Chapter 77: Lessons to Be Learned from Battle

The soldiers of the garrison broke into mournful wails, while the burly man threw himself upon Lei the Tiger’s corpse, howling in grief. Gao Jie craned his neck to glance at Lei the Tiger’s body and whispered, “Seventeen are dead in the Banner Battalion, thirty-three wounded. We have fifteen wounded among our own, but thankfully, no deaths.”

Li Yi nodded. “And the garrison soldiers?”

With a sigh, Gao Jie replied quietly, “Including Lei the Tiger, seventy-five are dead, and nearly two hundred wounded. Inspector, of the garrison soldiers, less than two hundred are still able to fight.”

In a single battle, more than half of the garrison soldiers had been killed or wounded.

Though he had anticipated losses, Li Yi had not foreseen such heavy casualties. He had been the one to persuade them to stay—though soldiers are bound to defend their homeland, and these men had also stayed for silver, Li Yi still felt a deep ache in his heart.

“Go find Shi Kefa. Have him send the wounded to Mizhi County for treatment. Remember, find the best physicians and use the finest medicines. That includes the garrison soldiers,” Li Yi stressed.

Gao Jie nodded and hurried away.

At that moment, Li Guo and the others arrived, carrying buckets of hot water. Each bucket held a ladle, and everyone took turns drinking from it. When they reached Li Yi, Li Guo produced a water flask and offered it to him with a proud flourish.

Li Yi gave him a playful tap on the head and laughed. “You little rascal, you’re quite clever these days.”

He took a sip to moisten his parched throat.

Li Guo grinned and scratched his head. “Master, you wouldn’t let us from the Third Squad fight, but as long as we keep the supplies coming, we can still do our part.”

“Indeed, if not for you, my throat would be on fire by now,” Li Yi replied with a hearty laugh.

Li Guo straightened his back with pride. “That’s right.”

“Very well, you’ll be credited for your efforts after the battle. Now, go fetch Gao Honest and the others—I need to discuss our next move with them.”

Li Guo rushed off to find them.

Before long, Gao Honest, Gao Jie, Liu Zongmin, Liu Dayong, and Li Zicheng all gathered.

Currently, the militia in Ganquanli was under Gao Honest’s command. Gao Jie oversaw the archers and Banner Battalion, Liu Zongmin was in charge of the captured officers, Liu Dayong managed the garrison soldiers, and Li Zicheng was responsible for all archers.

The group gazed at the distant ranks of Tartar cavalry forming up, their expressions grave.

Liu Dayong, guilt-ridden, said, “The garrison suffered terribly, all my fault. If I hadn’t had them hold the line, so many wouldn’t have fallen to arrows.”

Gao Jie, once Liu Dayong’s superior, quickly came to his defense. “Inspector, you can’t blame Dayong. Who knew the Tartars would be so formidable? Their archery is damnably accurate.”

Li Yi’s voice was solemn. “I didn’t call you here to scold anyone. This is the first time any of us have fought a real battle—let alone against the Tartars. I want us to learn from this. Let’s review how we fought, where we fell short, and how we can do better next time.”

Everyone nodded, listening attentively to Li Yi’s words.

He pointed to Liu Dayong. “Dayong is right—the Tartar archers are deadly. So from now on, no one is to lean out and expose themselves in battle. Gao Honest did this well, always keeping his shield and blade men covering the spearmen and wolf-pole bearers.”

Gao Honest smiled. “I just happened to remember what our squad leader said: defense first before the attack. That’s how I thought up this clumsy method.”

Li Yi regarded him approvingly. Though Gao Honest appeared simple, he was shrewd and modest—a man who, given time, could well become a general in his own right.

He then turned to Liu Zongmin and smiled. “At the critical moment, Liu Zongmin led the officers in a charge at the Tartar rear, cutting off their assault and giving us the chance to clear them out. That’s a great contribution.”

Liu Zongmin, his armor tattered and spattered with blood, laughed heartily. “Don’t tease me, Captain. Luckily those officers are still men—when it comes to risking their lives, they can still be of use.”

“So long as they’re useful, don’t waste them. If those officials die, they’ll get a handsome reward—much more than us common folk ever will,” Li Yi said.

Liu Zongmin grinned. “If you say so, I’ll drive them to fight harder. But the chevaux-de-frise are useless now, and the Tartars are scaling the defenses. Shouldn’t we prepare more materials for holding the walls?”

“You’re right. If we had rolling logs and stones, we wouldn’t have to wait for the Tartars to climb up before striking.”

Li Yi immediately ordered Liu Dayong to lead the garrison soldiers in gathering timber and stones to use as rolling logs and boulders.

On the main road, the massed Tartar cavalry crowded along both sides for miles.

Banners fluttered, and countless captured commoners, wrists bound, sat on the ground like cattle and sheep, guarded by Tartar soldiers.

Not far off, the Tartars were cooking their meals over open fires, but their morale was low, the wild savagery of before now replaced by a chill and desolate silence.

On a patch of open ground, Batu Taiji sat on a fine woolen rug, drinking milk tea and eating mutton, his eyes like those of a wolf, fixed intently on the distant fortifications.

Once he had eaten his fill, he suddenly stood, picked up his whip, and strode toward his men, who were still shaken from the fight, lashing out in a frenzy.

The sharp cracks of the whip rang out, and the followers of Hairigu screamed in agony, several of them left with bloody welts across their faces, writhing in pain.

When Batu Taiji grew tired, he slumped back onto his rug and shouted, “Make all of Hairigu’s followers slaves, and send them to the front lines. When I return to the tribe, I’ll hang Hairigu’s wife and children.”

He had sent fifty armored warriors, a hundred half-armored men, and several hundred herders under Hairigu’s command to assault the Ming soldiers—only half survived and returned.

These were the troops he had painstakingly gathered. No matter how many Han slaves he captured in this raid, it would not make up for the loss.

His eyes burned with hatred and regret, cursing the Ming defenders at Sui Jin Town.

“Buyan, you are the most formidable general of the Uriankhai. I need your counsel,” Batu Taiji said, his expression twisted.

Standing nearby was a Mongol giant, lion-like in appearance. He bowed and replied, “Batu Taiji, if I were you, I would withdraw.”

“Withdraw? You think I can’t take this place?” Batu sprang up, striking Buyan across the face with his whip.

Blood welled from the split skin, but Buyan’s expression did not change. He merely raised a hand to wipe the blood away and turned a cold gaze on Batu.

Batu, for a moment, recoiled in fear, then, enraged and humiliated, jabbed a finger at a ragged group of captives. “Buyan, don’t forget you are my slave now—not the general of the Uriankhai. If you dare betray me, I’ll hang every last one of your kin!”

Buyan bowed his head once more.

Only then did Batu relax, settling back onto his rug. “Buyan, I am the descendant of the great Dayan Khan, an invincible warrior. I cannot be defeated by a handful of battered remnants. Understand?”

Buyan met Batu’s fierce glare and said in a low voice, “Batu Taiji, Mongols are invincible on horseback—not by scaling crude fortifications.”

“But the cowardly Ming dogs refuse to leave their defenses. What then?” Batu demanded.

Buyan’s gaze was as sharp as an eagle’s. He watched the fire beneath the milk tea simmering and murmured, “Then let the flames destroy all obstacles. When the fire dies, Mongol horses will run down the enemy, and Mongol arrows will slaughter them.”

Batu turned to the fire, then looked at the distant fortifications. Suddenly, he rose and laughed aloud. “Buyan, you are truly the Uriankhai’s greatest general. I will order fire to destroy the Ming’s works—but I want you to kill that demon general and bring me his head.”

Buyan nodded slightly and bowed low.