Later generations often talk about the "weak Song Dynasty", but they don't know that the Song Dynasty was the most enlightened dynasty. As a result, when the Song Dynasty fell, nearly 100,000 soldiers and civilians jumped into the sea and died. This was not such a feat even during the Ming Dynasty.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was relatively easy for Qin to destroy Qi, Zhao and other countries, but it was extremely difficult to destroy Chu.
Why? Because of the liberal national customs of Chu State, the people in the country naturally support and love Chu State more than the harsh Qin State. This is why it is said that although Chu has three households, if Qin is destroyed, Chu will be the only one.
The people on both sides of the road looked at Zhang Rui and others passing by, with more indifference and numbness on their faces. In their hearts, whether it is the bandit suppression army or the Qing army, it has nothing to do with them who wins. As long as they can live quietly without disturbing them, they are the king's master.
In the early days of the Opium War, the people of the Qing Dynasty helped the British transport materials and even continued to sell food to the British. If it weren't for the brutal and cruel things the British did later, it is estimated that no people would resist the British invasion. Only the Qing Dynasty could do such weird things.
"It seems that the Propaganda Department's propaganda is not enough. We have to make the people believe that helping the bandit suppressing army is helping themselves. The Qing Tatars are good at packaging and promoting themselves. There is no reason why our army will lose to them." Zhang Rui looked at The indifferent people on both sides of the road thought in their hearts:
"They know how to publicize, and we must also know how to publicize. Expelling the Tartars should not be a matter of one person, nor should it just be a matter of suppressing the bandits. It should be a common mission of the whole people."
The poverty and callousness of the people he saw along the way made Zhang Rui firmer in his views.
Maybe he will be defeated and be caught and executed by Ling Chi by the Qing court. But a spark can ignite. As long as you scatter the seeds of hope, even if you fail, the uprising will be meaningful.
Jiangxi, Jiujiang.
Jiujiang refers to the confluence of many waters, and also refers to the thought that the nine waters of Huhan (i.e. Ganjiang River, Po River, Yu River, Xiu River, Gan River, Xu River, Shu River, Nan River and Peng River) enter Pengli Lake. ”, that is, the place where nine rivers converge.
The Yangtze River flows through the waters of Jiujiang and converges with Poyang Lake and the rivers adjacent to the three provinces of Jiangxi, Hubei and Anhui. Hundreds of rivers return to the sea, with vast water and a magnificent river surface.
During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, most of the Yangtze River waters were garrisoned by the Jiangning Navy. However, in April of the 16th year of Qianlong's reign, Qianlong cut off the green battalions of Jiangning Navy after "parading the troops with the Empress Dowager".
Since the Qing Dynasty, the management of various Eight Banners naval battalions has been chaotic and their combat effectiveness has been low. The training officers and soldiers of the Green Camp Navy were discriminated against and treated differently. The bannermen were too lazy to train, so they never mastered the skills of sailing and water warfare. Green camp soldiers also lacked motivation due to discrimination.
It was early July in the twenty-first year of Qianlong's reign.
Due to Zhang Rui's attention, the bandit suppression army established the Yangtze River Navy in the Yangtze River. When the Yangtze River Navy went to battle against the Eight Banners Navy of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, it used a weak versus strong posture and lured and annihilated the Manchu and Qing Eight Banners Navy of Jiangning and the Deputy Assistant of the Zhenjiang Navy.
From this time on, the Manchu Qing Dynasty no longer had naval forces in the waters of the Yangtze River. The waters of the Yangtze River have been controlled by the bandit suppression army.
Mid-July.
Qianlong, who was stimulated by the news that the bandit suppression army had been victorious, could no longer bear Fu Heng's "inaction". Fu Heng was ordered to go out to suppress the bandit army. If he failed to do anything, he would be removed from Dai Hualing.
Fu Heng was helpless and could no longer shrink his troops to resist the enemy.
Under the wishes of both parties, Zhang Rui led two armies, the Sharp Sword Army and the Red Field Army, with a total of more than 60,000 troops, which were claimed to be 300,000 troops. Fu Heng led 80,000 Qing soldiers of various types and Xiangyong, who were claimed to have 500,000 troops. The two armies fought against each other. in Jiujiang.
Jiujiang is a small place, which is not conducive to fighting with large armies.
It has been said since ancient times that before the soldiers and horses move, food and grass go first. Road transportation is difficult, but water transportation is much better. In order to compete for this transportation road, the two parties had to use their tactics.
Jiujiang, Xipingkou.
The terrain is flat and open, suitable for large army battles.
The scouts from both sides made contact and deployed their respective troop formations. In a battle between large armies, any strategy is in vain, and only true strength can win.
The Qing army was four miles away.
At this moment, it can be seen that the bandit suppressing army has placed its artillery in front of the formation.
More than sixty cannons, large and small, spread out in a row, the momentum is very spectacular.
In the middle position were placed about 10,000 musketeers of the bandit suppression army, divided into two teams and marching side by side. There are archers on the left and right flanks, both located not far behind the cannon. The pikemen are on both sides of the musketeers and archers, and the sword and shield soldiers are behind the musketeers and archers. The few horses on horseback guard the central army and also serve as surprise troops.
The Qing army also placed artillery in front of the formation, but compared to the numerous artillery pieces of the bandit suppressing army, the Qing army only had about a dozen thousand-pound smoothbore cannon, which was a bit weaker.
The long-range weapons of the Qing soldiers were a mixture of bows and arrows and matchlocks. Because the Qing army deliberately guarded against and treated the Green Camp soldiers, there were relatively few Eight Banners soldiers in Jiangxi. Therefore, the number of archers and musketeers in the Qing army was much smaller than that of the bandit suppression army.
Behind the matchlock guns of the Qing army, Xiang Yong holding various weapons stood in front of the green battalions with red tassels and swords. Behind the green battalions were the Eight Banners inspectors riding horses.
"Dong...dong...dong..."
At this moment, the drums in the Qing army began to beat loudly.
The army marches forward
"Bang...bang...bang..."
Along with the deafening sound, dozens of Qing army's artillery muzzles ejected shining fire, and solid iron shot out at a speed that was difficult to observe with the naked eye.
At this time, artillery shells from the bandit suppressing army also flew over. Artillery shells flew into the Qing army's formation one after another. Before many Qing soldiers who were not directly hit by the artillery shells had time to rejoice, they saw the artillery shells sinking into the ground explode instantly.
"Boom..."
"Boom...boom...boom..."
Explosions kept coming.
Although the crater created by each shell was not large, the Qing army was killed and injured within three feet of the shell explosion.
Take a look at the bandit suppression army. Because the ground is wet, the soil is soft. The Qing army only traded high elevation for range, resulting in a very low secondary ricochet rate for running bombs. Even if a second ricochet occurs, the damage will not be significant.
Therefore, except for a few soldiers who were directly hit by artillery shells, the number of casualties during the bandit suppression army was not high.
Under the long and short range of the sixty artillery pieces of the bandit suppressing army, an insurmountable belt of artillery fire formed in front of them.
The sound of explosions kept coming, and every ball of black smoke rising after the flash of fire harvested many lives. In just a quarter of an hour of artillery fire coverage, the Qing army's front troops lost more than 2,000 troops.
Two thousand men and horses seemed so insignificant among the tens of thousands of Qing troops swarming in like a tide. However, only those who are under fire can understand the fear of being obsessed with black and white at every moment.
"I knew how powerful the anti-thief firearms were, but I didn't expect them to be so powerful." Looking at the battle situation in front of the formation, Fu Heng couldn't help but said in shock.
"Indeed. Compared with artillery, our army is very different. In just a quarter of an hour, three of our army's sixteen artillery were exploded, six were cracked and unusable, and the rest could only wait to cool down. But the rebels It's still firing, which has a great impact on the morale of our army." The Eight Banners General Atam He Yan complained.
"General He..." Fu Heng glanced at Atamu He Yan thoughtfully, with an expression like "I'm too lazy to tell you."
"Yes, General." Atamu He Yan understood immediately and quickly saluted Fu Heng with a cupped fist.
"Sir General, with the situation on the battlefield like this, our army cannot delay for too long, otherwise accidents may happen easily." Liang Yigui, the commander of the green battalion on Fu Heng's left, said with his fists clasped.
"Send the order and take all the local heroes forward. As long as they get close, the rebels will naturally not dare to leave the artillery in front." Fu Heng gave the order with a wave of his hand.
"Hey, I accept your order." The flag officer beside him immediately knelt down on one knee and said.
Fu Heng and others have long known about the powerful firearms of the bandit suppression army, but they have been studying for a long time and have not found a way to crack it. Later, after discussion, a group of people decided to use the method used by the Mongols to drive the people away and consume the enemy's strength.
As long as the rebels can be defeated, the Holy One will definitely not blame the soldiers who have made great contributions to our Qing Dynasty for the sake of the little "ant people". If they were defeated, leaving them would be just for the rebels to strengthen their power.
Therefore, before the war, the Qing army arrested Ding members everywhere to serve as local warriors. Anyone as young as five or sixty years old or as young as thirteen or fourteen years old will be spared as long as they can pick up a knife and a gun and run away, unless they can hand over "the thieves' silver".
Even compared to the consumable green battalion soldiers, the Xiang Yong who could be caught anywhere were truly worthless in the hearts of Fu Heng and others, and would not even be buried if they died. Therefore, the officials of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties also called the people (mostly Han Chinese) "ant-men", indicating that they existed like ants.
"Dong...dong dong dong..."
At this time, the Qing army's war drums began to beat rapidly.
"Damn it, are those people above blind? Didn't you see how many people died under the artillery fire in front? They are still speeding up." Among the attacking Qing troops, a green soldier with a bloody knife in his hand was cursing.
