In the minds of ordinary people, war is still about arranging troops, two generals clashing, hammering and firing, for dozens of rounds; or it is an army of thousands of horses, charging in and out, seven in and seven out, with blood staining the robes.
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But in actual wars, there is little concern about general Zhang. Especially with the advent of the age of firearms, no matter how high your martial arts skills are, you will be killed just like ordinary soldiers under the lasing lead bullets. There is nothing special about it.
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In medieval Europe, a farmer using a crossbow could kill a rigorously trained and well-equipped knight, which is the best portrayal.
The Dongjiang Army was able to defeat Jianlu, who had superb cavalry and superb martial arts, not only by the sharpness of their firearms, but also by their collective combat after rigorous training.
Not only the infantry, but also the flying cavalry relied on teamwork and cooperation to make up for the lack of individual combat power, so that they could compete with the Jianlu and win.
This is not opportunistic, but the inevitable development of the times, the ultimate version of the evolution of war. Collective strength and the coordination of all arms are the guarantee of victory.
With infantry, cavalry, and artillery, the Dongjiang Army seems to have the same arms as other Ming armies, but in fact they have completely different combat modes.
The artillery is independent and well-trained. The number of artillery is surprisingly large, and the role it plays on the battlefield is completely different.
The cavalry is also relatively independent. As the end of the final pursuit, the fearless charge will defeat the enemy's last will.
After the spring plowing, all associations have been replenished, and both infantry and cavalry, as well as artillery, have entered into intense training.
Especially in Gaizhou, the Sanxie was stationed here. When walking on the road, you can see camps built in battalion units and training grounds, and you can hear gunshots and shouts of killing.
The combination of flintlock gun and bayonet allowed Guo Dajing to finally teach later generations the bayonet fighting technique. The movements were simple and practical, and it became a subject that infantry must learn and meet the standards.
The Dongjiang Army officers were previously required to master two skills, one was musket loading and shooting, and the other was horseback riding. Later, the infantry was added to bayonet fighting, while the flying cavalry was able to chop with swords.
In the distance, the infantrymen were training in the company of killings. Guo Dajing and several generals were milling around the new baggage trucks and artillery carts, evaluating their advantages and disadvantages.
Wu Sun's "The Art of War" says: With a scarf and a cover, it is called a Wugang chariot.
Since the Han Dynasty, Wugang vehicles have gradually evolved from being only used in combat to multi-purpose military vehicles. They can transport cavalry, food, weapons and equipment, ensure the logistics supply of frontline soldiers, and can also be used in combat.
The Wugang chariot built by Guo Dajing and others after brainstorming, looks like a square cabinet with wheels. The cabinet can be filled with grain, grass and ammunition, and a spear is installed outside the cabinet. The top panel of the cabinet is lifted up and supported, which is like a giant shield.
The presence.
When fighting, the front of the car is turned around, the wheels are removed, and a giant shield is used. The musketeers can get cover behind them and place their muskets on the jagged edge of the shield to fire.
"It only takes twenty or thirty breaths from stopping the advance, unloading the wheels, erecting the carriage planks, to the time when the musketeers are ready to fire, which is considered very fast."
Shang Kexi reached out and patted the heavy shield and said: "Added by the horses and the iron caltrops, it should be enough to withstand the impact of the enemy's cavalry."
Guo Dajing believed that it would be difficult to equip all infantry with war horses and turn them into highly mobile lancers within a few years.
In order to improve the mobility of the infantry, it should be a good idea to turn the logistics into mules and horses. This kind of baggage vehicle can not only transport, but also be used as a Wugang vehicle, which can be regarded as killing two birds with one stone.
Guo Dajing is also quite satisfied. The sealing performance of such a baggage truck is still good. The ammunition is loaded in it, so even if it rains, there is no need to worry about getting wet.
He smiled and said, "Even if you don't remove the wheels and use wooden stakes to support the wheels, it won't be possible for just a few people to push them away."
Around the defense line of the vehicle formation, fighting will inevitably take place. For the infantry of the Jianlu, such obstacles are obviously of little effect. The main function of the vehicle formation is to resist the rapid impact of the cavalry.
Set up in conjunction with the vehicle array, there are artillery vehicles parked next to them, which are as wide and narrow as Wugang vehicles.
The Fran cannon is fixed in the middle, with a guard plate in front and a top cover on it. On both sides are raised small wooden cabinets with grids. Each grid contains a sub-cannon, eight in total.
Although it has the disadvantage of poor sealing, its rate of fire is high, and the shotgun shells fired at close range can do a lot of damage to enemies charging intensively.
As for longer-range firepower, there are mortars and rockets. As long as the Jianlu are not quickly broken through and the artillery is given time to set up and adjust the artillery, the Jianlu will be hit by covering firepower.
"Now if our army and Jianlu set up a battle array and attack each other, as long as our positions remain stable, we should not be at a disadvantage."
Guo Dajing is now more confident. With the help of various weapons and equipment, as well as firepower from both distance and distance, he can fight Jianlu in an upright manner and turn it into continuous consumption.
You must know that Jianlu's longest-range attack should be bows and arrows. There are also old-fashioned artillery, but their performance is poor, they are bulky and have a slow rate of fire, and they are also extremely short of artillery personnel.
Moreover, the Dongjiang Army was not without cavalry, and with infantry, cavalry and artillery fighting in coordination, Jianlu's chances of winning were slim.
"The key lies in the strength and resilience of the musketeers. As long as they can withstand the fierce attack of the Jianlu, a few rounds of bombardment by our army's artillery will be enough to cause great confusion to the Jianlu, making it difficult to organize an effective attack."
Li Weiluan pointed at a newly manufactured field cannon and said with a smile: "This guy is good, not too bulky, and the power of the shells is enough to destroy the carriages and penetrate several rows of infantry."
Guo Dajing laughed and said: "Once a large number of troops are manufactured and equipped, the Franco machine cannon will be gradually eliminated. In addition to the rate of fire, this field gun exceeds the Franco machine in terms of power and performance."
Field guns can shoot both solid shells and shotgun shells, and are satisfactory in terms of range and power. Although loading and firing are more cumbersome, this is the trend of development and the direction of the trend.
As for the Hongyi cannon, it is too bulky. Except for being able to be transported up to bombard the city wall during a leisurely siege, or to defend the city, it is difficult to use it in the field.
Therefore, Guo Dajing is constantly adding Hongyi artillery to the navy to improve the strength of the navy. To advance by land and water simultaneously, to attack Liaoshen is already a determined strategic counterattack.
Li Weiluan liked the newly built field artillery very much. Even the gun frame had wheels, and when it was swung there, it exuded a mighty air. The results of the test firing were also satisfactory, and the gun carriage was destroyed with one shot.
"After the defense of Port Arthur, our right association became famous."
Li Weiluan seemed a little troubled, and shook his head with a wry smile, and said: "Everyone thinks that the Youxie is best at defense, guarding Nanguan, defending Black Mountain, and guarding Gaizhou. In fact, the combat power of the Youxie is not inferior to other associations.
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Guo Dajing glanced at Li Weiluan and almost understood his complaint.
In successive battles, whether it was the Battle of Zhenjiang or the cross-sea expedition, Li Weiluan's right assistants were tasked with guarding the home. Although they did not fall short when reporting their merits, there was nothing outstanding about them.
It was not only Li Weiluan who had this mentality, but also Mao Chenglu and Kong Youde. After the victory in Zunhua, they all became more and more intense.
In fact, this is the limit that Guo Dajing can achieve. Liu Xingzhi's Zuo Xie is his own men and horses, which are the most reliable and effective to use. The mixed Xie is drawn from other Xie, and with military exploits, it belongs to everyone.
In response to Li Weiluan's small complaint, Guo Dajing laughed and said: "They are good at defense, and the You Xie will naturally make more concessions. When it comes to the battle strength of each Xie, I also believe it. As for how to assign it, it also depends on the situation at the time.
Condition."
As he spoke, he reached out and patted Li Weiluan's arm, and said with a smile: "It will take several years to destroy the captives in Pingliao. Are you still worried about not having a chance? Stay calm and train your troops well. They are like gold. Sooner or later they will shine."
Since Mao Wenlong was agreed to attack Jianzhou Guards, Mao Chenglu's former assistant would be sent. For the sake of safety, it would be better to add Li Weiluan's right assistant.
Although he is not a member of the headquarters, Guo Dajing's command is somewhat untrustworthy.
But he still believed that Li Weiluan and Mao Chenglu, since they were eager to make achievements, would not slack off in training. They still had about five or six months, which was enough.
Guo Dajing considered this, but did not agree to anything to Li Weiluan. Making random wishes and promises is not Guo Dajing's style. Who knows whether the situation will change significantly?
Accompanied by the generals, Guo Dajing talked about the recent military situation while walking, "Jianlu has reoccupied the Haizhou Acropolis, forming a confrontation with our army across the river. In my opinion, Jianlu may not have the intention to launch an attack.
The season is wrong, and it is difficult to support food and grass supplies..."
In order to take a detour to enter the pass, Huang Taiji implemented a large-scale contraction strategy. On the one hand, it was to ensure the absolute safety of the core ruling area of Liaoshen; on the other hand, it was a helpless measure because of insufficient troops and the occupied area was too large.
Dorgon succeeded Queen Khan, and after finishing the spring plowing, he made redeployments.
In southern Liaoning, the Haizhou Acropolis was reoccupied; in eastern Liaoning, troops were sent out of Lianshanguan and pushed the outpost to Qingyuan Fort to the west of Fengcheng; they also increased troops in Gushan Fort and Kuiyang Fort to put pressure on Kuandian.
Regarding Jianlu's actions, Guo Dajing ordered all ministries to strengthen their vigilance, especially the special operations battalion in the Zhenjiang area and Kong Youde's rear assistants who moved to defend Pi Island.
However, after studying and analyzing the actual situation of Jianlu, Guo Dajing did not think that Jianlu was going to launch an attack. He believed that this was just Jianlu expanding the buffer zone.
First of all, summer is approaching, the climate is getting hotter, and the crisscrossing rivers have a great adverse impact on Jianlu's actions;
Secondly, there was the impact of the Great Famine. The Jianlu captives did not have enough food and supplies to support them in launching a large-scale campaign.
"Perhaps this is just a psychological war carried out by Dorgon after he succeeded to the throne as King Khan to show the difference between him and Huang Taiji. It is too early to say whether it is clever or not."
Guo Dajing pursed his lips slightly, revealed a sneer, and said: "It can be calculated that Jianlu seems to be adding more troops everywhere, but the total does not exceed ten thousand people."
After several years of attrition and the disastrous defeat of Zunhua, Jianlu's troops were already stretched thin. However, under the pressure of the Dongjiang Army, Dorgon recruited again and still maintained about 50,000 troops.
When Huang Taiji took a detour to enter the pass, the Manchus were already wearing armor. Although there were no eight Han banners, at that time, the Han people who were not incorporated into the banners were subject to the military service of twenty soldiers.
According to the productivity in the agricultural era, there is no fixed number of how many people will support a soldier. However, the higher the ratio of soldiers to civilians, the greater the burden will be on the people; the lower the ratio of soldiers to civilians, the smaller the burden will be.
Taking the Three Kingdoms period as an example, the ratio of soldiers to civilians was between 1/15 and 1/30, which was much higher than that of the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties, resulting in extremely difficult lives for the people.
In the Sui Dynasty, the ratio of soldiers to civilians was 1/20, that is, twenty common people supported one soldier. Because the ratio of soldiers to civilians was too high and the burden on the people was heavy, a peasant uprising broke out directly in the Sui Dynasty.
During the Tang Dynasty, the ratio of soldiers to civilians in the early Tang Dynasty was about 1/25; after the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the population increased, and the ratio of soldiers to civilians was 1/75, that is, one soldier had to be supported by about 75 common people.
By the Song Dynasty, the population was close to 100 million, and the army numbered one million. One soldier was supported by one hundred common people.
During the Ming Dynasty, the ratio of soldiers to civilians was about 1/100, with one hundred ordinary people supporting one retired soldier.
From these data, we can see the aggressive militarism of the Later Jin Dynasty and the heavy burden on the civilian population. At the same time, Guo Dajing believed that this was also the end of the road for the Jianlu, who were struggling to their death.
If there is not enough productive labor, how can we support the army? Do you think that spring plowing and planting will be over, and we will be able to slow down this year?
If Zu Dashou and other Ming troops still occupied Jinzhou and Dalinghe City, Jianlu might have a target to plunder and try to make a gamble to tide over the difficulties.
But the current situation seems to have no other targets besides grabbing allies from the Mongols.
Well, another westward expedition to the Chahar tribe is also a way. But the Jianlu have to consider the food and supplies, and they have to worry about the Dongjiang Army taking the opportunity to attack.
The key is that the tiger and the rabbit run too fast, and it would be difficult to give it a decisive blow. The harvest is limited during a long-distance expedition, so it is really not worth the gain.
Guo Dajing carefully analyzed the bad situation facing Jianlu and the possible measures.
This is not to make the generals underestimate the enemy, but to make them better understand the strength comparison between the enemy and ourselves, and the possible countermeasures to be taken.
"In our army's military camps, the entire army is mobilized during busy farming periods, and at least one-third or one-fourth of the troops are engaged in field work during slack farming periods. Only by relying on high-yielding and cold-resistant crops can we ensure the supply of our army.
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"There are no high-yielding or cold-resistant crops in Jianlu. The yield of traditional planting is constantly decreasing, so more fields and more people are needed to cultivate it."
"It has been very difficult to build a captive army this year, and it should be even more difficult to support it next year. The current increase in troops and land occupation is just an illusion, and it is the final madness."
Guo Dajing stopped, glanced at the generals, and said slowly: "The situation between the enemy and ourselves has undergone a fundamental change, but our army must still be stable and not have the mentality of underestimating the enemy and winning quickly."
"According to the population of Dongjiang Town, the number of our troops is already at its limit. Without the influx of large numbers of immigrants, it is almost impossible to expand again."
"This requires our army to be patient, fight steadily, carry out continuous attrition operations against the Jianlu, and continue to widen the gap in strength between the enemy and ourselves. When the time comes, we don't need a hundred thousand troops, and we will have the current elite troops and strong generals.
It is enough to pacify Liao and destroy the captives."