When Zhao Xin set off from Ishinomaki Port, Shimazu Shigehao was sitting on the boat returning to Kagoshima. He regretted it to death now. He had known why he had to take this trip into the muddy water. He and Matsudaira Sadanobu had countless things to do. After all, who would have thought that those bastards from the Sendai clan would actually get involved with Beihai Town!
"Ishikawa Murafumi is greedy for life and afraid of death! If I had known he was so shameless, I should have dealt with him and the Sendai Marquis together!"
Komatsu Qingxiang, the elder of the Satsuma clan on the side, said: "Lord, what I'm worried about right now is whether Tsurumaru Castle can be defended. The giant ship of the Northern Navy..."
"It doesn't matter. No matter how big the white ship is, no matter how powerful the guns are, can it still be driven ashore?"
Having said that, Shimazu Shigehao was also worried at the moment. After Hokkai Town bombarded Edo, he went out of the city and looked at the big white ship in the distance. At that time, he was shocked out of his mind. He was most afraid that Hokkai Town would talk to him about Ryukyu. However, I didn’t expect this day to come so soon. The most important thing now is to return to Kagoshima Castle quickly, gather troops and prepare, everything else is not important!
In the conference room on the Thunderbolt, Shibata Kakuzo was introducing the situation of the Satsuma Domain to Zhao Xin, Wang Yuanfang and others. After disembarking at Ishinomaki Port, Wang Yuanfang stayed in Juqiuhama to lead other troops to garrison, and did not follow Zhao Xin Go to Aoba Castle.
In addition, the leader of the Sendai clan's expeditionary team this time is the fourth member of the Ichimon clan, the ninth generation of the Wakutani Date family, Date Yasunomura Tsune, who is 28 years old this year. The Wakutani Date family went back three hundred years and was actually Mutsu. The lord of the Watari Castle in the Kingdom of Japan, he has been an important minister of the Date family since the Warring States Period. In the 11th year of Keicho (1606), Date Munegen, the concubine of the one-eyed dragon Masamune, married the daughter of the Watari family and became his son-in-law and adopted son. He appointed Gao Qingshui as the manager of the family and gave him the surname "Ida".
As the chief spy of the Sendai Clan, Kakuzo Shibata made a lot of preparations for this operation. He took out all the information he could find about the Satsuma Clan and explained it. After he finished introducing the situation of the Shimazu family, he added I collected some information on important retainers of the Shimazu family, and finally mentioned the population of Satsuma Domain.
"Starting from the sixth year of his reign, Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eighth generation head of Tokugawa, ordered the daimyo from all over the world to conduct a survey of the products of each country. After that, statistics were conducted again every six years. These survey results were recorded in the "Zhu" of the past years. "Chinese People's Account".
Shibata Kakuzo said very proudly. He had worked hard to get this data from the shogunate - to put it bluntly, it was bribery.
Zhao Xin interrupted: "When was the last time?"
Shibata Kakuzo said: "It is the sixth year since dawn. Oh, it was last year."
Wang Yuanfang asked: "What is the population of Satsuma Domain?"
Shibata Kakuzo flipped through the book in his hand for a while, and finally said: "More than 594,000 people."
Zhao Xin asked: "You didn't count the number of people in Ryukyu, right?"
"No."
Zhao Xin raised his head and stared at the ceiling, thought for a while and then said: "Including children and the hidden population, it is almost 650,000 people..."
Everyone saw him mumbling to himself and didn't know what he was thinking. Wang Yuan asked Shibata Kakuzo: "How many warriors are there in Satsuma Domain?"
Shibata Kakuzo flipped through the book twice more and said: "There are more than 8,000 city corpsmen and more than 84,000 countrymen."
"So many!" Wang Yuanfang was shocked.
Zhao Xin suddenly said: "Only more than 90,000 people?"
Liu Zheng on the side said in surprise: "Oh no! Brother, more than 90,000 warriors are still too few for you?"
In front of outsiders, Zhao Xin couldn't explain it. You must know that during the Bakumatsu period in another time and space, the number of Satsuma feudal vassals peaked at more than 200,000, accounting for 26% of the total population. It is now the early days of the Bakumatsu era.
Of course, more than 90,000 people are not too many.
Zhao Xin ignored Liu Zheng and continued to ask Shibata Kakuzo: "How many foothills are there in Satsuma Domain?"
Shibata Kakuzo said: "The latest number cannot be found, but the number in Kanei's sixteenth year is eighty-seven."
Zhao Xin rolled his eyes after hearing this. This is data from a hundred and fifty years ago. You have the nerve to show it!
Liu Zheng had been in the island country for a few months and had done some research on the shogunate's system. At this time, he asked in great surprise: "What the hell is Lu?"
Zhao Xin said calmly: "Lu is not an object, nor can it be said to be a city, but a village-like armed stronghold..."
Next, Zhao Xin explained to Liu Zheng and Wang Yuanfang what "麓" is.
It is said that the Satsuma clan in the Edo period was affiliated with the Western Army in the "Battle of Sekigahara", so even after surrendering, they were always wary of the Tokugawa shogunate. At that time, they faced the "one country, one city" policy of the second generation of Tokugawa.
The order adopted a curved approach to save the country. That is, in addition to the main city of Tsurumaru Castle, the samurai under his command were dispatched to various important places in the domain, and a defense stronghold called "Roku" was built under the ruins of the old mountain castle.
, forming a defense network spread throughout the domain.
In the center of these "foots" there is a "jitou otaku", which is the residence of the local garrisoned lord. It is also used as a temporary residence for the feudal lord during "attendance transfers" and inspections. The otou ottoman is surrounded by the residences of the countrymen.
Although the stronghold looks like a village, the internal personnel structure and management are actually the same as a city.
These strongholds vary in area according to the stone level of the "local" warriors. The outer walls of the courtyards in the strongholds are built with thick stone walls, and trees are planted behind the walls; a formation is formed between each house.
There are several streets called "horse farms", which are usually training places for feudal warriors; in the event of war, this street structure is very helpful in resisting invasion by foreign enemies.
Why is Zhao Xin so clear? Because the famous river drama "Atsuhime" in another time and space was filmed in Demizuro, Kumamoto Prefecture. Zhao Xin took a sightseeing ox cart and walked around in a circle for a full 25 minutes!
The Chushuilu building covers an area of 46 hectares and is surrounded by a moat. It is simply a flat city.
Several people discussed it for a long time, but Date Murasaki, the head of the Wakutani Date family, had a serious expression on his face and said nothing. In fact, it was not that this person did not want to discuss, but that he had no way to interrupt. Although he was elected by the entire Date family, he
In order to become the leader of the expedition team, Date Muratsune actually had to bite the bullet; after all, the island country has been at peace for two hundred years, and there are only a few people who really know how to fight.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! After Zhao Xin finished explaining to Liu Zheng and Wang Yuanfang, he said to everyone: "Eighty-seven is the number one hundred and fifty years ago. According to my estimate,
There should be more than a hundred castles in Satsuma Domain now."
In fact, Zhao Xin still said that there are fewer. There are currently 115 foothills in various parts of Satsuma Domain. In the three counties of Izuku, Isa and Hisikari that are allocated to Hokkai Town, there are 13. Because these foothills are stuck
They are the main transportation routes in Satsuma Domain, so if Beihai Town wants to occupy these three counties, it must capture all thirteen hills.
Date Murasune finally spoke at this time: "According to Zhao Wangdian's wishes, this crusade is not just about capturing Tsurumaru Castle, but there are more than a hundred hills that need to be captured?"
Shibata Kakuzo bowed to Date Village and said: "What Watari Mori said is true! If our army wants to completely defeat the Shimazu family, we must first capture these outer cities and cut off the Shimazu family's retreat route. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to live in poverty."
Chasing until the end..."
Ida Murochang suddenly said: "In the end, they waited for work and led our troops all over the mountains and fields until they defeated us!"
Zhao Xin sneered: "That's not all. When reinforcements from Kyushu and even the shogunate arrive, we will have no choice but to get on the boat and run away."
Minami Kyushu is not the Kanto Plain. The terrain is high and steep, with mountains running through it, and it is also rainy. When the Shimazu family samurai retreat to those strongholds in the mountains to fight guerrillas with you, this battle will become a protracted war.
Even though the Shimazu family owes so much debt that they can't even repay it, and their finances are extremely difficult, they are still the second largest foreign daimyo in the world. Now that Hokkai Town and the Sendai Clan want to destroy the Satsuma Clan, they are just emptying their wealth.
I will continue to fight! Because once the Shimazu family is finished, most of the nearly 100,000 feudal samurai will become ronin.
So this is not a question of whether we can win or not, but the Satsuma clan from top to bottom will definitely try their best to deal with Hokkaido Town and Sendai clan! At the same time, the Shimadzu family will also try their best to survive and fight for
Time went around asking for help. Don't forget, Shimazu Shigehao was Tokugawa Ieki's father-in-law. The shogunate would mediate no matter what, and even ordered the surrounding vassals to send troops to support.
(By the way, those authors who bombarded Kagoshima Castle at every turn and then made the Shimazu family kneel down and surrender can go to sleep. They really think that they have 100,000 feudal lords and more than 100 armed strongholds are just decorations! Kagoshima Castle was captured
So you commit suicide and surrender? You are so stupid!)
After Wang Yuanfang listened to Zhao Xin's translation, he thought for a moment before slowly saying: "This is no longer a siege or field battle, this is a street battle, and the casualties may be huge. I think..."
He was halfway through speaking when he suddenly stopped. Liu Zheng continued to ask, but Zhao Xin immediately changed the subject. He turned to Shibata Kakuzo and Date Muratsune and said: "Sendai Domain must increase its troops! These thousand
There are not enough people at all, so we have to send people to garrison the foothills we conquer. These places will also be the basis for Sendai Clan to rule Southern Kyushu in the future."
Ida Muruchang asked in astonishment: "How much more will it be?"
Zhao Xindao: "At least five thousand! Ten thousand is even better!"
"so much!"
At this time, Shibata Kakuzo already knew that there was an "artifact" in Beihai Town that could send messages across thousands of miles, which was called a telegraph. So he said to Zhao Xinda: "Please allow me to discuss with Mr. Watari Mori. As for the matter of letting our family increase its troops, please also ask Zhao Xinda."
Please help."
Zhao Xin nodded and said: "Okay, I will ask Pingtai to contact Mr. Ishikawa first. After he arrives at the business store in Juqiubahama, you can talk to him directly."
It was already past noon. Zhao Xin glanced at the watch hanging on the wall and said, "Let's get here first in the morning. Everyone goes to eat first and we'll talk about other things in the afternoon."
Zhao Xin and the others left the conference room first, leaving Shibata Kakuzo and Date Murakusa to discuss. When the three of them went to the cafeteria to eat, Liu Zheng remembered what Wang Yuanfang had just said.
"Brother Wang, how are you going to fight this street fight? You didn't finish what you just said."
Wang Yuanfang looked at Zhao Xin with a smile: "Do you know what I want to say?"
Zhao Xin blinked, showing his habitual cunning, and said: "Change weapons, change tactics."
Wang Yuanfang nodded and said to Liu Zheng: "Do you understand?"
"I don't understand." Liu Zheng was confused, what is this all about?
Wang Yuanfang explained: "Street fighting is different from fighting in the field. Faced with an opponent who can shoot cold arrows at you at any time, make cold shots, and disappear without a trace in the end, I'm afraid it won't work for all the soldiers to carry standard rifles.
We have to change weapons."
Zhao Xin whispered: "Not only that, this time we have to weaken the Sendai clan's military strength so that they can only surrender to us in the end."
There are no armored vehicles or aircraft in Beihai Town. The cannons on the Thunder are currently only three D30s. No matter how far they are fired, they cannot reach places like Chushuilu. Therefore, revolvers, machine guns, grenades and even drones are all needed.
Of course, when facing the fierce mortar fire when attacking those first few hills, the Satsuma clan warriors would definitely panic and flee for their lives in a hurry. But the problem is that now Hokkai Town and Sendai clan are going to occupy and carve up the Shimadzu family.
Is it possible to go all the way to Edo and work as an apartment?
After lunch, Zhao Xin asked the two regiment commanders Pan Xiucheng and Hu Ji to call all the battalion commanders and company and platoon-level officers below to the restaurant for a meeting. Dozens of people filled the restaurant to capacity; a platoon of guards stood guard in the aisle outside the door.
Be careful to prevent outsiders from eavesdropping.
Zhao Xin asked someone to find a whiteboard. Based on his memories of the time he visited Izuro, he first explained the architectural features and street structures of the armed strongholds of Satsuma Domain. Then Wang Yuanfang, as a tactical instructor, explained in detail to the officers how to proceed.
Street fighting, and issues that should be paid attention to when engaging in street fighting.
Wang Yuanfang's tactical intention is that when Beihai Town reaches the outskirts of the stronghold, it cannot take the risk of attacking. It must first conduct drone reconnaissance, and then gather the mortars of each regiment together to project high-density firepower to all parts of the stronghold.
Finally, let the Sendai Clan's troops enter the stronghold to clear it up. During the battle, unless the Sendai Clan's troops suffer heavy casualties, Beihai Town will never send troops to enter.
During this period, the chief officers at each level of each regiment from top to bottom must enter the scene for on-site observation after each stronghold is conquered, and become familiar with the structure of streets, alleys and courtyards; at the same time, they will conduct explanations to the soldiers in platoon units.
, ensuring that every soldier understands how to conduct street fighting.
The purpose of this is because the strongholds in the three northern counties have to be attacked by the Northern Navy themselves.
After talking about street fighting, Wang Yuanfang once again explained the precautions and tactics of jungle warfare and mountain warfare based on the geography, climate, hydrology and other conditions of Southern Kyushu.
Although the officers at all levels present here are familiar with how to conduct mountain warfare and jungle warfare in the outer Northeast, Minami Kyushu, which has a subtropical monsoon climate, is completely different from the outer Northeast in terms of topography, vegetation, climate, and biology. The high altitude of the subtropical jungle
Temperature, high humidity and heavy rainfall will be severe challenges to soldiers and weapons and equipment. Dense vegetation will greatly reduce the combat range and effectiveness of weapons and communication equipment, and the endurance and weapon carrying capacity of soldiers will also be reduced.
was severely weakened.
In any jungle battle in history, heavy weapons were not the protagonist, and this remains true until later generations.
When dealing with jungle operations, it’s hard to rely on equipment. Not only can trees effectively block dense bullets, but they can also absorb explosive fragments. It is absolutely impossible to throw grenades casually when encountering an enemy. Otherwise, it will be fun to bounce off dense branches when they hit the enemy.
Big!
The biggest limitation of light weapons is the issue of distance. Even if the North Korean navy uses light weapons with a range of less than 50 meters, it still has difficulties in positioning and correcting indirect firepower. This is because once they are in a dense forest, it will be extremely easy for soldiers to catch the enemy's iron cannon.
Or when a bow and arrow strikes, the person misjudges the direction, causing the person to move in the wrong direction, thus falling into a very dangerous situation.
In this time and space at the end of the 18th century, walking on foot would be the main method of movement for the Northern Navy in jungle warfare, and it would be very arduous; Wang Yuanfang estimated that in areas such as Aso Mountain and Grandmother Mountain, the daily marching speed would even be less than five kilometers.
In addition, issues such as setting up camp at night and finding water sources are also very important. The favorite thing of the ancients in these days was to poison the water. Of course, it is impossible to pour poison. It is just a matter of throwing a few rotten animals upstream to pollute the water.
Even if the water is poisonous, it can cause diarrhea and make the hands and feet sore.
The tactical explanation meeting lasted until late at night. During this period, Zhao Xin got in touch with Heita in Juqiubahama and asked him to go to Aoba Castle to meet Ishikawa Murafumi immediately and bring him to Juqiubahama.
Although Hokkai Town and Sendai Domain had made sufficient preparations before the war, it was precisely because of this that the attack on Minami Kyushu was delayed. During these days of waiting, Shimazu Sainobu, the current head of the Shimazu family, received a message from Edo
Flying feet to pass the message.
After reading the letter, the grandfather of Tenjoin Atsuhime was so frightened that his hands and feet went cold. He sent people overnight to quickly summon retainers from all over the city to hold a meeting. At the same time, Kagoshima Castle and the surrounding armed strongholds also opened their arsenals and convened.
The feudal lords in the city were arranging their weapons and equipment.
Shimazu Shigehao meant nothing in his letter, war! But this was not a stupid war, waiting for others to bombard the city. He told Shimazu Sainobu that in the face of the powerful Northern Navy, we must avoid the enemy's edge and resist every step.
, buying time to wait for the shogunate’s mediation and the arrival of reinforcements.