After 3,000 grenades and a regiment of musketeers transferred from Dengzhou North Camp arrived, I suddenly felt a lot relieved. Although all the armies except the Royal Guards, including the Black Carbon Regiment and even the Guards, had prepared They were prepared for hand-to-hand combat. However, the ensuing battle was similar to what Lu Wenhuan expected. After another large-scale attack was repelled, the Yuan army began to retreat.
It's just that this counterattack consumed more than a thousand throwing bombs alone. As a result, the number of throwing bombs used in this battle has exceeded 10,000. This is a lot of money. Of course. This It is completely worth it. To put it simply, it is to use money and materials in exchange for the lives of the Yuan army officers and soldiers.
After two wars, the use of firearms has basically formed a certain routine. That is, when the enemy rushes forward, use throwing bombs to blow up the protection of the enemy's front line first, and then use muskets to shoot at close range.
After all, Boyan didn't dare to continue fighting. After a day of attacks, the Yuan army still failed to step into the Song army's camp. Moreover, it also lost about 20,000 horses. You know, these 20,000 cavalry are the elite of the Yuan army. Most of the cavalry are Mongolian soldiers or soldiers from the Western Regions.
If we look at the casualty rate on both sides, it is definitely the massacre that Yuan Ji mentioned.
While Boyan and A Shu were discussing, Guo Kan, who was stationed in Xuchang, sent someone to report, "Xuchang has been lost."
Although the fall of Xuchang was expected by Boyan, when he learned the news, Boyan couldn't help but let out a sigh. He glanced at Ah Shu who was also helpless, and then ordered: "Firearms are invincible. Save your strength. .All officers and men listen to the order and retreat."
After experiencing the Battle of Xiangyang and the Battle of Dengzhou, Boyan, A Shu and others vaguely felt that fighting with swords, guns, swords, halberds and firearms would only lead to a dead end. This gap is compared to the difference between iron weapons and wooden weapons. The difference between them is even greater. When firearms appear on the battlefield, the outcome of the war is already determined. This is almost irreversible by human power. Moreover, Shi Yuqi once said that the current weapons of the Southern Dynasty army are only in the primitive stage of firearms. In the future, firearms will become more advanced from generation to generation. By then, cold weapons will have no place at all. Emperor Zhao Fu of the Southern Dynasties also said that this is the power of technology.
Technology. What is technology? If Boyan knew how the US military attacked Iraq in later generations, he would understand the huge difference between the strength and weakness of technology.
After Shi Yuqi returned, he told A Shu, Boyan and others about many new things in the Southern Dynasties, such as big bells, firearms, etc. There were also many new terms. For example, cold weapons were one of them.
Gongsun Xiaochen saw the Yuan army slowly retreating and said happily: "Your Majesty, the enemy has withdrawn."
I put down the telescope in my hand and said with a smile: "Yeah. It's a pity that we didn't wait until the two generals Wu Songhan and Fan Tianshun arrived back in time. Ah Shu withdrew his troops. Otherwise, our army's achievements would have been greater."
"Your Majesty, do you want to pursue me?"
"No need. Just clean up the battlefield."
Near dinner time, Fan Tianshun led the cavalry back to Dengzhou East Camp. Almost at the same time, the battle report sent by Yin Yinglei from Xuchang also arrived in Dengzhou. However, the infantry led by Wu Songhan did not return until the early morning of the next day. Camp.
After a day's rest, I summoned the generals and held a summary meeting of the battle in the Chinese army's tent in Dongda Camp.
"A miracle. It is simply a miracle." As the commander of this battle, Lu Wenhuan said first. "Your Majesty, generals, the number of casualties in our army in this Dengzhou battle was less than 500, but we killed Yuan Yuan. The army numbered more than 23,000. This was unprecedented in our dynasty, not in the recorded history of human wars. Our army fought on three fronts, captured Xuchang, defeated Ali's Hague Ministry, and successfully defeated Dengzhou City. Blocked the Nanyang Yuan Army's strong attack. A total of more than 30,000 Yuan troops were wiped out in the three battles. This was our army's first major victory since the Northern Expedition. This battle was of great significance. It not only killed the 30,000 main force of the Yuan Army. It completely destroyed the morale of the Central Army of the Yuan Dynasty. Just as His Majesty said, firearms will completely replace the current cold weapons. This awareness is at least eight hundred or one thousand years ahead of us ordinary people. At this time, who doesn't believe in His Majesty's words? It’s a prophecy. I have Your Majesty, the ‘divine king’, as my honour, so there is no need to worry about the failure of great things.”
Lu Wenhuan summarized the results of this battle in a few words and took the opportunity to praise me greatly.
"Long live the Lord God. Long live the Lord God." All the generals cheered together.
Since then, I have had another title called "Shenjun".
"My generals, the Northern Expedition has not been successful yet. We still need to work hard." I was in a good mood. I waved my hands to signal everyone to be quiet and continued. "In response to what General Lu just said, I would like to add something. Although firearms are invincible, they also need to be mastered. In whose hands is it? In the battle of Dengzhou, the soldiers of our three armies fought for their lives. When the Yuan army rushed forward, no one was timid. Instead, they strictly carried out the instructions of their superiors. There was no chaos in shooting, dropping bombs, and releasing arrows. This is It shows that the overall quality of our army has been greatly improved. I am gratified and proud of this. I believe that after a series of baptisms of war, our army will become an invincible iron army."
Looking at the generals who were equally excited, I continued: "Currently, the northern land has reached the severe winter season. According to Qin Tianjian's prediction, there will be heavy snow in Henan in the near future. Therefore, it is impossible for both the enemy and us to use troops aggressively. For this reason, during this period, our main task is to train our troops. When the weather gets warmer early next year, our troops will be dispatched in large numbers."
All the generals said in unison: "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Gongsun Xiaochen sent an order to Bianliang Jiang Aiqing to expand the Bianliang Military Region and win the hearts and minds of the people. He also took the opportunity to eliminate the Yuan army surrounding Bianliang. He also sent an order to Xuchang Yin Aiqing to stabilize the situation and cultivate health. In addition, the two places also We need to be strictly defensive to avoid a surprise attack by the Yuan army. Although this possibility is extremely small, we should not be careless. There was a case in the previous dynasty where Li Su attacked Caizhou on a snowy night. Our army cannot make the same mistake."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Finally, let me tell you some good news. The second arsenal of Lin'an Gunpowder Supervision has been fully started. Its scale and production capacity are more than three times that of the original arsenal. It is estimated that the entire Gunpowder Supervision can produce 20 guns by the end of the year. Artillery, 20,000 projectiles and 1,500 muskets. Next year, we can produce 250 artillery pieces and 300,000 projectiles."
"Great." Lu Wenhuan said. "Your Majesty, will you gradually equip all the existing Northern Expeditionary Army in the middle with muskets?"
I nodded and said, "Yes. It's not just the Central Army. From now on, all armies will focus on firearms. General Lu selected 3,000 soldiers from the original Xiangyang Military Region to form the Fourth Division of the Royal Forest Army. The first batch of 3,000 people was organized. It is a brigade. Lu Shimeng is temporarily serving as the brigade commander."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I honor your orders."
Late at night two days later, a heavy snowfall quietly fell to the ground.
Early in the morning, I was woken up by Fang Ling. When I went out and looked around, I saw heavy snow flying all over the sky. It looked like cotton wool and goose feathers. It fell continuously from the sky. Compared with the snowflakes in the south, the snow in the north is really beautiful. It is called heavy snowfall. At this time, the ground has long been covered with heavy snow. As far as the field of vision can be seen, there are silver ropes everywhere. The sky and the earth are one color. It is extremely magnificent.
"This is the snow scene in the north." Looking at the heavy snow, I suddenly thought of the agreement I made with Hibikisugi to go to the north to see the snow. I have seen it now. But where is Hibikisugi? Hibikisugi, Hibikisugi. You Are you okay?
I sighed. There was a dull pain in my heart. I tilted my head unconsciously and happened to see Fang Ling who was happily beside me. "Is Linger the same as Lingshan?" This idea suddenly came into my mind again.
"Brother, let's build a snowman, shall we?"
"Ling. Ling'er. Okay."
It didn't take long for us to build a snowman as tall as a human being. However, under the heavy snow, it was soon covered by falling snowflakes. Only a little "human" shape could be seen. That's all. Fang Ling was still happy with it. Even though he turned into a snowman, he kept piling up again and again.
After losing his memory, Fang Ling seemed to become more optimistic. Standing in the snow, Fang Ling was like a snow elf. Pure and beautiful. Like a fairy in the sky. Without any human fireworks, but actually existing in me. In front of you.
"Ling'er." I shouted softly involuntarily.
Fang Ling also softly said "Hmm" and said: "Brother."
I didn't say anything. I just reached out and hugged him tightly. Fang Ling didn't ask any more questions. He hugged me and hugged each other in the heavy snow. It seemed that at this moment, there were only two of us left in the whole world.
Silence is better than sound at this time.
Within a moment, heavy snow fell on us, turning us into snowmen.
I don't know how long it took. Fang Ling said: "Brother, go back to the house. It's easy to freeze in this weather."
"Okay." I know that Yi Fang Ling's martial arts is not afraid of the severe cold. But although I am a minor martial artist, I am far from being able to compare with him.
Time passed day by day. On the morning of December 11th, when I had just finished breakfast, I saw Yuan Ji hurried in with Lu Wenhuan, Lu Shikui and others.
Lu Shikui knelt down on the ground as soon as he entered the room: "Your Majesty, my father passed away yesterday."
"What." I said stunned for a moment. "After all, it can't be changed."
Lu Wenhuan and others did not understand the meaning of my last sentence: "Your Majesty, my brother suffered from gangrene and died of illness yesterday." After saying this, he handed me a letter written by Lu Wende himself.
In the letter, Lu Wende expressed his gratitude to me in a concise and concise manner. Before he died, he was able to meet his son. His only regret was that he could no longer serve the country as a pawn in front of me.
I put down the letter in my hand and said sadly: "Dead people cannot be resurrected. Lu Aiqing, the two generals. Sorry for the change. Although Marshal Lu has done a lot of wrong things in his life, he has also made a lot of contributions to the fight against Mongolia. I think he deserves it." Greater than that."