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Chapter 153 I'm Rich Now (Please Subscribe)
Lu Xuan did not intend to launch a full-scale attack; he only led his cavalry battalion into battle.
The Qing army wasn't stupid; they naturally noticed Lu Xuan's movements. Their main camp had over five thousand troops stationed there.
However, Lu Xuan and his men did not take a detour to directly attack the enemy's camp. Again, Lu Xuan didn't trust the Ming army behind him. If he charged straight in, the Ming troops behind him wouldn't be able to hold back the Qing troops on the battlefield. He would be surrounded and annihilated. Even if he was confident in his martial prowess, in a battlefield of tens of thousands, it was impossible for one person to turn the tide of battle. These soldiers, whom he had painstakingly trained, couldn't be wasted in this kind of battle.
Lu Xuan's target is the left wing. As long as the situation remains at a stalemate and doesn't collapse too quickly, that's enough. This war is destined not to be decided today. Lu Xuan only needs time. Give him enough time, and nothing will be an obstacle.
Lu Xuan's arrival instantly reversed the situation. Although Lu Xuan's cavalry was far from being a truly strong army, Lu Xuan himself was incredibly powerful. Given enough mobility, a cavalry battalion led by such a peerless general would be a veritable raging torrent.
The flanking attack immediately alarmed the Qing army, who dared not advance too far. This relieved the central artillery battalion. Then they witnessed a scene they would never forget. The cavalry regiment of several thousand men, like a sharp arrow, pierced through the Qing army's formation. The Tartars, who had almost overwhelmed the Ming army, were also instantly routed by this cavalry.
With Lu Xuan as the vanguard, the Ming army instantly broke into the Qing army's ranks. A chaotic battle erupted again. This time, Lu Xuan's army, the Ming army, and the Qing army were completely entangled.
Lu Xuan didn't engage in prolonged combat but headed straight for the large banner in the center of the Qing army's formation. The banner bearer realized Lu Xuan's intentions and spurred his horse to gallop, trying to evade Lu Xuan's pursuit. He was also quite helpless; that Han Chinese killed people like mowing grass. No one could withstand his blade, and he probably couldn't stop him.
But as the flag bearer, he couldn't possibly run away. If he did, the commander-in-chief would execute him the moment he returned. He could only grit his teeth and charge forward, hoping his teammates could hold off that killing machine.
Unfortunately, hope is beautiful, but reality is harsh. In less than ten breaths, Lu Xuan had already broken into his vicinity.
A dozen knights simultaneously abandoned their immediate enemies and surrounded Lu Xuan. At the same time, the cavalry around the standard-bearer raised their crossbows. It seemed like a trap, a trap specifically designed to lure Lu Xuan. However, upon seeing this, Lu Xuan merely frowned, but his movements didn't falter in the slightest. At this moment, stopping would only give the enemy an opening.
In the instant that a dozen knights surrounded and attacked, Lu Xuan suddenly made a jaw-dropping move. He actually stood up and jumped off his horse.
Jumping off a horse running at full speed is something no normal person would do. But Lu Xuan did it.
He rolled to the side on the ground, dodging a volley of arrows. Lu Xuan's body sprang out of the ground like a spring, even surpassing the speed of his warhorse in an instant. Before the cavalry could react, he burst out from the encirclement, his long sword slashing directly at the flag bearer's horse.
A huge horse's head soared into the air, accompanied by a tattered battle flag.
The moment the commander's flag fell, the situation changed dramatically. The Qing army's morale plummeted, and they instantly lost their will to attack. Lu Xuan did not lead his troops in pursuit, but simply watched quietly as the Qing army retreated back to their camp. In fact, at this point, if they had pressed their advantage, they could have achieved even greater results. But there was no need; he did not want the soldiers he had painstakingly trained to die in this battle.
After a battle, both sides had their victories and defeats, resulting in a draw. Lu Xuan had a feeling that this battle was likely over, as neither side really needed to continue fighting.
Lu Xuan did not return to the Ming army camp to discuss the war. It was clear he was not on their side. This deeply disappointed Li Rubai. He had witnessed the fighting strength of Lu Xuan and his army. If he had this army under his command, he might have harbored greater ambitions. But now, seeing that even twice the number of troops could not withstand the Qing army head-on, all of Li Rubai's hopes were extinguished.
When Lu Xuan returned to the camp, he was greeted by Zhao Jingzhong.
"My lord, there is something I need to report to you."
"Speak," Lu Xuan said, reaching out to let Ding Baiying remove his armor.
"Just now, while you were out fighting, I received a secret letter from the Ming army on the other side. They wanted me to lead my men to defect, promising many benefits."
"Do you want to go?"
"You jest, sir. Judging from the Ming army's utterly pathetic state, what future does such an army have? It is more in line with Jingzhong's wishes to follow you, sir."
"Is that so? Then let's leave it at that. This battle is probably almost over. If we don't attack, Li Rubai won't dare to launch a preemptive strike. The Qing army didn't gain any advantage just now, so they probably won't fight anymore. Remember, when you're cleaning up the battlefield later, keep your eyes wide open. Take as many resources as you can get."
"I understand."
The war unfolded much as Lu Xuan had anticipated. Amin would never risk everything to fight the Ming Dynasty here for Daishan's sake. With this winter's security secured, he didn't even want to fight this battle. After all, even if they won here, it would only mean conquering Liaodong. The Ming Dynasty still had thousands of miles of territory to maneuver around. But if the Qing Dynasty lost, they feared they would lose the entire country.
It's unclear how he persuaded Mangultai. The other side eventually agreed to withdraw, and the war came to an end in just a few days.
The victory was undoubtedly a resounding one; from any perspective, it was a victory among resounding victories. The emperor was captured alive, along with four princes. Over ten thousand enemies were killed—is this not a great victory?
As for who caused the defeat, it was undoubtedly the Ming army. Wasn't Lu Xuan also part of the Ming army in this campaign? Everyone selectively forgot about the fall of Tielingwei, the complete plundering of Chengcheng's reserves, and the capture of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians as slaves.
Everyone was just waiting to report their achievements and then sit back and wait for their rewards.
Oh right, the war merits are with Lu Xuan. To get those merits, they need to scrape together twelve million taels of silver. This means that not only can they not embezzle this year's pay and rations, but they'll also have to spend a fortune again. Everyone was unhappy, except for Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan had little interest in promotion; he was more interested in making money. He needed funds to build his own navy. The Qing army had been severely weakened by the war, and with the emperor gone, internal strife was inevitable. They wouldn't be able to catch their breath for at least a year or two. This gave him some time to focus on the coastal issues.
To get rich, controlling shipping is essential. He didn't have the time or the money before. Now, he has both.
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Chapter 154 This will dazzle your eyes (Please subscribe)
Shipbuilding is not something that can be accomplished in a day or two. Therefore, the most urgent task is to assemble an emergency fleet.
In the late Ming Dynasty, all maritime policies were essentially ineffective. Large merchant fleets and Japanese pirates monopolized almost all trade along the coast. Of course, these three roles were often intertwined.
Therefore, the first thing Lu Xuan had to do was to eliminate the pirates.
The most profitable business in the world is a monopoly. The prerequisite is that the right to monopolize is in one's own hands.
Ships suitable for use as warships were extremely difficult to acquire, and the major maritime powers had become aware of Lu Xuan's movements. They seized control of all ship sales. Even with money, Lu Xuan couldn't buy ships. Having monopolized maritime trade for years, how could they tolerate Lu Xuan's interference?
Meanwhile, the shipyard could not be built. Every time construction began, either workers would get into accidents or fires would break out at night. The struggle had escalated into open conflict. Coastal interest groups were almost openly confronting Lu Xuan.
Strangely enough, these people were incredibly audacious. They dared to directly confront Lu Xuan, a powerful general commanding tens of thousands of troops. But when Japanese pirates ravaged the coast, they cowered like sons.
This reminded Lu Xuan of a highly ironic anecdote from his past life: "He's the one who hurt you, so why are you pointing a gun at me?"
Because you're a good person!
Does being a good person mean having a gun pointed at your head?
"Zhao Jingzhong, you are now the commander of Jinzhou Garrison. I'm entrusting this matter to you. I don't care what means you use, the shipyard must be built smoothly, and the navy must begin recruitment now. If you encounter any obstacles, I grant you permission to use any means necessary!"
To reclaim dominance over the coast, a bloody battle is inevitable. The ruthless Zhao Jingzhong is the best candidate. Most of these coastal merchant guilds have complex vested interests in the court. This is the source of their confidence to oppose Lu Xuan. Unfortunately, they don't understand that Lu Xuan doesn't care about their backers. What he cares about, though he cannot voice it, certainly doesn't include them.