Chapter 288 Return

Author: Silent

Chapter 288 Return

In the first two days when the Ming Dynasty Expeditionary Force retreated south, the situation was relatively stable. With the power of the Weining Sea Battle, the pursuers from all sides did not dare to approach.

However, as the grassland tribes gradually figured out the situation of the Ming army, they found that the Ming army was struggling to drive herdsmen and livestock southward, and when they divided their troops for garrison and could only focus on the front and not the rear, raids and sporadic local battles increased.

Even though Ma Yi received Wang Shouren's instructions to send troops to drive away the pursuers, he found that the effect was not good.

The main force of the Mengoljin tribe did not flee in panic because of the attack by the Ming Dynasty soldiers and horses, or they had no way to retreat. All their own people were captured by the Ming Dynasty. Seeing that the Ming Dynasty army was gradually approaching Maoerzhuang, they were at most only in the Ming Dynasty.

When the cavalry came over, they were broken into pieces. When the Ming cavalry retreated into the formation, they surrounded them from all directions and broke into pieces again.

After being unable to drive them away several times, Ma Yi finally had to inform Wang Shouren of the predicament at the rear.

But at this time, Wang Shouren's headache was not the chasing troops in the rear, but the Mengoljin troops and horses retreating from Maoerzhuang in front.

"Preliminary inspection...should be more than five thousand soldiers and horses."

At the pre-battle meeting, all the generals who could attend the meeting looked solemn.

They are very aware of the current actual situation of the Ming Expeditionary Force. With the remaining 2,500 to 600 active forces, there is almost no chance of winning against the 5,000 prairie tribe cavalry.

When Cao Shun heard this, he panicked and asked: "Where are the artillery? Zhang Zhitai gave us so many artillery, didn't he mean that Ningyuan only used twelve cannons in the first battle and killed the Tatars and fled in all directions? No matter what, we still can't.

There are fifty or sixty cannons..."

The surrounding generals all looked excited.

At the critical moment, they were not strong enough, but they still had artillery and various muskets. During the previous surprise attack on Weininghai, these firearms played an overwhelming advantage and were the key to victory.

Wang Shouren said: "Transport all the firearms in the formation forward. If the Di Yi cavalry comes, gather your troops and fight them! Leave two hundred cavalry in the rear for raiding purposes."

Everyone present heard it.

Wang Shouren was preparing for the strategic focus, moving from the pursuing troops in the rear to the men and horses of the Mengoljin Front Banner who were about to face them in the front.

A war is likely to break out again.

…

…

After the military meeting dispersed, the generals from the artillery battalion came over, as well as Sun Shangqi and Liu Gui, two people sent by Zhang Zhou to supervise the army.

"Mr. Wang, we don't have many artillery shells at the moment. Coupled with the bumpy road, there are only forty-nine artillery pieces left. It's good if one cannon can fire one shot."

Wang Shouren had long known what the artilleryman said.

The artillery given by Zhang Zhou was originally used for a surprise attack on the Weining Sea. Now that the strategic purpose has been achieved, if it were not for the purpose of continuing to frighten the grassland tribes, he could have discarded most of the artillery and left only about twenty as a basis.

The basics can also lighten the team's luggage and speed up the advancement slightly.

Twenty cannons, each cannon firing two rounds, is not much different from forty-nine cannons firing simultaneously.

After all, with the reloading speed of a light cannon, it is possible to fire two rounds of shells before the enemy reaches within range and fights in close combat.

Sun Shangqi said: "Of the 200 flint muskets given by Mr. Zhang earlier, even if the ammunition has been reloaded, only more than 120 are still usable. They may not be able to be fired twice."

Because the flint gun is the latest research, the technology is not yet complete, just like a disposable fire gun.

After the Weininghai battle is used up, if you want to reuse it, the effect will be greatly reduced.

Subsequent reports revealed that even matchlocks and other weapons were obviously insufficient. From projectiles to the current state of the army, it was impossible to fight another hearty battle like the surprise attack on Weininghai.

Wang Shouren said: "Don't leak the situation of the Shenji Battalion, and be prepared for war! If we can't fight a bloody path on the front line, we will all be destroyed!"

…

…

The army continued to move south.

Then came even worse news, that is, a team of more than 2,000 cavalry was found in the rear. It seemed that they were troops from the Fire Sieve Headquarters who had withdrawn after hearing the news.

At this time, four days had passed since the Battle of Weininghai, and it was already the ninth day of June.

The expeditionary army is still more than forty miles away from Maoerzhuang. In terms of the speed of travel, it may not be possible to complete the journey in one day, but it seems that it can no longer move forward.

There are fierce tigers in front of us and hungry wolves behind us. When we raid the enemy's lair, we have a hearty fight, but it is not that easy to escape unscathed.

From the evening of the eighth day of the lunar month to the morning of the ninth day of the lunar month, the team marched less than ten miles, and the team's progress was greatly hampered by wind and rain.

"Report..."

"Five miles ahead, there are Tatar cavalry gathering!"

"Report..."

"Twenty miles away on the right wing, there are cavalry gathering!"

"Ten miles away from the rear army, there is a cavalry attack on the camp. The horse commander leads the troops to meet the enemy..."

Only then did Wang Shouren realize that they had almost fallen into a trap surrounded by Mengoljin troops from three sides.

Only their left wing, that is, the east direction toward Xianxuan Mansion, was not approached by Tatars, but this seemed to be in line with the so-called tactical concept of encircling three groups by military strategists.

Didn't trap them all to death.

"It's impossible for the main force of the Fire Sieve Chinese Army to withdraw so early. It's just a cover-up. If the opponent's troops were several times larger than ours, they would have sent troops long ago. Why should we be so secretive?"

Wang Shouren mobilized before the war.

But what he said didn't seem to be very effective.

Just the early troops of the Huoshii headquarters that Maoerzhuang had withdrawn to block their way south included at least five thousand cavalry, and these were not the old, weak, sick and disabled who stayed behind in Weininghai. They were the Huoshii troops left before the Western Expedition.

Next, guard against the main force of the Ming Dynasty sending troops from Datong to attack Weininghai. Their combat effectiveness is extraordinary.

It’s not like you said Wang Shouren’s enemies are paper tigers, and we just believe it.

What we want is to use firearms to deter them. Now they don't dare to launch a full-scale assault. Not only are they afraid of us escorting the hostages, but also because we have firearms to guard them. Once they find a flaw, they will kill them without mercy.

At the pre-military meeting, everyone looked a little solemn.

Liu Gui, who belongs to a hundred households, suddenly said: "Isn't there a mountain to the east? Why don't we use the mountain as our back and fight against it?"

Cao Shun said angrily: "Who do you think you are? Are you qualified to speak here? By relying on the mountain, does that mean we are waiting to die there?"

Liu Gui didn't know what was going on. In his opinion, having his back against the mountain could only prevent him from having any threats behind him and allow him to concentrate on dealing with the enemies in front of him.

Now that we are trapped in a tight siege and surrounded by people, shouldn't we also block our escape?

But doing this is telling Cao Shun and other people who are afraid of death that we are not going to break out to the south, and we will just stay where we are, in order to make ourselves look like a trapped beast still fighting.

Wang Shouren looked at Liu Gui with a burning gaze, and his eyes suddenly showed some appreciation. At about this time, Liu Gui's suggestion was considered to be the best one...

Why continue to go south...

Since there is no way to break through the barrier formed by the five thousand soldiers and horses in front of the Fire Sieve Headquarters, we must first think about how to preserve our vitality, or more importantly.

Wang Shouren said: "What Liu Baihu proposed is also the right choice. Using the steep and dangerous peaks that cannot be climbed as a support, with your back to the mountains, you can also take advantage of firearms to build temporary fortresses and fortifications, and you can also use firearms to fight against the enemy.

The barbarians resist."

"You..." Cao Shun was unhappy when he heard this, "Master Wang, do you also want to wait for death?"

Wang Shouren shook his head and said: "We have tens of thousands of men, women, and children from Di Yi as hostages. If they want to attack the mountain, we will use these people to stand in front of the formation, plant mighty sky gunpowder, and blow them up all together!"

As the executive deputy general, Guan Jing immediately took the order and said: "I have the order!"

"etc!"

Cao Shun immediately stopped Guan Jing, "We have to station our troops and horses high on the mountain. How can we ensure water supply? Isn't that asking for death? Besides, the Tatars haven't come to kill us yet!"

Cao Shun didn't want to wait to die.

Wang Shouren took a firm stance and took advantage of Cao Shun's doubts to explain to the soldiers present: "Listen carefully, now is a good opportunity for us to wait for help. Our water bags can last for more than three days. If it lasts for three days,

The Ming reinforcements still didn't arrive, so they could only kill the Tatar herdsmen, and the whole army broke out to attack. There were no worries about water sources and food... What's more, we still have tens of thousands of cattle and sheep..."

He just wanted to remind Cao Shun's soldiers.

This is not the Battle of Tumu Fort.

It doesn't matter what kind of water source problem it is. The water on my body is enough for three days. If the reinforcements don't come for three days, there is no need to look for water. You can just kill the captured prisoners, cattle and sheep, and lead the troops.

Rush out and see how many can break through.

Sun Shangqi said: "At present, there are more than 10,000 Tatar herdsmen, plus so many cattle and sheep, as well as army officers and soldiers. The battle formation is indeed a bit big. It is easy for the army to focus on one thing and lose another. Major General Wang's suggestion is very good.

."

Although the Battle of Weininghai was won by Wang Shouren's proper command.

But after all, Wang Shouren had no actual experience in leading troops before, and his prestige was not high. In such a matter of advancing or retreating, life and death, many generals actually set their sights on Cao Shun.

We have to fight in Weininghai, and we have to fight when we arrive.

But now Maoerzhuang is right in front of us. After more than 100 miles from Maoerzhuang, we can reach the Datong border of Ming Dynasty. If we give up the prisoners of grassland herders and cattle and sheep, and attack with fast horses, we still have a chance to kill them back.

At this time, you must have enough confidence to put yourself in a desperate position.
To be continued...