On the other side, Zhang Cunmeng's face turned the color of pig's liver, and his head was about to burst. The two waves of offensives, including cannon fodder, actually cost more than 16,000 people. This was just the beginning, and he lost so much
It’s so serious. Now we can only scrape together tens of thousands of troops by selling iron and steel. If the losses continue like this, not to mention 600,000 or 70,000 people, even 600,000 people will not be enough. Before finding an effective way to deal with it, Zhang Cunmeng decisively chose to retreat.
, knowing that the officers and soldiers' formations are extremely powerful, and still continuing to attack them, is not brave but stupid.
At the end of the day's battle, the atmosphere in the Peasant Army camp became depressing. The battle during the day made the scalps of the gangsters go numb. In just one day, more than 10,000 people were killed. Corpses were everywhere, almost full of security.
Saiping Plain. Not to mention people, even tens of thousands of pigs and so many corpses can form a terrifying purgatory. The smoke is filled and dispersed in the night, but the smoke in my heart cannot dissipate after all.
Zhang Cunmeng sat in the big tent, and more than a dozen big leaders were silent. The military meeting had been going on for half an hour. Everyone had discussed for a long time, but still could not come up with an effective response method. At this time, one of the leaders had little confidence.
"Leader Zhang, how about we attack the officers and soldiers' camp at night? After a day of fierce fighting, the officers and soldiers probably won't have any defenses."
As soon as the leader finished speaking, Zhang Cunmeng sneered and smiled, "Silly, although the officers and soldiers fought hard for a day, their strength was not damaged. They won a big victory and their morale was high. Those people are also very cunning. They will not take precautions and attack at any time.
Shall we attack at night? Huh, let’s not even think about a night attack. Given the current situation, we will kill as many as we can. And a night attack cannot solve the fundamental problem. To win this victory, the key lies in how to defeat the officers and soldiers from the front."
Zhang Cunmeng saw very clearly that he could not withstand the pressure from the front, and all the conspiracies and tricks were just trivial. Moreover, he had just suffered a big defeat, and his morale was low. People were in panic. At this time, he still thought about risking a night attack. Wasn't he looking for death?
?In short, Zhang Cunmeng would not do such a stupid thing. After being scolded, the leaders looked at each other with embarrassed and ashamed expressions.
There was some silence in the tent. After a while, another big leader stood up and said, "It is exactly what the Grand Duke said. In this situation, all our goals should be to defeat the enemy head-on. Today, I have observed for a long time, the greatness of the officers and soldiers
The reason why the formation is powerful is that it is constantly moving and cannot attack in a fixed manner, and the eight-sided rectangular formation covers each other and is ever-changing, making it difficult to guard against. I think that if we want to break the formation, the first task is not to defeat the opponent, but to limit the changes in it.
For example, if you cannot move without fear, you can restrict the opponent's movement and then focus your attacks to defeat them one by one."
The words of this big leader were refreshing. Zhang Cunmeng frowned and finally showed a smile, "Yes, looking at the overall situation, the real strength of the opponent is the changes in it. The muskets cooperate with the cavalry, and the spears and shields are used for frontal defense and crushing. If it really
It can limit the changes in the formation, and maybe it can break the formation." Zhang Cunmeng is a very smart man. He thought about it, raised his eyebrows and ordered, "Immediately let people go to the forest to cut more wood, some flammable things that can ignite the fire
We also need to prepare more. Tomorrow we will build a flaming mountain and see what else the officers and soldiers can do. Tomorrow's battle will be a showdown with the officers and soldiers."
At this moment, Zhang Cunmeng seemed to have found a magic weapon to win, and the problem that had been bothering him for a long time was finally solved. Those northern Shanxi border troops really thought that there was nothing they could do against them? Zhang Cunmeng issued an order here, and many peasant soldiers went to chop wood. After experiencing a
Not to mention the low morale of the fierce battle, many peasant soldiers were exhausted and complained about being forced to chop wood in the middle of the night. Fortunately, there was a large lush pine forest by the river twenty miles west of the Shiqiao stronghold.
It is very convenient to cut wood. No one knows what to do with wood at night. Ordinary peasants and soldiers only dare to be angry but dare not speak out.
Such a big movement must not be hidden from the officers and soldiers. The scouts who were responsible for snooping around quickly reported back the abnormal situation happening here. The two scouts carefully observed the movements of the rogues. The peasant army soldiers entered the forest and began to cut down the wood.
, there was a tinkling sound in the quiet forest for a while, and the scouts hid far away for fear of being discovered. In midsummer, the forest is humid and hot at night, and there are many mosquitoes. This area is close to the Yanshui River, and the humidity is even heavier.
Lying in the bushes, his face was very uncomfortable, but he did not dare to move, "What are these thieves doing? Why are they cutting wood at night?"
"Don't worry about so much, just keep an eye on it. There are so many annoying bugs. Damn it, they will bite me to death." Another scout touched his cheek and was bitten by several bumps. He had never been like this before lying in the ice and snow.
Feeling sad.
Zhang Cunmeng should be glad that he did not agree to the night attack plan. With the caution of Tie Mo and others and the secret sentries deployed around them, as long as the bandits dare to launch a night attack, they will most likely be surrounded and killed. Tie Mo still wants to be careful, although the first day of the battle
I managed to survive, but the next battle was not that easy. Zhang Cunmeng was a very difficult guy. He suffered heavy losses from his tentative attack on the first day. He would be damned if he didn't retaliate.
Tie Mo didn't sleep, so Hai Lanzhu naturally had to accompany him. At midnight, the camp became quieter and quieter. The patrol guarded the camp. Occasionally, the faint chirping of insects could be heard. A scout hurriedly led by the patrol.
came to the commander's tent and said, "Superintendent, there is something unusual among the bandits. Before midnight, more than 2,000 bandits went to the jungle in the west and cut down wood wantonly. Boss Qian was afraid that the bandits would attack at night, so he sent a small group of bandits to the west.
Come back quickly and report."
Tie Mo was a little tired and wanted to undress and rest. Hearing these words, he suddenly lost all sleep. Hai Lanzhu also looked confused. What are the bandits doing cutting wood? Even if they attack at night, what do they need wood for? Tie Mo rubbed it.
Forehead, judging from his many years of experience in leading troops, the bandits must have some plan. What effect can getting so much wood have? Is this the response method Zhang Cunmeng came up with? Could it be a fire attack?
Tie Mo had to think so, otherwise there would be no point in getting so much wood. Even preparing trebuchets and other equipment would not be completed in a short time. Wow, this Zhang Cunmeng is really smart, using fire attacks to limit the operation of the Bagua array.
, without changes, the power of the Bagua array has been greatly reduced. Tie Mo is not the kind of person who waits for death. Now that Zhang Cunmeng has made a move, he has to find a way to deal with it. He has no choice but to order the generals to be reorganized.
Call it together.
A quarter of an hour later, President Qian and the generals who were scattered throughout the camp all arrived at the commander's tent. Everyone looked puzzled. At first, they thought it was an enemy night attack. However, when they rushed out in a hurry, they found that everyone in the camp was safe and sound.
Very. Tie Mo raised his hand to signal everyone to sit down and said calmly, "The news just came back from the spies is that the bandits are cutting down wood. If I am not wrong, there will be a fierce battle after dawn.
The rogue bandits cut down a large amount of wood, most likely to build firewalls and disrupt our deployment."
Everyone is a battlefield veteran who has commanded the army for many years. After thinking for a moment, he understood the horror of it. The Bagua array is infinitely powerful and changeable, but if it is really blocked by fire, its power will be greatly reduced. It cannot operate smoothly and lacks
The overall defense capability of the changed Bagua array is not as good as that of the ordinary circular array. The essence of the Bagua array lies in the octagonal rectangular array, the yin-yang circle array in the middle, and the long snake array. There are a total of eleven changes in the array, which rely on their cooperation to provide huge
Lethality.
The eight-square rectangular formation moves clockwise and sweeps the open space between the eight formations, which is equivalent to increasing the defensive area. Once the eight formations cannot operate smoothly and stand still to resist others, the problem will be huge. The Bagua formation covers an area
It's huge, but the biggest problem is the empty areas between the eight formations. Originally, these empty areas were dead areas, but the formations cannot operate, and these empty areas are not dead areas but living areas. When the time comes, the rogues will follow the undefended space.
Whether it's attacking on both sides of the zone or attacking the central army from the inside, in short, it's very proactive.
In this way, the octagonal rectangular array cannot cooperate and connect, and it is really an isolated rectangular array, which can be manipulated by anyone.
Zhou Dingshan had seen with his own eyes the tragic defeat of Baishan Village. Zhang Cunmeng relied on this move to defeat the circular formation one by one and eat away at it bit by bit, so he was more anxious than anyone else, "Superintendent, if this is really the case, we are afraid that we will have to
We’re in big trouble.”
"What Dingshan said is true. I am also worried about this. The battle at Baishan Village has taught us enough lessons. If we still follow the original plan, I am afraid we will make the same mistakes again. Therefore, I decided to do a good job in matrix assembly.
Preparation, in addition, the cavalry is withdrawn from the matrix. As for the Chinese army waiting for the opportunity, in short, no matter what, it must not collapse. After all, the rogue bandits have a strength advantage. Once they are allowed to break through, it is likely to be overwhelming."
Tie Mo is far less relaxed than before. War is so subtle. It is possible that a small detail can affect the overall situation.
It seems that the morale of our side is high and we firmly grasp the initiative, but in fact the hearts of the soldiers are tense. As long as one string is broken, there will be a retreat like a tide. The Bagua array is about morale.
The core, the formation is not in disorder, and it can be overcome with this breath. Tie Mo wanted to pull out the cavalry, Zhou Dingshan said nothing, several Qianzong also looked heavy, Hua Ziqing said, "Superintendent, we also have another problem
Be careful. Yesterday, during the continuous battle, the bandits did not use their bows and arrows. I am afraid that they are holding back some damaging moves."
Tie Mo nodded secretly, this is indeed a strange thing. The octagonal rectangular formation has long been prepared to deal with enemy arrows. There are many light wooden boards prepared in the formation, which are very suitable for resisting the arrow rain. As a result, after waiting for a long time,
None of the bandits used an arrow rain offensive. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Zhou Dingshan next to him, "If I'm not mistaken, these arrows are prepared for our cavalry brothers. This Zhang Cunmeng is really a very human being. He suffered so many losses yesterday."
Troops and horses don't waste any arrows. Therefore, the cavalry must be restrained next. They must not rush out of the formation without orders, giving the opponent an opportunity to take advantage."
Zhou Dingshan and several generals nodded solemnly. At this time, no one dared to look down on the bandits. An urgent meeting lasted until Mao was over. The pots were buried to make rice. After a while, a new day ushered in.
.The rising sun at dawn pierced the clouds, and the soldiers in the camp began to march towards the Ansai Plain. The scouts had already sent the news. After a silent night, the rogue bandits attacked again from the east and west directions.
A new battle is coming, and everyone is mentally prepared. This time the battle will be more cruel, and no one can guarantee that they will survive in the end. When the war comes, no one can stay out, and Tie Mo still bases himself on the Chinese army.
The Bagua formation was reorganized, and the cavalry was withdrawn and assembled outside the Chinese army, forming a link of the Long Snake Formation. Zhang Cunmeng was determined to win today, and he did not intend to give the opponent too much time. In his opinion,
, the officers and soldiers did not change much. The rectangular formation still looked around, and the eight-sided formation evolved with endless killing intent. After receiving the previous lessons, the bandits learned well and suggested that the carts carry a lot of wood and the soldiers held up shields in front.
, the so-called rain of rockets and arrows is not that big a threat. If it can help ignite the wood of the pallet truck, it will save trouble.
For this day's battle, the bandits had made sufficient preparations. Loads of wood were blocking the front, too many to count. Following Zhang Cunmeng's order, more than 2,000 peasant army suicide squads began to rush forward with the wood carts.
, there are also many cannon fodder soldiers in the front. There are a total of 5,000 soldiers and horses. Their only task is to rush into the formation and form a wall of fire. Of course, it is unlikely that these people will survive, even if the wall of fire is ignited.
, it would be difficult for them to withdraw. But Zhang Cunmeng didn't care, as long as he successfully created a wall of fire, the formation of the officers and soldiers would be destroyed.
At the same time, a small hot ball rose up in the center of the Bagua array. The hot ball was actually a simple hot air balloon with a mirror hanging on top. The mirror was held up by a bamboo pole and there was a mirror below, using the periscope principle.
, as long as it rises ten feet, you can have an overview of the whole situation through the mirror. The entire Bagua array is too big. From the long snake array in the center to the periphery of the octagonal rectangular array, there is a distance of three miles. Such a long distance, if you want to see clearly the situation in the distance,
It's so difficult. Looking in the mirror, people in the distance look like a group of black ants.
However, Tie Mo could still roughly see the situation in the distance clearly. When the first fire ignited, he knew that the scene he least wanted to see happened. Zhang Cunmeng had indeed made sufficient preparations.
The bandits carried the wood and charged without fear of death, aiming directly at the open space between the ground array and the wind array. At this time, the Bagua array began to operate, but these bandits were not afraid of death at all. More than two thousand cannon fodder troops formed two rows.
Although the effect of using the body to hit the ground formation defense was not good, relying on this short-term blockage, other bandits had rushed in with wood for a certain distance. Hua Ziqing was in charge of the ground formation command and could see the intentions of the bandits at a glance.
An order was immediately issued, "Let go of your shields, and the musketeers will step forward and shoot flatly to extinguish these bandits. They must not be allowed to ignite the fire."