Huangming

Chapter 288: Keep guard and fight cautiously, erect walls to clear the field

Before the morning mist had completely dissipated over Shenyang, the Ming soldiers sentries behind the crenellations of the city wall had already gripped their spears tightly.

As dawn broke in the east, several dark spots appeared on the wasteland north of the city.

Those were Jurchen scouts, roaming in the distance like hungry wolves, the dust kicked up by their hooves appearing and disappearing in the thin mist.

"They're spying again!"

A young sentry cursed under his breath, his hand resting on the musket at his waist.

The old soldier next to him spat into his palm and gripped the knife hilt tightly: "This is the third wave today. It hasn't stopped since the latter half of last night."

The horns on the city wall sounded, and three squads of Ming cavalry filed out from the north gate. Their hooves trampled across the wet drawbridge and they formed a wedge formation on the open ground outside the city.

But the Jurchen scouts only reined in their horses a shot away, some even turning their horses around and deliberately circling in the distance, their silver helmets gleaming in the morning light as if in provocation.

"Son of a bitch!"

The cavalry centurion cursed, but dared not order a pursuit.

Last month, a small team chased after the enemy for ten miles, only to be ambushed and surrounded by the Later Jin cavalry. When they returned, only three empty horses remained.

The Jurchens' scheme to lure the enemy was too ruthless. Now everyone knows that the red line is ten miles from the city, and it must not be crossed.

On the city wall, Xiong Tingbi leaned on the blue bricks of the crenellations, his gaze sweeping across the open field and landing on the faint black dots in the distance, his brows furrowing in worry.

"General, should we send in the cannons to bombard it?" the adjutant beside him asked in a low voice.

Xiong Tingbi slowly shook his head: "A few scouts are not worth wasting gunpowder on."

His voice carried a hint of weariness, but even more so, a sense of helplessness.

"The problem isn't with these few people, it's with the defenses outside the city."

He raised his hand and looked southeast, where there used to be more than a dozen fortresses that formed a defensive network, but now only ruins remain.

More than a month ago, the Jurchens spent a huge amount of money to occupy and destroy these fortresses. Afterwards, they attacked with the Hun River. Although they failed to flood Shenyang, they turned dozens of miles around the city into a vast swamp.

The original deep moat was filled with silt, the official road that could accommodate five horses abreast was washed into a ravine, and even the rammed earth walls of the fortress were soaked and became brittle, collapsing half of them after a rainstorm.

"The floodwaters had only receded for twenty days, but the mud was knee-deep, and trucks carrying materials couldn't get through at all. The craftsmen were shirtless, digging in the mud, and they only managed to repair two watchtowers."

There are not many fortresses remaining outside the city now, and their defensive capabilities can only be described as barely adequate.

As they were talking, the Jurchen scouts in the distance suddenly sped up and charged toward the fortress in the southwest corner.

The Ming soldiers there immediately struck the gong, and the musketeers in the fortress hurriedly formed ranks. However, the scouts rushed to within a hundred paces of the fortress wall and then suddenly turned around, galloping along the outside of the moat. The mud splashed up by their hooves covered the fortress wall, as if mocking the dilapidated defenses.

"These fortresses are now only good for looking out for people."

Xiong Tingbi sighed.

In the past, fortified villages had arrow towers and barbicans, which could withstand a three-day siege by a thousand men. Now, many fortified villages don't even have proper moats. The garrison hides behind the walls, and all they can do is beat gongs when they see the enemy, hoping to delay them for as long as possible.

A breeze blew from the river, carrying a cool mist that ruffled Xiong Tingbi's beard.

He looked at the fortresses that were teetering on the brink of collapse before the Jurchen scouts, then looked down at the solid city walls beneath his feet, and understood.

The real battle will eventually reach the outskirts of Shenyang.

Before this, these dilapidated defenses were their only buffer.

"Pass the order,"

Xiong Tingbi turned to the adjutant and said, "Have each fortress send out more scouts. Once the enemy's main force is spotted, immediately light the beacon fires. Also, urge the Ministry of Works to quickly transport the last batch of timber up. Even if we have to carry it by hand, we must dig the trench outside the north gate!"

"Yes!" The adjutant clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, then turned and hurriedly left.

General Chen Ce, who had been standing behind Xiong Tingbi, turned to look at him, his voice filled with undisguised worry:
"My lord, the Jurchen scouts have been increasingly active these past few days. Yesterday, they even reached the vicinity of the training ground south of the city. In my humble opinion, they are probably about to make their move."

Xiong Tingbi slowly turned around, his white hair at his temples trembling slightly in the wind, but his eyes were surprisingly bright. He glanced at the scattered black dots on the open field outside the city and said calmly, "When soldiers come, we will block them; when water comes, we will dam it. That's all."

“We eat the emperor’s food and receive His Majesty’s rewards, so it is our duty to defend our land and resist the enemy. Besides, the situation is different now than before, and the Jurchens are not invincible.”

Chen Ce's eyebrows twitched, clearly moved by these words.

Xiong Tingbi turned his gaze to the northwest, where Shifang Temple Fortress was located.

"Liu Xingzuo and Qi Jin only encountered the enemy by chance while escorting grain, yet they were able to win such a battle at Shifang Temple Fort, killing more than 1,700 enemies. What does this show? It shows that as long as the tactics are appropriate and the soldiers are willing to fight, these so-called 'Manchu Iron Cavalry' are nothing more than ordinary people who can cut and kill."

Chen Ce agreed with this statement, but some people disagreed.

General He Shixian of Shenyang stood by the crenellation with his arms crossed. The scar on his face twitched, and a barely perceptible hint of resentment flashed in his eyes.

When the Jurchens besieged Daban City and Ligdan Khan sought help, he volunteered to lead cavalry to escort supplies, which would not only relieve Ligdan Khan's siege but also provide an opportunity to fight the Jurchens.

However, Xiong Tingbi rejected his request on the grounds that "the defense of Shenyang is of utmost importance."

Now, all the credit has been taken by Liu Xingzuo and Qi Jin.

He Shixian felt like he had a stone stuck in his throat; he just couldn't swallow this insult.

In terms of cavalry tactics, He Shixian had fought in Liaodong for more than ten years. What kind of tough battles hadn't he fought?

If he were to go to Shifang Temple Fortress, he might not be any worse than those two, and might even be able to capture a few Beile of the Later Jin alive!

Of course, though he was dissatisfied, he dared not show it to Xiong Tingbi.

After all, Xiong Tingbi is now the top leader in Liaodong.

If he wants to make a name for himself, he can't avoid this Liaodong Military Commissioner.

"The General is right! The Jurchens are now like frightened birds; how can they withstand a thunderous blow from our army?"

He Shixian walked slowly over, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

"In my humble opinion, we should concentrate the five thousand cavalry and thirty thousand infantry in the city, and while the Jurchens are still lingering in Fushun, we should charge straight in! With our newly acquired firearms, we are sure to defeat them in one battle, and then take back Fushun, Tieling, and Kaiyuan, and reclaim all the land we have lost over the years!"

The wind on the city wall whipped the flags, making a fluttering sound. He Shixian's voice echoed in the wind, and even the soldiers training in the distance stopped what they were doing and secretly looked over.

"The Jurchens should not be underestimated!"

Xiong Tingbi suddenly turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife, and glared fiercely at He Shixian.

"You dare say the Jurchens are no match for you after winning two battles? Have you forgotten the bloody battle on the banks of the Hun River last month?"

Startled by the angry shout, He Shixian trembled and quickly lowered his head.

Although he was resentful, he dared not meet Xiong Tingbi's gaze again. He knew the temperament of this military governor; once he was truly enraged, he could drag even a general away and beat him with military rods on the spot.

"We did win the battle, but Shifang Temple Fortress relied on its palisades, and Shenyang City relied on its high walls. Which battle wasn't defended by strong cities and powerful cannons?"

"The only time we fought in the field was on the banks of the Hun River, which you all witnessed. When our cavalry charged, they were like eggs hitting a stone wall, scattering instantly. Before our musketeers could even form ranks, they were routed by the Jurchen light cavalry. If Liu Xingzuo hadn't led his personal guards to attack from the flank, would you have made it back?"

The wind on the city wall grew stronger, making people's robes flutter loudly.

Xiong Tingbi's voice carried a hint of heartache: "Even in that so-called 'great victory,' we lost three or four thousand elite troops, while the Jianzhou Jurchens died less than two thousand. With such a loss ratio, do you still dare to say you want to go out and fight in the field?"

He Shixian lowered his head even further.

He certainly remembered that bloody battle; of his three hundred personal guards, less than fifty returned.

"Shenyang is a fortified city with high walls and deep moats, and dozens of cannons are stationed there. This is our strength. If we leave such a strong city undefended and insist on going to the open field to fight the Jurchens with cavalry and archery, we will only be courting our own destruction!"

He suddenly raised his voice, his gaze sweeping over He Shixian with an air of righteous indignation: "If we win, we can certainly recover the lost territory; but what if we lose? Once Shenyang is lost, Liaodong will become a plain with no natural defenses. At that time, not only Fushun and Tieling, but even Liaoyang will probably be shaken! Can you bear this responsibility? Or can I?"

The city walls were completely silent, save for the sound of the wind whipping the flags.

He Shixian's face flushed red and then turned pale, and in the end he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

"His Majesty said something in a secret letter to me that I find very insightful, and I will now share it with you all: We should despise the Jurchens strategically, but take them seriously tactically!"

"Disregard their barbaric nature, but value their tactical and combat capabilities!"

His Majesty's wise words have been spoken.

Those present naturally dared not refute Xiong Tingbi.

To refute Xiong Tingbi is to refute the emperor.

No one complains about having too long a life.

Seeing that He Shixian and the others had settled down, Xiong Tingbi finally felt relieved.

He knew all too well that the current situation in Shenyang was hard-won.

The soldiers standing tall on the city walls were lamenting their unpaid wages just a few months ago; the merchants on the streets who dared to open their shops for business were worried last month that the Jurchens would suddenly attack.

All these changes were certainly boosted by the great victory in Shenyang, but they were also inseparable from the several urgent imperial edicts sent by His Majesty.

Not only did they make up for the three years of back pay, but they also allocated an extra 30,000 bolts of cotton cloth, tens of thousands of bushels of grain, and even gave each of the soldiers guarding the city two catties of dried meat.

"When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they are well-fed and clothed, they know honor and shame."

Xiong Tingbi muttered to himself.

But behind this warmth lies his hidden worry that keeps him awake at night.

The secret letter His Majesty sent said that Shaanxi was suffering from a severe drought and Shandong from floods, and the national treasury was already empty. The military pay for Liaodong was diverted from the imperial treasury, and the impeachment memorials from the censors had piled up into a small mountain in the Office of Transmission.

If His Majesty cannot withstand the pressure and cuts off supplies, the morale that has just been raised will likely dissipate in an instant.

He cannot afford to be complacent for even a moment.

We cannot afford to lose even one battle.

Maintaining stability is the priority.

Thinking of this, Xiong Tingbi immediately said:
"Pass down the order to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the patrol battalion to increase manpower and keep a close watch on the merchants and postmen traveling between the inside and outside of the pass, as well as the old, weak and miscellaneous servants in the military camps. If the Jurchen scouts dare to act arrogantly outside the city, there might be rats hiding inside the city to deliver messages to them."

Chen Ce, who was in charge of this matter, stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, General, the police have already arrested three suspicious peddlers and are interrogating them in jail."

He paused, took a few steps closer, and lowered his voice even further.

"There is something I think we could try. The managers of those Shanxi merchants' branches in the west of the city have been secretly dealing with the Jurchens, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard has been watching them for half a year. Why don't we use them to pass on messages and send some fake defense maps to the Jurchens?"

Xiong Tingbi slowly shook his head.

"No need."

He raised his hand to interrupt Chen Ce.

"The most important thing for Shenyang right now is stability. Those merchants only care about money. They can deceive the Jurchens for us today, but they'll dare to exchange real information for gold tomorrow. We can't afford to gamble."

He recalled the fall of Kaiyuan and Tieling, how those "insiders" who had received money from the Jurchens opened the city gates overnight, and he still felt lingering fear when he thought about it.

"The Jurchens want chaos, but we want to remain as stable as Mount Tai."

"Move all the people within ten miles of the city into the city, leaving no grain, fodder, or livestock behind; dig the moat three feet deeper and line the bottom with caltrops; repair the damaged parts of the city wall with glutinous rice juice mixed with lime, making sure it is impenetrable by arrows and stones."

He counted on his fingers, assigning tasks one by one.

"The musket battalion must take stock of the gunpowder and lead bullets, and prepare twenty rounds for each crenellation; the shield bearers must take turns on duty, and before dawn, the trap pits outside the city must be deepened by half a foot and covered with camouflage; and those 'ten-thousand-enemy' (incendiary bombs) learned from Qi Jiguang's army must be moved into the arrow towers. If the Jurchens dare to climb the city walls, let them taste their own medicine."

Chen Ce silently took notes, then suddenly looked up and asked, "If the Jurchens besiege us without attacking, what will we do if they deplete our supplies?"

Xiong Tingbi's eyes were completely calm.

"We can afford to wait."

His voice carried a hint of certainty.

"We have fortified cities and stored grain."

There was one thing that Chen Ce and the others didn't know, but Xiong Tingbi knew perfectly well.

Furthermore, Mao Wenlong of the Ming Dynasty was also harassing their rear in southern Liaoning.

As long as they hold Shenyang and hold out until Mao Wenlong makes a move in Hetu Ala, the Jurchens will naturally fall into chaos.

During this period.

He can hold back the Jurchen army and focus on defense; that will be enough.

after all
To ignore the impregnable defenses of Shenyang and insist on engaging the Later Jin in open field with mounted archery is utterly foolish.

Hold this place.

They safeguarded the lifeline of Liaodong.

By using the walls of Shenyang to wear down the Jurchen army, and waiting for them to become exhausted and suddenly learn that Hetu Ala is in danger, the Ming army in Shenyang will finally be able to hold their heads high and achieve unparalleled merit!
Xiong Tingbi was patiently waiting for the victory that was just around the corner!

(End of this chapter)