Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3450: Backhand Preparation

The river.

In the mountains.

At this moment, the river is green and beautiful.

Although it is late autumn, the forest is still densely covered with vegetation, and the green, yellow and red leaves rustle in the breeze.

The battle between the Sichuan Army and the Jiangdong Army was briefly stagnant.

Neither side can defeat the other side's front in a short time. It is difficult to open up the front battlefield in a short time, so there will be two different choices.

Attack fiercely and open a gap.

Disrupt and tear apart the formation.

The fierce generals often like to use the first method, while the generals who like to use their brains often adopt the second mode.

As for Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu, they almost know the other side's two methods clearly and will use them.

Zhou Tai looked at the messenger and frowned, "Did the governor really say that? ?"

The new order is different from the previous one!

Before, Zhou Yu asked Zhou Tai to ambush here and wait for the Sichuan Army to come, which was to wait for the signal and attack the flank or the rear.

Now Zhou Yu changed the original order, so that Zhou Tai did not need to wait for the signal, and led the troops to attack from the side directly.

The messenger confirmed.

Zhou Tai received the order and nodded, "In this case, I will obey your order."

Although Zhou Tai was not a very smart person, he had an innate intuition about the battle situation and even danger. Now his intuition reminded him that things were not going well.

Zhou Tai felt more and more that his previous uneasiness was correct.

But he couldn't say what was wrong. In addition, he had searched the surrounding area with great fanfare before. If he said that he felt danger now, the Jiangdong soldiers would probably not think that Zhou Tai was cautious, but that Zhou Tai was sick again.

So Zhou Tai could only order to go forward, follow Zhou Yu's order, go around the mountains, and touch the rear line of the Sichuan Army.

When passing by the forest he had checked before, Zhou Tai went in again to check for a while, but still found no traces on the ground.

It just felt that there seemed to be more insects on the ground.

The difference between a big river and a big river is that most of the banks of a big river are rocks.

Between the rocks is a mountain stream that is not a road.

The road is not easy to walk on, and some places even require ladders to climb.

Because the equipment of Jiangdong soldiers is not completely unified, Zhou Tai's direct troops and other Jiangdong soldiers have different equipment. Therefore, when they are on the move, each soldier prepares and carries it by himself, and the style and materials are different, so when the Jiangdong soldiers march, they will show some messy feeling.

Zhou Tai stood on a rock, still scanning the surrounding mountains and forests with some uneasiness.

Various green, yellow and red in the mountains and forests, against the black and gray background, smudge out multi-layered and multi-changing colors.

Perhaps this kind of scenery will make those who have been in reinforced concrete for a long time feel beautiful and full of vitality in the future, but in Zhou Tai's eyes, he felt the autumn wind was cold and murderous.

Some Jiangdong soldiers fell down when they climbed up a rock. Fortunately, they did not fall hard. Some people were busy checking the wounds caused by the fall or friction, and some people were cursing and mumbling.

Jiangdong soldiers are good at staying on the boat. The swaying hull makes them feel like sleeping on a rocking bed. They will not feel seasick at all, but after standing on land, they will feel a little "dizzy".

Zhou Tai looked at it, and his uneasiness became stronger.

Ambush, ambushes, this is no problem for Jiangdong soldiers.

Because they are waiting in one place anyway, the disadvantage of moving slower on land than soldiers in other places can be almost regarded as non-existent when they are not moving.

So Zhou Tai set out early and arrived at the ambush site in advance.

But now it is not an ambush, but an advance, and it is still marching by land and climbing the mountain road...

This weakness of the Jiangdong Army is more obvious.

『What does the governor want to do? 』

Zhou Tai muttered.

For the soldiers, Zhou Tai is a big shot, and for Zhou Tai, Zhou Yu is the big shot.

When the big shot speaks, the small shot has no right to speak.

Zhou Tai knows that when he gives orders, he will not care whether these Jiangdong soldiers will be injured or die if they fall while climbing the rocks. Similarly, when Zhou Yu gives orders, he will not care whether Zhou Tai will be injured or die.

Zhou Tai also knows that if his own troops are killed or injured in the battle, he will go to the home of the dead or injured troops with a sad face after returning, saying that the troops are a brave warrior and he died gloriously...

So, what if he is killed or injured?

Zhou Tai turned his head and looked in the direction of the river. Although his sight was blocked by the rocky mountain, he could still faintly hear the sound of war drums.

Zhou Tai suddenly had an insight in his heart.

Zhou Yu's battle was not going well.

If Zhou Yu's battle was going well, then he should be doing things according to the plan step by step, instead of...

On the other side.

Gan Ning stared at the Jiangdong soldiers, his face wrinkled.

The Jiangdong army was coming towards them.

But it seemed that they did not discover them, but were rushing on the road, with a scattered formation and divided into several sections.

If they do nothing and hide in the mountains and forests, there is a high probability that these Jiangdong troops will pass under the skin of Gan Ning and the others...

But the question is, is it really okay to let them go?

Zhuge Liang had not yet developed a system of ingenious strategies, so of course he could not give Gan Ning any special instructions.

Originally, Zhuge Liang's plan was similar to Zhou Yu's plan, but because Gan Ning was one step behind Zhou Tai, he decided to hide in the mountains and forests as a means of keeping the oriole behind.

But now that Jiangdong's army has made a sudden change in advance, Gan Ning is forced to make a choice. Should he flank this changed Jiangdong army, or attack the Jiangdong camp as planned?

Indeed, if this Jiangdong army passes, there is a high probability that a gap will be formed, which will help Gan Ning move forward to raid the Jiangdong Water Village. However, similarly, there will also be corresponding omissions in the formation on his own side!

Although it is said that all tactics rely on changing families, when you really have to make this decision, you must not only be determined to bankrupt your family, but also sneak a few farmers out to build a wild base.

Gan Ning turned his head and looked east.

If he didn't attack this partial army of Jiangdong Army, could Zhuge Liang and the others be able to defend it? If Jiangdong Army's attack was successful, would his sneak attack on Jiangdong Army's water stronghold be considered a success?

"General, what should we do?" 』

The Sichuan and Shu soldiers on the side asked Gan Ning.

Gan Ning gritted his teeth and said, "Immortal Banban, we can't just let them go and beat them up!" 』

Gan Ning finally decided to change the original combat goal.

It was too dangerous to let the Jiangdong Army pass so easily. What if the Sichuan and Shu Army did not take appropriate precautions?

No, this Jiangdong Army must be intercepted!

"We have to stop them!" All ready! Just follow my orders and take action together! 』

…

…

Big river.

water surface.

"boom! 』

A sound like thunder echoed on the river.

This roar also broke the original mutual mirror attack, completely widening the gap in the armaments of the two sides!

With the roar of artillery fire, a "bang" sound, and the frightened screams of Jiangdong Navy soldiers, a shell roared, smashing a large hole in the deck of a Jiangdong Navy ship, and rushed into it. Enter the cabin and create a flesh and blood alley in the cabin!

The Jiangdong soldiers who were working in the cabin were either dead, injured, or fled in fear, and the entire warship came to a halt immediately!

Not only that, the cannonball may have directly cracked the cabin floor, or parts such as the keel, destroying the structure of the entire Jiangdong battleship, causing the battleship to soon begin to tilt and then tilt to one side. Almost instantly, his butt sank to the bottom of the river.

The Jiangdong Army on the battlefield was stunned for a moment.

In some things, relying on personal abilities can indeed make up for a certain gap.

Just like a lion leading a flock of sheep to fight with another group of sheep, there is a high probability that the group of sheep led by the lion will win.

But what if the opponent is not a flock?

"That's...artillery?" I see……"

Zhou Yu stared at the rising smoke and lost the ability to speak for a moment.

Even though it was the first time for him to see the power of artillery, he quickly realized that the entire surface combat... no, the entire world, all combat forms and modes, would have huge consequences due to the emergence of artillery. changes!

The informants he deployed in Guanzhong also mentioned this magical, terrifying, and indescribable weapon, but Zhou Yu was dubious at first, but now seeing is believing.

Zhou Yu stared at the hit ship.

In the entire Jiangdong, no one has actually seen artillery, but this does not hinder human beings' instinct for danger. Many people will subconsciously hide behind bunkers, or simply jump off the boat to escape. The Jiangdong ships surrounding the hit ship were also turning to flee in panic. Even the Jiangdong soldiers who escaped in the water were struggling to stay away from the artillery position.

Zhou Yu slowly exhaled and calmed himself down. After all, Zhou Yu has experienced hundreds of battles. Even when faced with the artillery of new things, after a brief period of distraction, he immediately allowed his reason to take over again.

As the commander-in-chief, Zhou Yu knew very well that if he himself acted panicked, it is even more conceivable what would happen to ordinary soldiers. Although Zhou Yu, like ordinary Jiangdong soldiers, faced new weapons and did not have much experience in this area, this required him to remain calm in order to stabilize Jiangdong's military morale.

Zhou Yu squinted and stared, and then he discovered that not all Sichuan and Shu ships had artillery.

If that was the case, then he wouldn't have to fight, he could just order the withdrawal.

Zhou Yu saw that only the cannons were installed on the building ships, and there was only one at the bow.

"boom! 』

There was another loud bang.

But this time, it was not able to successfully hit the deck or side of the Jiangdong navy ship. Instead, it hit the upper wooden structure of the Jiangdong ship, smashing half of the wooden wall. It looks quite miserable, but in fact it has little impact on the ship's navigation ability.

Zhou Yu nodded, a little worried in his heart.

Although this thing is powerful, its launch speed is not fast, and its accuracy is not that accurate. It was just a coincidence that the first shot directly hit the hull deck and destroyed a Koto battleship.

"Did you see that?" ! ” Zhou Yu shouted loudly, allowing the surrounding soldiers and military schools to regain their fighting spirit, “Not every shot can be successful! And it won’t all sink if you get shot! 』

With the facts before their eyes, Jiangdong soldiers saw that Zhou Yu was calm and composed, and their morale was more or less restored.

"Send the order!" Avoid the bow direction of the Sichuan Shulou ship! Surround him from both sides! 』

Zhou Yu gave the order and immediately sneered, "Does this force me to outflank from both wings and then give way to the center?" That’s just right! 』

…

…

When they saw the ships of Jiangdong Navy being hit, damaged, or even capsized, they all cheered.

All of a sudden, the sound of the valiant cavalry being victorious could be heard all the time.

It has to be said that Zhuge Liang is versatile.

He worked with craftsmen to solve many problems of how to mount the cannon on the ship.

Although these issues are also being studied in Guanzhong, they cannot be shared in real time for the big Han people who have inconvenient information transmission. Therefore, even if there is any progress in Guanzhong, Sichuan and Shu may not be able to know. Without Zhuge Liang's assistance and solving many engineering problems in the actual hoisting and installation, there would not be the roar of artillery that shocked Jiangdong.

In fact, in this era, the power of artillery was not stronger than that of large catapults.

The stone bullets of large catapults are often several times or more than ten times heavier than artillery shells, so the destructive power they bring is naturally much greater than that of artillery. After all, artillery is more constrained by production technology, while catapults can be made as big as the trees are as long as they have giant trees...

If you want to make heavy artillery, the artillery itself will be too heavy to maneuver, and there will not be so much metal to cast heavy artillery in large quantities.

Just like the artillery mounted on ships today, they are actually small artillery.

The only advantage is that the artillery's accuracy and attack frequency are better than those of large catapults.

Moreover, large catapults are used to deal with fixed objects, solid mixed earth city walls, and now no matter which angle you look at, there are only one ship on the water, even if it is equipped with iron armor and rams, it is still unable to Resist medium and close range artillery bombardment.

Therefore, under the bombardment of the Sichuan-Shu Army artillery, several fighting ships of the Jiangdong Army that tried to approach the Sichuan-Shu Louship were either sunk or damaged. The entire Jiangdong Army's offensive was temporarily interrupted... …

But soon, new instructions came from the rear of Jiangdong Army.

The Jiangdong Army, which received the new order, abandoned the damaged and even sinking battleships and began to change its formation.

Xu Huang stood on the top floor of the building, looking around, "Kong Ming, Jiangdong really gave way to the middle!" 』

"This artillery is really powerful!" ” Xu Huang clapped his hands and said, “Now I know what the hussar meant when he said, ‘The ship is strong and the artillery is powerful, and it is invincible’!” It's a pity that this artillery is expensive... If there are hundreds and thousands of artillery, who in the world dares to compete with the lord? ! 』

Zhuge Liang listened and nodded slightly, "What the general said is true, but... at this moment, Jiangdong's navy has not yet come out in full force... This Zhou Gongjin still has backup plans..."

"Is there any backup plan? Xu Huang asked, "Kong Ming said that above the water, Jiangdong Army still has a backup plan?" 』

Zhuge Liang previously said that Jiangdong Army may have sent two lines of sneak attacks, one for the positive and the other for the surprise. Xu Huang expressed his understanding, but now Zhuge Liang said that Zhou Yu had some back-up plans on the water, which made Xu Huang understand. Akira was a little hard to understand.

Zhuge Liang looked at the battlefield.

Soldiers have no constant momentum, and water has no shape.

Maybe the little treasure you take out can give the opponent a big shock, but the upper and lower limits of the strength of this shock are actually very different...

It's like maybe some people think they are very big, but they may just cooperate with others.

After all, these days, there are so many people who have experienced thousands of things.

The artillery was heavy, but the structure and size of the ship did not adapt quickly and automatically to the presence of the artillery. Although the artillery is roaring and majestic now, it is not completely without problems.

The artillery transported thousands of miles from Guanzhong is not big.

It's too big to be transported.

Nowadays, this small artillery can inflict heavy damage to Jiangdong Army, mainly because of the suppression of materials.

Just like bronze suppresses obsidian, black iron suppresses bronze.

Jin Kemu.

This is the wisdom of our ancestors for thousands of years.

However, the current artillery architecture is not perfect.

First of all, the artillery was installed on the bow, replacing the original eight-bed, three-gun ballista. However, the weight was much greater than that of the ballista, which forced the ship to add some ballast stones at the stern to maintain its stability. Head-to-tail balance. Secondly, the center of gravity of the artillery on the center line is obviously not as stable as the center of gravity distributed on the two wings. In rivers, lakes and seas, this may not be a big problem, but if the wind and waves are stronger, this shortcoming may cause the ship to capsize.

Another important point is that the artillery is now semi-exposed. Although it can give Jiangdong Army a direct visual shock, the same gunners and craftsmen who operate the artillery may be under greater threat.

These all need further improvement, and improvement requires time, materials, and a new design. Only with a new ship structure can it cooperate with artillery.

So now there are sharp weapons, but other things are not matched, just like in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the six countries also created several peerless swords, but they could not defeat the Qin State, which still used bronze on a large scale.

Zhuge Liang watched the Jiangdong navy begin to spread out to both wings, exposing Zhou Yu in the middle formation, and couldn't help shaking his head, "Zhou Gongjin, it's true... If I'm right, he is using the enemy's trick against him..."

Xu Huang was stunned, "Using the enemy's trick against him?"