Zhennan Pass was built very early, more than 2,000 years ago, the Han Dynasty set up a pass here, the initial name was "Yongji Pass", and later changed its name to "Jieshou Pass", "Da Nan Pass".

In the first year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1368), in order to consolidate southern Xinjiang, it was rebuilt into a two-story gatehouse. Later, it was renamed Nanguan. In the following period, Zhennan Pass has been the most important checkpoint between Vietnam and Guangxi.

However, now there is only a pile of remnants left in Zhennan Pass, because the French occupied this place before, burned the checkpoint, and the current Qing army is stationed in the area of the pass in front of the pass, and its commander is the veteran Feng Zicai.

As for this experience, it is needless to say that he was born in the Heaven and Earth Society to engage in anti-Qing movements, and then was Zhao'an, participated in the suppression of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, and was later promoted to the governor of Guangxi, suppressing various anti-Qing movements. I only returned to my hometown two years ago, preparing to spend my old age in peace.

Subsequently, because Zeng Guoquan was transferred to Liangjiang (because Zuo Zongtang rushed to serve as the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang), Zhang Shusheng, who temporarily acted as the governor of Liangguang, invited the veteran to go out again. Although Zhang Zhidong later took over as the governor of Liangguang, he still trusted him.

However, speaking of which, Feng Zicai led his troops to be stationed in the area of Zhennanguan, and he was also a little helpless. Because he had many disputes with Pan Dingxin, the governor of Guangxi, mainly because the governor of Guangxi had different ideas from him.

This Lord Pan insisted that all departments should not go to war at will, regarded the French army as the army of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and wanted to set up a way to fight a dumb battle.

However, Feng Zicai believes that this time is different from the past, the French are much more powerful than those rebels, and this style of play cannot work at all.

So the two had a dispute, and Pan Dingxin was a civil official and the governor of a province, Feng Zicai was originally just a governor of a province, and now he is still a veteran who has returned to the mountain, so the relationship between the rest of the ministries can be imagined.

But fortunately, the new governor of Liangguang, Zhang Zhidong, trusted him, no, a small half of the newly arrived Italian firearms were shipped to him.

"Old General Feng, there are 1,000 Italian fast guns, 8 fast guns, 6 electric cannons, 1,000 shells, and 400,000 rounds of various bullets. Here's the list, you can point it out. ”

The official in charge of the escort reported to Feng Zicai the weapons shipped from Guangzhou and submitted a list.

"Thanks to the weapons sent by my brother, the sons and daughters are also a lot more sure-footed."

Feng Zicai was born in the Heaven and Earth Society before, so some habits have not changed until now, such as calling his soldiers Erlang.

However, this was not the main reason for Feng Zicai to talk to him, I saw him pull the official and glance at Kosenz and the others who were standing aside and dressed like him, but their faces were wrong.

"Brother, why are you still bringing foreigners here?"

In the face of Feng Zicai's inquiry, the official showed an unfathomable smile. "This is the same Italian as the Zhijing 2nd ship, this is here to help them."

"But I look awkward."

General Feng was obviously a little uncomfortable with the presence of Italians in his barracks.

"Old general, these people have been specially transferred by the master of Taiwan, not to mention anything else, can anyone else use that electric cannon? And with these people, when using fast guns, they can also have multiple helpers. ”

This official's words made Feng Zicai feel much better in his heart. But he thought of a question and quickly asked. "How do you say they're under my command?"

The official thought for a moment and said. "Sort of, but they're mainly responsible for operating the Race Cannon. In addition, the master of the Taiwan production system issued a strict order, prohibiting them from being used as foot soldiers. ”

Obviously, Governor Zhang was also afraid that someone would use these foreign soldiers as consumables.

"Don't worry, the orders of Lord Taiwan, how dare my old Feng disobey."

After sending the official from Guangzhou down, Feng Zicai recruited his eldest son.

"Renqing, arrange these foreign soldiers well, don't let people notice."

Obviously, Feng Zicai is also a person who understands military affairs, and intends to hide that he has obtained a batch of ordnance.

"Father, leave this matter to me."

Then Feng Xiangrong, who was the eldest son, rushed over with several personal soldiers.

"Heroes, please come with me."

Feng Xiangrong didn't know what to call it, so he simply called a more Jianghu title. Of course, Cosenz and the others must not understand this, not to mention that Feng Xiangrong still has a strong Guangxi accent.

But it doesn't matter, isn't there a translator, which made Cosenz and the others immediately follow Feng Xiangrong's footsteps and be taken to a separate barracks area, during which Feng Xiangrong basically gave them the best treatment in the barracks.

After settling these Italians, Feng Xiangrong returned to his father.

"Father, the foreign soldiers have been arranged."

Facing his son's report, Feng Zicai withdrew his gaze from the map. "Got it, Renqing."

"Father is still worried about the French?"

Feng Xiangrong saw that Feng Zicai was still looking at the map, and he knew that his father was like a son, and he immediately guessed his father's thoughts.

"How can you not be worried?"

Facing his son, Feng Zicai did not hesitate to say his thoughts. "At present, the legal person has 3,000 troops in Lang Son and Van Yuan, including 2,000 French soldiers and 1,000 Vietnamese auxiliaries, and complete guns. On the other hand, there are only 5,000 soldiers in Zhennanguan, and less than half of them can use guns. Although we have geography, we have a large disparity in strength, and we have no chance of winning without taking risks. ”

Soldiers take risks, and it is not a good way to use risks.

Feng Zicai has also been fighting for so many years, how can he not know the risks involved. Although there are guns sent by the manufacturer, they are still not as sharp as the guns of the legal person, so it is not within his consideration.

But now he has an idea, and he is going to use the method of agitation to lure the legal person to attack, so he is ready to touch the bottom of the legal person himself.

"Renqing, you go and call the second child, I have an idea."

"Yes, father."

"Remember this and keep quiet."

"Please rest assured father, I am not a three-year-old Mengtong, I know the severity."

In the next two days, Feng Zicai did not move, but the five hundred soldiers he brought from his hometown quietly prepared torches, fire oil and other items for night travel.

On the third day, after talking with General Feng and his deputy Wang Xiaoqi, he secretly led his two sons and 500 hometown soldiers to Wenyuan. Taking advantage of the night, Feng Zicai, under the leadership of the local Li people, came to the front of the French camp.

Subsequently, under his command, 500 soldiers stormed the French camp and shot and killed 32 Vietnamese servants and 3 French soldiers. He also set fire to the camp and burned down 31 tents in the barracks. The sudden attack of the Qing army made the French commander Negri, then the commander of the Second Brigade of the Beiqi Expedition, extremely angry.

He then decided to teach the Qing army a profound lesson, so he reported to his superior, Colonel Pori, and asked the colonel to allow him to sweep the Qing army around Zhennanguan.

Due to the poor performance of the Qing army, Colonel Pori also agreed to his request, and sent a battalion to support Nigri in order to be foolproof.

After collecting supplies and waiting for an ammunition supply, Negri rushed to Zhennanguan with 2,000 French soldiers and 1,000 Vietnamese servants.