NFBE Chapter 307 Surrounded by 3, Missing 1
Chapter 307 Surrounded by 3, Missing 1
One or two hundred dark, smoking lumps of iron flew into the ranks of the Eight Banners soldiers.
What was that? A lump of iron fell behind the shield cart. The bondservants who were pushing the cart looked at each other in bewilderment.
Suddenly, with a loud "boom," the iron lump exploded. The surrounding Eight Banner soldiers were all caught in the crossfire.
"Ah! My eyes!" A Manchu soldier nearby clutched his eyes and screamed in agony. Blood trickled from his fingertips.
Many more Manchu soldiers lay on the ground, clutching their legs and wailing in pain.
Shen Weiguo and his men did not stop, throwing five grenades at the other side in succession.
Three companies threw over a thousand grenades, causing the Manchu soldiers to scream and howl in terror. The shield carts all came to a halt, and the remaining Manchu soldiers were filled with panic and confusion.
"Counterattack! Bugler, sound the charge!" Taking advantage of the enemy's confusion, Shen Weiguo ordered his soldiers to place the prepared planks across the trench.
"Drip-drop, drip-drop, drip-drop drip-drop..." The stirring bugle call sounded.
As a modern person, Shen Lian couldn't contain his excitement every time he heard the bugle call of our army in TV shows or movies. He certainly had to replicate something so good.
He wanted all his enemies to tremble at the sound of that bugle call.
"Kill!" The soldiers rushed out from behind the low wall and charged towards the enemy.
The general-purpose machine gun team charged ahead, with tall, burly machine gunners firing as they charged, carrying their general-purpose machine guns.
This highlights the advantage of the general-purpose machine gun; Maxim would never be able to charge with the troops.
They arrived at a shield vehicle and quickly climbed onto it.
The soldiers rushed to the shield vehicle and first threw another volley of grenades behind it before charging forward.
The Eight Banner soldiers behind the shield carts were already disoriented from the bombing, and now that they saw the Xin Dynasty soldiers charging towards them with rifles, the remaining Eight Banner soldiers turned and ran.
"Rat-a-tat-tat..." The general-purpose machine gun on the shield cart fired. Those Eight Banner soldiers who still didn't want to run fell to the ground, covered in blood.
"Bang bang bang..." The soldiers of the Third Company fired as they advanced. When they ran out of bullets, they didn't care and thrust their gleaming bayonets at the Eight Banner soldiers.
The Emperor once said that an army that dares to engage in hand-to-hand combat is the truly strong army. The Eight Banners army is clearly not one of them!
After dozens of them were stabbed to death, the remaining Eight Banner soldiers turned and ran.
The Third Company launched a counterattack, and the First and Second Companies on the other side were not to be outdone, launching their own counter-offensives.
The rousing bugle call resounded across the land, and the soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division charged fiercely towards the enemy. In just one round, they routed the Eight Banners troops, sending them fleeing in disarray.
"Commander Song, let us join the attack!" Seeing the counterattack going smoothly at the front, Zhou Shunda couldn't sit still any longer. He hadn't even fired a single shot yet!
"Lord Zhou, why are you doing this? You're so delicate and frail, why are you pushing yourself so hard?" Song Chengwu shook his head. This Lord Zhou is truly a remarkable person.
Zhou Shunda was a model set by the court. Not only was he granted the title of viscount, but he also had a close relationship with His Majesty and the Empress.
We were instructed long ago to protect him well!
"Commander Song, although the militiamen have trained, they've never been on the battlefield. This is such a good opportunity for them to learn; they should be given a chance. It will be good for them to serve the court in the future!"
"Besides, the battle at the front is going well, so we'll just go up and offer some support. The Eight Banners army is collapsing like a house of cards, so there shouldn't be much danger for us!"
"Alright!" Song Chengwu saw through his binoculars that the Eight Banners army had indeed been defeated, and the first three companies had launched a pursuit. So he nodded.
"Brothers, follow me!" Zhou Shunda was overjoyed and waved his hand. He led a battalion of militiamen and gave chase.
After pursuing them for over a mile, Shen Weiguo only ordered a halt to the pursuit when he saw that the enemy camp had sent troops to meet them. He then led his soldiers to retreat calmly.
Yi Gu was pale, never expecting such a swift and devastating defeat. Had it not been for a Russian officer reminding him to send reinforcements, the enemy might have attacked his camp directly.
We have two thousand soldiers, while the other side looks like they only have three or five hundred. How dare they?
The militiamen were happily cleaning up the battlefield, and gunshots could still be heard from time to time. This was as they were killing those Eight Banner soldiers who were stubbornly resisting and refusing to surrender, or those who were seriously wounded.
In this battle, the 226th Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division killed more than 1,200 enemy soldiers and captured 625. The three companies suffered 36 casualties, including 8 killed in action.
The Northern Army Headquarters issued a commendation notice, and the regimental headquarters began to report the merits of the three companies.
Shen Lian received the report of victory at the front in the palace and nodded. This was the last organized Eight Banners army, so their desperate resistance was to be expected.
However, these Manchu bannermen could only rely on their courage and bravery, and could not play a significant role.
"General, although the rebels are well-equipped, they only number a few thousand. We, on the other hand, have thirty thousand troops. Why not launch a four-pronged attack and wear them down, even if it means exhausting them!"
A meeting was being held in the Eight Banners army camp. Seeing that all the generals looked grave and remained silent, it was clear that today's defeat had frightened them. So Vasily stepped forward and spoke.
He didn't care how many of these people died, nor did he care if he didn't win. His mission was to provoke a war and prevent the Chinese Empire from unifying the grasslands so easily.
Otherwise, this vast new empire would pose a great threat to the Russian Empire.
"Surrounded on all sides?" Yi Gu shook his head. These Russians, though skilled in warfare, clearly hadn't studied military strategy. What siege warfare involves being surrounded on all four sides?
"Gentlemen, you have all seen the battle situation today. Although the rebels are very powerful, we have no way out. Once the rebels take over the grasslands, not only will we lose our heads, but our property, land, and pastures will also be confiscated."
“Even our family members will be purged. Our descendants will be enslaved by the Han people for generations to come. Are you willing to accept that?”
"No way!" an officer shouted. The others also looked unwilling.
Seeing everyone's reaction, Yi Gu nodded secretly.
"Your Highness, time is of the essence, and we cannot linger in Tukrik for too long. We beg Your Highness for your great assistance!" Yi Gu looked at Le Erji and the others.
"What does the General want me to do?" Lerji knew that since he had brought his men, he couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Tomorrow I will lead the Eight Banners troops to continue the attack on the north. I request Your Highness to command the Mongol cavalry to launch a joint attack from the east and west."
"As for the north, leave it completely open. Surrounding three sides and leaving one open is the rule of siege throughout history. Leaving one side open gives the rebels a way out, so they won't fight so desperately."
"If the rebels flee to the north, that would be perfect! Our cavalry can then pursue them relentlessly. On the steppe, they have no chance of escaping the Mongol cavalry!"
In case these people didn't understand, Yigu gave a special explanation.