Heavy clouds blanketed the sky, and the north wind howled. A great banner bearing the character "Lu" stood in the camp. This was where Lu Xiangsheng's Heavenly Hero Army was stationed.
Lu Xiangsheng had been ordered to resist the Jurchens, but no sooner had he reached Changping than Gao Qiqian requisitioned the Heavenly Hero Army in the name of defense. All that remained in his camp were twenty thousand men under three regional commanders: Yang Guozhu of Xuanfu, Hu Dawei of Shanxi, and Wang Pu of Datong.
Lu Xiangsheng had intended to use offense as defense, selecting elite troops to attack the Jurchen camp from four directions on a moonlit night. Gao Qiqian had rejected the plan, however. Looking at the note Gao had sent him, Lu Xiangsheng hardly knew whether to laugh or cry.
A eunuch supervising the army, and he actually thinks he's someone important. His Majesty ordered me to command all the armies under heaven. I won't have him pointing fingers and giving orders.
Lu Xiangsheng crumpled the note and tossed it into the brazier. In an instant, the paper curled and blackened, becoming one with the glowing coals.
"Governor-General, the Night Patrol has sent word—the Jurchen camp is on the move!" Chen Guowei, a trusted commander under Lu Xiangsheng, lifted the flap and entered the tent.
A faint smile appeared on Lu Xiangsheng's face. "At last, they're moving again. Guowei, go to Gao Qiqian's camp and bring back my Heavenly Hero Army, whatever it takes! This battle will be decided today!"
With that, Lu Xiangsheng took a box from inside his robe and handed it over. "This matter is of the utmost importance. Remember that-remember!"
Chen Guowei immediately accepted the order. "Rest assured, Governor-General. Even if my body is smashed to pieces and my bones ground to dust, I will complete the mission!"
Chen Guowei turned and left. As the sound of hoofbeats faded outside the tent, Lu Xiangsheng summoned Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, and Wang Pu. "The Jurchens will raid our camp tonight. We'll turn their scheme against them and show them what the soldiers and commanders of our Great Ming are made of!"
Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei promptly cupped their hands and accepted the order. Wang Pu's heart gave a jolt, and he said hesitantly, "Governor-General, we have only twenty thousand men. How are we supposed to fight?"
Lu Xiangsheng hadn't taken the initiative to attack the Jurchens before. Why had he suddenly changed his strategy? We only have twenty thousand men here. Never mind the Jurchens' soaring morale-even in numbers, we're at a disadvantage!
Puzzled, Hu Dawei said, "They're bringing the fight right to our doorstep. How do we fight? We hack at them with our broadswords! Commander Wang, if we don't fight, are we supposed to run?"
Hu Dawei was from Mongolia and had fought bravely since submitting to the Ming. The Mongol cavalry under his command were also exceptionally fierce. His distinguished achievements in suppressing the rebel bandits had brought him step by step to the rank of regional commander.
He had long heard that Lu Xiangsheng led from the front and fought with extraordinary courage. Yet throughout his time in the camp, Lu Xiangsheng had kept his distance from the Jurchen army. Hu Dawei had even grumbled in private: because of all this talk of "negotiating peace," had Lu Xiangsheng truly abandoned any intention of fighting this battle properly?
Now that Lu Xiangsheng had finally decided to strike, Hu Dawei was rubbing his fists and flexing his palms, determined to deal the Jurchens a crushing blow head-on. How could he let Wang Pu spout such dispiriting words?
At the word "run," Wang Pu's face immediately flushed red. His eyes widened, and he shouted, "Am I that kind of man? Then let's fight! Who's fucking afraid?"
Lu Xiangsheng waved a hand at them both. "You are both valiant commanders. On the battlefield, you are brothers who watch over one another and stand back to back. Don't let this spoil your friendship!"
Then Lu Xiangsheng looked at all three men and said gravely, "Besides, in a war fought for our country, how can victory ever be certain? Even if the Ming army outnumbered the Jurchens, I could not promise to win every battle. Gentlemen, only with the resolve to act even when it seems impossible can we have any hope of victory!"
"You are right to admonish us, Governor-General." Hu Dawei cupped his hands toward Wang Pu and apologized. "I'm a rough fellow and no good with words. Please don't take offense, Commander Wang!"
Wang Pu was still angry, but since the other man had apologized, pressing the issue would only make him look petty. Even so, he could not swallow his resentment, and his expression remained sour.
To keep the two men from quarreling again, Yang Guozhu cupped his hands and asked Lu Xiangsheng, "Governor-General, do you have a plan? How will we turn their scheme against them?"
"I will remain in the camp. Commander Yang, Commander Hu, you two will take your troops outside and lie in ambush. Once the Jurchen army enters the camp, wait for my signal, and we will strike them from within and without!" Lu Xiangsheng said.
Wang Pu grew dissatisfied again. Why should I be the one left in camp as bait? Hu Dawei caught his expression with a cold glance and snorted inwardly. "Governor-General, let me remain in the camp and face the enemy alongside you!"
Wang Pu relaxed at those words, but inwardly he sneered. Hu Dawei looks so blunt and easygoing, but it turns out he's another bootlicker. If he fights shoulder to shoulder with the Governor-General, he'll have no shortage of rewards later.
Provided he lives to enjoy them!
Seeing that Wang Pu offered no objection after Hu Dawei spoke, Lu Xiangsheng understood. He nodded approvingly at Hu Dawei. "Good. Then that is what we'll do!"
His expression turned stern. Sweeping a glance over Wang Pu, he commanded loudly, "Pass down the order! In this battle, every blade must bear blood! Every man must bear wounds! Every horse must pant and sweat! Anyone who disobeys-execute him!"
Hu Dawei felt the blood surge through his entire body. At this military order, he cast all his doubts about Lu Xiangsheng behind him. His eyes blazed, and he wished he could seize his saber and charge straight into the Jurchen camp.
Once the arrangements were made, the three men cupped their hands and left the camp to relay the orders.
Lu Xiangsheng sat in his tent, staring intently at the map. His gaze traveled around the Capital Region before turning to Gaoyang and Jinan. Thinking of the strategy he had devised with His Majesty, he alternated between heartfelt sighs and anxious worry.
War was fraught with danger, and victory could never be assured in any battle. Every step he had taken since leading his troops out of the capital might alter the outcome. Moreover, the enemy army was commanded by Dorgon, a man Lu Xiangsheng had never dared underestimate.
Lu Xiangsheng could not help recalling what the emperor had told him. The Ming army certainly had plenty of men: the forces of the regional commanders of Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi, as well as the Guanning armored cavalry and Mongol cavalry. But how many of them could truly fight?
The Jurchens' morale soared so high that the Ming army could not catch up even at a gallop. Then there were the ministers at court shouting slogans of "negotiating peace." Men like Yang Sichang and Gao Qiqian would also find every excuse to sabotage his tactics during the fighting and withhold his provisions.
Defeating the Jurchens under these circumstances would be hard indeed!
Lu Xiangsheng sighed again. Yang Lukai, the officer in charge of the horses, entered the tent. Seeing the worry etched across Lu Xiangsheng's face, he asked, "Has there been news about the Jurchens?"
"The Jurchens will raid the camp tonight. Make ready!" Lu Xiangsheng instructed, then asked, "How much food and fodder do we have left?"
The smile vanished from Yang Lukai's face. Looking troubled, he said, "Chief Supervisor Gao took some away. What remains will last fewer than ten days!"
Ten days... Lu Xiangsheng looked back at the map and considered the matter. Ten days probably won't be enough. I'll have to send someone to the court to request more provisions.
As night fell, a light rain suddenly began drifting down from the sky. Mingled with the cold wind, the fine rain struck their faces until they grew numb, and even twitching the corners of their mouths became difficult.
Hao Ge rode through the rainy mist of the dark night, unable to make out the road ahead. A night raid naturally demanded concealment, so the torches had been extinguished. With scouts guiding the way, they crept toward Lu Xiangsheng's camp.
"What damned weather!" Hao Ge spat and patted his cheek. It was icy to the touch, as though he were feeling a block of ice.
Another hour later, a faint glow appeared ahead. Hao Ge's eyes lit up, and his mouth spread into a grin. He hefted the broadsword in his hand and muttered, "Finally here!"
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