Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 328 Human nature dictates

After a fierce battle under the city half a month ago, the Ming army won the victory and immediately set up camp four miles away from the south city wall of Gaizhou.

This position not only allowed them to monitor the Qing army, but also presented an aggressive and provocative posture, which undoubtedly forced the Qing army in the city to take the initiative to attack.

On the Qing side, the two generals Lin Chengde and Deni joined forces with the eastern and western troops led by Chen Youshi and Zhang Zhong, refusing to be outdone.

After carefully studying the Ming army's deployment, they decided to split their troops into two groups, bypass the Ming army's checkpoints from the periphery, and try to quietly approach the camp to create favorable conditions for a night attack.

After more than ten days of probing and harassing, the Qing army gradually figured out the location and replacement patterns of the Ming army's outposts outside the camp. However, even so, it was still impossible to completely avoid these guard posts.

After all, neither side is easy to deal with.

The Qing army's tactics were sophisticated, and the Ming army's defense was even more impenetrable. The Ming army's outpost deployment changed daily and was so complicated that even if the Qing army secretly observed for a long time, it could not fully control it.

More importantly, the Ming army had long been prepared for night attacks. Although the camp in the south of the city seemed lax, it was actually harboring murderous intentions.

As Lin Chengde and Deni had expected, their Qing army troops were discovered by sentries hiding in the dark before they even approached the Ming army camp.

The Ming army reacted quickly. A whistle arrow pierced the night sky, and the shrill whistle echoed in the night like a death warrant.

More than a hundred Ming troops outside the camp immediately gathered and moved quickly, obviously having been prepared for this.

"The Ming army was indeed fooled." Lin Chengde's eyes fixed, and he turned back and whispered to Deni. There was a hint of pride in his tone, but more of vigilance.

Denis had no expression on his face, nodded slightly, and calmly ordered:
"Wait until the Ming reinforcements arrive. Lead your troops around the flank and break into the Ming camp. Leave the Ming troops here to me."

His plan was extremely bold: since he could not completely avoid the Ming army checkpoints, he would use a small force to deliberately provoke and lure the Ming army reinforcements away from the main camp's defense zone, thus creating a loophole.

This small Qing army unit of about 100 people acted quickly and launched a tentative attack under the cover of night. The Ming army outposts were forced to fight back, and the reinforcements in the camp also sent hundreds of soldiers to support as usual.

Lin Chengde looked at the movements of the Ming army and sneered:
"Sure enough, they went out as expected."

At the same time, the Qing army on the east side of the city was also quietly taking action. They patiently waited for a full quarter of an hour after the Ming army on the west side sounded the signal arrow before launching a surprise attack.

Such a delay not only made it difficult for the Ming army to determine the specific offensive intentions of the Qing army, but also further dispersed its defensive forces.

Although the Ming army camp maintained a state of alert of "tight inside and loose outside", negligence was inevitable due to the harassment tactics that lasted for many days.

The situation tonight was not much different from the night raids of the past half month. Even the Ming army generals gradually relaxed their vigilance, thinking that tonight was just another routine test.

After the reinforcements were dispatched, the soldiers in the camp gradually returned to normal, and many even began to take off their armor and rest.

As the commander-in-chief of the army, although Zhu Cilang repeatedly reminded his subordinates to be vigilant, the Qing army's repeated harassment tactics did make the Ming army exhausted.

Zhang Huangyan was deeply worried about this, but he sighed helplessly:
"The enemy's actions are clearly a step-by-step test to test our defenses. Unfortunately, we can only counter their moves and are unable to take the initiative."

In the past half month, Fan Wencheng and Jihalang have always insisted on using harassment tactics to contain the Ming army. They are well versed in the "strategy of tiring the enemy" and have used days of probing to continuously erode the vigilance of the Ming army.

Although Zhu Cilang was aware of the intention, he had no effective response. The Qing army's seemingly scattered harassment was actually a step-by-step plan.

They took advantage of the cover of night and terrain to force the Ming army to constantly adjust their defenses, ultimately leading to the current passive situation.

"I'm afraid it won't be that simple tonight." Zhu Cilang stood in front of the general's tent, staring at the faint firelight in the distance. His eyes were deep and there was a hint of uneasiness in his tone.

He knew very well that the Qing army's night attack could not continue without any follow-up. They were waiting for the most appropriate opportunity, and this opportunity might very well be tonight.

However, he also had to admit that Fan Wencheng and Ji Halang's tactics were indeed effective.

The Qing army's relentless pressure had caused the Ming army to become complacent. Although Zhang Huangyan had repeatedly suggested taking the initiative to attack, Zhu Cilang ultimately chose to maintain a steady defense.

He knew that although his army's morale was high, it could not withstand the fatal blow of a single mistake.

"Notify all departments to be prepared for emergencies at any time. If the enemy attacks tonight, we must respond with all our strength." Zhu Cilang finally gave the order, but his heart was still full of doubts.

The confrontation between the enemy and us seems to have entered its most dangerous phase, and this danger, like an invisible net, is gradually tightening...

After all, the routines of "boiling a frog in warm water" and "crying wolf" seem simple and old-fashioned, but they often work again and again. This is a common problem of human nature.

People tend to become lax in the face of repetition, and the enemy takes advantage of this.

The night was dark, the wind was chilly, and the fire in the camp flickered outside the tent.

As the commander-in-chief of an army, Zhu Cilang never allowed himself to have any luck.

Every shot of an arrow, every movement of the enemy may be the key to determining the outcome of the battle, so he cannot afford to slack off in the slightest.

"Your Majesty, it seems that there was only one blast of arrow..." The guards outside the tent whispered, trying to persuade him to stay calm.

However, before he could finish his words, Zhu Cilang interrupted him with a sharp voice: "Put on armor!"

Upon hearing this, the guards immediately shut up and dared not say anything more. They lowered their heads and swiftly put on the chain mail for him. The crisp sound of the armor plates colliding echoed in the tent, giving people a sense of solemnity.

Although the order was firm, Zhu Cilang still had some hesitation in his heart.

He knew that during this period, the Qing army had been harassing the city frequently but had never launched a substantial offensive. The soldiers in the camp were already exhausted. Even some battle-hardened generals could not help but write to the emperor, requesting the construction of trenches to cut off the Qing army's harassment route and trap them in the city.
However, Zhu Cilang knew very well that the Qing army was treacherous and the current calm was likely just an illusion before the storm.

He cannot be careless, nor can he let the entire army relax its vigilance.

While putting on the armor, another arrow whistled and cut through the night sky.

Zhu Cilang's brows furrowed slightly, and he stroked the armor leaf with his hand, his eyes cold and stern:

"The sound is getting closer..."

At this time, a burst of hurried footsteps was heard outside the tent. The new commander of the imperial army, Liu Sheng, hurried over and bowed before entering the tent, saying:
"His Majesty!"

"What's the situation outside?" Zhu Cilang walked out of the tent quickly and asked sternly.

Yagyu stood still, bowed his head and saluted, and replied respectfully:

"Your Majesty, there are two Qing troops, approximately one hundred strong, attacking from the west and east sides of the main camp. They are small in number and likely the same small-scale harassment as before."

After hearing this, Zhu Cilang's eyes narrowed slightly, and the expression on his face was complicated and difficult to read.

He seemed to be relieved, but also a little disappointed. He looked into the distance and saw beacon towers built near the arrow towers of each camp. When the Qing army attacked, the direction and strength of the troops could be quickly transmitted back.

The military intelligence reported by Liu Sheng seemed to be fine, but Zhu Cilang always had a strange feeling in his heart.

Yagyu stood aside. Although he couldn't see Zhu Cilang's expression clearly, he couldn't help feeling nervous when he heard the friction sound of armor leaves coming from inside the tent.

He was well aware of the emperor's sharpness and decisiveness, and any misstep would lead to reprimands.

However, Zhu Cilang remained silent for a long time and said nothing more. A moment later, Zhu Cilang finally put on his armor and walked out. His figure was shrouded in the lights outside the tent, cold and majestic.

Seeing this, Yagyu immediately stepped forward, bowed, clasped his fists, and said:
"Your Majesty, there is no new military information from either side. The Qing army is likely to retreat again..."

Zhu Cilang did not respond immediately, but instead swept his sharp eyes across the direction of the camp. He stood outside the tent, the cold wind blowing across his clothes and armor, bringing a bit of chill.

He suddenly spoke, his voice low but full of unquestionable majesty:
"Go and find out if this attack is any different from the previous ones!"

Liu Sheng was shocked and quickly bowed to receive the order:

"According to the order!"

After Liu Sheng hurriedly retreated, Zhu Cilang did not leave immediately.

He stood with his hands behind his back in front of the tent, the armor plates rustling softly in the cold wind, his mind racing with thoughts:

Although the repeated harassment was minor, the Qing army was clearly wearing down the Ming army's patience. If they were caught in their rhythm, the morale of the Ming army would likely be significantly weakened.

He thought of the generals in the camp. Some of them were loyal veterans who had followed him for many years, and some were famous generals with rich experience and had been through hundreds of battles. However, they could not avoid being restless and irritated by the repeated harassment.

He had to suppress his impulsiveness and keep his footing, otherwise the enemy's plan would be half successful.

"The Qing army is using harassment as an attack, which is actually a vicious plan." Zhu Cilang muttered to himself, but his eyes became more determined.

He knew that every decision he made would affect the morale of the army and the direction of the war.

Zhu Cilang raised his head and looked into the distance, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he said in a deep voice:

"Orders to all troops to increase alert and expand patrols! Also, pay attention to the Qing army's subsequent movements. Report any unusual activity immediately!"

Upon hearing this, the personal guard beside him immediately took orders and left, and the sound of commands rang out in the camp.

Under the light of the fire, the soldiers became busy, and the shadows between the tents kept swaying. Everything seemed to be in order, but a faint atmosphere of tension spread.

"Whoosh whoosh—!"

Accompanied by sharp and piercing sounds of breaking through the air, countless whistling arrows suddenly rang out from the east and west wings of the Ming army camp, as if the entire night sky was pierced, and chaos came in an instant.

As soon as Liu Sheng finished speaking, the sudden sound of the arrow shocked his heart and his face turned pale in an instant.

These shrill whistles meant that the Ming army had already noticed the Qing army's night attack, and his confident words seemed to still echo in his ears.

At this moment, Yagyu only felt his throat dry and regret in his heart was like a knife cutting through him.

However, the battle situation changed rapidly and he could not stay any longer.

At the same time, in the main tent in the center of the Ming army camp, the whistling sound of arrows reached Zhu Cilang's ears. He was slightly startled, then looked up at the flames rising from the beacon towers on the east and west sides.

In an instant, he understood the situation:
The Qing army was sending massive reinforcements from both wings, intending to disperse the Ming army's defenses. However, Zhu Cilang was not at all panicked. Instead, he revealed a confident smile, which was mixed with anticipation and excitement.

"Pass on my military orders!" Zhu Cilang ordered in a deep voice, his tone resounding with an excitement that was difficult to conceal:

"The Qing army has arrived. All troops must proceed according to the original plan."

He paused for a moment, his eyes sharp as a hawk, and looked around at the generals:

"Tell Zhang Huangyan and Ma Bao that they don't need to come to reinforce. Lead the troops directly to the front line to meet the enemy. Make sure to encircle and annihilate the Qing troops that have left the city with all your strength! At the same time, order Lin Changfeng and Gao Jie to each lead a battalion of reserve troops to provide support. Ensure that no chance of survival is left!"

Zhu Cilang's series of instructions were crisp and clear, leaving his subordinates almost no time to hesitate.

He knew that the battlefield was changing rapidly and that a delay in action would mean missing the opportunity. More importantly, the Ming army leaders had already prepared several plans to deal with possible night attacks by the Qing army.

Although the current situation is somewhat unexpected, it is still within the overall prediction range of the Ming army.

The Qing army relied on the cover of night and the speed of the attack, while the Ming army relied on its superior military strength, tight defense and highly mobile cavalry to counterattack and complete the encirclement.

After receiving the order, Generals Lin Changfeng and Gao Jie bowed their heads and accepted it. Without saying anything more, they jumped on their horses and galloped towards their respective camps.

At this moment, Lin Chengde was leading the main force of his troops to bypass the hundreds of soldiers fighting in front and rush straight to the heart of the Ming army camp.

His mission was clear: to open a gap and create opportunities for follow-up troops.

However, this seemingly glorious first battle made Lin Chengde feel quite complicated.

He knew that all this was just Deni's plan, and the purpose was nothing more than to make him and his troops bear the most dangerous war of attrition.

Although Deni is a Manchu and a powerful Gushan Ezhen, he is considered insidious and cunning in Lin Chengde's eyes.

Despite this, faced with the order, he had no choice but to charge forward.

He cursed in his heart:
"I'll charge in his stead. If we can break the formation, the credit won't necessarily be all mine. But if we fail, I'll be the first to take the blame!"

However, the Qing army had strict military discipline, and no matter how dissatisfied he was, he could not vent his anger. He could only transform his anger into murderous intent and stare fiercely at the Ming army camp that was gradually approaching.

The Ming army soldiers on the front line were not unprepared. When the Qing army approached at night, the defenders had already completed their deployment under the guidance of Zhu Cilang's plan.

They emerged from the darkness, bowstrings rang, and arrows rained down on the enemy like a torrential rain. This powerful counterattack slowed down the Qing army's pace.

The reinforcements led by Lin Changfeng and Gao Jie arrived quickly and joined the battle.

The cavalry poured into the battlefield like a torrent, tearing the night apart, and the Qing army formation that had originally attempted to break into the camp was disrupted.

At Lin Changfeng's command, the long spear formation penetrated the enemy's waist, while Gao Jie led the light cavalry to go around the rear of the enemy and cut off the Qing army's retreat.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Lin Chengde immediately changed direction and tried to lead the remaining troops to break out.

But at this time, he was already deeply surrounded and every step he took was difficult.

Deep despair surged in his heart, yet also ignited the courage to risk everything. He roared:
"Brothers, fight! Cut your way out!"

At the same time, Zhu Cilang stood on the commanding heights of the camp, overlooking the battle situation.

His eyes were as sharp as lightning, closely watching the movements of the Qing army on the battlefield. When he saw the Qing army began to retreat in disorder, he sneered:
"It's just like that."

He turned to the guards beside him and said:
"Pass on my order again. Order the reserve troops to immediately block the gap on the east side and not let anyone escape back into the city!"

The guards quickly went to convey the order, while Zhu Cilang stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes full of coldness.

He understood that this night attack would soon become a great victory, and this victory would further weaken the morale of the Qing army while consolidating the Ming army's strategic advantage in southern Liaoning.

(End of this chapter)