Chapter 73 – War Council
Intelligence arrived that the army sent by the emperor was gathering at Chulhajeom, not far away.
At the same time, news of the Jurchen victory spread in all directions.
The emperor's army was assembling at Chulhajeom under the command of Xiao Sixian*.
Xiao Sixian (蕭思先): A general of late Liao, from the imperial in-law Xiao clan.
He held high military posts such as Commander of the Palace Guard and commanded Khitan and allied forces in wars against Jin.
Sushagong and Xiao Sixian were appointed as commanders of the Northeastern Route.
The Imperial Guard formed the core, but more than twenty thousand tribal cavalry gathered.
They were, as always, one of the many tribal forces that hoped to take part in campaigns of plunder.
"Report! The enemy is gathering at Chulhajeom."
Aguda's eyes flared.
Chulhajeom could not be compared to Ningjiang.
From Liao's perspective,
it lay on the route from the Liaodong plains into the forests and rivers of Jurchen territory.
To control the Jurchens militarily,
this point had to be passed.
The same was true for the Jurchens.
Geographically, it marked the boundary between plains and forest.
At that boundary, the difference was clear—
Liao was accustomed to fighting on open plains,
the Jurchens in forests.
Chulhajeom was where the two met.
A point of tactical collision.
Third—
for Liao, it was a base to keep the Jurchens suppressed.
A key node in northern Liaodong.
"How many are gathered?"
"Not hundreds or thousands.
Over twenty thousand, likely close to thirty.
They are still assembling."
Deep within Aguda's gaze, a red flame rose.
More than ten times their number.
He suddenly remembered what Adjutant Lee Young-woo had said.
What use is strategy against thugs.
He had probably said something even harsher.
A council was called.
A messenger was sent to ensure Adjutant Lee Young-woo attended.
Perhaps they hoped he would again stir the soldiers' spirits with some unexpected words.
Newly appointed commanders arrived.
There were tribal chiefs, their young sons,
and men who had risen purely by ability, with no ties of blood or faction.
"The enemy is gathering at Chulhajeom.
Speak."
As he spoke, Aguda looked first to Young-woo.
It was a clear sign.
He wanted his answer first.
Young-woo, who had always listened first and followed,
found the new situation unfamiliar.
Years spent under worthless commanders, forcing impossible tasks into reality—
those years weighed quietly on him.
"If the enemy is gathering,
we must break their depth."
The word depth was unfamiliar.
Wugaimai asked,
"What do you mean—depth?"
"It is the depth of formation.
Simply put,
how many layers they have front to back, how thick they are.
Troops stacked behind the line—
even if the first line collapses, others hold.
Not a line, but layers.
If that depth is strong,
breakthrough becomes difficult.
They absorb losses.
Collapse is delayed.
They gain time to counterattack.
So before they condense into a thick mass,
we must break that depth."
Young-woo explained what he had studied recently.
Still, his words wandered.
They lacked order.
Aguda asked,
"I will listen.
Explain further."
Even Aguda spoke with formality.
The room fell silent.
"There are several methods.
First, flanking.
Strike the side and collapse the depth.
The sides are weaker.
Second, concentration.
Strike one point with force.
Tear through the layers.
Third, separation.
Cut the front from the rear, isolate them.
Finally, mobile disruption.
Prevent reformation,
stop them from forming ranks."
Aguda was startled.
It matched his own thoughts.
"Such things existed?"
"I have been studying military texts.
My learning is shallow.
We must break the unseen center—
the point where they gather."
"And tactically?"
Young-woo answered immediately.
"Rain arrows down,
and in the confusion,
heavy cavalry breaks through."
At the word breakthrough,
Aguda hesitated.
They usually harassed the edges until the enemy weakened.
But now—
The enemy was too many.
Ten times their number.
He looked around.
Wanyan Zongwang,
Aguda's nephew and a shock commander, raised his hand.
"I will do it.
I will break their depth."
Wanyan Sarigal raised his hand.
"I will strike the flank."
Wanyan Yinga, who had led the work of unifying the tribes, stood.
"We have reorganized the army,
but our numbers are still too small.
Many warriors died in the war with Goryeo.
More importantly,
our forces have not yet gathered.
We must gather more."
Aguda shook his head.
Young-woo spoke as if for him.
"We cannot wait to gather everyone.
We will be broken first.
You have seen it.
After Ningjiang, many joined us.
Organize them.
If we win at Chulhajeom,
more will come.
It seems we must gather first to form an army—
but reality is different.
Organization comes when victory is expected.
If we wait,
we will lose the chance."
Aguda nodded.
"Yes.
That is so.
Zonghan (Wanyan Zonghan)*—what do you think?"
Later the supreme commander in the Khitan wars.
"We cannot divide our forces.
All strength must be used to break their depth.
Flank or front—it does not matter.
Advance and withdraw repeatedly,
rain arrows,
then charge.
There is no other way.
Strengthen armor,
thicken shields,
prepare lances for the charge."
Zonghan spoke clearly.
The others acknowledged him.
Some had newly risen through reorganization,
others had served long.
Now their qualities were becoming visible.
Wugaimai stood.
"I will take the vanguard."
Aguda refused.
"Your forces took heavy losses at Ningjiang.
Preserve them."
Many had fallen while opening the gate.
"Brother!"
Aguda looked over the young commanders.
Young-woo raised his hand,
but Zongwang stood faster.
"I will take it."
And he stood taller.
Before a great army,
they competed to go first.
They had no fear.
A Goryeo army would have pushed rivals into danger.
Before Young-woo could speak, Aguda decided.
"This time, I will give Zongwang the chance."
"Thank you."
"Take the vanguard.
Break their depth.
Widen the breach."
He used Young-woo's word—depth.
"The others will rotate charges,
rain arrows,
and when they falter—
charge again."
"Loyalty."
"Loyalty."
"Loyalty."
"Loyalty."
Wanyan Xiyun stood.
He sought the chance to speak.
"Xiao Sixian commands this war.
He will struggle to unify the tribal forces.
They are many,
but their cohesion is weak.
They fight for plunder."
Wugaimai said,
"They are still a great army."
"Luxury and internal conflict have weakened them.
Their nomadic military tradition has declined.
Han officials govern well,
but lack mobilization strength.
Simply put—
tribal forces do not obey.
Their cohesion is weak.
And noble sons command them.
Their commanders have no real combat experience."
His words strengthened the new commanders.
Aguda gestured for him to continue.
"As we saw at Ningjiang,
they do not move as one.
Their formation is broken before battle.
They are many,
but heavy and slow.
We are pure mobile cavalry.
We have reformed—
our cohesion is strong,
our experience real.
Our new armor will increase survival
and enable breakthrough.
If we break their depth,
they will flee.
The key is to destroy them at that moment."
Xiyun looked at Zongwang.
"Thicken your armor.
Do not neglect your equipment.
Do not forget horse armor.
The key is to show the terror of Jurchen cavalry
in the breakthrough."
He was a strategist—
both civil and martial.
Zongwang answered,
"Loyalty."