"In God's name, the barbaric, wicked, and cruel pagans will be punished with the severest punishment. "Kittel said aloud, to himself, to the senior officers of the expeditionary force, to Sergeant Buckner, to everyone in the room—including, of course, the Chinese Catholic who had rescued the sergeant.www.biquge.info

Hans. Zhang—his Christian name, a name familiar to the Germans—brought the colonel and his officers bloody and cruel news that they did not yet know: the Chinese army and boxers were hunting down foreigners and Chinese Christians in Shanxi, as well as their relatives, and then immediately executing them all, cutting off their heads, and even digging out their hearts, and finally showing them to the public.

By now, a lot of people have died in this killing spree. "In the city of Taiyuan alone, forty-six foreigners were executed," said Hans. "The bishops, the priests, the nuns, and eleven children were all killed, and none were left. ”

And that's not all. Westerners, especially missionaries, are not only active in Taiyuan, but can also be seen in other places. Therefore, if the Chinese military and boxers are efficient enough, the total death toll could be four or five times that of "forty-six."

There are also Chinese Christians and their relatives. So far, nearly 10,000 people have been executed, and the final death toll is sure to be above 10,000.

A massive, organized massacre, a religious genocide, another catastrophe in the history of Catholicism and Christianity...... If you think about it, the number of missionaries executed by the Chinese army and boxers may be close to 200, which is indeed a religious disaster. Obviously, the pope and the cardinals need to be busy for a while.

It's terrible...... Maybe.

However, neither Kittel nor his officers cared about the Chinese: even if they were Catholic or Christian, they were still Chinese, not Westerners, let alone Germans; Their living conditions had nothing to do with the German Expeditionary Force. Moreover, even from the perspective of the church, the Chinese in Shanxi belonged to either the Franciscans or the English Baptists, but the officers of the expeditionary force were all Lutherans.

They don't need to care about the Chinese, and it's not necessary, it's meaningless. It's just that Kittel and the senior officers have not yet been able to reveal what they really think. Now they can't put Hans. Zhang aside, not even to arouse his disgust - he still has important value.

He knew a path to the city of Taiyuan that could take the expeditionary force there, bypassing the carefully constructed American-style defensive positions of the Chinese army. This is important. Although Kittel was not afraid of the American-style positions of the Chinese, he did not want to waste time fighting an unnecessary battle with the Chinese army.

In the current situation, fighting has become unnecessary. In addition to the massacres against Westerners and Christians, Hans. Zhang also brought the news that China's empress dowager, emperor, and other members of the imperial family remained in Taiyuan, not fleeing to the more remote inland areas as he had expected.

The expeditionary force can also capture them, end the war once and for all, and win the praise of the whole world.

A near-perfect opportunity.

As a result, Kittel and the senior officers had to do their best to appease Hans. Zhang - His relatives were all executed by the boxers, but he was the only one who survived, and took refuge in a hastily conscripted militia under a different name, where he met Sergeant Buchner, who was about to be executed, and then fled Taiyuan with him; It must be said that this was a good idea, and the most dangerous place was the safest place - they tried to appease him, win his favor, and make him voluntarily lead the expeditionary force back to Taiyuan.

The officers began to play a game that they did not like.

Kittel has played the role of a devout Catholic, a New Age crusader, and a divine defender of Catholicism. Then came his chief of staff. "Zhang, I can assure you that justice will be served." He solemnly assured, like a judge, that "once the expeditionary force occupies Taiyuan and ends the war, the murderers of your relatives will be sent to the gallows, and the property losses you have suffered will be compensated." ”

"Lord Yang, the villain depends on you." Hans. Zhang began to cry again, but still spoke Chinese, so the officers still did not figure out what he was talking about. But it doesn't matter, he's sad, it's enough to know this, there's no need to care about anything else.

"You're sad, we all know it, and we're just as sad as you." Rohr disguised himself as he had shared Hans. Zhang's anguish and sorrowful look said, "We will avenge you and everyone who died in this disaster." ”

"Thank you, Lady Yo." Hans. Zhang choked up, almost speechless.

"But," joined Lieutenant Colonel Lunt, another commander of the expeditionary force, but in a different role, "until your justice is done, you must help us and bring the expeditionary force to Taiyuan City." Only you know that hidden path, Zhang, and you have to take some responsibility. ”

"But ......" Hans. Zhang's body trembled visibly, and the sadness disappeared, replaced by fear, "I can lead the army to Taiyuan, but ...... I can't do anything but lead the way......"

The German officers knew what he meant. It was clear that this coward did not want to be drawn into a battle and did not want to put himself in a dangerous situation. Of course they didn't have the idea of letting him participate in the battle, a person like him had no more value, and once he brought the expeditionary force to Taiyuan City, he could be kicked aside.

And he must also thank the expeditionary force for their mercy, so that he can continue to live in this world.

Of course, before doing that, the guy must first be persuaded to accept the task. "You don't need to fight." Exchanging glances with the others, Lent continued, "You just need to bring the army to Taiyuan City, and then it's just our business, and it has nothing to do with you. ”

"Really?" He was still hesitating.

"I can swear to God." Lunt swore by it.

"Okay......" hesitated a little longer, Hans. Zhang added: "But there can't be too many people. The path is very narrow, so it is difficult to walk when there are many people, and it cannot hide its whereabouts, so it is easy to be discovered. ”

"We understand." Kittel nodded, and while laughing and complaining in his stomach that a Chinese even doubted the tactical literacy of German soldiers, he announced: "I will form a small commando team to act with you to carry out a surprise attack on Taiyuan City." ”

A small assault team, this was his plan, and the colonel already had a best option for this task - Captain Wiesenberg's infantry company. Kittel decided to add two equally incomplete infantry companies to it, as well as two field artillery guns, to form a commando force of about four hundred men - of course, its commander would still be Captain Wiesenberg. This is his chance to wash away his shame.

Kittel spent one night completing his plan. So the next morning, Captain Wiesenberg and his troops, along with their guide, Hans Bush. Mr. Zhang, you can move towards Taiyuan City.

And they set off.

※※※

"I hate this mission." Wiesenberg muttered in a voice that only he could hear, "Why are we going this way?" ”

Mountain road. Of course, in mountainous and hilly areas, the trails are usually mountain and difficult to travel, otherwise they would be expanded by pedestrians to become a major road. Wiesenberg was not unaware of this, in fact, while in Germany he had walked many of these rugged, difficult roads in the Black Forest, and only out of interest. But the problem is that this is not the Black Forest of Germany, but the Shanxi province of China, a hostile place where rough, hard-to-walk roads may well mean a death trap.

Wiesenberg is equally aware and is worried. As soon as the Chinese army deployed a few troops on both sides of the road, and brought a few machine guns, his assault team would be finished at once - the path was so narrow that it was impossible for the soldiers to even fully deploy; Looking at the steepness of the slopes on both sides, they had little chance of rushing to the Chinese positions.

That's the kind of place that is called a desperate situation.

"Damn it!" He continued to complain, "Now I'm a caged bird. ”

"Captain, what are you worried about?" With a flattering smile, Hans. Zhang leaned over.

"Nothing." Wiesenberg said, distancing himself slightly from him - he didn't want to be touched by this scumbag. "When will we be able to finish this road?"

"I don't know." Hans. Zhang spread his hands and said helplessly, "You shouldn't have brought two cannons, even if you have a donkey to carry them-"

"That's a mule."

Hans. Zhang ignored the interruption. “…… They are too heavy and affect speed. ”

"Hell, we don't have that much time to waste." Wiesenberg furrowed his eyebrows. He needed speed, not only because he wanted to get out of this desperate situation as soon as possible, but also because the expeditionary force would soon be engaged in battle - in order to attract the attention of the Chinese army, the expeditionary force would launch a feint attack on the defensive positions of the Chinese army.

But since it's just a feint, then it won't last long, and if during this time he still hasn't left this damn path, then ......

Suddenly, some indistinct sounds of gunfire, cannonballs, and explosions reached Wiesenberg's ears. The battle has begun.

His eyebrows furrowed even deeper. "We have to speed up!" (To be continued, if you want to know what will happen next, please log in to the www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!) (To be continued.) )