The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 517 Father-in-law Yang Jinglue

In the evening, the blood-red sunset swept across the endless mountain ridges, like a crow shot by an arrow, rapidly falling towards the west coast.

Before the sun had completely set, a strong north wind began to ravage the southern part of Pyeongan Province, leaving the grass and trees on the wasteland withered and dead leaves flying everywhere.

There was not a single living creature within sight; even the most gluttonous jackals had already retreated into their warm caves to avoid the sharp west wind.

Jing Danli, a cavalryman from the third squadron of the First Corps' new recruits' camp, hunched over his horse's back like an angry lobster, trudging across the vast wasteland against the biting west wind.

The horse had just eaten grass and drank enough water by the swamp. It was full of energy at the moment, breathing out white air in large gulps as it walked, and jumping around from time to time for fun.

In comparison, the other spare horse was much weaker. It had two sacks on its back. One sack contained five days' worth of food for Jing Danli, which was some fried noodles, rice balls and beef jerky.

The Tangqi are not as good as the combat soldiers. After the combat soldiers set up camp, there will be special auxiliary soldiers to make fire and cook for them. Unless they encounter a night attack, the combat soldiers are basically in no danger.

The Tangqi went deep behind enemy lines, similar to the paratroopers of later generations. Once they appeared on the battlefield, they would be surrounded by enemy forces that were a hundred or even a thousand times larger than their own.

It is said that there are North Korean scouts active in this area, so there is no need to think about making a fire and cooking in the wild.

If you are lucky, you can catch one or two birds, rabbits or mice to satisfy your hunger. If you are unlucky, you can only eat rice balls that have frozen into iron blocks.

Like Li Zicheng, today was also Jing Danli's first solo mission after joining the special forces battalion: he needed to pass on the Emperor Wuding's edict, which was the detailed requirements for the divided and concerted attack, to Wu Aheng's troops who were landing in the west.

Leaning against the warmth of the horse's back, he felt a little warmer. When his feet in the stirrups were about to stiffen, a whistling arrow rose into the sky. Jing Danli looked up to the west and saw a group of brilliant fireworks rising across the field.

"Oh no, Lao Chai is in danger."

~~~
Do not attack the north in winter and do not attack the south in summer.

This is the battlefield experience summarized by famous generals of all generations. The extreme cold in the north in summer is the right time for the attacker. As the Korean army commander Jiang Hongli, who died many years ago, said, for a general, the right time, place and people are all indispensable.

Liu Zhaosun had followed his adoptive father Liu Jing in fighting for many years. After the Battle of Sarhu, he himself had experienced hundreds of battles. The emperor should have known the simple truth that one should not attack the north in winter, but he still insisted on sending troops to the east and launching an attack on Korea in winter.

As for the reason, no one can figure it out.

Perhaps this is why Emperor Wuding surpassed everyone else.

The tilted setting sun was like a red vortex, constantly attracting the light from the ground, and the light disappeared in large patches. Every moment of disappearance was always accompanied by killing and attack.

On the official road from Ningbian City to Fengchuan County, the Qi army fought with the Korean scouts at night.

Korean soldiers are "brave in private fights but timid in public wars." They are fine in single combat, but once they form battle formations and fight in a full-scale battle on the battlefield, they are no match for the enemy.

Three bodies of Korean soldiers lay on the ground near an abandoned post road covered with weeds.

Jing Danli and two other horsemen surrounded them from both wings. Lao Chai sat on the ground, gasping for breath. Beside him, a stranger stood on horseback.

Several new recruits immediately drew their swords, raised their crossbows, and pointed them at the man.

"He's one of us, don't kill him."

Lao Chai struggled to stand up, coughed violently twice, and spat out large mouthfuls of blood. When he turned around, three of his Tang cavalrymen (the other two had not arrived yet) saw two thumb-thick arrows stuck in Lao Chai's back. The arrowheads had penetrated his armor and half of them remained in Lao Chai's body.

"Don't kill him, he... is from Shenyang. He saved me just now, otherwise he would have been killed by these three thieves..."

Lao Chai's eyes began to blur when he was halfway through his words. The two Tang riders wiped their tears and immediately jumped on their horses, standing guard to the east and west. Jing Danli burst into tears.

The man standing on horseback was wearing casual clothes with a thick fur coat on the outside. The coat was stained with blood, some of which had already dried.

"Brother, I'm sorry for the loss. Everyone dies, and it's not a loss for a soldier to die on the battlefield."

Jing Danli burst into tears, "If Lao Chai hadn't walked ahead, I would be the one dead now."

"Do you know the whereabouts of the Emperor?"

Jing Danli was immersed in endless sorrow. It was only after the man asked him twice that he came to his senses.

"The Emperor is not in Yongbyon right now. It's hard to say where he is, but he should be in Pyongyang."

who are you?

"I'm here to deliver a message."

~~~~~~
The refugees following the First Corps were busy cutting down bamboo and wood, making rafts and placing them on ropes to form a suspension bridge.

During the Hunhe River battle, when the Kaiyuan soldiers first crossed the river, they used long spears as makeshift materials, tied them together and placed them on ropes, and then laid armor on top to form an emergency road surface. Of course, the situation now is far less serious than it was back then.

On November 12, the third year of Taichu, the central army arrived at Pyongyang first and set up camp outside the city.

In addition to setting up fortifications with shield carts, the Qi army also built beacon towers within a mile or two outside the camp as warning sentries.

Liu Zhaosun received a letter from the Shenyang Imperial Palace, and Jin Yuji opened the letter under the whale oil lamp.

"It was written by Sister Yang."

Liu Zhaosun put down the roasted lamb leg.

"read."

Yang Qing'er reported on the situation of officials in Shenyang and the general situation of the court. She also talked about Liu Kan's studies. On October 2nd, he had a fight with his teacher and the result was a draw.

"It must be Bumbutai's instigation!"

Emperor Wuding was furious.

"What else did she say?"

Jin Yuji continued, "My late father's birthday is approaching. I hope Your Majesty, despite your busy schedule, will set up a temple in Pyongyang or Ulsan to commemorate my father. When he was alive, he often spoke to his family about the Wanli Emperor's war to aid Korea, regretting that he hadn't been able to defeat the Japanese invasion in one fell swoop..."

Liu Zhaosun was silent for a long time.

"I miss Yang Jinglie too. All those years were thanks to him."

In the 47th year of Wanli's reign, Yang Jinglue led his troops to Liaodong, commanding a group of arrogant and brave generals, including Du Song, Ma Lin, Li Rubai, and Liu Ting, and four armies to besiege Hetuala.

Unfortunately, Du Song and Ma Lin refused to obey orders, and Yang Hao did not personally go to one of the four armies to supervise the battle and stop Du Song from advancing recklessly. Otherwise, the outcome of the Battle of Sarhu would certainly be very different.

The highlight of Yang Hao's life was the Battle of Ulsan, where the Ming army, under his leadership, crushed the enemy with great force.

According to the Japanese themselves, at least 20,000 Japanese pirates were killed in the Battle of Ulsan (Ohkouchi Hidemoto's "Korean Diary").

The remaining thousands of bandits hid in the fortress for more than ten days, surviving by eating paper, eating dirt from the walls, and drinking urine.

The most powerful right wing corps in the Japanese army was almost destroyed by Yang Hao and it made people doubt their lives...

Later, Yang Hao left Korea, and the King of Korea wrote to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty several times, hoping that Yang Hao would stay.

They believe that Yang Hao is the "person who made the greatest contribution to the restoration" of Joseon.

The King of Korea and his ministers personally saw him off with tears streaming down their cheeks, and the people of Seoul lined the streets with howling cries.

Later, Joseon erected monuments for Yang Ho, including the "Yang Gong's Memorial Monument" and the "Yang Gong's Tears Monument," and also built the "Seonmu Shrine" to commemorate Yang Ho. When it came to the next king, Gwanghaegun, his portrait was enshrined in the Muryeol Shrine...

In comparison, Liu Ying has a very bad reputation in North Korea.

The Wanli Emperor forced several brave generals on Yang Hao, all of them were eccentric:
Li Rubai, who was afraid of death and had unclear relations with the Jiannu, and Ma Lin, who was foolish and incompetent and caused the death of the three armies.

Du Song who divided his troops again and again.

As for Liu Jing, he even disobeyed orders and threatened to withdraw his troops, saying he would wait until April or May.
Yang Hao was furious and sent two of his trusted confidants with red flags to Liu Jing's camp to monitor the advance. If anyone surnamed Liu dared to obstruct the advance, he would let Qiao Yiqi replace Liu Jing as the commander-in-chief of the eastern route (Records of Jianzhou).

Qiao Dazui almost became the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Army.

On the battlefield of Sarhu, Liu Jing behaved like a completely different person. He went deep into the enemy's lair with a resolute heart and made the most remarkable military achievements. The "Draft History of Qing Dynasty" records that at least three Eight Banners lieutenants were killed by Liu Dadao.

At the last moment, Liu Jing fought until half of his face was chopped off, but he still fought to the death and breathed his last.

Emperor Wuding decided to make a fuss about his father-in-law, Lord Yang Hao.

"Sen Ti, Hou Daxueshi,"

The two men hurried forward, waiting for Emperor Wuding's order.

"Publicize Yang Jinglue's deeds in Korea and let the people of Korea know that I have come to rescue them on behalf of Yang Jinglue. The Qi army has arrived without paying grain, so let them open the city gates on their own initiative."

(End of this chapter)