Once Choi Yoon-deok decided to retreat, the senior staff officer immediately spoke.
“We need to tie down the Ming forces while our army withdraws.”
“That’s true.”
Choi Yoon-deok nodded at the senior staff officer’s point.
The Joseon forces currently stationed here numbered about 280,000. And according to reports, two rear divisions of 50,000 each were heading this way.
The problem was the 280,000 troops stationed here. Just dismantling the campsite and wire entanglements of the defensive line, and repacking the artillery batteries – which had shells and powder prepared for immediate firing – would take considerable time.
Additionally, the Joseon army faced the same problem as the advancing Ming forces – the inability to move hundreds of thousands of troops at once. Even completing preparations and withdrawing without rest would take at least seven days for all 280,000 troops to fall back.
“Hmm…”
After brief consideration, Choi Yoon-deok soon thought of an alternative.
“The cavalry will have to handle this.”
When Choi Yoon-deok mentioned the cavalry, all commanders at the meeting nodded.
Among all Joseon military branches, the cavalry best balanced firepower and mobility.
The cavalry could strike Ming forces and withdraw quickly and easily.
“While cavalry is ideal for mobility, wouldn’t adding more firepower be better for a stronger impact?”
When one commander suggested adding firepower after hearing Choi Yoon-deok’s decision, Choi Yoon-deok shook his head.
“That would slow them down too much. The terrain east of the Daling River is optimal for cavalry operations, so it’s best to entrust this to the cavalry alone.”
Thus, the cavalry remained to tie down Ming’s advance.
Once the operation was decided, the Joseon forces busily began packing. Meanwhile, Choi Yoon-deok separately gathered the cavalry commanders.
“I’m sorry to give you such a difficult task.”
When Choi Yoon-deok expressed his apology, the cavalry commanders all bowed their heads and replied.
“Not at all.”
“Rather, we’re grateful for the chance to run wild.”
“Indeed. We haven’t been able to properly maneuver because of the infantry, so this is a great opportunity.”
“Thank you.”
Thanking the cavalry commanders who still showed vigorous fighting spirit, Choi Yoon-deok opened his pouch.
“Tell me if you need anything.”
“If possible, please leave the wire entanglements without dismantling them.”
“The wire entanglements?”
“Yes.”
“And…”
After hearing the cavalry commanders’ supply requests starting with the wire entanglements, Choi Yoon-deok immediately nodded.
“It shall be done.”
***
From the next day, the cavalry began moving busily.
Lee Jing-ok, who volunteered to become overall cavalry commander, looked at the cavalry commanders with a fierce smile.
“Just waiting quietly doesn’t suit our temperament, does it?”
“Indeed not, sir.”
“Absolutely right, sir.”
“Then let’s divide into groups.”
Lee Jing-ok divided 18,000 of the 22,000 cavalry assigned to delaying operations into three groups.
“These three groups will take turns striking and withdrawing from the enemy each day as they advance here.”
“Six thousand won’t be enough to inflict serious damage, sir?”
“We don’t need killing blows. Just inflict small wounds and wear them down. Wasn’t this how the Jurchen used to do it?”
At Lee Jing-ok’s words, all the cavalry commanders showed savage smiles.
Even before the Reformation reforms, there had been frequent clashes between Joseon and the Jurchen.
Hit-and-run tactics were the main method Jurchen used against Joseon forces sent to suppress them.
Understanding Lee Jing-ok’s meaning perfectly, the cavalry commanders began properly employing the Jurchen methods.
***
“Joseon forces!”
“Joseon cavalry!”
“Joseon cavalry approaching!”
As Ming cavalry scouts returned looking haggard while shouting, the Ming vanguard soldiers began moving urgently.
“Shield bearers forward!”
“Archers step out!”
“Form defensive formation! Form defensive formation!”
Since their purpose was to wear down Joseon forces, most of Ming’s vanguard was armed with traditional cold weapons.
At the commanders’ orders, shield bearers rushed forward carrying shields to form the front line.
Neeeigh~
When horse neighing was heard in the distance, the shield bearers swallowed dry saliva while looking forward.
THUD THUD THUD THUD!
Soon after, they saw the Joseon cavalry charging forward, making the ground thunder.
“200 zhang! 200 zhang!”
“Hold! Hold! Don’t move carelessly!”
“Hold your positions!”
As soldiers called out gauging the distance to the Joseon cavalry, the shield bearers’ commanders shouted at their men to hold position.
“100 zhang!”
“100 zhang!”
When Joseon forces came within 100 zhang (about 300 meters), the commanders shouted to the shield bearers.
“Raise shields!”
“Raise shields!”
At the commanders’ orders, the shield bearers raised large wooden shields and hid behind them. Simultaneously, spearmen with long spears rushed behind the shield bearers and extended their spears. And archers positioned behind the shield bearers and spearmen nocked arrows and waited for the Joseon cavalry to enter range.
The Ming forces, having formed a solid defensive formation, stared tensely at the approaching Joseon cavalry.
Here, the Joseon cavalry employed a very brazen tactic.
The Joseon cavalry stopped at about 60 zhang (about 180 meters) from Ming’s defensive line and spread out in three horizontal ranks.
“What are they doing?”
“Damn! Just out of arrow range!”
The Joseon forces had stopped at a point just barely beyond Ming arrow range. Ming soldiers cursed while watching the Joseon cavalry stopped at this exquisite position.
“Damn it! If you’re coming, come quickly!”
“This is killing me!”
The Ming soldiers, maintaining high tension during the standoff, actually began hoping for the Joseon cavalry to charge as time passed.
Then, the lined-up Joseon cavalry simultaneously drew their rifles.
RATATATA!
“Argh!”
The front shield line collapsed under the simultaneous fire from the Joseon cavalry arranged in three ranks.
“Fill the gaps!”
“Fill the positions!”
New shield bearers soon filled the empty positions. The Joseon cavalry had been waiting for this moment and fired another volley.
The Ming commanders raged at the cunning Joseon attacks that fired volleys whenever collapsed shield lines were reformed.
“These cowards! Targeting only the shield bearers!”
“If you’re cavalry, charge properly like cavalry!”
But the Joseon cavalry had their reasons.
“We’re not the Tiger-Catching Gunners, how can we aim properly at this distance?”
“Yeah, that’s why shields make such great targets. Nice and big!”
Finally, after taking considerable losses from five volleys, Ming commanders went to their vanguard general.
“We’re just taking losses like this! We must charge!”
“No! We must wait longer! The moment we break formation to charge, they’ll charge!”
“Soldiers are dying now! Attack is the best defense!”
Listening to the commanders’ debate, the vanguard general made a decision with a hardened expression.
“Cavalry will lead the charge!”
“General!”
Though opposing commanders cried out in surprise, the vanguard general shook his head.
“Looking at the situation, those bastards never intended to charge from the start! We should have used our numerical advantage to attack aggressively when they first appeared! Though it’s quite late, we’ll drive them away with a charge!”
Following the vanguard general’s orders, one side of the defensive formation opened and Ming cavalry burst out, followed by large numbers of spearmen.
“Charge! Charge!”
“Waaaah!”
NEEEIGH!
As Ming cavalry advanced with battle cries, the spearmen also charged forward shouting.
When Ming’s charge began, Joseon forces turned their horses without looking back.
Mounted on horses overwhelmingly faster than those of Ming cavalry, the Joseon cavalry disappeared instantly, leaving the desperately charging Ming cavalry and soldiers to stop in place with dejected expressions.
***
The Joseon cavalry’s surprise attacks continued afterward.
“This is problematic…”
After receiving reports on yet another raid, Ming’s vanguard general muttered with a troubled expression.
For battles lasting no more than one time unit (about 2 hours), Ming forces couldn’t move for an entire day.
Consequently, their advance grew slower over time, and soldier morale plummeted.
To prevent this situation, they had mobilized all available cavalry for advance reconnaissance, but they only suffered heavy losses to Joseon cavalry counterattacks.
“So this is why Jurchen shudder just hearing about Joseon cavalry? As cunning, persistent, and fearsome as wolves.”
The vanguard general shuddered at the cunning tactics that abandoned frontal assault, and the Joseon cavalry’s persistent harassment.
“But a frontal approach is our only option…”
In the end, Ming’s vanguard had to continue advancing while taking endless losses to Joseon cavalry’s persistent attacks.
“Grrr! Just wait till we catch you bastards! We’ll skin you alive!”
“Argh! We’ll make you beg for death!”
While some soldiers ground their teeth at just hearing “Joseon forces” after being persistently harassed like this, even more soldiers expressed anxiety. These anxious soldiers fell into panic at the slightest suspicious stimulus.
***
After suffering these hit-and-run attacks from Joseon cavalry, Ming’s vanguard finally reached the Daling River almost 20 days later than initially expected.
“Joseon forces across the river! Joseon cavalry!”
“How many?”
“Maximum 30,000!”
“Any other Joseon forces visible?”
“None spotted!”
Hearing the scout’s report, the vanguard general immediately gathered his commanders.
“The Joseon forces have fled! Only those damned cavalry remain! We must strike before they escape too! We must catch them to avoid future trouble!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Prepare for river crossing!”
“Yes, sir!”
At the vanguard general’s orders, commanders and soldiers busily prepared to cross the river.
***
“Oh my?”
Lee Jing-ok, observing Ming’s river crossing preparations from across the Daling River, tilted his head.
“Since when are Tang soldiers, known as central troops, this diligent?”
The Ming soldiers’ movements visible through the telescope were unprecedentedly energetic.
Carefully observing these Ming soldier movements, Lee Jing-ok broke into a smirk.
“Hah! Their rage has really built up!”
Though he laughed softly, Lee Jing-ok’s face was serious.
Gathering the cavalry commanders, Lee Jing-ok informed them of Ming’s heightened rage and cautioned them.
“Don’t get careless, prepare thoroughly. They say a frost-bitten viper’s venom is the most dangerous.”
“Did we make them too angry?”
At a subordinate officer’s question, Lee Jing-ok shook his head.
“No, we need to anger them more. Make them so enraged they chase only us without looking around. Only then can we draw them into the trap.”
As they left Lee Jing-ok’s command tent after the meeting, one commander asked his colleague.
“But doesn’t a frost-bitten snake just lie there weakly?”
“Why would a snake be out until frost falls? It means it couldn’t prepare for hibernation, right? Wouldn’t it be desperate since it needs to fill its belly and hibernate quickly but can’t?”
“Ah!”