Win the Ding 1617

As far as the eye can see along the avenue from north to south, the avenue is not far from the sea, and the wilderness in winter becomes more and more desolate and empty when there are wars. In the distance, you can vaguely see a few small villages, and everyone has already escaped. , for fear of being ransacked by the exchange of soldiers and horses from both sides.After many years of education in the war environment, the people here have long understood their situation. In the eyes of those who can't tell whether they are soldiers or thieves, good people who keep their own place are often the targets of their plunder, unless they join them and work together. to rob others.In order to avoid the war, most of the villagers in these Zhuangzi who are relatively close to the road have already gone to the mountains.

Although the mountains and fields in winter are more difficult than at home, but as long as you can survive, what is the hardship? !

The sea breeze blows water vapor constantly, and some small snowflakes fall from the sky from time to time, blowing people's faces with waves of moisture.Standing on a small hill by the roadside, with the flag of the General General erected, Nobuzuna Matsudaira looked towards the marching team down the mountain.

Near Kumamoto Castle, for the convenience of command, Matsudaira Nobuzuna and Li Huayu asked for instructions, and then marched with the Chinese Army and Kuroda Tadyuki's First Army.

On the road, with the march of the brigade, a large cloud of smoke and dust was rolled up.

Countless pairs of feet wearing straw sandals stepped on the ground, and there was a rhythmic sound.Looking along the avenue in the distance, the same smoke and dust came overwhelmingly, and with the rising smoke and dust, a large variety of flags appeared in the eyes of everyone on the hill.

Those are the family crest banners of various daimyos.

The people on the mountain were watching the team on the avenue, and the team on the avenue was also watching the Chinese army on the hill.

Along the foot of the mountain.Hundreds of cavalry were scattered, and these cavalry teams were in strict order. The riders stood in front of their horses in a row of five.Seemingly scattered on the hills at random, but quite regular.There are ten steps between front and back, two steps between left and right, and 25 steps between teams.The riders all wore eight-petal iron-pointed helmets, and cotton hats under the iron helmets. They were all covered with steel breastplates and cotton armor inside (that is, the standard cotton coats for cold hair). .The gun is slung across the back.A long knife hung from the saddle.Some even stabbed spears into the ground and used them as temporary hitching posts.

Gusts of sea breeze blew the riders' iron helmets, red tassels, and bright red cloaks and cloaks into undulating dances.A dazzling fiery red color burned in everyone's eyes.Looking at it is like a sea of ​​fire.

"What a majestic team!"

"Everyone has a cannon!"

A practitioner couldn't help but admire him from the bottom of his heart.

"That's natural! That's the personal army of His Royal Highness the Great General of the Celestial Dynasty! Naturally, it's mighty and majestic!"

The colleagues next to him looked enviously at the flags and soldiers on the hill.On the one hand, he caressed the long knife at his waist intentionally or unintentionally. It was a Taidao specially made by the Nanzhong Army for export to Japan, and it was made of nine-turn steel.

"My lord said it. The shogunate issued a military order. Whichever fights this battle well and makes outstanding achievements will get the right to open a treaty port! At that time, I will give them such a gift for the children in the family." Armor and sword!"

"Yes! At that time, our salary should be more than it is now? The high-quality products from Nanzhong will be cheaper?"

Two samurai dream of a bright future.

After the first army team, there is the civilian team of the brigade.

It is said that an army of 15 people was mobilized for this battle, but in fact, nearly 6 of them were civilian men recruited from various places to transport food for the army.

In order to show their strength this time, the Tokugawa shogunate announced very generously that the shogunate would pay for all the supplies and supplies of the daimyo's army, three meals a day.Even civilian husbands enjoy the food standard of two meals a day and one catty of rice.

"The morale of each department is very high!"

As the chief general, Nobuzuna Matsudaira was very satisfied watching the troops of the brigade under his feet marching southward like a tide.

"This is natural. According to the art of war, those who share the same desire win. Now my shogunate, from the general to the ordinary ashigaru, wants to wipe out the Shimadzu rebels in one battle! Naturally, the morale is high!"

In Kumamoto Castle.

Looking at the ginkgo biloba in the yard that has lost all its leaves and only its bare branches, the two commanders of the Shimadzu army sat facing each other and drank tea.

"Have you decided?"

"Not bad!"

The governor of the Kagoshima family, Kawayama Hisamori, who came for reinforcements from the direction of Kagoshima, took a sip of the tea brewed by Katsushige Nabeshima.

"It really is good tea. Katsumo-kun's tea ceremony skills are getting more and more exquisite."

"It's nothing, it's not long ago that Nanzhong merchants sent it via the Wudao family's boat. It's the tea from Hangzhou this year."

According to Nabeshima Katsushige's idea, Kawayama Jiushou led the army to defend Kumamoto City, and at the same time he could also take a rest. He led 5000 men and horses to carry [-] Nanzhong Iron Cannons and [-] large tubes to Kikuchi. The traditional fishing and ambush tactics of the Jin family, where ambushes were carried out.

"The southwest of Kikuchi is the Kumamoto Plain, and the east is the western foot of Aso Mountain, which is the most dangerous. The shogunate army came from a long distance, the geography is unfamiliar, and the men and horses are exhausted. I rely on the mountainous terrain to set up an ambush here, and go out with an army horse Lure the enemy. After the two sides contact, I will lure the enemy team to retreat. After the enemy pursues and enters the ambush circle, I will kill the enemy with a large number of iron cannons. Facing the sea, if the shogunate army does not want to die or jump into the sea, they can only flee northward. The forward will inevitably disperse his own team."

"Wonderful! Afterwards, Katsumo-kun can use his troops to hide and kill them! Re-enact the battle of Feishui!"

"That's right! Although the shogunate army claims to have a strength of 15, it has a large number of troops, and it is inconvenient for them to command and respond to each other. Our army can be dispersed with a single attack!"

"Then, if you encounter the team of His Royal Highness Nanzhong Army in the chaos, what will happen to Mr. Sheng Mao?"

"Although the Nanzhong Army formed an alliance with the Tokugawa family and cut off the trade with my Shimadzu family, Nabeshima family, and Huashan family, they did not cut off the trade between the Goto family and the Zong family. On the contrary, they increased the trade with these families. The amount of arms trade between the two. It shows that the Nanzhong Army did not mean to kill them all, but our money is not as much as the Tokugawa family! I have ordered that no matter when and where we meet the Nanzhong Army team. As long as the other party does not If you fire, you must not offend! Even if you capture soldiers and officers of the South China Army, you must treat them with courtesy. Especially teenagers, no matter what they do, they must not be beaten, scolded or insulted."

Taking advantage of the cover of the night, the iron artillery team of 50 people handed over the defense with the soldiers and horses of the Huashan family. Along the avenue north of Kumamoto Castle, teams drove out of Kumamoto Castle one by one, each with a horse and a bit Quietly set up an ambush to Juchi.

Aso Mountain is the outer ring mountain adjacent to Kikuchi, at the junction of Kumamoto Domain and Bungo Domain.It is also famous for its high mountains and dense forests.There are many cliffs on the mountain.The lava is exposed; the outer terrain is relatively gentle.The Dakan Peak on the north side of the outer ring mountain is the commanding height of the whole mountain, and you can overlook the panoramic view of Mount Aso.There are many hot springs and waterfalls in the mountains.

Nabeshima Katsushige had already chosen a location, settled the 5000 troops, and hurriedly ordered them not to rest without authorization.Immediately arrange artillery positions for Datong.

An order to go down.The Kumamoto soldiers, known for their hard work and hard work, began to dig trenches without complaint.repair work.

Everything was done as soon as possible, and sentry cavalry came to report from afar, and the banner of the shogunate army appeared more than ten miles away!

"It's finally here! All departments are ready!"

Nabeshima Katsushige raised the binoculars in his hand.Looking into the distance.

"Lure team, get ready!"

"Stop moving forward!"

In front of the Kikuchi River, the forward of the shogunate army suddenly issued an order, and after a burst of flags scattered, the brigade stopped by the river.

"There is a report from the sentry in front, and there are Nabeshima army horses in Juchi blocking the way!"

"Go and report to Lord Kuroda, the commander of my first army! Ask him to make a decision!"

The forward passed to the feudal lord, and the feudal lord reported to the commander of the army. Kuroda Tadayuki also felt a little uneasy. He planned to cross the Kikuchi River to attack, but he was afraid of being tricked by the Shimadzu family.

For many years, in the Kyushu area, the tactics of the Shimadzu family have been known to everyone, and it is hard to guard against.His troops suffered a lot when they conquered Shimabara Castle, and now it is absolutely impossible to lose any more.

Soon, the enemy's situation in front of Kikuchigawa was passed on to General Matsudaira Nobuzuna.

"These traitors are so brave, they're doing this trick again, planning to ambush our soldiers and horses with this method of catching wild ambush!"

General Matsudaira Nobutsuna cursed loudly, but there was still a sentence in his heart that he didn't utter.

"The guys at the front line are fiercer than each other when they are robbing credit, property, and territory, but when it comes to fighting, they all shrink back!"

One of Matsudaira's retainers took out a refined brown-red cowhide map tube, took out a map from the inside, and spread it on the straw mat woven with rushes.Afterwards, Matsudaira Nobuzuna, Li Huayu and others were asked to discuss the current military situation according to this map.

"Commander Kuroda Tadanobu of the First Army reported that Nabeshima Katsushige, the leader of the Shimadzu rebels, appeared in the Kikuchi area, with about 2000 troops. Kikuchi is less than [-] miles away from our army, and it is the only way to Kumamoto Castle. A decision needs to be made early.”

"What is the decision? Just hit!"

Everyone in the South China Army disagreed.

"Your Highness does not know, this is a common trick of the Shimadzu family! It is called fishing wild ambush, first using a small group of bait, and then ambush with a large army of horses. The bait also turned around and turned back, besieging several sides, it is very vicious. Now our army has high mountains and seas of fire to the east, and seas to the west, and this generation sets up an ambush here to use this trick, which is the most vicious!"

"That's right! It's the hidden meaning of the Shimadzu family's art of war!"

Several people praised the traditional tactics of the Shimadzu family for a while, and the Nanzhong Army was confused.With great difficulty, I gradually heard [-]% to [-]% of Ming Dynasty official words from the shogunate officials of the First Army and the Central Army with a strong Japanese accent.

That's it!

But it can be summed up in the eight words "lure the enemy to go deep, and ambush everywhere"!

In Nanzhong, children play the tricks of the war city!

Not only Liang Kuan, who had been on the battlefield for more than ten years, sneered at this tactic that was highly praised by everyone in the Tokugawa shogunate, but Li Huayu also laughed dumbfounded. "Isn't this the wolf lure tactic that Dad told me and my brothers and sisters when we were young?"

Li Shouhan before the crossing had a family environment where his grandfather and uncle were both old revolutionaries. For this kind of guerrilla tactics, the tactics adopted by an army with weak troops facing a strong army can be said to be extremely familiar.Diaoyefu, which is highly praised by countless people, is said to be in the traditional art of war, and it also appears frequently in many Chinese folk literature and art works. There is often a certain general chasing the enemy.After chasing somewhere, a cannon fires and ambushes everywhere.At that time, the Shimadzu family did not know where it was!

This kind of tactics is called wolf lure tactics by Shou Han's grandfather. He compares a powerful enemy to a wolf.

It is some small groups of armed forces that can run and are firm. The equipment should not be too good. The best clothing and weapons are all kinds of weapons. The purpose is to fish and lure the enemy into the pre-selected ambush site for the main force to clean up. They are called wolf lures.

This tactic had to be used against those ashigaru peasant soldiers who did not have much morale during the Sengoku period in Japan.Deal with strict discipline in the military.Soldiers battle-hardened.If you train well, you will not panic after being surrounded, and you will be able to deploy freely for the generals, and you will defend yourself like an iron bucket;lost his meaning.

"The young marshal should be allowed to show his hand. Otherwise, these dwarfs always respect the young marshal superficially. They don't take it seriously in their hearts." Liang Kuan, the commander of the South Central Army, looked at the shogunate officials in front of him one by one with a pair of small eyes.

"My lord, this art of war sounds scary, but it's not too difficult to defeat the enemy and open the passage to Kumamoto Castle."

After Liang Kuan whispered something in Li Huayu's ear, a smile appeared on Huayu's face.Said to Nobuzuna Matsudaira.

"What's your plan, Your Highness?"

"I don't dare to say a clever plan. Our South Central Army will advance to open the passage. You will call out the firecrackers and artillery from the Central Army and the First Army, and leave it to me to command!"

The messengers carrying the commander-in-chief's flag ran back and forth among the troops and horses of each team. With the arrival of the messengers, teams of iron gunners were separated from their respective teams and waited in line beside the road.

Li Huayu came on horseback, followed closely by hundreds of cavalry. The cloud-like cavalry, the morning-glow banner, the smoke and dust, and the thunderous hooves all reminded the daimyos on both sides of the road, who is this, you Who is it again!

On the other side of the Juchi River, Hua Yu reined in the reins.

"Commander Liang, let's wait here for all gunners and cannons to arrive!?"

"Exactly! Young Marshal, according to the estimates of the subordinates, at least we can dispatch more than [-] gunners, plus our army headquarters, at least there should be nearly [-] gunners. There are about forty more With this kind of firepower, it is not a problem to break through the opponent's ambush circle head-on!"

"it is good!"

"After the battle, I will leave a hundred cavalry to guard the young commander, and the rest will be dispatched by myself."

For Liang Kuan, Hua Yu already had an idea.According to his mother's wishes, when he was released to work this time, his father wanted him to get acquainted with the various troops and horsemen of the South China Army and build up his own team.

These military officers who came to Japan with me must be my first team!

Soon, one after another iron artillery teams arrived according to their respective names and systems, most of them were carrying matchlock guns produced by Nanzhong, and they were equipped with medicine boxes, projectiles, cleaning rods and other accessories.

Hundreds of civilians pushed more than [-] Dafolang machines and eight-pound and six-pound guns to the Juchi River to stand by.

"coming!"

Naoshima Naoshige's second son and Nabeshima Katsushige's younger brother Nabeshima Tadamo, who served as the leader of the lure army, looked at the thousands of troops crossing the river in the distance. excitement.

"My lord! Something seems wrong!"

An iron cannon general ran over from a distance.

"The flag erected by the shogunate army belongs to the Nanzhong Army! And the leader is His Highness the Nanzhong Army!"

This news surprised and delighted Nabeshima Tadamo.

If the Great Highness of the South China Army was captured in World War I, this Kyushu would really change hands!

However, how to ensure that a hair of His Majesty is not hurt when the projectiles rain down is an annoying problem!

"Report to the feudal lord! His Royal Highness Nanzhong Army is here in person, please show him how to deal with it! Our army will go to Juchi River to meet the enemy first!"

The teams of the two sides met on the banks of the Kikuchi River.

Li Huayu looked towards the opposite side. Although it was said that they were the troops acting as bait, Nabeshima Tadashige's troops were also quite impressive.In the nearly 2000-strong army, at least half of the gunners acted as the assault force and his guards. About a thousand of the rest of the army held a few meters long spears in their hands. Standard equipment for the Shimadzu family.The rest are all men with long knives hanging from their waists, presumably they are military officers of all ranks.

There was a sound of horseshoes, and dozens of cavalry roared out on both sides of the Nanzhong Army's main formation, galloping around Nabeshima Tadamo's formation from a distance.Seeing that the iron cannons lined up on the left and right wings were sweating, "If this is fired by the iron cannons of the Nabeshima family..."

soon.Two teams of cavalry acting as scouts crossed Nabeshima Tadamo's formation, and smoke and dust like two yellow dragons crossed behind Nabeshima Tadamo's formation, drawing a circle and the riders galloped back.

"grown ups!"

The cavalry officer came back and reported that no ambush was found within hundreds of steps on both sides of the Guodao family's soldiers and horses, and within several miles behind.

"Here today, we will defeat the bandits! Let these dwarfs see that our Nanzhong Army not only has sharp artillery fire, but also is capable of field battles and attacking fortifications!"

Liang Kuan murmured a few words beside Hua Yu, "Young Marshal, it's time for you to come out and cheer up the brothers!"

finished.Gently slapped Huayu's horse on the hip.Huayu's mount led him to run in front of the formation.

A young man with a golden crown on his head, a brocade robe, a sword under his ribs, and a cloak fluttering in the wind behind his back rode his horse and galloped in front of the army formation.This scene is so touching.

"who are we?"

"South Central Army!"

"We have enemies in front of us. What to do?!"

"I am invincible!"

The roar of the waves made the iron gunners on both sides of the Nanzhong Army's main team also infected with enthusiasm.Then he raised the gun in his hand and shouted loudly and unclearly.

A horn sounded.The Nanzhong Army became extremely quiet.

"Attack!"

"Fireball on the shoulder!"

"Fire guns on the shoulders!" The voices of passwords sounded in the team one after another.

Amidst the sound of neat steps, the Nanzhong Army's main team strode towards Nabeshima Tadashige's formation like a mountain.The sky and the earth seemed to have stopped suddenly, and the only sounds in the eyes and ears of the Japanese were the marching steps of the Nanzhong Army.Completely forgetting that this is a battlefield where life and death are fought.

"Fire!"

The buzzing sound continued.The firecrackers in the front row turned down their firecrackers in a dark manner, aiming at the soldiers and horses of the Naoshima family in front.

The sound of firecrackers sounded like popping beans, and the soldiers of the Naoshima family on the opposite side suddenly saw a row of flames bursting out in front of them, followed by a cloud of smoke, and heard a loud noise in their ears.Before he could react, blood mist burst out of himself and his comrades-in-arms, and then there were bursts of severe pain, and then he lay down on the ground screaming.

All the iron gunners of the Nabeshima family couldn't help being stunned. What kind of iron gun is this, it can fire without lighting the match?

There was a metallic clang in the ranks of the Nanzhong Army. After the first row of firecrackers had been released, they did not retreat, but quickly handed the empty firecrackers back through their right hands, and at the same time took over the brothers in the back row and handed them over for refilling. The firecrackers with good bullets continued to fire forward amidst the command of the team officer.The firecrackers were passed to the last row, where the firecrackers swiftly pulled out their sticks, cleaned the barrels, and reloaded the ammunition.To Japanese people, their movements are as dazzling as flowing clouds and flowing water, but to them, their words are very familiar, and it doesn't take long at all. Some people don't even need to look at the barrel in their hands, and they can do blind outfits.

The continuous sound of gunfire lasted for about 1 minute, but to the Japanese present, it seemed as long as since the beginning of the world.Could this be the untold secret iron cannon attack of the legendary hybrids?

With the continuous shooting of the firecrackers, under the continuous attack of the Nanzhong Army firing within thirty steps, the firecrackers of the Naoshima family on the opposite side were almost wiped out.Although the firecrackers in their hands also fired, the casualties caused to the Nanzhong Army were less than [-]% of their own.The wounded who were shot in the Nabeshima family's formation rolled on the ground and wailed in inaudible voices. Many of them were beaten to the point that their internal organs leaked out.

The bloody smell was blown everywhere by the sea breeze, looking at the ashigaru and iron gunners on the opposite position, seeing their bewildered and bloody appearances, the iron gunners of the shogunate and all the famous men finally fought in their respective iron cannons. It was like waking up from the general's scolding.

"Light the match!"

"Check sub-drug!"

"Fire!"

More than a thousand iron cannons on the two wings opened fire at Nabeshima Tadamo's formation chaotically, knocking down the remaining hundreds of people.

"My lord! Let's retreat! If we don't retreat, I'm afraid we'll be destroyed here!"

With a cry, the lure team responsible for the task of luring the enemy turned and fled.

But where to flee?

After the Iron Cannon Team fired a round of salvo, Hua Yu dispatched dozens of cavalry to send orders to the Iron Cannon generals to stop firing!

"Our cavalry is about to attack!"

Liang Kuan led two cavalry teams and rushed out from the passages reserved on both sides of the Nanzhong Army's main team, like the jaws of two iron tongs rushing through Nabeshima Tadamo's brigade and cutting them off at the waist.

"Whoever descends shall be spared death!"

"Those who kneel down and abandon their weapons will not die!"

Then the gunners rushed up, and the glaring stabs from the muzzle pointed out a clear path for the remnants of the Nabeshima family's defeated generals.

"My lord! My elder brother has been working in the Celestial Dynasty for four years. He will soon be a member of the Celestial Dynasty. We are a family!"

"My cousin married your military master and became the seventh concubine. We are relatives!"

The soldiers of the Nabeshima family kneeling on the ground couldn't help finding out their origins with the Nanzhong Army in front of them, lest these killing gods would turn themselves into dead bodies on the ground.

How to house the prisoners and clean up the battlefield has nothing to do with Liang Kuan and the others. They just urge their horses to chase Nabeshima Katsushige's defeated soldiers not far or near.After riding the horses for a few miles, I saw the out-of-breathing broken soldiers in front of us rushing across a shallow river, escaping the loop of the river, following the undulating hills, and getting into the dense thatched grass among.

"It seems that this is where the ambush is!"

Liang Kuan took a look at the terrain. It is true that a lot of soldiers and horses can be hidden here, and the terrain here is narrow, which is convenient for the ambush side to use its firepower. Although the small river is not wide, it can play a role in blocking the advance of the divided troops.What's more terrible is that you can faintly hear the sound of the waves of the sea, so close to the sea, if you are ambushed here, you will have to jump into the sea if you don't die!

This season, the sea water is icy cold, it would be better to be killed by firecrackers in the sea!

"Report to the young marshal that we have found the enemy's ambush! Please bring up the cannon quickly!" (To be continued...)