Huangming

Chapter 281 Snooping for Supplies, Seeking Victory Amidst Danger

Night fell like a giant black cloth, suddenly covering the grassland.

At Huang Taiji's and Daishan's command, the troops of the Plain White and Plain Red Banners, like two lurking giant pythons, silently broke camp and set off.

Horseshoes were wrapped in cotton cloth, wheels were greased, and tens of thousands of troops advanced under the moonlight, leaving only the rustling sound of grass being crushed.

Daishan reined in his horse, his nose seemingly already catching the aroma of the Han people's goods.

The smoothness of the silks, the richness of the grains, and the pungent sulfur smell of the gunpowder all made his heart itch.

He turned his head to look at Huang Taiji beside him and chuckled in a low voice, "After we intercept the supplies, those cartloads of Shu brocade will be mine. My little princess has been nagging me for a good piece of fabric."

Before Huang Taiji could answer, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from behind him.

A scout galloped up, knelt down between the two horses, and said in a somewhat panicked voice, "Reporting to Your Highness! The Han army... the Han army hasn't entered the grasslands; they've set up camp by the Great Wall!"

"what?"

Huang Taiji suddenly reined in his horse, the reins instantly becoming taut. He almost thought he had misheard.

"Say it again!"

"The Han army has set up camp at Shifang Temple Fortress at the foot of the Great Wall."

The scout lowered his head even further, his voice trembling.

"They've set up camp around the wagons and dug trenches along the walls. It looks like... it looks like they have no intention of ever entering the grasslands!"

Huang Taiji was stunned, and his hand gripping the riding whip tightened suddenly.

The moonlight shone on his face, revealing the astonishment and anger in his eyes.

Daishan was so angry that he cursed out, "Damn it! Are these Han people like tortoises?"

He slapped the horse's back hard, and the warhorse pawed at the ground in pain.

"Last time in Shenyang, they stayed inside the city and wouldn't come out; this time, we finally got to see them, but they're just hiding by the Great Wall and not moving?"

Huang Taiji gazed at the faint outline of the Great Wall in the distance. That giant wall, stretching between the grasslands and the Central Plains, now resembled a cold, venomous snake, blocking their path.

The passes along the Great Wall were strategically important, allowing the Han army to set up camps along the walls, enabling them to attack or defend as needed, thus negating the advantages of cavalry.

They can't exactly ride their horses and ram into the city walls, can they?

"Field combat?"

Huang Taiji gave a bitter laugh, his voice filled with resentment.

"They don't even give us a chance to fight in the field!"

He knew all too well what the Ming army was planning.

With the Great Wall providing cover, they could both tie down the enemy's forces and avoid direct confrontation with the Eight Banners cavalry, practically embodying the principle of "waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out."

Dai Shan's face flushed red. He stared in the direction of the Great Wall, his teeth grinding together: "What are we going to do? Just watch them deliver the supplies into Daban City?"

Huang Taiji ignored Daishan's words, twirled his riding crop halfway in his palm, cast his gaze into the depths of the grassland, and asked in a deep voice, "What's the situation with Ligdan Khan?"

The scout quickly replied: "Lindan Khan sent Dorji Darhan to the Great Wall to receive supplies, and also ordered Garma Jinong and Donikuluk to lead their troops to guard the perimeter. However, his most elite Ahalahu (bodyguards) have not moved yet and are still encamped near Daban City."

"Hasn't Aharaq moved?"

Huang Taiji's horse pawed at the grass twice before suddenly pulling on the reins and stopping.

He knew Ligdan Khan's background all too well.

Despite its large and powerful population, the Chahar tribe was actually more like a loose alliance.

Most of the troops were private soldiers under the various chieftains, who obeyed orders but not proclamations. Only the Ahalahu was a guard army personally trained by Ligdan Khan. It consisted entirely of elite armored cavalry, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and was the true spearhead of the Chahar tribe.

The fact that this team didn't move shows that Lin Danhan also had his own plans.

Huang Taiji's mind flashed through the power map of the Chahar tribe: in addition to the Chahar main force, Ligdan Khan could also mobilize the left wing Khalkha coalition army—the few thousand cavalrymen under his uncle Chaohua Taiji, who were considered loyal.

A few years ago, after being captured by the Jin dynasty, Zaisai, the Borjigin chieftain of the Khalkha tribe, returned to his homeland and also had some troops under his command.

But many more forces have long since become centrifugal forces.

The five Khalkha tribes nominally submitted to Ligdan Khan back then, but ever since the rise of the Jianzhou Jurchens in Liaodong, who seized many of their pastures and trade routes, most of these five tribes had been secretly flirting with the Jianzhou Jurchens for a long time. Last year, they even helped the Jianzhou Jurchens launch a surprise attack on Ligdan Khan's right flank pastureland.

Not to mention the Khorchin tribe, which used to be on friendly terms with the Chahar tribe, but after Nurhaci won them over, they turned against Ligdan Khan. Two years ago, they even helped the Jianzhou Jurchens win a battle against the Chahar.

These tribes claim to "support" Ligdan Khan, but in reality, it's merely a temporary allegiance based on mutual benefit. When faced with a life-or-death situation, they'll switch sides faster than flipping a book.

“Ahalaqu didn’t move, but sent Dorjidarhan to receive the supplies…”

Huang Taiji muttered to himself, his brows furrowed.

He suddenly turned to look at Dai Shan, and in the moonlight, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Second brother, don't you think it's strange?"

Daishan paused for a moment, then said nonchalantly, "What's so strange about it? Lindan Khan has always been suspicious; it's normal for him to keep his elite troops for self-preservation."

"unusual."

Huang Taiji shook his head and pointed his whip in the direction of the Great Wall.

"The Han army is stationed at Shifang Temple Fort and won't come in, while Ligdan Khan's elite troops are guarding Daban City and won't go out. Instead, they're sending some miscellaneous soldiers to collect supplies—this seems more like... more like they're doing this on purpose to show us."

"The chieftains under Ligdan Khan each have their own agendas. Half of the five Khalkha tribes are our people, and the Khorchin tribe is eager for him to die. If the Ming army were really going to join forces with him, they should have had Aharahu protect the supplies. Why would they expose their weakness?"

The night wind swirled grass clippings that pattered against the armor plates, making a soft, rustling sound.

Huang Taiji's gaze swept across the distant grassland, as if it could pierce through the night and see the glint of swords hidden behind the tents.

"Could this be a conspiracy between the Ming army and Ligdan Khan?" "They deliberately make us think they are lax in their defenses, luring us to plunder supplies. Then, Ligdan Khan's Ahalahu suddenly attacks from the flank, along with those seemingly loosely organized tribal troops, creating a pincer attack. Even if the Eight Banners cavalry wins, they will be badly injured."

"That Lindan Khan is so crude and reckless, how could he come up with such a dirty trick?"

Dai Shan curled his lip, clearly unconvinced.

In his eyes, Ligdan Khan was nothing but an ambitious but cunning fool who had fallen into traps several times when he was impatient during the war with the Ming army. How could he have such a scheming mind?
Huang Taiji, however, looked grave and shook his head, saying, "Brother, we must not be careless. Ligdan Khan is determined to inherit Dayan Khan's hegemony. Over the years, he has been conquering east and west, and his influence among the Mongol tribes is considerable. Although he has not completely unified the Mongol tribes, he is no ordinary person. If he really didn't have some skills, how would he dare to challenge our Great Jin?"

Dai Shan merely snorted coldly upon hearing this, clearly not taking it to heart.

Having dealt with Mongols extensively throughout his life, he always felt that these nomadic tribes relied on nothing more than a good horse and a sharp knife when they fought each other; they had no deep strategic thinking whatsoever.
Knowing he couldn't persuade his elder brother, Huang Taiji turned to his trusted confidant, who was in charge of liaising with the five Khalkha tribes, and asked, "Has there been any news from Engeder, the leader of the Bayuet tribe, recently?"

Engeder was the first leader among the five tribes of the Inner Khalkha to surrender to Jianzhou. As early as the 33rd year of the Wanli reign, he led his people to pay homage to Nurhaci. Later, he married the daughter of Beile Shurhaci and became the son-in-law of Jianzhou. He was always loyal to Jianzhou.

Having him keep an eye on the movements of the Khalkha tribes is more effective than sending out any number of scouts.

The confidant quickly pulled out a letter sealed with sealing wax from his pocket and presented it with both hands: "Your Highness, Engedertaiji's letter has just arrived."

Huang Taiji took the letter, tore open the envelope, quickly glanced through it, his brows gradually relaxed, and then handed the letter to Daishan: "Second brother, take a look at this."

When Dai Shan saw that Huang Taiji had read the letter before giving it to him, a look of displeasure immediately appeared on his face.

He is the elder brother, so according to the rules, he should be the one to see it first.

But curiosity overcame his dissatisfaction at that moment. He grabbed the letter, glanced at it briefly, and his previously tense face instantly broke into a smile, his voice even rising a few decibels: "Good! Good news! That old bastard Chaohua is actually not planning to support Lin Danhan!"

The letter clearly states that Ligdan Khan's uncle, the leader of the left-wing Khalkha coalition army, has recently been delaying sending troops to support Daban City under the pretext of "the people's lack of food." He has even contacted Engeder in private, saying that "Ligdan Khan is stubborn and self-willed, and it is unlikely that he will succeed."

"I'll just say it."

Daishan slapped the letter onto the saddle, grinning and revealing his yellow teeth.

"Those Khalkha people have always been opportunists! Chaohua has been fighting alongside Lindan Khan for so long, he's long been tired of it, why would he really risk his life for him?"

Huang Taiji also breathed a sigh of relief, lightly tapping the letter with his fingertip: "With Chaohua retreating, Lindan Khan's left flank is now empty. Without the help of the Khalkha coalition, even if his own Ahalahu wanted to set up an ambush, he wouldn't be able to cause any significant trouble."

He turned to look at Daishan, his eyes filled with certainty: "It seems that the alliance between the Ming army and Ligdan Khan is not monolithic. Chaohua's retreat has actually done us a great favor."

Daishan could no longer contain himself. He spurred his horse, and the warhorse spun around on the spot: "Since that's the case, what are we waiting for? The Han army's supplies are right by the Great Wall, and Ligdan Khan has lost support. If we charge over now, we can definitely seize those grains and gunpowder!"

Huang Taiji remained motionless, his gaze once again fixed on the depths of the grassland: "Wait a little longer."

"What are you waiting for?"

Daishan was anxious.

"If we wait any longer, all the supplies will be taken away by Lin Danhan!"

"Let Engeder investigate the details of the flower-frying business further."

Huang Taiji said in a deep voice, "I always feel that it's a bit too coincidental that Chao Hua suddenly turned against us. What if this is a false rumor deliberately released by Lin Dan Khan to lure us in?"

Dai Shan scoffed dismissively: "Chao Hua and Lin Danhan have long been at odds, so what's so strange about him turning against them? I think you're overthinking it!"

"But Zaisai hasn't said anything about not sending troops yet."

Huang Taiji's fingers gently caressed the carvings on the saddle, his eyes still holding a hint of doubt.

"If that fellow suddenly turns against us now, our flanks will be in danger."

Daishan, unable to contain himself any longer, slapped his thigh, making the copper bells on the saddle jingle: "At this point, what do we care about Zaisai! Father Khan only gave us three days left. If we keep dragging this out, forget about seizing supplies, we might not even be able to touch the edge of Daban City!"

He dismounted and paced restlessly on the grass, the iron plates of his armor scraping against each other with a grating sound.

“We’ve besieged Daban City for half a month, and the brothers’ mare’s milk is almost gone. We haven’t made any money. If Father Khan holds us accountable, neither of us can bear the consequences!”

He pointed towards the Great Wall, his voice hoarse with urgency: "The scouts just now reported clearly that the Han army is stationed at Shifang Temple Fortress. The camp has just been set up, so their defenses must be lax. On Ligdan Khan's side, Chaohua has withdrawn his support, so they are currently weak. We will launch our attack at midnight tonight, coordinating from both inside and outside. The people we have already planted in Daban City will open the west gate. We will rush in first to disrupt the Chahar tribe's formation, and then send troops to seize the Han army's supplies. We will kill two birds with one stone!"

Huang Taiji remained silent.

He knew that Daishan was right. His father, the Khan, had always had a fiery temper. If they failed to achieve their goals by the deadline, they would be reprimanded at best, and stripped of their titles at worst. None of them could afford to suffer such a fate.

Moreover, Shenyang is waiting for them to attack; delaying will only give the Ming army more time to prepare.

"Send a message to Mangultai and Amin, telling them to be ready to provide support at any time and to guard against the movements of the Han army, Chaohua, and Zaisai."

Huang Taiji finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of determination.

"Let the Bayot tribe of Engder block Chaohua's retreat, lest that old fox change his mind at the last minute."

He took a deep breath; the night wind on the grassland was chilly, but it made his mind even clearer: "Second Brother is right, we can't afford to waste any more time."

He tightened the reins, and the warhorse pawed restlessly.

"When it's time to take a risky approach, you have to take a risky approach."

Huang Taiji's gaze sharpened like a knife: "Send the order down: cook at midnight, and send out troops at four. Tell the brothers that thirty percent of the supplies we seize tonight will go to them!"

"it is good!"

Dai Shan's eyes lit up, and the anxiety on his face vanished, replaced by an excited glow.

"It should have been done a long time ago!"

"I'll make the arrangements right away and make sure Ligdan Khan and those Han soldiers taste the might of our Eight Banners cavalry!"

Watching Daishan's decisive figure disappear into the distance, Huang Taiji's fingers were still trembling slightly.

This move was indeed risky, but in this chaotic world, without taking risks, how can one expect to win?

ps:
The five parts of the Khalkha are shown in the image below.

(End of this chapter)