MLMD -Chapter 226 Collapse Like a Mountain

Bater was a general who had served the late Lindan Khan for many years. Although his military talent was not particularly outstanding, after so many battles, even if his talent was mediocre, he still understood certain things. The moment he heard the sound of hooves in the distance, he immediately realized that they were coming straight for him and his men. Reluctantly, he had to admit that this was exactly the weak point of the Ming army that they had been discussing earlier.

“Great Consort, Second Consort, quickly! Retreat toward the Ming army’s main formation, and remember—do not retreat directly toward their front!” Bater shouted at Namu Zhong and the others without a second thought.

Namu Zhong and the others were no fools. As soon as Bater called out, they immediately realized the danger they were in. Without wasting a word, Namu Zhong turned her horse toward the Ming army and began to flee.

No sooner had they turned their horses toward the Ming formation than a squad of armored Later Jin cavalry appeared in front of them. The cavalry shouted and charged in tight formation, catching the Mongol riders off guard. Many of the Mongols retreated in the direction of the Ming army along with Namu Zhong and the others, while some prepared to make a stand. Chaos erupted across the battlefield.

Haoge led over three thousand cavalrymen at the forefront. The thunderous sound of hooves filled his ears. Like the riders around him, he spurred his horse forward while letting out fierce, guttural shouts. These strange cries served two purposes: to steel their own courage and to intimidate the enemy.

Haoge was also full of frustration. Having just lost nearly a thousand elite Yellow Banner troops, he worried about how he would explain the losses to his father. Although his father was now the Great Khan, he could not appear too lenient, or the other uncles would take offense. He might not lose his head, but demotions and salary reductions were inevitable. Haoge didn’t care about the salary, but he deeply valued his newly granted princely title. Being defeated now would be a great humiliation. Finally having a chance to redeem himself, he would not let it slip away.

Before long, Haoge and his several thousand cavalry were less than a hundred paces from the Mongol riders.

“Loose arrows! Fire!”

A sparse volley of arrows shot toward Haoge and his men.

Haoge, who prided himself on his bravery, paid them no mind. Not only could he easily dodge them, but even if one struck him, his armor would stop it. He did not even remove the small round shield on his saddle. Head down, he pressed his horse forward at full speed. For a charging cavalryman, a hundred paces was nothing—it took only a few breaths to close the distance.

“Kill!”

Haoge swung a massive wolf-tooth club at the head of a Mongol rider. A sharp crack sounded, and the Mongol’s head split like a watermelon, blood and brains splattering everywhere. Because he was so close, Haoge’s rugged, broad face was covered in gore, making him look like a demon from the battlefield.

Perhaps frightened by his terrifying appearance, two Mongol riders who had intended to block him turned and fled, leaving their backs exposed. Haoge seized the opportunity, crushing both of their skulls with his twenty-pound club.

Haoge’s ferocity ignited the nearby Later Jin cavalry. They shouted praises for the prince and attacked the Mongols with abandon. Facing the ferocious assault, the Mongols quickly collapsed. They no longer bore the aura of Genghis Khan’s warriors; once they broke, they scattered completely. Four or five thousand Mongols were chased in disarray by Haoge and his three thousand men.

Unable to contain his excitement, Haoge shouted, “Good! Order Feiyangu to drive these Mongols toward the Ming army, but don’t chase them too far!”

“Yah!”

Under Haoge’s command, the Later Jin cavalry formed a wild goose formation, driving the fleeing Mongols toward the Ming lines like ducks.

“Idiots! Are all these Mongols useless? They can’t even withstand one charge from the Later Jin, yet they boast of being Genghis Khan’s descendants. Bah! If Genghis Khan saw this, he’d leap out of his coffin in anger!”

The Mongols’ collapse surprised Yue Yang. He had been waiting for the Later Jin to attack, but he did not expect them to swing around and strike the Mongols first. This turn of events caught him off guard.

“Sir! The Mongols are fleeing toward our formation! If they break through, they’ll disrupt our lines!” shouted Shunbao.

“These good-for-nothings!” Yue Yang cursed silently, but he knew this was not the moment for words. He turned to Shunbao: “Go to the rear and tell the Mongols to retreat to the wings. If they dare charge the center, order the soldiers to fire immediately—no hesitation. Understood?”

Yue Yang’s orders were strict, and Shunbao nodded gravely. The reason the Yingzhou army had been able to consistently defeat the Later Jin in the past was not due to superior skill or courage, but discipline and advanced firearms.

Once armed with mini muskets and in formation, the Yingzhou soldiers’ firepower was devastating. No matter how brave the enemy, they could not reach the lines without heavy losses. But now, if the fleeing Mongols disrupted the formation, the organized Yingzhou army would lose its advantage, and against the charging Later Jin cavalry, they would only face death.

As a general, Yue Yang had already considered rear defenses. No one wanted to be stabbed in the back mid-battle. Shunbao arrived at the rear lines and saw that two formations were already on guard, but one commanding officer hesitated about opening fire.

Seizing the moment, Shunbao shouted from the center: “By General Yue’s orders, do not let the Mongols break our formation! Fire immediately if they approach! Ready your guns!”

“Ready your guns!”

“Prepare…”

Shunbao’s authority ensured that even hesitant officers obeyed. Seeing the soldiers ready, he summoned several dozen men who could speak Mongolian to shout across the field:

“Do not charge the formation!”

“Anyone approaching the formation dies!”

The fleeing Mongols heard the warnings, which under normal circumstances would prevent them from attacking. Any army has the right to strike fleeing troops.

But theory and practice are different. As the saying goes, defeat falls like a mountain. The Mongols had been chased like rabbits, and their only thought was to flee into the Ming formation for protection. Though some heard the warnings, most had lost all rational thought. Their sole idea was safety within the Ming lines.

Of course, not all were panicked. Bater, among others, retained some clarity. Leading a few hundred riders with Namu Zhong and the other consorts, he arrived at the Ming formation. Seeing Mongols rushing blindly forward, unease surged within him. He shouted to Namu Zhong: “Great Consort, this way!” and led them toward the right wing of the Ming formation.

“Keep up!” Namu Zhong, decisive as ever, followed immediately, with the other consorts trailing in a disorderly line. Only Siqintu voiced mild discontent: “Why take such a big detour? Why not just run straight through?”

Just then, a voice beside her responded, “You can try, but I doubt you’d make it without being turned into minced meat.”

Siqintu turned to see it was Uyunna Consort, always contrary to her. Frowning, she faced forward and spurred her horse. After a while, the distant crackle of gunfire reached them…