The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 250 Wu Peifu's Strategy
Following Zai Yi's shout, a Goshaha ran in, and behind this Goshaha, Wu Peifu also followed quickly in.

"What's the fuss outside?"

"But the foreigners have entered the city!"

Without waiting for Goshaha to report, Zai Yi, who was somewhat panicked, asked anxiously.

Goshhali landed and bowed to Zai Yi, "Your Highness, it's not the foreigners who have entered the city, it's the smoke that has risen in Xishiku, it's the Boxers there who have started to take action."

Zai Yi was relieved by Goshaha's answer. He waved his hand and signaled Goshaha to leave.

Unlike Zai Yi, Teng Yuzhao was a little worried. He was afraid that Liu Shijiu would launch a strong attack in order to complete the task, causing too many casualties to himself. He couldn't help but look at Wu Peifu who followed in.

Without waiting for Teng Yuzhao to ask, Zai Yi, relieved, looked at Wu Peifu and smiled.

"Xingfu, you have such a good student!"

"Zi Yu is a rare and resourceful general at such a young age. How rare!"

Ignoring Teng Yuzao's puzzled look, Zai Yi continued.

"The Tiger God Battalion and 20,000 to 30,000 Boxers besieged the Xishiku Church for more than two months. They tried every possible means, including mine explosions, fire attacks, and artillery bombardments. They suffered heavy casualties, but they were unable to do anything to the foreigners inside."

"It was Zi Yu who came up with this idea. He only used a dozen catapults that had been stored in the Military Construction Bureau for decades to solve this problem."

Zai Yi said with emotion, "Zi Yu's method is not just fire attack, but it is a combination of fire attack and smoke attack, with some ingredients added."

Teng Yuzhao was not too surprised by this smoke and fire tactic. There were many examples in the past. As a military history researcher, he knew a lot of them. The most common one was during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, when the People's Army used it to deal with the Japanese devils' strong fortresses.

Teng Yuzao asked with a smile, "If I'm not mistaken, did you use dried chili peppers?"

Zai Yi couldn't help but wonder, "Xingfu, have you ever talked about this good idea with Ziyu?"

Teng Yuzao shook his head and said, "I never mentioned it, but when the prince mentioned smoking, I guessed that it must have used something extremely irritating like chili peppers."

Teng Yuzao's answer made Zai Yi clap his hands and laugh.

"You two, master and disciple, are a perfect match made in heaven. You actually have such a tacit understanding in your brilliant strategies. How rare!"

Teng Yuzhao was both pleased and a little worried that Wu Peifu could come up with the idea of ​​using the trebuchet, a siege weapon from the cold weapon era.

This method is still very good, but it is a bit too cruel. If the two or three thousand people inside are really suffocated or burned to death, the great powers will not let it go afterward.

Seeing Teng Yuzhao's thoughts, Zai Yi's expression darkened slightly. He thought again that it was he who condoned the Boxers to come to Beijing and besiege the foreigners. The foreigners should now regard him as their biggest enemy and would probably not easily let him go in the future.

But thinking of Teng Yuzhao's assurance, Zai Yi's expression quickly returned to normal and he said with a smile.

"Don't worry, Xingfu. Ziyu has thought of everything. He only told this matter to me. I arranged for absolutely reliable confidants to secretly spread the news among the Boxers who were besieging Xishiku. Then the news was passed to the leader of the Boxers who were besieging Xishiku, and he found the people in the Tiger God Camp to ask for the catapults." Teng Yuzhao nodded. He knew that Zai Yi should also be aware of the hidden dangers of the killing of these foreigners at this time.

Although almost everyone in Xishiku is armed now, the foreigners still think that these people are civilians, and they will feel resentful about attacking and killing civilians.

Zai Yi looked at the sky and saw that it was already the morning hour, so he said to Teng Yuzao, "Xingfu, now that I have said everything I need to say, I will go catch up with the Queen Mother."

Knowing that Zai Yi could not leave Cixi for too long, Teng Yuzhao nodded and said.

"That's good. Now that it's daybreak, there will probably be cavalry from the coalition forces in the north. Your Highness doesn't need to leave the capital from Deshengmen anymore. In my opinion, you should leave the capital from Guang'anmen. I will send my squadron of guards to accompany you to protect your safety. After they meet up with the Queen Mother, I will let them come back."

When Zai Yi heard that there might be foreign cavalry appearing in the north, his face turned pale. But when he heard that Teng Yuzhao had sent his own guard squadron to protect his safety, Zai Yi's expression improved again.

Zai Yi suddenly said, "Xingfu, I have another request."

Hearing Zai Yi's request, Teng Yuzao hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please speak clearly if you have anything to say."

Zai Yi pointed at Wu Peifu and said, "Since Xingfu has already sent a large army to Yangfang, can Ziyu also accompany me to chase the Queen Mother? It will also be good for Ziyu to communicate with the escort troops. When the Queen Mother passes Huailai, Ziyu can come back with the escort troops to take orders."

In order to befriend Zai Yi, Teng Yuzao was willing to meet his requests.

What's more, Zai Yi should still be a little worried, so he wanted to keep Wu Peifu by his side. In case something happened, the troops who were escorting him would be more attentive.

"That's absolutely no problem, Ziyu, you can go with the prince."

After seeing Zai Yi and his party off, Teng Yuzhao looked at the thick smoke rising from the northwest of the imperial city in the north. He knew that was Xishiku. Although he was still a little worried that Liu Shijiu was too impatient and ordered the assault brigade to launch a costly attack before the pungent smoke took effect.

Therefore, Teng Yuzhao wanted to go over and take a look, but after thinking about it, he finally rejected the idea.

If the historical changes were not significant, the American, British and Japanese troops in the Allied Forces would also begin attacking the city in the morning and would enter the city one after another, so he had to make arrangements as soon as possible.

Just as they were about to send someone to urge Wei Jinghai to speed up the march, a sentry from the assault brigade ran down from the city wall.

"Report."

The sentry leader stood at attention in front of Teng Yuzao and reported, "We can already see the vanguard of the vanguard brigade on the city wall."

After returning the salute, Teng Yuzhao ordered the sentry to continue on guard, and then spoke to a guard.

"Go and convey my order. Tell Deputy Chief of Staff Wei to order the independent battalion to enter the city and immediately take over the defense of the south, west, and north walls and gates. The artillery brigade will enter the inner city and set up artillery positions outside the imperial city in the east of the inner city, ready to support the defense of Dongzhimen and Qihuamen. Hu Dianjia's third brigade will be stationed in the inner city, ready to take over Qihuamen, Dongzhimen and the city walls at any time."

On the tower of Chongwenmen, Teng Yuzao was pointing in the direction of Dongbianmen and Guangqumen and explaining combat missions to Liu Shijiu and Li Xiance.
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(End of this chapter)