Outlaws of the Marsh

Chapter 202 Controversy

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maritime.

Zheng Zhichang walked towards Wu Yanchong, who was looking at the map of Tamna County, and said, "The old general is really hardworking. He has been studying the map of the battlefield since he set off."

Wu Yanchong, who had been idle for nearly ten years and did not dare to hope for the chance to lead troops, had long since lost his irascibility, and said calmly: "I never thought that I would lead troops to attack the island of Tamna County, so I didn't respond in the slightest." I don’t even have any preparations, so I need to do more research.”

Zheng Zhichang said: "Xiao Ke knows that the old general's wish is to return to the Northwest Army to avenge his shame. If there is a chance, Xiao Ke will definitely speak to the king."

Wu Yanchong thanked: "The old man thanked the marshal in advance."

Zheng Zhichang said: "Old General, don't be ashamed of Xiao Ke, Xiao Ke doesn't know how to lead troops to fight, this battle is naturally under the command of the old general."

Hearing what Zheng Zhichang said, Wu Yanchong breathed a sigh of relief, but he was not completely relieved—Wu Yanchong, who has dealt with civil servants for most of his life, knows that these civil servants have too many twists and turns in their stomachs, and what they say is not credible , at least not entirely.

Wu Yanchong said noncommittally: "If the marshal is to command this battle, how does the marshal want to fight?"

Zheng Zhichang said: "There is a saying in "Sun Tzu's Art of War". The first is to attack the army, the second is to attack the enemy, the second is to attack the army, and the next is to attack the city. The method of attacking the city is a last resort. So I think, if you can, first surrender. If you can't surrender , to see if there is any strategy to open the city gate, which can reduce a lot of casualties. If there is no way to do it, "Sun Tzu's Art of War" says, ten times to encircle it, five times to attack it, our army has an absolutely superior force, we The army can besiege or attack, and it can also besiege and fight for reinforcements."

Hearing what Zheng Zhichang said, Wu Yanchong nodded secretly, and said in his heart: "It's much better than I imagined. Although it's a bit exaggerated, it's not ignorant. After a few years of training, you may become the next Yin Guan."

Wu Yanchong, who was old in the city, was still noncommittal, and said, "Where does the marshal think is the most difficult part of this battle?"

"This...is a siege?" Zheng Zhichang hesitated.

Wu Yanchong shook his head and said, "It's Dengdao."

Zheng Zhichang was a little puzzled, and said, "What's so difficult about stepping on the island?"

Wu Yanchong took Zheng Zhichang to the map, and then pointed to three places one by one, saying: "These three places are Incheon, Yeosu, and Mokpo. I asked Prince Tamna, and he said that these three places are the only three places that can land. places, if I am the commander-in-chief of the defenders, I will defend these three places to the death!"

Zheng Zhichang thought for a while, and then asked tentatively: "As long as we defend these three places, our army's superiority will not be able to expand?"

Wu Yanchong said: "This is a very important reason." After a pause, Wu Yanchong continued: "Actually, even if there is no garrison, it would be difficult for us to land with so many troops. Landing battles have very high requirements for landing ports or beaches. The waterline, whether there are hidden reefs, the strength and regularity of the tide, the hardness of the beachhead land, even if the ship stops at the critical point of the waterline, how to get the soldiers and horses ashore is not a simple matter."

Wu Yanchong nodded again at the port of Incheon, and said: "Just now I told you that in Tamna County, Incheon, Yeosu, and Mokpo can land, but the only one that can land safely is Incheon, which has a port, and the other two places can land safely. The probability is no more than [-]%, and even if there are no defenders, if there are defenders, then the probability of the two places being able to reach the island is no more than [-]%.

Zheng Zhichang didn't believe it: "The possibility is so small?"

Wu Yanchong took the trouble to explain to Zheng Zhichang: "Let's talk about the waterline first, not to mention the big ship we bought from the Song Dynasty with a load of [-] shi, but the big ship we built ourselves with a load of [-] shi, and we can't reach those two places. On the shore, once they reach the shore, they are stranded. In this case, the ship is basically destroyed. If it is not destroyed, it cannot be used again in a short time. Therefore, we have to drive them to a place where they will not be stranded, and then Use small boats to transport soldiers and luggage to places where small boats cannot row, let the soldiers disembark and wash up on the shore, and let the peasants carry the luggage to the shore."

Zheng Zhichang really didn't know that the landing battle was so troublesome, so he had to listen.

After a pause, Wu Yanchong continued: "Let's talk about the tide again. When the tide is high, the water level can vary by more than ten feet. The water surface coverage is several miles or even ten miles away from the low tide. The underwater and land terrain changes. They are all huge, and if you are not careful, the ship will be destroyed and people will die, and the law of the tide is still changing from time to time. It is difficult for people who have not lived in the local area for a long time to grasp it. Besides, the hidden reefs are not a flat river under the sea, but hidden reefs , Those shallow reefs can easily destroy our ships. Finally, let’s talk about the hardness of the beachhead, not the beach, but the part below the beach. It is covered when the tide rises and exposed when the tide ebbs. Its hardness increases from top to bottom. It is muddy, so this kind of landing battle can only be launched when the tide is high. First, the water level is high and can move more distance to the shore; second, the attack distance is shortened; If the beach is so muddy, it would be difficult to walk bare-handed, and it would be even more difficult to transport horses and baggage up, and if there are defenders, if you attack halfway, the possibility of successful landing is extremely low, even if you use a pile of people."

In the end, Wu Yanchong concluded: "Based on the current situation, if you want to attack the island from Lishui and Mokpo, you can only hit your luck, the luck of narrowly dying."

Zheng Zhichang swallowed his saliva, and said: "This island is indeed the most difficult." Then he lowered his posture and asked for advice: "Then we can only attack from the port of Incheon?"

Wu Yanchong said: "The premise is that they will not demolish Incheon Port."

Zheng Zhichang said: "I hope they don't dismantle it, otherwise this battle will be difficult!"

Wu Yanchong smiled and said, "Marshal, how about you command the battle of Dengdao?"

Zheng Zhichang shook his head like a rattle, and said, "No, no, it's better to come, old general!"

Speaking of this, Zheng Zhichang smiled and said, "I'll just sit and wait for the old general's merits to be shared."

Wu Yanchong came out with a test. Although Zheng Zhichang was eager to try, he still had a general understanding. After he stated his strength, he put away the idea of ​​commanding this battle.

Wu Yanchong said with a smile: "Since the Marshal gave me this opportunity, then I have overstepped, and I will invite the Marshal to watch the enemy for the old man!"

Coincidentally, as soon as Wu Yanchong's words fell, the top of Halla Mountain appeared—they had arrived at Jeju Island.

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PS: My daughter's fever has subsided. This time it is said that sinusitis caused otitis media. It needs to be treated slowly and for a long time. She also said that the disease is not curable. , and agreed with my mother to take her to a "sensible person" to look at the surgery (scientific department, it seems that he is a Buddhist). I would rather believe it. Healthy and happy growth, do not ask her to have money.

(End of this chapter)