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

Chapter 273 The Search and Retreat at the End of the Ming Dynasty

The battle was won, but the aftermath was somewhat complicated. Besides their original baggage and captured supplies, the Ming soldiers also needed to take back the remains of 277 fallen soldiers and 40 seriously wounded. Originally, there were 59, but more than a dozen died while cleaning up the battlefield.

The bodies of the fallen soldiers were covered with freshly skinned horsehides, but the seriously wounded were a major headache. Given their physical condition, it was almost impossible for them to survive the 120-mile rapid march. Even if we were willing to risk slowing down their march, they would still die because they could not receive timely medical treatment.

They won the battle, yet they couldn't enjoy the joy of victory; it's heartbreaking to think about. Everyone knows the best solution, but no one has been willing to voice it.

Seeing everyone remain silent, Zhao Shuaijiao said, "Since none of you are willing to be the villain, then let me do it."

“No, I’ll stay behind with a few dozen men to take care of the seriously wounded,” Huang Degong said. “The main force will go first. We’ll head south to the coast and then return to Youtun along the coastline. Unless we’re extremely unlucky, we shouldn’t run into the enemy.”

Zhao Shuaijiao pondered for a moment, nodded, and sighed, "That's all we can do. Take care and be careful to conceal your whereabouts. We'll send our navy to pick you up when we get back."

In reality, compromise is often not a good choice; it's merely the easiest option to accept. Huang Taiji's compromise led to his downfall. Had he decisively ordered a full-scale breakout, he might have escaped. He simply couldn't adapt to the changing balance of power between the Ming and Jin dynasties, refused to acknowledge his defeat, and still believed the Ming army was as incompetent in open field battles as it had been in the past.

The Jurchens possessed sophisticated tracking techniques, employing hunting dogs on the ground and gyrfalcons in the sky. While gyrfalcons were unreliable, the scent tracking of the hunting dogs was highly effective. After learning that Huang Degong was staying behind, the army scouts gave him several packets of wolf dung, saying that smearing it on his body would mask the smell. However, the wounded soldiers' blood smelled very strong, and they couldn't smear dung on their wounds, so the situation remained extremely dangerous.

But just then, the scouts who had gone out brought back good news: their reinforcements had arrived!

"Zhao Shuaijiao, you old bastard, how come you didn't call me when you did such a big thing? Do you look down on me?" Mao Wenlong led several hundred cavalrymen over and started cursing at them.

The generals thought to themselves: Isn't it normal for them to look down on you? When has the Guan Ning Army ever respected the Dongjiang Army?!
"You only brought this many men?!" Zhao Shuaijiao frowned in disdain as he looked at Mao Wenlong's few hundred light cavalry. This was just a waste of time. What could this small number of men possibly do? He should have just set off directly instead of wasting half an hour waiting for him to arrive.

"What do you mean 'this few people'? You're ungrateful! We mobilized a whole hundred ships and over five thousand people to rescue you!" Mao Wenlong surveyed the battlefield, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Seriously, you didn't actually kill Huang Taiji, did you?!"

Zhao Shuaijiao stood silently in front of Mao Wenlong. They had been friends for over a decade; they knew each other well. Mao Wenlong was practically drooling.

He replied coldly, "Of course, he was just a lowly Huang Taiji. Killing him is no big deal. Otherwise, why would we have made such a fuss to come here for a spring outing?!"

Mao Wenlong gasped. He composed himself and couldn't help but ask, "Who did this? Wow, this is really a windfall! This is a reward from the Duke! Old Zhao, to be honest, I'm extremely jealous of you right now. I've fought a whole life, and I've never achieved anything like what you've done this time!"

"He was shot to death. We don't know who did it. Everyone has a part in it!" Zhao Shuaijiao said calmly.

"I'm impressed. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't have been able to hold back!" Mao Wenlong gave Zhao Shuaijiao a thumbs up.

Kong Youde muttered to himself, "That sounds nice, everyone gets a share, but in the end, isn't he, as the commander-in-chief, the one who deserves the most credit?"

"What are you saying!" Mao Wenlong, with his fiery temper, kicked Kong Youde in the back of the knee, knocking him to the ground, and forced him to kowtow to Zhao Shuaijiao. "No, no!" Zhao Shuaijiao quickly tried to stop him.

Mao Wenlong tossed Kong Youde aside, then seized the opportunity to grab Zhao Shuaijiao, pleading pitifully, "My dear brother, let's make a deal. I've mobilized so many troops and gained nothing; that's not fair. Could you spare a few heads for me?!"
Even if we can't give you the heads, at least write my name on the battle report. This incredible fortune is for everyone who sees it!

"Go away, go away! The credit for this battle has been claimed by everyone. Even I dare not embezzle it. How can I share it with you?! And the battle report cannot be written carelessly. So many eyes are watching!" Zhao Shuaijiao said irritably.

"Is it really not negotiable?!" Mao Wenlong pretended to wipe the corner of his eye.

Man Gui, who was standing to the side, covered his eyes, unable to bear to look. He muttered, "This guy just wants some travel expenses. Let's just give him some of the spoils."

“Look, these are all unwanted. You can pick some up.” Man Gui pointed to the skinned horse carcass, some grain, and scrap metal not far away. Zhao Shuaijiao couldn’t stand it anymore and finally relented, saying that he could give Mao Wenlong some warhorses and armor as a reward.

Compared to the "money-devouring beast" Guan Ning Army, Mao Wenlong's Dongjiang Army was far too poor. In previous years, they couldn't even get enough to eat. Their treatment had improved somewhat in recent years, but they were still barely scraping by. Mao Wenlong thanked Zhao Shuaijiao, then glared at Man Gui, gritted his teeth, and said, "Fine, I'll take it. Men, move it!"

The Liao River, Hun River, and Taizi River converge and flow into the sea in their lower reaches, hence the name "Sancha River" (Three-Forked River). The Jurchen reinforcements departed from their camp in Haizhou and marched sixty li northwest, arriving at the confluence of the Hun and Liao Rivers. They chose this point to cross the river because going further north would require crossing twice more.

When the Dongjiang Denglai navy arrived at this point, they discovered the Jurchens repairing a pontoon bridge. Without further ado, they bombarded and destroyed the bridge. This blocked the Jurchens' passage across the river. The Jurchens had previously preferred to launch military campaigns in winter, taking into account the dense river network of Liaodong.

In fact, Mao Wenlong could have refrained from attacking immediately and waited for the opportune moment to strike while the enemy was crossing the river. However, he chose a more prudent approach, so his request for compensation from Zhao Shuaijiao was perfectly reasonable. The Jurchens, blocked here, could only continue north, crossing the river upstream.

The Ming army had barely managed to get their ships this far, only reaching this point during the summer when the river's flow was higher. In winter, they couldn't even reach the estuary. Now, only small and medium-sized vessels, mainly flat-bottomed sandboats, had made it this far. The Ming navy was now primarily a naval force, and the number of flat-bottomed sandboats was dwindling. Mangultai's marching speed gradually slowed.

Now that they've encountered the Ming navy here, there's little point in them going to provide further support; Huang Taiji is likely in grave danger. Assuming Huang Taiji is dead, the most important thing now is how to seize his vast fortune!

The purpose of Xiping Fort was to monitor the Liao River crossing. Standing on the city wall, one could directly see the opposite bank of the Liao River. The fort was about ten miles from the river. The Ming navy sailed directly into the Liao River to support Zhao Lüjiao and others in their retreat. The transfer of the seriously wounded was guaranteed, and the supplies that had been intentionally abandoned could be looted more thoroughly.

The Dongjiang cavalry took over the guard duty, extending their reconnaissance range to thirty li to the north, while also remaining vigilant against threats from Guangning City to the west. Half an hour later, the army successfully completed its tasks of fighting, looting, and withdrawal. The Ming navy sailed downstream at great speed, arriving at the Lianyun Island naval base in just one hour, where Zhao Shuaijiao decided to rest briefly.

"This really is Huang Taiji, no doubt about it. I'd recognize him even if he were ashes!" Mao Wenlong held Huang Taiji's head in his hands, examining it from all angles without a care for the dirt. He said with annoyance, "Why did Ajige go to all this trouble to find you? Wouldn't it have been better to just pass the message on to us? Isn't this just going the long way around?!"

“Amin’s son sought refuge with you, and you killed him. If I were Ajige, I wouldn’t come after you either!” Man Gui said gloatingly.

Mao Wenlong: ...

(End of this chapter)