Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Blood rain and a raging storm swept through the sands.

General Yanling was unlucky.

Success or failure will shake the entire nation.
His fame is widespread, though his reputation is tarnished by infamy.

This untitled poem was written by a veteran of the Wu army who participated in the Battle of Jigongbei, lamenting the defeat and death of his commander, Wu Sangui. Although the author attributes the defeat to his lord's bad luck and even glorifies Wu Sangui, saying that his prestige resounded throughout the land regardless of victory or defeat, he also acknowledges that his lord was a highly controversial figure, renowned for both his brilliance and his infamy. Whether the old soldier accepts it or not, defeat is defeat; a crushing defeat is like a landslide, allowing no room for sentimentality!
The setting sun, like blood, bathed the battlefield in crimson light. Corpses lay strewn about, broken weapons scattered everywhere. Blood seeped into the soil, emitting a nauseating stench. The tattered banners of the Wu army lay listlessly on the ground, rustling in the wind, as if devoid of spirit. The guards responsible for clearing the battlefield collected and registered the enemy's banners and other supplies. They carried their own wounded away to treat them. Upon discovering enemy wounded, those with minor injuries were taken away for treatment and care; those with serious injuries were simply stabbed to death—ending their suffering was sometimes an act of mercy.

Not far from the Great Khan of Lotus, a warhorse lay sprawled on the ground, neighing in agony, several arrows embedded in its body, each fletching visible. The rider lay nearby, a long gash in his abdomen, his eyes filled with resentment and ferocity, like a demon from hell. Such a horrific scene would terrify an ordinary person, but for Suletan, who had fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, it was nothing more than commonplace. He didn't even bother to glance at the dead, silently awaiting the military reports from his various units.

A resounding victory! General Wu Poshuo, General Wang Pingfan, Left General of the Golden Guard Hu Guozhu, General Zhang Qilong of the Imperial Guard, General Yu Youde of Guiyang, General Fang Xuefan of Zhenning, General Lu Daoqing of the Imperial Guard, Lieutenant General Muguer, and Minister of Revenue Fang Guangyang were all killed. Guizhou Governor Li Benshen and Naval Battalion Commander Shi Yugui were defeated and captured. Seeing the unfavorable situation, Liu Xuezheng, the guerrilla commander of Anshun, led his troops to surrender… and the statistics continue to rise, with over 38,300 heads taken and over 39,600 prisoners captured. Each and every one of these events reflects a victory—a great triumph!

However, Sultan's face was ashen. "Where is Wu Sangui? I need to know Wu Sangui's whereabouts. I want to see him alive or dead!"

"Rest assured, Great Khan," said Grand Secretary Bobe with a flattering smile, "Generals Mandulatu, Urgendalai, Teguschoktu, Orros, Obodui Wulanghai, Babai, Buheartu, and Toroshhu have already dispatched troops to search in all directions. No matter how fast Wu Sangui flees, he cannot outrun my iron cavalry. I believe it will not be long before someone presents the head of this traitor Wu to the Great Khan."

"Hmm. Wu is extremely cunning; we must not let him escape this time!" Sultan sneered.

"Report! The head of the Orlos household has captured Fang Guangchen and his son Fang Xueqian," the guard quickly relayed the news.

"Hmph! I thought we had caught Wu Sangui, but they're just two small fish," Sultan said with a dissatisfaction.

"Your Majesty, I've heard that Fang Guangchen is Wu Sangui's top strategist. Perhaps he knows Wu Sangui's whereabouts," Bobe said with a smile.

Sultan's eyes lit up, and he ordered the father and son to be brought into the main tent. "I have long admired your great talent, sir. Today I am fortunate to meet you. Are you willing to submit?" he asked, feigning humility. This tactic proved particularly effective with Han Chinese scholars.

"Pah!" Fang Guangchen spat, looked up at the sky, and ignored him.

“Sir, you may not wish to surrender to the Wei, but as long as you reveal Wu Sangui’s whereabouts, I will order your release so you can return to your hometown,” Suletan said, unconcerned, and continued to persuade him.

“Since I am unwilling to surrender to the Wei, how could I betray my lord? How stupid and foolish are these barbarian dogs!…” Fang Guangchen pointed at the Great Khan and cursed loudly, getting more and more excited as he cursed, his words powerful, clear and catchy.

"Drag him away and hack him to pieces!" The Great Khan had never been subjected to such treatment. Enraged, he ordered him to be dragged out and hacked to death.

General Liu Zhifu of Dading protected his father Liu Maoxia as they fled to the banks of the Baishui River. Luckily, he found a small boat and decided to escort his father across the river.

"How can a subject flee for his life when his lord is in danger?" Liu Maoxia resolutely refused.

Unable to dissuade his father, Liu Zhifu hid the small boat in the reeds and stood with his father on the shore, hoping to catch a glimpse of Emperor Zhaowu. As night deepened, most of the Imperial Guard, except for those ordered to continue the night search, began returning to camp. In a small cave somewhere on Jigongbei, General Wang Gongliang, a member of the Imperial Guard, quietly returned and carefully fed Wu Sangui with spring water he had found, using his helmet as a container. Originally a vegetable vendor from Liaodong, he had joined Wu Sangui's army. While incompetent in battle, he excelled in logistics. Wu Sangui, far from underestimating him, recognized his talent and appointed him General of the Imperial Guard, responsible for the transport and supply of provisions for the army. Grateful for this, Wang Gongliang remained extremely loyal to his lord.

"Cough~ cough~ cough~" Stimulated by the spring water, Wu Sangui slowly woke up. At this time, Emperor Zhaowu had more than ten wounds, was covered in blood, and was on the verge of death, no longer showing the fierce appearance he had when fighting on the battlefield.

"I'm dying, don't worry about me, go down the mountain and escape for your lives," Wu Sangui said with a bitter smile after regaining his senses.

“What are you saying, Your Majesty? I have received great kindness from you, and today is the time to repay it. How could I abandon you and flee for my life alone!” Wang Gongliang’s face turned red.

"Alas! I know my own body is failing! Why must you do this? Cough~ cough~ cough~" Wu Sangui continued to cough.

"Who goes there? Come out!" The cough attracted the guards, and a centurion led dozens of guards to surround them.

The once mighty Emperor Zhaowu was now left with only Wang Gongliang by his side. Knowing he could not escape his fate, he gave Wang Gongliang a desolate smile, then suddenly drew his sword and slit his own throat.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Upon seeing this, Wang Gongliang felt as if his lifeblood had been drained. After crying out a few times, he said no more and also drew his sword to commit suicide, following his lord in death.

"What! Wu Sangui committed suicide, and he died with only one person by his side!" Upon hearing this news, even the experienced Sultan was taken aback. After realizing what had happened, he ordered that Wu Sangui and his ministers be given a grand funeral.

Soon, Babai, the chief of the southern border region, also sent word that he had captured Liu Maoxia, an advisor under Wu Sangui, and Liu Maoxia's son, Liu Zhifu, the general of Dading, by the Baishui River.

"Liu Maoxia!" Sultan was overjoyed. He had heard of Liu Maoxia's great name and knew that he was a man of great wisdom and resourcefulness, a rare talent. He quickly ordered that Liu and his son be invited into the main tent. As soon as they entered the tent, he ordered the wooden clapper to be loosened and ordered that fragrant tea be served.

Liu Maoxia didn't stand on ceremony and drank it all in one gulp.

"I have long admired your reputation, sir. If Wu Sangui were to heed your advice, I fear I would be the one to perish! If you are willing to submit, I am willing to treat you with the respect due to a teacher. What do you say?"

"Your Majesty possesses a broad mind, which is why you have been able to achieve such great things. I admire you, but the Han and the Hu are irreconcilable enemies, and how can a loyal minister serve two masters? Today, the only option is death. Please grant my request!" Liu Maoxia smiled and refused directly.

"The Mongols are also descendants of the Xia dynasty, and are of the same lineage as the Han people. What is this talk of Han and Hu being irreconcilable? Wu Sangui served the Ming dynasty first and then the Qing dynasty. He himself could not be loyal to one master. Why should you be blindly loyal to him? Since ancient times, a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. You are a man of great talent, and you must not be stubborn!" Sultan continued to persuade him.

Liu Maoxia smiled faintly and began to make a gourd with its mouth sawed off.

"Guards, take Mr. Liu and his son to the back tent and treat them well." Seeing that he refused to comply, Sultan couldn't bear to kill him, but only ordered his men to keep him under guard. (End of Chapter)