Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 658 Decisive Battle in West Java ([-])
At six o'clock in the morning on July 1793, 7, after a day's rest, the two companies that would camp under the cover of two armored vehicles advanced towards Langas Betong.Walking halfway, they ran into a cavalry regiment sent by VOC, with a number of more than 1 and 1000 people.

What surprised the campers was that although these cavalrymen were wearing VOC's blue and red military uniforms, their heads were covered with turbans that looked like large millstones, and a red cloth belt was tied on them.

"What's on top of these guys' heads? It looks very heavy."

"You ask me who I will ask! Stop talking nonsense and call!"

The cavalry on the opposite side were also taken aback. The roar of the armored vehicle made the horses under their crotches extremely restless. They tried to figure out what the two "green monsters" like big boxes were.Before these guys could start attacking, the bullets from Hui'an Camp hit their heads and faces.The machine guns inside the two armored vehicles were like two electrified whips, waving crazily in the cavalry, recklessly harvesting every life, whether human or horse.

The cavalry had never seen this before. They were so frightened that they turned their backs and ran away, even ignoring the officer's orders.It didn't stop until it retreated two kilometers away.Under the high reward offered by the Dutch officers, a few cavalrymen came back to reconnaissance bravely. When it was confirmed that there were only more than 200 people in the North Navy, their restless hearts became restless again, and then they gathered the team to launch another attack.

The cavalry didn't hesitate this time, they raised their scimitars, surrounded them from the road and fields, and charged with yelling.However, after only ten minutes, these barefooted guys with the "grinding disc" were educated by the bloody reality, leaving more than 200 dead and injured again, and they were chased away like rabbits by the campers.

After a brief interrogation of a Dutch officer injured by a fall from a horse, those who would set up the camp knew that they had encountered a group of Marbars from India, an ethnic group of Tamils ​​from South India.

What is a Tamil?Although the Chinese soldiers in the camp were all born and raised in Annan and had seen many maritime merchants, they had never heard of them.

Compared with the French and British East India Companies, the Dutch East India Company did not recruit many soldiers in India before. If the Northern Navy was not too powerful, VOC would never spend money to recruit a group of soldiers from India as cannon fodder.In the war of conquering Ceylon, the Dutch believed that the Indian soldiers, in addition to their poor performance on the march, even lacked discipline and cowardice in combat.

These arrogant and conceited Dutch people really don't have a point in their hearts. With a monthly salary of only 4.5 guilders and no pension, which mercenaries are willing to work hard for them!
Look at the British East India Company, most of the more than 7 troops are Indians.Moreover, with the improvement of individual combat efficiency, the British have become a little nervous, constantly mixing sand in it, and balancing between different races.

As a commercial company, VOC is definitely a typical representative of "employing people forward, not using people backward" in the use of mercenaries.Whenever a battle is to begin, it hastily raises an improvised field force, and dismisses it as soon as the battle is over.This system is by no means a good employer for mercenaries.Then there is the fact that VOC units are ineffective due to ad hoc formation, poor officers, hasty training, and extremely low pay; even if someone realizes that a change is needed, it is too late.

Behind the Hui'an camp, the four battalions of the servant army also set off under the leadership of He Xiwen after having a hot breakfast.However, what is striking is that in addition to the logistics team of more than 3000 Chinese from Bacheng, there are also more than 1000 ordinary people from Tangerang City, who spontaneously drove horses to carry burdens and helped to carry supplies.And the regent took his son to the Bacheng military control committee yesterday to show his loyalty to Zhao Xinbiao.

The reason for this situation is that after He Xiwen entered the city the day before yesterday, he asked the Javanese-speaking Chinese to tell the people in the city to cancel all kinds of exorbitant taxes and forced coffee plantation.When the news spread, the whole city was shaken, and the order in the city quickly stabilized.

You must know that the Dutch used troops against Bacheng, resulting in extremely huge financial expenditures. In order to fully tap the war potential and make the vassal sultanates obedient, Overstraten also took various measures to continue to weaken and deprive these lords of their power. Feudal privileges made them lose the strength and will to resist.

For example, in the three vassal states of Banten, Yogyakarta, and Solo, feudal aristocrats serving as administrative officials at all levels can only be loyal to the governor and appointed officers. The power of the state is firmly controlled by the Dutch. Neither the Sultan's consent nor the policy is required.

Secondly, at the cost of reducing the planting area of ​​rice, continue to expand the forced planting of coffee in order to grab high profits.In order to monopolize industry and commerce, Overstraten prohibited the feudal aristocratic officials in the colonial administration from operating industry and commerce, and forbidding them to employ village labor under any pretext.

Another thing is to increase the taxation items for the vassal states and directly subordinate territories, expanding from more than 30 kinds to more than [-] kinds, which caused the people everywhere to complain and the burden increased day by day.Not only the small amount of goods carried by ordinary people had to pay taxes when passing through the customs, but also the tribute shipped by the magistrates to the court. The tax collectors hired by the Dutch could search officials, their followers and family members at will.The most bizarre thing is that even the so-called "butt tax" has to be paid to pass the level with a child.

Seeing that the encirclement and interception failed, Overstratten resorted to the second tactic and quickly sent envoys to request negotiations, saying that VOC is an old resident and old friend of the people of Java Island, who is "peace-loving" and can join Beihai Town Partition of the island of Java.Unexpectedly, He Xiwen didn't like this at all. After listening to the translation, he didn't even read the letter, and just tore it to pieces.The Dutchman's face was livid with anger, but he could only go back in despair.

At noon one day later, He Xiwen led his army to two kilometers away from the east bank of the Wurong River.Then under the cover of the combat troops, the Chinese laborers of the supply team started to build the camp in a leisurely manner.The whole process was like a performance, which stunned the enemy troops who came to reconnaissance.

Firstly, the Chinese laborers took tools such as ropes, plumbs, multi-angle rulers, and levels to measure at the selected locations, and then used white lime powder to draw camp walls, tent areas, material areas, sentry towers, and gates on the ground. , trenches and other locations.

After all this was done, four or ten minutes had passed, and more than 10 construction workers who had rested for half a day began to remove the flat-shaped explosion-proof wall units from the carriages, and arranged them neatly after opening. At the position of the camp wall, and then use the iron buckles that come with it to connect them two by two.These blast-proof wall units are 200 meters high, 1.5 meter long, and [-] centimeters thick, and the outer walls of the camp are composed of two sets of upper and lower units.

At the same time, hundreds of workers took shovels and picks to dig soil from the [-]-meter-wide ditch marked by lime, and then packed them into prepared sacks. Put them into the iron frame of the explosion-proof wall, pile them up and compact them.

These Chinese laborers have all participated in the construction of the outskirts of Bacheng, so they are very skilled in using the blast-proof wall to build field fortifications. They work in groups of 500 people and take turns every half an hour. With assistance, each person can fill 20 explosion-proof units per hour.In addition, the sentry towers are all built with steel pipes. After laying the foundation, the ground parts are directly connected with fasteners, and then covered with wooden sandbags.

While the militiamen were busy, the servant army sent two platoons to be responsible for the drinking water in the camp.There is no need to worry about this at all, there is a clear river a mile behind the camp.The returned water is put into several two-hundred-liter water tanks that can be easily folded with steel frames sewn from cowhide, and then put into a water purification tablet, which can be drunk after 30 minutes of disinfection.

Two hours later, a 400-meter-square camp with a total area of ​​[-] square meters had begun to take shape, and the places where the soil was taken had become trenches more than one meter deep.

Overstraten, who was inspecting the front line of the Wujun River, was shocked by the report from the scouts.He and his senior officers knew that once the enemy had gained a foothold on the opposite bank, it would not be so easy to drive them away.According to the report of the scouts, the number of enemy troops on the other side is about 4000, so now it is necessary to immediately deploy heavy troops to attack the unsteady enemy troops and catch them by surprise.

After discussing with his men on the map, Overstratten decided to divide five regiments into the north and south wings, and enter the opposite bank from the two pontoon bridges on the Wujun River.The two regiments on the left wing in the north carried out a feint attack, and the three regiments on the right wing in the south went around to the rear of the Beihai Navy to launch the main attack.To this end, he appointed two senior officers to lead the northern and southern groups respectively, they were Major General De Corral and Major General Van der Gus.

As soon as the Dutch troops began to secretly assemble on the west bank of the Wujun River, the North Navy knew about it.This is not a drone, but the Rapini team lurking on the other side notified him.There are no mountains here in Langas Betong, it is all plains and hills, so the signal of the walkie-talkie can be easily received.

Although the enemy troops dispatched a large number of people, He Xiwen didn't intend to stick to it. Now he had to buy time for the camp to build, or it would be more troublesome after dark.So he ordered two battalions of the servant army to dispatch, and sent an armored vehicle to provide artillery support.

He always remembered Zhao Xin's instructions to himself before leaving the headquarters. This battle is to use the VOC's army as a sharpening stone for the servants. If they can't win even a group of mercenaries, how can they go to India to fight against the British? What about an alliance with the Marathas?
Give an order, and 5 minutes later, a total of 2000 people from the two battalions have lined up in four columns in the open space outside the north gate of the camp. Rifles are lined up like black sticks, looking murderous.After the team started to march, the platoon leaders, including Quan Baocai, rode their horses back and forth from time to time to check the formation.

The officer in charge of commanding the two battalions was Hu De, a native of Henan, and he was also Quan Baocai's battalion commander.

Half an hour later, the team trotted to an open field one kilometer north of the camp. There was a forest 300 meters to the left and a field to the north, which was a good battlefield.

After selecting a good location, the infantry quickly dug the soil with the engineering shovel they carried with them, and then brought sacks from the carriage following behind, and began to build the parapet fortification.

Four 12-pound guns were positioned on a gentle slope 50 meters behind the infantry line. The gunners led the horses to stop the gun carts, first leveled the ground of each gun position with tools, and then pushed the gun carts to the gun positions. , Only then did the ammunition cart be pulled in an orderly manner to 20 meters behind the gun position.100 meters behind them, the grass-green armored vehicle stopped motionless, but the roar of the engine gave all the soldiers present the confidence to win.

Not all armies are as fast-moving as the Beihai Navy these days, especially VOC's troops.The parapet on the northern navy's side was half built, and the cavalry under Vandergus began to walk onto the pontoon bridge.

When Hood received the notification from the walkie-talkie, he took out the pocket watch he bought in Bacheng to check the time, it was three o'clock in the afternoon.He then ordered a platoon of skirmishers to move out to attract the enemy.

Well, Hood thought to himself that since the officer wants a straight-on confrontation to temper these soldiers, then this battle must be fought, even if there are casualties, it is not a big problem.

After a while, when the soldiers of the servant army began to take their positions behind the parapet, there was a sudden burst of gunshots like popping beans in the woods one mile ahead to the left.The skirmishers had already engaged the enemy.

Ten minutes later, the skirmishers ran out of the woods with their guns in hand, waving their hats in their hands.Behind them, the figures of VOC soldiers on horseback gradually appeared, and at a further north distance, a large group of people in red and blue uniforms poured out of the woods.

"Fire the woods!"

Following Hood's order, a twelve-pound gun roared, and a black explosive shell flew out of the raised muzzle, passed over the infantry formation, and then landed on the edge of the woods 700 meters away. The flying shrapnel swished the leaves.Soon, the enemy stopped 800 meters away, and they began to line up. Not far behind them, there were several eight-pounders and four-pounders parked.

"Quan Baocai!" Hood rode to the position where Quan Baocai was, pointed to the woods on the left and said, "Take your platoon and go there. If the enemy outflanks from the left, report to me immediately."

Quan Baocai was secretly upset when he heard that this was not a good job, but he still saluted and took 80 people under him to guard the forest.

At this time, the four-pound guns of the VOC troops on the opposite side also rang out. They couldn't even hit a single hair from such a long distance, and it was more like emboldening their own people.Hood did not let the 30mm gun of the armored vehicle fire. If it had been fired so early, the Dutch would surely have dispersed.

The appearance of the Northern Navy here made VOC Rear Admiral Vandergus, who was in command of the Northern Front Force, somewhat puzzled.He didn't understand when the enemy came?And even the parapet fortifications have been repaired!

For him, the bone in front of him must be gnawed. If he can firmly attract this enemy force, De Corral's actions will be easier.But when he saw the green square box in the field of vision of the telescope, he couldn't help frowning.

This thing is really difficult to deal with, and the Marbarians suffered a big loss yesterday.Although those guys were nothing more than a group of bandits in the eyes of Van der Gus, he had a premonition that many people would definitely die today.But there is no other way, you have to grit your teeth!

He carefully observed the layout of the North Navy's position, reconfirmed that the opponent's force size did not exceed [-], and decided to use echelon attacks.

The so-called "echelon attack" is a commonly used tactic in the era of line infantry, but it is actually a slap in the face.However, this is a very test of the commander's judgment on the battlefield situation and the ability to use troops, and it also has a lot of luck.Because the enemy will of course be caught in the situation of how to allocate and mobilize its forces, but its own side will also expose its flaws by feinting one end and pressing the other end alone.

In the smoke, the VOC line infantry in blue and red military uniforms began to march, and the red, white and black company flag and the yellow Württemberg flag appeared and disappeared in the smoke.Hood could tell without binoculars that the enemy's two battalions on the left and center moved first, while the right wing fell behind.

The platoon leaders of each platoon ran back and forth behind the soldiers, telling them not to rush to shoot, but to listen to the signal.For some soldiers, the platoon leader must keep a close eye on them.You must know that when fighting on the outer defense line of Bacheng before, some of the servant soldiers who entered the battle for the first time would be nervous and repeatedly reloaded, forgetting to fire, and even loaded seven or eight bullets without firing.

When the Württemberg soldiers in the front line entered 12 meters away from the parapet with the 100-pounder gun, a long whistle sounded behind the soldiers, and there was an explosion like thunder on the position of the servant army. There was a roar, and a thick white mist rose in front of Hood.

Don’t look at the shooting distance of the North Navy’s rifled guns is farther than that of the flintlock guns, but in actual combat, except for skirmishers who will shoot and kill officers in the enemy’s ranks at a distance of 150 meters, the distance of firing infantry in battle is not far , which is 100 meters.

This is because if the maximum projection speed of firepower is pursued, then most soldiers only need to level the muzzle of the gun when shooting, and it is enough to fire at the enemy on the opposite side, then reload immediately, shoot again, and have no time to aim carefully .In addition, basically after two rounds of salvo, the thick gunpowder smoke from the muzzle will make the soldiers unable to see the opposite side clearly, and aim for a P!
Immediately afterwards, the second row of soldiers stepped forward and fired another round of salvo.The soldiers in the first row were busy loading the bombs, pressing the bombs with a cleaning rod, and then poured on the enemy again under the order of the platoon leader.

After three rounds of shooting, almost all the blue figures in the two rows on the opposite side of the parapet fell down. Only one guy holding a yellow flag remained motionless and was still advancing. However, a bullet soon hit him, and he was not tall. The body suddenly bent in pain, and then he knelt on the ground clutching his stomach, and dropped the flag in his hand.

At this time, Hood, who was riding on the horse, suddenly heard a very strange sound, high and sharp, very piercing; for a moment, he thought someone beside him had been shot.But he soon understood that it was the roar of the enemy coming from the right front of the position.

Hood understood in an instant, but a platoon leader on the right wing of the position reacted faster, and he yelled: "Everyone, throw a grenade!"

At the starting position of the VOC troops in the distance, Major General Van der Gus, holding a telescope, nodded in satisfaction, turned his head and said to the adjutant: "Send two more battalions to press up and attack their left flank. Order the artillery to move forward. "

"General, their guns have a farther range than mine. I'm afraid the artillery will go further."

"Execute the order." Vandergus interrupted the adjutant's words, his tone was light: "Facing such an enemy, we have no choice."

　Damn it, it took me a whole day to write this chapter!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)