Chapter 289 A desperate move

Author: Silent

Chapter 289 A desperate move

It was already dark, and after the soldiers completed their midnight shift, the replacement soldiers quickly fell asleep with their matchlock guns in hand.

Wang Shouren hardly slept for several days. At this time, he was still inspecting the camp. Next to him were Sun Shangqi, Liu Gui and several Jinyi guards. These people were almost his direct descendants in the army.

At this time, in the center of the hillside, herdsmen were being ordered to dig dirt and pile it into sandbags, and they were also laying out ropes for tripping horses, while people from Jingying Shenji Camp were burying gunpowder under the hillside.

Each artillery piece was not placed in the forward position, but behind the temporary defenses piled up in the sand.

"There are less than 80 cannon shells available now, and there are not many cannons available."

After the people from the artillery battalion reported the situation to Wang Shouren, Wang Shouren nodded.

He already knew the situation well before the war began.

After all, the cannon Zhang Zhou gave him was light. It had been brought over a long distance and was not transported properly during the journey. In addition, the gunner did not know how to maintain this kind of light cannon. After firing, the cannon body was easily deformed due to the high heat of the yellow gunpowder. The power of the firearm had already begun.

Big discount.

"Deploy five cannons at once, load them all, and fire all five at once. The key is not to kill or injure many enemy bandits, but to intimidate the bandits and cooperate with the cavalry to repel them!"

Wang Shouren is now a clever woman who cannot make a meal without straw. He obviously has a big weapon in his hand, but he cannot bring too much baggage on the expedition. As a result, after the Battle of Weininghai, he did not have enough firearms to use.

Wang Shouren raised his head and looked at the Mengoljin camp that was vaguely visible in the distance, and asked: "The frontline camp explorers haven't returned yet?"

A lieutenant under Guan Jing said: "General Guan went there in person and will probably come back soon, but he may have to wait a little longer."

Wang Shouren looked gloomy.

Now it is likely to be a war where the trapped beasts still fight. Any generals and soldiers who go out to explore the enemy's situation may defect to the enemy or flee. Especially before the grassland tribes have completed the encirclement, there is still a chance to withdraw at this time.

It's just a short walk to the north and south, directly bypassing the mountain, and heading east.

"General, it's only a hundred and twenty miles from here to the horse-hanging platform. Normally, there will be soldiers and horses patrolling the horse-hanging platform from Datong Town. Why don't we try to send troops and horses to ask for help."

The generals of the border army were also reminding Wang Shouren.

You have made so many arrangements, and the defense seems to be very good, but we can't understand the fact that you don't send troops to ask for reinforcements.

Even if you think Ming reinforcements will come, Ming reinforcements always need to know your direction, right? Just wait for it?

Wang Shouren said: "With one less soldier, we lose one point in our chances of winning. With Di Yi gathering around us, do the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty still not know where we are?"

The reason was also sufficient, leaving the border army generals speechless.

"Before dawn, send five hundred cavalry to attack the enemy camp. Prepare the gunmen and let Commander Ma personally lead the troops. Where is Commander Ma?" Wang Shouren then thought that Ma Yi, who was supposed to be stationed at the front line, was nowhere to be seen.

A general said: "Deputy Commander Ma was tired last night and was resting. Do you want to wake him up?"

Only then did Wang Shouren realize that even a battle-hardened general like Ma Yi was not infallible. If he followed the principles of running an army, he should have caught Ma Yi out immediately and let him continue patrolling.

But Wang Shouren also knew not to push people too hard. Since he was going to send Ma Yi to attack the enemy camp early in the morning, it was already past midnight, so he should let Ma Yi get some sleep first.

…

…

When Wang Shouren passed through the place where soldiers slept in the open, the soldiers were very fast asleep.

Even if someone stepped on their bodies, they had no reaction. If it weren't for the faint sound of snoring, they would have thought that these soldiers were all dead.

This also made Wang Shouren feel the cruelty of war and the torture of many days of marching on these frontier soldiers. Although most of these soldiers seemed to be elites of the Xuanfu frontier army, in fact, they had not experienced anything at all in the past few years.

A decent war, let alone a raid after a long journey, let alone a desperate rebound from the embarrassment before us.

"Am I too focused on paper talks?"

When Wang Shouren arrived at his temporary command post, which was a small open space surrounded by wooden fences and barely covered by a raincloth, he turned back and sighed.

Sun Shangqi said: "Master Wang, there is no need to belittle yourself. You are the most heroic and fearless commander I have ever seen in this humble position...second only to Mr. Zhang."

After Wang Shouren heard this, his face was not angry, but he wanted to laugh.

In the light of the campfire, his face rarely relaxed a little, and it was the first time in many days that he felt a sense of peace when talking to others.

The most heroic and fearless, second only to Zhang Zhou... It sounds like a curse, but I understand that Sun Shangqi, as a guard of Qianhu, is actually Zhang Zhou's retinue. This person is a Baihu, and he relies on Zhang Zhou's support.

The person who was promoted to the position of Qianhu was naturally on Zhang Zhou's side... Not only did he say that his boss was the most heroic, how could he be said to be his temporary comrade in the same trench?

"I don't know what the outcome of this battle will be, and I don't know if we can still work together."

Wang Shouren is still from a humble background, he is just a new scholar. Almost all his prestige comes from Zhang Zhou's forcible gift, so he has no airs in front of Sun Shangqi who fights alongside him.

Sun Shangqi grinned, showing his teeth and said: "I don't dare to hope for another chance, but if there is still a chance to serve Mr. Wang, I will do it to my death."

"I cannot bear the name of sir." Wang Shouren felt the change in Sun Shangqi's title, and seemed to feel Sun Shangqi's respect for him from the bottom of his heart.

This is the feeling of sympathy and sympathy that comes from sharing weal and woe.

He was not Sun Shangqi's boss, and even Sun Shangqi came to help him, but he and Sun Shangqi had a comradeship in sharing weal and woe.

Sun Shangqi said: "Mr. Wang, you're too polite. If your command these days is consistent, it will open your eyes to this humble position. You may become a famous general of the Ming Dynasty in the future. In this battle alone, your reputation will be no less than that of Marquis Weining."

.I’m afraid I won’t have the chance to serve by your side after taking this humble position.”

"Sun Qianhu, you promoted me because you are serving the imperial court. All of this is... Zhang Zhitai's arrangement."

Wang Shouren was still somewhat disappointed.

Throughout the entire war, he tried his best, but everything was in accordance with Zhang Zhou's plan.

Now that he was frustrated in his march south, he had to wait for Zhang Zhou's reinforcements to escape death. He didn't even feel that he was qualified to compete with Zhang Zhou for the first victory.

Besides...even if he robbed it himself, who would agree with it? The emperor would think that all this was done by a little-known young man who was even temporarily appointed as the head of the Ministry of Industry?

Then Wang Shouren saw Liu Gui dozing off holding his sword, and nodded in approval: "You are also very good."

Liu Gui was startled.

Are you talking about me?

I just follow the army out to make soy sauce. Although I am a Jinyiwei, I have never even drawn a sword before. I always hide behind on the battlefield. Wherever there is danger... I will definitely not appear anywhere, even in Weininghai.

During the war, I was always guarding the prisoners of war from behind. This young marshal actually thinks that I am also very good?

Sun Shangqi smiled and said: "Liu Baihu, this is Mr. Wang's appreciation for you. At such a young age, you can be appreciated by two talented people, Mr. Zhang and Mr. Wang. You will have a bright future."

"Thank you for your appreciation. I... humble my position... and will try my best."

Although Liu Gui appears to be very shrewd, he is always a bit out of his wits at critical moments, just like how he was cheated out of ten cents by Zhang Zhou.

But his vision and ability are pretty good. The important thing is that he is like a mountain rat, always able to dig holes and find what he needs. In other words, his luck is very good.

"Report...General Guan Shen is back!"

"Account increase!"

…

…

Inside the temporary command post.

All the generals with names were brought here. Even Ma Yi was woken up from his sleep and came to attend the military meeting.

Guan Jing came back to inquire about the enemy, and the situation he brought back to Wang Shouren was not that bad, but it was not good news either.

"...The Huoshan headquarters should not have returned yet, but the few troops he had in the rear, which may have been used to guard against other tribes, are now gathered together, plus their front banner troops coming from the south, and together they are in Wanwan

More than a few. And they have begun to set up camp, but perhaps because they are afraid of my Ming Dynasty's artillery, their tents are relatively loose..."

Ten thousand people are not a strong opponent to the people of Ming Dynasty.

In this kind of field battle, the Ming side still has firearms as an advantage, and the other side is not the most elite main force among the Huoshai tribe. The Ming army's morale is still relatively strong, and they have the enemy's hostages in hand.

If it's just one against four, let alone a breakout, even defeating them is not impossible.

Guan Jing said: "But we can't go south now. If we delay it any longer, it will only cause more people from all walks of life to gather here."

Wang Shouren nodded and said: "The opponent's tents are loose, which means that the number of buried stoves and tents is as bluff as possible. Maybe they don't even have six or seven thousand soldiers and horses."

"ah?"

Guan Jing was startled. Are you questioning the results of my investigation after spending half the night?

Wang Shouren gave Guan Jing a look and told Guan Jing not to talk nonsense. He would say that the other party was bluffing, which was obviously to boost the confidence of his own soldiers.

"Early tomorrow morning, Commander Ma will personally lead five hundred cavalry to attack the camp. They will light it with mighty gunpowder and then throw it away. It will explode as much as it can!"

Wang Shouren adjusted his tactics.

Send "suicide squads" to blow up enemy camps.

What I want is to risk my life, rush into your camp, light the yellow gunpowder, and run away. If I can't run away, I will die with you.

Of course, you can't tell the soldiers clearly that you may not come back, but the general tactics still need to be explained clearly.

Ma Yi hurriedly asked: "How many artillery pieces should you bring?"

"Don't bring a single cannon!" Wang Shouren said. "If the soldiers are unwilling to bring the mighty gunpowder themselves, they can tie it to another horse. When they approach the enemy camp, they can light the gunpowder and stab the horse with a sharp knife.

With your body, let the horses charge into the enemy camp!"
To be continued...