met free Chapter 952 Peak
Chapter 952 Peak
Chapter 952 Peak
Just as the guide they sent out said,
Every winter, there will be heavy snow here, the temperature will drop sharply, and people and animals will not be able to survive.
This is a completely different landform from that of the Central Plains. Although there are valleys between mountains, there are no jungles and all you can see is grassland. When it snows, it is all white, like a foreign world.
Unlike the locals, the Ming army all had cotton armor, and they also specially prepared thickened cotton armor for the battle against Kazakhstan.
People these days can tolerate pain better. With cotton armor and an iron pot to cook a few pieces of frozen sweet potatoes, they can survive in extreme weather.
The Ming army defeated the large and small tribes of the Great Juz in September, and occupied the city of Hasher in October, as the locals called it. This was a fortress that began to climb the Kazakh hills out of the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains.
The Western Regions were always at war, and in order to survive, humans had no choice but to build fortresses of varying sizes. The Ming army successfully occupied this place before winter came.
If there were no cities or houses, people could still hide in tents, but horses would freeze to death on a large scale.
Now, Commander Han Shierlang used the knowledge he learned at the Army Academy to lead his troops to find a temporary resting place, which is also a time for rest and recuperation.
Inside the city, the Ming army controlled key points and at the same time guarded the Kazakh civilians who did not have time to escape in batches.
There was not so much humanitarianism in the 16th century. If you tried to become a Bodhisattva, you would have to distribute the limited food and let your soldiers starve. When they lost their ability to fight, you would not be a Bodhisattva, but just a fool.
Slaves of a conquered nation can never become free citizens.
These Kazakh men were mobilized to do various labors, such as repairing the city walls that were blown open by artillery fire. However, because their food was robbed, most of them were physically weak and it was difficult for them to survive in the severe cold.
Kazakh women are responsible for warming the beds of soldiers who are on rotation and rest.
The soldiers have been fighting from spring to summer, and their spirits have been tense for too long. They need a release.
Han Shierlang satisfied them.
They ate the looted livestock, burned the looted firewood, and slept with the looted women. When the cold wave passed and the sun rose, the soldiers recovered their physical strength and mental state, and once again became a feared army.
These details will not be clearly stated in history books. There are only four words: fight to support the war.
This is the only way to survive. Otherwise, we would die several times while waiting for supplies from Yili. If we were robbed along the way, we would also support the enemy.
This has always been the case in Central Asia, and if the Ming army fails, the outcome will be the same.
After the cold wave passed, Han Shierlang ordered the army to be prepared.
The sixteen cannons weighing thousands of pounds were now pulled by Kazakh men. Half of the musket powder was consumed, but it was still usable. A lot of dried sweet potatoes were eaten, but they also snatched bacon. Although it was hard and tasted bad, at least there was something to eat.
"General, it has been such a long time since the Great Yuz were defeated, the two large tribes in the west and Taher Khan must have received news of the Ming army's attack. According to the intelligence, if Taher is really a crazy and arrogant person, he will definitely lead his troops to fight back."
A charcoal fire lit up in Han Shierlang's tent. This was also the supplies they carried. The people in Nanjing were struggling to understand why they could not fight a rich war against Annan. What was a rich war? This was it.
It was expected that Taher Khan would come to fight. This was judged two months ago, but the distance was too far and several waves of cold waves interrupted the process.
However, what is coming will come.
In particular, the Ming army was still advancing towards the northwest. This area was already the area south of Lake Balkhash, where Kazakhs were relatively concentrated.
"It would be better if the main force arrived, so that this wouldn't drag on." Han Shierlang took a bite of the tough roasted meat.
Everything was fine, but suddenly someone rushed in and reported loudly: "Marshal, there is an enemy attack from the northwest!"
The three lieutenants in the tent all stood up. "Enemy attack? At this time?"
An army of fifty or sixty thousand men spread out on the plain would occupy a very large area, and it is possible that the general's tent would not be aware of the movement in a corner at first.
"Why are you panicking?" Han Shierlang glanced at him lightly. As an experienced general, leading the entire army to fight in the field, how could he not have a plan to deal with surprise attacks?
He asked, "How many enemies are there?"
"There are about 7,000 to 10,000 people!"
A deputy general said: "This scale doesn't seem like a small-scale invasion by scattered tribes. It's probably a exploratory attack by a larger tribe."
"Which one was attacked?"
Everyone walked towards the sand table. "To the northwest, it should be the right wing cavalry battalion of the 3rd Guard of the 2nd Army. I know that captain. He is an outstanding graduate of the Army Academy in the 17th year of Zhengde. His surname is Lin, and his name is Lin Tang. He is extremely brave in battle."
Han Shierlang touched his chin, "A sudden charge will never break up our front. First mobilize the cannons to bombard the enemy's rear. After three rounds of volleys, order the Third Guard to deploy three thousand-household battalions on each wing to encircle and attack, reducing the pressure on the right wing cavalry battalion. The First and Second Guards of the Second Army are ready to pursue. The First Army, follow me to hold the line."
"Just hold the line, don't you want to go?"
"Wait for their main force, why are you in such a hurry?"
The Ming army's artillery played an unexpected role in this battle. Not only was it used in sieges, but a few rounds of bombardment on the battlefield were enough to bring tremendous psychological pressure to the enemy.
When the enemy attacks, there will be some confusion at first, but as long as the command system still exists, especially as long as the middle and lower-level officers on the front line can command calmly, it is entirely possible to organize a defense quickly.
These Kazakh cavalrymen had very bad luck. They might have encountered an army with the highest quality of middle and lower-level officers in the world today.
After all, there are "political commissars" at the level of centurions!
Although the initial arrows are a little difficult to defend against, the situation will be reversed.
Looking down from the air, the vast land was densely packed with troops like ants, and their scale seemed to span thousands of miles. Suddenly, more than a dozen round shells shot up into the sky with flames.
boom! boom! boom!
The earth was shaking at this moment. For the Ming army, the effect of this sound was even more useful than beating drums.
Political Commissar Lou Fangyong had been waiting for this moment. He pointed at the shells in the sky and shouted, "That's our artillery!"
Boom boom boom!
Another round!
It was probably the first time that the Kazakh cavalry had seen a shell with such a firing distance. Moreover, it was not just a solid shell, but also contained gunpowder. After it hit the ground, it made a "bang" sound, and the ground was covered with broken bodies.
Lin Tang, the captain of the cavalry battalion, laughed loudly, "How can a lowly creature like an ant recognize the powerful artillery of the Ming Dynasty?"
The advancement of weapons will give soldiers a feeling that they are born to win, and an army that never thinks about failure is invincible.
After fighting for a while, main generals such as Han Shierlang also rode out on horseback. Under his command, the vast Ming cavalry began to form lines on this land, charging left and right.
The tactics imitated from the Mongols also had effects, which was to penetrate at high speed and kill the enemy with horseback shooting before engaging in close combat.
In terms of the most important aspects of the army, including weapons and equipment, individual soldier quality and command level, the Ming army was at its peak in the past hundred years, so if a fight like this really broke out, the Kazakh cavalry would soon be unable to hold on.
Han Shierlang keenly observed this: "The first and second guards of the Second Army began to pursue. There is only one order: defeat the invading enemy!"
He is the commander-in-chief and he is confident. Not to mention the enemy sending a vanguard, even if he faces an army of 100,000, he dares to play like this.
(End of this chapter)