The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 22: Unmoving as a mountain
"Damn it! They said the Yehe tribe was coming the day before yesterday, but today we haven't seen a single Yehe tribe member. The Tartars can't be trusted!"

"I don't know where Li Rubai is now. Those beasts in Liaozhen are always ripping off our southern soldiers! From Korea to Liaodong!"

"The imperial court conscripted the White Spear Soldiers and Wolf Soldiers to enter Liao. Why didn't they wait a little longer and come to Kuandian together? These Zhejiang soldiers alone are no match for the bandits!"

"The Wolf Soldiers are descendants of the Han people of Guangxi and the local natives. Generations have served in the army in Guangxi. They are fearless and loyal to the court, unlike these Liao soldiers! If they came, they might be able to fight the Tartars!"

"Will Yang Hao send anyone to rescue us? He doesn't provide us with enough food and weapons, and he still wants us to fight the Jiannu alone. Are our Southern soldiers just a bunch of stepmothers raising us?!"

The central military tent of the Shajianzi camp.

Liu Jing's adopted sons were extremely anxious and surrounded the old general, cursing him incoherently.

The servants sent to Shenyang for help have not received any news so far, and Shenyang has not sent any soldiers to reinforce.

Even a fool would know that the Eastern Army was betrayed by Liaozhen and the imperial court.

This feeling of being abandoned makes people feel deep despair.

Ten days ago, when the generals led their troops out from Kuandian, they were still thinking of making great achievements. Thinking about it now, it's really funny.

The Bordered Blue Banner was about to break through the Zhejiang army's formation, and only Jin Yinghe led the remaining soldiers to make a final resistance.

Since we are powerless to reverse the situation, we have no choice but to quickly discuss how to withdraw our troops.

Head coach Liu Jing sat calmly on the big tiger-skin chair, looking calm and relaxed with his eyes closed.

The adopted sons and servants were arguing fiercely.

Whether to fight or retreat depends on the general's decision.

The southern soldiers are in Liaozhen, far away from their homeland and now abandoned by the court. Who are they fighting for?

Liu Zhaosun looked at everyone coldly, put his hand on the knife, and the blade broke. He had just returned from the spearmen's battle formation and killed several retreating Zhejiang soldiers with his own hands. At this time, he was covered in blood and his face was murderous.

Several of the adopted sons were also full of murderous intent. All the Korean gunners in the front collapsed. The adopted sons who were supervising the battle madly hacked people in the back, but they still couldn't stop the retreating Korean soldiers.

Military Supervisor Kang Yinggan's face turned pale as he stared at the ground and muttered to himself. The Eastern Army was defeated and all his military achievements were gone. Moreover, he would be held responsible for killing the Korean generals sooner or later.

But what he thinks about most now is how to save his life first.

"Foster father, when will the wolf soldiers and white-pole soldiers arrive?"

Liu Zhaosun suddenly looked up at his adoptive father Liu Jing, but General Liu still had his eyes closed.

Last year, the imperial court recruited the best soldiers from all over the country to reinforce Liaodong. The White Spear Soldiers and Wolf Soldiers have been on the road for several months and have only just arrived in Shenyang. Even if they reach Shenyang, it will take these infantrymen at least six or seven days to reach Kuandian.

All hope now rests on this reinforcement, but that hope is doomed to fail.

According to the original historical development, when the Wolf Soldiers and the White Spear Soldiers arrived in Liaodong, the Battle of Sarhu had already ended, and the two powerful armies lost the opportunity to fight against the Jiannu. Instead, the Wolf Soldiers continued to clash in Liaodong and Liaozhen.

Both foreign troops were later suppressed and sent back to their original places one after another. They did not play a big role in the battles of Dalinghe and Hunhe.

Liu Zhaosun was disheartened. He fought bloody battles for several days, but ended up like this.

All the efforts were just to kill a few thousand more Tartars, which delayed the tragedy of the Eastern Army's demise by four days compared to the original history, just four days.

Is the fate of the Eastern Army's demise inevitable?

Although it hasn't been completely destroyed yet, it will be soon.

Just like in the original history, as Xianglan broke through the battle formation, the Korean gunners in the front row with the weakest fighting will were the first to collapse.

These Korean soldiers were frightened by the momentum of the Blue Banner Zhenyi charge formation. After shooting for an hour, they finally couldn't hold on any longer and abandoned their muskets and fled backwards.

After eliminating the fire threat, the Later Jin soldiers could advance more calmly.

Only Jin Yinghe led his archers to shoot the Jinyi who were charging into the battle formation with bows and arrows. Their effect was minimal. A large number of white-armored soldiers came from behind and suppressed the Korean archers with heavy arrows. It was only a matter of time before these stubborn Korean soldiers were destroyed.

The densely defended Zhejiang army line was shattered by the fierce Zhenyi warriors. The Ming army cavalry tried to contain this deadly charge. However, without the support of artillery, the cavalry had poor attack power in the face of the superior enemy force, and they were immediately besieged and killed by the white-armored soldiers who rushed up from behind.

More than 2,000 Zhenyi soldiers pressed forward step by step, forcing the defeated spearmen to the foot of the mountain where Shajianzi Camp was located. The Ming army had less and less room to maneuver, and a major defeat was about to take place.

Last year, the chieftain of the slave army suddenly launched an uprising, and the imperial court was at a loss as to how to respond.

In a panic, he summoned troops from all over the country, including the White Spear Soldiers and Zhejiang Soldiers, and even the Wolf Soldiers. He was desperate and tried every possible means.

Liu Jing was not interested in these wolf soldiers. He waited in Liaoyang for a full six months just for the arrival of the Sichuan white-pole soldiers. He planned to use the white-pole soldiers to deal with the Jiannu army.

Although the Sichuanese were not particularly strong, they were adept at mountain warfare, a skill unmatched by any other army. The White Spear Soldiers were as strong as the Qi Family Army.

But no matter how long they waited, the Sichuan soldiers never showed up.

The imperial court was pressing for urgent action. The imperial inspectors from the capital urged Liu Jing every day in Shenyang, often taking out the imperial sword to scare him, saying that he was harboring the enemy for his own benefit.

Under pressure, General Liu had no choice but to lead this mixed group of southern soldiers from Kuandian and step by step towards the trap set by the Later Jin.

"Thirteen, it's already late, why are you saying this? The Tartars will kill us now that they've killed all the Zhejiang soldiers. Protect our adoptive father and leave!"

Liu Tiande shouted at Liu Zhaosun. This adopted son of Liu Jing was very dissatisfied with Liu Zhaosun's fussiness. He was not interested in the wolf soldiers and white-pole soldiers at all. Now the knife was on his neck. If he didn't run away, would he be torn into pieces by the Tartars like Du Song?
Over the past few days, Liu Tiande had witnessed Liu Zhaosun's skill in breaking through enemy lines and strategizing, earning him the respect of his fellow officers and men, becoming the second-in-command of the Eastern Army. As his adoptive father, Liu Jing, gradually stepped away from commanding the troops, Liu Zhaosun was entrusted with many confidential matters. He had to take a new look at his brother.

Liu Jing finally opened his eyes and looked up at Xiao Shisan. General Liu served as a rallying force within the army, but he was unable to truly fight in battles and kill the enemy.

"Listen to Liu Zhaosun!"

Kang Yingqian, Pei Dahu, Qiao Yiqi and others looked up one after another. A thin servant had a gleam in his eyes and looked at Liu Zhaosun with wide eyes.

Everyone was just waiting for the Thirteenth Master's next decision.

"Brother Pei, you escort my adoptive father and the military supervisor down the back mountain, heading south. Each of you will ride two horses. I will lead the men to hold off the bandits and take away all the heads we've captured these past few days. This will also earn you military merit when we return to Shenyang!"

"enough!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was General Liu Jing who spoke. Everyone stopped and looked at General Liu at the same time.

"Have you had enough trouble? Do you have the energy to go down the mountain and kill the Tartars?"

Everyone stopped talking, and Liu Zhaosun stepped forward and said:

"Foster father, please return to Shenyang. You have fought for the Ming Dynasty your entire life and have been wounded dozens of times. The imperial court will not do anything to you!"

Liu Jing slowly stood up and looked around, his eyes imposing without any anger:
"A general should be as immovable as a mountain. Today I will not move. Everyone, those who are able to fight, mount your horses and charge!"

(End of this chapter)