Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 330 The Dragon Flag Remains

The night wind was cool and the sound of killing was deafening, but Lin Chengde's mood was as depressed as the dark night. He rode his horse and stopped at the outskirts of the camp, his eyes swept across the chaotic figures on the battlefield, and a thousand thoughts ran through his mind.

Originally, everything about this night attack was as planned, and it went smoothly and satisfactorily at first. However, when they reached the outskirts of the Ming army camp, the situation suddenly changed. After fighting for so long, the battle was at a stalemate, with neither advancing nor retreating.

Lin Chengde understood that the stalemate was certainly due to his reluctance to easily commit elite servants.

He was hoping for a lucky break, hoping that the Green Camp soldiers alone could take down the Ming army's defenses and thus preserve the core strength of his family. However, the facts dealt him heavy blows time and time again.

The Green Camp soldiers of the Qing army who attacked the city at night were elite troops selected from various units, but even so, it was still difficult to break through.

The enemy's combat power was far beyond his expectations, which made him alert - such a Ming army could only be matched by the main force like the Manchu Zhenghuang Banner.

What made Lin Chengde feel even more chilled than the Ming army's combat effectiveness was the other side's ability to respond and strict organization shown in critical moments.

He had never seen such a calm and decisive enemy. The Green Camp soldiers of the Qing army often relied only on morale and luck when facing sudden crises, but this Ming army stabilized its position in a very short time and even launched a counterattack.

This kind of discipline and execution forced him to admit that the opponent was a powerful force that could not be underestimated.

But he didn't know that this Ming army had already developed detailed emergency plans for various possible situations.

In the camp, each flag team is equipped with a military law officer to supervise the battle. Anyone who is cowardly and retreats will be dealt with on the spot regardless of their identity or position.

In just half an hour of fighting, more than a dozen soldiers were beheaded for cowardice.

Although the iron-blooded approach was cruel, it stabilized the morale of the entire army, which was also the key to the Ming army's ability to respond quickly in dangerous situations.

As Lin Chengde finally decided to send his servants to join the war, the situation on the battlefield began to change.

He personally led his fierce servants into the battlefield. These elite soldiers in armor and armed with sharp weapons were like wolves out of a cage, and they quickly broke through the Ming army's western outer defense line.

The hundreds of Ming troops who had been defending their position with the help of fences and arrow towers finally collapsed due to the disparity in numbers and strength.

Amidst the Qing army's shouts and cries, several Ming soldiers fell one after another at the fence, the gap quickly widened, and the Qing army swarmed in through the breach.

At this time, Deni on the other side also led his troops to pursue the defeated Ming army. His troops were originally ambushed on the periphery, specifically responsible for intercepting those enemies who tried to escape.

Seeing that the Ming army's formation was in disarray, he decisively ordered an attack from the camp gate, intending to push the more than one hundred defeated soldiers back into the newly organized main formation of the Ming army and create further chaos.

In the firelight, his soldiers rushed into the camp like a flood breaking through a dam, and their spears and swords were invincible.

Deni knew very well that only by launching the most violent offensive before the enemy could fully react could the enemy's defense system be weakened to the greatest extent.

In order to ensure the effectiveness of this wave of offensive, Deni sent all of his strongest Balaya tribal soldiers as vanguards.

These fierce warriors were brave by nature, and their long swords were unstoppable when they slashed. The Ming army was forced to retreat step by step, and the defense line was already in jeopardy.

However, even though the situation was temporarily favorable, Deni was still worried.

He knew very well that once the Ming army in the camp reorganized, it would be difficult for his offensive to continue due to the enemy's superior military strength.

Deni's caution was not without reason. Before the operation began, he actually did not have much hope for this "night raid".

Although this battle had been planned for a long time, he was always uneasy about the Ming army's defensive fortifications and numerical advantage.

However, just now, his troops easily defeated hundreds of Ming troops, and Lin Chengde also led his troops to successfully break into the camp. All this gave him more confidence for a while.

"As long as we take advantage of the situation and capture the camp, the entire battle situation will be under our control!" Deni encouraged himself in his heart.

He has placed all his bets on this battle. If he can take advantage of the chaos of the Ming army and annihilate the enemy in one fell swoop, it will be enough for him to gain great merit in front of Jirgalang and clear the obstacles for the next strategy of the Qing army.

Unfortunately, both Lin Chengde and Deni underestimated the resilience and determination of the Ming army.

Just as the Qing army broke into the camp, a large flag of the Ming army's central army suddenly rose and the sound of drums shook the sky.

The general commanding the camp quickly organized the defeated soldiers to return to the ranks and mobilized the reserve forces that had been prepared long ago to fill the gaps in the defense line.

Immediately afterwards, several teams of sword and shield soldiers rushed out from the depths of the camp, and with the cover of archers, they suppressed the Qing army's vanguard near the breakthrough point.

Lin Chengde felt extremely anxious as he watched the battle situation being forced into a stalemate.

The tenacity of the Ming army was beyond imagination. He had originally planned to quickly break down the enemy's resistance through a night attack, but now he was forced into a head-on war of attrition.

He glanced around and saw that the servants around him were already exhausted and the soldiers' formations were gradually becoming chaotic.

Although he still had the desire to defeat the enemy in his heart, reason told him that continuing the attack would only result in more casualties on his side.

On the battlefield, the sound of fighting still resounded through the sky.

As the flames flickered, Lin Chengde gripped the reins tightly with a complicated expression. His decision would determine the final outcome of the battle.

A year ago, in the Battle of Jinan, he personally led his troops to fight against the Ming army, but ended up in a crushing defeat. Half a month ago, another newly promoted Beizi was accidentally killed in a battle with the Ming army.

The successive setbacks made Deni full of fear of the Ming army, and his fighting spirit was greatly weakened. However, as a general, he could not show this depression on his face. He could only pretend to be calm, feeling very aggrieved in his heart.

Today, the morale of the Qing army has long lost the pride of the "Eight Banners Invincibility" in the past.

More and more Eight Banners soldiers began to fear and weariness of war, but these emotions could only be hidden deep in their hearts, because once revealed, they would not only be punished, but they would also be likely to be isolated by their colleagues.

"We must win this battle, otherwise how can we face going back?" Deni secretly made up his mind, he could not retreat anymore.

On the other side, Lin Chengde also had the mentality of fighting with his back to the wall. He sent all his elite servants to the battlefield and rushed into the western camp of the Ming army with a rage.

Deni was not to be outdone and led thousands of Qing troops to follow closely.

The two of them, one in front and one behind, seemed to be unstoppable, but in fact, they wasted too much time.

Taking advantage of the repeated harassment by the Qing army, the Ming army had already conducted sufficient rehearsals and previews.

In the camp, the Ming army soldiers fought and retreated. Those seemingly disorderly retreats were actually carefully planned.

They had only one goal: to lure this Qing army deep into the camp, and then take advantage of its unstable foothold to encircle and annihilate it with lightning speed.

"The good show of closing the door and beating the dog is about to begin." The commander of the Ming army showed a sneer on his face.

The Ming army's quick response caught Lin Chengde and Deni off guard. In order to cope with night battles, they not only strengthened their night training, but also repeatedly simulated the Qing army's harassment.

At this moment, the night combat quality and adaptability of the Ming army soldiers obviously far exceeded the expectations of the Qing army.

On another battlefield, east of Gaizhou City, the Qing army was also in a stalemate.

Chen sometimes went deep into the enemy's territory alone, trying to break through Ma Bao's defense line, but he failed.

Ma Bao relied on meticulous deployment and flexible command to intercept the Qing army firmly outside the camp, making it impossible for them to move forward. On the other side, Zhang Zhong led his troops to besiege the Ming army's ambush, but he seemed neither hurried nor slow. His attitude was intriguing. He seemed not to be in a hurry to achieve success, and even calculated in his mind:

If Chen could sometimes break through the Ming army camp, he would wait for an opportunity to launch an attack; if the situation was unfavorable, he would choose to retreat without hesitation.

Zhang Zhong's attitude was not an isolated case. He was forced to fight under pressure from Fan Wencheng and Ji Harang.

If the situation goes well, they will naturally spare no effort, but if there is even the slightest headwind, they will have no intention of fighting to the death.

This indecision was in stark contrast to the Ming army's vigilance.

Although Ma Bao was not a core general in the Ming army, and was even isolated and hostile by veteran generals due to his lack of experience, he always remained highly vigilant.

He knew very well that any negligence could be magnified and become the reason for his downfall.

Therefore, he required his troops to remain on high alert even at night. In addition to the necessary patrols and night watchmen, he also specially arranged for two thousand headquarters to take turns wearing armor and on standby to ensure that they could respond quickly in any emergency.

This excessive caution is not without reason. Ma Bao understands that in the complex power struggle, he must take every step with extreme caution.

He knew that if he wanted to keep his military power in the Ming army, he not only needed to perform well on the battlefield, but also needed to win Zhu Cilang's trust with his own efforts and abilities.

"A strong army does not rely on majestic command, but on the cohesion of people's hearts." Ma Bao knew that only by becoming an indispensable chess piece under Zhu Cilang's command could he occupy a place in this power game.

It was this caution and insight that enabled Ma Bao to command the battle with confidence, taking every step steadily and cautiously, striving not to leave any opportunity for the enemy to take advantage.

On the battlefield east of Gaizhou City, the Qing army's offensive gradually weakened and its morale declined.

In the Ming army camp, the ambushing soldiers were ready, waiting for the moment that would decide victory or defeat.

Zhu Cilang stood quietly in front of the central army tent. His gaze passed over the chaotic battlefield and fell on the camp gate where the fighting was raging more than 200 steps away from him.

Under the light of the fire, the Ming and Qing armies fought hand-to-hand, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and the battle was brutal.

However, facing the flashing swords and shadows, his expression remained calm, and he didn't even show any intention of retreating.

At this time, a Qing cavalry rushed in like a torrent and had already crossed the blocking line in front.

Although their offensive was temporarily blocked by the Royal Guards and the defending soldiers, the approaching cavalry was like a biting north wind in the cold winter, rushing towards them.

However, Zhu Cilang showed no sign of fear or panic. He turned to the guards beside him and gave a solemn order:

"Raise the royal flag high!"

Following the command, the royal flag symbolizing the Ming Dynasty's central army fluttered in the night wind, rising into the flames of war, firmly attracting the attention of every Ming army soldier.

Zhu Cilang knew very well that at this moment, the royal flag was not only the center of the camp, but also the hope of all Ming troops.

If it disappears at this moment, the consequences will be disastrous.

In fact, the current situation has indeed exceeded Zhu Cilang's contingency plan.

When the camps on the east and west wings were attacked at the same time, he decisively dispatched two battalions and more than 5,000 soldiers to provide support.

However, this decision made the defense of the central camp relatively weak.

Now, more than 3,000 elite Qing troops launched a surprise attack. Yang Gao personally led dozens of cavalrymen and pierced the camp gate's defense line like a sharp knife!
Zhu Cilang remained motionless, his eyes flashing with sharpness and determination.

Recalling the critical moment of the Battle of Huaihe River, he remained calm and commanded in the face of the enemy's fierce offensive, without any fear.

Now, how could he take these mere dozens of Qing cavalrymen seriously?

"The situation is dangerous, but we must not lose our composure!" he thought to himself.

Zhu Cilang knew very well that as the leader of an army, if he chose to retreat at this moment, it would be tantamount to destroying the morale of the Ming army.

Once the dragon flag disappears from the battlefield, the morale of the soldiers fighting bloody battles on the front line will inevitably collapse, and the battle situation that has already been in a stalemate will instantly tilt.

What's worse is that if the imperial camp that was covering his retreat withdrew from the battle, the battle line in front of the central camp would be completely torn apart. At that time, the entire central camp might become a paradise for the enemy cavalry.

"Your Majesty!" Yagyu came galloping over, his voice filled with unconcealed anxiety:
"Except for the one thousand guards of His Majesty, there are less than two thousand troops available to join the battle. I have sent a messenger to the rear of the camp to dispatch other troops to support us.
However, the Qing army is advancing aggressively, and the Imperial Camp has already withdrawn from the battlefield. I implore Your Majesty to move to the rear to ensure smooth command! If Your Majesty is injured, morale will be lost, and the situation will be difficult to maintain!

Yagyu's face was full of anxiety and his tone was almost pleading.

He glanced at the battlefield and saw that the royal flag was still held high, and the Royal Guards and the Qing army were engaged in close combat, a bloody battle.

In the central army camp, in addition to the one thousand personal guards, there were only three thousand soldiers from the headquarters who could quickly go into battle, totaling less than the strength of a combat battalion.

This was like a drop in the bucket for defending against the fierce attack of the Qing army.

Zhu Cilang just smiled coldly upon hearing this. He turned his gaze away from Liu Sheng and looked into the distance.

He knew that at this moment, his choice would determine the outcome of the entire battle.

"Just a few dozen riders and you want me to retreat? You think too highly of Yang Gao and look down on the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty!" Zhu Cilang said in a low voice, his tone full of determination.

He slowly turned around and looked at the guards around him. Every guard's face was filled with murderous intent, but there was also a glimmer of trust in their eyes.

Zhu Cilang took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"Pass the order down, defend the camp gate with all your strength! Let them know that the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty are not to be trifled with!"

The personal guards received the order in unison, and then split up to spread Zhu Cilang's order to various places.

At the same time, the dragon flag flying high in the sky looked even more dazzling in the firelight and night wind, inspiring every Ming army soldier who was fighting.

The fighting on the battlefield became increasingly fierce. The Qing cavalry launched attacks again and again, but were firmly blocked by the guards and soldiers who fought desperately to defend.

Their spears and swords cut through the night sky, blood splattered all over the ground, but no one took a step back.

Zhu Cilang stood in front of the big tent, watching all this.

"Your Majesty, the Qing cavalry seems to be retreating!" Yagyu rode over again, with a hint of excitement in his tone.

Zhu Cilang nodded, a sharp look in his eyes:
"Order the entire army to hold steady! Today, we will show them that the Ming army's main camp is not something they can just casually breach!"

As his orders were conveyed, the morale of the Ming army was greatly boosted and the shouts of killing became louder and louder.

After several unsuccessful charges, the Qing cavalry finally showed signs of fatigue, and the situation on the battlefield gradually began to tilt in favor of the Ming army.

(End of this chapter)