When Ali Hague recalled the situation at that time, he still seemed a little scared. Unlike A Shu and others, Ali Hague was the only Yuan army general who had personally witnessed the entire process of artillery bombardment.
"Return to the commander. The enemy troops in Fancheng fired a total of six artillery shells. The time of these six shells was almost the same. The last general was behind the trebuchet formation at the time. After counting, our army lost four trebuchets. .Two aircraft were seriously damaged. Twenty-three shooters were killed and eighteen were injured.”
"General Ali Hague, please sit down," Boyan said. "Yesterday the Xiangyang defenders also used artillery. We already know the situation."
Ali Hague was stunned for a moment and said: "The Xiangyang defenders also have artillery. The general thought that only the Fancheng defenders had them."
"Yes. The Southern Dynasty army not only has artillery, but also a large number of muskets." A Shu nodded.
"Musket. What is it again?"
"It should also be a type of firearm."
Ali Hague, who had no idea, said "Oh" and said: "Commander. Then how should we deal with it?"
Ah Shu said: "Ali Hague, Kong Yuan, in the future you encounter the Southern Dynasty's muskets. No matter what, immediately order the archers to shoot. As long as our army's speed increases, we may be able to suppress the muskets. As for the artillery, There is currently no way to deal with it. However, according to my estimation, the number of artillery or the ammunition of the artillery in Southern Korea is limited. Otherwise, as long as hundreds of artillery fire at the same time, our army will definitely be unable to compete. In recent days, "Our army will suspend its attack on Fancheng and the east of Xiangyang City. Instead, it will attack the north and west gates of Xiangyang to see if there are artillery. In addition, everyone is thinking of ways to wait for the emperor's instructions to avoid increasing unnecessary casualties to our army."
"Yes. Marshal."
In the next few days, the Yuan army stopped bombarding the two cities of Xiangfan and instead launched an attack from the northwest two directions of Xiangyang City. After being bombarded by artillery again, the Yuan army completely stopped attacking the city. In the past few days, the only war occurred in the east of Lumen Mountain. Ata Haibu and the Suizhou Army led by Xia Gui had several small-scale battles that were not painful. The outcome was even.
At the end of May, I received news from Tian Xiuyan from Chengdu. It was said that he had arrived in Chengdu on the evening of May 18th. After discussing the action plan in detail with General Gao Da and General Zan Wanshou, it was scheduled for May. On the 28th, they set off southward. As planned, they would join forces with the Guangxi Military Region, the Miao Military Region and Sariwei to launch an attack at the same time on June 10th. This time going south, the Sichuan Military Region sent the 27th Army Corps, commanded by General Lou Anbang. All the soldiers in the chamber, Chen and General Gao Da accompanied them, while General Zan Wanshou stayed behind in Chengdu.
Tian Xiuyan on the West Road has news. However, Yin Yinglei, who has already gone to sea, is unable to send back the news. The communication is lagging behind. We can only wait for them to land. However, I have been worried about whether the advancing column can successfully land. Although there are not many Yuan troops at the designated landing point, such a huge fleet cannot escape the surveillance of the Yuan troops. But no matter what, there will be a big battle on the eastern coast.
In June, the southwest and eastern coasts, plus Xiangyang, which is at war, will enter a state of war. It will be a day of full bloom.
How would Kublai Khan deal with it?
In the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, Wu Liang Hetai, the newly appointed deputy minister of the Privy Council, hurriedly came to the palace. Wu Liang Hetai had a deep understanding of firearms. The battle to destroy the gold more than thirty years ago was still vivid in his mind. At that time, it was still vivid Wu Liang Hetai, who was cowardly of the commander of the Xue Army, saw with his own eyes that his superior, the adopted son of Ogedai Khan, Captain Helong Wan, was blown to pieces. At that moment, Wu Liang Hetai was stunned and seemed to have stopped thinking. .
"Your Majesty, urgent report from Xiangyang. The Southern Dynasty army used firearms."
"Firearms." Kublai Khan said after reading Ah Shu's emergency report. "The power of the artillery is so huge. It has a wider attack range than my return artillery. Wu Liang Hetai, you have been on the battlefield for a long time. Do you know about firearms? .”
Wu Lianghetai nodded and said: "Back to the emperor. I remember that in the battle to destroy the Jin Dynasty, the Jin people used artillery. They called it the thunder. It was indeed very powerful. When bombarded, the sound was like thunder. .Deafening. Fortunately, the Jin people at that time only had two artillery pieces, so our army was able to successfully break the city. Judging from the battle reports in Xiangyang, the Southern Dynasty army had at least thirty or more artillery pieces. And the explosion range seemed to be much larger than that of the Jin people. The original artillery."
Kublai Khan frowned slightly and said: "It seems that this is the secret weapon of Zhao Hu of the Southern Dynasty. Back then, Yang Lianzhenjia and General Shi both mentioned the muskets of the Southern Dynasty. I didn't expect that there were more powerful artillery pieces."
"Your Majesty, Ah Shu and Boyan on the front line also analyzed this. Firearms are the basis of the Southern Dynasty."
Kublai Khan slightly chinned his head and then fell into deep thought. At this time, Qie Xue, who was on duty outside the door, came in and reported: "Report to your Majesty. Your Majesty the God, Your Majesty the Emperor's Master have arrived."
"Well. Xuan."
Kublai Khan handed Ashu's battle report to Yin Tianya and said: "Sir, look at it. The Southern Dynasties used firearms."
Yin Tianya took over the battle report: "Great Khan, I also received a letter from Boyan, talking about the benefits of firearms in the Southern Dynasties. Regarding this, I plan to go to Xiangyang City with Alao Wading to see what the firearms are."
"That's very good. Emperor Master Yisi Ma Yin is setting off."
Hao Jingdao: "Your Majesty has already set off. He is accompanied by ten return artillery pieces."
"The gods, Alaowading and Yisimayin, are the artillery masters of our dynasty. Maybe we can get a glimpse of what's going on. Wu Liang joined the platform. He sent orders to Xiangyang A'shu and Boyan. The next plan of the army in the middle is waiting for the gods. We will make plans after the adults arrive."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Kublai Khan continued: "Three of the Southern Dynasty troops who stayed in Lin'an have been identified. They include one compartment of the Lin'an Military Region and part of the navy. There are less than 20,000 people in total. I plan to raid the Southern Dynasty gunpowder prison outside Lin'an City."
Wu Lianghetai said in surprise: "Your Majesty, the ones closest to Lin'an City are the East Route Army and the Central Route Army of our dynasty. But there are enemy troops defending along the way. How can we go deep?"
Kublai Khan smiled and said: "General Wu Liang Hetai, you don't know something. We have a friendly army in Jiande Mansion in the hinterland of the Southern Dynasty. I and Lord Shenzun deployed this surprise force a few years ago. It should be put into use." It’s time to take effect. Although the artillery of the Southern Dynasty is quite powerful, it is also their last resort. As long as its gunpowder monitor is destroyed, the Southern Dynasty will no longer be able to compete with our army."
"How many friendly forces are there?"
"About three thousand people." Kublai Khan opened the map on the table and said. "The distance between Jiande Mansion and Lin'an is not far. And the armies of the Southern Dynasties were concentrated in Xiangyang, Yangzhou and other places. In the hinterland, there were many people along the Liangzhe Road. The defense is very weak. As long as our troops are careful, they can reach Lin'an directly."
Hao Jingdao: "Your Majesty, let them break into pieces and then assemble in the outskirts of Lin'an."
"The emperor's master is right," Yin Tianya said. "Yang Lian Zhenjia and Fang Chenqian have plans. Nowadays, the Southern Dynasty's commercial industry is developed. The Liangzhe Road is its economic center. There are caravans coming and going every day and people going to Lin'an. There are many workers. For this reason, some of the soldiers will disguise themselves as traffickers, forming a team of fifty to a hundred people. The other group of people will pretend to be job seekers and disperse. It is estimated that there will be no problems along the way."
Kublai Khan said: "Sir, please tell me your plan."
Yin Tianya smiled slightly: "The Great Khan, the Emperor's Division, and General Wu Lianghetai. After gathering on the outskirts of Lin'an, this team will destroy the Southern Dynasty Gunpowder Monitor as quickly as possible. Although our Dynasty does not know about the Gunpowder Monitor Defense situation. However, most of the Lin'an defenders are stationed in the city. The gunpowder supervisor must be defending with less than a thousand people. At that time, our army will only need to send a thousand people to pretend to attack the north gate of Lin'an. The Lin'an defenders will be confused and panicked. If they are at a loss, they will only do their best to guard the city gates. I estimate that they will not leave the city to fight for a while. The main force of our army will take the opportunity to attack the gunpowder prison in the south of Lin'an. There are many people with excellent martial arts in this army. We will definitely be able to break through the defense line of the gunpowder prison. According to the intelligence we have learned, there is a lot of gunpowder stored in the gunpowder prison in the Southern Dynasties. As long as it is ignited, it can be burned."
Wu Lianghetai said: "Although this move is risky, it is not without opportunities. It's just a matter of how this army will withdraw from the Southern Dynasty after it is completed."
Kublai Khan said: "Wulianghetai. You don't have to worry about this. After success, there are two ways to go. One is to take advantage of the emptiness in the hinterland of the Southern Dynasty. This army can move around Lin'an or occupy the mountains. The king may become a rogue. He will go south to Fujian and Guangxi, and to the west to Jiangxi and Hunan. The second route is to go north to Luzhou. From Luzhou Prefecture, he will return to the territory of our country."
"This first way is feasible. There are no heavy troops of the Southern Dynasty in Fujian, Jiangxi and other places around Lin'an. The defenders of Lin'an City will definitely not dare to go out of the city to encircle and suppress them. But how is the second way possible? There are nearly two soldiers of the Southern Dynasty stationed in Luzhou Prefecture. The strength of the carriage."
"Haha. This is also a big secret of our dynasty." In order to win over Ah Shu, Kublai Khan said everything about Wu Liang He Tai. "Wuliang He Tai. I didn't hide it from you. A few years ago. I then sent dozens of young generals to sneak into the Southern Dynasty and join the army. The highest-ranking one among them is Shi Bi, son of Shi Tianze and Shi Aiqing. He is currently the Commander of the Fourteenth Wing of the Jianghuai Military Region of the Southern Dynasties. As the commander of Luzhou City The deputy general of the guard. His status is second only to the Luzhou garrison. The commander of the thirteenth chamber is Miao Zaicheng. The defenders of Luzhou City are mainly Shi Bi's fourteenth chamber."
"I see. Your Majesty has great foresight and Lord Shenzun has extraordinary insights. This is actually a blessing to our dynasty." Wu Lianghetai finished flattering and continued. "Your Majesty, since General Shi occupies an important position, why not let him lead the Southern Dynasty? Get some firearms for my reference."
"Shi Bi told me this. The Southern Dynasty has always regarded firearms as the top military secret in the country. Don't say that he is a commander. Even the Southern Dynasty generals stationed abroad who are higher than him don't know anything about it."