly, his voice low but unable to conceal his anxiety.

Hu Guang's fingers tapped unconsciously on the blue bricks on the city wall, making a dull sound. This was the third time this month. The harassment from the Jurchen tribe was becoming more frequent and larger in scale. He turned and looked inside the city, where the soldiers were training. Amid the flashes of swords, the young faces were filled with fatigue.

"Pass the order down, strengthen the city defense, and double the number of night patrols." Hu Guang ordered in a deep voice, "Also, send scouts to closely monitor the movements of the Jurchens. If there is any unusual movement, report it immediately."

"Yes, General!" Zhao Yong clasped his fists and accepted the order. Just as he was about to leave, he was stopped by Hu Guang.

"Wait, is Mr. Lin in the camp?"

"General, Mr. Lin went to the hillside outside the east gate early in the morning to check the terrain."

Hu Guang nodded, with a complicated look in his eyes. This Mr. Lin was a mysterious figure who suddenly appeared in the military camp three months ago. He claimed to be a travel counselor who was willing to serve the court. At first, Hu Guang didn't care about this weak scholar, but after several conversations, he found that this man was proficient in military tactics and had an unexpectedly deep understanding of the Jurchen tribe.

"Get ready, I'm going to see Mr. Lin."

Half an hour later, Hu Guang found Mr. Lin on a hillside three miles outside the east gate. The middle-aged man, about 40 years old, was thin and dressed in a washed-out blue shirt. He was squatting on the ground, sketching something on the soil with a branch. Hearing the sound of horse hooves, he raised his head, revealing an ordinary but wise face.

"General, you come here in person, but is there some urgent military information?" Mr. Lin stood up and patted the dirt off his hands.

Hu Guang dismounted and walked to Mr. Lin's side. He found a topographic map of the area around Ningyuan City drawn on the ground, with several strange symbols marked on it. "What is Mr. Lin planning?"

Mr. Lin smiled slightly, pointed to the pattern on the ground and said: "General, please look, the Jurchen cavalry's three recent attacks came from the northeast, north and northwest. It seems irregular, but it is not." He used a branch to draw three lines on the map, all pointing to an open area on the east side of Ningyuan City.

"The terrain here is flat, suitable for cavalry charges, and it's only five miles away from Ningyuan City. Once we break through, we can reach the city in half an hour." Mr. Lin's voice was calm, but it made Hu Guang break out in a cold sweat.

"Mr. means"

"The Jurchens are testing our defensive weaknesses and preparing for a large-scale attack." Mr. Lin looked directly into Hu Guang's eyes. "As far as I know, the Jurchen tribes have formed an alliance under Aluta's call and assembled at least 5,000 cavalry."

Hu Guang took a deep breath. The Ningyuan City garrison was only 3,000, of which only 800 were elite cavalry. If the Jurchens really launched a large-scale attack, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Sir, do you have any good ideas?" Hu Guang unconsciously used honorifics.

Mr. Lin pondered for a moment and said, "The Jurchen cavalry is brave and good at fighting. We have little chance of winning in a head-on confrontation. But the cavalry has two major weaknesses: one is that they are not good at attacking cities, and the other is that they are not good at long-term battles. We should play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses."

He elaborated on his plan in detail: build fortifications and set up ambushes at key locations outside the city; at the same time, train firearms units and use the terrain advantage to consume the enemy; most importantly, send a small group of elite troops to harass the enemy's rear and cut off their food supply.

The more Hu Guang listened, the more shocked he became. This plan was bold and thorough, and it was not something that a scholar who had never led troops in battle could come up with. He could not help but ask, "Who are you, sir? Why are you so proficient in military affairs?" Mr. Lin's smile faded a little, and his eyes looked into the distance: "My father was a counselor under General Xu Da, and I was influenced by him since I was a child. Later..." He paused, "Later, my family fell into poverty, and I traveled around until I came to the Liaodong border."

Hu Guang keenly sensed that Mr. Lin had something to say, but he knew it was not the right time to ask. Regardless of Mr. Lin's past, his talent was exactly what Ningyuan City needed right now.

"Okay! I'll follow your plan." Hu Guang nodded heavily, "I'll go back to the camp and make arrangements."

In the next half month, Ningyuan City was busy inside and outside. Soldiers built fortifications during the day and practiced new tactics at night. Mr. Lin personally guided the layout of the firearms battalion and even improved the use of several firearms. Hu Guangze patrolled day and night to ensure that every preparation was foolproof.

One morning in early April, Hu Guang was reviewing his troops on the parade ground when a scout came running to report: "General! The Jurchen army is 20 miles away, and there are about a thousand cavalrymen in the vanguard!"

Hu Guang's heart tightened. What was supposed to happen had finally happened. He immediately ordered the entire army to be on alert and sent someone to invite Mr. Lin to discuss the matter.

"Three days earlier than expected." Mr. Lin frowned after listening to the military report, "It seems that Alutai can't wait any longer."

"Sir, should we proceed as planned?" Hu Guang asked, his hand unconsciously tightening the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Mr. Lin nodded: "The arrow is on the string and must be shot. General, please lead the main force to meet the enemy head-on as planned. I will command the ambush troops and the firearms battalion."

Hu Guang looked at Mr. Lin deeply, then suddenly knelt on one knee, clasped his fists and said, "Mr. Lin is a great talent, and I have been too negligent before. This battle concerns the lives of tens of thousands of people in Ningyuan City, and I hope you will give me some advice."

Mr. Lin quickly helped Hu Guang up and said, "General, you are too kind. It is the responsibility of every citizen to defend our country. I will do my best."

The horn sounded, and Hu Guang dressed neatly and led two thousand soldiers out of the city to meet the enemy. On the city wall, Mr. Lin watched the army go away, with a complicated look in his eyes.

The battlefield was chosen to be an open area five miles east of the city, which was carefully selected by Hu Guang and Mr. Lin. It looked flat and conducive to cavalry charge, but in fact there were hidden gullies on both sides, where 500 archers and 200 musketeers were ambushed.

In the distance, dust was flying, and the Jurchen cavalry was coming like a tide. Leading them was a burly general wearing a wolfskin hat and holding a long-handled broadsword. It was the Jurchen leader Alutai.

"Ming dogs! Today I will let you see how powerful our Jurchen warriors are!" Aluta shouted in stiff Chinese, causing the cavalry behind him to burst into laughter.

Hu Guang remained unmoved and calmly ordered the Ming army to deploy its troops in a semicircular defensive formation, with shield soldiers in the front, spear soldiers in the middle, and archers in the back.

Seeing this, Alutai laughed and said, "You coward! My men, charge!"

Following an order, nearly a thousand Jurchen cavalrymen rushed towards the Ming army's position like arrows from a bow. The sound of horse hooves was deafening, and the earth was shaking.

Hu Guang held his breath and counted the distance in his mind. Three hundred steps, two hundred steps, one hundred and fifty steps.
(End of this chapter)