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On the morning of June 23, 1847, on the west bank of the Kitoy River, the Imperial Army deployed four infantry corps, a total of 140,000 men, on a frontal line of 50 kilometers long. Moreover, they will also be fully supported by artillery positions located on the eastern bank of the Kitoy River. On artillery positions, 8 battalions of 105-mm light howitzers and 40 battalions of 75-mm field guns were deployed, with a total of more than 1,200 artillery pieces.

On the defensive line, there were also hundreds of mortars and heavy machine guns. Together with the Imperial officers and soldiers stationed in the defensive line, the entire defensive line was hastily constructed, but it was impregnable. Although the Russian army has 500,000 people, it is not so easy to break through the defense line of the Imperial Army.

In Eastern Siberia in late June, the temperature has gradually risen. However, compared to the hot summers in mainland China, it is like winter. In high latitudes, winters are always long, and spring, summer and autumn are relatively short.

"Squad leader, I heard that there are 500,000 people in Lao Maozi this time, can we resist their attack?" A seventeen or eighteen-year-old private asked. This is the second time he has been on the battlefield since joining the army. During the previous attack on Irkutsk, one soldier had already been killed in their squad. This time. Facing a full 500,000 Russians, he was a little worried.

"Yes! That's 500,000 old hairs. But what does it matter? Although Lao Maozi is a little taller. But it was also two shoulders and a head, and a bullet could kill him. Besides, we are the 1st Infantry Corps, the starting force of the Empire. Our weapons and equipment are far from being comparable to those of Lao Maozi. They want to break through our defenses, it's just delusional. I sue you. On the east bank of the river, thousands of artillery pieces were deployed on our artillery positions. These cannons alone are enough to tear those old hairy people to shreds. What a battle! We've won. The sergeant squad leader said confidently. Although the enemy is menacing. However, these veterans who have been through countless wars have great confidence in the Empire* army.

Under the comfort of the squad leader, the soldiers who were originally a little worried. One by one, they all calmed down. Although the strength of the Russian army is large. But in terms of weaponry, there is simply no way to compare with the Imperial Army, which is armed to the teeth. Their attack was destined to hit the ground on the head and bleed in front of the impregnable defensive lines of the Imperial Army. This has been proven by countless previous battles. The Imperial Army won more with less, not once or twice. Besides, the Imperial Army gathered 12 infantry corps this time, and the total strength reached 420,000, which was not much less than Lao Maozi.

China and Russia have nearly one million troops. A fierce battle is about to take place on the west bank of the Kitoy River. This war was a matter of leisure for the Imperial Army. The cavalry succeeded in destroying the Russian army's logistical supply center. And after turning the rear of the Russian army upside down, the Imperial Army only needs to wait patiently. After losing logistical supplies, these Russian troops simply could not hold out for long. Now the Russian army is coming violently, and it is more like a trapped beast. As long as it withstands the attack of the Russian army, which seems to be like a counterattack before death, the Imperial Army will win this war, and there will be no problem. This kind of shape shì is also what the Imperial Army wants to see. Only when the Russians took the initiative to attack, the superiority of the firepower of the Imperial Army could be fully revealed.

On the morning of June 23, 1847, the Russian army reached the Kitoy River, less than ten kilometers from the positions of the Imperial Army. Of the 500,000 Russian troops, in addition to the 3 armies that were separated, there were 7 armies left, a full 350,000 people. Their task was to break through the frontal line of defense of the Imperial Army.

The commander of the Russian army, Ivan. Marshal Paskovich, under the protection of the Guards, came to a point less than five kilometers from the Reich Army line and observed the Reich Army line with a telescope.

The Imperial Army's defensive line consisted of a trench built on the west bank of the Kitoi River, with more than a dozen pontoon bridges across the Kitoi River as a route connecting the west and east banks of the Kitoi River. In addition, in front of the defense line of the Imperial Army, two barbed wire fences were drawn. Barbed wire with barbs can easily stop cavalry and infantry attacks. Such fortifications, Ivan. Marshal Paskovich was also seen for the first time. In the battles of the armies of the Transcaucasian and Ottoman Turkish Empire, such positions never appeared. Of course, after becoming the commander of the expeditionary force, Ivan . Marshal Paskovich also received a lot of information about the methods of operation of the Chinese army.

"Is this the line of defense of barbed wire and trenches that the Chinese rely on? However, I doubt very much that the low barbed wire fence can really stop the brave Russian* soldiers. "Ivan. Marshal Paskovich said disdainfully.

"Your Excellency, I think the command is exaggerating the combat effectiveness of the Chinese too much. These are all excuses made by the defeated guys in the past for their failures. If it were my troops, I would definitely be able to break through the defense line of those Chinese easily. My soldiers will let those Chinese know what a real warrior is, what is a real war! A middle-aged general of the Russian army with a tall figure and a scar on his face said proudly, he is the commander of the 7th Infantry Corps of the Russian army, Lieutenant General Bryus, a general who has experienced a hundred battles. While in Transcaucasia, his troops defeated the fierce Ottoman Turkish army several times.

"General Bruce, you have such confidence, very good. So, the afternoon battle starts with your troops! I hope that your troops will be able to break through the defense line of the Chinese in one fell swoop and let them know that their so-called strong defense line is simply like paper paste in front of the military personnel of the great Russia! "Ivan. Marshal Paskovich said with satisfaction. Lieutenant General Bruce was his direct unit, and after becoming commander of the expeditionary force, he deliberately transferred the 7th Infantry Corps from the Transcaucasian theater of operations.

"Yes, Your Excellency Marshal!" After a salute, Lieutenant General Bryus immediately went to get ready.

"Inform the armies to pull out all the artillery. In the afternoon, we will launch an attack on the Chinese lines. The main attack was carried out by the 7th Infantry Corps, the 9th Army, the 15th Army and the 18th Army, which were responsible for feints and attracting the attention of the Chinese. "Ivan. Marshal Paskovich ordered.

"Yes, Your Excellency Marshal!" The rest of the Russian generals received orders one after another.

The Russian army has 500,000 people, and they have a lot of artillery, a thousand. Of course, now Ivan. Marshal Paskovich had only 7 corps in his hands, and only about 700 large-caliber artillery pieces remained. These cannons are all newly cast cannons by the Russian army in recent years, and their performance has reached the world's advanced level. Of course, compared with the artillery of the Imperial Army, there is still a certain gap. Russia's industrial base is inferior to that of the Empire, and it cannot produce special steel such as cannon steel, but can only import it from abroad, which strictly restricts the development of Russia's military industry. Compared with the empire, after the implementation of the converter method of steelmaking, the empire's steel output has developed by leaps and bounds. Even the rails of the railway are made of steel rails, which is impossible for other industrial powers.

In addition, after the destruction of the logistical supply center in Zalari, the ammunition of the Russian army that stored there was also destroyed. This makes the artillery of the Russian army not have many shells at all. Each cannon has less than 200 shells, which may seem like a lot, but in a large-scale battle, most of these shells can be consumed. After two large-scale battles in quick succession, these shells were exhausted. When the shells are finished, the cannons become useless scrap metal.

The arrival of the Russian army made the Imperial Army immediately enter the emergency combat readiness, the soldiers had already entered the position, the artillery positions in the rear, and the hideous muzzles of the cannons had also pointed to the sky to the west. According to the already marked shooting elements, as soon as the Russian army began to attack, the artillery of the Imperial Army would fiercely counterattack them. In particular, 8 battalions of 105-mm light howitzers, who were to be tasked with suppressing enemy artillery. The 105-mm sober howitzer of the Imperial Army with a range of up to seven thousand meters. In addition, the Imperial Army also plans to equip each infantry corps with a 105-mm cannon battalion with a firing range of about 10 kilometers, so as to further improve the suppression capability of the Imperial artillery. However, the war had already begun before the official start of the installation. If you change your outfit, you can only change your outfit for those units that did not participate in the battle.

"General, the Russian troops on the opposite side have begun intensive movements, and we judge that their attack will begin soon." A staff officer reported to Major General Liu Zhongming.

Major General Liu Zhongming looked at the watch he was carrying on his wrist, and it was only 12 noon. Because of the arrival of the Russian army, the soldiers' lunch at noon today can only be replaced with dry food.

"Orders were given to several generals at the front, asking them to keep a close eye on the movements of the Russians. As soon as the Russian army attacked, the divisions immediately counterattacked. Whatever they do, I have only one request. That is, the defense line cannot be breached. It is necessary to hold back the footsteps of the Russian army to the west of the Kitoy River. Major General Liu Zhongming said. For the Imperial Army, as long as it resists the attack of the Russian army and drags on, the Imperial Army will win. The Russian army, which is running out of ammunition and food, will also be doomed in the end.

"Yes, General!" The staff officer saluted and walked away quickly.

At 1 p.m., the artillery of the Russian army first launched an artillery strike, and the battle officially began. (To be continued......)