Battle of the Greater Khingan Ridge
What did Battle of the Greater Khingan Ridge mean?
It meant steeling themselves for a third Mongol invasion. It meant these damn exhausting Mongol wars would drag on for several more rounds in this world too.
Fine. If that was the case, they'd at least sink their teeth in relentlessly before falling for any lures. No complacency—they'd strike moderately and pull back.
"Wagon fort, advance!"
The wagon forts pressed forward toward the Mongol army, which was showing signs of a gradual retreat.
I've cast the bait. Now, how will you react, you bastard?
If Subutai pulled back his forces even in this situation, it meant he had some plan. He'd lure them into complacency and chase after.
The wagon fort formation began advancing. The idea had been to overturn the Mongols' strategy from the start.
But then—
"They're heading south, it seems. Toward General Ugaha."
"Ugaha. Cut off one wing and regroup for a decisive battle, is it?"
Or was it just a simple lure? On the surface, it looked like they'd smash Ugaha to tear off one wing of Liaodong's defenses, then regroup and fight them again.
But Ugaha wasn't that weak.
"Isn't this dangerous?"
Ugaha's army wouldn't fall that easily. Who was Ugaha? A veteran who'd thickened his bones fighting Mongols alongside Goryeo forces.
So he wouldn't go down easily. But if pressed from both sides, even Ugaha's troops couldn't hold.
She pondered deeply.
Would Subutai, who knew Goryeo's weaknesses and objectives, be that sloppy? Fighting like this favored Goryeo, but if the Mongols dragged it into a war of attrition using their mobility, they could torment Goryeo forces plenty.
This was a double trap. Chase the lure and they'd take losses; stay put and Ugaha's army gets wiped out.
It was aimed at them, forcing slow movement. Goryeo would have to bear the casualties.
Cavalry wasn't the Mongols' exclusive domain. The Byeolcho Army's cavalry was no force to ignore.
"General Kim Gyeongson. Take the cavalry and stick to them relentlessly."
"Yes, Commander."
If they pretended to retreat, Goryeo would pretend to pursue. No matter how badly they wanted to devour Ugaha, sending just cavalry would drag Subutai along kicking and screaming.
Whether he planned to smash Ugaha or lure the wagon forts far back until they crumbled for a showdown—either way.
Goryeo would cling with cavalry while maintaining formation to chase the Mongols.
"Grand Commander, Goryeo cavalry is pursuing!"
"Hah, how cautious."
That woman, Choi Yeon, was extremely careful. She'd sent out Goryeo's cavalry like hunters.
Just at pursuit force level—despite facing Mongols, she didn't rashly commit her whole army.
She knew that army would crumble if it pursued. That woman was truly the core of Goryeo's forces.
Right. So the rest, excluding that formation, were rabble.
Their aggressive advance was a feint.
He'd noticed it when the woman herself appeared. Should he have clashed head-on then?
No. No need to play in their favorable terrain. Jin was busy enough; they couldn't afford heavy losses in Goryeo.
First priority: lure them out and seize Yoyang. Then sweep up the Mongols tied to Ugaha.
"First, respond to that 10,000 cavalry. Split our forces—match them with 10,000 of ours against their cavalry. And make it look like we're retreating if needed."
Words no other army would dare imagine. Confidence to finish cavalry one-on-one.
Subutai, leading Mongol cavalry, had that self-assurance.
Kim Gyeongson's cavalry clashed with the Mongol cavalry.
10,000 against 10,000. Goryeo Choe regime's elite heavy Byeolcho cavalry versus Mongol horse warriors.
Their fierce melee was evenly matched.
Slash! Thunk! Splaaash!
Byeolcho blades severed Mongol necks; Mongol swords pierced Byeolcho vitals.
A blood-soaked slaughterfest reeking of gore.
"These Goryeo bastards have no fear!"
"Regret crossing into Liaodong, you steppe hicks!"
Blood seas formed as casualties mounted on both sides. Meanwhile, Yoyang's army began slowly shifting to pursue Subutai's main force.
Once hooked, it was Mongol playtime. At least, that's how Subutai saw it.
Once that wagon fort unraveled, it was Mongol time. He'd stupidly thrown troops at it like moths to flame before, but avoid that and they had the edge.
So sacrifice 10,000 cavalry—whether to hit Ugaha or retreat—to keep moving.
As Kim Gyeongson's 10,000 cavalry tied down the Mongol horse, Choi Yeon actually moved her army.
Choi Yeon had to make a call too. Positionally, even if Mongols reversed to seize Yoyang, its garrison could hold until the main force arrived.
Fine, I'll bite.
Ultimately, better to smash Subutai's army while taking some losses. He couldn't annihilate them or take Liaodong.
At minimum, force a 1:2 exchange ratio to strip their capacity to occupy Liaodong.
From here, it was about combat power and confidence.
While Kim Gyeongson's 10,000 cavalry bought time by clinging like mad dogs, they pursued.
Trading Goryeo's tens of thousands for Subutai's Mongols was huge. It weakened their Jin front further.
Subutai's army shook slightly under the tenacious bite of Kim Gyeongson's 10,000.
"Pick up the pace! We'll take Subutai's head for sure!"
Kim Gyeongson spurred his riders to cling even more desperately.
Allied losses? They'd endure some. That Subutai was a legend who'd toppled nations.
Better to nab him here than later. Not some half-assed win—a perfect victory for the Liaodong Commander.
A decisive triumph over the Mongols. Total ruin for those steppe hicks.
In that bloody melee, Subutai's army bogged down like quicksand.
"These rabid dogs!"
And Choi Yeon wasn't just watching.
If they used lures, she'd bite. But not blindly.
"They can't kill all 10,000 of Kim Gyeongson's cavalry. Pursue."
"Retreat!"
At Goryeo main force's movement, Subutai signaled his Mongol cavalry battling Kim Gyeongson to fall back.
"That wench chose to save her subordinates. Wise. But still, like a woman ignorant of the battlefield."
Retreats multiplied casualties exponentially, but if tactical, it changed everything.
Once the wagon fort chased and crumbled, Mongols gained the upper hand.
Proud Mongol Empire cavalry was plenty to handle Goryeo horse; theirs couldn't compare.
Before Ugaha or Goryeo reinforcements arrived, lure to Greater Khingan Ridge and devour them all.
Now pure combat power clash—but having drawn them to favorable high ground, Goryeo's would plummet.
Especially that Goryeo wonder-weapon needed systematic firing cycles.
And against cavalry, it required wagon or spear protection—inevitably immobile.
Once pursuing formation crumbled, it was over. Numerical superiority meaningless.
Chasing, they'd struggle to fire on the march; Mongol horse could wheel and shatter them before they could.
Even those distant iron balls useless.
Ultimate force: Goryeo cavalry. Devour them, then thoroughly crush the pursuing wonder-weapon troops.
Better than striking Ugaha's rear and exposing to Goryeo main—he turned as if retreating to Greater Khingan.
Yeah, that's what he thought. No, Subutai was certain of victory. No arrogance.
"Grand Commander, they're pursuing! They've abandoned their wagons!"
Yes. The moment he'd hoped for. He'd smash Goryeo completely here in Greater Khingan.
"Good. Then—"
Click. Something crunched under a horse's hoof.
Something exploded beneath Subutai's mount. In an instant, the tide turned.
The late-arriving engineer unit's mines—planted like locking the barn after losing the horse—detonated right under the retreating Subutai's horsehoof.
Neighhh!
Even Subutai hadn't foreseen this; he tumbled forward.
But naturally, engineers lurked nearby in the minefield zone. Era's mines were faulty—useless if not used soon—so hundreds dotted the area.
Mongols tumbling into the minefield detonated them one by one.
Click! Boom! Click! Bang! Boom!
Subutai barely rose amid the chaos.
"Urk."
"Father! What are you doing? Save the Grand Commander!"
"Wait! Don't come this way! Something's in the ground!"
Boom!
Urangqadai, descending into the minefield to rescue Subutai, unlike his father, took a direct blast and died instantly.
"We've got 'em! Heaven aids Goryeo for sure! That's Subutai! Take Subutai's head!"
"Fire every gun! Loose arrows!"
Subutai, crawling out ragged and battered from the minefield, struggled to rally his troops.
Fortunately, soldiers shielded him, dying in his stead—but a commander's fall sowed chaos enough.
Still, chaos was fleeting. Regroup back, catch the pranksters later.
No time for son's vengeance now.
"What are you lot?!"
Amid gunpowder smoke and ringing ears, figures blocked Subutai.
None other than Kim Jun and Kim Yunhu's Byeolcho and victory troops, who first routed here at Greater Khingan.
"You bastard! We've been waiting here for you a long time!"
Kim Jun bore eternal shame for failing to inflict proper damage in the war's first clash.
But he couldn't let Subutai escape here or let him threaten that lady he served again.
So Kim Jun had one choice: block Subutai's path with Byeolcho as he reeled from mines.
"Who are you to bar my way?!"
"Byeolchodo-ryeong General Kim Jun of Great Goryeo's Liaodong Byeolcho! Here for your head!"
Block with a mere handful? What idiocy.
But Subutai's situation wasn't great. Troops not rallied yet.
If Goryeo swarmed in the confusion, disaster.
This green kid blocking him.
"Hold until main force arrives! Byeolcho! Charge them!"
"Kill these Goryeo dogs and escape Greater Khingan!"
Byeolcho attacked with lives on the line; Kim Jun drew sword and lunged at Subutai.
Subutai unsheathed his curved blade, slashing at the charging Kim Jun.
Clang!
Kim Jun parried, but knees buckled. Subutai's power trembled through sword to arms.
Not mere strength. Weight of countless battlefields and cleaved foes.
But Kim Jun's spirit didn't break under that blow.
He blocked Subutai's strikes unshaken, several times.
"Hah, the kid's got skill."
Clang! Kaang!
Relentless slashes. Kim Jun's grip screamed in agony; vision shook, balance faltered.
"Kuh!"
"Goryeo's got talent, but as Mongol foes, all must die."
After exchanges, Kim Jun barely held his sword—but Subutai's next would take his neck.
Yet he couldn't stop here. Had to hold until main force arrived.