According to post-war analysis, this battle for the beachhead on the shores of Kunlun Lake should be the best chance for the Machikhans to win. However, lack of experience allowed the Machikhans to waste this opportunity. Many war historians speculate that if the bamboo rafts used by the Machi Khans for transportation had not returned in time to transport the second batch of warriors, or if Xijiang had not arranged multiple high platforms on the beach in advance to effectively contain the Machi Khans' assault Speed, if Wenner had not personally put on armor at the critical moment, and if the Gaoyue militia, which played a huge role at the critical moment, had been disbanded, any one of these seemingly lucky factors might have led to the complete collapse of the entire defense line if they were missing. , which in turn changed Lygon's fate and even the outcome of the entire battle.
However, it was these accidental combinations that inevitably caused the Machi Khan's surface assault to fall short. Not only did they lose more than 20,000 elites, but the lack of backup also seriously dampened the morale of the Machi Khan. In this fateful battle of life and death, the Western Xinjiang Army also sacrificed nearly 10,000 people, and more than 2,000 people were disabled for life in this battle. The bloody nature of this battle is evident from this. Then, although the Machikhans intensified their attack on this weak gate in Lygon's defense, Winner, who had discovered the flaws, quickly adjusted the layout of the high platform, and a large number of heavy trebuchets were installed. The high platform greatly enhanced the long-range strike capability. Many bamboo rafts of the Machihans who came later were smashed by trebuchets before they even got close to the shore. The impact brought by the huge rocks was not that of bamboo rafts and bamboo rafts. If it can withstand it, for every bamboo raft that successfully approaches the shore, at least one other bamboo raft will sink as a price. In other words, half of the attacking troops died before they actually entered combat. Soldiers floating in the water were undoubtedly the best targets for archers and spear throwers.
The huge cost of losses forced Pu Tiancheng to finally give up this too cruel attack and return the main battlefield to the attack and defense of the city wall. However, the unavoidable nightmare of the Fire Dragon Cannon made every Machi Khan who was about to participate in the siege battle People shudder. Although they are not afraid of death, seeing the fireballs suddenly exploding in the air and raining down like fire, and even a little bit of it will turn people into a ball of coke, the effect of this fear far exceeds the reality. The lethality and even the impact on the morale of the entire Machi Khan army are immeasurable.
Legon, which was once a delicacy in the eyes of the Maci Khans, has become a hot potato that cannot be swallowed and cannot be avoided. It is firmly stuck in the throat of the Maci Khans as they march. The reinforcements of the Sixth Army were stationed in Kuterdam, and the Mulige reinforcements finally arrived at the already fragmented Lygon City before exhausting their last strength. At this time, the commanders and soldiers of both sides had been worn down by this excessively bloody war. There was so much passion lost that even Pu Tiancheng, who had always pursued offensive warfare, wrote in his memories decades later: "The battle for Lai Gong was like a poisonous snake entangled in my heart. The Kunlun Lake The blood and water and the blood and fire under Lygon City alternately appeared in my dreams in the future, which made me unable to calm down for many years. It was the most profound war I had experienced before, and it changed my view of Western Xinjiang. , also changed my view on war. War is no longer entirely a struggle between soldiers and commanders of both sides. The competition of comprehensive strength between the two sides is increasingly reflected in the war, especially the emergence of new weapons, which can even determine the outcome of a war. huge role.”
At the same time, the battle for Kuterdam seemed calm, because the main attack direction was set on the Legon line. The Mach Khans did not invest too much force in the direction of Kut Dam. After the Sixth Army arrived in Kut Dam, the Mach Khans actually gave up their plan to break through from Kut Dam and headed south instead, but Legon The city's tenacious blockade made the Machikhans realize once again that the fighting will of the Western Xinjiang Army was by no means comparable to that of the Imperial Army, and continuing south to seek a breakthrough from Sanbao became the only option. Of course, they would risk their logistical supply lines being destroyed by the Western Xinjiang Army. It is dangerous to cut off the border. In theory, this choice should be a gamble. Once the logistical supplies were cut off, this army could only end up being wiped out, but Pu Tiancheng and Mingzhong finally decided to take a gamble this time.
Pu Tiancheng and Mingzhong's gamble paid off. The weak defense of Sanbao City was unable to withstand this unexpected force from the north. When the Machi Khan partial division, which had traveled across the mountains and ridges to reach the fertile coastal plain of Nanyang, appeared in front of Sanbao City, the security division of the Nanhai Autonomous Territory had no city walls. There was no way to resist this menacing army. Once the confrontation occurred, the Nanhai Guard Division lost and was forced to withdraw from Sanbao. In order to avoid unnecessary losses in Sanbao City, the Governor of the Nanhai Dominion Zhong Wenjing also instructed the officials of Sanbao City to Declared Sanbao City an undefended city and agreed to the entry of Machi Khan's army into Sanbao City.
In fact, Mulige and Wenner also considered that the Machihans might cross the mountains between Laigong, Sanbao and Moro to send troops to the Southern Ocean. However, the lack of troops forced them to choose between Moro and Sanbao. In comparison, Moro's position is even more important. Once Moro is occupied, Sanbao City will become an isolated island. Even if the Machihans do not take action, I am afraid that the Nanyang Alliance, which has been ready to move, will announce that it will take over Sanbao. It would be better than that. Defending Moro, at least if the Machikhans occupy Sanbao, they can put an end to the idea of the Nanyang Alliance and prevent the Nanyang Alliance from joining the war.
However, the partial force of the Machikhans was at the end of its game after occupying Sanbao City. Climbing the high mountains between Laigon and Sanbao exhausted their physical strength and made them suffer a lot. They were forced to throw away all their excess. equipment and weapons, if they had not arrived too suddenly and the combat effectiveness of the Nanhai Guard Division was not flattering, they might not even be able to capture Sanbao City without city wall protection, but even so they would have lost the ability to move forward. With the momentum of advancement, it is already doing everything possible to maintain the status quo in Sanbao City.
This strange stalemate in the peninsula should have been unexpected by both parties. When Mulige and Wen Na were so nervous about the loss of San Bao that they could not sleep day and night, Pu Tiancheng and Ming Zhong were also worried about the loss of San Bao and Lai Gong. The mountains sighed endlessly. Moro only has one division to defend, plus some naval garrison troops, the total number will not exceed 25,000, while the troops gathered by Machi Khan to rest in Sanbao exceed 30,000, like Moro This city without an inch of city walls thrives entirely on an open seaport. It has almost zero defense on land and can only rely entirely on the chests of the guarding troops to withstand it. Mulige and Wenner didn't know how many more troops the Machihans would send to cross the mountains between Sanbao and Laigon, but they knew that once the Machihans really had the strength to cross this mountainous area, they were afraid that the entire South China Sea would be destroyed. The autonomous territories had no choice but to surrender. Facing the huge pressure from Lygon, the Western Xinjiang side no longer had the extra strength to take care of the coastal areas.
But in fact it was not as bad as Mulige and Wenner imagined. Crossing the Mulu Mountains between Sanbao and Laigon made the soldiers of Makhi Khan who were accustomed to living in hot and dry areas suffered a lot. The hot, humid and stuffy climate Many of these soldiers suffered from skin diseases and dysentery. Although they arrived at Sanbao, the price they paid was actually so high that they were unable to attack the Moro next to them. Seeing this situation, Pu Tiancheng He Mingzhong no longer dared to let the army pass through this area. This kind of march with almost loss of general combat effectiveness is simply unheard of. What's more, Legon has not yet been captured, and the attitude of the Nanyang Alliance in the east has become unpredictable. Although it has always been They are providing supplies to their own army, but they have never responded positively to sending troops out. The inefficiency of their parliament has become a very good excuse.
Lygon has become a point of stalemate, and the relationship between Sambo and Moro is another, a strange confrontation without fierce fighting. It seems that both sides are happy to see this inexplicable situation of no war and no peace. In fact, the battle behind the scenes has just begun.
"What are you waiting for? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The people of Xijiang are at the end of their rope. Now we only need to wave our hands gently. The entire Sambo, Moro, Eastern Samoa and Legon will be in our hands, and Fergie Island, Heron Island and Princesa will all return to our embrace. Why are you still hesitating about this opportunity?" A snow-white navy uniform is particularly dazzling among a group of various national costumes. As the commander of the Alliance Navy, Farragut is I'm so excited. The invitation from the Machi Khans came at the right time, and the conditions they proposed were even more tempting. They only asked for a free port that can station a small number of troops, and all coastal ports and cities will belong to it. Nanyang Alliance, where can we find such good things? What's more, Western Xinjiang is a serious problem for the alliance.
"General Farragut, you are so excited that it seems that your excitement has even blinded your mind. I have to remind you that your navy can rely on its own power to ensure that the ports along the coast are not under external military threats. Have you fallen?" A high-pitched voice seemed to be speaking with a pinched voice, which seemed quite feminine, but no one dared to underestimate him. He had a half-bald head, long eyebrows and thin eyes. He was a senior member of the Nanyang Alliance Military Commission. He wanted to If you want to send troops, you first need to convince him, but now he seems not to be optimistic about the alliance's sending troops at all. His opinions almost represent the opinions of the military committee. It is not easy to overturn the opinions of this stubborn old man.