Chapter 2844

As everyone walked on the tall city wall, it was not difficult to find that the construction time of the city wall was inconsistent. Some sections were obviously built during the Ming Dynasty or the Manchu Qing occupation. The walls were made of earthen walls covered with bricks and stones, or were made of large strips weighing hundreds of kilograms.

It is made of stone; some sections are made of concrete cast in entire sections. This is Haihan's unique construction technology.

The protrusions on the defense line are all large and small fortresses, but even the smaller fortresses have outer walls that are more than three feet high, which is much higher than the city walls connecting them.

The distance between these small fortresses is often less than a hundred feet, which can provide effective fire cover for each other. The north-facing wall is full of dense but well-proportioned shooting holes, forming a three-dimensional fire network that combines high and low levels.

The main roads connecting the inside and outside of the defense line are all located in large fortresses. These fortresses are often divided into upper and lower levels in a staircase shape. Each level is equipped with several forts, and the strike range can cover several miles.

There is an urn city built on the outside of the passage that runs through the fortress. The urn city gate is set parallel to the defense line, and is low on the outside and high on the inside. It is slope-shaped. Even if the enemy attacks the urn city, they cannot directly attack the city gate. Breaking hammers and the like

Large siege equipment is also difficult to use under the city.

Chen Yixin proudly introduced to everyone that relying on a complete defense system, this large-scale fortress built around the main traffic road had never been breached by the enemy during the war that lasted for more than ten years. Even though the Qing army organized

Several targeted offensives were launched, but in the end they retreated on their own after suffering heavy casualties.

Bai Letong asked: "I have a layman's question. If the Qing army concentrates the artillery on hand to attack the weakly defended walls between the fortresses, how will they defend it?"

Chen Yixin explained: "It's not like the Qing army has never tried the tactics you mentioned. However, it is useless if there are fewer cannons. Even if three or five cannons are fired for several days, they may not be able to destroy the defense walls. They can only build large-scale

Artillery positions. But that is not a task that can be completed in a short time. It will take at least a day or two from the construction and construction of the artillery positions to the deployment of the artillery. And the artillery they have has a limited range, so the artillery position they build must be very easy for us.

Within the observation distance. Once we discover the combat intention, it will be simple, just open fire and bombard their position."

Chen Yixin pointed to the back of the city wall and said: "In addition to the fixed firepower points deployed at the defense line fortress, our army also has a large number of field artillery that can be deployed mobilely. If there is a shooting blind spot in the fixed firepower point, the mobile firepower can come in handy.

.These small-caliber field artillery are towed by mules and horses and can be mobilized to preset artillery positions outside the city in a very short time. They can enter the battle much faster than their opponents."

Bai Letong nodded and said: "So this is because the Qing army cannot build long-range and powerful artillery, and cannot use long-range firepower to attack the fortifications of the isthmus defense line."

Chen Yixin said: "The Manchu ordnance technology can only produce cast muzzle-loading guns. If you want a large caliber and a long range, it means that the gun body will be very large, and the corresponding manufacturing difficulty will be high. Not only is the cost high, but the maneuverability and

The combat efficiency was also very low. Around 1645, they tried to transport a new type of heavy artillery to the front line for combat, but the heavy artillery that was said to be able to hit two or three miles required ten mules to pull it, and it took 10 times to fire one cannon.

The reloading time was also frighteningly long. After being brought to the front line and only fired a few rounds, it was called out by our army's artillery. Since then, the Manchu Qing Dynasty has stopped making such useless attempts."

Haihan's advantages in weapon performance destined that the offensive methods available to the opponent were very limited, and Haihan only needed to make targeted deployments to disrupt the opponent's offensive.

Even if the Manchu and Qing Dynasties were able to build heavy artillery, their combat performance was still far behind that of the Haihan artillery. In the specific battlefield environment of the Isthmus Defense Line, it was still difficult to pose a real threat.

To this day, there are no enemy positions across the isthmus defense line, and most of the artillery batteries on the defense line fortifications have been removed. Although the main fortifications of the defense line still remain, their functions have become military training facilities and regular targets.

A patriotic education base open to the public.

Ning Zijing raised an economic-related question: "Then have we carefully calculated how many resources have been invested in this line of defense and what is their value?"

Chen Yixin said solemnly: "Even if we only calculate the cost of building and maintaining this line of defense over the years, as well as the military expenses and combat material consumption of the garrison, it is at least more than 10 million yuan. If you want to calculate the details, all kinds of logistics costs are also included.

, that number may have to be doubled again.”

Ning Zijing was speechless after hearing this: "I didn't expect the cost to be so high!"

Chen Yixin shook his head slightly and said: "Although the cost of maintaining this line of defense is high, the results are also very significant. Without this line of defense, it would be difficult for us to hold back the Qing Dynasty in Jinzhou for more than ten years. If they were allowed to let go

If we attack the Ming Dynasty and North Korea, the cost of sending troops to help will only be higher. You should all know about the war to aid Korea in 1637, right? Although that war only lasted about four months, the amount of money our troops consumed in North Korea will

The military expenditure is equivalent to the expenditure of the Isthmus Defense Line for several years."

Ning Zijing said: "Our army has been winning battles, while the Qing army has been losing battles. One is declining and the other is increasing. I think the Qing army's military expenditure must be greater than ours."

Chen Yixin paused and continued: "The Manchu Qing's economic structure is simple. In addition to agricultural taxes in the ruled areas, it mainly relies on waging wars abroad and obtaining wealth through plunder. The Qing army has a lower proportion of professional soldiers.

Many Eight Banners soldiers are herdsmen and farmers in normal times. They only change their status during the war, and their military salaries are based on robbery. Their military expenditures for combat are actually less than ours. However, the total economic output of the Qing Dynasty is not comparable to that of our country.

, we can afford to fight this kind of long-term war of attrition."

The enemy strategy formulated by Haihan was determined from the beginning to fight a war of attrition with the Manchu Qing Dynasty. However, this kind of attrition does not refer to combat troops, but to drag down the opponent economically. Even the Manchu Qing war

The cost is lower, but it cannot withstand the wear and tear of years of war.

Moreover, for more than ten years, Haihan continued to send troops from Jinzhou and launched raids on the coastal plains of Liaodong from the sea, which caused great pain to the Manchu Qing Dynasty. They could not capture Jinzhou, and they could not defend their own territory.

Giving up these areas will leave more room for Haihan to move, but if we don't let go, these places will continue to be slowly tortured by bleeding.

Haihan only occupied a small area at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula for a long period of time, and was on the defensive most of the time, but strategically it took the initiative and brought down the Manchu economy.
Chapter completed!