Chapter 27: Zhu Ying's Purpose!

After issuing the command to Li Tao.

Zhu Ying directly led four thousand cavalry, moving silently toward the northern side of the Tartar tribe.

Clearly.

This time, Zhu Ying intended to employ a diversionary tactic.

To catch the Tartars completely off guard.

Time gradually passed!

Under the veil of night.

Aside from the chirping of insects and a strange, eerie howling of wolves.

The night seemed to have fallen into complete silence.

"Commander, after this operation, are we truly retreating back to Daning?"

The Vice Commander looked at Li Tao, his face etched with a sense of struggle.

"What? Do you also wish to go to your death like that Zhu Ying?" Li Tao glared at the Vice Commander.

"This..."

Both Vice Commanders looked at Li Tao, hesitating to speak.

"Since Zhu Ying wants to seek death, and even take those thousands of brothers to their deaths with him, then let him be."

"But I, Li Tao, will not lead my brothers to their deaths."

"He has already issued the command. As long as we harass this Tartar tribe and draw them out, our mission is complete."

"How much time has passed?" Li Tao asked in a heavy voice.

His words still carried a hint of mockery toward Zhu Ying.

To attack a Tartar tribe possessing tens of thousands of troops with only four thousand soldiers was nothing short of seeking suicide.

Li Tao's intention was naturally to protect himself and avoid a futile death.

"Reporting to the Commander."

"There is only one stick of incense left before the hour set by the Garrison Commander is up," the Vice Commander replied immediately.

"Good."

Li Tao nodded, staring intently at the foreign tribe in the distance.

"Once the hour arrives, act immediately."

"First, approach the Tartar tribe and harass them with arrows. The moment the Tartars react, retreat immediately," Li Tao commanded.

"Understood!" the two Vice Commanders replied instantly.

...

On the other side!

North of the Tartar Blue Banner tribe.

"Garrison Commander."

"The tribe ahead should be the northern Tartar settlement," Wei Quan said, pointing toward the tribe where faint lights were visible.

"The hour should be nearly up, right?" Zhu Ying asked.

"Only one stick of incense remains until the hour," Zhang Wu replied.

Hearing this!

Zhu Ying nodded, then turned to look at the various Commanders behind him and the thousands of Ming soldiers.

"Brothers."

"We stand in foreign lands, surrounded by peril."

"The Yuan Court eyes our Great Ming with predatory intent, and the foreign tribes harbor no intention of letting the heart of our Great Ming China perish."

"They wish to treat our Chinese people like ants to be trampled upon, just as the Yuan Court did when they ruled the Central Plains."

"The Tartars have gathered their forces, ready at any moment to cooperate with the Yuan Court to invade our Great Ming and slaughter our people."

"As soldiers of the Great Ming, we are the shield protecting our country and people! If we do not pin these Tartars down and prevent them from joining forces with the Yuan Court, the people of our borders will fall into a living hell."

"This battle is for the nation, and for the people! We must fight!"

"Brothers, are you willing to follow me to defend our homeland?" Zhu Ying turned to face all the soldiers.

His voice was not loud, but it carried an air of majesty, stability, and determination.

"We swear to follow the Garrison Commander to the death!"

The Commanders were also inspired by Zhu Ying. The four thousand soldiers did not speak, but everyone looked at Zhu Ying with eyes full of reverence; their meaning was unmistakable.

"When I was a Commander, I once said that on the battlefield, Zhu Ying would absolutely charge ahead of his brothers-in-arms. If anyone retreats, they shall be executed."

"Today is no different."

"Today's battle is a raid on their camp."

"In this battle, I shall lead. My personal guards will carry torches; all soldiers shall use the torches as signals to follow me in breaking through their camp."

"This battle is extremely perilous. If we break the camp, the Tartars' attention will be completely drawn to us, preventing them from reinforcing the Northern Yuan. If we fail, I, Zhu Ying, shall live and die with my brothers."

"Brothers, are you ready?"

Zhu Ying spoke in a deep voice, his right hand already gripping his fine steel saber.

"We swear to follow the Garrison Commander to the death!"

The Commanders and soldiers whispered in unison.

"Good."

"Check your arrows. Prepare to attack," Zhu Ying commanded solemnly.

"Garrison Commander."

"Weren't we supposed to wait for Li Tao to launch the first attack to draw the Tartars out?"

"Why is our army attacking first?" Wei Quan asked, puzzled.

The other Commanders also looked on with curiosity.

"If you were a Tartar and knew our main army was to the south, would you proactively leave your tribe to intercept them?" Zhu Ying gave a faint smile.

This single sentence.

Immediately made Wei Quan and the other Commanders realize his intent.

"If our army attacks, the foreigners will see it as mere harassment. But once Li Tao attacks from the south, the foreigners will surely believe our main force is attacking and will commit all their troops to defend the southern tribe."

"For our army, that will be our opportunity."

The Commanders understood instantly.

"Pass down the orders."

"Raid the camp and charge. There is no turning back. No soldier is to fall behind; charge all the way through! Once we break into the enemy tribe, set it ablaze and slaughter them. Regardless of whether they are men or women, kill them all," Zhu Ying commanded sternly.

"We obey your command!"

Several Commanders immediately responded, passing the orders to their Vice Commanders, then to the Centurions, until the command reached the ears of every single soldier.

"Tartars."

"Northern Yuan."

"Today is the first battle."

Zhu Ying gazed at the Tartar tribe ahead.

After glancing at the moon in the sky.

"Go."

Zhu Ying gave a low command.

He urged his warhorse forward, slowly approaching the foreign tribe.

Liu Lei led fifty personal guards following closely behind Zhu Ying.

Three Commanders.

One Acting Commander.

Eight Vice Commanders.

Leading their respective units, they first dispersed, following Zhu Ying as they approached the northern Tartar tribe.

Under the cover of night.

In the darkness illuminated only by faint moonlight.

Four thousand cavalry approached silently.

Compared to the southern tribe, which was full of vigilance with night patrols stationed outside, the northern tribe was far too relaxed.

The tribal perimeter was lined with dozens of watchtowers.

Many of the Tartars on duty in the watchtowers had already fallen asleep.

Only a few at the main gates were watching listlessly.

"Er Lin, are you asleep?"

"The Ming army isn't far from our tribe; how could I dare sleep?"

"Don't worry about that."

"If the Ming army attacks, they will attack the southern tribe. How could they possibly come to our north?"

"General Agunu has stationed a large force to defend the south. We are perfectly safe here."

"What if the Ming army bypasses them and—"

Two Tartar sentries in adjacent watchtowers were chatting.

Suddenly!

"Huh?"

One sentry looked toward the front of the tribe, seemingly seeing something. He rubbed his eyes. "Do you see something up ahead?"

"Are you seeing ghosts?"

"There's nothing there!"

"Haha!"

Several sentries began to laugh.

They looked toward the front.

Under the shroud of night.

It was indeed difficult to see anything.

But at that very moment!

"Kill!"

A low shout echoed at the main gate of the Tartar tribe.

Immediately following.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

The sound of several sharp arrows piercing the air rang out.

A single bow was drawn, but these arrows flew toward several different watchtowers.

The Tartar sentries who had just been laughing had no time to react.

*Puchi!*

In an instant, the arrows pierced their throats.

They died on the spot.

...

PS: Please keep reading, much appreciated.

(End of Chapter)