I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

While this approach successfully countered the archery skills of Qingdeng and Tenshōin, it significantly reduced firepower due to the abandonment of line formation tactics, making it impossible to effectively suppress the defenders in the city.

After a fierce battle, both sides ended up with the same result – the soldiers were all hiding in their bunkers, firing at each other from a distance of not too long or too short.

The battlefield situation became strange again... because everyone's firepower had weakened, the casualty figures on both sides dropped sharply.

At first glance, it seemed that they were just wasting ammunition, firing a lot of bullets but killing few people.

However, being under such a dense barrage of fire would be a significant drain on the morale of both sides' soldiers!

What should have been a complex war has become increasingly simple—whoever holds out the longest, whoever survives to the end, wins!

……

……

Day 12 of the Battle of Otsu

Suddenly, a sharp-eyed British soldier let out a piercing explosion:

"It's a cannon! Watch out for artillery fire!"

But then they saw Abe Juro and his men pushing cannons and charging into the front lines where blood and flesh were flying everywhere.

Under the cover of their soldiers, they quickly set up artillery positions and completed the preparation for shelling in the blink of an eye.

Abe Juro: "Fire!"

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Even the sturdiest handcart cannot withstand a direct hit from an artillery shell.

The barrage of cannon fire shattered the British positions on the opposite side.

However, the British army quickly followed suit and brought their cannons over as well.

With the addition of artillery, the battle between the two sides became fierce again, and the casualty figures, which had only recently begun to slow down, started to surge again.

……

……

Day 15 of the Battle of Otsu

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

Kondo Isami braced himself on the ground with both hands, coughing violently.

Heisuke Todo leaned closer.

"Mr. Kondo! Are you alright?"

"N-nothing... I just inhaled too much gunpowder smoke..."

The instant after Kondo Isami finished speaking—

boom!

A shell landed not far from him, and a blinding flame shot up rapidly.

Although they were not directly hit, the powerful shockwave swept over them, sending Kondo Isami and Toudou Heisuke flying.

The two were seen flying horizontally, then crashing heavily to the ground, immediately losing consciousness...

"Chief Kondo! Captain Todo!"

The surrounding soldiers rushed forward and helped the two up, then took them to the rear.

……

……

Day 18 of the Battle of Otsu

"Damn it! This thing is so hard to use!"

Serizawa Kamo angrily fiddled with the musket in his hand.

After a long exchange of fire between the two armies, the swordsmen had no further use for their skills.

Unwilling to remain uninvolved, Serizawa Kamo obtained a musket and, after barely learning how to use it, joined in the exchange of fire.

After finally filling the gunpowder and loading the bullet into the chamber, he couldn't wait to crawl halfway out of the foxhole.

However... before he could pull the trigger, a bullet came from afar, hitting him squarely in the right shoulder and knocking him to the ground...

*******

*******

It's almost the end of the month again! Readers with monthly passes, please vote for this book! This is the last time I'm asking for your votes! (Crying leopard head.jpg)

Please vote for me! Please recommend me! (Like a leopard crying.jpg)

PS: According to Baidu Encyclopedia and AI, rigid line infantry tactics were gradually phased out around this period, and "foxholes" came to the fore.

Chapter 1185 Orochi Makes Its Move, the Death Squad of the Law-Slaying Party

Day 20 of the Battle of Otsu

A disheveled soldier approached Saito Hajime:

"Captain Saito! The enemy is attacking again!"

Saito hastily wiped the sweat from his face and said in a low, panting voice:

"Okay, come with me."

After saying that, before he could catch his breath, he hurriedly rushed to the place where he was needed most.

Today, the enemy resumed close combat, and groups of enemy soldiers broke through the breach and stormed into the city!

Undoubtedly, they wanted to test how much fighting strength the city's garrison still had.

If the city's defenders show signs of collapse, the enemy will surely launch a full-scale attack and seize the opportunity to win today!

The troops leading today's offensive are the Northern soldiers who have been resting for quite some time.

The Northern soldiers, who had been weakened by the side effects of the "Decisive Battle of the Lake," have recovered and are back in battle.

After the two sides engaged in battle, the defending troops in the city no longer displayed the tenacity and amazing fighting power they had shown before. Instead, they faced numerous dangers, and the battle line nearly collapsed several times!

The reason for this is not complicated: the defending troops in the city are exhausted and their fighting strength has been greatly reduced!

Firstly, many captains, led by Kondo Isami, were unfortunately injured, creating a huge gap in high-level combat power that was difficult to fill.

Secondly, the morale of the city's garrison had been largely worn down by the previous "gunfights".

Even though the "foxhole" tactic was used to reduce damage, it only reduced casualties and could not completely stop the British guns and cannons.

With their superior firearms tactics and a clear numerical advantage in firearms, the British forces maintained a significant advantage in the "gunfights," inflicting heavy casualties on the city's defenders.

The rear hospital was already overflowing with people. Nanjo Akizaburo (the medical team) and others were so busy that they had no time to eat or sleep, truly working themselves to the bone.

However, the speed at which they managed to treat the wounded was still not keeping up with the rate at which the number of injured people was increasing.

It is not surprising that the morale of the city's defenders was dampened.

In order to maintain the war situation, the uninjured Yamanami Keisuke, Saito Hajime, and others all transformed into "firefighters," rushing to various battlefields.

The reason they remain unharmed until now is not because they possess any extraordinary skills, but purely due to luck—in a battlefield of this intensity, whether one is injured or survives depends entirely on luck!

They might be killed by a stray bullet in the next second.

While completing their own tasks, they also had to find ways to fill the gaps left by Kondo Isami and others... It's easy to imagine the immense pressure that Saito Hajime and his team were under.

Saito had barely taken two steps when another disheveled soldier approached him:

"Captain Saito! Come this way! The enemy's offensive is fierce! We can't hold them off any longer!"

Upon hearing this request, even the usually composed Saito Hajime couldn't help but frown.

Both places are locked in fierce fighting... and a choice must be made.

This was a difficult choice involving the lives of countless people... Fortunately, at that moment, a strong female voice suddenly came from behind Saito:

"Leave that place to me!"

Saito paused for a moment, then quickly turned his head to look in the direction of the sound.

"Miss Sanako?"

Then, Sanako, fully armed and carrying her naginata, strode in, leading dozens of fully armed men.

Saito immediately recognized the group of soldiers behind her: they were all cavalrymen (the 7th and 10th Divisions).

"Miss Sanako, what brings you here?"

According to Qingdeng's plan, cavalry was the key to turning the tide against the enemy.

Therefore, since the start of the war, Qingdeng has kept his cavalry hidden in the rear and has not moved rashly.

Sanako replied in a deep voice:

"Qingdeng sent us. It's no longer the time to keep the cavalry."

Even the cavalry, considered the "trump card" for victory, has been sent to the front lines... One can imagine the current state of the battle.

Saito felt a sinking feeling in his heart, and then said to Sanako with utmost seriousness:

"Miss Sanako, I'm counting on you. I wish you great success!"

Sanako nodded vigorously in response.

Suddenly, a deep male voice broke in:

"Miss Sanako, please allow me to accompany you!"

The visitor was none other than Sagawa Kanbei, the "fiercest general of Aizu".

Then, Sagawa Kanbei, carrying his spear, led a dozen or so Aizu soldiers toward Sanako.

They were covered in blood and wounds, and in a few cases, their linen cloths—such as those of Kanbei Sagawa—were still seeping blood.

The bravery of the Aizu army since the start of the war is evident to all.

Guilt for causing this calamity to Ōtsu; disappointment from repeated defeats; resentment at being ridiculed... all these emotions transformed into the strength of the Aizu army!