Wandering back and forth outside Hamhung North City, feeling like a street kid, General Yang Dengden listened to the rumble of artillery coming from the direction of Nancheng, and glanced at the Minister of Economics and Strategy named Lin not far away with a little displeasure.
When we attacked Pyongyang, weren't you very fierce, Mr. Jin Lue? Not only did you take the lead, but you also led your men to make meritorious deeds.
Why did it start to become a mess when we arrived at the gate of Xianxing City?
The key point is that it doesn't matter if you mess with Mr. Jin Lue yourself, but you also bring him to Beicheng to mess with him. This is too much.
Several generals of the column under Ma Zongbing in Nancheng are old brothers from Xuanfu, and together they are called the Four Strong Generals of Xuanfu.
If someone else had done something good in Nancheng, and he, Yang, had nothing to do, could he still hold his head high?
In fact, you can't blame Yang Shen for thinking about it. In fact, Lin Jinglue's current appearance is too abstract.
He did not ride a horse or even walk in front of the army. Instead, he sat on a large chariot and was carried on the shoulders of eight strong sergeants.
He was not wearing any armor, and was wearing a gorgeous and spacious Kirin suit - I just don't know if there was any inner armor underneath.
What he wears on his head is a cumbersome beam crown, the kind of crown that would only be worn when the imperial court wears ceremonial attire.
Especially in this winter, Lin Jinglue is holding a golden folding fan in his hand, and the whole image is extremely flashy.
On both sides of Lin Jinglue, there were sergeants holding high sixteen large-sided tall plates, on which Lin Jinglue's various achievements, titles, and official positions were written in gold characters.
Behind each high-footed card, there are knights holding seven-color flags fluttering in the wind. From a distance, it is a visual feast.
But in a battle formation that was supposed to be serious and tense, all this seemed very inconsistent, making Yang Shen complain in his heart until he was powerless.
The only good thing is that Lin Jinglue also knew how to pose outside the range of the Japanese soldiers' fire cannons.
Anyway, General Yang Shen couldn't understand what Lin Jinglue wanted to do by spreading his tail like a peacock? Was it to attract the enemy to come out of the city to fight?
I have to say that this scene is like a pretty girl with a painted face posing in front of a group of straight men. It is indeed quite cheap and quite worthy of a beating.
But war is not a child's play. The enemy can't just lose their minds and charge in to fight regardless of their disadvantage just because they can't bear to see one's own behavior, right?
Besides, there is still a cultural gap. Can the enemy understand what you are doing, Mr. Jin Lue?
Lin Jinglue waved the folding fan in his hand, and under the cover of dozens of carriages, thousands of soldiers approached the city wall.
But none of these soldiers took action to attack the city. They just carried a bag of soil on their backs, piled it under the base of the city wall, and then retreated decisively.
Yang Dengden shook his head. This method of piling up earth to attack a city is mostly seen in theory. In reality, it is subject to various conditions. How can it be so effective?
First of all, we do not have a large enough numerical advantage, especially in Beicheng, where there are only 8,000 troops in total.
Secondly, even if a mountain of earth can be successfully built, the entire army will be densely surrounding the mountain to attack the city.
However, the Japanese soldiers have sharp guns and long-range firepower, and can restrain intensive attacks.
Therefore, Lin Jinglue's strategy of taking advantage of the main force of the Japanese soldiers in the south city and piling up mountains of earth in the north city seemed wise, but in fact it was not very feasible.
General Yang wanted to persuade Lin Jinglue, but he was not familiar with Lin Jinglue, so he went to Da Yun, an officer in the Jinglue Biao Battalion, and said tactfully:
"Jing Lue's deployment today seems not to be appropriate. Your Excellency is also a general who has experienced hundreds of battles, so you should be able to tell."
Dayun hesitated for a while and replied: "I followed Duke Jinglue seven times in seven battles and seven victories. Oh no, including Pyongyang, it should be eight battles and eight victories, including two times where he conquered the city first and three times he killed the enemy general.
Things even more incredible than today have been encountered many times, so don’t speculate or make a fuss.”
Yang Shanshan was speechless for a long time. After seeing such an outrageous thing with his own eyes, he actually made a fuss about it?
Sun Tzu said that war is the most important thing for a country, the place of life and death, the way of survival. War is not a child's play!
So don’t fight with the style and habits of civil servants who only seek flattery and ignore the facts!
Yang Shanshan had no other choice but to inform Ma Gui of the situation in the north city.
At this time, on the city wall, the Japanese guard Nabeshima Naoshige was also carefully observing the gorgeous scene put on by Lin Jinglue.
Today was the first time Nabeshima Naoshige saw the Great Tomorrow Soldiers with his own eyes. He also couldn’t understand the gorgeous man in big hat and broad robes who was carried on the shoulder chariot in the center of the Ming Army in the distance, as well as the clouds and sun-blocking people around him.
What does the flag mean? Is it "Priest" or "General"?
In fact, in their Japanese country, there were characters with similar temperament, but they were no longer popular.
So Nabeshima Naoshige called over Ju Jingren, the traitor leader who was in the city, pointed to the outside of the city and asked, "What does this mean?"
Ju Jingren was originally a local official in Hoining, the northernmost part of Hamgyeong Province in the Joseon Dynasty. When Kato Kiyomasa attacked Hoining, he kidnapped two Korean princes and several accompanying officials and surrendered to Kato Kiyomasa.
During this time, Ju Jingren happened to come to Xianxing Mansion to help Nabeshima Naomao manage the place.
Now on the top of the city, after hearing Nabeshima Naoshige's question, Ju Jingren also looked at it for a while and replied through the interpreter:
"I heard that the Ming Dynasty was similar to our country, with civil servants controlling generals. The highest ranking Yuan Rong in the army were often civil servants.
Therefore, looking at this kind of pomp, the people on the shoulders of the chariot must be civil servants of the governor-general in the Ming army."
Ju Jingren was also a person who had only a vague understanding of the Ming Dynasty system, so he gave an explanation based on his own understanding.
Nabeshima Naoshige fell into deep thought, did all civil servants of the Ming Dynasty go out in battle like this? How arrogant and contemptuous of the enemy is this?
The pomp of the Ming army generals in the distance really didn't look like they were preparing for war, but rather looked a bit like the behavior of the ministers in the country.
Thirty years ago, there was a person in China who liked to go out in battle like this.
He was of noble birth, he was known as the number one bowman in Tokaido, and he was the strongest daimyo at that time.
He likes elegance, and even if he goes out to march, he will always put on the appearance of a minister.
In the end, he died in a surprise attack by a few enemies in the army, and the ending became the beginning of a new era.
The temperament of this Ming Dynasty coach looks exactly like that of Imagawa Yoshimoto.
Thinking of this, Nabeshima Naoshige looked at the Ming soldiers who were carrying earth to the city again, and couldn't help but sneer a few times.
Judging from the strategy of attacking the city directly without rushing and letting the soldiers pile up soil first, this Ming army commander must be a scholar or Confucian general who likes to show off his wisdom.
However, such a character is more or less stubborn and arrogant. If others take advantage of the opportunity, it depends on whether they can seize it.
At this time, General Ma, who was attacking the city in Nancheng, received the report from Yang Shanshan and couldn't help but feel inexplicably moved.
As expected, Lin Junmen was a man of great faith and kept his word. He would not take credit if he said he would not take it. At the same time, he was so conscientious in his duties and used all kinds of tricks to help divert the attention of the defenders.
Then the Nancheng side that I supervise will be even more powerful tomorrow!
Today was just a trial siege to test the accuracy of the artillery and the strength of the enemy's defense, so I didn't expect it to succeed today.
And tomorrow is the time to really start the siege!
Although his military advantage is not as great as that of Li Rusong's attack on Pyongyang, the battle should be over within three days!
Seeing that it was getting late, Ma Gui ordered the troops to retreat and let each column return to camp to rest.
In the direction of Beicheng, Lin Jinglue also ordered the troops to return to the camp, and sent an order saying that the food would be improved tonight and there would be a lot of bonfires!
Lieutenant Commander Da Yun responded with a grimace: "It's all dry food. How can the food be improved?"
Lin Jinglue sighed helplessly and ordered: "Then make more bonfires and pretend to improve the food!"
The three generals of Biao Battalion, Deputy Chief Da Yun, General Wu Weizhong, guerrilla Ye Bangrong, and General Yang Dengden who came to support, gathered in the Chinese army tent, ate steamed cakes soaked in vinegar, and drank wine from Yongxing.
Bad wine looted.
Lin Jinglue smiled and said: "When you have eaten and drank enough, go to bed, and get up at the fourth watch!"
The generals were puzzled, what were they doing up at the fourth watch? The enemy was in the city, and even if they wanted to make a sneak attack in the early morning, they couldn't reach them.
Lin Tailai suddenly asked: "Do you know the most proud battle in the life of Japanese guard Nabeshima Naoshige?"
The generals looked at each other and almost asked, "Where can I go?"
Lin Jinglue obviously did not expect anyone else to answer, so he simply said: "When he was still a retainer, the main family was once besieged by tens of thousands of allied troops from the Dayou family, and the main family only had 5,000 troops.
Nabeshima Naoshige urged his lord not to surrender, and suggested using elite troops to surprise the enemy camp.
Then Naoshima Naoshige covered the lord, dispatched hundreds of elite troops at dawn, and defeated tens of thousands of enemy troops with a surprise attack."
The generals didn't feel much about this. Isn't this just a copycat version of "Hundred Cavalry Robbery Camp" or "Eight Hundred to Break a Hundred Thousand"?
I also heard Lin Jinglue's analysis: "Given the habits of the Japanese, they especially like to use sneak attacks, and they always want to gain the greatest victory at the least cost.
They regard this as a mysterious military strategy, and whenever they feel there is a chance, they want to take a gamble and give it a try."
Lin Tailai was not lying when he said this. For example, in the original history, when Li Rusong's army came to Pyongyang, Governor Konishi sent 800 soldiers to the Ming army camp to steal chickens in the early morning, but they all rushed into the streets.
When the generals heard this, they finally understood what Lin Jinglue meant. Yangdenden couldn't help but ask: "Jinglue judged that the Japanese soldiers might leave the city to attack us in the early morning?"
Lin Tailai couldn't help but sigh: "It all depends on whether I perform well today, or whether the enemy understands my arrogance, arrogance, stubbornness, and underestimation of the enemy in my performance.
Naoshima Naoshige might really be path dependent, and after identifying an opportunity, he wanted to rely on a sneak attack in the early morning to defeat our army."
Yang Dengden suddenly became excited and couldn't help but said a little offensively: "Jing Lue Gong really doesn't look like an actor, even the general believed it!
If the Japanese soldiers really dare to leave the city, the opportunity to seize the door and break it will be right in front of them!"
Usually when defending a city, the defenders would block the city gate opening with wood and rocks to prevent the enemy from breaking through the city gate opening.
But if the defenders wanted to leave the city on a large scale, they would have to temporarily clear the road through the city gate to facilitate entry and exit.
But correspondingly, this also gave the enemy an opportunity to directly attack the city gate.
All the generals are also looking forward to it. If they break the city like this, it will be much easier and the casualties will be reduced a lot.
Lin Jinglue began to say seriously: "General Yang! If such an opportunity arises and I ask you to attack the city gate cave, do you dare?"
Yang Shanshan said without hesitation: "Why don't you dare?"
Immediately, Lin Tailai began to order, "After the third watch, the entire army will be on alert. If nothing happens by early morning, we will rest for two hours after dawn.
If there is a surprise attack by Japanese soldiers tonight, Wu Weizhong Battalion will be responsible for defending the camp and facing off against the Japanese soldiers.
Ye Bangrong's camp used cavalry to surround or flank the Japanese soldiers who came to attack, and tried to annihilate them all in the shortest possible time.
The Yangshan Mountain Camp did not need to worry about the Japanese soldiers leaving the city, and immediately went to the North City Gate to attack and seize the city gate cave with all their strength!
Dayun Camp follows the headquarters as a reserve and mobile force!"
The generals each received their orders, and then took the time to rest.
Especially the "non-resident" Yang Shanshan was the most excited. It seemed that Mr. Jin Lue was a very fair person and had entrusted the most important task to him.
In siege warfare, the contribution of breaking and seizing the gate is definitely far greater than blocking or outflanking a single enemy force.
As long as you can capture and hold the North City Gate, you will be the first to achieve success.
As for what General Ma thinks of the main attack in Nancheng, as long as he, a fierce general of the Xuanfu, achieves great success, it will also add glory to General Ma!
After watching the others disperse, Lieutenant Commander Dayun asked Lin Tailai: "Is the army really just a reserve team this time and let the generals do their best?"
Lin Jinglue replied in a very Schrödinger manner: "When we attack with a large army, we cannot always rely on me alone.
If the generals fight well, there will be no need for me to take action; if they don't fight well, then I will have no choice but to take action."
As a veteran Chinese officer of the Lin Army Sect, Dayun was very knowledgeable and did not ask, what is the standard for a good fight?
"By the way, prepare a few hook and ladder trucks in case they are used?" Lin Jinglue suddenly ordered.
Dayun: "."
Lin Junmen, you still say you have no idea?
On the wall of the North City, Nabeshima Naoshima climbed to the highest point of the city gate tower again, still observing the movements of the Ming army.
The brightly lit Ming army camp could be vaguely seen, and it seemed that dozens of bonfires were lit.
Ju Jingren, the "advisor" who was standing next to him, already knew that Naoshima Naoshima had the idea of a sneak attack. He advised conservatively: "Just hold on to the city and wait for Lord Kato to return. Why risk going out of the city for a sneak attack?"
Nabeshima Naoshima did not respond directly, only said: "It can be seen from these bonfires that the Ming army is in a very relaxed state.
Moreover, the main force of the Ming army was obviously in the south, but the commander was in the north. This shows that the generals may be at odds with each other and may be slow to rescue each other.
Furthermore, the commander of the Ming army was stubborn and underestimated the enemy. The pomp and circumstance with which he went out to battle during the day was enough to show that he did not think that our army dared to go out of the city to fight in the field.
Facing such an enemy, the best strategy is to make a surprise attack in the early morning. This is the way to defeat more with less!
Other than that, I really can’t think of any other tactics that can defeat the enemy.”
Naoshima Naoshima was still thinking, even if he held on until Kato's army returned, what practical significance would it have?
Under the back-and-forth harassment and impact of the Ming army's cavalry, how did Kato's army come from afar to enter the city?
If they open up their posture and fight normally outside the city, it seems that they will definitely not be able to defeat the Ming army.
So after much deliberation, a surprise attack to defeat the enemy is almost the only hope of victory.