Chapter Eleven: Thirteen Mountains

After marching for another day or so, the troop of eight thousand finally arrived at Ningyuan. The city walls were somewhat dilapidated, and Yuan Chonghuan ordered his men to begin repairs. Zhao Lujiao asked in surprise, "Are we not heading for the Thirteen Mountains? Why must we fortify this place?"

Yuan Chonghuan laughed and replied, "Do you understand the art of war? The Thirteen Mountains are over a hundred miles from here. If we march there directly, the Jiannu will seize this position, and our path of retreat will be completely severed. These eight thousand men would then have nowhere to die."

Zhao Lujiao countered, "Once we reach the Thirteen Mountains and defeat the Jiannu, we can cover the righteous civilians as they retreat to the coast. If the Jiannu are defeated, how would they have the strength to take Ningyuan? And if the Jiannu win, would we even be able to return at all?"

Yuan Chonghuan retorted angrily, "Military classics state that one must consider defeat before victory. If our army is defeated, Ningyuan will serve as a stronghold to fall back on. Do not continue this clamor; just follow my orders."

As he was the commander-in-chief and a civil official, Zhao Lujiao dared not argue further. Li Chengxian, indifferent to such matters, simply obeyed whatever the Assistant Surveillance Commissioner said, while Lu Zhijia, already intimidated, remained silent.

Since the city of Ningyuan was small and not severely damaged, the walls were essentially restored within five days. Zhao Lujiao was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, checking the progress three or four times a day, yet he was helpless to change the situation. Once the fortifications were complete, Yuan Chonghuan summoned the three generals to assign tasks: "Zhao Xilong, you and Guerrilla General Li will take four thousand troops to the Thirteen Mountains. The official and Guerrilla General Lu will remain in Ningyuan and await your triumphant return."

Before Zhao Lujiao could speak, Li Chengxian could no longer restrain himself: "Commissioner, we have eight thousand men. Why send only four thousand to the Thirteen Mountains? A thousand men are enough to hold Ningyuan; I implore you to reconsider."

Yuan Chonghuan stated, "Only by having me hold your rear can you proceed to the Thirteen Mountains without concern. How could a meager force hold Ningyuan? Where does that leave my safety in your considerations?"

Lu Zhijia interjected, "Commissioner, I am willing to go to the Thirteen Mountains." He had realized too late that he had been tricked, but the situation forced his hand. As a mere guerrilla general, he could not defy Yuan Chonghuan, a civil official holding the rank of Assistant Surveillance Commissioner. He now only wished to be as far from him as possible to avoid falling into further traps.

Yuan Chonghuan glared at him, and only when he saw Lu lower his head in guilt did he say, "It is my duty to direct the troops, and your duty to engage in battle. Do not confuse the two, Guerrilla General Lu."

Thus, the argument ended in a resounding victory for Commissioner Yuan. Zhao Lujiao and Li Chengxian led four thousand men out of Ningyuan toward the Thirteen Mountains.

The Thirteen Mountains were located seventy-five miles east of Jin County, standing about two hundred zhang high with a circumference of over twenty miles, comprising thirteen peaks. At this time, the mountains were being besieged by the Han army led by Li Yongfang, supported by a small contingent of Later Jin supervisors.

Li Yongfang had been besieging them since April. Three months had passed without success, and a large number of Han people had already fled from the mountains to places like Juehua Island. Nurhaci had already reprimanded him once, yet he was at his wit's end. The Han army lacked combat effectiveness, and the Thirteen Mountains offered a strategic advantage. Their leader, Yang San, was skilled in martial arts, righteous, and possessed some knowledge of military strategy, earning him immense prestige among the Han civilians. The Han army, with its limited numbers, could not fully encircle the mountains, always leaving gaps. At this rate, it would take a year to conquer them.

Nurhaci clearly would not grant him a year. Li Yongfang racked his brains, but unable to force a surrender, he resorted to his most adept tactic: subversion. He sent subordinates to infiltrate the mountains to cultivate those Han civilians willing to defect to the Later Jin, hoping to find an opportunity to eliminate Yang San and then capture everyone in one fell swoop. He had sent his men in ten days ago, just as Zhao Lujiao’s force was arriving in the vicinity.

Up on the Thirteen Mountains, Yang San was convening a meeting with his key leaders. Although Li Yongfang could not take the mountains, life there was difficult. Without sufficient weapons or food, their only reliance was the terrain. Yang San spoke first: "At this rate, we must change our strategy. Do any of you brothers have any good suggestions?"

"No matter what, I will never surrender to the Jiannu. I plan to head down the mountain tonight, find a path to the coast, and swim back to the interior if I have to," said Liu Yidao, Yang San’s sworn brother.

"One person leaving won't work. If we go, we go together. How could I bear to abandon the brothers and sisters here?" added Zhang Zhaoyun, another sworn brother.

"The Jiannu are powerful, and our rations are low. If all else fails, perhaps we should feign surrender and wait for a chance to escape," suggested Bi Mazi, yet another sworn brother.

"My brother is right. As long as the green hills remain, there’s no need to worry about firewood. It’s better to fake a surrender and plan for the future," added Bi San, Bi Mazi’s brother.

...

Everyone turned their eyes toward Liu Boze, who sat beside Yang San. A scholar of great resourcefulness, he had liquidated his own family’s assets to provide rice and salt at the critical moment of the uprising. Deeply trusted by Yang San, he was effectively the second-in-command. He cleared his throat and said slowly, "Surrender is not an option, whether true or false. One cannot retreat; once you take one step back, you’ll want to take a second, and eventually, retreating becomes a habit. The Jiannu are but men. We are many; at worst, we die here together. Taking one down is breaking even; taking two is a profit. They want our Han people to shave their heads and change their clothes? They are dreaming!"

The crowd cheered, "Brother Liu is right! Heads may be severed, but hair shall not be shaved. Even in death, we must face our ancestors."

Bi Mazi also said, "Brother Liu’s words have enlightened me. I will fight the Jiannu to the end. I would rather die than shave my head."

As everyone chanted "Rather die than shave," Yang San smiled and said, "It is good that everyone feels this way. As for the food, we can hold out for a while longer. I have already sent Li Zheng to find the Imperial Commissioner; calculating the time, he should have arrived long ago. Official troops will come to save us soon. Everyone, hold on a little longer. Guard your sectors well and give the Jiannu no opportunity."

Bi Mazi returned to his defensive sector, Dajian Peak, his expression gloomy. Bi San followed him into the room—which was little more than a straw hut. Inside, a scholar in his twenties stood up and bowed to Bi Mazi, asking, "I wonder if Guerrilla General Bi has had any success?"

Bi Mazi returned the bow perfunctorily and said, "Master Li, Yang San and Liu Boze are stubborn fools, bent on fighting the Great Jin army to the death. I nearly gave myself away just now by suggesting we surrender."

The scholar smiled, "I told you before, Guerrilla General Bi, they will not surrender. The only way forward is to strike first—eliminate Yang San and the other leaders. Once that is done, everyone will listen to you, and the matter will be settled."