On the 15th of the next day, the fleet sailed ten nautical miles to prepare for landing, but the increasingly cold northwest wind and waves caused Grant to abandon the landing. Early in the morning of the 16th, the weather finally improved, and Grant ordered the landing campaign to begin. Although it still nominally belonged to the Qing Dynasty, the Russians created the Temple Street Massacre, slaughtering the Chinese soldiers and civilians in Temple Street last year, and began to occupy the area, building forts, defenses, docks and ports. Here, Muravyov was garrisoned by thousands of criminals, villains, and adventurers exiled to Siberia, and was defended by the 2nd Siberian Infantry Regiment under the Russian Siberian Governor's Office.

At this time, because the Trans-Siberian Railway had not yet been built, if Russia wanted to expand to the east, several rivers in China had to be controlled, and the Heilongjiang River was a large river in the northeast, and its outlet to the sea was even more important.

Now Miaojie, located at the mouth of the Heilongjiang River, has become an important stronghold for Russia to transport troops from Heilongjiang, so the British and French forces must take this stronghold to prevent the Russians from continuing to send troops to other military ports.

The 10 battleships and cruisers in the leading fleet of the British and French forces quickly sailed out of the queue, lined up in two columns on the sea, and began to bombard the Temple Street Fortress with the help of ultra-long artillery range. Although the Temple Street Fortress is called a fortress, the Russians have only been in operation for a short time, it is only a fortress made of wood and stone, but it is surrounded by many fortifications such as trenches and pointed wooden piles, and Grant does not think that naval fire can completely bring the Russians in the fortress to their knees.

After more than ten minutes of bombardment, Grant watched the shelling effect with a telescope from the British flagship "Forban", from which he saw that about hundreds of Russian infantry had been driven out by artillery fire from under a preset position covered with tree branches, which was well camouflaged, but it was stuck in the path of the landing. Grant and Tan Shaoguang both felt that they should shoot a few shots first, and sure enough, they guessed that the Russians had set up an ambush here.

The Russians who had been driven out by the artillery fire were huddled in a mess, not knowing what to do, some Russian soldiers turned around and ran back, some wanted to rush to the beach, and did not know what they were going to do, so Grant decisively ordered the shelling to continue.

The fleet's artillery fire did not stop, and after clearing several Russian gun emplacements at fixed points, it turned to shelling these Russian soldiers who looked like headless flies. Despite the distance, Grant saw many of them being blown into the sky.

After confirming that all suspicious targets had been shelled, Grant ordered Tan Shaoguang to lead the infantry, artillery and cavalry of the Taiping Army to land one after another, and the first landing force included 400 Taiping infantry and four engineer platoons. Two platoons of ambulancemen. Out of an abundance of caution, Grant left the large force on board. Tan Shaoguang insisted on ordering that the senior generals of all branches of the armed forces must follow the first batch of landing troops ashore. He himself was among the first landing forces.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Tan Shaoguang got off the sampan on the shore and boarded a sandbar on the periphery of the fortress on Temple Street. After meeting up with several officers who had landed earlier, a dense burst of gunfire and explosions could be heard not far away.

Tan Shaoguang raised his binoculars and looked over, only to see a company of infantry on the left flank engaged in an exchange of fire with the enemy, and the Russians still had some ambushes that were not exposed. And in some places the Russians planted mines

Tan Shaoguang led several generals of the staff to a commanding height, and then ordered the flag soldiers to wave the flag to the fleet, asking the fleet to open the way for the infantry. The sappers then began to work together on this vantage point to serve as a defensive barrier after the landing. A number of temporary facilities were set up, including a tent to serve as a temporary headquarters.

According to the guidance of the flag soldiers, the fleet accurately delivered the shells to the Russians, blocking the Russian positions in front of the Taiping army, and the gunfire began to thin out, and then the companies began to expand the landing area.

Grant followed the third batch of landing troops to the land on Temple Street, originally he didn't have to follow the Taiping Army to land, but he still came, which made Tan Shaoguang feel a little surprised.

After a hurried military salute, Grant raised his binoculars to observe the situation ahead, and asked, "How is the battle?" ”

Tan Shaoguang pointed to the right front and said: "There are more than 1,000 enemy infantry charging in this direction, just behind the side of the fortress, the fleet's artillery fire is not easy to hit, my people should be able to resist." ”

Before Tan Shaoguang's words fell, a herald ran to him panting, saluted and reported loudly: "The left side of the third and fourth companies encountered a surprise attack by Lao Maozi, and there were about hundreds of people charging, and the third and fourth companies were a little struggling, asking for support." ”

Grant was slightly taken aback: "There is still an ambush of the Russians on the left flank?" It seems that this Muravyov was planning to inflict heavy damage on our landing force early in the morning. ”

Tan Shaoguang saw through the telescope that a large group of Russian soldiers on the left flank of the landing site were swarming up with bayonets, and said lightly: "I don't know how the Russians' bayonets are doing." Speaking of this, he turned around and shouted: "Tell the Third Company and the Fourth Company that Lao Maozi wants to drive them back with bayonets, don't the rifles in their hands have bayonets except for bullets?!" ”

The herald was stunned for a moment, did not hesitate at all, and immediately received the order loudly, turned his head and walked quickly to give the order.

Grant shrugged his shoulders and said: "Tan, I think you should be cautious, there are nearly 500 Russians who came to raid on the left flank, and your third and fourth companies are only more than 200 people, and it is still a little difficult to deal with twice as many enemies, not to mention that the Russians' bayonets are even a little worried about the elite French army." ”

Tan Shaoguang said lightly: "If the soldiers under my command don't dare to face enemies who are several times their size, I won't bring them here." ”

Grant and several British and French officers around him were taken aback, the Russians' bayonet tactics were indeed very powerful, which they knew through the Crimean War, Grant said in a deep voice: "Tan, I admire your courage, but the left flank of the landing field cannot be broken through, otherwise our sacrifices and efforts today will be in vain." ”

Tan Shaoguang didn't make a sound, and it wasn't until there was a loud charge horn from the positions of the third and fourth companies that he said slowly: "General Glat, wait and see." ”

Grant held up the binoculars and watched, only to see more than 200 Taiping soldiers wearing their bizarre grass-green camouflage uniforms lined up in a straight line, like a thin green line. The width was equal to that of the swarming Russians, and after a round of zuihou with muskets in their hands, the Russians were already close at hand. Then the gray uniform of the Russian soldier and the thin grass-green line collided fiercely, and the blood and light from the collision of the snowy bayonet were instantly dazzling, and Grant's breathing began to rapid.

Although the Russians were tall, the bayonets of the Taiping army seemed to be faster, more ruthless, and more accurate, and they could always keep two or three people cooperating in hand-to-hand bayonet combat, which made the Russians very unbearable. Grant also found that these Russians did not seem to be regular Russian troops, but merely Muravyov's entangled temporary troops, which were mostly composed of exiled criminals, scoundrels, and unemployed. It cannot be compared with the elite of Russia.

Therefore, the situation of the battle was on the side of the Taiping army from the beginning, although the Russians had courage, but the courage of the Taiping army seemed to be stronger, and the thin grass-green line was never broken, but developed towards the two flanks of the Russian charging line. The Taiping Army actually wanted to eat this Russian army?

Grant's suspicions became a reality half an hour later, when the Russian death stormtrooper, which numbered less than 500 men, was annihilated by the Taipings. Only a few dozen people escaped. The rest were either killed in battle or kneeling and begging for mercy and became prisoners. And the losses of the Taiping army seem to be only a fraction of the losses of the Russians, with only a few dozen casualties.

The disembarkation of the follow-up landing force made Tan Shaoguang's landing ground more stable and expanded, and by the time it got dark, the Taiping army had completed the siege of the Temple Street Fortress.

It was only by this time that Grant was relieved, and he did not return to the ship. Instead, he chose to stay in Tan Shaoguang's tent.

Tan Shaoguang gave Grant a cup of green tea, the tea leaves were fried, and they could be drunk with hot water. The teacup was sent to Grant, Tan Shaoguang smiled and said, "General Grant." Sorry, we don't have coffee here. ”

Grant took the teacup and smiled, "Green tea is also my favorite, but I thought you would give me a glass of wine." ”

Tan Shaoguang said: "I didn't let the quartermaster issue the wine and liquor you sent us, you know, our military regulations and doctrines are not allowed to drink, at least not on the battlefield." ”

Grant shrugged his shoulders and said, "That's a pity, I think sometimes soldiers need to have a drink and relax." But I admire your devotion to God, and you are as pure as the Puritans, and look at my priests who were with the army, who were very drunk last night. ”

Tan Shaoguang smiled and didn't speak, and Grant asked, "What are you going to do with those wines?" If you don't need a quartermaster who can be returned to the coalition, I'll send it to the other soldiers. ”

Tan Shaoguang touched his chin and smiled: "General Grant, do you still have the habit of asking for the things you sent out?" These things are already our supplies, and I will take care of them. ”

Grant didn't care, and since it had already been sent out, he was embarrassed to come back. Tan Shaoguang asked curiously: "General Grant, I'm curious about what you will come ashore for, I remember that when you landed, the landing ground was not safe, and we could be driven into the sea by Lao Maozi at any time." ”

Grant smiled and said, "We are a coalition army, as the commander of the coalition army, I am not used to commanding in the back, and at the same time I also trust your ability." Grant said teasingly: "Although the British and French did not send marines ashore to fight side by side with you, the British and French officers will follow you ashore. So a couple of our officers came and accompanied you to victory, or were trampled to death by those Cossack cavalry. ”

After finishing speaking, Tan Shaoguang and Grant laughed together, and after laughing for a while, Grant said meaningfully: "I have seen your courage and ability, and I sincerely do not hope that one day we will meet on the battlefield." But if there was a day, would we admire each other? ”

Tan Shaoguang was silent for a moment before he smiled and said, "It will definitely be, admiration between soldiers!" (To be continued......)