Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 251 Close-quarters Assault
The sea falcon ships cleaved through the waves, speeding toward the enemy's ships like wildfire.

When the Guangzhou navy approached, the rebel army also changed their arrows to heavy armor-piercing arrows, which could penetrate raw cowhide protection and effectively kill the government troops' oarsmen at close range.

However, this was no longer enough to stop the enemy ships from continuing to approach.

The oarsmen rowed at high speed, and as the sea falcon approached, they turned their bows, like giant oxen plowing into the hull of the rebel warships.

If struck head-on by a ram, the hull will be blasted open with a loud bang, leaving a conspicuous gash in moments. The rushing seawater will cause the ship to sink and capsize rapidly.

The army did not have many large ships, and most of their warships did not use watertight compartments. Once damaged by the enemy's ramming, they were beyond repair.

Compared to a ramming attack, a slamming strike seems less lethal. The boulders struck are not easily hit below the waterline; often, even if they do hit, they only damage the hull.

Even so, the flying boulders and the flying pieces of wood caused considerable casualties.

If vital components such as the mast and rudder are damaged, the ship will lose its ability to sail. If the keel is broken, the ship may also collapse and disintegrate in the water.

The soldiers of the peasant army were fearless and showed no fear of death.

Their sailors were not as skilled at handling boats as the Guangzhou navy, so they naturally found themselves at a disadvantage when engaging in boarding combat.

But as the government warships approached, thick wooden planks, each nearly half a zhang wide and two zhang long, were quickly laid down and attached to the sides of the Guangzhou Navy's sea falcon ships.

The top of the plank has a giant, sharp iron hook weighing tens of kilograms. Combined with the weight of the plank itself, once it hits the enemy's deck, it is very difficult for the enemy to pull it off even with great effort.

These gangplanks were placed over the enemy ships, forming suspension bridges.

The warriors of the grass army roared in unison. Some of the archers continued to fire arrows to cover their comrades, while others threw down their bows and arrows, picked up long swords, glared and raised their arms, and rushed up the gangplank onto the enemy ship.

This plan was originally Zhu Wen's idea, but during a secret military meeting, the knowledgeable Duan Hongyan pointed out that the Great Qin Kingdom in the west had used this method a thousand years ago to repeatedly defeat a powerful enemy skilled in naval warfare.

Following Duan Hongyan's advice, the Caojun navy, imitating the ancient Qin dynasty, added heavy iron barbs to the top of the gangplanks. This made it very difficult for the enemy to destroy the successfully erected gangplanks.

The government troops' sailors unleashed a hail of arrows, hindering the rebel soldiers' assault.

The arrows struck the archers' fish-scale armor, but either fell into the sea or stuck to the surface of the armor, completely unable to penetrate, like a tickle.

Zhu Wen arranged for the archers to wear iron armor, not only to show their determination to fight to the death, but also to gain the upper hand in close combat against enemy naval forces that were unarmored or lightly armored.

The turbulence on the water's surface affects the accuracy of arrows, making it difficult to achieve a vertical hit through the armor. In close-quarters combat, the armored side has a decisive advantage.

As long as the gangplank is successfully erected, even if our warship has been blasted with a large hole by the enemy's ram, it's not a big deal.

It would take some time for the ship to sink. Before that, the soldiers of the Grass Army roared and stormed the enemy ship along the gangplank, cutting down the people on board and taking possession of the ship.

With guns in hand, what difference does it make whose ship it is?
The most direct, hand-to-hand combat to seize the ship is the battlefield that best demonstrates courage!
Wearing armor would certainly be inconvenient.

A strong sea breeze blew in, and some armored warriors tumbled off the diving board and slid into the water, swallowed by the surging sea without even waving a bubble.

The battering poles of the Guangzhou navy sometimes struck down, breaking some gangplanks and causing the soldiers on them to sink into the waves.

The brave soldiers ignored the cries of their comrades and charged valiantly toward the enemy ships.

They were in a do-or-die situation, leaving no room for hesitation.

My comrades' souls return to the waves, and I silently pray that they may be with the ocean. Not seeing their remains does not disturb my peace of mind.

The officers and soldiers on the sea falcon ship looked on in horror as the bandit soldiers, clad in sharp armor and wielding spears and swords, surged across the wooden bridge like ferocious iron beasts.

They tried to intercept them, but how could unarmored sailors possibly defeat Dutch warriors?
Moreover, the peasant soldiers were determined to die, and their fighting spirit and killing intent completely overwhelmed their opponents. Once they boarded the enemy ship, the ensuing melee was undoubtedly a one-sided massacre.

At the flagship of the central army, Zhu Wen's eyes were calm as he watched Zhu Zhen raise his spear and ride his horse, directly ramming it into a large sea falcon warship from the gangplank.

This ship was far better defended than a typical sea hawk. Enemy soldiers were already lined up on the deck with shields, ready for battle. Zhu Zhen roared and spurred his horse forward, his long spear sweeping across the gaps in the shields. He swung it left and right, causing the enemy soldiers to scream and stagger.

Using cavalry on ships is a crazy idea.

If Zhu Zhen's riding skills had been even slightly inferior, he would have fallen into the sea along with his horse when he charged forward.

But for top-tier knights, there's nothing they wouldn't dare to do, only things they wouldn't dare to dream of.

The two-zhang-long springboard provided enough distance for a short, rapid charge. The elevated position on horseback further facilitated breaking through enemy shield lines.

"Brothers, let's go!"

Zhu Wen suddenly drew his sword and called out to the warriors on the flagship.

He was dressed in bright armor and tiger-head boots, and walked steadily along the paulownia wood gangplank toward the enemy ship.

A gust of wind blew her embroidered robe behind her, making it flutter loudly.

The waves grew increasingly turbulent.

Zhu Wen didn't even bother to look at it.

When fighting on land, one's feet are firmly planted on the ground.

Today, the ocean is only beneath my feet.

Naval warfare and land warfare are still quite different.

For example—the sailors had nowhere to escape.

The only option is to fight to the death.

Defeat the enemy, or sink into the waves.

Zhu Zhen broke through the enemy lines.

The enemy swarmed in, and the Ditang swords came crashing down.

Without sufficient acceleration distance, the warhorse couldn't go very fast on the deck.

Zhu Zhen's warhorse was quickly struck in the leg and fell to the deck with a miserable neigh.

But he charged forward bravely, killing six or seven enemy soldiers and providing an opening for his comrades to break through.

Zhu Wen, Huo Cun, and others charged forward with great courage, hacking and slashing wildly, and immediately drove away all the enemy soldiers who had surrounded Zhu Zhen.

This large sea falcon ship was over ten zhang long and carried four or five hundred enemy soldiers; it was truly a giant fish.

As the commander-in-chief, Zhu Wen personally charged into battle, not only to set an example for the army, but also because the ship was indeed a good prey.

"Boys, stand together and block them! Don't let these thieves succeed!"

A desperate shout came from the stern of the deck.

The leading officer on the ship was named Li Weihan, a distant cousin of Li Tiao.

This harbingers' surprise attack was actually spearheaded by Li Weihan.

If this person can be captured and killed, it will be enough to severely dampen Li Yi's spirit.

(End of this chapter)