On the tenth day of July, the scorching sun hung in the sky without any clouds, scorching the entire earth.
Cao Bianjiao was sweating lightly, looking at the Jiangbei Army outside the Yuezhou Prefecture with his binoculars, frowning.
Cao Bianjiao has led 50,000 people across the Yangtze River to attack the Jiangbei Army stationed outside Yuezhou Fucheng. As expected by Cao Bianjiao, the Jiangbei Army, as a private army of gentry designated as a "rebel" by the emperor, has no scruples about fighting with Beijing.
The camp opened fire and was nailed to the foot of Yuezhou City.
Obviously, for the gentry who relied on force to promote reforms in various provinces, the new troops in the Beijing camp were sworn enemies. If the Jiangbei army retreated, it would hand over Huguang province and even the entire Jiangnan province to the emperor's reform, which the gentry could not
accepted.
The Jiangbei Army did not fear the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year. Since they were designated as rebels by the emperor, they simply fulfilled their title of rebels and openly opened fire with the Beijing camp.
Cao Bianjiao was not surprised that the soldiers of the Jiangbei Army dared to resist the Beijing camp. What surprised Cao Bianjiao was the combat effectiveness of the Jiangbei Army.
Although there were only 30,000 Jiangbei troops in Yuezhou City, they were not at a disadvantage in the fight against Cao Bianjiao's 50,000 new troops.
In fact, the combat effectiveness of the 30,000 Jiangbei Army even exceeded the 50,000 New Army.
The rifles used by the Jiangbei Army were "Formosa-style" rifles, with a range of an astonishing 140 steps, which was farther than the Rumi guns of the Beijing camp. Moreover, these rifles loaded faster, and the soldiers of the Beijing camp fired two
In the same time, the soldiers of Jiangbei Army can shoot three times.
There are also some sharpshooters in the Jiangbei Army who use rifles with scopes, and their shooting range reaches an astonishing 250 steps.
These advanced weapons completely offset the numerical disadvantage of the 30,000 Jiangbei Army.
What surprised Cao Bianjiao even more was the tactics of the Jiangbei Army. Although the soldiers of the Jiangbei Army had their backs to Yuezhou City, they did not defend on the city wall. These soldiers dug trenches outside the city and hid in the long trenches for defense. Then
The trench looks inconspicuous, but its role is amazing.
The soldiers of the Jiangbei Army hiding in the trench only exposed one head and shot outward. The soldiers of the Beijing Camp New Army charged into the trench from a distance and were unable to hit such a small head and were completely blocked from the outside.
Cao Bianjiao observed the Jiangbei Army's position with his binoculars, and saw a "bureau" of a thousand soldiers from the Beijing camp rushing forward with Rumi guns. The thousand soldiers were led by a tall young officer, whom Cao Bianjiao knew, and was a nobleman from the capital.
My disciple, I train very seriously on weekdays.
At this time, the officer received Yang Guozhu's order and led his troops to attack the trench.
However, this group of soldiers and horses only rushed 250 steps into the trench before they were attacked by Jiangbei Army's sharpshooters.
Amidst the crackling gunfire, the soldiers from the Beijing camp who rushed into the battle fell one after another, and their courage was quickly knocked out. The soldiers did not dare to go forward to die, and lay on the ground one by one, no matter how the young officer screamed.
Nor did he stand up.
In the end, the officer gave up and lay down on the dirt. After hesitating on the ground for a while, the soldiers from this bureau began to flee along the way.
The tentative attack ended in failure.
Yang Guozhu sighed and said: "Uncle, I didn't expect the weapons of the Jiangbei Army to be so advanced. Their fire cannons are far stronger than our Lumi cannons, and our soldiers and horses cannot enter their firing range at all."
"And all their soldiers and horses are hidden in the trenches. Although our cannons have explosive shells, they can't hit the trenches even if they are fired flatly!"
Hearing Yang Guozhu's words, Huang Degong shook his head and said, "Uncle, we can't win this battle! Our soldiers can't charge forward at all. How can we win this battle?"
Cao Bianjiao put down his telescope and said nothing.
Huang Degong said: "Uncle, I think we should retreat to the north of the Yangtze River quickly. Now the Jiangbei Army has openly rebelled and will do whatever it takes. If the 60,000 Jiangbei Army from Nanchang Prefecture come over and form a siege on us, our five
Thousands of people simply cannot resist it.”
Yang Guozhu also looked solemn when he heard this, obviously he was also very worried about this issue.
Cao Bianjiao looked at Yuezhou City in the distance and said calmly: "Yesterday, I came to report that the 20,000 tiger and benign troops of the Tianjin County King had broken camp from Yangzhou and attacked Nanchang. The 20,000 tiger and benign troops can hold back at least 30,000
The Jiangbei Army and the Jiangbei rebels can only bring in 30,000 reinforcements at most."
Hearing Cao Bianjiao's words, Yang Guozhu's face turned red and he praised loudly: "The King of Tianjin is so loyal! This is really a timely help. Now that we have lost 30,000 Jiangbei troops, our situation has greatly improved."
Huang Degong couldn't help but sigh: "The King of Tianjin is truly a hero."
However, after thinking for a while, Huang Degong added: "However, even if the Jiangbei Army only has 60,000 people, I'm afraid I can't match it with 50,000 people!"
Cao Bianjiao nodded and said: "If we only have 50,000 new troops, we will naturally not be able to defeat the Jiangbei Army. But this time the Holy Emperor has Jingping Yunei's ambition and has transferred the 50,000 new troops recruited last year to the south. In another month, our
The number of men and horses can reach 100,000."
With a wave of his hand, Cao Bianjiao said: "The Jiangbei Army will dig trenches to defend themselves, and we will also dig trenches. At that time, one hundred thousand of us will surround the 60,000 Jiangbei Army and trap them under Yuezhou City."
"Yuezhou City is not a big city. It only takes three months to trap it, and Jiangbei's army will definitely run out of ammunition and food. At that time, Wu Sangui will have no choice but to surrender to us."
Huang Degong and Yang Guozhu looked at each other after hearing Cao Bianjiao's battle plan.
At first glance, this plan seemed feasible. However, soldiers were in danger. Jiangbei Army's weapons were so advanced that the two generals doubted whether Cao Bianjiao's siege plan could be implemented.
Yang Guozhu stroked his beard and said nothing.
Huang Degong cupped his hands and said: "Uncle, please be careful. We use the other's method to counter the other. It is wonderful, but it is also very dangerous. The Jiangbei Army is so skilled in using this trench method. What if they have a way to break it?"
Cao Bianjiao frowned and said, "You have been in Yuezhou City for five days. Have you found any flaws in this trench method?"
Huang Degong shook his head and said: "This trench method is very difficult, and I will never be able to crack it."
Cao Bianjiao said: "That's it! I asked the envoy sent by the King of Tianjin yesterday, and the envoy said that the trench method was invented by the King of Tianjin. It is very difficult to crack the trench method. You must have the latest method of the King of Tianjin
Artillery. The Jiangbei Army is just a gentry rebel army led by Wu Sangui. How can they be equipped with the new artillery of the King of Tianjin?"
Huang Degong and Yang Guozhu looked at each other for a while and said: "Uncle, be careful! We are crossing the river, and behind us is a river that cannot be crossed easily. It can be said that it is a last-ditch battle. If we are defeated, the whole army will be annihilated."
Cao Bianjiao was silent for a while after hearing Huang Degong's words.
What Huang Degong said is indeed true. If this battle is defeated, the consequences will be disastrous.
However, how could the 100,000 new troops and 20,000 Huben troops jointly attack the 90,000 Jiangbei troops be defeated?
Cao Bianjiao was finally attracted by the prospect of this battle. He waved his hand and said: "Send an order to the entire army to dig trenches outside Yuezhou City and wait for the arrival of 50,000 reinforcements."
