The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 519 Xianghe Front
Wei Jinghai continued, "According to the report of the Fourth Town's investigators, the main force of the foreign devils' army has advanced to ten miles away from Lucheng Town. The foreign devils' rearguard troops have more than 20,000 people, and the old Russians and Japanese troops have 10,000 people each, taking turns to cover the main force's retreat."

Wei Jinghai smiled and said, "Marshal, this group of foreign devils have all gathered together. In the main retreating brigade of the foreign devils, in addition to the rearguard troops of Japan and Russia, there are troops from the six countries of Britain, France, the United States, Germany, Italy, and Austria."

Teng Yuzhao swallowed the cold steamed bun in his mouth with some difficulty, then nodded and said.

"Occupying our capital is an honor for the foreign devils. Naturally, all foreign devils from different countries don't want to lose any of them. But this is just right. The armies of Italy and Austria-Hungary have never suffered a serious blow. This time, let them have a taste of what it feels like to feel the pain."

Teng Yuzao then asked, "What is the combat readiness of the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Regiments, as well as the First Artillery Regiment?"

Wei Jinghai said without hesitation, "According to the latest information from the General Staff, the three towns have not only entered the designated area in accordance with the combat plan and the Marshal's requirements, but the relevant combat readiness preparations have also been completed. Now all units have entered a hidden standby state."

"Director Liu just called. He said that although time is a bit tight, the artillery town has been taking turns to eat breakfast in order to save time. The positions of the twelve mountain artillery battalions, including the reserve positions, have just been completed."

“Although the mortar positions are somewhat scattered, they have been built with the help of the three towns.”

The First Artillery Regiment had only nine mountain artillery battalions. The reason why there were twelve battalions was to unify the command of the mountain artillery to launch artillery attacks on the coalition forces. The mountain artillery battalions of the Second, Fourth and Fifth Regiments were also assigned to Liu Changfa for unified command.

In addition, in order to better exert the power of intensive artillery fire, all 87mm mortars in the three towns were temporarily placed under the unified command of Liu Changfa.

"The personnel who went out to survey and map have completed the survey of the relevant areas and have drawn a grid map according to the method taught by the Marshal. It will soon be distributed to various artillery positions and the artillery units of the three towns."

"The surveying personnel of Artillery Town are now crossing the canal and returning to Hexi. At present, it can be said that all the pre-war preparations of Artillery Town have been completed. We are just waiting for the order to launch an artillery attack on the designated area immediately."

Teng Yuzao was very satisfied with Liu Changfa.

Since taking office as the director of artillery, Liu Changfa has been very motivated. In just over a month, he completed the establishment of two artillery towns and helped each town to form mountain artillery and mortar units.

This was mainly due to the fact that Liu Changfa's artillery town had always been overstaffed. When the troops were expanded, one artillery town was divided into two, and some new recruits were added, and another artillery town could be quickly formed.

Moreover, the crash course of the Vanguard Army's camp school is also very powerful. Since its establishment, they have sent 1,200 students to the Artillery Town.

"What's the situation in Langfang and Wuqing?"

Wei Jinghai took the teacup handed to him by a staff officer and placed it in front of Teng Yuzhao, while frowning and speaking.

"The Wuqing and Huanghuadian lines have already engaged in a battle with the foreign devils from Tianjin. The foreign devils' artillery fire is very fierce. According to the report from the Third Regiment, the Third Regiment and the Independent Column have suffered heavy casualties."

"Although the blocking troops were hiding in the trenches, they still suffered more than a thousand casualties in just over three hours."

"However, Commander Hu said that he has issued a death order to the Third Town and the Independent Column. This time, unless all personnel are killed in battle, he will enforce battlefield discipline on officers above the rank of sentinel in any area where the foreign devils break through their positions, and ensure that they will stop the foreign devils' attacks before dark." "The coalition forces in Langfang seemed to know in advance that the foreign devils from Tianjin and Beijing would rush over, so the stubborn resistance there has been unusually active since this morning, and they have been launching short assaults on the Sixth and Eighth Towns."

"Li Jinyu believes that the foreign devils in Langfang don't know that we have already dispatched troops to encircle and annihilate the foreign devils who escaped from the capital. They want to use the illusion of a breakout to attract our main force."

Teng Yuzao nodded. "Your analysis is correct. It seems that the foreigners now suspect that their telegrams will be intercepted by us, so they have begun to compile some simple emergency codes or passwords."

Although he saw that Wei Jinghai was a little confused, now was not the time to explain to him what the password was.

Teng Yuzhao took a bite of a piece of salted radish in his other hand, and then stuffed the remaining small piece of cold steamed bun in his hand into his mouth, hurrying to finish the bun.

As time was very tight, in order to hurry up to set up positions and understand the terrain of the surrounding area and the pre-set battlefield, not only Teng Yuzhao had no time to eat, but also the staff officers of the General Staff Office and the chief officers of each town had no time to eat breakfast peacefully. They all ate a bite after they were busy in order to prepare for the upcoming battle.

"Marshal, Chief of Staff, the Fourth Town reports that the foreign devils' rear guard troops have entered Lucheng Town. They are sending personnel to contact the First Town that is chasing them."

Teng Yuzao let out a long sigh, "Call the Second and Fifth Towns, inform them of the enemy situation, and tell them that all troops are on combat readiness."

Teng Yuzao's voice was a little unclear because he had not had time to swallow the steamed bun in his mouth. However, Wei Jinghai understood what Teng Yuzao meant. He immediately nodded and walked aside to call Li Xiance and Wu Peifu personally.

After instructing Wei Jinghai, Teng Yuzao hurriedly picked up the cup of tea that Wei Jinghai had just brought over, tested the water temperature, and wanted to swallow the dry bun in his mouth with the tea, but the tea was still too hot, so Teng Yuzao had to put it down.

Looking around the headquarters, I saw that all the staff officers were busy and nervous, and there was no cold tea on the tables made of empty ammunition boxes.

Teng Yuzhao sighed and waved to a personal guard standing at the entrance of the shelter, and the guard hurried over.

Teng Yuzao took the military water bottle handed over by the guard, and under the guard's surprised gaze, he raised his head and took a big sip of wine. He finally swallowed the dry bun in his mouth.

Teng Yuzhao seldom drank while commanding a battle, but this big gulp of wine not only helped him swallow the steamed bun in his mouth, but also swept away his fatigue from the past few days, and even made him feel much more energetic.

Teng Yuzhao hesitated for a moment, turned his back to the busy staff in the shelter, and took another big sip of wine. They then handed the military water bottle to the guard and waved to him to return to his post.

Teng Yuzhao then quickly walked to a gun scope at the observation port of the shelter.

Because he had vaguely heard the sound of artillery fire.

(End of this chapter)