20,000 French troops and 20,000 Spanish troops were combined, more than 40,000 people, and there were still 10,000 French troops at Dagukou who would pounce at any time, 50,000 troops, and the entire Gyeonggi area was greatly threatened!

When Zhang Shusheng, Liu Mingchuan and others returned to Tianjin, they were already stupid, they had already received a telegram sent back by Yan Chunyu from Shandong, tens of thousands of British and Japanese troops were storming Weihaiwei, the two sides launched a fierce battle in Weihaiwei, twice repelled the British fleet, and the two sides were engaged in a confrontation. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

Zeng Guofan's current shadow area in his heart can't be bigger, if not to say that Zuo Zongtang can't stop the attack of foreigners, Tianjin 450,000 troops, Yantai 50,000 or 60,000 troops, together that is 100,000 troops, the envoys of the four countries really didn't talk nonsense, not to scare the imperial court, but really sent an unprecedented army!

In the first battle of Beitang and Dagukou, only more than 10,000 French troops fought more than 20,000 Hunan troops and Huai troops could not raise their heads.

Zeng Guofan is about to die, now both the Hunan army and the Huai army have suffered huge casualties, the Hunan army led by Bao Xin suffered more than two-thirds of the casualties, Pan Dingxin's Huai army was almost wiped out, as for Liu Mingchuan and Zhang Shusheng, they also suffered huge losses, the most serious thing is that the Huai army's artillery was almost lost, and without artillery, it could only be beaten passively!

"Tell me, guys, what should we do now?"

Zeng Guofan asked.

Everyone was silent, completely unexpected, the combat power of the foreigners was too strong, I originally thought that the Hunan army and the Huai army were strong enough, who knew that the difference was far away, I originally thought that the Lu army was the most powerful army in the world, but I didn't expect that the combat power of the French army was still better than the Lu army, and the artillery used was simply amazing!

"Di Shuai, according to the current situation, Tianjin City is absolutely not able to be saved, subordinates think that we retreat to Wuqing is the best policy, and Ting Shuai to join forces, build strong fortifications in Wuqing, relying on strong troops, it is possible to stop the other party's advance, Tianjin City, although there is a city wall as a backing, but the other party's artillery fire is too fierce, we are trapped in the lonely city, lack of sufficient artillery support, can not fight back, once the city is broken, it is a dead end!"

Liu Mingchuan replied in a deep voice.

Zhang Shusheng smiled bitterly and said: "Province three, what you said is simple, Tianjin City has a city wall to rely on, at least the city wall is strong, if you build a position on the spot, most of the areas around Gyeonggi are plains, and it is impossible to build strong fortifications in a short period of time, and the foreigners will not give us this time, and there is still artillery available in Tianjin City, and when we retreat to the Wuqing area, we will have even fewer artillery available, and people can attack us more unscrupulously?" ”

Zeng Guofan sighed and replied: "Province three, don't talk about the others, retreat from the battle, abandon Tianjin, the court blames it, none of us can afford to be guilty, the army is defeated and loses land, it is a capital crime!" ”

Liu Mingchuan raised his eyebrows and replied, "Di Shuai, where can you blame the court now?" They want to blame, then they come to the front to fight. We defend Tianjin, we will face the siege of foreigners, not only siege, foreigners can even drive the battleship along the river to the city of Tianjin, from the Haihe River to launch an artillery bombardment on the city of Tianjin, even if we want to defend, we can't hold it, it is better to take a step back, at least to Wuqing, we can fight, we can't fight, then resist, delay time, wait for follow-up reinforcements, at least we will not be encircled and annihilated......"

Zeng Guofan was still a little undecided, after all, the responsibility of abandoning Tianjin was too great.

Sun Kaihua on the side suddenly said fiercely: "Di Shuai, since the left and right are not the opponents of foreigners, it is better for us to take a risk!" ”

Zeng Guofan raised his eyebrows and asked, "Kaihua, how can you take a risk?" ”

Sun Kaihua replied: "Di Shuai, everyone, now the foreigners have begun to lead the army to advance towards Tianjin City, all the way to the northwest of Dagukou, all the way to the north, trying to attack Tianjin from the front and south at the same time, I am willing to lead the Hunan cavalry out of the city, all the way to the east, waiting for the opportunity to attack the foreigners, kill their artillery!" As long as they can successfully take out their artillery, then what is there to fear? Anyway, their warships can roam the Haihe River at most, and they can't cross Tianjin, and they don't need strength to stare dryly, so we can have a decisive battle with the foreigners under the city of Tianjin! ”

Zeng Guofan frowned and asked, "Kaihua, are you sure?" ”

Sun Kaihua shook his head and replied, "Di Shuai, where did I get my certainty?" It's just that the situation is critical now, and I think it's worth taking a risk! Maybe we can fight for a way out for us, and wait for death here, that's absolutely not possible! ”

Liu Mingchuan's eyes lit up, and he shouted: "Yes, my lord, this method is good, let the cavalry bring enough gunpowder and oil, and burn them as soon as they have the opportunity, not to mention defeating the foreigners, as long as the foreigners' artillery can be destroyed, then our pressure will be greatly reduced!" ”

Zeng Guofan has always been cautious, and he is very uncertain about such a strategy, but now there is no better way.

Zeng Guofan hesitated, Liu Mingchuan hurriedly said: "Di Shuai, I once heard someone say, Ming Shuai once had a sentence that said, but in a battle, there is a certainty of six or seven points, then for him, that is the must try, very sure, but it will make a trap, now although we do not have six or seven points of certainty, but the situation is so severe, we have no way to retreat, let go, there is a chance to win!" You can't hesitate! ”

"Yes, Di Shuai, the number is willing to give it a try, it's a big deal to die for the country, although there is no regret in death!"

Sun Kaihua shouted.

Zeng Guofan gritted his teeth, slammed his fist on the table, and shouted: "Okay, Kaihua, then let you lead the main cavalry of the Hunan army out of the city, and prepare to wait for the opportunity to raid the foreign army!" Finish off their artillery! ”

Sun Kaihua didn't answer when he heard this, turned around and walked down hurriedly.

Zeng Guofan rubbed his face fiercely to make himself more energetic, these days are really too tired, for an old man in his sixties, it is not easy.

Zeng Guofan sighed and said: "Everyone, tell me, our Hunan army and Huai army together, tens of thousands of people, can not withstand the attack of foreigners, first lose Beitang, and then lose Dagukou, now Tianjin is in danger; So how did Yan Chunyu fight in Shandong? It was able to suppress the attack of the British and the Japanese for several days, and the strength of the Lu army was only 20,000 people, is this the gap between us and the Lu army? ”

I would like to recommend a friend's book: "Spring and Autumn Confucianism", the work of the old man, the quality is guaranteed, and the bargain is good, welcome to pay attention. (To be continued.) )