Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Located on the China-Myanmar border, where military friction was constant, the Mengmi soldiers were seasoned veterans. Furthermore, the Baojing area in the south of their territory was rich in rubies and sapphires, making them far wealthier than other chieftains. Except for a smaller number of war elephants, their cavalry, infantry, archers, and musketeers were equipped almost as well as the Burmese king's own army. This is why, despite the Weijun's renowned reputation, Sili dared to lead his army alone to fight. Otherwise, no matter how much Mangxiao pressured him, he would never have been forced to send troops.

Ten thousand troops marched through the vast mountains like a giant serpent, its body twisting and slithering. Sili sat astride his warhorse, plotting the impending battle, when his thoughts were interrupted by a trusted confidant: "Miaowen, Si'en, the pacification envoy of the Wei Kingdom, has sent you a letter."

The Manmosi and Mengmisi clans were originally of the same ethnicity, originating from the same tribe of the Kachin (Jingpo) people. Years ago, Si'en's grandfather, Simian, and Sili's father, Sizheng, jointly resisted the Burmese invasion. Later, Sizheng was murdered by incompetent Ming Dynasty officials, and his son, Sili, led his father's followers to surrender to Burma. Simian's branch of the clan, however, refused to surrender, holding out in Manmo (Bhamo) and continuing to be loyal subjects of the Ming Dynasty. Although belonging to different countries, they were still connected by blood and maintained contact with each other.

“What else could he say? He was just trying to persuade me to defect to Wei. What a pity~ Everyone has their own ambitions, how can one turn back?” Sili took out the letter and read it. Sure enough, Si'en first recounted their past friendship in the letter, and then advised Sili to recommend Meng Mi to Wei. He sighed deeply and summoned the messenger, “Go back and tell Si'en that we each serve our own masters. If we meet on the battlefield one day, there is no need to show mercy!”
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"Deputy Commander, Mengmi has dispatched troops. That scoundrel Sili is personally leading an army of about ten thousand. They have already arrived at Mengguang City and are estimated to reach Xingwei (Xinwei) in three days," Han Song, the Pacification Commissioner of Mubang, respectfully reported the military situation to Mu Jing, the Deputy General of Lijiang, in Xingwei City, the seat of Mubang. He was a local strongman and knew the whereabouts of Sili's army as soon as they approached Mubang.

"Brother Han, how do you think this battle should be fought?" Mu Jing humbly asked for advice.

"There is a flat area a hundred li west of Xingwei. To the south of the flat area is the Nandu River (Awa River), where there are reed beds, and to the north of the flat area are woods, all of which can be used for ambushes. Sili has always been confident in his martial prowess and doesn't take other chieftains seriously. In particular, Mubang has been bullied by him many times. I am willing to lead Mubang's army to feign defeat and lure the enemy deep into the flat area. When they see it is me, they will surely underestimate me, and seeing that it is flat land, they will be even less vigilant. At that time, when the ambush is launched, we can defeat them in one fell swoop," Hansong said confidently.

"This plan is brilliant!" Mu Jing readily agreed and ordered his adjutant Mu Shi and Meng Lian, the pacification commissioner Dao Paixuan, to ambush the enemy in the reeds and woods respectively. Longchuan pacification commissioner Duo Shengzu led his troops to detour and cut off the enemy's rear, while he himself led an army to support Han Song.

In the early morning of March 28, 1676 (the 33rd year of the Qian Yuan era), Khan Song led 3,000 Mongkut soldiers to form ranks on the plains a hundred miles west of Hsinchu. Most of this army was temporarily recruited from the Mongkut people who sympathized with Khan. Although they were hastily assembled and not very strong, they were filled with national and personal hatred and were all highly motivated to fight.

"Form ranks!" Han Song calmly commanded, gazing at the distant mountain pass. Three thousand Dai (Shan) warriors stood in formation, their Dai knives gleaming coldly, awaiting their enemy's emergence from the mountains.

What was bound to happen would happen sooner or later. The sun rose above the clouds, and a black tide, stretching from north to south, surged on the horizon at the foot of the mountains. Ten thousand Mengmi soldiers, mainly Kachin (Jingpo) soldiers, emerged from the mountain path and appeared before the Mubang army. At the forefront were twenty war elephants, followed by musketeers, infantry, archers, and cavalry scattered on both flanks. Most of these soldiers were tattooed and fierce; as they slowly advanced, a wave of brutality washed over them.

Han Song remained silent, staring intently at the enemy before him. Today, this plain would be stained with blood!

Without the sound of drums or horns, shields stood in rows, spears formed a forest, and the Mengmi army, their feet pounding the earth, roared like muffled thunder as they slowly approached.

"Halt!" Sili slowly raised his right arm, and the ten thousand Tu soldiers came to an abrupt halt, like wooden statues. He picked up the telescope he had bought from the Portuguese merchant, and the banner of the Mubang army appeared clearly in the lens. "Indeed, they are that defeated foe of Han Song. They were chased to Wei by me before, and now they've returned, relying on Wei's power. They truly don't know their own mortality! Hmm, the terrain is so flat; there shouldn't be any ambush." ​​"Miaowen, it really is the remnants of the Han clan causing trouble. Attack! One charge from our army will defeat this rabble," Mang Xiao urged excitedly.

Sili nodded slightly, then finally raised his right arm and swung it fiercely, shouting, "Attack!"

The rapid beat of war drums and gongs echoed through the ranks. Yekeyang (vanguard officer) Sizhong personally led twenty war elephants towards the Mubang army. The massive elephants raised their trunks, their powerful hooves shaking the earth. Behind them followed phalanxes of musketeers, infantry, and archers, while three hundred cavalry on each flank harassed the guards. The native Mubang warriors, accustomed to war elephants, were not intimidated by the enemy's imposing presence. Instead, they held their breath, bows drawn, swords half-sheathed, awaiting their commander's orders. These Dai warriors, raised in harsh conditions, may lack rigorous battle training, but they possessed no shortage of courage to fight to the bitter end.

Han Song finally gave the order: "Fire!"

The sky suddenly darkened, and a dense swarm of arrows, like locusts, rose into the air, obscuring the sky and weaving a giant net of death, hurtling towards the enemy ranks with piercing shrieks. These arrows could only kill the riders and infantry on the war elephants, hardly inflicting fatal damage on these behemoths. Fortunately, the musketeers at the forefront proved effective; they concentrated their fire on the war elephants, causing one after another to cry out in agony and crash to the ground. Soon, more than a dozen of these giants perished. The remaining few charged into the enemy ranks, but the experienced Dai warriors automatically parted to let the elephants pass through before they reformed their ranks, preventing significant casualties. However, the elephant charge successfully covered the advance of their own main force... "Bang! Bang!" The Simi army's musketeers began to fire. Many of these muskets had been purchased from Portuguese merchants and were quite powerful, quickly felling a swathe of Mubang soldiers. Taking advantage of the gaps in the enemy ranks, Sili made his move.

"Warriors, take up your weapons and follow me to crush them!" He brandished his long sword, locked onto Han Song's banner, and rode forward.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" Kachin warriors shouted as they charged toward the Shan army, the air thick with the stench of blood.

Under such a fierce offensive, the Mubang army gradually could not withstand the attack, and their formation became chaotic.

"Retreat!" Han Song roared, leading the way in turning their horses and retreating. His men followed suit, galloping away like the receding tide.

"Chase them! Kill them all!" Sili roared, like a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey.

Retreat meant exposing one's back to the enemy; those who were slow would be slaughtered. Spears pierced bodies with a sickening cracking sound; swords cleaved skulls, blood gushing forth; heavy hammers pounded armor, the dull thud sounding like the beating of a human-skinned war drum.
The thrill of the massacre made Mengmi's army believe they had won, and they were gradually led deep into the plains by Mubang's army. (End of Chapter)