Here came a reckless one

"Hmph, paltry tricks! You really think you can trap us here? Keep dreaming your grand dreams!"

Hao Ge climbed onto the city wall and cast a contemptuous glance outside. "Nothing but a bluff. Dorgon, let this beile go out and meet him!"

"You mustn't!" Yoto hurried to stop him. This was not their own city, the cannons on the walls had been destroyed, and their only arrows and weapons were those their army had brought. They had not even had time to tear down houses for logs and stones to drop on attackers. How could they simply charge out?

"You may be afraid, but this beile isn't!" Hao Ge pushed Yoto aside and raised an eyebrow at Dorgon. "Well? Will you allow it?"

Dorgon turned to glance below the walls, thinking there would be no harm in letting Hao Ge try.

He could test the strength of the men below and see whether an all-out charge stood any chance of victory.

As for Hao Ge, if he died, that would be one less eyesore. Blades had no eyes on the battlefield; the emperor would not blame him!

"Very well. I grant you permission!" Dorgon nodded.

"Uncle, you cannot-" Suddenly, another wave of pain swept through Yoto. He pressed a hand to his chest, his eyes anxious as he tried to dissuade them both.

In the urgency of the moment, no one noticed anything wrong with Yoto, assuming he was merely worried. Dorgon said nothing more. With permission secured, Hao Ge turned and descended the wall, waved to the men under his banner, and ordered the gate opened before heading out.

"Well, well, here comes a reckless one!"

Beside Lu Xiangsheng, Hu Dawei watched with a gleam of interest on his face. Since the men inside dared come out to fight, their own side certainly could not come off second best.

"Governor-general, let me go!" Hu Dawei urged his warhorse a few steps forward. As though sensing its rider's excitement, the horse snorted several times and circled in place with quick little steps.

"Good!" Lu Xiangsheng did not hesitate. "If they retreat into the city, let them. Just don't let anyone escape this area!"

"Yes!" Hu Dawei answered loudly and led the Mongolian cavalry behind him out of the formation.

The two sides, each more than five thousand strong, faced one another on horseback. Hao Ge gave a great shout, raised his saber, and charged.

"You little wretch, taste my blade!" Hu Dawei's great saber cleaved down, cutting down the personal guards in front of Hao Ge one after another. Blood splashed all over him, but it did nothing to slow his charge.

With Hu Dawei leading the charge, courage surged through the Mongolian cavalry. Shouting, they plunged into the Jurchen formation, their sabers hacking wildly and leaving countless dead and wounded.

"You're a fine Mongolian man. Why throw your life away for the Ming State? The Ming State is a heap of loose sand. You'd be better off pledging loyalty to our Great Qing. I guarantee your entire clan endless wealth and honor."

Mounted on his horse, Hao Ge paid no heed to the casualties among his guards. They had persuaded so many Ming State generals to surrender. Why could they not add one more?

Hu Dawei spat. "Pah! I reckon you need eight men to carry a mirror just to look at yourself!"

Hao Ge did not understand what that meant, but instinct told him it was no compliment. He frowned as Hu Dawei continued, "Your face is so big, a little mirror can't fit it all!"

Hao Ge's face instantly turned livid. "You spurn the respect I offer you! Don't blame this beile for showing no mercy!"

Hu Dawei swept his great saber in a circle before him, then snapped, "Still calling yourself 'this beile'? Who are you putting on those grand airs for? If your emperor thought so highly of you, why didn't he make you the Heaven-Mandated Great General?"

Seeing Hao Ge's towering fury, Hu Dawei did not mind adding fuel to the fire. "Besides, the sovereign of our Great Ming is the true Son of Heaven! Three hundred years have passed since the founding emperor laid its foundations. Who would have thought you would defy Heaven's will, relying on strong troops and valiant generals to attack our Great Ming without cause, killing our comrades and carrying off our people? Such brazen arrogance!"

Listening from behind, Lu Xiangsheng could not help nodding repeatedly. Who said military men had no way with words? What a fine speech!

"You never expected this, did you? Today we cast this net for you. Now that you're trapped in this isolated city of mine, how does it feel?"

How could Hao Ge endure such humiliation from Hu Dawei? Yet when he opened his mouth, he could think of no retort. He could only let out two strange cries before roaring, "Kill! Kill them all!"

On the city wall, Dorgon and Yoto watched the scene and already knew Hao Ge was certain to lose. Quite apart from the enemy's formidable Mongolian cavalry, those words aimed at his heart had struck him squarely in his weak spot.

A man as arrogant as Hao Ge could never bear hearing such things. He would surely throw all caution aside to vent his rage!

How could a battlefield be a place to indulge only one's private grievances?

"Archers, prepare!" Dorgon gave the order.

If Hao Ge could not defeat them and retreated into the city, they would have to rely on arrows to halt the Ming army's advance.

Dorgon had judged correctly. Blinded by fury, Hao Ge charged and hacked wildly for a while, then glanced back and suddenly discovered that the troops behind him had dissolved into a bubbling pot of chaos.

Some had been isolated and were struggling desperately against the Ming soldiers. Others huddled in groups of three or five, supporting one another, yet still could not withstand the Mongolian cavalry's charge.

"What happened?" It had only been a brief moment. How had things come to this?

While throwing Hao Ge's mind into turmoil, Hu Dawei had ordered his cavalry to envelop both flanks. Their ensuing charge had split and scattered his formation.

Now it was not the Ming army that was a heap of loose sand, but his own!

"Beile, hurry back!" The remaining guards could plainly see the situation. Barely fending off Hu Dawei's saber, they urged Hao Ge to retreat into the city.

Hao Ge's eyes nearly split with rage. Watching Hu Dawei find a moment to flash him a taunting smile, he longed to flay him, tear out his sinews, devour his flesh, and drink his blood.

But now was not the time, and there was no chance left!

Hao Ge wheeled his horse and charged through Jinan's gate under the others' protection!

The Ming army did not pursue, so no arrows fell from the walls. Dorgon understood now as well: the Ming army intended to trap them inside the city!

The army outside was even more formidable than it had been during the surprise attack that rainy night, and its numbers had swelled by over ten thousand. Forcing their way out would likely be impossible!

They could only hold out in Jinan for now and wait for reinforcements!

Hao Ge returned to the city in utter disgrace. He did not go up onto the wall. Losing face before Dorgon and the soldiers only made him angrier.

Watching Hao Ge ride away, Yoto finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least he had returned safely. There was still hope for everything.

The pain in his chest eased somewhat. This time was different from before; the pain seemed to be spreading to other parts of his body.

It was time to have an army physician examine him, Yoto thought, withdrawing his gaze.

The Jurchens inside Jinan now sank even further into low spirits.

They had come intent on a good round of plunder. Who could have known that, after entering Jinan, they would find plenty of gold, silver, and jewels, but no grain?

Then the Ming army had surrounded the city. Beile Hao Ge had gone out to fight and gained nothing at all. When had such a thing ever happened before?

Would they fail to get any plunder this time and lose their lives as well?

Hu Dawei returned to the ranks with his chest thrust out. After receiving a word of praise from Lu Xiangsheng, he asked smugly, "Governor-general, what do we do next?"

Lu Xiangsheng glanced at the sky, then toward the city.

Dorgon was no longer visible on the wall. Only a few Tatars stood guard, and the gate was tightly shut. It probably would not open again anytime soon.

Smiling, Lu Xiangsheng told Hu Dawei, "Next, we dig in our cooking pots and make a meal! The wind happens to be blowing from the northwest. As hosts, we ought to send our guests a little gift!"

Even if they could not eat it, they could at least enjoy the aroma!

It was the first time Hu Dawei had seen Lu Xiangsheng wearing such a relaxed smile, and he had even come up with such a wicked idea.

Still, it suited him perfectly!