Cromwell has been entangled with Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and others for many years in South America. Raimondo also experienced a great victory in the Indian Campaign and first won and then lost in the Central and Southern Campaign. In short, these two current Spanish American military

The supreme commander of the force is actually very familiar with the Ming Army.

Therefore, when the Ming and Yin coalition forces arrived at the battlefield that night, they did not even touch the terrain and directly launched a night battle. Although it was unexpected by the two of them, they were not particularly panicked in the face of such a battle situation.

Only twenty minutes after the artillery fire of the Ming-India coalition began, the Spanish artillery counterattack came.

Whether they are soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, Indians, or Spaniards, they all like 75mm guns: on the land battlefield, unless it is a fixed fortress that the enemy has poured reinforced concrete in advance, ordinary field fortifications can be solved with 75mm guns. The key is

Yes, this gun is very light. The gun body and frame together only weigh about one ton. With two rubber tires, it can be transferred quickly. The weight of the shells varies depending on the warheads installed, but in the end

It only weighs six or seven kilograms - a wheelbarrow can hold a basic number of artillery shells. In short, when the artillery skills of both sides are not bad, whether the artillery positions can be transferred quickly or not will determine how long the artillery can survive.

key.

In the artillery battle that night, the battle only lasted for more than two hours. After both sides experienced several rounds of all-out shelling, everyone's 105mm guns, especially the 150 heavy guns, suffered heavy losses due to the inconvenience of transfer. Only a large number of 75mm guns

Company, survived.

However, although the artillery battle was back-and-forth, the artillery fire from both sides continued for five or six hours. When the Ming army launched an infantry charge, the Spanish soldiers on the front line felt the pressure.

Barrage advance, infantry and artillery coordination, this is the racial talent of Han soldiers. As the Indian soldiers who were taught by the generals of the Ming Dynasty, they also did a good job at this point. In addition, now with telephone technology, with the Ming seal

As the soldiers advanced, the telephone lines also extended. With direct contact between the front-line commander and the artillery chief, Ming's infantry and artillery coordination tactics became even more perfect.

At the same time, according to the Ming Dynasty's field division organization, mortars were equipped to the platoon. If you really encounter any unavoidable machine gun firing point, Jaguar can just go up and take a bite.

Therefore, with the assistance of artillery, the Ming army's attack was generally very smooth. The infantry charge was launched at 4 o'clock in the morning on the 22nd. By 7 o'clock in the morning, when the morning light was getting brighter, the leading troops of the Ming army had already broken into the Spanish territory.

The defense line is about three kilometers.

Of course, as an old rival of the Ming Army, generals like Raimondo would not foolishly lay down only one line of defense when building a defense line. In fact, when the Ming Army stayed in Quito to alleviate altitude sickness,

Raimundo built three lines of defense in the Sibat Mountain area, and each line of defense was a complex defense system consisting of permanent turrets, solid machine gun points, and trenches.

But with such a defense system, although the enemy bombarded it for six hours, the enemy's infantry only charged for three hours and rushed three kilometers, almost penetrating the first line of defense. Its combat effectiveness and

Raimondo and Cromwell were still a little stunned by their fighting will.

"Hey, it's too noisy over there, please be louder!"

"Reinforcements have been sent, your department must hold on until the reinforcements arrive!"

"Hey, what? You are an Indian, and you have already breached this fort? Damn it!"

About fifteen kilometers behind Spain's first line of defense, in this battle, at the headquarters of the Spanish American Legion, the phones were ringing non-stop, and the staff officers responsible for various tasks were issuing orders to their subordinate units at the top of their lungs.

Or he tried his best to cheer up his comrades who were under siege by the enemy, or he rustled down various notes with pencils, written on discarded papers, and various battle maps. Cigarette butts of different lengths were thrown everywhere...smoke.

Surrounded by the dim lights, the entire headquarters was noisy and busy, but overall it still showed a unique order amid busyness.

Next to the noisy headquarters hall, the commander's office, which is isolated by double-layer glass, is quite quiet. It seems to be two different worlds from the hall outside.

"Report, Your Excellencies, in accordance with your instructions, the Operations Section of the General Staff Department has compiled various battle reports as of 6:30 this morning."

"Read it."

"Yes, as of now, among the 30,000 people in the 11th Division (Casti Division) and 12th Division (mainly composed of native whites, mixed-races, and black slaves) arranged by our army on the first line of defense,

40% of the troops have lost contact. Among the remaining 60% of the troops who can still be contacted, the number of casualties reported has exceeded 5,000.

Before this battle, our army concentrated all the eight artillery regiments of the eight divisions of the Sibat First Corps (referring to the main force consisting of eight divisions blocking the road) on the front line. After fighting with the rebels

After the six-hour artillery battle, according to the battle losses reported by each artillery regiment, we have currently lost more than 80% of the 150-guns, more than 70% of the 105-guns, and 30% of the 75-guns. Now, the rebels'

The artillery fire has extended to our army's second line of defense. Our army's artillery is desperately firing blindly at the rebels who rush behind our first line of defense, hoping to block the enemy's subsequent offensive forces."

"If you calculate it this way." Cromwell did a little mental calculation: "The casualties on this front line have exceeded 10,000?"

"It is certain that it will exceed 10,000. Although not all of the 40% of the troops who lost contact were definitely killed. But after being cut and surrounded by the enemy, they either died in battle or surrendered. It can basically be regarded as a permanent loss."

With the cigarette butt in his hand, Raimondo stood up, blew out the smoke in his mouth, and then walked to the force allocation chart: "Your Excellency, what I want is to move all three divisions on the second line forward.

Fight back and forth with the rebels on the first front!"

"Hiss~ Raimondo, are you being too aggressive in doing this? Although our losses are heavy tonight, I believe the enemy's losses will be even greater. At this time, shouldn't we take advantage of the situation and give up the first line of defense?

, and then let the enemy continue to bleed a lot on the second line of defense?"

"There are two reasons why we cannot do this. First, the rebels' progress tonight is too fast, completely beyond our expectations. If we don't resist them at this time, then the first-line infantry can be withdrawn quickly.

, but what about our artillery? If we lose all the artillery of the First Corps on the first night, then there will be no need to fight the rest of the war at all.

Second, according to the intelligence from our spies lurking among the rebels, since the Chinese were impatient to send away a large amount of gold and silver before the war, the Indian soldiers in the opposing army actually had doubts in their hearts.

Under such circumstances, if the opponent only attacks one night and seizes a line of defense, then, stimulated by this partial victory, the doubts of these soldiers will be reduced or dispelled, and the efforts of our spies some time ago will be in vain.

On the contrary, if we defend the first line of defense tonight, no matter how much we pay, it will eventually make the enemy think: 'We have sacrificed so much, but still gained nothing. What are these Chinese people planning?'

Once the Indian soldiers have such an idea, the balance of victory will quickly tilt towards us. After all, unlike the troops in our hands, which are mostly European natives, the rebels on the opposite side are only Indians.

He is the main force."

"...Your opinion is very correct, but I still have a doubt. If you do this, the first line of defense may be able to be defended, but our second line of defense will be empty."

"It doesn't matter. We can ask the Second Corps (the five divisions guarding the gap in the north) to send two divisions over."

"With such a deployment, the strength of the Second Corps will be..."

"Yes, but it doesn't matter, Your Excellency." Raimundo explained patiently after taking a look at Cromwell, who had been in America for many years and had been fattened by the life of a 'Turk Emperor' and had a big fat chin.

Said: "The rebel artillery tonight is very fierce. According to the reports from the front line, I can be sure that the opponent has concentrated at least ten artillery regiments tonight. In addition, the enemy commander arrived at the front line and immediately after the trenches were built,

Launch a night battle... In short, based on various intelligence, I can deduce that the rebels are in front of my first corps, with at least ten divisions of troops. If calculated this way, the opponent's troops walking through the gap will not exceed three.

I'll leave three divisions there, that's enough."

"...Okay, let's follow your advice."

And on the other side.

"Reporting to the commander of the army, as of seven o'clock this morning, the number of casualties in our army has exceeded 6,000, and the number of wounded is tens of thousands."

"Brothers, thank you for your hard work. Have our wounded been properly placed?"

"All have been evacuated, and the field hospital is currently in generally good order."

"That's fine. How long does it take to take down the opponent's first line of defense?"

"The enemy's first line of defense has been penetrated and divided by our troops. Although there are still many small-scale enemy troops persisting in fighting. But they are all in separate formations and will not pose a serious obstacle to us. If there are another two hours...

"

"Report~! Legion commander, the Western thieves have mobilized fresh troops from the rear to launch a counterattack against our army!"

"Ah?" After hearing the news, Li Zicheng, who hadn't closed his eyes for a whole day and his eyes were red, was stunned for a moment, and then quickly turned into ecstasy. He slapped his thigh fiercely: "Great! Call the class, the notification is now
Chapter completed!