After the naval division occupied the military port, the troops of Dong Liang's department were all in place. Guan Xuqing did not know that the French cabinet had collapsed at this time, and the country had become a mess.

Just take it for granted not to give the French more time, when they don't slow down. The capital has already ordered a storm!

The two small gunboats of only 700 tons, "Nanwei" and "Nanwu", were deceived by everyone at sea, but when they reached the river, they became giants. No strong fortifications could stop his 140mm Armstrong breech gun, and if one shot went down, the fortifications would be completely destroyed.

Not to mention the fact that the two gunboats were also armed with breech-loading rapid-fire guns and machine guns, and the two gunboats fought in the Red River. Hitting all the fire and storming the south bank, the French could not raise their heads. Only the French artillery could still speak, and all other firepower was silent.

Under the cover of the powerful artillery fire of the warship, Lu Yiwei's troops took the lead in boarding the ship and crossing the river. Since they were tasked with a roundabout encirclement, all the ships were given to them for use, and only three round-trips. He took the lead in sending all the soldiers of Lu Yiwei's department over.

The French troops on the other side had already retreated south after the military port was occupied, knowing that they had lost the protection of their warships. It was very difficult to hold the position on the south bank of the Red River. After Lu Yiwei's troops rushed over, they actually pounced, and there were only a small number of Vietnamese vassals left behind. The French Continental Army had long since retreated south.

The French Army is also ranked first in Europe, and if they can't even see such an obvious strategic purpose as the Qing Army, it will be too insulting to their reputation.

When the entire army successfully landed on the south bank, it was found that only 7,000 Vietnamese vassal troops were defending. Its more than 40,000 local main forces are missing, and now it seems that all the previous tactical arrangements have become waste paper.

The sudden evaporation of the enemy made Liu Mingchuan not know what was wrong, and the original tactical arrangements were all sent to the military department by telegram, which submitted it to the emperor and personally carried it out after the imperial approval.

But now, the enemy's whereabouts are unknown. A large area of Vietnamese land in the south did not know where to attack, and the scattered attack was afraid of encountering the main force of the French army, and the attack step by step, and the fear of delaying time, after the arrival of the French reinforcements, missed the best fighter this time.

"Report, the forward spies report back. A large number of French troops were found in the fortress of Hucheng. A communications soldier reported back.

"Bring me the map." Liu Mingchuan shouted loudly.

Hu Thanh Fortress is the earliest place occupied by the French army to occupy Vietnam, after more than ten years of construction by the French, the fortifications are very strong, there is a naval infantry brigade of the French Pacific Fleet stationed here for a long time, its big laughing fortress, forts are dotted, and equipped with various artillery, cross control the entire fortress.

Its fortress is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and only the front is accessed. Could it be that the French hid here, waiting for reinforcements from warships?

In fact, the French army here, like the Qing army, did not know about the collapse of the cabinet in France, and now France is in chaos. The opposition parties are all working hard to govern, and the ruling party has long since forgotten about the tens of thousands of troops in Vietnam because of Fejoul's resignation.

"Xiao Lu, you see that this battle is more about time. We must take him before the arrival of the French reinforcements. Dong Liang looked at the map and said.

Lu Yiwei frowned and said: "Although this place is close to the port, this fortress is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and it happens to be surrounded by mountains, and the firing route of our warships is blocked, so we can't attack the fortress." I'm sure the main French army must be hiding here. ”

"So what are you waiting for? Hurry up and attack. Liu Mingchuan's fiery temper came up again.

"Don't worry, whether the main French army is in it or not. This fortress is also going to be fought, but if we are not inside, it will undoubtedly delay our time, so we will divide our forces to attack this time. Dong Liang said calmly.

"Well, here Brother Liu and I will attack strongly, the Black Flag Army will continue to attack the cities in the northwest, and General Dong will extend to the southwest. When we break through here, the French army will fall into our encirclement wherever they go. Lu Yiwei said.

"Okay." "That's it." "That's very good. ”

It was unanimously approved that the troops were moving in an orderly manner to the pre-designated locations.

"Xiao Lu, this place is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and the front entrance is so small. We can't launch an attack with 100,000 troops at the same time? Liu Ming said.

"Yes, the fire points of the fortress are quite reasonable, and the cross-cover is quite orderly. No matter how many people rush up, it will be in vain, and they will all become targets. "Lu Yiwei but there is a way.

"What should I do then?" Liu Mingchuan asked anxiously.

Lu Yiwei thought for a while and said, "In this way, I will gather all the artillery of my department for you." Add yours and make up twenty artillery battalions. Or the old way, artillery cover, infantry charge. ”

"Twenty artillery battalions, that's enough for them to drink a pot." Liu Mingchuan stood there in a daze, imagining the power of the artillery of the twenty artillery battalions.

Liu Mingchuan's troops were responsible for the frontal attack, and Lu Yiwei's troops entered the mountain from the left road and went around to the back of the fortress to occupy several important strongholds from the fortress into the mountain. Otherwise, the fortress was breached in front, and the French fled into the mountains. With such a big mountain, I really can't find their tens of thousands of troops.

Liu Mingchuan, who was attacking head-on, summoned all the standard commanders to assign tasks.

Liu Mingchuan finally decided to let ** Hu lead a standard man to attack in the middle, and Lin Feng and Li Cheng feinted on the left and right. The rest of the standards guarded the two wings and guarded the enemy on the left and right.

Liu Mingchuan just wanted to test the firepower in the fortress. Look how many French people are inside!

"Junmen, why do you let me watch the play next to me? I'm not convinced. ”

The person who spoke was a man named Wang Feng, who fought bravely, and was also Zuo Zongtang's favorite general back then. With Liu Mingchuan and Zuo Zongtang recovering the veterans of Xinjiang. Because he fought bravely, but carelessly. Once, his gun was dropped, and when the gun fell, he was going to be beheaded. In a hurry, Wang Feng sneaked into the enemy's position at night, killed 13 enemy soldiers with a machete, and finally got the breech rapid-fire gun equipped by the Qing army at that time. When I returned to my camp, I slept peacefully. Afterwards, people gave him the nickname: Wang Madman

Liu Mingchuan didn't speak yet, but Wang Feng continued to say: "Junmen, why do you let the ** tiger attack the main attack?" Most of his men were recruits and lacked combat effectiveness. Let me go up, it's okay for them to be on the alert. ”

Due to the siege of Beining City at the previous time, several times out of the city to counterattack are the first tiger's standard people; But several times they retreated, and the casualties were quite large. There are also more recruits to replenish. Wang Linhu, who was holding his breath this time, wanted to behave well, but suddenly heard Wang Feng say this, where can he still sit.

"your king madman, I saved your life in Ili back then, you dare to rob my main attack, are you worthy of the conscience of heaven and earth?"

Wang Feng was taken aback by the sudden roar of the ** tiger, and after listening to his words, he drooped his head even more, and said almost pleadingly: "Junmen, if you don't let me make a feint, don't let me watch from the side anyway." ”

"Crazy Wang, let you make a feint? You crazy feint can give me a main attack! , go and stay aside. Defend the left wing honestly, let a French devil come over, and I'll screw your head off. Liu Mingchuan scolded.

At this time, the tiger smiled and patted Wang Feng's shoulder and said: "Crazy, let your brothers' guns shine, maybe I will leave a few French devils for you, and you don't have to be dumb when the time comes." Hahaha. Saying that, the tiger laughed and left, and the angry Wang Feng scolded the tiger villain.

The entire strength of the French army did retreat to the fortress of Hucheng, so the attacks of the Black Flag Army and Dong Liang in the rest of the cities were very smooth.

And Liu Mingchuan's 20 artillery battalions are really not a simple job, the 75mm and 90mm camp guns are okay, the 120mm and 150mm heavy guns are not so easy to get off the ship, and when they landed before, they only transported troops, not heavy weapons. After all, if you wear it and are detonated by a French shell, the loss will be great.

Now it is being shipped by boat, which has delayed a lot of time.

Liu Mingchuan stared at the map, "Are all the targets ready?" ”

"General Hui, it's all right."

"When will the artillery battalion be ready?"

"It may take another day, the brothers below are building artillery camp positions overnight, calibrating the artillery fire, and there are still a few heavy artillery pieces that have not been installed."

"Give me another half a day at most, damn, I'm going to attack tonight. Maybe the French warships have already dared to come on the way. ”

"Wow."