The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 251 Let It In and Fight Again

As it turned out, Teng Yuzao's worry that Liu Shijiu would attack Xishiku by force, resulting in heavy casualties, was completely unnecessary.

Because, after Liu Shijiu entered the city and learned about Wu Peifu's fire attack strategy, he only took Wang Decheng and a few others, disguised as Boxers, and went for a tour of Xishiku.

When they saw that the Boxers and the few remaining members of the Tiger God Camp had surrounded Xishiku, they handed the task of killing Fan Guoliang to Wang Decheng.

Liu Shijiu’s reason was simple: there was no way this Frenchman could disguise himself as a Chinese and escape from Xishiku alive.

Now Wang Decheng has brought more than 200 selected people, all of whom are dressed as Boxers who have evacuated from Tianjin, and are scattered around Xishiku. If they find Fan Guoliang, they will kill him immediately.

Standing on the city wall, although you can clearly see the billowing smoke rising from Xishiku, which has completely enveloped Xishiku, and you can even vaguely see the pointed tower looming in the smoke, you can't hear the gunfire coming from there.

Because the capital city was so huge, Xishiku was eight or nine miles away from Chongwenmen in a straight line, and it was impossible to hear gunshots at such a long distance.

However, it is very close to Dongjiaominxiang and Dongbianmen. The distance from Chongwenmen to Dongjiaominxiang is only about one kilometer, and it is even closer to the large Hubu Street where the Ministry of Household is located. The distance to Dongbianmen is less than two kilometers.

Even here at Chongwenmen, one could hear dense gunfire coming from inside and outside the East Gate.

Teng Yuzhao was also speechless about the combat effectiveness of the Gansu Army. Although he blocked nearly a thousand Russian troops who were eager to seize credit in the city wall, he could do nothing about the Russian troops inside, and they were eventually rescued by the American troops who climbed in.

The capital was divided into the outer city, inner city and imperial city. Chongwenmen was the easternmost gate connecting the outer city and the inner city. Because it was not far from the battlefield selected by Teng Yuzao, Teng Yuzao set up his front-line command post in the Chongwenmen tower.

His headquarters was located in the Ministry of Revenue.

Since Dongjiaomin Lane was not far from the back street of the Ministry of Revenue Yamen, it was originally used by the Hushen Camp as a stronghold to besiege Dongjiaomin Lane. However, at this time, most of the Hushen Camp had already gone with Cixi on her hunting expedition to the west, leaving only a captain with a hundred or so men to guard the Yamen.

As soon as Li Xiance entered Guang'anmen, he privately explained the situation to Wu Peifu who was waiting there. Wu Peifu immediately asked Zai Yi for the Ministry of Revenue on the grounds that Teng Yuzhao wanted to set up his headquarters nearby.

Now, Wei Jinghai, who had just arrived here, was leading the General Staff and the troops directly under the headquarters to set up defenses on Hubu Street, which was centered on the Ministry of Revenue Yamen.

"The Russian army is now launching attacks at Dongzhimen and Dongbianmen. According to Kangnian, the Japanese army also launched an attack on Qihuamen not long ago. The American, British and French troops, which have more troops in the coalition, have not yet appeared."

"But they definitely won't go around and attack the city from other places. Their attack position will definitely be in the east."

Teng Yuzao wiped the sweat off his head and pointed to the Guangqumen tower in the distance and said, "The location where they attacked the city should be between Guangqumen and Dongbianmen."

Although it is already early September and it is the season of clear and cool autumn weather in many places, the temperature in the capital is still very high. The city walls are brightly lit under the direct sunlight.

Liu Shijiu and Li Xiance were also sweating profusely. Liu Shijiu, who still had a bandage on his head, had already unbuttoned the buttons of his military uniform on his belt and was fanning himself with a folding fan in his hand.

Not only Liu Shijiu had a folding fan, Teng Yuzao and Li Xiance also had one in their hands, which was obtained by Li Xiance.

Liu Shijiu shook his head and said carelessly, "Xingfu, the city wall here is slightly higher than that of Tianjin City. I estimate that it is about 40 feet high. It will be no problem to defend the city for a few days, but it will be difficult to do so for a long time."

Li Xiance also said, "Yes! The foreign devils now have a lot more cannons than when they attacked Tianjin City. It is said that they had nearly a hundred cannons when they attacked Beicang, and now there are probably more. We will defend the city and suffer heavy casualties."

Teng Yuzao nodded and said, "Yes, you are all right, so I decided that this time we should let the foreign devils into the city before fighting, but we still have to defend the city wall. With a large number of foreign devils in the city, they will be hesitant to fire outside the city, which will be of great help to us in defending the city wall."

Teng Yuzao's words surprised Li Xianze and Liu Shijiu. Li Xianze asked, "Sir, didn't you say that you were worried that the capital would be destroyed, so we would hold on for a while and then withdraw? If we let the foreign devils in, the capital will be in chaos."

Teng Yuzao said, "The Queen Mother wants us to hold out for as many days as possible. I have also thought that this is the capital after all. If we evacuate hastily, it may affect morale, so we still have to hold out for a while."

"Since we have to hold out for a while, it is inevitable that some buildings will be destroyed. What I mean is that we should put the battlefield outside the city. In order to reduce casualties, let the foreign devils into the city and then fight them. But the city wall must be defended."

"Okay!" Liu Shijiu slammed his folding fan onto his left palm. "Xingfu, this is the best. Let's let the foreign devils into the city and fight them in the streets. I can also vent my anger at Anping."

"Big brother."

Time was running out, and Teng Yuzao began to issue orders, "Although the city walls must be defended, we cannot place too many troops on the city walls. Too many troops will not be able to be deployed."

"Arrange two reinforcement teams at Guangqu Gate and equip them with heavy machine guns. Also, move your artillery squadron to the city wall and set up the artillery position near the Guangqu Gate Tower."

The squadrons of the assault battalion and the independent battalion are both super large, with a squadron of more than 800 people and a squad of nearly 300 people.

Teng Yuzao continued, "Whether the foreign devils climb the city walls or use artillery to blow open the city gates, your troops should try not to use heavy machine guns, and do not use the artillery on the city walls easily. You must wait until they blow open the city gates and a sufficient number of people rush into the city through the gates, then you can bombard their artillery positions."

"Then, we will block the foreign devils from entering the city while firing heavy machine guns from the top of the city walls. We will also block the city gates firmly, allowing the foreign devils outside to rush in but never allowing them to run out."

"The rest of your troops should stay inside Guangqumen and prepare to fight street battles with the foreign devils who rush into the city."

Liu Shijiu said excitedly, "Xingfu, don't worry. I promise to shut the door and beat the foreign devils. Once they enter the city, no one will be able to escape."

After explaining Liu Shijiu, Teng Yuzao said to Li Xiance, "Kangnian, if two battalions are withdrawn from your Second Mixed Brigade, will it affect your mission?"

"will not."

Li Xiance answered affirmatively, "Two battalions are enough to maintain order in the city, and the rest of the troops can be withdrawn."

What Li Xianze meant by maintaining order in the city was naturally the task assigned to him by Teng Yuzhao. One of his two battalions really had to maintain order to prevent the vanguard army from being caught doing something.

As for the rest of the people, with the cooperation of hundreds of Li Yaoting's men, it should be no problem for them to complete the task, especially now that Teng Yuzhao is going to hold on for a while longer, he has more time.

"The Russian army is surrounded in the Dongbianmen barbican. I am worried that the foreign devils outside the city will climb the city walls near the Dongbianmen. So, you will take out two battalions to maintain order in the city, and the rest of the troops will be ready to fight against the foreign devils who may climb the city walls."

"Your mission is the same as that of the assault brigade, which is to let in as many foreign devils climbing the city walls as possible. Then the two squads of the assault brigade will eliminate the foreign devils on the city walls and cooperate with you to eliminate the foreign devils that come in."

Li Xianze said to Liu Shijiu with some concern, "Brother Liu, the city wall is bare. You need to think of more ways to attack the foreign devils on the city wall, otherwise the casualties will be huge."

What Li Xiance was worried about was exactly what Teng Yuzhao was worried about, and he also told Liu Shijiu.

"If the troops on the city are not enough, the independent brigade responsible for the defense of the South City can also support you."

Liu Nineteen laughed and said, "This is easy. I've seen it from the city walls. They not only have a lot of rolling logs and rocks, but also shield carts. I can put some sandbags on the shield carts and push them over. Once I get close, I can throw grenades at them and that should solve the problem."

Liu Shijiu's idea is very good. If that were the case, it would be equivalent to having a few earth tanks on the city. After they rushed to the front and dropped grenades, the soldiers behind the earth tanks would charge forward and it should not be a problem to eliminate the remaining enemies.

"Brother, your idea is great. Find some quilts, soak them with water and cover the shield vehicle with them. It will be harder for bullets to penetrate them."

This kind of earth tank was used by our soldiers on the Taihang Mountains more than 30 years later. At that time, all they needed was an octagonal table covered with a few wet quilts and some soil in the middle of the quilts, and the soldiers would dare to charge forward by pushing the table against their backs.

Teng Yuzao said decisively, "Also, although most of the people in the capital have left, there are still many people left in the city. You should immediately send people to check every household. All the people in the outer city should either leave the city or rush to the inner city. In short, not a single person should be left in the outer city."

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(End of this chapter)