Chapter 568: The Way of Fighting Became Unclear
Chapter 561 of "The Great Ming in the Box" introduces new challenges: Ma Xianglinâs men had done nothing at all so far.They neither fired arrows nor engaged... Keep following!
Ma Xianglinâs men had done nothing at all so far.They neither fired arrows nor engaged in close combat with the bandit troops; instead, they advanced slowly in a protective formation on the left and right flanks, only to see that the frontal bandit army had completely collapsed, and the bandit troops defending the âcity wallâ were continuously retreating.
Someone climbed out of the city wall, charged a few steps, and was knocked down.
Someone hunched over, ran a few steps, and was shot down by firearms.
Someone hid trembling behind the wall, then poked half their face out to look outside, but half their face was hit by a bullet and they fell down.
In this situation, the bandit troops almost had no idea how to fight the war.
They were completely out of their depth!
Ma Xianglin was also out of his depth; he couldnât help constantly thinking to himself: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
I, a dignified white pole troop from the river, renowned for bravery and daring confrontation, hadnât even clashed a single sword or gun with the enemy, and it seemed we were about to win?
A subordinate shouted out loud: âGeneral, weâre about to reach the city wall soon! Should we still continue advancing slowly?â
Ma Xianglin: â!â
For a moment, he couldnât figure out how to issue the order.
But then he heard Cheng Xu shouting from behind: âGeneral Ma, please capture the city wall!â
Ma Xianglin didnât need to think it over; he immediately relayed the command: âWhite Standards Troops, charge! Capture the city wall!â
Several thousand white pole troops from the river were rushing with pride; finally, there was work for us to do.
They gave a loud shout and charged forward.
The low wall up to waist height was right in front of them; what use was such a wall? The White Standards Troops jumped over it with one step, while the bandit troops guarding behind the wall had been stunned by the firearms and were still hiding there to dodge bullets.
Little did they expect that the enemy White Standards Troops would actually scale the wall and come over.
Immediately, they plunged into a bloody close combat battle, and in such a fight, who had the white pole troops from the river ever feared?
White pole guns thrust wildly at the bandit troops of the Sharp Knife Troop who had shrunk into a ball behind the wall.
Those bandit troops who had avoided the firearms couldnât escape this time; after a very brief battle, the city wall changed hands.
Ma Xianglin burst out laughing: âIn this lifetime, Iâve never attacked a city this easily.â
After laughing, as he was about to command the soldiers to continue storming into the city, he saw Cheng Xu leading the firearm soldiers not advancing further, but swishing into action, all crouching down behind the low wall.
The low wall now became cover for the firearm soldiers; the soldiers rested their gun barrels on the low wall, aiming at the streets inside the city.
Ma Xianglin: âYouâre not advancing?â
Cheng Xu scanned ahead: in front were rows of houses, complex streets, winding alleys, disordered residential buildings, with crossroads everywhere.
How could firearm soldiers easily enter in such a situation?
If they carelessly barged in, within those alleys, seventeen or eighteen grandmothers could instantly leap out and chop him to death from all directions.
He waved his hand: âGeneral Ma, our firearm soldiers are skilled at long-range killing. But the rugged alleys in the city are not favorable for our armyâs operations.â
Ma Xianglin nodded: âSo, how do we fight next?â
Cheng Xu smiled with a headache.
At this moment, Gao Chuwu spoke up again: âDonât think about defeating the enemy in one surge; advance slowly layer by layer. First, occupy all the houses on the first layer of the street. After securing them, set up firearms, and then advance to the second layer.â
Gao Chuwu, of course, couldnât command. The moment he spoke up, everyone knew it was the Deity speaking again.
In modern warfare, especially after inventing trenches, battles progressed very slowly. Soldiers advanced step by step, through trenches, blocks, and defensive lines, with no need for hurry. Advancing only a few tens of meters in hours was common, unlike ancient warfare where once they broke through walls, they charged in madly; it was unnecessary.
Cheng Xu immediately understood: âThe nibbling tactics! General Ma, your men go first, mine follow. Letâs seize the first layer of the street.â
Ma Xianglin nodded, waved his hand, and the White Standards Troops began to advance forward.
The White Standards Troops advancing in formation were no match for bandits; even in alley fights, they feared no one.
Meanwhile, bandits on the rooftops peered out, wanting to shoot arrows or throw rocks at the White Standards Troops, but as soon as they looked, they heard firearms sound, and bandits fell from the roofs.
Not a single bandit dared to go onto the roof now.
With no enemy overlooking them from high ground, what did the White Standards Troops have to fear? They shouted and charged into the block. After a brief close combat, they took the first layer street.
The firearm soldiers followed immediately, dived into houses, extended their firearms from windows. Some firearm soldiers climbed onto roofs, set up firearms on high points, and aimed at the second layer street.
The firearm soldiers on the roof had clear vision and wide coverage, instantly bringing large surrounding streets into their firepower range.
Bandits active in the second alley became live targets on the spot.
After a burst of banging gunfire, the bandits visible to the eye scattered.
The White Standards Troops promptly began pushing toward the second alley.
At this, the bandits collapsed in complete disarray!
Their planned street fighting didnât work at all; they couldnât get close to the firearm soldiers.
Old Nan Feng saw this situation and thought, âMy cavalry might as well save effort; Iâm not joining this fight.â He gave an order and led his iron steeds north instantly.
Zijin Liang, King of Disruption, Nan Ying Eighth Great King, Fan Mountain Hawk, and others quickly had their troops break down, unable to fight anymore.
Bandits were bandits after allâif they couldnât win, they fled; they never chose to stand firm against a lost cause. Once they saw no chance of winning, they scattered faster than rabbits, scurrying off instantly. All fled out of Daining City, vanishing to the north.
Daining City was finally recaptured!
Ma Xianglin strolled through the street, occasionally kicking bandit troopsâ corpses to see if anyone was faking death, while sighing softly: âCan we find no survivors in Daining City?â
His subordinate beside him looked grim: âThe houses are all full of commonersâ bodies.â
Ma Xianglin felt terrible but changed the subject: âThis fighting way of General Xing, I seem to not quite understand it.â
Zhang Fengyi by his side whispered softly: âYes, this armyâs fighting method under General Xing is truly baffling. If we faced them, husband, how likely do you think we would win?â
âWin?â Ma Xianglin laughed and cried: âWhat chance of victory?â
Zhang Fengyi: ââŚâ
Ma Xianglin said: âWe can only be glad they arenât bandits; they accepted appeasement to become officials. If they hadnât surrendered and followed Wang Jiayin causing chaos, we wouldnât have held out.â
Zhang Fengyi nodded: âAt Puxian, I saw them divide half their army food among the common folks; they are all fine people, not bandits. This was truly wonderful.â
Just as the two spoke, a White Standards Troop ahead reported: âGeneral, in that patch of residential buildings ahead, there are still residents.â
Ma Xianglin rushed with pride, overjoyed: âThere are residents alive? Great! Quick, letâs go see.â
He and Zhang Fengyi hurried toward that block, while at the same time, several leaders of the Gaojia Village Militia got the news; everyone rushed toward that block.