mtlumby2d Chapter 577 Entering Close Combat
Chapter 577 Entering Close Combat
A single volley of shrapnel wiped out almost all the archers and armored soldiers who had managed to get close enough to attack, thus crumbling Abatai's carefully organized offensive. He certainly wouldn't give up so easily. After a brief moment of shock, he immediately reacted, roaring, "Don't stand there like idiots! All armored soldiers, charge! If the bows and arrows don't work, use your swords, axes, even bite them! Kill these Ming dogs!"
As the battle continued, the fighting spirit and firearms displayed by this Ming army deeply impressed Abatai. This opponent was unlike any army he had ever seen, whether it was the Ming army or the Mongols, whether it was the Zhejiang soldiers known for their strict discipline and expertise in firearms or the Mongol tribes renowned for their unparalleled horsemanship and archery. In terms of overall capability, none could match this army. Now it was no longer a question of whether they could easily defeat their opponent, but whether their own troops could successfully break through the blockade and return to the interior. If they failed to eliminate their opponent and remained trapped in Shandong, the consequences would be unimaginable if this dragged on.
The central commander blew the conch shell, its deep and desolate sound echoing across the entire battlefield. The heavily armored infantrymen, who had been conserving their strength, stood up, raised their long swords, maces, short-handled axes, and other weapons, and charged forward like a pack of ferocious beasts.
"Boom", "Boom", "Boom"...
Another volley of shrapnel rained down, enveloping the charging armored soldiers. Countless bullets struck their armor, clanging and clattering like metal cans hitting a tin can. Even the thickest armor couldn't withstand the force; the immense impact riddled the soldiers with holes, breaking their weapons in half.
The soldiers raised their guns again and opened fire on the armored troops. Although the deafening roar of the cannons around them made it impossible for them to hear anything else or know any new orders, firing at the approaching enemy was a soldier's instinct, requiring no command.
The barrage of lead bullets and shrapnel turned this short stretch into a death trap. The soldiers seemed to be struggling through a storm of metal, advancing only a few steps at great cost, with someone falling every second under the dense hail of bullets. But they seemed unafraid of death; as one fell, two more rose up, one after another, surging forward.
Abatai watched this scene with gritted teeth. If the enemy hadn't suddenly deployed their small cannons, and with the support of infantry archers and cavalry archers, the infantry attack would have been much easier. He observed the battlefield situation and quickly issued another order: "Send all the bondservant Aha and Yuding in the formation up to the flanks and encircle this square formation." In this stalemate, a cavalry charge was impossible, but outflanking the flanks using numerical superiority was still achievable.
No matter how fast the mountain artillery fired, it was still just cannons, not muskets. After three volleys of grapeshot, the armored soldiers were already upon them, almost able to see their teeth. Amid the thunderous roar of the cannons, Zuo Wuwei anxiously shouted to Shi Ying, "Commander, order the artillery to withdraw! They've completed their mission; if they don't withdraw now, it'll be too late..."
Quartz nodded and ordered, "Blow the horn, fix bayonets!"
In the intervals between cannon shots, urgent bugle calls rang out, echoing throughout the entire position.
Even after the mountain artillery ceased firing, the soldiers in the front ranks still felt the rumbling of the cannons echoing in their ears, a buzzing sound. It took a while for their hearing to return to normal before the urgent and loud bugle calls entered their ears.
Upon hearing the order, the soldiers ceased firing, drew their bayonets, fitted them to their rifles, and secured them. The artillerymen, realizing it was time for bayonet fighting, hurriedly ran back. The rows of bayonets stood erect, resembling a steel forest.
The commander directly in front was the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion. He ran over, covered in sweat, and shouted, "Regimental Commander, there are too many Tartars. The 1st Battalion has suffered more than half its casualties. Even if we send two more companies over, we may not be able to hold them off!"
Shi Ying stared intently at the surging armored soldiers, his brows furrowed into a deep frown. The battalion commander was right; with such a powerful attack from the Tartars, two thin rows of soldiers might not be enough to withstand it. He hesitated for a few seconds, then roared out a new order: "Pass on my order: abandon the square formation! The second and third battalions join the battle! The fourth battalion stands by as a reserve!"
Before the orders could reach the troops on both sides, the battle had already begun.
The strong, armored soldiers stepped over the corpses of their own men and charged forward, colliding with the soldiers who were waiting in battle with a loud "boom," and a fierce hand-to-hand battle began.
Abatai roared from afar, pumping his fist in excitement. After several twists and turns and paying a heavy price, they finally charged into the enemy ranks. With the ferocity of the Jin warriors, the end of the battle was only a matter of time. Once this formation was defeated, the rest of the Ming army would surely retreat without a fight. No army could withstand more than 30% casualties, especially against the warriors of the Jin.
But Abatai was soon to be disappointed, because the close-quarters combat was not as one-sided as he had expected.
The First Battalion of the First Regiment had more veterans than any other unit. Most of the officers, from platoon leader onwards, were seasoned veterans who had participated in the defense of Bofu. Even the new recruits had at least participated in the Battle of Qiuyushan. Their combat experience was unparalleled in the entire army, truly deserving of their glorious designation. Facing a fierce opponent, the soldiers did not panic. Following their usual drills, they stood shoulder to shoulder, raised their bayonets, and fought the enemy.
In terms of individual combat strength, a Qionghai soldier is no match for a Jin armored soldier, but when they are in formation, ten soldiers can fight against ten armored soldiers, and one hundred soldiers can defeat one hundred armored soldiers.
Although the armored soldiers outnumbered the main force, reinforcements had not yet arrived, and their strength was not fully deployed. The frontal battle consisted of only a few hundred men. Facing the enemy's tight formation and spear-like weapons, they felt like dogs trying to bite a hedgehog, unable to find a way to attack, their martial prowess rendered useless. Although a few armored soldiers managed to cut down some in the chaos, they were quickly forced back by the orderly barrage of spears.
An inch longer, an inch stronger. The rifle barrel plus bayonet was nearly 1.9 meters long, almost the same as a spear. With the soldiers packed tightly together, the armored soldiers wielded short-handled axes, swords, and maces, attacking from both sides, but they could not find any weakness in the enemy. Instead, they were stabbed and knocked down from time to time.
The soldiers were able to charge forward despite the dense hail of bullets and disregard casualties because of one belief: musketeers were effective at long range, but utterly ineffective in close combat. They believed that once they were inside the ranks, they could slaughter without restraint. Who would have thought that these men, one moment wielding muskets and the next short blades, would transform into spearmen? Moreover, their formation was clearly well-practiced, specifically designed to counter close-quarters combat, making them very difficult to deal with.