Chapter Fourteen: Autocracy

Although the Later Jin army had not pursued them, Zhao率jiao dared not let his guard down, stationing scouts thirty miles out. It was only when they neared Ningyuan without any sign of the enemy that he finally let out a long sigh of relief.

He had already sent word to Ningyuan, requesting that the Juehua Island naval forces prepare to receive the Han refugees, transport them to the island, and then ship them safely inside the pass. However, upon their arrival at the coast of Juehua Island, Yuan Chonghuan insisted that only women and children be sent to the island, while the remaining thirty thousand able-bodied men should proceed to Ningyuan and then travel by land back to Shanhai Pass.

Zhao率jiao argued, "Master Yuan, it is over a hundred miles from Ningyuan to Shanhai Pass. If the Jiannu catch up, these men have neither armor nor weapons—how are they to resist?"

Yuan Chonghuan replied, "We have eight thousand soldiers; why would the Jiannu dare to pursue? If they truly do come after us, it will be the perfect opportunity for us to crush them and secure a victory to earn merit."

Recalling the brutal combat at Shisan Mountain, Zhao率jiao shook his head. The Later Jin’s armored cavalry were formidable; had the people of Shisan Mountain not flanked them with archery, the outcome would have remained uncertain. He decided to press the point: "Master Yuan, if those pursuing us were merely Han troops, there would be no cause for concern. But if the armored cavalry of the Jiannu attacks, I fear our forces cannot hold them off. At that point, the able-bodied men will not only be unable to help, but will likely become a liability."

Yuan Chonghuan laughed heartily. "General Zhao, do not worry. It is only a few dozen miles from Ningyuan to the fortress of Qiantunwei. Once we reach Qiantun, we need not fear the Jiannu, and the journey from Zhongqiansuo to Shanhai Pass will be easy. Imagine the sensation it will cause when we march into the pass with so many men! His Majesty will be pleased, and you, General Zhao, will be a general in name and deed."

Zhao率jiao felt his face flush, yet he remained uneasy. Qiantun was clearly over a hundred miles from Ningyuan—a journey that would take at least two or three days even at a fast pace. If the armored cavalry caught up, the efforts at Shisan Mountain would have been in vain. But as Yuan Chonghuan hinted, he himself held no formal rank, and his words carried little weight.

Consequently, they arrived at the coast of Juehua Island. The navy ferried the elderly, women, and children to the island, while the soldiers and the able-bodied men rested. It was midnight before everyone had been transported. Zhao率jiao assumed they would depart immediately, but Yuan Chonghuan ordered them to rest until daybreak.

After consulting with Li Chengxian and Lu Zhijia, Zhao率jiao went to find Yuan Chonghuan, hoping to persuade him to let the rested soldiers and able-bodied men depart under the cover of night, or at least to let the men march ahead. To their surprise, the guards stated that Master Yuan was resting and had forbidden any disturbance, refusing to report them. The three were filled with frustration but, powerless to act, they retreated in dismay.

The next morning, the force of over thirty-eight thousand set out for Shanhai Pass. They had only reached Zhongyousuo when scouts reported that the Later Jin army was in pursuit. Yuan Chonghuan hurriedly asked, "How many are there?"

The scout replied, "About five thousand. Based on their banners, it is the Bordered Red Banner."

Yuan Chonghuan felt relieved. "Come now! A mere five thousand Jiannu dare to pursue our thirty-eight thousand? Such a victory is delivered right to our doorstep! Officers, encamp here. We shall cut the Jiannu to pieces."

Zhao率jiao quickly stepped forward. "Master Yuan, it would be better to let the able-bodied men move ahead while we hold the rear, lest they disrupt our formation."

Yuan Chonghuan scolded him, "After fighting the Jiannu for so long at Shisan Mountain, how can you view them as mere civilians? With so many of us, surely seven men can kill one? Say no more."

Li Chengxian and Lu Zhijia also tried to persuade Yuan Chonghuan to let the men leave, suggesting that only those with weapons and armor remain to assist the Ming army. Yuan Chonghuan refused to listen. "I have never heard of a case where a larger force could not defeat a smaller one. If you are afraid, you may leave; I shall hold this position alone."

Seeing the futility of the situation, Zhao率jiao suggested, "Master Yuan, not far ahead is the fortress of Heizhuangwo. Its walls are far superior to those of Zhongyousuo, and it is much more spacious. We should defend there instead."

Yuan Chonghuan replied, "Zhongyousuo is on the main road; it cannot be more dilapidated than Heizhuangwo. We stay here. Our numbers will deter the Jiannu from attacking, and they will eventually retreat."

Thus, the army entered Zhongyousuo. The walls had been heavily damaged during Xiong Tingbi’s previous withdrawal and offered no real defensive value; the low, crumbling foundations provided the soldiers only a false sense of security.

Uneasy, Zhao率jiao summoned two of his retainers and ordered them to ride quickly toward Shanhai Pass to report the situation to Commissioner Wang and request immediate reinforcements.

After his defeat, Li Yongfang had fled back to Guangning. The Later Jin were currently moving supplies from Guangning and the surrounding forts, and Yoto was stationed there with the Bordered Red Banner. Upon meeting, Li Yongfang exaggerated the size of the Ming force to over ten thousand, claiming they were well-armed and clad in fine armor, and that he had only escaped through a desperate struggle, during which Aqiushan was killed.

Yoto listened quietly before asking, "Were they troops from the Capital Battalion or the Shanhai Pass?"

Li Yongfang hesitated. "They should be troops from Shanhai Pass." Previously, Dudu had suffered heavy losses against the Capital Battalion, and the Later Jin’s estimation of that unit's combat power had soared. However, Li Yongfang knew Yoto would discover the truth once he caught up, so he dared not lie.

Yoto glanced at him and scoffed, "Since it is not the Capital Battalion, let us pursue. I will provide twelve niru, and you shall provide three thousand men. We depart after a meal."

The Later Jin army finally caught up to the Ming forces near Zhongyousuo. Seeing the Ming troops huddled within the ruined walls, Yoto burst into laughter. Li Yongfang obsequiously asked, "May I ask why the Beile is laughing?"

Yoto replied, "This Ming general is a curious one. Does he truly intend to hold such a wall? With so many civilians crammed inside, they are nothing but target practice for us. It is too funny—let me laugh a while longer."

Once finished, he issued orders. Fifteen hundred armored Later Jin cavalry and a thousand auxiliary troops dismounted, joining the Han army in two detachments—one to approach from the east and the other to circle the west to prevent escape.

As the Later Jin rearranged their formation, their lines were scattered. Zhao率jiao and Li Chengxian requested to lead a sortie, but Yuan Chonghuan refused without hesitation. "Wait until the Jiannu are closer. When they are within fifty paces, we shall all charge out together and secure a swift victory—would that not be glorious?"

When the Later Jin army stood about eighty paces from the walls, they halted and began to fire arrows. They used high-trajectory shots, and as the city was packed with people, every arrow found a target. Cries of agony erupted throughout the city. The able-bodied men were terrified; many began to wail and shout, and the morale of the army showed clear signs of collapse.

Desperate, Zhao率jiao requested permission to attack once more. Fearing the Jiannu might not enter his prescribed fifty-pace range, Yuan Chonghuan nodded and said, "Very well, lead two thousand men and attack."