North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 133 A Despicable Act Without Morals (Last Day of Double Pay)!
Zuo Zongtang and Shi Dakai, leading the core militia battalion of the Fourth Regiment, had been in the model village for more than ten days.

After personally surveying the terrain, the two made the same decision almost simultaneously.

That means relocation!
Eight model villages, with over 8,000 people, were far too scattered. Each village had only about 1,000 people, making it impossible for them to withstand an attack by more than 3,000 American regular troops.

Therefore, they concentrated all the villagers in the three model villages in the southeast direction.

This is the direction from which the U.S. Army is most likely to attack!

The three model villages each have 2,600 to 2,700 people, plus a core militia company deployed in each village, so each village has nearly 3,000 people.

They might still not be able to withstand an attack by a superior regular army on their own, but if they support each other, they would at least have the strength to fight.

These three villages, which are located at opposite corners, are about three miles apart and are all within range of Maxim machine guns and mortars.

If one village is attacked, the other two villages can provide support from different directions.

While organizing the relocation of all villagers, Zuo Zongtang and Shi Dakai immediately began to strengthen the defenses of the three villages.

Two moats, each more than a meter deep, were dug outside the original log wall.

Inside the trench, there were also many machine gun positions and mortar positions.

The experience in digging trenches came from Ah Zu's personal instruction.

In addition to digging trenches, Zuo Zongtang and Shi Dakai also organized all eight thousand villagers and made use of every spare moment to conduct intensive training.

"Da da da……!"

"Bang bang bang...!"

Zuo Zongtang and Shi Dakai, who were inspecting militia training, were drawn to a group of dashing cavalrymen on the training ground.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out that all two hundred or so skilled cavalrymen were actually female soldiers!

These female cavalrymen skillfully rode their warhorses and fired rapidly at the straw targets with their Colt revolvers.

Once they got close, the female cavalrymen drew their long swords and swiftly sliced ​​off the straw target's head!
"Where... is Company Commander Xiao?"

"Mr. Zuo, I'm here!"

At Zuo Zongtang's summons, Xiao, the militia company commander who was organizing training, quickly ran over.

"Is Lady Youma leading this group of female cavalry?"

Zuo Zongtang pointed at the cavalry leader and asked, "Didn't we send Lady Youma back to San Francisco with the supply ship a couple of days ago? Why didn't she leave?"

"This...!" The militia company commander scratched his head and said, "It was Lady Youma who didn't want to leave, there was nothing we could do! We couldn't possibly tie her up and put her on the boat...!"

"Hmph...!" Zuo Zongtang snorted lightly: "Youma Niangzi's status is different. If anything happens to her while she's here, neither of us can bear the responsibility!"

"Well... how about I try to persuade Lady Youma again?" The militia company commander could only offer a reluctant answer.

"Da da da……!"

As they spoke, the leading female knight, with her heroic bearing and skillful horsemanship, charged forward.

"Hiss...!"

The female knight decisively reined in her horse, her voice like rolling jade beads: "Mr. Zuo, please don't make things difficult for Company Commander Xiao. I stayed behind voluntarily!"

Upon closer inspection, who else could this leading female knight be but Yuma?

During this time, Youma stayed in Model Village, teaching basic Cantonese to his Blackfoot tribe members.

After more than half a month, the results were remarkable. Most of the Black Foot women had learned a lot of Cantonese for daily communication.

With basic communication skills, these Black Foot women who married Chinese men have had much more harmonious family lives. They no longer have the same incomprehensible communication as before, where they relied entirely on guesswork.

A few days ago, Zuo Zongtang and Shi Dakai led reinforcements to Model Village and immediately prepared to send Youma back to San Francisco.

However, despite her seemingly gentle and shy nature, Yuma insisted on not leaving.

Not only that, Youma also organized all of his more than two hundred female tribespeople and trained them into the only cavalry unit in the model village.

For these Blackfoot people who grew up on horseback, riding a horse to fight is no more difficult than drinking water or eating.

Even if they were women, with a little training, they would be quite qualified cavalrymen.

Youma twirled his gleaming longsword in a beautiful flourish, and with a clang, it swiftly returned to its sheath.

"pretty……!"

Shi Dakai, being a connoisseur himself, couldn't help but clap his hands in admiration: "Lady Youma, you truly are a woman who rivals any man!"

Youma dismounted gracefully and stood before Zuo Zongtang and Shi Dakai.

Today, Youma wore a neat, glossy black braid, a militia uniform on her upper body, blue jeans on her lower body, and a pair of black high boots.

On his belt, a Colt revolver was tucked in one side and a long saber in the other, with several new-style grenades hanging from his back.

The current Youma has completely lost her gentle, weak, and extremely shy appearance; she exudes a clean, neat, and heroic aura.

"Mr. Zuo, Brother Shi, I cannot abandon my people and the villagers of Model Village to live on alone!"

With an exceptionally firm tone, Youma continued, "Our model village needs a cavalry, and that cavalry needs me!"

"Besides me, no one else can skillfully command this cavalry! So, I must stay and fight alongside you!"

After listening, Zuo Zongtang pondered and said, "Lady Youma, your status is different after all. Swords and spears on the battlefield are indiscriminate. What if something happens to you...!"

"For us Blackfoot people, to die on the battlefield is an honor!"

"Our Blackfoot tribe originally numbered over ten thousand, but most of them either died under the swords and guns of white people or from diseases brought by them!"

"Therefore, every Blackfoot man is filled with hatred for white people!"

"Many of our cavalrymen have had their men killed by the white army, making them even more hostile towards white people. They would be more than eager for the chance to take revenge themselves, and they will surely rush to fight bravely!"

At this point, Youma smiled and said, "Mr. Zuo, don't worry, we will protect ourselves and won't go to our deaths in vain!"

Zuo Zongtang was still uneasy: "Youma's wife, I think it's best to let Zu Nian make the decision on this matter...!"

Youma reached up and smoothed a strand of hair at his temple, saying softly, "For so many days, Azu hasn't given me any orders to go back. Isn't his meaning already quite clear?"

"He left the decision of whether to stay or leave to me!"

"This...!" Now that things have come to this, what else could Zuo Zongtang say?
He could only say, "Lady Youma, unless absolutely necessary, Brother Shi and I will not send you into battle! You must follow our orders in all your actions and must not act on your own!"

“I understand!” Youma agreed: “Mr. Zuo and Brother Shi, rest assured, I will not lead my people to their deaths, nor will I disrupt your plans.”

"Very well, let's go!"

With clean, nimble movements and exceptionally lightness, Youma mounted the horse, spurred it on with his long legs, and galloped away.

Under her personal leadership, more than two hundred Blackfoot female cavalrymen became the most eye-catching presence on the entire training ground.

Both their cavalry formations and their spear and sword skills were improving rapidly, in no way inferior to those of regular cavalry.
-
Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Southwest Command, which had just spent several days crossing the Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and entering California, along with its 3,800 troops, was resting on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

That night, in the vast battle tent, Brigadier General George Phillips convened an important meeting with all the staff officers of the headquarters, the principal officers of two infantry regiments, three cavalry battalions, and one artillery battalion.

"Gentlemen...!" Brigadier General George Phillips addressed the large group of officers in a deep voice, "Are you ready? We're going to war!"

"what……?"

The staff officers and the commanders of the various units were instantly dumbfounded!
Colonel Robert, commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment originally stationed in New Mexico, couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, General! I thought we were just relocating to California and weren't prepared for any combat operations!"

Colonel Carson, commander of the 18th Infantry Regiment originally stationed in Arizona, couldn't help but say, "General, our soldiers have undergone a long march and are extremely exhausted. Moreover, we are carrying little ammunition. I think the current situation is not suitable for combat!" Looking at the reactions of the staff officers and officers below, Brigadier General George Phillips said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, I have considered your concerns!"

"Don't worry, this is just a small-scale battle. Consider it a chance for the soldiers who have been on long marches to get back into shape!"

Brigadier General George Phillips continued, "According to reliable intelligence, the California Chinese Industries, in those model villages established in the Central Valley, openly harbor and protect federal and California fugitives who are guilty of heinous crimes."

“Those so-called model villages openly recruit Native American criminals who have committed countless atrocities!”

“Those so-called model villages have become dens of iniquity, and California is almost entirely controlled by the Huamei Industrial Corporation. California’s own judicial system is powerless to do anything about these model villages and the criminals hiding inside.”

Brigadier General George's gaze swept across the faces of all the officers, noticing a change in their expressions, before he continued, "Many of the criminals hiding in Model Village have the blood of our American soldiers on their hands!"

At this point, the expressions of the group of officers below became somewhat agitated and indignant.

Brigadier General George Phillips, quite pleased with himself, clenched his fist and said, "Since the California judicial system can't or dares not do anything about it, then we, the United States Army, will do it for them!"

“These eight so-called model villages are more than 20 miles away from where we are now. The villages only have some poorly trained militiamen.”

"Let the troops rest well tonight and tomorrow. The day after tomorrow morning, we will launch an operation against these so-called model villages."

"If those villages are sensible and let us in to search and arrest people, we can avoid a fight."

"If they can't even meet this most basic requirement, then a battle might be unavoidable!"

“General!” Major Brown of the 2nd Independent Cavalry Battalion of Arizona stood up and asked, “How can we identify which are criminals and which are just ordinary Chinese people?”

"Hmph!" Brigadier General George Phillips snorted and said, "Arrest all those who look like Indians! Anyone who dares to resist, kill them on the spot!"

“Gurgle…!”

All the officers and staff swallowed hard!
Major Brown, his neck stiff, continued, "I'm sorry, General! All the Chinese and Native Americans look so alike that our soldiers probably can't tell them apart!"

"Then arrest them all!" Brigadier General George Phillips roared.

"General, I think that will definitely cause a lot of conflict and result in many Chinese casualties...!"

"Casualties? Ha!" Brigadier General George Phillips said coldly, "As a soldier, you're afraid of casualties? Besides, the casualties are all those damned Chinese!"

"General, most of those villagers are just commoners who cleared land for farming...!"

"So what...!" Brigadier General George Phillips slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Major Brown, would you dare disobey orders for the sake of those Chinese?"

"I...!" Major Brown stiffened his neck, wanting to say something more.

Chief of Staff Walton immediately stood up and shouted at him, "Major Brown, watch your words! Obeying orders is a soldier's duty. You cannot question or disobey any of the general's orders! Sit down...!"

"Yes, Colonel!"

Even if Major Brown had a lot of doubts, he could only obediently sit down.

Chief of Staff Wharton gave the brave major a meaningful, deep look.

Brigadier General George Phillips glared at the troublesome cavalry battalion commander before continuing, "Whoever it is, arrest them all if they are suspected!"

"Anyone who dares to resist will be killed on the spot!"

"Yes Sir!"

Chief of Staff Walton interjected at the opportune moment: "The militia in these villages should already be equipped with the new HM50 rifles produced by Huamei Industrial, which have an effective range of over 500 yards."

"Moreover, the rifle has a very high rate of fire, firing at least three or four bullets per minute."

"Faced with such an advanced rifle that is accurate, has a high rate of fire, and a long range, we can no longer use the traditional line infantry tactics."

"The last battle at Elephant Mountain proved that line infantry tactics would only bring heavy casualties to ourselves in the face of such advanced rifles."

"Therefore, if a battle breaks out this time, all troops will have to adopt skirmish tactics."

Chief of Staff Walton continued, "Perhaps, these villages are also equipped with an unknown type of high-powered curved-fire cannon."

"Back in the last battle at Elephant Mountain, Huamei Industrial's artillery, positioned on higher ground, suppressed our artillery battalion to the point that they couldn't even raise their heads."

"Therefore, this time, we must also guard against being heavily damaged by their artillery!"

"Once within the 2,000-yard firing range, remember that personnel must not gather in large numbers, otherwise they will easily become targets of artillery fire."

Chief of Staff Walton added, "Furthermore, the Huamei Industrial militia might employ the same trench tactics. You won't even see anyone on the battlefield before they start firing."

"But once they open fire, our soldiers must find cover to avoid becoming sitting ducks!"

"Gentlemen, this time, the enemy we are facing is completely different from any previous war."

"Believe me, this battle will give you a completely different experience."

After his chief of staff finished speaking, Brigadier General George Phillips gave him a very satisfied look.

No wonder he graduated second in his class from West Point!

This summary of the experience gained from the previous battle at Giant Elephant Mountain is very insightful and timely.

If a battle breaks out, these valuable lessons learned will certainly greatly reduce our own casualties.

"That's all!" Brigadier General George Phillips waved his hand, ending the meeting. "Go down and rest well, and prepare for battle!"

"You lot, get your act together!" the brigadier general said fiercely. "If you can't even beat a bunch of farmers who've just picked up guns, you'll all be dismissed!"

"Hahaha……!"

Everyone inside the combat tent looked very relaxed.

Although everyone felt somewhat bewildered by this sudden action.

But what difficulties would there be if the opponent was a group of peasants who had just picked up guns?
It couldn't be easier, no pressure at all.

When the meeting ended, a puzzled Major Brown sought out his most familiar staff officer at headquarters—Major Campbell.

Major Brown and Major Campbell were classmates at West Point and remained close friends.

Inside his friend's tent, Major Brown could no longer contain his anger and slammed his military cap onto the table.

"Campbell, can you tell me what's going on?"

Major Brown caught the silver flask Campbell tossed to him and took a big gulp.

"What's going on? Hehe...!" Campbell laughed, "Haven't you figured it out yet?"

"What do you see?"

Campbell lay on his folding bed, his hands behind his head, and replied leisurely, "Last time at Elephant Mountain, the general actually suffered a great loss in front of a group of armed miners."

"This time, he's going to vent his anger on these Chinamen!"

"That's it?"

"if not?"

"If you've suffered a loss at Giant Elephant Mountain, then go fight those armed miners. Why bother these farmers who are farming the land?"

Campbell shook his head: "Who knows? Maybe these farmers are easier to bully than those armed miners?"

"The mighty American regular army is bullying a bunch of Chinese farmers who are clearing land and cultivating it...!"

Major Brown's face was extremely grim: "This is absolutely dishonorable, and even morally reprehensible, despicable behavior!"

(End of this chapter)