On a hill thirty miles away from Majiakou, several scouts of the Yulin Army lay down all night.

"Sir, we've all been waiting here all night, and we haven't waited for the Tartars." A private of the first class asked.

"It's only been one night, and I can't stand it." The leader was a sergeant, "When Lao Tzu participated in the Goryeo operation, there were some when he lay in the mountains for a few nights. That place in Liaodong can freeze people to death at night, and you haven't suffered that crime. ”

"Sir, tell us about the Goryeo operation back then." A corporal also came over, "I heard from the veterans that the fight was miserable back then." ”

"There's not much to say." The sergeant was reluctant to mention the war, "When you return to Yulin Bay, go to the Martyrs' Shrine to have a look, there is a history of our Yulin Army, which is better than me." ”

"Sir, sir." The private in charge of observation called out in a low voice, "Scout of the Tartars." ”

The hill was instantly quiet, the sergeant raised his monoculars, and seven or eight war horses ran from a distance, and the sergeant said in a low voice: "Eight horses, four people, one man and two horses, and a flintlock pistol." ”

"Sir, kill them?" The corporal shook the rifled gun in his hand, "Our guns are far away." ”

"No, let them go, and keep them hidden." The scout sergeant was ordered not to startle the snake, but only to find out when the Tartar had arrived at Majiakou.

The four Tartars rode past and did not stop. The sergeant looked up at the sky, and calculated in his heart for a while: "The Tartar scouts are generally ten to twenty miles away from the army, which means that the Tartar army is still forty or fifty miles away from Majiakou. It was just now, and according to the speed of the Tartars' march, they should have reached Majiakou between the third quarter and the first hour of Shen. Do you think the Tartars will camp overnight in Majiakou? ”

The other scouts looked at each other, "Sir, how do we know where the Tartars will be camped?" ”

The sergeant knew that he had asked a stupid question, and ordered in a low voice: "Corporal, you quickly return to Majiakou and report to the commander, we will continue to keep an eye here, and then go back when we see the army of Tartars." You're alone, take a detour, and don't run into a tartar. ”

The corporal saluted, "Yes, sir." ”

Lin Zhaolong received the scout's report and hurriedly found Xu Lang: "The latest situation, the army of the Tartars may arrive at Majiakou around three o'clock in the afternoon. ”

"How many are there?"

"It's not clear yet, but it should be known soon."

"Arrive at Majiakou at three o'clock in the afternoon."

"Yes, you said that this time is not forward or backward, will the Tartars spend the night in Majiakou?"

"This is not a problem, the cavalry regiment and Wang Qianxiang's two regiments have already assembled five miles in front of Majiakou." Xu Lang said, "Immediately send someone to inform them, regardless of whether the Tartars stay in Majiakou or not, let Andreas entangle them, and order Zhou Lei and his three infantry regiments to go around behind Majiakou to form an encirclement." ”

"Okay." Lin Zhaolong was a little excited, "I'll go to the cavalry regiment now, and the artillery regiment and Zhou Lei will stay here first, and pay attention to the movements of the Tartars at any time." As long as they arrive at Majiakou, they will rush straight to your side, and you must not let the Tartars retreat to Tianjin. ”

"I understand." Xu Lang saluted, "Take care." ”

Lin Zhaolong returned a military salute: "Take care." ”

Lin Zhaolong had just walked for an hour, and several scouts came back one after another: "Report to the sir, the Tartar army is 5,000, the cavalry is about 200, carrying 10 6-pounder guns, and it is thirty miles away from Majiakou. ”

"The Tartar has a 6-pounder cannon." Xu Lang's brows furrowed, and then he figured out that it must be Tao Gong who pulled the cannon on the battleship over, and Andreas would be in trouble.

"Someone." Xu Lang shouted, "Send a letter to Deputy Division Commander Lin immediately, the Tartar has 10 6-pounder guns." ”

The 5,000 Korean New Army, under the command of a chief staff, marched in the direction of Beijing. The structure of the Korean New Army formed by Tao Min basically applied the standards of the new army in the late Qing Dynasty in the later generations, and was divided into corps, sentinels, teams, battalions, standards, associations, and towns, and the ranks of officers at all levels were basically the same as those of later generations, and they were divided into nine levels, from top to bottom, namely, the orthodox, the deputy to, the co-ordination, the chief of staff, the deputy chief, the assistant commander, the regular military academy, the deputy military academy, and the co-military academy.

"Report." A scout came to the front of the leader, "My lord, more than two miles ahead is Majiakou, and no abnormalities have been found. ”

"Have the scouts in front of you returned?" This scout was scattered five miles, and in front of him there were two groups of scouts, ten and fifteen. Tao Gong gave this chief staff a death order, and he must be extremely careful, because he may encounter the Yulin army at any time.

"Back to my lord, I haven't come back yet."

"Haven't come back yet?" The leader of the Zheng Shen secretly muttered in his heart, "Pass the order, the army will continue to advance and camp at Majiakou." ”

"You." Zheng Shen led another finger of scouts, "Ten miles ahead to find out the news." ”

Lin Zhaolong was riding a war horse and standing with Andreas, with several Korean scouts tied to their feet.

"Sir." Andreas asked, "None of us know Korean, so we can't ask anything." ”

"Don't ask them." Lin Zhaolong laughed, "Let's wait here, your cavalry regiment is ready to make all preparations and raid Majiakou." ”

The two scouts ran in front of Lin Zhaolong one after the other.

"Sir, Sir Xu's message, the Tartar army is five thousand, two hundred cavalry, and ten 6-pounder guns. Chief Xu asked the chief to be more careful. ”

"Sir, the Tartar army has arrived at Majiakou and stopped at Majiakou."

"The Tartar has a 6-pounder cannon." Lin Zhaolong thought for a moment, "Order, the cavalry will attack, and the infantry will follow." Andreas, fighting to knock out their artillery before they build an artillery position. ”

"Yes, sir."

2,500 cavalry set out, and Wang Qianxiang commanded two infantry regiments to follow at the speed of a rapid march.

Xu Lang also received the news that the Tartars stopped in Majiakou: "Order, Zhou Lei, Ye Zhan, Xu Tianbin, the infantry regiment set off; Zhao Qi, the artillery regiment set off. ”

The three infantry regiments quickly moved in the direction of Majiakou, and the soldiers of the artillery regiment began to march with mules and horses dragging heavy cannons.

The leaders of the new Korean army waited in Majiakou for half an hour, and none of the scouts sent out returned. The uneasiness in the heart of the leader is getting stronger and stronger.

"Give the order to go down, build defensive positions, set up artillery, and everyone cheer up." The commander realized that he might have entered the encirclement of the enemy, and he must not retreat at this time, as he may be severely damaged if he retreats in a hurry. Fortunately, there is also a circle of low earthen walls and private houses in this place of Majiakou, which can be guarded here.