The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 474 Barrage Xu Jin
The sound of the explosion in the relatively confined valley was even more terrifying. The continuous and violent explosions produced shock waves that repeatedly collided back and forth on the cliffs on both sides of the valley, making the echoes continuous. It felt like a huge torrent that could destroy everything in an instant, rushing and roaring along the valley.

The shelling of more than 700 mountain cannons and mortars formed a horizontal line, stretching from the Qingzhang River in the east to the foot of the mountain in the west, raising a cloud of dust.

The ground of the river valley was covered with pebbles. Every time a shell exploded, not only the violent shock wave and hot and sharp shrapnel would take the lives of Japanese soldiers, but the rubble that was blown up was equally deadly. Due to its density, the rubble was even more difficult to defend against and extremely dangerous.

The shallow fortifications dug by the Japanese army in the river valley were bombed into a mess, and many positions even disappeared without a trace after a single artillery shell exploded.

Not to mention the Japanese troops on the battlefield. With more than 700 mountain cannons and mortars shelling a river valley about one thousand meters wide, the density of artillery fire can be imagined.

Although there would be some deviation in the landing point of the shells, the simultaneous bombardment of hundreds of artillery pieces was enough to form a dense fire net. The Japanese soldiers within the fire net were either blown to pieces or killed by the sharp and hot pieces that cut off their limbs or pierced their bodies directly.

Among the Japanese officers and soldiers who were lucky enough to escape the strong shock wave and sharp shrapnel, very few were able to escape the flying debris. Even if they did not escape the rain of flying debris, most of them would be blown to pieces.

Fortunately, after the Japanese front-line positions were hit by only two rounds of artillery fire, this deadly fire network composed of shock waves, hot and sharp shrapnel, and flying debris began to move southward along the river valley.

As the artillery fire began to move forward, illuminated by the flashes of explosions and the flares that were continuously lit in the air, rows of soldiers from the Fourth Town began to rush out from the darkness of the valley, forming a skirmish line. The skirmish line quickly ran to about 200 meters away from the moving artillery fire before slowing down. They bent forward and moved continuously, firing continuously while braving the rubble that kept falling from the sky.

Amid the dense gunfire, the wounded Japanese soldiers who had managed to survive were all riddled with bullet holes and died.

While hundreds of large and small artillery pieces in the valley began shelling, more than 200 mortars on the mountains on both sides also began shelling areas deep in the valley.

Although the Japanese army's division-level regiment artillery was transferred to Kuangkou, the Japanese army's brigades and even regiments under the division had artillery, and the total number was considerable.

Fortunately, during the two days of fighting, the troops that went up the mountain with light mortars had destroyed most of the Japanese artillery from their high ground, but a few still survived.

At this time, seeing the vanguard army displaying so many artillery pieces in the valley for the first time, the fierce artillery fire was something they had never heard of or seen before. They could not take care of too much, and all the surviving artillerymen had to start fighting back under the urging of the commander.

However, illuminated by the continuous firing of flares and the burning wild grass in the valley, most of the Japanese artillery pieces would be destroyed by the vanguard mortar gunners on the mountain who could see them clearly before they could be deployed.

Even if the Japanese artillery hiding in the darkness had a chance to fire a few shots, the flames from the muzzles would expose their positions, and then dozens of mortar shells flying from several directions would completely destroy them.

Looking at the scene in the valley, Li Xianze was stunned for a long while before he said in astonishment.

"When did our artillery fire become so fierce! Even if we only use cannons, we can wipe out all the foreign devils!"

Li Xianze's words made Liu Changfa laugh. "Kangnian, you are surprised by what you have seen so far. When we destroy my 60,000 men, our artillery fire must be even more fierce."

Teng Yuzao also smiled and said, "Our artillery fire is very fierce, even far beyond the imagination of ordinary people. If you want to use cannons and mortars to kill all the 160,000 or 170,000 foreign devils blocked in the valley, that won't work. We don't have that many shells."

"Moreover," Teng Yuzao said, putting away his smile, "although we have a lot of guns, their caliber is much smaller than that of the foreign devils, and the foreign devils' cannons are actually not much less than ours. If we count the 200,000 or so foreign devils in the south, their cannons combined probably total six or seven hundred."

"The strange thing is that the foreigners don't pay much attention to mountain warfare. They don't have a deep understanding of some of the characteristics of mountain warfare. Also, it's probably hard for them to imagine that we have mortars, a magical weapon for mountain warfare, and they would never have thought that we have so many of these small cannons that are easy to carry."

Li Xianze nodded seriously and said, "This mountain warfare is indeed very different from plain warfare and urban warfare. In many places, even if you have a lot of people, you can't make full use of them. You may even be restricted by others. This is a very profound knowledge."

Chief of Staff Zuo Mingyang also interrupted seriously and said, "Marshal, it's not just mountain warfare, there's also infantry and artillery coordination. You should explain it to all our officers."

Mountain warfare, and even mountain guerrilla warfare, should indeed be discussed with these officers. These tactics will be particularly important when they go out to fight in the future.

As for the coordination between infantry and artillery, it can only be limited to the main force that meets the conditions. If such advanced tactical means are known by the great powers in advance, it will be difficult to deal with. After all, the enemy's cannons are much more than their own, and can shoot farther and more accurately.

Liu Changfa pointed at the battlefield below the mountain and said, "Marshal, we need to practice this infantry-artillery coordination and barrage advancement more when we have the chance, otherwise the troops won't be used to it!"

At this time, the sky was already bright. Under the gray sky, even without the aid of flares, the outline of the battlefield could be roughly seen.

Especially the burning weeds in the river valley, blown by the strong north wind in the valley
The dense artillery fire from the artillery town was still advancing, and even as they saw the fire network composed of dense and fierce explosions approaching them, some Japanese troops had begun to retreat in panic, and there were signs of collapse.

However, the skirmish line of Liu Shijiu's Fourth Regiment, which was following the barrage, had begun to deviate from its original shape, and the formation had become uneven. Some places were following very closely, even to a very dangerous distance, while other places were still far behind.

Teng Yuzao nodded, but did not continue talking about this topic. Instead, he spoke to Liu Changfa.

"Qingyun, the Japanese are about to collapse. Order the mortars to move forward."

Liu Changfa looked at the continuous explosions in the valley, the barrage of shrapnel and debris flying around, and then at the dense and slow-firing mortar shell trajectories vaguely visible in the air and said.

"Marshal, the mortar shells have been moved forward as planned."

"it is good!"

Teng Yuzao pointed to the area 500 meters ahead of the advancing artillery barrage and said, "Concentrate your artillery fire and bombard that area. The Japanese are most concentrated there and are still building fortifications."

He then ordered Zuo Mingyang, "After the artillery fire is transferred, immediately send a signal and order Liu Shijiu's entire army to charge."

(End of this chapter)