Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 290: Sleepless Night in Saigon

After the first battle, the French Far East Fleet was completely wiped out, and all its warships were either sunk or captured.

The French army went out of the city to fight, but was hit head-on by the Chu army. There were 8,000 troops leaving the city, including 3,000 white troops, and only 600 to 700 people retreated in a panic.

The remaining 1,300 to 1,400 indigenous vassal troops had already fled without a trace. The clever ones might have taken off their military uniforms, changed into the wide-leg trousers of the local Jiaozhi people, put on their main conical hats, and blended into the crowd, making it difficult to distinguish them.

The Count of Anjou, the French Governor-General of Saigon, who received the tragic news of the defeat, felt as if two buckets of cold water had been poured over his head. He gritted his teeth helplessly and angrily, and loudly ordered the people around him:

"Hurry, hurry and organize more people. I need all the white men who can hold a gun, from thirteen or fourteen to fifty-five. No... anyone who can move, organize them all. Relying on the city's buildings to build barricades, we will definitely be able to defeat these hateful Orientals and defend our homes in Saigon."

The Count of Anjou was not bragging when he said this. The French were the first to use urban barricade attack and defense warfare and they were very good at it. During the Paris Revolution, they frequently used it to block the army's entry into Paris.

Compared to the British, the French are more professional.

It was now approaching 5 p.m., and all sorts of bad news were coming in like a stream. The Governor's Office had received news of the enemy's massive invasion five or six hours earlier, and had mobilized a large number of manpower to build barricades.

As white colonists, the French drove a large number of Jiaozhi people and Chinese to take up arms and blocked the streets with all kinds of debris, intending to turn Saigon into a large battlefield.

More white civilians were armed, taking muskets and ammunition from their homes or French arsenals, and were dispersed around the city in groups.

These armed white civilians will hold muskets, occupy the street-facing windows of sturdy city buildings, launch a counterattack against the invading Chu army, and stop its offensive momentum.

At this time, the total population of Saigon was about 180,000 to 190,000, more than double the population of Singapore.

In addition to the indigenous population of Jiaozhi, about 30% were Chinese and one and a half were French white colonists, totaling about 24,000 to 25,000 people.

After losing more than 2000 people, there were still over 2 people, more than half of whom were white men capable of fighting, at least to people.

With such strength, it is possible to fight.

Moreover, the French Saigon Governor's Office still has many troops stationed outside the colony. After receiving the urgent order via telegram, they are rushing back day and night to provide reinforcements.

Within four or five days, no fewer than 4,200 French white colonial troops were expected to arrive as reinforcements.

some of

In 1867, when France occupied the three provinces of Vinh Long, An Giang and Ha Tien, there were more than 2700 white troops stationed there. After receiving orders from the French Governor-General, all of them returned to reinforce without leaving a single one behind, and it was expected that they would reach Saigon in three days.

Even with such preparations, the Governor of Anjou was still shocked when he saw the six or seven hundred French soldiers fleeing in a panic.

Oh my God! What kind of devil did I encounter?
More than 8000 soldiers marched out of the city to fight. More than an hour later, only six or seven hundred people fled back in a panic. Even if they killed 8000 pigs, it wouldn't be so fast, right?

However, the reality was so cruel that the French army's proud new 1866 Chassai striker rifle did not gain a clear advantage in the line-up infantry shooting, and was evenly matched with the enemy.

However, the attacking Chu expeditionary force had obvious advantages in manpower and artillery, and its weapons were not at a disadvantage, so it was naturally a failure.

Seriously speaking

The genuine French troops numbered only a little over 600, including more than 1.32 French naval soldiers. It was not surprising that they failed in a head-on confrontation with the Saigon Expeditionary Force, which had a total of people.

As for the fact that there are more than a thousand armed white civilians in the French army, plus more than 5,000 indigenous vassal troops...

Ahem, let’s not talk about these armies.

If they were to face the Jiaozhi rebels with extremely backward equipment, there would be no problem. One against three or one against five would be no problem. It would be an absolute one-sided massacre.

However, faced with the Chu State's Xigong expeditionary force, which was armed to the teeth, these barely cobbled-together troops showed their true colors. They were slaughtered like melons and vegetables, and were terrified and fled in panic.

Urban siege?

Major General Zhou Laonian, who led the army in pursuit, looked at the barricades piled up randomly not far away and the shadowy figures flashing behind the barricades, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Street fighting was a new proposition. After the bloody Battle of Singapore, relevant combat experience and lessons were quickly spread among the Saigon Expeditionary Force.

The Chu army had a good habit, that is, when encountering new battle examples, new tactics, and new enemies, the lessons learned in the battle would be quickly spread and extended to the entire army.

Just like the current street fighting method, as the fleet loaded with spoils returns to Manila, the relevant combat experience will be immediately summarized and analyzed at the Manila Advanced Infantry College and conveyed at a meeting of senior generals and staff.

Because of the urgency of the military situation, senior generals who find it difficult to study on site will have special staff officers go to the Tongzhou Islands (Note: formerly Mindanao) and the Cebu Islands to convey the information and hold seminars for senior officers.

During the stay in the Mekong Bay, senior military officers from the Chu King's Chamberlain had summoned the Saigon Expeditionary Force to convey relevant lessons learned.

While the ships were sailing on the Saigon River, relevant military seminars were still in progress.

Before he could finish his words, a large number of urban barricades appeared in Saigon. Was this to allow the expeditionary officers to review their past and learn new things?

It won't take long

The seven regimental commanders of the Saigon Expeditionary Force under Major General Zhou Laonian (note: including the New Seventh Regiment and the New Ninth Regiment assigned to the Saigon Expeditionary Force) all gathered together and held a brief pre-war meeting.

Major General Zhou Laonian didn't waste any time talking. He spread out the map and said to the seven regiment leaders:
"Brothers! Our army has destroyed the main force of the French army on the outskirts of the city and broken the strongest backbone of the French. Now it's time to eat the meat. Don't laugh, be serious.

Regardless of whether they are direct descendants or not, this general treats everyone equally.

The seven infantry regiments were divided into seven routes, two on the left, two on the right, one around the rear, and two attacking from the front.

This general doesn't care who breaks through the enemy's barricade defenses first, or who burns, kills, and loots. As long as they follow the rules, they are not allowed to rob Chinese expatriates.

As long as you do not violate His Majesty's ban and do not kill or injure Chinese expatriates, you can do whatever you want.

This general doesn't have many cannons left. I will give each of your regiments 4 field guns, no more.

The newly formed Seventh Regiment suffered the greatest casualties. This general will equip you with seven field guns so that you can attack from the front without taking a detour.

Whether you eat meat or drink soup depends on your own ability.

Now take your soldiers and start the action. This general will welcome His Majesty into the city to rest before midnight, leaving you some time..."

Major General Zhou Laonian paused here, took out the Jinzhi pocket watch in his arms, and looked at the time. It was 5:12 in the afternoon, which was a little more than 6 hours until o'clock.

"You have six hours left. Whoever breaks the barricade first will get to rob it first. The quickest ones will win. The action will start promptly at six o'clock. Follow the order."

"Yes, sir."

The seven regiment commanders responded in unison with excitement, and immediately trotted off to arrange the attack deployment.

Then the large group of Chu soldiers immediately split into seven groups and expanded at an extremely fast speed. The battle started at 6 o'clock on time.

On the front street
After Lieutenant Colonel Huo Chongshan, commander of the newly formed Seventh Infantry Regiment, held a simple pre-war mobilization meeting, all his officers were as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood, and they were really shouting.

Lieutenant Colonel Huo Chongshan gathered the seven field guns assigned to the Seventh Regiment together and pointed at the chaotic pile of barricades in front and said loudly:
"I'll give you five minutes. Use the fastest speed and the most intense artillery fire to destroy this damn barricade. Then extend the artillery fire and open a path for me to attack and win.

Anyone who can do this will be rewarded 50 silver dollars."

The officers of the artillery squadron were also very motivated when they heard this. They shouted loudly to the artillerymen to take action, and they worked hard with their arms rolled up. The rumbling artillery fire immediately filled all directions of Saigon City.

The Chu army's attack momentum was extremely fierce, and even the French regular army could not stop it. Could a few barricades stop it?

The barricades made of carriages, broken wooden boards, broken bricks and stones, various furniture and pianos were easily broken like paper in the face of fierce artillery fire.

A large number of armed white civilians hiding behind the barricades suffered serious casualties in the artillery fire.

It turns out
The barricades that held back the reactionary government troops in Paris for more than half a year were only suitable for dealing with light infantry.

In front of the regular army equipped with field artillery, it only had a psychological comfort effect and could not become a real fortress barrier. Most French people were misled.

It can be as short as 10 minutes or as long as half an hour.

The barricades that spanned the streets of Saigon were breached one after another. The Chu Saigon Expeditionary Force, which rushed in like a tide, used dense and deadly volleys to efficiently kill the armed white civilians defending around the barricades.

Never use your hobby to challenge other people's profession. This should be a warning to everyone.

Whether they were armed white civilians around the barricades or hiding in the windows or platforms of sturdy buildings on both sides, they were shot and killed like falling ducks under the dense volleys of gunfire.

These armed white civilians achieved very few results, but made too many jokes.

Either the gun was loaded with gunpowder but no bullets, or double the amount of gunpowder was loaded but the barrel exploded, or the bullets were loaded but didn't fire, or the bullets flew away and no one knew where they were. The efficiency was appallingly low.

Once the target is exposed, a fatal volley of gunfire will follow, and there will be no second chance to shoot at all.

Because of the way their rifles were loaded, it was impossible for the armed white civilians to hide behind buildings, so most of their bodies were exposed during the fight.

Wouldn't it be tragic if you raise your gun but can't hit the enemy?

From 6 o'clock to 7 o'clock, the sound of dense gunfire could be heard in Saigon. A strong smell of blood emanated from all over the city, mixed with the thick smell of gunpowder, which made people want to vomit.

It's after 7 o'clock and the sun has already set.

As dusk fell, the sounds of gunfire from all over Saigon gradually died down. All that could be heard were cries and intermittent gunshots.

Many white women were forced into the house by the soldiers and chasers, and then there were sounds of struggle and painful sobbing...

The white man who was running away on the street was shot down by the pursuing soldiers. He searched forward to see if there was any cash or valuables on his body, then left them there and went to look for the next target.

In the church and the luxurious white houses, cries and shouts filled the air. After nightfall, the Chu soldiers unleashed their fury, and the entire Saigon groaned in agony amidst the bloody humiliation...

This was an humiliation that France could never erase, and it made Saigon an unforgettable sleepless night.

(End of this chapter)