More and more trench trucks opened the bridge deck and built a bridge for traffic on the first trench, and more and more crewmen sent the hook ladders forward.
The rockets flew into the air again and shot towards the Jiannu's trench bridge and shield carts, but the rockets that landed on the bridge were immediately kicked away and extinguished by the rushing Baoyi.
The light artillery on the Ming army's position was all loaded with shotgun shells, and the pellets rained down on the enemy. Light and heavy muskets also fired round after round, knocking the baoyi to the ground.
A black mass of thunder bombs rose from the position and smashed into the enemy. A moment later, explosions rang out one after another, and amidst the bursts of fire and rising smoke, the enemy's screams were heard continuously.
Boom, boom, boom... The artillery on the top of the city roared, and the shells flew over a hundred meters, either destroying the shield carts or smashing the Jiannu people into pieces, with blood and flesh flying everywhere.
The enemy and our side were shooting at each other frantically. The Ming army, with the support and cover of the breastwork trench, had an advantage in firearms, causing the enemy to suffer greater casualties.
However, the trench bridge still played a significant role, and the number of hook-ladder bridges continued to increase. Compared with the first attack, the Jiannu's new tactics seemed to have a good effect.
Boom, boom, boom… The cannonballs roared, and the red cannons on the city walls roared. Bigger and more powerful shells flew over the moat bridge, the shield carts, and the Jiannu and Baoyi soldiers in front, smashing into the Jiannu armored soldiers who were dispatched.
The trajectory of the shell was low and flat, like a stone jumping on the water, rising and falling continuously on the hard frozen ground, and creating a bloody alley among the Jiannu soldiers at an extremely fast speed.
Shields and heavy armor were like paper and could withstand no blow under the shells fired by the Red Cannon.
The shells pierced through the ranks of the armored soldiers before being stopped by a pile of snow. Only then did delayed screams and wails rise from the ranks of the armored soldiers.
Nurhaci gritted his teeth, and Fan Wencheng's face was also gloomy. Although they had seen the power of the cannons on the Ming army's city walls, they still felt sad.
Tong Yangxing frowned, his confidence vanishing. The Ningyuan artillery, both in power and quantity, filled him with fear.
Especially this kind of artillery with long-range and powerful impact was a nightmare that haunted him.
Another shell flew in, and Tong Yangxing's eyes narrowed involuntarily. Blood and flesh flew across the ranks of the armored soldiers, another trail of death.
"What kind of cannon is this that is so powerful?" Nurhaci asked in a deep voice, but it seemed like he was talking to himself.
Tong Yangxing didn't know. Nurhaci had asked him once before, but he couldn't figure it out and still didn't know.
Nurhaci probably knew that no one would answer, so after asking the question, he straightened his back on his horse and focused his attention on the fierce battle on the battlefield.
Under the bombardment of this powerful artillery, the officers and soldiers wearing heavy armor and holding shields were as vulnerable as paper.
Whether it was the battle-hardened Baturu or the new recruit, death was the same for all. This old slave felt that this was unfair, but there was nothing he could do.
The lieutenants Gebuku and Xitku, the captains Ubashi, Gulang'a, Bayan'a... these are just the ones Nurhaci could remember, and the number of officers killed and wounded was far more than that.
In front of the whistling artillery shells and the surging lead bullets, all lives are equal, without distinction. This made Nurhaci feel sad, but he could only console himself with the thought that "generals are bound to die in battle."
The battle continued. Although the Ming army had prepared to retreat, the counterattack with grenade carts, light artillery, light and heavy muskets, supported by artillery on the city walls, was still fierce.
There was no face-to-face fighting, only a contest of bows and arrows with firearms. The Han soldiers' bird guns became sparse, and they were obviously at a disadvantage.
Because most of the shield carts were destroyed, the bannermen and archers, without protection, suffered heavy losses under the attacks of artillery and muskets.
Fortunately, the trench was no longer an obstacle, although the bridge built with hook ladders was not stable and could not form a wide front like the trench bridge.
The armored soldiers finally rushed forward. In addition to armor, they were also equipped with shields, hoping to reduce the damage from the enemy's sharp firearms.
The temporary bridge built with hook ladders was too long and was bent into an arc by the heavily armored Jiannu soldiers, making a creaking sound.
With a snap, a hook ladder could not bear the weight and suddenly broke in the middle. Three armored soldiers fell into the trench lined with sharp stakes, and inhuman screams rang out from the bottom of the trench.
The armored soldiers did not dare to climb the ladders again, which limited the number of people in the attack. Under the continuous lead bullets fired by the Ming army, they came to a standstill again.
Armored soldiers were constantly being hit by heavy muskets, falling to the ground amidst a splatter of blood and flesh. And every roar of artillery was followed by a stream of casualties.
The muskets in the Ming army's positions fired relentlessly, like firecrackers set off during Chinese New Year. White smoke rose, growing thicker and thicker, quickly covering the front of the position. The flickering flames of the firing became less distinct.
Screams echoed around him, and the armored soldier, Muhusa, swallowed hard, his throat dry as if on fire. Niulu'ezhen barked orders, but they merely mechanically moved forward, his mind practically blank.
Valka is dead. He was an old soldier in white armor who had fought in many battles and had received rewards from the Khan.
It was this old soldier in white armor who confidently encouraged him when he was timid, "The Han dogs' firearms are not that powerful. We can just charge in and kill them like crazy. They won't even dare to turn their heads."
However, Valka, the idol and pillar in his heart, who was an expert in archery and could defeat several people in close combat, had his head smashed in right before his eyes, and the iron helmet seemed to be of no use at all.
Not only Valka, but also Harhan, who was as strong as an ox, kept telling him on the way that he wanted to rob silk and take it back to make clothes for his wife.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
