Dominate the Country

The setting sun seemed to suddenly break off from the horizon, disappearing silently, leaving only a streak of blood red on the opposite Yuelu Mountain.

The night soon enveloped the earth, and the night sky of late autumn became even deeper and darker against the backdrop of the silent earth. Bonfires were lit in front of the Fu Han Army. A few stars were dancing in the distance, and after a while, they disappeared into the night sky. The sky became as dark as if it was smeared with ink.

Chen Ming had already gone to bed. With the entire Guards Brigade's sanitation package, he was not worried about the Qing army's tricks such as stealing the camp. Not to mention the presence of scouts in the dark night outside.

The Fu Han Army on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River made very rapid progress in its offensive. Just before Chen Ming went to bed, before 10 o'clock, the 15th Brigade sent a second victory report, saying that Yingpengling had been taken, and the Qing army camp on Fujiazhou was also blown to pieces by the artillery of the 15th Brigade. After all, Fujiazhou was too small, less than 100 meters wide.

Shi Meng, the commander of the Guards Brigade, did not sleep. This tall man was dressed in full armor and patrolled outside the camp for a week before returning to his residence. As the commander of the brigade, Shi Meng himself had a platoon of guards, and the platoon leader was his cousin, Shi Lihua. This name was given to him by Shi Meng.

As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Shi Meng's character is like this. If his cousin was a slippery person, he would not have followed him all the time. He accompanied Shi Meng to walk through the entire camp without a single complaint. Shi Meng was soaking his feet there, and his cousin was holding a bowl of mutton soup while drinking it and biting the dough in his hand.

This was prepared by the kitchen of the headquarters. There were hundreds of officials in Chen Ming's headquarters. It was difficult to have good wine and good food at night during the march and battle. A bowl of hot soup was still necessary when hungry. Sometimes Chen Ming drank it himself. Now his figure is very well-proportioned, and it seems that he can digest everything he eats. He doesn't have a stomachache even if he eats a lot of fish and meat during festivals. He was a fat guy in his previous life, which made him feel very cool!

Late at night, Shi Meng's military tent was warm. The sudden chill made Shi Lihua, who was sleeping soundly wrapped in a military blanket, open his eyes suddenly.

To be a qualified guard, you must not only have a close relationship, but also have enough ability. In the early days, Shi Lihua was woken up by people from outside. Now, he can wake up as long as there is something wrong in the tent. Shi Lihua did not rely on his absolute relationship with Shi Meng to stand in the toilet without taking a shit. He is also making progress bit by bit.

"Platoon leader, the scout reported that the Qing army has made a move..." The person whispered in Shi Lihua's ear.

Shi Lihua did not hesitate at all, got up and strode to Shi Meng's inner tent. After a while, the lights in the inner tent were on, and then Shi Lihua called someone in. He had already put on armor for Shi Meng. The cold water was bone-chilling cold. Grabbing a towel and wiping it on his face, he was trembling all over.

By the time Shi Meng sent someone to wake up Chen Ming, the scouts had reported back three times, and the estimated number of Qing troops increased each time.

"At least 5,000 people?"

Chen Ming was quite surprised. The Qing army was no longer just trying to steal the camp, but was trying to break up Chen Ming's camp in one fell swoop. "What a courage."

"A proud army will be defeated. Since our army set up camp in Jiangdong recently, we have not arranged heavy guards and have not taken the enemy seriously. In the eyes of Changqing, we may have become proud soldiers." Liu Wu said as he held a hot towel for Chen Ming.

Chen Ming did not comment. What Liu Wu said might not be unreasonable, but how could Changqing and his men know the equipment of the Guards Brigade? If the Qing army in Changsha really attacked during the day, even if more than 20,000 of them came out together, Chen Ming believed that the Guards Brigade could withstand it. By then, would it be difficult for the navy warships to take over the First Brigade on the west bank across the Xiangjiang River?

There are many people in history who have personally lured the enemy. Unfortunately, Changqing and Fang Shijun in Changsha were not fooled.

"Order the artillery battalion not to fire for the time being, wait for my order."

"All units of the Guards Brigade should be prepared and not to make a sound."

"Patrol soldiers inside and outside the camp as usual."

Chen Ming immediately thought of a good thing. Taking advantage of the opportunity of the Qing army's initiative to attack, he wanted to give Changsha Qing soldiers a heavy blow.

In the dark night, the reorganization of thousands of people could not be completed in a short time. The soldiers in the camps and tents of the Fu Han Army Guards Brigade were awakened, and the Qing army's attack had not yet arrived. Chen Ming waited quietly, and the scouts' reports never stopped for a moment. The Qing army's positions were crowded!

Changqing appeared in person on the front line. He could not see the camp of the Fu Han Army in the night, but he knew that the most dangerous first enemy of Daqingguo was in the north, in the place shrouded in the night.

As Liu Wu said, Changqing saw the style of the Fu Han Army camping in the east of Xiangjiang River and felt that the Fu Han Army was a proud army. I'm afraid my eyes must be pointed to the sky.

And today, three of the eight camps on the west bank of the Xiang River were lost, which also dealt a great blow to Changqing's confidence.

The temptation and heavy pressure in front of him were important factors that forced Changqing to make the decision to attack tonight. The enemy is strong and we are weak. This night attack is a trick to defeat the enemy. Even if the Qing army can defeat the Fu Han army for a while, it can stabilize the morale of the army to a great extent and keep Changsha.

A large number of elite Qing troops, all veterans who participated in the Burmese War, raised their heads and stared at the dark night in the north with fighting spirit.

"General..." Baishan clasped his fists towards Changqing.

"Take care. Come back, I'll set up a celebration wine for you."

No matter how arrogant the Fu Han army is, its combat effectiveness is there. It goes without saying that Bai Shan, who is attacking on behalf of the soldiers, is dangerous. Chang Qing can only use a celebration wine to motivate Bai Shan. Both of them are bannermen. If they don't cheer up and work hard at this time, do they really have to wait until the Han thieves put their knives on the necks of their parents, wives and children before they want to cheer up?

With the sound of rustling footsteps, the elite of the six thousand southwest Qing army, holding swords and guns, moved towards the Fu Han army camp under the light of the stars and the moon.

Chang Qing promised them a reward of ten taels of silver per person. If they died, they would receive double the pension and double the silver for burning and burial.

This army is still combat-effective.

The army set out from the position, and it was already unclear from a distance. Fang Shijun stood on the north wall of Changsha, but he felt that the army was in his eyes. He "watched" the army heading north, until a gunshot came in the dark night...

"Kill..." Bai Shan roared.

"Kill..." Countless Qing soldiers responded in unison. The roar made their blood surge, and the fear and timidity in their hearts vanished.

Chen Ming heard it clearly in the tent. He could feel a surge of military spirit coming from the south, while the morale in the Fu Han Army camp was as solid as a rock, just like the collision between a levee and a tide.

The Qing army rushed to the outside of the Fu Han Army's outer camp with almost no losses. The small cannons in the camp fired, and the Qing army could still see the panicked shadows of the Fu Han Army under the bonfire in the tent. A large group of Fu Han Army soldiers ran around in the camp in a panic - the logistics troops.

"The camp, charge the camp..." Bai Shan was so excited that he couldn't help himself. The Fu Han Army was really unprepared! Big things are expected tonight!

Just like winning a billion-dollar prize, the joy was completely annihilating him. He felt that his blood vessels were about to explode, and his whole body was about to explode. "Go through, go through them..." Bai Shan shouted loudly, not considering the misery of having his retreat cut off. He only wanted to attack Chen Ming's camp and kill Chen Ming, the thief who had brought disaster to the Qing Dynasty - this desire had swallowed up all his rationality.

Bai Shan commanded the Qing soldiers who attacked at night to get out of the gaps in the small camps outside the Fu Han Army camp and attack the main camp. This was a very bold and passionate decision!

"What a courage!" Chen Ming couldn't help but admire. Regardless of whether the generals commanding the opposite side were all Han, this general's courage was absolutely amazing.

"It's just a little brainless. Your Highness, the Guards Brigade will annihilate the enemy!" Shi Meng stood up.

"I'll wait for the good news from the Guards Brigade." Chen Ming watched Shi Meng leave with his fists clasped, and he also stood up and walked out of the tent. The bonfires around him illuminated his figure.

"Your Highness, it's too bright here." Liu Wu hurriedly stopped in front of Chen Ming. When both sides have rifled guns on the battlefield, the safety of the commander must be taken care of to the utmost.

"The main camp gate is 150 feet away from the big tent. Don't be afraid."

"I'll stand here and watch the Qing soldiers come to die!"

Chen Ming squinted his eyes and looked at the Qing army whose morale had completely swelled. "Send a signal to the artillery. Let them fire."

The shooting parameters were set as early as when the camp and artillery positions were set. Even if a few shells were slightly deflected into the camp, the number of Qing soldiers killed would be ten or a hundred times that of the soldiers accidentally injured by the Fu Han Army.

"Boom boom boom..."

Accompanied by two red fireworks blooming in the sky, there were also gunpowder bags wrapped in silk. Flying thunder cannons, tiger squat cannons, mortars, and the super-powerful team-level artillery power of the Guards Brigade completely bloomed in the dark night.

"Boom boom boom..."

Thousands and tens of thousands of iron balls, lead bullets, broken iron pieces, and broken iron nails swept the open space in front of Chen Ming's main camp in an instant.

Chang Qing saw a circle of white light flashing suddenly in the direction of the Fu Han Army camp from the rear, and the continuous explosions merged into one, as if it was a loud explosion without an echo. Chang Qing's heart ached, he knew that it must be the Fu Han Army's artillery counterattack.

Fang Shijun on the north wall of Changsha sat on the wall..., but the Fu Han Army's artillery was still firing, not only these small cannons, but also the artillery positions behind the main camp were firing at full speed.

With every loud bang, every cloud of thick smoke rising into the sky, there would be several or even more Qing soldiers killed, wounded and bleeding. Thousands of iron fragments swept everything in front of Chen Ming's main camp, and blood soaked the earth like rain. The heartbreaking screams of the Qing soldiers also resounded in the sky above the battlefield.

At this moment, the whole world was trembling in the explosion...

The air in Bai Shan's chest solidified. Every Qing soldier felt the destruction of the dark cloud over the city, and they seemed to have entered the eighteenth level of hell in the blink of an eye.

The air was filled with a strong stench, the smell of blood. The ten kings of hell in the Yama Palace were laughing, and countless lives were harvested at this moment like ripe grains. Harvested by harvesters!

"Fire!"

A guard brigade battalion officer gave the order. The first row of three hundred muskets fired at the same time, and suddenly the main camp was covered with white smoke. In front of the position, the Qing army, whose passion was interrupted by the rumbling of artillery, was hit by hundreds of people in an instant.

One thousand musketeers were divided into three rows, a three-stage attack formation with the characteristics of the times.

The continuous gunfire resounded in the night sky, making the Qing army bleed faster.

The thunderous explosion sounded in Baishan's ears, and before Baishan could react, he was knocked off the ground by a wave of air, and fell dizzy.

It took him a long time to get up. The roar of the explosion still resounded through the world, but Baishan's mind was blank. His ears were buzzing, as if there were a hundred bees buzzing in his ears. He could not hear any sound outside. He stretched his neck and shouted fiercely: "What's going on? What's going on?" The panic in the fierce voice could not be concealed.

No one paid attention to him. Who would have the time at this time? The Qing soldiers who came to their senses fled back like a camp was blown up. What if you, Baishan, are the commander?

The terrible and horrible dense artillery fire has frightened these Qing soldiers! Although they are regular soldiers and have fought bloody battles with the Burmese army in Myanmar, when have they seen such fierce artillery coverage? It seems that the world is about to turn upside down.

Baishan was furious and fierce. He suddenly drew out his waist knife and chopped off the head of a panicked Qing soldier with a "swish". He still remembered the direct attack on the camp and his mission tonight. Bai Shan held up his bloody head and shouted to all around: "Who dares to escape again? Behead him immediately!"

"Arm up, assemble quickly. Listen to my military orders. Anyone who runs around will be killed without mercy!"

Bai Shan roared like a wounded beast, baring his teeth and claws to scare anyone who approached him.

The fleeing soldiers around him scattered as if they had seen a ghost, avoiding him and then continuing to flee. Some Qing soldiers even saw Bai Shan from a distance and took a detour to pass by! Bai Shan was anxious and angry, and when he didn't know what to do, a shell fell beside him.

There was a loud explosion, and the strong Bai Shan flew away like a dead branch in the flying soil and sand...

The powerful impact of the gunpowder explosion can tear the entire thin shell into pieces in an instant, and there are still a few iron sand fragments inside. In the blink of an eye, each shrapnel shell will produce countless fragments that burst and penetrate the explosion point...

The screams came one after another, and the screams continued. Blood and flesh flew everywhere on the battlefield. After the explosion of the shells, the densely packed Qing army formations looked like yellow cloth stained with tomato juice.

The battlefield was littered with corpses and many wounded soldiers in pain.

"Where is this a war? It's a complete massacre." Chen Ming stood up and stretched his body easily. He could go to sleep without any worries.

After tonight, Changsha will be worry-free. The Changsha Qing army will definitely lose their courage after this battle, like a frightened turtle, hiding tightly in its shell.

The war of flesh and blood against guns and cannons, the Qing army generals used their own command, and the Qing soldiers used their own death to stage a one-sided war. The rapid and smooth progress of the war was beyond everyone's expectations.