A month later.

Tennessee. In Fort Dyers, just a few hundred meters from the Mississippi River, Lieutenant General McClellan, commander-in-chief of the Western Theater of Operations of the American Federation, Major General William Rosecrans, deputy commander of the Western Theater, Philip Sheridan, commander of the Federal Cavalry Brigade, Major General David Farragut, commander of the Ohio and Mississippi River Fleet, and Brigadier General Sherman, commander of the Kentucky theater of operations, are discussing the upcoming battle.

Tennessee was originally the territory of the Confederate States, but three months before the armistice between the North and the South, because the commander of the Ohio Inland River Division Fleet, Major General David Farragut, led the river fleet, and the army of Brigadier General Sherman, commander of the Synchronized Division, and Philip Sheridan, commander of the cavalry brigade, cooperated with the defending Confederate army in Nashville, the northern important town of Tennessee, and defeated the defending nearly 30,000 Confederate troops in one fell swoop, occupied Nashville, and advanced the troops to Tennessee.

After the armistice between the North and the South, Lieutenant General McClellan, commander-in-chief of the Western Theater of the American Federation, was ordered to lead his troops to cross the Mississippi River and attack Missouri in the west. But because the speed of the build-up of troops was too slow, it was late to prepare until now, but I didn't expect that at this moment, a large number of Chinese imperial ** troops in the lower reaches of the Mississippi River came to capture the coastal forts all the way and go upstream, so Lieutenant General McClellan, commander-in-chief of the theater of operations, prepared to carry out a sniper annihilation battle against the attacking Chinese imperial ** team.

Fort Dyers, located on the banks of the Mississippi River, is not a dangerous terrain, but it is not far from the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, making it the best battlefield to choose.

Therefore, McClellan attached great importance to this place, and led his troops to arrive early, and set up heavy troops to guard here, preparing to annihilate the invading Chinese Emperor ** team in one fell swoop. What's more, Fort Dyers was in close proximity to the Confederate states of Mississippi and Alabama, and Confederate troops were able to arrive in time. For this reason, McClellan sent an invitation to the Confederate Powers 20 days in advance, asking Albert Johnston, commander of the Western Theater of Operations of the Confederate Powers, and Beauregard, deputy commander of the Confederate Territories, to lead at least 30,000 troops to rendezvous, and the North and the South to join forces to intercept Peng Yulin's waterway coalition forces passing through here.

"Yesterday I received news that Peng Yulin, the commander-in-chief of the American Theater of Operations of the Chinese Empire, led a large fleet to escort a large group of troop carriers, and there were a large number of soldiers on the west bank of the Mississippi River, marching upstream, and it is expected that they will arrive within our attack range in front of Fort Dyers the day after tomorrow. According to the information obtained from the front, the enemy's naval fleet has a total of nearly 20 warships and more than 250 artillery pieces, while the army has more than 40,000 infantry and a huge artillery unit, the number of which is unknown, but it is known that there are more than 300 artillery pieces of various types, and the firepower is not small. McClellan, as the main general, directly opened his mouth to pick out the topic of discussion, and then turned his head to look at the generals, no matter who they were, they were older than him, but the more this happened, the more he had to fight this battle well and play majestic.

Seeing that everyone didn't speak, McClellan was a little unhappy, and said directly: "Although our troops are more numerous than the enemy, our firepower is much worse, and the total artillery is only more than 180, which is only half of the opponent's. Therefore, I invited the troops of the Southern Alliance to come to their aid, plus their 30,000 troops, nearly 100 artillery pieces, whether it is the number of troops or the artillery firepower, as well as this geographical advantage, we are sure to win. However, it is likely that the Confederate army will not be very dedicated, and Johnston will definitely let his men save some strength, so that our Union army can carry more burdens and fight with the enemy army to consume more. Therefore, do not put too much hope in them, but focus on our own strength. ”

The commander of the Federal Cavalry Brigade, Philip Sheridan, has always looked down on McClellan, thinking that he relied on his connections to get to the top, and he did not have any good records in the early battle, so he said in a good voice at the moment: "There is no need for them at all." With our 60,000 troops, we can sit in this Dalesburg at ease, and if we can't defeat the enemy, we can simply jump into the bathtub and drown. ”

Major General William Rosecrans, deputy commander of the Western Theater of Operations, said in a straightforward manner: "You still don't underestimate the enemy. That Peng Yulin has always been very famous, and now the Chinese Empire is also extremely powerful, from a backward Manchu Dynasty to a powerful country in the East, and still has a firm foothold in our American territory, not an idle person. General McClellan was right when he said that he should make good use of the alliance forces with the Confederate army to defeat the enemy together. ”

Rear Admiral David Farragut, commander of the Marine Division's fleet, interjected: "Speaking of the Confederate ** team, there is one thing that is very strange. Since the Battle of Vicksburg a month ago, the Confederate army has not had a large-scale retaliatory attack on the Chinese Imperial ** army marching on the Mississippi River, but from time to time there have been some sporadic small battles, but they are harmless to both sides, but it is like a better act. It stands to reason that more than 18,000 troops of the Southern Alliance State were captured by the other side, so the Southern Alliance State should actively rescue them, or launch a large army to defeat the army of the Chinese Empire, or directly sue for peace in exchange for the release of those prisoners, how can it not be as strange as it is now. Could there be any problems? ”

Brigadier General Sherman frowned and said, "I also have a delusion. Moreover, I heard a fellow countryman say that it seems that the secretary of state of the Southern Union State did not seem to be in Washington a month and a half ago, as if he had disappeared out of thin air. ”

"You mean that the Chinese Empire and the Southern Confederate States have colluded again?" Lieutenant General McClellan shook his head and rebuked, "This can't be! Even if Davis and Tumbs could be so stupid, the slave owners of the Confederate States and the congressmen who represented them would not be so stupid!

The Chinese Empire is ambitious, all the way to expand, from the original northern Mexico, to now want to occupy the entire west of the Mississippi River, which not only invaded the territory of our Federation, but also seriously encroached on the territory of the Southern Confederate States, and even from the current point of view, there are Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, etc., the Confederate States can never tolerate, especially the loss of Louisiana, the Port of New Orleans occupies more than half of the South's foreign trade, With an annual foreign trade volume of more than 500 million US dollars, this is a huge benefit, and no matter who it is, it is impossible to give it up! This alone would have made it impossible for the Southern Confederate States to collude with the Chinese Empire.

By the way, where did Johnston's Confederate army go? There are two days to go, and they must meet us at Fort Dyers as soon as possible! ”

Philip Sheridan said: "Johnston has arrived at the town of Halls, not far to the southeast, with nearly 30,000 artillery pieces, and will arrive at the latest, this evening or early tomorrow morning, and will certainly be able to join this joint campaign against the Chinese Empire." ”

McClellan nodded: "Then I can safely put them in the lineup for the battle." Even if you don't count on them much, at least you can add some momentum, and their 30,000 troops, even if they don't fight anymore and become shrunken turtles, can hold the high ground on this side of Fort Dyers. This Fort Dyers will be the grave of the Chinese Emperor's ** team! ”