Early on the morning of the twenty-sixth day of the sixth month, the Ming army drew up their battle lines and launched an attack. Hooge led the Eight Banners to meet them. The two sides engaged in a fierce struggle until noon, when both sounded the retreat to recall their forces. After a quick lunch, both sides returned to the battlefield to contend once more.
Toward three in the afternoon, Lekdehun led several thousand men to the middle reaches of the Ningyuan East River. The Ningyuan East River and Ningyuan West River converged at the southeastern corner of Ningyuan City; their upper and middle reaches ran independently, while their lower reaches joined to form a single stream. Thirty floating craft carrying thirty men on a suicide mission sped downstream with the current.
The Ming soldiers along the bank quickly noticed something amiss. Shooting at the floating craft as they went, they also reported the news to Wang Yongji, Governor-General of Pingliao.
Chapter 797