How long can we hold on to this question? A few days ago, some of them were relatively optimistic, saying that there would be no problem in holding on for more than half a year, and even more than a year was possible.
Because the city defense of Malacca is strong, there are many artillery, and the reserves of ammunition and food are also very sufficient.
But when the artillery battle began and their artillery units suffered heavy losses, the Portuguese became even more pessimistic. A very small number of confident Portuguese only believed that without the support of artillery, the time to hold Malacca would probably drop from the previous year to
Three months or even less.
However, if these words were heard by the generals of the Tang Dynasty siege troops outside the city, they would probably show contempt: "You want to hold on to this wretched place for three months, are you looking down on yourself, or are you looking down on yourself?
Where are the Tang soldiers?"
When the Army of the Tang Dynasty fought with the puppet army of the former Ming Dynasty, the Ming army defended the city with all guns and artillery, and its troops were much larger than those of the Portuguese, numbering tens of thousands at every turn.
But when the Tang army actually launched an offensive, it actually couldn't hold out for a few days. It usually carried out shelling for a few days, and then a general attack once or twice, and the Ming army collapsed.
And you can't say that the Ming army's combat effectiveness is poor.
Especially the Ming army under Zhang Yue. Their troops were copied from the Tang Dynasty Army from beginning to end. From the organization to the weapons and tactics, they were basically a replica of the Tang Dynasty Army. They were equipped with a lot of guns and cannons.
Moreover, the Ming army under Zhang Yue's command, in addition to weapons and equipment, also adopted the method of teachers, students and relatives to build the army. The officers were all relatives, friends, teachers and students. The teacher led the students to fight, the uncle led his nephew to fight, and the soldiers
, they were all soldiers recruited from tenant farmers in their hometown.
Whether it is loyalty or the toughness of the troops, they are much stronger than other Ming armies at that time.
In addition to their military strength, the equipment level of these Portuguese people is actually no better than that of the Ming army under Zhang Yue. The Ming army under Zhang Yue also used matchlock guns. Well, they were the Yuan of the Tang Army.
The Ming army's imitation version of the 14mm matchlock gun was not used on a small scale, but was equipped on a large scale.
At the same time, the artillery they used were all five-pound or nine-pound field guns, as well as a large number of general cannons, Franco machine guns and other shotguns. The number was quite large.
Tactically, they imitated the early Tang Dynasty army and adopted a mixed method of spearmen, swordsmen, shield soldiers and musketeers. Basically, the ratio of musketeers and spearmen was one to one.
It can be said that in the late period of the Unification War, the Ming army led by Zhang Yue had basically reached the leading level of that era in terms of equipment level and tactics, and was only so much worse than the Tang Army, which had been equipped with flintlock muskets at that time.
A little bit!
But it is definitely much stronger than the European armies that are still playing Spanish Grand Formation.
However, even Zhang Yueming's army could not hold out when faced with the attack of the Tang Army, and was defeated like a mountain.
The Portuguese in Malacca have only about 3,000 native soldiers at best, and the remaining 5,000 colonial native soldiers. In addition, it is estimated that there are thousands of merchant ship crews and navy sailors. The total force sounds like
There seemed to be tens of thousands of people, but in fact in the past many days of artillery battles, at least a thousand people had been killed or injured.
What's more important is that the number of real professional local soldiers inside is actually only two to three thousand!
The equipment level is not that strong either.
How could such Portuguese survive for three months under the onslaught of the Tang army?
This is impossible.
Many generals, such as officers such as Major Hu Baoguan, have great confidence in their troops.
The Tang Army may encounter some difficulties during the attack, but most of these difficulties are actually difficulties in material transportation. After the Datang Army is ready, the actual siege does not actually take too long.
At 8:40 in the morning, artillery units from all directions have entered the final bombardment time!
They will use rapid fire to fire as many artillery shells as possible in this short period of more than ten minutes to provide the most sufficient fire cover for the infantry units that are about to launch an attack.
After the fierce bombardment, Ding Chenzhen looked at his pocket watch in the headquarters of the Seventh Army in the rear. At this time, the pointer of the pocket watch happened to point to nine o'clock in the morning.
He immediately said: "Send the order, the whole army will attack!"
In fact, this order is the final confirmation order. All the troops have made all preparations before this, and are waiting for the order of the general offensive to be issued.
As Army Lieutenant General Ding Chenzhen's orders were conveyed through flags and messengers on horseback, the troops on the front line also began to take action one after another!
The first battle to break out was the 58th Infantry Regiment, which was responsible for launching an attack on the east wall. Although this regiment was not responsible for the main offensive mission, it was intended to attract the attention of the Portuguese, contain their forces, and even more so to make the Portuguese
Mobilizing its reserve troops, after the general offensive order was issued, they launched the general offensive without hesitation!
The two infantry battalions rushed towards the city wall like a tide. Some soldiers carried long ladders and ran forward, while others fired muskets at the top of the city from dozens of meters away to provide fire cover for the troops climbing the wall.
.
The attack of the 58th Infantry Regiment, without any surprise, quickly attracted the attention of many Portuguese!
However, at this time, the second temporary regiment of the Guards from the port direction also launched an attack from the dock direction, and the attack of this unit frightened the Portuguese because when the battle first broke out, the attacking troops detonated
He buried gunpowder under the city gate.
During the siege, digging tunnels and then laying gunpowder for blasting had always been a specialty of the Tang Army's sieges, and this time was no exception.
In fact, there are several directions for blasting, but the biggest threat to the Portuguese is undoubtedly the blasting of the main city gate.
The Portuguese closed the city gate early and reinforced the thickness and hardness of the city gate so that it could withstand even bombardment with solid artillery bullets.
But their mistake was that they did not completely block the city gate. If they had been fighting against the Tang army for many years and had rich experience in defending the city, they would have completely blocked the city gate long ago.
No matter how strong the city gate is, it will be useless against the Tang Army's attack!
Unfortunately, strictly speaking, this was the first time the Portuguese had a large-scale battle with the Tang Army. They were not familiar with many of the Tang Army's tactics, so they did not completely block the city gate, thinking that they would block the city.
Once the door is reinforced, everything will be fine.
As a result, under the blast of authentic gunpowder, the extremely strong city gate was directly reduced to pieces!
Then the huge city of Malacca turned into a city gate in an instant and opened, as if the skirt of a young beauty was blown by the wind, instantly attracting the peeping glances of countless gentlemen.
The attacking troops of the Second Temporary Regiment of the Guards did not expect to open the city gate so easily. They laid artillery for blasting. It was just a routine matter. They expected it to have a certain effect, but they did not expect it. so good.
The city gates are all empty. What are you waiting for at this time? Go forward!
Therefore, within the first ten minutes of the general attack, that is, around 9:10 in the morning, the leading soldiers of the second temporary regiment of the Guards rushed towards the city gate.
In this case, the Portuguese were frightened half to death. Seeing that the city gate was wide open, there were still two other directions to take care of. On the one hand, they mobilized the original troops to block the city gate hole, and on the other hand, they also mobilized The reserve team reinforces the south gate.
If we can't defend the city gate, then it will be completely over.
The extremely strong city of Malacca will be breached in just ten minutes. Even the Tang Army itself would not believe it!
Fortunately, the Portuguese generals were somewhat rational, and quickly mobilized troops to enter the city gate to resist, and quickly mobilized troops to reinforce the south city gate, trying to block the attack of the second temporary regiment of the Guards!
Just when the fighting was fierce in the east and south, the 57th Infantry Regiment, which was really responsible for the main offensive mission, also launched an attack!
The 57th Infantry Regiment did not hold any ground. The entire infantry regiment immediately launched an attack. A large number of troops rushed to the city. Behind them, the 59th Infantry Regiment was making its final move. Reorganized into formation, they will be responsible for the second wave of attacks. If the 57th Infantry Regiment cannot attack for a long time, or open a gap, no matter what the situation, they will attack Malacca as a new force and seal the victory in one final move.
This 59th Infantry Regiment is the fatal blow in the entire siege plan!
According to the battle plan drawn up by Ding Chenzhen, the two directions from the south and east were just feint attacks, intended to attract and mobilize the Portuguese reserves.
The north is the main direction of attack, and in the north, the first wave of the 57th Infantry Regiment's attack is to consume the Portuguese defensive forces and open a small gap. After opening the gap, the 59th Infantry Regiment will move along Using this gap, they rushed into the city and completely captured Malacca.
If the 57th Infantry Regiment cannot open the gap, then the important task of opening the gap will be handed over to the 59th Infantry Regiment.
The 59th Infantry Regiment is the combat unit responsible for the final blow in the entire combat plan!
However, this unit is still lining up in the rear for final battle preparations!
It was the 57th Infantry Regiment that was engaged in a fierce battle at the front!
Tens of meters below the city wall, Captain Shi Enli was still lying on the trench, watching the friendly troops behind him continue to charge!
At this point, he already knew that it was time for him to take the field!
Immediately, he took two deep breaths in succession, took out his command knife, and at the same time looked around at his subordinates. At this time, the officers under him were also watching his movements, and like him , one after another pulled out the command knife!
Shi Enli turned around and looked left and right, and then said: "Take down the fort on the opposite side and open the way for the army!"
Seeing his subordinates all showing firm eyes, Shi Enli nodded slightly and said:
"Shi is deeply honored to be able to fight for the Holy Emperor together with you all today!"
Then he stood up straight from the trench, then raised his command knife: "All troops attack!"
"The grenadiers will fight to the death!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the officers under his command blew the copper whistles hanging around their necks, and waved their command swords in their hands to order the troops to attack!
The rapid whistle continued to sound, and the grenadiers began to crawl out of the trenches one after another, and then strode towards the Portuguese fort in front!
"Rush, hurry, rush, don't stop!"
"The grenadiers will fight to the death!"
"For the sake of the Holy Emperor, for the sake of the empire, go for it!"
More than two hundred grenadiers rushed out, only thirty or forty meters away from the Portuguese, and in front of them was the Portuguese's solid fort. Several small and hidden gun holes quickly protruded gun barrels, and then
Aim at the running grenadiers and fire!
As the muzzle flash flashed and smoke rose, multiple grenadiers in front were shot and fell to the ground almost at the same time!
Then you can see many Portuguese musketeers emerging from the dilapidated battlements and shooting!
Countless bullets and artillery shells flew across the sky, but Shi Enli seemed not to see it. He held a command knife and ran forward while shouting various charging slogans.
While I was running, I suddenly felt a wetness on my face. When I touched it with my hand, it was sticky. It was blood!
When he turned his head and looked around, he saw that his young messenger, who was only seventeen years old, was choking on his steps. He was covering his neck with both hands, but he couldn't cover it. The blood kept splattering and then sprayed into the entire sky, covering the whole sky.
The sky is dyed red!
Although this messenger is only seventeen years old, he is already a corporal.
He only joined the army last year, but because of his excellent physical condition and excellent training, he was selected into the Grenadier during the recruit training, and then served in the Second Grenadier Corps. Because of the special characteristics of the Grenadier Corps, he was a grenadier.
There are no second-class soldiers in the army, the lowest starting point is first-class soldiers.
This summer, Shi Enli saw that he was more agile and could run fast enough, making him run more like a rabbit, so he was specially recruited to serve as a messenger, and his military rank was accordingly promoted to corporal.
But from now on, this young messenger will never be able to deliver orders for Shi Enli!
The next moment, Shi Enli withdrew his gaze, wiped the blood on his face, wiped his bloody hands on his uniform, then continued forward with a knife in one hand and a single-shot pistol in the other.
!
Behind him, the young messenger had already thrown himself to the ground, and a large amount of blood continued to spurt out. At this time, he could no longer cover his neck, his whole body was twitching, and even his screams were gone.
!
Then, as he was running, he raised his hand and fired, using the only bullet in the pistol in his hand, to hit the soldier in front who dropped his gun and turned to run away!
Without even looking at the deserter who fell to the ground after being hit by him, he raised his command knife high and shouted at the same time: "The grenadiers will never retreat until they fight!"