Di Ming

Chapter 385 "Submitting to the Ming Dynasty by Imperial Decree!"

Konishi Yukinaga had marched for three days to reach Yoshino Province from Anshu to offer assistance, and both his samurai and foot soldiers were exhausted. He had originally planned to rest after reuniting with Kato Kiyomasa.

But what to do now? Kato Kiyomasa and Kobayakawa Takakage's armies have been wiped out, and his 40,000-plus men have become an isolated and exhausted force deep in enemy territory! Moreover, they were immediately surrounded by Ming troops upon entering Uiju, and did not even have the opportunity to set up camp.

Konishi Yukinaga was a seasoned veteran who had seen countless battles; how could he not know the danger he was in?
Upon receiving the scout's report, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine, and an ominous feeling immediately enveloped his heart like a dark cloud.

He responded swiftly, immediately ordering his troops to set up camp and defend the area. The army was already exhausted, so this was the best course of action.

At a single command, more than 45,000 Japanese pirates halted their march and set up camp in the Huangtan Forest. They quickly utilized the terrain of the forest and river to defend against attacks from the Ming cavalry and to establish a defensive line.

While the Japanese army was still busy setting up camp, Ming generals such as Li Rusong, Nurhaci, and Buzhai led more than 20,000 cavalrymen in a rolling torrent.

The vanguard cavalry was none other than the seven thousand Han cavalry led by Cao Wenzhao and Zhao Shuaijiao.

Both men were Zhu Yin's trusted confidants, especially Cao Wenzhao, who was also Zhu Yin's prospective nephew-in-law. Under Zhu Yin's covert influence, these two cavalry generals had both been promoted to the rank of adjutant general. The cavalry they led were all drawn from the bravest men of northern Shaanxi, making them the most elite cavalry in the Ming Dynasty.

The seven thousand Han cavalry were divided into two wings, flanking the Japanese pirate army from both sides. Each wing was further divided into ten squads, which took turns harassing the Japanese army by hurling arrows at them.

Before long, Li Rusong, Nurhaci, Bu Zhai and others led 18,000 cavalrymen to arrive.

Almost all of the Ming army's 25,000 cavalry participated in the hunt. The 25,000 cavalrymen were like an overwhelming force, covering the mountains and plains. The sound of hooves from 50,000 warhorses was deafening and their momentum was magnificent.

It seemed as if the entire world was filled with galloping warhorses. The thunderous sound of their iron hooves was like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing, sending chills down one's spine.

As the cavalry in front arrived, the cavalry behind continued to surge forward like an endless tide. Even the most determined Japanese samurai felt a sense of dread and their scalps tingled with fear.

The combined cavalry of the Korean and Japanese armies numbered only 16,000, and these were deployed in multiple separate units. Throughout Japan's Warring States period, in any single battle, neither side ever fielded more than 10,000 cavalry.

Those seasoned samurai who had fought countless battles in Japan had never seen such a large number of cavalry. Their hands, gripping their katanas tightly, were already drenched in sweat. Many of them couldn't help but tremble.

Having not previously encountered large-scale Ming cavalry attacks, they underestimated the Ming army, believing that His Highness the Taiko was absolutely right: the Ming Dynasty was a large but ineffective, blustering but cowardly country, certainly no match for them, and conquering the Ming was far from a dream. But now, they felt that the Taiko had greatly underestimated the Ming Dynasty.

The Japanese pirates' army of over 40,000 men was originally a formidable and impressive force, but when faced with the overwhelming and imposing Ming cavalry, they paled in comparison.

With a thunderous roar of hooves, the Japanese army was surrounded by Ming cavalry like a pack of wolves. The riders, whether Han, Tangut, or Jurchen, all glared at the Japanese with arrogance.

Many Ming Dynasty knights were even shouting and showing off their superb horsemanship in front of the Japanese army.

After the Ming army changed commanders, it reversed its decline and won a series of victories, its morale soaring, and the 100,000-strong army became arrogant. At the same time, Zhu Yin's prestige among the Han and Jurchen armies also rose to a new level.

With Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang leading the troops and their unwavering belief in victory, the Ming army no longer took the Japanese army seriously. The morale of both sides shifted, and the balance of power shifted.

The Japanese pirates were mainly infantry, and their few thousand cavalry dared not engage the Ming cavalry. They were caught in a dilemma, unable to fight or not fight. Konishi Yukinaga could only order his men to maintain a defensive formation, denying the Ming cavalry any opportunity to break through their lines.

This made it difficult for the Japanese army to build strong fortified camps.

In other words, the Japanese pirate army was stuck with the Ming cavalry and couldn't shake them off. This was a common tactic used by cavalry to wear down infantry.

To defend against attacks from cavalry that could move swiftly and freely, infantry had to maintain their formation at all times. After a few days, they would become exhausted, eventually losing all their strength and morale.

There are only two ways to break this tactic: one is to have camps and cities for defense, and the other is to have cavalry of your own, fighting cavalry against cavalry.

The Japanese army currently has no opportunity to establish a secure camp. Although they have cavalry, their commanders dare not send them out to confront the Ming cavalry. They know very well that the Ming cavalry is not only strong but also numerous, and sending their own cavalry would be futile.

Konishi Yukinaga was a Christian daimyo. He wore a scarlet haori with a dark blue silk cross embroidered on it, and also wore a cross on his chest.

He immediately stood beneath the horse's stamp on the embroidered image of the Virgin Mary, making the sign of the cross on his chest while gripping his katana tightly, and said with a wry smile:

"No wonder Anzhou was taken so easily all of a sudden. It was all a trap set by the Ming army. If I'm not mistaken, the Ming army deliberately abandoned Anzhou so that my army would march north and be sent to its death. Anzhou has now been taken back by the Ming army."

"Lord, I have now become a lost sheep, what should I do?"

Konishi Yukinaga was a very clever man; otherwise, he wouldn't have risen from a merchant to a daimyo. Unfortunately, by the time he realized it was a trap set by the Ming army, it was too late.

“My lord,” Antonio, a retainer of Konishi Yukinaga, stepped forward and said in broken Japanese, “All our allies in Yizhou have gone to heaven to meet their lord. The Ming people were prepared; we are at a disadvantage. It would be best to send someone to negotiate…”

Antonio was a Westerner with a high nose, deep-set eyes, red hair, and blue eyes. He was one of the four retainers of the Konishi family.

“No!” Konishi Yukinaga refused. “Antonio, don’t you know the beliefs of the Japanese samurai? We haven’t even officially started the war yet, how can we take the initiative to negotiate? This will damage the morale of the Divine Kingdom’s army, and the samurai will not understand.”

"Antonio, I hope that the Western soldiers in the army are as willing to fight to the death as the Japanese samurai."

Of these 45,000-plus Japanese troops, 1,200 were Western mercenaries. Konishi Yukinaga had the most Western mercenaries of any daimyo in Japan. Even his retainers included several Westerners.

He admired Western skills, tools, tactics, and doctrines, but when it came to the bravery of samurai, he felt that the West was inferior to Japan.

"We have an army of forty or fifty thousand," Konishi Yukinaga encouraged his generals and himself, "and with the protection of the Lord and Hachiman Omikami, victory is ours! Kiritan warriors, the day has come for you to repay me, let us pray together!"

As a Christian daimyo, Konishi Yukinaga had been immersed in Christianity for many years, and even his tone of voice had become Westernized. Even so, he was still highly valued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was wary of Christianity.

At Konishi Yukinaga's command, the Western priests accompanying the army, along with a large number of Chechidan warriors, immediately made the sign of the cross on their chests and recited prayers.

Indeed, prominent Christian daimyo in Japan today, such as Konishi Yukinaga, Takayama Ukon, and Arima Harunobu, all commanded the Kiritan samurai groups, which were Japanese samurai who had converted to Christianity.

The Kiritan samurai were all Japanese who believed in both Christianity and Bushido, but they used Christian churches as shrines. In addition, the Kiritan samurai modified their tachi (swords), replacing the tsuba (handguard) with a cross and inscribing biblical verses on the hilt.

Westerners in Japan viewed the Kireidan samurai as a Christian legion similar to the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller in Europe.

Konishi Yukinaga was the daimyo with the most Kiritan samurai. Of the more than 40,000 Japanese troops, nearly 10,000 were Kiritan samurai, who were also his direct subordinates. As for the other troops, most of them were not from the Konishi family.

For a moment, tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers prayed together, their voices devout and sacred.

Strangely, amidst the tremendous chanting of prayers, the arrogant Ming cavalry, out of curiosity, couldn't help but rein in their horses and listen quietly, forgetting all their clamor.

For a moment, the entire space seemed to transform into a giant, still painting. The thunderous sound of hooves vanished, replaced by prayers that filled the heavens and earth. With these prayers, the morale of tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers was invigorated.

"This is a holy war!" said Antonio, the retainer, solemnly drawing his cross sword. "Blessed by the merciful Lord, the defenders of the faith in Japan have sprung into action. They pray that the Lord will grant them wisdom, courage, and strength to launch a holy war in the distant East!"

Antonio was deeply moved, tears welling in his eyes. He sang hymns like a priest while kissing the cross, his eyes gleaming with an inexplicable light—was it holiness?
However, at that moment, a distant, long, and mournful horn sounded.

This is the sound of a bugle call unique to the Central Plains.

“Woo-woo-woo—woo-woo—”

Amidst the mournful and powerful sound of bugles, a tall banner fluttered in the wind. Beneath the banner was a siege wagon pulled by four blue oxen. Behind the wagon, the Ming army surged forth like a dark cloud, overwhelming everything. Banners stood like a forest, red tassels blazed like fire, and the clanging of armor was like the crashing of ocean waves.

Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang finally arrived.

The Ming army that surrounded the Japanese army numbered nearly 90,000, twice the size of the Japanese army.

The prayers of the Japanese Kiritan samurai corps suddenly ceased as they stared in astonishment at the Ming army sweeping across the land.

Antonio's crucifix remained frozen in his hand, and the seemingly holy light in his gaze seemed to solidify.

The momentum of tens of thousands of Japanese troops was like melting ice, while the momentum of the Ming army grew stronger and stronger.

Konishi Yukinaga's face was ashen, his eyelids twitched, and he silently made the sign of the cross on his chest, exhaling a heavy breath.

As soon as Zhu Yin's chariot arrived, Qi Jiguang raised the flags and deployed the troops. Amidst the sharp whistles, messengers rode their horses back and forth between the various units to relay orders, and the Ming army's infantry and cavalry immediately coordinated closely.

Konishi Yukinaga was not idle either; after observing the Ming army's formation, he immediately adjusted his deployment.

"General Konishi." A middle-aged man dressed in Han Chinese attire rode up to Konishi Yukinaga and said earnestly, "Let's negotiate and surrender. Doesn't General Konishi realize that this battle is a losing proposition?"

Konishi Yukinaga turned his head, and the cunning look of a Kansai merchant vanished, replaced by an icy coldness, his voice as hard as the wind:
“Shen Weijing, do you think that just because I come from a merchant background, I don’t have the beliefs of a warrior? There is no warrior in the world who surrenders without a fight! Some businesses are worth doing even if it means losing money. You are a businessman too, you should understand this principle.”

The Han Chinese man was none other than Shen Weijing, who had been with Konishi Yukinaga all along. Upon hearing Konishi Yukinaga's words, he immediately shut his mouth.

He understood that Konishi Yukinaga wouldn't surrender until all hope was lost. If Konishi Yukinaga were that simple, he wouldn't be where he is today.

Konishi Yukinaga quietly moved the main arquebusiers and elite samurai to the rear of the center, while the front was reinforced with more long-spear foot soldiers and repaired bamboo shield carts to form a solid defensive line.

The right flank gun emplacements were fully reinforced, and the defenses were tightened.

The entire army changed its formation from "fish scale" to a more defensive "crane wing" formation, with the two wings slightly spread and the center slightly concave, intending to lure the enemy deep into the formation, and then use the 10,000 arquebusiers in the army as the trump card to harvest the Ming army that broke into the formation.

It must be said that President Konishi's response was very appropriate.

"Woo-woo—" The Japanese conch shell sounded low and deep, and the entire army remained silent and awaited orders.

Both sides adjusted their respective formations almost simultaneously.

The Ming army's artillery battalion moved forward, while Qi Jiguang's "layered formation" positioned slightly behind the center, serving as the main offensive force on the front. The frontal battle line was filled with infantry squares from various garrisons, armed with large shields, long spears, and muskets, conducting contact assaults.

The cavalry were divided into several groups and deployed in concealed positions behind the flanks, waiting for the right moment to strike.

It was a situation where even a lion would use its full strength to hunt a rabbit. The area within a five-mile radius was densely packed with soldiers and troops.

However, the Ming army did not attack immediately. Instead, they waited!

Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang knew that the Japanese army was still in high spirits. Although they were at a significant disadvantage, even if they could annihilate them, their own casualties would not be small.

The Japanese pirates were not pushovers.

To minimize casualties and eliminate these 40,000 to 50,000 Japanese soldiers with minimal losses, there was no need to rush. Good things come to those who wait.

After the Ming army had deployed its troops, they actually used their chariots as walls to set up camp on the spot. This was one of Qi Jiguang's specialties. Famous generals were skilled at setting up camps, and Qi Jiguang was a master of it.

Konishi Yukinaga never expected that the Ming army's deployment of so many troops and the resulting show of force would not be a decisive battle.

He nearly choked on his breath and suffered internal injuries. How could he not know that the longer he delayed, the worse it would be for him?

However, the initiative is now in the hands of the Ming army. If the Ming army does not launch a decisive battle, but instead tries to do so, they will only find themselves in an even more unfavorable situation. This is also a calculated move.

Damn it! The bearded barbarian's schemes are so intricately linked, there's absolutely no chance left.

Retreat is not an option. Fighting is also not an option.

This is an attempt to wear down his 40,000 to 50,000 troops!

Left with no other option, President Konishi ordered his men to rest on the spot.

However, the Ming army soon produced several people: Emperor Zhou Ren, Ning Ning, and Shimazu Yoshihiro, Kato Kiyomasa, and Kobayakawa Takakage, who were bound hand and foot.

Zhu Yin used the same tactic again, having the Emperor issue an edict of surrender to the Japanese army, and having Ningning undermine the morale of the Japanese troops. He also displayed the three captured daimyo.

Konishi Yukino was terrified, and the other Japanese generals were also distraught.

They finally understood why Kato Kiyomasa had suffered such a crushing defeat and why he had lost contact with the mainland.

It turns out those words weren't rumors, they were true!

Japan was divided once again, and even the Emperor and the Imperial Court were captured and taken to the Ming Dynasty!
How can this war be fought? Can it even continue?
The already low morale of the Japanese troops was further dampened, and the entire camp was filled with an atmosphere of pessimism and despair. However, their samurai spirit and tragic aesthetics sustained them from collapse.

This is a very strange situation.

Seeing the Japanese army's morale plummet, Zhu Yin still did not order a decisive battle. His greatest hope was to force the Japanese army to surrender.

The cleanup operation will require many prisoners of war, and laborers will be needed in many places.

With Konishi Yukinaga as their commander, it's not impossible for them to surrender.

For the next few days, the Ming cavalry kept harassing the Japanese troops, making it impossible for them to rest and causing them immense suffering.

By the fourth day, Konishi Yukinaga, after much deliberation, finally couldn't hold on any longer. After all, he was a merchant from Osaka, not a samurai like Shimazu Yoshihiro or Kato Kiyomasa.

He asked Shen Weijing to come to the Ming army camp and deliver a letter.

There was only one line in the letter:

"Your subject, Konishi Yukinaga, has surrendered to the Ming Dynasty by order of His Majesty the Emperor!"

P.S.: I'm still recovering from heatstroke today, so I can only update with a little over 4,000 words. I'll definitely make up for it this week. Thank you, goodnight. Requesting monthly votes to help me climb the rankings.

(End of this chapter)