Chapter 1711 Renzijuan is waiting for help
The camper formations deployed along the way caused great trouble to Kuching’s cavalry.
Relying on this semi-arc-shaped fort, the gunmen and spearmen cooperated with each other, and the distance between each fort was less than fifty steps, which could form a dense crossfire.
There are as many as a hundred gunmen in each camp, enough to form an extremely fierce fire defense line. It is difficult for a cavalry charge of dozens of people to break through. Even if they can break through, they will suffer great losses, especially if there is no infantry. After following up, this kind of charge and assault seemed to be a bit uneconomical.
But Kuching could not stand still, and saw that the Xuanfu troops on the stone bridge were also beginning to cross the bridge intensively. If their own side could not stop it, so many troops from the Beijing camp would retreat into Gonghua City. If they wanted to win, Gong Huacheng will have to pay a higher price.
He could only order his men to choose the right time to make a detour and attack.
But I have to say that the camp-car-fortification method adopted by the Beijing camp is very suitable for this kind of firecrackers.
These campers are no more than half a person tall, and the added fences serve as supports for the firecrackers to set up their firecrackers. They can rely on the campers to shoot at their leisure.
Regardless of whether it is a group charge or a scattered team, it is difficult to escape the formation of camp vehicles that are only thirty or forty steps apart. Especially this kind of cross fire directly blocks the cavalry who intends to insert from the two camps. , coupled with the eagerly looking spear troops on both sides as preparations, the cavalry team, which had failed in several attacks, quickly lost hope.
No one is willing to take the risk of being shot by a large number of firecrackers and charge forcefully. Their lives are their own. When there is no hope of a breakthrough, this kind of charge is not cost-effective.
Fortunately, Ji Shaochun's archers caught up quickly, taking and launching shots as well as shooting at the spearmen. He Huchen's troops finally began to show flaws during the retreat, especially during the follow-up cover, which was inevitably followed. The advancing Xuanfu army bites, especially as they get closer to Gonghua City Gate, they hope to get rid of the pursuit and retreat into the city as soon as possible. At this time, the Xuanfu army also bites harder and refuses to give up.
It was only then that He Huchen realized the danger.
Every retreat was a danger. Although he had made full and thorough preparations before, and the early retreat was orderly and smooth, but as the Xuanfu army's archers crossing the river caught up, this camp structure became difficult. The losses of the base's cross-covering method will also be greater.
The archers who followed up with the Xuanfu Army were all the best among the best. They were first-class in both concentrated shooting and projectile capabilities. This caused great damage to the fire gun soldiers hiding behind the camp car and the covering spear soldiers. , especially when everyone wants to retreat as soon as possible. If a flaw is revealed at this time, the enemy will seize the opportunity to attack.
"Order Zhang Dechang's Crouching Tiger Artillery Team to set up at the city gate, and the Eagle-billed Gun Team to set up on the city gate tower, preparing to cover the last batch of withdrawing troops. The Fire Gun Team that retreated first gathered at the city gate to cover. We If we don’t enter the city for the time being, we have to cause enough losses to the Xuanfu army so that they don’t dare to approach, and that’s our chance to enter the city!”
He Huchen gritted his teeth and issued the order.
Cross-covering worked well in the early stage, but when the Xuanfu army pressed forward on a large scale and the archers launched intensive attacks, our losses greatly increased, and it became difficult to evacuate the campers and form formations. Later, we had to push the campers slowly. Retreat, but the retreat speed will be slower and the losses will be greater.
It's just that this kind of loss is necessary, otherwise once you retreat desperately, you will most likely be bitten by the Xuanfu army, making it difficult to distance yourself.
Fortunately, it was only two miles away. When the Xuanfu army rushed forward, He Huchen's troops had basically evacuated to the last few camp cars and fortifications, less than a hundred steps away from Gonghua City Gate.
When the last two fire gunners and spearmen withdrew from the camp and gathered at the city gate, He Huchen made a rough count. In just two miles, the spearmen lost more than 400 people, and the firegunners also lost. He had killed more than two hundred people, which was not much, but it was all his own strength. It could be said that He Huchen was heartbroken.
When they arrived at the city wall, He Huchen was no longer afraid. No matter how many Xuanfu troops were on the opposite side, the distance they opened determined that they had to pay a price if they wanted to launch a charge. Whether Niu Jizong was willing to pay that price depended on him. .
And even if they are willing to pay, they may not get what they want. He Huchen has ordered two fire gunners to ascend the city first, and together with the eagle-billed gunmen formed a second attack line on the city wall, plus more than two thousand of Zhao Keming's troops It is not that easy for the Xuanfu army to capture the city in one fell swoop.
After two rounds of attacks by the Xuanfu army were repelled, the Beijing camp had retreated to the city gate, and relying on the arc-shaped defense circle formed by the camp vehicles, the firecrackers above and below the city fired alternately, plus the squatting tiger cannon. With the help of the troops, a fairly dense firepower network was formed. The result of another forced attack was that the casualties of the Xuanfu army increased sharply.
He Huchen personally came to the city to take command, continuously shrinking the defensive circle of the camp vehicles, and commanding the firecrackers to concentrate their fire until they finally retreated to the city gate, and then completely retreated into the city.
This step-by-step retreat method gave the Xuanfu army a military advantage, but it was like a dog biting the turtle - there was nowhere to go. They could only watch the enemy troops retreat into the city, leaving more than ten camp vehicles at the bottom of the city.
Niu Jizong looked at the scene in front of him expressionlessly. He had to say that the general on the opposite side controlled the situation very well. He first used the firepower advantage of the musket and the cover of the camp car to block the enemy, making it difficult for his side to bite the opponent, and then steadily Retreat into the city.
Looking at our own side, the cavalry's failure to cut off its retreat into Gonghua City in advance was a big mistake, but this cannot be entirely blamed on Kuching.
The opponent was quite cunning and used camp cars to build fortifications along the line in advance, making it difficult for the cavalry assault to be fully effective.
In addition, the stone bridge is too close to Gonghua City. It is two miles away and he can retreat back in one go. However, Guo Yunlu was too cautious and failed to bite the opponent.
So considering several aspects, I have such an advantage, but I can't even suppress the opponent's mouth.
Now that the enemy forces have completely shrunk back to the city, plus the original defenders, there are actually seven or eight thousand people guarding the small Gonghua City. Although the city wall is low, it is still a city after all. It will probably take a long time to capture it. It's a big price to pay.
But it’s impossible not to capture it. Gonghua City is where the important grain and grass supplies to the west of Beijing are located. The supplies to the west of Xuanfu Town and Ji Town have to be transferred from here. And if you let these seven or eight thousand people behind your back, no matter who you are, It is impossible to accept that by taking this place, we can ensure that the Xuanfu army marches into the capital next and may encounter the main force of Jizhen in the war, so that we can have a safe rear.
Is it just that You Shigong will give himself so much time?
This is the biggest problem faced by Niu Jizong.
Although Gonghua City is small, it is probably not easy to deal with based on the performance of the opposing general. It can achieve such good results in field battles. If it is to defend the city, it will be even harder to crack this bone.
If seven or eight thousand people were all sergeants who were mainly fire-gun soldiers, not only would they have to pay a considerable price to capture Gonghua City in this battle, but more importantly, could they do it before You Shigong's army arrived?
The scouts have reported back that You Shigong's army is only sixty miles away. If You Shigong ignores the exhaustion and long journey, he can arrive in the evening, and his cavalry may even arrive in advance, which is very troublesome.
After looking around Gonghua City, Niu Jizong couldn't make up his mind.
There aren't many clues from the city wall, but Niu Jizong can tell that the one that defended the city previously should not belong to the same unit as the one that blocked the battle at Shiqiao. Although they both belong to the Beijing camp, they should be the troops of the fifth military camp, but It seems that the main force is not dominated by fire guns, but mainly spears, swords and shields, which reassures Niu Jizong a little.
According to the information he learned, the New Fifth Military Camp was established very soon. The main force of the Old Fifth Military Camp was taken to Huaiyang Town by Chen Jixian. The rest were some old, weak, sick and disabled or non-lineage troops. King Zhonghui came from Shenji Some of the battalions were transferred as the basis for the formation of the New Fifth Military Battalion.
This firearms battalion should come from the Shenji Battalion, but the Shenji Battalion was rebuilt not long ago. Qian Guozhong, the leader of the Shenji Battalion, is not a great figure. How come this firearms battalion is so capable of fighting? ? And its tactics are completely different from what I knew before.
The main reason why I suffered a loss in this battle was because I didn't understand the enemy's situation. This had a lot to do with the fact that I had never thought that the Beijing camp would dare to send troops to stop me.
Before, my main focus was on You Shigong in Ji Town, and I never cared about Jingying, which I felt was no longer worth mentioning. Unexpectedly, I spent all day hunting geese but got pecked by geese, but Xinjingying gave me The old Jingying Jiedu envoy made a show of force.
Time was running out, Niu Jizong could only immediately summon the generals to discuss how to break Gonghua City. At this time, he also realized the problems caused by his sudden advance, that is, he did not bring a single Xiyi cannon in the army. If he thought of attacking, When facing the attack on Gonghua City, even if you only bring two or three of them, they can at least be used for siege and defense. But now you have to face the dilemma of using human lives to fill the gap.
Fortunately, the walls of Gonghua City are low and were not originally built to defend the city. Therefore, it is more like a material supply base in the hinterland. It is not easy for the opponent to defend it.
Just when Niu Jizong convened everyone to discuss how to break the city, two 6,000 cavalry armies, You Shilu and Zhao Jiangong, were also rushing towards Gonghua City non-stop. This battle was equally crucial to them, and the risk of losing Gonghua City was equally unbearable.
(End of this chapter)