Twelve miles south of Rufeng Mountain.

In the camp of the Ming army, almost everyone talked and laughed, and it took less than three days to overcome the Tashan defense line that Jianyu had painstakingly managed, and it was no wonder that everyone's mentality was quite relaxed.

Moreover, the battle seemed to be tragic, with more than 1,400 dead and wounded, but the vast majority of them were Japanese soldiers, and the Ming army suffered less than 60 casualties.

The Northern Expeditionary Army was not worried about the few fortresses in front of them, and some people were even discussing whether the troops could arrive in Shenyang before the first month.

However, Zhu Linmiao, Zhang Jiayu and other high-level generals were discussing on a low mountain overlooking Songshan at this time, and several of them frowned slightly.

"This Haoge has plagued a circle in Sichuan and Shaanxi, but he has learned to build a fortress." Zhu Linmiao shook his head and said, "This time, the information in Beizhen is also a little slow, so that we can't prepare for this early. ”

Zhang Jiayu continued: "Your Majesty, the thief has been planning for a long time, and he is bound to do a lot of cover-ups. Besides, there are quite a few surprises in this, if it weren't for the success of Hauge's coup, with Dorgon's habits, most of them would have faced off with our army. ”

"Yes, the manpower of the Jinyi Guard sent to Liaodong was also a little insufficient." Zhu Linmiao raised the telescope again, "Although these fortresses are not densely built, they are all stuck in critical places, and most of them can support each other. This place is very close to Jinzhou, and it is very convenient for the thief army to replenish grain, grass and weapons. ”

Deng Shan still said with a grin: "Your Majesty, we broke Baitai Mountain in two or three days, and now we are still painting gourds, and this Songshan thief is a matter of a few days." ”

Zhu Linmiao shook his head secretly, it was indeed very neat to take the Baitai Mountain Fortress, but after he learned afterwards, there was a great deal of accident. If it weren't for the accidental explosion of nitrocellulose carried by the Uesugi army, a large amount of rocks and mud were raised to cover a battlement on the fortress, which weakened the enemy's firepower there, and the Shimazu family would probably not be able to approach the fortress smoothly.

Even after the Ming army stormed the inner wall of the fortress, there was a certain element of luck. If the Jianyu had not lost their morale due to the explosion, the Ming army was afraid that they would have to pay a few hundred men to take the fortress.

Yu Xin also said on the side: "General Deng is afraid that he doesn't know, after the battle of Baitai Mountain, the Japanese soldiers have been frightened, and no one dares to bomb the city." If our army goes to ......"

Just kidding, although the Japanese have the spirit of being stunned, but they are not careful when they touch a basket of things on their backs, and they don't even have scum left with more than 100 people around them.

Deng Shan patted his chest, "If you rely on the Japanese soldiers, I'll take people there." I did it once in the city of Nanjing, and I am familiar with it. ”

Zhu Linmiao raised his hand to stop and said, "No, the casualties are too great." ”

He pointed to the mountains in the distance, "To pass through the Matsuyama line, you must take at least the two largest fortresses, and the smaller one on the west side." According to the casualties on Baitai Mountain, I am afraid that at least four or five thousand soldiers will be lost. ”

Zhang Jiayu agreed: "The saint sees it clearly. The thieves in Baitai Mountain did not know that our army would bomb the city with nitrocellulose in order to break through it quickly, while the enemy in Songshan would be on guard, and the casualties would definitely be greater. ”

As he was talking, a summons soldier galloped over and whispered a few words in Yu Xin's ear. The latter hurriedly turned to Zhu Linmiao and said, "Your Majesty, it is reported that those two forty-two-pounder cannons are close to Yongping Mansion and will definitely arrive within a month. ”

Zhu Linmiao nodded, "There is only this way now." However, it was cast less at the beginning, and there were six or seven doors that could be used. ”

The structure of the fort is very suitable for defending against artillery bombardment, and although the 42-pounder cannon is amazingly powerful, it may take half a month of continuous bombardment to tear through the outer wall of the fort by relying on two cannons.

Speaking of heavy artillery, he instructed Yu Xindao: "Take precautions and order the Ordnance Bureau to cast three more 42-pounder cannons in advance, even if you can't catch up with the battle in Liaodong, you can also use it as a fortress cannon in the future."

"Also, cast five sixty-pounder mortars."

Bombarding a fixed fortification like a fortress can be more lethal with a mortar that can be fired in a curved way. Anyway, now that the Ming Dynasty is no longer short of copper, it doesn't cost much silver to build these giant cannons.

"Yes!"

"By the way, the Ministry of Engineering said a few days ago that the long-rod boring drill has been used, and they can use this thing to make mortars."

Daming's metallurgical and finishing technology has made great progress in the past six months, with the help of refined high-carbon steel and precision measuring instruments, Zhu Linmiao's 'peak' scientific research plan in the earliest breakthrough is the boring drilling rig.

He asked the Ordnance Bureau to use the newly made boring drill to make mortars, in fact, he also had a long-term plan. Because the nineteenth-century naval "artifact" Caron cannon needed to be manufactured with boring and drilling technology. This gun was airtight, lightweight, and could even be deployed on an open deck, and at the same time had extremely strong firepower, which changed the pattern of naval warfare of that era as soon as it appeared.

This opportunity to manufacture large-caliber mortars will allow the Ordnance Bureau to practice first and familiarize itself with boring and drilling techniques.

Subsequently, Zhu Linmiao discussed with several generals and decided on the basic strategy of waiting for the 42-pounder cannon to arrive before launching a general attack.

When the group returned to the camp of the Ming army, Zhu Linmiao was about to order Zhang Jiayu to gather officers to hold a meeting of the staff department to study the details of the operation, when he suddenly saw Zhao Shichao with more than a dozen hussars coming.

"Your Majesty," Zhao Shichao stepped forward to salute, but his expression was a little strange, and his voice was very low, "There is a Tartar who came to ask to see him, and he is still a woman." ”

"Oh?" Zhu Linmiao raised her eyebrows, "Do you know what she wants to do?" ”

"The last general asked, but she said that she must pay homage to the Holy One."

Zhu Linmiao nodded, "Take her to our camp." ”

"Yes!"

The temporary camp of the Son of Heaven next to Songshan.

Shi Lin led all the soldiers of the imperial camp as if they were facing a great enemy, with arrows ready and loaded with bullets, as long as there was a slight change in the people, it would immediately be very original.

Zhu Linmiao looked quite relaxed, looking up and down at the woman in front of her who was slightly dark-skinned, but her eyebrows were delicate and handsome, and her lines were as strong as a little female leopard, "Who are you?" ”

The woman stepped forward and knelt down, "The maiden is the Jurchen of the East China Sea, Arjuna, the daughter of the Varkha tribe Qitai. Long live our Emperor. ”

East China Sea Jurchen? Zhu Linmiao's heart moved, isn't this a savage Jurchen? The woman called him Banzai, and he was suddenly reminded of something. In history, there is a branch of savage Jurchens, who are very loyal to the Ming Dynasty, until after the Jianyu entered the customs, they still secretly worship the orthodoxy of the Ming Dynasty, but they have a lot of disagreements with the Jianzhou Jurchens.

Is this the one she is?

"Flat." He raised his hand and said, "Jianyu is fortified layer by layer on the front line of Songshan, and you should have something important to venture south through here, so let's say it." ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Arjuna didn't get up, and kowtowed, "The people's daughter is guilty of capital crimes, and she was forced by thieves to assassinate Your Majesty many times...... It was I who kidnapped the current Tang King and sent him to Huguang. More than half a year ago, I was the one who plotted to save Hauge from his predicament and help him become a thief chieftain......"