"This -" Hearing this, Cao Wenzong couldn't help but take a breath: "This is just a shot. Mounted shooting is really not easy. If you are an ordinary person, you may not be able to hit even one arrow!"
"That's natural. Brother Zhongda must have been busy these days. In terms of the number of infantry, I definitely don't have as many as him. However, judging from the experience of fighting in Baekje, the Japanese are not good at using cavalry. The key to the victory or defeat of the two armies is On the cavalry!"
"What Duke Ming said is certainly true!" Cao Wenzong said with a smile: "It's just that from what my subordinates have seen, the Japanese horses are really average. If they are used to charge into battle, I'm afraid they won't work!"
As Cao Wenzong said, the Yamato Dynasty was a country established by immigrants. Although it spent a lot of effort to transport horses from the Korean Peninsula to improve the level of war horses, the results can only be said to be unsatisfactory. The horses in the Japanese army are generally better than those in the Tang army. The height of the war horse's shoulders is two to three palms. This difference can be a matter of life and death when the battle formation is hedging. For this reason, Wang Wenzuo also took great pains: "Yes, so I plan to use the Japanese as mounted archers and shoot them with a swivel clip!" As he spoke, he jumped down from the corridor, pulled out his saber and drew on the ground while explaining.
Since Li Tang's ancestors were born in Wuchuan, they attached great importance to the use of cavalry. In all previous internal and external wars, the cavalry of the Tang Army assumed the main attack mission. Generally speaking, the infantry served as the backbone of the formation, guarding the baggage and preparing for the cavalry's assault. The gaps provide corresponding protection and cooperate with cavalry attacks, while the cavalry serves as scouts, breakthroughs, detours, flank attacks, and expulsion of enemy cavalry. Wang Wenzuo, who grew up under this kind of military system, was of course accustomed to first using scorpions, trebuchets, archers and other firepower to attack weak points on the enemy's front, then using cavalry to tear the gap, and finally flanking or flanking the enemy's main line. , to win.
But at the moment he does not have a strong cavalry unit. Even if reinforcements from Baekje arrive, the Tang Army cavalry on hand will not exceed 300 cavalry, and Brother Zhong’s strength should not be less than 30,000 (during this period he They should also be able to obtain reinforcements from the territorial countries they control). In such a large-scale battle, the role that a mere three hundred cavalry can play is really too small. Therefore, Wang Wenzuo could only try his best to select cavalry archers from the powerful Japanese who came to seek refuge to strengthen his cavalry, so as to realize his tactical vision: select weak areas of the enemy's formation, first use armored cavalry to clash with the enemy's formation, and the enemy's troops would naturally The archers will be removed and replaced by spearmen who form a dense line to resist. Then the cavalry archers will sweep across the enemy formation and shoot the unobstructed enemy infantry. After the enemy formation loosens, the armored cavalry will then break the formation.
"That's it!" Cao Wenzong said with a smile: "I know why Duke Ming wanted to test mounted archery like this. He rode with six bows and shot at such a close target. He also shot four targets in a row under the fast horse. It turns out that there is such a wonderful thing. Place!"
"The Japanese army rarely has strong crossbows, so the cavalry archers can approach, use big bows and heavy arrows to shoot at vital points, and those who hit will be killed. In this way, it only takes two or three rounds, and the enemy formation will naturally disintegrate! Then use the iron cavalry to charge at it, We will definitely defeat the enemy!"
What Wang Wenzuo chose this time was actually the half-turn tactic of later Western pistol cavalry. This tactic was mainly used to deal with the pike phalanx at that time, except that the spring wheel pistol was replaced by a riding bow. The reason why he placed the straw man target at a distance of ten paces when testing the cavalry archers was to allow the cavalry archers to shoot at close range - this would ensure sufficient lethality, provide enough deterrence to the enemy infantry, and open a gap for the cavalry behind. .
"I understand!" Cao Wenzong nodded.
"The Japanese are probably not used to this kind of shooting. You can let the Japanese who apply for it try it first, so that not many of them can pass the test that day, which will make them look bad!"
"yes!"
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The sea breeze blew, and the ship slid past the headland and sailed into the bay.
Monobe Morikuma came to Mori Kimi Oishi who was standing at the bow of the ship. In front of him, he could vaguely see the desolate coast in winter. Above were the mountains covered with grass. The white granite mountains emerged from the ground like a huge white city wall.
"We are about to arrive at Namba Tsu!" Mononobe Morikuma recalled: "That's where we boarded the ship. Katsuragi said that we would imitate Queen Jin Gong, defeat the Silla people, retake the four counties of Nina, send troops to the peninsula, and restore the Hundreds Ji! Everyone shouted "Long live" and "Long live" together! "
"Then what!" Shoujun Oishi showed a mocking smile.
"Then?" Mononobe Morikuma showed a wry smile: "One defeat after another, and finally a complete defeat!"
"It doesn't necessarily count as a loss now!" Shoujun Dashi said with a smile: "Look, aren't we back now? There are also reinforcements from the Tang Dynasty. If we can win this time, we can win those who lost before. Come back, and Katsuragi may be in danger!"
"Yes!" Mononobe Morikuma laughed: "Isn't there a saying in the Tang Dynasty? A blessing in disguise is a blessing in disguise. We became prisoners in Baekje. Now it seems that it may not be a bad thing!"
Shoujun Oishi nodded and was about to speak when he suddenly looked back and kept silent. It turned out that Taehye and Ijirenbode had also walked over. Morijun Oishi and Mononobe Morikuma looked at the two of them warily. Although these two people are now working under Wang Wenzuo, they were from the Katsuragi faction before, and Sadue was the eldest son of Nakatomi Kamazu. Even now, the two It bothers people that they still can’t deal with it.
"It's really emotional to be able to see the scenery of my hometown again! Do you two feel the same way?" Ijirenbod said with a smile.
"Yes!" Shoujun Oishi responded and said with a smile, "When I left last time, the eldest brother was still in charge of the country's affairs, but this time he became a traitor. It's really unexpected!"
Shoujun Oishi's words obviously meant something. Dinghui's face changed slightly. He was about to say something, but was stopped by Ijilianbo.
"Yes, but things in this world are just like the sea, ever-changing. Mediocre people like us can only drift with the tide to survive, don't you think?"
"It's true that Mononobe-san and I are mediocre people, but the two of you are not!" Shoujun Oishi said with a smile: "When you were in Japan, you were trusted by the emperor and the prince, and when you went to the Tang Dynasty, you became kings again. The popular men under Shijun. Unlike when we were ostracized and suppressed in the Japanese country and sent to Baekje to be cannon fodder, in the Tang Dynasty, we were not as smooth as the two of you. We can only envy you!"
"Are you envious?" Ijirenbod laughed: "Why do you say that?"
"What Oji-kun wants is Katsuragi's life, and Nakatomi Kamazu is Katsuragi's right-hand man!" Shoujun Oishi pointed at Megumi: "Father and son are on different sides, and they support each other. No matter which side wins, it won't matter. How can we not be envious of suffering a loss?"
"You——" Dinghui was furious when he heard this. He put his right hand on the hilt of the knife at his waist and said angrily: "When the poor monk got on the boat, my father already said that we should serve our ancestors, and father and son will be strangers. You are like this What does it mean to be so yin and yang?"
"Haha!" Shoujun Oishi laughed: "What are you doing? Are you trying to kill me to silence me? It's a pity that you have a knife, and I also have a knife! If we use our hands, it's not certain who will die and who will live!" After saying that, he, Monobe and even Xiongya stood on their swords, looking tense.
"What are you doing?"
He Bayong's voice came from behind. The four of them looked back, but it was He Bayong and Yuan Aolie who also got on the deck, and quickly took their hands and bowed down. He Bayong sneered: "I don't care what you are doing in private. Anyway, in the military right now, if you violate military law, you will act in accordance with military law!"
The four people responded and retreated dejectedly. He Bayong snorted coldly: "These Japanese people can't be seen on ordinary days. How come they are like black-eyed chickens after they get on the boat? They will pull out after just a few words." It’s a knife, it’s really a headache!”
"Normally they don't have much contact, so they won't quarrel! Now that they're on the same boat, it's natural to look at them with disgust!" Yuan Aolie said with a smile: "Besides, I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing!"
"Isn't that a bad thing?" He Bayong sneered: "You are the deputy general and you can't bear the responsibility, right? If someone is killed in the fight, Saburo will take the blame, and we will take the whip together, and you won't be able to run away!"
Yuan Aolie smiled and said: "He Ba, it seems to me that Sanlang is well aware of the private affairs of these Japanese people. Otherwise, why would we have brought two groups of people here? Think about it, this is their territory. , when we come here, we are the masters, we are just guests, if they still hug each other, can we still control them?"
"That's right! That must be the case!" He Baoyong glanced at Yuan Aolie: "You can even think of these things. I haven't seen you for three days, so you should be surprised!"
"Hehe!" Yuan Aolie laughed twice: "Sanlang came back from Chang'an this time and he was the governor of Xiongjin who had the right to know.
The Japanese government reassured the ambassador that his promotion was like having wings. Even if he misses the old relationship and helps us old brothers, we still have to use our energy and energy. If the mud can't support the wall, we will not only be sorry for Saburo, but also sorry for ourselves. "
"That's right!" He Bayong's expression also became serious: "It goes without saying that Sanlang misses the old friendship. This time he went to the Japanese country to open up the situation and let us be his successors. Since ancient times, how can any subordinate officials be the successors of Shangguan? What's the point? If we take these ships and people safely to the Japanese country, we won't be able to see Saburo!"
"When we encountered wind and waves on the road, we lost a boat, hundreds of people, and seven or eight horses!" Yuan Aolie sighed.
"It's not bad that we only lost so much when we traveled across the ocean!" He Bayong sighed and looked behind him, only to see two large sand ships following closely behind, followed by more ships of different sizes. Sailing on the evening tide, they formed a loose single-file column and stretched back for several miles. Looking at the sails, He Bayong felt a sense of relief.
"He Ba, there is something else, have you heard?" Yuan Aolie suddenly lowered his voice and leaned over.
"What's the matter?"
"It's the ship that Sanlang sent back! I heard that the bilge was filled with gold, silver, and all kinds of furs. The bilge was packed to the brim!" Yuan Aollie said with a smile.
"Is there such a thing? Where did you know about it?" He Bayong frowned.
"A little news, a little news!" Yuan Aolie said with a smile: "So, this Japanese country is much richer than Baekje. Lao Cui must have gained a lot of benefits by following Sanlang first!"
He Baoyong glanced at Yuan Aolie and sneered: "You guys always follow the wind and rain. You dare to talk nonsense even if there is no wind. You really don't have a head!"
"I'm not talking nonsense!" Yuan Aolie said with a smile: "Several sailors and the sergeants escorting the ship have said so, and on the night after the ship arrived, Shen Faseng and Sanqiu personally escorted several large trucks. We’re back at the mansion, why do we need the two of them to go together?”
He Bayong didn't say anything. When Wang Wenzuo left Baekje, he handed over the military power in his hands to Shen Faseng. Although Sanqiu's status was not high, he was Wang Wenzuo's personal slave and housekeeper. The two of them took people to the dock late at night to pledge the goods. Most of them are Wang Wenzuo's personal property.
"How about it? My guess is good, right?" Yuan Aolie said with a smile when he saw that He Bayong didn't speak.
"Whether it's right or wrong, this is not what we should ask!" He Bayong said coldly: "You and I both know who Sanlang is. Is he a person who loves private money? It's just that these things are sensitive It's very serious. If too many people know about it, it will cause trouble. I will just pretend that you haven't said anything about this today, and you should never mention it again!"
Yuan Aolie was robbed, and felt a little unhappy: "Don't I know what you said? If it weren't for my old brother, I wouldn't tell you. If you don't want to hear it, I won't tell you in the future! "
At this moment, an exclamation suddenly came from the mast: "There is a ship, there is a ship coming!"
The lookout's shout made the two people immediately put the dispute behind them. He Bayong said: "Quick, blow the horn quickly to put everyone on alert. No arrows are allowed without my order!"
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Shitennoji Temple.
Wang Wenzuo stood in the cloister and was concentrating on admiring the murals on the wall. With the end of the war, many of the debris originally piled in the cloister were moved away, and he finally had time to admire these treasures of ancient Baekje artists. , compared with the modern artworks Wang Wenzuo had seen before traveling through time, although their craftsmanship is still crude, the passion and belief of these creators can be seen.
"Fu-kun, Fu-kun!"
Wang Wenzuo turned around and saw Cui Hongdu running along the corridor. In order to run faster, he even lifted the front hem of his robe and tied it on his belt. This was rare recently.
"What happened?" Wang Wenzuo laughed and said, "Hongdu looks so disgraceful!"
"I can't care less!" Cui Hongdu said with a smile: "Master Fu, reinforcements from Baekje have arrived!"
"So fast! Who is on the ship? Are there any losses on the way?" Wang Wenzuo was surprised. According to his budget, even if everything went well, Baekje's reinforcements would have to be
It will take another three or four days to arrive. Of course, if the messenger ship carrying gold, silver and furs sank midway or was blown to the ports of Kyushu and Silla by strong winds, then the reinforcements may never arrive. This is the worst case scenario. It's not impossible.
"He Bayong and Yuan Aoli were on the boat. They encountered wind and waves on the way and lost a boat, a hundred people, and seven or eight horses. Due to the favorable wind, the boat went much faster than expected!"
