prosperous age

"Tiger Crouching Cannon, fire!"

The Ming army officer squatted down in front of the formation and shouted loudly.

"Boom boom boom"

As soon as he gave the order, more than a dozen tiger-squat cannons fired in succession, creating a hail of shrapnel that directly rained down on the charging Japanese miners.

Although the breech-loading cannon fired rapidly, it primarily fired live ammunition, so each shot would only fire a volley.

Moreover, the breech-loading cannons that the Ming army is now bringing to the dock are mainly medium-sized breech-loading cannons, which have limited firepower and are not as powerful as the general cannons fired by the four gunboats in the port.

A single shot would often leave a gaping hole nearly ten feet wide in the alley, causing dozens of Japanese soldiers to die or be wounded.

At most, a single shot from a breech-loading cannon can kill three or four people before the shell loses its power and becomes ineffective.

So although the casualties were heavy, the screams of their comrades had some effect on the charging Japanese pirates, but it was still limited.

They were all nearby, and for those who charged at the front, apart from being killed or wounded by muskets, they were basically invisible.

Although those behind could see it, their companions in front had already rushed forward, so they could only grit their teeth and continue charging forward.

Therefore, the Japanese pirates attacked very quickly and were almost unaffected by the Ming army's firepower.

However, when the Tiger Crouching Cannon fired, the barrage of countless pebbles killed and wounded the most fearless and aggressive group of people who were at the forefront.

Almost instantly, the Japanese pirates' advance came to a halt.

The Japanese pirates who had been charging forward with their comrades suddenly saw a blur before their eyes, and the people in front of them were already lying on the ground, clutching their wounds and howling in pain. Involuntarily, they slowed down their charge until they came to a complete stop.

"bang bang bang"

Before they could even think, smoke rose again from the enemy's fortifications, and the Ming army's arquebusiers began firing volleys once more.

While the Japanese pirates were still in a daze, dozens of them were injured and fell to the ground, howling in pain.

Those Japanese pirates who were lucky enough to escape being hit by stray bullets suddenly developed cracks in their mental defenses, showing signs of crumbling.

Because the Japanese miners in front had stopped charging; they stood there bewildered, seemingly awaiting their fate.

However, this wait did not last long; the breech-loading cannon was fired after being fitted with a new cartridge case.

Unlike before when everyone rushed forward headlong, they didn't care about the casualties of their companions on either side. Moreover, because they were rushing forward, they would soon be left behind by the injured.

A dozen or so blood-stained alleys appeared around them, and dozens of their companions and coworkers lay on the ground, their limbs severed, looking just like the skeletons dug out of a mine disaster.

They are afraid.

They knew what would happen to them and their families after the mining accident.

Although the samurai promised them money for victory, can they still get money to change their lives if they die?

No.

Only by staying alive can I take care of my family and ensure their survival.

And if they, as the pillars of their families, were to die, their families would starve to death.

This is the difference between ordinary people and soldiers.

Although an army's bottom line will be broken and it will eventually collapse when it suffers more than 20% casualties, ordinary people, especially those going to the battlefield for the first time, are more easily influenced by emotions.

While their unsuspecting companions were still pushing and shoving behind them, trying to fight their way forward and earn the reward promised by the samurai, the Japanese miners in front had already turned around and run back.

They didn't want to die, and the only way to avoid dying was to run back, to get as far away from here as possible, so that they wouldn't die, and neither would their families.

On the battlefield, the sound of gunfire from the Ming army was incessant, and plumes of smoke rose from the docks and ports.

On the other side, the Chinese army's offensive began to fall into disarray.

Those in front wanted to run back, while those behind wanted to rush forward. The two sides clashed and neither was willing to give way, and they were all blocked within the range of the Ming army's firepower and could not advance an inch.

"Extend the artillery fire to attack the Japanese pirates behind them."

On the gunboat, Commander Sun had a clear view of the Japanese troops in front of him through his telescope. He could tell who they were from their clothing and knew how the current situation had unfolded.

They were afraid when faced with the injuries and deaths of their colleagues and fellow workers.

Then these people are no longer enemies; they are too terrified to go to the battlefield.

Even if such a person is forced to go to the battlefield, he will only become a deserter.

Therefore, he decisively issued an order to raise the cannons and strike the Japanese troops behind them.

Meanwhile, the Ming soldiers on the dock ignored everything and continued to load and fire ammunition in an orderly manner, mechanically repeating the operation.

These were movements they repeatedly practiced under Qi Jiguang's command in Liaodong.

They would only engage in close combat after the Japanese pirates rushed close to them, attaching their bayonets or protective swords.

Meanwhile, Youjian and Dazhu, who were watching the battle from the town fort behind them, were furious. They were only half a mile away from the Ming army at the dock and engaging them in close combat.

Although they suffered heavy casualties during the charge, with several hundred dead or wounded, there were still more than a thousand left. If these people could break through, they could kill most of the hundreds of Ming soldiers on the dock with their fists or their teeth.

Moreover, at that time, he would send his own men to join the battle.

We're doomed, this raid has failed.

At this point, the Ming army's firepower was clearly focused on the Japanese troops in the rear. If anyone were sent to charge at this time, they would be met with concentrated fire from the Ming army's artillery in the port.

They wouldn't even bat an eye if hundreds of miners died.

But if it's one of your own soldiers who dies, then make them grieve for a long time.

After all, they are all veterans who have been trained for many years, and they are very valuable soldiers on the battlefield.

The two men cursed and swore, but to no avail; they dared not send their elite men to their deaths.

At this point, the more than a thousand miners finally collapsed.

More and more fearless miners died, finally making those who wanted to rush to the front to make a name for themselves realize that war means death.

As for the reward money, you have to be alive to receive it.

With a whoosh, most people started running back, while some stood there dumbfounded, terrified by the fierce fighting around them.

"Get your men up there as soon as possible. This time, bring more gunners and shieldmen to guard against the Japanese pirates' reckless charge again."

Commander Sun put down his binoculars and hurriedly said to Commander Ma beside him.

"Good, good, good. Originally, we were going to send 500 spearmen to hold the line."

Commander Ma hurriedly called over his personal guards, gave them some instructions, and sent them off to relay the orders.

Dozens of small boats had already rowed back to the fleet and were moored beside the Fujian ship to allow the landing troops to disembark.

Soon, after several hundred Ming soldiers boarded the ship, the sailors rowed the boat back towards the dock.

After withstanding the first wave of attacks, the ten small boats that had been left by the dock to provide support for profits also came ashore and unloaded their tiger-squat cannons.

If it weren't for those dozen or so tiger-squat cannons sweeping away a large number of people just now, this landing would have been very dangerous.

The hundreds of Ming soldiers who landed had no small boats to pick them up, so they had to be driven back into the sea.

Twenty tiger-squatting cannons were delivered, much to the delight of the Ming army officer in charge of the landing. He then hurriedly redistributed the artillery.

By this time, the Ming army had deployed more than fifty cannons ashore, giving them a significant advantage.

There were more than thirty tiger-squat cannons alone, and more than ten medium-sized breech-loading cannons, which was enough to unleash a decent barrage of fire.

"What should we do? Should we let these guys charge again, and I'll send in cannons and arquebuses for support?" the garrison commander said anxiously.

On the upper floor of the fortress, the two Japanese commanders were also discussing the upcoming battle.

"The Ming army's massive cannon fire was too powerful. Just now, the cannons in front swept down so many of our people as soon as they opened fire."

Those guys have lost all courage; sending them to charge again would only be a hindrance.

Commander Otake said with some distress.

"Then send another team of miners up there. I'll send ten cannons to support them, and you can send a few hundred skilled arquebusiers to follow and charge."

If we can't drive the Ming people back into the sea, then we'll have no choice but to retreat to our fortified town.

"It is suggested by the garrison commander."

The Japanese built numerous fortresses and walls along the mountainside, taking advantage of the terrain of Sado Island, which served a defensive purpose.

In fact, Japan has a long history of pirates due to its coastal location.

These were the real Japanese pirates, who not only robbed Korea and Ryukyu, but also Japan.

Sado Island, of course, couldn't be left unguarded, so even after large-scale gold mining began, the construction of defensive facilities didn't stop.

Just think about Wang Zhi, who was able to take tens of thousands of people away from Japan at once, and you can imagine how chaotic Japan was at that time.

Similar to the situation in the Ming Dynasty, pirates also had some connection with local powerful figures.

The Ming Dynasty did not have powerful local officials, but it did have gentry and powerful clans, who were the local officials who maintained the court's rule.

"Okay, let's do it without delay."

The Ming ships have returned; they'll surely be taking even more people ashore. We need to get them back into the sea before they come back.

Commander Otake immediately said.

So the two immediately began to issue orders. One garrison sent out two thousand miners, and the other dispatched ten cannons to provide fire support. They mingled among the miners and approached to fire cannonballs at the Ming army.

Meanwhile, the commander of the Otake Corps dispatched two hundred arquebusiers to miners to fire at the Ming army positions, thus covering the miners' attack.

Before the Ming army could send reinforcements, the attacking forces were already prepared. Driven by small groups of warriors, the miners rushed out from another hiding place and charged towards the Ming army's dock position again.

The docks became lively again as the miners, shouting incomprehensible Japanese, charged toward the well-rested Ming army with all sorts of "weapons."

Just like before, as the Ming warships in the harbor roared with cannon fire, dozens of cannonballs crashed into the enemy ranks.

This time, the Japanese pirates reminded the miners to spread out a bit before setting off, so the damage was far less than the previous time.

"The Japanese pirates are quite clever."

Commander Sun frowned slightly upon seeing this, knowing that the opposing general was no easy opponent, and that he needed to assess the situation and choose a new tactic to counter the enemy.

“My people have all boarded the ship and will be able to land soon, as long as we can hold out until then.”

A large group of small boats began to break away from the fleet and head towards the four gunboats in front.

Meanwhile, more than twenty small boats had gathered on the shore, all equipped with breech-loading cannons and arquebuses. They were scattered around the Ming army's positions, forming a crossfire.

However, due to the location, the range of firearms in those days was limited, and their lethality was not as obvious as it is in later generations.

When the Japanese miners rushed into the range of the breech-loading cannons, the Ming army officers decisively gave the order to fire.

"dong dong dong"

The breech-loading machine gunners began firing rapidly, and after firing all the rounds, they skillfully changed the cartridges. The empty cartridges were naturally reloaded by the soldiers behind them.

Shortly after more than a dozen breech-loading cannons on the shore opened fire, dozens of breech-loading cannons on the ships behind them joined in the firing, and for a time the sound of cannons booming in the dock area almost drowned out the sound of the general's cannons being fired by the gunboats in the harbor.

"The musketeers fire, and the captains command a volley."

The captain shouted again, his voice cracking, but he continued to shout loudly, as if worried that his captains wouldn't hear him if he spoke too softly.

"bang bang bang"

Under his command, the musketeers began a rhythmic three-volley firing, with rows of musketeers firing bullets and then retreating to the rear to reload.

As the Japanese miners charged fearlessly, and seeing the approaching Japanese pirates, the captain, holding a long sword, half-squatted and began to direct the crouching gunners.

"Three-stage firing. After firing, do not retreat. Reload ammunition on the spot. No need to clean the gun barrel."

The officers had seen how effective the tiger-squatting cannons were at close range, and of course they wouldn't let them fire them all at once.

He grouped about ten cannons into a group, and the thirty-odd tiger crouching cannons could be divided into three groups to fire in turn.

The Tiger Crouching Gun's loading speed was actually the same as other artillery pieces, but because of its short range, the enemy would often arrive before it could be reloaded.

Therefore, the Tiger Crouching Cannon was mostly used as a disposable weapon on the battlefield.

However, it seems that we can try other uses here.

After all, the other side wasn't a well-equipped army; they were more like a bunch of refugees.

Ideally, one or two sets of Tiger Crouching Cannons would be enough to drive away the enemy.

His mission wasn't to kill as many people as possible, but to hold this position and wait for reinforcements to arrive.

Just as he was getting ready, wisps of blue smoke suddenly rose from the Japanese pirates charging towards him.

"Ok?"

The squad leader realized that there were also firearms operators hidden among the Japanese pirates on the other side.

However, there didn't seem to be many people.

He made no attempt to conceal himself, still holding the knife at his waist, ready to draw it at any moment.

"what"

A scream came from beside me; it was clear that my comrade had been wounded by the enemy.

"The injured step back, and those behind take their place."

The squad leader issued orders methodically, his eyes still fixed on the enemy's movements.

Once the enemy enters the effective firing range of the Tiger Crouching Cannon, he can order the gunners to fire.

Gunfire erupted on the docks, and in the harbor, sailors on dozens of small boats rowed desperately forward, trying to reach the shore as quickly as possible.

After all, it was about fighting Japanese pirates. The men of the north had heard of the crimes the Japanese pirates had committed in the southeast, so they were naturally willing to put in their efforts.

Finally, the Japanese miners, braving a hail of bullets and suffering heavy casualties, rushed into the range of the tiger-squatting cannon.

Meanwhile, Japanese arquebusiers continued to load and fire, killing and wounding more than twenty Ming soldiers.

The main reason for the injuries was the bullets from the cannons. The Ming army's formation was also quite compact, and firing in one direction gave them a good chance of injuring people.

It's just that because they weren't lined up and shot, their lethality was still limited.

"Fire, Tiger Crouching Cannon Team One."

The team leader shouted.

With a series of loud bangs, more than ten tiger-squatting cannons exploded, and large numbers of the Japanese soldiers at the forefront fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

In an instant, another wave of dead and wounded swept through that spot. (End of Chapter)