Everything was proceeding according to the original plan.
Tokugawa Ieyasu had not sensed anything unusual. In his perception, apart from the main body of a shadow warrior accompanying him, the other six shadow warriors had already taken their positions and infiltrated the Ming army.
A smile played on his lips. This was a perfect trap. The more Ming soldiers were drawn in, the easier it would be for them to be wiped out.
The cultivation of the Shadow Treading Technique was not easy. The manual in Tokugawa Ieyasu's possession, passed down from the Tang Dynasty, was merely a fragmented scroll. The period of Taira no Masakado was the Heian period, which coincided with the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the turbulent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era.
A large number of magical arts were learned by Japan from the Tang Dynasty. Abe no Seimei's "Kin'u Gyokuto Shū" was given to him by the Chinese cultivator Bōdō Shōnin. The Shadow Treading Technique, as one of the representatives of the esoteric arts among Tang Dynasty magic, was naturally also collected in Japan.
However, the method of appearance for each shadow god was different, and the fragmented scroll did not contain much information. It only recorded the summoning method for the most basic first shadow god, Yūgō. This involved nurturing ancient vessels, refining the Shadow Treading Gu, and then using the Gu to separate the shadow god Yūgō.
However, one of the most important and difficult steps was the refinement of this Shadow Treading Gu.
The fragmented scroll mentioned that it required the essence of all living beings as a guide. The essence of all living beings was not easily obtained and required specific magical arts for refinement. The refinement techniques had long been lost, but Tokugawa Ieyasu believed that similar refinement methods must have been passed down in China.
But he tried many methods without success. After repeatedly reviewing parts of the fragmented scroll, Tokugawa Ieyasu even concluded that the method for refining the essence of all living beings might not have been known to the owner of the scroll, and only ancient Tang Dynasty Chinese cultivators understood it.
Such a profound secret must have been due to sectarian differences.
It was said that Abe no Seimei had served Bōdō Shōnin diligently for three years to obtain "Kin'u Gyokuto Shū," working like an ox and horse, building houses, and carrying water, before finally acquiring the true secret manual.
Tokugawa Ieyasu could not help but sigh with regret, wishing he had been born eight hundred years earlier.
However, to obtain the fragmented scroll of Shadow Treading in Japan and preserve it during the chaotic Sengoku period was a stroke of luck. The Onmyōji declined, and many of their lineages almost broke. Among the four great schools of Onmyōji, three were noble families. The Harima school, which was the largest and most widespread among the common people, almost had its lineage broken due to the Sengoku period, with many magical arts lost.
Since there was no means to refine the essence of all living beings, the path of refining it into the Shadow Treading Gu was blocked. Thus, they had to resort to the oldest method: finding ancient artifacts to nurture their spirituality. Until they gained sentience and became Tsukumogami, they could then refine them into the Shadow Treading Gu and still separate shadow gods.
Seven shadow warriors. During Taira no Masakado's peak, he only had six shadow warriors. Tokugawa Ieyasu believed that his attainments in the Shadow Treading Technique at this time had completely surpassed the heights reached by his predecessors and entered a new realm.
"Lord Ieyasu, there is a battle report from the front lines..."
Tokugawa Ieyasu listened to his subordinates continuously reporting on the front-line battles. He was already aware of all these matters, as the shadow warriors would relay the news to him.
"As expected, the Ming army has fallen for the trap. Their army has entered the encirclement!"
"Looking at this route, they are heading directly for Ulsan!"
Tokugawa Ieyasu's face lit up with joy.
Ulsan was in the Japanese defense line, at the southernmost tip of Joseon. From Ulsan, two army corps would branch out to the east and west. If Ulsan was taken, it would mean the destruction of a reinforcement base. However, such a deep penetration was like a long spear; the spearhead might be very sharp, but the shaft was easily broken.
However, they had not penetrated deep enough. They needed to go deeper, much deeper...
...
Three days.
"The Ming army attacked Yeongcheon Castle, and our army suffered nearly ten thousand casualties."
"The front lines have suffered consecutive defeats!"
Tokugawa Ieyasu nodded with satisfaction:
"Everything is under control. The situation is excellent."
Then he burst into laughter.
Mōri Terumoto, Tōdō Takatora, and Kuroda Nagamasa also laughed heartily.
Question: Why is the Great General laughing?
Answer: I am laughing at the Ming army's lack of wisdom. They are now like fish in a net.
————
Ten days.
"The Ming army has captured Sangju Castle! Urgent!"
"Our army lost three thousand soldiers!"
Tokugawa Ieyasu laughed heartily, his voice filled with joy, as if all his worries had been swept away. He said to those around him:
"The Ming army is already in my grasp! Everything is proceeding according to plan."
"My shadow warriors have become high-ranking officials in the army. The Ming army's current movements are exactly as I instructed."
Mōri Terumoto, Tōdō Takatora, and Kuroda Nagamasa continued to laugh heartily.
Mōri Terumoto even praised: "Commanding one's own soldiers to fight is a lower-tier tactic. Commanding the enemy's soldiers to operate according to one's own strategy is a superior tactic!"
"The Great General's planning and strategy have reached a state of perfection!"
Tokugawa Ieyasu repeatedly expressed humility, saying he did not deserve such praise.
"Although the Ming army is advancing according to my arrangements, the final outcome depends on the next crucial defeat."
........
Twenty-five days.
"The Ming army has divided into two routes, the eastern route fiercely attacking Gongcheng, and the western route fiercely attacking Jinshan!"
"Our army has suffered consecutive losses! Over twelve thousand have been killed in action!"
Tokugawa Ieyasu heard the battle report and still smiled, sighing to himself that his plan was brilliant.
"Excellent, excellent! They have begun to divide their forces! They have seized the advantages established in previous battles and are expanding upon them."
"They will continue to divide their forces!"
Mōri Terumoto, Tōdō Takatora, and Kuroda Nagamasa this time managed only a strained smile.
"Great General, the losses are too great. Are we just going to suffer continuous defeats? Couldn't we at least win a couple of battles?"
Kuroda Nagamasa could not hold back his words.
In his opinion, the losses had exceeded the limit. In just a few battles, from the first retreat of Mogami Yoshiaki and Honda Tadakatsu until now, they had lost over fifty thousand more people in less than a month?
Are you really giving heads to the Ming army here?
This doesn't seem right, does it? Although they are necessary sacrifices, what kind of results can justify such great sacrifices?
Tokugawa Ieyasu glanced at him indifferently and pressed his hand down, signaling him not to be anxious:
"Great results must be paved with great sacrifices! Kuroda-san, a general's success is built upon the bones of ten thousand soldiers! We cannot win. If we continue to lose these consecutive battles, it will be the result the Ming army wants to see."
Kuroda Nagamasa was stunned:
"Ah—?"
Great General, tell us the truth, are you playing a head-counting game here?
If you're a mole, just say so.
"Hey! Can't you understand? Haven't I explained it clearly enough? Our previous losses were too great, so now we are suffering consecutive defeats. The Ming army's morale is high, and they are about to charge straight for the capital. If we were to win two or three battles now, and the Ming army found they couldn't break through, wouldn't they just bypass us?"
"They want to attack, and we should help them achieve their goal. The spoils of this battle will be abundant. You three, please be at ease! The main forces of the Ming army are all here. There are not many soldiers left to guard the passes. When these main forces happily advance, we will annihilate them in one battle, and that will be the time for our full counterattack!"
"My shadow warriors have not been idle. Let me tell you, the Ming army has been continuously losing personnel. My shadow warriors will deliberately lead the army off the predetermined attack routes and into encirclements, thus drawing more Ming soldiers to their rescue."
"Although they are advancing fiercely, by the time they reach Ulsan, their forces will be reduced by at least half. Don't forget, how many soldiers do the Ming have? Less than a hundred thousand. And we have hundreds of thousands of soldiers? Thirty thousand are currently in Joseon alone! Three times the enemy's strength. Losing a few thousand or tens of thousands, is that even a big deal?"
"This battle is foolproof!"
The three exchanged glances and could only nod, hoping the plan would succeed.
........
Thirty days.
"Lord Ieyasu, the Ming army has divided into six routes and is launching a full-scale offensive against our army with overwhelming force!"
The messenger's expression was anxious!
The war outside had reached a point of total engagement. Smoke and flames were everywhere, and the Japanese defense lines were constantly being breached!
Retreat, retreat, and retreat again! The situation had become extremely critical!
Tokugawa Ieyasu, however, burst into laughter.
"Divided into six routes. It has finally come to this!"
"The eastern route advances into Yeongcheon, then will attack Gyeongju, Daegu, with the intention of reaching Ulsan."
"Another route in the east advances into Seongju, then will attack Changnyeong, and then another route will head towards Miryang. These two routes will ultimately attack Busan."
"Another route in the east advances into Yeongcheon, Andong, and finally heads south to attack Ulsan."
"These four routes."
"The western route advances into Namwon, attacking Sunju."
"The western route emerges from Jeonju, attacking Gwangju."
"These six routes."
Tokugawa Ieyasu explained to the others, then let out a long sigh and said:
"The contingency plans I arranged earlier will also be put to use."
"What are the casualties for each route?"
He looked at the messenger, who replied:
"Apart from the severe casualties in the Yeongcheon detachment, with five thousand soldiers lost, the other armies are retreating in batches and have not suffered significant casualties."
"Two hundred soldiers were lost in Seongju. The commander of Yeongcheon has already withdrawn. Namwon and Jeonju have also been occupied by the Ming army, and the commanders are withdrawing and retreating to Gwangju."
Tokugawa Ieyasu's smile deepened. He turned to the others and described the upcoming arrangements.
"Since the Ming army has divided its forces, the day of their defeat is not far off."
"According to the previous intelligence, among these advancing armies, the strongest is the one attacking Yeongcheon. I have ordered the soldiers in Namwon and Jeonju to abandon their cities, offering only slight resistance, and for the main army to return and, under the guise of a secret passage, converge near Gyeongju."
"The two western routes are merely a diversion tactic used by the Ming army to tie us down. We will give them those cities. The Onmyōji and great monks I dispatched are all skilled in formations and will be used to contain those western forces for a few days. In the east, no matter how many routes they come from, we will only focus on one. For the four eastern routes, we will surround and annihilate them one by one according to their arrival order. Although their morale is high, we have a significant advantage in military strength!"
"Now, with no retreat to the east, west, north, or south, the fish have entered the net. How can they escape!"
........
"Lord Ieyasu, a great victory, a great victory!"
The messenger could not hide the joy on his face!
Tokugawa Ieyasu smiled and remained silent. He had already learned of this matter through his shadow warriors. Seeing the confusion on the faces of the three beside him, he immediately explained:
"After Yeongcheon was breached, this Ming army entered Gyeongju. The Ming army that captured Yeongcheon in the east will march south to rendezvous with them, and finally form a pincer attack on Gyeongju. After capturing Gyeongju, their forces will head directly for Daegu. Once Daegu is broken, Ulsan will be within reach."
"However, just a moment ago, the army I had ambushed outside Gyeongju, while they were fiercely attacking Gyeongju, suddenly emerged, completely encircling them. They scattered the battlefield and, with their superior forces, crushed the separated Ming army corps, achieving a comprehensive and overwhelming victory!"
"Countless enemy heads were captured!"
The other three's eyes immediately lit up!
Tokugawa Ieyasu laughed: "The two eastern routes have been completely annihilated!"
"All army corps are transferring overnight to Miryang to intercept the third route of the Ming army!"
"As for Changnyeong, this time I have ordered that anyone can lose, but the commander of Changnyeong must not lose! Even if they have to hold on with their bones, they must last for ten days!"
"Within ten days, the Miryang army will be completely annihilated. Then they will return to reinforce Changnyeong. Thus, all four eastern routes will be annihilated, and the Ming army will only have the two western routes left, which are merely bones in a tomb waiting to die!"
........
The twenty-sixth year of Wanli.
The fifth day of February.
While Tokugawa Ieyasu and the others were still talking and laughing, the Ming army, at Daegu not far from Ulsan, fell into an encirclement with no possibility of escape. After fierce fighting, the entire army was routed, with countless casualties.
This time, the Ming army would gather all its forces at Daegu before Ulsan. Soldiers and generals from all surrounding cities would converge here. The shadow warriors I dispatched had also effectively reduced the enemy's combat strength.
Everything seemed so perfect.
If it weren't for the sudden, thunderous roar of cannons!
Instantly, the earth shook and the heavens trembled! The shouts of battle shook the clouds. Tokugawa Ieyasu and the others' faces changed drastically!
Outside Ulsan Castle, cannons boomed, smoke billowed, and thousands of troops surged from all directions, launching a fierce assault on Ulsan with full force!
"Is... is it the Ming army?!"
Tokugawa Ieyasu stood frozen in Ulsan Castle, while Mōri Terumoto, Tōdō Takatora, and Kuroda Nagamasa all looked at Ieyasu!
What's going on? Didn't you say this battle was foolproof!
"You're a spy!"
Kuroda Nagamasa instinctively blurted out, loudly accusing Tokugawa Ieyasu. Only then did the latter snap back to reality, his face turning pale, and then anger surged, veins bulging on his forehead: "How is this possible! The news from my shadow warriors, the news from the messengers from the front lines, all match up!"
"Where did this Ming army come from!"
"The eastern army, two routes were clearly annihilated, only the two groups attacking Changnyeong and Miryang should remain!"
"How is it possible? There's another army? My shadow warriors didn't tell me?"
Mōri Terumoto immediately said: "Shadow warriors also have things they don't know. But it's alright. Dust is rising in the distance. Although we don't know how many people there are, it might be a feint, a show of force, and perhaps the real number is only a few thousand."
"Ulsan has a hundred thousand troops! Lord Ieyasu, let me lead my troops to kill them!"