Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 262 Breakthrough
The battlefield is cruel and helpless. Sometimes, even if you foresee the enemy's actions, you may not be able to stop them. Even if you are just one step slower, the situation may be reversed.

At this moment, Chen Fu had already led the main force of the Tianwei Left Camp of the Central Army to the front line of the main battlefield in the valley.

After a period of rapid march, the various units were quickly reorganizing their ranks.

Lin Changfeng's one thousand elite cavalrymen served as the vanguard, so they naturally arrived at the battlefield earlier than the main army and were much faster.

Chen Fu swept his eyes across the battlefield in the south and found that the Qing army's offensive had clearly stagnated. Only a few hundred Qing cavalry continued to advance, but these scattered cavalry were no longer able to form an effective impact force.

Not to mention, he had already dispatched a cavalry unit of nearly a thousand people to block the enemy. The momentum of the Qing army in the south had been completely curbed, and it could no longer push the defeated Ming army on the southern wing to attack the center.

However, the center and north of the battlefield were still in fierce fighting, and the situation was quite tense.

As the Tianwei Left Camp of the central army commanded by Chen Fu quickly entered the battlefield, the Ming army's originally precarious defense line gradually stabilized and the declining trend was reversed.

In fact, Ajige and Jin Li only had a slight advantage on the battlefield.

Especially after misjudging the battlefield situation, they sent Zhong Dingfu to the rear to try to block possible counterattacks by the Ming cavalry, but this weakened the offensive force in the front, making the offensive unsustainable.

The Ming cavalry, which was originally responsible for pursuing the Qing army and luring it into deeper territory, now also engaged in a head-on battle with the Qing army. The fighting between the two sides was extremely fierce, and they were unable to escape and return to provide support.

The stalemate on the local battlefield reflects another cruel reality of the battlefield - the misuse and improper deployment of troops are often one of the key reasons for the failure of war.

If the most precious troops cannot be deployed to where they are most needed, the result is often a global collapse.

On the front line of defense, the Ming army gradually reversed the downward trend and began to launch a local counterattack under the command of Chen Fu.

The musketeers on both sides opened fire almost at the same time. Flames flashed on the battlefield, smoke filled the air, and the fierceness of the battle continued to escalate.

The already shaky defense lines of the Ming and Qing armies suddenly rushed out in formations and charged violently, turning the battlefield into a chaotic battle.

These phalanxes surged like a tide, the soldiers' shouts and cries shook the earth, and the roaring four-pound cannons on the battlefield became deadly weapons for both sides.

Every roar of artillery seemed to announce the arrival of death.

Each army was equipped with more than thirty four-pound cannons. These heavy metal behemoths wreaked havoc on the battlefield. The shells streaked through the air and bombarded the enemy positions, stirring up clouds of mud and blood.

The sounds of drums and trumpets seemed weak at this moment, and were sometimes drowned out by the thunderous sound of artillery fire.

Chen Fu was at the back of the formation, his eyes sharp as a torch, calmly observing the changes in the entire battle situation.

He knew deep down that the outcome of this battle did not depend on a local victory or defeat, but on how to find the weak points in the Qing army's defense line at the right time and launch a decisive attack.

Although he had already launched the first attack in the north, he knew that he was not completely sure of winning this battle.

Therefore, he adopted a cautious attitude, gradually launching tentative attacks and judging the weaknesses of the Qing army's defense line by observing the Qing army's reaction.

As the Ming army counterattacked step by step, the Qing army's defense line became increasingly difficult.

Ajige and Jin Li relied on their experience to quickly mobilize troops to respond, but they were still unable to prevent the Ming army from gradually gaining the upper hand.

The tide of battle gradually turned in favor of the Ming army, and morale also rose accordingly. Every charge of the Ming army phalanx seemed to declare that they would not surrender easily.

On the battlefield, the sound of gunfire echoed continuously, and the clash of swords, spears, and axes resounded through the valley. Every clash meant the lives of soldiers on both sides disappeared in an instant, and blood was spilled all over the battlefield.

The roar of artillery and the roar of soldiers interweave into a war song, and behind this bloody battle, the commanders' decisions will determine the final victory or defeat.

Chen Fu stared ahead. Although he was still nervous, the calmness and decisiveness in his eyes did not waver in the slightest.

He understood that the battlefield was ruthless and would not give anyone a second chance.

He must make the right judgment at the most appropriate moment and completely transform his advantage into victory.

At the same time, the battle in the north was raging, and Chen Fu did not waste this moment.

He knew very well that the Qing army's southern wing had been breached. Although Lin Changfeng's Tianqi Army was brave, it would be difficult for them to maintain their strength for a long time in the face of the persistent attack of the Qing army's elite cavalry.

Therefore, he decisively mobilized the cavalry unit in the middle to reinforce the southern wing, trying to defeat the Qing army's offensive in one fell swoop and stabilize the situation on the battlefield.

This group of cavalrymen were the backbone of the Ming army. They were clad in black armor and armed with a variety of weapons. They passed through the thick smoke on the battlefield with murderous intent and advanced rapidly towards the Qing army's line.

After firing their last volley, the musketeers immediately retreated to the rear.

Immediately, the Ming army's offensive came like a tide, and short axes and flying swords flew out from the formation one after another, smashing hard into the Qing army's armored soldiers.

The sharp sound of breaking air mixed with the noise of the battlefield. Many Qing soldiers' helmets and breastplates were directly hit. They were knocked to the ground by the huge force and were instantly caught up in the bloody fight.

Although the Ming army's offensive was fierce, the Qing army was not easy to deal with.

After the volley was completed, the Qing army musketeers in the front row quickly retreated to the back of the formation, showing their well-trained side.

At this moment, the Eight Banners soldiers were ready, with their spears drawn, rushing towards the Ming army.

Two groups of people, one black and one red, collided violently on the battlefield. War horses neighed, the sound of iron clashing mixed with the screams of soldiers, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and the scene was extremely tragic.

The intensity of the battle forced the musketeers in the back row to join the battlefield. They drew the daggers at their waists and rushed forward waving their weapons.

The situation on the battlefield suddenly became chaotic, and the so-called phalanx no longer existed.

The generals of the two armies were unable to give effective command in such a melee, and the soldiers fought for life and death relying on their instincts.

At this moment, all identities and origins have lost their meaning.

Whether they were Qing or Ming troops, Manchus or Han Chinese, the soldiers' only goal was to survive.

The soldiers continued to surge towards the enemy camp like a tide. The fallen bodies in the front row were quickly replaced, and the soldiers in the rear filled in without hesitation.

On the battlefield, corpses began to pile up, blood dyed the ground red, and the war horses trampled on it, carrying away countless broken limbs and arms.

However, although both armies were exhausted, there was no sign of retreat.

The roars of the supervisory team continued to sound, forcing the soldiers to continue charging forward, even if this was their last bit of strength.

After a pause in the musket fire, the smoke on the battlefield was gradually blown away by the wind in the valley, and Ajige and Jin Li were finally able to get a glimpse of the real situation on the front line of the battlefield.

The fighting on the front line was still brutal. Soldiers on both sides brandished various weapons and hacked at each other frantically, resulting in heavy casualties.

However, despite the huge losses, the troops on the battlefield were not completely exhausted.

The soldiers relied on their tenacious will to support their actions. Even if there were spears thrusting towards them, they would subconsciously dodge and carefully look for opportunities to counterattack. Just as the battle was raging, a group of elite Ming troops who had regrouped on the northern foothills finally took the opportunity to launch a flanking attack.

The team was small, only a few hundred men, but they were rigorously trained archers.

At this moment, they seized the opportunity when the Qing army's front line was in chaos, stopped forty steps away from the Qing army's position, raised their heavy arrows, and launched a precise flank attack on the Qing army.

Hundreds of heavy arrows were shot at the same time, falling into the Qing army's formation like raindrops.

The Qing army's armored soldiers were caught off guard and dozens of them fell down in an instant.

This sudden attack caused the Qing army's line to become noticeably loose, and the soldiers in the line fell into brief chaos.

The front row of the Qing army, which had been fighting desperately, began to retreat, and the defense line gradually got out of control.

The Ming army seized this rare opportunity and launched a fierce attack with all their might, eventually completely defeating the Qing army.

Although the Ming army achieved a partial victory in this battle, they also suffered heavy losses and were no longer able to continue the pursuit.

As the two armies temporarily withdrew from the battle, the battlefield was littered with corpses and wounded.

The wounded soldiers were struggling in agony on the ground, some were already dying, and the neighing of war horses mixed in with the sounds, making the scene seem particularly desolate.

At this time, Ajige's face was heavy. He knew very well that if the stalemate continued, the Qing army would fall into an even more unfavorable situation.

He looked at Jin Li and said in a deep voice:

"We must transfer Zhong Dingfu's troops here. After the Ming army succeeds this time, they will surely seize the opportunity to launch a new round of attacks.

If we continue to fight like this, even if we ultimately win, we will suffer heavy losses and will be unable to continue to deal with the Ming army outside Jinan."

Jin Li also realized the seriousness of the situation.

He nodded, having already made a decision. At this moment, they could not delay any longer and had to quickly deploy their troops to meet the next wave of the Ming army's offensive.

Otherwise, the outcome of this battle would be decided soon, and the price paid by the Qing army would be unbearable.

Ajige frowned, glanced around, and said in a serious tone:
"The Ming troops on both sides of the mountain are indeed cunning and are constantly harassing us.

We must immediately recall Zhong Dingfu's troops and strengthen the defense line.

At the same time, while the Ming army has not yet fully deployed, we will dispatch troops from the center to meet them."

Jin Li nodded in agreement.

They had just received a military report from Zhong Dingfu's Tangma, which showed that the cavalry sent by the Ming army to pursue had been entangled by the Qing army. The battle situation was stalemate and it would be difficult for both sides to determine the winner in a short time.

Although the cavalry under Chen Fu had received training in cavalry formations, the current terrain and battlefield environment were not suitable for large-scale deployment.

His troops had made some progress in equipment and training, but they were still constrained by the generals of this era and had a significant gap with leaders like Zhu Cilang who possessed the military knowledge of later generations.

This limitation also led to the fact that although the combat effectiveness of the army under Chen Fu was improved, it was unable to completely break out of the limitations of the times.

If Zhu Cilang had not had to stay in Jinan and was busy dealing with what he thought was a powerful enemy, Dorgon, he would probably have come to command the battle in person.

When the combat strength of both sides was equal, it was difficult to determine the winner in a short period of time when Chen Fu's cavalry and the Eight Banners cavalry faced off head-on.

"The Ming army on the mountain is not numerous, and we can contain them by sending 700 to 800 soldiers from each wing.

As long as their harassment can be eliminated, the Ming army commander's main attack will be difficult to succeed."

Jin Li calmly analyzed, "The most important thing now is to quickly recall Zhong Dingfu's several thousand troops. The Ming army still needs time to gather its main force for the attack, so it should still be in time."

At this time, the fighting on the valley battlefield had gradually eased because Chen Fu took the initiative to gather his troops.

Ajige and Jin Li are currently at a disadvantage, so they naturally won't attack rashly to avoid further depletion of their troops.

"Zhong Dingfu's muskets and artillery units can be used to block the main attack of the Ming army, try to wear down their fighting spirit, and weaken the Ming army's first few rounds of offensive."

Ajige said in a deep voice, his eyes fixed on the distance.

Three miles away, the Ming army was engaged in intense troop movements, with flags flying and soldiers constantly changing positions.

This was obviously because the Ming army wanted to press on with the initial victory on the southern wing, trying to break through the center in one fell swoop and win the battle completely.

"The Ming army actually doesn't have enough manpower,"

Ajige continued to analyze:

"He has deployed a large number of troops on the mountains on both sides. If we can successfully repel this frontal attack and then concentrate our forces on the two wings to counterattack, victory will surely be ours."

Jin Li nodded and his eyes became serious.

He knew that what Ajige said was true. Although the Ming army had achieved a partial victory on the southern wing, the main force had not yet pressed forward, and the Qing army still held the advantage in key positions.

If the Qing army could effectively utilize Zhong Dingfu's troops, especially the advantages of muskets and artillery, it would not only be able to withstand the frontal attack of the Ming army, but also use the strategy of striking first to form a counter-encirclement on both wings.

On the battlefield, the two sides temporarily entered a stalemate.

The Ming army was reorganizing its troops and preparing to launch a new round of general offensive, while the Qing army was biding its time, preparing to meet this wave of attacks with a more solid defense line.

The troops under Zhong Dingfu have begun to withdraw, and heavy equipment such as artillery and muskets have gradually been deployed in place. The entire central battlefield has gradually become tense.

"We don't need to rush to attack." Ajige looked at the movements of the Ming army and added after a moment of contemplation:
“As soon as the Ming army attacks, Zhong Dingfu’s artillery units will make them suffer.

When their fighting spirit is almost worn down, we will strike back."

Jin Li nodded in agreement:

"As long as we hold the center and wait until the time is right, the troops on both wings will attack together, and the Ming army will inevitably be defeated.

The key to this battle is who can stay calm and find the most appropriate time to counterattack."

Ajige deeply agrees:
"Although the Ming army is elite, we only need to contain them and let them become exhausted through attrition. Then, we can launch a full-scale counterattack and win."

The atmosphere on the battlefield became increasingly tense. Ajige and Jin Li knew that the outcome of this battle would affect the development of the entire war.

(End of this chapter)