The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 188 Emergency Response

Wei Jinghai continued with some doubt, "I collected the data recorded by the staff over the past two days. More than 2,000 shells have landed on this section of the city wall in the southeast corner and nearby, far more than the shells that have landed on the rest of the city wall."

"This shows that the foreign devils are focusing their shelling on the southeast corner of the city wall, and they seem to want to blow the wall down with shells, but..."

With a "boom", Wei Jinghai's words instantly made a thunderclap sound in Teng Yuzhao's mind, which made his face immediately turn pale, almost without any blood color.

Because Wei Jinghai's words finally brought back his memories, he remembered that he had been worried about a problem that he might have forgotten.

Teng Yuzhao recalled that in history, it was because of a believer named Zheng from the Methodist Episcopal Church in Beijing who came to inform the Allied Forces of the situation in the besieged legation district in Beijing. He told the Allied Forces outside the city that a section of the city wall in Tianjin had collapsed due to floods in the early years. The Allied Forces then arranged for the Japanese army to pile barrels of explosives under that section of the city wall, which eventually blew down the wall and led to the capture of Tianjin.

It now appears that the coalition forces are planning to use artillery fire to blow down the city walls.

It is even possible that the coalition forces wanted to use heavy artillery fire to force the defensive troops on that section of the city to leave, and then use explosives to blow down the city wall.

When he thought that there were still a large number of soldiers hiding from the artillery fire under the city wall, and that once the wall collapsed, not only would many people be buried alive under the city, but many people would also be killed or injured, Teng Yuzhao's heart felt as if it had been stabbed with a knife.

Teng Yuzao didn't even have time to explain. He reached out and grabbed one of the telephones on the table and shook the handle quickly.

Teng Yuzao's sudden change of expression and his abrupt action scared Wei Jinghai and Wu Peifu beside him. They both wanted to ask the reason, but seeing that there was even a layer of fine sweat on Teng Yuzao's forehead, they both closed their mouths and held their breath, nervously listening and observing Teng Yuzao's behavior and words, and did not dare to speak.

The phone rang only a few times before the other party picked it up. As soon as the call was connected, Teng Yuzao shouted anxiously into the receiver, "This is Teng Yuzao. I want Hu Xuanqing to answer the phone immediately."

Fortunately, Teng Yuzhao didn't have to wait long, and Hu Dianjia soon answered the phone.

"Xuan Qing, the situation is urgent. Listen carefully. First, immediately order all personnel within 300 meters of the south city wall to evacuate immediately. Second, on the south city wall, 400 meters away from the southeast corner, use sandbags to build heavy machine gun fortifications on the east and west sides facing the southeast corner of the city. Set up two Maxim guns at each location, and then place a row of soldiers behind the fortifications to prevent the enemy from rushing along the city wall. Third, make the same heavy machine gun fortifications under the city wall as on the city wall. Fourth, in the southeast corner of the city, 300 meters away from the city wall, in the streets and alleys, immediately use the houses to build an arc-shaped defense line. Once the enemy breaks through the city from there, this defense line must block the coalition's charge. I will immediately send the second regiment to replace you. Fifth, the rest of the troops on the city wall, if they retreat without the order to retreat, will be killed without mercy!"

Teng Yuzhao's last sentence was almost shouted out.

It even attracted Hu Daqiu and several guards, but when he saw that Teng Yuzhao was giving orders over the phone, Hu Daqiu quickly led his men back into the shadows of the yard.

After giving the order, Teng Yuzao added in a stern tone, "Xuanqing, execute all the above orders immediately, the sooner the better! If you miss the opportunity to fight, I will hold you accountable!"

After Teng Yuzhao finished speaking, he didn't care whether Hu Dianjia felt confused or not, but threw down the phone and picked up the receiver of another phone.

Since there were no switches at that time, calls to different places required different phones, or it could be a group chat.

Therefore, there was a telephone in Teng Yuzao's operations room, which was connected to three regiments and Liu Changfa's artillery regiment, Liu Shijiu's assault battalion, Pan Jinshan's independent detachment, and Cao Futian's Boxer Regiment.

This time, the phone Teng Yuzhao picked up was connected to Li Xianze's Second Regiment.

"Kang Nian, you will immediately lead a battalion to the southeast corner of the southern city wall and be ready to provide support and cover behind Hu Dianjia's Third Regiment. If the Third Regiment cannot stop the coalition forces, you will immediately take over."

Teng Yuzao had calmed down a little now, so he immediately added, "The coalition forces will most likely blow up the wall in the southeast corner of the south city wall." "Yes!"

Li Xianze's roar came from the phone, followed by the sound of the phone being put down heavily.

The person Teng Yuzao trusts the most is Li Xiance. Although Li Xiance and Liu Yuzhi are both Teng Yuzao's most trusted confidants, he trusts Li Xiance more because Li Xiance has relatively strong adaptability, which is much better than Liu Yuzhi.

After putting down the phone, Teng Yuzhao calmed down a little and slowly sat on the chair. At this time, Wei Jinghai had completely understood Teng Yuzhao's worries. He had already grabbed another telephone receiver and was shaking the handle while speaking quickly.

"Sir, we should also have the assault brigade ready for battle in case of any emergency."

While Wei Jinghai and Liu Shijiu were talking on the phone, Wu Peifu had already poured two cups of tea and brought them to the two of them. Wu Peifu asked tentatively.

"Teacher, you can only judge now that the foreign devils may want to use blasting to break into the South City. Is it necessary to make such a big fuss now?"

Teng Yuzao took a sip of tea and said, "Zi Yu, when leading troops in battle, you must always be prepared for the worst and strive for the best possible outcome. This is the way to be a commander."

"Zhuge Liang was cautious throughout his life, and Lu Duan was not confused about major issues. You must remember this."

While Teng Yuzao was giving Wu Peifu respectful instructions, he never put down the teacup in his hand. He did not drink a sip of water that night.

Then, Teng Yuzao discussed with Wei Jinghai some details on how they should respond if his judgment came true, as well as a series of emergency measures such as how the specific street fighting plan should be changed if the coalition forces took advantage of the situation and broke into the city.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was already 2:30 in the morning.

"Sir, please go back to your room and rest. I'll be on duty in the operations room."

"boom."

Just before Wei Jinghai finished speaking, an extremely dull explosion was heard from far away in Nancheng. The explosion startled the three people, including the two staff officers who had just been frightened by Teng Yuzhao, and made them jump up together.

"You stay here, I'll go to South City."

As Teng Yuzao spoke, he quickly rushed out of the operations room.

"Xu Ting, the guard platoon must assemble urgently, follow immediately."

Wu Peifu followed Teng Yuzao out of the war room, shouting loudly.
Your support is the driving force of Zuima!

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(End of this chapter)