Huangming

Chapter 302 A cornered beast fights on, the city falls in ten days

Yesterday's day-and-night battle was incredibly fierce.

The setting sun cast its slanting rays upon the open fields outside Shenyang, turning the battlefield, littered with corpses, into a chilling dark red. Broken weapons, shattered armor, and fallen warhorses were scattered everywhere.

Even the howling wind carried an unyielding stench of blood, making one want to vomit.

The losses suffered by the Ming army were already staggering.

A rough count revealed that the number of soldiers killed or seriously wounded was close to ten thousand.

This is almost half of the garrison in Shenyang.

The bloodstains on the city wall have not yet dried, and many of those figures who were shouting and charging yesterday have now become cold numbers in the statistics book.

General He Shixian of Shenyang was hit by several arrows, with the one in his shoulder blade so deep that the bone was visible. He had more than a dozen wounds on his body. The military doctors were busy with him all night, but he is still unconscious. It is unknown whether he can survive this ordeal.

Qi Jin, the deputy commander-in-chief who was assisting in Liaoning, was in slightly better condition, but he was still shot in the left arm with an arrow and his right leg was slashed by a saber with a wound about a foot long. Although the bones were not broken, the tendons and ligaments were damaged. The military doctor asserted that without three to five months of recuperation, he would have no chance of returning to the battlefield.

The most regrettable case is that of You Shigong, the deputy commander-in-chief of Shenyang.

In order to break through the Jurchen defenses, this valiant general led 500 elite troops like a sharp knife straight into the enemy camp, forcefully cutting down the Jurchen commander's flag and buying the Ming army a crucial opportunity to reverse the tide of the war.

Unfortunately, he was killed in battle for cutting down the flag and killing the commander.

There was also Lieutenant General Zhou Dunji, who was surrounded by Jurchen cavalry while covering the main force's retreat. He fought to the last moment and ultimately died along with more than twenty of his personal guards.

After this battle, nearly half of the core generals of the Ming army in Shenyang were lost, and the backbone force was almost crippled. To say that it "wounded the bones and muscles" is the most restrained way to put it.

If the defenders suffered such losses, the Jurchens, who were attacking the city, must have suffered even greater losses.

Although there was no exact count, when Xiong Tingbi looked out from the railing, he could clearly see that the fires burning corpses outside the Jurchen camp stretched endlessly, with black smoke billowing straight into the sky, a scale that far exceeded that of the Ming army by several times.

Based on his observations and scout reports over the past few days, he estimated that the Jurchens had suffered losses of over 20,000 men.

Among them were mostly Han soldiers, Mongol auxiliary soldiers, and bondservants who were forcibly conscripted, and even innocent civilians who were driven to fill in the trenches.

Of course, what truly pained the Jurchens was the casualties among the elite Eight Banners troops.

The corpses of white-armored and red-armored soldiers were scattered all over the battlefield. A rough estimate suggests that the loss of their core combat force has exceeded ten thousand.

It should be noted that the total strength of the Jurchen Eight Banners was only over 60,000. Unlike the Ming army, which could continuously replenish its ranks from various places, Jurchen men were scarce. Every Eight Banner soldier was an elite soldier who had been trained in armor since childhood, and it was almost a case of "one less soldier for every one that died".

The loss of nearly one-sixth of their elite troops in the first battle was a devastating blow to the Jurchens, damaging their very foundation.

Those Eight Banners cavalry that used to roam freely across Liaodong will likely find it difficult to regain their former arrogance in the short term after this battle.

but.

At this stage, Xiong Tingbi dares not relax in the slightest.

Because the Jurchens did not give up attacking Shenyang.

Throughout the day, he often stood at the highest point of the city tower, using his telescope to keep a close eye on the Jurchen camp outside the city.

The tents stretched out to both sides at a visible speed, and new flags kept rising from behind the horizon.

That was the Jurchen reinforcements arriving in droves. Yesterday's heavy losses did not deter them; instead, they fueled an even more frenzied fighting spirit.

"It seems the toughest battle is yet to come."

Xiong Tingbi put down his telescope.

He knew the Jurchens' nature all too well; these people were like hungry wolves, becoming more ferocious the more they were wounded, and they would never willingly be defeated under the walls of Shenyang.

The reinforcements at this moment are clearly preparing for an even larger-scale attack. The bloodstains on the city walls, which have not yet dried, are merely the prelude to the next round of fighting.

"Pass on my orders!"

Xiong Tingbi turned to the flag officer behind him and said in a deep voice, "Immediately, the entire city shall be under martial law! All defensive equipment shall be inventoried and stored in the warehouse. Damaged logs and rolling stones shall be repaired overnight. In particular, the ammunition for the breech-loading cannons must be replenished for three days!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping towards the still-smoking gap in the northeast corner.

The city bricks there were cracked like broken teeth, and the exposed rammed earth was scorched black by the artillery fire, like a hideous scar.

"The most important thing is to seal the opening in the northeast corner! Mobilize five hundred laborers and send a battalion of soldiers to guard it. Use glutinous rice and lime mortar to mix bricks and stones, and be sure to build a temporary wall more than ten feet high before tonight!"

That gap was a remnant of yesterday's artillery battle and the most vulnerable point in the entire city's defenses.

Xiong Tingbi knew Huang Taiji's methods all too well. The other side would definitely keep a close eye on this place and attack it relentlessly. If it wasn't repaired in time, it might become the last straw that broke the camel's back in Shenyang.

Besides city defense, the cleanup of the battlefield is equally urgent.

After all, it's summer now, and the weather is hot. If the corpses outside the city aren't dealt with, it could easily lead to an epidemic.

If an epidemic breaks out in Shenyang, the difficulty of defending the city will increase exponentially.

This is something Xiong Tingbi absolutely does not want to see.

Therefore.

Late that night, the drawbridge in Shenyang was slowly lowered, and hundreds of laborers, pushing carts and carrying shovels, carefully made their way to the mountains of corpses and seas of blood outside the city, under the protection of soldiers.

Their task was arduous and brutal: to retrieve scattered arrows, broken weapons, and armor that could still be repaired.

These are the lifeblood of a city's defense; a perfectly intact arrow or a barely usable shield could save a life during the next siege.

The rules for collecting corpses had already been established:
The bodies of officers with more than 100 households were given priority to be carried back to the city, where military judges verified their identities and recorded their battle merits. Once the fighting subsided, they would be enshrined in the Martyrs' Shrine.

The bodies of ordinary soldiers were identified by their comrades, registered, and included in the pension list. They were either taken home by their families for burial or collectively interred in a cemetery outside the city.

Next to each corpse was a small wooden plaque with the name and unit affiliation written on it. The wind blew through the plaques, making a "whooshing" sound, like the whispers of the dead.

As for the Jurchen corpses below the city, they were not so "dignified".

The laborers used iron hooks to drag them to the designated area, stripped them of their armor and weapons, and then piled them up layer by layer, forming several dark mountains of corpses.

Once the pile reached a certain size, kerosene was poured on it and it was set ablaze. The raging fire burned for days on end, and thick smoke carrying a burnt stench soared into the sky, building a nauseating "firewall" outside Shenyang.

This was both to prevent the plague and to serve as a direct deterrent to the Jurchens.

Of course, the cleanup work done by the laborers was not simple either.

The Jurchens on the opposite side were also collecting corpses, and cavalrymen would often suddenly rush out of the dust and fire arrows at the laborers like locusts.

Although the Ming troops on the city walls would immediately provide cover with arrows and cannons, casualties were still inevitable.

Laborers were frequently struck by stray arrows from the Jurchens while cleaning up after the disaster.

Even so, laborers continued to sign up to help collect the bodies.

This was because Xiong Tingbi had issued a death order: for each Ming soldier's corpse recovered, a reward of two taels of silver would be given; for ten Jurchen corpses recovered, an additional reward of one shi of rice would be given. The recovery of armor and arrows also came with considerable rewards.

In times of hunger and cold, such a bounty is enough to embolden even the most timid.

Two taels of silver are enough for a family to eat for several months; a bushel of rice can sustain them through the most difficult winter.

Thus, one could always see laborers hunched over, weaving through piles of corpses. Some, with arrow wounds on their backs, were still dragging their armor, while others braved artillery fire to lift their comrades' bodies onto carts. Fear flickered in their eyes, yet they also revealed a stubborn determination to "risk their lives for survival."

Sometimes people are even willing to die for money.

Inside the city, Xiong Tingbi was using another method to bolster the morale of his troops.

He ordered his men to take out strong liquor and dried meat from the granary and distribute them to the soldiers in each camp. Even the most ordinary soldier could get half a jar of liquor and two pieces of meat.

Meanwhile, military judges carried account books to each camp, verifying the rewards by comparing them with the merit books.

A reward of twenty taels of silver is given for beheading a first-class auxiliary soldier, fifty taels of silver for beheading a first-class flag soldier, and one hundred taels of silver for capturing a flag. Those who are seriously wounded will receive additional compensation, and the families of those who die in battle will receive three years' salary.

When the heavy silver and wine and meat were delivered to the soldiers, their fatigue and pain from the past few days seemed to dissipate.

The wounded soldiers all smiled: "My life wasn't for nothing!"

Many others raised their wine jars and drank them down in one gulp, the wine dripping from their lips, but their fighting spirit was rekindled in their eyes.

Standing atop the city wall, Xiong Tingbi listened to the laughter, cursing, and drinking sounds gradually rising from within the city, and his tightly clenched lips finally relaxed slightly.

These wines, meats, and silver were not just rewards, but also a way to reassure the soldiers.

Let them know that the court remembers their contributions, and that their desperate defense of the city was worthwhile. However, when he raised his binoculars again and looked at the still-expanding camp outside the city, the solemnity in his eyes deepened.

This level of morale is far from enough.

The real battle has only just begun.

now.

The Jurchen camp outside the city.

Inside the central army camp.

Huang Taiji knelt on the carpet, removed his blood-stained armor, revealing a hideous wound on his back.

That was left by a stray arrow during yesterday's charge; the skin and flesh were turned inside out, the blood was dark, and the edges had turned black.

The military doctor knelt behind him, holding a cotton cloth soaked in strong liquor, carefully cleaning the wound. Each wipe caused Huang Taiji to clench his teeth and sweat bead on his forehead, but he never uttered a sound.

“Your Highness, there seems to be something etched on the arrowhead. The wound needs to be cleaned every day, or it may fester.”

The military doctor's voice carried a hint of fear, and his movements became even gentler.

He knew the Fourth Prince's temperament; if his injuries weren't healed, his own head might be in danger.

Huang Taiji did not respond, but stared at the secondary banner fluttering outside the tent, his eyes dark and unreadable.

The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in his heart.

Compared to the wounds on their backs, the devastating losses suffered by the Plain White Banner and the Bordered White Banner were the truly heart-wrenching blows.

Yesterday's defeat left the two white flags as the hardest-hit areas.

In particular, the Plain White Banner, which he personally led, was almost completely crippled in terms of its organization.

According to the Eight Banners system, a full-strength Niru should have 300 men, but now, after counting, most Niru have only a little over 100 men left, and the worst ones have only 50 or 60 men left. They can't even gather enough armored soldiers to form a complete armory.

Those white-armored soldiers who had followed him through thick and thin lost nearly 70% of their number yesterday while covering the retreat of the fleeing troops. Most of the broken armor piled up on the open ground outside the tent came from the Plain White Banner.

"How's the inventory going on the White Banner side?" Huang Taiji suddenly asked.

Upon hearing the commotion, the guards outside the tent entered, bowing their heads and not daring to look him in the eye: "Reporting to Your Highness, the Bordered White Banner... the Bordered White Banner has also suffered nearly 50% losses."

Huang Taiji clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles cracking.

He knew all too well what this meant.

The two White Banners were already among the stronger of the Eight Banners, but after this battle, they have suffered heavy losses.

Let alone continuing the siege, even the guard camp seems to be stretched thin.

What's worse is that the Niru is the foundation of the Eight Banners. Every able-bodied man who dies is one less, and it will take at least three to five years to replenish them. But in the current war situation, there is no time for him to catch his breath.

"Tie up all those scattered Niru Ejen."

Huang Taiji's voice was as cold as ice.

"If it is found that he deserted in the face of battle, he shall be executed on the spot; if he was defeated in battle, he shall be demoted to a soldier and made amends for his crimes."

He paused, then said, "Select some strong men from the Han Banner and add them to the two White Banners' regiments. Tell them that as long as they dare to fight, they can join the banners in the future, and their descendants will be able to inherit land."

Upon hearing this, even the military doctor couldn't help but look up at him.

The inclusion of Han Chinese bannermen into the Eight Banners was something that would have been unthinkable in the past.

But Huang Taiji couldn't care less about these rules at this moment. He needed people, people who could wield a knife, even if they were Han Chinese, as long as they were willing to risk their lives for him, he was willing to use them.

Just as Huang Taiji was pondering how to capture Shenyang.

Daishan and Mangultai entered side by side, followed by Huerhan.

Huang Taiji suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Darhan Khaldun Erhan, and my two elder brothers, what important matter brings you here at this time?"

Daishan snorted coldly, his eyes, as large as copper bells, filled with rage. He pointed at Huang Taiji's nose and shouted, "Huang Taiji! How dare you ask? Because of your poor command, more than half of my Eight Banners elite troops have been lost, and even the Great Banner was almost taken away by the Ming dogs! Do you know your crime?"

Mangultai chimed in sarcastically, his scar on his face contorted with rage: "Exactly! If Father Khan had been in charge, how could things have come to this? In my opinion, you are utterly unfit to be the vanguard commander!"

The two exchanged words, instantly creating a tense atmosphere inside the tent.

Huang Taiji clenched his fists. He knew that these two men had always coveted the Khan's throne, and today's defeat was the perfect opportunity for them to launch an attack.

"You two princes, please say less."

Hu Erhan suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying a hint of authority.

As Nurhaci's most trusted adopted son, although he was not a member of the imperial clan, his outstanding military achievements made him a figure in the army whose status was in no way inferior to those of the princes.

Upon hearing this, Daishan and Mangultai indeed shut their mouths, though their faces still showed resentment.

Hu Erhan took out a plain silk cloth from his bosom, and the moment he unfolded it, the bright red seal of "Treasure of the Mandate of Heaven" was clearly visible.

Upon seeing this, Huang Taiji's heart sank, and he knelt down with a thud, pressing his forehead tightly against the felt blanket.

Daishan and Mangultai exchanged a glance, and without daring to be negligent, they knelt down as well.

Only the flickering candlelight remained inside the tent.

Hu Erhan cleared his throat and read in a steady tone:
Khan's Edict:
I started my army with thirteen suits of armor and fought hundreds of battles, large and small, over many years. I have never seen you attack a city with such stupidity as a mule!
Although Shenyang was a fortified city, it still resulted in the loss of over ten thousand of my Eight Banner soldiers, and even the main banner was almost burned down by the Ming dogs. It was a complete disgrace to my Great Jin!

"There are still ten days left until the one-month deadline. If there is no progress within ten days, or if we suffer such heavy losses again, I, the Khan, will personally lead the expedition! At that time, you will all be subject to military law!"

As the last word fell, the tent fell into a deathly silence.

Huang Taiji's back was soaked with cold sweat, and his father's angry rebuke lashed at his heart like a whip.

"Stupid as a deer"—what a severe rebuke!

He accepted the imperial edict with both hands; the ink on the plain silk seemed to carry a scalding temperature, making his fingertips tremble.

His brows furrowed tightly. Taking Shenyang, which Xiong Tingbi had defended so fiercely, in ten days was an impossible task.

But at the same time, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the Khan's edict was severe, it did not strip him of his command authority, which meant that his father was still giving him a chance.

If we can capture the city within ten days, today's losses, Daishan's accusations, and Mangultai's mockery can all be wiped clean.

only……

Huang Taiji looked up at the outside of the tent, where the faint cries of wounded soldiers could be heard in the darkness.

Ten days……

He gripped the imperial edict tightly.

The time I have left for myself is really too short.

This is an impossible task.

PS:

I didn't expect the previous chapter to cause such a big controversy.

Here, the author would like to clarify:
The main groups fleeing were those from the Plain White Banner and the Bordered White Banner.

The soldiers of the two red banners and two blue banners surrounded their respective banner leaders, but because the plain white banner had collapsed, their flanks were exposed, and they had to retreat.

Although it was chaotic, it hadn't reached the point of a complete rout.

In other words, as long as the collapse of the two white flags is stopped, there is still a chance to turn the tide.

As for Huang Taiji's attempt to salvage the situation, the author mainly wanted to create a stronger villain to highlight Huang Taiji's bravery. However, this may have backfired.

There are indeed some issues with the rationality; the author will try to be more rigorous next time.

(End of this chapter)