The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 461 The Japs are causing trouble again

"The situation in Yuxuan is indeed critical. The foreign devils have split into two groups and are attacking Lingchuan from Hejian and Linqi respectively, under the cover of a large number of artillery fire."

"Especially the German troops that formed their own route in the Linqi direction were very fierce and their attacks were very fierce."

Teng Yuzao took out his silver cigarette case, took out a cigarette and lit it.

Teng Yuzao has a habit. When he is thinking about a problem or needs to make an important decision, he often smokes to relieve stress.

Teng Yuzao said with some concern, "The battle in Yuxuan was very difficult. Although it has only been four days, the First Town has suffered more than 3,000 casualties. Most of the casualties occurred under the intensive and fierce bombardment of the foreign devils."

"At present, the northern defense forces that blocked the British and French coalition forces have retreated to Tongniuling, and the southern blocking forces have also retreated to Anjie, which is less than a hundred miles away from Lingchuan."

These senior generals were all clear about the battle plan. Tongniuling and Anjie were almost the last blocking positions of the southern blocking forces.

In just four days, they gave up several preset positions one after another and even retreated to the last preset position. This was not Liu Yuzhi's style. The First Town must have encountered an unprecedented huge challenge.

In fact, with more than 3,000 casualties in just four days, it can be seen that the attack momentum of the foreign devils in the south was very fierce.

Fortunately, both Tongniuling and Anjie are strategically located, and the First Town had used a large number of prisoners to build complete defensive fortifications here a few months ago. It should be easier to resist the attack of the British, French and German coalition forces here, and at least it will give the First Town a break.

If we cannot hold back the more than 200,000 foreign devils on the southern route for a few more days, it will likely affect Teng Yuzhao's plan to annihilate the Russian and Japanese armies.

Teng Yuzao took a deep breath and said, "The situation at Yuxuan is not the most critical. The Chief of Staff sent someone to report that Yuxuan can hold out for another three to five days without any problems. But now..."

"Teacher, could it be that Niangzi Pass could no longer hold out, or that the foreign devils there broke through Niangzi Pass, and the court wants us to rescue it."

Wu Peifu's question made Hu Dianjia anxious and he spoke urgently.

"Marshal, the imperial court is now stationed in Pingyao. The foreign devils must be aware of this news. If Song Qing and his men lose the natural barrier of Niangzi Pass, it will be even more impossible for them to stop the 20,000 German and French coalition forces in Shanxi. Once these 20,000 coalition forces enter Shanxi, they will definitely head for the imperial court."

"They may even abandon Taiyuan and head straight for Pingyao. At this moment, the imperial court must not make any mistakes!"

Hu Dianjia's concern for the safety of the court was evident in his words, which made Liu Shijiu and Li Xiance look at each other.

According to Cixi's request, the court's visit to Shaanxi has not yet been communicated to these generals, so these people are not clear about the current situation of the court.

Teng Yuzhao agreed with Cixi's request.

The court's withdrawal from Shanxi would inevitably cause concern among the officers and soldiers. At least some people in the court and the opposition would think that the vanguard army's goal of blocking hundreds of thousands of coalition forces in the Taihang Mountains would be difficult to achieve, otherwise why would the court leave Shanxi. It might even cause some degree of unrest in the military, at least the defenders of Niangzi Pass would inevitably be unstable.

Teng Yuzhao didn't care too much about Hu Dianjia's attitude and shook his head.

"Don't worry, Xuanqing. I can tell you that the imperial court had already headed for Xi'an eight days ago, and it is estimated that they have already crossed the Yellow River by now."

Yang Shixiang, who had been paying attention to everyone's expressions, suddenly laughed.

"General Fu, the court is rushing to Xi'an now, but they are still a little worried about the combat effectiveness of our vanguard army! But it's good this way. The court is not in Shanxi, so we don't have any worries. Even if the foreign devils break through Niangzi Pass, we can focus on dealing with the foreign devils in front of us without distraction."

Teng Yuzao nodded. "Mr. Lian is right. Once the imperial court leaves, we will have nothing to worry about. Even if the 20,000 German-French coalition forces rush into Niangzi Pass, as long as we defeat the enemy in front of us, we will block and destroy these 20,000 people in Shanxi."

Hu Dianjia did not listen to the conversation between Yang Shixiang and Teng Yuzao. He was slightly relieved when he heard Teng Yuzao say that the court had already left Shanxi.

Liu Shijiu opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, no words came out. The disdainful look on his face revealed his thoughts clearly.

Teng Yuzao added, "Besides, Niangzi Pass is also safe and sound."

Teng Yuzao said with some emotion, "This time, Song Qing and Ma Yukun fought very tenaciously. Not only did they not collapse at the first blow, they also held out for five days against the 20,000 German-French coalition forces at Niangzi Pass. The German and French troops took turns to fight, but they did not advance a single step."

Li Xiance said sarcastically, "I guess this time, the imperial court's strict order worked. Even if the two of them wanted to withdraw, their generals might not agree."

Liu Nineteen sneered and said, "They should know very well that the imperial court did not dare to touch them in the past, but now that our vanguard army has won victory after victory, the imperial court will no longer care about them. If they continue to collapse at the first blow as they did in the past, the imperial court will definitely cut off their heads."

Teng Yuzao didn't know whether Cixi had strictly ordered Song Qing and Ma Yukun not to retreat any further, otherwise they would be severely punished. Anyway, in history, the Wuwei Left Army and Wuwei Rear Army led by Song Qing and Ma Yukun resisted the attack of the German-French coalition forces at Niangzi Pass.

According to Teng Yuzhao's inference, this was most likely due to the presence of Dong Fuxiang's Wuwei Hou Army with three battalions among the defenders. Although the combat effectiveness of the Wuwei Hou Army was only average, they fought with a fierceness and were very tough, and collapse at the first blow would not happen to them.

Since the problem is not with Niangziguan, then where is the problem?
Just as Wu Peifu was about to ask further questions, Teng Yuzao pointed at the map spread out on the square table and spoke.

"Now, the ones causing us trouble are the little devils coming out of Cizhou in the middle route. After being harassed day and night by the Sixth Town of Panjinshan, the old devil, Li Jianshangwen, seems to have sensed something."

"After occupying Hezhang, he did not advance westward along the Zhuozhang River Valley and head straight for Luzhou Prefecture. Instead, he left the 9th Division to garrison Hezhang. He led the other four divisions to turn north and head north along the Qingzhang River Valley, heading straight for Shexian County."

"At present, Pan Jinshan is leading his troops in the Qingzhang River Valley, trying their best to harass and delay the Japanese invaders, buying us some time!"

(End of this chapter)