The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 3 Battle ([-])

Qi Taiping 17th year (1721), September [-], Kishim Island.

It took the Qi people almost a month to successively capture Larak Island and Hengjam Island, annihilate more than 1000 Omani troops, sink and capture more than [-] large and small ships, and cut off all the peripheral defenses of Kishm Island. , completely isolating this large island with an area of ​​more than [-] square kilometers.

This island is long and narrow from east to west and narrower from north to south. It stretches almost parallel to the mainland coast. The coastline of the entire island is zigzag. Except for the sandy beach and silt beach on the northwest edge, it is generally rocky.The island is almost entirely composed of flat-topped hills, with the highest not exceeding 300 meters.The island has a dry climate and barren land. There are several salt mines on the southeast coast. The Safavid dynasty once established several mines there to provide salt to the mainland.

Kishm Island is the largest island in the Gulf (Persian Gulf). It blocks the outlet of the Strait of Hormuz and is a natural barrier to Bandar Abbas Port. Its geographical location is extremely important. In 1622, King Abbas I invited the British East India Company to dispatch several armed merchant ships to help the Persians recapture the island, which had been occupied by the Portuguese for 100 years, on the condition that he promised to "reimburse travel expenses" and all expenses.

After the battle, although the Persians sent the remaining Portuguese out of the country with the mediation of the British, they almost massacred all local residents indiscriminately as revenge for their long-term assistance to the Portuguese in the war.Later, the Safavid dynasty successively moved more than 200 people to the island and stationed an army of [-] people, firmly controlling the island.

However, with the decline of the Safavid dynasty and the depletion of armaments, the garrisoned troops were gradually mobilized and dismantled, so that a few years ago, the Omanis easily captured the island.They killed all the Persian officials and generals of the garrison, demoted all the Persians on the island as slaves, and drove them to build a large-scale construction on the island. In addition to further strengthening the original fortress, they also built several new buildings in the northeast of the island. Two additional coastal fortresses were built at the end and northwest end, assuming a long-term occupation posture.

The ambitious Omanis also expanded the main port at the east end of the island a year ago, preparing to build it into a maritime forward base for attacking Persia.

However, with the arrival of the Qi people, all the efforts of the Omanis came to nothing.

On several small islands such as Hormuz Island, Larak Island, and Hengjam Island, facing the powerful Qi army, the Omanis' carefully built peripheral defense lines did not cause too much trouble to the opponent. Even the resistance did not last more than three days before they all fell.

Under this situation, the more than [-] Omani troops deployed on Kishm Island immediately fell into a dilemma.They wanted to evacuate the island and return to the mainland, but they were unable to break through the interception and siege of Qi Navy warships.But it seems unrealistic to hold on to the end and fight to the last man against the Qi people who have invaded the island.Under the cover of powerful naval guns, people can easily drag siege guns ashore one after another, and then place them in front of the fortress they are defending, slowly destroying it and burying everyone under the bombardment. Under the ruins behind.

In fact, in order to save trouble, the people of Qi may not need to send landing troops at all. They can be completely trapped by just blocking the entire island with warships.You must know that the land on this island is too barren and can only grow some crops such as vegetables, melons and dates, and it has not yet been able to achieve food self-sufficiency.Without any external material support, I am afraid that it will not be able to sustain it for even three months.

Of course, the Omanis could also kill all the Persians on the island and use the rations they saved to perhaps sustain themselves for a while longer.

Or, when the Qi people launched a landing operation, they took all the supplies and food with them, hid deep in the interior, and launched a long guerrilla war with the Qi people.

So, what then?

"Then, they may hide deep in the interior, attracting us to search and pursue." Luo Zhanping, the commander-in-chief of the landing force, said disdainfully: "The terrain of this island is wide enough. If we want to completely wipe out the Omanis on the island, we We may have to adopt a strategy of dividing our troops to attack in order to obtain their traces. In this situation, they will have the opportunity to counterattack, and they will use their superior force to annihilate my lone search team."

"Sir, do we still need to take the initiative?" an intelligence staff officer asked softly.

"Based on your calculations, how long can the Omanis last without any supplies?"

"Sir, the Omanis have taken away all the supplies from Qishm, Dergwan, Rafter and other strongholds. Based on the scale of their 500 to [-] people, they have not received any external support. Under the circumstances, you can persist for at least two months. If it is to meet the minimum needs, you may be able to survive for more than one or two months."

"We don't have extra time to waste with them." Luo Zhanping shook his head and said: "The Omanis have mobilized troops across the strait and are preparing to attack our Shazhou Governor-General in order to achieve the purpose of encircling Wei and rescuing Zhao. Therefore, we must use thunder to strike , quickly deal with the Omanis on this island, and then move to Shazhou.”

The governorate of Shazhou was originally the Ottoman territory of Hasa (today's eastern Saudi Arabia and Qatar) and the coastal area of ​​​​Basra Province.Thirty years ago, the Ottomans failed to repay the 30 million Akche (approximately 270 million yuan) loan that was due as promised. In addition to subcontracting Tunisia's tax revenue to Qi, they also ceded the above-mentioned areas to Qi in the name of debt. country.The climate in the Shazhou Governorate is hot and the land is barren. Apart from pearl fishing and animal husbandry, there is no decent output.As a result, after so many years, the Qi State has not migrated here on a large scale, nor has it established a strict colonial management system. It still maintains the local ruling order in the form of local tribal autonomy.In such a large area, only a 300-man Qi-Yin servant force was stationed, symbolically declaring Qi's sovereignty over the area.

Although this is a place where birds don't poop, even if it is occupied by the Omanis, it may not cause too much damage.However, as the overlord of the Indian Ocean region, Qi would be embarrassed if its overseas territories were seized by a local indigenous country!

Therefore, Luo Zhanping needs to clear out the Omanis on Kishm Island in the shortest possible time, and then transfer his troops to the Bahrain Islands to inflict heavy damage on the Omani army there. It is best to force the Sultan King to the negotiating table. Obey the people of Qi's order adjustment in the area.

On September 9, according to the information provided by the Persians on the island, Luo Zhanping learned that traces of the Omanis were found fifteen kilometers southwest of Kishim Fort, and ordered the commander of the third mixed battalion, Captain Xuangjie (major) Yan Shaowu led 22 officers and soldiers to the place to annihilate the Omani army.

The State of Qi still continues the "big navy, small army" military model formed during the founding of the People's Republic of China. The size of the navy has expanded to more than 230 warships, more than [-] exclusive navy bases, and more than [-] officers and soldiers. In the case of more than [-] people, the number of the army is only a little over [-], and the proportion of military expenditure is less than [-]% of that of the navy.

The entire army system is divided into overseas garrison troops (servant troops in the colonies are also under the jurisdiction of the garrison army) and mobile field corps. Although the entire army is organized into twenty regiments (five of which are empty regiments), the most basic tactical units It is still a battalion, generally consisting of 5 to 8 companies depending on the combat zone environment, with a number ranging from more than 500 to more than 800 people.

The Third Mixed Battalion of the 106th Regiment belonged to the Army Mobile Field Corps. It was organized into eight companies, four dragoon companies and four infantry companies, with a staff of 840. It was stationed in Jianmen Fort (today's Aden City, Yemen) and Taixing Fort (today's Aden City, Yemen). The city of Sharm el-Sheikh is located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt).

In this expedition against the Omanis, Qi State only mobilized four companies stationed in Jianmen Fort, and with the cooperation of three servant battalions from Mozhou, India, carried out a limited military attack on Oman.

After receiving the order, the [-]rd Mixed Battalion immediately carried five light land combat guns and four days of supplies and moved quickly towards the location of the Omanis at the speed of an attack.

"Sir, I think the Omanis deliberately appeared only a dozen kilometers away from Qishm Fort where we are stationed. I am afraid they are trying to lure our troops out, and then concentrate their superior forces to launch a surprise attack on our army." During the march, During the break, Li Yanliang continued to wipe the sweat from his forehead while reporting quietly to his company commander Yu Yuanbin.

"Do you think the superiors above don't know the little tricks of the Omanis?" Yu Yuanbin looked at the young lieutenant (second lieutenant) with an excited expression as if he had seen through the enemy's tricks, as if he had just graduated from the military academy a few years ago. , can’t help but be a little funny.

"Ah?" Li Yanliang looked at his superiors in astonishment and asked: "Since the superiors clearly know that the Omanis are using... to lure the enemy, then why... why do they order us to go out of the city to pursue their whereabouts? ?”

"Liu Lieutenant, haven't you noticed that the troops carrying out this pursuit mission out of the city are all members of the Daqi Army?" Yu Yuanbin reminded with a smile.

"Yes, those who came out of the city were all officers and soldiers of our Daqi army, and none of the Indian servants came out. But, what does this have to do with us falling into the Omani's trick of luring the enemy?"

"Captain Li, how many troops do you think the Omanis will need to use if they want to eat more than 400 of us in one bite?" Yu Yuanbin looked at the confused Li Yanliang, shook his head and said, "Given the equipment gap between the Omanis and us, I think To completely defeat us or inflict heavy damage on us, at least 4000 people must be dispatched, and they must also have a powerful cavalry force. Do you think the Omani army deployed on this island has such a scale?"

"What if their troops really have more than 4000 people?"

"Haha..." Yu Yuanbin smiled and reached out to pat Li Yanliang's shoulder, "Being cautious on the battlefield and having the mentality to show leniency to the enemy are certainly the basic qualities of a leading officer. However, we are fighting The actual battlefield situation and geographical environment must also be considered. On this barren island, it is impossible for the Omanis to deploy such a large number of troops."

"Although the Omanis do not have such a large number of troops, they do have thousands of captured Persian soldiers and civilians in their hands." Li Yanliang said solemnly: "Under this situation, the Omanis can completely drive these Persians to attack us. Launch a desperate charge.”

(End of this chapter)