Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 296 Those who are good at fighting have no great achievements!

The fort was mute.

On the river bank, the Green Camp soldiers who were hiding behind the earthen wall and fighting back with bows, arrows and guns suddenly lost half of their confidence.

After barely holding on for a cup of tea, they all fled back. As long as you run 2 miles and escape the range of artillery fire, you will be safe.

Liu Wu was overjoyed. He solved the forts on the east bank and left the west bank alone.

Sure enough, less than half an hour later, the Qing army fort on the west bank also became a blazing torch.

"Send the boat ashore and cut off the iron cables blocking the lake."

"As ordered."

The transport ship that had been following carefully hoisted down two sampans. Then the sailors carried muskets and large axes and hung them from the ropes on the side of the ship, rowing the sampans towards the shore.

After landing, they ignored the figures of the Qing army and scattered arrows two miles away, raised their axes and chopped the iron chains hard, causing sparks to fly.

"Quick, signal."

The Ji Kang-class gunboat half a mile away crossed the hull and fired~
The eight cannons on the side spewed out white smoke, and the ship's hull shifted significantly to one side due to the recoil.

"Commander-in-Chief, do you want to bombard them?"

"Lord General, the pirate ship has returned again."

The Yangtze River Navy was careless, and Peng Wenbing was careless.

The first row of arson boats slowly sailed out.

Once each ship understands this, it must temporarily raise a small red flag to indicate "Roger!"

"Yes."

The flagship fired three fireworks to indicate that command was temporarily relieved, and the entire army was able to attack and fight freely. The captain of each ship had the final say. The only goal is to destroy the enemy in front of you!

The first row of arson boats had just sailed out.

"Ignite fire, fire attack."

Because Poyang Lake is too much like a gourd.

……

The flagship beats the drum to notify all ships that a military order is about to be issued.

"No, the whole army quickly goes south, don't get entangled." Liu Wu, wearing a black coat, stood on the deck, thought for a while and then ordered, "leave three Jikang-class gunboats behind to bombard the Qing army's water stronghold. Don't be reluctant to fight, as soon as possible Follow the main force.”

Then the flag bearer on the mast played the semaphore.

The water village door slowly opened.

……

"Deploy two Jikang-class flat-bottomed gunboats as the vanguard, and keep the main force 2 mile away. Prevent stranding."

This is the most dangerous moment. If the entire Qing Navy is dispatched to intercept or launch hundreds of arson ships, our fleet will suffer heavy losses.

on the east coast,
Hundreds of Qing army arson boats loaded with oil and straw were moored in the water village. The sailors were at a loss because they had not received military orders in advance.

……

It takes at least thirty blows to cut off the wrist-thick iron chain.

The sailors hurriedly boarded the ship, and there was chaos. Some even lost their feet and fell into the water. The water temperature is freezing, and he looks like an unlucky guy, but he is actually a smart guy.

The cabin was loaded with straw, grease and firewood, and two sailors were on board, one to control the sail and the other to rudder.

Entering Poyang Lake, the wind gradually becomes stronger.

Peng Wenbing judged that even if the firefight at Hukou would remain deadlocked for a long time, it would take at least two or three days for one party to break the deadlock. Therefore, he had enough time to mobilize the navy and calmly go into battle according to the battle situation.

Northwest wind!
Through the telescope, Liu Wu could vaguely see the Qing army running along the shore, as well as the small boats that did not dare to leave the shore.

The best opportunity to intercept at the narrow lake mouth has been missed!
……

This communication language of Wu Jun Navy is simple but effective.

Liu Wu's flagship took the lead and sailed through the narrow entrance of Poyang Lake.

All ships had temporary numbers painted on their sides.

10 in total!
After solving the iron chain blocking the lake and the artillery fire on both sides, the fleet can sail into Poyang Lake in a long snake formation.

You must rush into the big belly inside the gourd to enter the wide water and gain space to maneuver.

Looking at the water ahead through the telescope, I felt nervous.

But by the time the Hukou general soldiers who were sleeping in Annuchang's bed in the nearby town hurriedly arrived, it was already too late.

Wu Jun had penetrated deep into Poyang Lake and could only see the faint white sails on the southern skyline.

When the flagship needs to mobilize one or several ships, it can hang out the corresponding numbers.

Among the fleet, the three Ji Kang-class warships with the lightest load raised their little red flags and slowly left the queue and sailed towards the Qing army's water stronghold on the east coast.

The Hukou general soldier drew his saber:

Finally, there is a “language” for emergencies.

4 rounds missed, and the remaining 4 rounds all hit.

"Is the hot bomb ready?"

"No, it's not warm enough, it's still burning on the stove."

The gunner had no choice but to continue firing solid shells. Although the destruction effect is good, it is not ideal for dealing with this kind of water village.

Fire is a symbol of civilization.

It is also a common method of war and will never go out of style. In ancient times, there was the fire of Chibi, and in modern times, there was the fire of Japan. There is no essential difference.

Arson on the boat,

The Qing sailors tied several gourds to their bodies, threw burning torches into the cabin, and then jumped into the water.

After entering the water, they are in no rush to surface. Instead, he held his breath and dived desperately to the east, trying to get as far away from the dangerous waters above his head as possible.

……

"Adjust direction to avoid the fire ship."

The Ji Kang-class battleship rushing at the front barely managed to avoid a "fireball".

"Is the hot bomb still okay?"

"OK OK."

The gunners held special iron pliers to pick up the red-hot iron balls and carefully stuffed them into the gun barrel.

A piece of wood was wedged between the medicine bag and the hot bomb.

Otherwise, the shell will hit our own people as soon as it slides in.

Seeing the red iron ball rolling into the gun barrel, the gunners quickly reset the gun carriage.

The fuse was lit, and the gun barrel made a muffled sound. The gun carriage suddenly retreated, and was instantly pulled by the thick hemp rope tied to the side of the ship, which offset the excess recoil.

The hot bomb drew a beautiful arc and landed on an arson boat that was raising sails in the water village.

The fire started instantly and then got out of control.

There is kerosene in the cabin!

……

"It's over."

The sailors of several ships next door were running away frantically.

The fire took advantage of the wind, and with just a cup of tea, the entire water village became a huge torch.

The Hukou general soldier knelt by the river, stunned and speechless.

More than a dozen of the more than 100 arson ships sailed out, and the rest were all burned in their nests. The cannons of the pirate ship were ringing loudly, as if they were celebrating the New Year, which meant that they were not burned at all.

Two quarters of an hour later,

The three Ji Kang-class ships turned their sails proudly and returned to catch up with the main force.

At this time, they ran into trouble. A dark white sail appeared on the northern skyline, and then gradually grew larger.

The main force of the Yangtze River Navy came out in full force!

Peng Wenbing gnashed his teeth and looked at the black smoke rising into the sky:

"Go down here with the order. We must catch up with those Jiangdong rats and drown them one by one in Poyang Lake."

"Whoo."

His anger is understandable;
The main warships were originally stationed in Gutang, not far from Hulukou. Theoretically, they could easily intercept and attack Wu Jun's navy, which had just entered Poyang Lake and had no space to form its formation.

This is a tactic that has great advantages in water battles.

However, the current situation is a mess, and the head-on attack has turned into a close pursuit.

……

"The Qing army is so powerful that it's not appropriate to get entangled. Let's join together and chase the main force."

The three Jikang-class light gunboats were still sober, taking advantage of the northwest wind and sailing south at full speed. The helmsman looked at the white sails covering the sky behind him and couldn't help but muttered: "We've just stung a hornet's nest."

The rest of the sailors nodded.

The composition of the troops of the Wu Army Navy is very complex. There are Caobang disciples, Susong boat people, fishermen from Fujian and Zhejiang who were attracted by the high salary, and a small number of outstanding infantry officers who changed careers.

The Navy also has a land combat force of more than 300 musketeers.

Li Yu instructed that the first factor in appointing a captain is loyalty! Anyone who has no weaknesses, no bonds, and no certificate of application will not be considered.

Captains need to meet at least two of the following three factors:

1. Have settled down in Suzhou Prefecture or Jiangning Prefecture and have family members.

2. He once fought head-on with the Qing army and achieved impressive gains.

3. Have briefly studied at Dongshan Naval School, or have been summoned for interviews by themselves.

……

Liu Wu can appoint the captain on his own under the premise that these conditions are met, and then report to the staff headquarters.

The fleet under his command includes 5 "Jiangnan-class" ships, 20 "Susong-class" ships, 15 "Jikang-class" ships, and 20 supply transport ships.

It's just past midnight and Shen Shi has just arrived.

(3 o'clock)
The waters of Poyang Lake are bounded by Songmen Mountain Island, and the area to the north is tentatively called the Beihu District, which is relatively small. The southern part is called Nanhu District, which is larger in area.

Just as the fleet passed Songmenshan Island, strong winds rose.

"Commander-in-Chief, the weather is not right."

Liu Wu also discovered that the wind force was increasing.

The sails were stretched and creaked, and the bumps of the hull became more obvious. There were chaotic clanging sounds from time to time in the cabin, and it was obvious that something was not fixed properly.

……

"Instruct all ships to tie up and secure the artillery carriages, and all personnel except necessary personnel will get off the cabin."

The flag bearer shouted the flag several times.

Then prepare to come down to take shelter from the wind and waves. But when he was untying the safety rope fixed to the mast, the boat shook violently and he fell into the water.

People on the deck screamed: "Help."

But it was too late. In the big waves, people only showed their heads twice before disappearing completely. What's more, it is impossible for the fleet to anchor in strong winds and waves.

on deck,
A sailor who had a good relationship with the flagman silently dropped a piece of wood, then wiped his tears and joined the team that lowered the sail manually.

The wind was blowing hard and the sail had to be loosened.

The coxswain and co-helmsman at the rear gritted their teeth and held on to the rudder stock.

Because the ship is clearly yawing to the west. There are rocks in the water on the west side and the continuous Lushan Mountains on the shore.

……

Liu Wu lost his hat.

A strong gust of wind even tore off the hat string, which was flying in the air.

"What the hell is this horse riding place?"

"I don't know. I was short of time and didn't find a local guide."

The boatswain of the flagship, a man from Fujian, knelt down devoutly and muttered something.

Liu Wu was furious:
"What are you doing on horseback?"

"Commander, I am praying for Mazu's blessing."

"Does Mazu care about us? This is Poyang Lake, not the sea."

Wow, the two of them were covered in waves. The waves were at least one and a half feet high.

The sky is dark and the water is also dark.

Then he saw the huge waves coming like a mountain.

The boatswain ignored him and knelt in the water, kowtowing and banging:
"Nobuon prays to Mazu that as long as he can survive this difficulty safely, he will surely offer generous sacrifices."

"Mazu, please show your spirit quickly and protect your children who are far away from home. If I die in the cold water of this foreign land, my soul will not be able to find its way home. If I want to die, I must die closer to home."

The tears mixed with the blood on his forehead were very miserable.

……

Some things in the world are difficult to explain.

Maybe it was a coincidence, maybe Mazu really took it easy, but the wind gradually weakened~
The fleet was overjoyed and survived the disaster.

Before sunset, only one of the three Ji Kang-class ships that was behind the mission returned, and it was in a miserable state.

Everyone understood it at a glance and didn't ask any more questions.

The design of the Ji Kang-class flat-bottomed boats, coupled with the light cabin, has the worst ability to withstand wind and waves.

The fleet quietly dropped anchor, ate, drank, and repaired.

A speechless night!
The Yangtze River Navy stopped before entering the waters. There are many locals among the sailors who know the terrifying legend of the Poyang Lake Laoye Temple.

This water area is very evil and has swallowed countless ships over the millennium. Even in modern times, many thousand-ton iron ships have capsized here.

It is named "Jiangxi Bermuda".

……

Science can explain the reason for the strong wind here - the "narrow tube effect".

There are hills to the east and Lushan Mountain to the west, with a channel in between.

The wind is forced to concentrate and accelerate.

So it’s either no wind, or it’s a strong wind!

Peng Wenbing was chasing three Wu army warships and watched helplessly as they rushed into the waters of Laoye Temple. Hundreds of ships, large and small, under his command just braked and returned, anchoring temporarily at a safe place on the west coast.

The commander-in-chief of Hanyang comforted him:
"Don't worry, military gate. Wu Jun doesn't know how terrible the waters of Laoye Temple are. Those ships will sink without us chasing them."

Yuezhou General Soldier was more optimistic:
"Maybe all the warships of the Wu army will be fed to the fishes without our firing a single shot."

Peng Wenbing was worried:
"I hope so."

The next day, it was cloudy.

The Yangtze River Navy never dared to cross the waters of Laoye Temple.

A messenger came from Xingyuan, bringing a letter written by Agui.

The words in the letter were very fierce, calling Peng Wenbing a bastard. He was also strictly ordered to lead his warships in pursuit and must sink all the Wu navy that broke into Poyang Lake.

Otherwise, military law will not forgive, and national law will not forgive.

……

Jiujiang Xingyuan.

Agui stayed up all night, her eyes bloodshot. The calmness of the past was replaced by an extreme anxiety.

"General, even if Wu Jun's navy breaks into Poyang Lake, it will be nothing. Just close the door and beat the dogs, suffocating them inside."

Yesterday at noon,

The 10 warships of the Jiujiang City Waterproof Division have set off, entered Poyang Lake along the Yangtze River, and stationed at the mouth of the lake.

Agui scolded with a gloomy look:

"Peng Wenbing is unreliable. He doesn't know that there is no risk in war."

"What is Poyang Lake? It is the food transportation line, intelligence liaison line, and personnel transportation line for the armies in Jiujiang and the east coast."

"Suppose, I mean what if, Wu Jun's navy is guerrillas everywhere in Poyang Lake. What will happen to our food routes? What will happen to the army on the east coast?"

"What if the naval commander of the Wu army was a madman and he went directly up the Gan River from Poyang Lake to bombard Nanchang?"

"Those who are good at fighting have no great achievements. After this battle, regardless of victory or defeat, Peng Wenbing can no longer be the admiral. He is only worthy of being a deputy general, not a general. Stupid pig!"

Facing the roaring Agui,
No one in the hall dared to say anything, they could understand Peng Wenbing.

There are forts on both sides of the lake entrance, and a row of iron cables blocks the 2-mile-wide water surface. The warships will provide further support, and the arson boats will launch a wave at will.

In theory,
It is indeed impossible for a fleet to enter Poyang Lake.

……

however,
Peng Wenbing, who was too conceited, ruined everything. Agui, who had been strategizing for a long time, panicked.

"Report~"

A fast horse rushed into the pit, and the knight fell from the horse in embarrassment, his face covered with blood.

Everyone's heart skipped a beat.

The knight fell to his knees and choked with sobs:
"General, the puppet king of Wu raided Raozhou Prefecture, first captured Fuliang County, and is currently attacking the city."

(End of this chapter)