mtl008 Chapter 473 A Bloodbath Caused by an Accidental Strike
Chapter 473 A Bloodbath Caused by an Accidental Strike
Both sides had their bullets loaded and were ready to fire at any moment. The distance between them was only fifty or sixty paces, which was the optimal range for firearms. At this distance, as long as they aimed at the crowd, the hit rate could reach more than 90%, and there was almost no chance of survival if they were hit. It was a matter of life or death. Compared to the previous standoff between cold weapons, this scene was even more tense and suffocating.
Chang Kun kept urging the Shenji Battalion's adjutant to make a move. The adjutant, with a mournful face, said, "Eunuch Chang, if we really make a move, the other side will definitely not sit idly by and wait to be killed. They will definitely fight back. At that time, bullets have no eyes. We are just lowly lives and we don't care about dying. But you are a precious person. Shouldn't you hide in the back and take shelter?"
Chang Kun hesitated for a moment. He had only assumed that the other side wouldn't dare to attack, but even a cornered dog will jump over a wall. Who could guarantee that the other side wouldn't retaliate? If it really came down to a firefight, standing in front wouldn't be safe. But he also didn't want to hide in the back like a coward.
He thought for a moment, then summoned the two eunuchs who had accompanied him and had them stand in front of him as human shields. He then said to the adjutant, "Try to scare them a bit more. It would be best if they surrendered, otherwise..." He rolled his eyes a few times and made up his mind, "Otherwise, we'll shoot! But before you fire, turn around and give a warning so I can retreat to the back." Chang Kun couldn't bear the humiliation of challenging them and then hiding in front of everyone. But once the guns were fired, the loud noise would attract everyone's attention, allowing him to quietly retreat to a safe place before they could react.
Having no other option, the lieutenant general turned and shouted to the other side, "Listen up, you guys over there! You'd better surrender obediently, or we'll open fire..."
On the Qionghai Navy side, Xu Yifan asked Liu Ye for instructions: "General, it seems like the other side might open fire at any moment. How should we deal with it?" Surrendering without resistance is of course out of the question, but if the other side really makes a move, we have to find a way to deal with it. We can't just stand there and take the bullets.
Liu Ye thought for a moment: "A barking dog doesn't bite. They might not dare to fire, otherwise they wouldn't be making such a racket. It's probably just that dead eunuch bluffing. Let's hold back for now. If they're really crazy enough to attack, we'll retaliate as soon as we hear gunfire from the other side! Aren't they using slow-loading muskets? Even if they fire the first shot, we should be able to suppress it, right?"
Xu Yifan nodded: "I've seen these muskets made under the supervision of the Ministry of War. In the time it takes to fire one shot, our Patriot rifles can fire three! For those old-fashioned soldiers of the Shenji Battalion, three volleys would be enough to bring their entire battalion to a standstill."
"Then give the order: counterattack as soon as the guns fire, followed by a bayonet charge after three volleys. Remember, only attack the Shenji Battalion, and let the troops to the south escape."
"My subordinate understands."
The order was whispered down the line, from regiment to battalion, battalion to company, company to platoon, and platoon to squad. In no time, the entire army knew what to do: as soon as they heard gunfire from the other side, the whole army would open fire, firing three volleys in a row, and then charge with bayonets.
Under Xu Yifan's command, the Qionghai Navy's formation was also adjusted. The third and fourth battalions, which were at the front two corners, changed from square formations to double rows, forming a line and blocking the Imperial Guard Battalion and Liu Ye and others. The first and second battalions, which had suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Qiuyu Mountain, were placed on guard in the rear.
To the south, in front of the formations of Chihe Camp, Zhenwu Camp, and Jichuan Guard, Wang Lin couldn't help but say to Xu Hongji, "Duke of Wei, I don't know what's wrong with Chang Kun. He's so insistent on taking this so seriously. Once the fighting starts, things will get out of control. We have to find a way to stop him..."
"It's impossible to stop them now. Both sides are armed with firearms; we can't expect our soldiers to separate them with their own flesh and blood. Besides, Chang Kun insists on the noble cause of protecting the palace; nothing we say will change his mind." Xu Hongji stroked his beard, looking at Chang Kun in the distance with a puzzled expression. "I just find it strange. Given Chang Kun's opportunistic nature, when did he become such a loyal subject? Could it be that he has a grudge against this general from Guangdong? But one is in Nanjing, and the other is in Guangdong, a vast distance apart. That's impossible..."
Xu Hongji, of course, had no idea that his casual guess was actually the closest thing to the truth. If he and Wang Lin had known that this eunuch was abusing his power and using the Shenji Battalion to settle a personal score, they would have jointly ordered the recapture of command of the Shenji Battalion and then jointly petitioned the Emperor to dismiss him from his post as the garrison eunuch.
Just as the two were wondering how to handle the situation, a sharp gunshot rang out, "Bang!"
Wang Lin and Xu Hongji were shocked and looked in the direction from which the gunshot came. They saw the Shenji Battalion's adjutant jumping up and down, waving his sword and shouting hoarsely, "No order was given! Who fired the shot? Who was it?"
In the crowd, a soldier from the Divine Machine Battalion stared blankly at his musket, muzzle pointing skyward, wisps of smoke rising from it. He sweared to God, he hadn't intended to show off; it was truly an accidental discharge.
At the sound of the gunshot, Chang Kun, who had been so arrogant just moments before, immediately fled in terror, his two eunuchs struggling to keep up. Chang Kun had no idea that it was precisely this cowardly nature that had saved his life.
The already tense standoff, with soldiers armed to the teeth, had created an atmosphere as volatile as a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment. The gunshots became the fuse that ignited the crisis; the Qionghai naval soldiers, who had been prepared to fire upon receiving the order, pulled the triggers without hesitation.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Gunfire erupted, and a hail of lead bullets rained down on the Shenji Battalion. The unfortunate Shenji Battalion soldiers had not received orders and were too slow to react. At such close range, before they could even fire back, the front ranks of several hundred soldiers were instantly decimated.
Nanjing, the secondary capital of the Ming Dynasty, saw gunfire for the first time since the Jingnan Rebellion, and it was at Hongwu Gate, not far from the Forbidden City, in the heart of the city.
Wang Lin stared in disbelief, opened his arms and shouted, "No!" He seemed to see his future fate: as the Minister of War, he could not stop two armies from fighting outside the Forbidden City, he would be dismissed from his post, escorted to the capital, imprisoned in the imperial prison, and await the emperor's judgment.
Amidst the thick smoke, the Qionghai soldiers unleashed three volleys of fire without hesitation. The Shenji Battalion was completely stunned, managing only sporadic counterattacks, but they were utterly unable to stem the tide of fire from the two battalions. They suffered over half their casualties, and the soldiers in the rear turned to flee. Just as Xu Yifan had predicted, after the three volleys, the entire force collapsed.
Before they could all retreat, the Qionghai Army had already raised their rifles, brandished their gleaming bayonets, and charged forward.