Chapter 800: Feigned Attack

Latest URL: "Boom, boom, boom..."

The river water trembled as the Artillery fired in unison.

The bombardment lasted for half an hour before gradually subsiding.

Prolonged bombardment would cause the barrels of the Naval Cannon to overheat; if forced to continue firing, it would easily lead to a burst barrel.

Therefore, in recent battles, he generally only allowed the Artilleryman and the navy to conduct artillery fire for half an hour—that is, one hour—then pause for half an hour before continuing the bombardment.

Of course, this was also because the steel for these Naval Cannon was a product of the Crucible Steel era.

If steel refined by a Converter were used, the effect would be even better.

But this was only primary Weapon steel.

With the upgrading of firearms and Artillery, it would be necessary to develop specialized cannon steel and gun barrel steel.

"Take this opportunity to immediately feign a beach landing," Zhao Xu said to Chang Wei.

"The subordinate was just thinking the same," Chang Wei said, and immediately issued the order.

Before long, over a hundred small boats, carrying a total of more than two thousand soldiers, headed toward the opposite side of the river.

Chang Wei stared at the boats on the river while shaking his head.

What he thought of, Yan Wang was always able to think of a step ahead.

As a disciple taught by Yan Wang, he feared he would never surpass this master.

Zhao Xu did not notice Chang Wei's resentful expression, but instead focused on the river surface.

When these small boats carrying soldiers crossed the center of the river and were only five or six hundred meters from Niu Tou Tan, the soldiers sitting in the boats immediately leaned over and lay flat against the boats.

This was to prevent being wiped out in a row by Cannonball.

And just as they lay down, bursts of fire and white smoke rose from Niu Tou Tan on the opposite side.

One after another, Cannonball flew toward the troop-carrying small boats in the river.

"Did you remember the active Fort?" Zhao Xu said at this moment, speaking very quickly.

The purpose of this feigned attack was to record the Fort that had not yet been destroyed,

so that they could focus their bombardment during the next shelling.

Otherwise, when truly crossing the river, these Fort would pose a serious threat to the crossing boats.

"Only remembered thirty percent." While crossing the river, Chang Wei had thirty-six soldiers watch the opposite side.

Spread out before them was the map of the Fort scouted by the Hot Air Balloon Troop during this short time.

"Continue observing, be quick!" Zhao Xu said urgently.

Every bit of time delayed added to the threat faced by the soldiers conducting the feigned attack.

During the previous bombardment, most of the Solid Shot fell into the river water, splashing up clusters of spray.

But they could not always be this lucky.

"Yes, Your Highness." The thirty-six soldiers broke into a sweat; they were all people with good memories from their respective armies.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

Two minutes after the first round of bombardment ended, cannon fire sounded from Niu Tou Tan again.

In Zhao Xu's Telescope, these Cannonball landed near the small boats.

Two of the small boats were hit by Cannonball; one was struck on the side, causing the small boat to capsize directly.

The second one hit the bow, shattering the small boat, which took on water and gradually sank into the river.

The soldiers were swept eastward by the turbulent river water.

"Immediately have the Steamship go to the rescue," Zhao Xu said sternly.

The river was very swift, and these soldiers would soon be swept out of the range of Niu Tou Tan.

They could not hold on in the river for long.

Only the Steamship could save them.

Upon hearing this, Chang Wei immediately relayed the order.

He then turned his head and said urgently: "Did you remember them all this time?"

If they could not record all the artillery positions, there would be more casualties later.

Because they were getting closer and closer to the opposite bank.

"Remembered them all." The thirty-six soldiers were each responsible for different areas and said in unison at this moment.

Chang Wei nodded and immediately ordered the soldiers to use Flag Language to signal the feigned-attack soldiers to withdraw, while simultaneously delivering the Fort map into Zhao Xu's hands.

"There are still two hundred and sixty artillery positions alive," Zhao Xu said, "We must conduct another round of bombardment."

Dropping the map, he continued to look at the river surface.

At this time, the small boats began to turn around to retreat, but the opposite side clearly did not want to let the feigned-attack soldiers go just like that.

The sound of cannons was constant, and Cannonball chased after the soldiers' boats.

Three more boats were hit and capsized in the river, and it was unclear how many soldiers were casualties.

Seeing this scene, although Zhao Xu felt pained, he could only harden his heart.

War is just this cruel; a commander on the battlefield must consider the overall situation and exchange the smallest price for the greatest victory.

However, this could not avoid a portion of the soldiers becoming that smallest price.

But the rise of a country always requires a group of people to shed their blood and sacrifice their lives.

In the cruel jungle of the world, there is nothing that can be easily obtained without paying a price.

His heart also held this same realization.

If he failed in the end in his confrontation with the Western Lands, Da Song would enter a desperate situation.

He would not choose to live in disgrace; perhaps he would be like Chongzhen, a monarch dying for his state.

Although he did not approve of Chongzhen's ability as a ruler, he could not help but admire his resolve.

"Boom, boom, boom..." The artillery on the opposite bank was still bombarding.

However, the small boats used for the feint had basically passed the center of the river, and their cannonballs could only land in the river water.

Meanwhile, the steamships caught up with the soldiers who had fallen into the water, throwing ropes into the river to rescue the soldiers one by one.

Yet there were still some soldiers who would never return.

"This King will make you pay a heavy price." The river surface calmed down, but Zhao Xu clenched his fists tightly.

Originally, the internal strife of the Great Song should have been easy to end.

But it was precisely because of the intervention of these foreign countries that the war became complicated.

And those killing each other at this moment were all fellow Song People.

They, however, only needed to pay a meager price.

After all the soldiers went ashore, another two quarter-hours passed.

The Sailing Warships adjusted their positions again, and the location map of the remaining Forts was handed over to the navy's Artillerymen.

This time, they would focus their bombardment.

"Boom, boom, boom..." Before long, the Sailing Warships bombarded Niu Tou Tan again.

This bombardment also lasted for half an hour.

Once the bombardment ended, Zhao Xu ordered another feint.

But compared to last time, he had Large Troop Transports participate in this feint.

Because if he sent small forces again, the Western Lands generals on the opposite side would likely see through his strategy and adopt a deceptive tactic, letting only a portion of the Forts fire while hiding the others.

But with nearly ten thousand people crossing the river at once this time, they would not be able to conceal it.

Otherwise, if these ten thousand people landed on the mudflats, they would be in trouble.

Sure enough, the opposite side bombarded again, compared to last time.

This time, only ninety-six of the remaining Forts were left.

In the time that followed, Zhao Xu ordered the Sailing Warships to conduct two more bombardments on Niu Tou Tan.

By this time, the sun was slanting to the west, and a day had passed.

Zhao Xu ordered a ceasefire, and the next day, he repeated the bombardment and feint.

When only thirty-some Forts remained on the opposite side, he ordered a full-scale river crossing.

Clearly, the locations of these remaining thirty Forts were too hidden and tricky.

At the same time, it was difficult to clear them with bombardment.

He could no longer let these thirty Forts delay the war effort.

At this moment, early morning had just passed; it was the Chen hour, nine o'clock.

Under his command, the Troop Transport Ships and hundreds of small and medium-sized boats charged toward Niu Tou Tan.

The entire river surface was packed with boats, vast and mighty, with an imposing momentum.