How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 263 Hauge: Father, I'm surrounded! The Ming army is everywhere!

On the tenth day of the seventh month of the fourth year of Chongzhen's reign, it was still dark.

The wind from beyond the Great Wall was blowing hard, carrying the fishy smell of grass and soil.

Thirty miles north of Daningwei City, a plume of black smoke rose crookedly into the sky. In a small camp of the Kharachin tribe, dozens of yurts crackled and burned, startling cattle and sheep into running wildly.

A group of cavalrymen, dressed in tattered fur robes and riding skinny horses, brandished rusty scimitars and were looting whatever they could see. They moved swiftly, grabbing the hides of cattle and sheep, whistling as they left, showing no sign of lingering. As they departed, they deliberately left behind broken arrowheads and tattered hats bearing the old insignia of the Han tribe.

The leader was a unkempt man with messy hair and beard, his face so dirty that his features were unrecognizable, only his eyes revealed a fierce and shrewd nature. His name was Su Chahar Bai, a valiant general under Empress Dowager Sutai.

"Retreat! Make sure you drop this thing in a conspicuous place!" Su Chahar Bai shouted at the top of his lungs, leading his hundreds of "beggar cavalry" dressed similarly to him, sweeping across the grassland like a gust of wind and disappearing behind the distant hills.

……

Inside the garrison headquarters of Daning Guard, Hauge was drinking alone in frustration. A few days ago, his father, the Khan, had written to reprimand him for his poor performance in Daning, which had greatly upset him.

"Taiji! Taiji, something terrible has happened!" A young Kharachin leader tumbled in, blood still on his face. "Bandits from the Chahan tribe! Several hundred of them! They're incredibly fierce! They've wiped out our camp!"

Hauge, who was a bit drunk, slammed his silver wine bowl down on the table! "What? Remnants of the Chahan tribe? How dare they run wild on my turf!"

Sitting beside him was the veteran general Gurushabu, formerly a general under Ligdan Khan, who had now surrendered to the Later Jin. He put down his wine cup and frowned: "Taiji, this band of bandits is suspicious. The Chahan tribe has been defeated for a long time, where did these few hundred cavalry come from? It is probably a Ming army trap to lure us in, we must be wary."

"Luring the enemy?" Hauge, young and impetuous, looked down on the Mongols from the bottom of his heart. "Gulushabu, have you been scared out of your wits by those southern barbarians? A few hundred bandits have intimidated you? I think they heard that Father Khan's army is in the east and think that my side is undefended! Perfect, I'm feeling restless, I'll use them to stretch my muscles!"

He suddenly stood up: "Gather the troops! Call upon the warriors of Khorchin and Kharachin, as well as our Manchu warriors, and come with me out of the city to slaughter these ignorant fools!"

Gurushabu wanted to persuade him further: "Your Highness, you are of inestimable worth. Why don't you send your generals to battle instead..."

"Ten thousand gold coins my ass!" Hauge waved his hand to interrupt him. "If we let these bandits keep causing trouble, what will the other tribes think of us? Let's leave the city!"

The city gates swung open. Hauge, fully armored and helmeted, led over three thousand cavalrymen out of the city. The majority of his troops were cavalrymen assigned to him by the Khorchin and Kharachin tribes, along with newly recruited Chahar soldiers—the true Manchu elite. Besides his one or two hundred household guards, there were also two hundred Yehe warriors led by Niyaha, a Niru Zhangjing (military officer) of the Plain Yellow Banner. Niyaha had a son named Nalan Mingzhu, who was also a member of the Yehe tribe, the same clan as Empress Dowager Sutai.

Hauge led his men and followed the direction the herdsmen pointed. Sure enough, near an open river valley, they caught up with the group of "bandits" who were "dividing their loot".

Upon seeing the army, the group shouted, dropped their loot, and rode off into the depths of the valley.

"Chase them! Don't let a single one escape!" Hauge was overjoyed and urged his troops to give chase without hesitation.

The valley walls are gentle slopes covered with grass that is half a person tall.

Gurushabul stopped his horse, warily watching both banks of the river. "Taijitsu, this terrain is treacherous, and the unusual quietness suggests an ambush!"

"An ambush?" Hauge sneered at the "bandits" fleeing in disarray ahead. "Just these few hundred men? Charge forward and crush them!"

The entire army poured into the valley.

at this time!

Boom!Boom!Boom!
Three cannon shots boomed so loudly that the ground trembled! The sound echoed through the valley, startling a flock of birds into flight.

"Kill!"

After three cannon shots rang out, the sound still echoing in the valley, many red flags of the Ming army were suddenly raised on the high slopes on both sides.

From the eastern slope, Cao Wenzhao was the first to charge out, his thick-backed, brow-tipped dagger whistling through the air as he swung it. Behind him followed several thousand cavalrymen, all clad in armor, charging straight down the steep slope. The thunderous roar of hooves shook the very ground, sending a chill down one's spine.

Almost simultaneously, shouts of battle erupted from the western slope. Li Hongji, wielding a long spear, led his cavalry like a swift blade, directly plunging into the weakest point of the Hauge army—the section where the Khorchin soldiers and the newly surrendered Chahar soldiers were huddled together.

The arrows fell from the sky first, densely packed, whistling as they pounded into the crowd.

Immediately afterward, an even more terrifying volley of gunfire erupted. Li Hongji's four hundred flintlock pistol cavalrymen split into two groups, under the cover of another six hundred riders, bypassing the Manchu vanguard, and flanking them. At a distance of thirty paces, they drew their pistols and fired simultaneously. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" White smoke billowed from the firing, and lead bullets swept across like splashed water, easily piercing the leather robes of the Mongol light cavalry, causing puffs of blood mist to rise from their bodies.

In the blink of an eye, the neat ranks of Hauge's army were torn apart, twisted, broken into pieces, and completely chaotic. Smoke and dust rose, and the smell of gunpowder mixed with the stench of blood made people cough.

"Damn it! Where did these Ming soldiers come from? Hold them off!" Hauge was both shocked and furious. He couldn't understand how the Ming army, which had already opened two battlefields in western and southern Liaoning, could still have the strength to send troops to attack Daming.
But no one could answer Hauge; only the Ming cavalry surged forth like a flood. Hauge's Mongol vassal army was thrown into chaos, jostling and bumping into each other, their horses startled and neighing as they ran about.

"Big Prince, be careful!" Niyaha led his Yehe warriors to fiercely protect Hauge, using their shields to deflect stray arrows. Another group of archers from the Eastern Sea Jurchens hid behind their horses, desperately retaliating with heavy bows.

After Li Hongji and his nephew Li Guo charged forward, they retreated to higher ground. Together with their men, they reloaded their short muskets and then led a detachment of musket-wielding cavalry straight towards Hauge's central banner. "To capture the enemy, capture their leader first! Scatter them!"

The Ming cavalry charged forward, but instead of engaging in a direct confrontation, they split to the left and right, drew their double muskets, and unleashed a barrage of fire at Hauge's guards! Although the sustained firepower of these flintlock muskets was not very good, they were extremely powerful at close range, and immediately sent Hauge's guards into chaos.

Meanwhile, the Yehe soldiers led by Niyaha, along with the Jurchen archers from the East Sea, displayed a ruthless and fearless spirit.

The Yehe soldiers moved swiftly, immediately forming a tight circular formation. Heavy shields were stacked layer upon layer, and spears thrust out densely from the gaps, tightly protecting Hauge at the core. The East Sea archers hid behind shields and fallen corpses, firing accurate and deadly heavy arrows from their strong bows, specifically targeting Ming officers and the brave warriors charging at the front. An arrow whizzed by, clanging loudly, piercing Li Hongji's arm armor and leaving a bloody gash.

Li Hongji's musket cavalry charged twice, their lead bullets striking the heavy iron shields with a loud thud, but they couldn't break through this iron-clad formation. Instead, many of their own men were shot down by stray arrows.

Just when the outcome was uncertain and both sides were on edge, a deep conch shell sound suddenly came from the entrance of the valley. The sound was drawn out and carried an indescribable wildness, instantly drowning out all the shouts of battle on the battlefield!
A huge white flag slowly rose on a high slope.

Empress Dowager Sutai donned a magnificent Mongolian robe, reserved only for grand ceremonies, her golden headdress gleaming in the sunlight. She personally gripped the flagpole with both hands, forcefully raising the "Nine-Tailed White Banner," symbolizing the legitimacy of the Mongol Khan, between heaven and earth!
The white banner unfurled in the wind, fluttering loudly! Nine black yak tails hung down, dancing wildly in the wind!

Under the midday sun, the white banner shone brightly, making it clearly visible across the entire battlefield!

Empress Dowager Sutai took a deep breath and, with all her might, raised the nine-pronged white banner even higher. She then proclaimed in Mongolian to the soldiers who originally belonged to the Chahar tribe on the battlefield:

"Warriors of Chahar! Look up at this white banner with nine feathers! The successor of Ligdan Khan, your Altan Hongtaiji, has returned to the grasslands! May the Eternal Heaven bless our Golden Family! Return, return to the banner of your rightful Khan!"

This announcement, like a bolt of lightning, struck the chaotic battlefield. Those former Chahar soldiers, whether engaged in battle with the Ming army or hesitant and observing, were all stunned. Many instinctively slowed their movements, gazing at the white banner fluttering wildly in the wind. Their ancient loyalty to the Golden Family overwhelmed their fear of their new master.

Almost simultaneously, the guards around Su Tai roared in unison, their voices drowning out the fighting on the battlefield:

"The Nine Banners and White Banners are here! Altan Hong Taiji has returned! Those who return to the rightful order will be spared death!"

The shout, like a thunderclap, reverberated through the hearts of the Chahar soldiers.

Gurushab's face was deathly pale. He watched the soldiers around him go from bewilderment to excitement, then to fanaticism, and knew it was all over. He still tried to restrain them: "Don't panic! Maintain formation!"

But suddenly, a Chahar veteran threw down his sword, knelt down in the direction of the banner, and cried out, "It's the Khan's banner! The young master has returned!"

This was like igniting the withered grass on the grassland.

Surrender spread like a plague. Many Chahar soldiers threw down their weapons or turned their horses around. Gurushabu sighed deeply, and to save his men, he drew his sword and roared at the Eight Banners Mongol soldiers supervising the battle: "For the bloodline of the Great Khan! Kill!"

Internal defections threw Hauge's army into disarray.

"Traitor! You son of a bitch, traitor!" The veins on Hauge's face bulged, his eyes bloodshot, a surge of rage overwhelmed him, and he disregarded all reason. "Bayala! Charge with me! Kill that vixen and seize that tattered flag for me!"

He completely disregarded command, like a wounded mad beast, personally leading dozens of the most elite Bayara white-armored soldiers, abandoning their formation, and using himself as the arrowhead, twisting into a sharp cone, charging recklessly towards the high slope where Su Tai was!

These soldiers in white armor were all heavily armored and rode fine horses; they were truly elite warriors who dared to fight to the death. Once they charged forward, their momentum was truly terrifying. Relying on their superior martial skills and thick armor, they forcefully broke through the two hastily set up defenses of the Ming army, their horses trampling over fallen Ming soldiers as they charged up the hillside like madmen!

"Protect the Emperor! Stop them!" Li Hongji was terrified and shouted at the top of his lungs. He personally led his pistol-wielding cavalry to charge up from the side, abandoning the idea of ​​a volley and ordering all the gunners to fire freely, showering the enemy with bullets!

The gunfire rang out like popping beans. The first few white-armored soldiers, along with their horses, were riddled with bullets and fell to the ground. Hauge's personal guards were constantly being shot and falling from their horses, but those behind them immediately filled in, and the momentum of the charge did not slow down for a moment!
Just then, a stray bullet grazed Hauge's face, tearing off a piece of flesh. Blood immediately gushed out, covering half of his face and even staining the golden plume of his helmet red.

"Taiji!" Niyaha shouted, trying to block with his body.

"Kill!" Haug wiped the blood from his eyes and roared hoarsely, but his offensive was ultimately suppressed by the hail of bullets and the ever-growing number of casualties, pinning him to the spot. He was only a hundred paces away from the white banner, but he could no longer break through.

Seeing this, Sun Chuanting waved his command flag again: "Cao Wenzhao! Push forward! Encircle them!"

Just as the two sides were locked in a fierce battle, neither able to gain the upper hand, Seben led eight hundred Mongol cavalrymen from the direction of Daning City. The thunderous sound of hooves shook the ground.

Instead of charging headlong into the central route blocked by the heavily armed Ming army, this group suddenly changed direction and headed straight for the flank—the area where the Han cavalry under Empress Dowager Sutai were concentrated. There, the formation was thin, and the troops were not well-organized.

These Eight Banners Mongol soldiers, accustomed to being on horseback, were adept at picking on the weak. They immediately saw that although the Chahan tribe was shouting fiercely, they had only recently submitted to the Ming army, their ranks were not tightly organized, and they had weaknesses. Without a word, Seben pointed his sword in that direction and roared, "Horsemen, advance! Break through their ranks!"

At the command, the cavalrymen at the forefront immediately sheathed their scimitars and raised their long lances. These were elite warriors trained to break through enemy lines; they spurred their horses, crouched low, and charged forward like a swarm of bees.

The warriors of the Chahan tribe were also desperate, swinging their scimitars at the iron armor with a clanging sound. But the Eight Banner soldiers charged too fiercely, their spears, propelled by their horses, piercing through the leather robes of many men with a series of sharp, forceful thrusts. The first rank of Chahan soldiers, along with their horses, were thrown to the ground, but the cavalry behind them did not stop, trampling over the fallen men and horses, tearing a bloody gap in the middle of the defensive line.

Once the breach was created, Seben personally led the main force to plunge in, desperately widening the gap, finally prying open a path for the remnants of Hauge's forces who had been surrounded and killed.

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the grassland a deep crimson.

The battlefield was littered with corpses and abandoned weapons. Wounded warhorses neighed mournfully.

Sun Chuanting stood on high ground, coldly watching the fleeing enemy army, and did not order a pursuit—a dead Hauge was not as valuable as a surrounded Hauge.

"Don't pursue a desperate enemy. Clean up the battlefield, treat the wounded, and accept the surrendered soldiers," he ordered in a deep voice.

The soldiers began clearing the battlefield. Empress Dowager Sutai, riding her horse under the protection of the nine-pronged white banner, slowly passed before the surrendered and the Mongol herders who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the news. She loudly proclaimed that the successor of Ligdan Khan had returned, and her majesty and the great banner symbolizing legitimacy completely subdued the hearts of those present.

With a face full of shame, Gurushabu came before Sun Chuanting and Su Tai, and knelt on one knee: "This sinful general Gurushabu thanks the Governor and the Empress Dowager for sparing my life."

Sun Chuanting helped him up: "General, you have realized your mistake and returned to the right path, which is a service to the court. What crime have you committed? In the future, we will need you to assist Empress Dowager Sutai in stabilizing the Mongol tribes."

After appeasing the surrendered Mongol generals, Sun Chuanting said to Empress Dowager Sutai, "Empress Dowager, let's go to Daning together now. As long as we surround Huang Taiji's son, we won't have to worry about him not sending troops to rescue us!"

……

Inside the Da Ning Guard's garrison headquarters, Hauge slumped in a chair, his shoulder throbbing with pain, but the humiliation and fear in his heart were even greater.

"Pen and ink!" he roared hoarsely.

The guards spread out paper and ink. Hauge picked up the brush, his hand still trembling, and wrote crookedly:
"Father, please forgive me... Your son underestimated the enemy and was ambushed... Sun Chuanting and Cao Wenzhao are both here... Moreover, there is the wicked woman Sutai from the Han tribe, who carries the false Khan's nine-pronged white banner and falsely claims that the son of Ligdan Khan has returned, thus confusing the army... Our Chahar surrendered soldiers defected on the battlefield... leading to a disastrous defeat, with over a thousand soldiers lost, and Daming is in grave danger... I implore Father, please send reinforcements immediately! If you delay... if you delay, your son will only die to repay the country!"

After writing it down, he stamped it with his official seal and summoned his most trusted advisor, Goshha.

"Urgent dispatch! Depart from the city tonight and deliver it to Shenyang! If anything goes wrong, I'll answer to you with my head!"

"Yes, sir!" Goshha wrapped the letter in an oilcloth, hid it close to his body, turned and rushed out of the mansion, mounted his horse, and disappeared into the twilight under the escort of a group of Eight Banners Mongol cavalry.

Sun Chuanting did not order an attack on Daning City. Instead, he had his troops set up camp around the city and sent out small cavalry squads to patrol the surrounding area, so that the people of the grasslands would know that the Ming Dynasty had returned!

Meanwhile, Queen Sutai, using the nine-pronged white banner and the name of Altan Hongtaiji, began to recruit the fearful and hesitant tribes on the grasslands.

A troop of fast horses, carrying Hauge's distress message, was galloping desperately toward Shenyang.

The news will soon reach Huang Taiji's military camp.

(End of this chapter)