Chapter 1 The Plan

Everything was proceeding according to the original plan.

Tokugawa Ieyasu hadn't sensed anything unusual. In his perception, besides the main body of the shadow warrior by his side, the other six shadow warriors had already taken their places, mingling among the Ming soldiers.

A smile touched the corners of his lips. The more Ming soldiers that were lured into the trap, the easier it would be for him to wipe them out in one fell swoop.

The cultivation of the Shadow Step technique wasn't easy. The method in Tokugawa Ieyasu's possession, passed down from the Tang Dynasty, was only a fragment. Taira no Masakado lived during the Heian period, which coincided with the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the turmoil of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms in China.

Many magical techniques were learned by Japan from the Tang Dynasty. Abe no Seimei's *Kin'u Gyokuto-shū* (Collection of Golden Crow and Jade Hare) was given to him by a hermit from China named Bodao. As one of the representative esoteric techniques of the Tang Dynasty, the Shadow Step was naturally collected in Japan.

However, the method for summoning each shadow god was different. The fragment only recorded a little, only the most basic method for summoning the first shadow god, U-Huang (Right Emperor), which involved nurturing an ancient vessel, first refining the Shadow Step Gu, and then using the Shadow Step Gu to separate the shadow god U-Huang.

However, one of the most important and difficult steps was the refinement of this Shadow Step Gu.

The fragment mentioned that it required the essence of all living beings as a guide. The essence of all living beings wasn't something that could be obtained casually; it required specific magical techniques for refinement. The refinement method had long been lost, but Tokugawa Ieyasu believed that a similar refinement method must have been passed down in China.

But he tried many methods without success. After repeatedly reviewing the fragment, Tokugawa Ieyasu was even certain that the owner of the scroll might not even know the refinement method of this essence of all living beings, and only the ancients of the Tang Dynasty in China understood it.

Such secrecy must be due to sectarian bias.

It was said that Abe no Seimei had painstakingly served the hermit Bodao for three years, working like an ox and a horse, building houses and carrying water, in order to obtain the true secret manual.

Tokugawa Ieyasu couldn't help but sigh in regret, wishing he had been born eight hundred years earlier.

However, it was already a blessing among misfortunes to obtain the Shadow Step fragment in Japan and preserve it during the Warring States period. The onmyōji (yin-yang masters) were declining, and many of their traditions were almost cut off. Among the four major lineages of onmyōji, three were aristocratic families, and the Harima lineage, which was the most widespread and numerous among the common people, almost died out due to the Warring States period, and many magical techniques were lost.

Since there were no means or methods to refine the essence of all living beings, the path of refining the Shadow Step Gu through the essence of all living beings was impossible. Thus, he could only take the oldest path, which was to find an ancient artifact to nurture its spirituality until it possessed a spirit and became a *tsukumogami* (tool spirit), then refine it into the Shadow Step Gu, which could still separate a shadow god.

Seven shadow warriors. Even during Taira no Masakado's peak, he only had six shadow warriors. Tokugawa Ieyasu believed that his attainments in the Shadow Step technique had completely surpassed the heights reached by his predecessors and reached a new level.

"Lord Ieyasu, there's a war report from the front line..."

Tokugawa Ieyasu listened to his subordinates constantly reporting the battles on the front line. He already knew these things, because the shadow warriors would transmit the information to him.

"Indeed, the Ming army has fallen for it. Their main force has entered the encirclement!"

"Looking at this route, they're heading straight for Ulsan!"

A look of joy appeared on Tokugawa Ieyasu's face.

Ulsan was located in the Japanese army's base, at the southernmost tip of the entire Korean peninsula. Dividing the troops into eastern and western lines from Ulsan, if they took Ulsan, it would be equivalent to destroying the reinforcement stronghold. But such a deep penetration was like a long spear. Perhaps the tip of the spear was very sharp, but the shaft was very easy to be cut off.

However, they weren't deep enough yet. They needed to go deeper, even deeper...

...

Three days.

"The Ming army attacked Munkyung Fortress. Our army suffered nearly ten thousand casualties."

"The front lines are suffering one defeat after another!"

Tokugawa Ieyasu nodded in satisfaction.

"Everything is under control. The situation is excellent."

Then he burst into laughter.

Mōri Terumoto, Tōdō Takatora, and Kuroda Nagamasa also laughed endlessly.

Ask, why does the great general laugh?

Answer, I laugh at the Ming army for their lack of wisdom. They are now in a situation where they can be easily caught.

————

Ten days.

"The Ming army has captured Sangju Fortress. It's an emergency!"

"Our army has lost three thousand soldiers!"

Tokugawa Ieyasu laughed heartily, his voice filled with joy, as if the pent-up frustration in his heart 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 officers in the army. At this moment, the Ming army's movements are exactly as I instructed."

Mōri Terumoto, Tōdō Takatora, and Kuroda Nagamasa continued to laugh endlessly.

Mōri Terumoto even praised, "Commanding your own soldiers to fight is an inferior tactic. Commanding enemy soldiers to deploy and fight according to your own strategy is a superior tactic!"

"The great general's strategic planning has reached a realm of perfection!"

Tokugawa Ieyasu repeatedly feigned modesty, saying that he didn't dare accept such praise.

"Although the Ming army is advancing according to my plan, the ultimate outcome depends on the crucial defeat that follows."

...

Twenty-five days.

"The Ming army has split into two routes, fiercely attacking Gongcheng on the east and Gimcheon on the west!"

"Our army has suffered continuous losses! Over twelve thousand have been killed in action!"

Tokugawa Ieyasu, upon hearing the war report, still smiled silently, thinking himself ingenious.

"Good, good, good. They've started splitting their forces! They've appropriately seized the advantage established in the previous battles and are using it to expand."

"They will continue to split their forces!"

Mōri Terumoto, Tōdō Takatora, and Kuroda Nagamasa's smiles were somewhat forced this time.

"Great General, the losses are too great. Are we really just collapsing all the way? Can't we win at least two battles?"

Kuroda Nagamasa couldn't help but speak out.

In his opinion, the losses had exceeded the limit. How many major battles had there been? From the time Most Excellent Yoshimitsu and Honda Tadakatsu first retreated until now, hadn't they lost over fifty thousand more men in less than a month?

Were they really just sending people to the Ming army to get killed everywhere?

Something wasn't quite right, was it? Although it was said to be a necessary sacrifice, what kind of results could justify such great sacrifices?

Tokugawa Ieyasu glanced at him indifferently, pressed down his palm, and signaled him not to be impatient.

"Great results must be paved with great sacrifices! Kuroda-san, one general's success comes at the cost of ten thousand bones! We can't win, because such continuous, deadly battles, if lost again, are exactly what the Ming army wants to see."

Kuroda Nagamasa was stunned.

"Ah—?"

Great General, tell the truth, are you playing Human Head Elimination here?

Just say it straight if you're a spy.

"Hey! Can't you understand? Haven't I made it clear enough? Our previous losses were too great, so now we're suffering continuous defeats. The Ming army's morale is high, and they're about to charge straight in. If we win two or three battles at this time, and the Ming army realizes they can't take us down, wouldn't they have to detour?"

"They want to attack, and we should help them achieve their goal. The spoils of this battle will definitely be abundant, so you three must be at ease! The Ming army's main force is all here. There aren't many soldiers left to defend the passes. This main force will happily enter, and we'll annihilate them all in one battle. Then it will be our time to launch a full-scale counterattack!"

"My shadow warriors haven't been idle either. Let me tell you, according to the information I've received, the Ming army has been losing men. The shadow warriors have deliberately led the army astray from their planned attack routes and into ambushes, which has caused even more Ming soldiers to go to their rescue."

"Although they're coming fiercely, their strength will be reduced by at least half by the time they reach Ulsan. Don't forget, how many tens of thousands of soldiers does the Ming army have? Not even a hundred thousand, while we have hundreds of thousands of soldiers! Just the ones in Korea right now number three hundred thousand! That's three times the enemy's force. Is losing a few thousand or tens of thousands even a problem?"

"This battle is foolproof!"

The three of them looked at each other, able only to nod in agreement, hoping that the plan would succeed.

...

Thirty days.

"Lord Ieyasu, the Ming army has split into six routes and is launching a full-scale attack on our army with overwhelming force!"

The messenger's expression was anxious at this moment!

The war outside had reached the point of a full-scale battle. There was smoke and fire everywhere, and the Japanese army's defenses were constantly being breached!

Retreat, retreat, and retreat again! The situation had reached a critical point!

Tokugawa Ieyasu, however, burst into laughter.

"Split into six routes. The time has finally come!"

"One route to the east is advancing to Yeongcheon, and will next attack Gyeongju and Daegu, with the intention of reaching Ulsan."

"Another route to the east is advancing to Seongju, and will next attack Changnyeong, and then split into another route towards Miryang. These two routes will ultimately attack Busan."

"Another route to the east is advancing to Yeongcheon, Andong, and will ultimately head south to attack Ulsan."

"These are the four routes to the east."

"One route to the west is advancing to Namwon and attacking Suncheon."

"One route to the west is leaving Jeonju and attacking Gwangju."

"These are the six routes."

Tokugawa Ieyasu explained to the others, then took a deep breath and said,

"The contingency plans I arranged earlier will also have to be used."

"What are the casualties on each route?"

He looked at the messenger, who replied,

"Except for the Yeongcheon route, which suffered heavy casualties and lost five thousand soldiers, the other armies are retreating in batches and haven't suffered too many casualties."

"Seongju lost over two hundred men, and the commander of Yeongcheon has already withdrawn. Namwon and Jeonju have also been occupied by the Ming army, and the commanders are withdrawing, retreating to Gwangju."

The smile on Tokugawa Ieyasu's face grew even wider. He turned to the others and began to explain the upcoming arrangements.

"Now that the Ming army has split its forces, the day of their defeat is not far off."

"According to the previous information, among these armies, the Ming army attacking Yeongcheon is the strongest. I've already ordered the soldiers in Namwon and Jeonju to abandon the cities, putting up only a slight resistance. The main force will return, making a feint to the east while secretly going west, and gather near Gyeongju."

"The two routes to the west are just a smokescreen used by the Ming army to distract us. We'll give them those cities. The onmyōji and high monks I sent are all experts in formations. They will trap those on the western route for a few days. As for the east, no matter how many routes come, we'll only focus on one to attack. The four armies on the east will be surrounded and defeated one by one in batches. Although their morale is high, we have a great advantage in military strength!"

"Now there's no retreat to the east, west, south, or north. The fish is in the net. How can they escape!"

...

"Lord Ieyasu, a great victory, a great victory!"

The messenger couldn't hide the joy on his face!

Tokugawa Ieyasu smiled silently. He had already learned about this through the shadow warriors. Seeing the confusion on the faces of the three around him, he immediately came forward to explain:

"After Yeongju was captured, this route of the Ming army entered Gyeongju. The Ming army that captured Yeongcheon will march south and join them, finally forming a two-sided encirclement of Gyeongju. After taking Gyeongju, their spearhead will point directly at Daegu. Breaking Daegu will bring Ulsan within reach."

"However, just now, the army I ambushed outside Gyeongju suddenly attacked while they were fiercely attacking Gyeongju, surrounding them completely, dispersing the battlefield, and then using superior forces to crush the Ming army corps that were forced to separate, achieving a comprehensive and crushing victory!"

"Countless heads have been captured!"

The eyes of the other three immediately lit up!

Tokugawa Ieyasu smiled and said, "The two armies on the east route have been completely annihilated!"

"All the legions will transfer overnight to Miryang to stop the third route of the Ming army!"

"As for Changnyeong, I've ordered this time that anyone can lose, but the commander of Changnyeong must not lose! Even if they have to hold on with their bones, they must hold on for ten days!"

"Within ten days, the Miryang army will definitely be wiped out. When they return to Changnyeong at that time, all four armies on the east route will be completely wiped out. The Ming army will only have the two armies on the west route left, which are nothing more than dead bones in a tomb, waiting to die!"

...

February 5, 1598.

While Tokugawa Ieyasu and the others were still talking and laughing, the Ming army fell into the encirclement in Daegu, not far from Ulsan, with no possibility of escape. After a fierce battle, the entire army collapsed, with countless casualties.

This time, the Ming army would gather all their forces in Daegu, near Ulsan, and the generals and soldiers from all the surrounding cities would gather here. The shadow warriors he had sent in had also greatly reduced the enemy's combat power.

Everything seemed so beautiful.

If it hadn't been for the sudden roar of cannons, like a thunderclap!

The earth shook and the mountains trembled in an instant! The shouts of killing shook the clouds. The faces of Tokugawa Ieyasu and the others changed drastically!

Outside Ulsan Castle, cannons roared, smoke filled the air, and thousands of legions poured in from all directions, launching a fierce attack on Ulsan in one fell swoop!

"Is...is it the Ming army?!"

Tokugawa Ieyasu froze in Ulsan Castle. Mōri Terumoto, Tōdō Takatora, and Kuroda Nagamasa also looked at Ieyasu!

What was going on? Didn't you say that this battle was foolproof!

"You're a spy!"

Kuroda Nagamasa subconsciously opened his mouth and loudly accused Tokugawa Ieyasu, who only came back to his senses at this moment, his face turning pale, and then his anger surged, veins popping out: "How is this possible! The information my shadow warriors told me, the information that the messengers sent from the front line, all of them matched up!"

"Where did this Ming army come from!"

"Two of the eastern route armies were clearly annihilated. Only those attacking Changnyeong and Miryang should be left!"

"How is it possible? There's another army? My shadow warriors didn't tell me?"

Mōri Terumoto immediately said, "There are also things that shadow warriors don't know about. But it's still okay. They're raising dust in the distance, although I don't know how many people there are, but it may be a trick, a bluff. Perhaps the actual number is only a few thousand people."

"Ulsan has a hundred thousand soldiers! Lord Ieyasu, let me lead the troops to kill them!"