Chapter 49 Collision

August 29, 1894.

The morning breeze passed by the city of Anzhou coldly. There were no traces of soldiers and soldiers on the low city of Anzhou. There was only a flag of the Canglong Army of the Imperial Guards dancing.

This is a typical small town in Korea with low walls and quite a bit of decay. Originally, the status of this small town was not very important, but it was just a small county governor under North Hamkyung Province. The local official system of North Korea, the four units of the prefectures and maid counties below the road are parallel. Anzhou is neither close to the Sino-North Korea border, nor is it a little far from Pyongyang, the central central North Korea, nor is it a big mansion and maid, which is a bit insignificant.

Since Xu Yifan intervened in North Korea, the local government system has been deteriorating, and another riot in the Dongxue Party. Local officials have long gone away and Anzhou has long become a military-controlled place for the Imperial Guards. The North Korean government did not even dare to compete with Xu Yifan, let alone a small city like Anzhou.

But now, Anzhou has become a place where all forces in China and Japan focus!

Xu Yifan chose the Imperial Guard's retreat base here, because it is farther from the east coast, facing Japan on the east coast, which is the world of others. If the Japanese army goes to land and attacks his retreat base directly, it will be no fun. It is located in the northwest near the Yellow Sea, and the land can be protected by troops. Even if the Japanese want to land from the west coast, they must first tie the Beiyang Navy first, and they will have time to buffer no matter what they do.

Second, Anzhou is not far from the Sino-North Korea border, and is too close to the Sino-North Korea border. He is afraid that this retreat base will be disturbed by other Qing forces and is too far from Pyongyang, so he cannot take care of it.

Because of this, in the past year, a steady stream of supplies first arrived at the mouth of the Datong River, half unloaded in Pyongyang, half followed the Datong River eastward, and the remaining half were either transported by North Koreans to the drought, or through small waterways that were not very large between the Datong River and the Daning River. A well-connected road was opened around Anzhou, and the surrounding fields had long been trampled into white land for those Koreans who were transporting supplies every day. In the place of this small county supervision city, Xu Yifan reserved millions of kilograms of grain, more than three million bullets, more than ten thousand artillery shells, and countless military equipment and materials! Inside and outside the city, there were warehouses, and all civilians moved away. At the most, there were four battalions of more than 3,000 people in the garrison, and strict and solid fortifications were built near the coast. Needless to say, the role of this retreat base is also known how important it is.

If the battle in Pyongyang was not favorable at the beginning, then this is the support for retreat. Xu Yifan can use the materials here to fight and retreat in North Korea and retreat step by step toward the Sino-North Korea border. If the situation in North Korea can be settled, he will return to the country, go to Tieshan and the small port here, and go to sea with a small boat at night, and it will only take one night to go to southern Liaoning. He can completely replenish the army troops who returned to southern Liaoning from the water. The current navy does not have the technical level of patrol and blocking such a large sea area at night. Even if he walks along the coastline and transports the materials to the mouth of the Yalu River, it will save Xu Yifan a lot of effort!

If Anzhou is lost, the consequences will be disastrous. Overall, Xu Yifan completely lost the room for strategic maneuvers in North Korea, and had to trap a corner of Pyongyang. He either had to carry the Japanese army to fight, or was monitored for being unable to move. By relying on Pyongyang materials to carry supplies on land, his combat radius was only a few hundred miles. It was equivalent to losing its influence on the entire Sino-Japanese War. Then, the final result of Sino-Japanese War was the Sino-Japanese War that he had read!

So Xu Yifan sent Nie Shicheng's troops to Cishan to cover the southeast of Anzhou. He built a defensive position on the side of Anzhou near the sea, equipped with quite a few machine guns. The two old guard battalions of the Imperial Guards defended the possible landing of the Japanese army. The cavalry shuttled between Pyongyang and Anzhou, and paid attention to the movements here at any time.

Once the war begins, the situation changes will make the most careful preparations before the war become a blink of an article. Fighters appeared in front of Pyongyang, and the entire Fifth Division was quickly annihilated! It goes without saying that the temptation is that it is to destroy a complete Fifth Division. There are only six or seven permanent troops that were trained before the war, and two or three were killed, and the Japanese war could not be fought. Moreover, the Third Division had not yet landed at that time. The defeats were all in front of Xu Yifan, and the chance to determine the situation of the Korean war was as good as a god. Not only him, but also the German adviser, his own staff, and the officers and soldiers of the Imperial Guards, who would let go?

The principle of military science is to strive for the initiative on the battlefield. No casualties are fundamental. After all, soldiers can be recruited and trained, officers can be trained, and weapons can be produced and purchased. It is a bit colder, but the initiative on the battlefield is that once you miss it, you will never come back!

The army that gains the initiative can win even if it is small. The army that loses the initiative can only deal with it passively, waiting to be beaten (when the equipment level of both sides is similar). This temptation is in front of us, and with the additional troops of Nie Gongting to cover Cishan, ten thousand people can stop the Japanese army for a few days. The Imperial Guards have ambitions to draw all the concentrated forces to destroy the Fifth Division!

The battlefield was covered with layers of fog, and the two sides quickly responded to changes, and went in and out of each other, and were striving to take the initiative. The Fifth Division advanced alone for honor and misjudged Xu Yifan's strength, which led to annihilation. The Third Division quickly landed and led to light troops, coupled with the fatal defeat of the Sheng army. As a result, this situation was caused. Anzhou, a key area, suddenly opened in front of the Third Division, which seemed to be in no chance. At this time, there were only two battalions of new recruits in Anzhou! The main force of the Imperial Guard, who had hurriedly returned to the rescue, was still so fatal to go away!

The focus of the war was gathered in Anzhou. Whether Xu Yifan had the power to turn the world back, whether Sichuan could defeat his lifelong opponent, and whether Yang Shixiang's plan could succeed, all kinds of things, until the destiny of the two countries of this war was concentrated on this small town that no one had noticed before!

"Your Excellency, Suchuanli is already in the hands of my Third Division!"

The key points of this three-chakra in Suchuan were filled with cheering Japanese officers and soldiers. The hills and mountains on both sides of the road were full of Japanese officers and soldiers showing off their might. The Japanese army of the three regiments once again abandoned a small amount of baggage at Cishan, leaving a brigade to garrison, and feasted on the food left by the Sheng army, and pursued and advanced with a determination to die. From top to bottom, they all took out their strength to rush forward with no chance.

From Kawakami Kawakami to Kataro, the only thing they were worried about was that they came to Sukawa, but they met Xu Yifan's main force! If they could exchange the rest of their life for decades to get one step earlier than Xu Yifan, Kawakami Kawakami Kawakami would have changed without hesitation!

The real result was that they arrived in Suchuanli at noon on August 29, where only more than a hundred cavalry guarded there - they could not be called garrison, and it was a reconnaissance and warning screen. When they faced the infantry in the brigade, these cavalry could not resist even if they exploded. While trying their best to fight back, they tried their best to delay the pace of the Japanese army's advance in despair. They retreated in two directions, all the way to Anzhou and all the way to Pyongyang, and spread the news of the fall of Suchuanli as soon as possible.

It was only noon that the 18th Regiment of the Third Division, Fengqiao, had already controlled the key points everywhere in Suchuanli, watching the high morale Damao Brigade, the officers and soldiers who had been fighting for hundreds of miles passed through the road. The left-behind and the attack cheered each other, and the morale was rising to the extreme. The Damao Brigade, the troops had already pointed to Anzhou, which was within a short distance!

Kanetaro smiled and reported to Kawakami Kawakami's six-day salute. Kawakami was so excited that he couldn't speak. All kinds of indescribable emotions surged in his heart, as if his chest was burst.

Xu Yifan, Suchuan is now stepping under my horse boots, and Anzhou has only one thousand new recruits, and they have to face so many brave soldiers of Shengjun. There is no general under your command there. Do you still want to stop our advance?

It’s not you who won this gamble, but me!

He suppressed his emotions and did not look at Pyongyang, but just solemnly replied to Katsutaro. The two looked at each other and shook hands hard at the same time.

"Mr. Gui, I hope you can win the championship and successfully capture Anzhou!"

"Your Excellency, I will ask you for your retreat!"

Kawakami smiled and used his hands to compare with his surroundings. The system of officers and soldiers of the 18th Japanese Army's 18th Regiment was complete, and the morale was high because of the smooth advance. Now they are busy building positions. Trees are cut down to build chest walls. The trenches used as obstacles are also being excavated, and the rifles are wiped cleanly. After checking, teams of officers and soldiers are waiting to enter the position.

"The two thousand empires, Toyohashi, Kanto, is here. Even if the Qing enemy chief Xu Yifan comes to attack himself, he praises the strongest imperial guards of the Qing Dynasty, and I can guard Gui Jun for a week! Xu Yifan is not a god, can he still come here with cannons?"

Kanetaro looked at Kawakami's a little out of control and just smiled slightly. Who doesn't know that Kawakami's nickname is. It's natural for Lieutenant General to do this now. He doesn't want to laugh at the chief of staff of the Army in the base camp in person.

As he walked over, Kawakami took the lead as the lieutenant general and took the initiative to take risks. To be honest, Katsura was also very moved.

It is precisely because of this that the empire can defeat this twilight Qing country with small gains and greatness!

He smiled and said, "How can you bother you for a week.......... Please wait for our good news within two days and nights...... Even if the Ant Support Climbs, I will definitely take Anzhou! What's more, if so many defeated Qing troops retreat, I really don't know if the Anzhou defenders have the courage to resist?"

Kawakami smiled and took another polite bow, then bowed deeply. Only then did Kawakara see that this lieutenant general, who was in his prime, had white hair on his temples!

How many heroes and heroes in the two countries have been gambled for the future waves of the East Asian continent and the century-long national fortune of the future country and nation, and have worked hard to do so... Unfortunately, there were so few heroes in the Qing Dynasty, but fortunately, our empire was so many heroes in the moment.

All are so angry!

At this time, what was rumbling in Katsura's heart was like this. He silently returned the greeting again, turned around and joined the torrent of marching towards Anzhou. This black trend rushed north without stopping!

The brigade and brigade of defeated troops appeared in sight, and the people shouted and the horses were neighing, and the noise became a group. Although they were prepared to retreat, the morale and discipline of the Sheng army had reached a very weak level due to repeated defeats. Once again, they became deserters in front of the enemy, and everything was on the verge of collapse. The soldiers who could not be controlled again were all fleeing east with their heads in their heads, and they ran all the way.

These thousands of people had already escaped for a day and a night. When they rushed through Suchuan, the sporadic cavalry of the Imperial Guards looked at them coldly without trying to stop them - they could not stop them. But that kind of gaze made every Shengjun soldier who passed by them feel that he had stabbed into his bones.

In Seoul, Zuo Baogui's troops acted as a way for them. In front of Pyongyang, the Imperial Guards rescued them. In Cishan, they left Nie Shicheng and ran away! What happened to the officers above? They just ran all the way, and there were no dignity, courage and discipline. If everyone was like them, they would just scatter when they saw the enemy, it would be nothing. But there were still so many men, and they bit their teeth and pushed them up. When they retreated, they looked at the fireworks in the main position of Cishan, and listened to the dense gunfires and shouts of killing. For some reason, they just wanted to find a crack to drill down!

In the team, the buzzing voices of discussion have not stopped, everywhere.

"Run, what the hell are you running! He was so angry that he was going to go east and said he was retreating and someone was going to pick him up. Anzhou had food and drinks, but he didn't see anything!"

"What else should I eat...... When I really arrived in Anzhou, I met those imperial guards, would we have the attitude to eat?"

"I really want to fire two shots. Such a good terrain, Nie Junmen is facing the front. I really don't want to retreat. I ran all the way from Seoul and disappeared in 10,000 brothers! I still ran, can't run enough, right?"

"Officials have no conscience! They have the ability to run apart except turning around and running? They have long arms and legs to run!"

"Didn't you see Ye Junmen and Wei Junmen again? Why is the master who returned to China with Baiduo, who has returned with them?

"I heard that it was the Zhongtang who gave me rewards and did not let our Huai Army work for Xu Yifan. Nie Shicheng betrayed Zhongtang and looked good... Our team officer illuminated the silver bills for a long time that night in front of the smoke lamp! My cousin was his Goshha. I saw Siheng's Zhangzi, I don't know how big a bill!"

"This is a national war... Why is the Zhongtang so confused..."

"Soldiers follow the general and turn grass with the wind... We have been paying Zhongtang for so many years, and he is confused, so we can only accompany you."

"If the officials don't want to fight, will we be the ones who serve in the army be the only ones who follow us? When we go home, this face will be hidden in the bag, and we can't see anyone! After death, we can't enter the ancestral grave and we can't stand our ancestors!"

These defeated soldiers of the Sheng army ran and cursed and kept undulating. In the entire chaotic team, there were only a few hundred people in the group with neat lines, and the fleeing defeated soldiers deliberately kept a distance from them. The periphery of this team was Goshha, the confidant of officers at all levels, and rode on the horses sweating profusely. As long as the defeated soldiers passed by their ranks, they would whip their horses and whip around them. Everyone was surrounded by more than 200 officers at all levels, and everyone had their faces turned pale. Some people were addicted to smoke, and they were black and weak on the back of the horses. Many soldiers lost their big guns. These officers were armed and were wearing short guns. The backs of the Goshha were also covered by Mauser.

Among the officers, Yang Shixiang, Ye Zhichao and Zuo Baogui were the three. Ye Zhichao and Zuo Baogui looked discouraged, but Yang Shixiang had a bright look, just pursing his lips and looking at the road ahead on the horse's back.

After three defeats, the army cannot be called an army. Everyone is struggling to make a life and barely gather together. Ye Zhichao and Wei Rugui have understood what Yang Shixiang said, so they have defeated Xu Yifan. They have rectified the Sheng army to guard the Sino-Korea border and made meritorious service... Can they still lead this army now? Or is this still an army?

Yang Shixiang was already very clear about his intentions. He had no intention of turning the tide at all, just to make everyone lose together! North Korea was defeated miserably, even if the court wanted to hold these civil officials accountable, and these civil servants could still argue with the lawsuit. I hope Nie Shicheng and Xu Yifan would push the reason for the failure. In the end, it was probably the law that would not blame the public... Then the two military officers would be the ones who took it out to push the tank!

But they could not turn against Yang Shixiang. The family and nephews, and such a big family business were all within the Beiyang system. I also wanted Zhongtang and Yang Lianfang to protect their friendship because of their efforts. The two of them had a little extravagant hope that they would have made all their reputations. Maybe Beiyang could still save them a life for them? It would be better to be sent to the military service station to serve, and it would never work. It would be better to be able to go home and become a rich man...

Xu Yifan seemed to be defeated, but Beiyang could not go down!

They are all very suspicious about whether Yang Shixiang represents Li Hongzhang. But they are sure that Yang Shixiang definitely represents the Beiyang, a giant, vested interest system that has been mixed for decades, an interest group that even Li Hongzhang can no longer control! Because of this, they can only obey. The people in the Beiyang head will change, but this group has been there... (This is true in history. Since the late Qing Dynasty, the leaders of the Beiyang group have been exchanged, but this group has always been China's largest political force. Until the first half of the Republic of China, Beiyang's power reached its peak and ruled the country for twenty years. The leaders were from Li Hongzhang to Wang Wenshao to Yuan Shikai, and later they changed Duan Qirui, Cao Kun and even Zhang Zuolin like a lantern. This group has remained unchanged and firmly seized its own power and interests - Oscar's note)

The noise in the team suddenly changed, and only a shout was heard: "Anzhou! Anzhou!"

The officers who were lying on the horse's back straightened up and looked forward. Wherever they saw the low city walls of Anzhou and the flag of the Canglong of the Imperial Guards. Looking at the ancient Canglong line with scattered teeth and claws in the wind, for some reason, Ye Zhichao and the Huai Army officers who surrendered to Wei Rugui seemed to feel that they had been electrocuted and quietly lowered their heads.

Only Yang Shixiang's expression remained unmoved, and he looked straight and coldly: "No one presided over the board, there is indeed no solution! Go and enter the city! Do it and go, and take the new recruits from these imperial guards to retreat to the Sino-Korea border together!"

The city was indeed quiet, and the shadow of a soldier could not be seen. A trench with fresh earth seemed to have been dug. Around the city, the accumulation of soil around the trench was too late to be cleared, and the ditch was neither wide nor too deep. Everything seemed to be in a hurry to work, but time was too late.

This is what everyone thinks is the city guarded by the farmers' recruits a thousand months ago. But how can a battalion officer deal with these defeated friendly troops here? Not to mention that there are thousands of Japanese troops who will definitely follow up and pursue them!

The officers of the Huai Army all looked complicated and subconsciously looked at Ye Zhichao and Wei Rugui. Both of them turned their heads away. Everyone sighed in their hearts, thinking that it was like this, it would be fine to struggle to survive... After this battle, whoever led the troops, who was the fucking girl raised it!

The defeated troops were already running straight towards the city of Anzhou in chaos. Everyone worked hard for so long, and were tired and hungry. They could at least take a break and eat when they arrived in Anzhou. From top to bottom, they all wanted to enter the city early. In a blink of an eye, the chaotic brigade rushed to the trench and shouted at the seemingly empty city.

"Build a bridge and open the city gate! The Japanese chased after us from behind. We fought hard and couldn't stop us from retreating!"

"What kind of Huai Army Imperial Guards are all for the Qing Dynasty. Good luck, let's go in!"

"If we don't open the city gate, we will crash into it ourselves!"

"Just ask for full food. Everything else is a worrying thing for being an official. We are pitiful as a big soldier!"

Amid the noise, many soldiers had jumped under the trench and were about to climb up the trench. The trench was only one and a half deep. After pulling each other, hundreds of people had passed.

Just as the noise was getting louder and louder, a shrilling warlock sounded, resounding throughout the city. Then, with a command, more than a thousand imperial guards officers and soldiers stood up at the Tucheng city of Anzhou, which was only three or four meters high! Thousands of black rifles were bayonets, and they were defeated at the Sheng army who had no ability to resist. The new soldiers of the imperial guards had tense faces, but put their fingers on the trigger, and no one spoke, only the row of bright bayonets rose and fell with their nervous breathing!

Under the Imperial Guard Canglong, a short figure stood, looking at the city with his hands behind his back, with a cold look on his face. Yang Shixiang, among the crowd, was just looking up, and the two of them were catching each other through so many people.

"It's Yang Lian's room!"

"Why is Yuan Weiting?"

Yuan Shikai sneered, glanced at the stunned crowd below with disdain, and waved his hand suddenly: "Get out! It hurts Lord Nie, and you are going to harm our Anzhou? The Imperial Guard ordered you to retreat from Anzhou! If you don't fight the Japanese, we will come! Whoever dares to step forward, I will definitely order the shooting!"

The Huai Army looked up and down at the neat rifle bayonet, and could not say a word, and no one dared to move. In the city, countless gazes collided with each other, with only nervousness in their eyes.

After a stalemate, the Huai Army moved in a row. Yang Shixiang and a group of officers had already crossed the crowd and stopped at the other end of the trench. Yuan Shikai just looked coldly, holding one hand in the air, and the Huai Army's eyes were all focused on his hand, fearing that once he swung it, the thousands of rifles would fire at any time!

Yang Shixiang smiled faintly and opened his voice: "Yuan Weiting, do you recognize me?"

Yuan Shikai sneered: "Why can't I recognize you, Lord Yang? Thank you so hard along the way!"

Yang Shixiang smiled: "Brothers were ordered by the Central Hall to organize Sheng Jun, and Ye Junmen and Wei Junmen were also ordered to make meritorious contributions. Nie Gongting in Cishan was defeated, and brothers finally saved these 8,000 soldiers for the Qing Dynasty! You don't let us enter the city, what's the reason?"

Yuan Shikai said coldly: "At this time, I have no reason to talk to you! Brother Lianfang, let's see you later!"

Yang Shixiang turned around immediately and pointed hard behind his back: "Thousands of Japanese sects are chasing and can be arrived at any time! Are you going to be stalemate with us here, watching the 8,000 children of the Huai Army being massacred by the Japanese, and watching Anzhou not guaranteed in chaos? Yuan Weiting, don't forget that you are also from our Beiyang!"

He spoke out, and the Sheng army suddenly started to clamor. They were all people who had no courage to run away. Thinking about the Japanese chasing behind, they wanted to go to the city immediately. Whether they were guarding or not, they had a meal, and they had the energy to run away again, right? Especially this short and fat man heard that they were from Beiyang, and the group's shared hatred of the enemy was aroused. They didn't even think of any incense, and threw them to the Japanese to chase them.

Amid the noise, many people rushed forward and cursed: "It would be nice not to beat the Japanese to death, but to beat their own family members! If you have the courage, shoot and shoot!"

The two battalions of the Imperial Guard all held their breath. They had only completed the training of recruits, and had no combat experience. They were all genuine people in front of them, and there were so many top Qing military officers in the team. Everyone looked at Yuan Shikai, not knowing what to do for a moment.

Yuan Shikai slowly put down his hand and shouted: "Live in! Yang Lian's room, what are you going to do?"

"Let us go into the city!" Yang Shixiang almost roared out. He was now completely holding on. Seeing so many rifles swaying in front of him, he was dizzy and his vest was wet and cold. He never expected that there was a Yuan Weiting here! Yuan Shikai had also dealt with him, and knew that this man was a bit talented and decisive in killing. I heard that Xu Yifan still valued him very much. He was a person who could be regarded as a person. Just look at him for so many years before Xu Yifan and even pacified the Renchen Incident.

If he really ordered the shooting, he really didn't know what to do! Now he could only rely on Sheng Jun's clamor to fight Yuan Shikai! If Anzhou was there and they fled, if Anzhou was saved, Xu Yifan would still be able to win. Then so many plans would be in vain! In any case, Anzhou would be thrown away!
To be continued...