Baktan couldn't understand what was happening. His bravery was unparalleled in the Qing Dynasty. He had killed hundreds of Han Chinese on the battlefield. These weak Han Chinese were all easily defeated. But why was this person in front of him so strange? He hadn't even seen him swing his sword. In fact, when Baktan fell, he even saw Miyamoto's sword sheathed.
"You're fucking cheating! I didn't even see you make a move..." This was probably what Baktan was really thinking. However, since he couldn't speak Chinese and was in excruciating pain, he couldn't express himself clearly.
In reality, if you were to place him and Miyamoto Musashi on the battlefield simultaneously and compare their combat prowess, Miyamoto might not be much stronger. After all, warriors like him—tall, strong, heavily armored, and wielding heavy weapons—are the mainstream in battle formations. Miyamoto's swordsmanship emphasizes speed. On the battlefield, he can't wear heavy armor, and while his firepower is formidable, he's also quite fragile. He's simply not suited for large-scale battles.
However, if you put the two of them in a one-on-one fight, the title of Great Swordsman will instantly teach you a lesson.
The sounds of fighting outside the tent gradually subsided. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all sound ceased. Those lying in ambush outside were all skilled martial artists recruited by Lu Xuan. These men weren't good at large-scale battles, but they excelled at small-scale skirmishes, especially when caught off guard. They employed all sorts of strange and unusual martial arts techniques.
Two hundred Qing warriors hadn't even had time to react before they were bombarded with lime powder, poison powder, various hidden weapons, and traps. Then came a volley of crossbow fire. From beginning to end, they offered no effective resistance. In the world of martial arts, there are no rules.
The reason Baktan was let in was because he was afraid of accidentally killing him in a team fight. After all, Lu Xuan wanted him alive.
Upon receiving the news, Zhao Jingzhong rushed over. He was shocked to see the corpses scattered all over the ground.
"My lord, is this... an assassin?"
"Yes, about two hundred Tartars crossed the camp of 100,000 Ming soldiers and attacked my tent directly. This was truly an operation of extreme precision."
"My lord, there seems to be something fishy about this."
“Be bold, drop the ‘I’m afraid.’ I know you’re from the Eastern Depot, and your methods are far more sophisticated than those assassins in the army. I’m entrusting this matter to you. Before this guy dies, I want to know what I want to know.”
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Chapter 152 Ready to Make My Debut (Please Subscribe)
The Qing army retreated; they had come with great fanfare, but left silently. The Ming army did not pursue them. Both sides had their own agendas, and the night battle ended in a stalemate.
Zhao Jingzhong truly lived up to his reputation as a professional; in less than an hour, he achieved the result Lu Xuan wanted.
"So, it's said that Li Rubai secretly colluded with the enemy, bringing in these Tartars to use them as a tool to kill?"
"That's right, sir, but if this result isn't suitable, I can change it. Don't worry, no matter how it's changed, it will still be absolutely true."
Lu Xuan: "..." I feel like I'm playing the role of a major villain right now.
"No need to change it, just leave it as it is. Take that guy to Li Rubai's tent now and let him stir things up. Be careful to make a commotion, but don't make it too big."
"I understand."
When Li Rubai saw a crippled Tartar man roaring madly in front of his tent, demanding his help, his head nearly exploded. He knew what had happened last night, of course. He even knew who was behind it. He hadn't directly intervened, but in a sense, he had tacitly agreed.
There was no other way; Lu Xuan was putting too much pressure on them. As long as Lu Xuan lived, they could only play the role of a bunch of clowns. This group, afraid to act on their own, wanted to use the Tartars to get rid of Lu Xuan. Who knew Lu Xuan was also unruly? He used some unknown means to make the Tartars turn on them. Now Li Rubai was utterly disgraced, with no way to wash his face.
"General Lu, let's talk this out. We did make a mistake last night, but it doesn't have to be like this." Li Rubai, leading a group of generals, approached Lu Xuan. This made Lu Xuan chuckle.
"Actually, it's nothing serious. It's just that what happened last night made me realize that my official rank is still too low. Maybe I should offer Daishan himself to His Majesty and ask him to promote me or something."
Li Rubai: "......"
For Lu Xuan, the matter was both a big deal and a small one. On the one hand, he would practically rush over and kill those generals who wanted to use him as a tool to kill others. On the other hand, it was merely a matter of whether the benefits were sufficient. Having lived three lifetimes, Lu Xuan was often able to make more rational and long-term choices. For example, the current situation was actually quite simple to resolve.
Two words: More money.
Ten million taels of silver became twelve million taels. Lu Xuan responded that if there were any more assassins, he would definitely not break their legs. Instead, he would treat them to a good meal and then invite them back next time.
The Qing army's decapitation strike last night failed. Amin desperately didn't want to fight. The enemy had an army of 100,000, while his side only had a little over 40,000. Although he had faith in the Qing warriors, in his view, fighting the Ming army head-on was utterly pointless. The Han people outnumbered them, and next year they would again have an army of 100,000, but what about his Qing warriors? Every one who died was one less to be lost.
However, Mangultai kept urging him to send troops to rescue the emperor. Amin really didn't want to fall out with this brute; if he directly said no, the fool might just turn on him and kill him. Left with no other choice, Daishan could only muster his strength and lead his troops into battle.
Mangultai volunteered to be the vanguard. The battle erupted instantly.
This time, there were no schemes; both sides laid out their battle formations and clashed head-on. However, Lu Xuan's troops did not participate. In his words, "We've already fought a major battle, suffering heavy casualties; it's not advisable to continue." In reality, Lu Xuan was concerned that once he entered the battlefield, it was uncertain whether the Ming army behind him would attack him or the Qing army!
Li Rubai had no choice but to give up.
To be fair, most of the generals in Liaodong had solid basic skills. Their battle plan was generally sound. First, artillery bombarded the area, then muskets provided suppression. Infantry advanced in the center, with cavalry providing flank cover. It was a well-organized and largely flawless strategy. However, the artillery battalion's position was bombarded three times in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn…
Cannons exploding was a common occurrence for the Ming army. The generals didn't even flinch, and the artillerymen had no choice but to grit their teeth and risk their lives firing. With this kind of fighting mentality, it's no wonder that Li Zicheng, with only a group of laborers, was able to reach Beijing when he later raised an army.
Most of the soldiers defending the city probably hoped all the bigwigs in Beijing would die. They just couldn't have imagined that Li Zicheng, who rose to power, would be just as ruthless, perhaps even worse...
The sight of hundreds of thousands of troops clashing head-on was extremely shocking. Lu Xuan, along with his men, watched the battle from a high ground. In the distance, the Tartar cavalry was already engaged in combat with the Ming army's cavalry on both flanks.
Cavalry was always the elite force in feudal dynasties. Even the cavalry of the Ming Dynasty received far better treatment than ordinary soldiers; they were at least qualified soldiers. However, compared to the heavy cavalry of the Tartars, they were still far inferior. After the fall of Tielingwei, the Tartars obtained a large amount of armor from their warehouses, making the Qing army, which was already lacking in armor, almost fully armed.
A cavalry charge is an extremely brutal scene. In later films, such direct collisions are rarely depicted. Even when they are shown, they are usually replaced with shots of the two sides passing each other. But a real cavalry charge was an act of sheer suicidal risk.
Tens of thousands of soldiers running at high speed and colliding head-on, weaving and crisscrossing, is impossible. A more likely scenario is a sudden collision, resulting in men and horses falling to the ground. Therefore, in such a battle, the first rank of cavalry would essentially be doomed.
In a sense, the strength of a cavalryman lies in who can make the front rank of cavalrymen willingly and fearlessly die... (For this scene, you can refer to the Battle of the Bastards episode in Game of Thrones, which features what is arguably the most realistic cavalry clash seen on screen to date. Although it only lasts for a few shots, it's incredibly satisfying.)
"Sir, the left flank can't hold on any longer." Shen Lian and the others, each with a telescope in hand, stood beside Lu Xuan watching the battle.
Lu Xuan looked to the left flank and, sure enough, the cavalry on the left flank was already showing signs of collapse. Once the cavalry on the left flank broke apart, a huge gap would appear in the entire battle formation. The infantry battalion and the firearms battalion in the center would then face a direct charge from the enemy's heavy cavalry.
"Their firearms are too scattered. They cannot form a dense suppressive force and cannot withstand the cavalry charge."
The Ming generals of this era were still too rudimentary in their use of firearms. In fact, there was only one key to using firearms effectively at this time. Due to their weaknesses in rate of fire and lethality, they needed to be used in concentrated bursts. This was the only way to create a widespread attack and suppress agile cavalry. Before the Maxim gun, the only way to compensate for the low rate of fire was through sheer numbers.
The Ming army seemed to realize the crisis on their left flank. Orders continued to be sent back and forth, hoping the infantry regiments could fill the gaps. However, the chaotic battlefield made it impossible for orders to be transmitted quickly. The left flank was already in imminent danger.
After observing for a while, Lu Xuan knew that the situation was basically hopeless. At times like these, what was truly needed was a rapid response from the frontline officers. Relying on orders from the rear camps before the front lines could execute them would be futile. Looking at the increasingly dire situation of the Ming army, Lu Xuan sighed.
"I was too soft-hearted after all. Let the soldiers prepare."