It's almost dawn. On the road from Korla City to the Tiemenguan Pass of Hora Mountain, Batel and Zhao Tiefeng led the cavalry team to escort the soldiers' families and their families. In the ranks, some of the cavalrymen carried two or three-year-old children on their chests, and some of the cavalrymen had older children and female dependents tied to their backs.

The enemy cavalry was in hot pursuit, and behind the cavalry in front of the enemy army, there was a large group of enemy cavalry that rushed to reinforce it......

Battle saw that his cavalry team could not get up because of the speed of the march with his family, and if he continued like this, he would definitely be caught up by the enemy, which was extremely dangerous, and he was very anxious! He felt that at this time, some men and horses must intercept and attract the enemy army, so that it was possible to get rid of the pursuit. He suddenly looked at a small mountain not far from the right side in front of him, and immediately said to Zhao Tiefeng:

"General Zhao! We can't outrun them with our families...... Such! You protect your family and go north all the way up the mountain, and there are people at the mountain pass to answer you. I led people to intercept the pursuers behind, diverted their main forces, and retreated along the Peacock River and Kaidu River. Let's meet at Halmodun! ”

"Okay! Take care! Zhao Tiefeng replied.

Battle stopped with a part of the group and immediately turned to the hill on the right.

This hill pack is a rare vantage point and an ideal ambush location. Under the mountain bag, the tripping horse rope was immediately arranged and stopped. On the top of the mountain, Battle and Meng He led the team to check the ammunition and lay an ambush waiting for the enemy to approach.

The enemy brigade roared in...... The tripping rope in front of the mountain bag was suddenly pulled up, and more than a dozen enemy cavalry were immediately tripped to the ground...... The rear cavalry of the enemy also rushed over and immediately crowded together.

At Battle's order, all the cavalry fired together, and the enemy soldiers who were huddled together were shot down, and another group of people turned on their backs...... Then came a second volley, and the enemy was shot down one by one. The power of this Bodan rifle was played quite well, and dozens of enemy soldiers were killed in an instant!

The enemy soldiers in the rear, who had not fully recovered their senses, began to shoot indiscriminately at the hill and began to attack tentatively. As soon as they arrived in front of Shanbao, they were put down by a dense rain of arrows, and the enemy retreated slightly......

"Withdraw!" Battle ordered.

The effective blockade of the team led by Battle delayed the enemy pursuers pursuing Zhao Tiefeng and the soldiers' families for nearly half an hour. It was this most critical half an hour that made Zhao Tiefeng and the soldiers' family members a distance away from the enemy's pursuers, and only then did they have the hope of escaping from death.

With his cavalry corps, Battle attracted the main force of the enemy's pursuers, and by virtue of his familiar knowledge of the terrain, he began a thrilling maneuver with the enemy's pursuing brigade of cavalry......

There is a large bush at the bend of the Peacock River, which is also a necessary place for the enemy to pursue, and it is also an excellent ambush position. Behind the bushes, Battle and his team prepared a large number of bows and arrows.

The cavalry of the enemy brigade pursued and gradually approached the bushes...... The cavalry suddenly got up and fired arrows together.

The enemy pursuers were knocked down by a rain of arrows...... Then came a second volley of arrows, and the enemy rear was shot down in one piece.

"Withdraw! ......" Battelle ordered.

The sky has begun to lighten. At the pass of the Iron Gate Pass of Hora Mountain, the men and horses arranged by the Turghut tribe to receive them were already in place, and Jiang Bakundu led a hundred archers to wait in hiding. The number of rocks at the summit and mountainside has increased by two or three times, and the pass is ready to be closed at any time.

A cavalry contingent carrying the families of the defenders approached the pass...... After the break, Zhao Tiefeng and his entourage Wei Xiao kept turning around and raising their guns to shoot, and the enemy soldiers who rushed to the front were shot and fell off their horses......

Zhao Tiefeng saw that not far away was the Tiemen Pass Pass, the current section of the road was already very narrow, and it was not easy for the chasing soldiers behind to unfold here, so he decisively ordered:

"Tribulus terrestris!"

Wei Xiao and the three cavalrymen threw all the thistles they had carried onto the road behind them...... The enemy cavalry that was chasing quickly was instantly put down by more than a dozen of them by the thistles......

The cavalry team guarding the soldiers' families quickly rushed into the mountain pass.

The enemy's follow-up cavalry team also followed and quickly approached the mountain pass, and when they were about to rush into the mountain pass, the tripping horse rope suddenly pulled up, tripping the enemy cavalry that rushed to the front......

The enemy cavalry continued to pursue, and when it was a few steps away from the mountain pass, the mountain fired a volley of arrows, and the overwhelming rain of arrows knocked down all the enemy cavalry front team, and the people turned on their backs......

The follow-up enemy troops instantly adjusted, and while firing back at the ridges on both sides, they continued to storm the mountain pass...... At this time, countless large and small rocks fell from the top of the mountain and the mountainside, sealing the mountain pass.

The commander of the enemy's First Army Corps, Haigula, also personally rushed to the Tiemen Pass at this time, and saw that the pass was completely sealed, and looked helpless...... Wave your hand to stop the pursuit.

The main force of the enemy's cavalry, which was chasing after the Battle's cavalry, desperately pursued dozens of kilometers from the Peacock River to the Kaidu River. But not only did he not bite the opponent, but he was also repeatedly plotted, ambushed several times, and suffered heavy casualties. But he did not receive an order to stop the pursuit, so he could only continue the pursuit.

Seeing Battle's cavalry disappear into the bottomless jungle on the banks of the Kaidu River, the enemy cavalry finally stopped. The leader of the enemy army found that the jungle of the Kaidu River was deeper and denser than that of the Peacock River; In this strange place, if you venture into the jungle, you risk falling into a bigger trap, and you can't help but feel scared.

The leader of the enemy army thought about it again and again, and felt that the brigade could not venture directly into the jungle. Two small teams of cavalry were sent to reconnoiter the situation, and one team marched in the direction of the Kaidu River, preparing to penetrate the jungle to the river to observe the width and depth of the jungle; The other team searched forward along the outer edge of the jungle and observed the length of the jungle.

Half an hour later, the cavalry squad that had been scouting the outer jungle returned. The report said that the jungle was at least twenty kilometers long, and that they had walked less than halfway before turning back.

The team, which had entered the jungle and planned to go to the river to reconnoiter the depths of the jungle, was slow to react. After waiting for a while, two enemy horses suddenly ran out of the jungle. When the two horses were stopped, they found that both horses were injured. One horse was shot with an arrow in the front neck and one in the back, and the other horse had three shafts stuck in its buttocks.

At this time, the enemy leader felt a dilemma. I must be unwilling to give up this team, and I can't explain it when I go back; can go into the jungle to help save this team, but the situation is unknown. If the other party had already been ambushed here before, there would undoubtedly be greater losses if they ventured into the army, and there was a danger of annihilation......

After waiting anxiously on the Gobi Desert outside the jungle for half an hour, seeing that there was no movement in the jungle, the leader of the enemy pursuers concluded that the squad no longer existed. At this time, the sun was shining directly in the sky, the temperature on the Gobi Desert was rising rapidly, and the people and horses were already sweating profusely, and they began to be a little unbearable.

The enemy leader, who was in a dilemma and hesitated, finally gave up the idea of risking his life to save the reconnaissance team, and was forced to terminate the pursuit and order a retreat......

Inside the tent of the Turgot Mongol tribe camp in Halmodun. Jinhua Hatun is consulting with the tribal leaders about the military situation.

Introducing the current situation of friend and foe, Sanji Meiren said: "The army of Aguba in Kokand is about 70,000 people, with a total of five legions, and each legion accounts for more than 40% of the cavalry. They are currently armed with the most advanced Enfield rifles and Armstrong rifled guns in the world today from the British Empire...... The British not only provided a large amount of weapons and equipment, but also sent an officer advisory group to train the army and assist in commanding the battle. So, the combat effectiveness of the Aguba army is very strong! Regardless of the size of the army or the level of weaponry, the defenders of Kashgar, Yache, Hotan, Aksu, Kucha, Korla and Yanqi were no match for them at all...... Luntai City had fallen a month ago. Their 1st and 4th Legions are now attacking the city of Korla in full force. And their Third Army surrounded Yanqi City with a part of its men and horses, and the main force bypassed Yanqi City and drove in the direction of Xinjingzi and Yushugou, as if preparing to block possible reinforcements from the direction of Urumqi and Turpan...... If a large number of reinforcements arrived, it is estimated that Korla City would not last for a few days......"

Outside the big tent, there was a sudden report from the Malays. The news brought by Tanma was another thunderstorm: the reinforcement team sent from Urumqi was ambushed by the enemy in Yushugou and the whole army was annihilated!

The leaders were shocked!

Zabudiji said worriedly: "This 'Central Asian butcher' really has a lot of appetite! He didn't even let go of reinforcements from Urumqi. In this way, Korla City will definitely not be able to be saved...... Then the Battelles we sent to help defend the city are also in danger! ”

"When will the messenger to Battle and General Zhong arrive?" Jinhua Hattun asked.

"As you commanded, I set out at dawn yesterday, and I must have seen them last night. The men and horses who were ready to meet at the Tiemen Pass were also in place, and Jiang Bakun was in charge of commanding. Zabudaiji replied.

Lama Mu Cheng felt that Batel and they were deeply encircled, and they must be more than lucky! With a heavy heart, he folded his hands and prayed aloud:

"Buddha bless Battle, they can return safely! Amitabha! ……”

"How much grain and grass for the defenders of Korla is still on the way?" Jinhua Hatun continued to ask Zabtaiji.

"We had already managed to get all the food into the city three days ago. Because the forage target is too large, it is not easy to enter the city, and there are still twenty truckloads of forage hidden in the bushes by the Peacock River, waiting for the opportunity to enter the city. Zabudaiji replied.

Jinhua Hatun pondered for a while, and said with some concern: "It has been more than three months since King Khan went to Beijing to meet the emperor, and now that so many big things have happened here, I wonder if he can know about it?" ”

Bayin Chaolu, the captain of the guard of Jinhua Hatun, said, "Hatun! Military reports on the battle situation in various places will be transmitted to the capital on time from the military stations in various parts of the imperial court, and I believe that the Khan will know everything that is happening here. ”

Jinhua Hatun has realized the severity of the current situation and is very anxious. She said to everyone:

"If Korla City falls, Yanqi City will be even more unable to be saved, and then the entire southern Xinjiang will fall...... Judging from the current offensive line and the development of the Kokand army, the Kokand people have indeed been planning for a long time. In this case, the target of its coveting is not only southern Xinjiang, but also the whole of Xinjiang. So they won't stop at Korla and Yanqi...... What do you think the court will do next? ”

Sanji Meiren was also in a heavy mood and said slowly: "Large-scale peasant uprisings have broken out in several provinces in the interior, and the official army is attacking everywhere. Now that the whole country is worried about internal and external troubles, it is unlikely that the imperial court will now make up its mind to send a large army to defeat the Kokand army and regain the lost territory, and it is true that there are no available troops to send to Xinjiang. It was precisely because of this that the Kokand and the British saw this, so they recklessly attacked the city and plundered the land...... Now there are also civilian troops rising up in northern Xinjiang, and the Ili General's Mansion has no troops to send at all; The reinforcements that the Urumqi Metropolitan Government was able to send have been wiped out; There are very few reinforcements that the Turpan military government can send, and even if they come, it will be a drop in the bucket and useless. With such a situation, it is impossible for the two cities of Korla and Yanqi to be saved, and the fall is just around the corner. We can only prepare early and plan for the long term. ”

The leaders nodded yes.

Zabudaiji shook his head a little helplessly, and said: "The official army and the Taiping army of King Hong Tianwang fought for fourteen years, and tens of millions of people died, and the official army alone died millions. If this catastrophe had been able to turn hostility into peace, Xinjiang would have been absolutely peaceful, and how could there be a chance for the current Kokand ghosts and British to make waves? It's really a 'woe to the wall'! ”

Sanji Meiren took a different view, saying: "It is true to say that 'woe to the wall' is true, and there are good reasons. However, if the British had not waged the two Opium Wars, I think the 'scourge of the Xiao Wall' would have been avoided. So, the evil British are the root cause of these upheavals! ”

Lama Mucheng was worried about the current situation, and he was very glad that the palace yamen had moved to the current tribal camp, and said:

"King Khan and Hatun were indeed prescient, if they had not moved the palace yamen to the current camp and were still on the 'island' surrounded by water, it would be equivalent to sitting and waiting to die! The situation of the whole tribe will be even more dangerous......"

"Our current camp is not an impregnable place. Although it is surrounded by mountains and rivers, it is still difficult to hold on if it encounters a strong enemy...... After a hundred years of recuperation, we are accustomed to living in peace, and everyone did not expect that foreign invaders would hit our doorstep so quickly. Jinhua Hatun said, and asked Zabu Taiji again: "Have a few Sumu on the edge of Bohu Lake been transferred?" ”

"Before the Kokand people besieged the city of Yanqi, a few of our Sumu men had already moved to Naimon Modun. Now, Naimon Morton is not very safe...... At that time, the Baolang Sumu of the Heshute tribe and several nearby Sumu were also moving in the direction of Quhui and Ushtara. However, if their transfer route is not adjusted in advance, it is very likely that they will encounter the Third Army of the Kokand Army, which went to Yushugou to ambush the reinforcements of Urumqi. If it does, it will be a big problem...... Our armory, supply station, and Mongolian medical department are already preparing to move to Bayinbrook at any time. Zabudaiji replied.

"The Balentai Fortress and the Chahan Wusu Fortress have been notified to start increasing the reserves of the required munitions and materials to prepare for the unexpected!" Sanji Meiren added.

Jinhua Hatun still has a hidden worry in his heart at this time: the advance team of the Kokand Army that secretly opened at the beginning of the year was completely eradicated in the Heavenly Wolf Valley and sank into the sand, and now these wolf-like guys are overwhelming, and it is very likely that they will seek revenge immediately. She confessed to Sanji Meren and said:

"Hurry up and send someone to Shirga Sumu in the Heavenly Wolf Valley to inform Ashan Kundu that they are ready to defend. The Kokand people had already pushed the battle line to Elm Gully, not far from the Valley of the Heavenly Wolf. The advance team of the Kokand people was wiped out in the Celestial Wolf Valley, and it is very likely that they will attack the Celestial Wolf Valley at any time to avenge the 'revenge with one arrow'. This time it is not as good as the four or five hundred advance troops last time, at least a large number of tens of thousands of people. If the enemy army comes to attack, you must not fight hard, you must avoid the enemy's edge! Let them also be prepared to retreat to Bayingbrook, or they can withdraw to the vicinity of the Barentai fortress before making plans...... Before the transfer, he went to Taohuazhai to report to Xu Xuegong, the leader of the Urumqi Nanshan People's League. Chief Xu was also one of the targets of the Kokand army seeking revenge, and it was also not far from the Elm Gully, so it was not safe now. If Leader Xu and the others feel the need to transfer out the old and weak women and children first, they can act together. ”

"Yes! I'll send someone out at once. Sanji Meren replied.

"Did the men and horses of Su Kaizha lead gallop to help Yanqi and Master Tu?" Jinhua Hatun asked Zabtaiji.

Zabudaiji replied: "Under the response of the Yanqi defenders, Su Kaizhaleng and their grain and grass had already entered Yanqi City the night before yesterday and joined Master Tu. It is really dangerous to calculate, the time when Su Kaizhaleng and them entered the city happened to be the time when the main force of the Third Army of the Kokand Army ambushed the reinforcements from Urumqi and returned to the encirclement of Yanqi City, and there may be only one or two hours at most...... However, our men and horses combined with the defenders of Lord Tu were no more than a thousand, and we did not have heavy firearms in our hands. Now that Urumqi's reinforcements are gone, it is absolutely impossible to hold Yanqi City...... However, the secret passage that Yanqi City secretly excavated five years ago can lead directly from the underground arsenal under the military yamen to the Kaidu River. I don't know if Master Tu is going to use this secret passage to escape at that time...... I also explained to Su Kaizhaleng that some people should be left outside the city to secretly guard the exit of this passage in case of accidents. At the last moment, let him remind Master Tu again to explain the value of the existence of this secret passage: leave the green mountains and don't worry about running out of firewood......"

Jinhua Hattun nodded.