Huangming

Chapter 374 The raiders returned north, facing enemies on three sides.

It was already late October of the first year of the Tianqi reign.

Winter has completely enveloped the land.

The Korean Peninsula south of the Yalu River, though not as bitterly cold as Liaodong, is still bitterly cold.

Thousands of miles of ice and snow.

Fine snowflakes drifted down from the leaden sky, instantly melting into icy water upon landing on people. The water seeped into their clothes through the gaps in their armor, making their teeth chatter from the cold.

Outside Seoul, the camps of the Eight Banners army stretched for dozens of miles, their black banners fluttering in the cold wind like lurking beasts, staring intently at the Korean capital ahead.

Huang Taiji stood on the high slope, wearing a thick black fox fur coat. His gaze swept over the soldiers shivering from the cold below the city, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Even though the Eight Banners soldiers had long been accustomed to the harsh cold of Liaodong, many still perished in the wind and snow during their crossing of the Yangtze River and subsequent expedition. The number of those who froze to death or suffered frostbite and had limbs amputated totaled five hundred.

"Your Highness, the defenders of Seoul are still putting up a stubborn resistance. Should we order a full-scale attack?"

The general beside him asked in a low voice, his tone tinged with urgency.

Huang Taiji slowly shook his head, his gaze falling on the towering walls of Seoul.

This city was not only fortified with high walls and deep moats, but also defended by Korean soldiers and civilians who fought to the death. For half a month, the Eight Banners army made several probing attacks on the city, but they were all forced back by the arrows and rolling logs on the city walls, and suffered considerable casualties.

"Not urgent."

His voice was deep, carrying a hint of confident calm.

"Although Seoul is fortified, it is now an isolated city, and... the outcome will be decided tonight."

He raised his hand and looked towards the Yalu River, his thoughts involuntarily returning to a month ago.

At that time, he led 30,000 Eight Banner troops and, taking advantage of Korea's unpreparedness, quietly crossed the Yalu River and launched the first attack on Uiju.

Yi Wan, the prefect of Uiju, was the nephew of Yi Sun-sin, a famous general who fought against Japanese pirates. Although he was loyal and brave, he was completely unprepared for the Jurchens' surprise attack. It was not until the Eight Banners soldiers climbed the city walls that he hastily organized a resistance.

The following morning, Yiju fell. After being captured, Yi Wan refused to surrender and was eventually executed by dismemberment on the city gate.

Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in the city, regardless of age or gender, could not escape the calamity.

Hwang Tai-gil ordered the massacre of the city in order to intimidate Joseon with bloodshed and prevent other cities from resisting easily.

As expected, news of the devastation in Uiju spread throughout Korea. The Eight Banners army marched south, and cities such as Jeongju, Gwaksan, Anju, Pyongyang, Hwangju, and Pyeongsan surrendered without resistance. Even sporadic resistance was quickly suppressed.

They only encountered real obstacles when they reached Seoul.

However, this obstacle had already become precarious due to the escape of King Yi Hun of Joseon.

"King Yi Hun of Joseon..."

Huang Taiji's lips curled into a cold smile, his tone full of disdain.

He already knew that before his army arrived in Seoul, Yi Hun had fled to Ganghwa Island in haste with his concubines, important documents, and the ancestral tablets of the royal shrine.

He then sent the crown prince south to Jeonju, creating the pretense of a "separate court," and issued a so-called "edict of mourning" (a self-reproach edict) to the whole country, seemingly to repent and blame himself, but in reality, it was nothing more than an attempt to evade responsibility.

Even though the censors and officials jointly submitted a memorial requesting the king to stay in Seoul and personally oversee the war, Yi Hun rejected it.

How can such a cowardly monarch protect his country?
"Your Highness, news has come from our inside contact that the appointed time is fast approaching," a scout reported in a low voice as he rode up.

A sharp glint flashed in Huang Taiji's eyes. He raised his hand and ordered, "Pass down the order: the entire army must prepare to attack the city as soon as the fire starts!"

"Follow the order!"

The generals responded in unison and turned to relay the orders.

The Eight Banner soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes fixed on the city gates of Han City. Although the cold wind was still biting, no one complained anymore.

After tonight, Seoul will be captured, and they can plunder for a whole day and night!
And North Korea's resistance will completely collapse.

At this moment, however, the scene in Seoul is quite different.

The streets were deserted, and although the guards on the city walls were still patrolling, they could not hide the fatigue and anxiety on their faces.

Unbeknownst to anyone, in a private residence in the west of the city, hundreds of men dressed in Korean attire were quietly gathering, holding short knives and torches, their eyes gleaming with unease and greed.

These people were Huang Taiji's spies in Seoul, mostly local powerful figures and defeated soldiers who had been bribed by the Great Kim.

"The time is almost here. As agreed, we will first burn down the guard barracks at the city gate, then open the west gate to welcome the Fourth Prince's army!"

The man in the lead lowered his voice, a look of madness flashing in his eyes.

"After the matter is accomplished, Huang Taiji will definitely not skimp on the land and wealth he promised us!"

The crowd nodded, gripped their torches tightly, and quietly slipped out of their homes, moving like ghosts through the streets and alleys of Seoul.

The guards at the west gate of the city were still vigilantly watching the Jurchen camp outside the city, completely unaware that the shadow of death and betrayal had quietly fallen upon this lonely city.

soon.

It was evening by then.

The night was as dark as ink, heavily enveloping Seoul. Even the stars and moon were obscured by thick clouds, leaving only a few torches on the city walls, swaying in the cold wind.

On the open fields outside the city, more than 30,000 troops were already lined up and waiting for orders.

The elite soldiers of the Plain White Banner and the Bordered White Banner held scimitars and had eyes as sharp as eagles.

The cavalry of the Bordered Blue Banner reined in their horses, their hooves gently pawing the snow.

The Korean soldiers who surrendered, though dressed in tattered armor, could not hide the cowardice and greed on their faces. They gripped their weapons tightly and stared intently in the direction of Seoul.

Huang Taiji stood at the front of the formation, wearing a black sable fur coat, with the Seven-Star Sword given to him by Nurhaci hanging at his waist. His tiger-like eyes were fixed on the top of the Han city wall.

The flag bearers behind him were already prepared, and the war drums were already set up, waiting only for the signal to sound from the city.

"Your Highness, look!"

The guard beside him suddenly pointed to Seoul, his voice tinged with urgency.

Huang Taiji looked up.

Suddenly, the once quiet city of Han was filled with chaotic shouts of battle. Immediately afterward, several balls of fire rose up in succession from the west and south of the city, their flames licking at the night sky and turning half of it crimson.

That's the signal for the inside man to make his move!
"The time has come!"

Huang Taiji suddenly drew his Seven Star Sword from his waist, the blade gleaming coldly in the firelight, and shouted the order.

"Send the order! All troops attack the city! Surrendered soldiers in front, Eight Banners behind. We will not rest until Han City is captured!"

"Follow the order!"

The flag bearer waved the flag, and the rapid sound of war drums instantly resounded across the wilderness, shaking people's eardrums like thunder.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Dong 1"

Under the orders of the supervising officers, the surrendered Korean soldiers at the front carried ladders and pushed battering rams, charging toward the west gate of Seoul.

They ran, stumbling and staggering, but dared not stop for a moment.

The Eight Banners soldiers behind him gripped their swords, their eyes cold; if they dared to retreat, they would be killed on the spot.

The Korean defenders on the city wall were already demoralized due to the king's escape. Now, seeing the large army pressing in from outside the city and fires breaking out in the city, they were thrown into disarray.

Arrows fell sparsely, mostly landing in empty spaces; logs and stones were also few and far between, and could not stop the surging tide of the attacking force.

"Squeak-"

A sharp scraping sound rang out, and the west gate of Seoul was opened from the inside by an inside agent. Several agents dressed in Korean attire leaned out and shouted loudly towards the outside of the city:

"The city gates are open! Come in quickly!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Huang Taiji's eyes, and he waved his hand, ordering, "Charge!"

The 30,000-strong army surged into Hanseong through the west gate like a flood bursting its banks.

The surrendered North Korean soldiers took the lead and charged into the streets and alleys, where they were completely unrestrained.

They threw away their siege weapons, drew their short swords, and rushed toward the houses along the roadside. The sound of kicking open doors, women's screams, and men's angry curses and screams instantly filled the night sky of Seoul.

"The city has fallen! Those who surrender will not be killed!"

Hwang Tai-gil had his men shout loudly in Korean, and the sound carried throughout the city.

Upon hearing the shouts, the already wavering morale of the Korean defenders on the city wall completely collapsed, and they threw down their weapons.

They did not surrender; instead, they fled towards other city gates.

What good would it do to be a prisoner of the Jurchens?
They were just used as arrows to feed the arrows.

However, as soon as they rushed out of the city gate, they encountered the Eight Banners cavalry that Huang Taiji had already arranged.

The cavalrymen brandished their swords, slaughtering the fleeing Korean soldiers as easily as cutting melons and vegetables. Blood flowed down the steps of the city gate, forming dark red streams on the snow. Corpses piled up in layers at the city gate, blocking the way for those who continued to flee.

"Don't kill me! I surrender!"

A North Korean soldier knelt on the ground, raising his hands high, pleading desperately.

But the Eight Banners cavalry ignored him completely, and with a swift stroke of their blades, the head rolled to the ground, still filled with fear and resentment.

Seoul itself became a living hell.

The Eight Banners soldiers stormed into the city, burning, killing, and looting.

They prioritized storming the royal palace and officials' residences, looting gold, silver, jewels, and precious books, while only lightly ransacking ordinary homes.

The surrendered Korean soldiers, however, rushed into every house like madmen. Men were killed on the spot, and the elderly and children were not spared either. Women were dragged and wantonly violated, and screams of agony rose and fell.

Inside a private residence, a North Korean soldier who had surrendered was holding a knife to the homeowner's neck, forcing him to hand over his hidden money.

Just as the homeowner was about to resist, he was stabbed through the chest, and blood splattered on the surrendered soldier's face. But he didn't care at all. Instead, he grinned and turned to pounce on the women huddled in the corner.

Seeing this, several surrendered soldiers nearby also gathered around, their laughter mingling with the woman's cries, a truly appalling scene.

Inside the palace, Hwang Tai-gil sat on the throne of the Joseon king, watching his soldiers carry the looted treasures out of the palace without the slightest ripple on his face.

He was already accustomed to such scenes.

In his view, the looting and massacres after breaching a city were both a reward for the soldiers and a means of intimidating the enemy.

"Your Highness, Seoul is now completely under our control. All the fleeing Korean soldiers have been executed, and the resistance within the city has been largely eliminated."

A mele'ezhen from the Plain White Banner stepped forward to report, his tone carrying a hint of seeking credit.

Huang Taiji slowly nodded, stood up, walked outside the hall, looked at the raging fire in Hancheng and the pervasive smell of blood in the air, and said in an icy tone:

"Pass down the order: loot for a day and a night, count the spoils and prisoners, and hang the heads of the rebels on the city walls so that the Koreans can see the consequences of resisting the Great Kim!"

"Follow the order!"

The general bowed in agreement and turned to relay the order.

The palace was in complete chaos, filled with screams of agony.

Hwang Tae-gil sat on the throne of the King of Joseon, his eyes deep and unreadable.

Holding a newly captured Korean scimitar, Ajige strode into the hall, his tone tinged with excitement:

"Brother Ba, Seoul has been completely captured! Shouldn't we head south to Jeonju, then cross the sea to Ganghwa Island, capture that brat Yi Hun, and wipe out the Joseon Dynasty completely?"

The military commander behind him, Turg, nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Yes, Your Highness, now that the main force of Korea has been defeated and the king has fled, it is the perfect opportunity to destroy the country in one fell swoop!"
If we could incorporate Korea into the Kim dynasty's territory, we would have another source of grain and manpower!

The Eight Banners generals inside the hall echoed the sentiments, and for a time, shouts of "Destroy Korea!" and "Capture Yi Hun!" rose and fell, with everyone's face beaming with the fervor of victory.

Taking over most of North Korea in less than a month was a feat that made them proud and filled them with confidence in "completely conquering North Korea".

However, Huang Taiji slowly shook his head, his calm tone completely out of place with the fervor in the hall.

"There's no time left, and there's no point in going south."

"What's the point?"

Turgh paused for a moment, then stepped forward, his tone filled with confusion.

"We're riding high right now, taking Jeonju and Ganghwa Island is just a matter of time, so why would you say it's meaningless?"

Huang Taiji stood up from his throne, walked to the map in the center of the hall, and pressed his finger heavily on the map of the Korean Peninsula.

"This southward expedition was not intended to destroy the country, but to plunder people and resources."

"Now the treasures of Seoul have been loaded onto carts, and we have captured over 100,000 Korean civilians and artisans. Our objective has long been achieved."

He paused, his eyes sharpening.

"Besides, do you really think we can completely rule Korea?"
Although Korea is weak, it has a centuries-old sense of national identity and kinship. While Yi Hun has fled, local militias have begun to rebel. If we linger, we will only be bogged down in endless guerrilla warfare.

These words were like cold water, extinguishing the enthusiasm of many generals.

Ajige frowned: "The righteous army? They're nothing but a rabble, what's there to fear?"

"mob?"

Huang Taiji sneered, took out a scout report from his pocket, and threw it in front of Ajige.

"Look for yourself! The militia in Yizhou, Dingzhou and other places have gathered thousands of people. They have not only killed our elite troops who were left behind, but also recaptured two county towns!"
Now, responses are being made all over North Korea, and the longer this drags on, the stronger this force will become.

"We're here to plunder, not to be 'bandit suppressing officers.'" If they were to get bogged down in a counterinsurgency war, no matter how powerful his Eight Banners army was, they would be bogged down here.

Done.

Huang Taiji then turned to Turg, his tone becoming more serious.

"Moreover, the intelligence reports also say that the Ming army has already assembled on the north bank of the Yalu River, and it seems that they are about to enter Korea!"
If we continue south, we will not only have to deal with the Korean righteous army, but also have to confront the Ming army head-on.

Fighting in a foreign land, surrounded by enemies on both sides, is a cardinal sin in warfare; we can't afford to waste time like this.

Upon hearing this, the generals fell silent.

They then realized how many hidden dangers lurked behind their "victory".

The harassment from the Korean righteous army and the approach of the Ming army are real threats. If what Hwang Tai-gil said is true, staying in Korea for too long will only be a loss.

Huang Taiji looked at everyone's expressions and softened his tone, but there was a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

"And more importantly, there have been constant urgent reports from the rear."

"Fushun is in grave danger, Kaiyuan is in grave danger, and even Hetu Ala has received an alarm! If we don't turn back soon, I'm afraid Hetu Ala will have been destroyed by the Ming army by the time we get back!"

Upon hearing this, the hall fell completely silent.

Hetu Ala was the foundation of the Jin Dynasty, the location of the families and provisions of the Eight Banners nobles. If their stronghold was destroyed, even if they conquered Korea, they would become homeless and wandering ghosts.

"Now, we can only accept our losses and call it quits!" Huang Taiji sighed, his face showing resentment.

How could he not want to completely conquer Korea and etch this achievement on his path to the throne?

But he knew even better that preserving the foundation of Dajin was more important than anything else right now.

Fortunately, he gained a lot from this attack on Korea:

With 100,000 prisoners, countless treasures, and the prestige of "conquering Korea in half a month," he was able to gain a foothold among the Eight Banners nobles and even gain their recognition as "successors to the Khanate," paving the way for his future succession to the Khanate.

"For now, this is the only way."

Ajige was very clear-headed.

It would indeed not be difficult to continue southward and conquer Korea.

To the elite Eight Banners troops, Korean soldiers were like clay chickens and earthen dogs.

Taking over the North Korean king would be a piece of cake.

However.
If the process drags on too long, once the Ming army enters Korea, they won't be able to take all the looted goods with them.

It's a wise move to withdraw now.

soon.

Huang Taiji's military order spread throughout the entire army.

The guards rode swiftly through the camp and the streets of Seoul, loudly relaying orders:

"His Highness has ordered! Immediately gather the spoils of war and prisoners of war, and the entire army will return north at dawn two days from now! The main force will retreat at full speed, and must return to Liaodong before the Ming army!"

Inside tents and in civilian houses, Manchu soldiers and Korean surrendered soldiers instantly sprang into action.

Some people carried wooden boxes filled with gold and silver, some tied prisoners together with ropes, and some burned houses, thick smoke billowing and turning the sky over Seoul into a gray haze.

Huang Taiji stood on the palace steps, looking at the chaotic yet orderly scene before him. He turned his gaze to Ajige beside him and suddenly asked:
"Among those in Korea who have submitted to us, are there any who are capable?"

Ajige paused for a moment, then recalled what he had just said and nodded.

"There are two men we can use. One is named Quan Huan, a former centurion in the Korean army. He is quite skilled in martial arts, especially with a staff. He helped us kill a lot of the defenders during the siege."

Another one, named Park Hee, was originally a minor official in Seoul. He was quite cunning and ambitious. He secretly sent someone to surrender when we besieged the city and provided us with a lot of intelligence about the city.

"Jeon Hwan, Park Hee..."

Huang Taiji repeated the two names in a low voice, a calculating glint in his eyes.

"Pass on my order to bestow upon Jeon Hwan the title of 'King of Seoul' and upon Park Hee the title of 'King of Pyongyang.' All the supplies, weapons, and armor that we cannot take with us shall be given to them as a reward."

"What does the myna bird mean by this?"

Ajige was completely stunned. He had thought that these followers could only serve as guides or cannon fodder at most, but he never expected that Huang Taiji would make them kings and bestow so many gifts upon them.

"We finally managed to capture Seoul and Pyongyang, so why are we giving that territory to the North Koreans?"

"You think I genuinely appreciated them?"

Huang Taiji raised his hand and patted Ajige on the shoulder, his tone full of meaning.

“After we leave, the Korean Righteous Army will definitely launch a counterattack on Seoul and Pyongyang. Let Jeon Hwan and Park Hee guard these two cities under the title of ‘King’. This will help to keep the Righteous Army occupied and prevent them from chasing after us.”

Moreover, even if we wanted to hold Seoul and Pyongyang, could we really hold them after the Ming army arrived?

Furthermore, if these two are truly capable of surviving between the righteous army and the Ming army, then they are our pawns planted in Korea.

If we want to fight back in the future, all we need to do is issue an order, and they will obediently submit. We can control North Korea without losing a single soldier.

Even if they fail, they can still weaken Joseon's strength through fighting with the righteous army and the Ming army, and also draw the Ming army's attention, buying us time to return north to Liaodong.

Huang Taiji chuckled.

"It's just two expendable pawns, a few empty cities, and a bunch of things we can't take with us, yet we can get so many benefits in return. Why not?"

Ajige suddenly realized what was going on and couldn't help but grin, "Brother Ba is brilliant! You've thought of everything! I'll go and make the arrangements right away, and I guarantee that Quan Huan and Park Hee will be grateful and keep an eye on the mess in North Korea for us!"

After saying that, he turned and walked away quickly, his face full of excitement.

He could already imagine the ecstatic look on the faces of those two Koreans when they learned they had been granted the title of king.

Time flies.

The next morning arrived quickly.

The gates of Seoul slowly opened, and the Eight Banners army, like a black torrent, marched northward.

At the very front of the procession were elite cavalrymen of the Eight Banners, and in the middle were carts pushing spoils of war and prisoners tied together with ropes.

There were a total of 10,000 Korean civilians and 10,000 surrendered soldiers. They were ragged, emaciated, and shivering in the cold wind. If they hesitated even slightly, they would be whipped by the Eight Banners soldiers.

Behind the column were the infantry, who vigilantly watched the direction of Seoul behind them to guard against a surprise attack by the righteous army.

Huang Taiji reined in his horse and walked in the middle of the procession, glancing back at the gradually receding Seoul.

The city, which was filled with fighting and looting just two days ago, is now deathly silent, with only corpses scattered everywhere and the treasury completely ransacked.

Hwang Tai-gil knew in his heart that after he left, North Korea would definitely fall into greater chaos.

The Righteous Army will launch a counterattack, and Jeon Hwan and Park Hee will resist. With the treasury empty and the population declining, North Korea will surely experience a large-scale famine this year, with corpses of the starving everywhere.

But none of this mattered to him anymore.

His gaze had long since crossed the Yalu River and was now fixed on distant Liaodong.

There lay his stronghold, Hetu Ala, with the Eight Banners army and a life-or-death struggle against the Ming army.

The prestige and wealth he gained from this attack on Korea became his capital in his quest for the Khanate.

The situation in Liaodong is the key to whether he can truly gain a foothold.

After all, Liaodong was the foundation of the Jin Dynasty.

North Korea is not.

"drive!"

Huang Taiji suddenly spurred his horse, and the warhorse neighed and quickened its pace.

The cold wind whipped up snowflakes that stung his face, but it did nothing to dampen his determination to return north.

The army behind him stretched like a long dragon, winding its way across the snow-covered plains and speeding toward Liaodong.

the other side.

The snowstorm in the Red River Valley continues.

The ice walls of the Ming army camp on the mountaintop gleamed coldly in the wind, like an insurmountable barrier, firmly blocking the Jurchen army at the foot of the mountain.

This siege lasted from sunrise to sunset, and from nightfall to dawn, far exceeding Nurhaci's expectations.

Initially, the Ming army relied on the narrow mountain paths to hinder the attack, but now they have made their defenses impenetrable by using camps and ice walls.

The Eight Banners soldiers surged up the mountain road like a tide, their shield wagons crashing into the ice walls and their scimitars hacking at the wooden fences, yet they could not break through the Ming army's defenses.

Several times, the elite Eight Banners troops had already scaled the ice wall and were about to breach the camp, but a squad of elite Ming soldiers would always rush out of the camp and launch a fierce counterattack, pushing the Jurchen soldiers down the mountain path.

The narrow mountain path prevented the Eight Banners elite troops from fully utilizing their numerical advantage.

"Trash! They're all trash!"

Nurhaci stood on a high slope at the foot of the mountain, watching his soldiers retreat once again. He lashed his whip hard into the snow, sending snowflakes flying, his voice filled with suppressed rage.

His gaze was fixed on the camp on the mountaintop, and a sense of doubt gradually rose in his heart.

The camp had been on the verge of collapse several times before; could it have been something Xiong Tingbi deliberately faked?
Did that barbarian Xiong calculate that he would be eager to take Red River Valley and deliberately pin his army down here?

Just then, a scout rode up, fell off his horse, and scrambled to Nurhaci, his voice trembling slightly:

"Great Khan! Something terrible has happened! The Third Prince and Jirgalangtaiji... are about to collapse!"

"say clearly!"

Nurhaci shouted.

The scout swallowed hard and spoke rapidly:

"The Ming reinforcements led by Chen Ce are advancing steadily in a formation of chariots, cavalry, and infantry, with chariots leading the way and artillery battalions following closely behind. Our harassment is completely ineffective!"

"Mangultai Beile's cavalry broke through the enemy lines several times, but were repelled by the enemy cavalry in coordination with shield wagons, resulting in the loss of many men."

The defensive line that Prince Jirhalang had set up at the mouth of the valley had also been breached by the Ming army's artillery fire. The Ming army was now less than three miles away from us!

"Three miles?!"

Nurhaci's heart sank.

What he was most worried about happened.

Chen Ce's reinforcements were closing in step by step, and it looked like they were about to encircle them.

Before he could recover, another scout rushed over, his face even more grim than the first:
"Great Khan! The messenger from Chaohua has arrived, right outside the camp. He says... he says he has important news to report, concerning the movements of the Khorchin tribe!"

Nurhaci frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

He waved his hand, signaling the scouts to bring the messenger in.

A moment later, an envoy dressed in grassland attire entered the central command tent and bowed to Nurhaci.

"Great Khan, my Taiji asked me to tell you: Liu Xingzuo has persuaded the pro-Ming faction of the Khorchin tribe, and now the Khorchin army is heading towards the Red River Valley and will soon arrive there."

"what?!"

Nurhaci stood up abruptly, staring at the messenger in disbelief.

"Say that again! The Khorchin tribe? Didn't they promise to send troops to help me? How come they've switched sides and are helping the Ming army?!"

The envoy bowed his head and said calmly:
"After the news of the fall of Fushun and the death of Prince Daishan reached the grasslands, the Khorchin tribe felt that the Ming army had become the master of Liaodong."

Liu Xingzuo, carrying an edict from the Ming Dynasty, persuaded the Khorchin tribe to ally with the Ming and send troops to fight against the Great Khan.

The messenger's words caused an uproar in the central command tent.

The generals' expressions all changed drastically.

They all knew what this meant.

Nurhaci staggered back a step and sat down on the tiger-skin chair behind him, his face turning deathly pale instantly.

He never expected that his trusted steppe ally would not only fail to come to his aid, but would instead side with the Ming army.

Now, Chen Ce's reinforcements are approaching from the front, the Khorchin army is flanking from the flank, and Xiong Tingbi on the mountaintop is still holding back his main force.

That old fox, Chao Hua, sent an envoy to inform him of the news from the Khorchin tribe, which meant he wouldn't be sending troops.

Nurhaci was now trapped in a desperate situation, surrounded on three sides!

retreat?

Or not return it?

This problem weighed heavily on Nurhaci's mind like a boulder.

If he retreats, it means he will have to swallow the bitter pill of Fushun's fall and Daishan's death in battle. Not only will he fail to capture Xiong Tingbi, but he will also suffer heavy losses and damage to his prestige.

However, if they did not retreat, although they had the opportunity to kill Xiong Tingbi and avenge Daishan, they would face the risk of being surrounded and annihilated by the Ming army and the Khorchin tribe.

He had dominated Liaodong for decades and experienced countless life-or-death battles, but he had never hesitated as much as he did at this moment.

otherwise.
Going all out?

ps:
7400 big chapters!

(End of this chapter)