When Shan Lianke went down, Nie Shicheng shouted: "Prepare paper and pen for the old man immediately!" ”

Not long after, the guards found a pen and paper, and Nie Shicheng began to write a telegram to Li Hongzhang: Zhongtang Lord Junjian: Three days ago, the Japanese army Oshima Yichang Department took advantage of the night to sneak attack our north and south camps, Ye Zhichao did not listen to his duties, did not take precautions, and the headquarters was defeated in a battle, resulting in a sneak attack on the Japanese army before and after, the army was strong, and the southern battalion fought hard with the Japanese army all night, and retreated from the enemy, killing more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers in this battle, and our troops also suffered heavy casualties. The enemy was outnumbered, the baggage was insufficient, and the backup did not arrive, so he had no choice but to retreat to Kaesong, intending to fight to the death with the enemy in Kaesong. In addition, Ye Zhichao escaped from the battle and was attacked by the Japanese army and martyred on the way. Today's army has more than 10,000 people in Korea, and the army is strong, but our army is only more than 3,000, and there is a huge disparity in strength. Now that the leaves are gone, please decide how the Korean headquarters will behave......

Nie Shicheng wrote the letter, handed it to his soldiers, and instructed: "Immediately take the letter to the telegraph office and send a telegram to Lord Zhongtang, asking Lord Zhongtang to make preparations as soon as possible and support North Korea as soon as possible." ”

The soldiers turned and retreated.

Nie Shicheng turned around and asked everyone: "Ladies and gentlemen, now that we are retreating to Kaesong, the Japanese army is coming soon, and the front is strong, far beyond the ability of our army to match, I don't know what good strategies you have to resist the enemy?" ”

Li Gang took a few steps forward and said: "Lord Junmen, for today's plan, we can only defend the city and wait for domestic reinforcements, according to the news from the country, the reinforcements of Zuo Gui Junmen and others have now been assembled on the bank of the Yalu River, and will enter North Korea at any time to support our army, fast is five days, slow is seven days, the reinforcements should be able to arrive in Kaesong, we only need to hold on to these few days, as soon as the reinforcements arrive, we will have no worries." ”

Nie Shicheng didn't speak, and continued to look at others.

Zhao Shixiao replied: "Lord Junmen, my subordinates think that it is not the best policy to defend Kaesong, now the enemy is strong and I am weak, although we can take advantage of the geographical advantage, but the weapons and ammunition of Kaesong are not very sufficient, once the domestic reinforcements have not arrived, we are afraid that we will be surrounded and suppressed under Kaesong." I mean it's better to withdraw our troops to the north and retreat to Pyongyang, Pyongyang has an arsenal and a lot of baggage reserves, enough for us to fight a long war, and at the same time, at the speed of the march of the left-handed, we can reach Pyongyang in a day. When the time comes, it is the best policy to join forces and resist the Japanese together. ”

Tang Keqiang, the old battalion manager, said: "Although Shi Xiao said that he is somewhat reasonable, but we must also see that the Japanese army is in hot pursuit, only ten miles away from us, and can attack us at any time, we may not even have time to build fortifications, once there is no defensive position and collide with the Japanese army, then we will be too passive." ”

Everyone made suggestions one after another, and for a while everyone was divided and argued with each other.

Nie Shicheng pondered for a moment and asked Zhang Yi, "Zhang Yi, in your opinion, what should I do?" ”

Zhang Yi also pondered and said slowly: "My lord, first, we can't abandon the city no matter what, one of the imperial court discussions may make a catastrophe for the adults, and second, the Japanese army has hundreds of cavalry, and the main force is too close to our army, if we abandon the city, there will be a danger of being surrounded at any time; Second, it is not a good strategy to defend Kaecheng, as Lord Shixiao said, once the reinforcements are delayed, our army's ammunition reserves are limited, and when the time comes, it will be a dead end to sit in the lonely city and be surrounded on all sides; ”

Nie Shicheng asked, "Then do you have a good plan to solve the immediate crisis?" ”

Zhang Yi replied: "My lord, when our army was still in Asan, I had already sent blue wolves around to reconnoiter the terrain and draw military maps in case of emergency. Adults, please take a look. ”

As he spoke, Zhang Yi came to the map, pointed to the map, and said, "My lord, the terrain of Kaecheng is gentle, which is not conducive to passive defense. When we defend Kaesong, we will be surrounded by Japanese troops on all sides, and then whether it is a siege or a reinforcement, it is all under its control. In order to get rid of the defensive passivity, we must find a fulcrum, a fulcrum that can support each other with Kaesong at any time and threaten the Japanese army's ribs, and form a pincer posture against the Japanese army in Kaesong. In this way, the Japanese army could not launch a full-scale attack at will, and Kaesong could ensure that it was defended in a short time. ”

Nie Shicheng frowned slightly, and said suspiciously: "Fulcrum? Where is it? ”

Zhang Yi smiled slightly, pointed his finger to the southwest direction of Kaesong, and said: "My lord, the fulcrum I am talking about is here, more than ten miles away from Kaesong, Maoer Mountain!" As long as we send troops to occupy this place first and build fortifications, we can attack the Japanese ribs when the Japanese army is attacking the city, share the defensive pressure of Kaesong, and contain the Japanese army. Maoershan is easy to defend and difficult to attack, even if the Japanese army pours out, our army is backed by lofty mountains and mountains, and it is not easy for the Japanese army to take the defense. ”

Nie Shicheng nodded slightly and said: "Yes, send an elite to Mao'er Mountain, echo Kaecheng from afar, and form a containment of the Japanese army, the idea is good." However, the Japanese army Yoshimasa Oshima is a famous general, and once the attack is launched, I think that Maoershan will bear the brunt of the attack first, and it will be difficult for us to build strong fortifications in a short time, and even if we can build fortifications, whether we can hold back the attack of thousands of Japanese troops is still in between. ”

Zhang Yi said with a smile: "My lord, you can rest assured that even if the Japanese army arrives in Kaesong today, it will not be able to launch an offensive immediately." ”

Nie Shicheng's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he asked, "How are you so sure?" ”

Zhang Yi replied: "My lord, in the past few days, my blue wolf brigade has blocked the Japanese army, and every time it attacked, it was aimed at the Japanese officers, and after several blockades, the middle and lower officers of the Japanese army were killed and wounded by the blue wolf, and no less than 30 people were injured, seriously damaging the command system of the Japanese army. So in two to three days, it is unlikely that the Japanese will attack. This is the right time to build fortifications. At the same time, the subordinates studied a new kind of fortifications - trench fortifications, the drawings of the components of the fortifications, which the subordinates had already drawn in their spare time, and only needed the sappers to build according to the drawings, once the fortifications were completed, it was by no means possible for the Japanese army to occupy them in a short period of time. ”

Nie Shicheng laughed when he heard this, "Okay, since that's the case, then according to Zhang Yi's plan, select an elite army and rush forward to Mao'er Mountain." ”

Li Gang stepped forward and said: "My lord, in this case, my subordinates are willing to lead the deputy middle battalion to garrison and swear to defend Mao'er Mountain." ”

Nie Shicheng shook his head and said, "No, Li Gang, in recent days, the deputy middle battalion has encountered tough battles repeatedly, and the loss of troops is too serious, and the combat strength is insufficient, so it is difficult to bear such a heavy responsibility. ”

Zhang Yi replied: "My lord, my subordinates suggest that some subordinates lead the old front battalion to garrison Mao'er Mountain, the old front battalion is the main force of our army, and the personnel are complete, and I personally lead the construction of fortifications, which can be safe." ”

Nie Shicheng nodded and said: "Well, the old front battalion and the deputy middle battalion are the same as the old man's family wealth accumulated over the years, I can trust it, okay, you will lead the garrison of Mao'er Mountain." Keqiang, you stay in Kaesong with the old man's counselor for military affairs, and the old front battalion will be temporarily handed over to Zhang Yi's command. ”

The pipe band of the old front camp is Nie Shicheng's henchman Tang Keqiang, Tang Keqiang said urgently: "My lord, by all means, it's not that his subordinates are reluctant to the old front camp, nor is it that Zhang Yi's brother is not capable, the only thing that worries is that the old front camp is brought out by you personally, all of them are proud soldiers, Zhang Yi's brother has just arrived, I'm afraid he won't be able to suppress this group of rabbit cubs by then, what personality they know best." The garrison of Maoershan is a matter of the overall situation, and we have to guard against it. ”

Nie Shicheng frowned, what Tang Keqiang said was indeed reasonable, the soldiers he brought out, he knew that this group of guys, in addition to himself and Tang Keqiang, I am afraid that Li Gang, the oldest pipe with the most seniority, would be restrained.

Tang Keqiang continued: "My lord, my subordinates are willing to go to Mao'er Mountain with Brother Zhang Yi, and when they arrive at Mao'er Mountain, my subordinates are willing to obey Brother Zhang Yi's arrangement with full authority, but it is too risky to let Brother Zhang Yi lead the army alone." ”

Nie Shicheng sighed lightly and said, "Okay, then you can go with Zhang Yi." I don't want you to follow, it's also because Li Gang is seriously injured, you are accompanying Zhang Yi to Maoershan, and there is just a shortage of people around me. Remember, charging into battle, you are a tiger general, but strategizing, you are much worse than Zhang Yi, remember, all tactical arrangements, obey Zhang Yi's dispatch is, the stakes are very high, sloppy, if there is a mistake, I only ask. ”

Tang Keqiang agreed.

Zhang Yi listened to Nie Shicheng's words and said, "Since there is a lack of people under the adult to participate in the military affairs of the war, then I want the adult to recommend one." Xu Huaijin! ”

"Here!" Xu Huaijin stepped forward and took a few steps forward to salute.

Zhang Yi said: "My lord, Xu Huaijin studied in Germany in his early years, studied military affairs, and his military literacy is outstanding, no less than me, I will temporarily leave him with my adult to counsel military affairs." ”

Nie Shicheng nodded and said, "Okay, since you recommended it, there must be something outstanding, so I'll stay and give me advice." Young man, you have to show some real skills! ”