Chapter 1517 Battlefield Situation
In order to rescue the refugees who were held hostage as human shields, they also had to deal with the Han flag soldiers disguised as refugees. The Haihan side had to bear greater risks of fighting. During this period, there were many cases of being attacked by fake refugees. casualties. In the eyes of General Haihan, the lives of his men were of course much more important than those of refugees he had never met, so Qian Tiandun also decisively ordered new response measures, specially arranging soldiers to hold tin trumpets to shout during the battle, demanding The young and strong men among the refugees must kneel down and hold their heads when approaching the life-and-death line drawn outside the Haihan position and wait for acceptance. Anyone who crosses the life-and-death line will be regarded as spies and will be killed directly.
After formulating new countermeasures, the situation that had once confused Haihan finally improved. Almost all the troops deployed on the isthmus defense line were veterans with rich combat experience. There was no problem of being soft-hearted and unable to act. As long as there are clear military orders, the soldiers on the front line can just follow them. As for the inevitable accidental injuries or even accidental killings during this process, we don't have to worry about that much.
Hearing this, Mei Shengchuan responded: "On the battlefield, the overall situation should be the most important thing. This is killing people to save others. There is nothing wrong with how your army handles it."
Qian Tiandun said: "Sir Mei really understands the righteousness! What is pitiful are the Han refugees in Liaodong, and what is abominable are traitors like Geng Zhongming. Our army will definitely try its best to attack the enemy and save these Han refugees. Please rest assured, Mr. Mei!" br>
After hearing this statement, Mei Shengchuan did not feel any sense of relief. On the contrary, he felt a little uncomfortable. The task of rescuing the Han refugees in Liaodong was originally supposed to be completed by the Ming army, but somehow it became the task of an outsider like Haihan. But with Daming's current strength, he really couldn't say something like "Leave it alone and let me do it myself" to Qian Tiandun and others. This is not necessarily because the Haihan people deliberately used this to humiliate the Ming Dynasty. It is more likely that they regard Liaodong as their own ruling area, and saving the Han people here who were enslaved by Hou Jin is also a matter of course for them. .
Mei Shengchuan could only cough twice and quickly avoid this somewhat embarrassing topic: "That Geng thief was also a general when he served for the Ming Dynasty. He has many strange tricks in commanding battles. If your army is against him, you need to guard against his use." It’s such cruel means.”
Qian Tiandun nodded and said: "Master Mei is right. Geng Zhongming has a lot of tricks. Using refugees as human shields didn't work, so he thought of other ways and began to build a large number of small fortresses in the north. Limit the atmosphere of our military’s activities in the area north of the defense line.”
Compared with launching an offensive with the help of human shield cover, Geng Zhongming's new trick achieved better results. These earthen fortresses, which can only accommodate dozens of people for garrison, are small in scale, and the construction period only takes a few days. It only needs to be built with four adobe walls to be completed. Although the protection they can provide is extremely limited, what Geng Zhongming is counting on is not the protective effect of such small fortresses, but their quantity and distribution density.
The Han Army Banner mobilized thousands of civilians. In the past ten days alone, more than 20 such small fortresses were built in the area five miles to eight miles north of the defense line, and thousands of troops were stationed in them. At this distance, Haihan's troops have attacked quite frequently in the past period, and Jin's original troop composition was difficult to withstand opponents with obvious weapon advantages. Therefore, Geng Zhongming came up with such a countermeasure to move the entire area. The plain is divided into several smaller defense areas. If the Haihan army dares to break into this area, the Houjin fortresses can help each other and quickly gather the scattered soldiers into an army to form an encirclement against the enemy.
Regarding this kind of deployment of the enemy's army, Qian Tiandun's statement that he had no scruples must be false. Even if the Haihan Army had an advantage in weapons, its military strength was always an insurmountable shortcoming. If you want to go forward to fight in the enemy-occupied area in the north, infantry, cavalry, and artillery are indispensable, and you have to bring hundreds of logistics personnel. But if the opponent has built relatively dense fortress defenses, then such an attack will be difficult. The risk will be greatly increased. Even with long-range weapons such as artillery, it is difficult to guarantee that the Haihan Army can successfully pull out these fortresses in a short time. Even generals like Qian Tiandun, who had extraordinary achievements in the southern and northern wars, had to admit that this method of the Jin Army did effectively curb Haihan's military operations.
According to the conclusions drawn by the reconnaissance cavalry from the front in recent days, the enemy is still continuing to build this kind of simple but extremely effective defense fortifications, and is gradually taking control of these areas with fortresses by virtue of their superior strength. For the sake of safety, the Haihan army operating in small groups in the wild had to keep a certain distance from these fortress groups to avoid being attacked by the enemy ambushing them. The Han army flag commanded by Geng Zhongming was equipped with many muskets. Although the performance of these weapons is not as good as the Haihan rifle, there is still a certain probability that it can cause damage to Haihan soldiers without armor within a distance of 100 meters.
Of course, Qian Tiandun could also send out a large number of artillery troops regardless of the cost, and use artillery shells to demolish these earthen fortresses. At present, most of the field artillery equipped by the Haihan Army are still traditional solid artillery shells. Considering the maneuverability, the caliber is generally not too large. Using this standard artillery to bombard a fortress made of adobe, destroying an entire earth wall more than two feet thick is not a task that can be completed with just a few rounds. Based on the current number of fortresses and taking into account possible battle situations during the period, the Haihan Army will have to prepare at least hundreds of artillery shells for this purpose, and may even need to use a considerable amount of explosives to complete the demolition work.
So this is not just a matter of combat costs. In fact, the requirements for logistical supplies are the real test. If too much ammunition is consumed in field battles, the ammunition base that can be allocated to the isthmus defense line during the defensive battle of the enemy's counterattack may be reduced accordingly until the monthly supply fleet from the south arrives.
If the ammunition is not enough, no matter how good the performance of the guns is, it will be in vain. All Haihan generals know this truth. Therefore, in an environment like Liaodong, it was difficult for them to come up with an effective way to deal with this new tactic used by Hou Jin.
"I must tell you that the Haihan Army has indeed controlled the rhythm of the Liaodong battlefield so far, but the enemy has become more and more accustomed to this rhythm, and has been trying to break the situation and launch a counterattack." Qian Tiandun said frankly : "Our attracting Houjin firepower in Liaodong is a costly combat mission, and it is not a necessary move for our country. If our country believes that this kind of military operation continues for a long time, it will only pay but not gain, and it will be isolated and helpless for a long time. , then we will still consider giving up the possibility of continuing the war with Houjin.”
Bai Kesi, who was next to him, took over and said: "I hope everyone understands one thing. Going to war with Hou Jin is not a necessary option for our country. If there are other options that allow our country to obtain more benefits from Liaodong, then we will also include them. Consider the scope.”
Mei Shengchuan was alert after hearing this, and quickly asked: "Master Bai, do you mean that your country intends to cease war and negotiate peace?"
Bai Kesi responded noncommittally: "Whether we continue to fight or cease the war, our country depends on the situation in Liaodong. Everyone knows that this place is quite far away from our country's mainland. Even if the world is turned upside down here, it will not directly affect our country's interests. . As for the enemy, we have no plans to hold talks yet. After all, in our opinion, it is a pity to let the current good situation come to an end halfway." Bai Kesi's tone was very calm, but after hearing these words. People can't calm down anymore. This is the first time that Haihan officials have publicly expressed the possibility of a truce with Hou Jin. Before this, all the Haihan military attachés they had contacted had vowed to expel Hou Jin from Liaodong, or even completely eliminate it. give up. They had never considered before that if Haihan really gave up fighting against Hou Jin, how would the situation in Liaodong change, and how would Hou Jin's relations with Ming and North Korea change.
It was the North Koreans who were the first to lose their composure. Kim Sang-hyun hurriedly advised: "The Jin people are like tigers and wolves. Negotiating peace with them is tantamount to seeking the skin of tigers. Mr. Bai must not choose this method. In the future, the Jin people will definitely regret it and raise troops! You must know that you have to do your best to eliminate evil." , since your country currently takes the initiative on the battlefield, why not take advantage of the victory to pursue it and inflict heavy damage on it? ”
Bai Kesi sighed and said: "Yes, we want to do this too, but we are alone and don't even have a helping partner. Besides, even if we defeat them, will it be of much benefit to our country, Haihan?" ”
Bai Kesi deliberately emphasized the word "benefits", intending to remind the envoys of the two countries that whether Haihan would go to war or peace in Liaodong would ultimately be based on interests. If there are not enough benefits, and continuing to fight will face many difficulties, then a ceasefire will most likely be Haihan's next choice.
Of course Jin Shangxian could understand what Bai Kesi was complaining about, and immediately said to Mei Shengchuan: "Master Mei, the matter in Liaodong needs to be discussed properly by the three countries. Liaodong is the territory of the Ming Dynasty, so why not let the Ming Dynasty take the lead?"< br>
Mei Shengchuan thought that it was true that Liaodong was the territory of the Ming Dynasty, but how could Haihan give up control to the Ming Dynasty? This matter of taking the lead is completely the wishful thinking of the Koreans. It is probably because they saw that the Ming army in Dongjiang Town was very close to the Haihan people that they had such an illusion. Little did they know that Dongjiang Town had already turned to the Haihan side and just continued to hang around. It's just in the name of the Ming army.
Mei Shengchuan had not yet expressed his position, but Bai Kesi spoke first: "There is no need to make a decision right now. It is getting late today. Everyone has worked hard on the journey, so please rest early. The conditions on the front line are relatively difficult. Please be patient." Forgive me. Tomorrow morning, General Qian’s troops will escort you to the front line for field inspection.”
Bai Kesi suddenly terminated the conversation, which made Umeikawa unable to raise some of the questions that came to mind. For example, after the alliance of the three countries, what standards should be used to distribute rights and obligations in the Liaodong region? How should the military assistance plan proposed by Haihan be implemented. Mei Shengchuan still has many issues like this involving the interests of the Ming Dynasty, but the Haihan people have not given a clear solution so far, which is one of the reasons why he has been unable to make up his mind.
Although there are barracks built in the fortresses of the Jinzhou Isthmus defense line, the conditions are not as good as those of Lushun Fort, which has become the rear area. Even the envoys of the two countries have high status and can only live in the same barracks with their subordinates. , sleeping on a two-foot-wide wooden bed. Moreover, soldiers who had returned from changing defenses inside and outside Jijiabao were intermittently entering and exiting the nearby barracks all night long. Although there was no deliberate noise, it still made it difficult for the pampered officials to sleep.
Early the next morning, Mei Shengchuan and Jin Sangxian met outside the barracks. They found that the dark circles under each other's eyes were very obvious. They couldn't help but look at each other and smiled bitterly. They both knew that the other party did not have a good rest in the military camp last night.
Qian Tiandun came after breakfast and asked them to leave their entourage as always, and each person could only bring two guards on the road, so as to prevent the too large team from being difficult to dispatch and command on the battlefield.
Jin Sangxian was still hesitant at first, but Mei Shengchuan agreed to Qian Tiandun's request very quickly. He had learned from intelligence from Dongjiang Town that this kind of field inspection was a customary activity arranged by the Haihan Army. In fact, people from the Ming Dynasty and North Korea were not the only ones who came here to inspect the war. Some South China Sea countries also sent military attachés. As a military observer, he is permanently stationed in the Haihan Army.
So when they were getting ready to hit the road, Mei Shengchuan saw several officers with dark skin, short height, and clothes obviously different from those of the Haihan Army joining the team. Qian Tiandun introduced to them that they were military observers and officer cadets from Annam, Champa, Siam and other countries. Basically, they would be arranged to participate in every similar inspection activity to learn Haihan's skills in marching formations. experience.
Many of these countries in the South China Sea have received canonization from the Ming Dynasty in the past. However, in recent years, diplomatic relations have also tended to weaken. However, since they have sent officers to accompany the Haihan Army on the expedition to Liaodong, it can be seen that the relations are not too bad. Umeikawa did not know that Haihan had also established a regional international organization in the South China Sea, but he could also feel from these signs that Haihan's influence in the South China Sea could not be ignored, and he might even have become a regional leader. In a few years, the generals of these South China Sea countries will probably only know Haihan, and will no longer take Ming Dynasty into their eyes.
Of course, one cannot blame Haihan for tampering with the south in such a situation. After all, the power of the Ming Dynasty was declining, and its influence could hardly reach such a distant place. On the other hand, North Korea is a country that is good at adapting to the changing circumstances. When seeing these situations, it will definitely give rise to cautious thoughts, so it is necessary to be wary of them.
Thinking of this, Mei Shengchuan turned around to look at the North Korean envoy, only to see Kim Sang-hyun standing next to Qian Tiandun with a flattering look on his face, as if he was actively offering to hold his whip and stirrup for him.
(End of chapter)