Late Ming Dynasty: Special Forces in 1645

Managing a team is not an easy task. Before his time travel, the highest rank Li Chengming ever held was company commander.

Later, although the rank was raised to battalion level, the number of people in charge actually decreased, because a commando team only had a maximum of about ten people.

Moreover, in the previous life, there was already a mature system in place. Managing a team only required managing daily training and combat, while food, drink, and other necessities, as well as logistics, were handled by another team.

Here, Li Chengming had to figure out how to feed, clean up, provide logistical supplies, establish discipline and systems, and develop strategies for a thousand people.

As for the other assault team members, they said they'd let the captain decide on these troublesome matters; once he'd made his decision, he could give the orders for them to carry out...

Therefore, Li Chengming said that he is not only tired recently, but also very annoyed!

The ten days of training passed quickly, and the new army's training began to look quite professional.

Li Chengming summoned the medic Song Yourong and asked, "I heard you're an expert marksman. How's your marksmanship?"

The "gun" here does not refer to a firearm, but rather to a long spear used as a melee weapon.

Song Yourong replied, "Just some family traditions."

Li Chengming didn't understand: "Family tradition? Didn't you say you come from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners?"

Song Yourong nodded: "We come from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. Since ancient times, medicine and martial arts have been inseparable. My family's martial arts tradition is marksmanship. Captain, you don't know, but when I was in military school, I performed a set of marksmanship and instantly won over several female officers at the school..."

Song Yourong spoke at length about his glorious history at military academy.

"Stop, stop," Li Cheng interrupted Song Yourong. "Your marksmanship is impressive, that's for sure. But is it the kind of marksmanship that can be effective in battle?"

Song Yourong nodded and said, "Almost all marksmanship comes from military formations, and the one I learned is the same. My great-grandfather even used it to kill Japanese soldiers back then."

Li Chengming said, "Alright, later you go and compile a few simple and practical spear techniques suitable for spears, and then pass them on."

There is little difference between spears and lances; strictly speaking, there is no detailed distinction. Therefore, in battle, spear techniques are also suitable for lances.

Song Yourong pondered and said, "If it's for the new army to train, then it would be best to combine marksmanship with bayonet techniques. The three-point thrusting technique is the most basic, with the force concentrated at the tip, thrusting at the head, chest, and abdomen..."

Finally, Li Chengming made the final decision: "You'll be fully in charge of spear training. Remember to keep it simple and practical!"

After all, the new army will soon be experiencing real combat. It is not enough to just practice formations and drills. They need to practice not only marksmanship but also swordsmanship!

But we have to take it one step at a time; training can't be rushed.

As for money and provisions...

As Li Chengming looked at the map on the tablet, he recalled what he knew about history:

"Soon, Li Guo's army will join forces with Gao Yigong's army, and then they will attack Jingzhou together..."

Jingzhou was a city with high walls and thick walls, making it difficult to attack. Historically, Li Guo attacked it once with tens of thousands of troops but failed to capture it.

This is Jingmen, which is closer to us. As the gateway to Jingzhou, it is also a strategic location fought over by military strategists, but it is not as important as Jingzhou itself, and the garrison there is certainly not as large.

If we can take Jingmen..."

Li Chengming repeatedly considered the possibility of taking Jingmen in his mind, becoming more and more excited as he thought about it:

"If we capture Jingmen, as a vital transportation hub and a strategically important location, we will have an abundance of money, provisions, and soldiers."

While it's nowhere near as good as Jingzhou, it's enough for us at this stage.

If these resources are fully utilized, then one will have the capital to become a powerful force in the region.

One person's wisdom is limited, but many people's wisdom is superior. Li Chengming summoned the other commando members to discuss this matter.

Commando Liang Zicheng asked, "Captain, when in history would Li Guo and Gao Yigong have attacked Jingmen?"

Li Chengming thought for a moment and said, "About a month later, but I don't quite remember the exact time."

Observer Yan Huidong asked, "Although Jingmen is not as powerful as Jingzhou, it is still a large city and not easy to attack. There is Dangyang nearby, which is a small city. Should we attack Dangyang first?"

Li Chengming shook his head: "Li Guo's troops are very close to Dangyang. Dangyang is already in his hands, so we won't get involved."

News of Li Zicheng's continued existence had already spread, and Gao Yigong's troops were converging on Li Guo's forces. Judging from the rebel army's strategic intentions, anyone could see that they were planning to attack Jingzhou next.

Both Jingmen and Jingzhou had just surrendered to the Qing Dynasty and were currently short of troops. The Qing Dynasty would definitely order the nearby garrison to be transferred to Jingzhou.

As for Jingmen today, it's possible that it has already been abandoned by the Manchus.

And this is precisely our opportunity.

We don't want to occupy the territory, just money, supplies, and a small number of able-bodied men. We don't need anything else. We can leave two days after we capture it!

Liang Zicheng said with a wry smile, "Robbing and running away, it feels like we're becoming a kind of bandit."

Li Chengming sighed, "You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household. We have over a thousand mouths to feed. For the sake of money and supplies, it's worth a try. As for the rest..."

This area is far from peaceful; it's constantly rife with war. If you become too powerful, you'll inevitably attract attention. The stable territory we need isn't here!

Sniper Chen Shaoping said, "What the captain said makes a lot of sense. Jingmen City is so close to us, and the garrison is so weak. If we don't seize this opportunity, we'll only suffer the consequences."

Machine gunner He Mingqiu also said, "I also think we can attack Jingmen City, but we need to do a good job of preliminary reconnaissance and make a good plan."

Li Chengming nodded: "We need to act quickly, take Jingmen City as soon as possible, and leave before attracting the attention of other forces."

After Li Chengming's explanation, the crowd finally supported taking Jingmen City.

Then Li Chengming ordered, "Assault team member, observer, and sniper, the three of you will set off early tomorrow morning with a few quick-thinking men to conduct reconnaissance."

The assault soldier, observer, and sniper replied: "Yes, sir!"

......

The next day, Li Chengming heard Liang Zicheng's voice on the walkie-talkie: "Captain, we have reached the vicinity of Jingmen City."

Without a satellite link, the walkie-talkie's communication range wouldn't be this far, but with the small radio brought by the communications officer as a repeater, Li Chengming can still communicate with Liangzicheng, which is more than 60 kilometers away.

Li Chengming: "How is the situation now?"

Liang Zicheng: "Jingmen isn't as tall as I imagined, but without siege equipment, even a thousand or two thousand soldiers armed with cold weapons would have no chance of taking it!"

Li Chengming: "We have firearms, so pay close attention to the terrain and find weak points."

It also involves reconnaissance of the garrison's troop deployment, the local environment, and potential interference from nearby forces.

Finally, we need to find a suitable retreat route.

The rest of you should take the initiative and conduct thorough investigations.

After hanging up the walkie-talkie, Liang Zicheng said to the observer and sniper, "Did you hear the captain's instructions? We'll just do as he says."

"Mingqiu, you can deploy the drone for reconnaissance later. Shaoping, find a good spot for sniping, and then try to take out their general first."

Sniper Chen Shaoping: "So, what about you? You'll be leading the charge up the city walls, right? After all, that's what assault troops do."

Liang Zicheng: "If we still have to rely on scaling the city walls to capture Jingmen, what kind of situation would that be?"

Chen Shaoping: "Do you have a better idea?"

Liang Zicheng: "Not for now, but I believe the captain will definitely find a way."

He Mingqiu: "The captain's got it tough. He has to make all the decisions. I've seen him grow gray hair in the last ten days or so!"

Liang Zicheng: "Then why don't you share the burden with the captain?"

He Mingqiu: "...Never mind, it's safer and more reliable for the captain to make the decision."