When Chen Jiugao heard that Zhang Cheng actually suggested that his Shenji Battalion's artillery team be used to bombard the piers occupied by the Qing troops on Shimen Mountain, he couldn't help but feel reluctant. He said: "In this artillery formation, our Shenji Battalion is naturally the most powerful."
Good at it, but there are also Tatar thieves stationed on the mountain. I'm afraid that the artillery has not been fired yet, but it will be taken advantage of by the Tatar thieves!"
Zhang Cheng smiled brightly and explained to him again.
In fact, when attacking the pier defense line on this mountain ridge, the artillery team of the Shenji Battalion will basically not be in any danger. They only need to bomb from a distance. Although the Tatars also brought 60 red barbarian cannons, due to the
They are too bulky and difficult to climb up the mountain, and most of them are concentrated in camps around Weijin.
Nowadays, most of the artillery deployed in various camps on the mountain are small artillery, and at most they are medium-sized Folang machine guns, and the number is not large. Basically, they are mainly based on those captured in previous battles in Liaodong.
The national strength of the Qing army was not as good as that of the Ming Dynasty. In addition to its lack of products, it also lacked manpower. Most of the iron materials needed to make firecrackers, swords and guns had to be smuggled from the Ming Dynasty, not to mention the casting of large weapons such as the Hongyi cannon.
.
At the same time, within the Qing army, only the Han armies of King Sanshun such as Kong Youde, Geng Jingzhong, and Shang Kexi, who had defected from the Ming Dynasty, were the most proficient in firearms. They were not as good as those of Xushun Gong Shen Zhixiang, not to mention the four banners of the Han army.
It's even more incomparable.
At this time, the Han army of the Qing Dynasty only formed four banners, and their flags were distinguished by four colors: pure green with yellow, pure green with white, pure green with red, and pure cyan.
Tong Yangxing, who was attached to the Qing Dynasty, was appointed as Angbang Zhangjing and became the nominal general manager of the four banners of the Han army. Shi Tingzhu, Ma Guangyuan, Wang Shixuan, and Bayan were appointed as Gushan Ezhen of the four banners.
The slave chief Huang Taiji began to organize the Han army in the fourth year of Chongzhen. At first, there was only one flag with a blue flag. At that time, Tong Yangxing became the flag of the Han army and worshiped Zhangjing. In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, it was expanded to four flags.
Today's scale is actually only more than 10,000 soldiers.
Huang Taiji's original intention was just to organize the strong Han men under the Eight Banners of Jiannu and learn how to use firearms, so that they could be the vanguard of the army and serve as cannon fodder in wartime.
But later it was discovered that the Han army flags composed of these Han slaves were not only brave in battle, but also observed military disciplines. They were not as fond of looting as the soldiers who built the Eight Banners of slaves, and often failed to observe military disciplines.
He gradually expanded the Han army into four banners. In fact, Huang Taiji's selfish motives were at work here, because he gradually discovered that doing so could weaken the power of the leaders of the Eight Banners of Jianzhou.
It turns out that the Han-coated slaves who formed the Han Army Banner were originally the private property of each banner owner. Now, Huang Taiji extracted the young men from them individually and organized them into the Han Army Banner. They were also freed from the relationship with the original banners.
Affiliation to the master.
This will undoubtedly directly weaken the power of the kings and Baylors who are the leaders of each banner.
Moreover, the newly formed Han army flags started from Angbaizhangjing, went up to Gushan Ezhen of each banner, and went down to Niulu Ezhen of each banner, until they were divided into Boshiku, Boshiku and other large and small officials and commanders.
etc., were all promoted and appointed by Huang Taiji himself.
These newly promoted officials have no relationship with the original banner owners, kings, and beile. They are completely responsible to Huang Taiji alone.
No matter in peacetime or in war, they always followed Huang Taiji, and they were far more loyal to Huang Taiji than the banner leaders, kings and beile of the Eight Banners of Jianzhou.
This made him feel an indescribable feeling more deeply. This feeling was the so-called freedom of doing whatever he wanted. He finally had a military force that he could trust and could command and dispatch as he pleased without having to discuss it with anyone.
strength.
This made him pay more and more attention to and trust the banners of the Han army.
In history, the Han army expanded from the Four Banners to the Eight Banners, and even played a great role in the Qing army's entry into the Pass and the subsequent battle for the Central Plains.
At this moment, the Han army gathered outside Jinzhou City only has about 6,000 people under the two banners. In addition, there are more than 9,000 people from King Sanshun, and more than 1,000 people from Xushun Gong Shen Zhixiang. The total is only 10,000.
Just six to seven thousand soldiers.
They also need to disperse to various camps such as Rufeng Mountain, Shimen Mountain, Huangtu Ridge, Songshan Ridge, etc. At the same time, there are 60 Hongyi cannons and other artillery in the camps besieging Jinzhou, and soldiers are also needed to stay there.
Therefore, there are not many Han artillery on the mountains such as Shimen Mountain and Huangtu Ridge. Some artillery must be concentrated in the main camps on the tops of various mountains, and some artillery can only be placed on the piers and platforms of each mountain ridge.
Besides, the artillery team of Shenji Battalion only needs to fire artillery from a distance of one or two miles away. What danger can there be at such a distance?
However, Zhang Cheng also suggested that after capturing the piers and platforms in the mountains around Shimen Mountain, the artillery battalion soldiers of the Shenji Battalion should take advantage of the victory to advance along the mountains to bombard the east and west Shimen Tatar camps.
He said: "There is a Niangniang Temple on the mountainside outside West Shimen, only about two miles away from West Shimen. It overlooks the West Shimen Mountain Road, and its location is very important.
Moreover, at this location, mortars can also be used to bombard the main ridge on the mountain. Although the distance is a bit far and the angle is difficult to control, it is still more suitable than elsewhere.
Therefore, the artillery battalion of the Shenji Battalion must capture this place to threaten the Tatar defenders within the range and provide maximum firepower assistance to the attacking friendly forces."
Chen Jiugao's expression changed when he heard this. Since the location of the Empress Temple was so important, the Tatar thieves would not fail to notice it, and how could they be unprepared?
As for what his Shenji Camp looks like, Chen Jiugao himself knows best. It is okay to shoot a cannon from a distance, or even defend a city. If there is a solid fortress, he is confident that he can defend it for a while.
But now Zhang Cheng wants them to capture the important land of Niangniang Temple. How can the soldiers of Shenji Battalion handle this bloody battle?
Wouldn't this cost him his life?
What's more, if the artillery array of the Shenji Battalion is arrayed on the flat hills near the Empress Temple, wouldn't it mean that they would exchange fire with the artillery on the top of the Tatar Mountain? This would be very dangerous!
Looking at the look on Chen Jiugao's face, Zhang Cheng comforted him with gentle words and said: "Don't worry, brother Jiugao. There is Yang Shuai in the west direction of Shimen. Li Shuai and his troops are responsible for the main attack. They will help you clear out the Tatar thieves and remove them."
Obstacle.
If Yang Shuai and the others cannot separate themselves, our Xuanbei Army will also send an elite force to seize the important land of the Empress Temple, and our Shenji Battalion will just have to do a good job of artillery!"
He continued: "As for the artillery deployed by the Tatars on the top of the mountain, there is no need to worry. Their heavy artillery failed to reach the top of the mountain. If the small artillery fired at them, we would be afraid of them.
What's more, this place is almost two miles away from the mountains. It's not easy for the Tatar artillery to hit our artillery array, so there is no need to worry about the layout of the artillery battalion of Shenji Battalion. Besides, our Shenhuo Flying Crow, mortar cannon and other sharp weapons
, if we don't arrange it there, we won't be able to defeat the Tatar thieves.
Don’t forget, when it comes to gunplay, we are from the grandfather’s generation, so the Tatars have to call us their ancestors!”
Yang Guozhu, Wu Sangui and others were extremely moved, especially Yang Guozhu who encouraged Chen Jiugao: "Don't worry, Mr. Chen, I will divide a team of elite soldiers to capture the Niangniang Temple for you. The Shenji Battalion will just fire the artillery."
Hong Chengchou stroked his beard with a calm expression and said: "General Zhang's proposal is indeed feasible."
Seeing everyone saying this, Yang Guozhu promised to capture the Niangniang Temple, and Governor Hong Chengchou agreed to Zhang Cheng's proposal.
Chen Jiugao, the former commander of the Shenji Battalion, gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind. Killing slaves on the battlefield was a matter of risking one's life. If one wanted military glory, how could one not take some risks?