If the week after the start of the Battle of Pyongyang was the first phase of the battle, then the battle after the week has definitely entered a new stage. When the Japanese army attacked here, Nie Shicheng and others immediately saw a potential crisis.

The Japanese army gave full play to its superiority in strength and artillery to open up a new battlefield around Pyongyang City, which immediately overstretched the already insufficient Qing army's strength. And with the use of 5-barreled Gatling guns and light mortar guns for infantry, the firepower of the Japanese offensive forces immediately increased to N notches.

LET'S START WITH THESE 5-BARRELED GATLING GUNS, WHICH WEIGH LESS THAN 41KG. (Does not include sports car weight or tripod). It can be carried separately by infantry with a rate of fire of 700 rounds per minute.

Except for the fact that it is more troublesome to need one person to shake the handle to feed the ammunition and the weight is too large, the other performance is no worse than Maxine. Moreover, this weapon was originally massively equipped with the Japanese army. The Japanese army only had to change it slightly, remove the gun carriage and replace it with a suitable tripod. Moreover, this weapon was also equipped in large quantities in Tsarist Russia, and the Japanese could get bullets and accessories directly from Russia, without worrying about supplies or not being able to buy them.

THE OTHER WEAPON WAS THE 80MM MORTAR GUN, A LIGHT WEAPON WITH A BARREL THAT COULD BE CARRIED BY ONE PERSON, AND ALTHOUGH THE RANGE WAS VERY SHORT, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES IN INFANTRY ENGAGEMENTS AT THAT TIME WAS NOT FAR AWAY. More importantly, its lightness provided the Japanese army with a weapon that could accompany the advance of the troops at any time and clear the appearance of fire points at any time. Its heavy use made the survival of the Qing heavy machine guns even more worrisome, and many machine gun crews had to finish firing a 250-round chain before preparing to move their positions.

However, fortunately, although the Japanese army has strong firepower, because the forces are scattered, the impact on the position is still relatively limited, compared with the Japanese army's Gatling machine guns and mortars, Beiyang has more machine guns and mortars. And both the gunner and the commander were newly trained. Fighting under the correct tactical guidance, so although it caused some trouble, the Japanese army could not master the coordination between the support weapons and infantry in a short period of time, and in terms of tactics and coordination, there was still a certain gap with the Beiyang New Army, which provided a buffer time for the Qing army to adjust the defense line and tactics.

Shao Yu and other generals of the New Army found that although the firepower of the Japanese offensive troops was strengthened by the addition of Gatling guns and mortars, various subjective and objective factors made these integrated Japanese offensive forces still have many shortcomings. First of all, in relation to the machine gun and mortar groups of the Qing army, which had several preset positions. The Japanese were slow to set up positions and move positions during the offensive, and there was little room for choice of positions. Second, both the Gatling machine gun and the mortar gun are more cumbersome than the machine guns and mortars equipped by the Beiyang Army, so the artillery crew will have more people. It's still relatively easy to spot such a big target.

Thirdly, the Japanese army had problems in the coordination process, and the machine guns and mortar guns were very easily disconnected from the assault troops, and relatively speaking, the Japanese army believed that the Gatling gun was more like a long-range support weapon similar to artillery, and the distance from the infantry was relatively long. This kind of support can only be said to shorten the distance of support. However, it is still not possible to completely accompany the attack.

In view of the above shortcomings, the Qing army took corresponding countermeasures. First of all, a special anti-suppression force was set up. IT CONSISTS OF AN 82MM MORTAR AND A 37MM GUN. It was generally not used in battle to attack Japanese assault units, and was designed to deal with mortars and Gatling guns that came into range. Also strengthens the role of the Sniper. A rifle equipped with a telescopic sight so that it can threaten the opposing shooter at a distance of about 400 meters. They will cooperate with the suppression force to strike at the accompanying support weapons of the Japanese army in terms of equipment and personnel.

Second, weaken the troop deployment of the straggler line and strengthen the firepower and troop allocation of each support point. Doing so is ostensibly easier to break through. But in reality, the whole line of defense is more solid. It is not terrible for the front to be broken through. As long as there are support points to limit the opponent's lateral deployment, and there are enough reserves to prevent the attack from developing in depth and have the ability to drive the opponent back. Therefore, the new defense system of Beiyang has become a first-line with support points as the skeleton. Reduced infantry configuration. The second line strengthened the infantry configuration and maintained a certain amount of reserves. …,

In this way, the front line becomes a position to contain and consume the enemy. And the second line is the real main line of defense. And in the fortified minefield. Obstacles and other facilities that delay the Japanese offensive. In a word. The strategy of the Qing army was to use the support points as the skeleton, and the main force was arranged backwards to consume the enemy with the support points to lag, and to implement dynamic defense in the form of defensive counterattacks.

Thirdly, it was to deal with the Japanese troops bypassing from the southern front. To be honest, Nie Shicheng didn't have a very good way to deal with these mixed units composed of infantry, light artillery and cavalry. Prime minister. The troops on the southern front could not increase their defensive strength by compressing the defensive surface like other defensive lines. Because the southern line is directly related to the safety of the Taedong River transportation line and the connection with reinforcements in the direction of Kaesong. In any case, it is necessary to keep these two lines open.

Secondly, in order to ensure the smooth flow of the above two lines. It is necessary to break away from the fortifications and take the initiative. There are no fortifications, no support from long-range artillery. The mobility and firepower of the Qing army, which lacked horses compared to the Japanese army, would be greatly reduced! Engaging the Japanese in an open area was obviously something that the Qing army did not want to encounter. Although they have machine guns, they are also afraid of artillery.

In view of the real situation, Nie Shicheng and others responded with only one word, that is, "drag"! Preemptively set up a number of preset positions and ambush points on the periphery, and the infantry resisted and retreated one by one, delaying the Japanese attack. At the same time, a small number of cavalry guerrilla operations were dispatched to carry out surprise attacks behind the Japanese supply lines. However, Nie Shicheng and others did not have much hope for the cavalry, because supply was always a problem, and unless the Japanese supply could be continuously intercepted, it would be difficult for the cavalry to maintain its combat effectiveness for a long time.

In addition to the Pyongyang garrison, Nie Shicheng and others believed that the thousands of soldiers and horses in Kaesong also needed to return to defense, and then cooperate with the main force to expel the Japanese troops in the south of Pyongyang, and after the sweep was completed, arrange a defensive line along the north bank of the Taedong River. However, in this way, Nozu Michikani's troops will also take advantage of the situation to press. The pressure doesn't decrease much either.

"It's up to the Beiyang Naval Division. We won't last long. "By now, Nie Shicheng must also think about the back road of the troops. The opponent attacked with more than twice the superiority in strength and artillery fire. The fall of Pyongyang is only a matter of time.

"Lord Nakado's edict said that the Beiyang Fleet will have a decisive battle with the Japanese fleet in the near future. After gaining sea supremacy, he will send a ship to send his brothers home. Ma Yukun said with some concern.

"Where is the decisive battle?" Nie Shicheng suddenly became alert!

"The main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet has regrouped in Nagasaki, and it may be necessary to go north to cut off the rear route of our army!" Ma Yukun was also a little weak. The Beiyang Fleet couldn't do its best, but in addition to guerrilla warfare, the Battle off the Sea of Izu and the Battle of Gunsan Bay could only be regarded as a draw.

"Do your best, let it be the fate of heaven." Nie Shichang said with a sigh. "We've got enough supplies, right?" Seeing that the supply is about to be cut off, it is natural to take stock of your belongings first!

"The last few times I have been transporting ammunition is the majority, and Lord Zhongtang means that some heavy weapons will definitely not be able to be taken away, and if you have food and grass, you can kill horses. Nakado-sama hinted that our time in North Korea would not be long. ”

"I hope so." Just when Nie Shicheng and the others felt a little confused about their future, another letter from Li Hongzhang was sent over.

"Junmen, my Qing troops in North Korea have been saved!" After reading the edict, Ma Yukun said excitedly.

"Hmm. This layout is really a big deal! Nie Shicheng exclaimed.

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