The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 259: Critical Situation

As soon as Li Xiance started the battle, another group of about 4,000 American troops were stunned by the sudden sound of Maxim heavy machine gun fire and a series of explosions. Just when these American troops were at a loss, several vanguard soldiers in iron-gray uniforms suddenly pushed out two carts with sandbags on them in the alley ahead. On the sandbags were the black muzzles of two Maxim heavy machine guns.

"Da da da da", before the cart stopped, the two Maxim heavy machine guns on the cart opened fire. The American officers and soldiers on the street who had just come to their senses were now too late to dodge. The American soldiers on the street were immediately knocked down on the stone road one after another.

Almost at the same time as the Maxim heavy machine gun opened fire, black grenades emitting blue smoke flew out from both sides of the street. Then, the scene that had just happened to another group of American troops was repeated to this group of American troops.

However, there was a bit of an accident in the ambush here.

In the melee, I don’t know if it was because the courtyard walls on the street were not strong, or the strong vibration from the dense explosion of thousands of grenades just now made some of the walls loose, or maybe the strong desire of the large group of American soldiers to survive was too strong, so the US soldiers pushed them down in desperation. Anyway, several courtyard walls on the street collapsed, and then a large group of American soldiers rushed in despite the volleys of gunfire from the roofs and windows.

Relying on their numerical advantage and desperately trying to break out for a way of survival, the American troops quickly occupied those courtyards. This allowed them to stabilize their position. Under the officers' shouting, they began to use this as a basis to launch flanking attacks on the soldiers of the assault brigade in the courtyards on both sides.

This situation suddenly made the situation for the assault brigade ambushing the US troops become serious.

This is almost equivalent to the ambush circle being torn open by the US military, and then the US military used these breakthroughs as a basis to continuously attack the ambush circle positions of the assault brigade with local superior forces.

The US military's forces were relatively concentrated, while the assault battalion's forces were relatively dispersed, which made the situation extremely unfavorable for the assault battalion.

Fortunately, the number of American troops ambushed by the assault battalion was only more than 4,000, almost the same as the number of American troops ambushed by the assault battalion. Under the first round of fierce attack by the assault battalion, the unprepared American troops lost more than 1,000 people, which made the number of the assault battalion slightly exceed the number of the remaining American troops.

Moreover, since the US military had gathered nearly a thousand people in their several breakthrough points, the number of people left on the streets was far less than the number of assault teams surrounding them.

At this moment, Liu Shijiu decisively ordered the charge.

Liu Shijiu seized the perfect opportunity to launch the charge. Although some of the assembled American troops had already gained a foothold at the breakthrough point and were constantly expanding the area they occupied, most of the American troops were still scattered in various corners of the streets. It was a perfect time for the assault brigade to launch the charge.

In particular, they did not need to charge over a long distance. They often suddenly rushed out from the gate or climbed over the courtyard wall, and then they were close to the panicked American soldiers. Then they used their superior forces to engage in fierce hand-to-hand combat with the panicked American soldiers, using bayonets and machetes, and the gradually skilled team cooperation method to eliminate these American soldiers one by one.

The soldiers of the assault brigade, who had freed up their hands, gradually launched a new encirclement and attack on the American troops that had broken out of the encirclement.

"Boom boom boom", at this moment, fierce artillery fire suddenly came from the direction of Guangqumen, and then smoke and dust rose in the residential area of ​​the city.

As the cannon sounded, the Russian army's shout of "Ura" suddenly came from the East Gate City, and the gunfire became more intense.

The changes in these two places made Teng Yuzao's heart sink again. The sound of artillery fire from the direction of Guangqumen must be that the British army had arrived, and they should have known the situation of the American army. In order to support the American troops trapped in the city, they were eager to attack Guangqumen.

Although Teng Yuzhao's position was still some distance away from the East Gate, the shouts of the Russian army had actually reached here. It can be seen that the Russian troops blocked in the East Gate should have heard the fierce explosions and shouts in the city, which gave them hope and greatly boosted their morale.

However, at this moment, Teng Yuzhao was no longer able to care about the situations in those two places. His attention was fixed on the battlefield of the assault brigade.

Although the assault brigade, under the timely and correct command of Liu Shijiu, had begun to encircle the American troops who had broken out of the ambush circle from three sides again, and also used the street fighting tactics that they were not very proficient in. They penetrated the walls and ridges and launched an attack on the American troops who were shrinking in the streets and alleys and were extremely uncomfortable, the American troops had gathered more than 2,000 people in one place and were fighting and retreating.

The direction of the U.S. troops' retreat was towards Guangqumen. Apparently, seeing that the road ahead was blocked, the U.S. troops had begun to prepare and wait for the support of the British troops who were about to arrive.

"Report."

Teng Yuzhao was so absorbed in observing the battlefield situation that he did not even hear the running sound of the communications staff officer who was running from the Chongwenmen tower to report to him about the battle situation in the city.

Since Wu Peifu was away, Wei Jinghai specially arranged for a communications staff officer to follow Teng Yuzhao.

The staff officer with a pale face reported hurriedly, "Sir, Deputy Chief of Staff Wei just called and said that more than 6,000 British troops have arrived outside Guangqumen and are expected to attack the city soon."

There is no need to estimate the British army's siege from Guangqumen. The cannon fire that just sounded shows that the British army can't wait to conduct artillery test firing and will launch an attack on Guangqumen next.

But the staff officer's next words made him feel nervous, "Deputy Chief of Staff Wei also said that Commander Hu reported that the Gansu troops guarding Dongzhimen and Qihuamen could no longer hold on."

"Commander Hu asked for instructions. He has already discussed with General Ma Fulu, the commander of the Gansu Army in the city. He wants to send troops to Dongzhimen to assist the Gansu Army in defending the city and stop the Russian attack first."

"In addition, Commander Hu is going to concentrate his forces, open the Qihua Gate, let in some of the Japanese devils attacking the Qihua Gate, and then ambush them. General Ma Fulu will also send troops to assist."

Teng Yuzhao did not expect that the Gansu generals who had been reluctant to let them take over the defense of the inner city's east city actually agreed. Moreover, Hu Dianjia had an even bolder idea, which was to let some Japanese troops in through Qihuamen before fighting.

The communications officer then said, "Sir, Deputy Chief of Staff Wei said that he agrees with Commander Hu's suggestion, and Deputy Chief of Staff Wei also said that Deputy Captain Wang Decheng has successfully organized the Boxers, Green Camp, and Training Army who have joined our Vanguard Army, with a total of more than 8,000 people. Deputy Chief of Staff Wei suggested that Wang Decheng take these more than 8,000 new soldiers to Qihuamen and temporarily hand them over to Commander Hu to fight a good battle with the Japanese devils inside Qihuamen."

If we can have superior military strength and adopt the Guangqumen method, it would not be a bad thing to eliminate some Japanese troops in the city. This will make the coalition forces outside the city feel a little frightened and at least suspend the attack for a few days, giving them time to prepare adequately.

However, he is already a little overwhelmed now, and the battle situation is very critical. If something goes wrong with Hu Dianjia, he will be in big trouble.
(End of this chapter)