Prologue
A Pact of Brotherhood
In 1592, Japanese forces invaded Korea. Pusan fell in one day followed by Seoul three weeks later. Soon, Japanese forces reached Pyongyang. The Korean King appealed to the Ming Emperor for aid and in February 1593, the armies of the Ming Empire marched into Korea. Very quickly, the Ming forced the Japanese all the way back to Pusan where it became a stalemate. Negotiations was started in 1596 to end the war but when it failed, a second Japanese offensive was launched, taking Chinese and Korean troops by surprise. It is early 1598 and Japanese troops march towards a Pass vital for the defense of Seoul. Whatever troops that could be raised were quickly rushed there with orders to hold the Pass until reinforcements could arrive…..
Chen RongCai was in a tense mood. He had been in the Pass for a couple of days with the rest of the Ming Imperial Guards waiting for the Japanese to show up. This would be his first fight as a soldier and he was looking forward and yet at the same time not looking forward to it. On his left was Li ZhiHao, his right Wu YanXing. RongCai did not know them very well. All he knew of them was that they joined the Imperial Guards as he did and this would be their first fight as well.
Ahead of them, the Ming soldiers could hear noises. The enemy was coming. All along their defensive line, soldiers raised their bows and prepared to fire.
Ming troops preparing for battle with the Japanese
The noises grew louder. RongCai tightened his grip on his bow. Beside Rongcai, sweat was pouring down ZhiHao’s face and Yanxing’s knuckles were white from gripping his bow so tightly.
The Japanese enter the Pass and sees the Ming defenders ready for battle. Bellowing in rage for he had hoped the Pass before the Chinese troops, the Japanese commander ordered the charge. Screaming their war cries, the Japanese ran towards the Ming positions.
“Fire!” the Chinese commander shouted and several hundred arrows shot towards the Japanese. Many Japanese fell, dead or wounded. However, ignoring the cries of their wounded comrades, the rest of the Japanese continued their charge at the Ming troops.
A second and then a third volley came down on the Japanese but still they came, moving forward like an unbreakable tide. The Japanese troops are now almost at the Chinese positions. The Ming soldiers quickly put down their bows, drew their melee weapons and then they charged the Japanese. The Battle of the Pass was on.
Ming and Japanese soldiers battle for the Pass
The Japanese have more men. However the Ming has chosen their defensive ground well. This was the narrowest point of the Pass and only limited soldiers can go through at a certain time, thus effectively negating the Japanese advantage of numbers.
For several hours, both sides fought furiously. But the Japanese were starting to gain the advantage. Inch by inch, the Ming troops were slowly forced back across the chokepoint. While the main line still held, several pockets of Chinese troops in front of the main line had been isolated, cut off by the Japanese. RongCai, ZhiHao and YanXing formed one such pocket. Back to back, surrounded by Japanese on all sides, the three of them fought with a skill born of desperation as they try to break out and fall back to their line.
Suddenly in the distance, behind the Chinese line, came the sounds of burgles. Reinforcements have arrived!
Chinese reinforcements enter the Pass
Thousands of Ming Troops poured into the valley, charging into the Japanese lines. These were fresh troops, having not fought at all while the Japanese had been fighting for several hours. The Japanese held for a while before they were finally broken. The Ming has won the day!
As the Japanese retreated, the three young Imperial Guards collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. As they caught their breath, RongCai looked into the eyes of the other two and they looked back at him with steady glances. Without a word, RongCai stretched out a hand and the other two men grasped it.
That night, the three of them gathered in front of an alter. In front of them was a cup of water. RongCai took out a knife and made a cut on his finger, allowing the blood to fall into the cup. The other 2 did the same. RongCai then took the cup and took a sip from it. Passing it to the other 2, they too took a sip from the cup in the ritual of sworn brotherhood. By drinking from the cup with their blood inside, they now declare that they are now sworn brothers. The Pact of Brotherhood is born.
A Pact of Brotherhood
In 1592, Japanese forces invaded Korea. Pusan fell in one day followed by Seoul three weeks later. Soon, Japanese forces reached Pyongyang. The Korean King appealed to the Ming Emperor for aid and in February 1593, the armies of the Ming Empire marched into Korea. Very quickly, the Ming forced the Japanese all the way back to Pusan where it became a stalemate. Negotiations was started in 1596 to end the war but when it failed, a second Japanese offensive was launched, taking Chinese and Korean troops by surprise. It is early 1598 and Japanese troops march towards a Pass vital for the defense of Seoul. Whatever troops that could be raised were quickly rushed there with orders to hold the Pass until reinforcements could arrive…..
Chen RongCai was in a tense mood. He had been in the Pass for a couple of days with the rest of the Ming Imperial Guards waiting for the Japanese to show up. This would be his first fight as a soldier and he was looking forward and yet at the same time not looking forward to it. On his left was Li ZhiHao, his right Wu YanXing. RongCai did not know them very well. All he knew of them was that they joined the Imperial Guards as he did and this would be their first fight as well.
Ahead of them, the Ming soldiers could hear noises. The enemy was coming. All along their defensive line, soldiers raised their bows and prepared to fire.
Ming troops preparing for battle with the Japanese
The noises grew louder. RongCai tightened his grip on his bow. Beside Rongcai, sweat was pouring down ZhiHao’s face and Yanxing’s knuckles were white from gripping his bow so tightly.
The Japanese enter the Pass and sees the Ming defenders ready for battle. Bellowing in rage for he had hoped the Pass before the Chinese troops, the Japanese commander ordered the charge. Screaming their war cries, the Japanese ran towards the Ming positions.
“Fire!” the Chinese commander shouted and several hundred arrows shot towards the Japanese. Many Japanese fell, dead or wounded. However, ignoring the cries of their wounded comrades, the rest of the Japanese continued their charge at the Ming troops.
A second and then a third volley came down on the Japanese but still they came, moving forward like an unbreakable tide. The Japanese troops are now almost at the Chinese positions. The Ming soldiers quickly put down their bows, drew their melee weapons and then they charged the Japanese. The Battle of the Pass was on.
Ming and Japanese soldiers battle for the Pass
The Japanese have more men. However the Ming has chosen their defensive ground well. This was the narrowest point of the Pass and only limited soldiers can go through at a certain time, thus effectively negating the Japanese advantage of numbers.
For several hours, both sides fought furiously. But the Japanese were starting to gain the advantage. Inch by inch, the Ming troops were slowly forced back across the chokepoint. While the main line still held, several pockets of Chinese troops in front of the main line had been isolated, cut off by the Japanese. RongCai, ZhiHao and YanXing formed one such pocket. Back to back, surrounded by Japanese on all sides, the three of them fought with a skill born of desperation as they try to break out and fall back to their line.
Suddenly in the distance, behind the Chinese line, came the sounds of burgles. Reinforcements have arrived!
Chinese reinforcements enter the Pass
Thousands of Ming Troops poured into the valley, charging into the Japanese lines. These were fresh troops, having not fought at all while the Japanese had been fighting for several hours. The Japanese held for a while before they were finally broken. The Ming has won the day!
As the Japanese retreated, the three young Imperial Guards collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. As they caught their breath, RongCai looked into the eyes of the other two and they looked back at him with steady glances. Without a word, RongCai stretched out a hand and the other two men grasped it.
That night, the three of them gathered in front of an alter. In front of them was a cup of water. RongCai took out a knife and made a cut on his finger, allowing the blood to fall into the cup. The other 2 did the same. RongCai then took the cup and took a sip from it. Passing it to the other 2, they too took a sip from the cup in the ritual of sworn brotherhood. By drinking from the cup with their blood inside, they now declare that they are now sworn brothers. The Pact of Brotherhood is born.