Volume Two: With a Single Move, I Stir the Heavens 15. The Mandate of Heaven III

According to the agreement, there was to be an exchange of military reports between the mountain pass and the southern camp every morning and evening. Yet, halfway through the day, the report from the mountain pass still had not arrived, and every messenger and scout sent out from their side had vanished without a trace, like dumplings thrown to hungry dogs—gone for good.

Recalling the disturbances at the Red Turban fishing grounds and other places the previous night, Jin Depei grew uneasy. He sensed trouble looming. Climbing the watchtower, he saw that the rain had lessened, the oppressive clouds no longer blotting out the sky, and the outline of the twin cities stood out more clearly.

From his vantage, he could see the city walls winding like a ribbon, encircled by green hills and terraced fields, with slanting rain weaving a dense curtain. Several slender, towering structures rose within the city—no doubt temporary enemy towers or high platforms built for defense. Rivers snaked past the city, and to the west, the wilderness stretched until it met an unbroken line of mountains.

Three years before, when they had attacked the twin cities, he had crossed those mountains with the army. There was but a single path suitable for marching—just wide enough for a cart, flanked by dense woods that turned day into dusk. The entrance and exit of the pass were perilously narrow, opening out into a half-gourd-shaped valley, its sides sheer cliffs dozens of yards high, ancient trees growing thick and tall, blotting out the sun. The ground was tangled with vines and undergrowth, as dense as a net—truly the "Heavenly Prison" among the six deadly terrains of warfare.

A single man could hold the pass against a thousand; any force attempting a frontal assault would pay a terrible price. Fortunately, both the previous and the current captures of the pass had been aided by fortune. Last time, Li Zichun had been their informer, and those stationed at the pass were all their own men. This time, a great storm had shrouded their approach, and they struck by surprise. Even so, according to the mountain pass’ reports, casualties were heavy; with two thousand men, they had barely managed to wipe out the two hundred Red Turban defenders.

Because of this, although he outwardly agreed with Qing Qianxing’s suspicion that the Red Turbans might use the mountain route to reinforce Dingzhou, inwardly, he did not believe it. He doubted the Red Turbans could retake the pass so easily, and even if they did, they would be battered and broken—a ruined force. Even if they reached Dingzhou, what good would it do?

He was more inclined to think the Red Turbans would use the sea route.

The Red Turbans’ maneuvers the previous night seemed to confirm his judgment. But if their breakthrough was truly to be at the port, why had there been no word from the pass’s defenders?

A gust of cool wind scattered fine rain across the watchtower, dampening him from head to toe. Raindrops slid down his armor, beading on his face and bristling beard, but he was oblivious, his mind wholly absorbed in deciphering the enemy’s intentions.

The Red Turbans who attacked the southern camp last night were clearly a decoy. The purpose of such a feint was twofold: to cover the main force’s movements, or to bewilder the enemy, buying time. Suppose the Red Turbans’ aim was to shield the main force—then where was that force? At the fishing grounds? The pass? In the city?

Suppose their aim was simply to delay. Dingzhou had already been besieged for two days—what was there left to delay? They were the defenders, at a disadvantage, and should have been desperate to counterattack and break the siege. Jin Depei shook his head, about to dismiss this theory, when suddenly a thought struck him.

Harassing the southern camp, deploying troops along the riverbank, blocking north-south routes—could it be...? The more he considered it, the more plausible it seemed. He urgently summoned his personal guard and descended in a basket. Galloping at full speed, he rushed to the command tent.

Without waiting to be announced, he burst inside. A wave of heat struck him—the cold, damp ground had prompted a circle of braziers to be set along the tent’s edge.

“Commander!”

“What is it? Why the panic?” Qing Qianxing was bent over a map, but upon seeing Jin Depei’s haste, he frowned and raised his eyes. Inwardly, he thought, ‘Scholars make poor generals—they’re too easily rattled.’

Jin Depei wasted no time in explanation, quickly laying out his suspicions: “The Red Turbans’ actions last night were suspicious. Has it occurred to you, Commander, that perhaps our objective of interdicting without besieging has already succeeded? Under our heavy pressure, perhaps they have abandoned the city and fled?” His face was bright with hope.

Their encampment was set some twenty miles outside the city, blocking the roads but not encircling the city. This was partly due to insufficient troops, but also in hopes that the Red Turbans would see the futility of resistance and withdraw of their own accord. To seize the twin cities without a fight would be ideal.

The abruptness of his suggestion made Qing Qianxing immediately grasp the crux of the matter. “The messengers you sent to the pass have not returned?” he asked.

“Our men are missing, and nothing has come from the pass. Commander, the route has surely been cut by the Red Turbans! With communication severed, they have room to maneuver. Last night’s attack on our camp, I suspect, was just to buy time and cover their main force’s withdrawal from the city.”

Qing Qianxing stood, pacing a few steps. “When the Red Turban leader first arrived, he ignored the easy targets nearby and boldly led ten thousand men across the Yalu River, deep into barren lands, launching a surprise attack on the twin cities—a commander both brave and cunning. Though we hold the advantage now, the situation has not yet become desperate for him…” Reflecting on his assessment of the Red Turban general, he concluded firmly, “Such a man would never abandon the twin cities and Dingzhou so easily.”

Jin Depei conceded the point and asked, “What do you think, then?”

“You are correct that last night’s attack was a delaying action, but not to facilitate a retreat—instead, it was to prepare a counterattack. Did not our scouts report last night that a force of seven or eight hundred men had left the twin cities to reinforce the fishing grounds? Now that the north-south route is severed…” Qing Qianxing grunted, beckoning Jin Depei to study the map. “Look. If the Red Turbans are to counterattack and reinforce Dingzhou, they have only two routes: the pass or the riverbank. The reinforcements for the fishing grounds and the cutting off of the pass—one is real, one is a feint.”

“Which is the feint? Which is the real?” Jin Depei pressed.

Qing Qianxing pondered. “The fishing grounds appear to be the real move; the pass, seemingly the feint. But I believe the Red Turbans are inverting appearances—the true attack is at the pass, which they make seem weak and unguarded.”

Jin Depei was unconvinced. “The pass is treacherous…”

Qing Qianxing laughed. “Everyone thinks the pass is too perilous, and the riverbank the easier road. So ask yourself—which would you choose? This is not mere conjecture—I have facts. On the surface, it seems the Red Turbans are using the sea route, splitting into small groups to avoid detection. Yet if secrecy is the goal, why not evade our scouts entirely? Perhaps last night’s reported force was real, but those earlier sightings were certainly not.”

He sneered. “Their leader is shrewd enough—attacking our southern camp and reinforcing the fishing grounds with decoys to support the real attack at the pass.” Calculating the timing of the attacks, he concluded, “The main Red Turban force must have left the city last night, heading for the pass, around the same hour the feint attacked our camp.”

Jin Depei found no grounds to refute this reasoning. “The pass is formidable, as you know. The local troops may be weak, but two thousand men can easily defend it. Even the boldest Red Turban…”

Qing Qianxing did not argue further. The Red Turbans leaving the city was, to him, like a windfall. The prospect of seizing the twin cities, now likely empty, with five thousand men was tempting. But he dared not act rashly—he needed Jin Depei’s cooperation, and without firm intelligence, persuasion would be difficult.

He paced the tent, then summoned his personal guard: “Quickly send reliable messengers and scouts—one to the pass, one to the fishing grounds. Find out if there is any fighting at the pass, and the strength of the Red Turbans at the fishing grounds. If you cannot approach the pass, circle the city and count the troops within.”

The garrison of the twin cities, including the Goryeo camp, numbered just over two thousand.

Deng She was not concerned by the small number of defenders. When he had attacked the twin cities, there had been only a little over three thousand Goryeo troops, and they had held out for a full day and night. Though he now had even fewer men, and they were mixed with Goryeo soldiers, the enemy outside the southern camp was fewer than before—only half as many. By that calculation, he was confident they could hold out for at least three or four days.

And three or four days would be enough.

That morning, Wen Huaguo’s messenger reported that the battle at the pass was ongoing. The Goryeo troops were not strong, but the terrain was too treacherous for a frontal assault. Luo Guoqi had proposed selecting the most agile soldiers to circle behind the pass and create a disturbance, hoping to attack from both sides.

To Deng She, securing the pass and holding the city were the two key points. A failure at either would ruin everything.

He could not help but feel anxious, leaving his shelter several times that morning. He ordered a few hastily made catapults sent to the pass to aid Wen Huaguo’s assault.

Zuo Che’er, who had personally joined the attack on the enemy camp the previous night, was exhausted and had rested for two hours, now following Deng She. Seeing his commander’s worry, he tried to reassure him: “General, there’s no need to worry. Last night, when we attacked their camp, the Goryeo troops were mediocre at best. With their crossbows and catapults, they dared not leave their camp. They sent out a hundred or so cavalry, but only kept to the distance, firing arrows, without the courage to charge. Compared to Zhang Jujing’s and Shijia Bao’s Tartar troops, they are far inferior. If not for your strict orders, I could have broken them easily—maybe not overrun their camp, but certainly forced them into hiding.”

Deng She had already asked him about the details of the attack, the enemy’s response, their weaponry, and their morale. Smiling, he said, “Luo Tongzhi said that the Goryeo garrison in the northwest was already understrength. The king of Goryeo, fearing the Tartars’ retaliation, had conscripted Jeju islanders and outcasts to fill the ranks. Their loyalty is questionable, and poor combat is to be expected.”

“Is the general worried the Goryeo troops will see through our ruse and attack the city?”

Zuo Che’er was a trusted confidant. Deng She did wish to confide, to ease his burden, but held back at the last moment. If a ruler is not discreet, he loses his ministers; if a minister is not discreet, he loses himself; if plans are not kept secret, they are doomed to fail. Zuo Che’er’s rank was not high enough to be entrusted with such secrets.

He answered evasively, “As long as the pass holds, the Goryeo troops will not attack.”

“Then are you worried they’ll reinforce the pass?”

Zuo Che’er’s highest rank before becoming captain of the personal guard was only a squad leader; his strategic vision was limited. Deng She patiently explained: “With us holding the twin cities, the Goryeo troops will not dare to reinforce the pass rashly. Their formation is a long snake, but with our forces at the pass, the fishing grounds, and the city—three points in a line—we form a long snake as well.

“Their advantage is the terrain; they struck first and hold the initiative. Ours is the shield of the twin cities, separating the pass from the southern camp. If they attack the city, General Wen can keep a force at the pass and rush the rest to force the enemy into open battle.

“If they attack the pass, they must also guard against us sallying out of the city. The city is harder to blockade than the pass—it would take too many troops, which they lack. Or they could ignore the city and throw everything at the pass, but then we would strike from behind. Either way, as with an attack on the city, we can force them into open battle.

“And in open battle, though their numbers are greater, their morale and strength are weak, and they have few cavalry. We can exploit their weaknesses—they are not so foolish.”

“Then where does Goryeo’s strength lie?” Zuo Che’er, grateful for Deng She’s rescue, was eager to learn and help. He knew that if he improved, he might one day command his own army like Wen or Chen. So he used every opportunity to ask questions.

Deng She, though younger, had proven himself in several great battles.

“Their strengths are, first, familiarity with the terrain, fighting on home ground, with supplies and reinforcements easy to gather; second, they have catapults, crossbows, and siege equipment; third, their camps at the southern camp, Dingzhou, and the pass form a line, each supporting the other.”

The first could not be changed; the second could be countered, for example by forcing open battle; but the third was crucial—only by cutting off their mutual support could the twin cities survive.

He stood on the city wall for a while, watching as a dozen Goryeo scouts tried to cross from the west, only to be intercepted by Lu Qianshi’s cavalry. A few arrows were exchanged; the Red Turban riders were unscathed, while the Goryeo men fell from their horses and the rest fled in panic.

With no trees or houses to block the view, Deng She saw it all clearly. The Goryeo troops were indeed poor fighters, which gave him some peace of mind.

By midday, Wu Henian and Luo Lilang had organized the conscripts to bring cartloads of tiles, bricks, pot lids, and doors up the road. Deng She gathered the company captains, encouraged them, and ordered the supplies distributed along the battlements, tiles and bricks in separate piles, ready for the defense. Lacking enough shields, they used pot lids and doors in their place.

With wind and rain, torches and candles would not burn. Lanterns were hastily made and handed out for night use.

Wu Henian, following orders, pried a few ornamental rocks and boulders from the homes of the superintendent and Lee Sung-gye. Half were sent to the walls, half left at the gates to serve as barriers if the gates were lost. The other gates had already been blocked after Wen Huaguo’s force had left the city.

When Deng She had attacked the city, there had been boulders behind the gates, but he had been unconscious at the time and only learned later from Chen Hu’s report how much trouble it had caused.

The day passed in busy preparation, and as dusk fell, word came from Zhao Guo at the fishing grounds: “Two hours ago, a thousand Goryeo troops from the southern camp, together with the coastal force, attacked us at the fishing grounds. Following orders, I offered minimal resistance, then immediately withdrew, feigning a rout. The five hundred elderly and weak Goryeo conscripts under Deputy Commander Huang pretended to scatter in disarray.”

“Where is General Zhao now? Has he reassembled his men? Did the Goryeo troops pursue?”

“General Zhao retreated east for over thirty miles, and by the time I left, most of our troops had regrouped and hidden in the woods. The Goryeo gave chase for a while, but as we were prepared, they soon gave up.”

“Excellent.” The match was now halfway through, and he had, optimistically, managed to even the score after a poor opening. Deng She lightly touched the hilt of his saber—would the Goryeo act as he expected? The heavy burden on his shoulders shifted; hope mingled with anxiety in his heart.

“Avoid the woods; never panic in a crisis.” He silently recited Deng San’s maxims. Suddenly, he turned to Zuo Che’er: “Tonight, I must trouble you again. Take three hundred men and attack their camp three times. No real fighting—if they come out, you retreat; if they withdraw, you advance, make a racket, keep them sleepless. If you do this, you’ll have done a great deed.”

The attack on the Red Turbans at the fishing grounds had been ordered by Jin Depei, after receiving reports from the scouts, to prevent future trouble. With no cover of darkness and little concealment near the fishing grounds, the Red Turbans were easily exposed. Qing Qianxing was inclined to ignore them, but then thought it best to drive them off and ordered another sweep to burn all boats, fearing the fishermen might have hidden some. If they were to do it, it must be done thoroughly.

Qing Qianxing sat in his command tent, listening to Jin Depei’s report, and said slowly, “I have a great merit to bestow upon you, General. Would you accept it?”

Jin Depei was startled. “A great merit?”

“Didn’t the old and weak rescued from the fishing grounds say that the Red Turban army had all gone to the pass, leaving the twin cities empty with fewer than two thousand defenders? If we march our army to attack, we can achieve a great victory in a single day.”

“But, Commander… Our king’s orders and our duty are to coordinate with Commander Li—first to take Dingzhou, then the twin cities.”

Qing Qianxing slammed the table: “Take Dingzhou first? Did you not read today’s report? Last night we failed to attack, and nearly had our camp overrun. This morning’s assault cost us two more officers. Rely on him? Victory is nowhere in sight!” He softened his tone. “A general in the field cannot always obey orders. The treasury is strained to the breaking point—how long can it last? You know better than I.”

He was right. The southern coast was plagued by pirates; a long siege was not feasible.

Qing Qianxing analyzed further: “The Red Turbans had only five or six thousand men. To attack the pass and reinforce Dingzhou would take at least four or five thousand, leaving at most a thousand or so in the city—exactly as reported by those we rescued. With our superior weapons, we can storm the city—why worry? Besides, scouts report that the city’s towers are damaged and unrestored. Our chances of victory are even greater. Once the city falls and the enemy leader is taken, Dingzhou will be isolated, cut off from help—an easy conquest.”

“But wouldn’t the Red Turbans have thought of this?”

Qing Qianxing sneered, “They are hoping that our southern camp is too weak to attack, forgetting that their situation is now the reverse of what it was before. They are the invaders, we the defenders. With the imperial army approaching, the Goryeo in the city will be eager to switch sides. Their position is unstable—how can they defend it?”

That morning, Qing Qianxing’s prediction about the Red Turbans’ main attack had been proved correct. Jin Depei hesitated, but perhaps, this time, his judgment would be vindicated as well. Still uneasy, he asked, “Are you certain the Red Turban main force has gone to the pass? What if they are hiding outside the city, pretending it is empty to lure us into open battle?”

The land around the twin cities was open plain, with only a few small hills—nowhere to conceal thousands of men. Qing Qianxing chuckled, “If the Red Turbans are hiding, there is only one place.” He pointed to the map, and Jin Depei read the name: “The pass!”

“Exactly. The two thousand local troops are no match for my elite. They cannot stop the Red Turbans if they strike with all their might. Rabble and outcasts—no loss. But one thing—we must beware that after taking the pass, they pretend to reinforce Dingzhou and seem to vanish, but in fact are lying in wait. If we attack the city, they might turn and strike us from both sides.”

Jin Depei broke out in a cold sweat. “How should we respond?”

“When they enter the pass, we send scouts—if the pass is in Red Turban hands, we withdraw. If not, we take it. I don’t believe they have the strength to take the pass twice. Only then do we attack the city.”

Qing Qianxing’s plan was comprehensive. Jin Depei made up his mind. “When shall we attack?”

——

1. Provincial Divisions:

Goryeo’s highest local administrative units. Initially divided into ten provinces, later set as five provinces and two border regions. The five provinces were civil jurisdictions: Gyeongsang-do, Jeolla-do, Yanggwang-do, Seohae-do, and Gyoju-do; the two borders were military: North Border and East Border.

The twin cities were in the East Border.

Additionally, counties under direct royal control were classified as the Royal Environs (within 500 li of the capital, a term originating in the Tang dynasty).

There were also three capitals: the royal capital Gaegyeong (also called Songdo, Songgyong, or Kaegyong, birthplace of Goryeo’s founder), the Western Capital Pyongyang (also called Seodu, the old Goguryeo capital and Goryeo’s founder’s base), and the Southern Capital Hanyang (modern Seoul, elevated in 1010 when Khitans invaded and the king fled there).

Originally, there was also an Eastern Capital Gyeongju (the old Silla capital, called Dongdo or originally Geumju), which, before the Southern Capital was established, served as one of two auxiliary capitals with Pyongyang. After the Southern Capital was created, the three together were called the “Lesser Three Capitals.” In 1012, the title of capital was abolished.

This system of auxiliary capitals was modeled after China. The “lesser” refers to the comparison with the main capital.

2. Jeju:

That is, Jeju Island to the south of Goryeo, under Jeolla-do.