The Shen flag of the Ming Empire has been planted on the city wall of Copenhagen. Jiexuan believes that it will not be long before the flag of the Ming Dynasty will be flying on the land that was originally part of Denmark.
Compared with the Holy Roman Empire, Denmark's national and military power were far different, and its peninsular terrain could easily be cut off by the Ming Dynasty's land routes from the European continent.
Each island is conducive to the coalition fleet helping the Marines to carry out beach landing operations, and the strategic depth of the islands is almost zero. Naval guns and carrier-based aircraft are enough to cover the Marines' attack.
Perhaps Christian VI would stick to Copenhagen, or perhaps escape to other places to fight guerrillas, which would allow the defenders to hold on for a while longer.
As the king and some of his civil servants and generals were captured alive, and the merchant ship transporting soldiers was sunk, Zealandia's resistance soon weakened.
It's not that the Danes who stayed on the island voluntarily or forced did not want to resist, because the Ming Marine Corps had enough heavy weapons and air cover.
Zealandia is not very large, and there are almost no mountains for the defenders to hide.
There is nothing more than a swamp in the northwest and southern areas of the island, but this does not have much effect at all.
The reason is simple, the Ming Marine Corps has been equipped with hovercraft!
Even in swamps, it feels like walking on flat ground, allowing Marines to negotiate such rough terrain with ease.
There are off-road vehicles, tanks, and hovercrafts on the ground, and fighter jets and helicopters overhead are ready to provide support.
This made the remaining resistance forces on the island feel extremely uncomfortable, and there was no hope of victory at all.
If there were dozens of people, they would not be able to defeat the Ming army, which was armed to the teeth.
On the contrary, the greater the number of people, the more likely they are to be hit by air strikes.
Four napalm bombs were thrown down, and a company was almost burned...
In this case, there were not only those in the garrison who surrendered to the Ming Dynasty King's Division.
In order to get special treatment and avoid being sent to mine, there are even people who betray their comrades.
Guys who provide valuable clues will not only receive amnesty, but also receive corresponding rewards.
If a person has one silver coin and helps the Ming Dynasty master to eliminate or capture 100 people, he can directly get 100 silver coins.
This way you can save your life without having to mine, and you can still make money. The huge temptation makes many guys choose to betray their trust...
If one or two people do this, it may not be enough to destroy the island's defenders.
But the number of traitors continued to rise like a snowball, directly dealing a fatal blow to the defenders scattered everywhere.
People often escape in the middle of the night, and at noon or afternoon the next day, they bring a large number of Ming troops.
In less than half a month, Zealandia's resistance had ceased to exist in name only.
There may be some stragglers in the woods who are unwilling to surrender, but they can no longer change the entire situation of the war.
The situation in Jutland is similar to Zealandia, except that the area is three times the size of the latter, and it will take a little longer to clear out the enemies.
After mobilization, the number of defenders on the peninsula reached almost 300,000, which was quite impressive in terms of military strength.
However, these forces are scattered throughout the country. In fact, the defense capability of a single location is far inferior to that of Copenhagen.
Because of this, the defenders on the southwestern and southeastern coasts of the peninsula were defeated by the 7th and 8th brigades of the Ming Dynasty Marine Corps.
Kolding, the largest city in the southern part of the peninsula, has only 20,000 garrison troops. This is the number after absorbing the strength of surrounding garrison troops.
Almost all men from fifteen to sixty years old have become members of the Danish army.
But they also understand that people who are too old or too young can only be used to fill up their accounts.
On April 10, the Eighth Marine Brigade of the Ming Dynasty launched a fierce attack on the city.
Although there were only six "Black-footed Albatross" and twelve helicopters covering the ground troops' attack, they still taught the local defenders a lesson.
The defenders were not without air cover. There were as many as twenty "Albatross" fighter jets stationed at the local airport.
But once they fought, ten "Albatross" were shot down in just one minute.
Three minutes later, the defenders lost their air cover and could only be beaten passively.
The artillery on the artillery position can attack the invading enemy from a long distance. However, with the loss of air superiority, the artillery position becomes a living target for the opponent's fighter planes.
After the naval aviation force seized air supremacy on the battlefield, it immediately launched a ground attack. The number one target was the artillery position that would cause a large number of casualties to the ground forces.
This move directly caused the defenders' more than 30 artillery positions on the south side of the city to be taken over by helicopter troops in less than five minutes.
The helicopters even lay on the roof of the building, trying to take advantage of the height of the building to snipe at the Ming defenders' infantry. They turned on the strafing mode and beat them until they had nowhere to hide.
Fortunately, the defenders hid all the tanks first, either driving them into garages or using straw to cover them, thus avoiding greater losses.
However, with the loss of a large number of artillery pieces, the blocking firepower of the defenders was greatly weakened, and ten tanks were used as a last resort as fixed firepower points.
However, they were soon discovered by the helicopter hovering overhead. After only ten minutes of appearance, they turned into burning scrap metal.
Although the total combat weight of the T-7 tank (No. 3) is only a little over 20 tons, before it is put into the battlefield, a 20 to 50 mm thick steel plate can be added to the front of the tank.
This can greatly improve the bulletproof ability of the front of the tank. Even at close range, the enemy will not be able to penetrate this cheeky tank except for heavy artillery.
When the Marines enter within 500 meters of the enemy's position, the intensity of firepower they deal with will increase as the distance shortens, so they project a large number of smoke bombs into the enemy's position.
Obviously, this move made the defenders extremely uncomfortable, because they could not aim comfortably, even with the sea breeze blowing, it was very uncomfortable.
Afterwards, the Marines received the order and quickly retreated to a safe area.
The defenders thought they had repelled the invading enemy in this way. Although the cost was slightly heavier, it was completely worth it.
Everyone was so happy from top to bottom. They couldn't believe that they had defeated the attack of the world's largest military power without hand-to-hand combat.
If the enemy hadn't launched a second attack, the defenders would have drank some wine to celebrate this sudden victory!
Then……
Suddenly the rumbling sound of cannons came out from the seaside, and it was much more violent than before!
Jiexuan dispatched six destroyers (two Dingyuan and four Yoshino) to support the 8th Brigade's attack. Before that, the fleet sent a notification by radio to avoid unnecessary accidental damage.
The firepower of the battleship is far stronger than that of the Marine artillery, and the battleship is equivalent to the artillery with heavy armor protection, so there is no need to worry about the enemy's artillery counterattack.
The plane dropped an orange flare, which was used to indicate the bombardment target. The fleet saw the marked position and began a textbook fire attack on the shore.
For example, Copenhagen, which has a strong city defense, is a stage for battleships and cruisers, and there is no chance for small-tonnage destroyers to make an appearance.
As for the bombardment of Kolding, the captains of these six destroyers had a clear target, and they could also act as bosses and show off their authority in front of the defenders.
There is no need to be stingy with artillery shells. Even if they are consumed, they can be replenished through supply ships.
A large amount of artillery shells and propellants had been stored in the munitions warehouse of Fort Polo, which was enough for this operation.
Emperor Haojing had already sent people to report to Zhang Huangyan and help the local garrison build a large-caliber ammunition factory.
In this way, materials can be obtained locally without long-distance transportation, thus saving a lot of transportation capacity and costs.
The Western Viceroyalty has various resources that can fully meet the needs of producing artillery shells.
But now, the Kolding garrison was in bad luck. The defense area was covered by firepower from hundreds of naval guns.
The defenders on the shore wanted to fight back, but found that they could not defeat the enemy fleet on the sea.
When you hit someone, it's nothing more than making a dent in the hull, or at most a hole.
When someone hits you, blood and flesh will be scattered all over the place. Artillery and bunkers will be sent to the sky for you!
The aircraft overhead would radio the captain of the error in the bombardment, and the artillerymen could quickly make adjustments.
Kolding is not a big city, according to the classification of the Ming Empire.
Copenhagen is considered a first-tier city, and Odense, Aarhus, and Aalborg are considered second-tier cities.
Kolding can only be classified as a third-tier city along with Horsens, Esbjerg, Roskilde and others.
Being bombarded by hundreds of naval guns for a long time will cause great damage and casualties to both the city defense and the defenders.
Thick smoke soon billowed out of the city and the pier, and contiguous buildings were destroyed one after another.
But this is what Emperor Haojing wants to see, a completely asymmetrical war!
Technology crushes!
Crush with firepower!
The battle loss ratio is bound to be crushed!
Of course, there were also targets that were not shelled, such as merchant ships anchored at the docks.
It was obvious that the fleet planned to capture these ships and use them to transport prisoners and loot.
According to visual reports, the pilots reported that this bombardment destroyed approximately a quarter of the city. If it were fired three or four more times, the city could be directly razed to the ground.
This report is nothing short of extremely exciting for the entire small fleet. For them, nothing is more addictive than destroying enemy cities...
woman?
Hum!
How can there be such a great sense of accomplishment in playing with women?
The city that the enemy took decades or even hundreds of years to build was wiped off the map with just four or five bombardments.
What a joyful thing this is!
Totally memorable!
For this reason, many sailors decided to use the ruins of the city as the background for their photos after the bombardment.
In wartime, this would of course not be allowed.
But after the defenders surrendered, the captain was too lazy to take care of it, because there were even fishermen...
How many people would be willing to eat canned fish if they could catch fresh fish?
The navy only has this advantage over the army and air force, so wouldn't it be stupid to not take advantage of it?
When the war is not tense, the captain will not prevent his men from engaging in activities that can improve morale.
The city of Kolding in the telescope has turned into a blazing battlefield filled with smoke.
It shows that before long, this place will no longer be suitable for human habitation.
The defenders must either surrender or be buried with the city!
In fact, after the third bombardment was carried out the next day, the fighting spirit of the defenders was close to zero.
Everyone didn’t want to die, so in the end they had no choice but to run north with their wives, children and a bunch of relatives who could still breathe and walk.
If you use the hinterland of the peninsula, you may be able to fight elsewhere, but if you stay here, there is really no way to survive.
The 8th Marine Brigade was too lazy to pursue, because most of the remaining defenders would flee to Vejle, a port city north of Kolding.
At that time, the fleet will still need to bombard the local defenders and wait for Vejle to be captured.
The local garrison would flee to Horsens, north of Vejle, and so on...
On the contrary, the mission route given to the four marine brigades that carried out the north-south march was to first clean up the coastal cities, and then go deep into the interior to suppress the remnants of the Danish army.
At the same time, Zheng Chenggong's troops had captured Odense, the largest city on Funen Island and the second largest city in Denmark.
The reason why the city was captured so quickly is also very simple. The city is also a coastal city.
No matter how strong the city defense is, it can't withstand the fierce bombardment of Zheng's fleet, not to mention that this time Zheng Chenggong brought six battleships and eight cruisers.
Zheng Chenggong, who is participating in the European war for the second time, has great experience in cleaning up the fortress-shaped cities in Europe.
If you can use naval guns, you will never let army artillery fire.
After several volleys, the city wall will be blasted to pieces.
Having said that, if it weren't for the bombardment of Odense, Zheng Chenggong didn't even know what he would do with the six battleships he brought?
Traveling thousands of miles to Denmark, and then having to deal with a few merchant ships, it would be a waste of resources...
But no matter how boring the task is, the master's orders must still be carried out, not to mention that the master has never let his family suffer.
Zheng Chenggong can naturally reward the treasures in Odense that have not been taken away, not to mention the captured Ocean horses.
The highest point on Funen Island is Mount Fleur, which is only over a hundred meters above sea level. This height is just like a joke.
The island is almost flat, which is very suitable for Zheng Jun's mechanized troops to advance quickly.
The area is only half the size of Zealandia. Without encountering fierce resistance from the enemy, the Zheng army soldiers thought they were just traveling with their guns...
Since he couldn't come in vain, Zheng Chenggong also informed his subordinates to take away everything they could.
Those that are inconvenient to take away, such as livestock and poultry, can be eaten on the spot.
The beautiful ocean horse can be used as a reward, and the light equipment can be sold to the third senior brother Zhang Huangyan for cash.
Since the final servant was the imperial court, the brothers had to settle accounts openly.
What's more, if one hundred thousand barbarians can be captured by conquering Funing Island and surrounding islands this time, they can get at least one million silver coins.
Each soldier can get at least ten silver coins, which makes the trip worthwhile.
Of course, if you want to earn more, there is no way.
Zheng Chenggong only needs to say hello to the third senior brother, and when the war here is over, he can participate in the operation to clean up the Holy Roman Empire.
The troops that enter the battlefield first can continue to attack from the western front, and the troops that enter the battlefield later, like Zheng Jun, can go south from the northern coastal area.
So what if we need to pass through the territory of the Principality of Mecklenburg-Schwerin?
How dare the other party not borrow the opportunity?
The Ming Empire is now the most powerful country in the world!
The Ming Dynasty King's Army is now the most powerful army in the world!
Whoever dares to disobey will suffer the fate of Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire!
