Since the beginning of the fire, the artillery of both sides has fired tons of steel and gunpowder into each other's positions every hour, and the artillery of both sides has both traditional Chinese artillery and various Western artillery purchased from the West, which has been roaring non-stop all day long, and has become the main theme of the entire battlefield.

As the main force of the defensive position, the infantry regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division was ready to continue to hold out even if there was a heavy rain mixed with ice and snow, so they mercilessly returned the bombardment of the coalition artillery and tried to knock over the battle flags in front of them.

Among these battle flags, there are not only the French tricolor flag, but also the battle flag of the Foreign Legion, as well as the battle flags of several French infantry battalions, in addition to the personal flags of some Qing army generals, and the experienced Hongjun officers can see the combat effectiveness and strength of the enemy army in front of them from these flags.

The French infantry engaged in the battle had about four infantry battalions, three battalions of the Huai army, about six battalions of the Qing army Tuyong and Min Yong, plus about two companies of the Foreign Legion, as well as all kinds of artillery, sappers and cavalry, in other words, less than a third of the strength of the Mentoban was invested.

And the momentum of the French attack was just as they guessed, they did not attack the defense line built by Bao Meiying with all their might, but invested an infantry company or even fewer troops, with the support of artillery, trying to find the weak point of the Rainbow line, and sometimes they would put in a French infantry battalion and more Qing soldiers, but they would immediately stop the attack as soon as they were frustrated.

However, as the supreme commander of the entire defense line, Bao Meiying did not think that the French army would bypass the defense line she had constructed, because if they did, the French army would enter a more complex water network area, and their artillery and heavy equipment would make it difficult for them to advance an inch.

"Our regiment held its position for another day, and the morale of each battalion and company was like a rainbow, and it repelled thirteen attacks by the Yi soldiers and Qing Demons, killing 90 enemies and wounding 200 enemies......"

This is the commander of the Third Division, Lin Regiment Commander in front of Bao Meiying, who reported today's results with great vigor, but Bao Meiying smiled: "You can also destroy 300 enemies today, if you want to report the results of the battle, you should say this, kill 92 enemies and wound 2,000 enemies, in this way, I will know the actual situation as soon as I hear your report." ”

Lin Yinting smiled: "I know that you are a person who understands, the Yi soldiers and the Qing Demon launched several offensives today, but there is really nothing worth talking about, that is, the artillery fired hundreds of more shells, but it was to buy time for His Royal Highness King Yan!" ”

Speaking of this, Bao Meiying is still looking forward to the early arrival of the war, which is where she really realizes the value of life: "It's not interesting to fight a little fight, let's prepare to come up tomorrow!" ”

"No problem," Lin Yinting said with a smile: "At most, the Yi soldiers set sail with four infantry battalions, and if we attack with this amount of strength, we can hold out for a month." ”

If it was attacked by more than a dozen infantry battalions, Lin Yinting did not have this confidence, but now the veteran Meng Toban is too careful, he has not used four French infantry battalions until now, so Lin Yinting, who also has four infantry battalions in his hands, is full of confidence, not to mention that he not only gets a large number of artillery and engineer support, but also has two infantry battalion reserves in the rear that can come up to support at any time.

But as soon as she heard this, Bao Meiying felt a little hanging: "Confirm in person that it is the four infantry battalions of the French army?" ”

"It has been repeatedly confirmed from the flag, four French infantry battalions, about two companies and one of the Foreign Legion, and three battalions of the Huai Army, Zhang Shusheng, Pan Dingxin, and an infantry battalion are not easy to confirm, but it is also the Huai Army, as for Tuyong and Min Yong, it is about six battalions, and we are confident that we can withstand it!" …,

Counting this is a major offensive of more than a dozen infantry battalions, but those Huai Army, Tu Yong, and Min Yong, used for garrison combat effectiveness are worth mentioning, if they are used for attack, it is really vulnerable, Lin Yinting feels that one infantry battalion can withstand the attack of two battalions.

But Bao Meiying asked: "Only confirm from the flag?" ”

"You're saying that Mentoban has ambushed his troops? This is impossible, it can be seen from their barracks that they can't stuff so many troops, and it is estimated that he put his troops on the second line! ”

"That's not right!" Bao Meiying slapped the table and said: "He didn't bury Qing Yierya and ambush the troops, but he didn't have so many troops at all!" Head Lin"

Lin Yinting was shocked, and immediately gave Bao Meiying a military salute: "Although I don't belong to the same unit as Brigade Commander Bao, my duties are subject to all your commands!" ”

He remembered the lesson of Sun Huzi's pain, and Bao Meiying asked: "What is the scale of the Yi troops dispatched today?" ”

"At most, it's just an infantry tube, most of the time there is only one infantry company, and there are hundreds of Qing soldiers participating in the battle!" Lin Yinting said what he knew about the actual situation: "Could it be that this old thief Meng Toban is ready to spare us here......

But he quickly shook his head, feeling that this was impossible, although it was only a position to strengthen the infantry regiment, but Bao Meiying was extremely experienced in the choice of position, and the French army wanted to capture the city of Suzhou, so they had to walk under his nose.

But in his heart, he had the feeling that he was too upside down, that is, more than a dozen French infantry battalions and tens of thousands of Qing troops would have a mortal threat on any battlefield, and he asked: "Brigade Commander Bao, how did this old thief plan Meng Toban!" ”

He is a young regiment commander in his early thirties, with a shallower military resume, although he was born in the old green battalion, but he has only been in battle for two years.

But that Meng Tuoban is different, according to the Shanghai Yi people, this old thief has been fighting horses for decades, and he has never slackened at any time, and he is a real veteran, and Bao Meiying said even worse bad news: "They are going to His Royal Highness King Yan, they should see that this old thief is really treacherous!" ”

"Your Highness!" Lin Yinting was taken aback: "You mean they used an empty city plan!" ”

"It's not an empty city plan, how can there be one or two thousand clear demon swallows" Bao Meiying's tone was very tight, His Royal Highness Wang is now in a hurry to solve the Russian garrison, if the two or thirty thousand soldiers of the old thief suddenly appear on the side of His Royal Highness King Yan, it will be a big trouble! ”

Not only is it a big trouble, and there is even the possibility of the entire army being wiped out, but Lin Yinting feels that this is just a possibility: "But we are not sure if this is true?" ”

Bao Meiying immediately said: "Commander Lin, your troops are temporarily under my command, do I have direct command over your troops?" ”

Lin Yinting reiterated: "I resolutely obey the execution"

"Good!" Bao Meiying immediately said: "Immediately organize a reinforced infantry battalion to launch an attack from tomorrow morning, and try to find out the actual situation of the enemy troops in front of you!"

In this situation, it is a great risk to dispatch a reinforced infantry battalion to launch a counteroffensive, after all, no matter how strong the garrison of the fortress is, it also needs infantry to garrison, and if this infantry battalion fails to counterattack, it will have a major impact on the entire defense, but Bao Meiying has no choice: "If the attack is frustrated, I will let the 11th Marine Regiment come up in advance!" ”

Before dawn the next day, the 3rd Division had already organized a reinforced infantry battalion with artillery support to launch a thunderous offensive, as expected, the Qing troops in front of them were soon unable to parry their attack, but after they attacked forward for more than 300 meters, the offensive began to be blocked. …,

Lin Yinting, who was standing behind, was ready to withdraw this infantry battalion, but he had to order his infantry to continue to assault forward under heavy artillery fire, and at the same time prepare to put another reinforced company into it, but at this time, unexpected news came from the front line: "We were fooled, there are not so many Yi soldiers at all, and there is only one infantry battalion at most, and there may be less than one infantry battalion!" ”

"The Huai army only has half a battalion, and there are three battalions in Tuyong and Minyong, but it is not worth talking about at all!"

"Where did they go!" Bao Meiying almost jumped up: "Where are their main forces going?" ”

"I went south, and I said that the main force has been moving south in a big way since yesterday."

"See" Bao Meiying immediately ordered: "Immediately send a fast horse to inform the King of Yan Palace, one ride is not enough, at least ten horses!"

Even so, Bao Meiying still had a feeling of fear, she had already thought of Liu Chang, that handsome and young boy who was too handsome, in the face of Meng Toban's thunderous attack from the north, whether he could stand up to the words.

But fortunately, there was still time, Meng Toban had only been gone for a day, and she still had enough time.

Lin Yinting next to him had already asked, "Since it's an empty city plan, what should we do?" ”

"What should I do?" Bao Meiying glanced back at the defense line she had painstakingly constructed, this was the strongest fortress in the entire Eastern World, but it was no longer of any use.

A month's hard work, 100,000 workers' investment, and hundreds of thousands of silver yuan......

It was very terrible for the woman to be dissatisfied, Bao Meiying gritted her silver teeth and said, "Head Lin, do you know what to do?" ”

Although the enemy army in front of him also has the combat effectiveness of four or five infantry battalions, the core of the real combat effectiveness is just a French infantry battalion, so Lin Yinting knows very well what he should do: "I have four infantry battalions in my hands, I know what to do!" ”

Bao Meiying clenched her fists: "I will immediately transfer the 11th Marine Regiment, and all the flank attack units will be dispatched, and there will be ......"

She said in a trembling voice: "Our goal is more than just such a French infantry battalion, we will march to Shanghai!" ”

"Montoban wants to avoid us, is afraid of us, then ......"

Bao Meiying's voice suddenly became loud and clear: "We will drill into the belly of Princess Iron Fan, kill him so that he has no way out, and force him to come back!" ”。 ）