Both sides of the Kuhe River are very flat, with no ups and downs visible at a glance.
Such an area is obviously more beneficial to the Qing army with a large number of troops.
The enemy was numerous and we were outnumbered, and it was a field battle again. Sun Chengzong's heart was in his throat.
"Jiandou (characterized by Lu Xiangsheng), it's better for us to retreat slowly and rely on Gaoyang County to fight, so that we can be safe."
Facing his suggestion, Lu Xiangsheng slowly shook his head.
"If this is the case, Baoding will definitely fall. As courtiers, we lose the city and are ashamed of the king!"
Sun Chengzong couldn't help but remind him: "If we make mistakes, there will be no more soldiers and horses around. Then all life will be ruined and the situation will be irreversible."
Lu Xiangsheng's expression was extremely resolute.
"The only solution for now is to fight to the death and survive."
Seeing that the Eight Banners infantry had begun to advance, Lu Xiangsheng waved his flag, and the Ming army's phalanx also began to advance.
Because the two sides encountered each other in the wild, neither had time to build fortifications, so they had to use what they had at hand.
The Qing army lined up the carts carrying grain, and set up wooden boards covered with cowhide in front of them to serve as shields.
The gunman stood on top, followed by a loader, pushed behind by two captured civilians.
This type of carriage originated from the Ming army, and was later learned by the Jurchens and widely used on the battlefield. As a result, the Ming army lost their armor.
This time the Qing army entered the pass only for robbery, and had no intention of engaging in a fierce battle with the Ming army in the wild, so they did not bring any heavy carriages.
When the war came, Hauge could only modify the grain truck, which was better than nothing.
The Ming army also marched in front with their carriages.
However, the Ming army's carriages were real carriages. In addition to some of them brought by Lu Xiangsheng himself, Gaoyang County also subsidized part of them.
Although they belong to two different races and are life-and-death enemies, the fighting methods of both sides are almost the same.
The distance between the two parties is getting closer and closer, and they can now see each other's faces clearly.
What the Qing army saw was that the Ming army on the opposite side looked resolute and unfazed, which was completely different from the Ming army they had encountered in the past that got into a mess before the fight started.
This caused the Qing army to be more careful, knowing that they were encountering a strong opponent.
Seventy steps.
The archers of the Qing army walked behind the carriage, stretched their bows upwards, and following the order, began to shoot towards the Ming army.
Doing this will allow the bow and arrow to have the longest range.
Similarly, as the distance increases, the power of the bow and arrow weakens very seriously, and often cannot penetrate even the thinnest cotton armor.
The reason why they still use the projectile method is not that the Qing army shot indiscriminately, but that the Jurchens were very confident in their archery skills.
Projection is not a random shot, it also needs to be aimed.
Although the Jurchens do not know much about ballistics and cannot calculate, their instincts have long been formed through repeated training and battles over many years.
The Qing army used bows and arrows, and the Ming army used crossbows.
Black shadows surged up on both sides at the same time, and then crisscrossed in the sky. In an instant, even the sunlight was completely blocked, and the earth became dark.
Then the arrows fell into each other's camp, causing many people to mourn and die miserably.
Sixty steps.
The musketeers on the carriages of the Qing army and the Ming army opened fire at the same time.
The battlefield was instantly filled with white smoke and roaring, but the effect was limited.
Although both sides used large guns with longer range and power, they did not do much damage because they were blocked by shields.
The most unlucky ones were the civilians who had no protection. They were the ones who were beaten to death.
Fifty steps.
The gunfire from the Ming army suddenly became intensive, and large swaths of bullets hit the Qing army's array like raindrops.
The people protected by the carriages were safe and sound, but the Qing soldiers marching in the gap fell to the ground one after another.
Hauge, who was behind, jumped up and was shocked.
"Why are the Ming army's muskets so powerful?"
I don’t know how many times they fought against the Ming army. The Qing generals already knew the virtues of the Ming army’s firearms.
But this time, the Ming army on the opposite side actually opened fire from fifty steps away and penetrated the heavy armor of the Qing soldiers. How could it not be shocking?
Fan Ji exclaimed: "Master, look, the guns used by the Ming army opposite must be Shandong guns."
Hauge squinted his eyes and looked ahead, feeling suspicious in his heart.
I saw the musketeers of the Ming army on the opposite side walking behind the carriage, using the cover of the carriage to fire, and then started loading.
The order of loading gunpowder and projectiles is no different from that of the Qing army's musketeers. The only difference is that these Ming army's muskets do not have a match rope behind them.
I saw them pouring gunpowder into a small medicine pool, then closing the lid, and the hammer that was lifted back fell as the trigger was pulled, which can activate the projectiles in the barrel.
Although in terms of loading speed, this kind of musket is not much different from the Qing army's matchlock gun. However, because of the lack of matchlock, the line of sight will not be affected, which greatly improves the accuracy of the Ming army's shooting.
Moreover, the projectiles fired by that kind of musket were so powerful that they could penetrate the triple armor of the Qing army from fifty steps away.
Hauge was no stranger to this kind of musket, because the Qing army had them themselves, but they were not in his army.
Because the number was too small, Huang Taiji regarded them as treasures and kept them all in the two yellow flags, while the other flags were not assembled.
However, everyone still knows the benefits of this kind of musket.
They had no idea that the new Ming army on the opposite side would have such weapons.
Lu Xiangsheng used flintlock muskets to invent new tactics.
He did not let the musketeers line up alone and fight alone. Instead, he asked them to follow the carriages to enhance the firepower of the front line.
Sure enough, under his arrangement, the Qing army was caught off guard and was completely at a disadvantage during the musketry exchange.
Under the Chinese army's tent, Sun Chengzong couldn't believe it when he saw how brave the Ming army was and how well they fought.
"Jiandou, where did such an artifact come from?"
Speaking of this, Lu Xiangsheng didn't show any joy, but he told the truth.
"These firearms were purchased by my juniors from Shandong. The firearms used by the Shandong rebels for their own use are much better, but unfortunately they are not exported. The only ones that my juniors can buy are inferior ones."
Sun Chengzong was stunned when he heard this.
He actually knows a lot about the situation in Shandong.
Lu Shanji and Sun Qifeng are now living in Shandong, living like a fish in water. They often correspond with him and strongly invite him to come to Shandong.
Sun Qifeng was a master of two generations of emperors and worked hard for the Ming Dynasty. How could he let go emotionally?
So I didn't go there.
At this time, he learned that Lu Xiangsheng's powerful army actually relied on Shandong's firearms, which made the old gentleman greatly increase his curiosity about Shandong.
The battle on the battlefield has reached fever pitch, and the distance between the two sides is getting closer and closer.
There is no doubt about Brother Hao's ability in fighting.
When he saw that the Ming army had added musketeers beside the carriage, he quickly sent his own musketeers up.
At this time, the distance has reached forty steps, both sides can hear their breathing, and the possibility of bullets missing is greatly reduced.
What is competing at this time is willpower.
The Eight Banners are indeed brave and fearless of death, but the Tianxiong Army is no less willing to make concessions.
Not to mention, Lu Xiangsheng finally came up with his trump card.
