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As time passed, the Russian army surrounded in Irkutsk gradually fell into turmoil. Although in Irkutsk it became only a brigade of imperial cavalry, the Russian troops in the city did not dare to go out of the city to fight. In the city, they can also rely on those fortifications to fight, and once they leave the protection of the city, then they will face the pursuit of the imperial cavalry!

For this reason, the Russian army can only choose to hold out in Irkutsk. However, with the arrival of the main forces of the Imperial Army, it has already been shown that the countdown to the Russian army's hold in Irkutsk has begun, and it will be difficult for the Russian army to hold on to Irkutsk after the Imperial Army launches an attack on Irkutsk.

Major General Nevelskoy, the supreme commander of the Russian army in Irkutsk, ordered all units to strengthen their alert and prepare to defend to the death. Major General Nevelskoy insisted to all the Russian soldiers that the reinforcements sent by the expeditionary force were coming soon, and that they would arrive if they held out a little longer. When the time comes, everyone will be safe. Although, such words, during this time, Major General Nevelskoy has not known how many times. But each time, the Russian officers and soldiers chose to believe. Perhaps for them, this is their last hope. Even if you know it's a lie, you can't bear to debunk it.

However, this qiē changed on the morning of May 29, 1847, when the Cossack cavalrymen, dressed in tattered uniforms and looking depressed, were escorted by the Chinese* army to the outskirts of Irkutsk. The Russian officers and soldiers in the city were stunned.

"Oh God! Isn't that our Cossack cavalry? Why in the hands of the Chinese! ”

"Have we failed? Were our reinforcements defeated by the Chinese? How is that possible! It was the invincible Cossack cavalry who came to our rescue! How could the Chinese defeat the Cossack cavalry? This is absolutely impossible. ”

"Scam, it's a scam! We were deceived. There will be no more reinforcements in Irkutsk, we are all already abandoned! ”

The appearance of the captured Cossack cavalry threw the Russian defenders in Irkutsk into a panic. The reason why they have persisted is that they believe that reinforcements will arrive soon. Now, the reinforcements have been defeated by the Chinese* army, which is undoubtedly a complete crushing of the hopes of the Russians. Let their wishes be completely frustrated. Once a person loses hope, what is left of the whole person? The morale of the Russian army dropped to freezing point in an instant.

The Russians inside listened. You don't have to hold out any longer, your reinforcements, the Russian 10th Cossack Cavalry Corps and the 12th Cossack Cavalry Corps, were defeated by us half a month ago. Of the more than 50,000 people, less than 2,000 managed to escape. Your reinforcements. It's still thousands of miles away. You're never going to have any more reinforcements. Surrender now! Only surrender is your last resort. As long as you surrender, the Empire will guarantee your safety. Otherwise, once the Imperial army begins to attack, you will surely die. Finally, give you an hour to lay down your arms if you are willing to surrender to the Empire. "An Imperial Staff Officer who understands the Russian army shouted at Irkutsk with a megaphone.

"Did our reinforcements really fail? So are we going to stick to it? Whether we want to surrender to the Chinese. In this case, you may be able to save your life! "Quite a few Russians. I started to have that thought.

"Bastard! Don't believe it, this is a scam of the Chinese, the Chinese have deceived us, our reinforcements are on their way. It is absolutely impossible for the Chinese to defeat our heroic Cossack cavalry. Some of the officers of the Russian army began to rebuke loudly, and they swore that this was a scam by the Chinese* army, and the Russian reinforcements would not be defeated.

However, those ordinary Russian soldiers are not fools either. Those Russian Cossack cavalry outside Irkutsk, could it be fake? Now there is really no hope for Irkutsk.

"General, something is wrong. Outside the city gathered a large number of Chinese * troops. Brigadier General Borif reported to Major General Nevelskoy with a panicked expression. He looked panicked, as if he had seen a ghost.

"The Chinese are going to attack? Order the divisions, ready for battle. Major General Nevelskoy ordered. The Chinese* army will attack, which did not surprise him. After all, after the arrival of the main forces of the Chinese* army, they will certainly not allow Irkutsk to remain in the hands of the Russian army.

"General, in addition, the Chinese escorted a large number of captured Cossack cavalry outside the city, and the morale of our troops was greatly affected. The war-weariness of the troops was very heavy, and if it were not for the bullet pressure of the officers, I am afraid that there would have been a mutiny. Brigadier General Boriv continued.

"What? Could it be that the 10th Cossack Cavalry Corps and the 12th Cossack Cavalry Corps were really defeated? Nevelskoy's face was full of ashes. Although, he had long guessed that such an outcome would be. However, after knowing that this is the real result, it is still a little unimaginable for him.

"General, what should we do now? Now the morale of the troops is low, and it is impossible for us to resist the attack of the Chinese army. Brigadier General Borif knew that this time, Irkutsk could no longer hold on.

"General Borif, no matter what, we need to hold on. You go to the front, take charge of the command there, and we will fight until the last moment! Major General Nevelskoy said firmly.

"Yes, General!" Brigadier General Boriv nodded, saluted, and then turned to leave.

Major General Nevelskoy looked at the back of Brigadier General Borif leaving and fell into deep thought.

"Damn, Irkutsk can't hold it, how can I escape from here? The south, west and north, all defended by Chinese troops, are not safe! Major General Nevelskoy thought secretly. Although he gave the order to defend Irkutsk, he never thought of leaving his life here. Now, he is already planning a way out.

Under the warning of the Chinese* army, some Russian soldiers laid down their arms and surrendered to the Chinese* army, but they were caught by the low-ranking officers of the Russian army and were severely punished, which made the other Russian soldiers dare not act rashly for a while. But this also shows that the Russian soldiers really do not want to continue fighting.

An hour later, the Chinese* army began a fierce assault on Irkutsk. Hundreds of light howitzers and field guns began to pour shells on Irkutsk, and in a very short time, Irkutsk turned into a sea of fire.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! "Dense shells exploded inside Irkutsk, house after house was destroyed, and a large number of Russians were killed in the shelling. Those Russian soldiers who held their positions even curled up in the trenches, enduring this qiē bitterly, and many of them had no fighting spirit. The heart-to-heart warfare of the Chinese* army has completely deprived these Russian officers and soldiers of the courage to continue fighting.

After half an hour of shelling, the 1st and 2nd armies of the Imperial Army, with four brigades, launched an attack on the city of Irkutsk from four breakthrough points. Compared with the cavalry attack, the infantry attack speed was a little slower, but their advance was a little more stable. When the imperial infantry attacked, they could effectively get the support of the artillery in the rear, especially the mortars of the platoon and company, which could knock out the fire points of the Russian army one after another, so as to effectively reduce casualties.

In less than an hour, the Russian defense line outside Irkutsk was breached, and a large number of Russian troops were either killed or fled into the city. There are many more Russian troops who have chosen to lay down their arms and surrender to the Empire. Following on their previous promises, the Imperial Army accepted their surrender, which led to more Russian soldiers beginning to surrender.

After storming Irkutsk, the resistance of the Russian army became fierce. However, in the street fighting, in the face of the elite Imperial Army, the Russians could not take advantage of anything at all. The street fighting tactics of the Imperial Army were far more advanced than those of these rabble Russian troops. Sniper cover, grenades get out of the way, plus the occasional mortar and heavy machine gun fire support. Even if the Russian soldiers hide behind barricades or in the houses on both sides of the street, the final result is that they will not escape death.

Under the blows of the Imperial infantry, the Russian army began to retreat. In such a situation, more and more Russians surrendered to the Imperial Army. They had lost reinforcements and were constantly beaten by the Imperial Army on the battlefield. In such a situation, if you want to survive, there is no other way than to surrender to the Imperial Army.

Brigadier General Borif, commander of the 2nd Army in the Russian Far East, saw that the situation was not good, and hurriedly went to the command to ask Major General Nevelskoy for instructions. However, at this time, he found that the headquarters was empty. Major General Nevelskoy is no longer visible. There was no way, Brigadier General Boriv had to give the order to surrender. If the fighting continues, the Russian army will only pay more casualties.

The offensive of the Imperial infantry on Irkutsk lasted only half a day before it ended. More than 60,000 of the more than 100,000 newly formed Russian officers and soldiers who held Irkutsk surrendered to the Imperial Army. The rest were killed in the battle. In addition to these troops, there are also civilians hiding in Irkutsk, who are more than 200,000 people. (To be continued......)