Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 315 Conditions
Ba Ming looked around at the generals standing solemnly in the bunker and gave a solemn order:
"General Shen, once the east gate is breached, you will immediately lead your troops forward along the city wall. Make sure you seize control of the north and south gates as quickly as possible, cutting off the Ming army's retreat and forcing them to break out through the west gate."

He turned his gaze and fell on another general:
"Shuosai, take ten Niulu and set up an ambush in the river valley west of the city. Seal it tightly and don't let a single Ming soldier escape. Especially don't let Chen Fu escape and report the situation!"

He paused, then looked at Wan Ming again, his voice low but full of determination:

"General Wan, you will lead the way this time. The Ming army, without the support of the city gates, is nothing to worry about. As long as our army enters the city, this battle will be won!

This general will personally lead the main force to attack the Ming army barracks and Chen Fu's official residence."

After hearing this, Wan Ming was secretly excited and his face showed joy. He quickly clasped his fists in thanks and then said cautiously:
"Master, after this wave of purges of the Ming army in the city, many soldiers have wavered in their thinking.

As long as I can lead some people to encourage them, I can at least get hundreds of people to surrender.

It’s just…” Having said this, he hesitated and stopped talking.

Ba Ming saw this, although he didn't know Wan Ming's specific intention, but he keenly realized that the other party was waiting for a step, so he chuckled and said:
"General Wan, please speak frankly. As long as you can help me wipe out the rebellious Ming army, I will agree to anything that is beneficial."

Wan Ming was secretly delighted when he heard this.

He waited for this opportunity because he wanted to propose to Ba Ming his plan to mobilize part of the Ming army in the city when the night attack was irreversible, and use this as a bargaining chip to gain more benefits for himself.

He immediately knelt down and clasped his fists, saying:

"Master, I beg you to seek justice for me and the many soldiers who are willing to surrender!"

"Oh?" Ba Ming frowned slightly, showing some confusion. Shuo Sai and Shen Zhong beside him also looked at each other, confused.

Ba Ming looked at Wan Ming encouragingly and asked:

"General Wan, what exactly do you want?"

Wan Ming saw that the time was ripe, so he spoke sincerely:

"Master, the wealth of this servant and many of my brothers was once detained by Chen Fu and is now in the county government's warehouse.

These properties were earned through years of hard work, but now they have been plundered by that treacherous minister.

I beg you, Master, to help us retrieve these supplies when the time comes, and to seek justice for the soldiers who are about to surrender!"

Wan Ming had already made up his mind at this time and did not intend to rely on Ba Ming's promise.

His real intention was to obtain supplies from Shimen Pass in order to win over the soldiers in the city who were severely punished by Chen Fu, so that they would join him and gradually build up a force of his own.

Right now, this money is of vital importance to him, and once he can recruit more troops, future plans will have more possibilities.

Thinking of this, Wan Ming couldn't help but feel excited.

Ba Ming thought calmly for a moment, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes, and it was obvious that he saw through Wan Ming's plan.

In fact, Ba Ming also had a clear idea in his mind:
Strengthening Wan Ming's power can not only enhance the Qing army's actual control, but also ensure that Wan Ming has no way back after surrendering, and completely cut off his connection with the Ming army.

What's more, Wan Ming's plan can effectively restrain Zhu Cilang's power, which is exactly what he wants.

"General Wan has indeed been wronged!"

Ba Ming said with a slightly sympathetic tone and a bit of encouragement:

"Zhu Cilang's subordinates are so unfair, they will surely alienate the people. Don't worry, this general will take care of justice for you!"

After saying that, Ba Ming stepped forward and helped Wan Ming up with his own hands, with a smile in his eyes.

Wan Ming was ecstatic when he received this promise.

He had already had his plans in mind. The supplies in the Shimenguan treasury were sufficient and abundant, not only for daily expenses, but also many valuable items.

If he succeeds, he will not only be able to bribe a group of soldiers, but also lay the foundation for future development.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but secretly calculate in his mind how to quickly distribute these supplies to his subordinates, so as to stabilize morale and win more followers for himself.

Shen Zhong saw Wan Ming's joyful expression and couldn't help but feel more excited about the night attack.

For him, tonight's success not only means military merit, but is more likely to enhance his status in Ba Ming's heart.

He watched Ba Ming and Wan Ming chatting happily, and vaguely felt that this was a good opportunity to show off to the coach, so he stepped forward, clasped his fists towards Ba Ming and said:
"Master, this time I will definitely give my all and live up to your trust!"

Seeing this, Ba Ming nodded with satisfaction, his tone full of expectations for Shen Zhong:
"General Shen, I know your loyalty and ability. You will surely reassure me in this battle at the East Gate!"

Shuosai stood aside, his expression calm, secretly thinking.

Although he did not reveal it to Ba Ming, he knew in his heart that if he could cooperate with Ba Ming to kill Chen Fu, it would be a great achievement that would shock both armies.

Shuosein was not completely unaware of Chen Fu's reputation.

This person was not only Zhu Cilang's confidant, but also held a prominent position in the Ming army. If he could be eliminated, it would undoubtedly undermine the morale of the Ming army and provide great help for the Qing army to expand its victory.

Then, Shuosai also stepped forward, clasped his fists and said:
"Master, rest assured. I will set up numerous checkpoints in the west of the city to ensure that no one can escape!"

Ba Ming looked at his two generals with satisfaction and nodded in praise:
"With General Shen and Shuo Sai here, I feel much more at ease!"

After saying this, a sneer flashed across his eyes, as if he was already planning the upcoming outcome of the battle.

The Qing army generals present all showed excitement at this moment.

The plan to attack Shimen Pass at night has obviously matured, and victory seems to be just around the corner.

For Wan Ming, this attack was not only an opportunity for the Qing army to fight, but also a great chance for him to rise again.

He secretly clenched his fists, his heart filled with excitement, and his eyes couldn't help but look at the night sky outside the bunker.

"Hmm!" Ba Ming looked around calmly and cast his gaze on the generals in the bunker one by one.

At the same time, on a small path in the mountains, more than a hundred Ming army soldiers who had just completed an assault drill were slowly walking down the north-south ridge path.

At this moment, Liu Bin was standing on a slope on the mountainside. The breeze blew around him, blowing away his fatigue.

He scanned the surrounding terrain, then waved his hand. Seeing this, the others immediately found a place to sit down and rest under the officer's command.

Tonight is the raid drill, and Liu Bin's team seems to be particularly unlucky - this is the second time this month that they have been selected to conduct a raid exercise.

Military judge Chen Liang was responsible for supervising the entire process. The soldiers marched twenty miles with their equipment, carrying heavy loads on the mountain and traveling through the winding mountain roads.

The soldiers were already exhausted after training during the day, and now they were even more exhausted. They were all panting and sweating.

Liu Bin saw that everyone was tired, so he immediately asked the soldiers to rest on the spot and take out dry food and water to replenish their strength. He also found a stone to sit on, took out some dry food and started chewing it to restore his energy.

After making some arrangements, Chen Liang ordered his men to count the troops and confirm that no one was left behind.

After everything was arranged, he walked over to Liu Bin, sat on the ground next to him, and took out some dry food and handed it to him.

As they munched on their rations, the two chatted about their recent situation, their voices low, their familiarity palpable. A moment later, one of Chen Liang's military officers hurried over, bowed respectfully, and whispered something in Chen Liang's ear.

After hearing this, Chen Liang turned to look at Liu Bin and said with some sarcasm:

"Old Liu, Zhang Xiaoliu has a stomachache and wants to go take care of his physiology. Do you want my approval?"

"Let him go." Liu Bin waved his hand casually, obviously not intending to pursue any discipline in night training.

He smiled and said:
"We have to stay here for a while anyway, and it's only seven miles from the city. There's no rush to go back!"

Hearing Liu Bin's response, Chen Liang also grinned, nodded to the military law soldier, and let the man go as a favor, then smiled and said:

"Old Liu, it seems you're really becoming more and more partial to this kid Zhang Xiaoliu. You really let him off the hook every time for such a small matter!"

The two men smiled knowingly. In the military camp, brotherhood is stronger than the ironclad military discipline. Although military regulations are strict, Chen Liang, as a military judge, also needs to strictly abide by discipline in the past.

But for brothers who are familiar to each other, especially for a rare good soldier like Zhang Xiaoliu, as long as it does not involve major issues, he is happy to turn a blind eye.

Zhang Xiaoliu left the team and trotted deep into the woods. He found a tree for cover and quickly untied his belt, his face full of pain.

I ate the fried beans that Liu Bin specially gave me, hoping to taste something delicious, but I ended up upset my stomach. I have been feeling unwell for the past few days, and it was even more unbearable tonight.

Finally, he took a deep breath, held it hard, and released it with great effort.

Suddenly, he breathed a sigh of relief and sighed in his heart, finally free!
After finally finishing the task, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, took a long breath, and tidied his clothes in a slightly embarrassed manner, finally revealing a relaxed smile on his face.

I have been tormented by this little thing for the past two days, but now I finally feel a lot more relaxed. Although I am still gasping for breath, it feels like a heavy burden has been lifted from my shoulders.

The moment Zhang Xiaoliu looked up, the scene in front of him made him stunned and almost hold his breath.

In the cold moonlight, he saw a continuous army marching quietly on the winding path at the foot of the mountain, and no one knew where they came from.

The troops were well-organized and layered, with no noise during the march. Infantry and cavalry were distributed among them, with cavalry on guard on both sides.

In order to train the soldiers' night combat capabilities, Zhu Cilang required each unit to participate in night raid drills regularly, but the scale of the drills was strictly controlled.

The number of troops involved in each operation was no more than about 300 people, and they were divided into three teams, each taking a completely different route to avoid meeting each other.

Most of the mountain roads around Shimen Pass are narrow paths. If it were the Ming army's night attack force, it would not be possible to have such a large scale, and it would definitely not march in such a conspicuous open area.

Zhang Xiaoliu's heart tightened, knowing that something was wrong.

Looking at the huge team in front of him, he could no longer suppress his anxiety. He quickly pulled up his trouser legs, turned around and ran, fearing that any hesitation would delay the opportunity to deliver the message.

He vaguely understood in his heart that this was definitely not a drill of the Ming army - the Qing army was launching a night attack!

They had obviously quietly reached the Ming army's defense line in front, and most likely broke through the defense of the bunker.

After running all the way to the other side of the hill, Zhang Xiaoliu stopped and secretly adjusted his breathing, feeling very nervous.

At this moment, he didn't even dare to shout, for fear of alerting the Qing army lurking in the distance.

He quickly ran towards Liu Bin. After he arrived in front of Liu Bin, he took a few breaths and reported in a low voice:
"General! There's an army of unknown origin on the other side of the mountain. They number about three to four thousand men. I suspect they're Qing troops."

When Liu Bin heard this, he frowned, but there was no shock on his face. He just asked calmly and hurriedly:
"Have you seen the Qing army's flags? How many cavalrymen are there?"

His eyes were as sharp as a knife, and his words did not allow for any hesitation.

Zhang Xiaoliu was a little nervous. He quickly recalled everything in his mind and immediately shook his head and replied:

"It's dark, and we can't see the flags clearly, but they're on the path across the mountain. There's no end in sight, only a few sentinels patrolling the perimeter."

Liu Bin and Chen Liang looked at each other, exchanged a look of understanding, and both of them had made up their minds.

Chen Liang immediately took a few soldiers with him, signaled Zhang Xiaoliu to lead the way, and cautiously moved towards the place Zhang Xiaoliu had just observed.

At the same time, Liu Bin summoned his two adjutants, gave them a few brief instructions, and ordered them to quickly convey the order and let the soldiers who were resting immediately enter a state of alert and be ready to meet the enemy at any time.

Liu Bin and Chen Liang are both veterans of the battlefield. They have long been accustomed to life and death, and they also know that in such a situation, any hesitation may lead to irreversible consequences.

The two men looked calm and waved to their subordinates to move forward. Their movements were quick and decisive, and they were not at all flustered by the sudden appearance of the Qing army.

Zhang Xiaoliu led Chen Liang's team forward, and the moonlight made the mountain road dim and hazy.

The soil under their feet was soft, so the team members walked lightly and tried to hold their breathing low.

As they approached the mountain pass, Zhang Xiaoliu waved his hand, pointed to the hillside not far away, and whispered:
"Right over there. I just saw them coming this way. There are so many of them, coming down the hillside. I'm afraid they'll reach our side soon."

Chen Liang nodded slightly and immediately led the team to crawl towards the mountain pass.

He lay down behind a mound of earth and observed carefully. Sure enough, he saw a dark team slowly approaching on the mountain road, accompanied by the occasional neighing of horses, which was chilling.

After confirming the enemy situation, Chen Liang's face was grim. He signaled Zhang Xiaoliu to repeat in detail what he had just seen so that he could make a more accurate judgment.

On the other side, Liu Bin had already issued an order, calling on the soldiers to assemble quickly, and at the same time asked them to lower their voices and ensure that no noise was made.

Under the shadow of the earthen hill, the soldiers quickly lined up, each with a tense and solemn expression, staring at the movement in the darkness ahead.

Liu Bin stood at the front of the queue himself, with a cold look in his eyes.

Although the enemy was powerful, he already had a battle plan in mind and was ready to lead his troops into an ambush if necessary, striving to delay the Qing army as much as possible.

After completing the observation at the front, Chen Liang's team quietly retreated and reunited with Liu Bin.

He reported in a low voice:

"We've confirmed the enemy situation. There are indeed Qing troops marching on the path across the mountain. There are quite a few of them, both infantry and cavalry. We estimate there are more than 3,000 of them, and they're moving very covertly, clearly well prepared."

He added with a serious expression and a hint of worry:

"Based on their speed, they will enter our defense zone in half an hour at most."

Liu Bin nodded, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he commanded in a low voice:
"Everyone immediately went on alert and spread out to various hiding spots according to pre-war deployment.

When the Qing army approaches, follow my orders and attack in batches. Make sure to slow down their march and buy enough time for the main force."

Under his calm command, the soldiers quickly dispersed, hid themselves in the night, and quietly entered an ambush.

In this quiet valley, the air was filled with a tense murderous aura.

Liu Bin stood in front of the formation, his body straight and his eyes firm.

No matter how fierce the Qing army was, he was ready to fight back.

He understood that it was these repeated life-and-death confrontations that forged a will of steel in him and his subordinates.

(End of this chapter)