Di Ming

Chapter 217 The Battle of Wuliangsuhai!

"Waaaaah—thump thump thump!"

The mournful sound of bugles and the rumble of war drums rang out. The apricot-yellow command flag on the commander-in-chief's chariot pointed forward, and Qi Jiguang finally gave the order to attack.

Amidst the sounds of bugles and war drums, all the generals and officers of each rank waved their command flags, and the battle flags were raised high.

Tens of thousands of Ming soldiers let out a roar that shook the heavens and the earth, like a huge monster that had moved!
Footsteps, armor, wheels, shouts, footsteps... all mixed together, creating a sound like a tsunami.

The earth is shaking!

Three thousand chariots lined up in a single file and advanced forward, like a moving city wall, slowly pressing towards the Mongol army.

"Boom—!"

On various war chariots, cannons, muskets, rockets and other firearms roared out, filling the air with smoke and obscuring the sun and moon.

The Mongol cavalry at the forefront were instantly thrown into chaos, their screams echoing across the battlefield. Boshoktu had no choice but to order a retreat, leaving behind dozens of corpses, and to regroup.

The Mongol generals all paled, for they had never witnessed such a dense barrage of firepower.

Now, the Ming army is flanked by the Yellow River on one side and Wuliangsuhai Lake on the other. In front of them are wagon camps that fire like city walls, and they are also guarded by cavalry on both sides. How can they attack?

A frontal assault is definitely not an option, and they can't exactly outflank their forces by attacking from the lake or river, can they? They only have cavalry, no navy.

There was no other way but to retreat.

The morale of the Mongol cavalry, already wavering due to the Oirat invasion of the Khangai Mountains, plummeted even further with this retreat.

Thus, the following scene unfolded on the battlefield: 40,000 Ming troops leisurely advanced westward along the north bank of the Yellow River.

The tens of thousands of Mongol cavalrymen reined in their horses, turned around, and slowly retreated.

The Mongol cavalry remained among the world's top cavalry at the time. Even when forced to retreat step by step, and with morale affected by the southward advance of the Oirat Mongols and the lack of reinforcements, they still maintained order and discipline.

Each of them had three horses, and the army was still playing the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) and the huqin (a type of reed pipe).

The Mongol army played music in their ranks, not for the pleasure of the ears, but to boost morale. Mongols loved to dance to music; even on horseback, the sound of the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) and the huqin (a type of reed pipe instrument) would excite them.

Seeing that the Mongol cavalry had distanced themselves and the mournful sound of the Huqin was fading into the distance, Qi Jiguang immediately waved his flag and ordered a halt to the firing of firearms to conserve ammunition.

The Ming army's chariots, cavalry, and infantry advanced in coordinated fashion, making them virtually invincible.

The 15,000 cavalrymen were divided into five teams, under the command of Li Rusong, Ma Lin, Chen Lin, Li Rubai, and others. Three teams were at the rear, and two teams were on the flanks, maintaining a distance of half a mile.

Behind them were three thousand White-Spear Soldiers, the most skilled in hand-to-hand combat, led by Qin Liangyu, following behind the cavalry, each exuding a wild and fierce fighting spirit.

Behind them was the Qi Family Army, where the central army was located. This was another Qi Family Army carefully trained by Qi Jiguang, and its soldiers were all miners from Hebei.

In the middle were Qi Jiguang's two thousand heavily armored soldiers, five hundred of whom were heavy cavalry. These soldiers were also raised by Qi Jiguang with the help of Ning Caiwei, who provided them with fine wine, fat sheep, good food, and generous pay.

In the middle were Zhu Yin's more than three hundred military families and generals.

In the very center was the tall cart guarded by Lancha, Mao Wenlong, and Ding Hongying. The cart was very wide and pulled by four oxen. Oxen carts were considered more stable and slower to move, to show that the commander-in-chief would not flee.

Zhu Yin, dressed in a magnificent, custom-made armor befitting a governor, sat on a small stool, leaning against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, resting.

Young people need to sleep a lot.

Black Tiger, wearing dog armor painted with tiger stripes, sat beside him, his eyes showing.

Shang Yang, dressed in padded armor, stood beside Qi Jiguang, pointed with his folding fan, and laughed:

"General Qi, looking back, I followed you in fighting the Japanese pirates for thirty years. Today, I am fortunate to be with you again to quell the barbarians. This place is the old route through which Meng Tian and Wei Qing fought against the Xiongnu and recovered the Hetao region."

Qi Jiguang wore a magnificent suit of Ming armor, with a telescope hanging on his chest that other Ming generals did not have. Beneath his cold, stone-carved face was a white beard that fluttered in the wind.

It stands tall like a mountain.

Each wave of the different colored flags in his hand represented a different command.

Under his command, tens of thousands of troops formed an extremely tight offensive and defensive formation, like a giant millstone, forcing the Mongol cavalry to retreat continuously.

Zhu Yin had taken a nap when he was suddenly awakened by the sound of a huqin (a type of reed pipe).

He stood up and leaned on the carriage wheel, and saw the Yellow River rolling eastward, the vast expanse of Wuhai Lake shimmering, and the army's imposing momentum. He rubbed his eyes and asked, "Father, how many miles have the Mongols retreated?"

There were no outsiders in the car, so calling him "Dad" was perfectly fine.

Without turning his head, Qi Jiguang said, "They've retreated at least seven or eight li. If they don't fight, we'll keep pressing them all the way to their golden tent and Temujin's mourning hall."

"Chikatsuki, you're something else. You can actually sleep at a time like this."

Zhu Yin laughed and said, "I've done everything I could. On the battlefield, Father is the one who commands with composure. Why should I care so much? I might as well take a nap."

Qi Jiguang stroked his beard and laughed, "How can you act as a military supervisor like this? If the court knew that you were supervising the army like this, they would accuse you of dereliction of duty."

Suddenly inspired, Zhu Yin composed a new poem in a short time and couldn't help but recite it:
"The sun and moon shine, but the wolf star is dim; an old general with white hair battles at Yinshan. The Yellow River flows, the barbarian flute echoes far; the waves of Wuhai are cold, and the beacon smoke is chilling. Flying city walls roll down, pressing down on ten thousand cavalry; war chariots rumble, locking down the Nine Plains. If you ask how Qi Gong compares to him, he is like Wei Qing of the Han Dynasty and Meng Tian of Qin."

Qi Jiguang laughed heartily and said, "Wei Qing and Meng Tian are renowned generals throughout the ages. I dare not compare myself to them. I can only hope to defeat the enemy here and not let down the sages of the past!"

After speaking, he suddenly waved the apricot-yellow command flag in his hand, and the drumbeats on the drum cart next to him suddenly became more rapid.

"Dong dong dong dong——"

As the war drums intensified, the chariots at the front sped up, and the cavalry on both flanks also began to accelerate.

As the Mongol cavalry accelerated their retreat under the pressure of their advancing chariots, Boshoktu and the others couldn't help but curse angrily.

In this terrain, the Ming army's chariots were truly formidable! The Mongol warriors were forced to retreat again and again.

If they retreat any further, the Ming army will be able to cross Wuliangsuhai Lake.

Seeing the previously arrogant Mongol cavalry being forced to retreat by their chariots, the Ming soldiers were greatly encouraged and their morale soared.

Qi Jiguang chose this time to deploy his troops in this way precisely to boost morale and help the Ming soldiers overcome their fear of the Mongol cavalry.

The skill of a great general is not limited to battlefield combat.

Seeing the chariots pushing forward like a city wall, Zhu Yin suddenly thought of tank charge tactics.

They really do look alike.

The Ming army used chariots very early on, from the steel chariots of the early Ming Dynasty and the flamethrower chariots of the mid-Ming Dynasty to the firearm chariots of the late Ming Dynasty. Chariots were, in fact, a standard weapon of the Ming army.

Similarly, the Later Jin army also frequently used chariots, which they obviously learned from the Ming army.

However, the chariot before us was an improvement by Qi Jiguang. He was a master of chariot warfare tactics. This tank-like tactic was also invented by Qi Jiguang.

Each chariot is pulled by two horses and can also be pushed from behind. It has baffles on the front and sides and is equipped with a tiger crouching cannon, a small breech-loading cannon, or a rocket, as well as two muskets.

Although this type of light artillery is not good for siege warfare and has limited firepower, its light weight allows it to be mounted on chariots, posing a significant threat to cavalry and infantry.

Each chariot is equipped with ten men: five firearmsmen, two archers, and four spearmen.

He Liangchen said it well: "To block the charge of the enemy, one must use chariots and walls. To block the sharp edge of the enemy, one must use chariots and walls."

This thing was the nemesis of the Mongol cavalry.

Qi Jiguang also told Zhu Yin about the disadvantages of the chariot battalion: coordination was difficult, requiring a great deal of training and cooperation, and the chariots and firearms had to be well-made.

Moreover, while chariots are powerful weapons in combat, they cannot be used to pursue cavalry.

In Zhu Yin's words, the tactics were difficult, requiring soldiers and commanders at all levels to possess relatively high qualities, while also ensuring the quality of chariots, firearms, and gunpowder. Furthermore, their mobility was far inferior to cavalry, making it impossible to wage annihilation battles against cavalry.

The reason why the Ming Dynasty's chariot corps failed at the end of the Ming Dynasty was due to a systemic collapse caused by corruption and poor training, not because the tactics themselves were ineffective.

...

At this moment, the gunners fired the vehicle-mounted tiger-squat cannons and breech-loading cannons in an orderly manner, while the pikemen and archers jogged forward behind the chariots, steadily advancing to the beat of the drums.

A west wind blew in, and the air was filled with the sour smell of warhorses and Mongol cavalry, so strong that it seemed to add sauce to the space.

The Ming soldiers wrinkled their noses at the smell carried by the wind.

"Pah! It suffocates me!" Zheng Guowang, the Ming Dynasty's inspector general of Datong, couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of saliva, feeling nauseous.

She rode a chestnut horse and wore a general's armor, looking like a valiant female general.

The guards around him were a little dazed. The Fourth Master really looked like a female general, somewhat similar to Qin Liangyu.

However, they could only think it in their hearts and would never dare to say it out loud.

Zheng Guowang was no weak scholar or pampered young lady; she was also skilled in riding and archery, a rare talent in both literature and martial arts within the Zheng family. Therefore, she was not afraid to go to the battlefield, and was even a little excited.

To march beyond the Great Wall and slay the enemy, to fight against the barbarians—this is the achievement of a true man. As a man myself, of course I must mount my horse and draw my bow!

Not far away, Hao Yunlai was also wearing armor, but he was struggling, riding his horse clumsily and unsteadily. He was a pure scholar, and at this moment, his legs were trembling and his face was pale.

Zheng Guowang, on the other hand, was much more carefree.

"Brother Huaji, are you afraid?" Zheng Guowang felt a little contemptuous. She raised her slender finger and pointed forward. "The Mongols are afraid? What is there to be afraid of? Today is the day to make a name for yourself."

Hao Yunlai forced a smile and said, "Zhu Zhihu is just a scholar, he's never commanded troops before, what if something happens to him today..."

Zheng Guowang laughed heartily, revealing his pearly white teeth. "Although he has never commanded troops, with Qi Shaobao in charge, our army is invincible. Let's just wait for our commendations and promotions."

At this point, she let out another cold laugh.

"Zhu Zhihu only knows how to hide behind General Qi. He probably can't even ride a horse; he's traveled by carriage the whole way. Hmph, he may be a child prodigy and the top scholar, but once on the battlefield, will he have any ability to protect himself? Can he even draw a bow and shoot an arrow? I doubt he has that skill."

Hao Yunlai laughed too, "Horseback riding and archery? Brother Yueying, you're really putting him in a difficult position. He can't be better than us in everything. Zhu Zhihu wants to be Zhuge Liang, how can he personally go into battle?"

After another three miles, the view suddenly opened up, and we finally bypassed Wuliangsuhai Lake and entered Haixi.

Upon reaching this point, the terrain opened up, and the Mongol cavalry no longer needed to retreat.

They could not retreat, because not far behind them lay Genghis Khan's Eight White Chambers and the location of the Golden Tent of the Farmers.

At this moment, the Ming cavalry, having increased their horse speed, immediately exposed their weaknesses in the face of the Mongol cavalry.

The Mongols discovered that the Ming cavalry were not very skilled at riding, and most of them needed to tighten their grip on their horses to maintain a stable position.

Their horsemanship was far inferior to theirs.

"Hahaha!" Boshoktu and the others couldn't help but burst into laughter. It turned out that although the Ming army had many cavalry, most of them were just for show.

One Mongol cavalryman could take on two or three of these lousy cavalrymen!
This is the weakness of the Ming army!

As expected, the Han cavalry was ultimately no match for them!

That way, you can win with fewer troops.

Once the Han cavalry is defeated, the Ming army, left with only infantry on the grasslands, will become prey for the warriors and will be slowly worn down and killed by the Mongol cavalry.

"Woo woo woo—" The attack horn of the Mongol army sounded. The Mongol cavalry, who had been forced back ten miles by the Ming army and were already extremely frustrated, finally showed their best skills.

Once they reached an area favorable for cavalry movement, the Mongols were brimming with confidence.

Boshoktu ordered a halt to the retreat and then shouted, "Members of the Golden Family! Descendants of Genghis Khan! Offspring of the Blue Wolf and White Deer! Masters of the Steppe! Blessed ones who have been bathed in the Buddha's teachings! Listen to me!"

"I received a revelation from Buddha and used the burning of Old Ma's lapis lazuli for divination. It was far more effective than the Han people burning tortoise shells! The cracks in the lapis lazuli held a great mystery! I told the priest to make the prediction! The priest made the prediction! He said, 'Jinong, listen to me, I've deduced that this is a great omen that will turn from bad to good!'"

Upon hearing Boshuoketu's words, everyone thought to themselves, "Wasn't the High Priest subdued by the Buddha as an evil god? There's no High Priest left in the tribe."

At this point, Boshoktu suddenly realized that he had said something wrong.

Then his tone immediately changed again.

"Warriors! Buddha will bless Ordos! The warriors' fame will be immortal because of their protection of the Dharma!" Boshoktu drew his ornate scimitar adorned with jewels and stood beneath Suluding, shouting sternly.

"Genghis Khan's shrine is right behind us! Our wives and wealth are also behind us. We cannot retreat like cowards!"

"These cowardly Han Chinese, like lambs to the slaughter, ride their horses clumsily, like children just learning to ride! Look! They hold their whips like they're holding dead snakes! Do you think they can stop the Mongol cavalry's thunderous hooves?!"

"Warriors! Heed the call of your ancestors, obey my command, and tear the Ming cavalry apart like you tear apart a flock of sheep! May Buddha protect you!"

Boshoktu mentioned Buddha twice, but as for Tengri, the Eternal Heaven, he seemed to have forgotten about him for a long time.

At Boshoktu's command, the cavalry battalion immediately turned their horses around and quickly changed formation.

“Boom boom boom—”

The twelve to thirteen thousand Mongol cavalry were divided into three groups. Two groups outflanked and charged at the Ming army's flanks, while the middle group deployed hundreds of shield wagons to protect the Suluding banner.

Don't assume that the Mongols only used cavalry; they also used shield wagons.

The Mongol cavalry numbered less than 13,000, with 5,000 cavalrymen on each flank, leaving only 2,000 to 3,000 in the center, who used shield wagons to protect Boshoktu's central banner.

This is actually the best tactic when forces are outnumbered.

Under the protection of the shield wagons, the central army camp maintained its formation, drawing the Ming army's chariots and infantry to cover the main attacking cavalry on both flanks.

More importantly, hidden within the central army's main formation were five hundred heavy cavalrymen, all clad in double armor, riding the strongest horses, and wearing armor on their steeds; the riders were also the most valiant warriors.

These were the only five hundred armored heavy cavalrymen remaining under Boshoktu's command. The other five hundred heavy cavalrymen had long since gone to support Bo Bai in Ningxia.

Once the Ming cavalry is defeated and their formation is weakened, these 500 heavy cavalry will launch a thunderous attack, tearing apart the Ming army's wagon formation.

"Whoa!" Ten thousand Mongol cavalrymen roared in terror, sweeping in like two torrents of iron, breaking through the dam. They attacked the Ming cavalry from both flanks.

"Boom!" With the charge of ten thousand Mongol cavalry, the earth trembled as the horses galloped.

Not far away, the waters of Wuliangsuhai Lake seemed to be rippling!

On a high chariot in the Ming army's formation, Qi Jiguang looked at the overwhelming Mongol army, his vast eyes narrowing slightly.

Zhu Yin felt a surge of energy as he looked at the Mongol cavalrymen who were clamping down like two enormous iron pincers.

coming!

The Mongol cavalry truly lived up to their reputation as born mounted warriors.

The superb horsemanship of the Mongol cavalry was on full display at this moment.

It requires no reins or spurs, yet it seems to be an extension of the warhorse, rising and falling with its gallop.

Upon closer observation, one will notice that their bodies occasionally leave the horse's back briefly, using inertia to fly through the air.

This riding technique allows the warhorse to move with the least effort and at the fastest speed.

Even while riding at such a rapid pace, they still skillfully drew their bows and nocked their arrows.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh—”

When the Mongol cavalry were only a few dozen paces away from the Ming cavalry, they unleashed a barrage of arrows, which rained down upon them.

In contrast, the Ming cavalry lacked the skill of mounted archery; their speed and range of shooting arrows from horseback were inferior to those of the Mongol cavalry.

"Back off!" The Ming general waved his command flag and roared. The Ming cavalry on both flanks immediately moved towards the center, attempting to create distance and get closer to the wagon formation.

Li Rubai and Chen Lin, who led the cavalry on both flanks, ordered their troops to retreat. The open space on both sides grew larger and larger.

From the air, one would see that the Mongol cavalry's flanking maneuvers were extremely successful. Like two large pincers, they held back the Ming army's cavalry on both flanks, and through superb archery, they implemented their most effective Mangudai tactics.

They charged at the Ming cavalry, firing arrows incessantly, then maneuvering to create distance before closing in again to unleash more arrows. Each of them rode three horses, occasionally switching to another to change horses.

Moreover, their empty horses would follow them, clinging to their masters like maggots on bones, so that the masters could freely jump over and change horses during the ride.

Once they broke through the enemy's formation, these empty horses would also charge into the enemy ranks, serving as a means of breaking through their lines. For the Mongol cavalry, warhorses were not merely mounts, but also comrades-in-arms.

Their horse archers could shoot eighty paces, and the arrowheads were soaked in excrement.

"Ah—" Amidst screams, Ming cavalrymen were occasionally struck in the face by arrows, falling from their horses with cries of agony.

The Ming cavalry's archery skills were poor at this point; neither the density of their arrow volleys nor their range were comparable to those of the Mongol cavalry. Whenever they tried to charge into mounted combat, the Mongol cavalry would immediately distance themselves, leaving the Ming cavalry with no choice but to continue closing in.

In this way, the Ming army's cavalry speed immediately disappeared, and all advantages were lost.

The wagon battalion and firearms soldiers behind the Ming cavalry were reluctant to fire their firearms at the Mongol cavalry on the flanks for fear of accidentally injuring the Ming cavalry.

Therefore, the firearms soldiers could only fire at the center of the Mongolian territory directly in front of them.

"Boom boom boom—" The Ming army's firearms roared, bombarding the Mongol central army opposite them like thunder and fire.

Above the entire Ming army position, smoke filled the air, and the acrid smell of gunpowder made the warhorses snort. The Mongol cavalry could no longer even make out the specific details of the Ming army's formation due to the smoke.

Although the Mongol central army successfully drew the firepower of the Ming army's firearms, it was constantly suffering casualties.

However, the range and firing speed of the Ming army's firearms were limited, and they could not break through the shields of the Mongol central army for a time. The Mongol central army dismounted and fired with their bows, and a rain of arrows flew out from behind the shields, hitting far and hard.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh—”

"Boom boom boom!"

The wagon barracks opened fire at close range, unleashing a barrage of artillery, muskets, and rockets.

Mongol warriors were frequently hit by artillery fire, even their armor couldn't stop them. Those hit by musket fire were mostly unharmed if their armor blocked the bullets, but if they were hit in the face, they would surely die.

The Ming soldiers on the opposite side were also hit by arrows one after another. The Mongol archers' arrows had an amazing range and great power. Especially the heavy arrows, which were difficult for even light armor to stop.

Judging from the battle results, the Mongol bows and arrows were in no way inferior to the Ming army's firearms. This is because the Ming army's firearms at that time were far inferior to those of the foreigners; their quality and power were unreliable.

Some artillery pieces exploded after firing only a few shots.

The same goes for firearms.

As for the rockets, some exploded in the Ming army's positions before they were even launched.

Even so, the intense barrage of fire still caused heavy casualties among the Mongol central army.

"Ah—" Five or six hundred Mongol warriors were killed, and the wounded wailed in agony.

Every now and then, armored vehicles would be blasted to pieces by artillery shells, splinters of wood flying everywhere, and blood and gore everywhere.

The warhorse, its belly ripped open and intestines spilling out, kicked its legs in vain on the ground, releasing a thick stench of blood.

Among the Ming soldiers, there were also those who covered their faces, or fell to the ground without uttering a sound, or let out long, miserable screams.

Many Ming soldiers pulled out the arrows hanging from their armor and continued fighting.

"The Ming cavalry is in trouble!" Bosoktu shouted. "Hold on! Don't retreat! When the Ming cavalry collapses, that's the time to attack!"

Following the Ming musketeers, angry shouts from Ming generals echoed through the air:

"Don't retreat! Hold the line!"

"Behead those who retreat!"

"If the muskets explode, grab your knives! Get up!"

For a time, the two sides were locked in a fierce battle, each taking lives. The fighting quickly became extremely brutal.

If someone were standing on a high mountain looking down at this moment, they would find that the Ming army had 40,000 men, but their formation was very rigid, making it difficult to make use of their numerical advantage.

Many Ming infantrymen were left idle in the middle of the formation, unable to engage the enemy.

The only force that engaged the Mongol army was 6,000 cavalry on both flanks, plus archers and firearms soldiers following behind them, totaling only a few thousand men, less than half of the total strength.

Although the Mongol cavalry numbered only a little over 10,000, they were extremely agile and fought fiercely and quickly.

Anyone with a discerning eye can immediately see that the key to this situation lies in the duel between the cavalry on both flanks.

If the Mongol cavalry on both flanks can secure victory, the Mongol army will be able to win against overwhelming odds.

If the Ming army's cavalry on both flanks collapses, then the Ming army's infantry formation may also collapse.

On the battlefield, the side with more troops is never guaranteed to win.

Mongol troops repeatedly achieved victories against Ming armies that outnumbered them by more than two times.

Strangely, despite the Ming army's poor performance, Qi Jiguang and Zhu Yin showed no concern whatsoever.

Even generals like Li Rusong, Qin Liangyu, and Xiong Tingbi remained very calm.

If there were capable individuals in the Mongol army, they would have noticed at this point that the Ming cavalry's poor performance and retreat seemed problematic.

However, Hao Yunlai and Zheng Guowang were getting anxious.

"What kind of battle is this!" Zheng Guowang was both angry and resentful. Suddenly, he spurred his horse forward, led his personal guards to draw their bows and shoot arrows. One arrow hit the nearest Mongol cavalryman.

Hao Yunlai trembled with fear. He dared not step forward and could only lean against Zhu Yin's carriage.

He wants to go home!

But just then, a long, drawn-out horn sounded from the chariot: "Woo-woo-woo—"

At the same time, Qi Jiguang, aboard the tall carriage, waved a red command flag.

Immediately afterwards, large numbers of cavalry charged out from the flanks of the Ming army that had been cleared as the flanks contracted!

These two cavalry units charged out from behind, their horses moving at great speed, numbering as many as nine thousand!
Li Rusong commanded the left wing, and Ma Lin, the general of Datong, commanded the right wing!

"boom--"

Having fought for a long time and whose horses had slowed down considerably, the Mongol cavalry on both flanks suddenly collided violently with the two Ming cavalry units that had circled out from the rear, which were like a fresh force!
(End of this chapter)