The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 459: Cautious Old Russian

The mountain wind mixed with the rolled up snow whistled through the desolate and bleak mountains, making a "woooo" sound, adding a lot of chill to the vast mountains.

On the hillside, behind a dry bush shivering in the cold wind, Teng Yuzhao and Li Jinyu were holding binoculars and observing the rugged and winding mountain road in the distance.

On the mountain road, a long line of small black dots were crawling forward along the road.

This is the edge of the mountainous area west of Yongnian, and the Russian troops stationed in Yongnian have also entered the mountainous area.

The Russian army did not choose the shorter but more rugged mountain road from Yetao, Lishupo to Piandian and then to Shexian. Instead, they preferred to take a longer detour and chose another mountain road which was easier to travel for most of the way.

After entering the edge of the mountainous area, the Russian army did not directly cross the Nanming River and enter the depths of the mountainous area. Instead, they marched northward along the east bank of the Nanming River in the flat river valley. Only near Dongdou did they cross the Nanming River and occupy the small mountain village of Dongdou.

After spending the night in Dongdou, we started to enter the mountainous area and march towards Piandian the next day.

Although the road chosen by the Russian army is long, the terrain is not complicated. There are no high mountains along the way until Dongdou. The mountains are neither high nor steep.

Of course, this mountain road is relatively easier to walk on and safer, especially for an army with more than 100,000 soldiers. Such terrain makes it easier for them to deploy. Not only are they not easily ambushed, but even if they encounter the vanguard's blocking troops, they may be able to encircle the enemy.

The Russian army's move of seeking a longer way instead of a closer one caused Li Jinyu, who was responsible for harassing and attacking the Russian army, to prepare in vain for several days near Yetao in the south. Seeing that the Russian army was circling to the north, he angrily left a battalion to monitor the opposite bank. He led the rest of the troops of the Eighth Regiment to take a shortcut and marched quickly from Yetao to the mountains near Douzhuang west of Dongdou to take shelter.

After learning that the Russian army had taken a detour and evaded Li Jinyu's Eighth Regiment, Teng Yuzao also rushed over overnight.

Since Li Jinyu and his troops had just arrived here last night, they were currently surveying suitable areas for harassment and ambush along the way from Dongdou to Piandian. There was no time to build blocking positions here to buy time for the troops to survey the terrain.

Li Jinyu was extremely anxious and was about to grit his teeth and order his troops to take the risk to block the enemy on the spot, but Teng Yuzhao arrived in time to stop Li Jinyu.

Li Jinyu pointed at the Russian army group that was wriggling like a long snake on the distant mountain road and said to Teng Yuzhao.

"There are more than 100,000 Russians. This time, they not only chose to take a detour but also chose a safer route. The distance between each unit and each other was so close. It seems that they are afraid of being beaten."

Teng Yuzhao snorted as he observed the Russian vanguard.

"You don't know yet, according to the intelligence sent back by Li Yaoting's people, the current Russian commander, Lian Navich, escaped a disaster at the Juma River last time."

Teng Yuzao's words immediately aroused Li Jinyu's interest. Just as he was about to ask, Teng Yuzao continued.

"Originally, this Lian Naweiqi was supposed to serve as the commander of the coalition forces that were chasing after Hu Dianjia's Third Regiment, and to unify the command of the Russian and Japanese troops. Just when he was about to catch up with the Japanese troops at the rear, our artillery bombardment began."

"This old Russian relied on his experience and sensed that something was wrong, so he didn't dare to chase the troops any further, and that's how he escaped death. Otherwise, we might have killed a Russian lieutenant general that time." Hearing what Teng Yuzhao said, Li Jinyu couldn't help but sigh softly and said hatefully.

"This old Russian is so cautious now. It's a bit difficult to deal with him!"

"You should go to the back first. I will lead my men to hold them back for a while. It will be easier to deal with them after dark. Then we can let the Russians suffer."

Teng Yuzhao put down the telescope and shook his head.

"inappropriate."

Pointing to the terrain nearby, he said, "Look, the mountains here are low and there are many ravines. If you block them here, even if the Russians don't use artillery, as long as their troops are deployed, it will be easy for them to move behind you through these ravines. At that time, with the Russians' superior forces surrounding you from all sides, it is estimated that none of your people will be left."

Without waiting for Li Jinyu to speak, Teng Yuzhao pointed to a small hill more than 200 meters ahead, facing the mountain road and said.

"Although the hill is not high, it is quite steep. The search cavalry in the Russian vanguard can't ride up. Send a sentry up there. When the Russian vanguard search cavalry comes over, shoot them first, then withdraw from the left side and lure the Russians to chase along the ravine."

"For your sentinel, the Russians won't send too many troops to pursue them. At most, they will send a battalion of troops. This gives you an opportunity. You can ambush two battalions behind the ravine."

"Take all your heavy machine guns with you. When the Russians' pursuit troops enter the ambush circle, use intensive firepower to eliminate the pursuers in the shortest possible time, and then move away immediately."

"When the Russians hear the heavy machine guns, they will think that our large army is there. They will not dare to continue marching, but will pursue your ambush. In this way, their large army will have to stop advancing. They will not continue to advance until they are sure that our large army is not nearby."

"In this way, by the time they start marching, half a day will have passed. If you do the same thing on the mountain road behind, it won't cost you much. The Russians won't be able to get very far in a day."

"it is good!"

Li Jinyu clapped his hands excitedly, "Great! I'll arrange it right away."

Teng Yuzao called out to Li Jinyu, who was anxious to pass on the message, and said, "Remember, you must run away after the fight is over. You must not let the Russians who come over catch you."

"Also, your mortars must be ready. If the second wave of Russian pursuers arrives too fast and your ambushers don't have time to withdraw, use mortars to bombard the Russians who are rushing to rescue you. The bombardment must be strong and fierce, so that the Russians will not dare to easily ask the main force to continue advancing."

The Russian army had more than 100,000 soldiers and their marching column was dozens of miles long. Normally, they would never be attacked by a conventional ambush. The only way to pose a fatal threat to them was to surround them on a large scale, then gradually compress them and finally annihilate them.

But despite this, the Russian army was still very cautious. In front of a vanguard regiment, there was a company of Cossack cavalry. These cavalry would ride up all the low and flat hills and ridges along the way, and then use telescopes to search carefully before running down and continuing to move forward.

Finally, they arrived at the foot of the hill where the Eighth Regiment had set up an ambush. The first squad of Cossacks rode up the hill, while the other cavalrymen, still chatting and laughing on their horses, urged their horses to trot, turned to the right along the mountain road, and prepared to bypass the hill.
(End of this chapter)