Chapter 33: Zhu Ying: Brothers, are you willing to follow me and annihilate the invaders!
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“What the Duke of Song has said is entirely correct.”
“Li Tao’s actions were utterly disgraceful.”
“If Zhu Ying had truly been trapped and unable to return, I might have believed Li Tao’s claim that Zhu Ying was stubborn and refused to heed advice.”
“But judging from Zhu Ying’s results, it is clear that Li Tao disobeyed military orders and feared death.”
“I believe he ought to receive severe punishment,” Bu Wan declared at once.
“Li Tao belongs to the Daning frontier army and is one of Prefect Bu’s subordinates. You may deal with him as you see fit.” Feng Sheng nodded and said no more.
After all, Li Tao was merely a low-ranking thousand-house commander. Feng Sheng naturally had no reason to pay him much attention.
“I accept the order,” Bu Wan replied immediately.
“Prefect Bu.”
“Tell us about the defensive situation in Daning Prefecture,” Feng Sheng asked with a smile.
“Your Grace.”
“Previously, when we struck north against the Tatars, the fifty thousand frontier troops stationed in Daning Prefecture were divided into two forces. Twenty thousand marched north to attack the Tatars and secure Daning’s peace, while thirty thousand remained behind to guard the prefecture and completely suppress the banditry within its borders.”
“Now that Northern Yuan has launched an invasion, its vanguard has already begun attacking Huizhou City. Their strength is no less than fifty thousand.”
…
Bu Wan reported to Feng Sheng the current troop strength and defensive arrangements throughout Daning Prefecture.
Naturally, he also felt considerably more at ease as he spoke.
Before Feng Sheng arrived, the safety of Daning Prefecture—and all responsibility for it—had rested entirely upon his shoulders. If Daning truly suffered a disaster and fell to the Yuan court, his guilt would have been immense.
But now that Feng Sheng had arrived, all military affairs were under his command, and the armies of the various prefectures were subject to his deployment. Bu Wan could no longer be held responsible.
“Hmm.”
“With Daning’s defenses, the prefecture should be able to hold out until my army of two hundred thousand arrives.”
“Besides, Zhu Ying’s proposed surprise attack—sending more than ten thousand troops to strike Liaodong—may also prove useful.”
“For now, however, we should remain focused on defense.” Feng Sheng’s voice was solemn.
“Your Excellency is wise,” the generals said in unison.
“Very well.”
“Pass on my order.”
“Urge every army to accelerate its march.”
“Within ten days, all forces must assemble at Huizhou. Any army that fails to arrive within that time will be charged with delaying military operations.” Feng Sheng addressed the generals in the hall.
“We obey, General,” they replied together.
“One more thing.”
“Send a memorial to Yingtian and inform His Majesty that I have arrived safely and begun preparations to destroy Naghachu’s forces.”
“Ask His Majesty to set his heart at ease.”
“Also, report Daning Prefecture’s military achievements and battle results. In particular, mention Zhu Ying’s destruction of the Tatar tribes and the proven valor of our Daning frontier army.” Feng Sheng gave these instructions to the commander of his personal guard.
“We obey,” the guard commander immediately replied.
“Now we need only wait for the army to arrive. Then we can shift from defense to offense.”
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“Naghachu.”
“His Majesty once showed this man great favor, yet he has given no thought to repaying the imperial grace.”
“The time has come to settle the matter.” A cold glint flashed through Feng Sheng’s eyes.
He had come for the sole purpose of wiping out Naghachu.
…
The northern frontier, within the territory of the Jianzhou Tatars.
“Report!”
“Commander, we have discovered traces of Tatar cavalry three miles behind us.”
“They appear to be following the hoofprints of our horses.”
“At their fastest, they will come face-to-face with our forces within the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Please decide how we should proceed.” Liu Lei rode forward and delivered his report in a loud voice.
“How many men do they have?” Zhu Ying asked at once.
“Fortunately, you ordered us to deliberately trample hoofprints toward the east and west. The Tatars were therefore thrown off our trail. This particular group numbers no more than five thousand.”
“However, I have not been able to determine how many troops the Tatars have dispatched in total,” Liu Lei reported respectfully.
“Although every Tatar is trained for war, they are still deeply wary of our Great Ming. It is impossible that they have sent their entire strength in pursuit.”
“Besides, not every Tatar is a cavalryman. Their entire people would be fortunate to possess more than twenty thousand mounted warriors—and that is only because they maintain their own horse pastures.” Zhu Ying smiled faintly. He was not the least bit flustered by the news of the approaching Tatars.
“Commander.”
“What should we do now?”
The thousand-house commanders gathered around, watching Zhu Ying expectantly.
The previous night’s raid had succeeded, and all four thousand soldiers had returned alive.
That had filled every one of them with awe for Zhu Ying.
Zhu Ying glanced toward the direction from which the Tatars would come. A trace of coldness appeared upon his face.
“Naturally, we will leave every last one of them here.”
“Gentlemen, do you dare to follow me into battle?”
With a cold laugh, Zhu Ying seized the long saber at his side.
“We shall follow you to the death, Commander,” the thousand-house commanders cried in unison.
“Mount up.”
Zhu Ying laughed once and swung himself onto his horse.
The soldiers around him mounted one after another.
“Brothers.”
“We have eaten our fill and taken our rest.”
“But we are now in barbarian territory. The slightest lapse could send us into eternal ruin.”
“Our scouts report that Tatar cavalry will soon overtake us.”
“If you want to live, if you want to return home, then we must slaughter them to the last man.”
“Do you dare follow me, Zhu Ying, and meet the Tatars in battle?”
“Will you exterminate every last one of these invaders?” Zhu Ying swept his gaze across the ranks and shouted.
“We shall follow you to the death, Commander!”
The four thousand soldiers roared as one.
Their wills had become a single fortress, and their killing intent soared into the heavens.
“Good.”
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“Place the wounded in the rear to hold the line. All other soldiers, form an offensive array around me. Prepare your bows!” Zhu Ying shouted.
The four thousand cavalrymen urged their horses forward. Divided into companies under their thousand-house commanders, they spread out around Zhu Ying. Each man raised his bow and took up an offensive formation.
After a quarter of an hour had passed, sounds of pounding hooves swept toward them from the distance.
A large number of Tatar cavalrymen came racing into view, clad in leather armor and carrying long spears.
As they drew closer, the Tatar commander at the front spotted the Ming cavalry arrayed before them.
“The Ming army is just ahead!”
“My warriors!”
“These accursed Ming soldiers have slaughtered our people and destroyed our tribes!”
“Kill them all!”
“Scouts, turn back at once and inform the ten-thousand-man commander! Tell him to mobilize troops and surround the Ming army immediately!”
“Kill!”
The Tatar commander howled as he drove his army forward like a raging tide.
After all, they were pursuing the Ming army on their own territory. If they could hold the Ming forces in place, they would be able to annihilate them completely.
“Tatars.”
Zhu Ying uttered the two words coldly.
His hand tightened around his precious carved bow.
Five arrows rested upon the string.
With nearly a thousand pounds of strength in his arms, Zhu Ying drew the carved bow into a perfect full moon with ease.
The soldiers behind and to either side of him also drew their bows, waiting for their commander’s signal.
At last, when the Tatar cavalry had charged to within a hundred paces—
“Kill!”
Zhu Ying’s roar exploded like thunder, echoing across the northern frontier.
The arrows in his hand flew from the string.
Five arrows streaked through the air.
The five Tatars at the very front had no time to react. Their leather armor was pierced in an instant, and all five men were run through before they toppled from their horses.
“Tatar cavalry slain. Twenty points of strength collected.”
“Tatar cavalry slain. Twenty points of constitution collected.”
“Tatar cavalry slain…”