Moma Liangshan

Chapter 141 Battle of Jinzhou: The Liao Army's Initial Victory

Just as Wanyan Zhamu was surveying the Liao army's defensive line, several Jurchen cavalrymen suddenly appeared on a hillside a mile away. Wanyan Huonü quickly noticed the Liao army's movements and said, "There are some rats on the mountain. Should we catch them?" The rats Wanyan Huonü mentioned were naturally the Liao army's reconnaissance cavalrymen. Wanyan Zhamu shook her head and said, "From here to the mountain is uphill, and from the mountain to the city wall is downhill. We can't catch them!" Wanyan Huonü gritted her teeth and said, "A mere city wall can't stop the men of the Great Jin Kingdom!" Wanyan Zhamu shook her head and said, "We have already conquered ninety percent of the Liao Kingdom's Tokyo Road. A mere Jinzhou City cannot change the overall situation!" In Wanyan Huonü's view, Jinzhou City was like fat meat that was already in her mouth. Why wouldn't she take it? She said, "The Liao army is just making a last-ditch effort. As long as the general gives the order, this humble general will be at the forefront!" Wanyan Zhamu pondered for a moment and said, "Either don't fight, or fight it out!" Wanyan Huonü understood Wanyan Zhamu's intention and said: "General, do you intend to wait until the main army has regrouped before launching a full-scale attack?" Wanyan Zhamu nodded and said, "We know nothing about the situation inside Jinzhou City. A hasty attack would only increase casualties. Liaoyang Prefecture is already an empty city, making it impossible to collect provisions. However, the daily food and fodder needs of 50,000 troops are enormous. Therefore, we must fight a quick battle. Otherwise, committing too many troops to the eastern front will affect the battle situation in Shangjing, which is exactly what the Liao emperor wants to see!" Wanyan Huonu quickly realized the gravity of the situation and said, "This subordinate will immediately go and scout the terrain. As soon as the main army arrives, we will be able to attack the city immediately!" Wanyan Zhamu nodded and said, "This matter is entrusted to you!" Wanyan Huonu accepted the order and immediately left with her men.

On the city wall, the Shu princess looked at the Jin banners in the distance and said, "What's meant to happen will happen. Do you have the confidence to hold Jinzhou?" Xiao Shanbie was still resentful about abandoning Liaoyang Prefecture and said, "If you ask me, we should fight these rebels squarely in Liaoyang Prefecture! Now that we've retreated to Jinzhou, everyone in the army says we're cowards!" Gao Que immediately rebuked, "General Xiao, please watch your words!" Xiao Shanbie was indignant and retorted, "We Khitans don't have the habit of hiding!" The Shu princess's expression changed drastically, and she said, "Those who fight side by side are brothers, those who go through life and death together are comrades. Here, there are only our own people, no distinction between Khitans, Bohais, or Hans!" Gao Chang, always smooth-talking, quickly echoed, "They're all our brothers, don't let trivial matters ruin our harmony!" After saying that, he shielded Gao Que behind him.

The Shu princess looked at Li Cangbai and asked, "Does this army have any reinforcements?" Li Cangbai replied, "Scouts report that there are three thousand enemy troops each on the east and west sides." The Shu princess shook her head and said, "The Jurchens have at least fifty thousand troops gathered in Shenzhou, so why are only ten thousand here now?" Li Cangbai said, "These three enemy forces must have been searching for us all the way here; the main army should be arriving soon!" The Shu princess then asked, "Have you considered what would happen if the Jurchen army didn't come?" Xiao Shanbie didn't think much of it and immediately said, "If the Jurchens don't come, we'll fight back!" Gao Que suddenly understood the meaning behind the Shu princess's words and said, "If the Jurchen army doesn't attack Jinzhou, they will..." "They're very likely to attack Shangjing!" Princess Shu said with a worried expression, "My father sent me to Liaodong with only two requests: to defend Liaoyang Prefecture and to contain the Jurchen forces. Now that Liaoyang Prefecture is gone, I cannot stand idly by and watch the enemy forces in Liaodong attack Shangjing!" Gao Que hesitated for a long time before saying, "As long as Wang Hao can deliver the grain and weapons we need on time, with the current strength of Jinzhou's troops, relying on the Great Wall at the sea entrance, we should have a 70% chance of stopping the Jurchen attack. However, in open battle with the Jurchens, the chance of victory is probably less than 30%!" Princess Shu thought to herself, "Wang Hao, do you have a way to help me overcome this predicament?" At this moment, Princess Shu suddenly longed to see Wang Hao, the boy who was three years younger than her.

Two days later, Wanyan Digu and Wanyan Pucha's troops joined forces with Wanyan Zhamu. This time, ten thousand elite Jurchen soldiers had gathered beneath the city walls. Envious of Wanyan Zhamu's achievements, Wanyan Pucha and Wanyan Digu immediately demanded an attack. Wanyan Zhamu initially refused, but the two had already planned ahead, stating that both sides would attack the city, while Wanyan Zhamu's vanguard could remain to defend. Seeing the situation was irreversible, Wanyan Zhamu had no choice but to agree to their plan. However, because Wanyan Wulu had not yet arrived, Wanyan Digu and Wanyan Pucha then requested to split their forces into three groups, each attacking a section of the city wall. Wanyan Zhamu, having already reached her limit and deeming the two untrustworthy, angrily agreed to their battle plan. Thus, ten thousand Jurchen cavalry dismounted, carrying makeshift ladders, and began their assault on the nearly three-zhang-high (approximately 10 meters) high city wall. The defending Liao soldiers were completely stunned by the enemy's offensive tactics. Countless logs and stones rained down, killing nearly a thousand enemy soldiers in just half a day. The vast majority of the Jurchen soldiers who died were from the armies of Wanyan Pucha and Wanyan Digu, while Wanyan Zhamu's vanguard only suffered a few dozen casualties.

The Jurchen soldiers, returning dejected from their crushing defeat, were forced to gather once more in the face of the current situation. Everyone in the tent wore a somber expression. Seeing no one speak, Wanyan Zhamu said, "Although we suffered an initial defeat, we have ascertained the Liao army's situation. We only await General Wulu's reinforcements, and then we can seize the opportunity and capture Jinzhou in one fell swoop!" Seeing that Wanyan Zhamu did not pursue their mistakes, Wanyan Digu and Wanyan Pucha felt both relieved and ashamed. Wanyan Digu glanced at Wanyan Pucha and said, "It was our haste and impatience that led to this crushing defeat!" Wanyan Zhamu, mindful of the bigger picture, seized the opportunity and said, "Victory and defeat are common in war. As long as the Wanyan clan works together, what is there to fear in taking down the five capitals of Liao?" Wanyan Pucha and Wanyan Digu abruptly stood up and said, "When we attack Jinzhou again, we will follow General Zhamu's lead!" The Jurchens lived between the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River, and regardless of age or gender, they all adhered to the law of the jungle. Wanyan Zhamu earned the respect of Wanyan Digu and Wanyan Pucha with her strength, and from then on, she truly became the second-in-command of the 50,000-strong Eastern Route Jurchen army. The corpses of a thousand Jurchen soldiers beneath the city walls were the greatest inspiration to the Liao army. The Shu princess ordered a reward for the entire army, and for a time, everyone in Jinzhou was filled with high morale. However, just five days later, Wanyan Wulu personally led an army of 40,000 men to the city. Together with the original vanguard, the 50,000-strong Jurchen army formed a ten-mile-long encampment, confronting the Liao army on the city walls.