Huangming

Chapter 255 A Surprise Attack Destroys the Jianzhou Jurchens

The night was as dark as ink, and the rain poured down.

Liu Xingzuo led five elite troops, about 1,500 men, on a swift march along the muddy mountain road.

Horse hooves pounded puddles, splashing mud that mixed with rainwater and soaked the soldiers' armor.

In the distance, flames soared into the sky in the direction of the lower reaches of the Hun River, while behind them, a series of muffled explosions gradually rose.

Those were three small teams he had dispatched, tasked with destroying the diversion dam.

These water diversion dams are far from Shenyang, and Huang Taiji did not station heavy troops there, only sending a few dozen soldiers to guard them.

Liu Xingzuo's subordinates pretended to be messengers, claiming that the upstream dam was about to release water and urging the defending troops to evacuate immediately.

The defending troops, unsuspecting of any trickery, hastily withdrew, resulting in the dam-blasting operation encountering almost no resistance.

Fifty assassins easily infiltrated the area, planted the gunpowder, lit the fuse, and then quickly disappeared into the night.

At this moment, the diversion dam has collapsed in the series of explosions.

Liu Xingzuo reined in his horse and looked back, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

Huang Taiji, will your water attack plan succeed?

"keep going!"

Just at this time.

"Boom boom boom——"

Deafening explosions echoed continuously from the lower reaches of the Hun River, particularly clear in the rainy night.

Liu Xingzuo suddenly pulled on the reins, and the warhorse reared up, splashing up a cloud of mud.

He listened intently, a smile gradually spreading across his lips.

"Good! Great!"

He clenched his fists, his voice filled with barely concealed excitement.

"As expected, Commander Xiong kept his word; the Ming army did indeed send troops as agreed!"

Rain dripped down his cheeks, but it could not extinguish the flame of hope burning in his heart.

These days, his biggest worry has never been whether or not the dam can be destroyed.

With his battle-hardened troops, completing such a task would be a piece of cake.

What truly kept him awake at night was whether the Ming army would abandon them, their inside agents, once again, as they had done before.

Liu Xingzuo clearly remembered that just a few years ago, there was also a Jianzhou tribe that wanted to submit to the Ming Dynasty.

They started their uprising as agreed, but instead of being met by the Ming army, they were met by the Jurchen cavalry.

It turns out that some generals in Liaodong had sold information about the inside agent to Nurhaci, in exchange for several cartloads of silver.

"My lord, it seems that the atmosphere in Liaodong has really changed since the new emperor ascended the throne," the personal guard beside him said in a low voice, his voice also filled with emotion.

Liu Xingzu nodded emphatically.

Since Emperor Tianqi ascended the throne, he has rectified border affairs and severely punished corruption, which has indeed boosted the morale of the Ming army in Liaodong.

The absurd scene of "friendly forces being surrounded, yet remaining unmoved" is finally gone forever.

"There's no time to lose, the entire army must proceed to the Shenyang camp immediately!" Liu Xingzuo commanded, his voice ringing out powerfully in the rainy night.

He had been planning this for a long time, intending to take advantage of the devastating flood to coordinate with the Ming army from within and without.

When the main force of the Ming army attacked the city, his surprise force suddenly turned against them and annihilated the two elite Eight Banners armies, the Plain Blue Banner and the Bordered Blue Banner, stationed outside Shenyang.

This generous gift is enough to allow him to gain a foothold in the new dynasty!

However, before they even reached the Shenyang camp, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from afar.

The clanging of swords and the mournful neighing of warhorses were particularly jarring in the rainy night.

"what happened?"

Liu Xingzuo suddenly pulled on the reins and squinted at the source of the sound.

"Could it be that the Ming soldiers who blew up the dam are now entangled with the Jurchens?"

The adjutant beside him whispered, "Sir, judging from the commotion, there are probably thousands of people fighting."

Liu Xingzuo's eyes flickered uncertainly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of his knife.

His troops were originally planned to march straight to the Shenyang camp, but if the Ming army was trapped, wouldn't his surprise attack be a timely help?

This favor carries far more weight than a routine plan!

"Order! The entire army shall turn west!"

He made a decisive move, pointing his blade directly in the direction from which the shouts of battle were coming.

"Since God has given us this opportunity, let's be saviors for once!"

Upon hearing this, the flag bearer immediately waved the scarlet flag.

Immediately, commands rang out from the rear ranks, and over a thousand cavalrymen moved with perfect coordination, drawing a sharp arc in the torrential rain as they sped toward the battlefield.

With thunderous hoofbeats, Liu Xingzuo led over a thousand elite cavalrymen to charge up the battlefield high ground.

By the dim moonlight, a horrific scene of battlefield devastation immediately came into view:

Below the high ground, the entire battlefield had been divided into three meat grinder-like battle groups.

The Ming cavalry were cut off and surrounded by the elite cavalry of the Plain Blue Banner and Bordered Blue Banner, and they could not support each other from both ends.

Judging from the scale, this encounter involved at least tens of thousands of troops, and the shouts of battle were so loud they hurt people's eardrums.

Liu Xingzuo squinted, carefully observing the battle situation.

Although the Ming cavalry fought bravely, their formation was already broken by the Jurchens' skillful mounted archery tactics.

If this trend continues, the Ming army will likely be completely annihilated within two hours.

"We must fight quickly!"

Liu Xingzuo gritted his teeth inwardly, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield like that of a hawk.

Suddenly, he spotted the familiar blue banner in the northwest direction.

The banner of the commander of the Zhenglan Banner fluttered in the night wind, surrounded by a small group of elite guards.

"Mangultai or Degerai?"

Liu Xingzuo sneered, his right hand unconsciously tightening its grip on the hilt of his knife.

He understood the principle of "capture the king first" all too well.

He suddenly waved his hand, and several trusted Niru Ejen immediately rode forward.

Rainwater streamed down their armor, gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

"listen!"

"Each of you lead your troops to surround the commander's tent from the east, west, south, and north. Remember, focus on blocking the western retreat route!"

"Whoo!"

Several generals responded reflexively.

Liu Xingzuo frowned and shouted sternly, "What are you swearing for! From this day forward, we are soldiers of the Great Ming Dynasty, and you shall all shout 'Yes, sir!'"

"As ordered!"

The generals responded in unison, their voices tinged with unfamiliarity yet remarkably firm.

In the blink of an eye, each unit, like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, silently entered the battlefield.

Liu Xingzuo personally led his two hundred most elite cavalrymen, like a poisoned arrow, straight towards the location of the Zhenglan Banner commander's tent.

The rain blurred his vision, but it couldn't conceal the burning flames of revenge in his eyes.

As they drew closer, the troops were only two hundred paces from the commander's flag, allowing Liu Xingzuo to clearly see the scene beneath it.

Beneath the commander's banner, only a few dozen personal guards stood watch.

A glint flashed in Liu Xingzuo's eyes, and he immediately understood.

With the war intensifying, the Jurchens actually transferred all their commanders' personal guards to the front lines. This was a golden opportunity!

When they were still a hundred paces away from the commander's flag, a patrol of cavalrymen rode up to them.

The leader drew his scimitar, its cold gleam particularly striking in the rainy night: "Halt! Which banner are you from? What are you doing here?"

Liu Xingzuo remained calm and unhurried, taking out a letter of command stamped with a vermilion seal from his bosom and holding it high in the rain: "Liu Xingzuo, under the command of Grand Prince Daishan of the Plain Red Banner, is ordered to rush to the aid of the two Blue Banners!"

While the other party was checking the warrant, Liu Xingzuo secretly made a hand gesture, and the iron cavalry behind him advanced another fifty paces.

Rainwater flowed down the armor, dripping onto the already unsheathed blades, making a soft tinkling sound.

The cavalry commander carefully examined the order, confirming it was indeed the seal of the Plain Red Banner, but his brow furrowed even more: "Strange, why didn't we receive a troop mobilization order from the Khan's camp? When did the Great Prince send you here?"

Liu Xingzuo suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter, his laughter filled with sarcasm: "Because—I've come to take your dog lives!"

The Plain Blue Banner cavalryman's pupils suddenly contracted, and his face was frozen in disbelief.

Would Liu Xingzuo give him a chance to react?

The eighteen-foot-long spear in his hand was like a poisonous dragon emerging from its cave, drawing a bright silver arc in the rain.

"Pfft!"

The sharp spear tip pierced through the leather armor, stabbing the cavalryman right through the chest.

Hot blood gushed out from the blood channel, rising in a thin white mist in the rain.

The cavalryman opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but Liu Xingzuo suddenly flicked him, sending him flying more than three zhang away like a rag doll.

"Defeat the enemy! Defeat the enemy!"

Liu Xingzuo raised his arms and shouted, his voice like thunder.

His cavalry, already poised for battle, charged forward at the command, their thousand-plus men roaring in unison:

"Defeat the enemy! Defeat the enemy!"

The sound wave caused the rain curtain to pause.

Iron hooves trampled the mud, and the glint of blades tore through the night. This long-planned surprise force surged towards the commander's banner like a flood bursting its banks.

a moment ago.

Degerai rode his warhorse beneath the commander's banner. He squinted, observing the battle between the three battle groups through the rain.

The war unfolded exactly as he had predicted.

With the tacit cooperation of the two Blue Banners, the Ming cavalry suffered repeated defeats, and the number of casualties was rising at a visible rate.

"Pass the order."

Degerai spoke to his bodyguard beside him, his voice filled with a confident ease.

"Let the reserve force of the Bordered Blue Banner flank us from the side and make sure the battle is over before dawn."

He roughly estimated the casualty ratio, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

One to five, or even higher!
Such a victory was enough for him to hold his head high in front of Nurhaci.

However, at that moment, a sudden commotion came from behind.

"Defeat the enemy! Defeat the enemy!"

The shouts pierced through the rain, making Deger's heart tighten.

He instinctively reined in his horse and turned around, only to see a troop of red-armored cavalry breaking through the rain like ghosts, galloping toward the location of the commander's flag.

"The Plain Red Banner?"

Dege's pupils contracted sharply, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

How did someone from Daishan end up here?

Deploying troops without orders—are they planning a rebellion?

But when he saw the face of the leading general, he was even more puzzled.

Isn't this Liu Aita, the Khan's beloved general?
Could it be that he rebelled?
"Protect Gushan Ezhen!"

As Degerai was shocked, his personal guards hastily formed a line to protect their commander.

But it was too late.

Liu Xingzuo's cavalry had completed their charge and accelerated, their iron hooves crushing the mud, unstoppable.

Deger instinctively wanted to fight, but years of experience in battle told him that in a cavalry charge, the side that did not accelerate was no different from throwing an egg against a rock.

He yanked the reins sharply, and the warhorse, in pain, turned around.

However, the heavy armor on his body became a fatal burden, and he could not get his horse moving at all.

"Damn it!"

Deger cursed through gritted teeth, cold sweat mingling with rain as it rolled down his forehead.

He looked back and saw Liu Xingzuo's long spear gleaming coldly in the rain, less than ten steps away.

The shadow of death had never loomed so vividly over his heart.

"You thief chieftain, die!"

Liu Xingzuo's roar was like a thunderclap, and the long spear in his hand gleamed coldly, pointing straight at Degelai's back!

He charged forward, slaying several riders in succession. His armor was stained with blood, and his warhorses neighed. He had now closed to within ten feet of Degelai!
Degerai whirled around, meeting Liu Xingzuo's murderous gaze. He was instantly filled with shock and rage: "Liu Aita?! You traitor, you're asking for death!"

He hastily swung his sword to parry, but Liu Xingzuo's long spear was powerful and heavy, crashing down like Mount Tai!

"clang--"

With a clang of metal against metal, Degerai felt a sharp pain in his hand, and his sword was sent flying, tracing a horrific arc in the air before embedding itself deeply in the mud!
In the next instant, the long spear emerged like a venomous dragon from its lair, a flash of cold light!
"Pfft!"

The sharp spear tip pierced through the heavy armor, protruding from Degerai's chest and drawing out a spray of hot blood!

This Gushan Ejen of the Plain Blue Banner, Nurhaci's tenth son, stared wide-eyed at the spear piercing him, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth: "How dare you!"

Liu Xingzu sneered, and with a sudden burst of strength, lifted Degelai off his horse!

Blood fell like rain, staining the muddy ground red.

Dege's body crashed heavily to the ground, splattering blood and mud. His eyes remained open until his death, as if he still couldn't believe that he would die at the hands of the Han general who had once knelt before him!
Liu Xingzuo shook his long spear, flicking away the blood droplets, and took a deep breath.

The air was filled with the smell of blood mixed with rain, but he felt incredibly refreshed, as if he were drinking ice-cold plum juice on a sweltering summer day, feeling a thoroughly enjoyable sensation from head to toe!

"Hahaha!"

He laughed heartily, his laughter filled with joy.

"The Jianzhou nobles? Nothing special!"

However, after a brief moment of exhilaration, Liu Xingzuo quickly regained his composure.

He knew all too well that the real battle had only just begun.

"Shh!"

A flash of cold light, and the flag of the Zhenglan Banner was snapped in two.

Liu Xingzuo bent down and severed Degelai's bloody head, holding it high above his head. He then shouted sternly to his personal guards, "Order the entire army to shout: 'The Ming reinforcements have arrived! Degelai is dead!'"

"Order!"

The guards immediately scattered and relayed the order throughout the army.

In an instant, thousands of soldiers shouted in unison: "The Ming reinforcements have arrived! Degelai is dead!"

The sound was as loud as thunder, completely drowning out the torrential rain.

This powerful cry echoed across the battlefield, each word striking the hearts of the Jurchen cavalry like a heavy hammer.

At the same time, Liu Xingzuo led his five hundred most elite cavalrymen straight into the enemy ranks like a sharp knife.

These cavalrymen were all carefully selected suicide soldiers, and at this moment, the flames of revenge burned in their eyes.

The Jurchen cavalry's formation was originally intended to encircle the Ming army from within, but they were suddenly attacked from behind and immediately fell into chaos.

The cavalrymen in the front row wanted to turn around to meet the enemy, but were blocked by their comrades in the back row; the archers on the flanks hurriedly nocked their arrows, only to find that the enemy cavalry had already charged in front of them.

"kill!"

Liu Xingzuo took the lead, and wherever his long spear passed, Jurchen cavalrymen fell from their horses.

The iron cavalry behind him surged into the enemy ranks like a tidal wave, tearing a huge gap in the originally tight encirclement.

Chaos spread like a plague among the Jurchen army.

Some wanted to resist, some began to flee, and some even threw down their weapons and knelt down to surrender upon hearing the news of their commander's death.

now.

He Shixian, the general of Shenyang, whose left arm was still bleeding profusely after being besieged for a long time, suddenly heard a deafening shout in the distance.

"Reinforcements?"

He Shixian suddenly looked up, the muddy rainwater running down his helmet and into his eyes, but he didn't bother to wipe it away. "General You, listen!"

"The Ming reinforcements have arrived, and Degelai is dead!"

The shout was like a thunderclap, and the Ming army, which was already on the verge of collapse, suddenly erupted into a deafening cheer.

Deputy Commander You Shigong ripped off his tattered cloak and roared, "Brothers! Our reinforcements have arrived! Kill the enemy!"

"Kill the enemy! Kill the enemy!"

The Ming army, facing dire straits, suddenly unleashed astonishing fighting power.

General Chen Ce, the commander-in-chief sent to aid Liaodong, reared up on his horse and raised his long sword: "General Qi, follow me into battle!"

Deputy Commander Qi Jin wiped the blood from his face and laughed loudly, "Just what I wanted!"

With the combined forces from within and without, the Jurchen army was thrown into chaos.

The cavalry of the Bordered Blue Banner were still trying to reorganize their formation when the Ming army charged in like tigers released from their cages.

He Shixian, blinded by rage, single-handedly charged towards the location of the Blue Banner commander's flag.

"General He! We must not advance rashly!"

Yu Shigong shouted anxiously, only to see He Shixian rush into the enemy ranks like an arrow released from a bow.

This veteran general, wielding his spear like a dragon, actually carved a bloody path through the chaotic army.

Upon seeing this, Ejen Niohuru Turge of the Bordered Blue Banner was greatly alarmed and hurriedly summoned his personal guards to protect him.

However, it was too late; He Shixian's warhorse had already charged to the commander's flag.

With a flash of cold light, the banner symbolizing the glory of the Jurchens snapped in two and crashed heavily into the mud.

"May the Great Ming Dynasty be victorious!"

He Shixian's roar echoed across the battlefield.

The battlefield situation changes rapidly.

The banner of the Zhenglan Banner fell with a crash, followed by earth-shattering shouts.

"The Ming reinforcements have arrived, and Degelai is dead!"

The sound grew louder and louder, and thousands of Han soldiers who were surrounded also shouted at the top of their lungs. This thunderous sound shook Jirhalang, the commander of the Bordered Blue Banner.

He reined in his horse and looked around. He could see countless shadowy figures of troops charging towards him through the rain. His heart sank: "Could it be that Xiong Tingbi has really sent out all his troops?"

If it were truly the main force of nearly 100,000 Ming troops pressing forward, with only the two Blue Banners' troops, they would probably have difficulty even escaping unscathed!

"Retreat! The entire army retreats!" Jirhalang ordered decisively.

The urgent sound of the gong was particularly jarring in the rainy night.

The Jianzhou cavalry, which had been so aggressive just moments before, now retreated from the battlefield as quickly as the tide receded.

Horse hooves trampled through the mud, splashing up countless drops of blood-soaked mud.

Covered in blood, He Shixian leaned on his spear, with seven or eight arrows stuck in his body, yet he felt no pain whatsoever.

He gazed at the fleeing Jurchen cavalry, then suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter, a laugh filled with indescribable joy: "Hahaha—"

"Our Great Ming Dynasty has finally won a fair and square victory!"

"I've said it before, the Ming cavalry are not cowards!"

The rain gradually subsided, the dark clouds dispersed, and a waning moon was revealed.

This battle is destined to be recorded in history:
In the first year of the Tianqi reign, the Ming army decisively defeated the two blue banners of the Jurchens in the Battle of Hunhe. Liu Xingzuo killed Nurhaci's tenth son, Gushan Ezhen Aisin Gioro Degelai, in battle!

(End of this chapter)