Troubled Times: Start with 800 Dead Soldiers

Zhong Shilue seemed to have guessed that Su Xia was doubtful about his sincerity in the peace talks. For fear of being exposed, he made up his mind and took the initiative to attack. Within one night, the Western Army mobilized 20 troops and prepared to go straight to Daming Mansion.

There is an old saying: If there is no interruption, there will be chaos.

The Western Army commanded by Zhong Shilue and Zhong Shixiong can form a separate army and can recruit 40 troops.

In the past, seeking so-called secret contracts was just a strategy for profit.

Now, Zhong Shiluo felt that Su Xia's National Protectorate Army was a sharp knife across his neck. He had to guard against it. Instead of stretching his head and retracting his head to strike, it was better to take the initiative to attack.

But why isn't this the case for Su Xia?

Daming Mansion, now Daming County, Hebei Province, has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times.

The recruitment and deployment of more than [-] troops required a lot of turnaround time, but the arranged informants quickly reported the changes in the Western Army.

Su Xia, who had been prepared for a long time, withdrew overnight. Although more than [-] people from the Lingzhen Artillery and other subordinate units were urgently deployed to defend Daming Mansion, the war would not come so slowly.

Zhong Shilue had long realized that Su Xia's National Guard Army was mobilizing very quickly. Therefore, his crony Su Honghui quickly led the main force of 15 to attack first, and his younger brother Zhong Shixiong commanded [-] to mobilize later.

Soldiers are very fast.

The [-]-strong army commanded by Su Honghui attacked overnight, mainly with light cavalry, and soon reached the outer front line of Daming Mansion. As soon as the defending army met, the two armies immediately started fighting.

The leader of the National Defense Army who was responsible for forward command was none other than Thunderbolt Fire Qin Ming. Ever since Su Xia ordered the entire army to restructure, Qin Ming had not won any battles.

Now, when the Western Army came over, he immediately started a bloody battle in the wild. When Su Xia and a group of subordinates rushed to Daming Mansion, Qin Ming, covered in blood, came off the battlefield.

When Su Xia saw Qin Ming's appearance, she knew that he had just experienced a fierce battle, and asked quickly: "How is the combat strength of the Western Army?"

"They are on par with us. The general has been fighting hard with the enemy outside the city for three days. Su Honghui's troops are very powerful and can only retreat. Our division has suffered nearly half casualties, and other troops defending the city have also lost [-]%. Fortunately, My lord, bring your elite troops here, otherwise we won’t be able to hold on for two days, and the natural city of Daming Mansion will be destroyed.”

Su Xia was furious when she saw Qin Ming like this. After all, Qin Ming fought for two days and the National Guard Army paid a heavy price. But when she saw him who was tired and hurt, she swallowed the words on her lips. Comforting: "General Qin Ming, I don't bring many troops this time, only Jin Ming's musketeers and my own guard brigade."

Zongze on the side added: "The Lord has ordered the musketeers and the guard brigade to supplement the city defense. We will stay here today. Zhao Wenhui's Guards Division will arrive in two days."

Looking at Qin Ming who was puzzled, Su Xia said calmly: "General Qin Ming, I have ordered Lin Chong's cavalry division to attack the enemy's flank in a detour in an attempt to slow down our offensive pressure. However, Zhong Shilue's brother Zhong Shixiong has already led an army of 15 people to attack Xingye. Reinforcements, once these 15 troops join the enemy, the frontal pressure on our Daming Mansion will be unprecedentedly great."

"Lord, please rest assured, the general is risking his life to protect the Daming Mansion."

"General Qin Ming, tomorrow's battle will definitely be bloody. The musketeers and mortar brigade I brought will be under the command of Jin Ming. You two haven't seen them yet."

As Su Xia spoke, she introduced Jin Ming to Qin Ming.

After all, Jin Ming was young and his military rank was lower than that of Qin Ming. He hurriedly saluted: "General Qin Ming, I'm Jin Ming. More than a thousand people from the musketeers and mortar brigade have been deployed at each crenel of the city wall to guard it to the death."

Qin Ming looked at Jin Ming, staring at the short flintlock gun worn on his waist.

Then he looked at the similar gun on Su Xia's waist. Su Xia saw his curiosity and hurriedly pulled out the gun from her waist, pointed the top flame at it, and looked at a piece of green grass more than [-] meters away. Brick, raised his hand: "Bang" shot, the green brick was smashed into pieces.

Su Xia nodded and said: "General Qin Ming, although the musketeers are not large in number, they are all equipped with muskets, but the long-range shooting distance is three to four times that of a crossbow. Within a hundred steps, you can hit wherever you point."

After Su Xia finished speaking, she immediately gave a stern order to Jin Ming who was standing aside: "Order the mortar brigade to go up to the city wall immediately and use observation posts to closely monitor the enemy's movements."

"Yes!" Jin Ming turned around immediately.

Su Xia then ordered: "General Qin Ming, immediately arrange iron caltrops to be thrown under the city. These iron caltrops have rolling thorns. Although the Western Army is equipped with iron armor, its walking shoes have no armor. When the enemy attacks, once To prick the enemy's feet is to lose one's combat effectiveness."

"Good idea, I'll arrange it right away." Qin Ming didn't care to say anything more and immediately led his troops to assign tasks.

Su Xia understood that Qin Ming was an impatient person, but his strategy was very poor.

At this moment, in the large tent of the Western Army's front camp more than ten miles away from Daming Mansion, Su Honghui was a little proud. Although the hard battle for days did not allow him to gain any advantage, the strength of the National Defense Army made him see through it. , it is estimated that only more than 1 people were killed. In the past few days, the National Guard Army has killed and wounded thousands of people. After attacking the city wall, with just a few fierce attacks tomorrow, Daming Mansion can be taken.

He immediately asked his deputy general to organize a brave team.

Su Honghui ordered that tomorrow morning, the Fengyong team would be the main force, and other main forces would attack in the back echelons to block the attack at all levels.

The so-called Fengyong Team is a death squad. In the early morning of the next day, the Fengyong Team was in front, and the main forces of the Western Army launched a charge from behind.

Su Honghui thought that if the Fengyong team charged forward, they would definitely exchange fire with Qin Ming.

However, this time, his idea failed.

On the wall of Daming Mansion, Qin Ming was still a little worried: "My lord, do you want me to take a brigade of brothers out to fight the enemy in the wild?"

Su Xia shook his head. Qin Ming was still a little worried: "Sir, the wall of Daming Mansion is not thick. It is not as thick as the wall of Dengzhou Guard. I am afraid that if the enemy uses ladders to attack the city, we will defend it."

"Don't worry, order the crossbowmen not to shoot and let the enemy come over."

Outside the city wall, a large number of Western troops swarmed in. The ones charging forward were the brave teams organized by the Western Army overnight. These soldiers of the brave teams all carried long knives and spears, and carried ladders.

The distance became shorter and shorter, and the main force of the Western Army's Fengyong Team began to fire arrows. From time to time, they flew into the crenellations and wounded the soldiers of the National Guard Army.

"Wait until they step on our thorns, then open fire." Su Xia calmly gave the order.

However, the brave team of the Western Army still held up the ladder and rushed forward, completely unaware of the iron Lingli under their feet.

Su Honghui behind him was also a little confused. Why did Su Xiajun neither shoot arrows nor fire cannons? What kind of medicine was sold in this gourd.

Although the caltrops are inconspicuous, the brave team holding the ladder will fall down if they step on them.

In an instant, the Western Army Fengyong Team fell.