Just like Zhang Xiaobao, Zhang Shougui had two additional models representing the pillars of smoke on the sand table. The only difference was that Zhang Xiaobao had not received any other information. He had received a message from the radio station, from the first vanguard brigade.
It said that when they circled around the burning forest from the south, they found two smoke pillars rising from the mountains and determined that the enemy was using them to transmit signals.
They sent people to investigate, but Fuyang was surrounded by rolling hills and thick fog, making it impossible to see with binoculars. Until now, they hadn't received any useful information.
The commander of the 1st Brigade had the surname Yang, and his first name was Qiang. When he saw the messenger placing the smoke pillars on his sand table, he deliberately asked why there were only smoke pillars and no traces of the enemy. "We have binoculars, so we should be able to find them. The scout team has already advanced several dozen li."
The messenger replied that the referees had found a way to hide the enemy based on their report. Furthermore, the fog was too thick, so they determined that they hadn't found the enemy.
Zhang Shougui looked at the smoke pillars on the sand table and ordered, "Order the 1st Brigade to protect the ammunition and be careful of the enemy's sneak attack. Find out the number and number of troops the enemy is in."
Zhang Xiaobao didn't have such speed of transmission. Not only did he not transmit the information, he also didn't allow him to steal the radio station and use it.
He turned to Li Longji and asked, "Your Majesty, who do you think the enemy is?"
"Is there a need to ask? Of course it's … You can guess what it is. Of course, I know. I can go to the central sand table, so don't think of getting any information from me. Otherwise, I'll consider you breaking the rules."
Li Longji was just about to say something when he suddenly realized that the information he received was different from Zhang Xiaobao's. He knew everyone's movements, so he glared at Zhang Xiaobao.
Zhang Xiaobao pretended to be enlightened and said, "Oh, right, you're different from me. I forgot. I thought you didn't know either. Let's guess together. Since you haven't gone to the central sand table, guess, how do you think my logistics team will fight?"
This time, Li Longji really didn't know. There were many people in the panel of judges, and they had to analyze and evaluate all sorts of information, as well as the tactics and tactics given by the commanders of the battalions and squadrons. Only then would they be able to give a rough estimate of the losses suffered by both sides.
Li Longji was stumped for a moment, but he didn't want to admit that he couldn't do it. After thinking hard, he said with a firm expression and an uncertain tone, "Isn't that simple? They have guns and cannons, as well as all kinds of auxiliary weapons. If you want to fight with cold weapons, you can only run to the mountains.
You can use bows and arrows to attack from a high vantage point, but your troop only has 2500 people, while the enemy's troop has ….. countless people. Let's not talk about the difference in numbers, but you're at a disadvantage in terms of weapons. I think the enemy will bring their cannons over and bombard the mountain where your regiment is at. "
Li Longji almost spilled the beans. He stretched out his hand and pointed at the model of a regiment on Zhang Xiaobao's sand table.
The model had already been placed on one of the mountains on the sand table, so it was obvious that it was at a high vantage point.
Zhang Xiaobao also smiled and didn't care at all. He then asked his godfather, "Godfather, how do you think my regiment will fight?"
Gao Lishi was very nervous now. The battle was about to begin, and the first real clash between both sides had been waiting for so long. Who would win and who would lose?
In his own situation, Xiao Bao only had a logistics team in the Fuyang area, while the enemy had a brigade. It was 2500 people against 5000 people, and this was in a situation where there was a huge disparity in weapons.
After thinking for a while, he said, "It won't be easy to fight, unless you want to burn down the mountain again. That way, you can hide first and then light up the fire. Perhaps you can take the enemy down with you before they know it.
However, the enemy general isn't stupid. He's someone who has been learning from Cuckoo for three years. Since she put him in this position, it means that he's capable enough. "
Gao Lishi had also unknowingly let his mouth slip. When he said that he had been learning for three years, Zhang Xiaobao knew that the other party wasn't Zhang Shougui. Seeing that his godfather still wanted to say more, he hurriedly stopped him. "Godfather, you can't say anymore. That's not fair. Let's just watch."
Li Longji was vexed because he couldn't see anything. Zhang Xiaobao didn't have any advanced communication tools, so he couldn't reflect the real-time situation on the battlefield. After watching for a while, Li Longji got up and left the room. He walked towards the sand table in the center.
When he got there, he was shocked. Just now, he had seen a model of an entire battalion on Zhang Xiaobao's sand table. Now, all that was left on the model was the flag of the regiment and the number of people in the battalion.
The rest of the people had spread out. Two battalions had run to the two mountains in front of the regiment headquarters, while less than a battalion of soldiers had hidden in an even higher mountain behind the regiment headquarters.
Seeing this situation, Li Longji suddenly understood. "So that's how it is. Because Xiao Bao's communication speed is slow, he doesn't know how the regiment is arranged. All he knows is that there's a symbol there. This is the previous arrangement."
After muttering to himself, Li Longji was puzzled. "Then why is Xiao Bao smiling? Could it be that he knows the current situation of the regiment? "
When the referees next to him heard the emperor's question, they explained, "According to our judgment, Zhang Xiaobao does know, because he was the one who came up with the idea. Wang Juan's troops are the same. They are using the tunnel tactic, and it's not the ordinary kind where they directly dig a tunnel.
Instead, they are using a trench. Their people are staying in the trench. When the cannonballs fall, their casualties will be very small, and it will be more difficult for the bullets to hit them.
If the two sides are fighting, when they are 100 steps away, their bows and arrows and throwing spears made of local trees won't be in a disadvantageous situation. "
Li Longji stood there and thought carefully for a while. He nodded and said, "If they are looking down from a higher ground, within 100 steps, they won't be in a disadvantageous position. Both sides can attack each other.
The difference is that if the battle goes on for a long time, they won't be able to draw their bows, but the other side won't have a problem shooting. The difference between the bullet and the arrow is also different. How do you judge? "
"In reply to Your Majesty's question, we have done experiments, and it is indeed so. The bullet is more lethal, while the arrow is less lethal. Therefore, if the battle goes on for a long time, we judge that Zhang Xiaobao's side has fewer arrows, and it will be disadvantageous for them to snipe."
The referees had already done experiments on this problem, so when Li Longji asked, he answered.
"Alright, let me see how they will fight." Li Longji didn't continue to ask about the rules this time. He sat on the chair that someone brought over and asked someone to bring him tea. He drank while watching.
The people on the battlefield had different thoughts. Yang Qiang, the commander of the first brigade at the vanguard, couldn't wait for the report from the scouts. He anxiously circled the sand table twice and gave an order.
"On the mountain where the smoke pillar was discovered, the artillery battalion, attack. Plow that small mountain for me. After the bombardment, my first regiment will go up and occupy the high ground."
Zhang Xiaobao's regiment was hiding in the first battalion at the front, which was the mountain where the smoke pillar was lit. The commander's surname was Shi, and his name was Chun Zhenxiang.
Shi Chun also had a sand table in front of him. After lighting his cigarette, he arranged his own battalion according to what he had learned before.
"Order all members of my battalion to enter the tunnel and prepare to endure the enemy's artillery fire. When the enemy is done, continue to hide. When we see the enemy's ground troops coming up and entering the range, then give them a good beating."
The messenger immediately ran out to report. After a while, he ran back and said to Shi Chun, Shi Zhenxiang, "Sir Shi, the enemy's artillery shells have already landed. The various traps that we have placed in front of us have been determined to be almost completely destroyed. Our scouts at the front have discovered that the enemy has about a regiment of soldiers following behind the artillery fire and quickly charging towards the mountain where we are."
Shi Chun nodded. He looked at the sand table and shook his head helplessly. "That idiot, actually using artillery to open a path. What's the rush? If it were me, I would wait and slowly grind them down. They have such a good weapon, but they still have to attack. "
The messenger pouted and muttered, "They have such a good weapon, but they still don't attack?"
"What do you know? Ask the referees, how did the enemy charge? "Shi Chun gave another order.
"The referees determined that without prior request, the enemy's first regiment is running and charging. The bullets are already loaded and ready to attack the target that suddenly appears."
The messenger ran back and forth and answered.
"Distance," Shi Chun asked again.
"The artillery fire has already passed. The first regiment is about 300 steps away from our frontline and is still quickly approaching," the messenger replied. At this time, there was not only one messenger, but two. The situation on the battlefield was constantly changing, so the speed of information transmission had to be fast.
Shi Chun nodded. "Order, when the enemy is 30 steps away from the first line, throw out spears from the trenches. The second line, after 30 meters, use bows and arrows to attack the trenches. The third line, soldiers in the trenches, prepare to become the first line at any time. The fourth line to the trenches, continue to hide."
"Understood, all lines of defense have received the order."
"Report, our first and second trenches are engaged in battle. The referees determined that because the enemy's attack formation is too dense, the frontline has suffered heavy losses."
"Report, the enemy has temporarily stopped attacking and laid down on the ground. They have begun to shoot at our first line of trenches and throw grenades. Our side has begun to suffer casualties."
"Order, the first line of troops quietly retreat from the tunnel beside the trenches. As they retreat, throw spears without aiming and meet up with the second line of troops." Shi Chun stood beside the sand table and gave the order.
Soon, the enemy's regiment felt that the enemy's attack strength had weakened and gradually disappeared. If they had not just fought, they would have thought that there was no one on the battlefield.
The regiment commander of this regiment was called Kong Lu. At this moment, he was standing in the room. He was not happy at all when the messenger came to say that the enemy's attack had disappeared. Instead, he was very angry.
His regiment had more than 1,500 people. Along the way, they had been in front of the artillery fire while they were at the back. He thought that it would be easy for them to go up.
Under normal circumstances, if you had already lit up the smoke column, how could you still stay on the mountain? You clearly knew that the difference in weapons was too great, so you should have used your fastest speed to retreat after sending the message.
In the end, the artillery fire was pushed over first, and his side followed behind. Why did the referees determine that his side had lost more than a hundred people in just one exchange?
The explanation given was that the people in front of his side had been attacked by arrows and spears. How was that possible?
In the end, he did not need to ask. The messenger said that the people in front had sent back information that the enemy's people were hiding in a hole that they had dug. At a distance of 30 steps, his side had been caught off guard.
Kong Lu patted his chest. More than a hundred people had been defeated just like that. The enemy probably did not suffer any heavy losses. The battle was too cowardly. His side had the most advanced weapons.
"Send a message to the brigade headquarters. Say that our regiment has been stubbornly attacked by the enemy. We can't determine the exact situation of the enemy, so temporarily stop the attack. In addition, the enemy has a deep hole to hide in. As for the artillery fire, the casualties are not heavy. We can also organize an attack on the spot. Over."
This time, Kong Lu was obedient. Just now, he thought that he could easily occupy this hill and wait for the next order. Who knew that the enemy was completely different from what he had imagined.
The commander of the first brigade, Yang Qiang, quickly received Kong Lu's message. He was so angry that he slammed the small table beside him. "Trash, cover the enemy with the artillery fire. You actually scared them in one exchange. What's there to be afraid of with more than a hundred people dead? Charge, this is good.
They have made the right choice. "" Order, the first regiment to charge at all costs. Fire your guns and charge. I don't believe that they can stop our attack. "
Yang Qiang did not care about Kong Lu's report that they would temporarily retreat and discuss before attacking. He gave the order to continue the attack.
Kong Lu received the order, thought about it, and learned to be smart. "My regiment will attack in groups."
His regiment immediately showed the formation of waves on the sand table.
"Report, the enemy is attacking in groups. They are charging towards our position again." The messenger reported to Shi Chun.
"Again? Alright, I'll let them know today that in close quarters, long guns are not that useful other than pistols and submachine guns.
Men, pass down my order. When the enemy's first group enters the trench, the second row of trenches will fire smoke arrows into the first row of trenches. Large Saber Squad, charge out from both sides with wet cloths on your faces. Enter the first row from both sides and kill them. "
Shi Chun appeared very confident at this time. He was confident that he could beat the enemy down again.
The referees' decision was:
Kong Lu's First Battalion's first group of more than 150 people kept firing as they jogged forward. They did not encounter any attacks even when they reached the trench.
Then they looked down and saw that there was no one in the trench. They all jumped down, intending to use the trench as their own trench and then set up a defensive line.
But as soon as they jumped down, they realized that there was a problem. The height was different. When they were watching the enemy fight, they were able to expose their upper bodies. But when they jumped down, why were they directly above their heads?
When Li Longji heard the referees narrate the situation to him like a story, he was puzzled and asked, "What's going on?"
"Because Shi Chun's group was standing on a stool, they appeared to be very high. That's why the referees decided that after the enemy's group jumped in, they would not be able to climb back up immediately."
The referees explained to Li Longji.
"That works too? What's the situation now? "Li Longji's eyes widened. Who came up with this idea? As expected of the logistics team. Xiao Bao's sinister style could be found in this.
"Your Majesty, the current situation is that the enemy's second trench is firing smoke arrows into the first trench. The top of the first trench is already filled with smoke. The second attacking group has also jumped into the trench while the third group is still approaching.
"The two defending groups are wielding large sabers as they slashed their way from the two sides of the first trench to the center. The referees took into consideration that the first group jumped into a trench that was too high and lacked morale. On the other hand, due to the smoke, their eyes and breathing were affected.
"In the end, the attacking group did not even use their bayonets, so they were not a match for the defending group at all. The referees decided that the ratio of casualties was 20 to 1. This was because the first group that came into contact with the first group was not all of the attacking group. Instead, the referees were more familiar with the terrain."
The referees continued to explain the situation to Li Longji.
Li Longji frowned and asked in disbelief, "The ratio of casualties is that high?"
"Yes. One is due to familiarity with the terrain, one is due to psychological changes, one is due to the smoke, and one is due to weapons not being suitable for close combat. This is the ratio given by the referees."
"Alright, I understand. Continue." Li Longji fell silent and fell into deep thought. The two armies had just met, but the one with superior weapons was defeated by the other. If the Great Tang's army could do this, how could they invade the other side? Oh, did they use military force to help the other side develop?
Kong Lu was also angry. Attack, attack, this is great. Send out orders and report that the attack was blocked.
"Order, all troops to stop attacking and slowly retreat. Fire at the smoke and don't let the other side rush over. Open up a distance and ask the referees, how did my men fight? Why is there no specific information sent back? "
"Reporting, Lord Kong, the referees said that because the troops at the front were unable to transmit any information, they did not send back any specific information. However, the third group heard the battle cries and the two groups at the front of our army should be engaging in close combat with the other side."
The messenger gave this answer.
Kong Lu said angrily, "What I want to know is, why can't my men transmit any information? Don't tell me they don't know how to escape? Can't they just run back? Are they stupid enough to use guns without bayonets to engage in close combat with the other side? "
"Lord Kong, you have two choices. The first is to continue sending people to investigate. The second is for you to hand over command and go to the center of the sand table to investigate."
The messenger said these words again. These words had become the most common thing they said in the past few days.
"If I don't hand it over, fine. Send a message to the brigade headquarters. Tell them that our attack has been blocked. The two groups at the front are unsure whether they are dead or alive. The enemy's first trench is filled with smoke and they are unable to continue attacking. Tell them to retreat and rest.
Kong Lu was also going all out. Even if the brigade headquarters ordered them to attack, they could not continue. These were his brothers. How could they just send in wave after wave? In the end, they did not even know how many people the other side had.
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