Chapter 475: The Two-Section Firing Method
Chapter 470 of "The Great Ming in the Box" starts with thrilling twists: The current combat method employed by the Gaojia Village Militia was the two-section firing tactic.One... Continue the story!
The current combat method employed by the Gaojia Village Militia was the two-section firing tactic.One hundred firearm soldiers would fire, then retreat to reload. Another hundred would advance, fire, and then retreat, allowing the initial hundred to step forward again.
The rotation speed of the two-section firing method was slightly slower than the three-section method, resulting in longer intervals between volleys. However, the two-section approach was far easier to train successfully.
Though the three-section method was praised highly, training it proved exceptionally difficult.
This was something Li Daoxuan only realized while instructing the militia in the three-section tactic.
Dividing all firearm soldiers into three sections and ensuring their rotations for loading and firing proceeded flawlessly was immensely harder than heâd ever imagined.
Having read time-travel historical novels, heâd witnessed protagonists easily implement three-section firing through minimal training. Yet when he trained his men, he discovered his Militia Soldiers couldnât execute smooth three-section rotationsâalways descending into chaos. One soldierâs mistake would affect a group, and one groupâs disorder would collapse the entire formation.
Moreover, Gaojia Village was in a state of ârapid expansion,â with new recruits constantly joining the militia. Before a veteran unit was fully trained, new soldiers were inserted. Under these constant expansions, forcing three-section firing was ridiculous.
Thus, Gaojia Village adopted the two-section firing formation.
This was its first real combat test.
The soldiers were nervous but performed well. Thanks to the forestâs cover, they didnât face the vicious enemyâs direct charge. The pouch-shaped formation also helped them avoid confusion during loading.
After the first hundred firearm soldiers fired, they immediately rotated out for the next hundred to shoot. Then the rotation repeatedâŚ
Each rotation took roughly a dozen seconds.
Firing at this pace was already enough to leave the bandits utterly bewildered.
âDamn it, how many firearm soldiers hide in those trees?â
âFar more than a hundred!â
âAnd not two hundred either.â
âFive hundred! At least five hundred!â
âTheyâve been firing nonstop. Hell, theyâre still at it!â
Panic gripped the bandits!
The true number of firearm soldiers in the woods became an impenetrable mystery.
They heard an incessant BANG! BANG! BANG!âshots echoing here, flashes sparking there, bursts of white smoke elsewhereâall while bullets poured relentlessly into the Sunjia Gorge mouth.
Bandits emerging from the gorge were met with screams of terror, reeling in confusion.
Actually, those werenât the only ones stunnedâLi Huai was equally baffled.
Mere moments ago, heâd doubted whether Captain Shiâs two hundred men could fight at all. Now his mouth hung open, wide enough to fit an egg.
Heâd seen firearms beforeâthey werenât rare equipment!
But for a Captain under the General of Shaanxi to produce two hundred firearms? That was extraordinary. Furthermore, two hundred firearm soldiers delivering the firepower of five hundred? Unthinkable.
The ten thousand fierce bandits were now crushed together at the gorge mouthâthose at the rear refused to advance, while those at the front scrambled backward.
Instantly, Li Huaiâs forces rallied.
The scattered officials, moments ago fleeing wildly, now converged beneath the âLiâ army banner. It took almost no time for Li Huaiâs eight hundred men to restore their formation, full force and full morale.
Well⌠not entirely full. Seventy to eighty had already perished.
Not to mention their state, many lost their armor and weapons during the escape just now, now bare and unarmed like peasants.
Li Huai just glanced at his men and felt a deep sense of powerlessness. This bunch of useless soldiers, damn it, even if gathered now, they couldnât fight.
He couldnât help but angrily scold: âWhere are your helmets? Where are the spears? Did you lose them all? Fuck, a bunch of shit.â
As he was ranting happily, Wang Er beside him asked sarcastically: âGeneral Li, where is your helmet?â
Li Huai: ââŚâ
Hem!
Well, his pride had been humiliated enough, he didnât mind a bit more. Li Huai turned to Wang Er and Shi Jian, cupped his hands with a pleading expression: âGentlemen, help me defend Pingyang Prefecture. If this city falls, it will be a disaster for the peopleâŚâ
Wang Er said sarcastically: âI fear what you care about isnât a disaster for the people, but losing your position, right?â
Li Huai: ââŚâ
Stiff!
Several seconds later, Li Huai angrily said: âYou rascal, youâre just a minor soldier, constantly defying this general. What the hell position do you hold in the army? Mocking champion?â
Wang Er intended to bicker back a few more words, but suddenly recalled his current identity and the task at hand. Forget it, not worth arguing with this guy. He snorted, too lazy to keep mocking.
The embroidered Deity on Wang Erâs chest grinned suddenly, laughing delightedly.
Li Huai rubbed his eyes: Why did that thingâs embroidery on its chest seem to be grinning?
He looked again closely, and the embroidery wasnât laughing anymore.
âWas that just this generalâs illusion?â
Shi Jian spoke: âGeneral Li, although your men lost their armor and have no equipment, they still have a mouth, so itâs still useful.â
Li Huai: âWhat good is a mouth?â
Shi Jian: âEveryone, follow me and shout together.â
He shouted at the top of his lungs to the outside: âHa ha ha, foolish bandits, youâve been trapped by this generalâs plot. When this generalâs ambush troops emerge, Iâll ensure you all die miserably without a burial ground.â
After that shout, Li Huai suddenly realized and hurriedly followed with a shout.
His hundreds of soldiers also quickly opened their mouths and followed with shouts.
Hundreds shouted together, piercing through the intervals of the firearm shots. This sound fell into the ears of the bandits outside, filling them with inner dread.
Nan Ying Eighth Great King shouted loudly: âDamn it, so Li Huai deliberately lost to us, pretended to flee to lure us into this ambush circle. Lads, weâve been trapped by the officialsâ plot, retreat fast!â
Those bandits were already somewhat panicked inside by the continuous firearm shots. Now, hearing they were in the trap and to retreat, of course they were utterly willing. They let out two strange howls, turned around, and fled.
Very soon, the bandits fled completely clean, rushed out from the southern entrance of Sunjia Gorge, and ran toward the distance.
Now it was safe.
Li Huaiâs whole body went limp, he collapsed to the ground. He couldnât run anymore, absolutely couldnât run anymore.
His hundreds of bare soldiers also all collapsed to the ground.
Wang Er glanced at the strange-looking officials, a look of disdain on his face. He really wanted to mock them, but had to force himself to hold back. Right then, he heard the embroidered Deity on his chest chuckle softly, whispering quietly: âAn army should be the backbone of a nation. Look, what pitiful state is the spine of the Ming Dynasty now?â
Wang Er: âHuh? The Deity came to me! These Great Ming officials are indeed rotten to the core.â
Li Daoxuan said: âWang Er, look again at those bandits, how do they compare to the officials?â
Wang Er thought very seriously for a few seconds, sighed, and said: âThe bandits are even worse than the officials.â
Li Daoxuan: âTherefore, none of them can protect this world!â
Wang Er, rushing with pride, said: âThis lowly one understands! This world still has to rely on us.â