“Keep it together, men!” barked Ah’Chung.
Two of the escort ships had been instantly decimated as the enemy’s rounds tore through the decks and bulkheads of the ship with great ease. The one nearest the Phoenix Spirit erupted into flames until multiple explosions sent the fiery remains descending beneath the waves.
“We have put some distance between us and that ship or we’ll be reduced to driftwood if we stay within its weapons’ range,” said Ah’Chung.
“We have a full battery of fire rockets ready to launch. We can ignite them from the stern,” Zhang Sunzan added.
“Broadside cannons prepare to return fire!” Ah’Chung barked at the men. Zhang Sunzan echoed the order. The heavy cannons off of the starboard were brought forward and aligned its sights toward the target. The men awaited the order as they gripped slow burning matches in their hands, ready to ignite the cannons’ fuses in the touchholes. “Hold… hold!” said one of the officers in the crew.
As soon as the cannons were aligned with the target, Ah’Chung shouted “Fiyaaaaar!!” with sword sword raised in his hand.
“Fire all! Let fly!” bellowed Zhang Sunzan. In the same moment, the touch holes were lit and eleven consecutive booms rocked the ship as the cannons fired away with tremendous force. Even the ship listed ever-so-slightly with the recoil. The remaining escort ship limping close behind fired four more iron shells toward the target. Every single shell but three found their targets, and shattered the iron armor plating of the enemy vessel. Several of the plates had bent and buckled or had otherwise fallen off from the heavy attack. Chunks and planks of smoldering wood erupted from its frame and scattered onto the waters around it. The ship rocked back and forth from the force but despite receiving grievous damage, it still continued to prepare a counter attack.
“I want full sail! Give me more speed!!” barked Ah’Chung who wanted to create distance between him and the enemy ship. The crew on the deck scrambled to hoist the sails to full extension, frantically pulling and securing ropes. The Phoenix Spirit pulled away as the full sails hauled the strong wind.
“Bring out the Fire Carts!” Zhang Sunzan ordered. Several men from beneath deck heaved two large artillery pieces shaped in the fashion of wheelbarrows. Upon the wheelbarrows were attached rectangular boxes filled with pipes, all of which contained rockets were strapped onto long arrow shafts. The rockets were also tipped with cone-shaped explosive warheads that could pierce and detonate upon impact.
Finally, before the enemy ship could launch another salvo, the Fire Carts’ fuses were lit, and within moments, launched one hundred fiery rocks propelled toward the enemy. The crew scurried away from the back blast as the rockets swooshed away. The headwind had caused a handful to fly completely off-course, but most made full contact onto the enemy vessel and exploded with great fiery display. The result sent shards of wood and metal flying in different directions, and before long, the crumbling ship was completely engulfed in flames.
The crew of both the surviving ships cheered and celebrated with the victory. The sounds of celebration however, drowned out distant booms. The enemy ship had fired away one last volley before succumbing to the sea. The spinning projectiles arced and rained a hailstorm upon the surviving escort ship, tearing through the thick hull and the decks as if they were naught but paper. The rest fell short of the Phoenix Spirit, except for one, which managed to crash onto the stern right above the rudder. Some of the men unfortunate enough to have been stationed there had either been impaled by wooden planks or stabbed with shrapnel. The escort ship, however, saw no such mercy as the projectiles shredded it to smithereens, committing chunks of wood and cannon deep to the depths of the sea.
“No!!” cried Zhang. He watched helplessly as the Ming warship broke in half while many of the sailors drowned. Survivors jumped and waded in the cold water, waiting for the battered Phoenix Spirit to could come about to rescue them. The crew could only watch in despair as the tallest of the ship’s masts slowly disappeared underneath the waves.
“If that is the extent of the Riben emperor’s naval capability then we must warn the Ming emperor,” said Ah’Chung. “Never before have I witnessed such powerful armaments in the field or at sea. It seems that we no longer have the technological advantage over the nation. I can’t even begin to imagine what the Terukk themselves will bring into battle.”
Zhang Sunzan was so grief-stricken that he could barely give a response. He leaned over the guard rails of the deck still in disbelief of their naval encounter. “I do not even want to think about what the Terukk will bring. That was just one ship, Ah’Chung. One! Heaven only knows what a whole armada of those can do. We were fortunate today, comrade. Three ships are a terrible, terrible cost for such a small victory.”
Ah’Chung simply nodded and sighed. He proceeded to assess the damage, to tend to the wounded… and the dead.
- -
The Academician that was sent to deliver the emperor’s message to the Da Yan Khan had returned to Beijing two weeks after he was dispatched to the Northern Yuan regions. He brought with him emissaries from the great Khan himself, and they sought an audience with the emperor. They stood within the square dressed in leather and wolf pelts and sported scimitars encased in ornate scabbards. Square quivers stuffed full of arrows and recurve bows were holstered firmly onto their hips and they were somewhat tense as they awaited the emperor. The permitting of their weapons was most irregular and ill-advised when foreigners were granted entry into the imperial palace… but such times were irregular. Present circumstances have relaxed the emperor’s stance on policy, to the chagrin of the court officials and Martial Scholars.
“I would like to respectfully remind you of the moving power of humility and meekness,” Famin Jie gently said to him.
“I will speak humbly, but they will see my sword in hand while I am speaking. However, the Da Yan Khan himself and those loyal to his leadership have thus far maintained volatile relations with the empire. He organized many of the Menggu under his command into a more civil and cooperative group and I feel they would be more willing to listen to our proposal for a formal alliance,” emperor Zhu Youcheng replied. Many court mandarins were wary or even opposed to working with the Menggu whom they had deemed as uncivilized and violent barbarians, forever sworn to be their enemies. The Martial Scholars and the eunuchs were far more supportive of forging alliances even with the Menggu and were willing to push aside centuries of animosity and distrust for the sake of their survival against the Terukk. This was no time to for grudges and pride. The Middle Kingdom could use as many allies it could get.
Putting aside court traditions and formalities, emperor Zhu Youcheng personally approached the Menggu emissaries and exchanged greetings on equal levels. The emissaries were surprised at the emperor’s humble and unexpected gesture but were more relaxed because of it.
“Come walk with me to the gardens so that we may discuss the matters at hand,” said emperor Zhu. A team of Academicians kept a close eye on the Menggu who were allowed to wear their weapons as they walked. The Menggu were a very tough and hardy folk, accustomed to the hardships of life living in the steppe. The faces of the delegates were tanned and parched, having been exposed to the extreme cold of winter and the glaring sun of summer for all their lives. They did not appear the slightest bit fatigued from their long journey from beyond the Great Wall. One need not mention that the grand majesty and magnificence of the imperial palace did very little to provoke their awe.
However, it was noteworthy that their skills with a horse and bow rivaled and probably even surpassed the Ming Empire’s very own elite cavalry units, but those within the Ming were usually too prideful to admit it. The Menggu came clad in their traditional pelts and leather which were wrapped around their robes and covered by heavy scale and lamellar armor. They moved with great strength and pride and the steely gaze of their narrow eyes dared to demand respect, despite the fact th
ey were mere guests in the Ming emperor’s massive, heavily guarded palace.
“The Great Khan was pleasantly surprised to have received your letter, emperor,” said the man who walked ahead of the group. He spoke with a deep voice and heavy accent but his ability to fluently speak the common language of the Han people was admirable. “I am Temur, chief advisor to the Great Khan. I have arrived on his behalf. He had wished to come meet you, but there is—how do you say—unrest in steppes of the North, and duty demanded that he remain there.”
“Temur? A name shared with the conqueror of the West of a hundred years past?” the emperor asked.
“Perhaps,” the Menggu warrior replied with a small shrug— a gesture difficult to do in armor.
“Well, then I welcome you to my court just the same, Temur. I respect Dayan Khan’s efforts to maintain stable relations with my empire, but now I confess that I require his aid. Between two leaders, I would like to ask his support in defending both our lands from the Pale Foreigners who have attempted to cunningly and strategically steal from right beneath my feet. I know our peoples have been at each other’s throats for centuries. But let me tell you this: the threat of the Pale Barbarians is larger and far more powerful than any one of us.”
“The Great Khan is aware of all that you have claimed to have transpired in your empire. It was told in your letter, after all. I am here because he has a message he wishes to be delivered personally. At the moment, he only wishes to aid you in defeating the Wild Nuzhen amassing outside Joseon. However, he has decided to wait on forging any sort of alliance. Taking sides would anger the victor of your conflict. Since the Wild Nuzhen is our traditional enemy, we will aid you in destroying them. We both benefit. Does his majesty agree?”
“The mighty Menggu tribes hesitate in choosing their own survival? If the Ming Empire falls, the Menggu nation falls. You must understand this. There is no victory for you if the Terukk succeed in their conquest of the Middle Kingdom,” said Emperor Zhu Youcheng.
“The Great Khan is wise. The Menggu will treat with the victor of your conflict, whether it is the Ming or the White Ones,” the warrior replied. “We are not ignorant to the ways of the world, majesty. We do receive news of the comings and goings of the world.”
“One does not simply treat with these snow-skinned Foreigners. They are not men like you or me. They will enslave you and your people, and on your own you will be powerless to resist them. Believe me, I have witnessed a small taste of their capability and with that alone I am terrified. But, do not mistake my troubles for a belief that the Menggu are weak, for if that were so I would have not requested to make a formal alliance. I have given you my word that I will renew and improve our peoples’ relations when we are victorious, and to put an end to a thousand years of animosity.”
“We understand your concerns, but the Great Khan has made his decision. For now our only interest is a discussion for our offensive against the Wild Nuzhen,” Temur said.
Emperor Zhu Youcheng massaged his face and sighed. “Okay, okay, very well. Just know this: If the Ming is victorious against the Terukk and you did naught but bear witness to our toils and losses from afar, we will consider your neutrality an act of war.”
“Let us cross that bridge when we have arrived,” Temur answered with his emotionless disposition.
The emperor was not going to simply settle for the Menggu neutrality, and he swore in his heart that he would try to convince Dayan Khan to formally forge an alliance with the Ming. He gathered the Martial Scholars, the ministers, and some generals from the Five Military Commissions to discuss their offensive against the Wild Nuzhen. In the Hall for Venerating Heaven, they stood before the throne, but the eyes of the palace were wary of the Menggu visitors. They were some among the Mandarins who were displeased with the presence of those whom they considered barbarians, but the emperor ignored their faint expressions of discomfort and decided to take whatever he could benefit from their mutual cooperation.
Martial Scholar Shang Jian reported on the current strategic situation concerning the Wild Nuzhen. “Reports from our contacts from abroad have arrived. Based on the reports from the army, the Martial Academicians, and our very own bureaucrats tell that the Wild Nuzhen have grown more aggressive in recent weeks. Their exploits in the north have become increasingly ambitious and have been left unanswered, seeing as our armies are being concentrated for defense and rearmament. This also means that we were unable to answer calls for aid from the tribes there. Unfortunately, this has resulted in their success in conquering and unifying their neighbors of the Haixi and Jianzhou clans. Their numbers have more than doubled since then.”
“What numbers can we expect to see in the battlefield?” asked the emperor.
“Majesty, with their combined fighting forces we can expect to encounter a staggering two hundred thousand in total. However, their forces are distributed over the expanses of the plains and we are to believe they have acquired batteries of cannons and other artillery pieces from Chaoxian. Strangely enough, the Nuzhen seem to be in wait. Their forces have assembled, but they’ve yet to strike decisively. It’s reasonable to assume that they’re waiting upon the Pale Foreigners.”
“The Great Khan can easily muster up a force to match their numbers in mere days,” said Temur. “Many of our riders can be summoned from the upper Ordos region and join together with your army. Together, this conflict need not be prolonged. The faster we can engage the Nuzhen, the higher the probability of victory will be.”
“There is other news, Imperial Majesty,” said Shang Jian. “The people of Chaoxian are suffering. Nay, they’re dying. The Wild Nuzhen rerouted much of the food and water for themselves, and in the past several weeks have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Every attempt to revolt or reclaim their kingdom has failed and has led to the deaths of thousands more. If we do not act swiftly with the Menggu, there will not be a Chaoxian left to liberate and ally with.”
Emperor Zhu Youcheng grew infuriated at the news. He slammed his fists unto his table and swiped away the papers, scrolls, and tablets that lay upon it. “Those savage bastards!!” he yelled. His voice echoed across the hall. “You must ride posthaste and send word to your Khan. In ten days we shall meet outside the Wall at the pass nearest to the capital.” He turned to the Martial Scholars and the Ministers present. “Have governor-general Jiliao assemble troops under his command to meet with us there from the Liaodong Garrison. Contact the imperial commander and tell him to get his officers and men prepared for the offensive immediately. Inform the governor generals Xuanda and Sanbian to have detachments from the Nine Border Districts get ready to assemble and depart with us in ten days. We will meet the Nuzhen head-on and strike as lightning. Not even they will expect the fury we will bring to their ancestral lands.”
Temur and the other Menggu guests prepared to depart the following day satisfied knowing that the Ming Emperor had agreed to his own proposal on their terms. Emperor Zhu Youcheng could not help but see them as cowards for not choosing to fight the Terukk together. He was utterly disappointed after expecting that they would readily accept his proposal. Waiting to treat with the victor is potentially disastrous should they fail to repel the Terukk forces. He had no other choice but be satisfied with their temporary alliance to at least defeat the Wild Nuzhen.
“I did not expect such a decision from even the Menggu,” said Famin Jie. “I do pray that they will see the folly of standing idly while the Terukk wage war on our lands.” Famin Jie turned to console him. “Regardless of what happens, keep strong in your faith. There are no accidents.”
“I believe so as well. For now I wish to harness my thoughts solely for our offensive against the Wild Nuzhen,” said the emperor.
****
It was not long until Zhang Sunzan had returned from his overseas journey to Riben. He arrived at the Forbidden City with the Shogun’s tributary gifts. Zhang was pleased to deliver the
news of the Shogun’s eagerness to accept the Emperor’s proposal and it was most evident in his report in the court. “I bring great tidings from the Shogun, Imperial Majesty,” he said as he bowed and saluted lowly. “The commander-in-chief of Riben has gladly accepted our proposal for an alliance against the Terukk. He has confirmed our suspicions and prior information concerning their present political and military situation. Their king, along with a sizeable portion of their warrior aristocracy, has fallen to the enemy. As we speak they are maneuvering to seize complete control of the whole nation. Thus, Yoshitane seeks our aid.” He gestured for the Academicians to enter into the hall. They carried the Shogun’s tribute. “I present to you a token of Yoshitane’s gratitude. He bestows these tributary gifts.”
Emperor Zhu Youcheng managed to smile though his eyes watered with joy. “Thank you Martial Scholar. This was news I desperately needed to hear. Yoshitane shall have his aid, and he will have it immediately. I will send General He Jin and his entire commando unit to Riben. They should be more than a match for their warrior class.” He paused and stood from his throne, casting a soft glance at Zhang Sunzan. “Tell me, Scholar, how is Riben?”
“Majesty, Riben is a beautiful land of flowering culture and rich tradition… but it is also a very troubled land. Their situation is worse than we had first realized, and their conflict continues to escalate day after day. Enemies abound and even the shogun is beginning to feel the strains and pressures of the civil war. Our convoy was even attacked by a mercenary clan during our ride to the castle. We lost one of our Academicians and have brought him home for a proper burial.” He paused for a pensive moment. “I shall have to deliver the news to his parents myself. He was one of the most filial students I have known,” he lamented.
Clash of Alliances Page 20
