I

"The iron artillery team moves forward!"

Seeing that his cavalry was being chased, Matsuura Shigenobu made a prompt decision and ordered the fire rifle soldiers to come forward to respond.

The Matsuura family was the first local feudal lord to equip muskets during the Warring States Period in Japan.

At the beginning, there were only two or three hundred people in the iron artillery team, but now it has grown to as many as eight hundred people.

He even learned Nobunaga's three-step attack.

“Woooooooo~~~”

Yuan Shizhong blew the trumpet to stop the pursuit. The dragoons retreated to the flank of the battlefield and loaded ammunition very skillfully on horseback.

Matsuura Shigenobu took charge of the flag and took command of the central army. Let your own spearmen and gunmen serve as the front army to slowly press forward, and let the Shimazu family's troops line up on the two wings.

Suddenly the flag waved, and six small Franco cannons were launched from the Matsuura family's position. This thing is an old thing. It was bought from the Portuguese for a lot of money decades ago. It is usually installed on sea ships. Because the caliber is relatively small, it can also be disassembled for land operations.

Li Dingguo smiled and said: "Drag them all out and let the Japanese see what artillery is."

Twenty-five artillery pieces slowly appeared.

"There are so many big barrels (artillery)?"

Including Matsuura Shigenobu, the expressions of the nobles of the Hirado and Satsuma clans all changed dramatically.

Especially the Satsuma clan's army. They didn't want to save the governor and were ready to run away at any time. Seeing the Datong Army launch twenty-five artillery pieces, the morale of the army immediately fluctuated, and there were already signs of fleeing without a fight.

Just as the Datong artillery was loading cannonballs, the dragoons finished changing their ammunition and began to circle towards the enemy's side and rear.

The dragoon's move around the rear made Matsuura Shigenobu afraid to retreat. Once he retreated, he might collapse and be chased by the dragoon.

At this point, we can only bite the bullet and fight.

Shimazu Tsunahisa reminded: "We can't wait for Tang Bing's big cannon to be fired, quickly kill the entire army!"

Matsuura Shigenobu was still hesitant. Although he was extremely capable in internal affairs, he had only participated in quelling the Shimabara Rebellion and did not have very rich actual command experience.

After hearing Shimazu Tsunahisa's suggestion, Matsuura Shigenobu also reacted. The morale of our own coalition forces was unstable. If they were bombarded by twenty-five artillery pieces, the battle would no longer be fought. The entire army would have to rush forward and fight in close combat.

"Advance the entire army!"

Due to the large number of civilians mixed in, the 20,000 coalition troops advanced very slowly and their formations were uneven.

"Boom boom boom!"

After only marching for more than ten steps, the first round of artillery fire from the Datong Army began, and all of them were fired at the Matsuura family's army - the military appearance was more orderly, and at first glance they were the main force of the coalition forces.

Iron bullets roared out and transformed into calf terminators.

Iron bullets bounced off the ground, breaking off calves along the way and plowing alleys of flesh and blood among the coalition forces.

"Hatata Samurai, step forward to suppress the battle!"

After the first round of shelling, the Matsuura family's former army troops became a little unable to hold on. Matsuura Shigenobu released the Hatamoto samurai. These samurai raised their swords forward, chopped down the scattered soldiers, and then led the front army to charge together.

The joining of the Hatamoto samurai greatly boosted the morale of the former army, and they even continued to charge forward despite the artillery fire.

Yuan Shizhong led the dragoons, bypassing the enemy formations with archers and musketeers, and did not choose to shoot, but charged towards the enemy's civilian troops.

How could the Japanese farmers dare to face the charge of a thousand cavalry and the roar of horse hooves?

"Run away!"

The civilians threw away their weapons, turned around and fled collectively. Some even panicked and fled towards Matsuura Shigenobu's banner troops.

Matsuura Shigenobu quickly directed the response: "Lancers, iron cannons, and archers, stop the Tang people's horse-mounted iron cannons!"

The order was issued smoothly, but the corresponding troops seemed a little confused. Because after Yuan Shizhong defeated a group of civilians, he continued to make a detour, completely causing chaos to the enemy's blocking troops.

Matsuura Shigenobu could only command Hatamoto's own soldiers to form a formation to block the attack, and at the same time, he also put the more than two hundred cavalry on top.

"Bang bang bang!"

The dragoons fired a volley at close range, knocking down more than fifty of the Matsuura family's Japanese cavalry. These little dwarf cavalrymen were so frightened that they completely forgot about their mission, reined in their horses and ran as far as they could.

Yuan Shizhong did not pursue him, but after pulling away, he reloaded his ammunition.

After such a torment, Matsuura Shigenobu's flag force was completely out of touch with the charging front army.

The former army troops were also in a difficult situation. Under the leadership of the Hatamoto samurai, they finally managed to pull themselves together and withstand the second salvo of Datong artillery, but they entered the range of Datong fire cannons again.

The troops that rush quickly are about 35 steps away; the troops that rush slowly are still 50 steps away.

Li Dingguo was too lazy to wait any longer and ordered: "Send the order to all battalions. There is no need to wait twenty steps before firing a volley!"

The order was passed to the lower-level officers, and the nearest Japanese soldier had already rushed within 30 steps.

"Bang bang bang bang!"

Three consecutive shots were fired, gunshots were everywhere, and gun smoke filled the air.

There were more than a dozen Hatamoto warriors rushing forward, and most of them fell immediately. The spearmen behind them also suffered heavy casualties.

The elite Ashigaru of the Matsuura family were defeated without any suspense. It is not easy to withstand two rounds of shelling, and then be greeted by three consecutive rounds of musket fire. How have they ever withstood such intensive firepower? Even during the Warring States Period in Japan, when the feudal lords fought so fiercely, there was never such a terrifying localized firepower.

"The spearmen are approaching, the musketeers fix their bayonets, and the grenadiers charge immediately!"

As far as the sight of the two vassal coalition forces could see, the Datong Army was shrouded in smoke. Suddenly, a group of burly soldiers rushed out from the thick smoke, holding strange balls in their hands.

Whichever enemy unit has not yet collapsed, whichever enemy unit is crowded with the most people, the grenadiers will rush there. Behind them are a group of spearmen, and behind them are the musketeers charging with bayonets.

"Boom boom boom!"

Tens of thousands of enemies were thrown into the enemy formation, and wherever the explosion hit, the Japanese soldiers were completely blown away.

After the grenadier threw the bomb, he immediately drew his sword and charged. They are not just firepower, on the contrary, they all have super long arms, burly bodies, and are also wearing heavy armor, which can be transformed into the first attack at any time.

Zhou Ding is the grenadier commander of this division. He is a full 1.86 meters tall.

He rushed to the enemy's formation with his sword in hand and met a surviving Hatamoto samurai. This samurai was actually as tall as 1.45 meters. In Japan at this time, he was already considered majestic.

Moreover, this warrior actually brought three swords to the battlefield, and he was not tired of having too many weapons.

At this moment, the Hatamoto samurai held two swords, one long and one short, shouting and rushing forward to ask for Zhou Ding.

Zhou Ding split open the opponent's sword and didn't care about the remaining sword. The winner was determined quickly. The force of the collision of the weapon with the Hatamoto samurai was too great, and his entire body lost balance. The sword he then raised diagonally had no lethality at all.

Even if it is lethal, it will be perfectly defended by heavy armor.

As for Zhou Ding, the second sword had already been struck. The tall man, who was about 1.8 meters tall, was slashing down with all his strength against the short man, who was about 1.4 meters tall.

The Hatamoto samurai hurriedly blocked the attack with his sword, but he was too slow and was struck by the sword in his neck. Not only was the main artery in his neck severed, but also the clavicle below was severed. He collapsed on the spot, spurting blood.

On the entire battlefield, there were not many enemy troops that had not yet dispersed. As the Datong Army charged, it melted like snow under the scorching sun.

Wild samurai such as Miyazaki Shiro and Kito 48 were already stunned by the scene in front of them.

Japan also has artillery and muskets, but only when the shogunate ordered to gather troops, a large number of firearms were gathered together. They are usually scattered among the various vassals. For example, the Matsuura family has eight hundred fire rifle soldiers, which can be regarded as a very powerful force.

As for the Datong Army, except for the melee spearmen, they are all firearms troops.

At the beginning of the battle between the two armies, the Japanese army was greeted by firearms in turn, and it collapsed on a large scale before close contact.

Tang Bing is indeed invincible!

Thinking that the master they took refuge in was so powerful, the wild warriors became even more excited.

"On board! His Majesty the Emperor is on board! General, on board!"

Guitou Forty-Eight shouted, took the lead in drawing his sword and rushed out, following the Datong Army to chase down the enemy.

Li Dingguo pointed to the side and forward and said to the three hundred reserve troops beside him: "There is still an enemy army that has not been defeated there, so charge forward!"

But it was the troops from Demizu Castle of Satsuma Domain. These guys didn't want to fight and kept charging and paddling at a very fast speed. Seeing Li Dingguo's reserve team approaching, the Chushui City troops knelt down collectively and, led by the city lord, shouted in Chinese: "I wish to surrender, I wish to surrender!"

Shimazu Tsunahisa looked stupidly at the scene of the army's retreat. He disobeyed the shogunate's order and did not go home to urge his father to commit seppuku. Instead, he ran to the Matsuura family halfway to move reinforcements. It's okay if you win, but you will definitely die if you lose. Even if you can escape today, you will be killed by the shogunate afterwards.

Suddenly, Shimazu Tsunahisa sighed, knelt down and said, "We are as weak as the Satsuma clan, so we shouldn't provoke strong enemies. The Tang soldiers are so fierce, who in the Wu family can resist them?"

This guy slowly pulled out his ribs, got a towel out of nowhere, and committed seppuku on the battlefield.

Matsuura Shigenobu's banner had not yet collapsed. Many personal guards protected him and advised him: "Family Governor, retreat quickly. It will be too late if it is later."

Matsuura Shigenobu turned around and took a look. There were dragoons who had already completed their retreat. He shook his head and said, "You can't escape." Then he called Matsuura Nobuzada to his side, "My son is young, so you should help me with all my heart. The Hirado clan will allocate 1,500 shi to you. From now on, you will be the head of the Matsuura branch. "

"Sir, retreat quickly, there is still a glimmer of hope!" Matsuura Nobuzada said with tears.

Matsuura Shigenobu said: "Even if I can escape today, I will not be able to escape the shogunate's censure. The shogunate ordered me to commit seppuku as an apology, so I will commit seppuku today. I can die, but the Matsuura family will continue. Remember, the Tang people will pay them whatever compensation they want. How much, give it slowly in ten or twenty years. While you assist my son, you must make good friends with the Tang State. Today's Datong Tang State is no longer the Ming Dynasty before, and their army is invincible. Tagawa Jiro, don't let go If he leaves, let him be the retainer of the Matsuura family. His elder brother is the consort of the Tang Dynasty. As long as he is here, the Matsuura family can be preserved."

Matsuura Nobuzada finally cried out.

These are a pair of cousins ​​with a very deep relationship.

Matsuura Shigenobu added: "If my son is unbearable, let Tagawa Jiro change his surname to Matsuura and let him be the governor of the Matsuura family."

"Yes..." Matsuura Nobuzada said while wiping tears.

It is very common in Japan to let outsiders inherit the family business, usually an adopted son or a son-in-law.

In the eyes of the Japanese, bloodline does not matter. What is truly precious is the family name, which is the continuation of a family's legal system.

Zheng Chenggong's younger brother has been adopted into the Tagawa family and married Matsuura Shigenobu's sister. Then it is completely possible to rejoin the Matsuura family and become the governor of the Matsuura family.

The main reason is that Matsuura Shigenobu's son is too young.

Matsuura Shigenobu said: "Put down your weapons and I will personally negotiate with the generals of the Tang Dynasty. As long as I can keep the elite banner of the Matsuura family, I will agree to their request and then commit seppuku here."