The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 774 The Non-Existent Warrior
At dusk, at Dong'e Road, the Blue Banner Camp.

The cavalry dispersed as usual, and the long spears stood in rows, like layers of wheat waves surging when the wind blows through the wheat fields.

The Jianzhou cavalrymen leaped from their saddles, stretching their legs and waists to stretch their muscles, while the bannermen grabbed the reins and led the horses away. The cavalrymen emerged from the ranks and the flying dust, gathering in groups of three or five, their red tassels on their helmets swaying like balls of dancing fire.

The Jurchen warriors joked and boasted freely about women and the martial arts achievements of the Jin Dynasty.

They have been waiting here for a long time. After tonight, they will attack the Ming Dynasty's Eastern Army and put an end to the Battle of Sarhu.

Jirgalang wanted to rush into the group of cavalry soldiers, but the Blue Banner soldiers under his command did not like this general very much.

Jean took a few steps toward one group, then for some reason turned toward another, but he did not squeeze in and no one noticed him.

He stood hesitantly behind one man and another for a while, not joining in the conversation of the cavalrymen.

Jirgalang strode towards the stables and soon discovered that the baoyi had not fed the horses on time. He then loudly reprimanded them and whipped them with his whip until the baoyi who had neglected his duties was beaten half to death. He then gathered a group of grooms and explained their duties to them, patiently explaining to each baoyi how to do their job well and not to be careless in front of their master.

After leaving the stable, Jirgalang soon discovered that other white-armored soldiers of the Jiala were still gathered together chatting about women. It was almost dark.

He was furious and called out these burly Jianzhou knights from their idle chats one by one, loudly reprimanded these teammates for their dereliction of duty, and forced them to go out of the camp to patrol and scout...

Jirgalang was not very popular in the Bordered Blue Banner. Everyone thought he was a spy sent by the Khan, who would seize the opportunity to take over the Bordered Blue Banner.

Amin made no secret of his dissatisfaction with his brother.

From any perspective, Aisin-Gioro Jirgalang was undoubtedly a model soldier; but everyone unanimously agreed that he was a nasty guy, at least in the Bordered Blue Banner.

~~~~
In the 1601th year of the Wanli reign (4), the Great Khan reorganized the organization, appointing Niulu Ezhen, Jiala Ezhen, and Gushan Ezhen as leaders. Initially, four banners were established: yellow, white, red, and blue. In the 1615rd year of the Wanli reign (4), four more banners were added: the Bordered Yellow, Bordered White, Bordered Red, and Bordered Blue. Thus, the Eight Banners system was initially established.

The Jurchen men are soldiers in wartime and civilians in peacetime, and they have extremely strong combat capabilities.

For the Eight Banners troops camping in the wild, night was as orderly as the changing of the four seasons on the Liaodong plains under the starry sky:
Baoyi replaced the sentries, armored soldiers patrolled regularly, and white-armored soldiers took turns on duty.

After nightfall, the usual chaos on the battlefield, the commotion and noise caused by occasional unexpected events during the day, such as a wild horse jumping out of the battle formation, finally subsided. Fatigue and sleepiness subdued the brave and warlike Eight Banners warriors and their horses, oxen and donkeys.

The livestock stood in rows, occasionally paddling the ground with their hooves or uttering a short neigh or bray; those who had finally freed themselves from their helmets and armor, feeling satisfied and comfortable as they had returned to their own unique selves that could not be confused with each other, had already fallen into a deep sleep there.

Only Jirgalang did not feel this sense of relief.

His tent was located on the edge of the Bordered Blue Banner camp, which in a sense hinted at the marginalized situation of the Khan's nephew in the Bordered Blue Banner.

Jirgalang opened his eyes and was neatly dressed in fine armor. He lay on his back with his head resting on a long sword. His mind was full of thoughts as he began to plan the situation of the Eight Banners after the end of this battle.

Will the Great Khan assign himself more Niulu? Will the Bordered Blue Banner receive Han artillerymen? Will the arrogant Manggurtai be suppressed? The most important question is, which Beile will lead the troops in the subsequent attacks on Tieling and Kaiyuan?

······
Young Jiala'ezhen's thoughts flowed like the Hunhe River, not the idle, drifting thoughts of a sleeper, but thoughts that were always clear and distinct. After a short rest, he freed one arm and raised it upwards: he felt the need for some casual manual labor, perhaps cleaning his sword or oiling the seams of his armor, but the long sword was already shining brightly.

He stood ready like this for half an hour, then suddenly stood up. Goshiha, who was standing at the door, yawned and tried to open his eyes. Jirgalang glared at him, then walked out of the tent with long sword and shield in hand. He walked through the camp. Snoring echoed from the conical tents made of cow hair felt.

He walked past the tents, towards the edge of the camp, to a remote and deserted place, climbed up the bare hillside, looked up at the western sky, and saw a meteor with a long tail of flame falling to the earth.

"According to the Han people, there will be great chaos under heaven, and their emperor is about to die."

Jirgalang stood on the hillside and looked forward to the dawn. After daybreak, he would be able to lead his armored warriors to wipe out the Eastern Army and end Liu Dadao's legend as "the most powerful general of the Ming Dynasty."

It’s still exciting to think about it.

The night before dawn is the darkest and the quietest. Only some shapeless shadows flap their wings silently, dance lightly, and turn around aimlessly.

It's a bat.

Jirgalang stopped suddenly.

A dark figure poked its head out from a horse-blocking ditch in front and looked at him.

Behind that man, there was a series of sneaky figures following.

"Night call!" Jirgalang shouted.

"Destroy Liu Jing and kill the Han dogs!"

A reply came from Lanmagou.

Jirgalang relaxed his guard.

"Master, I am a bannerman under Master Daeryou. I was just scouting outside. We are the white-armored soldiers sent to spy on military intelligence. This is Mandahan. The elite white-armored soldiers of their Niulu are all here. I heard that they have important military information to report to the Second Prince."

~~~~~
As the second son of Shurhaci, and the commander of the thirty-three Niulu of the Bordered Blue Banner, Second Beile Amin would certainly not forget that his father was killed by Nurhaci.

At this time, the Jianzhou Jurchens were still under tribal rule, and the Confucian idea of revenge for one's father was not popular here. Fifteen years ago, Shurhaci, the second-in-command of the Jianzhou Jurchens and Nurhaci's younger brother, was executed by his brother for rebellion, and his eldest son and third son were both killed.

Amin did not participate in the rebellion at that time and luckily survived. He was given half of his father's Niulu and became the leader of the Bordered Blue Banner.

Although he didn't kill Amin, Nurhaci never relaxed his surveillance of the Bordered Blue Banner over the years. He soon sent Jirgalang to serve as Jiala Ezhen, effectively driving a thorn in the side of the Bordered Blue Banner. Amin tried to avoid his uncle, but his uncle pressed him relentlessly. Fortunately, the Haixi Jurchens and the Ming Dynasty were two of his greatest threats, preventing the wise Khan from taking action against the Second Prince.

Of course, the most important reason why Amin was able to survive until now was because he had thirty-three Niulu and nearly ten thousand soldiers under his command.

"Second Prince, the white-armored soldiers sent to Liu Jing's army have returned!"

"Let them in!"

(End of this chapter)