Chapter 225: The First Achievement Since the Liao War
"Ah! Defeated... unexpectedly defeated..."
Sheng Zhong, a member of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, had a look of horror on his face and murmured in his mouth.
His eyes were full of disbelief. He raised his hands and rubbed them vigorously, then looked intently again. He saw that on the battlefield ahead, his own infantry and cavalry formations were filled with thick smoke and dust that kept rolling upwards.
Then all the heavy armored infantry and the brave cavalry of the Qing Dynasty fled back, as if there were man-eating devils behind them.
The dense "rumbling" explosion sounds continued to come from far away, even his own feet were shaken slightly, and as the bombardment continued to advance, the billowing smoke and dust got closer and closer.
Zhasak Shanba, the leader of the Mongolian Tumed Right Banner in the outer vassal vassal, was defeated by the Xuanfu army and horses who came back for reinforcements on the first day and suffered heavy losses, so he was not ordered to fight today.
Therefore, he stayed in the rear formation to wait for military orders. However, the scene in front of him shocked him so much that Shanba's legs were trembling and he murmured: "We are defeated...then we are defeated?...
…The Qing Dynasty… was actually defeated…”
Looking at the Tatar infantry and cavalry with white flags and Zhenghuang banners retreating in front of them, Shanba looked at a loss. He looked blankly at the retreating Qing army and murmured: "The Qing Dynasty was defeated... so what?"
Good?...The Qing Dynasty was defeated...what should we do..."
Sheng Zhong, who participated in the political affairs of the Qing Dynasty's Metropolitan Procuratorate, had recovered from his initial panic. He glanced at the helpless Shanba with contempt on his face and shouted angrily: "You useless thing, shut your mouth."
Sheng Zhong's eager yell made Shanba immediately become silent. He didn't dare to make any more noise, but a sly look flashed in his eyes when he looked at Sheng Zhong.
It was obvious that Shanba had made up his mind and was about to reconsider his relationship with the Qing Dynasty!
However, he didn't dare to show it at all now. Shanba followed Sheng Zhong very obediently and asked softly: "Sheng Zhengzheng, what should we do? I'm afraid that Prince Yu has already..."
Sheng Zhong turned around and looked at Shanba who was about to speak, then looked at the smoke and dust still rising in the distance. He sighed and said: "Withdraw, first gather the army and return to camp, and then decide where to go!"
Shanba was noncommittal. He naturally knew that he had no say in such urgent matters, so he followed Sheng Zhong in silence and hurriedly retreated.
Although Sheng Zhong participated in the political affairs of the Qing Dynasty's Metropolitan Procuratorate and was responsible for supervising officials and generals, and could participate in discussing political affairs, he was not dedicated to official duties like the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty.
The civil servants of the Qing Dynasty, such as Han Chinese like Fan Wencheng, were able to ride and charge alongside military generals, not to mention the Manchu and Mongolian civil servants.
But the most basic ability.
Therefore, even though Sheng Zhong held a position in the Metropolitan Procuratorate and participated in politics, he certainly had no problem with marching and fighting.
Being calm and collected, he had already clearly observed the situation on the battlefield and knew that today's defeat was certain. There was no need to continue to struggle with the Ming army on the opposite side.
As for the life and death of Prince Duduo of Yu, Sheng Zhong had no time to care about it at this moment. He gave an order in a deep voice, ordered a group of Qing cavalry to stay behind, and even arranged for the troops to respond to the retreat.
After that, he hurriedly rode back to the camp and went to Zhenmandahai, a mountain with a red flag, to report the situation of the battle here.
…………
"Send the order, sound the golden drum, collect the troops and return to camp!"
Xia Shuncheng, the governor of Chichengying Town, heard that his commander Zhang Cheng had issued an order to withdraw his troops during a great victory. He was unwilling to accept it and asked hurriedly: "Commander, our army has won a great victory today. It is time to take advantage of the victory to pursue the enemy."
At that time, why did you suddenly call for gold and withdraw your troops?"
Zhang Cheng smiled calmly and said: "You only know that our army is victorious on the battlefield, but you don't see that the front is full of thick smoke and dust?"
He raised his hand and pointed at the smoke and dust that was still rising in front of him, and said to Xia Shuncheng: "In addition to the iron slag and gravel used to attack the enemy, the explosive shells fired by our army's flying artillery also contained a large amount of poison.
When the explosive bomb explodes, it will be stimulated by the high temperature generated by the deflagration of gunpowder, and will form dense poisonous smoke, which will spread around, allowing our army's explosive bomb to double as a poisonous smoke bomb."
Fang Zhihai, the governor of the Cavalry Camp, suddenly had an epiphany. He slapped his forehead and said: "I know, the smoke ahead is mixed with poisonous smoke. If my soldiers pursue the slaves and thieves, they may be injured by the poisonous smoke."
!”
Zhang Cheng smiled and said: "That's exactly the reason."
He continued: "In today's battle, our officers and soldiers of the Xuanfu Army suffered heavy casualties, but looking at the situation on the battlefield, the Tatars have two flags with white and yellow flags, so the damage may be even more serious.
Moreover, due to the fierce artillery fire and the permeable poisonous smoke, our army was unable to retreat with the corpses of wounded and wounded Tatars as it did in the past. In this battle, our army is afraid that we will behead more than a thousand Tatars."
"It's more than a thousand, the commander is conservative. I think the number of Tatar casualties is at least two thousand."
Fang Zhihai continued with pride on his face: "There are even three thousand people."
"Great achievement, beheading three thousand people, and beheading three thousand true barbarians in one battle, this is an unprecedented great achievement!"
Xia Shuncheng even exclaimed again and again. He had been extremely concerned about the situation on the battlefield just now, and he also agreed with Fang Zhihai's estimation in his heart.
"This great victory in this battle, and the fact that we defeated the Tatar thieves' plan to cut off our food routes and the army's return route in one fell swoop, is already our first achievement since the Liao War. As for the number of beheadings, it is just the icing on the cake."
Zhang Cheng looked at the two of them and continued: "In today's battle, the soldiers of our Chicheng Battalion also suffered heavy casualties. In addition to assessing and recording the merits of each general and sergeant, you two also want to appease the soldiers of the infantry camp. Mo
It makes them feel timid and lose their fighting spirit."
"The last general takes command!"
Zhang Cheng raised his head and looked at the sky. It was almost the end of the day, and the sky had been gloomy for almost a whole day. Only then did a piece of fish belly white appear, and a trace of golden sunset light penetrated the thick clouds and gradually spread to the earth.
The veteran general Guo Yingxian rode his horse to the general station of the Chinese army. He turned over and dismounted. Before he could reach the general station, his voice had already arrived: "General soldier, why don't you pursue the Tatars? Even if the poisonous smoke blocks the road, my cavalry will
You can also go around it."
Zhang Cheng looked at this hot-tempered old brother, shook his head, and then said to him with a smile: "The captives are coming and going like the wind. Since they have decided to retreat, even if my army bypasses the poisonous smoke, it will still be gone."
How can we catch up with it?"
Guo Yingxian also knew that what Zhang Cheng said was the truth, but he was still unwilling to accept it, so he said loudly: "Then...then chase all the way to the Tatar camp and wipe out all the dirty Tatars."
Zhang Cheng was helpless, but he also knew that he was resentful and wanted to avenge his boss, Yang Guozhu, so he was so eager, so he could only persuade him kindly: "As the saying goes, don't chase the poor enemy.
Today, we relied on the power of artillery fire to defeat the Tatars. It was not a bloody battle. They have not lost their fighting spirit and still have the strength to fight. However, the Tatars are eager to escape. If we pursue them, they will see that there is no hope of survival.
Fight to the death.
What if our cavalry and army chase them outside the Tartar camp?
They retreated into the camp and held fast with the power of their bows and arrows. They could not be broken at once. Moreover, according to the military reports, there were still Tatar soldiers with red flags and horses who did not participate in today's battle with me. Their casualties are unknown. How could we risk it?
Then advance the troops!"
Guo Yingxian was speechless by Zhang Cheng's words, but he was still a little unconvinced in his heart. He turned around and looked in the direction where the Tatars were retreating, his eyes still filled with resentment.
…………
After the battle that day, the Xuanfu army did not withdraw to the camp until the end of Youshi to rest, rescue wounded soldiers, and bury pots to make rice.
The reason why they withdrew an entire hour later than the Qing army was simply to clean up the battlefield. After all, as the victorious side, we always have to collect as many results as possible.
Although the Xuanfu army at this time no longer relied solely on the enemy's heads to evaluate military merit, the Ming court still attached great importance to capturing the enemy's heads in every battle.
In this battle, a total of 3,347 Tartar heads were captured. In order to facilitate the transfer of the army, not a single person was left alive, and all were turned into heads.
At the same time, more than 2,000 horses were killed and more than 2,000 horses were injured by the Tatars on the battlefield. Although most of them fell down in the poisonous smoke, the poisonous smoke only harmed their lungs because they did not last long.
After processing, only the internal organs of these horses were removed, as well as the exposed wounds of each war horse. These were dug and buried together with the corpses of the Tatars.
In addition to the eighty-nine Mongolian cavalry heads captured in the trenches of Songxing Avenue, Zhang Cheng's troops have won two consecutive battles since returning to Xingshan, and the total number of beheadings totaled 3,430.
six.
Moreover, all of them are the heads of Zhenyi, which is indeed a piece of special merit. This is the number one achievement in aiding the Liao Dynasty. I am afraid it must be Zhang Cheng of Xuanfu Town!
In addition, the corpses of Duduo, Prince of Henan and the Puppet Qing Dynasty, the owner of the Biangbai Banner, and the corpses of Baya Lazhang Jing Eshuo, the leader of the Biangbai Banner, were also collected. During this battle, they were the only two whose whole bodies were preserved!
Even Zhang Cheng was not willing to take off the armor on their bodies, and E Shuo's large banner was also captured by the Xuanfu army, but Duduo's golden dragon banner was taken away under the protection of E Shuo.
But Zhang Cheng repeatedly called "what a pity"!
In this battle, although the Xuanfu army achieved great success, which was unprecedented since the war between the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Xuanfu army also suffered heavy casualties.
According to statistics, 67 people were killed and 149 injured in the Xuanfu Military Vehicle Battalion, while 398 people were killed and 874 injured in the Chicheng Battalion.
Such huge casualties were the first time since the Xuanfu Army formed an army. Although calculated based on the ratio of casualties between the two sides participating in the war, the Xuanfu Army did take a huge advantage.
If it were placed on other Ming troops, I am afraid they would be overjoyed and celebrate grandly. But for the Xuanfu army, especially the Chicheng camp, it is difficult to accept.
After all, the previous battles had been too smooth. Since the formation of the Xuanfu Army, they had always defeated the enemy with extremely low casualty ratios.
Being so used to it, they no longer think about it. It is their own superior armor, ordnance, and cannons that enable them to win every battle and ensure that their casualties are extremely low.
Precisely because they have become accustomed to low casualties, once one's own casualties exceed expectations, the soldiers may feel war-weary in their hearts, and may even develop a fear of war.
Zhang Cheng was also afraid of such a situation, so he specially asked the two governors to not only determine the merits of the soldiers in each battalion as soon as possible to show encouragement, but also to pay attention to the emotional changes of the soldiers, especially those in the Chicheng Battalion.
The infantrymen need comfort the most.
…………
In early winter, the days are short, and today it is cloudy again. Although it occasionally cleared up for a moment at the end of the war, it soon became overcast again, so it became dark early.
There was silence in the Xuanfu military camp. Except for the occasional neighing of war horses, and the occasional "crackling" sound of wood exploding from various fires, there was no other sound.
Even the soldiers in charge of the night watch tried to keep their steps as light as possible, for fear of affecting the rest of the tired soldiers after the battle. Although the campfires almost illuminated the entire camp, the soldiers on the night watch still held their torches high so that they could check every corner at any time.
at.
As the commander-in-chief of the First Army, Zhang Cheng, the commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu, began to inspect the soldiers of each battalion after a hasty dinner. Everywhere he went, he would personally encourage them to stimulate the fighting spirit of the soldiers.
Finally, he went to the wounded soldiers camp to visit the wounded soldiers who had received treatment. According to the military regulations of the Xuanfu Army, every time there was a battle, a wounded soldiers camp would be temporarily set up, located next to the Chinese army camp.
Everything in the wounded barracks must be carried out according to the orders of the military medical officer. Even Zhang Cheng, who is the commander-in-chief of the entire army, must obey the orders of the medical officer once he enters the wounded barracks.
Of course, Zhang Cheng advocated the establishment of this rule. The Xuanfu Army was different from other Ming armies. Once various marching and combat regulations were set, the entire army would abide by them.
Before Zhang Cheng was reincarnated in this life, he was, after all, half a member of the disciplined force. He knew very well the principle of "preparation will lead to failure, failure to do so will lead to failure", and he also knew that without rules, nothing can be achieved.
Therefore, various rules were set up in advance for all affairs in the Xuanfu Army and were resolutely implemented as an example. As time went by, under Zhang Cheng's personal practice, all the officers and soldiers of the Xuanfu Army also strictly abide by the military rules.
No one dares to challenge the authority of military rules and regulations.
This is actually a powerful guarantee for the strong combat power of the Xuanfu Army. It has become the consensus among the officers and soldiers of the Xuanfu Army that they must be the first in every battle, do not advance or retreat without orders, kill the enemy without fighting for their heads, and perform their respective duties during war.
The vitality formed in the Xuanfu Army will also take root in the Ming Dynasty and outside the Ming Dynasty as the Xuanfu Army conquers various places. We can believe that this will be the case everywhere in the future. There will be Xuanfu Army everywhere and there will be vitality everywhere!
At this moment, in the central tent of the Xuanfu Army, except for the two governors who were still busy, the rest of the generals had gathered here.
There is a wooden table in front of each person. On the table are cooked horse meat, pickled vegetables, flatbreads, and of course, porcelain fish cans. The soldiers of each battalion also have these.
After all, more than 2,000 dead horses were seized today. Although many of the horse meat has been affected by the poisonous smoke and is no longer edible, there is still a lot of edible horse meat left.
Not to mention that this meal tonight is enough for another day tomorrow, and the roasted horse meat can only be enjoyed by the generals in the Chinese military tent! This chapter has been completed!