Chapter Nineteen: The Plan of Sowing Discord

  The General's Mansion of Ji Town was originally located in Santunying, and the General of Ji Town was Zhao Shuaijiao. However, at this time, he had already taken up the post of Ping Liao General and moved to Shanhai Pass. The person in charge of Santunying was the newly appointed General Zhu Guoyan.

  It was already past midnight when Zhu Guoyan was still drunk and had not gotten up. It wasn't until the alarm of the enemy's invasion was sounded that he was woken up by his trusted servants.

  Zhu Guoyan was startled, a cold sweat broke out, he sobered up and didn't feel drowsy anymore. He hastily went to the main hall to ask the messenger soldier for details: "What level is the beacon fire signal?"

  "The beacon fire was raised and extinguished immediately, without confirming its level."

  Could it be that the Tartars are making a big invasion? But even the Mongolian Doyan Department at the pass is just talking about it in everyday language, and I don't think they have the guts to gather all the tribes to invade the border. Could it be that they accidentally crossed the river, this is no child's play.

  Zhu Guoyan thought and thought, but couldn't think clearly, and was just about to order another investigation. Just then, a commotion was heard outside the door, followed by someone bursting in.

  Before Zhu Guoyan could see clearly, he heard the newcomer say in a panic: "Jianhu, Jianhu Qiangzi, launched a large-scale invasion."

  Zhu Guoyan took a closer look and found that it was Longjingguan's guerrilla Wang Chun, who was wearing thin clothes, but had a Ming helmet on his head, with sweat all over his face.

  "What's wrong, Jian Hu? Can you see clearly?" Zhu Guoyan asked, not caring whether Wang Chun was cold or hot in this severe winter.

  "Yes, yes, build a yurt, many, many, take advantage of dawn to launch a surprise attack."

  "How much exactly?"

  Actually, Wang Chun didn't even have time to see how many Tartars there were, anyway Longjing Pass was lost, so it's better to report more. So he said: "Roughly, roughly around 4,000 or 5,000."

  Zhu Guoyan took a look at Wang Chun's appearance and thought to himself, "This guy probably ran out in his sleep." The outer beacon tower had one unlit fire, with quite a few people. The distant enemy was coming to attack, and it was likely that there were more than 4,000 or 5,000 of them.

  Thinking of this, he hastily sent an order to report to the rear and set up a beacon fire transmission according to the number of tens of thousands of Hu people.

  Just then, the noise outside the mansion grew louder and was heard by Zhu Guoyan. He ordered the soldiers to go out and investigate.

  Before long, the soldiers reported that the people in the city had heard that Jian Yu's army was approaching and were fleeing out of the city to the rear.

  This was settled, and Zhu Guoyan no longer bothered with Wang Chunshen. Just before leaving, he viciously said to him: "You've done a good job!", then ordered the city gates closed, and the soldiers in the camp gathered at the Wuwu Arena, preparing to defend the city. He himself also rushed to put on his armor.

  Unexpectedly, when I arrived at the martial arts arena, I found that only two-thirds of the strong soldiers had gathered. Wasn't I the one who had eaten only a quarter of the empty salary? How could there be so many fewer? At this time, the subordinate came to report on the missing soldiers and said that they had heard that Jian Yu was attacking and had mixed in with the civilians and slipped away.

  Zhu Guoyan was helpless, leading the team to rush to the city wall. He found that the civilians who were pulling their children and wives had blocked all the streets near the city gate. Only by using whips to clear the way did he manage to climb onto the city wall, where he discovered that some quick-witted civilians had already escaped from the city. Zhu Guoyan could only bid them farewell with a nod.

  Zhu Guoyan gave the soldiers on the city wall a boost of energy, just about to go back and gather his officers for a meeting, when he suddenly found that the fleeing civilians had turned around and were rushing back. Could it be that they had a change of heart and wanted to join him in overcoming the difficulties?

  It wasn't until later that I realized those ordinary people were all crying and running back, with a large group of Jin soldiers riding horses behind them. However, it didn't look like an enemy battlefield at all, but rather like they were herding animals. That's right, they were treating these ordinary people as their cattle, herding them.

  Those who were weak and slow to run would be cut down, while those who seemed clever and tried to flee from the main group would be shot with an arrow, driving their "cattle" towards the city gate.

  When they got to within a bowshot of the city wall, Jian Yu's cavalry suddenly dispersed and surrounded all the civilians, guffawing at the terrified and panicked people trapped inside.

  One of the cavalrymen who looked like a leader turned around and walked several steps towards the city wall, then said something in a jumbled tone that no one could understand.

  Then that person turned around and gave an order, the remaining few hundred archers dispersed into a large circle, starting to shoot arrows at the crowd inside, as if chatting with family and friends while shooting targets and competing in archery skills. Those ordinary people, regardless of the elderly, women, and children, were all like a flock of sheep waiting to be slaughtered, crying and begging for mercy was useless, those who should be shot were shot, and slowly there was no one standing.

  However, the group of Tartar cavalry did not stop there and began to gallop at full speed, trampling over the civilians who had already fallen to the ground. They played recklessly, seemingly without any regard for the Ming army in the city.

  The crows on the city wall are silent, and no one shoots arrows or cannons, just watching the tragic scene outside the city, either tense or stunned.

  Finally, those Tatars dismounted to search the corpses and retrieved usable arrows. Occasionally, one or two of them would let out a cheer, as if they had found something good.

  At last, the Jurchen troops slowly retreated. Some of them even threw a few human heads towards the city wall before leaving.

  Zhu Guoyan was frightened by this group of Jianwei Qiangzi, previously he had only heard about the cruelty and warlike nature of the Jianwei Qiangzi, now he truly saw such ferocity in the Qiangzi, who were unscrupulously brutal under the enemy's city walls, showing a shocking level of savagery. This revealed their battlefield psychological quality, which only veteran soldiers who frequently kill people have, and are also veterans who frequently win battles. His own subordinates fundamentally did not have the ability to match up against them, not even his most elite bodyguards.

  Zhu Guoyan looked up at the direction where the enemy was far away and immediately ordered to block the gate with stones, defending and waiting for reinforcements.

  Two days later, the Jianhu Jiazhi often came to perform in groups, horse stunts, archery and other skills, and then whizzed away.

  Finally, Zhu Guoyan ordered the city gates to be completely sealed off. As long as the war didn't stop, there was no need to think about opening them again.

  On October 30, Ping Liao General Zhao Zhi, courtesy name Xilong, pseudonym Mingshan, received the beacon fire transmission and was asking for instructions at Yuan Chonghuan's mansion because he belonged to Yuan's jurisdiction.

  Yuan Chonghuan heard the report and thought it was unlikely, when did the Mongolian cavalry have the guts to gather tens of thousands of people to knock on the gate? If there is such ability, only Jian Yu can do it, but according to reports, Jian Yu is currently appearing in Jinzhou, so it's impossible.

  Zhao Ratejiao said: "Du Shi, I heard that the emperor had previously ordered Wang Yuanyi, the right censor of Shuntian, to strengthen his defenses in order to prevent Jianyu from breaking through his line and entering. If Jianyu really breaks through his line and enters, the emperor will order Wang Yuanyi to hold out in Zhuozhou and recruit troops from all over the country to come to the rescue, and engage in a decisive battle with Jianyu at the Zhuozhou front line. At the same time, he will send us to attack Shenyang directly. Do you think Jianyu will really take a detour to launch a surprise attack?"

  Yuan Chonghuan fell into thought, saying: "I had also heard such rumors earlier. However, Jian Yu attacked Jinzhou; now he appears and disappears outside the city of Jinzhou, it is possible that Jian Yu will attack by a circuitous route, but not very likely, I'll think about it again."

  "Could it be that Jian Yu also heard about the Emperor's plan and thought he could take a detour, but instead alerted Jian Yu?"

  "I won't, I'll guard the Ningjin front line, and it's hard for news to reach Jianchu." Yuan Chonghuan said resolutely. Unfortunately, he didn't know that a traitor inside had passed on the information, and was also plotting against him.

  Just then, the imperial guard at the gate came to report that an imperial edict had arrived from the capital.

  Yuan Chonghuan and Zhao Ratejiao stared at each other, could it be that they were really enemies?

  Indeed, the imperial edict of Emperor Chongzhen stated that Zhuozhou was under attack by the main force of the enemy at San Tun Camp, and was in imminent danger. He ordered Yuan Chonghuan to lead the main force of the Guanning Army to provide reinforcements immediately, without delay.

  After receiving the imperial edict, Yuan Chonghuan did not suspect that the eunuch who delivered the edict was genuine or fake, because the eunuch's words and deeds, his identity token, everything was normal, including the imperial edict itself. The only thing that was a bit suspicious was why Emperor Chongzhen knew so quickly that it was the main force of the bandits. (Generally, no one would have thought that a eunuch familiar with palace affairs would help the bandits forge an imperial edict.)

  The eunuch who helped Emperor Chongzhen explained that it was related to the Outer Mongolian friends encountering the main force of the bandits fleeing to Jixiankou. Therefore, they knew in advance. Moreover, the Ming army's winter combat capability in Zhuozhou and Santunying was weak, and it was clear that they were not a match for the main force of the bandits, so they had to lead troops to rescue and ensure the safety of the capital.

  See off the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict, Yuan Chonghuan weighed it in his heart. The imperial edict this time is different from what he heard before. The key lies in whether Zhuozhou can hold on. It seems that now they are worried that Zhuozhou cannot hold on, so they changed their strategy and asked him to go for rescue.

  If Xingcheng falls, the land of Beijing and Ji will be under the horse's hoof. The Jinzhou line still has Jianyu, even if you want to attack Shenyang directly, you have to weigh whether you can pass through Jianyu. If Xingcheng is empty and Jinzhou is solid, then if you want to attack Shenyang directly, it's like sending meat to Jianyu's mouth. No, it's better to save Xingcheng, and don't worry about being drowned by the words of the officials.

  Yuan Chonghuan made a decision and said to Zhao Rate: "Ming Shang, the governor ordered you to lead 4,000 cavalrymen from your department to rush to Zunhua and Santunying overnight. If possible, enter the city to defend it, hold on until I arrive, and then we will attack the enemy from both inside and outside."

  Zhao Rate's teachings were excellent, and just as he was about to leave, Yuan Chonghuan called him back. Yuan Chonghuan asked Zhao Rate with some concern: "Mingshan, you've been traveling day and night, can your body take it?"

  Zhao Rate-jiao listened, and was no longer pleased: "Du-shi, do not underestimate me. Although I am over sixty years old, riding a horse and wearing armor is still nothing to speak of. A great man in the world should consider it an honor to die wrapped in his saddle."

  Then Zhao Zilong took his leave and departed.

  If we can annihilate the 10,000-strong main force of the Jin army that is besieging the city, it will be a great victory unprecedented in history. However, the Jin army is extremely powerful, and to devour 10,000 Jin soldiers, all the main forces must be deployed. Yuan Chonghuan thought about this and began to calculate his military strength. The Ningjin line still needs to be defended, but as long as there are enough food and grass reserves in the city, only infantry can defend it. As for the Jin army inside the pass, if they flee in all directions, it will also be troublesome, and cavalry must be used against cavalry. For now, the only option is to gather all the iron cavalry of Gengjin. Zhao Rate led 4,000 cavalry to support him, and there should still be enough time to gather.

  Thinking of this, Yuan Chonghuan began to order the transportation of grain and fodder to Guanning, Jinzhou, and gather cavalry. The faster the better.

  After the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict left, he immediately changed his appearance in a deserted place and went to Fan Yongdou's secret residence in Shanhaiguan to report that Yuan Chonghuan had received the edict.

  Because this matter is extremely important, the person in charge of the secret residence was Fan Yongdou himself. After arranging for the eunuch to leave, Fan Yongdou was still uneasy and sent someone to investigate whether there were any signs of troop movements.

  After receiving the news, Fan Yongdou was overjoyed and immediately sent someone to rush to Shengjing to report the news to Huang Taiji.

  Zhao's troops couldn't just leave at will, they needed to assemble the army and arrange for food and fodder, so naturally they couldn't compare with Fan Yongdou sending someone to deliver a message. This time, he indeed fulfilled his wish of "dying wrapped in horse hide".

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