Liu Yan ordered someone to fetch a map. This map was redrawn in more than ten days based on the continuous exploration of the New Army camps at night. Different from the abstract maps of other Ming army units, the battlefield map used by the new army in Qinglai Town is relatively accurate and detailed, and the key terrain on the battlefield is clearly visible.
This was the first time for Zhang Ruoqi, Wu Sangui and others to see such sophisticated maps. You must know that the maps used by the Ming army in the past were all similar to landscape paintings. At this time, Wu Sangui and Zhang Ruoqi saw this kind of map that was similar to the sketches of later generations. The terrain on it was so accurate, and they couldn't put it down. Especially Wu Sangui, who seemed to have the feeling of having the mountains and rivers under his control. His eyes stared at the map, and kept flashing. .
"It seems that the new army in Qinglai Town is not only powerful in combat, but also very powerful as a whole. Even this small map can be perfect. Liu Yan is really unfathomable!"
Wu Sangui secretly sighed in his heart. Excellent maps were extremely important for battlefields in the cold weapon era. Military formations were often lined up for several miles, or even more than ten miles. It was not easy for generals to grasp the situation of each military formation in a timely manner. things. Especially now that many Ming army generals can't even understand the flags and drums. They relied on fast horses to deliver messages, and often the situation on the battlefield would change before the military orders were delivered.
Liu Yan looked at the envious expressions of Wu Sangui and others, and felt funny in his heart. It is useless for everyone to envy you. This map looks simple, but it is difficult to draw. The collection of intelligence and terrain survey require a large number of professional personnel. If the terrain survey is inaccurate, the map drawn will not only be useless, but will be a burden and a disaster.
At present, in the Ming Dynasty, only Ye Bushou of the New Army in Qinglai Town is equipped with telescopes on a large scale, which can accurately and quickly explore the terrain. And because the New Army in Qinglai Town vigorously promoted military regulations, drills and other regulations, almost all soldiers knew hundreds of words. This level was considered "sir" level in the late Ming Dynasty. This means that each battalion can record the exploration situation anytime and anywhere to ensure the accuracy of the intelligence and reduce the map error as much as possible. In the entire Ming Dynasty, only the New Army of Qinglai Town could do this, not even the people from the Ministry of Industry!
Therefore, the command of this battle naturally fell into the hands of Liu Yan. Zhang Ruoqi had no objection. The commanders of each battalion of the New Army naturally had no objection. Even Wu Sangui looked like he was obeying orders.
So Liu Yan pointed to the map and said to everyone: "Our army's strategy for this battle is mainly to defend the battle. Use the southeastern part of the Chinese army's formation to prevent the thieves and slaves from attacking Xuanfu Town and Shanxi Town on the front of Huangtu Ridge from the flanks. Two units, and wait for an opportunity to cut off the connection between Huangtu Ridge and Songshan Ridge!"
Liu Yan set his tone and then continued: "The left side of our army is the hills and mountains in the southeast of Huangtu Ridge. There are many short mountains and undulating ground. This place is not conducive to the majority of the cavalry's operations. Therefore, the meaning of this town is that we The infantry battalions of the New Army are deployed here, which will help intercept and kill the slave bandits!"
The commanders of the new army battalions in Qinglai Town, Zhang Yi, Wang Bo, Shen Tuo, Miao Shao, Xu Ming, Qian Qian and Xun Jingyun, all gathered around Liu Yan and listened carefully. The same was true for the supervisor Zhang Ruoqi, as well as Wu Sangui and his subordinates.
After listening to Liu Yan's words, everyone looked at the map and several hills where the new army cavalry in Qinglai Town was currently entrenched. Sure enough, the terrain on the left side of the army was conducive to infantry defense.
Wu Sangui's eyes flashed. Said: "I dare to ask Mr. Liu, does the car camp in this town also need to be arranged on the left?"
Liu Yan said: "No, General Wu's infantry car camp is still in place. This way, our army is separated on the left and right sides, and the area that can be protected is wider. And the left and right echoes. Every time the thieves attack, they will be able to attack according to the situation. Assist each other and attack each other!"
"Of course, if you defend, you will attack. The terrain on the right of the infantry is the area under our feet. From the new army in Qinglai Town on the left to the Ningyuan Military Vehicle Camp on the right, most of the terrain is flat, and most of the cavalry can be gathered. Therefore, Our cavalry battalion of the New Army in Qinglai Town, as well as General Wu’s Ningyuan cavalry, will assemble here, and the driver will attack!"
Wu Sangui thought for a while and asked: "General Liu, with this arrangement, what if the Tatars don't attack my two wing infantry camps, but focus on my middle cavalry?"
Liu Yan praised: "General Wu asked a good question! So this town decided to arrange all the artillery in the New Army artillery battalion behind the cavalry battalion, that is, on the hilly highlands not far behind us!" 33
Everyone turned back together. Less than a mile behind them, there was indeed a hilly land with undulating hills and ridges running from left to right.
The hills are not too high, but they are considered a high ground compared to the plain land in front of them. At this time, the gunners of the New Army artillery battalion were busy setting up artillery on the hill. Many artillery pieces of various types had been deployed, and the black muzzles were pointed forward.
Less than a mile behind the hill, there is another deep trench running back and forth. But it was the trenches that the civilian men who came with Bai Guangen and Wu Sangui dug between Huangtu Ridge and Songshan Ridge. Because Bai Guangen was defeated too quickly, the trenches were not dug very long.
Liu Yan said: "If the slave bandit army specializes in attacking our cavalry, our artillery camp's more than two hundred artillery pieces of various types can continuously bombard the slave bandit army, which will definitely cause heavy casualties to the slave bandit army. Even if the slave bandit army does not break up, it will not form a formation, and Our cavalry is well organized, and if we scatter them with the masses, we will definitely win a complete victory!"
Everyone was refreshed. According to Liu Yan's plan, it seemed that this battle would be a great victory, and everyone's contribution would be considerable.
Liu Yan looked at the people who were eager to try, and said with a smile: "This is not over yet. Look at the hills ahead. This town will deploy the artillery battalion's rocket launcher vehicles in front of the hills, and arrange a large number of Tiger Zuns on the hills. Cannons, which can form multi-level bombardments on the slaves and thieves’ cavalry, will definitely achieve good results!”
In fact, the ground not far ahead is not even hilly. It is just a relatively flat area, and the terrain there is slightly undulating. However, it has a wide range and can deploy a large number of Tiger Cannons.
Everyone saw Liu Yan talking freely and placed the small flags representing their own military formations on the map one by one. It is really clear to everyone, much clearer than the previous strategies arranged by the superior officials.
This made everyone have an overall layout in their hearts, and they all admired in their hearts that the map of the new army in Qinglai Town was really precious.
No one had any objections to Liu Yan's arrangements at this time. Everyone had been fighting for so many years. In the past, when the superior officers arranged wars, no matter how the officials or generals ordered them, they all felt like they were veiled and confused. Only this time the layout was the clearest. No matter how the fight turned out later, at least there was no problem with Liu Yan's arrangement for now.
Wu Sangui had no objection. Zhang Ruoqi didn't know how to fight, and he had nothing to say. According to what he said before, his only function was to beat drums and cheer for the army.
At this time, the strategy of the battle had been decided. Wu Sangui led his generals to go to Liu Yan, and then quickly returned to the army to deploy. The new army cavalry in Qinglai Town on the left of the hilly area that had previously occupied the terrain withdrew and gathered in the Pingchuan area on the right. The soldiers of the infantry and artillery battalions of the New Army in Qinglai Town were arrayed in the hilly area on the left.
The Chinese army gathered on the hilly highlands not far behind, and behind the hills where the Chinese army was located, a large number of civilians gathered here. They were surrounded by earthen vehicles one by one on their periphery. Inside, the New Army officers and soldiers of Qinglai Town have set up a large number of tents. The supply soldiers and medical officers of each battalion are busy preparing boiling water and drinking water in the tents, as well as a large number of stretchers, various medicines, etc. , be ready to rescue wounded soldiers and perform various logistical tasks at any time.
On the defense line of the infantry battalions, Liu Yan used the middle camp as the backbone, the remaining left battalions were deployed on the left, and the right battalions were deployed on the right. The three infantry battalions totaled 36,700 people, and they were all in this hilly area. In a row, the army stretched for more than four miles, like a huge city wall, which was so spectacular that it almost completely blocked the westward advance of Jierhalang and Hauge's troops.
As the central army and reserve team, the Guards Battalion is assembled behind the three infantry battalions and is on standby, ready to support frontline battles at any time.
At the same time, the cavalry battalion led by Xu Ming has also been deployed. At this time, all the soldiers in the battalion have dismounted and rested to save horse power.
Qian Qian led the artillery battalion soldiers to occupy the high ground. At this time, the artillery battalion's Folan machine guns, rocket launcher vehicles and Huzun guns had all been pulled into position. The artillery battalion soldiers were nervously deploying artillery positions, and a large number of civilians were also mobilized. Mobilized here to help the artillery battalion soldiers consolidate the artillery array.
At this time, the supervisor Zhang Ruoqi looked at the heated scene and said to Liu Yan with a smile: "General Liu's men are really heavenly soldiers and heavenly generals. Look, those messengers are galloping between the battalions. What kind of Messages and military orders can be issued quickly, and there are drums, trumpets, and flags to convey messages. The New Army is so efficient. It is no wonder that General Liu can command with determination, and the army can also be driven like an arm!"
Liu Yan said with a smile: "This is the result of the hard training of the soldiers of each battalion. Without the daily sweat, there would be no calmness on the battlefield today."
"This is right!"
Zhang Ruoqi said: "I really don't understand how General Liu trained such powerful soldiers. To train these tens of thousands of soldiers, I'm afraid it would take a mountain of gold to be moved!"
"Ha ha!"
Liu Yan laughed loudly and did not answer Zhang Ruoqi. This was obviously a cliché, so Liu Yan pointed to the distance and said: "Jiang Zhang, please look, the flags of the slave thieves are also changing, and it seems that the slave thieves are also deploying." With the strength of our troops, this battle will begin soon."
Zhang Ruoqi ignored the words and showed a nervous look on his face. He raised his telescope and watched for a while, and it turned out to be true.
In the distance, I saw the flags of the various banners of the Qing army moving, and large groups of soldiers and horses being mobilized. Most of them were cavalry from the two blue banners of Manchuria and the white flag, as well as a large number of soldiers and horses of various Mongolian banners, with a strength of at least 20,000. above.
"hehe."
Zhang Ruoqi had just praised the strength of the new army. Now seeing that the Qing army was not weak, his fear of the Qing army rose again in his heart, and he said: "General Liu, we will definitely win this battle, right?"
Liu Yan said calmly: "This is natural, but there is still a problem."
"Any more questions?"
Zhang Ruoqi asked nervously: "Any more questions?"
Liu Yan said with a smile: "This town is thinking about how we can encircle and annihilate the 20,000 slave thieves in front of us in this battle!"
Some people died, but not completely...
