In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 693 Breaking Through the Stronghold: Seventeen Kills Ten Thousand Enemies

Night had fallen; on the easternmost side of Haramulin...

The cold moon hangs high, its clear light spilling through the dappled woods.

This place has penetrated deep into the southern border of the Doyan Three Guards.

And it is already separated from Liaodong by a single line.

The vanguard scouts were stationed here.
Three hundred scouts have already spread outwards in a fan shape from the eastern side of the military camp.

Their eyes were sharp, not missing a single detail.
The goal was to detect the Jurchens ten miles from their camp.

This will buy the main force in the rear ample time to respond.

The camp was filled with a strong stench of blood.

After a day of fierce fighting, the 5,000 soldiers of the vanguard scout unit were divided into five armies.

They stormed and breached all the Jurchen camps in the Haramu Forest with unstoppable momentum.

Inside the central command tent, the candlelight flickered.

The light reflected off Lu Yunyi's resolute face, creating a flickering effect.

He sat quietly in the main seat.
His posture was as upright as a pine tree, and his eyes were deep and profound.
He listened attentively to Yao Tongchen's report summarizing the battle events of the past two days.

"My lord, after two days of fierce fighting, our troops have completely wiped out the Jurchen camps in Halamu Forest."

"There are seventeen Jurchen camps in the Halamu Forest, each with a population of about a thousand."

Three of the camps were at full strength.
They numbered around 1,100 men and were studying the military system of the Ming Dynasty's garrison system.

The remaining fourteen camps were all missing half of their main force for various reasons, presumably because they had gone to the Liaodong battlefield.

Yao Tongchen flipped through the document, looking at the densely packed locations of camps and casualty figures.
Looking at the summary at the bottom, he took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"A total of 5,633 Jurchen barbarians were killed in this battle."

The Haixi Jurchen people numbered 3,120.

There were 1,680 captured soldiers from the grasslands.

A total of 10,433 people.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and the candlelight cast distorted shadows on his face.
Fewer than a hundred were captured alive.
All camps and military supplies that were inconvenient to carry were burned down.

All the Jurchen corpses lay exposed in the wilderness.

The tent curtains fluttered gently, and a cold breeze silently slipped in.
As the figure moved among the generals' ankles, a chill suddenly ran through their hearts.

Many of them were generals who had been replenished after the vanguard scouts suffered heavy losses.

Hearing this number, I felt as if the military camp in front of me had turned red.

I had long heard that the vanguard scouts were quite adept at eliminating enemy enemies.

After entering it, I also deeply felt this.

But now that they have the specific numbers, they are still breathless.

Too many, far too many have been killed.

Zhang Huai'an and the other sons of noble families had sweaty palms and their hair seemed to stand on end.

They all turned their gazes to Lu Yunyi at the head of the table, as well as the commanders of the thousand-man unit who were originally in charge of the vanguard scouts.
They were completely unfazed, their faces showing no emotion whatsoever, as if they had already gotten used to it.

At this moment, Lu Yunyi, who was at the head of the table, chuckled lightly, his eyes filled with amusement.

"You're done."

More than 10,000 Jurchens were captured during the twenty years of the Ming Dynasty's founding.

Only the few sweeps and raids conducted during the establishment of the Liaodong Military Command yielded such victories.
Because the Jurchens all hid in the mountains

To achieve a large-scale kill, you have to find them one by one.

The mountains and forests of Liaodong, much like those of the southwestern chieftains, are riddled with countless traps.

It's not worth trading the lives of Ming soldiers for them.

Therefore, Liaodong has rarely taken the initiative to advance its troops.

It is quite rare to see everyone spread out like this in the Haramu Forest these days.

"What are the casualties?"

Yao Tongchen quickly turned the page and said in a deep voice:
"Because of the enemy's negligence and the fact that we advanced on a snowy day."

In addition, the soldiers were elite and did not suffer too many losses.

The casualties were no more than a thousand, including 312 killed in action, 156 seriously wounded, 577 lightly wounded, and 93 new recruits with psychological trauma.

The various generals in the military tent had differing opinions regarding these casualties.

Both Zhang Huai'an, the commander of the Thousand Households, and Li Guangyuan, the commander of the Quanning Guard, felt that...
This battle loss is unbelievable.
They wouldn't believe it if they hadn't experienced it firsthand and only read the documents.

Moreover, the number of those killed or seriously wounded was roughly equal to the number of those lightly wounded.
This shows that the soldiers were fighting with all their might and were truly elite.

Wu Fuliu, sitting to the lower left, frowned and spoke in a deep voice:
"The seriously wounded and killed were mainly concentrated in the newly replenished 900 troops."
And of the two thousand elite soldiers of the Ningwei Guard, they accounted for nearly 80%.

Your Excellencies, please urge all armies and units to remain rational on the battlefield.

In the face of absolute victory or defeat, prioritize self-preservation.

Don't be afraid of the battle, but also don't act impulsively.
Furthermore, we should not launch a reckless attack in pursuit of a faster capture of the stronghold, which would only increase casualties.

Zhang Huai'an and Li Guangyuan both looked somewhat grave.

They all knew that Wu Fuliu commanded two thousand soldiers.
It was inconspicuous among the ruined village, yet exceptionally secure.
After the fierce battle, many were lightly wounded.
However, there were very few seriously injured or killed.

They exchanged a silent glance.
I still can't get used to the tactics of the forward scouts.
After all, all their military experience, apart from that, taught them that...
Soldiers must advance bravely and break through the enemy's defenses at all costs.

Taking a deep breath, Li Guangyuan spoke in a low voice:
"General Wu is right, the two thousand elite soldiers of Quanning Guard will be adjusted."

Zhang Huai'an also quickly spoke up:
"The same applies to our department."

Wu Fulu remained silent, while Lu Yunyi, seated at the head of the table, waved his hand.
"On a battlefield, people inevitably die, but those who shouldn't die must not die."

It's not that I'm reluctant to give up those compensation payments,
Rather, training another elite soldier of equal combat strength is too difficult.

"While the fighting in Haramulin had its flaws, it was still within an acceptable range overall."
Order the logistics department to select 300 of the lightly wounded who are relatively more seriously injured.
Transport the seriously wounded and the bodies of fallen brothers back to Quanning Guard, and also send the message back to Commander Liu Heiying.

"Yes!"

Yao Tongchen responded immediately, wrote everything down quickly, and recorded the general's order.

Lu Yunyi then asked:

"Let's talk about the various staff officers' analysis of the situation."

"Yes!"

Yao Tongchen took out another book, cleared his throat, and continued...

"The staff speculated that these Jurchens were all soldiers supporting the Liaodong battlefield."

Based on the scenario of temporarily drawing troops...
There are two possibilities regarding the Liaodong battlefield.
A major battle is about to begin, and the situation continues and is becoming increasingly tense.

The Jurchen people in these seventeen camps likely intended to bypass the Liaodong defense line.

This would allow them to encircle the 30,000 elite troops of Liaodong from the flank.
This will break the deadlock and turn the tide of the battle.

Therefore, further calculations suggest that on the right flank of the Liaodong battlefield,

That is, the direction of the Haixi Jurchen.
There are also garrison troops stationed there, and their numbers may be even greater.

After all, the Jurchens were able to bypass the battlefield and hide their generals and soldiers in the Haramu Forest.

It would be impossible not to station troops nearby.

The group nodded slightly.

Lu Yunyi tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

He made rhythmic sounds, pondered for a moment, and then said:

"continue."

Yao Tongchen opened the document, carefully examined the densely packed records, and slowly said:

Many advisors believed that if the main Jurchen force gathered outside the Liaodong border...

They will soon discover that our army has cut off their support forces here, and they will certainly not let it go.

On the one hand, they may intensify their offensive against the main battlefield.

They attempted to break through the Liaodong defense line as soon as possible to relieve pressure on the rear.

On the other hand, it cannot be ruled out that they might draw troops from other areas.
They might then launch a retaliatory counterattack against our army, but that's highly unlikely.

Lu Yunyi nodded, looking at everyone present. Several generals nodded in agreement.
Only Zhang Huai'an and other second-generation members looked puzzled, but no one gave him an answer.

"continue."

"Yes!"

"The staff officer provided two countermeasures."

Firstly, taking advantage of the fact that the main force of the Jurchens was preoccupied with other matters,

After resting for several days, our troops launched a proactive attack, penetrating deep into the Jurchen heartland.
To launch a surprise attack on their key rear strongholds, disrupting their rear deployment and preventing them from coordinating their defenses,

This would relieve the pressure on the Liaodong front and force them to retreat!

Secondly, remain in place, fortify the camp, and send out more scouts.
Closely monitor the movements of the Jurchens, especially the passage between the Liaodong battlefield and Halamulin.

Once signs of a large-scale mobilization of the Jurchens are detected...

"Immediately dispatch troops to intercept them and ensure the safety of the Liaodong flank."

As he spoke, a clerk covered the new battle map.

The marching routes and directions for two different strategies were drawn.

The group of commanders stood up and went to examine the central sand table.

Li Guangyuan was utterly shocked.

After listening to what this so-called advisor said,
The previously ambiguous situation suddenly became clear.

Moreover, he did not find a better solution.

Wang Xingbang, commander of the new city guard, was the first to speak:
"My lord, I believe we should adopt the first option and take the initiative!"

Our army has just experienced a major victory and its morale is high.

Furthermore, the Jurchen camp has been wiped out by us, and the enemy forces at the front have not yet discovered us.

If we seize this opportunity to penetrate their territory and strike them from the heart of the enemy, we can catch them completely off guard.

If we can successfully destroy their rear camps and strongholds
The Jurchens on the front lines will surely be thrown into chaos.
We can unite with the elite troops of Liaodong and annihilate them all.

Seeing that no one spoke, Zhang Huai'an hesitated for a moment, then mustered his courage and spoke:
"My lord, I believe that going deep behind enemy lines is extremely risky."

The Jurchens lived in the mountains and forests all day and fought on their own territory, so they were familiar with the terrain.

If our army rashly advances deep into enemy territory...
Once surrounded, reinforcements will be hard to come by, and a dangerous situation may arise.

In my humble opinion, to be on the safe side,
They should remain in place and wait for the enemy to tire themselves out.
At the very least, we need to understand the situation on the Liaodong front and figure out what the Jurchens are doing.
Do they intend to plunder southwards and then retreat, or do they intend to completely occupy the 30,000 guards?
The two are not comparable.

Lu Yunyi looked up at him, somewhat surprised, and then laughed:

"Not bad, well-reasoned and convincing. It seems the battle plan was worthwhile."

Zhang Huai'an's heart pounded, and his face flushed red.

He scratched his head with a chuckle, feeling overjoyed.

Wu Fuliu crossed his arms, pondered for a moment, and then said:

"What you two gentlemen say makes sense."

However, their ultimate enemy was the Jurchen people.
The armor was damaged and the organization was in disarray.
It's debatable how much combat power their so-called elite troops actually possess.

I think we can combine the strengths of both options.

They first remained in place for several days, allowing the soldiers to recover their strength.
On the other hand, we await further clarification of the situation on the Liaodong battlefield.

At the same time, elite squads were dispatched to penetrate deep into the Jurchen rear.

On the one hand, they gathered intelligence; on the other hand, they conducted harassment operations.

Disrupt supply lines and disrupt deployments.

"When the time is right, we will decide whether to launch a surprise attack, depending on the situation."

As Lu Yunyi listened to the debate among the generals, he constantly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

A surprise attack deep behind enemy lines, if successful...
It could indeed inflict heavy losses on the Jurchens and turn the tide of the Liaodong campaign.

However, the risks are also extremely high; a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.

While remaining stationed in place is a safe option, it could lead to missed opportunities in battle.
This gave the Jurchens a chance to reorganize their forces.
It would pose a threat to both the forward scouts and Liaodong.

A moment later, Lu Yunyi stood up.
His gaze swept firmly across the crowd, and he said in a deep voice:

"Order the entire army to remain in place for three days to prepare for military affairs and to rest and recover their strength."
At the same time, Qin Yuanfang was ordered to lead a scout team deep into the Jurchen rear.
Reconnaissance of supply lines and troop deployment points.

If there is no exposure, there is no need to harass or destroy.

"If the situation on the Liaodong battlefield does not change significantly in three days,"
Furthermore, our scouts brought back valuable intelligence, proving that a surprise attack deep behind enemy lines was feasible.

I will personally lead an elite force deep into the Jurchen heartland and strike at their vital points.

If the situation changes, or if the situation behind enemy lines becomes unclear, continue advancing eastward.

"By positioning ourselves close to the Liaodong battlefield, we can ensure the security of Liaodong's flank."

"Yes!"

Upon receiving the order, everyone straightened their backs and their faces sharpened.

After the generals left, Lu Yunyi walked to a simple wooden table and sat down.
Looking at the gains and casualties above,
His eyes were vacant, and his thoughts were scattered.

Although it is speculated that no fighting occurred on the Liaodong battlefield.
But now the situation is staring him in the face, leaving him no choice but to believe it.

Liaodong was not only fighting against the Jurchens,
The Jurchens are continuing to send reinforcements, and the war may escalate further.

I do not know how long it has been,

Lu Yunyi's gaze gradually sharpened, and he spoke thoughtfully:
"Did the palace guess wrong? Or did I guess wrong too?"

Liaodong Frontline, Noon, Lingchuanpo!
This area was originally a flat, compacted earthen slope.
After spring arrives, tender grass covers the ground, creating a beautiful scene.

Because the terrain is flat

Some goods traveling from Liaodong to the Wild Jurchens would pass through this place.

But now, Lingshanpo no longer has the beautiful scenery it once did.

One trench and pit after another appeared on the land.
The entire area within a five-mile radius was in a terrible state of chaos.

Bloodstains, corpses, warhorses, and signs of fire were everywhere.

The freshly fallen snow had turned into a muddy mess.

It was a truce time, and heads could be seen peeking out from the pits and trenches every now and then.
Looking towards the Jurchen camp to the north of Lingshan Slope.

I wonder if the Jurchens were truly incapable of fighting.
They built their camp directly on the slope of Ling Mountain.
And it faces the camp gate directly, meaning one can engage in battle with the Ming army as soon as they step outside.

Taking it back is also very simple.
I took off running backwards, going wherever I could.
After most of them had run into the camp, the gate was closed.
As for the Jurchens who were imprisoned outside, they were left to their fate.

Now, after several days of continuous fighting,

The short mile from Lingshanpo to the Jurchen camp was already stained with blood.
The rotting corpse was just left there carelessly.
Fortunately, it's winter now, so it won't rot so quickly, and the air isn't too smelly.

Behind Lingshan Slope lies the frontline camp of Liaodong.
The vanguard of Tianjin Wei had just entered when Huang Yingzhi arrived with his telescope.
Looking down over the entire battlefield from the high platform

At the same time, they also came into view of the grassland people's camps.

However, the mess before her eyes shocked and surprised Huang Yingzhi greatly.

The chaos of the battlefield was beyond his imagination.
When did the Jurchens acquire such great abilities?

Beside him was Qi Jingfeng, the Liaodong Commander and Frontline Commander.

He had a deep scar on his face.

He was a complete mess, a piece of his scalpel was missing, and his face was covered in mud.

"General Huang, this is the front line. How about it? I didn't lie to you, did I?"

His voice carried a hint of impoliteness, with a suppressed anger.

The number of people in Tianjin's three garrisons has reached 30,000 for four days.
They promised to come and help immediately.
But after four days of this dragged on, the Jurchens suddenly launched a fierce attack.
That's one way to put it.
In the past three days, Qi Jingfeng has already figured out how he will die.

Of the more than three thousand soldiers, fewer than two thousand were fit to fight.
In just three days, they lost nearly a thousand elite soldiers.
Qi Jingfeng felt as if his heart was bleeding.

Huang Yingzhi ignored him, instead frowning and saying in a deep voice:

"Why dig these trenches? Can't we just fight them on flat ground with our superior armor?"

Qi Jingfeng's face flushed red instantly, and his eyes widened.
But he still tried his best to suppress his anger and spoke through gritted teeth:
"General Huang, my unit only has three thousand men, and we still have to defend at least four key points."

The enemy army, numbering nearly ten thousand, launched a relentless attack for five hours straight throughout the day.
I'd rather fight him on flat ground.

But do I have soldiers?
After a fierce battle, they had a great time.

The Jurchens have begun rotating their troops. How should my tribe rotate? What will we use for rotation?

Huang Yingzhi remained calm and nodded slightly.

"So that's why they built these trenches, to neutralize the enemy's numerical advantage?"

"Yes."

"Hmm," Huang Yingzhi nodded; this reason was reasonable enough.
When do the grassland people usually launch a fierce attack?

Qi Jingfeng said with a dark face:
"Starting at dawn, it continues until the beginning of the Xu hour when the sky is completely dark."

They stopped their attack today because Tianjin Wei has arrived.
They dared not be arrogant then, and even took a break around noon.

Huang Yingzhi held the telescope and looked at the distant camp.
You can see the camp connecting to the dense forest, stretching endlessly.
And at this moment, behind that tightly closed door,

Flags have been raised, and crowds are beginning to gather.
Huang Yingzhi's expression turned grave, and he let out a cold laugh:
"The Jurchens are coming. Please lead your troops to retreat, Lord Qi. The defense line ahead will be the responsibility of Tianjin Garrison."

(End of this chapter)