"Can Liu Shengxiu still withstand it? Is there any troops that can go up to support? Is it to transfer the troops on the front line of Tianzhuangtai? Let all his people take a break and recuperate...... "Listen to the sound of gunfire from the front line of Niuzhuang. Guangxu frowned, and his heart was already extremely nervous. Having lost the advantage of artillery, Guangxu will no longer be able to fight this battle. In the past two days, the forward position has been lost several times, and it was recaptured by Liu Shengxiu and others through gritted teeth. But today, Liu Shengxiu had already rushed forward with his own soldiers. How long can he hold out?

"Please rest assured, Liu Shengxiu has already saved the heart of death. We will do our best to hold on to this battle. Wang Shizhen raised his head and said expressionlessly.

"But ......"

"No, but. The front-line troops of Tianzhuang Terrace cannot be mobilized under any circumstances. Wang Shizhen suddenly said loudly: "In this battle, we have no ability to annihilate the Yue army, we can only fight a war of attrition with the Yue army, even if Niuzhuang is lost, even if the last person in the Niuzhuang departments is exhausted, we cannot mobilize the troops of Tianzhuang to reinforce." ”

"Could it be that you watched Niuzhuang fall and said that the army had crossed the Liao River?" Guangxu looked at Wang Shizhen and asked.

"Please rest assured, there are more than 30,000 troops on the front line of Niuzhuang. Even if the army captures Niuzhuang and more than 30,000 people are wiped out, at least it can consume the strength of a division of the army. ”

Wang Shizhen's words made Guangxu suddenly realize. Finally, there was an answer to Wang Shizhen's inexplicable tactical arrangements before the war.

Wang Shizhen reorganized the veterans of various divisions into the temporary second division, and transferred all the main forces of the fifth regiment back to the west bank of the Liaohe River. At the same time, most of the artillery fire was arranged on the front line of Tianzhuang Terrace, and it turned out that he had already made up his mind that it was best for the various departments of Niuzhuang to be able to hold Niuzhuang, and if they could not hold it, they should also use the various departments of Niuzhuang to consume the military and local forces and sharp spirit as much as possible......

"I don't agree." Guangxu pointed at Wang Shizhen loudly and said, "I order you to immediately transfer the temporary second division to support Liu Shengxiu." Immediately. ”

Wang Shizhen didn't reply, just looked down at the sand table. It's like you're calculating something. Only Zhang Zuolin saw it, and the eyes of the chief of staff were also wet.

Guangxu rushed up and grabbed Wang Shizhen's collar and roared: "Wang Shizhen, did you hear my words?" ”

"Your Majesty, you can remove me or kill me. But I'm not going to give that order either. ”

In the headquarters, Guangxu angrily grabbed Wang Shizhen's collar, but Wang Shizhen looked at Guangxu like this without turning his eyes. The scene froze all at once.

Michael, who had been staying on the Grange, looked at the scene in front of him. After a long time, he finally stepped forward and persuaded him: "Your Majesty, you are a good emperor who loves soldiers like a son. But you are not a good marshal. ”

"Why does it have to be like this?" Guangxu held his head and squatted down in pain: "Each of them is the national defense force of this country. ”

"Your Majesty, if you die fighting for the country, as long as you die where you die, you will die the same wherever you die." Wang Shizhen smiled miserably.

Outcast! A sadness suddenly rose in Guangxu's heart, in the battle of Liaohe, the various departments of Niuzhuang were actually abandoned sons, abandoned sons who were put to death. And looking at the battle between the Qing Dynasty and Yueben, he and the new army and others are not abandoned by the imperial court.

"Report to Your Excellency Commander, Nogi Noshinori's brigade has broken through the Qing army's defensive position and is advancing in depth!" The staff officer of the army reported loudly behind Dashan Yan.

The officers of the Yue Army present were all invisibly relieved, the defense of the Qing [***] team was usually fierce in the initial stage, and once it was broken through at one point, it would be followed by a rout on the whole line. The tense expressions of the officers of the other armies such as Dashan Yan could finally relax. The battle of Niuzhuang has been fought for seven days, and although it has paid huge casualties, it has finally broken through the defensive position of the Qing army. There doesn't seem to be much suspense left in this battle.

Yesterday's order to retreat made Oyama Rock regret it. The cheers of the Qing army deeply stimulated him. Starting from Haicheng, whether it is Yingkou or Niuzhuang in front of them, the Qing [***] team doesn't know why, it suddenly bursts out with tenacious fighting spirit like a rebirth, and it deeply shocks Dashanyan at this moment. This battle must not allow the Qing army to win, otherwise, it is difficult to imagine what kind of resolute resistance the imperial [***] team will encounter in the future battle, and that will be absolutely intolerable. It is necessary to attack as resolutely as the autumn wind to copy the fallen leaves, and beat the Qing [***] team to the point where there is no idea of resisting. From this battle onwards, the Qing army must not be allowed to see any possibility of victory.

"After ordering all the Nogi Noshinori brigades to attack and completely tear apart the defensive positions on the right flank of the Qing army, they immediately detoured to outflank the middle position of the Qing army and annihilated the main force of the Qing army in Niuzhuang in one fell swoop......" Dashan Yan said with a serious expression while holding up a telescope.

Nozu Michikan's expression has been extremely solemn, holding the telescope without saying a word. In fact, within seven days, the Yue army had repeatedly broken into the defensive positions of the Qing army on the right flank, but each time they were repelled by fierce counterattacks. Although it has now been broken through by Nogi Noshinori's brigade, judging from the battlefield situation, the Qing army is still resolutely resisting, and there is no comprehensive rout along the way before.

"Your Excellency General, I still personally command the Fifth Division of the Army to launch an attack on Niuzhuang and the area around the Xingjia. It was imperative that the Qing army could not reinforce the right flank. After Nozu Michikani finished speaking, he bowed and turned around and went out.

"Get all the brothers who are alive, and be quick." Liu Shengxiu's eyes were red, and the army once again broke through his position. Yesterday it was said that it counterattacked the army that had just been repulsed, and today it is said that it is rushing like a wild wave again with an even more ferocious attack. At this moment, there are not many people around Liu Shengxiu, and all his own soldiers are wounded, and even his arms are wrapped in gauze.

After a while, the remnants of the soldiers quickly gathered around him. In a short time, nearly 1,000 people gathered.

"Brothers, from the beginning of the Yalu River, we have been retreating, not firing a single shot, not fighting a single battle, and as a result, we have given up a large area of land to Yue himself. I know that many of you are children of Liaodong, and they can't bear to see their homeland fall, so they joined the new army and were finally sent here. I, Liu Shengxiu, am incompetent, and I can't take everyone back, so I can only take everyone to die here. Liu Shengxiu stretched out his hand and touched his face, the blood on his face was particularly hideous: "Brothers, just follow me and rush again, so that the little devils of the East know that the Qing Dynasty is not something that they can defeat with a small island country." Rush—"

None of them were not wounded, but none of them flinched. Liu Shengxiu, who was lagging behind, was full of emotion, they were all a group of good soldiers, and if they could be trained, they would be a strong soldier in the future. It's a pity that I can only die here today. Brethren, it's not that I don't want to take you back. There is really no way to retreat, and the heads of the more than 100 commanders and battalion officers by the Liao River are still hanging.

"Rush-" Liu Shengxiu rushed forward brandishing a big knife.

The position of the Qing army in the telescope has been completely penetrated by the emperor [***] team. With the input of the follow-up troops of the emperor's [***] team, the Qing army has been divided into countless small pieces to make the final decisive resistance. The right wing of the Qing [***] team Niuzhuang was finally taken by the empire, and a smile appeared on Da Shanyan's face, but before his smile could be fully raised, the expression on his face was suddenly distorted by a huge shock, and he twitched strangely, and his eyes were completely incredulous.

In the right-flank position where the Qing army had already broken through, it was under the condition that the front, rear, and left and right were full of troops. A Qing army with no way to retreat actually rushed towards this place in the opposite direction. It was a completely lifeless posture, with shouts of killing and gunfire resounding all over the place. The Qing army launched a fierce counterattack. And this kind of counterattack drove the Qing troops who had been divided on the entire Qing army position to begin to rush towards this countercurrent desperately, and this countercurrent became bigger and bigger. However, the Yue army in front of them was unable to resist this counter-charge, and retreated one after another.

The Qing army launched a counteroffensive? The Qing army actually launched a counteroffensive! All the officers of the army subconsciously raised their binoculars, and there was a look of shock and confusion on their faces? Liu Shengxiu's Ming Army? Without a fight, he gave Jiulian City to Liu Shengxiu, the land of the emperor [***], why could he still launch such a fierce counterattack when he was already defeated and irretrievable? Could it be because their emperor is right behind them? Da Shanyan suddenly frowned, his expression full of confusion and incomprehension. Why did the same Qing army suddenly become so tenacious and not afraid of death? If all Qing troops were like this......

"Ordered, the 3rd Division went into battle. It is necessary to resolutely destroy this Qing army. The Qing army must not be given any chance. Dashan Yan looked at the battlefield in the distance, and an inexplicable worry suddenly appeared in his heart. The Emperor [***] team must not let the Qing [***] team see any glimmer of hope, and must not.

The Third Division of the Yue Army finally blocked the final blow of Liu Shengxiu's death. Besieged the last 1,000 people of Liu Shengxiu's headquarters.

"Junmen, let's go back, we can't win anymore. If the fight continues, all the brothers will be gone. Liu Shengxiu's personal soldiers were covered in blood and shouted loudly with tears.

Withdraw? Where else can you retreat at this time? Retreating to the main position of Niuzhuang, Song Qing decided to kill him on the spot. Retreat to the Liao River, that is the Tianzhuang Terrace where the emperor sits, and if you retreat, you will still die. Liu Shengxiu shook his head: "Brothers, let's die here with me today, let Song Qing, that old horseman, laugh at our Ming Army's greed for life and fear of death." ”

"Military Gate...... Can't it all be gone, let's leave some seeds for Mingjun. Liu Shengxiu's own soldiers pounced on him, hugged his legs and said: "Junmen, if you can't retreat back, let's rush south, rush through the army and retreat in the direction of Yingkou." It's all the old Beiyang department, and it won't ignore the old feelings. If the emperor investigates, he will say that he has been dispersed by the army......"

The desperate Liu Shengxiu seemed to see a glimmer of hope, and the defense in the direction of Yingkou was all the Beiyang departments that had retreated from the Golden Brigade, and they would not be as unsympathetic as Song Qing. Besides, this battle is indeed a battle to the death.

"Your Majesty. Liu Shengxiu is not unable to fight, and the enemy is outnumbered. Liu Shengxiu is no longer able to fight......" Liu Shengxiu knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times in the direction of the Grange. After a while, Liu Shengxiu raised the big knife in his hand and shouted, "Brothers, follow me to the south......

"Your Majesty, the right-wing position of Niuzhuang has been broken through by the army, most of Liu Shengxiu's troops have been killed, and Liu Shengxiu does not know whether he is alive or dead. Now that the army is outflanking the middle road, Song Qing and the others may not be able to hold it......" Zhang Zuolin hurriedly walked in and reported in a low voice.

Guangxu looked at the large map on the table and was silent for a long time: "How long do you estimate that Song Qing and them can keep?" ”

"In two days at most, Niuzhuang will be completely occupied by the Japanese army." Wang Shizhen pointed to the map and said, "After the army broke through the right flank position, it was outflanking Niuzhuang in a roundabout way. Wechen had already ordered the officers on the artillery positions to blow up all the artillery at the last moment. ”

In two days, that is, in three days at most, the army will launch an attack on the front line of Tianzhuangtai.

"What's the situation in the direction of Yingkou?" Guangxu pointed to the front line of Yingkou and asked. Most of the departments of the Beiyang Huai Army in the direction of Yingkou are not weaker than the Yue Army in terms of equipment, not only the sixth regiment is in charge, but also the left is precious to press the formation. However, if Yingkou is also broken through by the army at the same time, Tianzhuangtai will really be attacked on all sides.

"The First Division of Yuanzhi in the mountainous area in the direction of Yingkou did not have an advantage in terms of strength because it transferred a brigade to support Niuzhuang. Moreover, the Fourth Division of the Army has not yet reached the front line at Yingkou. Wang Shizhen leaned over slightly, and said with a stern expression, "Judging from the battle reports received so far, it is still very difficult for the army to break through from the Yingkou front. ”

Guangxu nodded, pointed to the map and said: "The loss of Niuzhuang is imminent, Yingkou is very vulnerable to the assault in the direction of Niuzhuang, and it is meaningless to defend Yingkou." He ordered Zuo Guigui to gradually abandon Yingkou and retreat across the Liao River to block the enemy. ”

"Your Majesty, the army is going to attack Tianzhuangtai in three days, does the emperor ......?" Wang Shizhen said and stopped hesitantly.

"You want me to retreat, don't you?" Guangxu suddenly smiled coldly, "You have no jokes, do you want the world to laugh at me and not believe it?" ”

"Your Majesty......" Wang Shizhen sighed: "Is it to transfer the first-line troops of Lianshan Pass back, there are still more than 20,000 people there." If you can give the army a blow from behind......"

After a moment of silence, Guangxu slowly stood up: "The established strategy remains unchanged. What we need to win is not only this battle of Grangedae, but also to prepare for the future. Don't interfere with the 1st Division, it will be outside. If you don't accept your order, let Ouyang Zhenhua let it go. Is there anything new on the part of the Navy? ”

"Although Lushun won a small victory, it did not change the overall situation. Judging from the information sent back by the Japanese army, the wartime repairs have now been completed. Because most of the staff officers of the military academy had already been transferred to Tianzhuangtai, Li Hongzhang had also returned to Tianjin as ordered to prepare for the possible landing of the army from the Shandong Peninsula, and Liu Buyun also arrived in Tianjin with him. Although I repeatedly ordered the Beiyang Fleet to go to sea, Li Hongzhang and Liu Buyun both believed that the army was strong and that they should protect the ships to deter the enemy, and that Lang Weili and Deng Shichang thought that they should take the initiative to attack, and the fleet forced into Yingkou to shell the Yue army to relieve the pressure on Tianzhuangtai. However, it was opposed by Li Hongzhang and Liu Buchan, and he had already sent a telegram to Tianzhuang Terrace. It is not good for Weichen to give orders directly, so the ships in Beiyang are still on standby on Liugong Island. At present, the Combined Fleet is cruising around the Shantung Peninsula, and it is analyzed that they are now choosing a landing site for the landing. However, the Nanyang Naval Division still did not listen to the transfer. ”

After listening to Wang Shizhen's report, Guangxu's brows were almost twisted together: "After this battle, as long as I don't die, there will be no more Nanyang sailors." Leave them alone. It is understandable that Li Hongzhang is a little conservative, but Liu Buyun is also too conservative. How did he study in England? I have an idea, and you all have to analyze it. ”

After speaking, Guangxu pointed to the map and said, "Didn't I ask Li Hongzhang to train a town of marines?" Now let's see how Ding Ruchang is practicing. It is impossible for the army to blockade Liugong Island forever with the main fleet, and without the main force, it cannot stop the Beiyang Fleet. It's better to let the Beiyang Fleet escort this town to the marines to take this place. Guangxu's hand pressed on the map: "Only if we take here, it will only be meaningful for us to win this battle." ”

In such a dangerous situation at present, the emperor still wants to fight Okinawa? Wang Shizhen's head immediately burst into large drops of sweat. In order to be able to deal with the possible landing of the Yue army from the Shandong Peninsula, the whole of Shandong is counting on this army to be able to block it. If this army is transferred, then the entire Shandong Peninsula will be full of the old Beiyang army, and this old army will want to keep Weihai......

"Your Majesty is inappropriate. In addition to this army, the Beiyang troops may not be able to stop the army. Once Weihaiwei is lost, the entire Beiyang Fleet is in danger of being destroyed. Moreover, once the army defeats the Beiyang Fleet, the Marine Corps will be isolated overseas, and it will inevitably fail if it does not get supplies. Wang Shizhen shook his head desperately, this is too risky.

"I think I have to do it. You look at the terrain. Guangxu pointed to the map and drew a line from Yuben to Taiwan: "Let's make an assumption that even if we win the First Sino-Japanese War, the Beiyang Fleet that lost Ryukyu will still be trapped in the Yellow Sea and unable to get out." The Ryukyu Islands became a stumbling block to the navy's access to the ocean. In order to protect the interests of Yueben and to allow Yueben to continue to contain the Qing Dynasty, the Western powers will not agree to let Yueben return the Ryukyus. In this way, even if there are changes in the future, our Qing navy will not be able to blockade the islands in time, adding countless variables to future wars. Therefore, the only way to do this is to take the Ryukyu Islands before the end of this war, and then make it a facompli, and then use the Ryukyu as a subject country of our country. Only in this way can the sea route be truly opened up, and the navy can truly become a navy. There is one more point......" Guangxu looked around, Michael was still on the front line of the Liaohe River to check the artillery preparation and did not come back, and immediately said: "Only when the navy of the Great Qing Dynasty really goes to the deep blue, can the Western powers face up to the Great Qing." ”

Guangxu's words made Wang Shizhen, who was frowning, suddenly realize. Their eyes were still focused on the war in front of them, but the emperor saw what happened after the war: "The emperor's far-sighted ministers can't wait." The minister then ordered Ding Ruchang to bring more supplies. Be prepared for a long fight. ”

"No need, according to the national strength, there will not be too many garrisons in Ryukyu at the moment, and ......" Guangxu approached Wang Shizhen and whispered: "Could it be that our chief of staff forgot that we still have a fleet." It's already on its way. ”

"Immediately send a telegram to Li Hongzhang with my will. Escorted by the Beiyang Fleet, the marines were transferred to attack the Ryukyu Island. Then I will give Ding Ruchang, he is the first in the Qing Dynasty to lead an army to fight abroad, and he must capture Ryukyu within half a month. Don't fall for the majesty of my heavenly kingdom. ”

With the rhythmic ticking of the telegram, the will of the expedition to the Ryukyus was transmitted to Tianjin with the Qing Dynasty now under enemy conditions on all sides. But Guangxu looked at the line of Niuzhuang in the distance and said quietly: "Do you really want to give up more than 30,000 soldiers in Niuzhuang?" It would be nice if they could be transferred back as reinforcements for the Second Division. ”

"Your Majesty, now the forward of the army has arrived in Wang Xiangcun. If you want to retreat, you can only go back from the area of Xisi Town. They are different from the Yingkou Division. If the retreat of the Niuzhuang troops is released at this time, the Niuzhuang troops will definitely retreat on the whole line, once the rout army breaks up the Liaohe defense line, and the army then covers and kills, the Liaohe line is also afraid that it will not be protected. ”

Guangxu smiled: "Don't worry, I've thought about it." Immediately ordered the temporary second division to attack to Xisi Town to block the army. I personally took the guards to Xisi Town to coordinate. With me, let's see who dares to cross the river without listening to the dispatch. Give the order, let the temporary second division guard a safe passage for all the departments of Niuzhuang. Let Song Qing lead the troops to break off. (To be continued.) )