Chapter 26: Under the Veil of Night, a Strategy Against the Tatars!

The Northern Frontier!

The territory of the Jianzhou Tatars, home to the Blue Banner tribe.

Night had fallen.

Outside the encampment of the Blue Banner tribe, one could see many Tatar night patrols, clearly on guard against a sudden assault by the Great Ming.

Under the shroud of night, a cavalry unit quietly approached the tribe, though they moved with extreme caution and kept their distance.

"Garrison Commander."

"We just captured two tongues; they are night scouts from the tribe."

Liu Lei brought a group of personal guards, dragging two Tatars before Zhu Ying. Upon seeing Zhu Ying and the surrounding Ming soldiers, the two Tatars wore expressions of terror, though deep within their eyes flickered a hidden hatred.

"I ask, you answer," Zhu Ying said to the two Tatars forced to their knees.

"Kill us if you will."

"You damned Ming dogs, one day our tribe and the Great Yuan will trample your Ming nation into dust," one Tatar cursed furiously.

Zhu Ying could not be bothered to waste words.

He raised his hand, drawing the saber from his waist. With a crisp sound, blood sprayed as the Tatar’s head fell to the ground.

"Killed one Tatar foot soldier. Gained 20 points of Strength," a system prompt indicated.

"I ask, you answer," Zhu Ying turned to the remaining one.

"I... I will answer," the Tatar soldier stammered in panic.

"How many troops does this tribe have? What is the population?" Zhu Ying asked directly.

"The chieftain has been mobilizing troops for days. Our tribe now has... over thirty thousand soldiers. This territory serves as our tribe's pasture, with a population of nearly one hundred thousand, all scattered around the settlement," the soldier answered, trembling with the fear of death.

"What is your chieftain's next move? When will you strike at the Great Ming?" Zhu Ying continued.

"The chieftain ordered the tribe to focus entirely on defense and not to strike out on their own. As for the specific reasons... I do not know. But the Great Yuan has mobilized and will send reinforcements to support our tribe. That... that is all I know, My Lord..."

The soldier knelt on the ground, terrified. The next moment, with a sharp *clink*, Zhu Ying brought his blade down.

"Killed one Tatar foot soldier. Gained 20 points of Spirit," the prompt read.

Seeing Zhu Ying act with such decisiveness, the thousand-man commanders looked at him with awe. Such cold-blooded resolve seemed entirely out of place for someone of his age.

Of course, leaving no survivors was the right choice. The main army that had invaded the Northern Frontier had already headed toward Liaodong; only their five thousand men remained here. To leave survivors would be to disregard the lives of their own comrades.

"Gentlemen, what are your thoughts?" Zhu Ying sheathed his blade and looked at the five thousand-man commanders before him.

There was Wei Quan, whom he knew well, and three others he had just met: Li Tao, Zhuang Wei, and Luo Hua. As for the battalion Zhu Ying originally commanded, he had left Zhang Wu in temporary charge.

"Garrison Commander," Commander Li Tao said immediately. "In my opinion, our troops only need to patrol the outskirts of the Tatar territory to distract them. Once the mission of delaying them is complete, we can withdraw back to the Great Ming."

"Commander Li takes this too lightly," Zhang Wu interrupted, casting a mocking glance at Li Tao. "Our force has already penetrated over a hundred miles into the Northern Frontier. If it were as easy to return as you suggest, this mission would not be so perilous. Remaining here to wander is no different from seeking death. Do you truly believe the Tatars will sit idly by? Or that the Northern Yuan will not act?"

"Then what do you suggest?" Li Tao retorted with irritation. "We only have five thousand men. Do you expect us to actively attack the Tatar tribe?"

At that moment, Zhu Ying spoke: "Exactly. Being a sitting duck is not my style. An active assault is the only way."

"Garrison Commander," Li Tao protested, his face changing. "You heard the Tatar. This tribe has over thirty thousand troops. Even if our Ming cavalry is formidable, we cannot fight several times our number. To attack is to court death."

Zhu Ying looked at Li Tao but said nothing, waiting in silence. Feeling slighted, Li Tao grew indignant, yet he dared not lash out due to the hierarchy.

Just then, under the cover of night, a dozen cavalrymen returned.

"Report to the Garrison Commander," a scout leader said, stepping forward. "The situation in the Tatar tribe has been scouted."

"Well?" Zhu Ying asked.

"Although it is a large tribe, it is divided into five segments," the scout reported respectfully. "We are currently facing the southern section, which serves as a screen for the main tribe. There are also smaller guard tribes in the other three directions."

"It seems these barbarians have learned a thing or two about military strategy," Zhu Ying remarked with a hint of irony. "By placing four tribes in different directions, they ensure that if one is attacked, the others can quickly reinforce it to protect the center."

"Garrison Commander," Zhang Wu asked, "what is our next move?"

Zhu Ying turned to Li Tao. "Commander Li, since you are so eager to withdraw to Daining, I can grant your wish."

Li Tao frowned. "What does the Garrison Commander mean?"

"In one hour, you will lead your troops to harass the southern section. Create chaos, draw their attention, and ideally, lure them out to pursue you. If you complete this, and you wish to remain in the Northern Frontier, it will count as a meritorious deed. If you do not wish to stay, I will not hold you accountable for retreating from the front; your merits and faults will cancel each other out."

Zhu Ying’s voice was cold. Since Li Tao had no respect for him, he would not coddle him. If he wanted to retreat, he could—but he would earn no glory.

Li Tao stared at Zhu Ying for a long moment. "Is the Garrison Commander truly intent on leading the men to their deaths?"

"I am giving you a choice," Zhu Ying snapped. "Stay or withdraw?"

"Since the Garrison Commander says so," Li Tao replied immediately, "I will naturally choose to withdraw. I will not let my men die in vain."

"Did the other commanders hear that?" Zhu Ying looked at Luo Hua, Zhuang Wei, and the others. "I offer you the same choice. If you do not wish to stay, you may withdraw after the harassment. Those who stay will be rewarded with great glory upon our triumphant return."

"I swear to follow the Garrison Commander to the death," Wei Quan, Luo Hua, Zhang Wu, and Zhuang Wei said in unison.

"Very well." Zhu Ying nodded. He gave Li Tao a final, piercing look. "Li Tao, listen well: in one hour, you will harass the Tatar tribe. Should you defy orders or slacken in your duty, I will personally see that you pay the price."