In the first battle of Jiujiang, the Hubei Navy Division lost more than 400 large and small warships, and was captured more than 100, but with the support of land and shore artillery, the Hubei Navy Division fought out more than 200 large and small warships of the Taiping Army, especially the 11 towing boats of the Taiping Army, and severely damaged the water artillery fire force of the Taiping Army's naval division. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

At the same time, the officers and men of the Hubei Navy Division also resolutely carried out the order of Du Xing'a to destroy the ship, and at the moment when the big tugboat that was difficult to build and difficult to build was facing the danger of being captured by the enemy, the Hubei soldiers insisted on igniting the cabin with gunpowder and then escaping.

In terms of personnel losses, the more than 6,000 Hubei naval divisions that participated in the battle suffered more than 2,500 casualties, of which more than 1,600 were killed, missing, or captured. However, the Taiping army also paid more than 2,000 casualties, of which more than 1,300 soldiers were killed and lost and captured ashore, and the losses were not lighter than those of the Hubei Naval Division.

There are two reasons why this battle can be fought so fiercely, the first is Wei Jun's tactical mistakes, greedy for the weapons of the Hubei Naval Division's ships, insufficient firepower preparation, and prematurely launched a charge to start a melee battle, which ended in the hands of Du Xing'a's desperate intentions.

The second is the bravery, tenacity and high morale of the soldiers of the Hubei Navy Division, the few Han Manchurian and Mongolian generals under the command of Duxing A are bastards, and they instigate Du Xing'a to disobey the order and not to die to die, but they are not bad breeds on the battlefield, whether it is Liu Liansheng, who likes to shout and hustle all day long, or Wuguo, who has bad ideas at every turn, they all fought to the last moment with the fleet of their subordinates, and none of them fled with the fleet in advance.

In the fierce battle, Duxing Aai still commanded the ship to rush to Wei Jun's flagship when the ship was ignited by the picric acid weapon, preparing to die with the flagship of the Taiping Army. And similar tactics of ending up together have occurred more than one or two on the battlefield.

In the end, coupled with the indiscriminate artillery coverage of the Jiujiang bank artillery, the Hubei Navy Division once had the upper hand on the battlefield, which made it difficult for the Taiping Army Naval Division to parry for a while, and also made the Wu Army Cao Yanzhong Corps on the shore look at the Duxing Asuo Naval Division, and Zuo Zongtang couldn't help but mutter, "Duxing, the bastard is a bastard, but he is still a man." ”

Although the Hubei Navy Division was defeated, Wei Jun scolded Kainiang on the flagship of the Taiping Army, saying that he didn't expect the Hubei Navy Division to fight so fiercely and ruthlessly, even if he knew that he would definitely lose miserably, he still fought himself to a broken bone, which seriously affected his next real decisive battle with the Wu Army Water Division.

What surprised Wei Jun even more was still to come, only a day had passed after the end of the Jiujiang War, and when the main general Du Xing'a was seriously injured, the Hubei Navy Division that had landed and escaped was led by Liu Liansheng and Bao Chao and other generals, and rushed to Tianjia Town by land from Ruichang to join the Wu Army's Naval Division - Tianjia Town, there were countless spare warships waiting for them to drive into the battle.

After confirming this news, Wei Jun was surprised and also inspired, and hurriedly convened a meeting of the generals under his command to discuss the immediate dispatch of troops to Tianjia Town. As a result, all the generals of the Taiping Army were very puzzled by this, and asked Wei Jun one after another: "Prime Minister Wei, didn't you say again and again before that the terrain and water flow over there are very unfavorable to us, and we can't grasp the decisive battle there, and insist on advocating a decisive battle at the mouth of Jiujiang Lake and surpassing the little demon, how can we change our minds again?" ”

"Because now is the most vulnerable time for the Transcendence Little Demon Water Master." Wei Jun replied: "In the battle of Jiujiang, we inflicted heavy losses on the Qing Demon Water Division, although we failed to successfully annihilate the Qing Demon Water Division and let most of their sailors land to escape, they also immediately rushed to Tianjia Town by land to continue the battle. ”

"But in a short period of time, it is difficult for the Clear Demon Sailor to recover his vitality, not to mention the slow speed of the land route, just the reorganization of the army, the transfer of personnel and the familiarity with the new ship will drink a pot of the Clear Demon Sailor. So we went to Tianjia Town at this time to fight with the Surpassing Demon, and the opponents we faced were actually the five water divisions that surpassed the Demon, and there were no other opponents, even if the terrain and water flow were unfavorable, they still had a great advantage. ”

Wei Jun's words reminded the generals of the Taiping Army, Lin Qirong was the first to wake up, patted his leg and said: "It's still Prime Minister Wei who sees it deeply!" Yes, although the terrain and water flow in Tianjia Town are not favorable to us, the Wu Demon Water Division only has five battalions of troops, and the number of troops and ships is far inferior to ours, which is a God-given opportunity for us to take advantage of the situation. ”

"But if it's too late, we're in big trouble." Gu Longxian, the general of the water division, also said: "After the Qing Demon Water Master went ashore, he immediately retreated to Tianjia Town, clearly wanting to take over the spare warship brought by the little demon from the provincial capital of Wuchang, and drive the new ship to fight us. If we don't hurry up and enter Tianjia Town, when the Qing Demon sailors are reorganized and familiar with the new ships and new guns, it will be even more difficult for us to break through Tianjia Town and annihilate the sailors who surpass the little demons! ”

The generals of the Taiping army who had woken up echoed one after another, and they all changed their minds and agreed to immediately send troops to Tianjia Town, but Wei Jun's deputy Zhong Tingsheng raised a different opinion and warned: "Prime Minister Wei, now there are only five battalion water divisions on the side of Tianjia Town that surpass the little demon, and we have an absolute advantage in water power, but the guards on the side of Tianjia Town are very tight, there are ten iron cables just to block the river, and there are countless mines and batteries on the shore, we can't quickly break through the iron cable defense line beyond the little demon, and there is no way to fight a close battle with the little demon, How can you take the opportunity to annihilate the sailor who surpasses the little demon? ”

"That's a real problem." Wei Jun nodded, admitting that it was indeed difficult to break through the iron cable defense line arranged by Wu Chaoyue in Tianjia Town, and then Wei Jun said: "But I think so, the main force of our sailor division can drive to the Wuxue first, and if there is a way to quickly break through the iron cable defense line, we will fight, and if we don't have a chance, we will retreat, anyway, there is no longer any threat to our rear, and there is no need to worry about being cut off by the Qing Demon." ”

Zhong Tingsheng nodded, no longer objected, and then Wei Jun finalized the plan to send troops on the spot, and immediately began to prepare for war when the main force of the water division had already suffered certain losses, and personally led the main force of the water division to the west the next day, along the Yangtze River waterway, and with the help of the southeast wind at the turn of spring and summer, it took more than a day to rush to the Wuxue area, and very carefully set up a water camp in the slow water, not to give the fierce Wu army and land division on land any chance to sneak attack. At the same time, the soldiers of the Hubei Navy Division, who set off one day earlier, had just crossed Happy Horse Mountain and had not gone far, and had not yet entered Hubei Province.

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Not to mention, Wei Jun's hand really surprised Wu Chaoyue - what Wu Chaoyue was afraid of was that the Taiping Army's sailor Lai refused to move at the mouth of Jiujiang Lake, and he couldn't stay away from the provincial capital for a long time. However, after the surprise, Wu Chaoyue quickly woke up like Wei Jun, and found that he was too happy too early, once the ten Hengjiang iron cables were broken through by the Taiping Army's sailors, he would have to use five battalions of sailors to single-handedly challenge the main force of the Taiping Army's sailors.

After a detailed understanding of the situation of the Taiping Army's troops and ships, it was found that the frontal decisive battle had little chance of winning for the army, and Wu Chaoyue could only decide to say: "There is no way, this battle can only be defended first, and first go all out to hold the iron cable defense line, and wait for Bao Chao and them to rush to Tianjia Town with the Hubei Naval Division, reorganize and familiarize themselves with the ships before they can launch a counterattack, otherwise we have almost no chance of winning at this decisive battle." ”

"I'm afraid that after Bao Chao and them rebuild the army, they will slip away with long hair." Zhao Liewen reminded with a smile.

Wu Chaoyue nodded, also worried that the Taiping Army would slip away in advance and not give himself a chance to fight back with all his might. And after thinking about it again, Wu Chaoyue began to daydream again, and asked Zhao Liewen: "Huifu, can you come up with any way to let Changmao's side storm our iron cable defense line and consume a lot of strength in front of our iron cable defense line?" If this move can be successful, then after Bao Chao and the others rebuild the army, even if Changmao escapes to Jiujiang in advance, we can rest assured that we can chase Jiujiang. ”

"Comfort Ting, you're really going to have a problem." Zhao Liewen laughed when he heard this, and said with a wry smile: "Changmao's side is not a fool, even if he launches a few tentative attacks, he will definitely only send some sampan boats to fight, and he will not use the precious troops and main warships to rush our barrage and iron cables, and find our artillery to attack by himself, what can I think of to make them do this?" ”

"Come to think of it, maybe there's a way." Wu Chaoyue refused to give up, scratched his scalp and calculated: "Is it okay to deliberately show a little flaw......?" It shouldn't work, if the flaw is small, the long hair will definitely not be fooled, and the big flaw really gives the long hair a chance to break through, then we will be in big trouble. ”

"Pretend I'm in a hurry to go back to the provincial capital? No, if I suddenly go back at such a critical moment, Long Hair will definitely suspect that this is my trick to lure the enemy, even if I am tempted, I will definitely not really put the main force into the water to attack the fortification. ”

"It's a pity that Ding Ruchang and Nie Shicheng went to Suizhou, otherwise, if he asked him to come forward to deceive him, maybe he could make Chang Mao schem. Confused, this time I came to Tianjia Town, why didn't I think about transferring Ding Ruchang to ...... first? ”

Wu Chaoyue chattered with self-pity, calculating all kinds of tricks to lure the enemy, but Zhao Liewen, who knew that there was no such possibility, didn't bother to mix it at all, just bowed his head and dealt with the official document in his hand. However, at this time, there was news outside the door that the deputy general of the naval division, Huaer, asked to see him, and after Wu Chaoyue casually agreed to meet him, Huaer quickly strode into the lobby, and as soon as he entered the door, he shouted in half-baked Chinese: "Wu, I heard that the sailors of the Taiping Army have come, when are you going to fight?" I can't wait. ”

"Don't worry, I know that there are three steam gunboats on the Taiping side, but I can assure you that under my command, our two steam gunboats will definitely be able to sink all three of the Taiping army's steamboats! Fighting a war is not a competition of numbers, it is a competition of courage, and water combat is a competition of technology. ”

Knowing Wall's straightforward temper, Wu Chaoyue didn't bother to explain to him, but only directly told him the number of ships and troops of the Taiping Army's sailors, and also told Wall that the Taiping Army's steam gunboats were manipulated by foreign mercenaries, and they were not inferior to the sailors of the Taiping Army in terms of technology. As a result, Wall quieted down a little, and exclaimed exaggeratedly: "My God, it turns out that our enemy is so strong this time!" Wu, then forget it, it's up to you to decide how to fight, and I won't talk nonsense to affect your military deployment. ”

"I can't imagine that there were times when you knew you couldn't talk nonsense." Wu Beyond snorted coldly in his heart, and was about to send Wall away, when the words came to his mouth, Wu Transcendence's heart suddenly moved, and he subconsciously looked up and down at Wall who was completely different from the image of the Chinese.

"Wu, what are you looking at?" Wall was a little weak by Wu Chaoyue, and couldn't help but lower his head to see what was strange about his dress.

"Dear Mr. Wall, my friend." Wu Chaoyue suddenly showed a little smile, and said with a smile: "I suddenly remembered something, I want to ask you for help, I hope you must agree, and you must not refuse." ”

"Wu, when did you become so polite?" Wall asked very suspiciously, and said: "I am the person you hired, if you have any orders, of course I will carry them out, and you can say anything." ”

Wu Chaoyue's answer almost didn't make Wall faint - Wu Chaoyue smiled and said, "I want to ask you to surrender to the Taiping Army, and take the initiative to ask to be a spy for the Taiping Army and help the Taiping Army destroy my army." ”

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It's time to take a look at the situation on the Taiping army's side, after arriving at Wuxue, while establishing a water camp, Wei Jun also took a fast boat for the first time and personally went to the area of Tianjia Town, which was heavily fortified by the Wu army, to investigate the enemy's situation. However, the results of the investigation made Wei Junda frown and secretly cry out for trouble.

What worries Wei Jun is, of course, that Tianjia Town's defense is tight, from the end of the street of Tianjia Town in the north of the Yangtze River to the steep half-wall mountain in the south of the Yangtze River, ten thick iron cables are intercepted across the river, and the iron cables are covered with light and dark mines, and there are dozens of big ships and ten large wooden dustpins to support the iron cables, one iron cable is cut off, and the remaining iron cables can still be firmly tied as before. Soldiers were stationed on the ship and in the wooden rafts, guarded with guns, and were responsible for controlling the pull-out mines, and it was extremely difficult for ordinary sampan boats to get close, so it was naturally difficult to have any hope of a sneak attack.

Of course, no matter how good the fortifications are, they may be breached, if the Taiping army dispatches the main large ships to bombard the Wu army's water fortifications with heavy artillery, and cooperates with the attack of Honglu axes and small boats, the Taiping army is not without hope of destroying the iron cable defense line. However, it is a pity that there are still permanent forts of the Wu army on the east and west banks of the Yangtze River, and the firepower crosses to block the river, and if the Taiping army sends the main ships to attack, in addition to the frontal will definitely be returned by the Wu army's artillery fire, the left and right sides will also have to be attacked by the Wu army's artillery, and the losses will definitely be not small after the strong attack.

By the way, the Taiping Army also has a way to first kill the Wu Army and the Land Division on land, seize the fort and destroy the iron cable, and then go up against the current to kill the Wu Army and the Wu Army's Water Division, which is lonely. But if anyone dares to give Wei Jun this idea, Wei Jun's saliva will definitely spray him to death - Wu Wangmiao on the north bank is stationed in Wu Chaoyue's directly subordinate corps, and the southern half of the mountain is guarded by Liu Kunyi's Zhuangzi battalion, and the guns are strong and the guns are very shameless to build strong fortifications, and the sailors of the Taiping Army have gone ashore to remove the heads, what role can they play?

"The only hope is to break through on the water, but if we want to successfully break through the iron line beyond the little demon, we will have to break at least half a tooth."

After coming to this conclusion, and silently keeping in mind the topographical characteristics of Tianjia Town, Wei Jun returned to the sailor camp, thinking and considering how to break through the Wu army's defense line, and whether it was worth breaking through the Wu army's water defense line at any cost.

Although he is also a famous general, Wei Jun does not have much talent in opportunism, and he can't think of any way to win by surprise after racking his brains, and the focus of his calculations is also how to arrange troops to give full play to the advantages of more ships and more soldiers, as well as calculate the price that needs to be paid to force a breakthrough. However, after thinking about it for a long time, Wei Jun suddenly found that if the self-army did not attack head-on at any cost, even if it paid a heavy price to succeed, it still had an absolute advantage over the Wu army's water division afterwards, and it was still sure of defeating the Wu army's water division.

The reason for discovering this is, of course, that the strength of the Wu Army's naval division is still relatively weak, except for the two steamships and the four water monsters of the Loyalty and Renyi, the remaining ships of the Wu Army's naval division are all sampan boats, which are not difficult to deal with, and the Taiping Army with sufficient strength can use three to fight one or even four to fight one, and as long as the Wu army's sampan fleet is killed, the too cumbersome and huge Loyalty and Renyi will only be beaten to death in front of the Taiping army's boats. Rocket fuel cans and picric weapons alone can be dealt with calmly.

As for the two steam gunboats of the Wu army, of course, they were dealt with by the three steam gunboats of the Taiping army, and no matter how generous Wei Jun was, it would never be possible to send the steam gunboats to attack the Wu army's iron line of defense, and he would also decide to leave the steam gunboats at the end before being used on the battlefield.

"Break through the Wu Demon Iron Cable defense line at any cost, and go all out to kill the Wu Demon Sailor, not to mention anything else, as long as you kill his four main warships, my Sailor can be invincible in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The cost must be huge, and the gain will be greater, so is it necessary to take this risk? ”

When hesitating about this difficult choice, before he knew it, it was already dark, and the protest in his stomach also reminded Wei Jun that he hadn't even eaten lunch today, and when Wei Jun was about to give the order to eat, he didn't expect that a herald suddenly came in from outside the cabin, and knelt on the ground and played: "Prime Minister Wei, our army's patrol clipper caught a man on the north bank of the Yangtze River, he said that he was here to deliver a letter of surrender, and asked to surrender as an internal response for our army. ”

"Serve the meal." Wei Jun didn't even look at the book, and instructed casually: "Don't read the letter, it's fake, the person who sent the letter beheaded the public, it's also fake, this is a trick to surpass the little demon." ”

It was rare that the herald, who had always obeyed orders, did not immediately carry out the order, and said cautiously: "Prime Minister Wei, do you want to take a look?" This letter was written in foreign language, and the person who sent the letter also said that he was asking for surrender on behalf of the foreign general of the Wu Demon Water Division, Hua Er. ”

"Foreigners come to ask for surrender?" Wei Jun raised his head suddenly, his eyes were full of surprise, and he subconsciously remembered a good news that Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing had triumphantly announced before-Li Xiucheng was in Zhejiang, and he also recruited some foreigners to join the Taiping Army, and helped Li Xiucheng a lot. (To be continued.) )