Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3726 Build threshing grounds in September, harvest crops in October.

At dawn, a thin mist shrouded the battlefield, as if a leaden gray shroud were wrapped around Gongxian.

A siege battle, personally "demonstrated" by Fei Qian, began in Gong County.

For Cao Cao's army, even without engaging in open field battles with the Flying Cavalry, there was still the problem of their initial momentum waning. This problem was amplified in the Battle of the Earth Fortress.

Now that Cao Cao's army saw that the Flying Cavalry had brought out their cannons again, they instinctively began to avoid them on the battlefield.

"Which way is the cannon pointing?!"

Where are they going to attack today?!

"Don't push here! Go over there! Over there!"

Cao's soldiers were in a state of chaos. They craned their necks to see the general direction of the cannons of the Flying Cavalry Army, while estimating the possible direction of the incoming shells. Then they took cover to the sides and in their defensive positions.

In contrast to Cao Cao's soldiers, the military academy officers stood at the rear of the passageway, merely peeking out to look around and shouting: "Stand still! Don't run around! Did you hear me! Stand still!"

After repeated shelling, it was proven that the tunnel was the safest location. Naturally, the military academy sergeants seized these more "advantageous" areas, which allowed them to show that they were bravely standing on the front line, but at the same time, they were still a little distance away from the actual front line.

It's roughly equivalent to being on the front lines "in principle".

Cao Hong dared not stand in the range of the cannon fire, because under the cannon, all people are equal. Whether they are from noble families or commoners, whether they are learned or ignorant, as long as they touch the edge of the cannonball, they will be torn to pieces!
Therefore, the on-site command was conducted by these Cao Army military academies who were "in principle" on the front lines.

But if even the Cao army's military academy officers were standing in the relatively "safe" passageway, how could they expect the ordinary soldiers of the Cao army to remain at their posts?
There are regulations, there are military laws, but when it comes to "in principle," there's nothing at all.

……

……

Artillery Captain Zhao Hong stood to the side and behind the cannon, looking up slightly at the corner tower of Gong County.

According to the General of the Cavalry's plan, before attacking Gongxian, all corner towers, arrow towers, and city gate towers within the range of artillery should be attacked first.

These corner towers and arrow towers were mostly made of brick or stone, or half-brick and stone, which were relatively weak compared to the rammed earth city walls. Moreover, they were important observation points and firing positions for the defending troops.

Destroying them would greatly reduce the defenders' vision and long-range attack capabilities.

The reason why the city gate tower was not chosen first was because the city gate tower is in the center. If the cannons went directly into the center, there would be a risk of being attacked by the corner towers on both sides.

Ballistae and catapults mounted on the city walls all had a chance of killing the gunners operating the cannons...

"Rattan shield bearers! Ready! Move!"

Just as Zhao Hong was examining the corner tower of Gongxian and figuring out how many angles and how much gunpowder to use, he heard the infantry captain next to him shout.

Immediately, on command, two foot soldiers carried a giant rattan shield and moved forward.

This thing was used by Cao Cao's army when they attacked Tongguan, and now the Flying Cavalry is using it instead...

The colossal rattan shield was about the height of two people and the width of three horses, constructed with a wooden frame and rattan as its warp and weft. It was a massive protective shield with no offensive capabilities; it was entirely for defense, capable of withstanding damage from crossbow bolts and stone projectiles.

"Lin! Lin! Lin!"

The infantry captain shouted as he advanced, looking at the pre-marked points on the ground, and yelled, "Mountain!"

The foot soldiers carrying the giant rattan shields shouted and placed the shields in their designated positions, then began to support and secure them.

"Alright! Let's move forward!" Zhao Hong waved his hand. "Get ready! One, two, three! Go!"

As the rattan shields advanced, the artillerymen also began to push the cannons upwards.

……

……

As the rattan shield troops and artillery units advanced, the other infantry formations also sprang into action.

Those cavalry squads scattered elsewhere, suddenly approaching Gongxian and then quickly moving away again, were elite scouts.

They were in charge of the initial reconnaissance.

Just like the route that the rattan shield and artillery units are currently taking, it was a road that these scouts had scouted out yesterday, a road without traps and marked out.

In addition to scouting the area around Gong County, these scouts also served as early warning systems for the battlefield, detecting Cao Cao's troops on the city walls of Gong County and predicting the location of reserve forces within the city...

They acted like active eyes, gradually uncovering the specific deployment of Cao Cao's army and then compiling the information into the central command tent of the Flying Cavalry.

Infantry squares and cavalry formations were also lined up on the battle line, waiting.

The infantry and cavalry positioned slightly behind were mainly there to guard against Cao Cao's army suddenly opening the city gates and attacking and destroying the cannons, so their ranks were all facing the city gates.

The corner tower targeted by the artillery was located between these two city gates. No matter which gate Cao Cao's army came out from, they would inevitably be intercepted and annihilated by the infantry and cavalry of the Flying Cavalry Army.

Behind these forward positions was the central army formation led by Fei Qian and Zhang Liao.

This kind of multi-service, multi-coordination requires precise timing and order for the deployment of each array, in order to build an orderly war machine, which undoubtedly places extremely high demands on the generals.

Fei Qian believed that Zhang Liao could do this.

Zhang Babai's potential extends far beyond that small bridge at Xiaoyaojin...

This time Fei Qian personally directed the operation; next time, Zhang Liao will take charge.

After Zhang Liao mastered the skill, Xu Chu, who was standing to the side, was also eager to try.

Anyway, Gongxian has six corner towers, twelve arrow towers, and four gate towers, which is enough...

For the Han "natives," the concept of "overall planning" might be completely unfamiliar, but that didn't stop them from learning it and instinctively mastering some basic overall planning skills.

Large-scale engineering projects, such as river management and palace construction, already existed in the Han Dynasty, indicating the existence of rudimentary practices in overall planning, though these were not formalized into a theoretical framework. In particular, these practices were not disseminated beyond a small group of craftsmen and scholars. Therefore, the key was not to "teach new things" to Zhang Liao and others, but to help them "understand the old" and summarize the patterns found in their own experience.

The saying goes, "Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; the principles of labor and service are contained within this."

Fei Qian slowly spoke to Zhang Liao and the generals and officers of the central army beside him.

"Building city walls and digging canals requires tens of thousands of laborers; transporting grain and fodder involves a constant stream of cattle and horses. The wise understand the essentials, while the inept toil and waste twice the effort. Why is this? Because the timing is not right, resources are not balanced, and manpower is not distributed evenly."

"This is what is called the method of overall planning."

There are three essential points. The first is "division of duties."

"For example, when preparing a banquet, roasting a pig takes three hours, brewing wine takes five days, and grilling fish takes one quarter of an hour. If a clumsy cook follows this order, the banquet will be over in ten days; a wise cook will first brew the wine, then roast the pig, and finally grill the fish sashimi, completing the meal in half a day."

This is what is meant by "distinguishing between urgent and non-urgent matters, and acting accordingly."

The second point is "order".

"In the past, when King Yu guided the Huai River, he always dredged the flood channels before building dikes. Why? If the dikes were built first, the laborers would be trapped in the marshes, and the timber would be submerged in the silt. Therefore, those who manage river works today should have the quarrying and silt removal carried out simultaneously, so that the stones can arrive at the right time when the waterways are clear, thus saving the labor of returning empty-handed."

This is what is meant by "later events depend on earlier events, like a continuous stream of water."

The third principle is "equal distribution of resources."

"For example, if there are 100,000 soldiers garrisoning the border, and winter clothing is not yet prepared, even if the weaving workshops in Chang'an were to supply it alone, they would still be unable to keep up, working all night long. It would be better to divide the supply among the three commanderies and kingdoms of the Auxiliary Regions, with Longyou contributing wool and cotton, Shu Commandery offering brocade and cloth, and Hedong providing hemp and flax. In a few months, clothing could be provided to the border regions, saving effort and doubling the results."

This is what is meant by "carrying a heavy load on a hundred shoulders, like ants carrying millet."

"Rivers are like this, and so are battle formations. Observing battle formations is like observing the stars; when the North Star is fixed, the other celestial bodies follow their order; when Mars is in motion, the astronomer must be urged. We must ensure that people have no moment's rest, and that resources do not accumulate, then a nine-ren-high platform can be completed in a hundred days, and a thousand-mile-long canal can be built without wasting ten thousand coins!"

"Once one principle is understood, all principles become clear. This is not a mysterious method, but rather the way of overall planning for a craftsman!"

As they were talking, the blue reserve flags on the front lines were raised one after another and fluttered in the wind.

Fei Qian's gaze swept across the area, and seeing that all the pre-arranged troop lines were ready, he turned slightly to ask the guard beside him, "How long will it take?"

The guard glanced at the water clock and called out, "One and a half quarters!"

Fei Qian nodded, then signaled to begin the battle.

……

……

"Red flag! The red flag has been raised!"

The artilleryman next to Zhao Hong shouted a reminder.

Zhao Hong nodded, reached out and lifted the wooden board on the gunpowder cart next to him, skillfully reached inside, picked up a piece of gunpowder cake, and examined it from top to bottom.

The gunpowder cart was specially made; the wooden planks were not only painted but also lined with oilcloth and filled with sawdust and wheat bran.

Between the wooden planks were pieces of gunpowder cakes.

One piece equals one jin (500 grams).

The loose gunpowder was in another gunpowder container.

There is a wooden spoon next to the jar; one spoonful is one ounce.

There was a distance between the gunpowder and the cannon, and then another distance on the other side of the cannon before the fire pot.

A gunner stands beside the fire pot, ready to be deployed at any moment.

He was responsible for lighting the fire, as well as preventing dangerous items such as matchlock ropes, torches, and fire pots from threatening the gunpowder, and ensuring that other artillerymen's clothing was not accidentally ignited.

Zhao Hong felt the hardness of the gunpowder with his fingertips, as if he were holding a dark star about to explode.

"Dry cloth! Clean the viscera!"

Zhao Hong, holding the gunpowder, roared.

Because it was the first test firing, the cannon's bore was actually quite clean, but Zhao Hong still gave the order to clean it, because he could not allow any residue to have any impact.

After all, during the transportation process, there's always the possibility that some sand or gravel might jump into the muzzle of the gun...

An artilleryman grabbed a long pole wrapped with thick strips of cloth and, at Zhao Hong's command, thrust it deep into the muzzle of the cannon, stirring it with force before pulling it out.

The dry cloth strips rubbed against the bronze inside the cannon barrel, producing a soft, crackling sound.

After firing the cannon, the cleaning cloth should be wetted.

Too much residue will affect the next launch; too little residue will prevent the effective removal of debris from the gun barrel.

The best approach was to quickly move the cleaning cloth in and out of the barrel. The water on the cloth would hiss and release a small puff of steam the moment it touched the scalding barrel wall. Then, the cloth would be forcefully pulled back, releasing a pungent mixture of sulfur and burnt metal odor, along with the grayish-black residue that had flaked off from the barrel due to thermal expansion and contraction. Therefore, every gunner around the cannon was neither truly "safe" nor "hygienic."

After each continuous artillery firing, these gunners not only have to bear the risks of gunpowder explosion and cannon barrel bursting, but also have to endure the chronic physiological damage.

For example, Zhao Hong had a particularly loud voice.

Loud voices don't necessarily mean they're arguing or angry; it simply means their hearing has been impaired to some extent.

"Add the medicine! Three catties!"

Zhao Hong roared, and then he was the first to put the gunpowder cake in his hand into the muzzle of the cannon, which had just been cleared of its barrel. Immediately, the second gunpowder-filling man also grabbed the other two gunpowder cakes and followed Zhao Hong's lead, putting them into the muzzle.

The gunpowder cake slid inside the bronze cannon barrel, falling into its dark depths with a soft rustling sound, like a venomous snake slithering through the grass.

……

……

Fei Qian did not expect to flatten Gongxian with artillery. His strategy was to use the accuracy of artillery, its ability to destroy specific targets, and its powerful psychological deterrent to systematically weaken Gongxian's defenses, undermine the will of the defenders, and ultimately create relatively favorable conditions for his infantry to approach and break through.

Therefore, controlling the rhythm of the entire battle is the focus of this exercise.

Fei Qian's gaze swept across the battlefield.

In addition to the coordination with other branches of the armed forces and artillery, it is also very important to continuously strengthen the artillery's rangefinding, aiming, loading, and maintenance skills.

Zhao Hong played a crucial role in this.

……

……

Reload!

The loader's heavy footsteps seemed to carry thunder.

The solid iron ball had a rough surface, covered with casting scars, and gleamed with a dark, dull light in the dim daylight.

The iron ball was carefully placed on the edge of the cannon muzzle and then gently pushed. It rolled heavily into the cannon barrel, colliding with the inner wall and making a dull, long metallic rolling sound. Finally, with a 'thud,' it landed steadily on the gunpowder, knocking off the gunpowder cake stuck halfway through the barrel.

Then another loader, holding the loader lever, pushed the cannonball into the chamber as it rolled down, braced himself against the cold surface of the iron ball, braced his shoulder against the end of the lever, and put all his strength into his arms to push it forward!

The wooden disc at the top of the pole pressed down firmly on the iron ball, pushing it inch by inch towards the gunpowder with unwavering determination until it was pressed tightly against the gunpowder and compacted!

With each push, the cannon trembled slightly, as if issuing a low warning, gathering its fury...

At this moment, Zhao Hong stood half-squatting and half-bending at the breech of the cannon, looking towards Gong County through the somewhat rudimentary V-shaped sight at the rear of the cannon barrel.

Zhao Hong's calloused fingers slowly but powerfully turned the rough wooden wedge beneath the breech of the cannon—the crank for adjusting the muzzle's elevation. The bronze barrel creaked heavily as the muzzle rose very slowly, just a little.

Through the cannon's rear sight, the corner tower on the Gongxian city wall was blurred in the thin mist.

"Insert the cord!"

Zhao Hong roared.

Another artilleryman immediately reached for his leather pouch at his waist, pulled out a thin fuse, and stepped forward, twirling the end of the fuse with his fingers to confirm its dryness. He then drew his awl from his waist, carefully punctured the gunpowder cake at the touch hole, and inserted the fuse into the touch hole, ensuring that the fuse and gunpowder were in contact, leaving only a small, dry tip sticking out.

Zhao Hong supported the cannon, ensuring that the muzzle did not shift during the insertion of the fuse. After seeing that the gunner had inserted the fuse, he quickly inspected the cannon, did a final check, then took a few steps back and turned to look at Fei Qian's position in the central formation.

Another red flag was raised.

Blue flags were also raised at the same time.

Zhao Hong raised his arm and roared, "Ready—!"

……

……

The Cao army soldiers on Gongxian County cried out in panic, "The cavalry is coming! Infantry! Infantry is coming!"

"Archers! Where are our archers?!"

"Quickly, go upstairs and get ready!"

"No, wait, wait! Don't rush in!"

"Artillery, the artillery of the Flying Cavalry!"

The chaotic commands left Cao's soldiers on the walls of Gongxian County bewildered.

……

……

The red flag began to wave, then fell.

"Fire!"

Zhao Hong's roar suddenly rose in pitch, as taut as a fully drawn bowstring.

A suffocating silence descended upon the battlefield in an instant; even the wind seemed to freeze.

The artilleryman, who had been standing by and responsible for lighting the fire, picked up a torch and ignited the matchlock. He gripped the matchlock pole, the end of which was wrapped with a slowly smoldering fuse. A dark red spark flickered on the gray-white end of the fuse, emitting a thin wisp of smoke. His gaze was fixed on the fuse at the breech of the cannon, waiting to be consumed by flames, awaiting Zhao Hong's final command.

Zhao Hong swung his arm down heavily, "Light it!"

The gunner in charge of ignition took two quick steps, leaned forward, and steadily and rapidly aimed the deadly dark red spark at the top of the matchlock rod at the fuse tip!
"laugh--!"

The moment the wick was lit, a tiny, dazzling white-gold spark suddenly burst forth!
Immediately afterwards, the fuse burst into flames at a heart-stopping speed, emitting a sharp, rapid hissing sound that could make your scalp tingle!
The scorching flame, like a messenger from hell, carrying the scent of death, relentlessly pierced deep into the cannon barrel along the fuse!

Time seemed to be stretched out, frozen, and then shattered completely in the next instant!
Suddenly, a huge ball of light, so large it was impossible to look directly at, shot out from the muzzle!

It was as if the gates of hell had been flung open!

In an instant, the ball of light devoured the air, mist, and light in front of the cannon muzzle...

Everything, both tangible and intangible!

Following closely behind was sound—

A sound wave that represents pure destructive power!

Or perhaps, the sound wave wasn't emitted by the cannon itself, but rather the ultimate wail of everything in front of the muzzle being torn apart and utterly crushed!
The heavy bronze cannon, under the backlash of this powerful force, was as if it had been kicked by a giant, and with a piercing metallic roar, it was violently thrown backward.

The heavy wooden wheels of the gun carriage sank into the mud, carving out two deep furrows.

The massive wooden pegs at the rear of the gun carriage, meant to brace against recoil, were forced back three or four inches with a sickening creak, sending dirt flying!

The all-consuming beam of light from the cannon muzzle vanished instantly, leaving behind billowing, foul-smelling, thick, grayish-white smoke, like the deathly breath of a giant beast, instantly obscuring what lay ahead.

The deadly iron ball, emerging from the smoke, tore through the air, emitting a low and terrifying shriek, and hurtled straight toward the blurry outline on the Gongxian city wall.

The cannon barrel was still trembling slightly from the aftershocks, and the bronze groan subsided, like the sigh of a beast after its satisfaction.

……

……

The war drums thundered, and the infantry provided cover for the engineers to fill the trenches, set up footholds, and some even destroyed the traps outside Cao Cao's city.

The cavalry surged on both flanks, launching rockets at the walls below Gongxian city, burning watchtowers and wooden fortifications such as chevaux-de-frise.

Zhang Liao stared wide-eyed.

Just as science requires repeatability, so too do tactics; they need to be repeatable and stable.

A fleeting, accidental event cannot be relied upon by generals and commanders.

In the battle at the earthen ramparts, Zhang Liao was on the front line and couldn't see everything clearly. But now, standing beside Fei Qian, he surveyed the entire battlefield, calculating the coordination between other troop types and artillery, the required time, clear signals, the rhythm of the attack, the division of safe zones, and so on...

It was like rebuilding the earthen rampart, deepening certain vague memories.

……

……

Thick, acrid gunpowder smoke filled the air, enveloping Zhao Hong and his men.

The scorching heat of the cannon barrel assaulted the senses. The bronze muzzle, partially obscured by the smoke, still pointed towards the misty distance, like a giant beast that had just drunk blood, temporarily concealing its claws but not closing its greedy eyes.

"Cleanse the chest!" Zhao Hong roared, but he couldn't hear himself shouting.

This time, it's a damp cloth.

Amidst the crackling sound, Zhao Hong looked up and gazed into the distance.

The corner tower of Gongxian in the distance seems to have a piece missing in a silent mime.

Tiny wood chips, brick fragments, and tile pieces silently scattered and flew everywhere...

After a while, Zhao Hong, amidst the buzzing in his ears, heard the cries of Cao Cao's soldiers on the walls of Gongxian, like the mournful wails of insects facing winter, groaning in the cracks between the bricks at the foot of a bed.

"Recorrection!"

Zhao Hong pointed at the cannon and shouted, "Clean the barrel and load with explosives! Load three jin of explosives!"

Zhao Hong's face, stained with gunpowder residue and gunpowder smoke, seemed to gleam in the morning light.

"Load! Insert the fuse!"

Across the artillery positions, the shouts of "Load! Insert fuse!" echoed repeatedly.

"Correction: Cannon height adjusted by one point!"

"Prepare--"

"ignition!"

Boom! Boom boom boom!