Chapter Two: The Battle of Songshan

The Jianzhou Tartars had fled, and the two armies met in triumphant union, the soldiers erupting in jubilant cheers.

A young martial general, tall and strikingly handsome, approached Wang Pu, surrounded by several dozen mounted guards. He clasped his hands in salute and said, "You must be General Wang Pu of Datong, I presume?"

Wang Pu hurriedly returned the gesture. "You do me too much honor, I am indeed Wang Pu."

The general smiled warmly. "I am Cao Bianjiao of Yutian, sent by Grand Coordinator Hong to provide reinforcement. Forgive my late arrival."

"Not at all," Wang Pu replied quickly. "General Cao, you arrived at the perfect moment. I am deeply grateful for your timely assistance."

"Come now," Cao Bianjiao replied carelessly, "We are both generals of the Great Ming, and it is only right that we support each other. There is no need for thanks between us."

Wang Pu said solemnly, "Regardless, it was thanks to General Cao's intervention that my Datong troops were spared from utter annihilation. I shall remember this favor and will find a way to repay it in the future."

"General Wang, you are too formal," replied Cao Bianjiao. Then, after a pause, he said, "The Jianzhou Tartars could return at any moment. This place is not safe for long. General Wang, please organize your men and follow me to Songshan; the Grand Coordinator is waiting for news inside the city."

Wang Pu turned to his deputy general, Zhao Wuzhu. "Zhao Wuzhu, quickly organize the troops and march toward Songshan."

"Yes, sir," Zhao Wuzhu replied and departed to carry out the order.

Wang Pu addressed Cao Bianjiao again, "General Cao, have all the armies assembled?"

Cao Bianjiao nodded. "With you here, General Wang, all eight garrison generals are present. Now, we only await a decisive battle with the Jianzhou Tartars."

"All present?"

"Indeed—over a hundred thousand troops have gathered outside Songshan."

Wang Pu's brow furrowed tightly.

In his previous life, Wang Pu had been a history enthusiast, especially fascinated by the wars of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.

[From what Wang Pu knew of Ming-Qing war history, Hong Chengchou had a real chance of winning the Battle of Songshan. It was only due to Emperor Chongzhen’s misguided orders that Hong was forced to abandon his strategy of gradual, fortified advance and, instead, recklessly committed his forces to a decisive engagement at Songshan—thus losing a battle which determined the fate of the Ming empire. The Jianzhou Tartars enjoyed a cavalry advantage; learning from Yang Hao's disastrous division of troops at Sarhu, Hong Chengchou ordered his 130,000 soldiers to remain tightly massed, denying the enemy the chance to defeat them in detail. Yet, he made another grave mistake: concentrating all his main forces outside Songshan and leaving the rear supply bases—Xingshan, Tashan, and the vital granary at Brush Mountain—unguarded. The enemy bypassed the Ming main force and seized Brush Mountain, cutting off the army’s grain supply and dooming them. Hong Chengchou, unwilling to retreat, sought a decisive battle, but among his eight major generals, six had their own private motives. That night, the cowardly Wang Pu fled first; Ma Ke of Shanhai Pass, Tang Tong of Miyun, and Wu Sangui of Ningyuan also deserted in turn. The Jianzhou Tartars pursued, and the Ming army collapsed.]

Thinking of this, Wang Pu could no longer restrain himself. He turned to his trusted retainer Xiao Qi and ordered, "Xiao Qi, ready my horse."

Xiao Qi did not dare to delay and hurriedly brought over Wang Pu's white steed.

Cao Bianjiao was startled. "General Wang, what are you doing?"

Wang Pu replied gravely, "General Cao, over a hundred thousand troops are assembled outside Songshan, but the rear strategic points—Xingshan, Tashan, and especially the granary at Brush Mountain—are poorly defended. If the Jianzhou Tartars uncover our weakness and send cavalry to seize Brush Mountain, our supply line would be cut, and the consequences unthinkable! I must hurry to Songshan and report this to the Grand Coordinator."

"Ah, you're right! If our supply line is severed, that would spell disaster," Cao Bianjiao’s face changed. "This is no small matter. I'll go with you."

Without delay, the two arranged for their deputy generals to lead the main force to Songshan, while they themselves, taking only a dozen guards, rode ahead at full speed.

■■■

Songshan City, the headquarters of the Grand Coordinator of Ji-Liao.

Inside, Hong Chengchou paced anxiously, glancing repeatedly toward the door. His trusted aide Tang Shijie had warmed and reheated a bowl of ginseng broth several times, but Hong had yet to take a sip.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Hong turned quickly, "Is General Cao back?"

"It is I," came the robust voice of Cao Bianjiao as he strode in.

Wang Pu followed, saluting. "Wang Pu reporting to the Grand Coordinator."

"At ease, at ease," Hong Chengchou said, waving his hand. "General Wang, what are your casualties?"

"Not too severe," Wang Pu replied, "thanks to General Cao’s timely reinforcements."

"Good, good," Hong Chengchou sighed in relief. "Now that all eight garrison generals are assembled, we have a slight advantage in numbers. It's time to let those Tartars taste the might of our border troops!"

Wang Pu glanced at Cao Bianjiao.

Cao understood and spoke, "Sir, there is something I must say."

"Speak freely," Hong Chengchou replied.

"Our supplies are all stored at Brush Mountain, but the area is weakly defended. Should the Tartars send light cavalry around Songshan to strike Brush Mountain, our supply line could be cut. That would be a grave situation. I believe we must send strong forces to protect the supplies at Brush Mountain."

"What?" Hong Chengchou was shocked. "If not for your reminder, I might have blundered into disaster! Someone, quickly!"

Tang Shijie entered. "What are your orders, sir?"

"Hurry," Hong Chengchou urged, "inform General Bai Guang'en of Jizhou to take five thousand elite troops and ride to Brush Mountain at once!"

"Sir, bad news!"

Before he finished, Deputy General Xia Chengde burst in with a blood-soaked soldier who collapsed, weeping, at Hong Chengchou’s feet. "Sir, Brush Mountain has fallen—the Tartars took all the grain and supplies. Inspector Zhang and the defenders were all killed... Wuwu..."

"What?" Hong Chengchou slumped into his chair, stunned.

Wang Pu sighed deeply. He had still been too late. The supplies at Brush Mountain had fallen to the Tartars. Without supplies, the Ming army had but one path—to fight a decisive battle. In theory, that was fine, but how many of the generals truly had the courage to stand and fight?

After a long silence, Hong Chengchou composed himself. "Tang Shijie, summon all the generals at once."

Tang Shijie departed to carry out the order.

Half an hour later, the various generals arrived. Bai Guang'en of Jizhou, stationed just outside Songshan, was first, followed by Wu Sangui of Ningyuan, Wang Tingchen of Ningqian, and Ma Ke of Shanhai Pass. Last came Tang Tong of Miyun and Li Fuming of Xuanfu, who were camped farther away. With Wang Pu and Cao Bianjiao, all eight were assembled.

All had heard the news of the loss at Brush Mountain on their way, and each wore a dejected, heavy expression. The atmosphere was tense as Hong Chengchou’s gaze swept over the eight men. He spoke in a low tone, "You all know of the loss at Brush Mountain and the supplies. I want to hear your opinions—what should we do next?"

Cao Bianjiao said, "Though we lost the supplies at Brush Mountain, we still have seven days’ rations. If we can defeat the Tartars within a week, all will be well."

Though young, Cao Bianjiao was a seasoned veteran. In the northwest, he had fought twenty-seven days without removing his armor, nearly destroying Li Zicheng’s rebel forces. As one of the main generals and a trusted confidant of Hong Chengchou, his words carried weight.

Bai Guang'en concurred, "General Cao is right. We have only one path: decisive battle!"

Wang Tingchen, Wu Sangui, and Ma Ke remained silent.

Tang Tong of Miyun could not restrain himself. "Grand Coordinator Hong, as the old saying goes, 'An army marches on its stomach.' Since we've lost our supplies, I believe we should retreat behind the passes, replenish our stores, and only then venture out for a decisive engagement. What say you all?"

Li Fuming of Xuanfu nodded. "General Tang's plan is most prudent."

Li Fuming then signaled to Wang Pu, hoping he would support him. As the generals of Xuanfu and Datong, both were considered outsiders to Hong Chengchou’s inner circle, so Li Fuming expected Wang Pu to side with him. But he was mistaken. The old, cowardly Wang Pu might have agreed, but this was no longer the same Wang Pu.

Wang Pu turned away, pretending not to notice.

No sooner had Li Fuming spoken than Cao Bianjiao retorted, "Retreat? Easier said than done! What if the Tartars pursue us? And if we retreat, what of Jinzhou City?"

Tang Tong dismissed this. "If they pursue, we’ll send an elite rearguard. As for Jinzhou, we’re in dire straits ourselves—how can we worry about others?"

"No!" Cao Bianjiao declared. "Retreat is not an option."

Tang Tong snorted and said nothing more.

Hong Chengchou’s gaze settled on Wu Sangui. "General Wu, your thoughts?"

Wu Sangui, though young, was valiant and capable. His family was a powerful clan in western Liaodong, with deep roots and many connections. General Zu Dashou of Jinzhou was his uncle, and Ma Ke of Shanhai Pass and Wang Tingchen of Ningqian his sworn brothers. If Wu Sangui supported a decisive battle, Ma Ke and Wang Tingchen would follow, leaving Tang Tong and Li Fuming isolated.

Wu Sangui saluted. "I await your orders, sir."

Hong Chengchou brightened. "Good. All of you, return to your camps and prepare your troops. Tomorrow, we fight to the death with the Tartars!"

"Yes, sir," the eight generals replied in unison and filed out.

Outside headquarters, Ma Ke and Wang Tingchen pulled Wu Sangui aside.

Ma Ke asked, "Elder Cousin, do you think we can win tomorrow’s battle?"

Wu Sangui shook his head. "No."

"Then why did you support it?" Wang Tingchen pressed.

Wu Sangui sighed, "Don’t you see? If we retreat now, Grand Coordinator Hong’s career is finished—do you think he would allow it? Since he’s set on a decisive battle, what good is our opposition?"

"Alas," Ma Ke sighed. "It seems the three of us and our five or six thousand men will be left for dead at Songshan."

"Not necessarily," Wu Sangui said quietly, glancing around. "In my view, Tang Tong and Li Fuming will slip away before the battle. When they flee, we’ll withdraw as well. If the court investigates later, we can say we were ordered to pursue the deserters."

Ma Ke hesitated. "Isn’t that a bit risky? If Grand Coordinator Hong returns to the capital and tells the emperor, we’ll be exposed."

A chill smile crossed Wu Sangui’s face. "Do you think Hong Chengchou will make it back alive?"

"Ah? Oh..." Ma Ke and Wang Tingchen started in surprise, then understood.

The emperor is ruthless with his officials, often executing those who lose battles. Since the troubles in Liaodong began, many high officials had been put to death. Xiong Tingbi was transferred away, and Yuan Chonghuan was executed by slow slicing. If Hong Chengchou died in battle at Songshan, he might be remembered as a loyal martyr. But if he fled behind the passes, his name would be ruined and he would surely die.

Meanwhile, Wang Pu...

As he left headquarters, Wang Pu several times considered warning Hong Chengchou to be wary of Tang Tong, Wu Sangui, Ma Ke, and Wang Tingchen—lest they desert. But in the end, Wang Pu did not dare. He had no evidence, and without evidence, it would be slander; why would Hong Chengchou believe him?

Moreover, Wang Pu, as General of Datong, was appointed through the influence of Chen Xinjia, the Minister of War, and thus was considered an outsider by Hong Chengchou. Wu Sangui, Ma Ke, and Wang Tingchen, on the other hand, were his trusted men. If Wang Pu denounced them, it would only backfire, and he might even be framed by them.

As soon as he left, his retainer Xiao Qi brought his horse and asked in a low voice, "General, is it true that Brush Mountain has fallen?"

Wang Pu mounted, replying in a low voice, "We’ll talk back at camp."

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