Chapter 483: Rebuilding the Loyal Shun Army

Because only one shell exploded on the fort, the second round of shelling basically did not cause casualties to the Mongol soldiers at Lumen Mountain. At first, Ah Shu and other generals thought that the accuracy of the artillery of the Southern Dynasty was limited, but after looking at the earthen walls that exposed holes, they were shocked. Although the earthen walls of Lumen Mountain are not as solid and thick as the normal city walls, they are also made of a mixture of rammed earth, stone bricks, and stones, which are much stronger than ordinary houses.

"Dashuai, it seems that only the stone city wall can resist the artillery of the Southern Dynasty." Asahan shook his head.

"Perhaps."

Boyan said: "Although the artillery of the Southern Dynasty is very powerful, the interval after each round is long, while the return artillery of our army can be fired continuously, and at the same time, as long as our army can rush to the front of its artillery in the interval between the exchange of shots of the opponent's artillery, it can be contained." ”

Zhang Hongfan said: "General Boyan, these two points are the weaknesses of artillery, but the other side not only artillery, but also muskets, unless our army at the cost of large casualties, it is difficult to get close to the artillery, return artillery to shoot at it, it is a feasible way, but the range of return artillery still needs to be increased." ”

Just when everyone was talking, Shi Tianze, a veteran who had been silent, said: "Huh? How did the Southern Korean army retreat? ”

Boyan said: "It seems that the enemy army is only carrying out artillery bombardment, and does not intend to attack our army's fortress, and its intention is roughly the same as the purpose of our army's artillery attack on Xiangyang City." ”

"Pass the order and let the auxiliaries hurry up and repair the fort." Ah Shu said, "In the next few days, the emperor's will should have arrived, I can just act as ordered, generals, return to the military tent first and then discuss." ”

"Marshal." Boyan looked at the generals who had all left, and said in a low voice, "The artillery of the Southern Dynasty is sharp, if the number is doubled or the attack is repeated for three or five days, the fortress in this field will definitely not be able to resist." ”

Ah Shu looked ahead and said expressionlessly: "The emperor and Lord Divine Venerable should discuss the result soon, let's wait." ”

Boyan sighed and said: "Marshal, Boyan estimates that it is nothing more than two results, one is to withdraw the troops, and the other is to attack. ”

Ah Shu said: "It is obviously impossible to withdraw troops, Boyan, I think the only possibility is to seize the two cities of Xiangfan before the firearms of the Southern Dynasty are perfected, and with Xiangyang as a backing, you can still take the initiative, or defeat the Guanzitan camp of the Southern Dynasty, otherwise, this battle will be difficult." ”

"Not bad. Marshal, we immediately summoned the generals to discuss the siege of the city, as long as we get close to the city of Xiangyang, the power of artillery will no longer exist. ”

Ah Shu thought for a while and said, "Okay, I'll get ready, just wait for the emperor's decree to arrive, and our army will immediately start action." ”

"Yes, Marshal."

After returning to the camp at Guanzitan, the generals gathered in the tent to listen to my instructions.

"Generals, in today's battle, everyone knows the power of artillery. It is impossible for Kublai Khan to build these forts outside Xiangyang with great effort to stop our army from carrying out counter-encirclement tactics, and the Lumen Mountain Fortress and the Baihe City Fortress are all made of rammed earth as the main material, and they can be destroyed in a few days under the attack of artillery. Let's discuss together the plan of action of our army when the enemy's fortress is destroyed by artillery. ”

Xie Daolin said first: "Your Majesty, when the Lumen Mountain Fortress is destroyed, let the Imperial Forest Army serve as the vanguard, open the way with muskets, and fight into the enemy formation." ”

Wu Songhan said: "General Xie, although the musket is powerful, the hand-to-hand battle is still handed over to our third compartment." ”

Xie Daolin smiled and said, "General Wu, do you think that the Imperial Forest Army is not good at hand-to-hand combat?" ”

The Imperial Forest Army is a musket team that I personally formed, Wu Songhan didn't dare to slander it, and hurriedly said: "Where, where, General Xie, the Royal Forest Army is the trump card unit in our army, how can it not be good at hand-to-hand combat?" As the saying goes, you use a knife to kill chickens, and you naturally don't need the Royal Forest Army to deal with a small person like Ah Shu. ”

Jiang Wanzai said: "General Crete, how many days do you think it will take to destroy the Lumen Mountain fortress based on three rounds of artillery bombardment per day?" ”

"In no more than five days, a gap can be opened."

"Five days?" Jiang Wanzai nodded and said, "Your Majesty, the last general thinks that before the fortress of the Mongolian army is destroyed, they will definitely take the initiative to attack, Ah Shu and Boyan are both good generals in the world, and they will not let our army's artillery bombard indiscriminately without taking any action." They should still be debating a strategy for dealing with artillery, but if there is a problem with their fortress, then whether they have a countermeasure or not, they will do something. The number of Yuan troops at Lumen Mountain was more than double that of our garrison at Guanzitan, so the last general was sure that as long as our army bombarded for two or three more days, the Mongols would definitely come out to fight our army in a decisive battle. ”

"It's very likely that dogs will jump off the wall in a hurry, not to mention Ah Shu and Boyan." I agreed, "Guanzitan is not far from the Yuan army camp, and since the Mongols already know the power of artillery, they will not sit idly by, and the only way is to get close to the artillery, so that they can avoid the lethality of the artillery." Generals, from tomorrow onwards, our army will have to guard against a sudden attack by the Yuan army during the artillery bombardment, and once a situation is formed in which we defend the enemy and attack, then our army will be able to destroy its new force with the advantage of muskets. General Jiang Cai. ”

"The end will be."

"You directly send someone to inform Li Tingzhi and ask him to support Xiangyang's army to speed up the march."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Gongsun Xiaochen, immediately sent an order to Lu Xiufu of Yingzhou, let the whole East China Sea Fleet be stationed in the Hanshui Valley near Yingzhou, and at the same time let General Wang Anjie transfer another army from the two armies left in Yingzhou, and rush to Guanzitan before tomorrow evening. Yingzhou City will not be attacked by the enemy for the time being, and all the city defense tasks will be handed over to the remaining army and the local civil defense regiment, and the sailor is fully prepared for battle, telling Li Zengbo to be careful and cautious, and not to seek no success, but to seek no fault, after all, Liu Quan's water war is still very set. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"General Crete, tomorrow's artillery bombardment will continue with two rounds, and after the two rounds of firing are over, the artillery battalion will immediately retreat."

"Yes, the last will obey." Crete couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, our army has enough artillery shells for the time being, why don't you increase the number of shots and destroy its fortress as soon as possible?" ”

"There's no hurry." I smiled and said, "General Crete, there are two reasons: first, if the number of artillery bombardments is too high, the Mongols will inevitably be left to die, and their large army will be numerous, and all of them will rush to our positions, and our army will suffer many casualties; Second, I just want to unconsciously undermine the confidence of the Yuan army, make them increase a little more fear every day, and eat away at their courage. ”

Although Crete has never been on the battlefield, he has been working in the armory factory, and he knows some of the art of war, and after listening to my explanation, he seems to understand: "The emperor is wise." ”

"Gongsun Xiaochen, inform General Xia Gui that from tomorrow, the intensity of the attack will be increased day by day, but the casualties of our soldiers must not increase."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Gongsun Xiaochen recorded it as he answered.

I looked at the map and continued: "Also, Xiao Chen, Ling, an independent division composed of trained musketeers from various military regions was stationed in Xiangfan, and at the same time ordered Lu Wende to focus on the northern wall of Fancheng, where the city wall was relatively low, and it was difficult to resist the attack of a large number of return artillery. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"What's the news about General Zhang Shun lately?"

Jiang Wanzai said: "Back to the emperor, at the beginning, he also successfully attacked several batches of small grain transport teams of the Yuan army, and after that, the Mongolian escort troops of grain and grass were all more than 10,000 people, and Zhang Shunbu has not found a suitable opportunity to do it. ”

"Well, inform Zhang Shun that he would rather not move than make senseless sacrifices."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Okay, what else is going on with the generals?"

"Your Majesty." Meng Tianya, who was sitting in the back, said, "There will be something to report at the end." ”

"General Meng, please speak."

Meng Tianya said: "The emperor ordered the last general to form a loyal army, early this morning, the last general's uncle Meng Zhang arrived at our army's camp, and brought five hundred children, because our army went to Lumen Mountain, so it has been waiting in the south of the camp. ”

"Really? It's a good thing. I laughed and said, "I didn't expect Meng Lao Hero to be so fast, Jiang Aiqing, Tianxiang, the two of you immediately go to greet you, and after settling down the soldiers, you will invite Meng Lao Hero to my big tent." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After everyone left, I hurriedly took off my armor, although I was wearing gold silk soft armor, and I didn't do anything, but in the summer, I was also sweaty, but fortunately, the west of the camp in Guanzitan is adjacent to Hanshui, and there is no shortage of water resources.

After taking a cold shower, under Fang Ling's massage, I felt much more comfortable.

After drinking tea for a while, I saw Yuan Jian enter the inner hall and said, "Your Majesty, Mr. Meng Zhang is already outside the door." ”

"Yes, please."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Yuan Jian walked to the door and said, "Mr. Meng, please." ”

Following Jiang Wanzai, Meng Tianya, Meng Zhang saluted after coming in: "Grass people Meng Zhang see the emperor." ”

"No courtesy. Ladies and gentlemen, you may be seated. ”

"Your Majesty."

"Mr. Meng, your speed is very fast, I would like to thank the old man for his support to my dynasty in advance."

"How dare you, how dare you. Didn't the emperor say that the rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of the husband? The Meng family has followed my Great Song Dynasty for generations, fighting in the east and west, and now the emperor is personally conquest, how can he not do his part? ”

I smiled and said, "Mr. Meng, what are your plans for coming this time?" ”

Meng Zhang said respectfully: "Back to the emperor, in order to rebuild the loyal army, the grass people returned to Mengjiaqiao this time, and discussed with the fourth brother Meng Ying, he continued to be responsible for recruiting the old department in the Mengjiaqiao area, and was personally trained by Meng Hai and others, while the grass people returned to the tomb of the second brother, while guarding the tomb, while recruiting locally. The two places will be carried out at the same time, and strive to complete the establishment of 3,000 soldiers under the command of the Zhongshun Army as soon as possible, so as to comfort the soul of the second brother in heaven. ”