Advanced chapter at patreon.com/caleredhair
Makino Haruaki was leading the musketeer unit advancing toward Michira Castle.
The earlier bombardment from the fleet caused some casualties, but those losses were insignificant to him. As long as they captured Ryukyu main island, it would become an unsinkable warship. Compared to that, losing a few warships was nothing.
Many years ago, he had suggested to Yamada Nobunaga to take over Ryukyu Island, using it as a base to control the coastal shipping routes of the Great Yu Empire and raid its coastal cities. But his suggestion was rejected.
At that time, the Dutch were still regarded as honorable guests by Yamada. But now everything had changed, and the Dutch betrayal proved he had been right.
For him, it was not too late now. Capturing Ryukyu Island was still a brilliant plan.
Moving through the forests along the coast, when he saw Michira Castle atop the high mountain in the distance, he ordered a messenger pigeon released.
The trained pigeon immediately flew toward Michira Castle, carrying a message.
Inside Michira Castle, Sakai was waiting for news from Makino Haruaki. When he saw the white pigeon land, he was overjoyed.
“Makino Haruaki has arrived. Now is the time to show the Dutch and the Great Yu Empire our strength,” Sakai shouted excitedly.
The soldiers inside cheered loudly, “Prepare to fight! Prepare to fight!”
Caught up in the excitement, the soldiers quickly assembled outside the castle gate. Over ten thousand musketeers lined up outside, ready for battle.
Outside the bastion, Xiao Ming and Claire noticed something unusual about the Wokou. All the pirates inside the castle had gathered outside, forming neat ranks.
Seeing this, Xiao Ming asked, “Don’t tell me you Dutch trained the Wokou to fight with matchlock guns?”
“I’m sorry, it’s true. We did train the Wokou to use firearms,” Claire said with regret.
Xiao Ming had the urge to strike Claire down. Japan was being supported by the West like this even now.
But it was not the time to dwell on that. Xiao Ming said, “The Wokou have reinforcements landing, and now some have come out of the bastion. They are preparing to trap us from inside and outside.”
“Sakai is a cunning enemy, always waiting for reinforcements,” Claire said. “We can deal with the landing reinforcements, but I doubt if Your Highness’s army can handle the Wokou inside the bastion. I really doubt you can defeat these fierce pirates.”
“Count Claire, are you insulting my army?” Xiao Ming felt anger rising. He knew Claire was either deliberately provoking or warning him.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to insult Your Highness’s army. But according to Sakai, the Wokou often defeat the Great Yu Empire’s troops. So I’m worried. After all, if the battle fails, we will lose Ryukyu,” Claire said seriously. Now she was starting to regret her earlier gamble because the Wokou’s strength was formidable.
“Better worry about yourself,” Xiao Ming sneered. Losing to anyone was fine, but losing to the Wokou was unacceptable. Then he said, “We leave our rear to you.”
With that, Xiao Ming immediately ordered Lu Fei to gather the troops.
The Wokou gathered outside the bastion, and Xiao Ming’s troops, spread out in a siege, also needed to regroup. Both sides were racing against time to prepare.
The battle was about to begin. Luo Xin immediately led the artillery to find high ground to set up their artillery position. Half an hour later, both armies had assembled before the bastion. War was about to break out.
If the war with the barbarians was a fight between hot and cold weapons, now Xiao Ming faced a battle between hot weapons on both sides. Although the Wokou used matchlock guns, they were not to be underestimated.
After all, matchlock guns and flintlock guns only differed in firing mechanisms.
At this time, under Lu Fei’s command, the Qingzhou army also formed into lines, with units of two hundred soldiers ready to attack.
“Your Highness, the Wokou are moving this way,” after the troops assembled, the Wokou ranks began moving toward Xiao Ming. Meanwhile, the sound of cannon fire came from the Wokou’s side.
Xiao Ming looked toward the direction of the cannon fire and saw the Wokou had removed the cannons from the castle to use in their current attack.
At this moment, the distance between the two sides was about 700 meters. The cannonballs had lost much power after flying, rolling along the ground and causing little damage.
As Claire said, these cannons were very old, with limited range and power.
“Your Highness, shall we return fire and destroy their artillery?” Luo Xin asked.
“The field cannons don’t have much range. At this distance, we don’t have much advantage. Wait until they get closer to fire. Their cannons are awkward and no match for ours,” Xiao Ming said, standing with Luo Xin at the artillery position, from which the entire battlefield was clearly visible.
Boom, boom…
The drum sounded. Under Lu Fei’s command, the Qingzhou soldiers advanced toward the Wokou ranks in tight formation, moving steadily.
As the two sides closed the distance, their cannons began firing at each other.
“Six-pounders fire at the Wokou infantry. Twelve-pounders fire at the Wokou artillery,” he ordered when the armies were only 300 meters apart.
Immediately, twelve six-pound field cannons fired at the dense Wokou ranks. Black cannonballs smashed into the Wokou, knocking down a whole line.
But after the gap appeared, the Wokou soldiers quickly filled it.
Seeing this, Xiao Ming frowned. This showed the Wokou soldiers were well trained, but he wasn’t worried because they had the advantage in weapons.
Compared to the Wokou’s old cannons, their field cannons with sights were much more accurate. The Wokou artillery moving with the ranks was smashed by the twelve-pounders, their gun carriages broken and gunners killed or wounded.
The six-pounders did not stop. Their cannonballs bounced along the ground, hitting Wokou soldiers in the ranks. Soldiers in the front row were hit hard, breaking arms and legs, falling down groaning in pain.
250 meters… 200 meters… 100 meters…
Despite the continuous cannon fire, the Wokou did not retreat. Both armies got closer and closer. At 100 meters, Lu Fei ordered the soldiers to stop and shouted, “Fire!”
The soldiers raised their flintlock guns, firing in unison. Flames and white smoke burst forth, and the Wokou ranks in front immediately fell.
“Reload!” Lu Fei shouted again.
After enduring the first volley, the Wokou continued advancing. At this moment, Sakai’s face darkened. The matchlock guns the Dutch had given them could only fire effectively at fifty meters. He could only let his soldiers keep moving forward into the firing zone.