MLMD -Chapter 159 Yueto’s Threat

The silent night was devoid of moonlight. Only the Later Jin camp was ablaze with lights. Several thousand Later Jin soldiers were working together, dismantling tents, packing up their belongings, loading carts—openly putting on a show of withdrawing their army.

Such a large-scale operation naturally could not escape the eyes of the Ming night scouts lying in ambush outside the camp.

One scout stared wide-eyed at the bustling scene below the mountain and asked in shock, “Boss, what on earth is wrong with these Tatars? Have they gone mad? Pulling up camp so brazenly and with such fanfare—are they afraid we won’t notice?”

“What exactly are these Tatars up to?” Even the squad leader of the night scouts was unsure. He turned and ordered, “Monkey, your riding skills are the best. Go report to my lord at once—tell him the Tatars are retreating and ask him to make a decision quickly.”

“Yes, sir!”

Soon, the news reached Yue Yang’s ears.

“My lord, the Tatars really are running. What should we do now?” Inside Yue Yang’s main tent, Wu Chengfeng, Feng Xiaoming, and several other battalion commanders all turned their eyes toward him.

“If the Tatars had stayed obediently holed up in their camp, we might not have been able to do anything about them,” Yue Yang said, suddenly rising to his feet. “But now that Yueto is actually leaving, if we don’t see him off, wouldn’t that be wasting our reputation as gracious hosts? Issue the order: all troops except the supply camp, the artillery camp, and the wounded—assemble immediately. Let’s give these ‘brave warriors’ of the Bordered Red Banner a proper send-off.”

When Yue Yang said the word “brave warriors,” he deliberately emphasized it, causing everyone present to burst into laughter.

The Ming and Later Jin camps were actually no more than twenty li apart. After a little over an hour, Yue Yang and his men arrived at the Later Jin camp. But what they saw there left them stunned.

The Later Jin camp had already been packed up neatly. Several thousand Later Jin soldiers stood in perfectly ordered formations, silently facing the uninvited Ming army. Countless torches illuminated the surroundings as bright as day.

Yueto sat astride a black steed and shouted at the slowly advancing Ming troops, “I am Yueto, Beile of the Later Jin. May I ask which Ming general stands opposite me? Please state your honored name—Yueto would be greatly pleased!”

As Yueto’s voice fell, a general clad in gray-black armor slowly rode out from the Ming ranks. The armor he wore was no different from that of the surrounding soldiers, with nothing particularly distinctive about it. The only thing that set him apart was the resolute, unyielding aura he carried—something others lacked.

The man called out loudly, “I am Yue Yang, Mingwei General of the Great Ming, Defender of Yingzhou Prefecture in Shanxi, concurrently Northern Route Roaming Commander. I greet Beile Yueto. Beile Yueto has come from afar—if I, as the host, did not properly receive you, would that not be unworthy of your intentions?”

“Heh heh heh…” Yueto chuckled softly, a trace of admiration appearing in his eyes as he looked at Yue Yang in the distance. “General Yue is indeed a young hero. At such a tender age, you’ve already made me suffer two losses. Someone of such ability—I’ve never encountered before. With talents like yours, General Yue, why serve that benighted Zhu family? Why not submit to our Later Jin instead? My Great Khan thirsts for capable men. If you were to come over, titles of king or marquis would be no more than a trivial matter!”

“Hahahaha…”

Hearing Yueto’s words, Yue Yang burst into laughter, laughing so hard he nearly doubled over. Only after quite a while did he finally stop.

“Yueto, someone once said the same thing to me before. That person, however, probably won’t be saying such things ever again. Although you’re only the second, I’ll still tell you this: I, Yue Yang, am a man of the Great Ming. How could I ever submit to barbarians like you? As for your Aisin Gioro clan—back in the day, you were nothing more than a watchdog guarding the gates for our Great Ming. Now that the dog has grown up, it not only fails to repay its master, but even turns around to bite him. And now it even wants its former master to become its slave. Why don’t you take a piss and look at yourselves—are you worthy?”

“Impudent!”

The moment Yue Yang finished speaking, unrest erupted within the Later Jin ranks. Many Jurchens understood Chinese, and Yue Yang’s words had struck precisely at the wound they most wished to avoid.

From their sixth-generation ancestor Möngke Temür onward, the Aisin Gioro clan had received enfeoffments from the Ming dynasty. Yueto’s grandfather Juechang’an and father Taksi both served as Commanders of the Jianzhou Left Guard. His mother was from the Hitara clan, later honored as Empress Xuan of the Manifest Ancestor. His full brothers Shu’erhaci and Yarhaci, as well as a sister, had all received Ming titles. During his time in Fushun, Nurhaci had even been taken in by the Liaodong commander Li Chengliang and served as one of his attendants.

After Li Chengliang’s death, Nurhaci exploited Ming internal strife and seventeen years later unified most of the Jurchen tribes and northeastern Liaodong. In the third year of Tianming (1618), on the thirteenth day of the fourth month, he issued his proclamation against the Ming in Shengjing under the banner of the “Seven Grievances,” and led twenty thousand infantry and cavalry against the Ming. Only after nearly twenty years of struggle did the Later Jin reach its present strength.

This ironclad history could not be erased—but it was a thorn lodged deep in the hearts of the Jurchens. No matter how much they tried, they could not wipe away that past. Though Nurhaci and Hong Taiji both worked hard to proclaim the valor and noble bloodlines of the Jurchens, the results were limited. Most Jurchens knew perfectly well that their ancestors had once been Ming vassals.

And sometimes, the most hurtful words are simply the truth. Thus, the moment Yue Yang spoke, the previously calm Jurchens across the way erupted into agitation.

“Damn Han dog—how dare he insult our Jurchen warriors!”

“Kill this Han dog!”

“Kill this Han dog who dares insult our Jurchen warriors!”

The Jurchens, who had moments ago been calmly observing Yue Yang and his men, were now furious, shouting and clamoring to charge forward.

Among them, only Yueto and a handful of others remained composed. Yueto raised a hand, then looked coldly at Yue Yang and said, “What a sharp-tongued little brat. I originally saw your talent and wished to recruit you for the Great Khan. Who would have thought you’d be so ungrateful? Very well—let us part ways here today. The next time we meet will be the day of your death!”

“Leave?” Yue Yang snorted coldly. “Do you really think you can still leave?”

“Hahahaha… You really think that just because you burned our provisions, our army will collapse without a fight? You underestimate our Jurchen warriors far too much. Let me tell you this: if we want to go, no one can stop us. Take a look at this.”

With a cold laugh, Yueto waved his hand. The troops behind him parted, revealing rows upon rows of dark, densely packed figures.

Yue Yang focused his gaze and saw that behind the Later Jin army stood countless civilians—packed tightly together. They stood there with looks of despair on their faces, staring at the nearby armies. Many burst into loud sobs. Some tried to rush forward recklessly, only to be mercilessly cut down by Later Jin soldiers beside them.

At this sight, Yue Yang and the generals behind him were livid, their eyes nearly splitting as they cursed aloud.

Seeing everyone shouting in rage, Yueto merely smiled and said loudly, “Lord Yue, how do you like the great gift I’ve prepared for you? These are all civilians of your Great Ming. If they all die tonight because of you, I imagine your official career will come to an end as well, won’t it?”

Yue Yang closed his eyes. After a long while, he slowly opened them again. A chilling, soul-piercing coldness shone in his eyes, though his expression remained calm.

“Yueto, using innocent civilians to threaten me—don’t you find that despicable and vile?”

“Despicable?” Yueto threw back his head and laughed. “General Yue, what is despicable? What is vile? All I know is this: the victor is king, the loser a bandit. If I were to die here tonight, what use would nobility be? Let me tell you plainly—if you dare block our withdrawal tonight, I will slaughter every last one of these civilians. I’d like to see who would still dare stop my retreat!”

Judging from Yueto’s expression, no one doubted he meant it. If the Ming truly tried to block the Later Jin withdrawal, these civilians would indeed be massacred.

At that moment, everyone’s gaze fell upon Yue Yang. Sitting on his horse, Yue Yang took a deep breath, then waved his hand.

“Yueto, leave the civilians behind. I’ll allow your army to withdraw.”

“Hahahaha…”

Yueto burst into loud laughter, his voice brimming with triumph.

“General Yue truly deserves his reputation as a great man of his age—such a swift decision. I admire you. Rest assured, once daybreak comes, I’ll return all these civilians to you. For now, we take our leave!”

With that, Yueto led the Later Jin army in retreat.

As they withdrew, many Ming soldiers wore looks of deep frustration. They had finally encountered the Later Jin in retreat—at their weakest—and yet they could not seize the chance to strike a beaten enemy. It was unbearably stifling.

Staring at Yueto as he directed the withdrawal, Yue Yang shouted loudly, “Yueto, listen well! When I one day lead my great army into Liaodong, I hope you’ll remember what you said today. At that time, I will repay you properly!”

Yueto treated Yue Yang’s words as nothing more than a passing breeze. What he did not know was that Yue Yang’s words would truly come to pass many years later.

And so, Yueto led the Later Jin army away, and Yue Yang’s chance to strike a fleeing enemy came to nothing. At daybreak, tens of thousands of civilians were finally rescued by the Ming army.

The people were saved—but Yue Yang was troubled. So many mouths to feed: if the army’s provisions were shared with them, the military stores would soon be completely exhausted. Left with no choice, Yue Yang sent men to seek aid from the nearby city of Hunyuan.

Chapter 159: Yueto’s Threat

The silent night was devoid of even a trace of moonlight. Only the Later Jin encampment blazed with lights, as several thousand Later Jin soldiers worked together to dismantle their tents, pack up their belongings, and load them onto carts, putting on a very open and aboveboard display of withdrawing their army.

Such a large-scale movement naturally could not escape the eyes of the Ming scouts lying in ambush outside the camp.

One night scout stared dumbfounded at the bustling scene below the mountain and couldn’t help asking in astonishment, “Boss, what on earth is wrong with these Tatars? Have they all gone mad? Pulling up camp so blatantly and with such fanfare—are they afraid we won’t notice?”

“What are these Tatars really up to?” The squad leader of the scouts was also unsure. He turned his head and ordered, “Monkey, your riding skills are the best. Go report to the lord immediately. Tell him the Tatars are preparing to flee and ask him to make a quick decision.”

“Yes!”

Before long, the news reached Yue Yang.

“My lord, the Tatars really are going to run. What should we do now?” Inside Yue Yang’s main tent, Wu Chengfeng, Feng Xiaoming, and several other battalion commanders sitting beside him all turned their gazes toward him at once.

“If the Tatars had obediently holed up in their camp, there’d be nothing we could do to them,” Yue Yang said. “But now that Yueto is actually leaving, if we don’t see him off, wouldn’t that be a waste of our reputation for hospitality?” He sprang to his feet and declared loudly, “Pass the order to the entire army: except for the baggage camp, the artillery camp, and the wounded, all troops are to assemble. Let’s give these ‘brave warriors’ of the Bordered Red Banner a proper send-off.”

When Yue Yang said the word “brave warriors,” he deliberately emphasized it, causing everyone present to burst into laughter.

The Ming camp and the Later Jin camp were actually only about twenty li apart. Yue Yang and his men reached the Later Jin camp in a little over an hour. Yet when they arrived, they were met with a startling sight.

The Later Jin camp had already been tidied up neatly. Several thousand Later Jin soldiers stood in orderly formation, quietly watching the uninvited Ming army before them. Countless torches illuminated the surroundings brightly.

Yueto sat astride a black steed and shouted toward the slowly advancing Ming army, “I am Yueto, Beile of the Later Jin. May I ask which general commands the Ming forces opposite me? Please tell me your honored name—Yueto would be greatly honored!”

When Yueto finished speaking, a general clad in gray-black armor slowly emerged from the Ming ranks. The armor he wore was identical to that of the surrounding soldiers, with nothing particularly distinctive about it. The only thing that struck Yueto as different was the resolute aura this man exuded, one that others did not possess.

The man called out loudly, “I am Yue Yang, Defender of Yingzhou Prefecture in Shanxi and Northern Route Guerrilla Commander of the Great Ming, bearing the title of Mingwei General. Greetings to Beile Yueto. Since Beile Yueto has come from afar, if I, as the host, fail to properly entertain you, wouldn’t that be unworthy of your goodwill?”

“Heh heh heh…” Yueto chuckled softly, a hint of appreciation appearing in his eyes as he looked at Yue Yang in the distance. “General Yue truly is a youthful hero. So young, yet you’ve already made this Beile suffer two losses. I’ve never encountered someone so capable before. With such talent, why serve that benighted Zhu family? Why not submit to our Later Jin instead? Our Great Khan is eager for men of ability. If you come over, being enfeoffed as a prince or marquis would be nothing difficult at all!”

“Hahahaha…”

Hearing Yueto’s words, Yue Yang burst into laughter, laughing so hard he nearly doubled over. Only after a while did he stop.

“Yueto, someone once said the same thing to me before. Unfortunately for him, he probably won’t ever say such things again. You’re the second—but I still have to tell you this: I, Yue Yang, am a true man of this great land. How could I ever submit to barbarians like you? As for your Aisin Gioro clan, you were originally nothing more than a watchdog for our Great Ming. Now that the dog has grown up, it not only fails to repay its master, but turns around to bite him—and now it even wants its former master to become its slave. Why don’t you take a piss and look at yourselves in it? Are you worthy?”

“Impudent!”

The moment Yue Yang finished speaking, a disturbance erupted among the Later Jin ranks. Many Jurchens understood Chinese, and Yue Yang’s words struck directly at the sorest, most sensitive part of their hearts.

From their sixth-generation ancestor Menggetemu’er onward, the Aisin Gioro clan had received investiture from the Ming dynasty. Their grandfather Juechang’an and father Taksi both served as commanders of the Jianzhou Left Guard; their mother was Lady Hitara, later honored as Empress Xianzhuan; and his younger brothers Shurhaci and Yalhaci, as well as a sister, had all received Ming titles. During his time in Fushun, Nurhaci had even been adopted by the Liaodong commander Li Chengliang and served as his retainer.

Later, after Li Chengliang’s death, Nurhaci took advantage of the Ming dynasty’s internal strife and distraction to unify most of the Jurchen tribes and northeastern Liaodong over the course of seventeen years. Then, on April 13 of the third year of Tianming (1618), he proclaimed the “Seven Grievances” in Shengjing and launched an attack on the Ming with twenty thousand infantry and cavalry. Only after nearly twenty years of struggle did the Later Jin reach its present state.

This ironclad history could not be erased—but it was also a thorn in the hearts of the Jurchens. No matter how much they tried, they could not wipe away that past. Although both Nurhaci and Hong Taiji had worked hard to propagate tales of their bravery and noble bloodlines, the effect was limited. Most Jurchens still knew that their ancestors had once been vassals of the Great Ming.

And sometimes, the most hurtful words are simply the truth. Thus, the moment Yue Yang spoke, the previously calm Jurchens across from him erupted in agitation.

“Damn Han dog, how dare he insult our Jurchen warriors!”

“Kill this Han dog!”

“Kill this Han dog who dares insult our Jurchen warriors!”

The Jurchens, who had been calmly watching Yue Yang and his men, were now enraged, shouting and clamoring to charge forward.

Among them, only Yueto and a few others managed to remain calm. Yueto raised his hand and said coldly to Yue Yang, “What a sharp-tongued brat. This Beile originally thought you had real talent and wished to recruit you for the Great Khan. Who would have thought you’d be so ungrateful? Very well—let us part ways here today. The next time we meet will be the day of your death!”

“Leave? You think you can still leave?” Yue Yang snorted coldly.

“Hahahaha… Do you really think that just because you burned our grain, our army will collapse without a fight? You underestimate our Jurchen warriors. Let me tell you: if we want to leave, no one can stop us. Take a look—what do you think this is?”

With a cold laugh, Yueto waved his hand. The troops behind him parted, revealing rows upon rows of dark, densely packed figures. Yue Yang focused his gaze and saw that behind the Later Jin army stood countless civilians, packed tightly together. They stood there with looks of despair, staring at the army not far away. Many burst into loud sobs; some rushed forward in desperation, only to be mercilessly cut down by nearby Later Jin soldiers.

Seeing this scene, Yue Yang and the generals behind him were filled with rage, their eyes nearly splitting as they cursed aloud.

As everyone cursed furiously, Yueto merely laughed and declared loudly, “Lord Yue, how do you like the great gift I’ve prepared for you? These are all your Great Ming’s common people. If they all die tonight because of you, I imagine your official career will come to an end as well, won’t it?”

Yue Yang closed his eyes. After a long moment, he slowly opened them again. A chilling cold light shone in his eyes, though his expression remained calm. He said icily, “Yueto, using innocent civilians to threaten me—don’t you find that despicable and vile?”

“Despicable?” Yueto threw back his head and laughed. “General Yue, what is despicable? What is vile? This Beile only knows that the victor is king and the loser is a bandit. If I am to die here tonight, what use is nobility? Let me tell you plainly: if you dare stop my withdrawal tonight, I will slaughter all these civilians. I want to see who would still dare block my retreat then!”

Looking at Yueto’s expression, no one thought he was joking. If the Ming army truly tried to block the Later Jin withdrawal, they really would slaughter all those civilians.

At this moment, all eyes turned to Yue Yang. Sitting astride his horse, Yue Yang took a deep breath, then waved his hand. “Yueto, leave the civilians behind, and I will allow your army to withdraw.”

“Hahahaha…”

Yueto burst into triumphant laughter.

“General Yue truly lives up to his reputation as an outstanding figure of his age—such a quick decision. This Beile admires you. Rest assured, once dawn breaks, I will return all these civilians to you. For now, we take our leave!”

With that, Yueto led the Later Jin army in retreat.

Watching the withdrawing Later Jin troops, many Ming soldiers wore expressions of frustration. They had finally caught the enemy in retreat—at their weakest—yet they could not strike a fallen foe. It was an unbearably stifling feeling.

Gazing at Yueto as he directed the withdrawal, Yue Yang shouted loudly, “Yueto, listen well! When one day I lead a great army into Liaodong, I hope you will still remember what you said today. When that time comes, I will repay you properly!”

Yueto treated Yue Yang’s words as nothing more than a passing breeze in his ears. What he did not expect was that those words would truly come to pass many years later.

Thus, Yueto led the Later Jin army away, and Yue Yang’s plan to strike a retreating enemy came to nothing. At daybreak, tens of thousands of civilians were rescued by the Ming army.

The people had been saved—but Yue Yang was now troubled. With so many mouths to feed, if the army’s provisions were distributed to them, it wouldn’t be long before the military supplies were completely exhausted. Left with no other choice, Yue Yang had to dispatch men to seek aid from nearby Hunyuan City.