A century-old family that runs through the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 353 Another victory

Lu Xiangsheng saw the partial divisions in the camp that had also lost troops and generals.

When the main force attacked Nanjing, he actually sent a partial division, totaling more than 4,000 people, on warships from the Yangtze River. He wanted to imitate Yan Ling's attack on Jiqing and break into the city unexpectedly.

Once the enemy discovers that the city has fallen and he encounters the enemy at his back, he will definitely be in chaos. When the time comes for him to lead his troops to cover up the attack, a big victory will be easily achieved, and this strong city will be captured easily.

However, until the end of the battle, the expected chaos did not appear. Lu Xiangsheng knew that they probably failed to cross the river successfully.

His plan was indeed very rigorous, but after the capture of Nanjing, Yan Yinghui had already sent troops to attack the Ming Navy naval base at Xinjiangkou overnight. Although the Ming Navy had some precautions, it still suffered heavy losses. Most of the ships were burned, and because the big ships set sail extremely slowly, most of those burned were big ships.

The navy's armaments were already in serious trouble. The main battleships were almost completely wiped out, and the firepower was almost visibly reduced.

The remaining dozens of boats used by Lu Xiangsheng were only enough for a surprise attack. However, although Qu Yuanju took most of his troops out for a decisive battle, he left some of his cannons on the city wall.

Qu Yuanju's Seventh Army's standard equipment is twenty eight-type cannons. However, due to the special combat mission, as the first Luzon Army to land for support, his artillery was strengthened. Only the eight-type cannons were needed. There are forty-two doors.

Although he was in a hurry and didn't bring it with him before, who would have thought that Lu Xiangsheng stayed in Chizhou for more than a month in order to build a carriage. During this time, the heavy artillery had already been transported. While fighting, he also kept fifteen eight-type guns. Cannons, and fifteen Type 5 cannons were placed at the top of the city.

The eight-type cannon is only slightly less powerful than the red cannon. This is the time we have been waiting for.

However, Qu Yuanju's men actually suffered a lot of losses in this battle. Although the three-eyed gun was not very accurate and was somewhat outdated as a musket, it was still a firearm after all.

Both armies were severely defeated, leaving Lu Xiangsheng in despair.

On the other side, the morale of the Seventh Army was high, and it was naturally exciting to win the first battle.

After all, there were still more than 400 soldiers wounded and killed by the three-eyed muskets. In addition to the casualties caused by the exchange of fire with the musketeers protected by the carriages, the Luzon Army's casualties were upwards of 700.

In the end, Cao Wenzhao's deadly battle also cost them more than 300 cavalrymen.

However, overall, this battle can still be said to be a victory. The Ming army's casualties were far greater than theirs, and the strategic objectives were not achieved at all.

Coupled with the heavy French aircraft and general artillery that were already at the head of Nanjing City, they directly blasted the warships crossing the river to pieces. Four thousand troops were diverted, but only more than a thousand people came back. Most of them drowned in the river. There are not many boats left, and they are all in tatters.

After all, the gap in strength between the two sides is too great. Even veterans of many battles can only be crushed under such firepower.

The morale of the Ming army fell to the bottom as a result.

In just the first battle, so many soldiers and horses were lost, including even the most elite Liao cavalry. That's Liao Qi! It can be called the most powerful army in the Ming Dynasty. Even giant bandits like Gao Yingxiang and Wang Er were chased away by them. Of the thousands of people who went to battle this time, only more than 400 came back. How could it not be surprising? be terrified?

Even the commander-in-chief and generals, who were originally full of confidence and thought of going to the southeast to gain military glory, were now a little trembling, fearing that Lu Xiangsheng would continue the war and let them take the lead.

Fortunately, Lu Xiangsheng didn't have this idea. After discovering that the gap between his own strength and the opponent's was too big, he no longer had the intention to fight in a short period of time. He only sent a small group of troops into Ningguo Mansion to harass the 7th Army's baggage troops, while the main force retreated and stood firm, intending to consume Luzon. With the vigor of the army, he also forged firearms and regained his strength. Even if Qu Yuanju launched an attack on other cities around Nanjing in order to force him to come to rescue, it would be to no avail.

Due to the vast water network in the south, it was difficult for cavalry to attack long distances, so Lu Xiangsheng sent mainly infantry. However, these troops are also veterans of hundreds of battles, and among them are even the elites of his direct lineage Tianxiong Army. Inadvertently, the Seventh Army suffered several losses, losing hundreds of soldiers and horses, and part of their food and grass. The baggage was burned.

So Qu Yuanju also sent troops to fight back, and at the same time increased the protection of the baggage troops.

The two sides went back and forth, constantly strangulating each other, and this lasted for two months.

Lu Xiangsheng was also waiting for the emperor's edict urging the dispatch of troops.

Jiangsu and Zhejiang are important areas for finance and taxation. When the Yan family launched an army, it happened to be the time for tax collection. This resulted in the court losing all taxes from Zhejiang, Ningguo Mansion, and Nanjing that year.

This is not a small number. The court's tax revenue has dropped by millions of taels. The already poor financial situation has worsened. The emperor can no longer afford to wait, and the court's dissatisfaction with Lu Xiangsheng is also rising.

After all, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are also places where many literati are born. The hometowns of many court officials are under the shadow of the Luzon Army. How can this make them feel at ease?

Some people are already impeaching Lu Xiangsheng, saying that he "underestimated the enemy's aggressive advance and even injured himself." After the defeat, he "cowardly refused to fight and conserved his strength." They even suspected that he "had the intention of supporting the army."

They don't know much about war. They only know that Lu Xiangsheng can hit other rebels accurately. Now when dealing with the Yan family, it's okay if they can't defeat Yan Yinghui. Now the generals on the opposite side have never heard of it, and they can actually defeat Lu Xiangsheng. It was a big somersault, which made them a little unbelievable.

Although the emperor did not believe these words, he was inevitably affected and issued an order to urge them.

Under the huge pressure from the court, Lu Xiangsheng was finally forced to march eastward with 50,000 elite troops after leaving part of his army to defend the city in May of the 20th year of Wuxing's reign.

……

"In May, the imperial envoys arrived. Xiang Sheng said that the firearms and other equipment were not ready, so he begged for an extension. The Zhongguan said: 'Are you afraid of the enemy?' Xiang Sheng was furious and said: 'I have received the favor of the country, and I wish I could die. However, this giant bandit has sharp weapons and rushes into battle. I worry that all of us will die in vain!" The middle officer was annoyed and pressed him harder and harder. Xiang Sheng had no choice but to lead his troops away."

"When the division arrived at Fangshan, they met the Zhejiang soldiers. General Xiang Sheng commanded the center, Liang Yu commanded the left, and Commander Dawei fought on the right. The Zhejiang soldiers pressed them with formations, and Xiang Sheng's soldiers fought quickly, with shouts that moved the sky, without fear of life or death. From now on, all the artillery is exhausted. Liang Yu is afraid and flees hastily. The left wing collapses and all the Er generals flee. Xiang Sheng fights hard, but the central army advances and kills several people with his hands. He is hit by two spears and one The blade could not be moved, so it was held by the Zhejiang soldiers. With great power, they defeated the encirclement and finally escaped."

"Of the 50,000 troops, only three or four out of ten survive."

——"The Chronicles of Ming Dynasty"

(End of this chapter)