After a day, the wind was calm.Liu Kunyi's New Eighth Army and Zhang Yuchun's New Tenth Army set off on time according to the predetermined plan.Under the transportation of five warships of the First Combined Fleet, a landing operation will be carried out in batches in Fuling County, Chongqing, with Zhang Shusheng's New Eighth Army behind the city of Yichang.In addition to the Jiangyin, Zhenjiang, and Nanjing ships, the Sanya and Haikou ships were also added.These two battleships were two of the four battleships that captured Italy.After the repair was completed at the Fuzhou Shipyard, it was incorporated into the First and Second Combined Fleets.Because of the great victory in the South China Sea, all two ships were named after Hainan Island, and the two ships were named after Hong Kong and Macao.The number of ships of the two combined fleets increased to nine respectively, and they were officially renamed the East China Sea Fleet and the South China Sea Fleet.The attack on the southwest was assisted by the East China Sea Fleet, and the remaining two warships of seven or eight thousand tons transported the troops of Zuo Zongtang and Guo Songtao to Guangxi by sea.Fuling County is the middle ground of the ring defense circle, as long as it has a firm foothold in Fuling County.It can attack Nanchuan County and Changshou County from the north and south to encircle Chongqing.Fuling County was defended by three army commanders under Lai Yuxin, with a total of more than 38,000 troops.Because there is no naval army to control the river, and Fuling County is located at the confluence of the Wujiang River and the Yangtze River.The original natural danger has also become a geographical disadvantage, and it is very easy for the Huaxing army to use gunboats to encircle Fuling County in Liangjiangli, and there is no room for defense at all.Although Lai Yuxin has a violent temperament, he is not a reckless person.Of course, he knew where the disadvantages were, and he had already set up strongholds in Qingxi Town, Zhenxi Town, and Nantuo Town, 20 miles away from the city, to strengthen and rebuild the forts.Each stronghold has more than 50 artillery pieces, and all of them are steep terrain and easy to defend and difficult to attack.The Three Towns are located above the bend in the river here, and the water is fast.Up and down all rely on the plank road, encounter the enemy's strong attack, burn the plank road, there is no way to attack.According to Lai Yuxin's plan, it was planned to use artillery to block the ships of the Huaxing army here, force the Huaxing army to go ashore, and attack from the land.Each of the three towns has sent men to hold out, and if one place is attacked, the other two will be ready to support it.If the Huaxing Army does not have the support of the fleet, then the Wujiang River and the Yangtze River are really a natural danger for Fuling County.It is not easy for the army to cross the two rivers and attack Fuling County.The navy's five warships marched in the river for a day, loaded with the left division of Zhang Yuchun's new 10th Army, and arrived at Nantuo Town, the entrance to the bend, in the early morning of the second day.The Taiping army stationed in the stronghold, after seeing the warship of the Huaxing Army, their first reaction was to grow their mouths.The soldiers had never seen such a huge warship like a hill in the middle of the river."
Ready, light."
After the fleet was completely within the range of artillery, the commander of the Taiping Army in the stronghold decisively gave the order to attack."
Bang, bang, bang" In an instant, the calm river resounded with the rumbling sound of cannons, and one cannon after another roared into the river.The fleet was about 100 meters away from the river bank, and the artillery of the strongholds on the shore was about 200 or 300 meters away.It is possible to cover the fleet with artillery fire, but the accuracy of fire is extremely poor.Either flew over the head of the fleet, or landed in front.For a moment, the iron ball flew down in the middle of the river, and the water splashed everywhere, smashing like hailstone."
All ready, there is an ambush.Ruler 90, port side volley. ”Zheng Dahai, the commander of the East China Sea Fleet, looked around the river bank with a telescope, frowned slightly, and decisively gave an order."
Ruler 90, port side."
Almost simultaneously, a salvo of artillery on the left side of the fleet was fired."
Boom, boom, boom."
Before the Taiping troops in the stronghold could adjust the direction of the muzzle, they heard the sound of artillery in the middle of the river.The sound was much louder than the earthen cannon, and in an instant, there were almost hundreds of shells, making a strange roar, and smashed towards the stronghold on the river bank.As soon as the cannon fell, a huge explosion sounded in an instant.The flames were splashing and the rocks were cracking.It's just a stronghold, and even the whole hill seems to shake with it.The artillery of the Taiping army was completely covered in artillery fire, and all of them withdrew from the battery after only one round of fire, with numerous casualties.After suppressing the firepower of the Taiping army, the fleet immediately landed, and the army landed in Nantuo Town.The Taiping army on the shore immediately began to organize a blockade, and a division of the Taiping army was stationed here.There are more than 3,000 people in total, all of whom are equipped with foreign guns, and they are also quite powerful in Lai Yuxin's army.The Taiping army lined up in a neat array of guns and laid a heavy defensive line on the shore.Either fences or trenches.The artillery in the river began to fire volleys intensively, and cooperated with the army to land on the shore, destroying the protective fence on the shore.The rumbling artillery fire rose on the shore, and the guns of the Taiping army were scattered in one fell swoop.After the army came ashore, it quickly formed a formation.According to the usual exercises, look for a favorable position on the shore, and raise a gun to launch a counterattack against the Taiping army.The position of the Taiping army was instantly covered by a rain of bullets, which was more lethal than artillery.When more than 10,000 Huaxing troops all landed, a series of gunfire passed.More than half of the Taiping army's guns were killed and wounded, and they scattered in a hurry, and hurriedly fled behind them.The Huaxing army was not in a hurry to pursue, and quickly returned after gaining a foothold on the shore.After resuming the establishment, they pursued the Taiping army in accordance with the predetermined strategy.The navy continued to sail forward, and continued to sweep the Taiping troops in the middle of the river."
Master Shuai, it's not good, Nantuo Town has been lost."
Three poles in the sun, the general who escaped from Nantuo Town.Covered in embarrassment, he entered the military camp in Qingxi Town, and roared at the military tent."
Zhang Dabiao, what's your fucking name" In the military tent, a lewd young man was playing with the little maid in his arms.Suddenly disturbed, the words were full of unhappiness."
Report to the commander, the Huaxing army is coming.Seeing that he is about to arrive in Qingxi Town, the commander should quickly get an idea" Zhang Dabiao in the young man's mouth is the commander of the division stationed in Nantuo Town, and his whole body was bombed by the bomb at this time, and his face was black, as if he had been dug out of the coal pile.The little maid looked at him like this, covered her mouth and chuckled, and then twisted her thin waist and walked out of the military tent.When he passed by Zhang Dabiao, he secretly threw him a flattering look, and the seductive eyes almost made Zhang Dabiao's hara.The young man in the handsome position was Lai Yuchang, the military commander who was responsible for defending Qingxi Town, Zhenxi Formation, and Nantuo Town.He is Lai Yuxin's cousin, relying on this relationship, he took on the position of military commander at a young age, commanding tens of thousands of soldiers and horses."
What Zhang Dabiao, what are you doing to eat, where is Hua Xingjun now" Lai Yuchang stood up suddenly, his heart chuckled, and he scolded in panic."
Marshal, the fleet of the Huaxing Army is really powerful.Our strongholds could not hold back their artillery at all, and they were all razed to the ground.It is imperative to quickly decide whether to fight or stay, and it will be too late to do so. ”Zhang Dabiao hurriedly admonished, and the cold sweat on his head was anxious."
War, of course it's going to be war.The Huaxing army has been blown into the sky by you, and Ben Shuai still doesn't believe that they have three heads and six arms. ”As he spoke, Lai Yuchang pulled out his big knife and pretended to walk out of the tent.At this moment, the fort in Qingxi Town suddenly burst into fire.It was like a muffled thunder from the sky, and the rumble was deafening."
Marshal, listen, it's the warships of the Huaxing Army that are coming, and the warships of the Huaxing Army are coming."
Zhang Dabiao followed out of the military tent and hurriedly screamed at Lai Yuchang.The battery was still more than a mile away from the barracks, and it was not known if the main guns of the warship had been adjusted to the wrong coordinates.I only heard a strange sound in the sky, and a black dot changed from far to near, from small to large.Lai Yuchang was still staring at that thing stupidly."
Be careful, it's a cannonball."
Zhang Dabiao naturally recognized this thing, and hurriedly shouted, and stepped forward and pulled Lai Yuchang's arm to the ground.A loud "boom" exploded in the barracks in an instant, and gunsmoke rose everywhere and dust flew up.Lai Yuchang's head seemed to hit the golden bell, and he couldn't wake up for a long time.In a daze, I saw that my maid was lying in a pool of blood, her whole body had been blown up like charcoal, and it was black and constantly bubbling white."
Xiaoru, why did you leave me?"
Lai Yuchang let out a long howl and looked at the corpse on the ground in amazement.A big living person who was still alive just now has become a pile of coke.It was also the life of this little maid, who had left the military tent just now, but returned for no reason, and was killed by a shell that fell from the sky.Zhang Dabiao also shook off the dust on his body and got up, and his head was dizzy for a long time before he stood up."
Report to the commander, it's not good, the defense line of Yuntai Temple has been lost, and the Huaxing army is rushing towards this side."
There was another scream outside the barracks, and a grizzled general rushed over.Because he was in too much of a hurry, he fell to the ground with a stumble."
All have orders, straighten out the soldiers and horses, and fight with the Huaxing army."
Lai Yuchang roared angrily, and after getting up, he glanced around at the generals with a cold expression.The maid lying on the ground was just bought by him from the Qinglou, and he hadn't played for two days before he was killed by a cannonball, how could he not be angry.The generals around all watched and watched, but none of them answered."
Marshal, forget it.Yuntai Temple has been lost, and Qingxi Town has no danger to defend.Let's withdraw to Fuling County and make another plan. ”Zhang Dabiao came to his senses, and hurriedly leaned into Lai Yuchang's ear and whispered.Lai Yuchang also calmed down, although he had not met Hua Xingjun yet.But it seems that the situation is very bad, and even Zhang Dabiao, who is a tiger, is afraid."
Report, marshal, it's not good, Zhenxi Fort and Qingxi Fort have been lost one after another, and the fleet of the Huaxing Army has gone straight to Fuling County" At this time, another herald came across the horse, almost fell off the horse, and reported to Lai Yuchang."
This, withdraw, quickly withdraw, all of them will be withdrawn to Fuling by Lao Tzu."
Lai Yuchang no longer dared to pretend anymore, his task was to control the river and control the curve.Now that the three forts have been lost, there is no need to stay
.
: