Due to the fierce offensive of the Tatars, they reached the low wall several times, and the two sides had to fight hand-to-hand. The Xuanfu army on Changling Mountain also suffered casualties, and Chen Zheng was forced to retreat to the second line of defense behind him.
At the same time, he also mobilized a large number of young civilians, who were registered and immediately incorporated into the army to make up for the shortfall caused by casualties. If they participated in the war, they would have good food and some dried fish, although they were all in bulk.
, but it is also extremely rare.
What's more, the Xuanfu Army is the only battalion in the Ming Dynasty that can pay on time. Even military merits and heads here are rewarded in real terms, without any exploitation or deduction.
Therefore, all the civilian husbands signed up actively and enthusiastically. In the end, Chen Zheng had to expand the number several times because most of these civilian husbands were local military households in Liaodong.
Not only are they physically strong, but they are also full of resilience. Because they are from military backgrounds and live in Liaodong, a place where wars are constant, almost everyone has combat experience.
They are indeed rare and excellent sergeant seeds!
Chen Zheng fell in love with everyone he met. Furthermore, these men in Liaodong had already had enough hardships. Now they saw that the Xuanfu army was well fed and could eat meat every now and then. They had long been envious of it.
Now that you have the opportunity to join, how can you let it go?
Seeing this situation, Chen Zheng actually made the decision without authorization, changing the original decision of just supplementing the losses of troops. Instead, on top of this, he recruited a full 1,500 more people and temporarily organized them into a battalion of 500 people.
Three battalions of infantry.
This proposal was also supported by Liu Jingzhu, the governor of the camp. These governors had a very special position in the army. They were responsible for supervising the generals and investigating the merits and demerits of each general.
But after Zhang Cheng's series of rectifications, in addition to their supervisory and disciplinary responsibilities in the military, they also assumed a certain staff role and had the right to make suggestions on all major and minor matters.
In addition to specific tactical command, they also have veto power in many areas, but they must not use it lightly!
Now, with the support of Liu Jingzhu, Chen Zheng was even more emboldened. He assigned the newly organized three battalions of soldiers and horses to the original three commanders of the left, middle and right departments.
At the same time, 800 strong and healthy men were also recruited to serve as the army's strong men and assigned them to the carriage camp. They mainly helped to transfer artillery positions, move carriages, and carry ammunition, cannons, etc.
The remaining civilians were also mobilized by him, and were responsible for repairing the camp walls and other defensive facilities that were damaged by the war, polishing stones, forging horses, etc.
Anyway, there is enough food stored in Changling Mountain, and it is useless to keep it. It is just a good way to mobilize everyone's enthusiasm and have a full meal. If the Tatars really break through the defense line on the mountain, they will have more strength when they fight to the death.
Chisouda Akiyu from the left even suggested that civilians be allowed to practice throwing stones of the same size against thousands of enemies in preparation for war.
However, this proposal was directly rejected by Chen Zheng. He knew that the grenadiers in the carriage camp were all carefully selected and trained for more than a year before they dared to use them on the battlefield.
What effect can these short-term exercises of common people have?
You must know that throwing thousands of enemies is not just about brute strength. The most important thing is to have good psychological quality and not have too much fear of the "呲呲" flaming fuse.
In addition, the time and intensity must be just right. If you throw it too early, you may fall into the Tatar formation, and the fuse may be broken or destroyed. If you throw it too late, you may endanger your own life.
This is not like the grenades of later generations. The fuze delay technology is very mature, and you can throw it after a short period of practice.
It was precisely for this reason that Chen Zheng did not dare to let them practice throwing against thousands of enemies.
Because he couldn't guarantee whether these civilians, under fear, would let ten thousand enemies bomb them, or even throw them into the formation of the Xuanfu Army soldiers ahead.
…………
Manchuria is embroidered with red flags on the mountain, and the forehead is really full of the sea. He is dressed in gilt armor and is standing next to Prince Duduo of Yu.
Compared to Gushan Ezhen Ashan and Baiyintu of the two yellow flags, Duduo treated Mandahai quite politely. After all, he was the seventh son of Prince Li Daishan, and the strength of the two red flags behind him should not be underestimated.
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Unlike Ashan, Baiyintu and the others, their own strength is limited. In Duduo's eyes, they are just two dogs raised by Huang Taiji.
At this time, the main force attacking the mountain had been replaced by Xiangbai Banner and Xianghong Banner warriors, while the Zhenghuang Banner, under the command of Gushan Ezhen Ashan, moved upstream from the valley, preparing to sneak attack on the flank of the Xuanfu Army.
After two days of fighting, the coated slaves who came with the army suffered heavy casualties, but their deaths were not in vain. It was precisely because of their sacrifice that the trenches in front of the formation were filled up, allowing the Qing army to successfully break through the first line of defense.
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Of course, the Qing army also paid a heavy price for this. Mongolia, the outer vassal, was almost crippled and had lost its will to fight. Even the Mongolian Two Yellow Banners and the Manchurian Yellow Banner suffered heavy losses.
Especially the two yellow banners of Mongolia. On the first day, they served as the main attack in the second round, and on the second day, they assisted the Manchurian yellow banners to attack the mountains. The loss of men and horses exceeded more than one-third.
In fact, only Xiangbaiqi and the newly arrived Xianghongqi are still intact, so today they will be the main attackers.
The Manchuria Zhenghuang Banner had been playing auxiliary role before and had not really participated in the offensive, so it was sent by Duduo to go retrograde along the valley and attack the flank of the Xuanfu Army.
Within the Qing Dynasty, the status of kings has always been measured by the strength of each banner. This is also true for Gushan Ezhen, Meile Ezhen, Jia La Zhangjing, Niu Lu Zhangjing, etc. of each banner.
Therefore, every time they went to war, the princes and princes of each banner tried their best to encourage the warriors in the banner to attack fiercely, hoping to plunder more slaves and goods, so as to increase their own strength.
Since the Hou Jin Dynasty was transformed into the Qing Dynasty by Huang Taiji, the private plundering system originally pursued was abolished. Instead, all plundering was owned by the public, and then distributed according to the merits of each banner.
However, in order to encourage each flag to compete for the lead, it was still stipulated that whichever flag looted more would get more in the end. However, no matter how the spoils were divided, Huang Taiji's two yellow flags would always get the most in the end.
It is through this method that the strength of the two yellow flags has continued to grow, arousing the jealousy of other flags!
Now, at the foot of the Little Changling Mountain, the troops were lost. Although Duduo's personal revenge factor was involved, from a military command point of view, it was understandable.
However, the great loss of Xianghuangqi's strength will affect the balance of power within the Qing Dynasty, and it will also foreshadow many future variables!
Now, because there were so many casualties among the coated slaves, even the remnant soldiers from the outer Mongolia were driven out to push the few shield carts in front.
Although they were full of complaints, after all, the Tatar thieves were powerful, so how could they dare to resist?
Manchuria's White Flag Baya La Camp was allocated Shikule Qihun, and this time he also brought two soldiers with him to fight. Originally, it was just Wang Erdan who took the initiative to go to the battle, and he made some achievements because of it.
Jia La Zhang Jing promised half a future.
But as the war progressed, not to mention Le Qihun's wrappings, even the wrappings brought by Jia La Zhangjing went to the battlefield. Now, only Wang Erdan is still alive.
It is said that this Wang Erdan is really lucky, but I don’t know if his luck is as great. You have to look at the future!
He was the first to actively request to fight. From the afternoon of the first day, he participated in almost all the mountain attacks in the past two days. During this period, he was shocked to the point of fainting by the Ming army's artillery shells several times, but even so, he remained strong.
survived.
But now he has changed into a white-trimmed jacket that is 80% new. This is only available to real soldiers with white-trimmed flags. It was personally gifted to him by True Turge with the white-trimmed flags on his forehead.
Although this is just an ordinary jacket, in Wang Erdan's eyes, this jacket seems to be more precious than the yellow vests obtained by the Batulu warriors of the Qing Dynasty.
Today, he is extraordinary. He no longer always bends down and lowers his head like before. It is as if he is a different person. He actually starts to raise his head and raise his chest, and his face is filled with pride and confidence that he did not have in the past.
At this moment, he felt that he had reached the pinnacle of his life. He was holding his master's horse in his hand and looking at the slaves pushing the shield chariot in the distance. He felt extremely happy, as if he was no longer the same kind of person as them.
Ba Yala, who was wearing a white flag, was assigned to Shikuleqihun. At this time, he was standing beside him with the warriors in his team, gearing up to join the battle at any time.
…………
The Qing army had already broken through the first low wall, and what lay before their eyes were intricate trenches and low walls.
What is different from before is that these trenches and low walls seem to be completely irregular, but they seem to be connected in some way.
But now they could no longer think about it carefully. They pushed their shield chariots and rushed forward along the roads reserved by the Ming army. The Qing army with the white flag focused on the northeast corner, and the Qing army with the red flag focused on the southeast corner.
As they went higher and higher, the Qing army between the two banners could no longer communicate with each other and was completely blocked by the raised rocks. At this moment, there were two fronts, the north and the south.
No, there are also Zhenghuang Banner Qing troops going up against the stream.
The officers and soldiers of the Xuanfu Army under Chen Zheng were facing a three-sided attack by the Tatars, with more than 10,000 Tatars rushing towards them.
However, the trenches in this section were crisscrossed, and the shield vehicles often had to change routes after advancing for a while. At first, they were cautious and vigilant.
But there seemed to be no Ming army behind the low walls of these trenches. Apart from the sound of the Tatars pushing their shield chariots, there was the sound of their own footsteps.
"Put up your shield, be careful, there's something fucking wrong!"
A Tatar Niulu Zhangjing with a red flag seemed to feel something, and he reminded loudly.
Following his reminder, the Tatar shield soldiers in the front row hurriedly raised their large shields and protected them in front of them, while the archers behind them were also alertly raising their bows and preparing arrows, always ready to deal with crises.
"Boom!"
After a soft sound, the signal cannon shot into the sky, rising high against the dazzling sun, emitting a dazzling red light, and trailing a tail of red smoke, which was really beautiful.
"No! Be on guard...set up the shield car...set up..." All the Tatar officers with red flags shouted nervously.
Almost at the same time, the sound of the swan-tone trumpet suddenly came, followed by the roar of "Bang! Bang! Bang!...", just like New Year's firecrackers, "cracking".
non-stop.
Although the Tatars with red flags were reminded and ordered by various officers, they were still in panic under such intensive bombardment. The shield car was hit with a "squeaking" sound, and debris flew in all directions.
.
Many shields were penetrated and cracked. Dozens of Qing soldiers fell to the ground and struggled, including more than ten Tatar soldiers with red flags.
However, they were quick to respond, and most of them hid behind the shield cart. The thick and bulky shield cart could withstand the blast of fire cannons, and even though it was hit with sawdust flying everywhere, it could not penetrate it.
Some Tatar soldiers who reacted quickly raised their hands and fired an arrow. Many soldiers of the Xuanfu Army were killed or wounded by the cold arrows of the Tatars, and most of them were killed by arrows in their mouths, noses and eyes.
However, the Xuanfu Army's fire cannons were unable to fire continuously. Although they were divided into three batches and fired in turn, there was still a certain time gap between each round.
The Tatar soldiers who attacked the mountain had already adapted. They took advantage of this gap and kept advancing.
However, the enemy of ten thousand people who worried them has never appeared. Even artillery of all kinds and sizes has never been seen in front of today's formation. The Tatars must think that there is not enough ammunition and artillery.
However, the actual situation is not far different from their imagination!
The Xuanfu army had indeed hoarded a large amount of grain, gunpowder, cannons and other items on Changling Mountain, but Chen Zheng was now unable to determine how many days he would need to hold on on Changling Mountain.
Therefore, he also cherishes the gunpowder and cannons necessary for defense and never dares to waste them easily.
After two consecutive days of fierce fighting, a lot had been used up. He also knew that under the current situation, even if reinforcements arrived, they would not be able to replenish much supplies.
Therefore, since Duduo led the Qing army to the foot of Changling Mountain, the Xuanfu army's grain supply has been open. Anyway, once this place is lost, these grains will also be burned. Rather than doing this, it is better for everyone to eat a few full meals first.
.
As for all kinds of artillery, rockets, and the enemy of ten thousand people, he would save it until the critical moment before using it, so as to inflict maximum damage on the Tatars, and even take the initiative to abandon the first line of defense in order to shrink his troops.
Here, it is already the middle of Changling Mountain. As the mountain becomes steeper, the advancement of the shield vehicle becomes more difficult, and each point of advancement consumes more manpower.
Seeing that the Ming army's gunmen were less than sixty steps away, a Jia La Zhangjing with a red flag roared loudly: "Kill, go up and kill all the Nikans!"
The mountains and plains were filled with Tatars dressed in red armor. They roared angrily and rushed forward with shields raised. The momentum was huge and shocking. Suddenly, from the gap in the low wall in front of them, the muzzles of black holes poked out.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."
Artillery such as Fo Lang machine, mortar gun, Bai Zigun and other artillery exploded and fired in volleys. For a while, the fire flashed continuously, and the smoke billowed upward, and was blown away by the mountain wind.
The Tatar soldiers with red flags came like a tide, and fell down one by one amidst loud noises, and the sound of wailing and roaring echoed throughout Changling Mountain. This chapter has been completed!