1 June 1840, Yam.

It is a special city because it is famous for its straddle between the two banks of the canal, which is divided into east and west parts, with two chain bridges connecting the traffic, enemy gunboats shuttling back and forth on the canal, and its outer perimeter is surrounded by hills and rivers, which makes it an easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Daniel Davis of the 4th Army Corps is leading his regiment to the outskirts of the West City of Yam City, preparing to take over the 3rd Army Corps troops that have been replaced.

Unless necessary, Commander Davis liked to walk as much as his own soldiers when marching, the young regimental commander was always energetic, and the soldiers could always see him.

This time was no exception.

He saw Woodley sitting on a gun carriage with his arms hanging over his chest.

"Hi Adams, are you okay?" Davis asked aloud after a pause.

In the same way that Davis was transferred to the 4th Legion, Woodley was transferred to the 3rd Legion, where he became a regimental commander under Commander Grant.

Woodley jumped out of the gun carriage, shook his injured left arm, and said nonchalantly:

"Daniel, long time no see. I just got bitten by a buckshot and took a piece of meat, and it didn't matter. ”

"That's good. Davis relieved, he took out a pack of cigarettes, stuffed a cigarette into Woodley's mouth, and lit it for the other party, "Tell me about the battle ahead, I heard that you guys are fighting hard?"

"yes. The enemy's tenacity was beyond imagination, and we had to exert great effort every time we fought for high ground, but the enemy's casualties were more than three times ours. They are completely filled with human lives, what a bunch of crazy people. ”

Woodley spat out a smoke ring, a little unwilling. Compared to the 1st and 2nd Legions, the 3rd Legion had lackluster results, and they did not achieve their goals except for the outlying heights in Yam City.

Previously, the Nationalist Army had steadily advanced and had regained 300 kilometers of land on the north bank of the Longjiang River, but it once again encountered a hard bone in Yam City.

The geographical location of the city of Yam was extremely important, as it was held in the middle of this north-south canal, and with the help of the favorable terrain, it blocked the northward advance of the national army. For the defenders, they can also get a constant supply through the canals.

"Adams, do you have any advice?" Davis asked.

"The terrain, the terrain is very unfavorable to us, the enemy has built many hiding holes on the other side of the ridge, each of which can be stuffed with at least a company of troops, and when our artillery fires, they hide in the holes and cannot reach them. When the artillery was ready to cease and our infantry charged upwards, they came out again and condescendingly fired at our infantry or threw grenades. It makes us feel bad. ”

"When we occupy a high ground with great difficulty, our soldiers will be under the attack of the enemy's artillery that has been prepared for a long time, they have been operating in Yam City for a long time, and the cannons are very accurate, and they should have calculated the ruler long ago. In such a situation, we tend to quickly lose the positions we have just occupied. ”

"Some of the enemy soldiers are really crazy, they will strappen explosives or grenades to their bodies and launch suicide attacks, which makes our soldiers feel afraid of the enemy. ”

Speaking of this, Captain Woodley said: "Some people say that these enemy soldiers must be the embodiment of the devil, otherwise it cannot be explained. Commander Grant was so angry that he arrested all the soldiers who had spread the rumors. ”

"Okay, thank you, Adams, I'll take note. Davis said, glancing at the 3rd Legionnaires who walked by, and saw that their morale was a little depressed, as if they had fought a great defeat.

In fact, the enemy's losses were much higher than those of the 3rd Corps, but Commander Grant considered this a great disgrace. In the past few years of war, his troops have been almost invincible, and he himself was regarded by the Genoese newspapers as an "invincible general".

At this time, Commander Grant was reviewing to Sean:

"Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief, since the beginning of the battle on May 1, our army has lost three thousand two hundred men, of whom 1,000 were killed and 750 were seriously wounded. As the commander of the 4th Army Corps, I bear the primary responsibility for such heavy casualties, and I am willing to accept any punishment from you. ”

"This is indeed the heaviest casualty of the Nationalist Army since its founding. Sean nodded, "There's a cruel saying, but I'm going to repeat it again, and that's that a soldier is just a number to you and me. It is noble humanitarianism for a wise commander to do his best to protect his soldiers, but war does not become merciful because of our nobility. ”

Speaking of this, Sean said: "Apparently our opponents have gone crazy, and I suspect that they are using drugs to control their own soldiers. ”

"Drugs?" Grant asked, "Your Excellency, do you mean something like opium?"

"It's much more powerful than opium. "I once got information that the new army uses a miracle drug that can make soldiers more excited, braver, fearless, and even numb to physical pain.

Although I have noticed this information, it is clear that I was negligent, because I always thought that it was a small measure. So, I mean, it's not that our soldiers aren't brave enough, it's not that you're not commanding well, it's that our opponents are crazy. ”

"Your Excellency, your magnanimity is very disturbing to the lowly office. The 3rd Legion asks you to fight again!" Grant straightened his chest.

"Nope. Sean shook his head, "Your legion didn't take the city of Yam as expected, but you did take the outer heights, which gave Simon's 4th legion a foothold. My order to him was to besiege the city of Yam on the spot. ”

"You are ready to use the city of Yam as a bait to focus on the reinforcements of the enemy army. Grant thought of this immediately.

"Militarily, the city of Yam is important to us, but even more so to the enemy. Under normal circumstances, the enemy army will definitely come to the rescue, but ......," Sean said, "we already know that the enemy army is crazy, and if the enemy army in Yam City is holding this place with the intention of death, the Holy City side may not let us do it, and they want us to invest heavily here." From the Holy City's side, the city of Evilm is also a decoy. ”

"Your Excellency, what is your plan?" asked Grant.

"The 4th Legion is enough to contain the defenders in the city of Arm, let the defenders defend theirs, and we fight ours, so why let hundreds of thousands of troops dance to the rhythm of the 50,000 enemy troops in the city?" Sean muttered, "I made a mistake just to try to wear down the arrogance of the army, so that you can take turns and become familiar with the opponent's combat style, but this has tied my hands and feet. Your 3rd Legion, for example, is accustomed to maneuvering rather than storming a fortress. ”

"You're being too yourself. Grant was very moved. The commander, though young, was so modest and open that he was thrilled in his heart.

"George!" said Sean, "your troops are demoralized a little bit at the moment, and that's not what I want to see." I need you to boost your morale as soon as possible and fight in the best way possible. ”

"The 4th Army Corps will live up to the high expectations of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief. ”

Grant gave a solemn military salute.