Acting Jiangnan Governor He Chun does not look down on Wu Chaoyue very much, and has always thought that Wu Chaoyue's previous exaggerated achievements are just the result of blowing, purely a cowhide that kills good and risked merit, conceals defeat, and lies about winning the war, Jiangning relied on the Jiangning Qing army during the war, and the so-called Jiangyin victory should also be the harvest of the Qing army under Yang Wending's hard battle. If there is really any tough and vicious battle, the soft-spoken Jiangsu soldiers under Wu Chaoyue will immediately be exposed.

No matter how much you look down on it, there is no way, Wu Chaoyue is now a genuine third-grade press inspector, and he also leads the rank of squire from the second-grade military department, so after taking the Qing army and Wu Jun to join the division, Hechun still went to Xu Naizhao's unfinished main camp of the Qing army to meet with Wu Chaoyue, and pretended to be polite to Wu Chaoyue, and finally Hechun had to ask Wu Chaoyue for advice with hypocritical affection, and said: "Wu Zhentai, you arrived at the battlefield earlier than us, and you are half a Shanghai local, you are more familiar with the situation here, how to fight next, I also ask Wu Zhentai to give some good suggestions. ”

"Back to the military gate, the lower official has only one suggestion now, that is, to immediately send troops and storm Changmao's camp outside the west gate of Shanghai!"

Wu Chaoyue replied very directly, and took the initiative to explain: "Hejunmen, Xu Futai, Changmao has just lifted the siege of our army's camp, and the losses in the attack on our army's camp are quite small, and they were defeated in the Zhabei War, the soldiers are tired, the army is depressed, and the morale is also very low, it is a great opportunity for us to take advantage of the situation to break the enemy." Therefore, Xia Guan proposed that we march together tomorrow, storm Changmao's camp outside Shanghai, force Changmao to abandon the camp and leave, and then beat the water dogs to annihilate the main force of Longhair in the pursuit. ”

After listening to Wu Chaoyue's suggestion, Xu Naizhao nodded, greatly moved, but He Chun's face changed, and he quickly shook his head and said: "Wu Zhentai, although your opinion is reasonable, but you are too anxious, it is not that the soldiers and horses of this official are cowardly and fearful, it is our army that has come from afar, and the people are sleepy and tired, and they urgently need to rest." At the same time, our army had just arrived in Shanghai, and the camp was not stable, so it was necessary to first establish a strong camp to take the right reason for the victory, and then try to break the enemy. ”

After the objection, He Chun still muttered in his heart: "Sure enough, it is an unreliable cowhide goods, when I saw the arrival of reinforcements led by this official, I immediately made up my mind to encourage this official to send troops, and then took the opportunity to pick up a bargain, this official is not so stupid." ”

Wu Chaoyue misunderstood Hechun's meaning, and said that Hechun did not dare to fight because the quality of the army was too poor, so he said: "Don't worry about Hejunmen, in tomorrow's battle, your army only needs to send more than 1,000 soldiers and horses to help our army monitor Changmao Zhou Lichun's department, and you can't mistake your army to set up camp." ”

After that, Wu Chaoyue turned to Xu Naizhao again, and arched his hand and said: "Lord Futai, tomorrow I also ask you to dispatch more than 1,000 troops to help Xia Guan contain the long-haired Zhou Lichun, if the Zhou bandits do not go out of the camp, you and the military gate do not have to move, if the Zhou bandits break out of the camp, I hope you must be careful, a large number of soldiers under the command of Zhou Lichun are equipped with carbines from the United States, and their combat effectiveness should not be underestimated." But please rest assured, you only need to contain the Zhou bandits for a while, and the lower officials can send troops to reinforce you. ”

Xu Naizhao, who was full of confidence in Wu Chaoyue, agreed, but Hechun over there was confused, and hurriedly asked Wu Chaoyue: "Wu Zhentai, who is responsible for attacking the camp of the main force of Changmao?" ”

"Xiaguan me?" Wu Chaoyue asked inexplicably, "Junmen, your army needs to set up a camp, in addition to the Shanghai regimental training under the command of Xia Guan, there is still a surplus army there to undertake the main attack task?" ”

He Chun's eyes suddenly widened wider than a bull's eye, and he quickly asked again: "What about the long hair in Shanghai City?" If the long hair in Shanghai City sends troops, who will resist? ”

"Don't worry about the military gate, it's still a lower official." Wu Chaoyue laughed when he heard this, and said: "The lower officials are only afraid that the long hair in the city will not send troops, and if the long hair in the city really dares to come out, it will only be unbegging for the lower officials." ”

He Chun was completely speechless, and only after a while did he exclaim and ask, "Wu Zhentai, you're not joking, are you?" You only have six battalions of troops, and you have to take on the three tasks of attacking the main camp of Changmao, intercepting Changmao in the city, and reinforcing our army at the same time? Wu Zhentai, are you sure you're not joking? ”

Wu Chaoyue laughed when he heard this, and finally understood that He Chun's refusal to launch a full-scale attack tomorrow was because he lacked confidence in himself. Xu Naizhao over there also smiled, and hurriedly said to He Chun: "Please rest assured that the military gate can be consoled, the comfort pavilion can do it." When you arrive on the battlefield tomorrow, you will be able to know how capable the soldiers and horses of the Comfort Pavilion are. ”

Seeing that Xu Naizhao, who has a steady personality, said this, He Chun was naturally even more dumbfounded, but He Chun was also worthy of being a few Manchu generals who could win the Taiping Army, and after being surprised, He Chun, who came back to his senses, thought about it for a moment, and said: "Okay, this official will personally lead two thousand soldiers and horses out of the camp tomorrow to help Wu Zhentai contain the long-haired Zhou Lichun, if Zhou bandits send troops, please also rest assured that Wu Zhentai can not stop him from the main battlefield, let the military law deal with it!" ”

I didn't expect Hechun to have such a little bloodiness, Wu Chaoyue was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked Hechun, and then suggested that Hechun send a battalion of soldiers and horses to be stationed in the western suburbs of the French Concession to prevent Liu Lichuan from borrowing troops from the French Concession, and also beware of the concession army by the way. He Chun agreed, and he also greatly changed his impression of Wu Chaoyue, and said secretly: "This kid, isn't it really by luck to get to today?" ”

The battle plan was agreed, and on the morning of the next day, the three armies of Wu Chaoyue, Xu Naizhao, and Hechun, who had set up camps separately, dispatched troops at the same time as agreed, and also deployed their own troops and horses according to the prior agreement. In order to exert psychological pressure on the enemy, Wu Chaoyue, who was holding a picric acid weapon, asked Wu Jun to train Yong to line up in front of the enemy camp as usual, and directly launched an attack on the front of the most heavily guarded camp of the Taiping Army.

At about 10:40, seeing that the Qing army had finished arraying, Wu Chaoyue decisively ordered the artillery battalion to open fire, and bombarded the Taiping army camp with picric acid shells as usual. Only the Taiping soldiers hiding in the semi-underground fortifications were safer, but they were also so thick with smoke that they coughed and had tears in their eyes.

Even if he knew that he couldn't bombard Wu Chaoyue, the Taiping army still dispatched some artillery to fire back, and during the period, a small number of flowering shells bought from foreigners were also fired, but it was a pity that the flowering shells of the Taiping army were loaded with black powder, and the explosion power was very different from the picric acid shells, and there was no good combustion effect of picric acid, so the artillery still had the absolute upper hand in the bombardment battle of Wu Junlianyong. At the same time, after the artillery position was exposed, the Taiping army's batteries were quickly destroyed by the Wu army's artillery and grenadier barrels one by one, and there were two Taiping artillery explosions during this period, killing and injuring many Taiping gunners.

In order to form the overwhelming situation of Mount Tai and force the Taiping army to retreat into the city, after basically destroying the artillery position arranged by the Taiping army in front of the camp, Wu Chaoyue decisively ordered the breech gun to suspend firing, and rotated the mortar cannon to continue firing, and bombarded the mortar shells with a larger charge into the Taiping army camp, and soon turned the front camp of the Taiping army into a sea of fire.

Unable to parry the artillery coverage of Wu Jun Lianyong, Zeng Lichang was forced to ask Liu Lichuan and Zhou Lichun for reinforcements, but Zhou Lichun's camp was surrounded by the two Qing armies of Hechun and Xu Naizhao.

On Liu Lichuan's side, after receiving Zeng Lichang's news of asking for help, although Lin Afu repeatedly persuaded Liu Lichuan to send troops to share the pressure for Zeng Lichang, just seeing the tragic situation of the Taiping Army camp on the city wall, Liu Lichuan was already weak and trembling all over, shaking his head like a rattle, "No troops!" Troops must not be sent! Surpassing the little demon to fight the field battle is too powerful, we will only die in vain when we go out, and die in vain! ”

"Liu Checkpoint, it's okay if you don't send troops!" Xu Zongyang, who personally went into the city to ask for help, took the opportunity to threaten: "If you don't send troops to help us, we will break through immediately!" Take Zhou Lvshuai to break through and return to Suzhou to wait for follow-up reinforcements! I'll leave this army to you here in Shanghai! ”

Thinking that he would defend the lonely city of Shanghai alone with the strength of an army, and face the terrifying artillery of Wu Junlian's courage alone, Liu Lichuan of course subconsciously shivered. And Liu Lichuan's cronies Chen Alin and Li Xianchi next to him exchanged glances with each other, and Chen Alin came forward and said: "Brother Ayuan, why don't you invite Prime Minister Zeng to bring soldiers and horses into the city, the city wall can block cannonballs and can be held for a long time." Otherwise, if Prime Minister Zeng and the others leave, with our army alone, even if we want to defend the city, we will not be sure. ”

"Brother Ayuan, Brother Alin is right, you should invite Prime Minister Zeng and them in." Li Xianchi also echoed: "When we come out to mix, we must be righteous, Prime Minister Zeng and they are in a critical situation now, so they should be allowed to retreat into the city to rest." ”

Knowing what it means to invite God and send God, Liu Lichuan is reluctant to let the Taiping Army enter the city and station, but Xu Zongyang has already threatened to break through the siege alone and let Liu Lichuan deal with the siege of the Qing army alone, Chen Alin and Li Xianchi, two cronies, persuaded and helped beside him, Liu Lichuan couldn't help but start to waver. With great hesitation, Liu Lichuan could only turn his gaze to Lin Afu, another of his cronies, and asked, "Brother Afu, what do you mean?" ”

Liu Lichuan asked the wrong object, Lin Afu's biggest advantage and biggest disadvantage is that he is too righteous, and naturally he will not do anything to lack virtue of not saving the friendly army, so Lin Afu did not hesitate, and immediately nodded and said: "Brother Ayuan, you should invite Prime Minister Zeng and them into the city." ”

Seeing that Lin Afu also agreed to let the main force of the Taiping Army enter the city, Liu Lichuan gritted his teeth again, then stomped his foot and said to Xu Zongyang: "Prime Minister Xu, if it's not a brother, I don't want to send troops to help you, it's that my soldiers and horses really can't beat and surpass the little demon, and going out will only be for nothing." Otherwise, how about you bring your soldiers and horses into the city, and we will join forces to defend the city? ”

Xu Zongyang was waiting for Liu Lichuan's words, and he was secretly happy in his heart, first pretending to hesitate, and then stomping his feet to agree. Then Xu Zongyang hurriedly went out of the city to report the good news to Zeng Lichang, and organized the Taiping Army soldiers to move to the city with Zeng Lichang, leaving Chen Alin and Li Xianchi to look at each other on the city wall, "Damn, five thousand taels of silver are finally in hand!" ”

Knowing that the civil structure of the camp was vulnerable in the face of the mysterious shells of the Wu army, in fact, the Taiping army had long been ready to abandon the camp and break through, so Xu Zongyang had just brought back the good news that Liu Lichuan had allowed the main force of the Taiping army to enter the city, and the Taiping army immediately began the retreat of Dunkirk, and the gate of the rear camp was opened, first two thousand Taiping troops lined up to leave the camp, ran to both sides of the road to enter the rammed earth fortifications that had been repaired beforehand, to protect the retreat road, and then the convoy full of heavy grain and grass left the camp, Racing against time to rush to the west gate of Shanghai a mile to the east, Liu Lichuan still kept his promise, and immediately opened the city gate to let the Taiping army enter the city.

Seeing this situation in the telescope, considering that the Taiping army had built a large number of individual bunkers on both sides of the road, there would definitely be a lot of casualties if he took a detour to copy the back road of the Taiping army, and Wu Chaoyue hesitated to send troops for a while. And Zhou Tenghu next to him immediately came over and said in a low voice: "Lord Wu, quickly send troops to copy the back road of Changmao, even if we have to pay a certain price, we can't stop the long-haired soldiers from entering the city, at least we have to let Changmao not bring too much grain and grass into the city." In this way, it can not only speed up the consumption of grain and grass in Shanghai, but also make the main force of Changmao have a request for Liu Lichuan in terms of grain and grass, and expand and speed up their internal contradictions. ”

Wu Chaoyue did not hesitate anymore, and immediately ordered Huang Dasha and Cao Yanzhong to lead the battalion to practice Yong to copy the left flank of the Taiping army's rear, and explained that Huang Cao'er must use grenadiers to blow up the Taiping army's baggage team, forcing the Taiping army to give up the baggage and enter the city directly.

After the two battalions of Wu Jun Lian Yong detoured back to the left flank of the Taiping army's road into the city, the fierce battle quickly began, relying on a large number of individual bunkers built in advance, the Taiping soldiers hid behind the fortifications and shot desperately, but Wu Jun Lian Yong cut off their opportunity to enter the city. However, Wu Jun Lian Yong got as close as possible under the rain of bullets, and finally advanced to the predetermined position after paying a lot of casualties, and then immediately bombarded the baggage team of the Taiping Army with a light grenadier, and between the explosion of the shells, some of the baggage vehicles of the Taiping Army were damaged and could not continue to advance, and many donkeys and mules pulling the carts were also frightened and scurried, losing control and disrupting the traffic flow, and the baggage vehicles were staggering, which seriously affected the speed of the vehicles entering the city.

At the same time, Zhou Lichun's side also began to retreat, in the case that most of the baggage has been lost in the Zhabei camp, the lightly armed Zhou Lichun's army also retreated quickly, faster than the main force of the Taiping Army to withdraw to the east gate of Shanghai, the Qing army pursued and killed, although it was intercepted by the elite of Zhou Lichun's army behind the palace equipped with all carbines, and failed to defeat Zhou Lichun's army in one fell swoop, but also relied on a roundabout outflank to impact the flank, brushed a lot of people and made a lot of gains, and also caused a lot of casualties to Zhou Lichun's army.

At this time, the Wu army also began to expose some internal problems, the first is the lack of offensive capabilities, there is no reliable means to destroy the individual bunkers built by the Taiping military before, there is no way to quickly destroy the defensive positions of the Taiping army, and there is no way to completely cut off the Taiping army's road into the city, and at the same time, there are many casualties in front of the Taiping army's defensive position. The second is the problem of physical strength, after being devastated by the wind and waves at sea for more than ten days, and finally landing on land and fighting one after another, no matter how good the usual nutrition of the soldiers is, this will already be exhausted and the physical strength has dropped seriously, and the offensive is far less fierce than usual.

The third is the problem of the number of troops, after a series of fierce battles, Wu Jun Lianyong, who has six battalions in reputation, is now actually only more than 2,400 people left, and Deng Siyuan's department, which suffered the worst casualties, did not come to participate in the battle, Meng Yu's artillery battalion could not be put into battle to protect the artillery, and Wu Chaoyue actually only had four disgruntled battalions in his hands that could be put into battle, so even if Wu Chaoyue knew that there was hope to completely cut off the Taiping army's road into the city, he no longer dared to launch an all-out onslaught at any cost.

It is precisely because of the existence of these objective conditions that the main force of the Taiping army, which numbered about 7,000, finally had more than 6,000 people successfully withdrew into the city of Shanghai, which was a mile away, and at the same time brought most of the heavy grain and grass and artillery into the city.

Seeing these situations in the telescope, Wu Chaoyue, who knew his own family affairs, understood that Wu Jun's practice was at the end of the crossbow, so Wu Chaoyue did not blame Huang Dasha and Cao Yanzhong for their ineffective combat, and the main force of the Taiping Army had just withdrawn from the moat, and Wu Chaoyue had already ordered to stop the pursuit and withdraw the troops and horses to clean up the battlefield.

In this regard, He Chun and Xu Naizhao of course shouted regret, regretting that they could not seize this fighter to destroy a large number of enemies, and Wu Chaoyue also took the initiative to admit a planting, and said to He Xu: "He Junmen, Xu Futai, this battle failed to annihilate Changmao in large quantities, the responsibility lies with me, my regimental training is too tired, and the troops are insufficient, which gives Changmao a large number of opportunities to escape." The responsibility lies with me, and I am the one who has held you back in this battle. ”

"Weiting, if you call it dragging, then those friendly troops on the battlefield in Ningzhen can't be called dragging, they can only be regarded as stabbing me in the back." He Chun was also refreshed, patted Wu Chaoyue on the shoulder and said, "Without your action, we can break through the long-haired camp so quickly?" Don't blame yourself, it's a blessing for us to have allies like you. ”

"Yes, Weiting, if you are also a drag, then the Qing Dynasty will not have an army that does not hold back." Xu Naizhao echoed, and took the initiative to say: "Weiting, take your regimental training back to rest, leave the matter of building siege fortifications to us, and when you are rested, it will not be too late for us to join forces to break the city." ”

Accustomed to seeing pig teammates, it is rare to meet two friendly armies that still know a little bit of etiquette, righteousness and shame, Wu Chaoyue is also a little moved, after thanking Xu Naizhao and He Chun, the exhausted Wu Chaoyue also hurriedly returned to the camp with the more tired Wu Jun Lian Yong to rest, ready to let Wu Jun Lian Yong rest for a while and then think about how to attack the city. However, what Wu Chaoyue didn't expect was that even a flag man like He Chun had a rare face, knowing that he would let himself rest well, but his foreigner friends who had a good relationship with Wu Chaoyue suddenly became even more shameless - Wu Chaoyue didn't even sit down firmly when he returned to the camp, and someone outside the tent had already come to report that it was the American consul Qi Liyun who asked to see him.

"Qi Liyun? How could he, a consul, come to my camp to meet me? ”

Confused, for the sake of Wu Lao comprador living in the American Consulate these days, Wu Chaoyue just wanted to go out of the account to greet him in person, but he never thought that another soldier would enter the account, and said: "Lord Zhentai, the British consul Mr. Ali Guo sent a representative to ask for a meeting, as well as the French consul Mr. Aitang and the Prussian consul Mr. A Huawei also came in person, and they all asked to see you. ”

"Why are they all here?"

Wu Chaoyue was even more confused, and after a little more calculation, Wu Chaoyue suddenly came back to his senses and blurted out: "It's broken!" Definitely because of the picric acid weapon! (To be continued.) )