The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 773 Night Attack on the Bordered Blue Banner

When I was still the crown prince of the empire, I was curious about that crazy era (when countless people rushed into the Eastern World game like moths to a flame), so I asked my father:
If a person wins from the Eastern World, what will he get?
At that time, my father was already seriously ill. His tall and strong body was emaciated and he didn't have much time left. He forced himself to support his sick body and answered me:
"If you win in Eastworld, you win everything."

The Senate promised that anyone who could free humanity from the shackles of machines and algorithms would receive enormous resources—mainly money and women—the temptation of the Eastern world was so strong that I didn't realize my father's great tenacity until then.

When all the heroes surrendered, my father was able to remain detached from the world, stick to his original intention, and stay away from those conspiracies and killings.

This calmness and conscience are the greatest wealth I have gained from my father.

——Excerpt from "The Veritable Records of Emperor Gaozong"

~~~~~
The Blue Banner Camp stood in the valley. From afar, the campfire flickered, appearing and disappearing in the mist of the spring night, like a lamb to be slaughtered.

Zhang Mazi leaned on the horse's back, his eyes gleaming:
"Master Qian! We're here!"

"Are they all here?"

"Everyone is here, over there."

Qi Meng looked in the direction Zhang Dong pointed and saw Shen Lian and Zhang Chao, each leading three servants, emerging from the mist on horseback.

All of them were dressed as soldiers in white armor, holding longbows and clubs, with small blue-bordered flags on their backs. The only thing missing was that they had their braids shaved into the shape of rat tails.

Zhang Chao and Zhang Dong were both from the Night Army, and they were equipped with both long and short weapons, including bows and sabers, lances and clubs. They were also skilled in riding. Only Shen Lian was originally a spearman of the Zhejiang Army, and at this time he was still holding a lance and riding on a horse, which made him look more like a mounted infantryman.

"Can you ride a horse?"

Shen Lian smiled awkwardly: "When General Qi was training, the infantry only practiced array weapons..."

Zhang Chao laughed lewdly and said, "Brother Shen is only in his teens and not married yet, how could he have ever ridden a horse?"

Everyone laughed.

Qi Meng said nonchalantly, "It's okay. I didn't ride one when I was a teenager. By the way, the General Qi you just mentioned is Qi Jin, the adopted son of Qi Shaobao?"

Shen Lian was surprised and said, "Exactly! Master Qian also recognizes General Qi?"

Qi Meng said thoughtfully, "We did meet once before... well, let's not talk about that for now. Let's start killing people!"

Everyone stopped smiling and looked forward. According to the night attack plan, they would disguise themselves as soldiers of the Bordered Blue Banner and sneak into Amin's tent to kill the Second Prince.

As they spoke, they glued whiskers between their lips to make them look more like Tartars.

Seeing that everyone was dressed as white-armored soldiers, Qi Meng nodded in satisfaction: "Fakes are a good thing."

Zhang Dong praised: "Fakes are a good thing!"

Qi Meng stroked his beard and laughed: "Now that we are ready, don't be timid. Take a few steps and see how it goes! Walk with vigor and vitality!"

It felt like walking out of another world.

"Amin, this killer, is so arrogant! The night guards are all bondservants, so he deserves to die."

Zhang Dong stared ahead, his eyes blazing with anger: "Catch some dog-eaters later and let them die a few more times!"

~~~
It was a dark night, and outside the Bordered Blue Banner camp, two eunuchs on night duty huddled together for warmth.

It was freezing cold, but the two men didn't dare to make a fire. They just pulled a handful of Ula grass and lived in the cave. It was not because the two baoyi were dedicated to their duties, but because their masters - the white-armored soldiers on night patrol - strictly forbade lighting a fire. Anyone who dared to secretly warm himself by the fire would be beaten half to death if they were found. Last night, two foolish baoyi were beaten with military sticks for lighting a fire.

The dugout where the two men were located was about two miles away from the Bordered Blue Banner camp, which was the Bordered Blue Banner's first line of defense.

"Have you heard? The Khan destroyed Du Song at Sarhu and chopped off the head of that madman Du! The Han dogs have been defeated, and we brothers will also raise the flag."

"Are you crazy thinking about raising the flag? Go back and pay your respects to Wong Tai Sin, and see what you can do, it's all bullshit! Raise the flag, there's no one there, it's freezing cold and we have to stand guard here, damn it!"

The baoyi who was determined to raise the flag wrapped himself tightly in his cotton coat, blew on his hands, rubbed his ears that were about to freeze, and swore to the sky:
"I'm lying to you, idiot! Seriously, Fatty Han, the sentry, said it himself. Yesterday, outside Jiefan City, he saw the corpses of Ming soldiers scattered all over the ground. Tens of thousands of lives, mowed away like grass in just over two hours. He even saw Juniper's head."

"Fatty Han? Jiefan City, what a joke! It's over a hundred miles away from here! Come in and warm up. You must be frozen." The companion cat lay motionless in the burrow in the ground like a dead person.

Seeing that his companions did not believe him, Baoyi quickly hid in his cave:
"Fatty Han and I are from the same hometown."

"His hometown is in that village. We were born and raised there..." "Why are you singing this?"

There was a chaotic sound of horse hooves outside the cave. Baoyi reached out to touch the weapons at the entrance of the cave. As soon as his hand touched the spear, two or three long swords were already on his neck.

The moonlight was dim, and the appearance of the person could not be clearly seen. Bao Yi was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. His companion in the dugout asked, "Who is it? What's going on?"

"What's wrong, two dog slaves!"

"Second Prince ordered you to scout, and this is how you scout? The masters are all on patrol, and you're just having fun hiding in your dugout!"

The cat had crawled out of its nest in the ground, but before it could figure out what was going on, it was slapped in the face.

"Abka de deyere gasha bi! Niyalma de tusa arambi!"

The Baoyi was so slapped in the face that he saw stars. At this moment, he no longer remembered to question the visitor about the night call.

Nurhaci had been a slave to Li Chengliang for twelve years, so he was well aware of the various tactics of the Ming army. Later, the training of the Eight Banners of Jianzhou fully absorbed the advantages of various Ming armies. The night call system of the Qi Family Army (1) was also implemented in the Eight Banners Army.

It was a dark night, and Qi Meng and his entourage were all dressed in white armor and looked very aggressive, so the two baoyi only regarded them as "white armor soldiers" scouts returning to the camp. Just as they were about to ask which Niulu leader they were, the tall white armor soldier in the lead swung his bow and hit the baoyi in the face.

"Abka de deyere gasha bi! Niyalma de tusa arambi!"

Although the bannerman did not understand the meaning of the Jurchen language, he at least saved his life and was only taught a lesson by his master.

A pockmarked soldier in white armor came up and translated his master's words in a broken Liaodong dialect:
"The masters just said that he returned from Liu Jing's camp exhausted, hadn't had a drink in two days, and felt uncomfortable all over... Go report the military situation to the Second Prince first, and get out of the way, you dog slave!"

The two eunuchs were hesitant and quickly made way. The pockmarked soldier in white armor walked a few steps away angrily, but still not satisfied. He turned back and started punching and kicking the eunuch who was eager to raise the flag.

A sound of breaking bones was heard in the distance.

A team of night patrolmen, about five or six in number, were coming towards them. They noticed the commotion here and were about to approach the dugout to question them when they saw their master, Ma Zi, beating the Bao Yi men frantically. Behind him were a dozen white-armored soldiers, wearing armor and holding heavy swords, looking murderous.

The patrolling eunuch knew that he could not afford to offend these masters, so he pretended not to see anything and took a detour.

Unexpectedly, after taking a few steps, he was grabbed by the pockmarked white-armored soldier and shouted:

"Lead the way, you bastards are quite capable, unlike those two lazy dogs! They're just like cats sleeping in their holes! Later, when we get to the Second Prince, I'll commend you for your achievements. If the Second Prince is happy, he might even raise the flag for you!"

When they heard that the flag would be raised, the eyes of the bondservants here lit up and they rushed to lead the way.

The master with pockmarks was moody and punched a Baoyi in the face, breaking the Baoyi's nose.

"Sibala, you've lost your mind! You idiot! Just one of you can take me there. The rest of you, stay put! Anyone who deserts their post will be killed!"

Ma Zi pointed randomly and identified a major grudge: "Well, it's you!"

The one chosen was a burly man with a face full of flesh, who was obviously a martial artist.

At first he thought he had misheard, until he saw Master Ma Zi urging him impatiently, and then he realized that he was going to raise the flag.

While nodding and bowing to his master, he turned around and showed a proud look to his companions.

"Let's go and see the Second Prince! What's your name?"

"My lord, your humble servant... My name is Cao Zhongqing, and I'm originally from Tieling..."

The white-armored leader walking in front suddenly stopped when he heard the name and, with lightning speed, punched Cao Zhongqing in the face with a left hook.
"Abka de deyere gasha bi! Niyalma de tusa arambi!"

Cao Zhongqing was hit and staggered, but he managed not to fall and forced a humble smile on his face.

The pockmarked soldier in white armor stepped forward and translated loudly:
"Our Niulu Ezhen just said, you bastard, you're too long-winded. I just asked you what your name was, and you said you were a fighter? And you even said you killed your boss and defected to the Jin Dynasty. Our Niulu Ezhen hates people who talk too much..."

Qi Meng turned around and glared at Zhang Mazi fiercely, and Zhang Dong immediately shut up.

Ma Zi turned and looked at Cao Zhongqing, pushing and shoving him:
"Let's go see the Second Prince. We, Niulu Ezhen, have just gathered important military information from that old dog Liu Jing. We need to give the Second Prince a surprise!"

Note:
1. "The New Book of Performance," Volume , Camping Chapter : "Regarding Night Orders": When facing the enemy, anyone who fails to keep watch, fails to give the night patrol signal, or sleeps by another fire will be beheaded. Anyone who shouts and runs without reason, falsely claims that the enemy is approaching, and thus alarms the camp, will also be beheaded.

(End of this chapter)