In the Wala camp, I also heard the news from Tan Ma first, and I couldn’t help but frown.
Seeing that the war is coming, the Ming army did not prepare for the war well, but they were actually engaged in construction?
You are the emperor, not the foreman. How about you figure out your identity!
You are still thinking about construction at this time. Do you want to build a city wall in front of my army of 100,000 people?
"Bo Yan, what are you Mingjun doing again?"
Mr. Ye is suspicious by nature. When encountering this situation, he unconsciously consults Boyan.
Boyan is also confused. He hates using his brain the most in his life, but these days, the Ming Army does things for you in different ways every day, making it difficult for people to guard against it.
I just want to have a good fight, so what?
"Just don't worry about what tricks he is up to. Our army will rush over directly. Even if we risk casualties, we will definitely capture the little emperor!"
After listening, he looked heavy at first, and it was obvious that he was also confused now.
Logically speaking, Boyan's idea is quite sound. In the current situation, as long as the Ming army can be defeated in one fell swoop, some casualties are acceptable.
Having said this again, it was precisely because I was looking forward and backward, and worrying about battle losses in a good situation, that I gave the Ming army an opportunity to take advantage of it, and the duck that was put in my mouth flew away again.
Damn it, it’s all that damn eunuch’s fault!
Isn't it good to serve your emperor honestly? If you have to come and surrender at this critical moment, it will only cause trouble for me!
When I think of that eggless castrate, I feel angry at first.
"Bring that man up!"
I saw a Han man being escorted into the big tent. This man was in his early twenties, with fair skin. At first glance, he was a son of an official.
"Your Majesty, please spare my life, Your Majesty, please spare my life!"
As soon as this man came in, he knelt down, kowtowed and begged for mercy.
Boyan was puzzled and asked: "Brother, who is this person?"
He first glanced at the man on the ground with disdain and said, "I caught him on the road. He is said to be the nephew of eunuch Wang Zhen, named Wang Lin."
"Wang Zhen?" Boyan scratched his head and asked, "Is that the little emperor's most beloved eunuch?"
He nodded first, and then asked Wang Lin: "Let me ask you again, is what you just said true?"
"Your Majesty, what I said is true. Because I am the commander of Jin Yiwei, I have checked all the logistics and supply accounts. This time I brought a total of 3,500 kilograms of gunpowder, and the fire gun camp soldiers
Each person carries one kilogram, and those in the artillery battalion carry twenty kilograms per gun."
After hearing this, Boyan counted on his fingers. However, the more he counted, the more confused his face became.
In the end, he simply didn’t care and stepped forward and grabbed Wang Lin’s collar.
"Just tell me, how much gunpowder does the Ming army have now?"
"Little...little...I don't know!"
"I don't know, what use do you have?"
"When I was retreating from Datong, I was ordered to go to Yuzhou for business. I don't know how the battle is going..."
Wang Lin was about to cry without tears, and I was not in the formation. How could I possibly know how much gunpowder the Ming army had left!
He also patted Boyan's shoulder lightly and said, "Tell him the situation of the battle!"
Boyan calmed down, and then gave a rough outline of all the battle procedures starting from the Ming army's raid on Ala.
Especially the battle situation related to firearms, he told everything he knew.
Wang Lin's mind raced and he did a quick calculation in his mind. Although he didn't know the exact number, he could guess pretty well.
"According to the general, there should be no gunpowder in the Ming army's formation."
Boyan didn't believe it and asked: "Are you sure?"
Wang Lin was unsure, but in this situation, he could only bite the bullet and hold on.
"I know the Ming army's style of play. According to this consumption rate, all of them should be used up. Even if there is any left, there won't be much left."
Boyan threw him to the ground, turned to Ye Xian and said: "When Ala attacked for the last time, the Ming army's artillery had indeed misfired, but that explosion..."
Having said this, he shook his head regretfully.
Up to this point in this battle, the power of the Ming army’s firearms has been fully demonstrated.
Whether it is firecrackers or artillery, it is an insurmountable obstacle for the Mongolian cavalry, especially war horses. Even well-trained war horses can hardly resist the impact of gunpowder explosions.
In addition, Ali suffered a lot from firearms before, which made him more cautious about it.
I also thought about it carefully first, based on Boyan's report, and then thinking about the abnormal behavior of the Ming army, could it be that the gunpowder really ran out, and then I thought of other ways... to make gunpowder?
Thinking of this, he asked Wang Lin: "Tell me, how is gunpowder made?"
"Ah?"
Wang Lin was a little confused and didn't know how to answer.
But Boyan immediately understood Ye Xian's intention, grabbed Wang Lin's collar again, and said angrily: "Ah what, just say whatever I ask you!"
Wang Lin didn't dare to hide it, so he hurriedly said: "I only know that saltpeter, charcoal, sulfur and other materials are needed. As for how to mix them and how to refine them, I really don't know!"
Ye first looked at Boyan. It is said that the Ming army cut down many trees and built five kilns. They were smoking all the time. Could it be that they were burning charcoal?
However, even if charcoal can be burned, where can we find saltpeter and sulfur in these barren mountains?
It’s really strange...
"Brother, I think we should seize the time to attack. If we wait any longer, I wonder what the Ming army will do again!"
After thinking for a long time, Ye Xian finally nodded and said: "Give me the order. In an hour, we will launch a general attack on the Ming army's position. This time, you will lead the battle with 20,000 cavalry. Get ready to go!"
Boyan's eyes lit up, he cupped his fists and said, "I will definitely live up to my destiny!"
In the howling north wind, the gate of the Wala camp slowly opened, and Boyan led 20,000 cavalry to cross the river first.
In the Chinese army's formation, he personally took charge first. The 100,000-strong army was like a huge black cloud, pressing towards the Ming army's position.
The Ming army also began to prepare busily. Fifty trebuchets were slowly pushed out of the camp and preparations began.
However, the trebuchet is not filled with stones, but with felt packages each about one meter in diameter.
The vine-armored soldiers guarded the front, forming a solid line of defense to resist the Wala people's bows and arrows.
Boyan had already seen these trebuchets, but he was unmoved. Instead, he became more certain that the Ming army had no gunpowder.
Otherwise, why would we have these trebuchets?
The little emperor is really funny. How could he think of using a trebuchet to fight?
Even if we line up and let you smash us, from morning till night, without blinking an eye, how many of us will you kill?
As Boyan continues to advance forward, the distance between the two sides is getting closer and closer.
In the Ming army's formation, orders were passed down one after another, and everyone stood ready.