Late Ming Dynasty: So what if Emperor Chongzhen was inactive?!

Chapter 266 Night Raid on the Plain Yellow Banner Camp 3.0
For example, Man Gui was such an oddball. After returning to his camp and giving a few instructions, he went straight to sleep. Even Cao Bianjiao couldn't be so carefree. Like most soldiers, he simply lay in the grass with his weapon in his arms, closing his eyes to rest.

Although this is a plain, the land is flat at close range, but as the distance increases, the terrain becomes undulating, and the group is actually in a depression. From several miles away, the army here is not visible to the naked eye.

Huang Taiji brought only combat troops, and there were no large trees nearby to build fortifications. Furthermore, considering the location of this area, situated north of Liaoxi and Liaonan, it was practically inland, far from the front lines. Taking all these factors into account, they lowered their guard. Their thinking was sound; Ming troops were indeed rarely seen in this kind of place.

However, Huang Taiji was an old soldier after all. He didn't build a fortified camp because he couldn't find the materials. He chose Xipingbao as his base for safety reasons. The ruins were still some kind of barrier. If the enemy attacked, at least there would be terrain that could slow down their charge.

Of course, he didn't think he would be ambushed here, especially since it was late at night. Usually, the Ming navy would launch surprise attacks during the day, sending out cavalry or infantry battalions to quickly strike, and then return to the seaside to board their ships before sunset.

Because coastal areas are riddled with reefs and shoals, navigation requires extreme caution even during the day, let alone at night. Only in the deep sea can one navigate safely at night. This is also why ocean-going routes are so much faster than coastal routes, as coastal routes require anchoring at night, effectively doubling the travel time.

The choice of encampment was deliberate. He had prepared regular scouts, and both visible and hidden sentries were arranged for setting up camp. Warhorses were also tethered near their respective tents. It could be said that, except for the absence of an ambush, Huang Taiji had basically taken all the precautions for a regular march. His actions were not without merit, as they bought them about three miles of reaction time.

Time passed gradually as the incense ash fell piece by piece, and the silver moon in the sky looked as if a piece had been bitten off by the moon rabbit.

"General, General?!" It was a bit chilly at night, and Cao Bianjiao was in a half-asleep state. When he heard someone calling him, his eyes glazed over for a moment before clearing up.

"What time is it now?!" Cao Bianjiao asked instinctively.

"It's past midnight!" Cao Bianjiao's personal guard replied.

"If the King of Hell wants him dead at midnight, who dares to keep him alive until dawn?!" Cao Bianjiao blurted out out of the blue.

He rose from the ground, his tall figure blocking out the moonlight, his face shrouded in shadow, giving him a menacing appearance. Even knowing this was his own general, Cao San couldn't help but take a half-step back.

"Put on my armor!" Cao Bianjiao said, opening his arms wide.

"Here!" Cao San called to another companion to come forward and quickly help Cao Bianjiao put on his armor.

At the same time, Cao Bianjiao's mount was also being clad in armor. They had no auxiliary soldiers with them and could only help each other put on their armor within a quarter of an hour. Time was extremely tight, but everyone completed the armor-wearing process ahead of schedule.

They mounted their horses, their hearts pounding, their breath condensing into dew on their visors. Everyone was waiting for a command.

Clatter, clatter, clatter! The messenger swiftly arrived. The two hundred-man battalions in the very center of the vanguard slowly moved forward, the latter following behind, gradually forming a wedge formation. The vanguard advanced, followed by the second and third tiers. The warhorses trotted, not yet charging, but their speed seemed to be increasing rapidly.

Thirty light cavalrymen broke out of the main force and rushed ahead to eliminate the Jurchen sentries they had set up, but the chances of success were slim. Huang Taiji had deployed many sentries, both visible and hidden, and perhaps due to the strict military law, the sentries were extremely dutiful, making it virtually impossible to eliminate them silently.

The Ming army didn't employ the old-fashioned tactics of shod horses and gagged soldiers. They launched a large-scale attack, betting that the Jurchens wouldn't have enough time to react, and that they wouldn't sleep in their armor in this weather. Rumbling sounds filled the air as the earth began to tremble. The heavily armored cavalry, rider and horse, weighed a ton!
At nine hundred paces, the Ming light cavalry encountered the Jurchen sentries. Of the thirty-six sentries, half were killed and the other half fled. However, at this point, Huang Taiji no longer needed their reports. Huang Taiji had been sleeping poorly lately. After lying awake for half the night, he finally fell asleep but had a nightmare. He dreamt that his poisoning of Abahai had been exposed, and his father was coming to settle scores with him.

"Father, aren't you dead?!" Huang Taiji exclaimed in horror as he looked at Nurhaci.

"You wicked beast, you won't even spare your own mother! I told you to take good care of your brothers, is this how you take care of them? Dorgon, my son! Huang Taiji, you have disappointed me greatly, I sentence you to be trampled by horses!!!"

"Da da da! No, no, Father, I was wrong, Father, please forgive me!"

A horseshoe the size of a bowl was imprinted on Huang Taiji's round face. Huang Taiji hurriedly rolled to avoid it, but with a thud, he fell off the camp couch.

Thump, thump, Huang Taiji clutched his chest, feeling a sharp pain. He greedily inhaled the air of reality, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his bald forehead.

"Father, you never let me go, even in death! I didn't want to kill Abahai, but who told her to be so blind? My Great Jin has never had a rule of women being in charge!" Huang Taiji's lips curled up slightly, and with his mustache, the sarcasm was very strong. It was just unclear whether he was mocking himself or his own father.

"Hmm?!" A look of suspicion suddenly appeared on Huang Taiji's face.

Was the nightmare really that persistent? Why could he still faintly hear the sound of galloping hooves in his ears?
No, that's not right! Huang Taiji suddenly woke up.

Whoosh! His tent was instantly ripped open!

"Enemy attack!!!" The piercing shouts shook the entire camp.

"Great Khan! Enemy troops are attacking!"

"I understand!" Huang Taiji pushed aside his personal guards and strode out of the tent.

"What are you all standing there for? Form ranks and meet the enemy!" Huang Taiji suddenly turned around and shouted angrily, "Where is Turgh?!"

"Yes, Great Khan, Great, Great General!" The white-armored Bayara was somewhat incoherent. "Turghzo Banner has already led men to intercept the enemy!"

Huang Taiji nodded slightly, and his trembling hands gradually regained their strength. Only then did he have the mind to think about other questions: Why did the Ming army suddenly appear here? He was very perceptive and immediately realized that someone had betrayed him! Huang Taiji gritted his teeth slightly. Who could it be? There were too many suspects, and he couldn't pinpoint the traitor's identity in a short time.

He gritted his teeth. He had clearly stated before the battle that everyone should cooperate sincerely; this was a battle concerning the life and death of the Great Jin and their Jurchen people. He had been sincere and humble enough, and his brothers had readily agreed. Why were they going back on their word?
Huang Taiji was also determined. He thought to himself that when he returned, he would definitely find this damned traitor and show him no mercy, even to the Grand Prince Daishan! They really thought he was easy to bully just because they didn't kill him. He had repeatedly tolerated them, but how did these people repay him in the end?!
(End of this chapter)