Zhang Cheng knew that the attack on Shimen Mountain was a foregone conclusion and that he was destined to be unable to change it. In order to enhance the fighting spirit and morale of the generals, he added: "Commanders, you don't have to be too afraid of the slave thieves' Hongyi cannon and other firearms. These artillery can only reach It is far away, but cannot attack close. As long as our army can withstand its range, the Tatars will fire down from the mountains, but it will be harmless to me."
Then, he briefly explained the problem of the blind spot. Although the gun could hit the mountain far away, due to the field of vision, as long as it crossed their shooting range, the artillery could not hit the target.
After Zhang Cheng's explanation, everyone suddenly understood that this is like a cannon mounted on a city wall, isn't it the same?
It’s just that the blind spot is not as big as it is on the mountain!
Starting from the 5th day of August in the 14th year of Chongzhen, for two consecutive days, each camp of the Ming army cut down a large number of trees. In addition to building reinforced forts, they also quietly built equipment for attacking fortresses, such as angry-spoke chariots and ram chariots. , curtain cars, trench bridges, light ladders, etc.
Since it is not an attack on a fortified city, the requirements for making these instruments are not very high. Relatively speaking, they are mainly light and flexible, but the instruments that protect our own soldiers are still mainly strong.
In addition, there are also a large number of various chariots collected from the Liaodong garrison, and all the commanders in charge of the camp, and a large number of civilians have been gathered to collect wheelbarrows, two-wheeled vehicles, longboards, etc. from various places. Carry earth bags and earth baskets for filling trenches in future wars.
Some unicycles and a small number of two-wheeled vehicles were temporarily transformed into fire chariots. The so-called "fire chariots" were just trolleys with a rocket box temporarily installed.
A large number of rocket boxes and rocket boxes were taken out from the Songshan warehouse. They could not be held by the soldiers and carried to the battlefield, so they were temporarily converted into fire fighting vehicles.
The Ming Dynasty's huge manpower and material resources were fully utilized at this moment and played a positive role. A large number of materials and equipment were continuously collected for attacking critical problems.
It can be seen from this that although the Ming Dynasty was terminally ill, its people's power and popular support were still strong and had not been lost. If the organization was effective, it would not be comparable to the Liaodong Tatars.
Such a huge Han empire is now going downhill, and it is still going downhill at a rapid pace. How can it not be sad?
Zhang Cheng stood on the mountainside, watching the soldiers and civilians busy going back and forth below, watching the big trees fall down and the siege equipment standing up, but he felt mixed emotions in his heart.
Wei Zhice was beside him and asked softly: "Commander, do you think this Shimen Mountain can be taken down?
After a long time, Zhang Chengcai said leisurely: "It doesn't matter whether we can capture Shimen Pass or whether we can solve the siege of Jinzhou."
Wei Zhice's body couldn't help but tremble. He didn't understand the meaning of Zhang Cheng's words, but since he followed Zhang Cheng, he was always impressed by Zhang Cheng's advanced understanding and thinking beyond ordinary people.
Therefore, he didn't ask too many questions and just stood quietly behind Zhang Cheng, watching with him the nervous and busy sergeants and civilians.
"As long as we can kill more Tartar thieves and cavalry, the siege of Jinzhou will be solved!"
Sure enough, even if Wei Zhice didn't ask, Zhang Cheng took the initiative to express his opinion. He continued: "Actually, this battle is all about consumption. Although the Tatar army is strong, after all, the population is not strong and the products are not abundant. .
And even if our Ming Dynasty is faced with internal and external troubles, it will still have a vast territory, rich resources, and prosperous people. The imperial spirit of three hundred years has been particularly strong, like a centipede insect that dies but does not freeze. If we can really work together and manage it properly, let alone Tartar thieves or bandits. None of them can shake the foundation of the country."
Wei Zhice also sighed and said: "There are constant natural and man-made disasters, and man-made disasters are better than natural disasters. What's more, the officials in the court are mediocre, and the officials in the state government are greedy and have no regard for the life and death of the people, forcing them to lose their livelihood.
The common people followed thieves one after another
It just so happens that there are talented people today, but no general strategy. They are determined to revitalize the government. Although they work hard to govern, wear clothes and eat every night, and do everything personally, they are stubborn and suspicious, and they cannot recognize and trust people. For example, Governor Lu and others are loyal to the country.
Instead, suffer the consequences.
Alas, today’s Ming Dynasty is so difficult!”
Zhang Cheng couldn't help but be a little surprised. Although he had great trust in Wei Zhice and tried his best to train and promote him, he always believed that he was still loyal to the emperor and the court.
Now after hearing Wei Zhice's words, I couldn't help but start to look at him differently.
Just listen to Zhang Cheng say: "Severe diseases require strong medicines, and when the country is about to be in chaos, it should be treated with heavy laws.
He turned around and said to Wei Zhice: "Regulate officials and history with strict rules and regulations so that they do not dare to be greedy and harm the people, and then comfort the people so that they can have a full meal and gradually resume production, then the world will not be in chaos.
You know the policy, be strict with the officials, and be lenient with the people. This combination of lenience and severity is the way to calm the people, enrich the country, and strengthen the army!"
Wei Zhice nodded as if he had realized something, and said: "It's just that we have a long way to go, and how difficult it is." Zhang Cheng looked at him with bright eyes and a determined expression, and said: "There is a long way to go. That's why we need to overcome the thorns and move forward indomitably.
.”
He raised his hand and slapped Wei Zhice heavily on the shoulder, saying: "We will overcome all difficulties, even if we risk our lives, we will do it for the benefit of future generations!"
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he stood up with his hands behind his hands, raised his head to look at the sky, and said to himself: "I would like to turn into a candlelight and burn myself out so that my Ming Dynasty can reopen the sun, moon and sky, and the people can be healthy and come to visit from all directions!"
Wei Zhice looked at Zhang Cheng, who was standing in front of him with his hands behind his back, and suddenly felt that his figure was extremely tall, and there seemed to be an extremely powerful power hidden under his huge figure.
His heart moved, and with a "plop", he knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and saluted, and said loudly: "Zhi Ce is willing to follow the commander-in-chief, overcome all obstacles, and move forward indomitably. I swear to the death to assist the commander-in-chief to reopen the sun, moon and sky, so that the people are healthy and all nations come to court!
"
Zhang Cheng looked back at Wei Zhice who was kneeling on the ground. Seeing his excited expression and firm eyes, he felt very satisfied and said lightly: "Get up!
He then looked at the busy soldiers and civilians at the foot of the mountain, and guessed in his heart: As long as this war in Liaodong will no longer be like in history, it will not be defeated thousands of miles away, and all the elites will be wiped out.
Ming Dynasty still has a lot to do!
Although the Ming army's strategic preparations in Songshan were secretive, they were also keenly noticed by the Qing army's whistle.
After all, an army of hundreds of thousands was about to move, so how could it be completely hidden? Fortunately, Hong Chengchou's trick of suspecting the soldiers played a certain role.
In the past two days, the Ming Dynasty troops and horses mobilized a lot to Huangtu Ridge, Songshan Ridge and other places, which attracted the Tatar sentries to frequently go to the mountain slopes to spy nearby to detect the movement of the Ming army.
Sentinel cavalry and servant elite cavalry under the generals of the Ming army were also sent out one after another to carry out a resolute counterattack, trying their best to cover the battlefield from Songshan Fort to Huangtu Ridge and Songshan Ridge. The elites of both sides launched a fierce encounter in this area, and the smell of gunpowder around Songshan Fort was
, getting thicker and thicker.
At the same time, various officials and generals are also having repeated discussions on the final tactics to attack the mountain, and there are even fierce disputes among them!