At this moment, Saigo Takamori made this extremely difficult decision for Lin Yiqing.

"Great General......" Toshiaki Kirino looked at Saigo Takamori and felt sad in his heart.

As one of the main generals of the Satsuma army, he is clear about the overall situation, although the Satsuma army has once again repelled the attack of the Russian army, but he understands that the current Satsuma army is already at the end of the crossbow, and it is difficult to resist the next full-scale attack of the Russian army, which has superior forces and weapons.

"It's me who is incompetent! Let the general suffer! Shinohara Kuni said sadly, and the faces of the Satsuma generals were also sad.

They also understood that Saigo Takamori recognized Lin Yiqing's plan to abandon Osaka, and made a decision for Lin Yiqing, also for the sake of all of them.

"Don't say such things, national officials." Saigo Takamori looked very calm, he waved his hand, smiled and said to the generals, "Since the beginning of the army, everyone has been working very hard, we have achieved brilliant results, although because Lucia is too strong, we can't achieve the final victory, but that's not everyone's fault!" We've done our best! It couldn't have been better than it is now! So, even if the ultimate goal is not achieved, there is nothing to regret! ”

"But...... What an unwillingness! Kirino Toshiaki clenched his fists and shouted hatefully, his eyes looking at Lin Yiqing with expectation, as if hoping that he could reproduce the miracle again and turn the tide.

"Don't look like this, Richyau." Saigo Takamori came to Kirino Toshiaki's side, he didn't want Kirino Toshiaki to put pressure on Lin Yiqing again, patted him on the shoulder, and persuaded. "It's up to the people to do the work. It's up to the sky. Since this is the will of God, let us accept it calmly! ”

"Now our mission is to protect the people who follow us, our loved ones, from being harmed by the brutal Lucia army." Saigo Takamori looked at everyone, "Let's go back to our hometown together!" Even if you die, you have to die on the land of your hometown! ”

Hearing Saigo Takamori's words, all the Satsuma generals raised their heads. One by one, they clenched their fists, and the dull and sad atmosphere just now was swept away in an instant.

"Lin Jun, what should we do next? Please plan carefully and give us orders! Shinohara stepped forward and bowed to Lin Yiqing, "Please!" ”

"Okay, as before, for the sake of secrecy, I will send the battle plan to everyone, and everyone will act according to the plan." Lin Yiqing's gaze fell back on the map. "Even if we're leaving, we're going to give Lucia another hard blow. Let them not dare to get carried away! ”

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All sides came to urge Senior Colonel Sheregorov. Major General Ponotkov sent men almost every hour to ask how long it would take for him to capture the enemy's positions. I heard that other troops were approaching Kyoto, but Sheregorov had been standing still in front of Osaka Castle.

Major General Ponotkov hoped to "capture Osaka" before friendly forces conquered Kyoto, or "attack Osaka", and he could also get a good result and turn Sergorov around, but so far, except for some sporadic battles, Sergorov has been slow to move, which annoys him very much.

In fact, Serygorov was also very helpless, because the success or failure of this offensive did not depend on the ground troops, but on those "rats" -- the "underground combat units" commanded by Kondrachenko.

The reason why he was called "underground combat troops" instead of "engineer units" was that Serygorov really could not see that this unit looked like an engineer unit.

Many of the Russian officers who came to visit also thought the same as Sergorov, those who were ragged and had dishes could also be called "sappers"? But now the command mentions them, and they are very officially referred to as "engineering troops". Some of the officers even slightly sarcastically told Kondrachenko to review the curriculum of the Engineer Academy and make a popular pamphlet before carrying out the operation, and they also advised Seregorov to read the books that dealt with street fighting in the city, especially about the destruction of enemy troops in the besieged city.

Seregorov's face turned red with anger at these taunts, but there was nothing he could do.

Sheregorov stayed in the tower chosen for him by the commander of the reconnaissance company, Mischelsky, as an observation post. The tower protrudes from the edge of the village, a kilometre and a half from the nearest town. From this tower, he could see the walls of Osaka in the distance, the Satsuma Army positions in the middle of the houses destroyed by shells, the obstacles and wooden fences that lay across the streets on the outskirts of the city, a bridge and the railroad embankment, and he noticed that the enemy had placed hidden Gatling gun emplacements on the railroad embankment. On the left, you can see the building of an abandoned factory, which was the center of resistance of the Satsuma Army guerrillas, where clever shooters and bomb-wielding men were hidden. From time to time, the enemy rushed out from behind the building, and after a few shots, he hid again. After a few minutes, it reappeared somewhere else.

Michelsky and another commander, Batylev, were at the observation post. It was staffed with the usual number of personnel who should be observed: several staff officers, artillerymen and communications troops. Thermos and newspapers with food were brought in horse-drawn carriages. The newspapers were seven or eight days ago, and Michelsky, remembering the newspapers he had read yesterday, smiled at the fact that he did not know what pleasant things he remembered.

It was rare for Sergorov to sit firmly at the observation post: one moment observing the enemy with a telescope, and the other himself going to calibrate the fire of the artillery corps.

Now he sits motionless in front of the map near the arched window of the tower.

The tentative offensive had already begun, but very slowly, and the Satsuma tried to support the defenders here, sending in small forces and launching a counter-offensive almost non-stop. On the next day, Michelsky captured a prisoner, found a piece of paper from him and showed it to Batriev. This was an order for the defenders to hold out at all costs - "Don't give the 'key to the Osaka Castle Gate' to Lucia's ghost animal." Here the enemy's positions are called that. At the end, they also printed a sentence in bold and solemn Japanese font: "The cannon will soon come to your aid!" ”

"They're bluffing!" Batylev laughed contemptuously, "What cannon?" Where did it come from? Haha, they don't even brag! ”

Michelsky pondered for a moment. said: "It's hard to say. Attacking troops elsewhere heard that they were ambushed by enemy artillery. We had already reconnoitred there, and it was impossible to have artillery, but the troops were really attacked, and their shells were so powerful that many people were either blown up or shocked to death. ”

"You say someone was shaken to death?" Listening to Mischelsky's words, Sergorov couldn't help but be stunned.

"Yes." "I've seen some corpses, and they don't have shrapnel on them. Rather, there was blood from the eyes, mouth, nose and ears, which was shocked to death. I asked the survivors, and they said they couldn't hear the whistling of the shells, they didn't know where the shells were coming from, only the dull sound of artillery firing, followed by a terrible explosion. ”

"It's weird." Serygorov shook his head, "Maybe they used some weapon that we don't know about." ”

"No matter what, their end is coming, and no amount of mysterious weapons can save them from destruction!" Batylev said confidently.

As soon as Batlev's voice fell. The Satsuma people showed signs of life again. The vicinity was filled with the loud sound of shell explosions. Then a Russian cannon bombarded it.

Mischelsky was ordered to go to the observation post of the commander of the infantry regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Cherznekov. It turned out that Batylev arrived there to check the preparations for the dawn attack. In addition to Serygolov and Chernnekov, Major Migaev and the artillery commander, Lieutenant Colonel Hislev, were on the observation post.

Sergorov asked if people had been transferred to the vicinity of enemy positions. in order to make a closer advance. Chernnekov said that not yet, waiting for news from Lieutenant Kondrachenko. Because if you send people now, once the attack begins, a huge underground explosion will kill them along with the enemy.

"Let's go, let's take a look at the preparations before the attack." As he spoke, Batrev got out of the tower and walked towards the front.

They walked silently: Seregolov walked in front, followed by Chernnekov, Hislev and Mischersky, and behind the heralds. Major Migaev remained in the observation post on the orders of Sheregorov.

Sergorov stood next to the observation post of the commander of the 1st battalion. It was a long, narrow straw-covered mound on a low hill.

The battalion commander, Witot, was a thin, unsymmetrical major who did not immediately notice the arrival of his superiors. While using his binoculars to examine the outline of the house, which was no longer clear, he called out to his subordinates, "Do you see the white hut next to the red building on the right?" There were three enemy shooters in the second bedroom there. You shoot it and blow it up...... Ay! You brainless idiots! Blow it up! You guys are wasting shells! A sucker! ……”

He finally saw Batriev, put down his binoculars, jumped up and reported: "Chief Sheregorov, the 1st battalion is attacking the enemy's positions. The battalion commander, Major Wittot, reported. ”

"Damn it! Where did they get here? Batriv said with some annoyance. What is this? Didn't you say that the enemy's reinforcements couldn't get through? Why are they here? There are just a few people, why can't they be eliminated? ”

Witot began to explain, but Sheregorov didn't seem to be listening. He took the binoculars from the battalion commander and observed. The battalion commander stopped talking, and not far away, a Russian 87-mm cannon was constantly firing.

Seregorov put down his binoculars, briskly jumped on a breastwall, crossed it, and slowly walked forward.

They walked to a hollow where the bushes grew from raw. Serygorov said: "You can stay here." When I get to the hut, you will come with you, one by one. ”

"Why are you going to the front?" "If you let the general know," said Heathref, "it will be troublesome." ”

"Don't say it, he won't know." Batylev replied.

"Chief Sheregorov, please take off your military hat." Michelsky advised.

Sheregorov was silent, and he walked slowly, with leisurely steps, through a clearing, towards the hut. There was a command post of a company. The cabin was full of bullets, and a company commander sat and wrote under the cover of a stove.

"Rest," the lieutenant tried to jump, but Batlev stopped him, "where are your people?" ”

The lieutenant began to indicate on the map the location of his troops. But Sergorov said impatiently: "What do you have to show me there?" We are not in the command...... Let's go. ”

"The artillery fire here is fierce." The lieutenant was worried about Batriev's safety. But Batlev had already walked slowly, so the lieutenant followed him.

The two ammunition transporters bent down and dragged a few boxes of ammunition on the ground as they walked by, and when they saw Sergorov, they both straightened up and saluted.

"Take a break!" Seregorov asked, "Which company are you?" ”

"First company," replied the ammunition carrier.

"Where are your people?"

"It's in the cemetery over there."

"The place was well chosen." Sheregorov smiled.

From time to time, stray bullets sizzled around. Soon, it was getting dark.

Sergolov, together with the lieutenant and the ammunition transporter, went to the first company. The soldiers were all hiding from the strong night wind. They sat or lay down in trenches that were not deep, with their backs to the wind.

"Why do you turn your back to the Satsuma?" Serygorov asked.

The soldiers recognized Batriev and all hurriedly stood up.

"Lie down," said Batylev, who heard the whistling of bullets, and asked, "Are the Satsuma people far away?" Or is it because you can't see with your face back? ”

"The Satsuma people have always been nearby...... Their Gatling guns were firing hard. ”

"How close?"

"About a hundred meters."

"Okay, let's take a look."

Sergorov and the soldiers walked forward in a hurry. They walked about 200 meters in the dark, and the wind blew their faces. Sheregorov listened.

"You can probably dig a trench here," he said. "The Satsuma are really two hundred meters away from us now, I want to ......," he asked one of the soldiers, "and they are firing with Gatling guns." Is it? ”

The soldier nodded apprehensively, but did not speak.

Chetvelikov, Shislev, Mischelsky, the battalion commander and the company commander all came quietly. Sergorov did not look at them again. I turned around and walked back the way I came. The officers silently followed him. The Gatling guns of the Satsuma were fired again: the enemy was probably aware of something moving in the darkness, and perhaps heard the voice.

Returning to the battalion commander's observation post, Serygolov said: "Tomorrow the offensive will begin at dawn." The enemy position here is the key to Osaka Castle, and we must occupy it at all costs. At first we will prepare with artillery for thirty minutes, or - because we are unprepared, forty minutes. Then the engineer units detonated and blew up the enemy's positions, and then we went on the offensive. You determine the time based on the actions of the artillery. ”

"You," he nodded to Mischelsky, "to organize reconnaissance, you must understand the enemy's firepower reconnaissance, and be as accurate as possible." ”

After clarifying the offensive plan, Chetvilikov and Migaev, Hislev, and Batlev all left in sweat, and they were going to issue orders. Michelsky also left.

Sergorov was left alone, and he sat there, leaning over the map, and soon fell asleep because of his weariness.

The night wind was howling, and suddenly, a signal rocket rose up over the city. Then came the sound of gunfire.

Sergorov woke up suddenly, he looked at his watch, it was two o'clock in the morning, and there were still four hours before dawn.

Serygorov was secretly frightened. At this moment, he saw Lieutenant Kondrachenko, covered in dust and with bloodshot eyes, walking in.

"What's going on? Did the enemy launch a counteroffensive? Sheregorov asked.

"It's the enemy forces in the city, and they're trying to reinforce the defenders here at night." Kondrachenko was tired, but his voice was full of excitement, "That's good!" When you explode early tomorrow morning, you can kill more enemies! ”

"Your job done?" When Sergorov heard Kondrachenko's words, he also became excited.

"It's done!" Kondrachenko nodded vigorously and replied in the affirmative, "I just did the last check, everything is ready, just wait for tomorrow to detonate!" ”

#$%^&*()_+_+__))((*&^

Halleym? Stevens? Sir Maxim, a great name that can never be erased from the history of light arms. His auto-gun dynasty began in London, but reached its peak on the other side of the world, in Fuzhou.

In 1884, Sir Maxim built the first Maxim automatic machine gun in a small workshop-style factory in Hatton Garden, London, and the attention and buzz he received was not commensurate with the benefits he received. For the first four or five years, Maxim traveled all over Europe, presenting his inventions to the defense chiefs and generals of every European country. But only a few orders were won. At times, he found that the display of the machine gun was unexpectedly thwarted, and he missed the government order. Those obstructions were mostly his competitors: deliberately made by the Nordenfeld company, which produced manual multi-barreled machine guns, and Bashir, the young and capable sales representative of the Nordenfeld company? Zakharov played an important role in this, and the Turkish-born Greek broker succeeded in inducing many princes and bureaucrats to abandon the more advanced Maxim machine gun in favor of the technologically outdated Nordenfeld-style multi-barreled machine gun for his own army.

When Sir Maxim was in despair and troubled by economic problems, an unexpected surprise awaited him. (To be continued......)