Huangming

Chapter 364 A War for National Destiny, Dramatic Changes in the World

The wind and snow outside Kaiyuan City showed no signs of stopping.

woohoo~
It sounded like the wailing of ghosts.

In reality, the number of dead in and around Kaiyuan City has reached nearly ten thousand.

It wouldn't be wrong to say that the sound of the wind and snow was the wailing of ghosts.

Nurhaci's camp outside the city.

Inside the central command tent, Nurhaci, draped in a black sable fur coat, half-squatted before an unfurled map of Liaodong, seemingly planning something.

Just then, the tent flap was suddenly flung open, and a gust of cold wind carrying snow rushed in. Jirhalang practically strode in, the snow still clinging to his armor, his face already beaming with barely suppressed joy, even his voice trembling with excitement:
"Great Khan! This is fantastic news! Our scouts have just reported that Ligdan Khan has indeed transferred his most elite guards to the Liao River crossing, saying it's to guard the rear and prevent a sneak attack from the five Inner Khalkha tribes! Great Khan's plan has succeeded!"

Nurhaci paused on the map, slowly raised his head, but his face showed no trace of the joy that Jirgalang had expected. He simply nodded faintly.

His eyes, which had witnessed countless battles, were filled with understanding and tranquility.

Lin Danhan was suspicious and impatient. With his escape route cut off and rumors spreading, his decision to divide his forces to protect himself was exactly what he had expected.

He knew the Chahar Khan's temperament very well.

"understood."

Nurhaci's voice remained calm and steady. His gaze returned to the map, and he asked casually, "What about Chaohua? Is he willing to send troops to attack Ligdan Khan from both sides?"

When Chaohua was mentioned, Jirhalang's joy faded slightly. He stepped forward, bowed, and replied, "Your Majesty, Chaohua Taiji said... the people of the five Inner Khalkha tribes are scattered throughout the grasslands, and it will take some time for them to gather together. They cannot send troops to help for the time being."

"Humph!"

Nurhaci let out a cold snort, his voice filled with anger.

"It's that same delaying tactic again! This old fox clearly wants to sit back and watch the tigers fight, and then help the victor when we and Ligdan Khan are both exhausted."

"But if we don't take sides at this time, then everyone is an enemy!"

"Just wait, I'll take down Lin Danhan first, then I'll deal with Xiong Tingbi. The first person I'll settle accounts with is him, and he'll know what happens when you sit on the fence and wait and see!"

Seeing that Nurhaci was angry, Jirhalang quickly added, "Great Khan, please calm down. Although Chaohua Taiji did not agree to send troops,... one of the five Inner Khalkha tribes is willing to send troops to cooperate with us."

Upon hearing this, Nurhaci raised an eyebrow slightly.

The five tribes of Inner Khalkha were originally a loose alliance. Although Chaohua was nominally the leader, he could not control the Taiji of the other tribes.

The reason these tribes banded together was simply to resist the Chahar tribe's annexation and the Khorchin tribe's expansion. Each tribe had its own agenda, and none of them wanted to completely obey Chaohua's orders.

"Oh? Who is it?"

Nurhaci leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming more urgent, and a glimmer of light finally appeared in his eyes.

"It is Engeder, the Taiji of the Bayot tribe."

Jirgalang quickly replied, "He sent a messenger to say that he is willing to lead his troops to harass Ligdan Khan's right flank and cooperate with the Great Khan in the battle."

"Engedl?"

Nurhaci murmured the name to himself, his eyes gradually softening.

He vaguely remembered the name.

When Huang Taiji plundered Daban City this year, Engeder was sent by Huang Taiji to block the retreat of Chaohua.

On that occasion, Engeder showed his affinity for the Jin Dynasty, so it's not surprising that he has taken the initiative to send troops now.

"It's him……"

Nurhaci finally smiled faintly, and his tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

"This man is quite pragmatic, and the events at Daban City back then prove his trustworthiness. With him harassing us from the flank, Ligdan Khan's attention will definitely be diverted, and the pressure on our frontal attack will be greatly reduced."

“Tell him that Chaohua is stupid, and the five tribes of Inner Khalkha should have a new leader. I think Engeder is very suitable.”

Give Engdel some benefits first, and he'll help you fight.

"The situation is finally getting better."

Nurhaci's eyes continued to gleam.

The division of forces by Ligdan Khan had already turned the tide of the war, and now with the addition of Engeder's assistance, the chances of defeating the Chahar tribe and relieving the siege of Yuan have increased.

"By order of the Khan, Borjin shall lead three thousand cavalry to join forces with Engeder's Bayuet tribe. Three days later, they shall launch a fierce attack on the Liao River crossing under the banners of the five Inner Khalkha tribes, especially the wolf-head banner with the 'Chaohua' design!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the tent, and added, "Make a big fuss, so that Lindan Khan thinks that Chaohua has really defected and will lead his troops to the ferry!"

"Furthermore, send someone to infiltrate Kaiyuan City and tell Mangultai that on the morning of the fourth day, after Ligdan Khan divides his troops to rescue the crossing, he will lead the Plain Blue Banner out of the city, break out from the south gate, and join forces with my Khan's army to attack the Chahar tribe from both sides!"

Nurhaci's voice suddenly rose, his eyes filled with seriousness.

Fushun has been besieged for nearly a month, and Daishan will not be able to hold out for long. Every minute he wasted in Kaiyuan was draining his life force.

"Whoo!"

The generals responded in unison, turned around and quickly left the tent to relay the order. Only Nurhaci remained in the tent, his brows furrowed as he gazed at the direction of Fushun on the map.

Following the defeat in the Battle of Shenyang and the surprise attack on Hetu Ala.

The strength of the Great Jin has weakened considerably.

We must win this battle in Kaiyuan!
And it was a swift victory.

This is a battle that will turn the tide of the nation's destiny!

The three days passed in the blink of an eye amidst the howling wind and snow and the standoff between the two armies.

Ligdan Khan's Chahar camp remained surrounding Kaiyuan, but hesitated to launch a general offensive.

While keeping a close watch on Nurhaci's main reinforcements, he also sent people to keep an eye on the Liao River crossing, and he was restless all day long.

On the morning of the fourth day, just as dawn was breaking.

A scout, covered in snow, rushed into Ligdan Khan's tent, his voice filled with extreme panic:
"Great Khan! Something terrible has happened! The Liaohe River crossing... the Liaohe River crossing is under fierce attack! The enemy is using the banners of the five Inner Khalkha tribes, and even the wolf-head banner of the Chaohua Taiji is on display! General Guiyingqia says that the enemy's offensive is too fierce, with at least ten thousand men, and he can't hold them off any longer!"

"what?!"

Lin Danhan suddenly stood up from the tiger-skin chair. He rushed to the scout, grabbed him by the collar, and looked at him with a fierce expression as if he wanted to devour him.

"Say it again! He's the one who stirs up the flowers? He really helped Nurhaci attack Ben Khan?!"

The scout trembled with fear and nodded repeatedly: "Absolutely true! General Guiying saw it with his own eyes, there's no mistake about that wolf-head flag!"

Lin Danhan shoved the scout aside and staggered backward.

"That despicable fried flower! That two-faced old fox!"

He was so angry that his face turned ashen. He paced back and forth, cursing incessantly.

"I should have known that he would betray Nurhaci sooner or later after accepting his bribes!"

The tribal chiefs inside the royal tent were in an uproar upon hearing the news.

Shakcha Sengge from the Ordos tribe was the first to step forward, his tone tinged with panic:

"Great Khan, Chaohua has defected, and the five Inner Khalkha tribes have become enemies. We are now attacked from both sides, and our situation is extremely dangerous!"

"Yes, Great Khan!"

Subudi of the Kharachin tribe echoed, "If we lose the Liaohe River crossing, our retreat will be cut off, and we'll lose our supplies. If we continue to drag this out, we'll only be attacked from both sides by Nurhaci and Chaohua! If we retreat now, we can at least save most of our troops!"

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!"

More and more leaders echoed this sentiment, and panic instantly gripped the atmosphere in the royal tent. Everyone was focused on how to protect their own tribe, and no one mentioned "defeating Nurhaci" anymore.

"Shut up!"

A clear voice suddenly rang out, and Zhang Liwei quickly stepped forward, bowed to Lin Danhan, and spoke in an urgent yet steady tone.

"Great Khan, you must not retreat! Our army is currently surrounding Kaiyuan, with our forces scattered across the east, west, and north gates. If we order a retreat now, each unit will rush to escape in order to be the first to do so."

Our army was originally a hastily assembled group of tribal herders, and its command center was inherently weak. Once the central command falls into disarray, the entire front will collapse!

"At that time, the tribes that run slowly will be chased and killed by the Jurchen cavalry, while those that run fast will only care about themselves. Even if your Chahar elite troops want to resist, they will be scattered by the fleeing soldiers and will eventually become the dead souls under the Jurchen's sword!"

Zhang Liwei's words were like ice water poured over the heads of the leaders, and the royal tent instantly fell silent.

This person's words are indeed correct.

The Mongol tribes did not have the same tightly organized command structure as the armies of the Central Plains.

Commanders cannot always act as one pleases. Once a retreat order is given, with a formidable enemy at hand, it is very likely that the retreat will not be followed by a rout.

Seeing that everyone had taken his words to heart, Zhang Liwei turned to Lin Danhan and spoke earnestly:

"Great Khan, I believe that the five tribes of the Inner Khalkha may not have all defected. The old fox is cunning and treacherous. Perhaps he only sent a small number of people to cooperate with the Jurchens in making a show of force. The only tribe truly willing to send troops is probably the Bayod tribe of Engder."

"As long as we concentrate our forces and defeat Nurhaci's main force on the front lines, the enemy troops at the Liao River crossing will naturally retreat without reinforcements! Then, victory will be ours!"

Lin Danhan clenched his fists, his mind in turmoil.

Zhang Liwei's words were all reasonable. He also knew the character of the Mongol tribal soldiers, and retreating was tantamount to suicide.

But when he thought of the wolf-head flag with fried flowers and the precarious situation at the Liaohe ferry crossing, he couldn't help but feel panicked.

This decision.

If the right choice is made, perhaps Nurhaci can be defeated and the prestige of the Chahar tribe can be preserved.

If he makes the wrong choice, not only will he lose his identity as the ruler of the grasslands, but he might also lose his life outside Kaiyuan City.

Just as he was still unsettled, a rapid sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from outside the tent, and another scout stumbled in, his voice filled with panic:

"Report! Your Majesty! Nurhaci has led the Jin army to array outside the camp! Judging from the situation, they are about to launch a general offensive!"

"what?!"

These words immediately caused an uproar among the tribal chiefs inside the tent.

Many people turned pale, their hands unconsciously reaching for the curved swords at their waists, but they didn't even have the strength to grip them tightly.

Many people instinctively took a half step back, their eyes filled with fear.

Some unpleasant memories suddenly flooded their minds.

The deterrent effect of Nurhaci's personal campaign was far greater than they had imagined.

"Great Khan, we can't wait any longer! Let's retreat!"

The leader who had previously urged a retreat spoke up again.

"Nurhaci's Eight Banners soldiers are extremely fierce; we can't stop them! If we wait any longer, we really won't be able to escape!"

"Yes! Retreat! Retreat immediately!"

A chorus of agreement rose and fell, and panic spread like a plague within the tent.

Looking at the panicked crowd, Lin Danhan seemed to have been forced to regain some of his rationality by the panic.

How could he not know the nature of these people?

Once the order to retreat is given, the various units will scramble to escape, and there will be no resistance; they will simply be hunted down by the Jurchen cavalry like cutting melons and vegetables. In the ensuing chaos, he might even die in battle.

Thinking of this, Lin Danhan's last hesitation disappeared.

"Shut up!"

Ligdan Khan shouted sternly, "There is no retreat now! Issue the order that all units immediately assemble their troops and follow me into battle to attack Nurhaci's camp! Anyone who dares to retreat in the face of battle will be punished according to military law!"

The tent fell silent instantly. The leaders looked at each other, their eyes filled with hesitation, yet they dared not disobey the Khan's orders.

After all, Lindan Khan still had elite Kheshig troops under his command, and if anyone disobeyed orders, they would lose their heads on the spot.

They could only bow and accept the order reluctantly, then turn and quickly leave the tent. But their steps were not filled with any resolute determination to die, but rather with reluctance.

After everyone left, Zhang Liwei quickly stepped forward to praise them.

"The Khan is wise!"

Seeing Lin Danhan's decision, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

The Khan finally saw the situation clearly and was willing to fight with all his might.

In this way, the Chahar tribe has not yet lost.

But the next second, Zhang Liwei was dumbfounded.

It turned out that Lindan Khan quietly pulled aside the commander of the Kheshig army beside him and whispered the order:
"You will lead your Kheshig troops to hold the rear and hold the line. Don't rush to attack. If the situation at the front turns bad, immediately protect me and retreat. Remember, no matter what, you must save my life!"

Zhang Liwei was standing not far away when these words struck him like a thunderbolt.

He suddenly looked up at Lin Danhan, his eyes filled with shock, as if he were seeing the "Lord of the Grasslands" for the first time.

It turns out that Lindan Khan's so-called "all-out battle" was nothing more than sending tribal soldiers to be cannon fodder, while he had already prepared an escape route for himself!
"Your Majesty! No, you mustn't!"

Zhang Liwei strode forward, his voice trembling slightly.

"The Kheshig army is the most elite force of the Chahar tribe, and we must push forward now! Think about it, those tribal leaders are already suspicious. If they see your Kheshig army hiding in the back and not moving, how can they be expected to fight with all their might? If the front line is defeated, the entire army will collapse!"

Lin Danhan snorted coldly, his face showing disdain and arrogance:
"Press forward? What if we lose? I am of Genghis Khan's golden bloodline, the supreme ruler of the southern steppe. Even if I lose today, as long as I return to the steppe alive, I can still gather my people and remain the ruler of the steppe! But if I die, the Chahar tribe will truly be finished!"

A contemptuous smile curled at the corner of his lips. In his eyes, those tribal soldiers were nothing more than stepping stones for him.

If he wins, he can rely on the Kheshig army to control the battle and reap the rewards of victory.

Even if he loses, he can escape unscathed by relying on the Kheshig army, leaving the tribal soldiers to take the hits.

In his view, this was the safest and most foolproof solution.

Looking at Lin Danhan's matter-of-fact expression, Zhang Liwei's last glimmer of hope was completely shattered.

He opened his mouth, wanting to persuade him further, but the words that came out were just a heavy sigh.

Lin Danhan's selfishness and shortsightedness had already sealed the fate of this decisive battle.

How can a commander who is unwilling to fight with all his might lead his army to victory in this life-or-death battle?

It's hard to imagine that the wisdom of Temujin and the bravery of the Mongols were completely absent in Ligdan Khan.

All he saw in Ligdan Khan was rage, suspicion, cowardice, and fear of death!

No wonder that despite his status as the Khan of the steppe, he was like a rat crossing the street in the southern steppe, with neither the Khorchin tribe nor the five Inner Khalkha tribes willing to submit to him.

How can someone without the aura of a king subdue a pack of wolves on the grasslands?
And at this moment.

On the battlefield.

Nurhaci stood on a high platform behind the Plain Yellow Banner formation, his black iron armor gleaming coldly in the dim light of the remaining snow. His sword pointed diagonally at the ground. Although his figure was slightly hunched due to long-term illness, he still exuded an aura of dominance over the world.

That was the iron-blooded aura accumulated over decades of battles.

The elite Eight Banners troops in front of him had already formed a neat battle formation:

The front row consisted of infantrymen clad in heavy iron armor, their long shields held tightly together, forming a moving iron wall.

The shield wagons advanced side by side, their wheels leaving deep ruts as they rolled over the snow. Behind them, soldiers from the artillery battalion were skillfully loading lead bullets.

The elite cavalry on both flanks maneuvered their horses, their hooves clattering silently in the snow, their eyes gleaming with a murderous intent like unsheathed scimitars.

Each branch of the military performed its duties, and the formation was perfectly aligned, with even their breathing seemingly in unison.

This is a powerful army forged by the elite of the Eight Banners through countless battles, which is incomparable to the hastily assembled tribal troops under Ligdan Khan.

However, upon closer inspection, the formation of the Hal tribe appeared much more scattered.

Those cavalrymen, who came from pastoral backgrounds, were skilled horsemen and archers, but their armor was of inconsistent quality.
Some were only wrapped in leather armor, their bare arms red with cold; some didn't even have helmets, just a piece of sheepskin wrapped around their heads; and some even held rusty scimitars in their hands.

They stared at the Eight Banners formation opposite them, which stood like an iron wall, their eyes filled with fear, and many of their hands were trembling slightly.

Having been cut off by the Jurchen cavalry and terrified by rumors of the Inner Khalkha defecting, they no longer had the courage to charge when facing the elite Eight Banners troops.

"Come on!"

"Kill!"

But with Ligdan Khan's order given, the tribal chiefs had no choice but to draw their scimitars and shout to urge their men to charge.

The cavalry had no choice but to spur their horses and charge towards the Eight Banners formation. Although their battle cries were loud, they were tinged with a sense of panic and bluff.

"kill!"

A fierce glint flashed in Nurhaci's eyes, and he swung his sword forward with a sudden motion.

Before he finished speaking, deafening battle cries erupted from the Eight Banners formation.

"kill!"

"kill!"

"kill!"

The heavily armored infantry in the front row pushed the shield carts and began to advance steadily. The shield carts blocked the arrows shot by the Chahar cavalry, and the clanging sound was incessant.

As the Chahar cavalry approached, the firearms battalion opened fire simultaneously. With a deafening roar, lead bullets rained down on the charging cavalry, instantly causing dozens to fall from their horses, their blood splattering onto the snow and staining it crimson.

The Chahar cavalry suffered heavy losses before they even reached the shield wagons.

A few cavalrymen who managed to break through the firearms blockade were about to swing their swords at the shield wagons when they were pierced by spears protruding from behind the wagons, or were cut down from their horses by the elite Tiger Spear Battalion.

The Eight Banners infantrymen coordinated like a precise machine; every swing of their swords and every thrust of their spears was deadly accurate, without the slightest unnecessary movement.

"This...how do we fight this?"

A leader of the Chahar tribe looked at the horrific scene before him, his face turning deathly pale, and he could barely hold onto his scimitar.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the cavalry behind him began to quietly slow down their horses, their eyes full of retreat.

Just then, the south gate of Kaiyuan City was suddenly pushed open with a loud "bang," and a figure covered in blood rushed out from the dust.

It was Mangultai who had been besieged for many days!

His armor was already soaked in blood, his face was splattered with flesh, and the curved sword in his hand was dulled from slashing, yet he still exuded a madman-like aura.

The remaining forces of the Zhenglan Banner behind them, though only two thousand men remained, charged towards the rear of the Chahar tribe like hungry wolves, howling as they did so.

"It's Mangultai! He's broken through!"

The Chahar cavalry cried out in alarm, and their already wavering morale collapsed completely in an instant.

With the elite Eight Banners troops advancing from the front and Mangultai's madmen pursuing them from behind, they were attacked from both sides and had long since given up the will to resist.

What made them even more desperate was that Ligdan Khan's Kheshig army remained watching from afar, showing no intention of coming forward to provide support.

Upon seeing this, the first thought of the tribal chiefs was to "run".

Even Wang Han's elite troops are unwilling to fight to the death, so why should they risk their lives here?

"Withdraw! Quickly withdraw!"

Someone shouted first, and the Chahar cavalry began to retreat like a tide. Some even dropped their weapons, only caring about urging their horses to escape.

In the chaos, the cavalrymen trampled each other, and many fell off their horses and were instantly crushed into a bloody pulp by the hooves of the horses behind them.

"Chase them! Don't let a single one escape!"

Upon seeing the Chahar tribe's defeat, Nurhaci immediately issued an order.

The Eight Banners Cavalry Battalion charged like arrows, chasing after the fleeing Chahar cavalry. With swift strokes of their swords, men fell one after another in the snow.

The original battlefield has completely turned into a one-sided massacre.

On the snow, more and more bloodstains appeared, staining the thick snow red and freezing into a dark brown ice shell.

The banners of the Chahar tribe fell to the ground, and discarded weapons, armor, and tents were scattered everywhere. There were cries of agony and the sound of horses' hooves all around.

Lin Danhan stood at a distance, watching the rout before him, his face ashen and his body trembling.

We Mongols are so utterly vulnerable in front of Nurhaci's Eight Banners army.
He was afraid.

Just then, the commander of the Kheshig army beside him hurriedly advised, "Great Khan, retreat quickly! If we don't leave now, it will be too late!"

Lin Danhan then came to his senses.

"Withdraw! Quickly withdraw!"

Without bothering to gather his remaining troops, under the protection of the Kheshig army, Ligdan Khan turned his horse around and fled in a sorry state toward the grasslands.

however.

At this moment, Lin Danhan still felt a touch of pride:
Fortunately, I had a backup plan; otherwise, I would have really died in Kaiyuan.

He never imagined that if he had deployed the Chahar tribe's most elite Kheshig and Imperial Guards, fully armored, to the battlefield, the outcome of the battle might have been very different.

But
On the battlefield, there are no "what ifs".

The consequence of Ligdan Khan's defeat was that his tribal cavalry, like headless flies, suffered countless casualties as they were pursued by the Eight Banners cavalry.

Even more people surrendered.

Zhang Liwei stood on a high slope, watching the devastating defeat, his eyes filled with despair.

After this defeat, the Chahar tribe was severely weakened and was no longer able to resist the Jianzhou Jurchens.

What a great hand, I never expected to play it so badly.

Hey ~
Zhang Liwei let out a long sigh.

The prestige of the Chahar steppe Khan has been almost completely destroyed by Ligdan Khan.

The landscape of the grasslands may be completely rewritten by Nurhaci because of this battle.

Zhang Liwei still harbored a last hope:

Next, it remains to be seen whether Xiong Tingbi can withstand Nurhaci.

If not, Liaodong.
Even the grasslands were Nurhaci's domain.

(End of this chapter)