sovbooks Chapter 125, Chapter 124: The Fate of a Chess Piece
Chapter 125, Chapter 124: The Fate of a Chess Piece
Chapter 125, Chapter 124: The Fate of a Chess Piece
Chapter 124 The Fate of the Pawn After making his decision, Chen Ying acted swiftly, leading his personal guard of over a thousand men to break away from the main army and head towards Shuangchengwei. Although Chen Ying did not actually reach Shenyang this time, in fact, his trip was not in vain; on the contrary, he reaped a very rich reward.
When Chen Ying arrived at Shuangchengwei from Xianping, Cheng Jiashan actually transported one million shi of grain to Yongning and handed it over to Su Mei. This unusual move made Su Mei feel somewhat incredulous.
Su Mei couldn't understand it at all: "My lord, why did Cheng Jiashan still hand over a million shi of grain to us? Even if he hadn't, you wouldn't have killed him!"
"I certainly won't kill him, but I won't stoop to the level of someone who just follows orders. Besides, I've learned quite a bit from their records; one shouldn't be too greedy!"
Chen Ying explained with a smile, "Although I have returned from Xianping, the western expeditionary army has not returned. They will continue to fight, so his mission has been a complete failure. Merchants are profit-driven; the winners always tell the story, and the losers are instantly divided up. Cheng's family doesn't want to be wiped out, so they have no choice but to rely on me!"
"Does the adult mean—to accept them?"
"It's too early to say we'll accept them. We'll help them when they're in dire straits!"
Meanwhile, north of Kaiyuan City, at the Ming army camp.
Zhou Bin stood before the map, his finger slowly tracing the route from Kaiyuan to Shenyang, a cold smile playing on his lips. Outside the tent, scouts moved back and forth in droves, constantly bringing the latest military intelligence.
Although Commander Chen Ying has left, the plan for the new army in Daning is still in place. Their fighting spirit remains, their firepower is still there, their artillery is still there, and more importantly, the commander had already arranged every step before he left.
"Report—"
A scout galloped into the camp and reported to Zhou Bin: "Lord Zhou, the Jurchens have made their move! Nurhaci is personally leading the garrison of Shenyang, along with the Mongol Left and Right Banners and the Han Banners, marching in a massive force towards Kaiyuan. They number at least 70,000!"
The generals inside the tent were initially startled, but then their eyes lit up.
Chen Daniu was the first to jump up: "Great! I was just wondering where they were!"
Zhou Bin raised his hand to silence the commotion and glanced at the map: "Before the master left, he said that Nurhaci was the most arrogant man. If the commander-in-chief were here, he would be somewhat uneasy. Now that our army's commander-in-chief is not here, the closer we get to Shenyang, the more restless he will become. And now, he has indeed come."
He straightened up and his voice suddenly rose: "Pass down the order: the entire army shall retreat twenty li to Liutiaogou, south of Kaiyuan City."
"Give them Kaiyuan City."
"Retreat? We fought our way here with such difficulty—"
"If we don't back down, how can we let them in?"
Zhou Bin pointed to Liutiaogou on the map: "There are hills on both sides here, with only a narrow road in the middle. Before the commander-in-chief left, he had the artillery battalion set up twelve gun positions here. As long as the Jurchens catch up, we'll let them taste what a trap is."
The generals suddenly realized what was going on.
Wang Tiezhu grinned and said, "The commander-in-chief is trying to lure Nurhaci in to kill him!"
Zhou Bin did not laugh, but stared at the direction of Shenyang on the map and murmured, "General, rest assured, I will not disgrace you in this battle."
Nurhaci stood on the city wall of Kaiyuan, his brow furrowed as he gazed at the empty plains to the south.
"Father,"
Huang Taiji rode forward and said, "The Ming army has withdrawn. According to our scouts, they have retreated to Liutiaogou, twenty li south of Kaiyuan City."
Nurhaci remained silent. He felt something was amiss. Chen Boying was gone; the Ming army should have been leaderless. Yet their retreat was so composed, showing no signs of a rout.
"Eighth Brother, what do you think?"
Huang Taiji pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I think the Ming army retreated too orderly. It doesn't seem like they were frightened away, but rather like—"
"It's like they deliberately lured us there," Nurhaci interjected.
Huang Taiji nodded: "Father is wise. Willow Gully is a treacherous place, with hills on both sides. What if there's an ambush—"
"What are you afraid of?"
Amin chimed in, "Chen Boying is gone, what's there to fear from the Ming army? Khan, this is an opportunity not to be missed! If you hesitate any longer, they'll run back to Shuangchengwei!"
Daishan also said, "Father, I also think we should pursue them. Without their commander, the morale of the Ming army will surely be low. If we send 50,000 troops, they definitely won't be able to hold out."
Nurhaci remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "We cannot pursue them for now; let's wait!"
If it were the Nurhaci of the past, he would have already led his men to charge over there. But the problem is, he wasn't sure if this was Chen Boying's trick, and the Great Jin Dynasty couldn't afford to lose anymore.
Deep in the Horqin Grassland, the Wangqi Camp.
Bomubogor lay prone on a high slope, his gaze like that of a hawk fixed on the endless rows of tents below. The night wind howled, carrying the scents of horse manure and cooking smoke, and also the hatred that had been suppressed in his heart for many years. This was the garrison of the Khorchin Banner, the enemy that had oppressed the Solon tribe for over a decade, relying on the support of the Jurchens.
"leader,"
A young scout crawled over silently, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "We've found out. Wu Keshan led most of the able-bodied men of the tribe south to support the Jurchens. Only the elderly, women, and children, and less than two thousand soldiers remain in the camp."
Bomubogor didn't speak immediately. He recalled that ten years ago, the Khorchin people, taking advantage of the heavy snow in winter, seized three pastures from the Solon tribe and killed more than two hundred of his people, including his own uncle. He also recalled that five years ago, the Khorchin people colluded with the Jurchens to capture his son, who had just turned sixteen, and enslave him; his fate remained unknown to this day.
"A golden opportunity," he murmured, a flame of revenge burning in his eyes.
He straightened up, the moonlight illuminating his face, which, weathered by time, now appeared as hard as iron. Behind him, over sixteen thousand elite Solon warriors waited silently, each pair of eyes gleaming like hungry wolves.
"Pass down the order," Bomubogor's voice was deep but clear, "According to the commander-in-chief's instructions, take everything you can, and burn everything you can't. Leave no one alive who resists."
He paused, then added, "Remember, the commander-in-chief said that what we want is not how many people we kill, but to make the Khorchin people feel pain, to make them fear, and to make them never dare to be dogs for the Jurchens again."
The generals nodded silently.
Under the moonlight, 16,000 Solon cavalrymen pounced on the Khorchin Banner like ghosts.
The campfire at the Horqin Royal Banner camp was about to go out.
The soldiers on night watch were dozing against the wooden fence. They had grown accustomed to peace, to the protection of the Jurchens, and to the days of raiding the Solon tribes every winter. They had never imagined that one day war would descend upon them.
The first sentry fell without even making a sound. Bomubogor slit his throat with his own hands, the warm blood splattering on the back of his hand, reminding him of that snowy night many years ago.
"kill!"
A loud shout shattered the silence of the night.
The Solon cavalry, like ghosts emerging from the ground, surged into the camp from all directions. Torches were thrown at the tents, instantly igniting towering flames. A flash of blade, and heads rolled to the ground. Screams, cries, and the neighing of horses mingled together.
The Khorchin people awoke with a start, only to be met with an apocalyptic scene. The Solon people, whom they had usually oppressed, now charged into their tents like mad tigers, hacking and slashing at anyone and everything in sight. Some tried to resist, but were cut down before they could even draw their swords. Others tried to run, but were overtaken by horses and killed instantly.
"You dogs of Khorchin! Give me back my son's life!" Bomubogor's sword danced in the firelight, each strike carrying ten years of hatred.
The battle lasted less than two hours.
By daybreak, the Khorchin Banner camp had been reduced to scorched earth. Thousands of tents were burned to ashes, cattle, sheep, and horses were driven away, and all grain and supplies were looted. The corpses of Khorchin people lay scattered on the ground, and the air was filled with the stench of burning and blood.
Bomubogorlema stood amidst the ruins, his body covered in blood, indistinguishable between enemy and personal. He gazed at the gradually brightening eastern horizon and exhaled a long breath.
"Chief," a subordinate general rode forward, "we've taken stock. We killed over 13,700 Khorchin people, captured over 6,000 women and children, seized over 4,000 warhorses, and countless cattle and sheep. Our own casualties were less than 200."
Bomubogor nodded, his voice hoarse: "Withdraw. As the commander-in-chief ordered, take everything you can, and burn everything you can't. The Khorchin people won't be able to recover for at least ten years this time."
Sixteen thousand Solon cavalry, escorting prisoners and herding cattle and sheep, marched eastward in a grand procession. Behind them, the embers of the Khorchin Banner camp were still smoldering, like a giant tomb.
At the same time, the same thing was happening simultaneously in the five Inner Khalkha tribes. This was Yuan Fei's plan to destroy the wings. Didn't the Khorchin like to be dogs for the Jurchens? Well, let's kill the dogs first.
In a large tent in Kaiyuan City, Wu Keshan sat anxiously in the guest seat, awaiting Nurhaci's summons. He had been summoned to lead the Khorchin cavalry south to support the Jurchens, but they had only gone halfway when they received an urgent report from the rear that the Wangqi camp had been ambushed by the Solon tribe and the entire army had been wiped out!
"Your Highness!"
A Khorchin man, covered in blood and dressed in rags, stumbled in and knelt down with a thud. "Your Highness! The Solon people—the Solon people have burned down our royal camp! They've looted all the cattle, sheep, and horses! And they've almost killed everyone!"
Wu Keshan stood up abruptly, his face deathly pale: "What did you say?"
"The Solons!"
The man burst into tears, crying, "Bomubogor personally led the troops! They attacked Wangqi while all our able-bodied men were gone! The old camp—the old camp is gone!"
The news spread, and the side hall erupted in chaos. The Khorchin generals who had followed Wu Keshan south were all filled with righteous indignation; some wailed and wept, while others drew their swords and roared in anger.
"My lord! We must go back! Go back and take revenge!"
"Yes! Charge back! Tear the Soren to pieces!"
"Why bother fighting these 'open-minded dogs'? They've already taken over their own territory!"
Wu Keshan stood there, trembling. He certainly wanted to go back and take revenge, but he knew even better that Nurhaci wouldn't let them go easily. The Jurchens needed the Khorchin cavalry to deal with the Ming army; how could they allow them to turn back halfway?
"Shut up, all of you!" he roared. "This matter must be handled according to the Khan's arrangements! No one is allowed to act recklessly!"
But the Khorchin generals, blinded by rage, wouldn't listen to reason. Some had already started packing their belongings, preparing to return on their own.
The news quickly reached Nurhaci's ears.
Upon hearing the report, Nurhaci's face turned ashen. He smashed the teacup in his hand to the ground, shattering it into pieces.
"Chen Boying! It's Chen Boying again!" he gritted his teeth. "He's gone, yet he still won't let me have any peace!"
Huang Taiji frowned and said, "Father, if the Khorchin cause trouble, our forces will be even more insufficient. Should we let them go back?"
"Release them?" Nurhaci sneered. "If we let them go back, who will fight the Ming army for me? Who will stop Chen Boying's troops? Send word to Wu Keshan to come see me. I will talk to him personally."
A moment later, Wu Keshan knelt before Nurhaci, his forehead touching the ground, his whole body trembling.
"Your Majesty," his voice was hoarse, "the Khorchin have suffered such a calamity, this servant truly has no heart to fight anymore. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and let this servant return to avenge my fallen people!"
Nurhaci looked at him, remained silent for a long time, and slowly said, "Go back? What can you do if you go back? Bomubogor has long since disappeared. If you take these few people back, you'll just fall into his ambush."
Wu Keshan raised his head, his eyes bloodshot: "Then—what should we do?"
Nurhaci stood up, walked to the map, and pointed in the direction of the Khorchin grassland: "The Solon people stole your things, and I, the Khan, must take them back. But the prerequisite is that you must first help me win this battle. After we defeat the Ming army, I, the Khan, will personally lead the troops to pacify the Solon tribe for you, and I will twist off Bomubogor's head and give it to you as a wine jug. But before that, not a single one of your soldiers is allowed to leave."
Wu Keshan remained silent for a long time before finally kowtowing heavily: "This servant—yes."
Outside the tent, the Khorchin generals were still arguing. But Wu Keshan knew they had no way out.
The home front is gone, but the battle at the front must continue. This is probably the fate of those who are merely pawns.
When Nurhaci saw that the Khorchin had been attacked, he assumed it was Chen Boying's backup plan, and he waved his hand, "All troops, attack!"
Huang Taiji exclaimed urgently, "Father!"
"I say we should pursue," Nurhaci interrupted him, "but don't send the whole army. Let the Mongol Left and Right Banners go first, followed by the Han Banners. The main force of the Eight Banners should stay behind to hold the line. I want to see how much skill Chen Boying's troops still have after he leaves."
Liutiaogou, the Ming army's position.
Zhou Bin lay on the hilltop, watching the approaching Mongol cavalry in the distance, a cold smile appearing on his lips.
"The commander-in-chief is right. Nurhaci is indeed using the Mongols as cannon fodder. Pass down the order to let them in. No one is allowed to fire without orders."
The Mongol cavalry roared into Liutiaogou, but both sides were eerily quiet, without a single soul in sight. The leading Mongol general was overjoyed, believing the Ming army had truly fled, and spurred his troops forward at an accelerated pace.
When they reached the bottom of the ravine, countless flags suddenly appeared on the hills on both sides.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Hundreds of cannons opened fire simultaneously, firing shells at them!
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