The New Destiny of the Ming Dynasty

In fact, even if none of these people went, it wouldn't change Yang Zhen's determination to launch a surprise attack on the Tartar camp on the north bank of the Xiaoling River.

Because of this matter, regardless of whether it succeeds or not, or how much it achieves, as long as it is done and the commotion is significant, the goal of mobilizing the Tartar troops outside Songshan can at least be achieved.

Once this objective is achieved, the garrison in Songshan City will know that reinforcements from Ningyuan have arrived.

Moreover, whether Yang Zhen's raid succeeds or not, he will use a large number of firearms, especially homemade bombs like the "Ten Thousand Enemy Cannon" and the "Dragon King Cannon." Regardless of their power, the sound will be absolutely earth-shattering.

As long as Jin Guofeng in Songshan City wasn't deaf, he would definitely be able to hear the sound and know that reinforcements had arrived.

In this way, regardless of whether the sneak attack succeeds or not, at least the first objective of rescuing Songshan and delivering the message has been achieved.

However, Yang Zhen still hoped that the various teams in the advance battalion could unite as one, advance and retreat together, only in this way could they seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and maximize the results as much as possible.

Therefore, he hoped that as many people as possible would participate in the sneak attack.

Yang Zhen was very pleased with Zu Keyong's statement. He then turned to Yuan Jin and said, "Brother Yuan, you are not part of the vanguard camp, so you have no obligation to rescue Songshan this time! However, to be frank, Brother Yuan's naval force is ultimately the official army of the Ming Dynasty! Although the Songshan battlefield is small, it is related to the overall situation in Liaodong. If the situation in Liaodong is ruined, the Ming Dynasty will be in danger! What I am saying is not an exaggeration!"

"Brothers hope that Brother Yuan will not only transport us to the river mouth, nor simply wait there to meet us! Brothers sincerely hope that Brother Yuan can select a group of marine suicide squad members from the boatmen and oarsmen of the naval camp! One or two hundred men are not too few, three or five hundred men are not too many! Wouldn't it be better if everyone could share the credit?"

Yuan Jin had long been tempted, but his mission was mainly to transport and provide support. He was unsure what the consequences would be if he joined the battle on his own. Victory would be great, but what if he lost?

Moreover, he didn't have many soldiers under his command. Apart from his personal guards and retainers, the so-called naval force consisted of ordinary boatmen and oarsmen forcibly conscripted from the coastal areas. It was a hastily assembled force.

Therefore, he was both eager to try and hesitant. Now that Yang Zhen had asked him directly, there was no way to avoid it.

Moreover, he already believed in his heart that the chances of success on this trip were very high, and the chances of making a contribution were also very high.

After Yang Zhen finished asking his question, he looked at him, and Zu Keyong, Xu Changyong, and Zhang Degui also looked at him.

These people all knew that since a war was going to break out, the more troops they had, the better. Regardless of whether Yuan Jin's naval force was capable of fighting, it certainly outnumbered their entire vanguard force by a significant margin.

Yuan Jin, a former pirate and a ruthless character, knew he couldn't hesitate at this moment. Fu Gui always sought opportunities in danger; with such a chance before him, why not seize it? Was he willing to spend his life as a mediocre naval garrison commander?

"Brother Yang! You don't need to say anything more! I'll do it! It's just like that saying from your advance battalion: we'll share life and death, we'll share wealth and honor!"

"Excellent! We'll share life and death! We'll share wealth and honor! Hahahaha!"

After Yuan Jin finished speaking, Yang Zhen reached out and grasped Yuan Jin's hands. Then, Zhang Degui, Xu Changyong, and Zu Keyong's six large hands also reached out and grasped each other's hands. The five of them reached an agreement, looked at each other and laughed heartily, full of the heroic spirit of men!

Yang Zhen took a nap on the ship on the way back, and his energy was mostly restored. The group was talking excitedly, so he simply asked someone to call Zhang Chen and Yan San over.

When Zhang Chen and Yan San arrived, it was already dawn. The group moved outside Yuan Jin's tent to continue their discussion.

Using the daylight, Zhang Chen found a reed stalk and drew a map of the Tartar camp's defenses on the sand around Niangniang Palace on the north bank of the Xiaoling River—clearly indicating where the haystacks, granaries, stables, garrison areas, camp gates, and watchtowers were.

Finally, Zhang Chen addressed his generals, saying, "Generals! There are two large Tartar camps near the Niangniang Palace, one to the north and one to the south. The camp we intend to attack is the one on the north bank! The two camps face each other across the river, about ten li apart! When the time comes, we will split up and enter the camp separately. We only need to send a small team to the Xiaoling River to destroy the pontoon bridge here! By then, even if the camp on the south bank hears their plea for help from the rear camp on the north bank, it will be too late to arrive!"

After Zhang Chen finished speaking, Yang Zhen ordered him to step back, and then had Yan San step forward to explain to everyone the route of advance, the location of retreat and regrouping, and the method of "breaking the camp".

Xu Changyong was a little disappointed when he learned that the cavalry was useless. This time, he insisted on bringing the warhorse, which was really a difficult journey.

Especially that past night, he barely slept a wink. In the first half of the night, he directed three hundred Mongol soldiers to build a pier and dock platform in the dark. In the second half of the night, he was still directing the three hundred Mongol soldiers to drive the warhorses off the large ship in the dark.

As a result, the warhorses were completely useless, which left him feeling very bad.

However, after listening to Zhang Chen and Yan San's explanation, he also understood that the cavalry was useless in this surprise attack; on the contrary, Yuan Jin's fleet was the real key.

Only then did he realize why Yang Zhen had been so desperately begging Yuan Jin to get involved.

As long as Yuan Jin is involved, his fleet will absolutely not dare to withdraw without authorization when attacking the Tartar camp.

Thinking of this, when Xu Changyong looked at Yang Zhen again, his gaze was different. Yang Zhen could think ahead of him in everything, so why should he think about anything else? He should just listen to what others say and do what they say.

Yang Zhen had Zhang Chen and Yan San report the enemy situation they had gathered. Thinking it best to go all in and finalize the plans for the surprise attack while the iron was hot, he then addressed the group:

"That's the situation in this crucial area for the Tartars' supplies! My point is, speed is of the essence, and we shouldn't delay. Since we've decided to do it, we must act as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications!"

After saying this, Yang Zhen looked at everyone, one by one, and each person looked both tired and excited.

"Brother Yang! Just tell me! I, Lao Xu, and the three hundred Mongol soldiers will follow your orders! Anyway, we don't need horses, and I, Lao Xu, don't know any other fighting methods. Just tell me what to do, and we'll do it!"

The largest force in the advance battalion was Xu Changyong's Mongol soldiers. Since Xu Changyong had no objections, no one else could object either.

Upon hearing this, Zu Keyong and Yuan Jin both clasped their hands in a fist salute to Yang Zhen and said, "We will follow your arrangements, Commander Yang!"

"Since you brothers trust me, Yang Zhen, then I won't refuse!" Seeing that everyone was willing to follow orders and arrangements, Yang Zhen didn't stand on ceremony and said directly:

"The most important part of this mission is the fleet! Brother Yuan, please select one or two hundred marines to personally lead the marines on the landing and participate in the battle! Brother Yuan, please also send someone to prepare the ropes and ladders needed by each unit! In addition, arrange for people to direct the remaining oarsmen and boatmen to be responsible for transportation and support! No matter what happens, without my order, no one is allowed to leave their post!"

After Yang Zhen finished speaking, he looked at Yuan Jin, waiting for his response. Yuan Jin accepted the order without hesitation, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect.

Yuan Jin had never heard of a military branch called the Marine Death Squad, but as soon as Yang Zhen mentioned it, he immediately understood what it meant.

"Brother Xu! Your three hundred men are all veterans! Although this time the cavalry has been replaced by infantry, they are all excellent archers! This mission isn't about directly confronting the real Tartars, but rather about burning, killing, looting, and causing destruction! This time, besides bows, arrows, and swords, you only need to bring torches! I believe your men will be of great use!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Changyong smiled wryly, pointed at Yang Zhen, and didn't say anything more. The others couldn't help but laugh at Yang Zhen's frankness.

The generals present were well aware of the true nature of the Mongol soldiers in the Ming Dynasty's army.

These Mongol soldiers could only fight when the wind was favorable; if they won, they would swarm forward, and if they lost, they would scatter in disarray.

However, if these people were used for "burning, killing, looting, and causing destruction," then they would have been used in the right place.

Xu Changyong was well aware of this, but he didn't say much at the time, only smiled wryly and clasped his hands in agreement.