I

  Chapter 411 409 [Front combat]

  Xia Town.

  It was upgraded to a town in the third year of Longqing, and it was still called Xiacun in the middle of Ming Dynasty.

  This is because of the completion of the new canal for water transport, the number of ships in Xiacun Port has increased dramatically, and the local industry and commerce have become increasingly prosperous.

  Hundreds of years later, Xia Town will develop into Weishan County.

  The Weishan Lake in the late Ming Dynasty has not yet fully formed. However, during the Wanli period, the Yellow River breached, forming a wetland in this low-lying area, and a few more breaches would turn it into a lake.

  An arrow-shaped boat sailed quickly to the port and shouted: "Eight hundred miles, hurry up!"

  The other two small boats in the port immediately came to meet them.

   "Where are you going?"

   "Go to Yishui County and give it to General Zhang Tieniu!"

  The two newly departed small boats each received four military documents and sailed towards the southeast like arrows leaving the string.

  Which ship arrives at the next station first, which ship will hand over the military information first, and sail directly to the final point.

  In ancient Chinese wars, rivers were very important.

   Throughout the dynasties, large-scale southern expeditions or northern expeditions, the main force almost always followed the river. Because the food can be transported by boat, it can not only speed up the marching speed, but also greatly reduce the number of civilians and greatly reduce the consumption of military food.

  The Datong Army, which started in Jiangxi, has already made great use of inland river boats.

   Specially built a small boat, transformed from a small fishing boat. Because of the lengthening and narrowing of the hull, the shape of the ship is like an arrow, so it is also called "arrow ship".

   When the current is upstream, the two of them paddle together, and they can take turns to rest during the rest of the time.

  If you don’t take physical strength to advance at full speed, in still water, the speed can reach more than 35 miles per hour.

  Of course, this will wear people down. Generally, general military information is conveyed. The speed in still water is about 20 to 25 miles per hour, and the oarsmen can row very calmly.

  Fei Ruhe's military order started from Nanyang Town, followed the Grand Canal to Xiazhen, walked another section of the canal across Taizhuang (Taierzhuang), turned into Yishui River and reached Yishui County.

  The whole river course is about 700 miles, and people and boats were changed ten times in the middle. It only took three days from Nanyang Town to Yishui. This is also because the speed slows down at night, and the countercurrent speed is also very slow, otherwise it can be reached in a day or two.

  Zhang Tieniu is not in Yishui County at this time, but in Muling Pass further north.

  The military situation was transferred from the boat to the horse, and the fast horse was delivered to Zhang Tieniu.

   "But there is something urgent in Yanzhou?" Yan Guoshi, the missionary officer, asked.

Zhang Tieniu said: "Lao Fei's side is also frozen. Let us lead the troops to attack. Here, only farmers and soldiers are left to defend the city. If we can't get away from here, we don't have to go there. Anyway, the Tatars don't have as much rations as we do. It's too late." The longer it takes, the more panicked the Tartars will be, and they will make mistakes.”

  Deputy commander Chen Fugui said: "Go ahead, Qingzhou government can't fight again."

   "I plan to go there too, I don't want to waste time with the Tartars." Zhang Tieniu said depressed.

  The battle situation in Qingzhou Prefecture also froze. Huang Fei successfully occupied Anqiu County, Changle County, and Guangling Town, while Zhang Tieniu occupied Zhucheng County and Muling Pass, and sent farmers and soldiers to take Rizhao and Andongwei.

   Just when the war was about to break out between the two sides, Azige, the owner of the small banner with a white flag, suddenly heavily defended Qingzhou Prefecture (Yidu), Linqu and Shouguang.

  Manchu Qing just defended the city, waiting for Zhang Tieniu and Huang Fei to attack.

  Zhang Tieniu and Huang Fei are not fools either, their strength is not superior, how could they forcefully attack a city guarded by tens of thousands of people?

  Therefore, Zhang Tieniu retreated to Muling Pass, and Huang Fei also retreated to his own Jiancheng.

   This situation is very common during wars.

  If neither side has an overwhelming advantage, as long as one side cannot hold on, the other side can only retreat, or even defend the city for several years. For example, Jinzhou and Ningyuan in Liaodong have held on for more than ten years. Every time the Tartars surrounded them because they were short of food, they would retreat back to their hometown in desperation.

   On the Qingzhou side, Azig didn't want to fight a tough battle, but the rear was on fire.

  The soldiers and generals under his command fought too hard in Shandong. Thousands of potters and glass workers in Yanshen Town rose up because they had no food to eat, and even conquered Zichuan County in one fell swoop.

   Then it went straight to Changshan County, and the people along the way joined in one after another. Some gentry even recruited village braves, and the number of volunteer soldiers quickly exceeded 30,000.

   If the fight continues, Azig's food supply will be cut off.

  The troops of Qingzhou Prefecture in the Manchu Qing Dynasty could only temporarily defend the city with heavy troops, and sent cavalry and thousands of elites back to fight the rebels first.

  After Zhang Tieniu sent someone to deliver a message to Huang Fei, he took the regular army southward and took a boat from Yishui County to Yizhou. Turning to the northwest again, taking the Junhe River to Qufu, Fei County on the way has been occupied by the Datong Army, but only 3,000 peasants and soldiers were sent to defend the city.

  Only ten miles away from Yizhou, an arrow boat came to report: "General Zhang, a large army of Tartars is coming, and they will advance by land and water. There may be as many as 20,000 to 30,000 people!"

  Zhang Tieniu was stunned, and then laughed: "If I don't bring soldiers back, I'm afraid the Tartars will attack Yizhou in two days."

  The army advanced two miles, and suddenly encountered the Tartar cavalry.

  These Manchu cavalry were not only scouts and scouts, but also pioneers, grabbing some food along the way.

  When the Manchu scouts saw Zhang Tieniu's army, they quickly ran back to report. Zhang Tieniu also sent people back to Yizhou to transfer his own cavalry troops. These cavalry sailed south by boat and are currently recovering the energy of their horses in Yizhou.

   "Is there a Datong army ahead?" Duoduo was as surprised as Zhang Tieniu.

  Geng Zhongming said: "The enemy army is about the same as ours, and they should have withdrawn from Qingzhou Prefecture."

   "Then fight, so as not to go to Qingzhou Mansion!"

Duoduo said: "However, it's time to fight. The Datong army can occupy the south, and it must be stronger than the Ming army. You have to be careful when fighting. If you go back, retreat to the west of Feixian County, don't be defeated by the Feixian army." The enemy raided the rear."

  Duoduo suddenly became very cautious. The original plan was to attack Yizhou quickly. Taking advantage of the lack of troops in Yizhou and the small number of defenders, they forcibly captured and blocked Zhang Tieniu's retreat, and then went north to attack Zhang Tieniu back and forth.

   Now that they meet in the wild, Duoduo retreats instead of advancing, keeping his food path and preparing to grind slowly with Zhang Tieniu.

  The two sides camped by the river in the northwest of Fei County as soon as they advanced and retreated.

   On the Manchu Qing side, Duoduo, Geng Zhongming, Li Sutai, Yide, Li Guoying, Jin Shenghuan, and Hao Xiaozhong had a total of 25,000 troops, and the civilians had nothing to count.

  The Datong Army, Zhang Tieniu, Chen Fugui, Yan Guoshi, Ma Wannian, Chen Ding, Han Shixiao, and Song Rong, have a total strength of 18,000, and the civilians have nothing to count.

  Chen Ding, Han Shixiao, and Song Rong are all generals of Zuo Liangyu who surrendered to the Datong Army.

   Regardless of the various surrendered generals, the strength of the Eight Banners Army and the Datong Army is close to 1:1.

  Geng Zhongming and Li Sutai's subordinates are all Han army flags that have been compiled and practiced for many years, and their combat effectiveness is extremely strong.

  Li Sutai's father, Li Yongfang, was the first Ming border general to surrender to the Tartars. Li Sutai was only 12 years old, and he followed Nurhachi, and his name was changed by Nurhachi himself.

  Both sides lined up by the river and sent cavalry to cruise, harass, and inquire.

  Duoduo even moved the cart from the boat to assemble, and pushed the cart forward slowly.

  In the battle between the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty, whenever they encountered any tough battles, they all relied on heavy chariots to aggravate the infantry to charge the battle and attack the city.

  Due to fighting without waiting for the chariot several times, the Manchu and Qing troops suffered heavy losses. Nurhachi even ordered: "If you encounter an enemy without a chariot, don't go to battle."

  楯The chariot is nearly two people tall, made of hardwood, iron, and cowhide, not to mention that it cannot be pierced by firecrackers, and it can even withstand the bombardment of small field artillery. This thing can also be used for siege advances, not afraid of fire or stones.

  Regular Eight Banners Army, 100 people are equipped with 4 chariots, operated by 30 people.

  Among the thirty people, some were in charge of pushing the carts, while others were in charge of releasing the arrows. There are also musketeers, standing on the steps of the chariot, firing at the enemy from the firing holes.

  You can understand that this is a very primitive tank.

  The "tank" advanced forward, followed by heavy infantry, crossbowmen, musketeers, and cavalry.

   "Boom boom boom!"

  While the two sides were marching, the Datong Army began to test artillery without warning.

  Geng Zhongming was taken aback: "Shooting so far? The enemy's artillery is quite powerful."

  The firearms troops of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties were mostly used by the Han Army Banner. People like Geng Zhongming and Kong Youde had elite firearms battalions.

   Geng Zhongming quickly said to the messenger: "Immediately tell the ten kings that the enemy's artillery can definitely destroy our army's shield chariot!"

  Duoduo immediately ordered the whole army to stop when he heard the news.

   Then, let the surrendered general Hao Zhongzhong lead a small group of troops forward to measure the firepower and range of the Datong Army with his body.

  The Eight Banners Army, which is on the rise, has very flexible combat methods and can switch tactics according to different enemies.

   Sometimes, if the enemy artillery is too fierce, they even know how to dig tunnels.

   And very patient, a positional battle, will repeatedly test the attack. After finding out the enemy's situation, take countermeasures to fight.

  Historically, it probably didn’t work until the Kangxi Dynasty.

  After the San Francisco Rebellion, various tactics were abandoned. A very rigid nine-in-ten series formation was formed, relying entirely on the intensive firepower of the bird guns, supplemented by the size of the army to crush the enemy. Because this can also win, why study tactics?

   Surrendered general Hao Zhongzhong, timidly led the troops forward.

  Zhang Tieniu held a telescope to observe, and said: "A group of miscellaneous soldiers don't need to fire cannons."

  Hao Xiaozhong advanced dozens of steps, becoming more and more frightened as he walked, and finally received an order to stop the march.

  The two sides were so deadlocked.

  The cavalry has already joined the battle. There are about 3,000 cavalry in the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, and about 2,500 cavalry in Datong.

  Manchu Ild led the cavalry to fight, and the formation was so loose that Zhang Tieniu didn't even bother to fire. Yard still wants to play the old trick, constantly cruising and luring, trying to lure the Datong cavalry out for melee and annihilation.

   Datong Cavalry General is Qin Liangyu’s grandson Ma Wannian. Facing the temptation of the enemy cavalry, he directly ordered the whole army to dismount: "Light the matchlock and load the ammunition!"

   "Bang bang bang!"

  Due to the long distance and the loose formation of the Manchu and Qing cavalry, only two enemy cavalry were shot down in one volley of guns.

   Moreover, all the horses were shot, and the cavalry was thrown off by the pain. At such a distance, even if it hits the cavalry, the bullet will not be able to penetrate the cotton armor.

Duoduo also got a pair of binoculars, and said in surprise: "This is the firecracker cavalry that the spies said? My Qing cavalry tactics are useless against this kind of cavalry. In the future, cavalry will probably not be able to wear armor when fighting. Kill the horse and go to close combat."

   At this time, a large number of civilians came to dig trenches around the Datong Army's position with hoes and shovels in hand.

  Duoduo saw this and immediately ordered: "Attack quickly, don't let the enemy dig the ditch well, then our army's chariots will not be able to pass! The artillery battalion advances and bombards the peasants on the opposite side!"

  (end of this chapter)