April 12, 4333 (the ninth year of Chongzhen).
Li Dazhuang, commander of the Seventh Army, watched as Tan Fangyuan's First Division suffered a setback in its attack on Tianjin.
They prepared for the tenth battle to seize the Tianjin city wall, but still failed.
"What's going on with the logistics troops? Why haven't they delivered the ammunition yet?
How can we fight if we have artillery but no ammunition?"
Li Dazhuang knew the specific reason, but he still couldn't help but complain.
He looked at Tianjin City. Every time the Qin army failed to attack the city, Zhu Dadian used various methods to mock the Qin army.
He was just venting the anger in his heart to prevent himself from being tempted to launch a general attack on Tianjin City because of his anger.
The Seventh Army has been besieging Tianjin City for half a month, but due to lack of ammunition, it has never captured Tianjin City.
The city of Tianjin is very well defended. There are more than a hundred Hongyi cannons on the top of the city, and they also store a lot of supplies.
The defenders of Tianjin City were large in number, but Zhu Dadian, the governor of Shandong Province, still used a large number of firearms to prevent the Qin army from attacking the city.
Hongyi cannons were used to fire shotgun shells, killing and injuring a large number of Qin soldiers.
Pan Hongcai, the commander of the Seventh Army, said helplessly: "Commander, the weather is rare in Henan this year.
Qian Mingyi, the governor of Henan, wrote that in order to ensure the logistics and transportation of the army, Henan had to lose a large number of young people, and there was no way to ensure the normal progress of spring plowing.
The king personally approved it, giving priority to ensuring the normal progress of spring plowing in Henan.
The transportation of grain and grass supplies for the army has been lowered in priority.
Now that the number of people in the logistics team has been reduced, we can only ensure the normal transportation of food and medicine.
The quantity of weapons and ammunition transported is very small, and most of the ammunition transported is bullets that are easy to transport.
The garrison can also use a gun to capture the city.
Our army is attacking a fortified city. Without a large number of heavy artillery shells, it is impossible to break through the defense line of Tianjin City.
I estimate that in another half month, the spring plowing will be completely completed and the logistics materials will be delivered.
We continue to besiege Tianjin, and we have enough time anyway.
The king himself said that he would rather occupy Shuntian Mansion two or three months later than to ensure that the people of Henan will not go hungry."
When Li Dazhuang heard Pan Hongcai's explanation, he also knew that King Qin Su He made this choice.
They have already occupied Henan, and this is their territory.
The people in Henan are all their subjects.
Don't be so anxious to capture Shuntian Mansion that the people here won't be able to farm and grow food this year.
By then, tens of millions of people will starve to death.
If such a tragedy happens, the rule of King Qin will be shaken.
Capturing the capital a month or two late would not have much impact on Qin King Su He.
King Su He of Qin had a choice between quickly defeating the Ming Dynasty and ensuring food security. He chose to ensure food security.
Li Dazhuang sighed with emotion and said: "It means that the Fourth Army will not be affected.
When the Fourth Army attacked Shanxi, their logistics personnel were directly removed from Shaanxi and other places.
The popularity of cattle in Shaanxi is so high that even a woman can cultivate two or three acres of land with the help of an ox-pulled cultivator.
The king's army and we will be affected.
First besiege the city of Tianjin and wait for the logistics roads in Henan to be clear.
We will launch a general attack on Tianjin City again."
Chief of Staff Duan Ruide ran over with a look of surprise on his face.
"Weapons and ammunition are coming, a lot of heavy artillery and ammunition.
We can flood the city of Tianjin with artillery shells and see if Zhu Dadian can continue to be arrogant.
He actually dared to stand at the top of the city and provoke our army."
Li Dazhuang stepped forward to help him because he was too excited and didn't notice there was a small pit under his feet.
Chief of Staff Duan Ruide stepped into a pit and almost fell.
"Chief of Staff, what did you just say? Our army has logistics supplies delivered.
This is impossible. I only received a personal reply from Jiang Zhiyu three days ago.
It will take them the next month to mobilize enough manpower to transport a large number of artillery shells.
How could it be possible that all of a sudden, the land in Henan could be cultivated well?
Even if hundreds of thousands of cattle are shipped from Mongolia, this is not possible."
Duan Ruide immediately explained: "I didn't make it clear just now, it's not supplies shipped from Kaifeng, Henan.
These are supplies shipped from Dagukou.
The navy has opened a route from Guangdong to Tianjin, and transport ships can transport weapons and ammunition from Guangzhou to us by sea.
I heard that Li Ran, commander of the Navy's Third Fleet, said that they had brought weapons and ammunition from more than 40 large ships.
If our army uses it, it will be enough for our army to use it intensively for one year."
Li Dazhuang said in surprise: "This is true, the navy can reach Tianjin from Guangdong so quickly.
This is from south to north, the speed is really too fast.
I never thought that one day I would be able to use ammunition shipped from Guangdong in Tianjin.
Where are they, is the ammunition by the sea?"
Duan Ruide pointed eastward and said: "They are right there by the river, using small boats to transfer weapons and ammunition.
I was visiting wounded soldiers in a field hospital.
After hearing the report from the soldiers that strange soldiers had brought a large amount of weapons and ammunition by ship, I immediately went to learn about the situation.
Only then did I know that they were from the Navy's Third Fleet.
I have arranged for soldiers to help them unload the cargo from the ship."
Li Dazhuang and his party immediately rushed to the river.
They saw more than thirty large cargo ships docked on the river next to the field hospital.
Among them were more than twenty cargo ships, all flying the flag of the Qin army.
Li Dazhuang saw that a temporary dock had been built here.
The transport ship's own steam hoist has been set up and the steam engine is started.
The steam crane was unloading the goods from the ship, and several soldiers of the Seventh Army were carrying a large wooden box and stacking these things neatly.
Zhuang Renyi, commander of the Second Division, saw Li Dazhuang and the others approaching, and he said with surprise:
"The weapons and ammunition brought by the Army Commander, Chief of Staff, and Division Pan Zhu are all the most advanced models.
He directly opened the big box next to him, revealing a huge cannon.
The artillery is mounted on a state-of-the-art tube-retractable gun mount.
There are only a few of the most powerful 150-meter artillery pieces in our army. This time, more than fifty pieces were shipped in total.
With these artillery pieces, it would be really easy to capture the city of Tianjin."
When Li Dazhuang saw these supplies, he had a look of surprise on his face.
"You sort out the supplies first, and I'll go meet with the people from the Third Fleet. We can't neglect our guests."
Li Dazhuang told him that they were going to meet Li Ran, the commander of the Third Fleet, who was directing the loading and unloading at the dock.
After they met, they greeted each other.
"Hello Master Li Zhu, I am Li Dazhuang, commander of the Seventh Army.
This is Chief of Staff Duan Ruide, and this is Zhu Shi Pan Hongcai."
To be continued...