Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 344 Heavy casualties
The Qing army's tactics were obviously well thought out. They were familiar with the performance of the Ming army's muskets and bird guns, and were well aware of their range and usage.

Therefore, they did not approach rashly, but kept a distance of sixty or seventy steps - this was the critical point of the musket's range.

They dispersed in twos and threes, drew their bows and arrows, and fired at the Ming army positions, accompanied by wanton shouting and provocation, intending to lure the Ming army musketeers to open fire and then launch an attack in the chaos.

But this time, the Qing army's wishful thinking did not work.

Relying on the speed of their horses, the Qing cavalry quickly shot hundreds of light arrows diagonally. These arrows cut through the air and shot towards the Ming army positions like raindrops.

The arrows made a "clang" sound when they hit the armor, and occasionally some soldiers screamed when they were hit by arrows. However, this wave of arrow rain did not shake the Ming army's formation.

The soldiers in the front row raised their shields to block most of the arrows. Their formation remained as immovable as a mountain, with only rows of black musket muzzles pointed coldly at the Qing army.

This is the elite quality of Chang Denggui's army - strict discipline and the ability to remain calm in the face of provocation.

They are an iron army that can pretend to be defeated for hundreds of miles and then quickly organize a counterattack.

Some soldiers in the Qing army noticed the abnormality of the Ming army. Behind the muzzles of their guns were soldiers wearing Ming helmets. They had stern expressions and neat formations, and seemed completely unmoved by the provocation.

Some Qing soldiers felt a little uneasy, as this Ming army was obviously completely different from the opponents they had encountered in the past.

Just as the Qing army was hesitating, an unexpected scene happened. Dozens of shields in the Ming army line suddenly moved aside, and behind the shields, a row of cannons suddenly appeared.

This is the Ming army's four-pound cannon, designed specifically for field battles. It is small in size, light in weight, and easy to move and deploy.

Each cannon was closely guarded by shieldmen, and behind the shields, the artillerymen were loading ammunition and firing in an orderly manner.

The Qing army was located on the low hillsides on both sides and was caught off guard by this change. Before they could recover from their shock, the Ming army's bugles sounded immediately.

Following the shrill command, the artillery pieces fired in unison, and the deafening roar instantly resounded throughout the battlefield.

An orange-red flame flashed by accompanied by thick white smoke, and then hundreds of bullets poured out from the muzzle.

These projectiles were the size of goose eggs or chicken eggs, and they were extremely fast, cutting through the air and heading straight for the Qing army troops sixty or seventy steps away.

In just a moment, the Qing cavalry were covered by bullets before they could even turn their horses around.

The so-called thick armor, chain mail, and cotton armor provided multiple protections that were useless at such a close distance.

The bullets easily penetrated the armor and entered the soldiers' bodies, while some bullets directly pierced the chests of the horses.

The Qing army fell into chaos in an instant, and the war horses ran around uncontrollably, knocking down and even trampling the surrounding cavalry.

Blood gushed out from the broken armor, spilling all over the battlefield, and the ground was soon dyed dark red.

This artillery attack not only caused huge casualties, but also completely disrupted the Qing army's formation.

The cavalry team, which had been scattered and trying to provoke, was torn into pieces by the fire of bullets. The Qing soldiers in the front row suffered heavy casualties, and the soldiers in the rear were also in panic and in chaos.

The surviving Qing soldiers tried to retreat, but the Ming army's artillery showed no sign of stopping. The artillerymen skillfully reloaded ammunition and quickly launched a second round of volleys.

This round of bombardment was more deadly than the first. The fleeing Qing soldiers were knocked down one by one in the orange-red flames. The battlefield was no longer filled with provocation and laughter, but with desolation and despair.

The Qing army's defeat was not simply due to losses, but to psychological collapse. The originally confident cavalry lost their fighting spirit under the attack of the Ming army's artillery fire.

They thought they had the initiative and could exploit the weaknesses of the Ming army, but they did not expect that this Ming army was not only well-equipped and tactically skilled, but also had strict discipline.

Under the relentless attack of gunpowder and lead bullets, the Qing army armor, which was known for its fine workmanship and impenetrability to swords and guns, suddenly became fragile.

The armor that could not be penetrated by bows and crossbows was like thin paper in front of firearms and had no resistance at all. Hundreds of Qing cavalry were like fields of leeks, being mercilessly harvested by bullets.

Amidst the smoke, hundreds of cavalrymen fell to the ground along with their horses, and their blood quickly dyed the ground red.

Many Qing soldiers fell in a pool of blood before they even realized what was happening.

The most miserable were those soldiers who were not killed directly but were crushed by their fallen horses. They roared and struggled in pain, slapping the ground with their limbs in vain.

As for the cavalry facing the artillery fire, they didn't even have a chance to shout.

The raging flames, accompanied by a deafening roar, instantly tore them into pieces, flesh and blood flew everywhere, and they and their horses turned into blurred charred residue.

In comparison, those soldiers who were killed in one blow and freed directly seemed to be lucky.

This firearms assault, with appalling efficiency, claimed the lives of hundreds of Qing troops and completely shattered their plans to break through the Ming army's defensive lines on both flanks. The impact of the fire and gunfire not only killed and wounded the Qing troops but also sowed the seeds of fear in their hearts.

You know, this line of defense is not composed of just dozens of light artillery pieces.

Behind the artillery array, the shield bearers followed closely, and behind the shield array were the musketeers and crossbowmen lined up in neat rows.

This three-dimensional defense composed of firearms, shields and long-range shooters was impregnable. Even if the Qing army attacked head-on with the force of 5,000 cavalry, it would be difficult to shake it in the slightest, not to mention the few hundred cavalry left.

But this was not the greatest crisis facing the Qing army. Originally, although this line of defense was difficult to break through, it still had room for strategic maneuver. As long as they avoided direct contact, they could temporarily escape danger.

However, this mentality of taking chances was soon ruthlessly shattered by the facts - because not far away, from the hillsides, jungles, and both sides of the road, the Ming cavalry were rushing in like a tide.

The deafening shouts of killing echoed throughout the valley, and the sound of horse hooves shook the earth like thunder.

The Qing soldiers looked ahead and saw countless Ming cavalrymen rushing into their field of vision. The leaping horses' heads, waving swords, and flashing armor were like dark clouds pressing down on the land, completely occupying their sight.

The Ming cavalry numbered several thousand, three times greater than the Qing cavalry, and they rushed towards the enemy like a galloping iron stream, with unstoppable momentum.

This time, the Ming army did not hesitate at all, nor did they slack off at all.

They accurately seized the moment when the Qing army fell into chaos due to the firearms attack, and ruthlessly put the counterattack plan that had been prepared long ago into practice.

The Ming army generals of each camp personally led their troops, using elite cavalry as spearheads, and fiercely charged into the Qing army's defense line.

The Qing army's original 2,000 guards were torn to pieces by this tidal-like offensive and were forcibly cut into three sections.

The tragic situation of the Qing army was unbearable to watch. Amidst wave after wave of deafening collisions, the iron hooves of the Ming cavalry trampled heavily on the bodies of the enemy soldiers like raindrops.

The clashing of blades and armor produced a harsh metallic scraping sound, and the shouts and neighs of horses on the battlefield shook the mountains. Some Qing soldiers tried to resist the Ming army's offensive, but their lines collapsed in an instant under the charge of the Ming cavalry.

The battlefield was filled with corpses, fallen cavalrymen, and falling weapons.

The Qing soldiers did not have enough time to adjust their formation and were completely overwhelmed by the Ming army's overwhelming offensive.

Qing army general Saige stood in the center of the battle formation, witnessing all this. His fingers trembled slightly from gripping the reins, and his face was even gloomier than the smoke of the battlefield.

He never expected that in just a short moment, the situation would change from the Qing army having the upper hand to the current disastrous defeat.

At this moment, he was completely surrounded by the Ming army's cavalry, and even the possibility of breaking out became out of reach.

The Ming army's offensive continued, and the situation on the battlefield continued to deteriorate. The cut-off Qing army troops tried to regroup, but were defeated one by one by the cavalry squads precisely dispatched by the Ming army generals.

The Ming cavalry not only had an advantage in numbers, but their tactical skills and coordination were also clearly superior to those of the Qing army.

In the center of the battlefield, Sage clearly felt that the elite guards of more than 2,000 people under his command were being eaten away layer by layer.

He was unwilling to give up and tried to command his troops to reorganize a counterattack, but the Ming army's offensive was too fierce and did not give him any chance to breathe.

Finally, Saige had to order a retreat. He waved his long sword and shouted:
"Retreat! The entire army retreats!"

However, this order was more for himself to hear, because the war situation was irreversible, and the next battle was just a time of harvest for the Ming army.

Dust and smoke rose on the battlefield, and flames reflected the Qing army's embarrassed retreat. The roars of the Ming cavalry and the neighing of war horses echoed in this land where rivers of blood flowed.

A familiar scene was repeated: with absolute advantage, the Ming cavalry once again completely crushed the enemy, and the Qing army's dream was shattered without a trace at this moment.

In this bloody battle, the situation changes rapidly.

Originally, the Qing army was extremely powerful and its offensive was like a tide, but now its defense line was broken by the equally well-equipped and fearless Ming army, and it suffered heavy casualties in an instant.

The three divisions of the Qing army were surrounded and their way out seemed to be cut off.

Since the Qing army was covered by the artillery fire of the Ming army, it has fallen into chaos of splitting up its troops to break out. The formation that it once prided itself on has become loose and its morale has been severely damaged.

In this narrow mountain path, even if they wanted to reorganize the formation, it was too late.

The Ming army had already been on high alert, waiting for this attack. While the Qing army was unstable, the Ming army launched a swift attack and tore through the Qing army's defense line.

If the terrain here had not restricted the deployment of the Ming army's superior forces, the Qing army would probably not have had a chance to breathe.

However, as Saige's guards, these elite Manchu Eight Banners were extraordinary.

They are warriors who have fought their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Every cavalryman has been tempered on countless battlefields and is brave and good at fighting.

The Qing army's military law has always been strict. Generals at all levels led by example and executed without hesitation those soldiers who dared to retreat without permission. This prevented the entire army from instantly collapsing due to the surprise attack, but instead they managed to maintain their front line and fight to the death.

Despite heavy casualties, Saige's guards lost five to six hundred cavalry in less than an incense stick of time, but the remaining Qing troops still maintained extremely high combat effectiveness.

Although these soldiers were exhausted, they relied on their rich combat experience and skilled fighting skills to withstand the fierce offensive of the Ming army.

This battle truly became a contest between the strong.

Although the Qing army guards were exhausted after a long battle, they were veterans who had experienced hundreds of battles; while the Ming army cavalry were well-rested and had high morale, and the two sides formed a certain degree of balance on the mountain road.

Although the Qing army was suppressed by the Ming army, the Ming army's numerical advantage was limited, and it was not easy to completely annihilate this Qing army.

Nearly 10,000 soldiers from both armies were crowded in the narrow mountain road, with weapons clashing and shouts of killing shaking the sky.

The soldiers fought with all their might, their swords, spears, swords and halberds intertwined into cold rays of light, and their axes and hammers collided, sending sparks flying.

Arrows rained down like rain, and from time to time people fell off their horses with screams, or were trampled by horses' hooves, or killed by the enemy's sword.

On this battlefield, the role of firearms gradually disappeared.

The Red Cannon, the Tiger Crouching Cannon and the Fire Gun and the Bird Gun were difficult to deploy due to the terrain restrictions, and the protagonists of the battlefield returned to the most primitive cold weapon duel.
The soldiers' coordination and personal bravery once again became the key to victory or defeat.

The generals of the Qing army were no less capable than the ordinary soldiers, fighting bravely, leading by example, and boosting morale with their actions. The generals of the Ming army were equally unwilling to be outdone, especially Chang Denggui.

At this time, he, as the commander-in-chief of the army, personally led a cavalry of dozens of people and quickly broke into the Qing army's defense line in the midst of the chaos.

Chang Denggui was wearing iron armor, an iron helmet, holding a lance in his hand, and galloping on his horse among the enemy's formations.

He wielded the lance in his hand like the wind. The Qing cavalry were like paper in front of him and no one could match him. Every blow took the life of an enemy soldier, and blood splattered on his armor.

The Qing cavalry tried to encircle him, but were repelled by the Ming knights beside him. In just a short moment, Ma Bao had cut a bloody path through the enemy formation.

Seeing this, the morale of the Ming army soldiers was greatly boosted, and they shouted loudly:

"General Chang is mighty! General Chang is mighty!"

They followed Chang Denggui's footsteps like a tide and launched a more fierce charge towards the Qing army positions.

Although the Qing army tried its best to resist, its defense line had become loose under the attack of Chang Denggui.

Saige looked at Chang Denggui's powerful figure and was furious. He waved his spear and rode his horse to the front line himself, trying to turn the tide of the battle.

However, when his eyes briefly met Chang Denggui's on the battlefield, his anger turned into a shudder.

He could see that the other party was no ordinary person, but a true battlefield commander.

The blood and sweat of the soldiers from both armies intertwined together, making the mountain road look shocking.

The fierce confrontation between the Ming army and the Qing army continued, the outcome was undecided, but every moment that passed made the Qing army increasingly disadvantaged.

Although they were courageous, the Qing army's combat effectiveness was gradually weakening due to unfavorable terrain and fatigue.

(End of this chapter)