Chapter 63: Cavalry Enters the Battle, Machine Guns Enter

After the attack of the Dashun army began, Li Zicheng, Prime Minister Niu Jinxing, and military advisor Song Xiance had been observing from behind a small hill. From the beginning, Li Zicheng felt very bad. Because although his officers and soldiers are not afraid of death one by one, they lack the self-confidence of the past. In the past, when he had encountered many fierce battles to the death, his officers and soldiers had never been so unconfident. Even the prime minister and military advisor couldn't see that kind of pampered and confident look.

When the kiln man began to fight back, his soldiers were blown up by the flying thunder, and at the same time, Li Zicheng personally felt the power of the heavy mortar shells. It was an explosion, and a large area of life was taken away, leaving only a pile of fragmented corpses. It seems that it is not their own officers and soldiers who are not brave, but no matter how brave they are, their flesh and blood cannot stop the raging of shells.

Looking at all this, Li Zicheng felt helpless that he had never felt before. If you continue to fight like this, it will not be enough for your own soldiers to add to it, and the cannonballs of the Yaogang people seem to cost nothing, yes, they will never be able to finish it.

Not only did Li Zicheng feel helpless, but even Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance had no choice. The only cave car with a little defensive ability, none of which could be pushed up, was blown up by others. None of those brave soldiers could come close to the barbed wire fence of the kiln man. No wonder the Yaogang people dared not to build the city wall, it seems that when they were showing off their defense, they deliberately showed weakness, and did not expose all their strength at all.

Song Xiance observed more carefully, he said: "Our soldiers did not rush into front of their barbed wire because of the fire of their muskets, but a big reason is that they also set up a ** formation, and our people will be killed if they rush over." It seems that it is necessary to see the effect of our cavalry charge? ”

After listening to Song Xiance's words, Li Zicheng suddenly said: "Let the cavalry wait." ”

Niu Jinxing asked: "What's the matter, Your Majesty, I don't think it's enough to rely on the infantry, so it may be okay to send cavalry to charge now." ”

Li Zicheng said firmly: "Let the cavalry wait." Then let Zong Min and Yuan Zongdi each send 10,000 cavalry to charge together. Be quick! ”

Song Xiance understood, and immediately sent a fast horse to inform Liu Zongmin and Yuan Zongdi.

Liu Zongmin and Yuan Zongdi in front were worried and helpless for their soldiers constantly rushing into the bottomless abyss, because Li Zicheng was watching from behind, and none of them dared to withdraw their troops, so they could only watch their elite soldiers go to death one by one. This battle is simply unfought. Only now did Yuan Zongdi know the reason for the failure of Liu Zongmin and Hao Shaoqi. If you continue to fight, you will have to die with the soldiers. At this time, the military advisor sent someone to send Li Zicheng's order, asking them to organize cavalry to charge. The cavalry is a treasure in the hands of the generals, and they know that on such a battlefield, the cavalry will suffer great losses. But now that the prince has given the order, that is to say, the prince will be desperate today. Therefore, each of them did not dare to hesitate for a moment, and immediately sent people to transfer cavalry and prepare to attack. This is the reason why the cavalry that the kiln people were waiting for never arrived.

The infantry in front of them still kept moving forward and bravely went to the death without fear, and after issuing the order to organize the cavalry, the anxious Li Zicheng kept asking, "Are the cavalry ready?" ”

After getting an answer yet, Li Zicheng couldn't stop scolding. Niu Jinxing, who was next to him, saw Song Xiance looking at him and shook his head helplessly. At this time, Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance were very disappointed, at such a time, as the head coach, he should calm down, Li Zicheng is so impetuous, it is a big deal. This will cause confusion and loss of confidence among the soldiers below.

Soon, Li Zicheng also discovered his gaffe and slowly calmed down. When Liu Zongmin and Yuan Zongdi both sent a letter saying, "The cavalry is ready." ”

Li Zicheng ordered: "Attack!" ”

According to the agreement, Song Xiance ordered three red-clothed cannons to be lit in a row, and with the sound of three cannons, the two cavalry that were originally ready to attack along the Xiurong and Yaogang roads in two times were changed to attack at the same time, and their attacking position was almost between the south and west; The south and west flanks that attacked at the same time as them were also initiated. More than 30,000 horses of the three-way cavalry gradually accelerated and ran, and the sound was earth-shattering.

According to the plan, the soldiers of Yaogang quickly gave up the first line of defense and retreated to the second line of defense, and at the same time sealed the middle passage of the first line of defense and the second line of defense with **. At the same time, the artillery of the kiln hill carried out interceptive fire on the cavalry at a faster rate of fire. Whether it's a 60 mortar or a heavy mortar, it's all about firing shells at the fastest speed. However, the heavy mortar focus was on the blockade and interception of cavalry to the south and west. Because the middle offensive cavalry offensive line was preset by the Yaogang people, a large number of anti-infantry jumping mines were arranged on this offensive route.

The trenches and barbed wire fences on the defensive positions of the kiln gang were carefully designed. The trenches were all twenty meters behind the barbed wire, because of this distance, the broadswords and spears of the Dashun army did not pose any threat to the Yaogang soldiers, and the muskets of the Yaogang at this distance were almost hitting the heads of the Dashun army. The firing positions were all raised with soil dug in the trenches, and it was basically possible to shoot at the target over the barbed wire. The distance between the three lines of defense is fifty meters. The lines of defense are connected by trenches, and the lines are covered with **, pegboards, and tripwires. These tripwires are different from rejection horses, which can be seen, and these tripping ropes are buried in the ground with cement piers, and the cement piers are exposed to the ground for one and a half feet, and between the cement piers, they are connected by finger-thick wire ropes. When you look at it from a distance, you can't see this stumbling block. But it would be a disaster for a fast-hitting cavalry to encounter this. The barbed wire fence of the kiln line is also different from that of the fort, and each barbed wire fence is composed of standing barbed wire and serpentine curly barbed wire. What's more, the upper end of the barbed wire is still electrified.

The soldiers of the Dashun Army saw their cavalry rushing up, and saw the retreat of the Yaogang people in fear, their morale was greatly boosted, and they rushed up together with a loud shout, but within fifty meters in front of the first barbed wire, the Yaogang people buried a large number of ** and rows of rejecting horses that were fixed on the ground. The soldiers who rushed in were blown up one by one, and their arms and legs flew into the sky. But they will soon be trampled under the feet of their companions who come up from behind, that is, they will not be killed, but will be trampled to death as long as they fall to the ground. The brave soldiers of the Dashun Army, who kept rushing up, used their bodies and lives to blast the first barbed wire fence, and then covered with a layer of corpses, because the kiln soldiers who retreated to the second line of defense were more densely populated and the gunfire was more dense. However, some soldiers of the Dashun army still rushed to the barbed wire, and when they saw the barbed wire, some reached out to pull the barbed wire, and some slashed with their swords. But as soon as the hand that reached out touched the barbed wire, he trembled and lay on the barbed wire, and the one behind him looked badly, and reached out to pull his companion, but he fell down like the person who was pulled. Some of them fell in a row, and they all rescued each other. As soon as the knives hit the barbed wire, the blue light flashed, and the knives flew away, and the people arrived. But the people in the back didn't know what was going on in front of them, and they still hugged forward, and as a result, those who were electrocuted in front of the barbed wire fence were all covered with barbed wire. Finally the load on the barbed wire exceeded the load and the power was cut off.

When the cavalry, who had passed through the artillery interception and stepped on the corpses of the soldiers of the Dashun army, rushed to the front of the barbed wire, they also had to restrain their horses and slow down, because they also saw the rejection of the horses. They didn't dare to force the rejection to hit the horse. But as soon as their speed slowed, the opportunity to wait for the soldiers of the kiln gang came, and these cavalrymen suddenly became good targets on their high horses.

The squad leaders and deputy squad leaders who were armed with rifles in the kiln gang had the opportunity to choose targets this time, and those who held flags and were officials became their preferred targets. Due to the speed of the cavalry charge, the speed of the front slowed down, and the rear were all crowded together. Behind the qi, when the officer jumped like thunder, the impact of the cavalry depended on speed, and as soon as the speed slowed down, the advantage of the cavalry was gone, but the target was greater.

The commander in the back shouted "Accelerate, accelerate!" No stopping. "Of course, the cavalry knew the danger of stopping, but not all horses could cross the horse. There was no way, at the urging of the commander, they knew that the result of not rushing would be if they didn't die, and they would have to die if they went back. Therefore, the cavalry behind did not slow down, but rushed forward, and some of them crossed the first rejection, but it was difficult to cross the second rejection again, because after crossing the first rejection, the horse's speed had already decreased. Many war horses just hit the rejection horses directly, and some jumped up and didn't pass, rolling and falling over.

But the cavalry of the Dashun army fell in this way, and the rear rushed up, and finally some cavalry stepped on the horses and bodies of their companions, braving the rain of bullets to cross the first barbed wire. Although he was quickly dismounted, it also greatly boosted the morale of the Dashun army, whether it was cavalry or infantry, they all pressed against the barbed wire and used their bodies to pave the way for the brothers behind.

Finally, many soldiers of the Dashun Army rushed into the first trench of the Yaogang people. The soldiers of the Dashun army were even more encouraged, and poured into the first trench of the Yaogang people like a tide.

The cavalry of the Dashun army did not dare to enter the trenches, they were outside, and the target was even greater. They had no choice but to continue to charge at the second line of defense of the kiln people. However, when the cavalry crossed the first line of trenches, it was a high place, and in the eyes of musketeers and riflemen, it was a target that could be taken down without too much aim.

After the actual combat test, the soldiers of the kiln gang found that the effect of hitting horses with muskets seemed to be better than that of rifles, as long as the muskets hit the horses, the horses fell quickly, and the effect of rifle hits is not so fast. Because muskets have a much larger bullet caliber than rifles, they are more effective against targets such as horses at close range.

However, even if the cavalry who crossed the trench was not hit, they would soon inexplicably fall to the ground with their men and horses, and they would detonate at the same time. for their horses stumbled upon stumbling horses. This kind of tripwire is not easy to find, that is, it is strong and tough, and it is not easy to break. At this stalemate, the first trench was filled with General Dashun's soldiers. At this time, some soldiers of the Dashun Army suddenly discovered that there was some very strange smell in the trenches, and then found that there were black and slimy oily things flowing in the trenches. Some of the soldiers understood that it was fierce fire oil, and he shouted: "Run! It's fierce fire oil! ”

But it was too late, and a platoon of 60 artillery shells fell, and the oil in the trenches was ignited. The sky-high fire burned from the first line of trenches, and no matter how many infantry and cavalry there were behind the Dashun army, no matter how brave they were, they would not dare to rush to this wall of fire. None of the Dashun soldiers who rushed into the trenches could escape, and there was no sound in the trenches after screaming for a while.

At this time, the shelling of the kiln gang also stopped, and the soldiers of Li Zicheng's Dashun army also stopped attacking, staring blankly at the raging wall of fire.

Li Zicheng, who was watching the battle in front of the battle, couldn't stand it anymore, he said: "Today's defeat, don't blame my brothers, they are all good, the military advisor ordered the withdrawal of troops." You didn't see that the kiln men were not firing, that was to leave us a chance to retreat. ”

Li Zicheng, who returned to the big tent, ordered all the troops to count the battle losses, and all the generals went to the big tent for a meeting.

After the generals reported the battle damage, Song Xiance counted it and said: "In today's battle, we killed and wounded more than 60,000 infantry and more than 20,000 cavalry. ”

At this time, Li Zicheng completely changed his appearance in front of the battle, and he laughed and said, "Haha! I don't think these kiln people are immortals! My old Zhang can afford to die. After our cavalry entered the battle today, haven't we already broken through their first line of defense? If it weren't for the fire they set out, it's hard to say whether they would have won or lost today. But we've broken their first line of defense, and their ** have all been detonated, and their rejection doesn't work, and that's what we did today. They are superior to their firearms, and our morale and tactics are no worse than theirs. If Lao Tzu had those firearms of theirs, he would never have squatted in the ditch and been beaten! ”

Li Zicheng's words made his generals recover a little bit of vitality, and they could all raise their heads. Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance admired Li Zicheng from their hearts at this time, this is what is the leader, he can revive everyone's morale when everyone's mood is low.

Seeing that everyone was a little angry, Li Zicheng said: "Don't be discouraged today, let's go together tonight to get back the losses we suffered during the day." We can't wait for them to regain their positions before attacking, because then we will lose what we have suffered during the day. Hum! The Yaogang people will definitely celebrate today's big victory. We're going to give them a boost tonight. My idea is that when the night comes, we will send 10,000 men from the south and from the west to attack their positions, and when we have succeeded, our brigade will press together from behind. For specific things, the military advisor will arrange it. ”

Looking at Li Zicheng's spiritual head, it seems that it is not him who was defeated today, but the people of Yaogang. The generals regained their confidence and prepared for a battle.

Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance were thinking in their hearts, the first line of defense of the Yaogang people was broken through today, and it was obvious that the Yaogang people took the initiative to retreat, they wanted to use their preset ** array and barbed wire to resist horses, and even more ruthlessly, they tricked a large number of soldiers into the trenches and set them on fire. At this point, the soldiers on the front line can see only partially, they can't see it, but the emperor should be able to see it. Because if the defense line is breached, it will not be broken through neatly together. They retreated almost at the same time along the entire line. The strange thing is that the artillery on the battlefield is rumbling and the smoke is filled, how did they command the simultaneous action on such a long front? How did he know that the telegraph and telephone of the kiln gang had reached the front-line command post.

However, Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance both felt that Li Zicheng still had a good way to revive the morale of the army, and they also agreed very much with tonight's night attack. At this time, Li Zicheng showed the demeanor of a leader very well.

Just when Song Xiance began to arrange the tasks specifically, Liu Zongmin suddenly said: "Master, military advisor." I don't think it's good, according to the soldiers, the last time they waved their flags and led the troops to sneak attack, they were discovered by the guards of the fort during the sneak attack. I think the sneak attack is enough to do. ”

Liu Zongmin's words made everyone dull.

Li Zicheng said: "Don't be afraid, if the sneak attack fails, we will use the night to attack." Anyway, it was dark and their guns and cannons couldn't hit accurately. ”

Song Xiance twisted his beard and said: "I think so, we sent red-clothed cannons, bowl-mouth guns, and tiger squat cannons to attack them from time to time in the first half of the night, so that they could not be at peace all night, and it is not strange for them to hear occasional explosions." Just think it's harassment so they will be paralyzed. ”

Li Zicheng said: "The military advisor has a good idea, so do it." However, everyone should still be prepared to take advantage of the night to attack. The military advisor quickly assigned the task, and then asked everyone to go back to sleep for a while to save up some energy. ”

The people of Yaogang are a great victory today, and naturally they are jubilant everywhere, and the night is the sacrifice of killing pigs and sheep and fighting fiercely for a day. However, Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He did not relax, they immediately followed the plan, after the fire in a trench was extinguished, the organization personnel restored the first barbed wire, and pulled out the corpses that were filled in before and after the rejection of the horse, so that the rejection of the horse could still play the role of rejecting the horse.

The busiest person was Li Wei and the people in charge of laying mines, although the first special wire mesh had been stacked with several layers of corpses, and it was impossible for them to clean up and lay mines, but they had planted tripping mines between the corpses. Li Wei knew that if he laid mines like this, it would be very troublesome to clear mines in the future, and it would be dangerous to clean up the corpses. However, when dragging the corpse in the future, use a rope to tie it and pull it far away, such a large area cannot be without laying mines. Some of the jumping mines that have been detonated still need to be replaced. Those that haven't detonated, check them out to see if there's anything wrong.

The blackened outer layer of the first trench had already been cleared with shovels before dark, and a new layer of soil had been covered. Because the upper layer has been burned, it is easy to shovel off. The charred corpses in the trenches were also removed.

Ouyang He repeatedly warned the front-line commanders that they should be careful of the night attack of the Dashun Army tonight, and never let their guard down. At the same time, he also ordered that the troops who were in the third line of defense today, who had hardly participated in the battle, be transferred to the first line, and that they should be responsible for the defense of the night.

Today, Zhang Zhimu was really in no mood to take the children to swim, so he called Xiaoqing and Xiaohu to tell them that they couldn't go swimming today, so they were obedient at home and didn't go anywhere. After swimming in the evening and eating something good, it is the happiest time for children. After listening to Zhang Zhimu's call, although they were unhappy, the children also knew that there was a war outside, and they also knew that there was no way.

Today, Zhang Zhimu and the others ate in the command center, and everyone was very happy, and they all drank a little wine. But except for Yan Boju, everyone drank very little. Yan Boju said: "I am different from you, I am a good drinker, and my mind is exceptionally clear. ”

Everyone just laughed. Ning De said: "If this battle continues like this, many thieves will be thrown here." If we have such a weapon in Tongguan, we will definitely not lose it. I don't understand, why didn't you take Tongguan over in the first place? ”

Chen Yufeng said: "Let's take Tongguan over, we don't have to beat us with thieves, the emperor will come to beat us." ”

"Haha!" There was laughter in the command center.

Ningde said: "Yes! The Ming Dynasty seems to have run out of gas. ”

Several people were eating and chatting, when a report came from outside that Li Yunhe was here.

Chen Yufeng: "This stinky boy, he won't let us eat Ansheng." Let him in. ”

After Li Yunhe came in, Zhang Zhimu said, "Come on, Yunhe." Eat a little together. ”

Li Yunhe said: "No, no, today my family said that I won the battle today, and I will get a lot of good things, so I will definitely eat them." ”

Chen Yufeng said: "You kid is still afraid of guilt, so don't go back early." ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Yunhe, there are no outsiders here, you can say something about it." ”

Li Yunhe said: "That's right, our machine gun team said that their machine guns are almost up, and they have been doing continuous firing tests. When they heard that there was a lot of fighting outside, they said that it would be better to pull the machine gun to the front line and try it, which would be much better than trying it ourselves. ”

Zhang Zhimu was very happy when he heard this, and asked, "How did your gun test go?" How many shots can you shoot continuously? ”

"One or two thousand rounds in a row. At least a dozen rifles, because it is water-cooled, continuous shooting is not a big problem. In the past, there were times when it was stuck, but now it's much better. Li Yunhe said.

"How many machine guns do you have now?" Zhang Zhimu asked.

"There are five that can be used." Li Yunhe said.

Ouyang said: "Take it out tomorrow, three of them will be placed on the road from Xiurong to Yaogang, and one will be placed on the south and west sides." ”

Li Yunhe said: "You have four more people for each machine gun, and the main shooter must be our man, and the untrained shooter will not be able to use the machine gun." In the past, there was always something wrong, and it was also related to our improper use. ”

=======================

Paragliding, rubber model airplanes, piano making, and building an air force. --Progress of "Memories of the Southern Song Dynasty".