Di Ming

Chapter 242 How is life? Sorrow is as plentiful as weeds.

"How magnificent, Your Highness the Crown Prince is so valiant!" Bo Bai did not object. "Then this old minister will grant Your Highness five thousand Han soldiers, to be commanded by Your Highness and Bo Chengen together, to join the Prince of Xihai in confronting the false Ming dynasty head-on!"

Logically speaking, it would be impossible for Bo Bai to let Zhu Shuaixin command the troops, as it would be difficult to control him.

However, with a formidable enemy at hand, defeating Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang is the top priority; everything else can wait. After all, Zhu Yin is the nominal crown prince, and allowing him to command an army would also boost morale.

Especially the Han soldiers and generals who recently surrendered, all of whom joined because of Prince Qing and his son. The Han people in Hexi also had high hopes for Prince Qing and his son. At least on the surface, he had to respect Prince Qing and his son, and not disappoint the Han people.

Furthermore, Zhu Shuaixin is a young man of great courage and decisiveness, and is indeed a talented individual.

"Thank you, Grand Tutor!" Zhu Shuaixin's face was filled with surprise and joy.

The boy's fists clenched tightly with excitement.

Military power! Only by gaining military power, even if it's just five thousand men, will it be his chance!
To seize this opportunity, he had been trying his best to please Bo Bai and befriend the Mongol nobles.

Now, we've finally got this opportunity!

Wanli, just you wait, I won't lose so easily! Even if I lose Hexi, I won't lose!
Suddenly Zhenxiang stood up and said, "Now we can't hold back anymore. I'm going to write back to the Western Sea and tell all the tribes to send all their strongest men on horseback to enter Hexi from Riyue Pass, Lenglong Ridge Pass, and Dadouba Valley Pass to prepare for support!"

"Good!" Bo Bai had been waiting for this statement. "The Prince of Xihai has quite the spirit! How many more cavalry can he send?"

Zhenxiang said confidently, "With the strong and capable Tuda, at least 30,000 cavalry can come, but there aren't many armored soldiers, at most only six or seven thousand are armored."

"Enough!" Bo Bai exclaimed with delight. "When they arrive, I will do my best to provide them with armor!"

The truth is that the 30,000 cavalry mentioned were actually herdsmen from the Western Sea, with only a few wearing armor.

However, the herdsmen of the Western Sea were skilled in riding and archery, and had many horses. Ordinary herdsmen became warriors when they rode warhorses.

Even if they are all herdsmen, as long as they are not old, weak or disabled, once armed they are real cavalrymen, and it can be said that the whole nation is a soldier.

In comparison, the mobilization capacity of Han Chinese who cultivate the land is much lower.

Bo Bai's confidence soared even higher. With tens of thousands of cavalrymen coming from the Western Sea, this battle was in the bag.

Bo Bai's resolute and ancient eyes reflected the flickering lamplight as he spoke with a firm voice:

"There's a saying among the Han people: 'It's all or nothing!' Regardless of victory or defeat in this battle, I will never leave Hexi!"

"All of you, go back and prepare! We must send out troops by June 18th at the latest!"

He then slammed his cane down heavily.

"twitter!"

"promise!"

The Mongol nobles and Han generals received their orders together, and the hall resounded like thunder.

……

Bo Bai was discussing matters in the front hall, while inside the so-called temporary palace, Prince Qing was drinking and making merry with Prince Su.

Singing and dancing filled the courtyard; zithers and lutes played in harmony beneath the eaves. In the fragrant, painted hall, a man's soft, slow singing echoed:

"Life is like a tangled mess of weeds, I wonder what will become of the traveler from Liangzhou today. I am like a caged bird, vainly cherishing my feathers. I dare not wake from this great dream, even with wings I cannot escape."

The voice was poignant and sorrowful, enough to bring tears to one's eyes.

After singing his self-composed song, Prince Qing, Zhu Shenyu, picked up his golden cup and drank it all in one gulp. The fine wine from the Western Regions in the cup now tasted like bitter medicine, making him even more distressed.

For months, he felt as if he were in a dream, unsure whether it was real or not.

It has been nearly two months since he proclaimed himself emperor at Helan Mountain. It has been more than half a month since he formally ascended the throne in Liangzhou and changed the era name to Tianming.

Logically, he should have been in high spirits. After all, he had risen from a mere vassal king to become emperor and the ruler of Hexi.

But he knew perfectly well that he, the so-called emperor, was nothing more than a plaything in Bo Bai's hands.

If that were all, it would be fine. At least it's much better than being treated like a pig by the previous feudal lords.

But could Bo Bai really defeat the imperial army? How long could he remain emperor? What would happen if he lost?
Even in my dreams, I have nightmares of being escorted to Beijing and having my entire family executed.

Prince Su, Zhu Shenyao, however, was not so distressed. Instead, he appeared to be indulging in a life of pleasure and drunkenness, raising his wine cup and saying:
"What is Your Majesty worried about? Let's enjoy the present moment and be merry. Now that Your Majesty controls Hexi and is the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, you are blessed with great fortune. Why create trouble for yourself? Your Majesty, I congratulate you and wish you a long and prosperous life, and that the dynasty will last forever."

According to seniority, Prince Su was Prince Qing's brother of the same generation. As a vassal king, he was naturally like a prisoner, but he knew how to enjoy himself, only knowing fine wine and beautiful women, and was not as sorrowful as Prince Qing.

This time, Xiaosongshan Mongol Taiji Bahai captured Lanzhou, took his entire family prisoner, robbed him of his gold and silver treasures, and then escorted him to Liangzhou.

In order to save his life, he immediately surrendered to Prince Qing and joined Prince Qing in calling on all the vassal kings in the country to oppose Wanli and the court.

Prince Qing sighed, "They made me the Emperor of Heaven's Mandate and honored me as the Khan of Heaven's Mandate, but how could I have such a blessing? I can only live day by day, taking it one day at a time."

Although he lived in constant fear, he still liked to refer to himself as "朕" (Zhen, the imperial "I"). Every day, when he saw people addressing him as "陛下" (Your Majesty) or "皇上" (Emperor), he felt an indescribable sense of comfort and joy.

I still vividly remember the scene of my coronation ceremony last month, when thousands of people bowed to me while I sat solemnly to receive their congratulations. Every time I think of it, I savor the memory.

Ah, if only this emperor could stay in power forever, I would be content even without real power.

Prince Su put down his wine cup, a fawning expression appearing on his fleshy face, and said with feigned seriousness:
"Your Majesty has loyal ministers and capable generals at your service, 100,000 soldiers fighting for their lives, and millions of people supporting you. What is there to fear? Liangzhou has always been a place where heroes can display their prowess. It can be used for both offense and defense, and it is certainly the foundation for a great empire. Your Majesty is blessed by Heaven, has great fortune, and is protected by your ancestors. Your imperial ambitions and hegemony are within your grasp. You should be happy."

He pointed his folding fan eastward: "The young Wanli Emperor ascended the throne at the age of ten. He was greedy for money and lustful, unable to distinguish between loyalty and treachery. Where was the slightest trace of a wise ruler? With my Great Ming Dynasty in his hands, it was bound to perish sooner or later. Fortunately, my elder brother restored order, succeeded to the throne, and continued the ancestral legacy. Thus, the Great Ming Dynasty has a day of rebirth."

Hearing Prince Su's words, Emperor Tianming's mood improved considerably, and he became slightly tipsy. He waved his jade ruyi scepter, gently tapping the ice in the fruit platter, and asked expectantly:
"Brother Su, my reign title is Tianming. Is there truly a Mandate of Heaven?"

After speaking, he looked at Prince Su with sparkling eyes, and a surge of power emanated from him.

“How could there not be?” Prince Su said solemnly. “Think about Zhu Di. Back then, he was just the Prince of Yan, but he started an army with only eight hundred men. In the end, he still managed to march on Nanjing and forcefully usurped the throne.”

"It would be fine if his branch of the family did a good job. But what about him and his descendants? Not a single one of them was competent! What a mess they've made of the once glorious Ming Dynasty!"

"The ancestral rules established by the founding emperor state that the empire belongs to the eldest son's family, not the Yan family. If the eldest son's family is gone, then the virtuous one shall rule! Whichever branch seizes the throne will become the emperor! If the Prince of Yan can do it, so can the Prince of Qing!"

"Your Majesty, Zhu Di only had eight hundred men back then. Your Majesty now has more than eighty thousand. What is this if not the Mandate of Heaven? Your Majesty's change of reign title to the Mandate of Heaven is the will of Heaven."

At this moment, Prince Su also hoped that Prince Qing would succeed. If he failed, he would be finished too.

If he succeeds, he can become a vassal king with an actual fiefdom.

This is Prince Qing's promise.

Prince Qing looked around and said in a low voice, "But you also know that these soldiers are not my men and will not obey my imperial edicts. They only obey the Grand Tutor."

Prince Su also lowered his voice and said, "So what? Military power is in the hands of the Grand Tutor, after all, His Majesty was appointed by the Grand Tutor. But His Majesty has the title of Emperor."

"Your Majesty has been in Hexi for less than a month, and tens of thousands of border soldiers have defected, while hundreds of thousands of Hexi people have submitted to Your Majesty. Are they following Bo Bai's lead? No, they are following Your Majesty's lead."

"Without His Majesty, how could Bo Bai's remnants of the army have swept through the region so quickly, pacifying Hexi in just half a month? Wasn't it all thanks to His Majesty's prestige and the bloodline of a Ming prince?"

"Besides, the Grand Tutor is over seventy years old. He's old. How many more years can he live? Once the Grand Tutor dies, won't His Majesty still be in charge? There are so many Han people in Hexi. That's His Majesty's strength. His Majesty only needs to be patient for a few years, and everything will turn out for the better."

Prince Qing couldn't help but take a deep look at Prince Su, gaining a deeper understanding of him.

The people of the Northwest all know that Prince Qing is virtuous, while Prince Su is not.

In terms of reputation, Prince Qing was far better than Prince Su. This was why these Mongol nobles had chosen him as emperor, but had not considered making Prince Su emperor.

Because Prince Su had such a bad reputation, he was utterly hopeless.

But Prince Qing only realized today that Prince Su was actually a very shrewd person, far more than just someone who indulged in wine and women.

"Your Majesty," Prince Su poured Prince Qing a cup of wine, "this great battle concerns the fate of Hexi. To ensure victory, the Grand Tutor will not impose too many restrictions on Your Majesty. When the expedition takes place and sacrifices are performed, Your Majesty can personally attend, both to boost morale and to make a good impression on the soldiers. This is an opportunity that should not be missed."

Prince Qing nodded and readily accepted the advice, saying, "Brother Su is right. I will personally attend the occasion."

"I am actually grateful to the Grand Tutor. He is truly a man of great talent. In less than a month, he won over the hearts of the people and enabled me to rebuild the Ming Dynasty in Liangzhou."

Prince Su opened his mouth, but could only silently drink a cup of wine.

……

Hongshan Gorge, the Ming army camp.

Today is June 15th, and a full moon illuminates the military camp, its light reflecting off the camp's dazzling lights.

Inside the large tent, a thick, oil lamp crackled and popped, reflecting the cold light of the iron armor and releasing the sultry heat of the summer night.

Zhu Yin sat under the lamp, reading a wax book.

This wax-coated letter was, of course, intelligence sent by Liangzhou and others. Once they reached Hexi, Zhu Yin's intelligence advantage had a significant impact on the battle situation.

The situation in Hexi was different from that in the border regions. In the border regions, it was difficult for Zhu Yin to obtain intelligence in a timely manner, and his victories were very risky.

If he hadn't commanded elite troops like the Liaodong Iron Cavalry, the White-Spear Army, and the Qi Family Army, and if Qi Jiguang, Li Rusong, and Qin Liangyu hadn't been such renowned generals, he would have had a very difficult time winning.

But now it's Hexi in the interior of the pass. Not only do the Tiger Fang spies have a lot of intelligence, but they can also deliver it to me very quickly. I can also easily issue various secret orders to the spies in the Hexi area.

In this way, Zhu Yin would have no secrets about the rebel army's military intelligence and movements.

"Hehe." Zhu Yin suddenly laughed. "Bo Bai is really cunning and shrewd. Not only did he divide his troops into six groups, but he also planned to use a counter-strategy. It's a pity that it's no longer a secret to me."

"My spies have found out that Bo Baihui will send two armies to Jincheng Pass, one in front and one behind, with 10,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry. They will first eliminate our ambush, and then combine their forces to attack Jincheng Pass. What a brilliant plan!"

"They even have reinforcements, they're going to bring tens of thousands of herdsmen from the West Sea, they're really going all out."

Zhu Yin smiled smugly, like a little fox.

He certainly had more than one intelligence source. Therefore, his intelligence could be corroborated, making it difficult for him to make a mistake.

Qi Jiguang laughed and said, "Bo Bai is a veteran general who has made many military achievements. Of course, he is not that simple. Isn't he just using a counter-strategy? And our army just happens to have no other way to counter it!"

Zhu Yin nodded and said, "As expected, the General is indeed shrewd. Since Bo Bai has guessed that our army is planning to use Jincheng Pass as bait to set up an ambush, then our army will simply not set up an ambush and let him waste his troops."

"With a great battle imminent, please make the arrangements, General."

He was the supervising governor, only in charge of strategy, and could ignore battlefield matters, which were handled by Qi Jiguang. Moreover, he had already discussed many things with Qi Jiguang.

Qi Jiguang had already made up his mind. He said to Xiao Ruxun:
"General Xiao, I'm entrusting Jincheng Pass to you. The enemy is coming to Jincheng Pass from two directions, but our army is not setting up an ambush. Let them attack Jincheng Pass directly."

Xiao Ruxun stood up. "This subordinate obeys!"

Li Rusong said, "But this would put even more pressure on Jincheng Pass, as it would face attacks from two enemy forces. Jincheng Pass is located in a low-lying area, and its walls are not high. The enemy could attack from the riverbanks and hilltops, making it difficult to defend."

Xiao Ruxun calmly said, "Let them come. Jincheng Pass is indeed difficult to defend, but I have many firearms, and the enemy only has more than 20,000 men. It will be difficult to defend the city while also supplying provisions." Qi Jiguang thought for a moment, "General Xiao, you will have to defend it for at least half a month, and supply provisions at least twice in between, but I can only give you 8,000 troops, no more."

Qi Jiguang was a renowned general who had fought countless battles and considered every aspect of the situation.

Based on the enemy's intelligence, the Ming army had to divide its forces. Jincheng Pass, where provisions were stored in the rear, was to be defended by Xiao Ruxun, who was skilled in city defense.

Although Jincheng Pass was intended as bait, it was absolutely crucial to prevent its loss. Otherwise, the Ming army would surely be defeated!

However, the army needs to be divided into several routes, so too many troops cannot be deployed at Jincheng Pass.

The second force, led by Qin Liangyu, Chen Lin, and Zhang Jiong, who were skilled in mountain warfare, launched a surprise attack on Ruian Fort, a key supply depot for the enemy.

This force of 20,000 men was tasked not only with capturing Ruian Fort, but also with cutting off the main force of the rebel army and Ruian Fort's supply lines.

The third force was led by Xiong Tingbi, Li Rubai, and others.

This force of 10,000 men headed west to the eastern foothills of the Qilian Mountains to guard the Riyue Pass, Lenglongling Pass, and Dadoubagu Pass, blocking the passage for reinforcements from the Western Sea Mongols and preventing them from entering Hexi to support the rebel army.

The fourth route, commanded by Qi Jiguang and Li Rusong, consisted of 30,000 men and was heading straight for Liangzhou!

After making the arrangements, Qi Jiguang immediately ordered his generals to prepare.

Early the next morning, Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang held a sacrificial ceremony in the Zhuanglang River Valley, offering sacrifices to the military flag and heaven and earth, and killing a captured Tartar scout as a sacrifice.

Zhu Yin personally read the sacrificial text for the Ma sacrifice, after which the Ming army camps split up.

On the same day, Zhu Yin, Qi Jiguang, and Li Rusong led 30,000 infantry and cavalry, slowly breaking camp and heading north, approaching Liangzhou along the Zhuanglang River Valley!

Thirty thousand Ming troops swept across the mountains and plains, their swords and spears gleaming in the sun, their armor chilling, their banners billowing in the sky, and dust rising everywhere.

Tens of thousands of warhorses, mules, and camels pawed at the parched land, their movements like rolling thunder.

A huge cart pulled by four oxen carried signal flags, war drums, and two three-zhang-tall vertical banners for the central army.

One of them is white with black characters and blue border, and it reads: "Admiral of Military Affairs in Ningxia, Gansu and other places."

One of them is blue with red characters and a red border, which reads: Zhu, Vice Censor-in-Chief, Imperial Commissioner, and Governor-General of the Five Garrisons.

The white-haired veteran Qi Shaobao stood atop the high cart, like a stone sculpture, his expression cold and stern as he looked at the rolling army.

Zhu Yin did not stand on the high cart, but rode a white camel, marching under the protection of his personal guards.

Surrounded by a large army, with the rumble of chariots and the neighing of horses, Zhu Yin felt an indescribable sense of security and a surge of boundless pride.

Even though his mouth and nose were full of dust, he was happy to accept it.

……

Just as the Ming army split up and headed north, the rebel army in Liangzhou also made its move.

Just as dawn broke, the sound of shamanic drums and conch shells echoed through the ten-mile-long camp.

The lanterns on the walls of Liangzhou City flickered in the morning breeze, like embers about to go out.

Amidst the thunderous roar of horses and men, large contingents of Mongol cavalry and Han soldiers marched out of their camps and lined up in formation, stretching for miles in a dark, imposing manner.

“Boom boom boom—”

Three cannon shots rang out, the city gates swung open, and Bo Bai, with his white hair and beard, led a large number of generals to the high platform outside the southern suburbs.

The bloodstains on the high platform were still wet, and several human heads hung on the flagpole; they were those of the court officials who had previously refused to surrender.

Following the Mongolian custom of going to war, Bo Bai grabbed the black camel skull used for sacrifice, splashed mare's milk wine on the military flag painted with a gray wolf and a white deer, and then smeared the blood on his face.

The truth and the others also smeared blood on their faces, making them all look ferocious.

The lamas in the Truth Army danced wildly, jumping and leaping while brandishing their ritual implements, chanting mysterious and obscure Tantric scriptures.

On the high platform, in a bronze plate, a piece of a horse's collarbone was still burning.

With a series of crisp "crack" sounds, cracks finally appeared on the collarbone from the heat.

According to the Mongols and Jurchens, burning the pipa bone is more effective than the Han Chinese burning a tortoise shell.

“Grand Tutor.” A Mongolian shaman stepped forward. “The cracks on your collarbone indicate that today is an auspicious day for launching an attack. The most auspicious direction is south.”

Bo Bai nodded, opened his arms, looked up at the sky, and said loudly:
"Omnipotent Eternal Heaven! Invincible Genghis Khan! And the Great Ming Taizu Emperor! Please bless us with a resounding victory!"

He served the Ming Dynasty for decades, but he was still an old-generation Mongol and did not follow Lamaism. Therefore, his slogan was still "Eternal Heaven," not "Buddha."

Just then, several yellow canopies suddenly appeared on the south city tower, and then the Emperor of Destiny, dressed in a dragon robe, appeared. Standing beside him were the former queen, the current empress, and Prince Su.

"Hmm?" Bo Bai was somewhat surprised, not expecting that the "Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty," who had been drinking and relieving himself at the palace these past few days, would appear before the army set off.

But then the "emperor" stood atop the city wall, looking down at the crowd and loudly proclaiming:

"Mongol warriors and Han soldiers! You are all sons and daughters of the Ming Dynasty, loyal subjects of me! Grand Tutor is the pillar of the Ming Dynasty, his life is tied to the fate of the Ming Dynasty, his unparalleled achievements will be remembered for eternity!"

"When you return in triumph, everyone will be richly rewarded! Pastures, fertile fields, gold and silver, official positions—you'll have everything!"

"Use your swords, spears, bows, and warhorses to carve out a bright and prosperous world, and carve out a glorious and wealthy realm!"

Bo Bai opened his mouth but didn't stop the emperor from speaking. After all, the emperor's appearance at this moment was indeed very beneficial to morale.

Not to mention the tens of thousands of Han soldiers, even many Mongol cavalrymen held the Ming emperor in awe.

"Long live! Long live!"

Tens of thousands of Mongol and Han soldiers shouted together, their cheers as loud as a mountain and a tsunami.

Prince Qing was so excited that his face turned red, but then he heard Prince Su behind him whisper a reminder: "Your Majesty, it's best to stop here."

The Emperor nodded, waved to the army, and then disappeared from the city walls.

Bo Bai breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that he left quickly.

He suddenly drew his curved sword from his waist and shouted, "Send troops! Hang the heads of Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang in Liangzhou City!"

With a command given, the large army marched out with a roar, and the earth trembled.

……

June twenty.

The morning mist in the Zhuanglang River Valley had not yet dissipated when Xiao Ruxun stood on the city wall, dust falling from her iron armor.

The walls of Jincheng Pass gleamed with a bluish-gray hue in the morning light. Behind the crenellations of this brick-clad fortress, three thousand musketeers were loading powder into their breech-loading guns.

Many laborers were still mending sheepskin rafts and burlap sacks.

"Report! The vanguard of the enemy army has crossed the Songshan Grassland!" The scout's hooves kicked up sparks in front of the city gate. "Ten thousand infantrymen and more than ten thousand cavalry. They will be at the city gates by noon at the latest!"

Xiao Ruxun's gaze swept across the rolling hills, stroking the cold cannons.

Two bandit armies have arrived, numbering over 20,000 infantry and cavalry. A fierce battle is about to begin at Jincheng Pass.

Where are the troops of the Grand Commandant and the General? They should have reached Lenglong Ridge, right?
……

sunset.

East of Lenglongling, south of Huangyangchuan. The gray-yellow mountain plateau on the ridge rises like the spine of a giant beast.

Xiao Ruxun was right; Qi Jiguang and Zhu Yin had indeed arrived here. Not far to the east lay Wushaoling, the very place Huo Qubing had once traversed.

The 30,000 Ming troops had been marching for three days and were exhausted.

Suddenly, a rumbling sound like muffled thunder came from the earth.

The dust rising from the northeast was a sandstorm stirred up by the Mongol cavalry.

Zhu Yin raised his binoculars, and glints of silver flashed in the lens—the reflection of the Mongol cavalry's chainmail armor in the setting sun. They surged along the Huangyang River like a migrating herd of beasts, an iron torrent.

The enemy had as many as 30,000 men, most of whom were cavalry.

According to intelligence, this is undoubtedly the main force of the rebel army.

Huangyangchuan was a dried-up river and could not stop the large Mongol cavalry.

"Move the wagon formation forward!" Qi Jiguang waved his general's flag. Three hundred side wagons rumbled out, each with the muzzle of a three-barreled musket protruding from its compartment.

Under Qi Jiguang's command, the 30,000 Ming troops quickly completed the reorganization.

The bandit army's banner finally appeared north of Huangyangchuan.

On the opposite bank, on a high slope, Zhenxiang Taiji looked at the Ming army's disciplined formation and couldn't help but frown, his narrow eyes filled with solemnity.

Qi Jiguang truly deserves to be called a famous general.

Even with this formation, he found it difficult to take a bite.

Looking up at the setting sun, Zhenxiang didn't want to set up camp and rest. He wanted to take advantage of the fact that it wasn't dark yet to probe the enemy's strength and weaknesses.

The truth then led to an order.

“Ayun Taiji,” Zhenzhen said to Ayun beside him, “You were originally in charge of harassing the false Ming. Send out two armored thousand-man squads to test them. I want to see if they are really that difficult to deal with.”

"Yes, sir!" A-Yun immediately obeyed.

At the sound of bugles, two thousand-man squads suddenly split up and swept from the east and west, swarming around the valley like locusts.

They went down to the river a long distance away first, and then lined up after getting ashore, without even getting their horses' hooves wet.

Then the conch shells whistled, and two Mongol thousand-man squads, like two giant snakes or two whips, lashed out at the Ming army formation from the left and right!

They certainly didn't charge directly into the Ming army's formation. Instead, they turned and galloped to the side at a distance of fifty paces, taking off their bows and arrows as they rode and drew them, showcasing the Mongol horsemanship to its fullest extent.

Immediately afterwards, a barrage of arrows came hurtling in.

"Swish swish swish——"

P.S.: That's all for today. Goodnight, thank you. That's all for now. Speechless...

(End of this chapter)