Chapter 85: Scurrying Like Flies and Dogs

Chapter 85: Scurrying Like Flies and Dogs

Yang Xin, carrying Zhao Shuaijiao, could be said to be using every ounce of his strength to sprint forward. Behind him were thousands upon thousands of troops and horses flooding the earth, and arrows that blotted out the sky.

Of course, he could not see them.

How could he have time to look back at that moment? All he did was run, like a maniac. He didn’t even have time to check how many arrows had struck Zhao Shuaijiao in his arms, nor how many arrows were stuck in his own back. He simply charged straight ahead like Forrest Gump on a football field. He didn’t even notice that the shoes on his feet had shattered from such fierce running. Barefoot, he continued his frantic dash.

On the city walls, there was a wave of mad roars.

This scene was too thrilling!

In front was Yang Xin in full sprint; behind, five thousand cavalry were in hot pursuit. It was as if he was racing against a tsunami-like wall of fury.

If caught, he would be engulfed in an instant.

No matter how skilled a fighter, he would be knocked down in a flash and trampled into mud by countless hooves. One man’s bravery was useless against such an army of thousands.

At that moment, everyone on the city walls was watching him, shouting encouragement. Even the Li Rubai brothers were no exception. In that moment, whether they liked him or not, as long as they stood on this side, they were all roaring for him. Meanwhile, the Jiannu behind him kept firing arrows. Even though aiming was nearly impossible from galloping horses, arrows fell like a rainstorm, constantly hitting him. However, because the distance never closed to within fifty meters, all these arrows lodged in the padded cloth armor on his back, making him look like a giant porcupine.

Zhao Shuaijiao was slightly better off.

After all, he was tucked under Yang Xin’s arm, his upper body shielded. Only his lower half—especially from behind—was exposed to the arrows raining down.

To be precise, his buttocks and legs.

But these too were soon covered in arrows.

Fortunately, the distance was only a little over two hundred meters.

In such a short sprint, Yang Xin would not lose to warhorses. Yes, he was carrying a burden while running, but the Jiannu horses were also carrying riders in a frantic gallop. Both sides maintained the distance. Then, amid the boiling roars from the walls, Yang Xin reached the moat in an instant and plunged headfirst into it without a pause.

In a blink, the chasing Jiannu cavalry arrived, even rushing into the river water in their inability to stop. At that moment, all weapons that could reach from the walls fired simultaneously. Amidst the sounds of guns and cannons, the pursuing Jiannu cavalry turned back.

Dozens of Ming soldiers quickly slid down ropes, using shields to cover Yang Xin and Zhao Shuaijiao as they climbed out of the water.

Immediately, two hanging baskets were lowered.

Yang Xin briskly climbed into one himself, while Zhao Shuaijiao was lifted into the other. Soldiers above turned the winches, and the two baskets—originally wolf-tooth rakes—slowly ascended. With arrows still falling occasionally, they soon reached the battlements and were hauled inside by the soldiers.

As soon as the baskets landed behind the parapet, Yang Xin tumbled out, exhausted.

In the neighboring basket, Zhao Shuaijiao, lying face down, slowly opened his eyes.

“I owe you my life!”

he said weakly.

“Repay me later!”

Yang Xin, equally weak, waved his hand dismissively.

He lay on his side for a while, leaning on the arrow shafts stuck in his back as he caught his breath. Then, quickly regaining some strength, he got up, took off his outer padded cloth armor, and casually threw it to Chen Yujie standing nearby. Immediately, he turned and leaned on the parapet to look at the Jiannu outside the city.

The latter had already withdrawn.

And that yellow canopy still stood there.

Wild Boar Skin sat silently on his horse. The two of them gazed at each other across three hundred meters…

“Fifty-two arrows!”

exclaimed Chen Yujie beside him.

The modified greatcoat-style padded armor that Yang Xin had been wearing actually had fifty-two arrows lodged in it. As he spoke, Chen also casually plucked three more arrows from the protective flap at the back of Yang Xin’s head. This time, however, it was much better than before. Because of the distance, none of these arrows had pierced the iron armor underneath. The effective armor-piercing range for bows and arrows was basically twenty to thirty meters. Beyond that, unless it was a specially made powerful bow, even if it pierced iron armor, it wouldn’t go deep. Although the Jiannu’s composite bows were among the best of ancient composite bows, they weren’t strong enough to shoot through a layer of padded cloth armor and then two more layers of wrought iron from over fifty meters away.

The arrows on Zhao Shuaijiao, who was lying nearby, had already been removed.

He had taken fewer.

In total, fifteen arrows had been pulled from him, all in his buttocks and legs. His left leg was already broken, but these arrows were not deep either, still within the range of flesh wounds.

“Bear with it!”

Yang Xin turned, took a bottle of alcohol, and said.

“Having escaped death twice, how could I fear a little pain!”

Zhao Shuaijiao declared proudly.

Then Yang Xin directly shoved an alcohol-soaked cotton swab into his wound…

“Aaaargh!”

Caught off guard, Zhao Shuaijiao let out a howl.

The soldiers around them made jeering sounds.

Several old women responsible for treatment were as ruthless as Yang Xin, using alcohol-soaked cotton swabs to poke into each wound to clean it. Poor Zhao Shuaijiao, not only covered in wounds, also had to endure their torment under the strong sting of alcohol. As a general-level officer, he had to receive the utmost medical care. This guy was already a Brigade General. His grand-uncle, Zhao Menglin, as the Deputy General of Shanhai Pass, had led reinforcements from Yansui to Liaodong and campaigned with Du Song. Zhao Shuaijiao, reinstated as a Brigade General after being previously dismissed, led the Zhao family’s Household Troops to follow. In the Battle of Sarhu, Zhao Menglin died in battle, but Zhao Shuaijiao broke out with his Household Troops.

“The Jiannu divided their forces to attack Changyong Fort. He Shixian crossed the river to rescue them. Then the Jiannu divided their forces again to attack Fengji Fort. He Shixian was pinned on the west bank of the Hun River and couldn’t split his forces. Military Commissioner Xiong ordered me to lead troops to rescue Fengji Fort.

I only had about a hundred of my own Household Troops.

The rest were Liaodong troops assigned by Military Commissioner Xiong. As a result, the five thousand men routed as soon as the battle started. My Household Troops and I were surrounded and couldn’t fight our way out. My horse fell, I injured my leg, and was captured by the Jiannu. Most of my Household Troops died fighting trying to save me. The few who were captured also died outside the city!”

Zhao Shuaijiao said.

After cleaning and bandaging his wounds, he seemed to have regained some spirit.

“What about Fengji Fort?”

Yang Xin asked.

“Still holding. Brigade General Li Bingcheng is defending it. The Jiannu only have a few thousand men; they can’t take it for now.”

Zhao Shuaijiao replied.

“So the Jiannu haven’t taken Fengji Fort or Changyong Fort. They only defeated your detached force sent to reinforce Fengji Fort. How is He Shixian faring?”

Yang Xin asked.

“Reports say he’s had quite some success. But he also doesn’t dare approach Shenyang. The truly capable elite troops under his command number less than two thousand. Adding those who aren’t as capable, they’re only barely holding against the five thousand cavalry Wild Boar Skin sent west. Also, Chahua’s son, Aobadaiqing, led ten thousand cavalry back. They’re currently roaming the north, supposedly urging Military Commissioner Xiong to give them the promised silver, but in reality, they’re watching. Dergele of the Yehe Tribe led three thousand cavalry and also reached Tieling, but similarly hasn’t attacked the Jiannu.”

Zhao Shuaijiao explained.

“Once the situation changes, everyone starts playing their own little games!”

Yang Xin sighed.

This was not surprising. The Yehe Tribe and Chahua were true allies, but their alliance with the Ming Army was forced by circumstances. The situation in Liaodong was essentially a three-way struggle. What they wanted was to maintain the old order. After Wild Boar Skin won at Sarhu, the order changed. The Yehe Tribe didn’t want to be destroyed; Chahua didn’t want to face Wild Boar Skin directly in the future, so they could only choose to cooperate with the Ming Army. But currently, it seemed Wild Boar Skin had already suffered a heavy defeat. Although he was still maintaining the attack on Shenyang, the heavy losses earlier had made him a de facto loser—his top minister dead, a famously fierce son dead, casualties combined likely nearing ten thousand soldiers.

What was that if not a heavy defeat?

Remember, his attack on Yehe City also caused heavy losses.

But if he continued to weaken, or even collapsed completely, that might not be good news for Chahua and Jin Taiji.

Was the Ming Army their friend?

Chahua’s second brother was killed by the Ming Army. There were almost annual clashes before. Before the Battle of Sarhu, Yang Gao specifically sent a Regional Military Commander, Li Guangrong, to Guangning to guard against him. And Jin Taiji’s father was actually killed by the Ming Army too. His father, Yang Ji Nu, and Boo Yanggu’s grandfather, Qing Jianu, once tried to annex other tribes, much like Wild Boar Skin now. They were lured by Li Chengliang to Zhenbei Pass, ambushed, and killed.

So Wild Boar Skin had to maintain a threat against the Great Ming.

That way, Chahua and Jin Taiji wouldn’t have to worry about the Ming Army dealing with them. Plus, they could use this to demand rewards from Wanli.

They also understood the game of “nurturing the enemy.”

Zhao Shuaijiao seemed to hesitate, wanting to say something.

The Li Rubai brothers, Chen Yujie, and others tactfully left. Yang Xin looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“You need to be careful too. Several Regional Military Commanders are very unhappy with you.”

Zhao Shuaijiao said.

“Huh? I haven’t offended them!”

Yang Xin exclaimed in surprise.

“But your military exploits are too dazzling, and you’re the one who drew the Jiannu here. People like Chai Guozhu never wanted to fight anymore. Chai Guozhu had already petitioned to retire due to age. Li Guangrong in Guangning too. They didn’t want to fight; they just wanted to pass their time in Liaodong, find an excuse to leave. But you forced them to fight desperately. Also, several civil officials in Liaoyang are very displeased. Yan Mingtai, Han Yuanshan, especially the Guangning Defense Circuit’s Wang Huazhen, are all unhappy with how much Xiong Tingbi indulges you. It’s said Wang Huazhen is going to impeach Xiong Tingbin because of this.”

Zhao Shuaijiao said.

“You weren’t very unhappy with me before either, were you?”

Yang Xin said with an innocent look.

“Heh heh!”

Zhao Shuaijiao could only chuckle.

Then Yang Xin chuckled too.

Clearly, by now, Yang Xin had become a public nuisance among Liaodong’s civil and military officials. It was his string of illustrious achievements that had slapped other commanders in the face. It was because of him that those who could have idled their time were forced to take up arms and face Wild Boar Skin on the battlefield. And it was also him who made those civil officials put down their wine cups and tremble watching the Jiannu gallop outside.

He was simply a scourge.

Before his arrival, everyone could comfortably idle their days, happily dividing up the millions in silver the court poured into Liaodong each year, watching Wild Boar Skin burn, kill, and loot outside. They could even secretly engage in smuggling for a share. When it came to “nurturing the enemy,” they were the true masters.

But his arrival ruined everything.

To be precise, it wasn’t just him. He merely gave these fellows an excuse to explode. The real scourge was Xiong Tingbi.