The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 425: Let’s mobilize more troops
Duan Qirui continued with deep emotion, "Now when I think of what the newspaper said about Xingfu's sword-drawing, I know that Xingfu was right. He is a real hero!"

"For example, Hu Dianjia was just an ordinary soldier in the front line of the Wuwei Army, but under Xingfu's command, he became a brave and fearless general. Duan admires Xingfu from the bottom of his heart."

"This cup is for Xingfu."

After saying this, Duan Qirui raised his head and drank half a glass of liquor.

Ever since he met Duan Qirui, Duan Qirui had been addressing Teng Yuzao as "Fushuai" respectfully. Now, he had unconsciously begun to address Teng Yuzao by his given name, which was clearly a true expression of his feelings...

Looking at Duan Qirui's expression, Teng Yuzhao knew that these were Duan Qirui's heartfelt words and were by no means pretentious, so he also raised his glass and said.

"Brother Zhiquan, you are too kind to praise me. Since ancient times, there have been countless heroes in China who lived as heroes and died as heroes. I dare not call myself a hero. Let's toast to those real heroes."

After saying that, Teng Yuzao also drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

"Marshal, the foreign infantry are coming." Wei Jinghai reminded Teng Yuzhao from the side.

Wei Jinghai was no longer surprised by the heroes mentioned by Duan Qirui. He would be surprised if someone said that Teng Yuzhao was not a hero.

Teng Yuzhao turned his head and saw that, sure enough, a large number of infantry were rapidly pouring out from behind the bush in the distance.

Teng Yuzhao picked up the telescope from the sandbag shelter and pointed the lens in the direction of the Allied Forces.

As expected, all the people who came were Russian soldiers, and the more than 2,000 Allied cavalry who escaped also began to regroup on the hillside nearby.

The Russian commander seemed very angry about the heavy defeat suffered by the Allied cavalry at the hands of the 3rd Mixed Brigade. As soon as the vanguard troops turned around the woods, they began to form a formation and advance forward.

As more Russian troops continued to arrive, they quickly organized a frontal attack force of about 4,000 people, which was gradually approaching the frontal blocking position.

Eight heavy machine guns were also brought up by the Russian army and quickly moved forward. When they approached to a position more than 500 meters away from the front blocking position, they began to build machine gun positions.

The Russian army should want to take advantage of the fact that the 3rd Mixed Brigade has not yet established a foothold and break through the blocking position that the 3rd Mixed Brigade has once again built on its way of escape.

In order to achieve the goal of breaking through the blocking position in one fell swoop, the Russian army not only organized an attack force on the front, but also organized two regiments on the two flanks to form two routes, trying to outflank the blocking force.

The Russian army's organization at this time was very similar to that of the European powers. A regiment had more than 4,000 soldiers. The three Russian offensive forces added up to about 13,000 people, accounting for more than half of the total Russian army. This shows how determined and powerful the Russian army was in the attack.

In the large group of approaching Russian troops in a skirmish line, the forest of bayonets gleamed coldly in the sun. Even standing in the front-line command post behind the frontal blocking position, Duan Qirui seemed to be able to feel the biting cold, and even his body shivered involuntarily.

Although Duan Qirui felt a sense of heroism rising in his chest after drinking a glass of strong liquor, he still spoke with some concern as he looked at the approaching Russian army.

"Xingfu, the Russians have brought up more than 10,000 people this time! The frontal blocking position where Hu Dianjia is located is too weak. Should we send more troops up? Otherwise, I'm afraid Hu Dianjia won't be able to resist."

Teng Yuzao spread his hands and said, "It's not that I don't want to increase the frontal defense force, it's just that I don't have many people to send!"

Duan Qirui was so shocked by Teng Yuzao's words that he was speechless for a long time. After a long while, he said hesitantly, "Xingfu, didn't you say that you have about 50,000 people, including the people brought back by Hu Dianjia? How come there is no one!"

Teng Yuzao smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Zhiquan, it is like this. It is true that I have 50,000 men under my command, but I have just said that I want to wipe out all of these 50,000 foreign devils. My forces have been dispersed to the two wings of the foreign devils."

"Because the 30,000-strong Japanese Ninth Division fell behind, the entire battlefield is now more than ten miles long. There were originally two battalions of reserve troops on the front battlefield, which cannot be easily mobilized."

"After Hu Dianjia brought his men back, he transferred the three battalions that had withdrawn from the frontal blocking position back to Laishui. There are still more than 30,000 foreign devils on the east bank of the Juma River. If we mobilize more troops now, we will not have too much time to do so."

Teng Yuzhao's words made Duan Qirui even more worried.

"Xingfu, although I studied artillery, I also know a thing or two about infantry attacks. Your troops are already insufficient and so dispersed. Aren't you afraid that the foreign coalition forces will break through your front position?"

"Once this place is breached, it won't be your turn to encircle and annihilate the 50,000-strong foreign coalition army. Instead, you will be eaten up by them bite by bite."

Teng Yuzao deeply agreed with Duan Qirui's reminder and couldn't help but give Duan Qirui a thumbs up.

"Although Brother Zhiquan is from the artillery department, what he said just now is very correct. My troops are indeed a little insufficient and too dispersed."

"The current encirclement is like the Goubuli steamed buns in Tianjin, which have a lot of stuffing and a thin skin. Once it is punctured, the meat stuffing will immediately run out."

Teng Yuzao smiled a little embarrassedly and said, "Don't be afraid of being laughed at by Brother Zhiquan, I am a little greedy."

Looking at Duan Qirui, who was full of worry, Teng Yuzao smiled mischievously, "But I also have reasons to be greedy. Don't forget, I still have a lot of cannons."

Teng Yuzao turned to Wei Jinghai, who had a serious look on his face, and said, "Call Hu Dianjia and tell him that the front position is in his hands. The artillery must bombard the Russians on both wings first."

"Order Liu Changfa again and tell him to concentrate his artillery fire and bombard the Russians on both wings at the same time. You can open fire when the Russians are 400 meters away from the blocking position, and then bombard the Russians in the front depending on the situation."

Wei Jinghai said with some concern, "Marshal, should we have the First Mixed Brigade on both sides of the mountain road launch an attack on the Russians to contain them, and at the same time transfer the reserve troops of the two battalions to the frontal blocking position?"

"Do not."

Teng Yuzao shook his head firmly and said, "As long as the Russians don't try to occupy the hills and highlands on both sides, the troops of the First Mixed Brigade cannot be exposed for the time being, lest the Russians understand that we want to eat them up and break out from both sides of the mountain road in advance, which would disrupt our plan."

"As for the reserve troops, there is no need to mobilize them. Although the Third Mixed Brigade suffered heavy losses, they are eager for revenge, especially after the recent victory over the foreign cavalry. Their fighting spirit is even higher."

"What's more, I noticed that although they lost all their cannons, they didn't suffer much loss of heavy machine guns. There are still more than 30 of them. In such a small area in front, there is a heavy machine gun every few dozen meters. It will be no problem to stop a wave of attacks from the Russians."

Finally, Teng Yuzao waved his hand decisively and said, "Give the order."

Seeing that Teng Yuzao had made up his mind and would not change his battle plan, Wei Jinghai had to hurriedly run aside to arrange for the delivery of the order.

Even Duan Qirui could not say anything more. He just picked up the telescope with a worried look on his face and kept observing the Russian attacking forces and the blocking position currently held by Hu Dianjia in front.
(End of this chapter)