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Inside the command of the Russian army, the commander of the expeditionary forces, Ivan . Marshal Paskovich sat quietly behind his desk. In his ears, the sound of gunfire could no longer be heard. The offensive of the Russian army has been completely suspended. In just two days of war, the Russian army has already paid heavy casualties. If they continue to fight, they will only pay more casualties.

"Your Excellency, the attack of the 8th Infantry Corps has failed, and the men of Lieutenant General Anikita report that the whole army has suffered more than half of the casualties, and is now retreating." A junior officer asked Ivan. Marshal Paskovich reported.

"yes, I see!" Ivan. Marshal Paskovich nodded, his face still expressionless.

Less than a few minutes later, another junior officer walked in.

"Your Excellency, the commander of the 10th Infantry Corps, Lieutenant General Sheremedev, sent someone to report that the 10th Infantry Corps and the 14th Infantry Corps had launched an attack on the Chinese defensive line on the north bank of the Angara River. However, the Chinese had strong defensive lines, and the 10th and 14th Infantry Corps suffered heavy losses. Lieutenant General Sheremedev asked for a retreat. The junior officer said.

"Inform General Sheremedev to retreat westward, as far as possible from contact with the Chinese. If you lose contact with the headquarters, you will withdraw directly to Siberia! "Ivan. Marshal Paskovich said.

The junior officer looked at Ivan in amazement. Marshal Paskovich glanced at him, and then said: "Yes." Your Excellency, Marshal! ”

Ivan. Paskovich knew what the junior officer was surprised about, because, his arrangement. Apparently preparing for a retreat. The Russian Expeditionary Force suffered heavy losses in these two days of fighting, and had lost the capital to continue fighting. If you continue to fight, there will be only one final result, and that is to be eaten by the Chinese* army in front of you in one fell swoop. Coupled with the fierce fighting in the past two days, the Russian expeditionary force's already somewhat tense war materials were mostly consumed. If they hold on, they will run out of ammunition and food. For example, the artillery of the Russian army. In the previous battles, there were almost heavy losses. Although there are still dozens of cannons left, but. The cannonballs of these cannons have been exhausted, and without them, these cannons are nothing more than a pile of scrap metal.

"Come, gather the commanders of the various armies. Convene an emergency meeting! "Ivan. Marshal Paskovich said. Today's fiasco proves once again. The Russian army has already lost in this war, and in order to avoid losing completely, the Russian army can only retreat as much as possible. Only in this way can we maintain a little strength. Otherwise, they will pay even more losses.

Ten minutes later, Ivan. Marshal Paskovich appeared in the makeshift chamber. The commanders of the seven armies were already sitting on either side of the conference table made of ammunition boxes. However, the atmosphere in the conference room was somewhat solemn. Huge casualties. It makes every army commander feel a little uncomfortable. The whole battle situation has reached the point where it is now, which makes them very frustrated and desperate. Ivan. After Marshal Paskovich walked in. Everyone stood and saluted him.

"Alright, all of you, sit down!" Ivan. Marshal Paskovich said. His voice is not as loud as before. After the heavy losses suffered by the troops, his spirit was also greatly affected. After all, he is sixty-five years old. If you were an ordinary person, I'm afraid you'd already be enjoying your family by now. As the Field Marshal of the Empire, he had to fight for the good of the Empire.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I don't say that you are very aware of the current situation. The situation was very unfavorable for us, and yesterday afternoon and evening, together with today's fighting, we suffered very heavy losses. The 8th Infantry Corps, which attacked from the flanks, was besieged by two infantry corps of the Chinese, lost more than half of its ranks, and is now retreating. The 10th Infantry Corps and the 14th Infantry Corps were also unable to break through the Chinese defensive lines, and their own losses were not small. On the frontal battlefield, we were still unable to break through the heavily defended lines of the Chinese* army. Although I don't want to admit it, however, facts are facts, and we have lost this battle! "Ivan. Marshal Paskovich said with some frustration.

The atmosphere in the conference room froze almost all at once. Pessimistic and disappointed expressions appeared on the faces of the generals. When the expeditionary force of up to 600,000 men set out from the Russian hinterland, each of them believed that victory was within reach. But reality has shown that the Chinese* army, which they once thought was vulnerable, was so powerful, far more powerful than the Russian army. It can be said that the combat effectiveness of both sides is not at the same level at all. Such heavy losses were already unbearable for the Russian expeditionary force.

Lieutenant General Bryus, commander of the 7th Infantry Corps of the Russian Army, opened his mouth to comfort Ivan. Marshal Paskovich, now the marshal, is like an old man in his last years. However, in the end, he could not say anything. His 7th Infantry Corps suffered the greatest losses in this war, and the entire Infantry Corps had reached the point where it could be abolished. In this case, what qualifications does he have to comfort Ivan. And what about Marshal Paskovich? Although the losses of the other infantry corps were not as heavy as those of the 7th Infantry Corps, their losses were not small. In particular, the 9th Infantry Corps, the 15th Infantry Corps and the 18th Infantry Corps, which took part in yesterday's afternoon and evening attacks, have already suffered more than half of the casualties.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have lost more than 300,000 men in this battle. As many as 600,000 expeditionary forces, less than half of the remaining troops. Coupled with low morale, logistics were almost cut off. We don't have any chance of winning this battle. Therefore, I decided to withdraw as much as possible! "Ivan. Marshal Paskovich said. Now he has some regrets. If we had retreated earlier, when the logistics were cut off, perhaps the situation would not have been so serious. However, it is too late to say anything.

"Retreat?" The generals stared at Ivan in amazement. Marshal Paskovich. Although, now the retreat is a foregone conclusion. But, a strong Ivan. Marshal Paskovich would have made this decision, or it was not what they expected.

"Marshal, if we retreat, then the whole of Eastern Siberia, as well as the Central Siberian plateau, will not be able to hold it at all. War will break out in the Siberian Plain. The Chinese will pursue us all the way to our hinterland. When the time comes, how shall we explain to His Majesty the Tsar? Lieutenant General Bryus, commander of the 7th Infantry Corps, said. Such a crushing defeat was certainly unacceptable to Tsar Nicholas I. When the time came, as the commander of the expeditionary force, Ivan. Marshal Paskovich, as well as these generals who have lost their troops, will certainly not end well.

"There is no way to retreat, if we don't retreat, our army will be completely lost. As for His Majesty the Tsar, I'll explain. Now, we have to figure out how to bring the remnants of the army back to the Siberian plain safely! These troops will become our main force against the Chinese in the Siberian Plain. "Ivan. Marshal Paskovich said. After losing Central Siberia and Eastern Siberia, millions of square kilometers of land were undoubtedly lost. However, it is also better than having them all wiped out. Besides, after losing these lands, the battle line has also been stretched in disguise, and if the Chinese can be defeated in the Siberian Plain, there may be a chance to turn the tables.

"Marshal, if we want to evacuate safely, we must leave enough troops to block the pursuit of the Chinese. In addition, the Chinese cavalry that attacked our rear also needed to resist them. Otherwise, we can't evacuate. The commander of the 9th Infantry Corps said.

Ivan. Marshal Paskovich nodded, after the retreat of the Russian army, the Chinese * army will definitely launch a pursuit, there is no doubt at all. The Chinese cavalry, which had previously broken through the Russian defense line and destroyed the Russian army's logistical supply line, needed to be guarded against. If it is intercepted by the Chinese cavalry, it is absolutely impossible for the Russian army to safely pass through the Central Siberian Plateau and return to the West Siberian Plain.

"Your Excellency, we need to leave enough broken troops to buy us enough time. In addition, it is necessary to send troops to drag the cavalry of the Chinese. Lieutenant General Bryus, commander of the 7th Infantry Corps, said.

"I will give orders to the 2nd Cossack Cavalry Corps and the 8th Cossack Cavalry Corps, asking them to defeat the Chinese cavalry with all their might, and to hold back the Chinese cavalry no matter how bad it is, so as to create a chance for our evacuation. However, the broken troops are more important. The Chinese amassed more than 400,000 troops on the front. During these two days of fighting, the losses we inflicted on the Chinese were very limited. Therefore, once we evacuate, the pursuit of the Chinese will definitely be very fierce. The troops responsible for the broken period will inevitably suffer heavy losses. "Ivan. Marshal Paskovich said.

It can be said that the troops left behind will be besieged by the Chinese* army, which is several times their size. The two days of fighting have undoubtedly proved that the firepower of the Chinese * army is very strong, and with the same strength, the Russian army is no match for the Chinese * army, let alone besieged by an enemy several times its size, it is simply nine deaths!

"Your Excellency, Marshal, I'll stay and break the queen! However, my 7th Infantry Corps has only about 5,000 people left! Lieutenant General Bryus took the initiative to stand up and say. As Ivan. Marshal Paskovich's henchman, in such a situation, it is his duty to stand up and share the blame for the marshal.

"Well, General Bruce, your courage is commendable, and you will be responsible for breaking the queen!" Ivan. Marshal Paskovich said with an approving face. (To be continued......)