Huangming

Chapter 222 The Art of War is Deception: The Liaodong Uprising (Bonus Chapter for 1000 Monthly Tickets!)
Lee Byung-sung was now in a dilemma.

If we resolutely refuse the generals' request to leave the city to pursue the enemy, we may not only miss the opportunity to fight and be accused of being cowardly, but also incur the wrath of the masses.

You must know that those gleaming heads are nothing but gleaming silver in the eyes of soldiers; cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.

This military order will likely sow seeds of resentment in the hearts of the generals.

However, if pursuit is permitted, the fleeing Red Banner clearly reveals something suspicious: Li Yongfang's military tactics have always been cunning. If the rout is a ruse to lure the enemy, the soldiers leaving the city may be ambushed.

What's even more troublesome is that the strategy of "prudent defense" repeatedly emphasized by General Xiong Tingbi is still fresh in everyone's mind. If they were to launch an attack rashly at this moment, it would be an open defiance of the General's orders.

The cheers and calls for battle from the city walls grew increasingly intense, and Li Bingcheng's fingernails dug into his palms without him realizing it.

At this moment, the general was like dancing on the edge of a knife. If he went forward, he would fall into the abyss; if he retreated, he would suffer a backlash. The once decisive and ruthless general was now forced into a state of panic.

"If the commander-in-chief is worried about a trap, he might as well send a thousand elite cavalry out of the city to test the waters!"

Seeing that Li Bingcheng was hesitant, a guerrilla general stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said in a deep voice:

Even if there is an ambush, the cavalry are swift as the wind, and the entire army will not be wiped out!

"Correct!"

"Li Youji is absolutely right. Such a battle opportunity should not be wasted."

"Please give the order, Commander!"

The generals inside the tent echoed his sentiments, their eyes burning with anticipation, waiting only for the general to nod in agreement.

However, after a long silence, Lee Byung-sung slammed his hand on the table: "No!"

His gaze swept over the assembled generals with lightning speed, his voice as cold and hard as iron:
"The military commissioner has issued a strict order—only hold your ground and do not launch an attack!"

"Those who violate this rule will be dealt with according to military law!"

Wow!
The generals' expressions changed drastically, their eyes almost overflowing with disappointment and resentment.

How could Lee Byung-sung not know?
These people may not dare to disobey verbally, but in their hearts they have probably already cursed his ancestors for eighteen generations!
As the commander-in-chief of Fengjibao, he could not stand idly by while his soldiers were disgruntled.

If things continue like this, will he still be able to command these people?
He hesitated for a moment before finally speaking:
"but……"

The generals looked up suddenly, their eyes rekindling with hope.

Lee Byung-sung said slowly:

"The area within a radius of twenty li of Fengjibao still belongs to our army's defense zone."

"Actions within this range are still considered 'defense'!"

His gaze was sharp, and he spoke each word clearly, issuing a warning:
"However—if anyone dares to step outside the twenty-mile boundary, no matter how much they gain, they will be punished for disobeying orders!"

He paused, then added:
"Furthermore, only cavalry are permitted to attack; infantry are not allowed to leave their posts!"

"I will obey your orders!"

The generals roared in agreement, their fighting spirit reignited in their eyes!
"boom--"

The gates of Fengjibao were flung open, and three thousand iron cavalry poured out like a raging tide, their hooves crushing the black earth as they swept towards the fleeing remnants of the Bordered Red Banner army!

Along the way, there were only Eight Banner soldiers fleeing in panic. Ming soldiers' sabers flashed, and as they passed, heads rolled to the snow, and the blood splattered on the black soil bloomed into dazzling red plum blossoms.

These are all substantial reward funds!
However, when the vanguard cavalry reached the twenty-mile boundary marker, the swiftly rushing torrent suddenly came to a halt.

"Uu——!"

Several officers suddenly pulled on the reins, and the warhorse reared up, exhaling a white mist of breath.

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, their blood-stained sabers trembling with resentment, yet none dared to cross that invisible line between life and death.

Beyond the boundary marker lies the merciless law of the military!
Gazing at the fleeing Jurchens of the Bordered Red Banner in the distance, the generals' eyes were bloodshot, and their teeth were clenched so tightly they were grinding their teeth.

Those fleeing figures, in their eyes, had transformed into rolling silver ingots, slipping through their fingers.
On the high hill to the north, Daishan slowly lowered his telescope, the copper-inlaid barrel already covered with cold sweat from his palms.

"The Ming army...has stopped?"

Huang Taiji narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in his long, narrow pupils.

He suddenly sneered, and slowly closed his five fingers:

"It's a pity that Li Bingcheng is a man who knows military strategy. Once the hunting dogs are released from their cages, how can they possibly return to their dens alive?"

Huang Taiji's eyes turned cold, and he raised his hand to summon three Niru Ejen.

"You shall lead your cavalry, tie tree branches to the tails of your horses, and run back and forth, raising dust to create a spectacle!"

Upon hearing this, Dai Shan's brows furrowed tightly.

"Eighth Brother, wouldn't this bluffing only deter the Ming army from pursuing us?"

Huang Taiji chuckled lightly, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

"That's precisely why we need to teach them to 'see through' it!"

He raised his hand and waved it, his tone chilling:

"After the dust and smoke rose, they deliberately let the Ming army see the tree branches on the horse's tail."

"Order Li Yongfang to step forward and challenge them, using insults and provocation!"

"If the Ming army thinks this is a 'deception,' they will underestimate the enemy and advance recklessly!"

Dai Shan's pupils contracted, and he gasped.

What a brilliant series of psychological tactics!

In this way, the Ming army will surely fall into the trap!
His eighth brother is truly a master manipulator!

"As ordered!"

The three Niru Ejen (tribe commanders) accepted the order and left.

A moment later, the iron cavalry of the three Niru of the Plain White Banner roared out.

The withered branches trailing behind the horse's tail kicked up clouds of dust on the black soil, making it look as if a thousand horses were galloping towards them from afar!

At the twenty-mile boundary marker, the Ming army officers looked at the smoke and dust, and their expressions changed drastically.

"There really was an ambush!"

However, sharp-eyed scouts soon noticed something amiss.

"General, please look!"

He pointed into the distance and said slowly, "Where that smoke and dust is rising is clearly a horse's tail dragging a branch, just a bluff!"

The generals looked closely and indeed saw several groups of Jurchen cavalry running back and forth, with dry branches and tangled grass tied to their horses' tails!

This is a feint!

"I have a thousand troops behind me, do you dare to come?!"

Just then, Li Yongfang rode forward, shouting insults, his face full of smugness. "Your grandpa, Li Yongfang, is now a great nobleman!"

He grinned maliciously, his voice sharp and piercing.

"If you are willing to surrender, you too can be as rich and powerful as I am!"

Behind Li Yongfang, his personal guards shouted in unison, "You Ming dogs, kneel down and surrender immediately!"

"You damned traitor!"

The cavalrymen of Fengjibao were furious, their eyes practically spitting fire.

"Like Zhang Fei roaring at Changban Slope? But we are not Cao Mengde!"

One of the lieutenant generals could no longer contain himself, drew his sword, and roared, "Kill!!"

His hundreds of cavalry charged out like a raging tide, heading straight for Li Yongfang!

"Withdraw! Quickly withdraw!"

Li Yongfang's expression changed drastically. He turned his horse and fled, the dust behind him dissipating to reveal an empty valley and forest path.

"It was indeed a feint!"

At the twenty-mile boundary marker, some of the cavalrymen were getting restless.

"General, strike quickly! Don't let that scoundrel Zhong Hong steal the credit!"

However, the other officers still stared intently at the twenty-mile boundary marker, gritting their teeth and gripping the reins tightly.

"Military orders are absolute... No one may cross the line!"

Zhong Hong is a barbarian chieftain, he has no brains.

He didn't even consider that even if he were to behead hundreds, disobeying military orders would only bring him trouble.

Will I be able to receive the reward money?
Military orders are absolute, and this is no joke.

They might not even be able to save their lives then.

This is also why everyone stopped and dared not pursue.

Ten miles away, on a high hill, Huang Taiji slowly lowered his telescope, a hint of gloom flashing in his eyes.

"This Li Bingcheng is indeed skilled in military administration. Even with my attempts to entice him, I couldn't lure out these Ming cavalrymen."

He sighed coldly, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the hilt of the knife:
"In this light, the trade of over a thousand surrendered civilians and several hundred Bordered Red Banner soldiers for three hundred Ming cavalrymen was ultimately a loss."

They even considered luring the Ming army in Fengjibao to attack, or even the Ming army in Shenyang to attack.

Then they annihilated these elite Ming troops in open field battles.

Now it seems that these are all unrealistic hopes.

Daishan glanced at Huang Taiji, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

Finally, that old man got his comeuppance!
If he could always strategize and plan perfectly, it would make him seem intellectually challenged.

"Cough cough!"

Dai Shan coughed lightly, feigning reassurance:
"Why should the Fourth Prince worry? Three hundred elite cavalrymen are already easy prey!"

"not to mention--"

He glanced meaningfully at the fleeing remnants of Li Yongfang's army in the distance, and chuckled softly:
"In the end, it is the 'outsiders' who bleed."

In Daishan's view, the losses suffered by Li Yongfang's troops were not losses at all.

Their loss of elite troops in Jianzhou was a real loss.

after all
The term "Han Chinese bondservants" is no longer used; this is just a casual addition.

The Jianzhou Jurchen warriors—every one who dies is one less to be lost.

The other side.

In the valley and forest path.

Lieutenant General Zhong Hong led three hundred iron cavalry at breakneck speed, their hooves thundering, but he gradually sensed something amiss:
It's too quiet.

There were no birdsong, no wind, and even the panting of warhorses seemed abrupt.

wrong!

There is an ambush!
He suddenly reined in his horse, about to order a retreat.

"Boooooooh!!"

The sound of arrows piercing the air suddenly exploded!

"Puff puff!"

Arrows rained down, warhorses neighed in agony, and blood sprayed everywhere!
Zhong Hong's pupils contracted sharply, before he could even draw his sword.

"Whoosh!"

A heavy arrow had pierced his throat!

Shock, regret, resentment...

Countless emotions surged in his eyes, but ultimately turned into a deathly silence.

His body slowly fell from the horse, and when he landed, his body was covered with arrows like a hedgehog.

However.
Huang Taiji, who had successfully laid an ambush, showed no joy on his face.

Even with all the Ming army's attempts to entice them, they couldn't be lured out; getting them to engage in open battle was practically impossible.

This tough nut to crack will eventually have to be gnawed away at, one bite at a time.

But with every bite, several teeth break.

He closed his eyes, and a scene of mountains of corpses and seas of blood already appeared in his mind:

The blood of the Eight Banners soldiers will stain this black soil red.

And all this has just begun.

Thinking of this, Huang Taiji felt very indignant:

The Nikan Kingdom has a new emperor, so how come Liaodong is completely different from before?

It depends on what strategy Father Khan has to take Shenyang.

Huang Taiji has no better options than a direct assault.

PS:

Bonus chapter completed for 1000 monthly votes! No more owed chapters, that's great!
(End of this chapter)