With 100,000 elite soldiers at the start, what should you call me?

……

Jianning Prefecture.

Command.

After a day of discussions, the advisors reached a strategic consensus.

Chief of the General Staff Yao Bing gave the final summary.

"The objective of this operation, in addition to annihilating the main Qing army force in Jianyang, is for our army to unanimously decide to divide our forces into three routes after victory."

"The first route will go to Shaowu, capture Shaowu Prefecture, Guangze, Shanguan and other cities and passes, forming a barrier to prevent the Qing army from sending troops to harass us from the west of Jiangxi."

"The second route defeated the main Qing army force in Jianyang, pursued the main Qing army force along Chongxi, and captured important passes such as Jianyang, Chong'an, Fenshuiguan, Gukouguan, and Jiaolingguan, forming a barrier facing the north of Jiangxi."

"The third route will advance northeast to attack Pucheng and capture key passes leading to Zhejiang, such as Cenyang Pass and Xianxia Ridge."

The three-pronged attack aimed to seize the entire territory within Jianning Prefecture, while simultaneously establishing a defensive line in the north to expand the territory.

"This operation has many objectives beyond simply expanding territory."

"According to the frontline intelligence network, 100,000 Qing troops are stationed in Jianyang City, along with several important Qing figures, including Prince Gongshun Kong Youde, General Jingnan Chen Tai, former Governor-General of Zhejiang and Fujian Zhang Cunren, and dozens of other important officials."

"This battle was larger in scale and more difficult than the previous Xiaosongxi battle."

"Kong Youde, the Prince of Gongshun, was originally a general of the Ming Dynasty. He later surrendered to the Jurchens, who were then the Later Jin Dynasty. He brought advanced artillery technology to the barbaric Jurchens. The Tianyou Army under his command was the most powerful firearms unit in the Qing army."

"By defeating this army, our military will have more room and time to develop in the future."

"At the same time, it will let people around the world know about the existence of our new army, enhance our influence, recruit more talents from around the world, and take a more solid step towards the future."

"Next comes the assignment of tasks to each military unit."

"The first route is the responsibility of the Second Army of Longxiang and the Fifth Army of the New Army."

"The second route is the responsibility of the First Army of Longxiang, the Fourth Army of Longxiang, the Third Army of the New Army, the Fourth Army of the New Army, and the Eighth Army of the New Army."

"The third route is the responsibility of the Longxiang Third Army and the New Army Sixth Army."

After Yao Bing finished speaking, he bowed to Li Tian.

"Now that the tasks have been assigned, let the commanders of each army begin their operations."

"At the same time, the Ministry of Military Industry increased production, and the troops stationed in Jianning Prefecture did their best to dismantle more weapons to replenish ammunition for the front line."

"Yes, Commander."

Upon receiving the order from the General Staff, the commanders of each army corps immediately took action.

The commander-in-chief of the first route was Kong Yunfei, commander of the Fifth Army; the commander-in-chief of the second route was Chu Gang, commander of the Eighth Army; and the commander-in-chief of the third route was Li Jie, commander of the Sixth Army.

The new army acted swiftly, with its troops rapidly advancing to the front lines.

In the period leading up to the first shot being fired, the Ministry of Military Industry produced an additional 12 60mm mortars, over 2,400 mortars, over 12,000 steel helmets, and over 5,000 military shovels.

These supplies will be distributed appropriately to the various military units.

In addition to these advanced weapons, various weapons captured in Jianning Prefecture, including muskets, three-barreled guns, breech-loading cannons, and tiger-shaped cannons, were also sent to the front lines.

However, these firearms were still insufficient to equip the more than 80,000 troops.

But against the Qing army, they were able to crush them.

While Jianning Prefecture was actively preparing for war, the Qing army was also making preparations in full swing.

War between the two sides is inevitable.

Once war breaks out, the people in the surrounding villages will be the first to suffer.

The Qing army was not as humane as the New Army.

Before the war began, Kong Youde ordered his troops to plunder everywhere to boost morale, and at the same time collect food and commoners to fill the gaps.

From the failure of Kong Youde's mission to persuade Li Tian to surrender on behalf of the Qing Dynasty, to the gathering of troops to prepare for an attack.

It took about ten days to half a month.

The weather was sunny and cool that day, perfect for starting a war.

Before the battle began, Kong Youde stood on a high place, using his all-seeing eye to observe the military fortress of the new army, his brow still furrowed.

Ahead, a road was blocked by a simple barricade, clearly a checkpoint used to inspect passersby.

The road is flanked by low earthen slopes, the highest point of which is only two or three meters high, with a slope of about twenty degrees, which is relatively gentle.

The earthen slope was dug with crisscrossing trenches, stretching for miles, and between the trenches were several bunker-like buildings.

Built of bricks and stones, with only a narrow firing port exposed in the middle, it provides a commanding view of the entire battlefield while also allowing for firing.

To attack Jianning Prefecture, we must first capture the military fortifications in front.

This was the first time Kong Youde had ever built such a camp in the field.

Generally, trenches are dug and blockades are only carried out when a city is besieged.

This was the first time he had ever seen a military construction site blocking his way like this.

The terrain is not high, so if a cavalry charge is launched, there will be almost no resistance. Apart from the soldiers in the trenches, it is not as difficult to attack as a fortified camp with high walls.

However, to be on the safe side, Kong Youde chose to test the waters first to see what was going on between the two sides.

"I want to see how they think they can stop the advance of my Qing army with just some low trenches."

"Order Ma Xiong to lead an army to charge the enemy."

The messenger immediately relayed the order to General Ma Xiong.

Before long, a force advanced toward the fortress.

At the very front were ordinary people captured from the surrounding villages, carrying wooden planks and sandbags in their arms.

They walked forward, trembling and unsteady.

Their role was to fill in the trenches and serve as a human wall.

Behind them were the Qing army's shield cart troops, followed by swordsmen, archers, and firearmsmen.

The first line of defense stationed here is Wei Desheng, the battalion commander of the Shenji Battalion of the First Army of Longxiang.

Two thousand Shenji Battalion soldiers lay prone in the trenches, holding the latest Jian'an-type weapons, aiming at the front and ready to fire.

Meanwhile, the artillery positions in the trenches also turned their cannons to face forward.

However, the most eye-catching places were the rear platforms, which belonged to a special squad.

They were in groups of three, each carrying a state-of-the-art mortar.

The soldiers in the Shenji Battalion were mostly surrendered prisoners of war, as well as locally recruited soldiers.

After more than a month of military shooting training, while they may not be accurate shooters, almost everyone can perform basic operations such as bolt-action and magazine changes.

However, not everyone could get a Jian'an gun; only one thousand Jian'an guns, eight mortars, and more than five thousand steel helmets were allocated.

Chu Gang, as the commander of the second route, directly gave all the Jian'an-made wares to the Shenji Battalion of the Longxiang First Army.

In addition to the Shenji Battalion of the First Army of Longxiang, Li Weiguo, the battalion commander of the Third Battalion of the Second Regiment of the Third Army of the New Army, also defended the area with them.

"The enemy is coming. Old Wei, guard your line. I'm going back now." Li Weiguo patted Wei Desheng on the shoulder.

Li Weiguo clicked his tongue.

"You little brat, you want to play with those eight mortars sent from above, don't you?"

Li Weiguo chuckled and did not deny it; Commander Chu Gang had entrusted him with the management of all eight mortars.

Back on the defensive line, Li Weiguo went to the artillery position.

The eight mortars have been adjusted to the correct angles according to operating procedures and are ready to be loaded with ammunition at any time.

"Battalion Commander, the enemy has entered within 100 meters of the position." A soldier with binoculars reported the enemy's distance at all times.

Li Weiguo sneered; "Let these natives see real artillery fire."

"fire!"