Volume 4: Hot! The whole world is a warring state Chapter 715: Logistics Dilemma
Because Singapore is the city farthest from the mainland of Ming among the areas currently controlled by Ming. Therefore, before the telegraph line was built here, it would take a long time for everything that happened here to be transmitted back. It was also because of this that when Durenni boarded the transport ship left by the navy from Bangkok Bay late at night on September 29, he was generally in a relaxed mood.
Since Gustav led the main force to retreat, he led 150,000 rear guard troops to stubbornly resist the fierce attack launched by Cao Wenzhao and Liu Zhaosun with superior forces. After more than a month of blocking battles, although the Durren Legion lost more than 70,000 soldiers. But he believed that as the attacking party, Cao and Liu would have more soldiers falling.
What made him most proud was that when he was about to retreat, he set a trap, making the Ming army mistakenly believe that they were about to retreat and that there were not many troops left. This caused the Ming army generals to be greedy for merit and advance rashly. Then he concentrated superior forces in a local area and won a small victory - it was really a small victory. In such a large-scale war where the maximum combined strength of both sides exceeded one million, annihilating a regiment of more than 3,000 enemies in one battle was really nothing. However, this small victory made the enemy army, which was close to him at the beginning, take the initiative to distance itself from him. As a result, his remaining troops successfully evacuated to the ship.
However, this relaxed mood disappeared instantly when he landed at the Chimphang Harbor in Chumphon Province, Malay Peninsula on October 2.
"What did you say? Our transport fleet suffered heavy losses in Malacca, and most of the ships were silent?"
"Yes." Raimondo Montecuccoli, who was ordered to pick him up, said with a sad face: "This news was just delivered last night by a communication ship sent by Rear Admiral Garcia of the Navy."
"This is a big problem. Raimondo, if I'm not mistaken, we are now near Chumphon Province and have encountered Chinese people, right?"
"How can you be so sure?"
"Of course. During the more than one month we were separated, although the Chinese had significantly more troops than us, their combat effectiveness, especially their tactical execution before the battle, was always a little bit worse than the opponents we had encountered before. At that time, I knew that the Chinese must have sent their main force here."
"Yes, the Chinese actually calculated that our army would not retreat directly to Malacca, but would land on the east side of the Malay Peninsula and then go to the west side to re-board the ship. Oh, what a terrible enemy."
"That's nothing. If I were the enemy's commander, I would be able to figure out the landing site of the retreating troops based on our retreat speed. Not to mention that the Chinese navy can always monitor our army with its high speed advantage. But..." After discussing tactics with Raimondo for a while, Durenne looked up and asked worriedly, "How is our logistics support now?"
"It's a bit troublesome." Raimondo also frowned. "The Malay Peninsula is originally very narrow and long, and Chumphon is one of the narrowest places on the peninsula. We chose this place mainly to facilitate us to cross the peninsula and go to the west to board the ship again. But now... the Ming army, which is only 30 kilometers north of here, has been fighting for more than half a month. The opponent's strength is definitely no more than 150,000, which is far less than ours. But the narrow terrain makes it impossible for us to show our strength advantage..."
"And then we started getting into trouble because of logistics?"
"Not yet, but it will start soon." Raimondo smiled bitterly. "Due to your rearguard action and sufficient transport capacity at that time, the more than 250,000 people who retreated earlier had all their equipment withdrawn. However, the ammunition base to support these equipment is only enough for one large-scale battle. What's more fatal is the food. At that time, in order to save time and reduce the number of transportations, the navy itself said that it would not take long for us all to be transported back to India. So we only brought one month's food here... Since receiving the news from Major General Garcia this morning, His Majesty Gustav and His Excellency Wallenstein have privately notified the commanders of each division to save ammunition and rations in their respective troops."
"Damn it, can't we send troops south to collect food?"
"Of course, but Henry, where is this? It's in the mountains far away from the central plains of Siam. There aren't many people in this damn place. Where can we collect enough food for more than 200,000 troops?"
"It's more than 200,000, Raimondo. This time, I evacuated more than 76,000 people."
"What? You actually evacuated so many of them? Well, if it were normal times, this would be a great achievement. But now... well, let me guess, your soldiers hardly have much ammunition or food, right?"
"Yes. If more than 60 ships are to evacuate more than 70,000 people at once, they must free up space for everything. So, my soldiers have nothing except the bullets in their bolts and magazines and the uniforms on their bodies."
"...I understand. Although it is difficult, I will allocate a batch of food for your soldiers. Alas, I don't know when the navy will have enough ships to pick us up."
Generally speaking, the carrying capacity of a ship is about 15-20% of its displacement, that is, a 10,000-ton ship can carry 2,000 tons of cargo.
According to this ratio, although the Spanish transport fleet suffered heavy losses in Malacca, the surviving transport ships still had a total displacement of 300,000 tons - about 60,000 tons of cargo capacity.
There are still 320,000 or 330,000 EU troops gathered in the Malay Peninsula. Assuming each person weighs 70 kilograms, the total weight is just over 20,000 tons. In this case, can the transport ships that survived the Malacca night attack carry away these 300,000 troops at one time?
Unfortunately, theory and reality are different. Although these transport ships do not need to carry dozens or hundreds of tons of naval guns and shells weighing dozens or hundreds of kilograms like warships, it takes several days to sail from the west side of the Malay Peninsula to the east side of the Indian Peninsula - coal, drinking water, and food occupy a large amount of tonnage.
Besides, people are not commodities, you can't put another person on top of one person. You have to leave some space for eating, drinking, defecating, and urinating, right?
Therefore, the naval officer sent by Garcia to contact Gustav made it clear: the remaining sixty-odd transport ships will arrive at the Port of Ranong on the east side of the Malay Peninsula in three days - this is the only large and good port in the central part of the Malay Peninsula. Then, the navy will withdraw the more than 300,000 troops in three batches: only the people will leave, and various equipment, food, ammunition, etc. will not be loaded.
"In that case, we must hold on to Ranong Port for at least twenty days."
"Yes."
"Ah..." After a long sigh, Durrenni raised his head and looked up at the sky. "You have all received news that the transport fleet suffered heavy losses. I think the Chinese will receive such news tomorrow at the latest. Judging from the wisdom shown by the Chinese commanders in this war, they will soon understand the importance of Ranong Port."
"Yes, so we will have another bloody battle with China with insufficient ammunition and limited food."
"I will have my soldiers gather the limited ammunition they have and support His Majesty Gustav as much as possible."
"Thank you very much. In addition, Henry, I also want to tell you that Rear Admiral Garcia also said that after he took over the command of the fleet, he sent the Duke battleship, two heavy cruisers, and seven destroyers back north. Then he sent the more than 60 transport ships that transported you this time to escort them south."
"Very good. By this calculation, we can reduce the time it takes to hold Ranong Port by at least five days."
"Yes. Now, we just hope that God will help the Chinese to react a little slower."
After the two young generals finished discussing the battle situation, they were both worried. But when Durenyi saw Gustav, the other party's first words almost made him collapse.
"Henri, get ready. Three days later, you, Raimondo, and Louis (Grand Conde) will board the first ship and retreat to India."
"No, your majesty, what do you mean? I can still fight."
"I have no doubt about your will to continue fighting. But after discussing with Lord Wallenstein, we have unanimously decided to let you three young men go first, and we will stay behind to cover your retreat."
"This? Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your care. But you should go first. After all, you are the King of Sweden, the monarch of a country."
"Hahaha, Henry, you are right. I am the king. As the king and commander of this expeditionary force, I enjoy the most spoils when the battle is victorious. And when the war is in trouble, I bear the heaviest responsibility. Now, the greatest responsibility of Lord Wallenstein and I is to ensure the safe retreat of the three most outstanding young generals in Europe. In this way, when the Chinese counterattack, we will have a commander to stand up and resist the Chinese invasion."
" Your Majesty, I have no doubt that I will be the commander-in-chief of the European Union Army in the future, but now... you told me yourself that we sent a group of assassins to assassinate the emperor of China. This behavior, whether it succeeds or fails, will put our prisoners of war in an extremely dangerous situation. Of course, based on my understanding of you, you will definitely not be a prisoner of war. But if you stay behind to cover your retreat, it will be really dangerous."
"That's right." Gustav smiled slightly. "It's because there's danger that we old men should stay. Okay, please don't let your eyes turn red. Please maintain the dignity of a soldier and a noble and follow my orders."
…
At about the same time that Durenni set foot on Chumphon Province, on October 2, the communication ship sent by Peng Ziqin also passed the news of the great victory in Malacca to Cao and Liu. Then Cao Wenzhao and Liu Zhaosun made a simple analysis and calculated that the only way out for the EU Army was in Ranong Port.
Afterwards, with the ticking of the radio waves, also on October 2, Huang Degong, 30 kilometers north of Jianpeng Port, received orders from Cao and Liu: the enemy's logistics are in a difficult situation, so you are ordered to continue the attack with fierce firepower and capture Ranong Port within 15 days to cut off the enemy's retreat!
