1635 Han style rises again

Chapter 742 Kagoshima ([-])

April 1658, 4, Kyushu, Aira.

In the Battle of Aira that took place two days ago, it took less than two hours from the encounter of the two armies to the collapse and escape of the Satsuma army.As Cao Guangsheng, the commander of the Second Battalion and Lieutenant (Major) of Xuanjie, said, when the Qi army's musket volley was in the seventh round, the Satsuma army's array began to become chaotic uncontrollably, and the collapsed former army rolled back. Then, the central army and the rear army that were about to launch an attack were mixed together.

When the Qi army fired two consecutive rounds of close-range salvos, the Satsuma army completely collapsed. Countless soldiers abandoned their weapons and fled in all directions. The Qi army immediately launched a full-scale assault, following the direction of the Satsuma army's retreat hunt down.

When the Satsuma army fled to a stream, they found out in despair that thousands of Ming Qi allied troops had formed a formation on the other side of the river, waiting in full force, cutting off their way back to Kagoshima.

There were pursuers behind, interceptions in front, and the army had no fighting spirit. After considering it for less than 2 minutes, the Satsuma army commander Shimadzu Hisaichi ordered the entire army to stop resisting and surrender.

As many as [-] Satsuma troops were divided into more than ten pieces, their hands were tied with ropes, and they relied on each other, sitting wearily in the field, anxiously waiting for their unknown fate.

In the evening of that day, the Qi army selected hundreds of Satsuma samurai who had been to Ryukyu and participated in the massacre of merchants and immigrants from the Qi country, and then stabbed them to death with bayonets. .

As the troops of the Ming and Qi allied forces deployed in various places gradually gathered, more than [-] Satsuma soldiers who had fled were captured one after another. Counting the more than [-] Satsuma soldiers who were killed by shelling and musket shooting on the spot during the battle, almost all of them were wiped out in this battle. The Satsuma army was attacked.

However, the coalition forces suffered minor losses, with less than 200 casualties, and it can be said that they have achieved a devastating victory.

After interrogating a dozen generals of the Satsuma Domain, the coalition forces were delighted to learn that the remaining troops in Kagoshima were less than 4000, and most of them were newly recruited farmers and untouchables. Compared with the army, the overall combat power is low, and the ordnance is not complete. Many soldiers are equipped with simple bamboo spears and wooden spears.

As for the defense of Kagoshima Castle, because the shogunate promulgated the "One Country, One City Order", the Shimadzu family invested a lot of energy in the defense of the city, and the city has high walls and thick walls.But the means of defense still rely on traditional cold weapons, including slings, rolling logs, and bows and arrows. There are less than five cannons, and they are old copper cannons from decades ago, with small calibers and limited power.

"Commander, since Kagoshima's military strength is insufficient, we might as well gather a large army to attack." Gan Hui, deputy general of Zheng's Ping'an Town, clasped his fists and said, "Your Qi State artillery is sharp, and you can get a few heavy cannons from the ship and bombard them day and night. No matter how strong the Kagoshima city defense is, can it still withstand the long-term attack of artillery?"

"That's right, when Kagoshima is broken, our department will be the vanguard and take the lead for the army to enter the city!" Hao Yongzhong, Marquis of Nan'an in the Ming Dynasty (belonging to Li Laiheng's department, that is, Hao Yaoqi) licked his lips and said loudly: "This The Japanese attack your country of Qi recklessly, you must take severe revenge on them, massacre the city, kill its people, and plunder its wealth, in order to deter the Japanese!"

Previously, they, the rest of the former Shun Army, had been taken care of by the Qi State. Not only did they receive a large amount of military equipment, food and fodder from the Qi State, but they also received a stable coastal territory in Chaozhou Prefecture.When Qi State sent envoys to Chaozhou to borrow troops, Gao Yigong and Li Laiheng, as the principals, did not shirk at all. Qi's warships went straight to Hanxing Island.

Before coming, Hao Yongzhong was mentally prepared, thinking that during the battle, these borrowed soldiers and horses would inevitably be used as cannon fodder by the Qi State coach to charge the front army.Who knew that when the battle started, the people of Qi actually pulled a group of Japanese to take the lead, and the ministries of the Ming army they borrowed were only fighting with the main force of the Qi army.

For several months, when the various Ming armies attacked the Ryukyu King City, they encountered fierce resistance from the Japanese and suffered a few casualties.But in the territory of the Satsuma domain, they attacked several coastal towns and killed thousands of Japanese soldiers and civilians, and almost never experienced any major battles.And two days ago, it was the main force of the Qi army who fought against the more than [-] troops of the Satsuma clan alone. In less than half a day, the Japanese army was defeated.The various ministries of the Ming army who guarded the Quartet to prevent the Japanese from escaping just came over to stop them.

In addition, after more than a month of fighting, when the various Ming armies attacked and smashed the towns in the Satsuma domain, they also robbed their purses to the brim. This kind of fighting process made all the Ming armies who came to aid cheer.The fighting intensity is low, the loss of personnel is small, and there are additional resources to loot. It is really easy and enjoyable to fight behind the Qi army.

Not to mention, when the Qi army attacks Kagoshima, no matter what, you have to bring your brothers to sell more strength, right?Otherwise, after this battle, wouldn't we have become an armed parade!

"Okay, since everyone can't bear their temper anymore, let's ask Commander Luo, the commander-in-chief of the coalition forces, to prepare for a general attack on Kagoshima." He Yunfeng looked at the eagerness of all the officers of the coalition forces present. Nai couldn't hold back a trace of excitement, "Break Kagoshima, capture the Shimadzu family, and end this war sooner."
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April 4, Kagoshima.

Standing on the watchtower, Mitsuhisa Shimadzu felt his heart sinking continuously as he watched the troops approaching from the north side of Kagoshima. Some tremble uncontrollably.A few days ago, the elder Shimadzu Hisami led more than [-] troops northward to Aira, preparing to launch a battle of encirclement and annihilation against the Qi army entrenched there.

However, in less than two days, a few defeated soldiers fled back to Kagoshima, claiming that the army was gone, and the commander Shimadzu Hisaichi and the generals in the army were all captured by the enemy.At the beginning, Mitsuhisa Shimadzu didn't believe this little news at all, thinking that these defeated soldiers must have made up lies in order to avoid the crime of fleeing.Annoyed, he ordered the execution of more than a dozen warriors and soldiers who fled back in succession.

However, dozens of hundreds of defeated soldiers fled back one after another that night, all claiming that the entire army was wiped out. The whole battle lasted less than half a day. .

"My lord, the warships of the Qi Army have already landed on the shore." A banner warrior shouted loudly.

Mitsuhisa Shimadzu heard the words, and then shifted his gaze to the sea, and saw dozens of small boats rapidly approaching the shore, and the small boats were full of armed soldiers.More than a dozen small and medium-sized galleys have a light hull and low displacement, and they directly approach the waters near the shore, and then expose a cannon on the side, ready to provide fire support for the landing officers and soldiers.

"It is forbidden to go out of the city to fight." Mitsuhisa Shimadzu took a deep breath and ordered in a deep voice, "Order the samurai at all levels to restrain the troops and strictly guard the city defense. Don't let the Qi army attack the city. In addition, there is no order for the soldiers and civilians in the city. , are not allowed to walk on the street at will, and those who disobey the order beheaded to show the public. Kagoshima Castle has been built for decades, and the city defenses are strong. , cannot last long, and after the siege fails, it will naturally sail away. In this way, our Satsuma clan will defeat the powerful enemy's attack, conquer the Qi army under the city, and make the lords and warriors famous all over the world."

"Willing to serve the Lord!" Many warriors on the city wall bowed and promised.

"The future fate of my Satsuma clan is up to you gentlemen!" Mitsuhisa Shimadzu bowed to all the samurai, and said solemnly: "May I wait for a long time in martial arts, and be able to... defeat the enemy."

In the next few days, more than 24 troops of the coalition army gathered under Kagoshima Castle one after another.Since there was no suitable lifting device at the port, it took nearly a day for the two [-]-pound artillery to be unloaded, and then it took another day to drive a few cattle and drag the artillery to the firing position.During this period, the Satsuma army did not dare to go out of the city to fight, and stayed in Kagoshima City all the way, watching the coalition forces make siege deployments.

On April 4, all preparations for the coalition forces were ready, and more than 25 officers and soldiers with high morale set up formations under Kagoshima Castle and began to launch a formal offensive.

"Boom!" A huge projectile (a 24-pound gun with a caliber of about 14.4 cm) roared and flew towards Kagoshima Castle.

The two 24-pound heavy guns fired alternately, and slowly adjusted the shooting.After the fourth round of shelling, a shell hit the middle five parts of the city wall. The huge kinetic energy caused the whole section of the city wall to shake slightly, large pieces of rammed earth fell off, and gravel also splashed everywhere, making people The Satsuma soldiers at the top of the city couldn't help but change their colors.

The shelling lasted all afternoon, and the officers and soldiers of the coalition forces who cheered for each shelling gradually lost their high enthusiasm. Except for the officers and soldiers who were on guard in the front line, they were still armed and waiting, the officers and soldiers of the other ministries sat down in a dull manner. on the ground.But under the coercion of the chief officials at all levels, no one dared to make loud noises, let alone play and whisper.

In the evening, the shelling gradually ceased, and several cracks appeared in the part of the city wall that was bombarded, and the rammed earth and gravel fell to the ground. I believe that another day of bombardment tomorrow should cause more serious damage to the entire part of the city wall.If you're lucky, it's not impossible to knock down the entire city wall.

"Tell me, what conditions did your Satsuma clan give?"

As night fell and the officers and soldiers of the coalition forces were eating in batches, several envoys from Kagoshima City were sent to the camp, which somewhat surprised the coalition commanders.It's all about the city, what else does the Shimadzu want to talk to us about?
"I, the Satsuma clan, would like to make compensation and apologize for the Ryukyu incident." The elder Shimazu Zhilong bowed deeply to He Yunfeng, then raised his head, and said sincerely: "My lord, I would like to express my deep apologies for the Ryukyu incident. Because of this incident, the breakdown of the close cooperative relationship between you and us is caused, and I feel regret and self-blame from the bottom of my heart. I hope that your country can give us Satsuma a chance to make up for our mistakes."

After He Yunfeng listened, he looked left and right at several battalion commanders and generals of the Ming army, and wondered if his ears had heard it wrong.You Satsuma clan brazenly launched an attack, attacked our Ryukyu trading station and the territory of Hanxing Island, and slaughtered our merchants and immigrants. Now you want to use a light "sorry" and then expose it?
"Hehe..." He Yunfeng chuckled, "Then, I would like to ask your envoy to tell you how your Satsuma clan apologized."

"My lord is willing to compensate your country with 5 taels of silver, 75 shi of rice (about [-] kilograms per shi), [-] dans of raw silk, [-] shi of cotton, [-] shi of bamboo salt, and [-] altars of sake," said Shimadzu Shitaka. Come on, hand over a document.

A staff officer took the document and handed it over to He Yunfeng.

He Yunfeng didn't open the document to look at it, it was nothing more than Shimadzu's words of apology and items of compensation they would pay.

"Is there any more?" He Yunfeng asked lightly.

"Your army has come from a long way, and the gunpowder has been consumed for several months. For this reason, I, the Satsuma clan, are willing to donate [-] stone of saltpeter and [-] high-quality Japanese samurai swords." Shimadzu Zhilong bowed his head and said: "In addition, I Satsuma Fan is willing...willing to donate five hundred singers to your army as a reward."

As soon as this remark came out, all the coalition generals present showed a strange expression on their faces.This Japanese, after beating them, still thought of adding some gunpowder and swords to us, and even more so...rewarding us with beautiful women!
"Is there any more?" He Yunfeng continued to ask.

"..." Shimadzu Shitaka showed a look of embarrassment on his face, "If your country has conditions, you can put forward them as much as you want, and I will report to the lord, and I will definitely give your country a satisfactory answer then."

"Is your feudal lord willing to be bound and go to our Hanzhou mainland to apologize? Are you willing to hand over all those who slaughtered the people of our Qi country to our Qi country?" He Yunfeng looked at Shimadzu Zhilong with a humble attitude, "In addition, What you apologized for was too little, and it was completely unable to make up for the losses we suffered. Go back and tell your vassal lord, be wise, surrender the city tomorrow, and wait for our country of Qi to be punished."

"Your country...is your country rejecting our Satsuma clan's peace talks?" asked Shimadzu Shitaka.

"If you have sincere peace talks, then open the gates of the city. After we enter the city, we can sit down and have a good talk." He Yunfeng said.

"Your country's move is a bit aggressive, and it will not be forgiving if you gain power!" Shimadzu Zhilong straightened his waist, "If this is the case, my Satsuma clan will definitely fight to the death. determination!"

"So, that's great!" He Yunfeng nodded, "Then you, the more than [-] Satsuma Fans, can kill you just waiting for your neck!"

Shimadzu Zhilong stared at He Yunfeng, and after a while, a decisive smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, bowed deeply to him, turned and walked out of the tent.

"The commander-in-chief said it well!" Hao Yongzhong slapped his hands hard, "We are about to enter Kagoshima City, and all the things inside are at our disposal. Where do we need them to offer any gifts. This Japanese is cunning , it was already at the gate of the city that I thought of giving up and admitting my mistake. Hey, it's so late!"

"That is, break up this Kagoshima city tomorrow, and let us take whatever we want, and then slaughter this daring Japanese fan!" Gu You (brother of Gu Rong's clan) yelled loudly.

He Yunfeng gently threw the Satsuma document in his hand behind the tent, shook his head with a smile, picked up a glass of sake, and made a toast to the general of the coalition army in the tent.

As one of the many teenagers who were the first to study with Qi Tian, ​​he vaguely remembers some words he said.

"The Japanese are warlike and cruel, rigid and flexible in dealing with things. The way of getting along, they believe in respecting the strong and bullying the weak. If they meet in a narrow way, they will use all their strength to suppress them and think they are tame."

True!

(End of this chapter)