Chapter 717 Zhanxi City (Ask for a monthly ticket at the end of the month)
While everyone was focusing on this war, Dong Shuheng was thinking about what happened after the war, and the plan for a hundred years after the war.
The subcontinent is destined to be split into several countries. Now there are six powers, but after the war there will be more than just these.
Dong Shuheng asked Li Shaoquan to take charge of post-war reconstruction.
It is because this person is good at the art of emperors. How to divide the land will be acceptable to all parties and allow them to check and balance each other.
This depends on Li Shaoquan's ability. Anyway, Dong Shuheng has already informed the other party of his request.
Whether he can handle this errand well is also a test of whether he can enter the center.
Li Shaoquan is in Calcutta at this time, and he feels that he is busier now than when he was in Yunnan.
When the general in front gave an order to increase troops, he followed behind and broke his legs.
Because this increase in troops is outside the agreement, it will have a relatively large impact on each force, so the food and grass for these additional soldiers must be provided by the Renaissance Army.
Now almost a dozen ships carrying supplies arrive in Calcutta every day.
This city, which had just been destroyed by the war, became abnormally prosperous.
Shi Dakai left military affairs entirely to Chen Yucheng, while he concentrated on planning the future development of Calcutta, the new holy capital.
First there must be a railway connection to the northeastern region.
The Assam region is the base camp of the Holy Army, and it must be firmly under its control.
Secondly, he also needs to think about what he should ask for when allocating land in the future.
Li Shaoquan felt a little unhappy. He felt that he was working for these people.
Every day, a large amount of materials are transported along the river to the Northern Alliance, or transported westward by land to Nagpur.
In terms of fighting, the main forces on both sides in the direction of Nagpur are still in confrontation.
The war was suspended, but small-scale battles occurred almost every day.
The Yin army did not know whether it was to save food, but they sent servant troops to attack almost every day.
There is almost no difference between attacking and dying for these people.
The servants of the Yin Army attacked, but the regular army always used artillery to bombard the coalition positions when the coalition forces blocked the attack.
Because the soldiers were lying on the edge of the trench to block the attack, the enemy's artillery bombardment could always achieve something.
On the contrary, except for the loss of some servants by the Yin army, they did not lose much of their own people.
At this time, on the northern battlefield, the army commanded by General Robert had almost reached the gates of Jhansi City.
Robert left no time for the Queen of Jhansi to prepare.
After learning the news, they immediately sent cavalry to the gates of Jhanxi City to harass them.
This really hindered the construction of fortifications by the young men in the city.
Return to the battlefield on the northern front.
"Mandar, Cassie, you two accompany me out of the city and bring the guards. We can't let these soldiers continue to harass us, otherwise our fortifications will not be completed." Queen Jhansi was wearing a military uniform at this time.
Wearing an armed belt, it outlines attractive curves, and a revolver is hung on both sides of the waist, making it even more heroic.
On her back is a state-of-the-art rifle.
The whole person looks heroic.
There are no other cavalry units in the city except the Praetorian Guards.
Faced with the harassment of the enemy's cavalry, the civilian laborers could not continue to work with peace of mind.
The artillery on the city walls was a waste of shells used to drive them away.
When these Han cavalry were harassing, they knew the distance very well, and the infantry did not pose much of a threat to them.
Of course, just as harassment, these enemy cavalry did little harm to civilians.
But this kind of intimidation makes it impossible for the militiamen to work normally.
"Queen, what are you doing? Don't tell me that you want to lead the charge personally. This is not what a queen should do." At this time, Zhang Deshuai appeared.
Naturally, he could not allow Bayi to lead the troops out in person. At this time, as long as a sniper fired a cold shot from a distance, the entire northern front defense could collapse.
You know, Bayi now has a high prestige in the Northern Alliance.
She is a heroine worshiped by countless people.
If she died on the battlefield, the Jhanxi cavalry who were loyal to her would first have to change their morale.
"Zhang, let me lead people to drive away those nasty enemy cavalry. This is also related to whether our entire defense plan can be realized."
"No, Queen, you can't do this. The morale of the tens of thousands of soldiers behind us depends on you. You can't risk yourself. That is irresponsible to everyone."
"And you two, Mandar and Cassie, you two are the generals beside the queen. Do you want the queen to help you do what generals should do?"
Both of them lowered their heads, and they also felt that what Zhang Deshuai said was reasonable. If Her Majesty is still going to take risks, then their generals and guards will be useless.
"Zhang, you can't stop me from going to the battlefield. I am the queen. My soldiers have become accustomed to following me into battle. With me, they can develop a stronger fighting force." Bayi shook his head one after another, obviously not agreeing with Zhang Deshuai at all.
statement.
"You could charge into battle before, but at that time your failure would only affect Jhansi. But now you are the leader of the alliance and a part of the subcontinental theater."
"If something happens to you, it won't just be Jhansi that will be affected, but also the entire Northern Alliance, as well as the newly established subcontinental theater. Do you know how many troops the entire subcontinent has invested in fighting the Japanese army?
How much resources have been invested by the Renaissance Army and various forces?"
"Also, you are indeed the queen here, but I am still an inspector sent from the war zone. The war zone has given you so many weapons and reinforcements, not to let you be willful."
Zhang Deshuai was really angry today.
Bayi was stunned by his rapid-fire words.
Zhang Deshuai struck while the iron was hot and said: "Mandar, come and lead the imperial guards out of the city to guard. Just drive the enemy away and don't pursue them."
"Cassie, please accompany me and the queen to the top of the city to watch the battle."
"Yes!" Mandal, who always only obeyed Bayi's orders, made an exception this time and simply accepted the order. She turned around and left.
It seemed that she was afraid that Her Majesty the Queen would call her out.
After seeing Mandal leave, Zhang Deshuai stepped forward and held the Queen's arm and said: "Let's go, my Majesty the Queen, you have to believe in your charm. You can boost morale even on the city wall."
When Zhang Deshuai saw that Bayi was no longer messing around, the seriousness on his face faded away and he put on his usual signature smile.
Bayi turned around and rolled his eyes at Zhang Deshuai. This man really makes people love and hate him.
He always looks carefree, but when faced with big problems, he is always able to make feasible decisions.
Bayi walked helplessly towards the top of the city. He held his head proudly and did not even look at Zhang Deshuai.
Zhang Deshuai shook his head and followed behind Bayi.
The city of Jhanxi was originally just an earthen city. Later, after the alliance was integrated and Jhanxi had financial resources, Bayi found people to transform the entire city and built a thick stone wall around the earthen city.
Extremely valuable cement was also used.
This is how the city of Jhansi looks so tall and solid now.
It's just that the artillery of the Zhanxi Army is not as good as that of the Dayu Army.
Therefore, the staff committee made a suggestion to build fortifications outside the city.
Zhang Deshuai followed Bayi to the gate tower at the highest point on the city wall.
You can see very far distances here.
He and Bai each held a telescope.
Zhang Deshuai looked outside the city.
At this time, the outside of the city looked like a construction site.
The criss-crossing trenches stretched outside the city like a spider web.
Zhang Deshuai could barely recognize that the deeper horizontal part should be where the soldiers stayed during the battle.
The longitudinal trenches are relatively shallow and should be communication trenches.
All trenches are not straight, but have corners at regular intervals.
Zhang Deshuai also knew that this was to prevent the shell's shock wave from spreading wantonly.
As a senior intelligence officer, Zhang Deshuai knows a little bit about everything.
The view continued to extend outward, and there were many shirtless Jhanxi people in the outermost trench.
They were digging hard with the shovels in their hands.
Their hands were fast, they were sweating profusely, and they were full of energy.
Occasionally, someone would be hit by the enemy cavalry, causing chaos.
This is the last line of defense for the Alliance to protect the rear.
Their wives and children have all moved to the rear. In order to protect them, these strong men worked very consciously.
They knew that the stronger the trenches they dug, the greater the possibility of blocking the enemy.
Outside the trench, it was obvious that some British cavalry in red military uniforms could be seen wandering in scattered formations.
From time to time, they fired machine guns at the trenches under construction ahead.
Those young men in Jhanxi who had never been on the battlefield were trembling with fear.
These damn Laos also carried some mounted artillery.
It is a small-caliber artillery that is easy for cavalry to carry.
These artillery pieces were hidden in the woods in the distance, and fired a few rounds on the ground from time to time.
"Boom..." a sound.
The city gate opened, and Mandal, who was wearing plate armor and holding a gun, rushed out with the cavalry of the Imperial Guard.
Mandal is the number one female warrior beside Bayi.
This woman has almost no feminine features in appearance.
That figure cannot be matched by ordinary men.
But she's not that big of a brainless guy.
This woman followed Bayi and experienced hundreds of battles, and was a good commanding officer.
The cavalry leaving the city quickly rushed out of the city along a road reserved in front of the city gate.
After breaking out of the outermost trench, the team immediately changed from column to horizontal and dispersed.
The cavalry of the Yin army that had originally dispersed also began to gather together.
Both sides shot at each other from horseback.
During the battle, people on both sides were killed.
Mandal and his men continued to press forward. The Yin army did not want to fight the opponent at this time.
After all, the vanguard sent by Robert only had one division, and there were at least 40,000 to 50,000 enemy troops in the city.
Once they are entangled by the opponent after engaging in battle, it is not certain that the troops of this division will be able to retreat.
The cavalry division commander of the Yin Army was named Lawrence Bullard. He was a very cautious commander.
He strictly abided by the military orders given to him by Robert, and only engaged in harassment and did not formally engage in combat with the opponent.
So Lawrence Blood ordered his men to fight and retreat.
He also asked the cavalry artillerymen and machine gunners who had retreated first to set up an ambush on the retreat.
If the enemy is in hot pursuit, kill them on the way back.
Lawrence Blood could tell that the number of Jhansi cavalry chasing them was only a few thousand, but their weapons were very sophisticated.
That carbine, which fired like a barrage of fire, was no worse than theirs.
The rate of fire is even faster than the military carbine.
But Lawrence Blood's arrangement was in vain.
Although Mandal has a rough appearance, her heart is as delicate as that of an ordinary woman.
Even without Zhang Deshuai's reminder, she could see that the Yin army retreated in a very organized manner.
Be panicky but not confused!
Her mission has been completed, and there is no need to pursue the opponent anymore.
In the south, the cavalry sent out by Robert to capture people also encountered trouble.
In order to improve efficiency, they must disperse and act. They cannot send out the entire division just to capture a village.
But their scattered capture teams would always be surrounded and annihilated by Zhang Xi's cavalry.
Those Jhanxi cavalry were always able to concentrate their superior strength and accurately capture the enemy's capture team.
Although the Yin army also successfully organized a counter-ambush and wiped out several Jhanxi cavalry.
But this kind of battle, which was almost like changing hands, made Yin Jun very painful.
In their eyes, how could the lives of these indigenous people be compared with the lives of their fellow countrymen?
They could only escort the nearly 20,000 natives who had been captured and continue marching north.
The entire arrest operation has come to an end. The people who went further north have been moved to the Ganges River Basin in the north by Queen Jhansi.
If they want to arrest people again, the cavalry of the Yin Army will have to go further.
That will undoubtedly give those Jhanxi cavalry more opportunities.
Robert felt that it would not be worthwhile if that were the case.
The army continued to march, and finally arrived at the gate of Jhanxi City three days later.
At this time, all the fortifications outside Jhanxi City had been built.
Twenty thousand reinforcements from the Holy Kingdom also arrived.
In this case, Bayi has nearly 50,000 regular troops in his hands. Adding in the young men temporarily organized in the city, the total strength exceeds 100,000.
There are still a small number of 20,000 cavalry in the enemy's rear to harass and fight.
This many people are enough to fight a defensive battle.
Moreover, all the old, weak, women and children in the city have been moved to the rear.
Therefore, there is sufficient food and supplies in the city, and there will be no problem even if it lasts for a year.
The Yin army will definitely last less than a year. In that case, the Yin Empire will be completely exhausted just by eating.
Of course, the Yin army could also choose to bypass Jhanxi City and then go straight into the Ganges River Basin behind.
However, there is a second line of defense in the Ganges River Basin, and now reinforcements from all forces will arrive there.
On the river, the Navy Canglong Army led by Holy Kingdom Qi Han is still wandering on the river, ready to support the cities along the river at any time.
Robert was a veteran general, and he knew very well that it was impossible to bypass a heavily guarded city like Jhansi.
Because the enemy will come out of the city at any time.
Either attack the middle section of the Yin Army, or attack the rear of the Yin Army.
No matter what, it will cause heavy casualties to the Yin army.
People often ask why ancient marchers did not bypass heavily defended cities.
The answer is that it really can't be done. Because of the road, the marching army is like a long snake and cannot take care of both the beginning and the end.
For an army of more than 100,000 people, the marching team must be at least dozens of kilometers long.
Therefore, Robert must capture the city of Jhansi.
At most, they can implement a siege and reinforcement tactic.