The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 389 Going to the Mountains
After Teng Yuzao finished speaking, Liu Shijiu was a little dazed. He looked at Teng Yuzao without saying anything else.

Liu Yuzhi said hurriedly. "Marshal, even if we want to expand the army, if our current troops suffer heavy losses, the effect of the expansion will not be apparent in a short period of time."

Teng Yuzhao waved his hand to stop Liu Yuzhi's dissuasion and spoke in a firm tone.

"I understand your concerns, Yuxuan."

Teng Yuzao's eyes swept across the faces of generals such as Li Xianze and Liu Shijiu, and he spoke in a deep voice.

"I understand your concerns, but the situation is a little different now. Since the foreign devils have almost sent out their entire army, they will never easily withdraw to the vicinity of the capital and continue to wait for their reinforcements. If they can't find us, they will probably get angry and kill and plunder everywhere in Nanzhili to the west and south of the Yongding River and Juma River."

"The people here are not prepared at all. If this really happens, not only will it take a long time for the area to recover after the war, but the powers will also make a fortune, and even make up for some of their military expenses. Therefore, we must fight this battle."

"As for the losses, even if we and the foreign powers end up in a fight that ends in a loss of both sides, with 20,000 to 30,000 casualties, if we can still defeat another 20,000 to 30,000 foreign devils, the foreign devils will probably take the initiative to negotiate peace with us. In that case, we can at least have some time to train our troops in peace, and the lost troops will be replenished quickly."

"I won't say anything else."

"Now, I command."

Teng Yuzao's tone had become serious, and he was ready to issue a battle order. The generals immediately stood up and waited for Teng Yuzao's order.

"The Third Mixed Corps."

Although Hu Dianjia had the most seniority among these generals, he always strictly abided by the duties of a subordinate in his attitude towards Teng Yuzhao, without any mistakes, and hurriedly stood up and waited for Teng Yuzhao's orders.

The Vanguard Army exclusively employed people who graduated from the Beiyang Military Academy, which made the Vanguard Army very different from other Qing armies. The military atmosphere, military appearance, and military conduct of the generals of the Vanguard Army all had a strong German style.

"Immediately rush to Yanjiachang, Matouzhen, Dongxianpo and other places to take over the defense of the independent column. If attacked by the coalition forces, you cannot fight them. You must fight and retreat, and retreat westward along Dashiwo, Tianjiapu and other places across the Juma River to the Shiting area at the foot of Taihang Mountain."

"Then go all the way south, along the west bank of the Nanjuma River, and draw the main force of the foreign devils to the vicinity of Laishui and Yixian."

"Remember, we must hold off the main force of the foreign devils for five days along the way."

Teng Yuzao warned, "Xuan Qing, you have a heavy task."

Teng Yuzao sighed, "Not only do we not have as many artillery pieces as the foreigners, but our range is also far less than their large-caliber artillery pieces. Although we captured and destroyed some of their 105mm artillery pieces this time, they still have 120mm large-caliber artillery pieces near the capital, and there are still quite a few of them."

"So, the three artillery battalions we left there must immediately rush to Yi County to regroup. It's a mountainous area, and it will be very difficult for the foreigners' large-caliber artillery to keep up with their main force. That's where the artillery corps, which mainly use mountain artillery, can be put to good use."

"Without artillery support, your blocking mission will be very difficult, and casualties will inevitably be high. If you feel it is difficult, can I let Kang Nian switch with you?"

Teng Yuzao's last words made Hu Dianjia's face flush red, and he answered loudly, "Please rest assured, Marshal, the 3rd Mixed Brigade is not made of mud, and its combat effectiveness is not exaggerated. The 3rd Mixed Brigade is not a second-rate unit in the vanguard army. Please wait and see. If I fail to complete the mission, I will die to apologize."

Seeing that he had successfully aroused Hu Dianjia's anger, Teng Yuzhao nodded, did not say anything more to Hu Dianjia, and continued to give orders.

"Captain Cao, after the independent column gathers its troops, take the three mixed cavalry cavalrymen and take my order to evacuate the wealthy families in Zhuozhou, Dingxing, Baoding and other places, as well as the towns and villages along the way, as soon as possible to prevent them from being robbed by the foreign devils. Those who refuse to leave will be treated as aiding the enemy, their property will be confiscated, and they can even be killed to establish their authority."

"As for the ordinary people, it would be better if they could evacuate. Don't force those who don't want to leave. If you complete this task, you will have done a great deed."

Teng Yuzao turned his gaze to Liu Yuzhi, Li Xiance, Liu Changfa, Liu Shijiu and others, and spoke. "Liu Yuzhi will be responsible for the unified action of the First and Second Mixed Brigade, the Assault Column, and the Artillery Brigade. We will announce to the public that we are rushing to Shanxi to protect the emperor, passing through Fangguan and Xujiaying to Gaobeidian, and then continue westward, crossing the Nanjuma River north of Dingxing."

"After crossing the Nanjuma River, we will have to travel early in the morning and sleep at night. We will not rush to Shanxi, but quietly head north to the mountains of Yi County, take cover and wait for orders."

Then Teng Yuzhao turned sideways and spoke to Wei Jinghai standing beside him.

"Ningbo, the weapons, ammunition and supplies we seized will be escorted by the Guards and the mortar battalion. The headquarters will move with the Guards. After daybreak, we will go west through Linjiatun and Yaocun, cross the Nanjuma River in Yi'an and reach Laishui."

"We need to raise the banner of the vanguard army and spread the word along the way that we are going to hide in the mountains and the foreign devils are about to attack us. The people must also evacuate to safe areas as soon as possible."

"We need to hurry along the way with great fanfare, making it look like we are in a hurry to escape from the foreign devils. The purpose is to attract the pursuing foreign devils to the mountains near Yi County, where we can have a big fight with them."

Although this section of the Yongding River was neither wide nor deep, it still took tens of thousands of troops a whole night to pass through it.

Hu Dianjia's Third Mixed Brigade was the first to cross the river, and then headed directly north without any stop.

Although Hu Dianjia knew that Teng Yuzhao was trying to provoke him, he still felt a sense of resistance in his heart.

Although there are three mixed brigades in the vanguard army today, everyone believes that the most combat-effective mixed brigade is not the first mixed brigade with the largest number of people, but the second and third mixed brigades.

The reason is simple, that is, the First Mixed Brigade fought fewer large and fierce battles than the Second and Third Mixed Brigade, and the combat effectiveness of the Second and Third Mixed Brigade were comparable.

Although Teng Yuzhao was using provocation, after all, he had expressed Li Xiangze's Second Mixed Brigade was stronger than the Third Mixed Brigade, and he must get back at that.

Moreover, there was another reason why he hurried over. The three battalions of Cao Futian's independent column could not withstand the attack of the foreign devil's army of more than 100,000, and might not even last for half a day.

This is not to say that the independent column’s combat effectiveness is poor, but that they have too few people.

After breakfast, Liu Yuzhi, Li Xiangze, Liu Changfa and Liu Shijiu left first, and then Cao Futian also led his troops away from the river bank.

Wu Peifu and Li Jinyu arrived with the Imperial Guard two hours ago, and they were the last to cross the river.

Since the soldiers of the Guards Association had been working hard all night, and they had also fought a not-so-small battle early this morning, they were definitely tired.

Especially considering that they would have to march quickly, Teng Yuzhao and Wei Jinghai discussed and gave Jinweixie three hours of rest time.

However, not all troops were able to rest during these three hours. A battalion of troops, led by the Battalion Affairs Section of the General Staff Office, drove carts to nearby villages and purchased a large number of chickens, ducks, pigs and sheep.

The Guards Association, together with the headquarters' guard forces, the super-large baggage battalion, the field hospital, and the headquarters' direct agencies, has a total of 16,000 to 17,000 people. If the civilian drivers are included, the number is nearly 20,000. It is definitely not enough to raise food for so many people in just a few villages.

The purchased meat is not just for these people to eat. All the animals have to be slaughtered, and except for the meat that can be kept for one day, the rest has to be processed.

感谢：拔锋寒、20221001014756458、辰雨、20230530286-Cd、小叶黄杨2、桂花蒙蒙、20231105674952、大脚打酱油、取个能用的名字真的好难、希格拉之耀、湿妹好银荡、我爱工业兔、偏爱有加、清河散人、-天-、20210111170129045、160608190428412、20210301104130671710、20180927104339797、20230301105267525784、竹楼玉荷秋、20220701234425860等书友的月票、推荐票支持！！！



(End of this chapter)