While they were talking, the Tatars' actions continued. After stabilizing the thousand-meter defense line, they began to try to continue to advance forward, still in a skirmish formation.
Moreover, this advance was very smooth. When the Tatars were advancing very widely, the artillery of the Tang Dynasty only fired one round of bombardment and found that the effect was still not good, so they simply stopped the bombardment.
They found that shelling these Tatar skirmishers who were widely spaced, it seemed that every shell hit the Tatar formation, but in fact the casualties caused were very effective.
The formation of these Tatar skirmishers was even wider than the intervals between infantry charges during later World War II. They were purely to avoid artillery fire, without considering the density of firepower.
In this way, the artillery bombardment of the Tang Dynasty might only kill one or two people at most with one shell, and sometimes even one person could not be killed.
It is very uneconomical for the current artillery unit of the First Cavalry Army.
On the one hand, there is not much ammunition to spare, and on the other hand, the loading speed of this front-loading artillery is too slow, and every shell has to be used on the blade.
This is why the Army always uses breech-mounted cannons. The rates of fire of the two are not at the same level at all.
Now after they tried a round of shelling, they immediately changed back to the old strategy.
No longer shelling their skirmishing formations, but specifically shelling the Tatar assembly areas!
When the Tatars start to gather their troops there, they will be bombarded immediately. If one shell hits, with luck, a dozen Tatar soldiers can be wiped out.
Naturally, these Tatars knew their disadvantage. They used a super scattered formation to advance step by step. After advancing a hundred or two hundred meters, they often dug parapets on the spot to avoid shelling.
However, it is worth noting that the closer they are to the front line, the closer their formation will be, and the greater the casualties suffered from shelling.
There is nothing that can be done about it. A few hundred meters and kilometers away, they can advance each soldier dozens of meters apart to reduce casualties. But at a distance of 500 meters, if it is still this distance, although it can reduce the bombardment
Loss.
But the battlefield is only so big, so the Tatars can't expect to devote much troops to launch the final charge!
Thousands of people rush forward to attack the defense line of 20,000 people. This is no different than seeking death.
Therefore, after crossing a distance of 500 meters, their formation basically returned to the traditional line formation.
In their opinion, they are now in the final stage of charge, and the intensity of firepower must be ensured.
However, it was very difficult for them to assemble. They would often be bombarded as soon as dozens of people assembled and lined up.
But the Tatars still pushed forward tenaciously and gathered their forces.
After crossing a distance of 500 meters, the Tatar soldiers began to ignore the bombardment, held their flintlock guns, formed a tight formation, and began to trot forward.
Although no soldiers fell down due to shelling, they were still advancing!
In their opinion, this battle mode in front of them is what they are familiar with!
Although the bombardment was fierce, it had to be endured. After all, it was only a few hundred meters away, and even a charge would not survive a few rounds of bombardment.
When they rush within 100 meters, the two sides will enter a state of musket fire. If they rush forward again, it will be a bayonet melee stage.
When the time comes, with our own twice the military strength advantage, there is no reason why we cannot win!
With such confidence, these Tatars began to advance in formation despite artillery fire!
With every step forward, a large number of soldiers were blown away by artillery shells.
When they finally entered and were still 400 meters away from the first infantry defense line of the Tang Dynasty, a large group of soldiers walking in the front fell down in unison.
A low-level Tatar officer in front, about thirty years old, immediately discovered that these casualties were definitely caused by intensive enemy fire!
And the shooting distance should be within 80 meters to have such an accurate hit rate.
But where is the enemy?
Looking around, the distance of 80 meters was flat, and there was no trace of the Southern Tang Barbarians at all. However, a burst of white smoke rose from the parapet defense line of the Southern Tang Barbarians 400 meters away.
Was the shooting fired from the Nan Tang Barbarian position 400 meters away?
This is impossible!
The musket fires at a distance of four hundred meters, and it is impossible to hit any target!
Just when he was confused, another burst of white smoke floated up from the parapet defense line of Nantang Barbarian 400 meters away, and the crisp sound of firecrackers sounded intensively.
Then the low-ranking Tatar officer felt a huge push from his chest, causing him to fall backwards involuntarily. At the same time, severe pain also came from his chest.
I was hit!
But how did the Southern Tang barbarian hit himself with a musket four hundred meters away?
He doesn't know, he can't understand!
More Tatar officers also could not understand, but at this moment the charge had been launched, and the charge was organized only after suffering heavy losses.
You must not stop or even retreat at the beginning of the charge.
So even though the situation was a bit unclear, many Tatar officers began to wave their scimitars and shouted things like "hold steady and move forward."
They have to carry the guns and get closer, advance within 100 meters and shoot!
Seeing these Tatars still rushing up in formation even after suffering a huge blow, Lieutenant General Dai Yaxin couldn't help but sigh: "These Tatars are quite similar to each other!"
Qi Lianzhong said: "It's a pity that what I learned is all outdated!"
Lieutenant General Dai Yaxin said with a smile: "This kind of enemy is a good enemy!"
There is no longer much suspense in this battle!
When Lieutenant General Dai Yasin saw that his side's only 4,000 Mini rifles were knocking down the Tatars 400 meters away one by one, he knew that with just this first wave of nearly 10,000 Tatars
People can't rush over.
The first wave of Tatars couldn't rush through, and the second and third waves could only be blocked behind.
The battlefield Dai Yaxin chose was not random. Although there was open flat land outside the defensive position, its width was actually very limited. The frontal width was a little more than two kilometers at most.
If it were the kind of skirmish formation that the Tatars used before, with one soldier placed ten meters or more apart, two thousand people wouldn't be able to fit in!
If a dense formation is adopted, it is estimated that more than 10,000 people can be arranged to launch an attack.
Now, the first wave of nearly 10,000 Tatars suffered heavy losses in the shelling, and were sniped by Mini rifles from a long distance. Can they rush over and give trouble to the subsequent second wave and third wave?
There is no point in making space for the wave's attacking troops.
Although the Tatars were subjected to continuous shelling and minion rifle fire, they still pushed forward tenaciously!
Because the order given to them from above is to continue to advance and launch a charge!
They had paid such a heavy price to reach their current position, and they would not be willing to retreat now.
But when they advanced to 300 meters, their casualties increased sharply.
At this distance, for a Mini rifle, its hit rate is already quite impressive. With so many Mini rifles firing intensively, the firepower density is very terrifying.
At the same time, at this distance, a large number of five-pound smoothbore guns in the rear also carried out artillery support operations.
This also led to a sharp increase in Tatar casualties!
Many Tatar soldiers and even officers were already shaken. The officers on horseback frequently looked to the rear, trying to find a signal for them to retreat.
However, although Wulihan in the rear was always frowning, he did not give the order to retreat.
Although the casualties are heavy now, they still have a chance to rush forward!
Even if the first wave of attacking troops suffered heavy casualties, as long as they rushed forward, the second and third waves from behind could follow suit.
Finally, relying on the superiority of troops, they captured the positions of the Southern Tang barbarians and won the war.
But sometimes the will of senior generals does not represent the will of ordinary soldiers!
When the first wave of Tatar attack groups advanced to 200 meters, the Mini rifles of the 3rd Cavalry Division fired another salvo!
Attacking the enemy's dense targets at a distance of two hundred meters is extremely easy for a Mini rifle.
Many soldiers of the Third Cavalry Army did not even aim at a specific target. They aimed at the dense crowd of enemies and just opened fire!
At the same time, dozens of two-pound light shotguns in the first line of defense also opened fire at the same time!
A salvo of Mini rifles, plus a salvo of dozens of two-pound light shotguns.
This wave of attacks directly killed more than a thousand Tatar soldiers who were rushing at the front!
Thousands of people fell in an instant, a scene that anyone would never forget!
At this moment, a low-level Tatar officer looked at the soldiers under his command who were already dead and wounded, but had not fired a single shot. He shouted helplessly: "This is not a charge at all, but a suicide!"
He sighed like this. When the soldiers under his command finally couldn't bear half of the casualties and completely collapsed and fled, he didn't even stop them. Instead, he kept up with the retreating troops.
This situation is not unique, but is common.
These Tatars used line combat tactics to attack from five hundred meters away!
The artillery bombardment did not defeat them, because the line tactics were about holding on to the enemy's bombardment and entering the battlefield.
Being able to steadily enter the battlefield under bombardment and maintain a tight formation are qualities that any army that uses line tactics as its main tactic must possess.
Otherwise, you won't be able to play line tactics at all.
Even when you are within a hundred meters and are fired upon by enemy muskets, you must stabilize your formation. If those in the front row are killed or wounded, those in the back row must immediately replace them to maintain the density of firepower.
If the courage and quality of the troops are high enough, they will not be able to fire after entering 100 meters. They will continue to move forward with shells and bullets, and they will not fire until they are within 30 meters or even 20 meters. After firing, they will directly launch a bayonet charge.
.
Many elite infantry units of the Tang Army like to play like this. No matter how many times the enemy fires or at what distance they fire, they are determined and stubborn. They look like fools and after enduring several rounds of enemy fire, they slowly walk to the distance.
Only fire when the enemy is within thirty or even twenty meters.
At this time, the enemy often faces collapse after suffering huge casualties from approaching salvos. The infantry of the Datang Army will not reload, but directly charge forward with rifles with bayonets, and cleanly launch bayonets.
charge.
So far, there is no army that can stop the Tang Army's simple and pure wave tactics!
At least the Tang Army has never encountered this in its thirty years of existence!
However, this kind of one-step tactics cannot be used by ordinary armies and requires high-quality soldiers and officers.
Even within the Tang Army, not every unit could accomplish this.
Those who can play like this are basically front-line standing troops.