Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3725 Before the sky darkens and rains, thoroughly clean the mulberry fields.

Because of this urgent report, the fighting in Gongxian was temporarily slowed down.

There were relatively few connections within the army to the so-called "Duke of Jin," but the possibility could not be ruled out. Zhang Liao and Xu Chu made a special trip to both inside and outside the army, summoning military officers and soldiers to reiterate Fei Qian's orders, especially the importance of obtaining merit through legitimate means, which received the support of the vast majority of soldiers.

The risks to the military have been eliminated, but in any major case, many people will inevitably be implicated.

Especially in the case of joint recommendation, it may even implicate some "key" figures.

Fei Zhen's timely reporting of the news was the right thing to do. Otherwise, if the matter had spread, some people who initially didn't want to get involved might have joined in after seeing the official's tacit approval...

But this chilling aura of killing intent is precisely the potent medicine that the rear must take at this moment.

Not only was the timing inappropriate, but the very word "Jin" itself made Fei Qian feel uneasy.

The State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period was relatively long-lived, having enjoyed its glory days, before being divided up by three other states.

The Western Jin and Eastern Jin dynasties were a complete joke, and the Later Jin dynasty was utterly worthless...

During the Western Jin Dynasty, most of the Sima clan hoped that they could last for five or six hundred years like the Jin state during the Spring and Autumn Period. Unfortunately, times had changed. Like a snowball rolling downhill, the pace of the times would accelerate, and if they couldn't keep up, they would be beaten.

After dealing with some military affairs, Pang Tong, Zhang Liao, and others returned to Gong County in front of them.

In order to ensure the smooth progress of the massive and fragile labor transfer from Wen County to Guanzhong, like protecting a delicate bloodline crossing enemy territory, Fei Qian had to exert continuous and strong pressure on Cao Cao's army from the central route, namely the direction of Gong County.

This is beyond doubt, because only by making Cao Cao's army feel the deadly threat that the central defense line could be breached at any time can they be forced to concentrate their main attention, their elite troops, and their precious resources on the central defense.

In this way, the external military pressure faced by large-scale, medium- to long-distance civilian transfers in areas such as the Upper Dang region of Hanoi can be minimized, and the operation can be relatively safe.

The collapse of the earthen ramparts, in a significant sense, meant that Fei Qian had cleverly used artillery, but this did not mean that artillery was invincible.

Fei Qian's gaze swept over the model representing artillery on the sand table, his thoughts wandering.

He knew better than anyone that in the early days of the gunpowder era, the power of artillery coexisted with its enormous limitations.

It can be a powerful hammer that shatters fortified city walls, smashing seemingly insurmountable shells with its tremendous sound, flash, and impact, thus breaking the will of the defenders. But to truly breach the flesh-and-blood defenses behind the walls, to truly capture every inch of ground, to mop up the remaining enemy, and to consolidate the gains, one must rely on infantry!
Even in later years when artillery became the god of the battlefield, infantry still had to occupy positions; artillery alone was not enough.

Just as we must prevent the "Duke of Jin" from submitting memorials seeking shortcuts and opportunism in the rear, we must also eliminate in the frontline army those who want to conquer the world by relying on artillery, or those who think that everything will be fine as long as they have artillery...

Those infantry and cavalrymen wielding swords, spears, bows, and crossbows, rigorously trained and possessing unwavering will, were the formidable iron fist of the Flying Cavalry!
After the roar of artillery fire subsided, the advance and close combat of the infantry became the ultimate force that determined victory or defeat.

Human talent is the most important factor; all swords, spears, and cannons are merely tools!
Therefore, the idea that possessing artillery from the gunpowder era could determine the outcome of the battlefield is extremely naive and dangerous. It ignores the complexity of war and the decisive human factor.

Regarding the use of artillery, Fei Qian reiterated the limitations on it: "It is not a spear for offensive attacks to break through the enemy, but a hammer for breaching obstacles and destroying strongholds, and a signal to confuse and disrupt the enemy's mind."

He picked up the small wooden model representing his own artillery unit from the sand table and placed it steadily at the front of his own position.

"A direct assault on the main gate of Gongxian, using artillery fire to suppress the enemy and destroy the fortifications and watchtowers, thus clearing the way for infantry to swarm the city, is a feasible method. However, the costs would be enormous. The consumption of cannonballs and gunpowder, the delays, and the heavy casualties that infantry would inevitably suffer while scaling the walls during lulls in the artillery fire would all be heavy losses."

Fei Qian paused, his gaze sweeping over Pang Tong. 'Shi Yuan's earlier suggestion of flanking and attacking the flanks was intended to be a surprise attack, avoiding the enemy's strength and striking their weakness—it was a brilliant strategy…but…'

Fei Qian traced Pang Tong's envisioned flanking route on the sand table with his finger. "This strategy is fraught with variables and risks. The flanking route is long and requires covert marching, making it easy for Cao Cao's scouts to detect. Even if we successfully reach the flank, if Cao Cao has a fortified position there, or can promptly deploy troops to intercept us, the surprise attack could easily become bogged down in a difficult battle, caught in a dilemma."

Indeed, artillery during the gunpowder era, with its unprecedented destructive power, completely shook and reshaped the form of warfare, ushering in a new era. However, just as Fei Qian had been considering, the transformation of the Han people's mindset was not something that could be achieved overnight, nor could it be accomplished instantly by relying on just one or two events, or one or two new types of weapons.

This is a complex, systemic, and profound transformation driven by technological innovation, which in turn leads to advancements in military thought, reforms in the logistics system, and even a chain reaction in politics and the entire social model.

Fei Qian glanced at Pang Tong, who smiled but said nothing.

"The strength of artillery," Fei Qian continued, "lies in its ability to destroy strong defenses! It is most effective against tall, vertical, brick and stone city walls."

Fei Qian thought of the Western Regions, and then of the even more distant Central Asia.

In traditional, low-intensity cold weapon warfare, high walls and deep moats were undoubtedly the greatest nemesis of temporarily conscripted "peasant soldiers" who lacked training and siege skills.

Without knowledge or equipment, it was virtually impossible for peasant soldiers to improvise complex siege weapons.

Therefore, until the Middle Ages in Europe, castle walls were built higher and higher, with increasingly pointed peaks, and the pursuit of ultimate vertical defense remained the mainstream aesthetic of defensive fortifications...

Until the cast iron shells propelled by gunpowder mercilessly smashed it to pieces.

Fei Qian turned to Zhang Liao and said, "Wen Yuan, when the artillery bombarded the earthen ramparts, you inspected the battlefield multiple times. Where were they easily damaged, and where were they difficult to breach?"

Zhang Liao pondered for a moment and said, "If cannons strike bricks and stones, stone chips will fly everywhere, walls will collapse, and bricks will shatter... But if they land on rammed earth, they will only bounce once or twice and then remain still..."

Fei Qian nodded and said, "The effectiveness of artillery is greatly reduced when it encounters low, thick earthen ramparts."

Fei Qian pointed to the location of the simulated earthen ramparts on the sand table, saying, "The defeat of Cao Cao's army in the battle of earthen ramparts was not solely due to artillery, but rather to the effective coordination of our infantry and cavalry, and their appropriate tactics! Therefore, anyone in the army who still claims that artillery can conquer the world should be reprimanded, and those who repeat this offense should be punished!"

The deterrent effect of artillery on Cao Cao's army, in terms of sound, atmosphere, and terrifying destructive power, will gradually decrease as the number of artillery pieces used decreases.

When Cao Cao's soldiers first witnessed a terrifying explosion, they would immediately scatter and flee. But after experiencing it many times, they would simply hunch their shoulders and hide...

This was already demonstrated in the battle of the earthen ramparts.

Pang Tong and Zhang Liao both nodded in deep agreement.

The victory in the battle of the earthen ramparts was the result of a combination of factors. Artillery was a catalyst and an amplifier, but it was by no means the sole determining factor.

Fei Qian glanced at the two men, his gaze testing them, and then asked, "If Wen Yuan were in Cao Cao's army, and wished to withstand the might of our artillery, what would you do?"

Zhang Liao answered almost without hesitation: "First and foremost, we must reinforce the walls! We must compact them layer by layer with thick layers of earth, wood, stone, and sandbags… Secondly, we must seal the city gates! We must completely fill the gate openings with massive stones, huge logs, and sandbags, leaving no gaps…"

He spoke quickly, but stopped abruptly halfway through, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes. He looked up sharply at Fei Qian, "My lord, you mean the gates of Gong County... Cao Cao's army may have already prepared in advance and blocked the gates?"

"Excellent!" Fei Qian's eyes revealed a hint of approval. He pointed to the location of the west gate of Gong County on the sand table. "At least, the west gate will be blocked! The lesson of Cao Zilian is not far off; how could they leave such an obvious opening for our artillery to use its power again?"

Fei Qian could even imagine that after the earthen ramparts collapsed, Cao Hong would immediately use whips and sticks to drive the soldiers and civilians to pour cartloads of earth, stones, and even human flesh and blood into the city gate, causing them to scramble and block the entrance...

Artillery has a devastating effect on tall, towering stone walls.

This has been proven by the battles fought in the Western Regions. However, in China, the tradition of building city walls differed from that of Western stone fortresses from the very beginning, following the rammed earth wall route.

Note the route; this is important.

The type of shot that can sweep across a large area is a recent development. Moreover, shot will leave more impurities on the inner wall of the gun barrel, and will also cause uneven heat and stress distribution inside and outside the gun barrel...

Some craftsmen suggested that it could be done like a hand grenade, by pre-filling the shell with gunpowder and carving patterns, but this would be too time-consuming and difficult to control the appropriate degree.

There have even been instances where accidental explosions have resulted in horrific injuries...

Historically, examples of battles where solid shot from artillery directly caused large-scale structural collapses of city walls, instantly creating breaches, were actually rare in the early days of gunpowder. The direct physical destructive power of solid shot against civil engineering works required time to accumulate and intensive bombardment.

But there is no doubt that artillery has an extremely significant value in field battles.

It can inflict devastating and indefensible damage on the enemy's meticulously arranged and well-prepared dense formations.

This was proven in the Battle of Hedong. When Cao Cao's elite troops attempted to form a battle formation to meet the Flying Cavalry, they were suddenly bombarded by artillery fire and scattered, creating excellent conditions for the cavalry to charge.

In the unique static warfare of earthen rampart defense, artillery, a weapon with a range far exceeding that of bows and arrows, can carry out long-range strikes relatively safely from outside the effective counter-attack range of the enemy's crossbows.

Therefore, the key issue for the Flying Cavalry to integrate artillery units into their combat capabilities and achieve organic integration and improvement is to make the necessary use of their strengths and avoid their weaknesses.

This is why Fei Qian summoned Pang Tong and Zhang Liao to discuss matters, and why Pang Tong deliberately acted rather "dull-witted," because Zhang Liao was the core of the command in how to mix and use various types of troops on the battlefield.

If everything was planned and thought out by Fei Qian and Pang Tong, and Zhang Liao only passively carried out the orders, then artillery would not be able to go any further in future battles...

Artillery can suppress enemy firepower on city walls, preventing them from easily showing themselves, and can also interfere with enemy troop movements and reinforcements. It can even conduct relatively precise sniping to destroy specific arrow towers or command points.

It provided valuable cover for infantry maneuvering, deployment, and digging fortifications.

However, Zhang Liao needed to summarize all of this and, as a frontline commander, pass on this experience to the junior and middle-ranking military academy officers...

Because of the military changes it brings, its impact is two-way.

Both sides on the battlefield, whether attacking or defending, will be forced to adapt, learn, and counterattack through lessons learned from blood and fire.

On Fei Qian's side, in order to make full use of the power of artillery, he has begun to separate artillery into an independent force, as a new and important technical branch of the military.

Its status is constantly rising, and in the future, with the evolution of artillery technology...

Will artillery change according to the needs of the battlefield, or will it be developed towards lighter designs?

Or should we move towards a route with a longer range?
Or is it simply a pursuit of greater power and more brutal destructive force?

These requirements not only place higher demands on metal smelting, but also require specialized artillery technicians to possess more knowledge, including but not limited to range finding, aiming, and propellant loading, and also necessitate a complex logistical support system...

It might even force the evolution of infantry manuals, leading to the development of specialized artillery training courses for infantry, and so on.

How should cavalry coordinate with artillery?
It's not just about the new warhorses brought in from the rear, and their ability to adapt to the deafening roar of artillery, but also about which cavalrymen should be mindful of their positioning so as not to block the artillery line, and so on...

In addition to the coordination between soldiers and troops on the front lines, adjustments also need to be made in the rear based on changes in firearms tactics.

For example, casting a qualified heavy cannon requires a huge amount of high-quality iron, charcoal, and the labor of craftsmen...

Transporting these heavy iron contraptions, each weighing thousands of kilograms, requires a large convoy and strong draft horses and mules...

Maintenance is even more complicated; the slightest mistake could lead to a barrel explosion, requiring a significant investment in advanced chemical technologies for moisture and rust prevention…

This is a money-devouring behemoth!
But it can also be a huge lever to drive the overall improvement of science and technology in China!
If Fei Qian does well, then everything will enter a positive cycle within the Chinese Empire!

Technology ensures victory in war; armies consolidate occupied territories, acquire more resources, further advance technology, increase population, resources begin to dwindle, and expansion resumes...

China is a vast and resource-rich land.

That's all bullshit!

China lacks everything!
Indeed, China possesses the most extensive arable plains in East Asia, as well as abundant water systems and diverse products, which truly forms the material basis for its vast territory and abundant resources.

but!

What truly binds people is never the land itself, but the unfair distribution of resources and the lack of opportunities for mobility!

Anyone who uses the excuse of "vast territory and abundant resources" to cover up the fact that ordinary people at the bottom of society lack the means of production and daily life is either stupid or malicious!

Just like the United States uses average income to cover up the gap between the rich and the poor.

This method of suppressing public demand, centralizing control of economic resources, cutting off the channels for private individuals to acquire resources through trade, and strengthening dependence on land is a shackle that has been gradually transformed from the Confucian idea of ​​"attachment to one's homeland" and the idea of ​​"the ruler dies for the state, the officials die for the people, and the scholars die for the system" into a burden on the common people!
Confucius initially hoped that "the ruler should die for the state, the high officials should die for the people, and the scholars should die for the system," but it is clear that whether it was the ruler, the high officials, or the scholars, they all hoped that it wouldn't be them who died...

So later, even when the state collapsed, the ruler could still enjoy his newfound freedom. For officials to change allegiances was simply a matter of moving to a different place. As for the aristocratic families, they considered passing down their knowledge of the classics as their primary responsibility; family lineage was paramount…

China's feudal dynasties heavily relied on small-scale peasant farming for taxation, but excessive exploitation inevitably led to peasant uprisings. Therefore, a balance was needed: promoting the idea of ​​"abundant resources" to stabilize public sentiment, while simultaneously using the household registration system (Lijia) to bind the people to the land. Add to this information control, selective propaganda, and a monopoly on knowledge…

For example, the Qing Dynasty with its long braids stipulated in its laws that anyone who privately possessed a map would be executed!

Moreover, this leads to many absurd behaviors among the Chinese people, who, despite the official perception of a vast and resource-rich land over thousands of years, actually live in poverty and hardship.

For example, on the one hand, they fail to distinguish between good and bad "guests," insisting on being generous and lavish in entertaining them, even to the point of going bankrupt and trying to save face; on the other hand, they reinforce the collective memory of hunger within the family, fostering a moralistic blackmail of frugality, criticizing the wastefulness of the lower classes while turning a blind eye to the extravagance of the upper classes...

At the same time, due to their anxiety about resources, the Chinese people, under this theory, tend to choose the path of involution, constantly squeezing out the living environment of their fellow citizens, rather than expanding outwards!
Because China was the "Celestial Empire," and China was "vast and rich in resources," while the surrounding areas were all "barbarians" and "barren"!
So what can we do?
We're left with no choice but to compete internally!

Involution, the breeding of treacherous elements, and land annexation led to an increase in displaced people, driving up the cost of suppression. The dynasty could no longer acquire resources from outside, so it could only increase taxes internally, leading to a new round of annexation...

The essence of dynastic change cycles is actually the extreme imbalance between the rich and the poor and the complete collapse of the resource allocation system!
Now, the cannons are not only shattering the bricks and stones on the city walls, but Fei Qian also wants to use them to shatter the shackles that have bound the Chinese people for thousands of years!
How to use it, how to fully showcase this groundbreaking weapon, instead of blindly praising it and then condemning it outright when problems are discovered...

This is the key to Fei Qian's next attack on Gong County.

Fei Qian glanced at the generals in his tent, especially Zhang Liao, who were still somewhat unclear about the use of artillery, and finally said in a deep voice: "Tomorrow at dawn, we will muster our troops and attack Gongxian! All officers, line up and discuss the use of artillery! We will analyze the results after the battle and write an article!"

Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, and the others exchanged glances, then bowed in unison, replying, "We obey your command!"