GBP Chapter 754 A Clash of Iron and Blood (New)
Chapter 754 A Clash of Iron and Blood (New)
Dartu, a high-ranking officer from Bayala, wiped the sand from his face and spat in disgust. The sand here had a fishy smell of oysters and seaweed, which the hunter from the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region found very unpleasant.
The incident happened suddenly, and even with Darteau's extensive combat experience, it was difficult to make a decision in an instant. After all, encountering a large ship capable of firing cannons in the field was an unprecedented experience.
While he hesitated, Hauge's order was relayed: Chase after them and kill them all!
Having received the order, Dartu knew what to do. He quickly grasped his master's intention: as long as they engaged the enemy infantry, they wouldn't be afraid of their artillery fire. He raised his long-handled axe high and shouted, "Warriors, keep charging!"
The Qing army was strictly disciplined. Even though they had an inexplicable fear of the large ships on the sea, they dared not disobey once the order was given. They charged forward with howls, and the large cavalry, which had slowed down, began to charge again. The horses' hooves flew, and mud and sand were splashed everywhere.
However, the opportunity to win is fleeting. The two armies, which can be said to be the strongest on this continent, represent the highest level of firearms and cold weapons respectively. Their personnel quality and battlefield discipline are first-class. The outcome is often decided by the slightest margin.
In the shortest possible time, Boerhu led his marines to form a line on the beach, two thin rows stretching out in a single file, the long line resembling a thin thread. This was the "thin red line" formation, a tactic that had repeatedly proven effective by the Qionghai Navy. This thin, long formation, with its strict discipline and fearless determination, held its ground to the death. Historically, the 93rd Highland Guards Regiment of Scotland used this seemingly "blunt" tactic to defeat a Russian heavy cavalry force several times their size, gaining fame in one battle. The thin line, like a narrow dike, prepared to withstand the tidal wave of Qing cavalry charges.
The Qing army attempted a full-scale charge, but the increasingly soft ground slowed them down, and the vast sea ahead instilled fear in their inland horses. Even their masters' desperate kicks to the flanks could not rouse these large, intelligent animals. In truth, the Qing soldiers also harbored a natural aversion to the sea, but due to strict military discipline, they dared not show it.
Their opponents were entirely different. The marines were handpicked by Li Fei. While their hand-to-hand combat skills might be slightly weaker than the Qing army and even weaker than his own special forces, their overall abilities were second to none. Most importantly, they were the only amphibious force in this timeline, capable of surviving both mountainous terrain and deep-sea combat. Coastal warfare was their forte. Because they were so close to the sea, the soldiers were almost entirely standing in the water. The rising tide repeatedly washed over their legs, and many were soaked to the waist, but not a single one wavered. Everyone was a strong swimmer; if absolutely necessary, they could jump into the sea and swim back to the warship even without a sampan.
This was something the Qing army could never match. Most of them were hunters by trade and could not swim; entering rivers or lakes would be certain death, let alone the sea. Even if these armored soldiers could swim, their heavy armor would become their death knell, turning them into weights in the water.
Seeing that his opponent had run into the range of the rifled gun, Bor raised his sword and slashed down with force.
"Fire!"
"Da da da!" The long, narrow line of soldiers opened fire, bullets whizzing towards the surging tide of Qing cavalry.
"Boom boom boom..."
Just then, the naval guns, having undergone test firing and had their firing angles calibrated, opened fire, as if by prior arrangement. Huge shells, whistling through the air, flew over the heads of the marines and rained down on the Qing troops.
A moment's hesitation cost the Qing army the best opportunity to engage in a protracted battle with their opponents, and the consequence was that they had to endure a barrage of cannon fire and bullets with their own flesh and blood.
In a clash of iron and blood, the Qing cavalry, virtually unchallenged across the continent, finally encountered their strongest enemy ever. Before they could even launch an attack, they were met with a barrage of cannon fire and volleys of bullets. Dartu, the First Baturu of the Plain Blue Banner and the Bayala Banner Commander, was struck in the chest by a solid iron ball weighing approximately 30 jin (about 15 catties). His entire upper body shattered into pieces like a smashed watermelon, blood, flesh, and bone raining down on the beach. His lower body continued forward with his warhorse, its legs gripping him tightly, preventing it from falling—a truly grotesque sight. Moments later, his long-handled axe spun in the air and fell, embedding itself deeply in the sand.
The other armors were not spared either. No matter how sturdy the armor was, it could not withstand such powerful kinetic energy. In the face of the roaring giant cannonballs, the chainmail that could usually withstand arrows was torn to pieces like paper. It was as fragile as a child's toy. Limbs and bits of flesh, mixed with blood, flew through the air. The once invincible Qing cavalry became objects to be slaughtered at will.
"No!" Haug screamed hysterically from behind, completely losing his previous composure. This scene was completely unexpected. The slaughter he had anticipated had turned into being slaughtered, and the huge psychological gap was something he simply could not accept.
Unlike Abatai and others, he was not only heartbroken for the elite soldiers of the Plain Blue Banner, but also because his father, in order to balance the power with the two White Banners, would never sit idly by and watch his Plain Blue Banner be weakened too much. He would definitely try to find ways to replenish the Plain Blue Banner with Niru from other banners. More importantly, a victory that was within his grasp had turned into a major defeat, which would be a fatal blow to his reputation. He might lose the support of the Manchu nobles, and even more terrifyingly, he might lose his father's trust.
In a moment of impulsiveness, Hauge lost his senses and brandished his weapon, wanting to rush into the battlefield, completely disregarding the one-sided situation. His trusted confidants desperately stopped him, advising, "Master, you are of inestimable worth; you must not venture into such dangerous territory." Hauge was their master and their commander. If they failed to protect him and he died on the battlefield, even if they returned to Shengjing, they would hardly survive.
After struggling for a while, Hauge regained some of his senses and hissed, "Quick, get Dartu to lead the Bayara troops back down..." The entire Zhenglan Banner only had about four hundred Bayara troops—the elite of the elite. To have them die in the artillery fire like this would be more painful than cutting off his own flesh.
Some people closed their eyes in unbearable pain and said with difficulty, "Master, they probably won't come back..." Such fierce artillery fire was something no one had ever seen in their lives. Anyone with eyes could see that Dartu and Bayara, who were at the forefront, could not survive.
Haug felt dizzy and nearly fell off his horse. Had he known his opponent was so ruthless, he would have sent all those Bayara to their deaths.