Huangming

Chapter 366 Difficult Choice Among Three Strategies, Barbarian Tingbi (Bonus Chapter for 1600 Monthly Tickets!)
Outside Fushun city.

The Ming army and Daishan in the city were locked in a stalemate for a long time.

Morale in the city is increasingly low.

Desertion is a frequent occurrence.

Just at this time.

A sudden, chaotic sound of horses' hooves broke the tranquility of the camp.

The sentry immediately raised his horn, only to see a group of defeated soldiers galloping across the snow in the distance. They were ragged, some had lost their weapons, and some even had their helmets askew. Their mounts were panting heavily, and the snow kicked up by their hooves was mixed with dark red bloodstains.

"Stop them!"

The camp gate commander shouted sternly, and several axemen immediately stepped forward and surrounded the group of fleeing soldiers.

Upon seeing the Ming army's armor, the routed soldiers not only did not resist, but instead knelt down with a thud, some even collapsing onto the snow, their voices hoarse with sobs:

"We've lost! We've lost! The Khan's army has been scattered by Nurhaci!"

"what?"

Man Gui, who came to intercept them, changed his expression drastically upon hearing this.

Wasn't Ligdan Khan helping the Ming Dynasty to contain the main force of the Jurchens in Kaiyuan?
They were defeated in just a few days.

Knowing that this news was extraordinary, he immediately sent someone to the central command tent to inform Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong military commissioner.

now.

Xiong Tingbi was working on a siege strategy on the sand table when he heard his personal guard's report. He looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief:
"What did you say? Lin Dan lost?"

"Yes!"

The guard bowed and replied, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Thousands of Chahar soldiers rushed to the city, saying that Nurhaci personally led a large army out of Hetu Ala and defeated Ligdan Khan in just a few days. The Jurchens seized all the Chahar tribe's cattle, sheep, and supplies. Now Ligdan Khan is fleeing to the grasslands with his remaining troops!"

Xiong Tingbi's fingers trembled slightly.

Ligdan Khan had more than 20,000 elite troops under his command. Even if Nurhaci had personally led the expedition, it should have been a stalemate for some time. How could he have been defeated so quickly?

Even now, he still can't believe the news.

"Bring two defeated soldiers over here!"

Xiong Tingbi gave the order in a deep voice.

Soon, two wounded Chahar soldiers were brought over. They knelt trembling in the snow, recounting the events of the Battle of Kaiyuan in broken sentences:

Nurhaci used a feint to trick Ligdan Khan into dividing his forces, causing Engeder to defect and launch a pincer attack. Ligdan Khan's Kheshig army remained inactive, and the tribal troops collapsed at the first contact...

As he listened to the defeated soldiers' accounts, Xiong Tingbi's face gradually darkened until finally, he had no choice but to accept the truth.

The Khan of Ligdan, whom he had placed high hopes on and who was meant to restrain the Jurchens, had actually been defeated, and defeated so miserably and so easily defeated.

"Ah……"

Xiong Tingbi suddenly let out a bitter laugh, his voice full of helplessness.

His previous steppe strategy had already planned out the aftermath of the Jurchen's defeat:

By supporting the Khorchin tribe to counterbalance Ligdan Khan and allowing the Mongol tribes to check and balance each other, the Ming army could reap the benefits.

But now it seems that Lin Danhan is simply an incompetent ruler!

With 20,000 elite troops at their disposal, they couldn't even maintain basic morale, showing fear before the battle even began, and they kept their elite troops as a retreat route. Such an ally is simply a bad hand to be dealt.

The situation has developed to this point, which is extremely unfavorable for them.

We must come up with a solution!

A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he immediately shouted to his personal guards:

"Issue the General's order to summon all officers of the rank of Lieutenant General and above to the main camp for a meeting immediately!"

Not long after.

As the generals arrived one after another, the atmosphere inside the tent instantly became tense.

Anxiety was written all over everyone's face.

News of the Chahar army's defeat had already spread. They all knew that with Ligdan Khan's defeat, Nurhaci, without the constraint of the northern front, would surely lead his army south to reinforce Fushun. At that time, the Ming army would be attacked from both sides, and the original siege would instantly turn into a life-or-death battle.

Xiong Tingbi walked to the sand table, pointed to the route between Fushun and Kaiyuan, and said in a heavy tone:
"Gentlemen, the news of Ligdan Khan's defeat has been confirmed. Nurhaci has eliminated the threat on the northern front and will surely lead the elite troops of the Plain Yellow Banner and Bordered Blue Banner south to support Daishan in Fushun City in a short time."

The current situation is far more perilous than we anticipated. We not only must continue to besiege Daišan, but we must also guard against Nurhaci's reinforcements. The slightest misstep could lead to a complete and utter defeat!

At this moment, Man Gui couldn't help but speak up: "General, although our current troop strength is comparable to that of the Jurchens, Nurhaci has just won a battle and his morale is high. If they attack us from both inside and outside, I'm afraid we might..."

"Afraid of what?"

Xiong Tingbi interrupted him, his sharp gaze sweeping over the generals.

"If we are defeated, the Jurchens will seize the opportunity to counterattack, and Shenyang and Liaoyang will be exposed to the iron hooves of the Eight Banners! If Liaodong is lost, we will be the sinners of the Ming Dynasty!"

These words weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

"The Grand Marshal".

Tong Zhongkui broke the silence first, rubbing his frozen hands, his brows furrowed.

"In my humble opinion, the best course of action right now is to immediately withdraw to Shenyang!"

"Lindan Khan has been defeated, and Nurhaci, without the northern front to restrain him, will soon march south. Our army will be attacked from both sides and will likely suffer heavy losses. Retreating to defend Shenyang is the safest course of action, at least we can preserve our base in Liaodong."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ma Shilong, the military commander of the Beijing Garrison, was somewhat unconvinced.

"Commander Tong is wrong! Nurhaci just fought a fierce battle in Kaiyuan. Although he won, his troops were exhausted after the battle!"
We've been resting and recuperating in Fushun for half a month, waiting for the opportune moment. Why can't we fight him? Just because that incompetent Lin Dan Khan lost, are we afraid?"

Ma Shilong was already fiercely independent, and at this moment he was even more determined to fight. His eyes were wide open as he spoke, full of a defiant spirit.

Man Gui, standing to the side, nodded slowly, though he was more composed than Ma Shilong.

“General Ma is right. We are not without a chance of winning this battle, but we must choose the right place for the decisive battle.”

The Chahar soldiers who had just fled said that the reason why Ligdan Khan was defeated so quickly was largely because he was attacked from both inside and outside by Nurhaci and Mangultai.

"If we remain waiting outside Fushun, and Nurhaci arrives, and Daišan breaks out of the city again, we will suffer the same fate as Ligdan Khan."

The tent was immediately divided into two factions: some agreed with Tong Zhongkui, thinking that withdrawing the troops was the right thing to do; others supported Ma Shilong and Man Gui, believing that they should take the opportunity to fight.

The argument grew louder and louder, and even the guards outside the tent could faintly hear it.

Only Xiong Tingbi remained silent.

He sat upright in the main seat, holding a piece of warm jade in his hand. His gaze was fixed on Fushun City on the sand table, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he were weighing something.

Instead of interrupting the argument, he listened carefully to everyone's opinions.

As the head coach, Xiong Tingbi was well aware of the situation.

In times of crisis, it is all the more important to pool our wisdom and ideas in order to make the most comprehensive decisions.

Only when the argument inside the tent gradually subsided and everyone's attention was focused on him did Xiong Tingbi slowly raise his hand.

The tent fell silent instantly.

"Withdrawing would certainly be safer."

Xiong Tingbi's voice was steady, yet carried considerable weight.

"But have you all considered how much grain and fodder we've expended in sending troops from Liaoyang and Shenyang to this place?"
The military funds allocated by the imperial court are the blood and sweat of the people; His Majesty's trust is a guarantee of the safety of Liaodong.

If we return empty-handed, how can we explain this to the imperial court? How can we explain this to the people of Liaodong?

He paused, his tone becoming more serious.

"Although His Majesty once said that 'money and grain are not a problem,' how can we, as his subjects, squander them at will? If we withdraw this time, what will the officials in the court say? They will surely impeach us for 'cowardice and fear of the enemy' and 'wasting the people's money and resources.'"

"At that time, even if His Majesty wanted to protect us, he would have to withstand pressure from the entire court. This is not what I, Xiong Tingbi, want to see, nor is it what any of you want to see."

These words struck a chord with everyone.

In the Ming Dynasty, the pens of censors were sharper than knives. If one earned a reputation for being "afraid of the enemy," it was hard to say whether one could even save one's life, let alone get promoted.

Tong Zhongkui's expression changed slightly, and he no longer mentioned withdrawing his troops.

"Moreover, what General Ma and General Man said is correct; we are not without a chance of winning this battle."

"Although Nurhaci's men had won a battle and were in high spirits, they had just experienced a major battle, and the soldiers' physical strength and the horses' energy had not yet recovered."

In contrast, we rested for half a month outside Fushun, allowing our soldiers to recuperate and replenish their equipment.

More importantly, after the great victory in Shenyang, our Ming army is no longer the army that feared the Jurchens like tigers. We have the confidence to fight the Jurchens, and even more so, the assurance of victory!

Yes! Why be so afraid of Nurhaci?
Are we really outmatched?

The generals who had initially agreed to withdraw their troops also raised their heads, their eyes revealing a fighting spirit.

They recalled how the Ming army defeated the Jurchens with firearms and battle formations during the Battle of Shenyang, and the scenes of the people lining the streets to welcome them after the battle and the emperor distributing rewards. Their hesitation was gradually replaced by determination.

Tong Zhongkui stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Xiong Tingbi, and spoke sincerely:

"My lord, you are wise. I was only thinking of playing it safe and forgot about this relationship. Now that you have decided to fight, I am willing to await your command!"

"We are willing to be at your service!"

The other generals all cupped their hands in greeting and echoed in unison.

The previous disagreements vanished, and everyone's gaze became resolute.

Now that the general direction has been set, no matter how many different opinions there were before, we must unite as one and go all out.

As Xiong Tingbi watched the morale gradually build up inside the tent, his tense brows relaxed slightly, and the anxiety that had been hanging over him finally eased a bit.

He raised his hand and pressed it on the table, his voice steady and firm.

"Since you are all determined to fight, I have three battle strategies. Today, I will discuss them with you and see which one is more suitable."

In less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, he had already dissected and reorganized the battle situation in his mind, clearly outlining three countermeasures.

His composure and strategic thinking in the face of danger impressed the generals in the tent, who held their breath and focused their attention on him.

"Please, General, speak plainly!"

Seeing the expectation in everyone's eyes, Xiong Tingbi didn't delay any longer. He raised his hand and pointed to Fushun City on the sand table, and said in a deep voice:
"The first tactic is called 'encircle the enemy' and annihilate their reinforcements by setting up an ambush.' This plan is carried out in two steps, each of which requires a close attack on the vital points."

"The first step is to create a feint siege around Fushun, effectively locking down the defending troops. Leave 15,000 elite soldiers, selected infantrymen and mixed with the Shenji Battalion, to continue besieging Fushun City."

These 15,000 men didn't actually attack the city, but they made it look like they were about to besiege it.

The defenses of the eastern and northern parts of the city were to be reinforced, as these were the only routes the Jurchen reinforcements would take from Kaiyuan and Hetu Ala. The city gates were sealed off with layers of barricades and chevaux-de-frise, and the Shenji Battalion's firearm squads were stationed on the city walls in shifts, firing arquebuses and cannons intermittently to keep the city in constant turmoil.

"During the day, we sent more laborers to carry ladders and siege engines under the city walls, deliberately slowing down our pace so that Daishan on the city walls could see it clearly."

"The night should be even more lively. Torches should be planted all around the camp, their light turning half the sky red. Then, soldiers should take turns shouting slogans like 'We'll take down the city in three days!' This will make Daishan think our main force is still outside the city and won't dare to break out easily."

"The second step is for the main force to set up an ambush and wait for reinforcements in a dangerous location. I, the general, will personally lead 30,000 elite troops: 20,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry, along with arquebusiers from the Shenji Battalion and breech-loading cannons, and take advantage of the cover of night and snow to quietly move to the Red River Valley."

This place was the only route Nurhaci could take south from Hetu Ala. The mountain walls on both sides were steep, with only a narrow path in the middle, perfectly exploiting the weakness of the Eight Banners cavalry and preventing them from outflanking him.

"We need to get there three days in advance to set up defenses: the infantry should hide along the slopes on both sides of the valley, with bows and arrows and muskets in hand; the artillery should be set up on the flat ground on the top of the mountain, with the cannons aimed into the valley; and the cavalry should ambush in the woods on both sides of the valley entrance."

Once Nurhaci's reinforcements entered the valley, the artillery would first open fire to disrupt their formation; then the infantry would attack from the mountainside, unleashing a volley of arrows and musket fire; finally, the cavalry would charge out and block the valley entrance, preventing a single Jurchen soldier from escaping.

No sooner had Xiong Tingbi finished speaking than Li Bingcheng, the commander-in-chief of Fengji Fort under his command, frowned, shook his head, stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"General, this plan is ingenious, but there are two flaws."

Nurhaci, having spent half his life on campaigns, is extremely cunning and suspicious. He always likes to send scouts to explore the route ahead. We set up an ambush in the Red River Valley three days in advance, but with so many people and so many hands, it's inevitable that we'll leave traces. Once he discovers us, this ambush will become a joke.

"Furthermore, Nurhaci has just defeated Ligdan Khan and his morale is high. I'm afraid he won't have time to rest and will soon lead his army south."

Our 30,000 main force needs to be secretly moved from outside Fushun to the Red River Valley, and we also need to set up defenses and artillery. Three days is simply not enough time.

"By the time we've set up our formation, Nurhaci's cavalry might already be upon us, and we'll be caught completely off guard."

Li Bingcheng's words hit the nail on the head, and the generals in the tent nodded in agreement. Their eyes, which had been bright, became more serious as they looked at Xiong Tingbi, waiting for his response.

Xiong Tingbi remained expressionless and continued:

"Since the ambush strategy is difficult to implement, let's talk about the second option. Divide our forces to contain the enemy, hold our ground and wait for reinforcements, and join forces with our allies to delay and wait for a change in the situation."

He bent down and pointed to the point between Fushun and Shenyang on the map, breaking it down in detail:
"Leave 20,000 troops to continue besieging Fushun, fortify the camp, defend but do not attack, and keep Daishan pinned down; send another 10,000 light cavalry to patrol in the northwest, on the one hand to monitor Nurhaci's movements, and on the other hand to try to contact the Khorchin tribe and the five Inner Khalkha tribes."

Even if Ligdan Khan is defeated, we can still offer him substantial rewards to persuade him to send troops to harass the Jurchen flank; the remaining troops can retreat to Shenyang, rely on the city's defenses to hold their ground, and wait for Nurhaci to march south. We can then coordinate our efforts from within and without, stalling for time until his supplies run out, and then seek an opportunity for a decisive battle.”

Before he could finish speaking, Lieutenant General He Gang, who was in charge of liaising with the Allied forces, shook his head first, his tone tinged with helplessness:

"My lord, this method is probably not feasible. With Ligdan Khan's crushing defeat, the Khorchin tribe is unlikely to be willing to send troops."

"And as for the Inner Khalkha, needless to say, that old fox Nurhaci is always opportunistic. Now that Nurhaci has just won the battle, he's trying to avoid us, why would he help us?"

Li Bingcheng chimed in, "Yes, General, Lindan Khan's defeated soldiers are still shivering in the cold outside the city. Who wouldn't be wary of them?"

"Our allies are unreliable. Dividing our forces will only further scatter our strength. When Nurhaci arrives, we might not even be able to besiege Fushun!"

The generals offered their opinions one after another, and the second strategy was quickly rejected.

Silence fell again inside the tent.

A moment later, Xiong Tingbi suddenly looked up.

"Since the first two methods don't work, there's only one last option left."

"Attack Fushun swiftly and annihilate the defending enemy first!"

He spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice not loud, yet it resonated like thunder in everyone's ears.

"Concentrate all artillery and launch a fierce attack on the south side of Fushun City within a single day. We've bombed that area several times before, and it's cracked! After breaching the city walls, the entire army will enter and first destroy Daishan's two Red Banners!"

"Once Daišan is gone, we will no longer have to worry about being attacked from both sides. At that time, relying on Fushun City and the Ice City fortress we built outside the city, we can confront Nurhaci head-on. The outcome will be uncertain!"

The tent instantly stirred with excitement. The generals' eyes first flashed with surprise, then lit up with a gleam.

This method is risky, but it has a lot of room for maneuver.

Ma Shilong leaned forward first and echoed:
"The strategist is right! If we get rid of Daishan first, we'll have one less thing to worry about."

But before the excitement had subsided, Tong Zhongkui frowned, quickly stepped forward, and said:

"General, this method is too risky! No matter how thin the walls of Fushun are, Daishan has nearly 20,000 Jurchen soldiers under his command. How easy is it for us to break through the city in one day?"

"What if we can't take it quickly, and Nurhaci's reinforcements arrive? Our attacking troops will be trapped between the city and the reinforcements, and we'll be surrounded and annihilated!"

"Yes, my lord, the risk is too great!"

Chen Ce also chimed in, "Nurhaci isn't far from Kaiyuan. He might arrive in a day or two. How can we be so sure we can take the city in a day?"

Upon realizing the danger of this plan, everyone fell silent.

This plan doesn't seem to work either.

Just then, Xiong Tingbi suddenly spoke up.

"What if I, the General, personally lead 10,000 troops to delay Nurhaci in the direction of Kaiyuan?"

"what?!"

These words caused quite a stir among the crowd.

Man Gui suddenly stood up, half-kneeling on the ground, and admonished, "General, you absolutely must not! You are the commander-in-chief of the entire army, how can you personally go to act as bait? If anything goes wrong, our entire army will lose its backbone!"

"Yes, my lord, if anyone should go, it should be this humble general!"

Ma Shilong also volunteered, his tone earnest.

"It is only right for you to be in command of the central army and direct the attack on the city!"

Xiong Tingbi remained calm as he watched the crowd's urgent admonitions, though a hint of resignation flickered in his eyes.

"Please listen to my explanation."

He raised his hand to silence the crowd and slowly explained.

"First, Nurhaci has always been suspicious. If we send someone else to delay him, he may not take it seriously. He might even find out that our army is launching a strong attack on Fushun and speed up the march."

But if I go, he will surely assume that the main force of the Ming army is in the direction of Kaiyuan, and that we are about to engage in a decisive battle with him, which is why he will slow down and carefully scout ahead.”

"Secondly, only by personally going can we attract his attention to the greatest extent possible."

He knows I am the commander-in-chief and will concentrate his forces against me, thus giving those attacking the city more time.

"If you can breach the city within three days while I keep Nurhaci occupied, we'll win this game."

At this point, everyone in the tent finally realized what was happening.

Xiong Jinglue was not there to "delay" Nurhaci; he intended to use himself as bait, using his position as commander-in-chief to lure Nurhaci into a trap and buy time for the attacking troops!
Man Gui's eyes reddened slightly, and her voice trembled with emotion: "General, this is too dangerous! Ten thousand troops against Nurhaci's elite forces, what are you doing..."

"No need to say more."

Xiong Tingbi interrupted him, his tone remaining calm.

"This strategist may not necessarily face danger on his journey. The troops I'm taking are mostly cavalry and the Divine Machine Battalion. If we can't defeat them, we can stall them. Just keeping them occupied for three days should be enough."

"And in these three days, you must take Fushun!"

Now everyone understands why Xiong Tingbi was called a barbarian in the eyes of the Jurchens and the steppe people.

This guy really doesn't care about his life when he's fighting!
They're even more barbaric than barbarians!
(End of this chapter)