Di Ming

Chapter 388 "May Lord Yun Chang protect us!"

March 18th, the 21st year of the Wanli reign.

After completing the relief efforts in Pyongan and Hamgyeong provinces, Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang led an army of 80,000 and 20,000 Korean laborers southward, leaving only 10,000 to garrison Uiju and Sukju.

The rolling torrents of iron trains along the way were a magnificent sight, bringing tears to the eyes of the North Korean people passing by.

The Ming army marched south to destroy the Japanese pirates, and the Koreans were saved!

On March 22, the army finally crossed Myohyang Mountain and arrived at the city of Anju.

When the Ming army in Anzhou saw the military commissioner's banner, they cheered loudly.

"The Grand Marshal and the General have arrived!" Qin Liangyu shouted. "Beat the drums! Sound the horns! Raise the flags to signal their arrival!"

Yang Kedong was very excited. "The Grand Marshal's army has finally arrived! General Qin, should we go out of the city to welcome the army into the city?"

"Why enter the city?" Qin Liangyu smiled and said, "The Grand Marshal and the General will definitely be fighting the Japanese pirate army at the Hot Spring Post Road west of Anzhou. They will not enter the city."

Yang Kedong said, "We're not going into the city? Then we..."

"We must lead our troops out of the city," Qin Liangyu said. "Defending Anzhou is no longer important; our mission is complete. There are still over eight thousand soldiers in the city who can fight. We will leave three thousand to defend the city, and the remaining five thousand will all leave the city to join the main army and participate in the final battle!"

"Great!" Yang Kedong exclaimed excitedly, "Finally, we can fight the Japanese pirates together with the Grand Marshal!"

Immediately afterwards, Qin Liangyu and others led 5,000 troops out of the city to join Zhu Yin's army, which had arrived at the city walls.

Before Qin Liangyu even arrived at the banner, Zhu Yin dismounted from his carriage and went to greet her.

"General Liangyu, you have worked hard!" Zhu Yin was not wearing armor at the time. He quickly took a few steps to help Qin Liangyu, who was about to kneel down, and said gently, "General, you are wearing armor, so please do not stand on ceremony. This time, the defense of Anzhou was all thanks to General Qin. You have made great contributions."

"This humble general, Qin Liangyu, pays respects to the Grand Marshal and the Great General!" Qin Liangyu did not insist on the formalities. "This humble general has not failed the Grand Marshal's trust, but we have lost four or five thousand soldiers, leaving only a little over eight thousand capable fighters in the city..."

"You've done a very good job." Zhu Yin looked pleased and his eyes were full of admiration. "There are always casualties in war. I will definitely report General Liangyu's achievements in Anzhou to the court."

Carrying out military missions in Anzhou was no easy task. Many generals had previously doubted Qin Liangyu's abilities, given that she was a woman. However, Zhu Yin had great confidence in Qin Liangyu; he wouldn't have trusted another general. As it turned out, he was very good at using people.

These days, Qin Liangyu made proper arrangements and responded effectively. She was also good at boosting morale and inspiring her soldiers. In addition to being decisive and fearless in the face of danger, she was also able to personally defend the city and fight the enemy. This made it difficult for the Japanese pirate army to cross Anzhou and gave them a precious opportunity to win the battle.

She is truly a rare and outstanding female general!

At this moment, Zhu Yin admired Qin Liangyu even more. However, in front of all the generals and soldiers, he could not be too intimate with Qin Liangyu.

Yang Kedong also stepped forward to pay his respects, and Zhu Yin offered similar words of encouragement:

"General Yang is a descendant of Lord Yang, whose ancestors have served the country for generations, and their loyalty and righteousness have become a popular story. Your father, Lord Yinglong, guarded Bozhou for the Ming Dynasty and was a powerful figure in the southwest. I greatly admire him. General Yang's defense of Anzhou this time truly shows that like father, like son."

Hearing Zhu Yin's praise, Yang Kedong was flattered and excited, and hurriedly said:

"My humble service is of little merit, and I dare not accept your undeserved praise. On behalf of my father, I thank you for your kind words."

After receiving Qin Liangyu and other generals guarding Anzhou, Zhu Yin ordered them to set up camp at Wenquanyi.

Qin Liangyu was right; the camp location chosen by Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang was indeed Wenquanyi.

The terrain of Wenquanyi was advantageous for defense. Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang chose to set up camp by relay, not for defense, but to delay the decisive battle and wait for the best opportunity to fight.

Choosing to camp at Wenquanyi, relying on Anzhou City for support, allows one to "fight a decisive battle if one wants to, and not fight a decisive battle if one doesn't want to."

Moreover, Wenquanyi was located in a low-lying area, a depression. Setting up camp there was also a trap for the Japanese army. This was also Xu Wei's scheme, specifically designed to deceive clever people.

The Japanese army, which was preparing for the decisive battle, had long since discovered that the main force of the Ming army had arrived in Anzhou. However, when they saw the Ming army's imposing and intimidating presence, they couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

They were no strangers to the Ming army, but this was the first time they had seen such a powerful Ming army.

Even the most confident warriors lost their confidence upon seeing the Ming army's formation.

In particular, the Ming army's large cavalry units were truly like tigers and dragons, with more than 20,000 cavalrymen rushing in with unstoppable momentum.

It was only at this point that many warriors realized that their previous grand plans to conquer Tang and Ming and spread their military power in the Central Plains were simply impractical.

The current issue is not whether the Ming Dynasty can conquer Goryeo, but whether they can leave Goryeo alive.

Even though they were somewhat apprehensive, the Japanese army still hoped that the Ming army would engage in a decisive battle immediately, because they couldn't afford to drag it out.

However, although the Japanese army set up camp in a position that was easy to attack, the Ming army did not seem to have any intention of fighting a decisive battle, but instead adopted a steady defensive posture.

It was clearly a strategy of dragging things out and wearing them down. This was extremely disadvantageous for the Japanese army, which was eager for a decisive battle.

The Japanese army understood perfectly well. However, the Ming army relied on the city walls, which were impenetrable. If they were to engage in a one-sided decisive battle, it would be an assault on the city walls, and they would suffer heavy losses.

Even more crucially, Zhu Yin once again presented the Emperor and Nene, along with a group of captured Japanese daimyo, in front of the Japanese army camp, prompting the Emperor to issue an edict ordering the Japanese army to surrender.

They even forced Konishi Yukinaga to participate in persuading him to surrender.

Although it was a repeat of an old trick, it was incredibly effective. In Zhu Yin's view, it was practically a cheat code for the Ming army. This tactic was especially effective against the Japanese army, because they relied heavily on mental strength to compensate for their lack of physical strength and height, and these tactics dealt a significant blow to their morale.

As expected, the morale of the Japanese army was inevitably affected once again. His Majesty the Emperor and Kita no Mandokoro Nene were in the Ming army camp, and the famous Shimazu Yoshihiro, Kato Kiyomasa, Konishi Yukinaga, and others were also prisoners of war in the Ming army camp.

Of the five army generals who came to Goryeo, three were captured!
How can we fight this battle?
The Japanese army could only send a challenge letter to agree to a decisive battle, but Zhu Yin was not swayed at all. He replied, "The battle is in my hands, the surrender is in yours!"

Zhu Yin's reply thoroughly enraged the Japanese army. Ukita Hideie wrote again, saying that if the Ming army did not leave their camp for a decisive battle, he would strip all the thousands of Korean women in the army naked and kill them in front of the main force.

This time, Zhu Yin simply ignored it.

Go ahead and kill me, it's none of my business.

Seeing that morale was beyond saving, Ukita Hideie and his men were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, but the Ming army refused to engage in a decisive battle.

With the Ming army possessing a large number of cavalry, they could no longer retreat south. Otherwise, the Ming army would use its cavalry advantage to continuously pursue and harass them, and the Divine Kingdom's army would collapse without a fight within a few days.

Only then did the Japanese army realize how cunning the Ming army commander was.

Since the Ming army changed commanders, every step they took targeted their weakest points, gaining the upper hand at every turn and relentlessly pressuring the Divine Kingdom's army, gradually putting them in an even more passive position. Even if they wanted a decisive battle, they no longer had the initiative.

The confrontation between the two armies, each with 180,000 troops, at Anju not only captivated the hearts of the entire Goryeo Kingdom, but also the entire Ming Dynasty and Japan.

Everyone understands that this battle is not only about the life and death of Goryeo, but also about the overall situation of the Three Kingdoms.

However, while the Ming army refused to engage in a decisive battle, it did not refuse to fight. During the day, the Ming army's artillery would occasionally conduct small-scale bombardments, targeting mostly the Japanese army's forward fortifications or exposed flags.

This was a tactic of using artillery to constantly harass the Japanese army. In addition to artillery, squads of Jurchen cavalry were also dispatched to fire arrows around the Japanese camp.

The Japanese arquebusiers, relying on their fortifications, retaliated by firing volleys of lead bullets at the Ming army's trenches and shields, creating a loud crackling sound, but with negligible effect.

Both sides suffered only sporadic casualties. However, the Ming army was confident of victory and continued to undermine the morale of the Japanese troops. Amidst the intermittent smoke of battle, the Japanese army endured immense suffering.

With each day of delay, the atmosphere in the Japanese army camp grew increasingly tense.

Even the lowest-ranking foot soldiers knew they couldn't afford to drag this out any longer. A decisive battle now still offered a chance to turn the tide, but if they delayed for another month until their supplies ran out, they would be utterly defeated without even needing a final fight.

Scouting activities were frequent at night and during foggy periods. The elite cavalry of both sides frequently encountered each other in the central area of ​​the battlefield and the hilly areas on the flanks. In each instance, the Japanese scouts suffered losses because their cavalry was inadequate.

Small-scale mounted archery and hand-to-hand combat occurred frequently, with the Japanese suffering more casualties. Eventually, the Japanese dared not send out cavalry for reconnaissance anymore. The Jurchen cavalry dealt with the Japanese cavalry with ease.

However, the Japanese army's arquebuses were very powerful, and the Jurchen scouts were repeatedly killed by musket fire.

Both sides took advantage of the lull in the standoff to fortify their camps. The Ming army dug deeper trenches, raised earthen walls, and set up more abatis and pits.

The Japanese army also dug deep trenches, built more arrow towers, and reinforced the stockade walls with felled trees.

With the Ming Dynasty as his backing, Qi Jiguang enjoyed smooth logistics. Armaments and provisions from Liaodong and Shandong were continuously transported to Yizhou via relatively safe land routes and some sea routes, ensuring unimpeded supply lines.

Artillery ammunition was replenished, and damaged weapons were quickly replaced. Even the Jurchen cavalry received new horses.

The Ming army not only had high morale and ample supplies, but Ning Qingchen's field medical battalion also had medical support far superior to that of the Japanese army. They were responsible for treating the wounded and also for sanitation and epidemic prevention.

Left with no other option, Ukita Hideie decided to take another gamble and launch a large-scale night raid in order to break the stalemate, force the Ming army into a decisive battle, and disrupt their plans.

He secretly selected elite warriors and skilled arquebusiers to form several suicide squads, and prepared oil, explosives, and other supplies. He ordered all units to eat their fill, inspect their weapons, and prepare for the decisive battle.

However, the Ming army had the covert intelligence support of the Tiger Fang intelligence agency. The intelligence was gathered and sent to Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang, who immediately judged that the Japanese army might be about to launch a surprise attack.

The Japanese night attack was certainly within Zhu Yin's expectations, but details such as the day of the attack, the timing, and the tactics were difficult to predict and could only be obtained through Tiger Tooth intelligence.

Upon receiving the news, Qi Jiguang smiled and said to his generals, "The Japanese pirates are in a hurry. In order to force our army to fight a decisive battle, they have sent 10,000 men in a night raid. They are really willing to take a gamble. Let's give them a chance."

Zhu Yin immediately ordered the entire army to be on high alert for the night, with armor never leaving their bodies and weapons at their sides. The artillery battalion was to strengthen its nighttime defenses and prepare wet felt and sand for fire extinguishing. The Jurchen cavalry reserve was to be ready to counterattack at any time.

The main camp and the outskirts of the city were heavily fortified with sentries and bells, and braziers were kept full of oil so they could be lit at any time for illumination.

As expected, ten thousand Japanese troops launched a surprise attack at midnight, unaware that the Ming army had already received intelligence and was lying in wait.

As a result of the fierce battle that lasted until midnight, the Japanese army suffered heavy losses. Not only did their night raid fail, but they also left behind more than 7,000 corpses. The Ming army bleeds them dry, reducing their forces to just over 70,000.

Having failed in their attempt to steal a chicken, Hideyoshi Ukita and his companions could not help but beat their chests in regret.

Ukita Hideie faced immense pressure. Fighting far from home, his troops and supplies were cut off. The army was consuming vast amounts of food daily, and morale was wavering. Coupled with the disastrous night raid, the foot soldiers' war-weariness was difficult to suppress, and even the samurai's confidence was wavering.

This has never been so difficult.

Zhu Yin and Qi Jiguang were truly despicable; they were not real warriors at all!

During the standoff with the Ming army, the Japanese troops felt like they were living in hell. Ukita Hideie, Kuroda Nagamasa, and others never dreamed that the situation would suddenly turn so bad.

These warriors, who usually paid great attention to their personal image, all became unshaven, haggard, and bloodshot-eyed in just a few days.

How did the war turn out like this?

Despite having an army of over 80,000, they were caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to fight or retreat, and could only watch helplessly as their army was worn down.

During another military council meeting, Kuroda Nagamasa couldn't help but roar at everyone:
"If you had listened to my advice and retreated south across the river, we wouldn't be in such a passive position! You idiot! You idiot!"

Tachibana Muneshige also felt some regret. "Who knew the Ming army would actually avoid battle? They have no samurai spirit whatsoever. What kind of people are they? They are truly insidious, despicable, and cowardly."

"Alright." Ukita Hideie gave a wry smile, stroking his messy beard. "It's all our own stupidity. Why blame them for being despicable? The Ming army knew a lot about our army and knew that we didn't have much food, so they deliberately delayed the battle. It's a pity that we knew too little about the Ming army."

He stared blankly at a swallow outside the military tent, and said in a bitter tone:
“During this period, I always felt that the Ming army knew everything about our every move. They had an extraordinary understanding of our intelligence. We suffered heavy losses many times, always one step behind, which was related to the lack of intelligence.”

"Sun Tzu said, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle.' But the most fatal thing is that the enemy knows us very well, while we know very little about the enemy."

"Could it be that the Ming Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot were really that powerful? Why have our ninjas suddenly become ineffective?"

Kuroda Nagamasa shook his head. "Perhaps. But, sir, there's no point in saying that now. Even if the ninjas could gather information about the Ming army's secrets, it would be too late. Our opportunity now lies in..."

He pointed to the sky, "Rainy season!"

"Excellent!" Tachibana Muneshige's expression changed. "Let's emulate the God of War, Guan Yu, and flood the seven armies!"

Kuroda Nagamasa said, "The situation is about to change. As soon as the spring rainy season arrives, the Kiyokawa River will inevitably rise. If we can dig open the Sukcheon River at night and merge the two rivers, the flood will directly inundate Anju and even submerge the hot springs!"

"Good!" Ukita Hideie waved his folding fan and stood up abruptly. "Our main camp is conveniently located on high ground, so let's follow the example of Guan Yu and flood the seven armies!"

Kuroda Nagamasa solemnly reminded them, "Since we know how capable the Embroidered Uniform Guard's spies are, we must keep it a secret. There's no guarantee that there aren't spies in the army who have been bribed by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. This plan should only be known to a few of us for now."

Ukita Hideie nodded: "Having suffered so many losses, how could we not learn our lesson? The plan to flood the enemy is known only to us. It will only be announced to the samurai who participate in the operation on the day of the final action."

Just then, a samurai came in and reported, "Sir, it's raining outside. It looks like the rainy season is coming. Be careful that the gunpowder doesn't get damp."

Kuroda Nagamasa was overjoyed and laughed loudly, "We were just talking about this when it started to rain! This is the will of Heaven! The will of Heaven!"

May Lord Yun Chang protect us!

Ukita Hideie and Tachibana Muneshige raised their hands in celebration and shouted, "May Lord Yun Chang bless us!"

"Send word! Prepare kelp and sake. I am going to offer sacrifices to the Martial God of the Sun Region, Lord Yun Chang!"

"Hai!"

……

P.S.: Too busy today, that's all for now. Please vote with monthly tickets! May Lord Yun Chang bless you! Thank you, goodnight!

Note: Guan Yu was given many honorific titles in ancient Japan, such as: God of War of Japan, Guan Sheng, Guan Di, God of Commerce, Guardian of the Nation Guan Di, Guan Sheng Quan Xian, Guan Sheng Da Ming Shen, etc.

(End of this chapter)