Huangming

Chapter 251 A desperate gamble, the decisive battle at Hunhe River
Liu Xingzuo lifted the tent flap and strode into the tent. Rainwater dripped from his armor plates, leaving dark streaks on the muddy ground inside the tent.

He looked up and saw a familiar figure standing with his back to the tent entrance, his shoulders ramrod straight, clearly having been waiting for a long time.

"The Li brothers?"

He paused for a moment, then smiled knowingly, his voice tinged with weariness and relief, "I was just about to send someone to look for you, but you've come first."

Upon hearing the sound, Li Yangeng turned around abruptly, his eyes burning with an intense, almost scorching light.

He rushed forward, and before Liu Xingzuo could even unfasten his sword and sit down, he grabbed his arm and asked urgently, "How is it?"

Liu Xingzuo looked around, his gaze lingering for a moment on the crack in the tent flap. To make sure no one was listening, he lowered his voice and said, "Daishan has given me permission to leave with my troops."

"Great!"

Li Yangeng clenched his fists tightly, his face almost overflowing with excitement.

He paced back and forth a couple of times, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "In this way, once the great battle begins, Brother Liu can defect on the front lines and clear his name of being a traitor in one fell swoop!"

As he spoke, his tone gradually lowered, and the light in his eyes dimmed, revealing an undisguised envy.

Liu Xingzuo picked up the teapot, and steaming hot water rose between the two of them.

He slowly poured Li Yangeng a cup of hot tea. The aroma of the tea filled the tent, but it couldn't dispel the heavy atmosphere.

Liu Xingzuo pushed the teacup in front of Li Yangeng, his voice low.

“If I switch sides, you have been communicating with me for many days. If you stay with the Jurchens, your life may be in danger.”

He looked up and stared directly at Li Yangeng, a hint of worry in his eyes.

"Why don't you come out of the camp with me? I have Dai Shan's warrant, so no one will dare to check me."

Li Yangeng stared at his reflection in the tea, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He picked up the teacup, but hesitated to drink it, letting the steam blur his face.

"I want to leave too."

His voice was hoarse, as if it were being squeezed out from deep within his chest.

“But I only have about a hundred men under my command. If they follow you and defect, how much merit will they have? My father was the first Han general to surrender to the Jurchens. This stain cannot be washed away simply by defecting.”

He suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot: "If I don't perform a great service, how can I wash away this deep-seated shame? Brother Liu, go ahead and don't worry about me."

Actually, there's one more thing Li Yangeng didn't mention.

If he leaves without explanation, how will his father, Li Yongfang, cope?

To the Ming people, his father was a traitor who deserved to die, but to him, Li Yongfang was his biological father.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xingzuo frowned, remained silent for a moment, and then asked in a deep voice, "So what are you planning to do next?"

"We have to do something earth-shattering!"

A hint of madness flashed in Li Yangeng's eyes.

"I want the whole world to know that my Li family is not a family of traitors, but a family of loyalty and courage!"

Seeing his once composed companion now acting like a madman, Liu Xingzuo felt alarm bells ringing in his mind.

He reached out and pressed down on Li Yangeng's trembling shoulder, his voice low and earnest: "As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood. Don't act rashly and throw your life away in vain."

Upon hearing this, Li Yangeng's lips curled into an exaggerated smile.

He deliberately spoke in a light tone, "Brother Liu, don't worry, my life is very precious!"

As he spoke, he patted the sword at his waist and said, "This sword hasn't drunk enough of the Jurchens' blood yet, how could I bear to die so easily?"

Seeing Li Yangeng's statement, Liu Xingzuo's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, but the worry in his eyes still lingered.

But at this moment, there is not much time left to worry about personal life and death.

"Have you resolved the gunpowder issue?"

Liu Xingzuo said with great concern, "The military is under strict control. Although I have reserves, they are probably not enough to thwart Huang Taiji's water attack plan."

"rest assured!"

Li Yangeng had anticipated Liu Xingzuo's question and said with a smile, "I've prepared gunpowder for you. Twenty barrels in total, hidden in the cellar behind the stables. It's all top-quality black powder, enough to send those water diversion dams to their doom."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xingzuo breathed a long sigh of relief.

With the biggest problem solved, Liu Xingzuo looked at the young man in front of him and felt a little pity for him.

He grabbed Li Yangeng's wrist and urged him again, "Brother Yangeng, it's not too late to come with me now."

Li Yangeng easily broke free and smiled nonchalantly.

He solemnly picked up the teacup on the table, raised it above his eyebrows with both hands, and bowed to Liu Xingzuo.

"Let's drink tea instead of wine, Brother Liu."

"I wish you all the best on your journey, and hope you kill many Jurchens! Let those barbarians know the spirit of the sons of Han!"

Liu Xingzuo's throat bobbed, feeling an unbearable weight in his chest.

He slowly raised his teacup, the tea swirling slightly within, reflecting the blurry images of the two of them.

"Take care of yourself!"

These two words seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight, echoing for a long time in the silent military tent.

Outside the tent, the night wind howled, as if playing a farewell song for these two comrades who were about to go their separate ways.

Watching Li Yangeng's departing figure, Liu Xingzuo did not hesitate any longer, turned around, lifted the tent flap, and strode out.

The night wind swept over him, carrying the unique chill of Liaodong, yet it brought a sense of relief to the pent-up emotions in his chest.

"Send the order!"

"The entire army shall immediately prepare for deployment and depart in half an hour!"

Upon receiving the order, the guards moved immediately, and hurried footsteps echoed through the tents.

Liu Xingzuo stood in front of the central command tent, looking at the busy soldiers with a gaze as sharp as a knife.

He had already made up his mind for this operation, and would only bring his most elite household guards and personal soldiers.

These men were his loyal followers who had served him for many years; they were true brothers he could entrust with his life.

"My lord, you still have family in Hetu Ala!" The captain of the personal guards hesitated, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

Liu Xingzu sneered and patted the sword at his waist: "I have family in Hetu Ala, and so do you."

"However, what need has a great man have to worry about not having a wife?"

"Today we endure humiliation and live in shame, tomorrow we'll make those barbarians kneel and call us grandpa!"

These words ignited the soldiers' passion like a torch.

Someone spat angrily: "To hell with the lackeys! I've had enough of this humiliation!"

Many more silently inspected their weapons, their eyes burning with the flames of revenge.

These people had also had enough of the Jurchens' wrath.

after all.

Who would willingly become a slave unless they were forced into a desperate situation?

Are there really people who are born with weak knees and like to kneel?
They are absolutely not like that!

Half an hour later, everything was ready to go.

Liu Xingzuo mounted his horse and took one last look back at the Eight Banners camp.

There lies the foundation he built over many years, as well as countless humiliating memories.

The moonlight shone down, illuminating his cold, stern face and revealing a pair of resolute eyes.

"set off!"

The whips cracked in the air, and the five elite units of the Niru (military units) sped off like arrows toward Eagle's Beak Bay.

Dai Shan's warrant felt hot in his arms, and Liu Xingzuo's lips curled into a cold smile.

This will be the last time they bow down to the Jurchens.

When the flames of war rise on the banks of the Hun River, he will let Nurhaci, Daišan, Huang Taiji and the others know that the blood and spirit of the Han people have never cooled.

Meanwhile, outside Shenyang, the flames of war reignited.

After several days of silence, the battlefield suddenly erupted into deafening battle cries, like thunderclaps exploding across the Liaodong Plain.

The Jurchen war drums thundered, and the elite Eight Banners troops surged toward the city walls like a tidal wave. They drove ragged civilians as human shields, forcing these innocent people to wear down the Ming army's rolling logs and stones with their own bodies.

"Fire arrows!"

The Ming general on the city wall shouted sternly, and a rain of arrows poured down, but most of them hit the civilians who were forced to charge.

The Jurchen cavalry seized the opportunity to advance, placing ladders on the city walls.

"boom!"

With a deafening roar, the Jurchen cannons spewed fire, and the shells exploded on the city walls, sending debris flying.

Not to be outdone, the catapults not far away hurled burning oil canisters into the city, instantly setting several houses ablaze.

However, Shenyang was not unprepared.

During the truce, Xiong Tingbi had already ordered the city's defenses to be reinforced: the damaged battlements were filled with sandbags, the destroyed arrow towers were rebuilt overnight, and the moat was filled with sharp iron caltrops.

The defending soldiers took turns resting, and now they were all in high spirits.

"Hold your ground!"

The city's garrison commander, clad in heavy armor, patrolled back and forth atop the city walls.

"Musketeers, prepare!"

At his command, rows of black gun barrels emerged from the crenellations, aimed at the enemy soldiers climbing the ladders.

The Jurchen commander Amin, standing below the city, narrowed his eyes. He had thought that the feints over the past few days would make the Ming army complacent, but to his surprise, the enemy's defenses remained impenetrable.

Gazing at the Ming Dynasty banner fluttering atop the city wall, he gripped his riding whip tightly.

This siege will likely be much more difficult than anticipated.

Let's just wait for the water attack!
Outside the city, the sounds of battle were deafening, war drums thundered, and arrows pierced the air incessantly.

However, inside the White Tiger Hall of the Liaodong Military Governor's Office, there was a somber and silent atmosphere.

The hall was brightly lit, illuminating the generals standing solemnly in their armor.

General He Shixian, Deputy General You Shigong, General Chen Ce, Dong Zhongkui, Deputy General Qi Jin, Shizhu Tusi general Qin Bangping, Guerrilla General Zhou Dunji, and others all looked solemn and awaited military orders.

On the throne, Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong military commissioner, was dressed in light armor, with a sword at his waist, and his face was ashen.

He pressed one hand against the military report on the table, and clenched the other into a fist, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

The sounds of fighting outside the city grew increasingly intense. Xiong Tingbi's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, until finally he couldn't help but slam his fist on the table and roar:
"Those damned Jurchens are truly treacherous and cunning! They openly attacked the city, but secretly planned to flood Shenyang! If it weren't for our inside informant, we would have almost fallen into their trap!"

Three days ago, on that torrential rainy night, Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong Military Governor, received two completely different secret reports on his desk at the same time.

The first parchment scroll sealed with sealing wax was delivered by Li Yangeng through a hidden stake buried outside Shenyang, risking being executed by slow slicing.

The attack sequence of each banner of the Jurchens was densely marked on it, and even the position of the Plain White Banner reserve force personally led by Huang Taiji was clearly visible.

The second secret report, however, carried the earthy scent of the Hun River.

The assassin sent by Liu Xingzuo was soaking wet. From his personal oil paper package, he took out a finely detailed map drawn on silk.

The map not only marks the locations of seven key water diversion dams on the upper reaches of the Hun River with cinnabar, but also notes the time of troop rotation next to each dam.

Xiong Tingbi thought to himself: This intelligence was obtained at the cost of so many lives!

With such brave men willing to sacrifice their lives for the Ming Dynasty, what is there for the Ming Dynasty not to win?
He, Xiong Tingbi, absolutely could not let down these people's passionate enthusiasm!

After closing his eyes and concentrating for a long time, Xiong Tingbi repeatedly considered the strategic plan in his mind.

A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping sharply over the generals in the tent, and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, I have summoned you here today to assign you tasks and prepare you to fight the enemy!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than General He Shixian of Shenyang slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his face beaming with joy, and shouted, "We should have gone out of the city long ago and taught these Jurchens a lesson! Their Eight Banners troops are formidable, but our own soldiers are no less capable!"

"Please let me finish speaking!"

Xiong Tingbi frowned, his sharp gaze piercing He Shixian like a knife.

The burly Shenyang garrison commander immediately wilted like a frostbitten eggplant, lowered his head sheepishly, and dared not utter another word.

The tent fell silent for a moment, except for the crackling of the charcoal in the brazier.

Xiong Tingbi turned around and pointed to the map of Shenyang behind him, where several bright red marks stood out.

"The Jurchens are preparing a water attack. These red dots indicate where the Jurchens are building their water diversion dams."

His finger moved slowly across the map, each point causing a shiver to run through the hearts of the generals present.

"Tonight, while the enemy is off guard, we must destroy all these diversion dams!"

"Otherwise, if the dikes are breached, the fortresses and military camps outside the city will be destroyed!"

The fortresses and military camps outside the city were carefully selected and built in high-altitude locations.

However, if the water level is too high, it may be submerged.

Only by destroying the seven diversion dams outside the city can the raging floodwaters be diverted to the Jurchen army camp, causing them to suffer the consequences of their own actions.

At that time, the area outside Shenyang will become a vast expanse of water, and the Jurchens' proud cavalry advantage will vanish.

After all, no matter how valiant the cavalry is, it is difficult to show its prowess in muddy swamps.

"A water attack?!"

Upon hearing this, the generals' expressions changed drastically.

They knew all too well that if the Jurchens actually carried out this plan, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Now, it's a race against time!

"Lord General, please give the order immediately!"

Faced with the crisis, the generals dared not hesitate for a moment, and solemnly clasped their fists, their eyes fixed intently on Xiong Tingbi.

The atmosphere inside the tent was heavy, with only the flickering flames in the brazier illuminating the resolute faces of the generals.

At this moment, every breath is crucial to the survival of Shenyang, and every moment is tied to the lives of thousands of soldiers.

Xiong Tingbi's eyes were sharp as he slowly swept over the generals in the tent and nodded slightly.

He placed his broad palm on the military map on the table and said in a deep voice, "All generals, listen to my command!"

The flickering candlelight inside the tent illuminated his resolute face.

Xiong Tingbi's voice was not loud, but every word carried great weight: "At midnight tonight, He Shixian will lead his elite troops to attack Dongba, You Shigong will lead his elite cavalry to attack Xiba, and Chen Ce and Qi Jin will each lead a team to take the north and south dams respectively."

He pointed to four dams on the map and continued, "Each team should carry a thousand catties of gunpowder, with the night raiders as the vanguard. Once they get close, they should blow up the dams immediately without delay!"

The generals held their breath, eager to try.

"After the explosion, three gunshots will serve as a signal, and all units will immediately withdraw along the predetermined route. Zhou Dunji will lead the White-Spear Soldiers to meet them at the Hun River ferry."

He suddenly raised his voice, especially when looking at General He Shixian of Shenyang, and said: "This battle is only to destroy the dam, not to annihilate the enemy. Anyone who disobeys orders and seeks personal glory will be executed!"

The final word 'slay' resounded like thunder, and the generals solemnly clasped their fists, their armor clanging: "Your humble servant obeys!"

The sound shook the rooftops, and even the guards on duty outside the tent straightened their backs.

To make his generals understand the importance of this battle, he continued to emphasize:
"Tonight's battle is not for the honor or disgrace of one person, but for the survival of 100,000 soldiers and civilians in Shenyang! The Jurchens want to destroy our homes and cut off our way of life with floods—how can we sit idly by and wait for our doom?!"

He drew his sword sharply, its cold gleam reflecting on the faces of his generals, and his words were resounding: "Since the flames of war ignited in Liaodong, how many comrades have shed their blood on this land? How many families have been torn apart and lives lost? Today is the day we repay blood with blood, and tooth with tooth!"

Xiong Tingbi pointed his sword directly at the bright red dam markers on the map and said sternly, "These diversion dams are the Jurchens' butcher's knife and their grave! Blow them up, and the flood will pour into the enemy camp, making them reap what they sow! If this battle succeeds, no matter how fierce the Jurchen cavalry is, they will become lambs to the slaughter in the quagmire!"

He took a deep breath, his voice growing deeper yet more resolute: "This strategist will not inquire into your backgrounds, nor your past merits or demerits—tonight, I issue only one decree: Anyone who brings gunpowder near the dam will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver; anyone who sacrifices themselves to blow up the dam will have their family supported by the imperial court for life! If anyone shrinks back..."

He paused, then the sword cleaved off the corner of the table, sending splinters flying: "Just like this case! Military law is merciless. This general's sword will first slay deserters, then the Jurchens!"

A moment of deathly silence fell over the tent, then the generals roared, clasping their fists in a thunderous display of armor: "We are willing to fight to the death with the General! May the Great Ming be victorious!"

Xiong Tingbi sheathed his sword, then declared emphatically, "Remember! When the fire starts at midnight, it will be the death knell for the Jurchens! Gentlemen—"

I want you to come back alive so we can drink victory wine;
If not...

On the road to the underworld, I, Xiong, will drink with you all!

(End of this chapter)