Chapter 46: Plans Have Changed, Haizhou Must Be Defended

Some sharp-witted individuals among the Han Chinese troops began to ponder. The Ming army's attack on Haizhou generally pointed to only two possibilities: either they came from Yaozhou via the Liaoxi Corridor, or they had captured Jinzhou, Fuzhou, and Gaizhou, and then advanced from Yaozhou. Regardless of which scenario it was, it indicated that the current situation was extremely unfavorable for Later Jin.

More importantly, the Ming army actually dared to engage Later Jin in open field combat. Since the Battle of Sarhū, it had been rare to see a Ming army willing to fight Later Jin in the open. Yet now, the Ming army not only dared to fight, but judging by the circumstances, they were bound to win. Furthermore, the Ming forces arriving now were entirely cavalry, meaning infantry would surely follow. This signified that Haizhou could no longer be held, and preparations had to be made early.

Generally speaking, people who surrender and become traitors to their own people are not necessarily born evil or inherently driven to oppose their own ethnicity. Perhaps they were forced into the enemy's ranks, or perhaps they joined willingly, or perhaps... They all shared a common trait: they had lost hope in the future of their country and nation. Lacking the fortitude to strengthen it through their own efforts during a period of national decline, they chose the simplest and easiest path available—submitting to the stronger side. While we may condemn them for treason, aligning with the strong is a human instinct against which little can be done.

Thus, when they realized that the strong were not actually all-powerful, and that their motherland and people were not entirely without hope, they naturally began to consider the future and destiny of themselves and their families. Could they abandon the dark and turn to the light?

The commander of the Han Chinese troops in Haizhou was Garrison Commander Chen Liyuan. He had surrendered to Later Jin after the Battle of Shenyang. At that time, Shenyang had already fallen to Later Jin, and as a garrison commander stationed in a fortress surrounding Shenyang, he had witnessed the ferocious methods of the Later Jin soldiers. Filled with despair in his heart, he had surrendered.

Now, he discovered that the soldiers of the Great Ming were not all the pushovers he once was, that there were troops this formidable, equipped with such devastating firearms. Only one question remained: how would the Great Ming treat these soldiers who had once betrayed them?

Lu Xiangsheng resolved this dilemma for him. Seeing that the defeat of the Later Jin armored troops was already a foregone conclusion, he issued an order: "Shout the slogans."

Wang Chengmin, the commander of the First Cavalry Battalion and the man with the loudest voice in the cavalry camp, shouted at the top of his lungs upon hearing the command: "The Emperor has decreed that Han troops who surrender shall have their past misdeeds forgiven!" The other soldiers followed suit, roaring: "The Emperor has decreed that Han troops who surrender shall have their past misdeeds forgiven!"

This slogan completely shattered Chen Liyuan's remaining misgivings. With a single spear thrust, he pierced the skull of an armored Later Jin soldier who was locked in close combat with an imperial guardsman, and screamed at the top of his voice: "Brothers, we are rebelling!"

As the chief commander in Haizhou, he had treated his subordinates reasonably well during ordinary times—he neither heavily exploited them nor bullied the innocent—so his men held deep respect for him. Prompted by his cry, the majority of the Han troops immediately defected. Sensing that the situation was hopeless, the Later Jin armored soldiers turned to flee, but having been intermingled with the Han troops, they found themselves surrounded on all sides. Where could they possibly escape?

Before long, the Later Jin soldiers were nearly all slaughtered. A few fast runners fled toward Haizhou city, pursued by a swarm of Han soldiers eager to perform meritorious service to redeem their past sins. Long before reaching the city gates, the fugitives were torn apart by the crowd. Why use the word "torn apart"? Because everyone wanted proof that they had slain the Jianzhou Tartars. Some clutched a severed leg, others grasped an arm, while those holding a severed head naturally wore the most triumphant expressions.

Since the Later Jin armored troops had poured out in full force and the defenders inside the city were entirely Han soldiers, the city gates now stood wide open, welcoming the imperial guards into the city.

***

Lu Xiangsheng looked at Chen Liyuan, who was kneeling before him, and said, "General Chen, your Regional Commander Liu has already surrendered Fuzhou, Gaizhou, and Jinzhou. For you to surrender Haizhou is a tremendous contribution indeed."

Overjoyed, Chen Liyuan replied, "This humble man was momentarily blinded and surrendered to the Jianzhou Tartars. I only pray for a slight mitigation of my guilt; claiming credit is something I dare not do."

Feigning anger, Lu Xiangsheng said, "The Emperor stated that past misdeeds are forgiven, and forgiven they are. Your guilt was washed away the very moment you turned back to righteousness, and the imperial court will never let your achievements go unrecognized."

Delighted beyond measure, Chen Liyuan kowtowed and said, "Please, General, enter the city."

Lu Xiangsheng nodded and rode into Haizhou at the very front. Not daring to presume too much, Wang Chengmin followed closely behind, but once they passed through the city gates, he spurred his horse ahead of Lu Xiangsheng.

Lu Xiangsheng chuckled and said, "Have no fear. The Jianzhou Tartars have been completely annihilated in this battle. You need not worry about the Han troops; no one will be foolish enough to court death at a time like this."

Chen Liyuan, who had been trailing far behind, hurried forward a few steps upon entering the city and came up beside Lu Xiangsheng. "General, would you care to inspect the Haizhou official storehouses first?"

Lu Xiangsheng asked, "Weren't the storehouses of Haizhou emptied out by the Jianzhou Tartars?"

Chen Liyuan smiled and replied, "Even if the Jianzhou Tartars were willing to abandon the three prefectures of Jinzhou, Fuzhou, and Gaizhou, they could never abandon Haizhou. Haizhou is far too close to Anshan and Liaoyang—you can reach Anshan from here in a single day. Therefore, they haven't been able to move much out of the storehouses."

When Lu Xiangsheng and his men arrived at the Haizhou storehouses, Chen Liyuan led someone forward to unlock the massive gates. As Lu Xiangsheng walked inside, he saw warehouse after warehouse filled to the brim with wheat, rice, and beans. There was even half a warehouse of copper coins, one warehouse of matchlocks and firearms, one warehouse of sabers and shields, and half a warehouse of iron armor.

Noticing Lu Xiangsheng's puzzled expression, Chen Liyuan stepped forward and explained, "The grain and provisions were collected in this year's harvest, while the weapons and armor are legacy items originally belonging to Haizhou. The Jianzhou Tartars never cared for firearms, so they have simply been left here to rust."

Lu Xiangsheng nodded, though he understood clearly in his heart that there would be absolute time constraints if they tried to evacuate the Liaodong refugees and transport all these supplies away simultaneously. It appeared the plan had to be altered: Haizhou could not be abandoned—at least, not until all these supplies were safely moved.

***

He called Wang Chengmin over and instructed, "Dispatch a few men to Gaizhou, have two bureaus of the artillery division sent here, and meanwhile order the Second Brigade to accelerate their movements. We are going to hold Haizhou to the death."

Wang Chengmin went off to make the arrangements. Turning back to Chen Liyuan, Lu Xiangsheng said, "General Chen, have your men secure the storehouses first, and then summon the local gentry so we can discuss our future course of action together."

Hearing the word "we," Chen Liyuan felt as though his bones were melting with delight, and he immediately issued the orders. Beckoning to him, Lu Xiangsheng added, "General Chen, lead me to inspect the city walls of Haizhou first."

The two men ascended the ramparts and patrolled the perimeter. To his great astonishment, Lu Xiangsheng found the city defenses of Haizhou completely intact, and he asked Chen Liyuan why this was the case.

Stammering, Chen Liyuan replied, "Back when the Jianzhou Tartars swept through like a bamboo split by a cleaver, Haizhou offered no resistance whatsoever and surrendered immediately."

Lu Xiangsheng let out a sigh and said no more. When the two returned to the Haizhou garrison office, Wang Chengmin was already waiting at the entrance. Chen Liyuan's subordinates had gathered the local gentry of good repute, who were now waiting for them inside the main hall of the garrison.

As soon as Lu Xiangsheng stepped through the threshold, everyone dropped to their knees and began kowtowing, crying out in unison: "We, the lost subjects of Liaodong, have longed for the arrival of the heavenly troops just as parched crop shoots yearn for sweet rain."