Chapter 1002 Battle of Turpan

As the Mongol army swiftly surged forward, the vanguard of the Ming army fired several volleys of musket shots before orderly retreating.
Subsequently, the Battle of Turpan was included as a classic case in military academies around the world.
Its biggest highlight is not how strong the Ming army's cavalry is, nor how powerful the firearms of the Qing army are.
Instead, it perfectly demonstrates the coordinated operations of the various military units.
在短时间内将吐鲁番城围住，然后在短时间内将敌人引入包围圈打。
使得城内和城外，根本无法有任何配合，两支大军可以说被敲断了中间的连线。
This is the essence of this war.
At this moment, the army of Huhebatu is relentlessly pursuing the vanguard camp of the Ming army, like a tide.
Chase, chase on!
After chasing for two hours straight, the Mongolians themselves have gradually lost their vigilance amidst the pursuit.
Men: She truly loves me, I won't allow you all to speak ill of my precious! I will continue to pursue her!
Both sides fought fiercely, expanding the battlefield for several dozen miles in all directions.
By one o'clock in the afternoon, they were already not far from the city of Turpan.
Huohebatu ordered the entire army to halt and regroup, choosing not to charge immediately.
After a while, the first wave of reinforcements from the Ming army arrived, and the vanguard forces began to gather again.
"Report! The Ming army reinforcements have arrived, numbering about tens of thousands!"
Huhubatu laughed and said, "I knew it! This is indeed a tactic to lure the enemy, but the Ming commander clearly underestimated the situation. Even when employing such a tactic, one must consider the true strength!"
"Master, should we send someone to investigate?"
"Our army is in high spirits, and now is the best time for a decisive charge. The Ming army has been fleeing all along this route, even if it's a trap, their morale will be affected. If we hesitate any longer, it will give the Ming army a chance to rally!"
Huo He Batu pulled out his sword and exclaimed, "Spread the command, charge the entire army!"
The sound of the Mongol horn echoed, piercing the air.
A fifty thousand Mongol army began charging together, densely packed and overwhelming. From a distance, it looked like locusts sweeping through, covering the land.
The vanguard troops of the Chinese army, who had just gathered, immediately turned around and ran, causing even the reinforcements to retreat.
Although it may appear as a feigned escape, in reality, during warfare, feigning retreat is much more difficult than launching an attack.
In the era of warfare with cold weapons, attacks relied on the fervor of the entire army, charging forward with one strong and united spirit. At this time, it was the atmosphere created by the group that motivated each individual.
Every soldier's state is like having drunk several bowls of chicken blood.
But pretending to run away is the situation where the army is being chased by the enemy.
At this moment, the soldiers' psychological state is "escape", and inevitably feel a sense of frustration when running away. Please note that the use of "@" in this context is mainly to highlight or emphasize certain phrases or concepts. It does not have a specific meaning in English.
Most ordinary armies cannot withstand repeated feigned retreats.
Because after feigning retreat multiple times, the army may no longer pretend, revealing their true intention to escape the battle. I really want to flee, I no longer wish to fight. Whoever wants to fight can go ahead and fight.
所以，佯装逃跑，其实是对一支部队心理素质最大的考验。
Obviously, the Ming army withstood such a test.
They retreated all the way and entered the gently sloping sand dune ahead.
在沙坡下面列着10个空心方阵，错落而列，每个空心方阵中都安排有2门火炮，前面还摆放着2门威武大将军炮。
When the retreating Ming army descended the hill, they dispersed like separate streams of water, flowing rapidly in different directions from the hollow square where spies were placed.
As the musketeers watched their own people pass by, it meant that the enemy was approaching quickly.
Sure enough, when the Ming cavalry just passed through the hollow square formation, the Mongolians rushed over.
他们到了沙坡那里，一看这是个沙坡，更加高兴。
骑兵从斜坡上冲下去，那只会加大骑兵的威力。
Without further ado, the Mongolian cavalry starts charging furiously.
As they reach the top of the hill and take a closer look.
Huh?
Are those Ming troops ahead?
Suddenly, there are so many infantrymen, and they are forming square formations? Please let me know if there's anything else I can help you with!
再一看，自己之前追逐的那些明军骑兵都已经穿过了那些步兵方阵，蒙古骑兵就更加放肆起来。
"Charge! Charge!"
The Mongolian cavalry charged like a roaring torrent, quickly covering the long sand dune, and roaring down below.
The Ming military officer commanded, "Fire!"
The soldiers in the hollow square immediately lit the fuses.
Boom boom...
Twenty red barbarian cannons roared angrily, firing iron shells that cut through the air and smashed towards the Mongolian cavalry on the sand dune.
Boom boom boom... Replying to the translated content.
Every iron cannon can knock down a large area, even smashing flesh and blood. The ones behind are tripped by the ones in front, people are thrown upside down, and the cavalry above charges down, smashing into the front, causing bloody heads and brains splattering.
Some of them, when thrown off, are twisted by the horses coming from behind, their bodies contorted.
Others are instantly flattened into a thin meat patty.
The more people and horses pile up.
The horses behind quickly changed directions, and a small-scale chaos has already emerged.
From high above, it looks like between two rivers, suddenly twenty gigantic stone pillars have appeared, separating the water flow.
Although the charge of tens of thousands of troops will not have a significant impact, this scene greatly inspires the Ming army.
"Hurry!"
After the artillery in the middle cools down their cannons, they quickly launch the second wave.
每一颗下去，都能撕出一条长达十几米的血痕。
Hundreds of Mongolian cavalrymen were killed or injured, yet the army still formed an unstoppable tide of onslaught, displaying an invincible momentum.
直到进入1000米范围，明军启动了威武大将军炮。
明军的空心方阵之间相互间隔200米，一共10个，前面有6个并列，加上空心方阵本身宽200米，6个横列的空心方阵，有近5里的宽度。
The Mongolian army wave stretches out horizontally for 6 li.
Flames gush out of the cannon muzzles as 12 iron cannons in the front row detonate amidst the Mongolian cavalry charge, creating a horizontal shockwave of metal. Please note that the translation provided is a literal translation of the original Chinese passage and may not convey the exact intended meaning.
The cavalrymen hit by the attack, like the leaves swept up by the autumn wind, flew off their horses and landed behind.
Each impact could throw approximately 3 to 4 cavalrymen, spaced two to three hundred meters apart. Nearly forty front-line cavalrymen were blasted away, causing the riders behind to be knocked down.
After the first wave of cannons, the Ming army immediately began the second wave.
From this distance, the Ming artillerymen have a full minute to fire.
At a rate of 1 cannon every 10 seconds, each mighty general's cannon can fire 6 shots.
This is enough to create a tremendous deterrent force against the charging frenzy of the Mongol army ahead.
With every wave of cannon fire, dozens of people fall down in front, and even the war horses slide on the ground, leaving behind trails of blood.
Mongolians still didn't believe that just a dozen cannons could stop their cavalry onslaught.
It was not until they closed the distance to a hundred meters that the previously startled warhorses encountered a dense barrage of musket fire.
And then, the most important duel between the two sides began.