The prince specifically stated in the tactical plan that three prerequisites must be met in order to lure the snake out of its hole.
First of all, Utrecht Fort must be severely damaged by naval guns, and it is best to destroy it directly.
Secondly, after the bombardment stops, Hongyi must be allowed a certain amount of time to send troops, otherwise they will not be able to climb to the top of the mountain.
Finally, when the first two conditions are not fully met, the land division must press a certain distance in order to make an offensive move.
In this way, in order to protect the Utrecht Fort on the top of the mountain, Hongyi will reinforce it as long as there is ample time before the enemy launches a fierce attack on it, because both sides know the importance of this place.
Therefore, Zheng Zhi'ao followed his brother Zheng Zhilong's instructions and deliberately led his troops forward, less than 300 steps away from the target, as if he was planning to attack by force, filling Hongyi on the opposite side with a sense of urgency.
The purpose of this is also very clear, which is to attract the defenders of Geranze Castle to come out to reinforce the Utrecht Castle on the top of the mountain. It is easiest to hook these moths out and fight them.
This battle involves a battle of wits and courage with the Hongyi. Brutal strength alone is not enough. The castle of Relanja was built with great difficulty, and it can even withstand the bombardment of the fleet. If you want to win quickly, you can only use the tools provided by the prince. this strategy.
Zheng Jun's tactics are very simple. If you don't come out, I won't attack and will keep bombarding you with naval artillery. Bomb for a while first, then stop and see how the situation goes. If reinforcements don't come out, then bomb for a while longer.
Before Utrecht Fort was bombarded to pieces, the Hongyi, who were in a passive and beaten position, must have been the first to worry. As long as they dared to send troops for reinforcements, they would lose.
"Where is Zheng Ju?"
"The general is here!"
"Brother, allocate two thousand of your soldiers to serve as our vanguard and drive back the Red Yi reinforcements!"
"The last general takes command!"
Zheng Zhi'ao was not a junior in the family. As Zheng Zhilong's brother, he still had a lot of experience in leading troops in battles. Even though his soldiers had landed on Dajuan Island and the small fort on the top of the mountain was close at hand, he did not let his men swarm him.
The big blunderbuss in Relanze's castle has not been completely destroyed and can still cause great damage to his own troops. Although Hongyi has not yet opened fire, it does not mean that they are helpless. Zheng Zhi'ao does not want his men to use their flesh and blood to try it. Fan.
"Wait a minute, let Commander Tiger's big guns clear the way for your troops first! Brother Tiger, you're done!"
Although Zheng Zhi'ao was the commander of the landing army, in terms of the military rank awarded by the imperial court, he was only a deputy commander-in-chief. Hu Dawei was a legitimate commander-in-chief, one level higher than Zheng Zhi'ao.
"How dare you! This is my department's business!"
After the battle against Wang Pu's rebellion, Hu Dawei also gained some experience in the application of mortars. However, it is one thing to attack a city with a mortar truck, but it is another thing to land on the beach and fight in the field. It must be taken seriously. Not perfunctory.
There is a mortar battalion located on the front line, which is directly under the command of the commander-in-chief Hu Dawei. There is also a battalion stationed behind the southern part of Da Yuan Island, which can come to assist at any time.
However, because there was not much space on the top of the mountain, there was too much equipment to deploy, and there was also the worry of being attacked by the red barbarian guns, so Hu Dawei only transferred one battalion.
But thirty-six mortars and twice as many spare guns seemed to be enough to deal with Utrecht Fort and the red barbarians who came for reinforcements.
"Ranging!"
"Two hundred and five!"
"three hundred!"
"Two hundred and five!"
"Two hundred and five!"
"..."
"Set two hundred and five! Adjust the elevation!"
"emission!"
Those responsible for measuring distances are all intermediate experts. The battalion commander will choose the same value reported by most people as the setting parameter. If there are two values of the same number, for example, two hundred and fifty steps and three hundred steps each have four to five, Then take the average of two hundred and seventy-five steps.
The triangular calipers are all integers and do not have this angle, but the gunner can adjust the elevation angle of the mortar to a position between the two angles. This is probably the corresponding range. Any knowledge that is not understood can be explored through actual combat.
"Boom, boom, boom..."
Generals Zheng Zhi'ao, Zheng Ju, Zheng Shao and other generals were very curious about this kind of iron barrel cannon. They didn't know how powerful it was, so they wanted to see it today. Since his brother Zheng Zhilong highly praised this kind of firearm, there must be something unique about it.
Many generals of the Zheng Army believed that such crude firearms were far inferior to their own Folangji, and might not even be as powerful as the Crouching Tiger Cannon. The imperial court sent Hu Dawei's troops to fight with their own troops, just to gain credit and glory. That’s all.
Because of the fear that the gunpowder would get damp due to shipping, the ammunition required by the entire artillery regiment was replenished locally in Fujian. Of course, Zhenhai Bo Zheng Zhilong would satisfy all these requirements.
Because it was a beach landing operation, Hu Dawei brought single guns this time instead of mortar trucks. Because of its extremely light weight, there was no need for mules and horses, and it was easy to carry it to the top of the mountain with manpower alone.
Every soldier is equipped with an engineer shovel. In addition, the entire Taiyuan Island itself is a giant sand dune. The soil on the top of the mountain is loose, which makes the artillery dig holes extremely fast. After a while, the entire artillery battalion's mortars were deployed. It's over.
Hu Dawei only asked the battalion commander Han Xiao to deploy thirty-six artillery pieces. The spare cannons had not been used yet. If the firepower was insufficient, if they were used again, it would be regarded as a test firing for the first time. The specific results need to be observed and analyzed.
Although the attack was on the reinforcements coming from the Castle of Geranze, the target was Utrecht Castle, because Han Xiao could be sure that the destination of this red barbarian force was the castle.
It is very difficult to hit moving targets, but it is much easier to hit fixed targets. All senior officers of the entire artillery regiment have been taught by the prince's words and deeds. Not only have they mastered basic knowledge, but they can also draw inferences from one example and apply them flexibly.
Now that I know you bastards are going to that fortress, I will wait until you are about to enter and put all the explosive packets into your mouths. By then, you will not be able to eat them even if you want.
Han Xiao estimated the approximate time in his mind and felt that it was almost done before he asked his men to fire. A bunch of lumpy projectiles suddenly spewed out from the muzzle and flew rapidly into the sky.
"That is……"
Company commander Captain Vanderwilliams and deputy company commander Lieutenant Erwin Hendricks, leading fifty soldiers and one hundred and fifty minions, were climbing the mountain and were about to enter Utrecht Fort.
At this time, he suddenly heard the sound of artillery in the distance, and then saw a bunch of black dots rushing toward his position. He instinctively realized that those were artillery shells fired by the enemy, but it was too late to give the order.
After the pirate fleet stopped shelling, Colonel Janssen hurriedly sent reinforcements, fearing that the key points above him would be occupied by the pirates. This company was the hope of Utrecht Castle and must reach its destination as soon as possible.
It was obvious that the pirates did not intend for the support force to reach Utrecht Fort. Before they entered the fort, a hail of bullets fell, catching both the Dutch soldiers and the minions by surprise.
"Boom boom boom boom..."
In an instant, the impact area turned into a sea of fire, and tens of thousands of tiny iron nails spurted out with the explosion, forming an extremely dense rain of bullets.
For the Dutch soldiers, who were only protected by helmets and breastplates, facing a sudden blow, their limbs were exposed and allowed to be pierced and cut by shrapnel. This was an inevitable disaster.
The most terrifying thing about the explosive package is not the explosion, but the sputtering effect produced by the explosion. The lethality to the non-heavy infantry in dense formation is very large, and the Dutch defenders have not been exposed to such artillery shells.
They also have mortars, or mortars. The barrel is shaped like a cylinder with thick walls, like a giant iron container for pounding garlic. Cannonballs are large and hollow inside, used to fill with objects such as iron sheets and nails.
When igniting and launching, two fuses must be ignited, one on the shell and the other on the mortar. The firing conditions of this mortar equipped by the Ming army are exactly the same.
However, the Ming army's mortars were far superior to the Dutch mortars in terms of workmanship, weight, cost, and tactics. This was something the defenders could never imagine.
At the moment of the explosion and the short period of time that followed, neither Captain Williams nor Lieutenant Hendricks knew what happened. They were completely stunned by the bombing scene.
The huge fireball and ferocious flames quickly faded away, and the thick smoke was blown away by the sea breeze, but the screams from the men never stopped, and the screams were heartbreaking, making people shudder when they heard them.
Most of the people who were shot gritted their teeth in pain, kept wailing, and rolled on the ground. Their legs were injured and they could not stand up at all. They ran into the fort for bandaging and treatment.
Once a nail is driven into the bone, it is basically not far from amputation. In the hot weather, amputation means heavy bleeding. If you are lucky enough to escape, you will also face the risk of wound suppuration.
Captain Williams only saw hundreds of wounded soldiers and various weapons scattered on the ground. He quickly realized that this kind of artillery shell was different from ordinary types, it could explode and was extremely lethal.
"not good!"
"here we go again!"
"Run!"
"etc……"
"help me……"
"Damn it!"
The soldier who was still trying to help his injured companion heard a similar sound in the distance. He looked up and saw a bunch of black dots appearing in the air. He immediately left his companion and ran away.
Some people were even more panic-stricken. Instead of running into Utrecht Castle, which was just a short distance away, they chose to run back and escape in the direction of Geranze Castle.
Due to the use of spare guns, the interval between the second and first firing is extremely short, which is completely impossible for other artillery, including mortars.
The area near Utrecht Fort was already in chaos. The defenders who came out to help also chose to retreat when they saw this situation. No one wanted to become a wounded soldier lying on the ground.
Captain Victor Gazi and Captain Frank DeBoer, who were observing the enemy's situation in the fort, did not understand what was going on when they saw a large area of Williams' men knocked down by artillery shells.
When they sent people to help, before they could help the wounded soldiers in, the other side launched a second artillery bombardment. The interval was so short that all the defenders were shocked.
At this time, staying outdoors is waiting for death. Anyone who can still move, even if he is dragging a useless leg, or even can only crawl on the ground, must crawl into the fortress to feel at ease.
The rapidly approaching artillery shells did not intend to give them this opportunity. They exploded at roughly the same place, covering the surrounding area within a radius of thirty meters. The rain of bullets formed by iron nails almost enveloped the entire Utrecht Fort. It's inside.
"What a good fight!"
Hu Dawei used his telescope to see nearly a hundred Hongyi being blown to the ground. He was very happy and immediately praised Han Xiao. This was the result of victory.
The lethality of mortars against heavily armored heavy infantry or heavy cavalry is extremely limited, but the unique splash effect of explosive packets is extremely lethal against lightly armored enemy soldiers.
Regardless of whether it is a rogue bandit or a red barbarian, as long as half of the body is not protected by armor and is driven in by extremely fast iron nails, the slightest case will be injured, and the worst case will be killed directly.
As long as an iron nail hits a vital part, an enemy soldier can lose his combat effectiveness. Therefore, in field battles, lightly armored enemy troops encountering mortar attacks are equivalent to encountering natural enemies.
"Damn pirate!"
After entering Utrecht Fort, Captain Williams received a report from his men that he had lost almost two-thirds of his troops in two shellings launched by the pirates.
Fortunately, there were many Min soldiers who died and fewer soldiers. There were at least nearly thirty soldiers who could continue to fight, and there were still thirty-five Min soldiers.
He came with reinforcements to fight the pirates, not to be bombarded by the pirates. The current result really made Captain Williams feel furious.
After the originally injured soldiers encountered a second explosion, they were completely unable to get in. The seriously injured were killed, the slightly injured became seriously injured, and the uninjured were also injured.
The defenders of Utrecht Castle received only one company of reinforcements, nothing more, but this reinforcement was not enough to help them defend the fortress that had been bombarded and almost reduced to ruins.
Neither Captain Ghazi nor Captain DeBoer planned to let the artillery in the fortress fire back. If they fired from such a long distance, once the barrels overheated and a large group of enemy infantry rushed over, the artillery would not be able to fire.
So they endured it and waited until they got to close range before letting the artillery fire, so as to maximize the damage to the pirates.
Each short-barreled cannon is equipped with ten medicine chambers, which can be quickly replaced to achieve high-speed firing. However, there is only one barrel, so the expected effect must be exerted when the enemy is approaching.
"Temporary ceasefire!"
"Everyone take a rest!"
Han Xiao did not order a third bombardment, because in such hot weather, as long as he was shot, the wound was likely to become infected and suppurative, which could be regarded as an incurable disease. So why would we waste ammunition?
If the defenders in the fortress or the reinforcements in the Geranze Castle still dare to come out, it will be too late to open fire again. It would be pointless to just continue to bomb the wounded Red Barbarian soldiers lying on the ground.
"Brother, can our unit attack it?"
Zheng Ju was still waiting to lead his team to launch an attack, trying to capture the fortress that had been reduced to ruins by bullets in one go.
"No rush! Send my order to the general and let the fleet continue to bombard the mountaintop fortress with big guns!"
Zheng Zhi'ao, who was watching with gusto, had an idea and gave up his previous thoughts. Since this trick works, don't blame me for playing tricks on you, the red barbarians!
The defenders in the fortress in front of them received a lot of reinforcements, and their strength was strengthened. If Zheng Ju's troops were to attack the fort, there would be a possibility of large-scale casualties among the soldiers.
Rather than that, wouldn't it be nice to continue the bombardment by my brother's fleet, and then force the red barbarians in the castle of Geranze to increase their troops, as a way of adding fuel to the fire?
One hundred red barbarians will be eliminated in one visit. In less than ten days, all the red barbarians in the castle of Relanja will be eaten alive on the way. I am not afraid that you will not fight...
