Chapter 0010: Offense and Defense
At the forefront are still the cannon fodder green camp soldiers
However, this time, Wu Sangui's own troops closely followed behind these Green Camp soldiers to provide support.
They do not possess any heavy siege machinery; all they can rely on is the battering ram made from the freshly felled trees.
One grenade after another exploded among the crowd, shattering the limbs of the Qing soldiers and scattering flesh and blood.
Draw the bow! Shoot!
Wu Sangui's complexion was somewhat ashen, and he was forcing himself to hold back his emotions to avoid an outburst
Zhu Youlang sighed
Amidst the thunderous drumbeats, the Qing army commenced yet another round of fierce assault
Training an excellent archer is far more difficult than training a gunner
Although he did not directly capture Kunming City by pointing at the Green Camp Vanguard, the situation has indeed turned out to be somewhat beyond his expectations
Li Dingguo was constantly observing the situation on the battlefield. He noticed that some Qing troops had already crossed the first line of defense. Although their numbers were few, if they were allowed to establish a foothold, they would still pose a significant threat to the city gates
The shell exploded, and fragments shot into the bodies of the Qing soldiers, instantly eliciting a chorus of anguished cries
However, the issue is not significant; the Qing army employs a strategy of massed troops, and a single defeat does not change much
He exchanged a glance with General Zhao Butai, the Commander of the Southern Campaign, then cleared his throat and commanded in a deep voice: "All units, heed my orders, launch a full assault on Kunming City. The first to scale the city walls will be rewarded with one thousand taels of silver. The one who captures the false Ming Emperor alive will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver"
Who says Zhao Butai is a banner man, while he is actually a Han person
When one person shouts, hundreds or thousands will follow suit
A Qing army soldier narrowly evaded a grenade, and just a few seconds later, an arrow pierced through his throat
This is also an unavoidable situation
He grasped the arrow with both hands, attempting to pull it out, but this was naturally in vain, as blood continuously gushed from the wound. Before long, he collapsed to the ground, convulsed a few times, and then fell silent
Three divisions of the Qing army surged forth like an unending tide.
In fact, the Ming Dynasty once used similar earthen grenades, but their lethality was far inferior to that of the Prussian grenades
People in this era are still quite superstitious, often attributing events that cannot be explained by theory to supernatural powers or magical forces
Shoot the arrows, shoot the arrows
The number of grenades is limited, so naturally, they cannot be used recklessly like *illustrations*; instead, they are used in conjunction with a barrage of arrows for suppression
As a seasoned veteran of many battles, Wu Sangui is certainly well aware of this fact
This battle will be fought fiercely. However brutal it may be, he must breach the city.
Achieving fame and wealth is all in this one endeavor
After all, the scene just now was too horrific, leaving one feeling a chill down their spine
He emitted a strange clucking sound, his eyes widened in disbelief
Knock knock knock knock knock
Your Majesty, the Eastern invaders have crossed the moat and are attacking the city gates
In the previous wave of assault, the Qing army had already constructed a portion of the floating bridge. If they were to cross the floating bridge, they would be able to launch an offensive against the city gate
... ...
Li Dingguo and others have also taught the soldiers
Zhao Butai is very capable of recognizing his own position
Zhu Youlang took a deep breath and commanded in a low voice
Under the eaves, one must bow their head; from the moment he offered up Shanhaiguan, there was no turning back. One can only endure and swallow their grievances while living under the roof of others
... ...
But with a thud, the battering ram fell to the ground, crushing the feet of several soldiers.
... ...
Kill! Ascend the city walls and capture and slay the remnants of the Ming usurper!
This reward can hardly be described as anything less than generous, and upon hearing this, the Qing soldiers' eyes sparkled with excitement, wishing they could immediately tear the pseudo-Ming Yongli Emperor to shreds.
However, there are still some reservations regarding Li Dingguo and Wu Sangui
As he looked on, just a few dozen steps away, all efforts seemed to have been in vain, Wu Sangui let out a light sigh
Although the Prussian howitzer possesses immense power, there are always intervals during loading
He deserves to risk his life in the charge, while Zhao Butai stands behind waving the flag and picking peaches
Zhu Youlang found it extremely enjoyable, feeling a bit restless inside. He took a bow from the hands of a close attendant and skillfully nocked an arrow onto the string.
For the Great Qing
Without claiming to hit a bullseye from a hundred paces, hitting the target from such a close distance is certainly not an issue
What they need to do now is to strike the Qing army while they are still unsteady.
In his view, this main force should naturally be led by Wu Sangui. He only needs to provide some assistance from the sidelines and put on a show.
Kill the captives
The demon magic, the Ming Dog has unleashed the demon magic
The archers of the Ming army stationed at the city of Kunming today are the elite among the elite
At the command, the soldiers of the Ming army began to throw hand grenades down at the Qing troops in the city.
The grenade is a powerful weapon in field combat, but its effectiveness is somewhat diminished in siege warfare
Certainly, although both are engaged in the attack, there is always one that serves as the main force and another that acts as support
The Qing army launched a fierce attack during this interval, while the soldiers of the Ming dynasty on the city walls could only watch helplessly as they crossed the floating bridge
The Qing army quickly fell into disarray, and the troops that had finally charged to the foot of the city scattered like a swarm of ants
Therefore, engaging in a war of attrition is futile; the Qing army will only exhaust itself to death. Blitzkrieg is the best method.
After all, the lives of the banner soldiers are far more precious than those of Wu Sangui's own troops
Several Qing soldiers stepped over his corpse, showing not a trace of remorse, as if they were merely stepping on a pile of rotten flesh
Seeing this, Zhao Butai also found it inappropriate to continue feigning death, and said in a loud voice: "Convey this order, the entire army is to advance."
Further back are the banner soldiers under the command of Zhao Butai
The method of using a hand grenade is quite simple, and Zhu Youlang has already introduced it to generals such as Li Dingguo.
The soldiers of the Qing army had naturally never seen such a powerful object, which, despite being only the size of a fist, could blow a person to smithereens.
How could Wu Sangui be unaware of Zhao Butai's intentions? However, apart from cursing this old scoundrel in his heart, he had no better course of action.
What is this if not sorcery
... ...
Kill the captives
The time has come to serve the court
Kill the captives
Although the Qing soldiers shouted slogans to bolster their courage, they still felt a sense of trepidation in their hearts
He and Wu Sangui do not have a superior-subordinate relationship, making it inappropriate to issue direct commands; they can only engage in a joint attack through this method of issuing orders independently.
Use a grenade
This is a significant blow to the morale of the Qing army. If adjustments are not made promptly and the sentiment of fear of battle continues to spread within the ranks, the consequences will be extremely dire
The Ming army on the city walls had no intention of giving the Qing soldiers a moment's respite, engaging in wave after wave of gunfire
This individual is a rare talent among generals of the late Ming dynasty, possessing extraordinary skills in leading troops and engaging in battle
Dozens of soldiers rushed towards the city wall carrying a battering ram, only to be caught off guard by a cannonball that landed nearby
With a stronghold to rely on and main forces at his disposal, Li Dingguo will undoubtedly resist to the end
Kill the enemy to serve the country
The head of the Yongli Emperor was his best bargaining chip for promotion and titles
If it were not for the fact that the Qing army had already breached the first line of defense of the Ming army, he truly did not want to use this trump card so soon
According to Wu Sangui's estimation, the grain in Kunming City will not be scarce
This is particularly prevalent in the military