Huangming

Chapter 392 Sacrificing a pawn to save the king, capturing the thief and destroying the nest

How to transform the spoils of war that cannot be taken away into a tool to contain the Ming army.

Ligdan Khan and his Chahar tribe were the most crucial "piece" in this game.

Not long ago, the envoy sent by Huang Taiji to the Chahar tribe had already sent back news about the Chahar tribe:

The Chahar tribe is now in dire straits.

After the defeat at Kaiyuan, all the small tribes that had previously relied on, such as the Wuliangha and Arukorchin, fled. The remaining people numbered less than 20,000, and most of them suffered from cold and hunger.

The snow on the grassland was knee-deep, and 70% of the cattle and sheep froze to death. Every day, herders collapsed outside their tents due to lack of food. Even Lindan Khan's large tent could only survive on boiled snow water mixed with a small amount of fried noodles.

Although Ligdan Khan verbally insisted that he would "never bow down to the Ming Dynasty," he secretly summoned his confidants many times to discuss "plundering southwards."

There was no more grain to plunder on the southern grasslands. The only way to survive was to cross the border and plunder the fortresses of the Ming Dynasty or the remaining supplies of the Khorchin.

Huang Taiji knew very well that even if he did not extend an olive branch, Ligdan Khan would eventually march south.

All he wanted to do was give Ligdan Khan a "more tempting target" and a "more reasonable excuse," making this desperate steppe Khan a "shield" to delay the Ming army.

"Jirhalang!"

Huang Taiji turned around abruptly, his gaze falling on the burly and valiant general beside him.

"The slave is here!"

Jirhalang immediately dismounted, knelt on one knee, and spoke with utmost respect.

"You shall lead five hundred cavalry, ten thousand cattle and sheep, five thousand old and weak prisoners, and one thousand adult men to stay here and guard the old camp of Mangus."

Huang Taiji's voice was calm.

"Stay here?"

Jirhalang looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock, and his voice rose several decibels.

"Your Majesty, this place is only two days' journey from Fushun. The Ming army could catch up at any moment! If we stay here, aren't we just waiting for the Ming army to attack? With our limited manpower, we simply cannot hold this position!"

He just couldn't understand it.

Why leave the cattle, sheep, and captives that we finally managed to plunder in this dangerous place?
If the Ming army were to capture it, wouldn't all the previous bloody battles have been for nothing?

Huang Taiji slowly shook his head, walked to Jirgalang, reached out to help him up, and glanced at the prisoners huddled in the snow not far away, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips:
"Before attacking Khorchin, I had already sent an envoy to see Ligdan Khan, inviting him to share Khorchin, and also explaining that the Ming army was busy accepting surrenders and was unprepared."

If he dares to come, these cattle, sheep, and captives will be his 'greeting gift'.

If he dares not come, or if the Ming army arrives first, you should immediately lead your cavalry and flee far away; there is no need to linger in battle.

Jirgalang was stunned for a moment, then he understood Huang Taiji's intention!
Lin Danhan urgently needed supplies to save his life, and as long as he heard that "tens of thousands of cattle and sheep" were waiting for him, he would rush over without hesitation.

If the Ming army were to pursue them to this place and encounter Ligdan Khan, who had come to "seize supplies," a conflict between the two armies would inevitably break out.

At that time, in order to keep the cattle and sheep they had obtained, Ligdan Khan would definitely fight to the death to stop the Ming army, which would delay the Ming army's pursuit.
"I understand!"

Jirgalang bowed in response, all his doubts vanished, leaving only admiration for Huang Taiji.

The Khan's move, seemingly "sacrificing" resources, was actually a way to buy time for the main force of the Jin Dynasty to return to Hetu Ala at minimal cost, through Lindan Khan's intervention.

But then he couldn’t help but ask, “Great Khan, if Ligdan Khan doesn’t come soon, or doesn’t dare to come at all, wouldn’t these cattle, sheep and prisoners be left to the Ming army for nothing?”
These ten thousand cattle and sheep can feed us for quite some time!

Upon hearing this, Huang Taiji showed no sign of regret.

"Zirhalang, have you forgotten our current predicament?"

"Our transportation capacity is limited, and it's simply impossible to take all of these spoils with us."

Even if they brought all the spoils of war, the marching speed would be extremely slow, and they would be overtaken by the Ming army in less than a day.

By then, forget about these spoils of war; we might even perish here.

"Supplies that cannot be taken with you are not 'wealth,' but 'burden.'"

Rather than leaving these cattle and sheep to the Ming army to feed their soldiers, it's better to take a gamble.

I'm betting Lin Danhan will come.

If Ligdan Khan were to arrive, he would undoubtedly fight the Ming army to the death to protect the supplies, which would be the most worthwhile deal.

After hearing Huang Taiji's words, Jirgalang's doubts completely disappeared.

He immediately said:
"This servant will certainly not fail in his mission!"

"If Ligdan Khan comes, I will hand over the supplies to him and secretly keep an eye on the Ming army's movements; if the Ming army arrives first, I will immediately lead the troops to retreat, and I will never let my men sacrifice themselves in vain!"

Huang Taiji nodded in satisfaction and patted Jirgalang on the shoulder.

"Good! I trust you with your work. Remember, there's no need to fight the Ming army head-on. Your primary task is to 'wait.' Wait for Ligdan Khan to arrive."

Huang Taiji had just finished instructing Jirhalang to stay behind when he turned to look at Bayara standing beside him.

This half-brother of Nurhaci, the banner chief of the Bordered Blue Banner, was gripping his riding whip tightly, his eyes filled with excitement, but this excitement was mixed with continued worry.

"uncle."

Huang Taiji's voice was a few decibels deeper than before.

"You will lead a thousand of your own cavalry, escorting five thousand slaves, fifty thousand cattle and sheep, and taking most of the gold, silver, jewels, cloth, and supplies, heading north, detouring through the former territory of the Haixi Jurchens, and returning to Hetu Ala from there."

Bayara looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"Great Khan, since we are taking a detour through the old Haixi region, which is a desolate and uninhabited place, the Ming army will never expect us to go through there. It is very safe!"

But why only bring five thousand slaves and fifty thousand cattle and sheep? That's less than half the total! Wouldn't it be a waste to leave the rest of the cattle, sheep, and able-bodied men here?

He really couldn't figure it out.

The northern route is safe; we should have brought back more supplies.

Fifty thousand head of cattle and sheep were enough for the Eight Banners to get through the winter, but the remaining fifty thousand head of cattle and the more than six thousand able-bodied men would be a loss to the Great Jin if they fell into the hands of the Ming army or were seized by Ligdan Khan.

Huang Taiji looked at Bayara's anxious appearance, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, which was then replaced by calmness.

He stepped forward and explained in a low voice, "Uncle, you brought too much. I've become 'not real' on this journey."

Seeing that Bayara still looked puzzled, he added, "If the Ming army finds out that we have launched a surprise attack on Khorchin, they will definitely send troops to pursue us."

Seeing that I have many cattle, sheep, and prisoners, they will surely assume that the main force of the Jin Dynasty is all here and will only chase after me to attack.

"By carrying less, you can march faster and safely deliver these valuable supplies back to Hetu Ala before the Ming army can react."

Bayara suddenly realized what was going on, and the confusion on his face faded, replaced by solemnity.

It turns out that the Great Khan was using himself as "bait" to attract the Ming army's attention with the supplies he had, thus buying time for the retreat from the north.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but seeing Huang Taiji's determined eyes, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

"No need to say anything more."

Huang Taiji raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Uncle, just remember that your mission is more important than mine. Bring the supplies back to Hetu Ala, and you will be a hero of the Great Jin. You will be rewarded handsomely by the Great Jin in the future."

At this moment, all that's left to do is get back to Hetu Ala alive.

"Whoo!"

Without further hesitation, Bayara clenched his right fist and pounded his chest in salute to Huang Taiji.

"This servant will not fail in his mission. Even if it costs him his old life, he will deliver the supplies safely back to Hetu Ala!"

After saying this, he turned and strode towards his men. Soon, a thousand Bordered Blue Banner cavalrymen were assembled.

They shouted and drove the cattle and sheep, linked five thousand slaves together with ropes, and headed towards the snowy plains to the north.

The horses' hooves left deep hoofprints on the snow, which were quickly covered by the falling snowflakes.

Huang Taiji watched Bayara's departing figure until the group became a small black dot on the snowy plain before slowly turning his gaze away.

Followed by.

He turned to look at Engeder standing to the side, his eyes suddenly sharpening: "Engeder Taiji."

"The slave is here!"

Engder quickly stepped forward, bowed, and listened to the order, vaguely guessing what Huang Taiji was going to tell him.

“Go and sift through those able-bodied prisoners in the snow.”

Huang Taiji pointed to the more than 6,000 young men and women of Khorchin who were bound by ropes not far away.

“Those who are willing to surrender to the Great Jin and join your Mongol Eight Banners will be selected and incorporated into your main force.”

Those who refused to surrender were demoted to servants and put in charge of herding cattle and sheep and transporting supplies.

My cavalry, even if they're used by others, still need someone to help with the work.

Engeder's eyes lit up, and he quickly replied, "This servant understands! Give this servant half an hour, and I will definitely get it done!"

He knew in his heart that the Great Khan was expanding his power.

The Mongol Eight Banners were just beginning to take shape. If he could gather these able-bodied men, his followers could grow from a thousand to three or four thousand, and his position in the Great Jin Dynasty would be more secure in the future.

Engdel immediately led a dozen or so trusted men and strode up to the young and strong prisoners.

He first ordered his soldiers to untie the prisoners' ropes, then had several bags of fried noodles and some cooked mutton brought in and placed on the snow. He then drew his curved sword from his waist, pointed the tip at the prisoners, and spoke in a loud voice:

"Listen up! I'm giving you two choices:"
Either surrender to the Great Jin and join my Mongol Eight Banners, where you'll have meat to eat, cattle and sheep to share, and you can fight alongside me and earn merit.

"Or you can stay here and be a slave, herding cattle and sheep and carrying supplies every day!"

The prisoners shivered from the cold, looking at the fried noodles and mutton on the ground, then at the scimitar in Engdel's hand, their eyes filled with struggle.

Several hot-blooded young men wanted to resist, but as soon as they took a step, Engdel's personal guards held knives to their necks, scaring them back.

"I surrender!"

A tall, thin prisoner spoke first, staring at the mutton on the ground and swallowing hard.

"I am willing to join the Eight Banners of Mongolia, just to survive!"

With the first, there is the second.

Soon, more and more prisoners chose to surrender.

For them, surrendering to the Jin dynasty meant at least survival and food, which was better than being treated like a humiliated slave and subjected to arbitrary beatings and abuse.

Half an hour later.

Engeder led three thousand able-bodied prisoners to Huang Taiji, his face beaming with a smug smile.

"Your Majesty, I have made my selection! Three thousand able-bodied men are willing to surrender, and the remaining three thousand-plus men have been demoted to Aha."

Huang Taiji glanced at the young men standing crookedly, without any surprise in his eyes.

However, these people have not been reorganized and their combat effectiveness is questionable.

If they encountered the Ming army, they might collapse without a fight.

but
It doesn't matter anymore.

But what he wanted was not "elite soldiers," but "laborers."

"very good."

Huang Taiji nodded, his tone indifferent.

“These people don’t need to fight. They’ll just be responsible for herding the remaining 50,000 cattle and sheep and looking after Aha. Once they return to Hetu Ala and are reorganized, they can be used as elite troops.”

Engeder quickly replied, "Your servant understands! With the help of these three thousand men, we can travel much faster!"

Huang Taiji said no more, turned around and mounted his horse, his gaze sweeping over the 50,000 cattle and sheep, the more than 4,000 Aha, and the 2,000 newly surrendered young men left in the camp.

The cold wind continued to howl, but his gaze grew even more resolute.

Once these supplies are sent back, Daikin will become even stronger.

The day when we can restore our father's glory, or even go further, is not far off.

but
It's foreseeable that the road back won't be easy.

but.
Huang Taiji also made ample preparations.

In the mountains and forests
Who is the hunter and who is the prey remains to be seen!
"set off!"

Huang Taiji tightened his whip and shouted at his troops behind him.

"Head towards Hetu Ala at top speed!"

Huang Taiji has led his troops to withdraw from the Khorchin camp.

Meanwhile, Kaiyuan City is a hundred miles away.

A tense atmosphere permeated the governor's mansion.

Just as Xiong Tingbi put down the land reclamation documents in his hand, two Khorchin herdsmen, covered in snow and dressed in rags, were brought in by his guards. The two knelt on the ground, their lips frozen purple, and their voices trembled as they uttered news that Xiong Tingbi had never expected:

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal! Something terrible has happened! Huang Taiji... Huang Taiji has led his cavalry in a surprise attack on the camp of the Left Wing Rear Banner of Khorchin!"

Prince Shunli...

He has already died in battle!

"What did you say?!"

Xiong Tingbi suddenly stood up from his seat.

He strode up to the herdsmen, grabbed one of them by the collar, his eyes sharp as knives, his tone incredulous.

"Shouldn't Huang Taiji be on his way to Fushun? Why would he be launching a surprise attack on Khorchin? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

The herdsman was trembling with fear, but he still forced himself to speak:

"No, we didn't see wrong! We saw it with our own eyes! Yellow cavalry, carrying a flag with the character 'gold' on it, led by Huang Taiji wearing yellow armor!"

The camp was burned, the cattle and sheep were stolen, and many people were killed...

We escaped during the chaos, running for two days and two nights before finally reaching Kaiyuan!

Another herdsman nodded quickly, pulling out a piece of charred cloth from his pocket, on which the totem of the Khorchin tribe could still be seen:

"This is the cloth from our Taiji tent... Look, it's all burned!"

Looking at the charred cloth, and recalling the news from Hetu Ala a few days earlier that "Huang Taiji is preparing to surrender," Xiong Tingbi felt a surge of anger rise from the bottom of his heart. He had actually been deceived by Huang Taiji's feigned surrender!
The so-called "personally going to Fushun to apologize" was actually a ploy to lull the Ming army into a false sense of security, giving the Jurchens an opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Khorchin and plunder supplies!
"The news has arrived that Li Mao is the guerrilla general!"

Xiong Tingbi abruptly released the herdsman and shouted loudly towards the outside of the tent.

Li Mao was the general in charge of scouting intelligence in the Hetu Ala direction. According to the rules, he was required to report the movements of the Jurchens to him every day, but up to this point, he had not received any news of "Huang Taiji sending troops to Khorchin"!

A moment later, Li Mao, the guerrilla general, ran into the tent, panting. Just as he was about to salute, he was startled by Xiong Tingbi's gaze.

"General, what are your orders for summoning me here?"

"Orders?"

Xiong Tingbi stepped forward, pointed at the herdsmen on the ground, his tone filled with barely suppressed anger.

"Huang Taiji led his troops in a surprise attack on the Khorchin, killed Mangus, and seized cattle and sheep! Where are your scouts? Where is your intelligence? Why haven't you reported even a single piece of news?!"

Li Mao's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he knelt down with a thud, his body trembling like a leaf.
"Please forgive me, General! I... I saw a message from my scouts a few days ago saying that Huang Taiji has set off from Hetu Ala and is heading towards Fushun."

Thinking he was genuinely going to apologize, they... withdrew the scouts on the west side of Hetu Ala, leaving only those on the east side to keep watch in the direction of Fushun... Who, who knew he would detour to launch a surprise attack on Khorchin!

His voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

A few days ago, the whole of Liaodong was spreading rumors that "Huang Taiji is going to surrender". Even the military governor's office was preparing for the surrender. So he relaxed his vigilance and thought that there was no war in Liaodong for the time being, so there was no need to waste manpower to keep an eye on the Jurchens who were "preparing to surrender". Little did he know that this was a trap set by Huang Taiji!
"You! You idiot!"

Enraged, Xiong Tingbi kicked Li Mao in the chest, sending him tumbling several steps backward.

He turned around and strode to the desk, where he pulled out the imperial sword hanging on the wall.

"You have misled military intelligence and ruined a great undertaking! According to military law, you deserve to be executed!"

As he spoke, he reached forward with his sword, which frightened Li Mao so much that he kowtowed repeatedly.
"Lord General, spare me! Lord General, spare me! This humble general knows he was wrong! Please give this humble general a chance to atone for his sins and make amends!"

"Ming Gong!"

Zhou Wenhuan quickly stepped forward and grabbed Xiong Tingbi's arm.

“Killing him now will not undo the losses suffered by Khorchin, nor will it stop Huang Taiji!”
The most important thing right now is to send troops to pursue Huang Taiji and recover the losses, not to punish the generals!

Xiong Tingbi's hand holding the sword trembled slightly, and the anger in his eyes was gradually suppressed by reason.

He took a deep breath, looked at Li Mao kneeling on the ground trembling, then at Zhou Wenhuan, and finally shoved the imperial sword back into its sheath with a clang.

"Death penalty can be avoided, but living crime cannot be avoided!"

Xiong Tingbi's voice was icy.

"Men! Strip him of his armor, remove him from his military rank, and send him to the Vanguard Battalion!"

Upon hearing this, Li Mao's face instantly turned pale, and he even stopped kowtowing.

What kind of place is the Vanguard Camp?
That was the Ming army's suicide squad!

When attacking a city, you must be the first to climb the ladder; when charging into battle, you must be the first to charge. The casualty rate in each battle is close to 50%. Of those who go in, nine out of ten will not survive!
"The... the Grand Coordinator..."

Li Mao's voice was trembling with tears, and he wanted to plead for mercy, but when he met Xiong Tingbi's cold gaze, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

He knew that if he disobeyed, he would die by the imperial sword right now.

If we go to the vanguard camp, at least there's still a glimmer of hope.

"This humble general...this humble general is willing to go to the Vanguard Camp to atone for his crimes and perform meritorious service!"

Li Mao gritted his teeth and kowtowed three times heavily, his forehead hitting the cold ground, drawing blood.

Two guards immediately stepped forward, lifted Li Mao up, stripped him of his guerrilla general's armor, leaving him only in his undergarments, and led him toward the vanguard camp.

After the departure of guerrilla general Li Mao.

Zhou Wenhuan stood beside Xiong Tingbi, his brows furrowed in worry.

"My lord, Huang Taiji used a feigned surrender to launch a surprise attack on Khorchin. He has not yet gone far with the looted supplies. If we do not make arrangements quickly, he may escape back to Hetu Ala, and it will be difficult to eliminate him in the future!"

Xiong Tingbi raised his hand and placed it on the map on the table, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes:
"Hmph! I originally planned to wait until spring, when the food and provisions were plentiful and the soldiers were well-rested, before launching a campaign against Hetu Ala to completely wipe out the Jurchens."

But Huang Taiji insisted on courting death, deceiving this general with a feigned surrender, and even dared to kill the Shunli Prince (Mangus) appointed by my Great Ming! This grudge will be settled today!

boom!
He slammed his hand on the table, causing the ink and brush on it to tremble slightly.

He thought that by plundering the Khorchin tribe and taking some cattle and sheep as captives, he could return safely.

What a dream!

"Pass down the order: immediately summon all generals of the White Tiger Hall for a meeting. Anyone late will be punished according to military law!"

"Yes!"

The guards responded with a resounding roar, then turned and strode out of the governor's mansion, their hooves thundering through the snow-covered streets as they raced toward the residences of the various generals.

Only half an hour.

Inside the White Tiger Hall, all the generals gathered and stood solemnly on both sides.

Generals Liu Xingzuo, Chen Ce, and Li Bingcheng had all arrived, as had Wang Chengen from the Directorate of Ceremonial and Imperial Envoy Yang Lian.

The previous ease had vanished from everyone's faces.

Xiong Tingbi walked to the map in the hall and said in a deep voice:

"The herdsmen who just escaped from Khorchin have confirmed that Huang Taiji led his cavalry to raid the camp. Mangus was killed in battle, and most of his cattle, sheep and prisoners were taken away."

Huang Taiji's move was to first lull our army into a false surrender, and then take the opportunity to plunder supplies to replenish the Jurchen's strength.

But despite his meticulous planning, he overlooked one crucial point.

The sword of my Great Ming Dynasty is already at his throat!

Xiong Tingbi's eyes gleamed, and his voice suddenly rose as he said, "I have summoned you all here today to lay a trap so that Huang Taiji will never return!"

He immediately began issuing orders!
"Earl Liu Xingzuo, the Marquis of Weilu!"

"The general is here!"

Liu Xingzuo stood up abruptly, his voice booming like a bell.

He had already been given the task of managing the grasslands in his previous rewards, and now that Huang Taiji had plundered the Khorchin tribe, it was as if he had been slapped in the face.

If this grudge is not avenged, if this anger is not vented, how can Liu Xingzuo manage the grasslands and how can he make the various tribes of the grasslands submit?

Xiong Tingbi was very satisfied with Liu Xingzuo's fighting spirit and said:

"Weilubo, you lead three thousand cavalry as the vanguard and set off immediately, following the hoofprints along the Horqin grassland!"

Remember, there's no need to engage the main Jurchen force head-on. Just keep an eye on them, sending messengers daily to report Huang Taiji's movements, buying time for the main army to encircle them!

Xiong Tingbi's gaze fell on Liu Xingzuo, his tone filled with trust.

"You are familiar with the terrain of Mongolia, so this vanguard position is perfect for you!"

"I will obey your orders!"

Liu Xingzuo bowed and accepted the order. He turned to go and muster the troops, but Xiong Tingbi stopped him by raising his hand: "Take ten days' worth of dry rations and plenty of arrows. The grasslands are cold, so be sure to take good care of the brothers."

"Thank you for your concern, General!"

Liu Xingzuo felt a warmth in his heart, took the token, and strode out of the hall.

"The Earl of Dinglu!"

"The general is here!"

Chen Ce stepped out of the ranks slowly. Although the old general, who was over sixty, had graying temples, he still stood tall and his eyes showed composure.

"You will lead your 5,000 infantrymen as the rear guard, carrying provisions and tents, and follow closely behind Liu Xingzuo to the Khorchin camp."

Upon arrival, they first gathered up the remnants of the Khorchin tribe and pacified the herdsmen, then coordinated with Liu Xingzuo's cavalry to form a pincer attack.

If Huang Taiji turns around and counterattacks, you will lead your troops to guard the key roads and cut off his retreat!

"Understood, sir!" Chen Ce bowed and accepted the order, his eyes resolute.

"Li Bingcheng, the General of Fengji Fort!"

"The general is here!"

Li Bingcheng stepped forward in response.

"You shall lead your four thousand troops and immediately proceed from Kaiyuan, Tieling, and Fushun along the mountain paths into the forests. Block the mountain roads with rolling logs and boulders, and then send out scouts to patrol!"

"Your route is like the bottom of a pocket; we absolutely cannot let Huang Taiji slip through you!"

"Your humble servant obeys! Even at the cost of my life, I will never let Huang Taiji set foot on the mountain path!"

Li Bingcheng clasped his hands in a deep fist salute, accepted the order, and left.

Just then, Yang Lian, who had been standing quietly in the corner, suddenly spoke.

“Since the strategy to encircle and annihilate the bandit chief has been decided, my men should also do their part.”

Upon hearing the sound, Xiong Tingbi turned his head sharply, his eyes filled with surprise.

These days, he was constantly on edge, fearing that Yang Lian would lead the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate the old accounts of military affairs in Liaodong. After all, there was no clean place in the Nine Border Regions, and Liaodong was no exception.

If a thorough investigation were to be conducted, it would inevitably stir up morale among the troops.

However, since Yang Lian arrived in Kaiyuan, he has only silently read the reports and checked the defenses, without mentioning the case at all. Now he has taken the initiative to volunteer to help in the battle. This insight and understanding of the bigger picture surprised him.

He composed himself and carefully replied:

"You're very kind, Du Tang."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is skilled in tracking and investigation, so it would be appropriate to send them to investigate the movement of the Later Jin's grain supplies and report military intelligence.

As for the guards around the governor, it's best to keep them by his side. Although Kaiyuan is stable, it's still possible for spies to infiltrate.

His words both gave Yang Lian face and reminded him that Kaiyuan City was not actually safe.

After all, Yang Lian was an imperial envoy personally appointed by His Majesty, and no mistakes could be tolerated.

Yang Lian smiled slightly upon hearing this, somewhat unconvinced.

"The commander-in-chief is confident in the security of the city. Kaiyuan's defenses are impregnable, and with other generals stationed outside the city, what danger could there be?"

However, in the matter of besieging and suppressing Huang Taiji, every bit of effort put in will increase the chances of victory.

"I have a lieutenant general under my command named Li Hongji. He comes from humble origins but is brave and skilled in battle. He was known for his charging into battle and fearlessness when he quelled the Wenxiangjiao uprising in Shandong."

If the strategist is trustworthy, he can be assigned some tasks; he will surely prove useful.

Upon hearing this, Xiong Tingbi was slightly taken aback.

He was not entirely unfamiliar with the name Li Hongji.

Military reports had previously mentioned that this man was originally a post station worker in Yinchuan, but for some unknown reason, His Majesty promoted him exceptionally. He made great contributions in suppressing the Wenxiang Sect rebellion in Shandong this year and rose all the way to the rank of adjutant general.

Since he was personally promoted by His Majesty, he must be no ordinary person.

after all.

Xiong Tingbi is aware of His Majesty's ability to judge character.

From the time he himself was given an important position by His Majesty to the promotion of Chen Ce, Man Gui and others, His Majesty's judgment in choosing people has never been wrong.

He nodded immediately, his voice now carrying a hint of certainty:
"Since he was recommended by the capital and is a brave general selected by His Majesty, I, the commander-in-chief, can naturally trust him."

He then ordered Li Hongji, a military officer, to accompany General Li Bingcheng to the mountain path to assist in setting up an ambush.

The mountain path is narrow, and it is precisely the presence of valiant warriors who can intercept and kill the fleeing Later Jin troops and block Huang Taiji's retreat.

Yang Lian nodded in satisfaction upon hearing the arrangement and said, "The General's arrangement is appropriate. Although Li Hongji has a fiery temper, he is very adaptable. Setting up an ambush on a mountain road is the best test of his ability to respond to situations. He will certainly not disappoint the General."

Xiong Tingbi nodded.

"Let's see what kind of abilities this person, whom both the Grand Secretary and His Majesty value, possess!"

After assigning Li Hongji a job.

Next.

Xiong Tingbi then issued a series of orders:

Zhou Wenhuan was ordered to remain in Kaiyuan to be responsible for the transfer of grain and military reports.

The Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) were ordered to strengthen their reconnaissance of Hetu Ala and closely monitor the movements of the Jurchen troops remaining there.

He ordered all garrisons to strengthen their defenses to prevent the Jurchens from launching a surprise attack...

Every military order was clear and specific, directly targeting the core objective of "encircling and annihilating Huang Taiji".

After issuing these orders, he seemed to remember something and said:

"There is one more thing. Immediately send a message to Sun Chengzong, the Minister of Liaoyang, and instruct him to transfer the troops stationed in Liaoyang to approach Hetu Ala, thereby tying down the Jurchen troops left behind and completely cutting off Huang Taiji's retreat!"

Zhou Wenhuan quickly replied, "I will draft the letter immediately and send it out by express courier!"

After a long time.

After everyone left the White Tiger Hall.

Xiong Tingbi picked up the imperial sword from the table, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes:
The blood feud between the people of Liaodong and the Jurchens, the overwhelming hatred for Xiong Tingbi for being deceived by Huang Taiji with a feigned surrender, and the fact that Mangus, who had just been conferred the title of Prince Shunli by the Ming Dynasty, was killed by Huang Taiji like a dog—all these events were like a slap in the face to him.
These debts will be settled all at once this time!
Huang Taiji!
Xiong Tingbi's eyes were filled with murderous intent.

You don't want to live a few more days, and you don't cherish the chance to surrender.

Now they even dare to step out of Hetu Ala and carry out acts of sneak attacks and rebellion.

The Ming Dynasty's face is not so easily slapped; my anger, Xiong Tingbi, requires lives to extinguish.

Your father Nurhaci's body is not yet cold, so go down and join him!
Those who offend our Great Ming Dynasty, no matter how far away, shall be punished!

Jianzhou Jurchen
They no longer deserve to exist in this world!
PS:

7800 words

I've been updating a lot these days, more than 15,000 words a day, and I'm getting a bit tired of writing.

No one is more diligent in governing than I am!
Also.

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(End of this chapter)