The midday sun shines softly on the earth, and the Uruguay River flows quietly. Several large white waterbirds on the water suddenly plunge into the river, leaving some ripples on the water. Soon, they start to appear again.
It flew out of the water meters away, holding the prey it had just caught in its mouth.
There are also a few teal ducks darting in and out of the river bank. They dive into the water from time to time to look for small fish.
Even in this seemingly peaceful tranquility, one can see the basic law of nature - the law of the jungle.
Among the reeds on the river bank, soldiers holding rifles on hundreds of motorized transport boats were quietly waiting for orders to be issued.
At ten o'clock in the morning, following an order, hundreds of motor transport boats sailed from all directions to the province of Uruguay on the west bank of the Uruguay River. Twenty minutes later, at nearly 10:30 in the morning, the Ming Emperor's troops
Finally set foot on this land.
There was no resistance during this period - the Ming army avoided the fortresses on the banks of the Uruguay River.
After landing, the engineers immediately began to build a temporary trestle for the landing of large forces. The landing troops marched towards the target as planned. It was not until this time that the Uruguayans were surprised to find that the Ming army had invaded Uruguay Province.
"The Ming army is coming!"
When the telegram reached the Fortress of Fray Bentos, the Brazilian army guarding it had already learned the news of the declaration of war between the two countries.
"Everyone is on combat readiness and pay attention to the targets on the river. The Ming Empire has declared war on us!"
As the commander of the fortress, Colonel Chias seemed very calm when he issued this order. He was not worried about the defense of the fortress at all.
Although this fortress had been built as early as the 18th century, it was not an old-fashioned fortress. After Brazil occupied Uruguay, the Brazilian military specially purchased multiple ten-inch Armstrong cannons to strengthen the defense of the fortress.
"As long as we stay here, the Ming army will never be able to enter the Uruguay River!"
Just as Colonel Chias was speaking so arrogantly, eighteen 280mm siege guns were lined up in the woods on the other side of the Uruguay River.
"Load!"
The gunners' loud shouts rang out from the position directly under the Third Heavy Artillery Battalion. The artillery shells lying flat on the ground were then pushed by the ammunition hand on a cart to the bottom of the bomb hanger. The 200 kilograms of artillery shells were lifted by clamps.
After being clamped, the ammunition hand operating the heavy sling that lifted the wheel immediately pulled the sling, and the heavy shell was immediately lifted and sent to the loading trolley.
The loading of heavy artillery shells is cumbersome. The burly and sturdy loading rod pushes the shells into the breech of the siege gun, launches the powder cannon, and loads the ignition powder packages one after another. After the loading is completed, the siege gun has a short and thick barrel.
It was shaken up again and pointed directly at the somewhat gloomy sky.
Then the gunners quietly waited there for the order to be issued.
"put!"
Finally, following an order from the commander of the artillery battalion, bursts of earth-shaking cannon fire erupted from the siege artillery position, and the fierce sound of cannon fire even shook the earth.
Ten thirty!
The deafening sound of artillery from behind made Yinvanov couldn't help but look back. Although he couldn't see anything, as a Russian observer, he still looked there, and soon he set his target.
The fortress ahead.
Compared to the Ming army's attack, what was Yinwanov more concerned about?
Of course it’s the fortress in front of you!
fortress!
As an officer of the Russian Empire, Ivanov knew very well what was the biggest threat they faced in the war with Turkey? It was the fortresses, those equipped with cannons and Gatling guns!
In the past ten years, Ming Dynasty's arsenal has turned Gatling guns into bargains, and fortresses all over the world have been equipped with a large number of Gatling guns.
Machine guns and cannons are enough to stop anyone from attacking the fortress. Now, here, he will witness how the Ming army conquered this fortress with 32 machine guns and 78 cannons.
"I hope it will be as easy as General Liang said - it can be taken down with just one charge!"
Just what General Liang Wu said in the headquarters popped up in his mind. Yin Wannov listened to
The whistling sound above our heads was a bit like a train whistle, earth-shaking and astonishing.
A moment later, Yinvanov, who was at the observation post, saw eighteen huge smoke pillars rising over the fortress. The huge smoke pillars shot straight into the sky, even reaching a height of hundreds of meters.
The rubble and broken limbs that were blown up in the black smoke were also thrown hundreds of meters away, and the fortress hit by the shell collapsed like a toy.
The 280mm siege gun is a weapon unique to the Ming Empire. The original intention of developing it was to conquer fortresses. The 240kg shells it fires are armor-piercing destructive shells with delayed fuses. They can not only penetrate heavy armor, but also
It can penetrate concrete up to one meter thick and explode inside the fortress.
At the beginning, Russia introduced this kind of siege gun to give them the confidence to conquer the fortress. Now of course, Yinvanov hopes to see its power with his own eyes.
Its power is extremely amazing!
After a round of shelling, when the wind on the river blew away the smoke over the fortress, he saw that the once intact fortress had become dilapidated, with several cave-ins in the thick stone walls.
"It seems to be quite intact."
But there was no problem at all. The bombardment continued. In the next two hours, 18 siege guns continued to pour siege shells towards the fortress. One shell after another was like
It was like a siege hammer, hammering hammer after hammer on the fortress. The bastion-type fortress built with bricks and stones seemed to be very strong, but under the action of the siege cannon, the fortress was like tofu, completely destroyed.
's destroyed.
When he saw the fortress turned into ruins through the smoke, Yinwanov was dumbfounded. Looking at his surprised look, Captain Li Xiangqian said with a smile.
"How is it? Major, our artillery is okay!"
"That's right there. It's clearly the Fortress Destroyer!"
Yinwanov said a little excitedly.
"Any fortress is vulnerable in front of them. Haha, I suddenly sympathize with them. Under such bombardment, even the strongest fortress will be difficult to hold on."
Just as he finished speaking, Yinwanov heard a buzzing sound in the air. Having stayed in the Ming Dynasty for several years, he knew what the sound was without asking.
It was an airship. I saw several airships flying towards the fortress in the distance. The speed of the airship was not fast, and its height was about a thousand meters. The Brazilian soldiers guarding the fortress had not recovered from the bombardment until the airship flew overhead.
Come.
The fierce bombardment that lasted for two hours not only destroyed the fortress, but also destroyed their will. Those who survived the bombardment were all looking around in the ruins in despair. It seems that until now, they have not dared to
I believe that the ruins in front of me are their fortress.
"how so……"
Colonel Chias looked around blankly, looking at the soldiers who were walking like zombies in the ruins. They all stood there in despair, completely at a loss.
Is this a fortress?
Yes, that's right, but when will the fortress be destroyed like this?
"Sir, our fortress is completely destroyed..."
Sias turned to look at the adjutant and heard him say again.