Chief Armaments Master of the Ming Dynasty

Zhao's 4,000 elite cavalry arrived at the city of Zunhua early the next morning.

They were late.

Before us, the city of Zunhua no longer flies the flags of the Ming Dynasty, but the dragon flags of the Jin army.

At the city gate, the corpses of the soldiers who had just been slaughtered were piled up, and blood flowed down the street, forming dark red streams.

Zhao Shuaijiao reined in his warhorse, staring at the dragon flag with eyes wide with rage.

"General, let's retreat," the lieutenant whispered, "The Jurchens have already occupied Zunhua. We have four thousand men; we can't take it down."

Zhao Shuaijiao remained silent.

He knew the lieutenant was right.

Four thousand cavalrymen, without siege equipment, would only be committing suicide by launching a direct attack on the already fallen city of Zunhua.

But he was not willing to give up.

He rushed all the way from Shanhaiguan, without sleeping for two days and two nights, just to enter Zunhua before the Jurchens and guard this gateway.

He almost succeeded.

It was so close.

Just then, the gates of Zunhua city were opened wide.

A dark mass of Jin cavalry poured out of the city and charged toward Zhao Shuaijiao's troops.

It was Huang Taiji.

He had already anticipated that Ming reinforcements would arrive.

He was in Zunhua, waiting for them.

"Form ranks!" Zhao Shuaijiao ordered sternly.

Four thousand Guan Ning cavalrymen quickly formed ranks, ready to meet the enemy.

However, the number of Jin cavalry far exceeded theirs.

At least ten thousand cavalry.

They surged out of Zunhua city, broke through the mountain valleys on both sides, and surrounded us from all directions.

Zhao Shuaijiao knew this was a dead end.

But he did not back down.

"Brothers!" he shouted, drawing his sword. His voice boomed like thunder. "We have been blessed by our country for generations; today is the time to repay it! Follow me and kill the traitors!"

"kill--!"

Four thousand Guan Ning cavalrymen charged into battle against an enemy force several times their size.

Iron hooves thundered, and swords flashed like snow.

The two cavalry units clashed violently in the open fields outside Zunhua City.

The sounds of clashing weapons, neighing warhorses, screams, and angry curses mingled together.

Blood and flesh flew everywhere, and people and horses were thrown about.

Zhao Shuaijiao was at the very front.

His swordsmanship was simple and unadorned, but every strike was ruthless and deadly.

A Jin cavalryman charged towards him, but he dodged to the side, and with a backhand slash, severed the man's neck.

Another person charged at him, but he smashed his face with the back of his knife.

He was covered in blood, and it was impossible to tell whether it was from the enemy or his own.

His personal guards fell one after another.

The four thousand Guan Ning cavalrymen were quickly dwindling in number under the siege of an enemy several times their size.

Three thousand, two thousand, one thousand...

Zhao Shuaijiao had no idea how many people he had killed.

His arms were already numb and sore, the blade was bent, and he had more than a dozen wounds of varying sizes on his body, his battle robe soaked in blood.

But he's still killing.

In his eyes, there were only enemies.

A long spear thrust in from the side, piercing his ribs.

Zhao Shuaijiao grunted, chopped off the spear shaft with a single stroke, and then plunged the knife into the man's chest.

Another arrow came and embedded itself in his shoulder.

He pulled out the arrow and continued killing.

Finally, everyone around him collapsed.

He was left all alone, surrounded by countless golden legions.

Huang Taiji looked at the Ming general, covered in blood and still wielding his chipped sword, from a distance, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

"Ask him if he is willing to surrender," Huang Taiji said. "Such a brave general is a pity to kill."

An interpreter stepped forward and shouted in Chinese: "Listen, Ming general! The Great Khan admires your bravery. If you surrender, you will enjoy endless riches and honors!"

Zhao Shuaijiao laughed heartily.

His laughter was hoarse and sorrowful, echoing across the bloody battlefield.

"I am Zhao Shuaijiao, General of the Ming Dynasty! How could I surrender to the barbarians!"

He turned the blade and held it to his neck.

"I am exhausted."

A flash of light appeared.

Zhao Shuaijiao's body slowly fell from the horse.

The battlefield was silent.

Even the Jin army was intimidated by the fierceness of this Ming general.

Huang Taiji remained silent for a long time, then said in a low voice, "Give him a proper burial."

In the Battle of Zunhua, Zhao Shuaijiao, the general of Shanhaiguan, lost his entire army and died a heroic death.

Of the four thousand Guan Ning cavalry, not a single one survived.

When the news reached Beijing, it caused a stir throughout the court.

Emperor Chongzhen summoned his cabinet ministers to the platform to inquire about strategies for defending against the enemy.

The cabinet ministers looked at each other, none of them able to offer a response.

The empire's central command appeared utterly powerless in the face of crisis.

---

In November, Beijing is swept by biting north winds.

At this time of year, people in Beijing would already be busy preparing for the New Year, with temple fairs and markets bustling with activity.

But this year, the nine gates were tightly closed, and the streets were deserted, with only soldiers patrolling the city and supply wagons passing by occasionally.

Every household had its doors and windows tightly shut, with only occasional suppressed cries and prayers escaping from the cracks in the doors.

The Jin army has already passed Jizhou.

It is less than 100 miles from Beijing.

Deshengmen.

On the city wall, the soldiers, wrapped in thin winter clothes, shivered in the cold wind.

Their faces were filled with fear and confusion.

How many years has it been since the soldiers of the Beijing Garrison have seen a battle?

The last time the capital was besieged by enemy troops was during the Gengxu Incident in the Jiajing era.

That was eighty years ago.

"They're here...they're here..." someone said, pointing tremblingly to the north.

On the horizon, thick smoke and dust rose.

The dark mass of Jin cavalry surged in from the north like a flood overflowing its banks.

The armor reflected a cold, icy light in the winter sun, and countless dragon flags fluttered in the wind.

The thunderous hoofbeats shook the earth and every fearful heart on the city wall.

"Enemy attack—!"

The mournful sound of horns tore through the sky above the capital.

Above the nine gates, beacon fires blazed, and billowing black smoke rose straight into the sky, as if it were the last breath of this imperial capital.

On the city wall, the defenders hurriedly set up muskets and crossbows, and pushed rolling stones and logs toward the crenellations.

The officers roared, trying to get these raw recruits, who had never been on the battlefield, into ranks.

But fear spread like a plague; some people's hands trembled so much they couldn't even draw a bow, while others slumped in a corner, shivering.

A young soldier, who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, squatted under the crenellations, holding a spear. His face was pale and his lips trembled incessantly.

"Mother... Mother..." he murmured unconsciously, his eyes vacant.

No one laughed at him.

Because everyone is pretty much the same.

outside the city.

Huang Taiji stopped his horse on a small hill and gazed at the majestic city wall in the distance.

His gaze was calm, even carrying a hint of appreciation.

Beijing, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, the center of the world.

He had heard his father and uncles talk about this city when he was very young.

They said it was the most prosperous and fortified city in the world, the heart of the Ming Dynasty.

From that time on, he dreamed of one day bringing his own iron cavalry to the city.

Now, he has arrived.

It's not quite what I dreamed of.

There was no excitement, no fanaticism, only calm calculation.

"Great Khan, shall we attack the city?" Beile Abatai rode forward, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Huang Taiji did not answer immediately.

He gazed at the Ming army flags fluttering on the city wall of Beijing, and at the indistinct, panicked figures, and remained silent for a long time.

Then, he shook his head.

"Do not attack."

"Not attack?" Abatai was stunned. "We've traveled a thousand miles and finally reached the gates of Beijing, why not attack?"

Huang Taiji glanced at him, a hint of reprimand in his eyes: "So what if we conquered it?"

Abatai opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.

Yes, so what if we take it?

Can they hold it?

The Ming Dynasty still had Jiangnan, Huguang, and countless people and wealth.

Even if these tens of thousands of people were to capture Beijing, they would be surrounded and killed in this isolated city by the army that came to the aid of the emperor.

"What are we here for?" Huang Taiji's voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the surrounding princes and generals. "Are we here to occupy Champa, or to plunder grain?"

Everyone fell silent.

Huang Taiji pointed his riding whip at Beijing: "This city will be mine sooner or later. But not now. Now, what I want are people, grain, livestock, ironware, and everything I can take back. I want the Ming emperor to know that I can come and go as I please in his capital. I want his subjects to know that their court cannot even protect its own capital."

He paused, a cold smile playing on his lips: "This is true humiliation. It hurts him more than killing him."

The princes suddenly understood and nodded in agreement.

Huang Taiji turned his horse around, his back to Beijing, and said in a calm but unquestionable voice: "Send out the order. Surround Beijing but do not attack. Divide your troops and send them out in all directions to sweep through the capital region. Liangxiang, Gu'an, Fangshan, Tongzhou... all the prefectures and counties that did not have time to implement a scorched-earth policy, leave no one alive. Remember, a swift and decisive battle, do not linger. Yuan Chonghuan's main force of the Guan-Ning Army is almost here."

"Yes!" the generals responded in unison and rode away.

Huang Taiji took one last look at Beijing.

As dusk settled, the majestic city, under the dim yellow sky, resembled a giant prostrate on the ground, silent and helpless.

He turned his horse around and galloped north.

Behind them were countless iron cavalry and billowing dust.

The next two weeks became a nightmare for the people of the capital region.

The Jin cavalry swept across the capital region like locusts.

Liangxiang, Gu'an, Fangshan, Tongzhou... one county town after another, one village after another, were reduced to ruins under the iron heel.

They took everything they could, including grain, livestock, ironware, cloth, and even pots and pans.

What you can't take with you, burn it all.

Young and strong men were captured and enslaved, tied together with ropes, and driven northward. The elderly, weak, women, and children who resisted were killed instantly.

The firelight illuminated the night sky over the capital region.

Cries echoed from every looted village and town, only to be swallowed up by the howling north wind.

Tongzhou.

This important town in eastern Beijing was the terminus of the Grand Canal, where grain from the south was continuously transported to the city before being transferred to the capital.

The city's granaries were piled high with grain.

When the Jin army breached the city, the defending troops in Tongzhou had already collapsed.

The Jin army spent three days and three nights transporting the grain from the granary, and when they couldn't finish, they burned it all.

Flames shot into the sky, visible for miles around.

A scholar who witnessed all of this wrote in his diary:

"The Jurchens set fire to the Tongzhou granary, the smoke and flames obscuring the sky, turning night into day. The stench of burnt grain wafted on the wind, its aroma carrying for miles. Alas! This was the hard-earned money of the people of the southeast, transported thousands of miles by canal, now reduced to ashes! How tragic!"

It hurts.

But no matter how painful it is, you can only watch helplessly.

In Beijing, Emperor Chongzhen stood on Coal Hill, gazing silently at the firelight in the direction of Tongzhou.

The eunuch Cao Huachun stood cautiously behind him, not daring to breathe.

"Where is Yuan Chonghuan?" Emperor Chongzhen suddenly asked, his voice hoarse. "Where is his Guan Ning Army?"

"Your Majesty, Commander Yuan's troops have arrived in Jizhou," Cao Huachun reported, bowing. "They are currently engaged in battle with the Jurchens."

"Battle..." Chongzhen repeated the two words, his gaze still fixed on the distant flames. "Send an edict to Yuan Chonghuan, tell him... to hurry."

"This servant obeys the decree."

Cao Huachun bowed and withdrew.

On Coal Hill, only Emperor Chongzhen remained.

He gazed at the night sky, reddened by the firelight, his thin face expressionless.

But his hands gripped the railing tightly, his knuckles turning white.

---

Yuan Chonghuan's Guan Ning Army has finally arrived.

Twenty thousand elite cavalrymen galloped from Shanhaiguan, day and night.

Along the way, they clashed with the Jin army's cavalry many times, resulting in casualties on both sides.

But Yuan Chonghuan dared not linger in battle; his target was Beijing.

They had to reach the walls of Beijing before Huang Taiji.

On November 19, the Guan Ning Army arrived outside Beijing.

Yuan Chonghuan stopped his horse outside Guangqumen, gazing at the lights of the Jin army camp in the distance, his brow furrowed.

He was a step behind Huang Taiji.

The Jin army had already swept through half of the capital region, capturing countless people, livestock, and valuables.

His Guan Ning army, having been on the move for days, was exhausted and in dire need of rest.

But Huang Taiji did not give him time to rest.

The next day, early morning.

Outside Guangqumen, the sound of bugles suddenly rang out.

The Jin army has been mobilized.

This time, Huang Taiji no longer avoided battle.

He wanted to take advantage of the fact that the Guan Ning Army was not yet firmly established and defeat them in one fell swoop.

A dark mass of cavalry poured out of the Jin army camp and lined up in formation on the open field outside Guangqumen.

The armor reflected a cold, icy light in the morning sun, and countless dragon banners fluttered in the wind.

Yuan Chonghuan stood at the front of the formation, looking at the well-organized army opposite him with a solemn expression.

This was his first direct confrontation with Huang Taiji.

Ningyuan and Ningjin, he was the one guarding the city.

This time, it's a field battle.

Their opponent was the Jin army's most elite cavalry.

His Guan Ning army, however, was exhausted from their day and night march.

But he had no way out.

Beijing is right behind us.

He was the Governor-General of Jiliao, and the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty.

The Great Wall must not fall.

"Zu Dashou," he said in a deep voice.

"Your subordinate is here!" Zu Dashou responded and stepped forward.

This fierce general from Liaodong was the most senior and accomplished commander-in-chief in the Guan-Ning Army, and Yuan Chonghuan placed high hopes on him.

"You will lead the central army to meet the enemy head-on. Remember, do not be reckless; proceed steadily and surely."

"This subordinate obeys!"

"Man Gui," Yuan Chonghuan called out again.

"Your subordinate is here!" A burly man with a full beard stepped forward.

He was Man Gui, the General of Datong, a Mongol, brave and skilled in battle, and the top general of Xuanda Town.

"You will lead the Xuanda cavalry to flank them from the left. Remember, your opponent is the right wing of the Jurchens, the Bordered White Banner of Abatai, a tough nut to crack."

"Understood, sir!" Man Gui grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

"Hou Shilu," Yuan Chonghuan called out finally.

"Your subordinate is here."

"You will lead your troops to provide support from the right flank. Remember, your task is to contain the enemy and prevent their left flank from encircling you. There's no need for a desperate fight; just hold them off."

"This subordinate obeys."

Once the deployment was complete, Yuan Chonghuan drew his sword and raised it high above his head.

"All troops, listen to my command! Advance!"

The war drums beat and the bugles sounded.

The Guan Ning Army advanced forward in neat formations.

The infantry were in the center, their spears forming a forest, with musketeers interspersed among them.

The cavalry protected the flanks, their hooves thundering.

Swords and spears gleamed coldly in the morning light, and the soldiers' faces were filled with tension and determination.

On the opposite side, the Jin cavalry began their charge.

The thunderous hooves shook the earth.

The two armies drew ever closer on the open field outside Guangqumen.

Five hundred steps.

Three hundred steps.

Two hundred steps.

"put!"

Firearms roared from the Ming army ranks. Bang! Bang! Bang! Smoke billowed, and sparks flew. The Jin cavalrymen at the forefront fell in droves, men and horses sprawling. But those behind did not retreat, stepping over the corpses of their comrades, and continued their charge.

"Release the arrows!"

The Ming archers released their bows. Arrows rained down, obscuring the sky. The Jin cavalry raised their shields to parry, but men continued to be struck by arrows and fall from their horses.

One hundred steps.

The Jin cavalrymen drew their bows and began to retaliate. Their archery was terrifyingly accurate, and Ming soldiers fell one after another with screams of agony.

Fifty steps.

The cavalry charge reached its maximum speed. The tremors of the earth caused every Ming soldier's heart to tremble.

"Hold on! Hold on!" the officers roared.

Thirty steps.

The cavalrymen's faces were now clearly visible—dark, murderous, and disdainful faces. The white breath exhaled by their warhorses almost hit the faces of the Ming soldiers.

"kill--!"

The two armies clashed violently.

In an instant, the sounds of clashing weapons, screams, neighing horses, and shattering bones mingled together. Blood and flesh flew everywhere. Ming infantrymen in the front ranks were knocked away by galloping horses, their breastbones shattered, and blood gushing from their mouths.

But their spears also pierced the necks of warhorses and plunged into the chests of cavalrymen. Both sides traded their lives for each other.

Zu Dashou's central army was under the greatest pressure.

The central force of the Jin army consisted of the Plain Yellow Banner, personally led by Huang Taiji, the elite of the elite.

They charged wave after wave, trying to break through the Ming army's formation.

Zu Dashou led the charge, wielding a long-handled broadsword, charging left and right at the front lines. His battle robe was soaked in blood, indistinguishable between the enemy's and his own.

"Hold on! Hold on for me!" he roared, his voice already hoarse.

On the left flank, Man Gui's Xuanda cavalry clashed with Abatai's Bordered White Banner.

Man Gui was a Mongol, and his cavalry were mostly surrendered soldiers from the Mongols and Jurchens, whose bravery was no less than that of the Jin army.

Two cavalry units chased and fought each other across the open field, swords flashing and horses tumbling.

Man Gui wielded a heavy spiked club and smashed the head of a Jin cavalryman with one blow, splattering brains and blood all over his face.

He licked the blood from the corner of his mouth and laughed wildly, as if he had gone mad.

On the right flank, Hou Shilu's troops were under immense pressure.

They weren't as capable as Man Gui, and could only rely on their formation and firearms to hold on.

The left wing of the Jin army was the Bordered Blue Banner, led by Jirhalang, the younger brother of the banner chief Amin, who was also a seasoned general with many battles under his command.

He noticed that the Ming army's right flank was relatively weak, so he personally led his troops in wave after wave of fierce attacks.

Hou Shilu's formation was breached several times, only to be re-blocked by his personal guards who fought desperately to keep it open.

He shouted sternly from his horse, his voice hoarse, waving his command flag and mobilizing the last reserves.

He knew he was about to give up.

But he also knew that he couldn't back down.

If he retreats, the entire right flank of the Ming army will collapse, and the central army will be surrounded.

The battle lasted from dawn until afternoon.

Outside Guangqumen, the wilderness was littered with corpses and rivers of blood.

Both sides suffered heavy losses, but neither could completely overwhelm the other.

Huang Taiji stood on a small hill behind him, watching the stalemate in the battle, his brows furrowed.

He hadn't expected the Ming army to be so capable.

The Guan Ning Army truly lived up to its reputation.

"Great Khan, let me lead the Plain White Banner in a charge!" Beile Mangultai volunteered, his eyes filled with resentment.

Huang Taiji shook his head.

"withdraw troops."

"Great Khan!" Mangultai exclaimed anxiously.

"I said we should withdraw." Huang Taiji's voice was not loud, but it left no room for argument. "Yuan Chonghuan is a tough nut to crack. If we try to bite him head-on, we'll break our teeth. We can't afford to waste time."

Mangultai angrily cracked his whip and rode off to deliver the order.

The retreat bugle sounded. The Jin cavalry retreated like a receding tide. They did not scatter; their ranks remained disciplined, and as they retreated, they fired arrows at the pursuing Ming army, covering the main force's slow withdrawal back to their camp.

The Ming army did not pursue. They were too exhausted. So exhausted that they didn't even have the strength to cheer.

Yuan Chonghuan halted his horse before the enemy lines, watching the retreating Jin army, his face devoid of any joy of victory. He knew this was only the beginning. Huang Taiji would not give up easily. And his Guan Ning army had already suffered thousands of casualties.

Zu Dashou rode forward, covered in blood, his voice hoarse: "Commander-in-Chief, the Jurchens have retreated. We... held them off."

Yuan Chonghuan nodded without saying a word.

He gazed at the distant city of Beijing. On the city walls, he could vaguely see countless throngs of people and fluttering Ming Dynasty flags. He had defended Beijing. But he didn't know how the people within the city would view him.