After another three days, they arrived at the flat steppe area in the southwest corner of the North Sea, where the defensive fortifications had long been prepared, preparing for the arrival of the Chinese, Ma Deshan with musketeers in the middle, cavalry on both sides, slowly approaching the Russian defensive line, two contact, but about half an hour, the Chahar cavalry on the left flank could not withstand the Russian musket fire, the first rout, and at this time the Russian cavalry here, has not yet attacked, Ma Deshan knows that the defense line is strong, can only be the front army to the rear army, slowly withdraw from the battlefield.

Ma Deshan sighed, although Rong Lu did not let him take down the order of Erkou City, how could the generals not have the idea of making meritorious contributions? Now seeing the strength of the Russians, "It's a pity that I only brought a few hundred people here, if I only have all the artillery battalions owned by me, I dare to make a military order, within three days, I will take this place, defeat the Russians, and push closer to the city of Erkou." ”

The left upper arm of General Wu Lianghai was bruised by the Russian musket, and the wound had just been bandaged at this time, and he frowned: "What about the artillery battalion?" Where are they all gone? ”

"In addition to leaving more than ten doors, all of them were solved by raft to Ulan-Ude," Ma Deshan said, "The meaning of the marshal is not to embarrass Lord Yang, but to attribute the artillery battalion to the purpose of attacking Ulan-Ude, hey, in the end, the transportation capacity is still insufficient, otherwise all the domestic artillery will be transported over, and the land of Beihai will be blown up, and the Russians will not be afraid." ”

"So what's next?" General Wu Lianghai said worriedly, "The Russians have a long defensive line, our troops are insufficient, and these Mongols are not very dedicated, relying on more than 1,000 people, they can't tear through their defense line." If you take a detour to the west, the west is all swampy land, and it is difficult for people and horses to walk, and if Russia attacks suddenly. We are even more difficult to handle. ”

Beihai made a big bend towards the southwest corner, and to the west of the Ergou River, it was all swampy and could not march. A narrow strip of land between the Ergou River and the North Sea was the Russians' defensive line south of Erkou City. "Then we can only try slowly," Ma Deshan said, "to see if we can break through, and then, patiently wait for the orders of the Chinese army." ”

In such a succession of large and small attacks on several fortresses, each with its own victory or defeat, Ma Deshan was very cautious and tried to avoid casualties, but the progress was not great. Three days ago, the Russians seized the opportunity, and a group of cavalry rushed into the musketeers, causing many casualties.

On the third day of August, the musketeers supporting Madeshan arrived. At this time, Ma Deshan had been stationed here for several days, and someone came to tell Ma Deshan. conveyed the order of General Rong Lu, "Attacking the Russian defense line with all your strength for five days and holding back the Russians is a great achievement, if the Russian army here goes elsewhere, cut it!" ”

Rong Lu is kind. Ma Deshan's heart was awe-inspiring, and he knew that he had to at least pretend to be desperate with Russia in order to prepare for the possible actions of Rong Lu's side. This is the Ming plank road, and it has been repaired here. The darkness there is a chance that it will succeed! ……

On the vast grassland, there are green meadows and slightly undulating slopes everywhere you look, only near the north coast, there are a few towering forests, looking at the huge momentum, about a few decades old, but unfortunately these trees have been cut down, a few days ago, caused many wooden boats, into the water, floating on the shore.

Rong Lu rode a horse and stood on the shore watching these ships, listening to the report of the Ministry of Industry officials, "The ships have been built, a total of thirty, which can carry two thousand people, but without shady drying and other procedures, these ships are not very solid, and they are useless for a few months." ”

"A few months is enough," Rong Lu said, "I think I can use it in the next few days, a few months is already more than expected, herald," Rong Lu turned his head and ordered the heralds, "The musketeers are all in place, and they don't bring anything except musket ammunition." ”

The German instructors all set off with Wu Yundi, there is no German fingering here, otherwise Rong Lu will definitely hear the persuasion of these steady Germans, because this kind of behavior is really too bold, and if you are not careful, you will lose all the games, but: "Soldiers, treacherous." The horse under Rong Lu's crotch sneezed excitedly, "Shang Zhizi went to the front of the emperor and told the emperor the intention of this battle," Rong Lu instructed the clerk, at this time, the musketeers had been assembled, and several rounds of artillery were pushed onto the boat, and the seaside was very lively, "The cavalry is all going to support the Made Mountain, there must be no mistake." ”

"Huh."

"I'll go personally," Rong Lu got off the horse, holding the knife at his waist, and was about to get on the boat, the clerk was shocked, and hurriedly dissuaded, "Marshal, you are the commander of the first army, how can you move lightly?" It is too dangerous to be in such a dangerous place, and his subordinates dare not let the marshal go, so please preside over it here. ”

Rong Lu did not hesitate at his feet, and got on the ship like this, "If I don't go, I don't know the progress of the war, and I feel uneasy, this is not a country, and I can't communicate the news in time, so I naturally have to go to personally supervise the army, so that this battle can be won quickly!" Wu Yundi is already in the east, I don't have to worry about him," Rong Lu waved his hand, and the boat slowly left the waterfront, he looked towards the west, his eyes were firm, "In this battle in the west, I must see the bottom!" ”……

In August, it is the hottest season, although there are a lot of waters in the Old Summer Palace, but it is still very hot, knowing that the dying chirping in the trees, but also always pay attention to the sticky rods of the eunuchs, there is no trace of wind in the air, even the most delicate and soft willow silk is also motionless, two little eunuchs led a small copper jar into the side hall, here is the side hall facing the northeast, the sun does not shine, this place is slightly cooler, the eunuch put the copper cylinder in the corner of the hall, the copper cylinder is steaming white, inside is the ice cubes stored in winter, Although the ice cubes are added, but the hall is still very stuffy, at this time the stuffy and cold and damp are mixed together, which makes people a little uncomfortable, the Empress Dowager Cixi sat on the kang and waved the fan vigorously, "This weather, the hell of the heat, in such a hot way, I don't have to stay in the Old Summer Palace, I don't have to stay in the deep mountains and old forests to escape the heat, I don't know what the weather is on the emperor's side, if it's so hot, there is no ice outside, it's bad." ”

Yun Guifei sat on the side and said with a smile, "Niangniang don't worry, on the grassland, it is hot during the day, but the wind is strong, and at night, the sun goes down, it is extremely cold, and you have to cover the quilt in summer, but it is not as hot as Beijing." (To be continued.) )