Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 525: The city is small, the walls are low, there is a lack of food and artillery, and the only one who died is you
On the riverbank, the Wu army gathered the remaining soldiers.

The two infantry companies were blocked in this way, with more than 150 people killed or missing, more than 50 injured, and half of them destroyed.

The number of officer casualties was 7, including 3 from the 4th Corps.

"Second Lieutenant, what should we do now? Retreat or advance?"

"We can only go in. Brothers, speed up and enter Luxi City."

Half an hour later,
With the support of friendly forces, more than 300 soldiers took refuge in the city.

Good news, the defense force of Luxi City has increased.

Bad news, both food and artillery have been lost.

And at this moment,
Five miles downstream from the attack site, the armed forces under Zhao Zhuangwen were happily salvaging the boat.

They found two stranded ships with some of the supplies damaged.

Good harvest.

Everyone put on the brand new Wu army coats as if it was New Year's Day and admired the enemy's wealth.

……

Zhao Zhuangwen held a bundle of dried meat in his hand and had a direct sense of the lavish logistics of the Wu army.

"Master Zhao, come and see."

not far away,
A group of people cheered and lifted up a 2-pound cannon.

The grey cast iron barrel is cool and smooth to the touch.

Zhao Zhuangwen observed the barrel of the gun and found that it was as smooth as a mirror, which instantly gave him a chill.

The joy of the ambush victory was half gone.

"Master Zhao, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, good gun, carry it back to the camp."

……

The Wuling Mountains are dangerous to strangers, but like a backyard to the local mountain residents.

They appeared and disappeared mysteriously, and intercepted and killed the messenger who came from Luxi County for help.

2 days later,

Zhao Erhu, a lieutenant of the 6th Corps stationed in Taoyuan County, received news from his subordinates that their logistics ships had been discovered.

The boat drifted downstream and was damaged in many places due to the collision.

Stranded in a shallow area at a mountain pass, it was accidentally discovered by a patrol team.

"It's bad. The logistics fleet must have been attacked. Send more escort troops and send them again."

……

This time,
A total of 6 infantry companies were dispatched to escort the shipment.

However, the trackers recruited by Changde Prefecture were unwilling to go into the mountains, even if the Wu army offered them four times the wages.

The leader of the trackers knelt down and kowtowed:

"General, there are countless bandits in Xiangxi, and the chieftains are even more ruthless. No matter how much money you give us, we won't be able to spend it."

The Yuan River flows through Changde and eventually flows into Dongting Lake.

Corpses often float down the river, so the people downstream are very afraid.

not to mention,
There are two phenomenal horror legends in Xiangxi: corpse-driving and poison-growing. In such an unscientific age, the folk legends are supernatural.

But it's up to now.

These trackers have no say in this.

The lieutenant directly ordered conscription, and those who disobeyed were shot on the spot.

The logistics team must be on the road on time.

After the vanguard friendly forces occupied Luxi County, the people they sent back said very clearly: there was not a single grain of food left in Yuanling and Luxi counties.

……

at this time,

In the Luxi County Government Office, military officers were holding a meeting.

"Collecting grain locally?"

"Yes, start now and drive all the people out of the city."

"Send troops to the scattered villages around the county to collect grain."

"Everyone, let's take action?"

"As ordered."

Although Gu Yidao is a second lieutenant, he can command colleagues of the same rank as him.

because,

He is the front-line organizer of armed tea smuggling and a leader in seeking welfare for everyone.

……

Six companies of Wu’s army marched out together, with their swords and guns drawn.

He declared murderously:

"Listen up, all citizens of Luxi County. Leave the city within one hour. Anyone who disobeys this order will be killed without mercy."

Language barrier~
But this is not the main problem.

After the order to disperse was issued, riots broke out in the city. The people began to resist sporadically, setting fire to houses and throwing stored food into the toilets.
Wu Jun opened fire.

Although the recruits felt bad, they dared not disobey the officers' repeated strict orders.

Wu Jun’s military law stipulates:

On the battlefield,

If a soldier disobeys the order of an officer, regardless of whether he is right or wrong, he will be sentenced to exile at the lightest and execution at the worst.

There was chaos in Luxi County.

……

West of the city,

A large number of Xiangxi militia forces emerged.

The moment the sentry saw the soldiers in bright blue and black uniforms appear through the telescope, he issued a warning.

then,

The Wu army in the city no longer cared about military discipline or law.

With shooting and stabbing, everyone was driven out of the city gate in one breath.

The streets are bloody~
Afterwards, the soldiers dragged the bodies to the east city wall and threw them into the Yuan River.

On the gate tower of the west city wall,
An officer looked at the people outside the city with angry eyes and couldn't help but said to the surrounding soldiers:

"Believe it or not, if we keep them here, when the Tusi soldiers attack the city, they will definitely attack us from behind and open the city gate with the help of both inside and outside forces."

The soldiers' faces turned pale and they held their muskets tightly.

……

The Wu army infantry company consisted of 250 people.

There are 6 companies in Luxi City, with about 1500 people.

Some other trackers were also assigned to collect grain and demolish houses from house to house.

Gu Yidao has always been bold and promised directly:
"If you win this battle, each of you will be rewarded 100 taels of silver in Ao Changde. If you have made outstanding contributions, in addition to the silver, I will recommend you to return home and become the head of the village."

The trackers were trapped in the city and could not escape even if they wanted to.

In that case, you might as well perform well and take a chance, maybe you can turn things around.

……

The trackers searched for food from house to house, and a lot of food was thrown into water tanks or latrines, a considerable amount.

After a lot of trouble,
Only more than 200 shi of grain were collected.

The officers were furious and worried when they heard this.

This amount of food is only enough for 7 days, and with the dry food the soldiers carry with them, it is only enough for 8 days.

Outside the city,
The massive Xiangxi armed forces had formed an encirclement, and even bamboo rafts carrying armed personnel appeared on the surface of the Yuanjiang River on the east side.

Gu Yidao smiled bitterly and said:
"That's good. I've been locked up and beaten."

……

Luxi is a small county.

The rammed earth city wall is neither high nor large.

The officers ordered the west gate to be blocked with dismantled wood, leaving one gate unblocked in order to launch a surprise attack.

Bang~bang~
Two gunshots were heard, and a native from western Hunan who was trying to get close to the city wall to spy stumbled and fell. The distance between them was at least 70 feet.

The shooter slowly cleaned the residue from the barrel and reloaded it.

Cheers rang out from the city walls.

……

far away,

Hunan Governor Zeng Di’s triangular eyes were breathing fire.

"This time, I will kill all the Wu thieves in the city and avenge my brothers."

The fat Phoenix chief was holding a ghost-head knife.

laughed:

"My dear son-in-law, we have 2 men, and the enemy has only a thousand. Tomorrow, we will take Xiaoluxi in one fell swoop."

The military intelligence comes from the people who leave the city.

Just as Wu Jun had expected, these people instinctively hated all outsiders.

Zeng Di made a promise in advance that everyone would be rewarded if they worked together inside and outside.

There are few cowards in this land.

Without some bravery, you can't survive in Xiangxi.

……

The Xiangxi armed forces were busy, and the Wu army in the city was also busy.

In order to survive, the officers of the Fourth Army racked their brains and used local materials, such as bricks and tiles from demolished houses and piled them up on the top of the city walls as stones and logs.

The obtained wood can be used to make shields to block arrows.

It was a busy night.

Until the morning,

The enemy outside the city beat drums and gongs to launch an attack.
Gu Yidao held up a telescope and observed the enemy's formation, looking for artillery pieces among them.

"One, two, three, four, five, six~"

"Four mountain-splitting cannons, the largest caliber of which does not exceed four pounds. There are also two mortars, the caliber of which is uncertain."

Everyone just felt bitter. There was a huge difference between having a cannon and not having a cannon.

Gu Yidao comforted himself:

"It might explode."

Everyone nodded their heads like pounding garlic, it must explode.

……

Zeng Di pressed down with his right hand, and the sound of advancing horns rang out.

The huge Xiangxi armed forces rushed towards the city gate like a tide.

Rushing in the front were the bandit armed forces who had settled down in various hilltops. They had received their pay and drunk blood wine, and were in high spirits.

Zeng Di promised,

Whoever breaks the city first will get half of the firearms in the city.
The recruits were generally nervous.

The officer cried out:

"Don't panic, don't be afraid, we are a regular army, we are in control of a group of rabble."

"Listen to the veterans, listen to the officers."

"Don't waste the powder."

The veterans mostly used rifled guns, and as white smoke rose, several enemies carrying ladders were shot and fell.

It's like a stone thrown into the waves, with no impact.

……

The dense musketry on the city wall rang out.

Cross-shot
The new recruits followed the veterans and raised their guns.

The Army Department had already conducted experiments and found that it was entirely feasible to use firearms to kill clustered enemies.

The waves subsided slightly, and the Xiangxi armed forces fell in large numbers.

In the eyes of Phoenix Tusi,

He whispered:
"My dear son-in-law, what is the range of the firearms on the other side?"

"Yes, it has a long range and is much better than the matchlock guns supervised by the Ministry of War."

Zeng Di was thinking about collecting the Wu army's muskets after breaking into the city, and taking them back to have the craftsmen forge them accordingly.

……

Taking advantage of the gap when the muskets were being reloaded, the Xiangxi armed forces seized the opportunity to continue their charge.

We will attack the city today without fear of death.

Zeng Di suddenly laughed and said:

"The enemy in the city has no cannons and can only defend the city with muskets, which is not enough."

at this time,

Ladders have been placed on the city walls, and the ants are attacking the city!
The city wall was shrouded in white gunpowder smoke, and it looked hazy from a distance.

"Smash it. Smash it down."

Bricks and tiles were thrown down for free.

The Xiangxi armed forces gathered outside the city screamed in agony, and their ferocity was temporarily simmered.

The few who climbed up to the battlements were shot and fell to the ground.

……

Zeng Di's triangular eyes sparkled with a strange luster.

Shouting:

"The shield car follows."

20 hastily made shield carts were pushed out together, and the musketeers and archers hid behind the shield carts and moved forward in small steps.

front,

The bandits suffered heavy casualties and were retreating.

There is every reason to believe that Zeng Di did it on purpose, using the Wu army to weaken the kings of various mountains first.

As usual,

The shield car should take the lead.

Artillery should also follow up immediately to suppress enemy firepower.

He only bullied these armed forces in western Hunan because they had never seen regular army fighting.

……

"Thank you for your hard work, please take a break."

"it is good."

A group of rough men, carrying various intimidating-looking weapons, walked to the side and drank heavily.

Zeng Di glanced at him out of the corner of his eye with great contempt.

If it wasn't for the purpose of forming an alliance, how could a dignified Jinshi like me possibly bother with a group of bandit leaders.

When I sit firmly on the throne of King of Xiangxi in the future, the first thing I will do is to suppress bandits.

In Xiangxi, there can only be one king.

That is Zeng.

……

Wu Jun felt tremendous pressure.

No matter how accurate the flintlock rifle is, it is difficult to destroy the shield car.

When the distance is close, bullets can penetrate wooden boards, but the enemy can also stack armor and shields on the shield car.

We are in big trouble.

Gu Yidao was so anxious that he kept hitting the parapet.

If I had a cannon in my hand, I wouldn't have come to this.

"Old Gu, what should we do?"

"Old Zhu, lead your men out from the east gate now, and bring plenty of fire starters. This is a matter of life and death, please."

Warrant Officer Zhu Hongyun, whose family had been silversmiths for three generations, did not bargain and ran down the city wall to gather more than 100 veterans of the 2nd Corps.

The tactics of counter-charge must be carried out by veteran elite soldiers.

It takes courage and determination.

If you hesitate for a moment, the meat will be delivered to your door.

……

The east gate slowly opened,

The rusty door hinges made a teeth-grinding noise.

Warrant Officer Zhu brandished his sword and shouted:
"Brothers, charge!"

Fortunately, Luxi City is small and it’s not far to go around.

Seeing the Wu army rushing over, the Tusi soldiers behind the shield carts shouted:

"Shoot the arrow, shoot the arrow quickly."

Everyone turned their bows and arrows and shot at the Wu army that was rushing towards them.

Zhu Hongyun was hit by three arrows and fell down.

One of the arrows pierced his chest, killing him.

He regretted that he didn't have time to return to his hometown and open a jewelry store of his own. The jewelry business is very profitable.

Sorry.

……

Seeing the bayonets of the Wu army approaching,

The chieftain soldiers on the opposite side threw away their bows and arrows, drew their daggers and prepared for hand-to-hand combat.

Unexpectedly, Wu Jun stood still and pulled the trigger.

White smoke rose, shotgun shells flew, and blood splattered everywhere.

"kill."

Then, he charged into the enemy camp with bayonets raised.

Some soldiers lingered on the outskirts of the battlefield, waiting for opportunities to shoot and kill fierce enemy soldiers.

Zeng Di was stunned.

"Quick, rescue."

However, before the Qing army's archers and musketeers arrived at the battlefield, this group of Wu troops retreated, leaving behind a pile of burning shield carts.

……

Both sides temporarily ceased fighting.

The Xiangxi armed forces called off their troops and once again sent a large number of people to cut down trees and make shield vehicles.

Faced with defeat, Phoenix Tusi cursed.

Zeng Di was relatively calm. He sat in the tent and wrote in his diary.

Final summary:

Troubled times have arrived and heroes are rising.

The people in the south of the Yangtze River are gentle, but at a critical moment of life and death, the Wu thief dares to rush into the fire.

I particularly admire their sophisticated firearms and flexible tactics.

I should store up grain, build more cities, rely on the natural barrier of western Hunan, and unite with friendly forces in Guangxi and Guizhou to achieve hegemony.

……

"Report, the envoy of King Agui of Yungui has arrived, and he wants to see the governor."

"please."

After a conversation,

Zeng Di waved his hand to send the messenger away and ordered someone to reward him with wine and food.

Phoenix Tusi rushed over upon hearing the news.

"My dear son-in-law, what's the matter?"

"Agui sent a letter hoping that we would hold on to western Hunan, and he would send troops from Guizhou to help us take back Hunan."

"Can the nobles of the Eight Banners be trusted?"

Zeng Di smiled:

"In troubled times, no one can be trusted except one's own family."

Phoenix Toast laughed.

……

The atmosphere in Luxi City was depressing.

"We lost 115 people today. What I want to say is, if the enemy uses more and thicker shield vehicles tomorrow, how should our army counterattack?"

Everyone is sad~
If a sneak attack is successful today, it will be difficult tomorrow.

The enemy only needs to deploy more infantry to tie up our infantry leaving the city.

Gu Yidao's voice was hoarse:

"No cannons, no armor."

"The city is small, the walls are low, and there is not enough food. This is a dead end. Everyone, what can you say?"

Someone whispered:

"Reinforcements should be arriving, right?"

……

Gu Yidao shook his head:

"It's difficult. We might be ambushed. We can only rely on ourselves."

Everyone sighed.

Luxi County has a special geographical location, facing the Yuan River on three sides.

There is no way to break through.

Moreover, even if they managed to break out, they would be killed by the enemy in the mountains. How could a group of strangers be more familiar with the mountains of western Hunan than the locals?
finally,
Everyone came to a conclusion:
There is no way out but to hold on.

Hold on to Luxi until the entire army is wiped out or reinforcements arrive.

(End of this chapter)