Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 414 The Encounter at the Hunchun Ridge ([-])

The official security officer who received the urgent report from Qitai didn't dare to delay, and he immediately sent an urgent six hundred miles to Qinggui who was in Jilin.

Since the loss of Ninggu Pagoda last year, the post road from Hunchun to Ula, Jilin was cut off by the North Navy.Afterwards, Qinggui invited the imperial court to open a new post road from Hunchun via Burhatu River to the west, via Odori to Jilin.

While the Hunchun military report was still on the way, Qinggui first received a flight report from Ampang Dohong Station, 230 miles northeast of Jilin. It seems to be investigating the water level of the Tuijiao River.

Subsequently, secret reports were sent back about the details of the Qing army stationed outside the city of Ningguta.The news was sent out ten days ago. It said that about [-] to [-] Beibei Navy arrived at the military camp five miles south of Ningguta City from Fuerdan City, and there were also a large number of supply vehicles following them. You can't see the end at a glance.In order to prevent people in Ningguta City from reporting to Manqing, Ningguta City's entry and exit checks are very strict at present. People in the city cannot get out without a pass issued by the Beihai Town Government, and once they enter the city, it is even more difficult. It's over!

Qing Gui frowned immediately after receiving the news, thinking that she was really afraid of something.He is now afraid that Zhao Xin will make some moves before Fukang'an arrives, and besides, the troops dispatched by Qianlong from the northwest are still on the way.

At present, most of the defensive forces on the periphery of Jilin are deployed on the line from Xiaobai Mountain to Fosiheng Mountain, with a strength of nearly [-]. The purpose is to prevent the North Navy from launching an attack from Ninggu Tower.As for the southern line, Hunchun Daying is in charge.

Since the fall of Ninggu Pagoda in May last year, Qinggui ordered people to build a hundred checkpoints and more than 20 forts around the passes and post roads of Xiaobai Mountain and Fosiheng Mountain, and deployed a large number of artillery in these fortresses. and Musketeers.In the mountains and forests between the fortresses, there are Eight Banners Musketeers and Archers stationed in battalions.

Once a certain fortress was attacked, the nearby Qing army could quickly support it through the newly opened roads behind each fortress, or attack from other passes, relying on the cover of mountains and canyons to outflank the invading enemy from the side.

Although Qinggui is only staying behind and temporarily in charge of the military and political power, as long as he can stick to it for a while, when Fukang'an comes to complete the handover, he can return to Beijing safely.

However, the weather was unpredictable, and bad luck happened one after another.In the evening two days later, just after he had arranged to send a sentry in the direction of Ningguta, an urgent report from Hunchun came.

In the signing room of the general's government office, Qinggui sat on the kang and read the official security report and the secret letter from Qitai, and couldn't help but fell into deep thought.Several staff members did not dare to speak out, for fear of disturbing Mr. Jinglue's decision.

Qing Gui looked up at the wooden figure in the signing room, then got up and walked closer, and the two Geshhas each held a whale oil lantern produced in Beihai Town to help him light it.This wooden map occupies one-third of the area of ​​the signing room, with flags of various colors planted on it, and the situation of the enemy and ourselves is clear at a glance.

How many people did the North Navy dispatch?How many troops did Zhao Xin deploy on the front line of Ninggu Tower and Fuerdan City?Does he really want to attack Jilin and Hunchun at the same time?

Right now, the secret agents of the Qing government's sticky poles have obtained fragmented information from Beihai Town. There is a hammer in the east and a stick in the west, especially the Beihai Navy training base on the east bank of the Xila River. .Even Qinggui found it unbelievable, and really couldn't understand how the Beihai Navy could guard such a large camp so tightly for many years.

Previously, from Qianlong to Fukang'an, and even Qinggui had estimated the military strength of Beihai Town. They all believed that the current total strength of the Beihai Navy was about 2 people, mainly based on the ratio of soldiers, farmers and population in this era.Now that Tsarist Russia has made it clear that it will go to war with Beihai Town, Zhao Xin has to place 1 troops in Irkutsk no matter what.

In addition, the Beihai Navy still has 5000 people stationed in the east and west of the island country, and Heilongjiang City, Sanxing, and Boli each have hundreds of garrisons. Qinggui estimated that Fuldan City had a maximum of 5000 people, and Beihai Town had the most Just a few hundred people.

After listening to Qinggui's analysis, the staff members of Zanhua were all stunned.One of them said: "Then Zhao Xin wants to use military force? How many people can grow food for him when he recruits troops in Beihai Town?"

Another person said: "Brother He's words really hit the nail on the head. That bandit Zhao is so ignorant of people's power that his destruction is just around the corner."

After listening to the staff's discussion, Qing Gui suddenly remembered the information sent by the spies a few days ago, which said that the manpower used for spring plowing in Beihai Town this year was not much, except for some corners and flats, no matter in the plains south of Xingkai Lake It is still north of Beihai Town, and you can often see some huge steel machinery helping to cultivate the fields, which can plow and sow at least several hundred acres a day.As for the mechanical reason, it has not yet been ascertained.

When Qing Gui read the secret report at the time, he thought it was really sensational, that Beihai Town's extraordinary skills and ingenuity could reach such a level.It would be great if the imperial court also had such a farming machine, at least it would save a lot of effort.But then I thought about it again, if farming becomes like this in the future, then what is the use of "agriculture" in "Scholar, Farmer, Industry and Commerce"?Right now, no matter in Zhili, Henan, or Shandong, there are already hundreds of thousands of refugees caused by various natural disasters. If manpower is replaced by machinery, wouldn't those small people have no way out?

Thinking of this, a trace of disdain appeared on the corner of Qing Gui's mouth.Xin Dao said that Zhao Xin is indeed a monster, he not only wants to destroy the orthodoxy enshrined by scholars, but even cut off the livelihood of ordinary people.If he were allowed to win the world, he might be devastated, and the world would sink into the sinking like a long night.

Turning his mind around, Qing Gui thought that it would be fine if Zhao Xin only attacked Hunchun, at worst, he would shrink all his forces to the line from Changbai Mountain to Fosiheng Mountain; It would be troublesome to capture Jilin Ula.

Judging from the marching speed of the Northern Navy during the Battle of Fuldan City, once Jilin was lost, they would definitely move eastward and quickly cut off the back of the Hunchun Camp, leaving tens of thousands of Qing troops alone.Although the Qing army could use the north of the Li Dynasty to withdraw from the Tumen River to the south, the court lost all face.

Could it be that Zhao Xin intends to do it together?Qing Gui thought about Zhao Xin's past battles, and it wasn't impossible.

Qinggui stayed up all night, thinking hard about Zhao Xin's purpose in this battle.However, he never imagined that Zhao Xin actually wanted to capture the prisoners this time, so that he could take back the lost land at the southern foot of Jiangyuan, and take back the big iron mine!

Two days later, Guanbao received Qinggui's handwritten letter.

In this letter, Qinggui first ordered the Guanbao to send troops to investigate to the north of the Mongolian River, and must investigate the mobilization of the Qingbei Navy so as to adjust the response plan in time; secondly, he asked the Hunchun Camp and the surrounding fortresses to be on full alert , check and replenish food, grass and military supplies, and prepare for war with the Beihai Navy at any time; thirdly, Qing Gui warned the officials and security that once the Beihai Navy attacks Jilin and at the same time launches an attack on the north bank of the Mongolian River, the Hunchun Camp must resolutely resist. It can rely on mountain fortresses and mountain forest terrain everywhere, forcing the North Navy to be unable to concentrate its superior forces.When necessary, troops can even cross the Hunchun Ridge to attack Fuldan City, forcing the North Navy to return to aid.

After reading Qinggui's handwriting, Guanbao felt that Mr. Jinglue had thought of going with him, and he also planned to divide his troops to attack.

Therefore, in order to investigate the route around the Hunchun Ridge and find out the movement of the Northern Navy, after discussing with Wen Dai, the deputy governor, the official security decided to transfer a [-]-man Sauron from the Hunchun camp to lead the armor, and transfer another to Tongken Mountain. Ten Kurkaqi hunters living nearby formed sentry cavalry, entered the east foot of Hunchun Ridge along the Hunchun Valley, bypassed the defense line of the Northern Navy, and approached the south bank of the Suifen River for reconnaissance.

In charge of leading the team are Xizhi Madai, leader of Daurzuo of the Xianghuang Banner, and Zarzhan, leader of Daurzuo of the Zhenghuang Banner. The lower-ranking officers of Sauron led by them are all elites who have experienced many battles in the northwest, and each of them is good at using 120 pounds. step bow.However, Xizhi Matai and Zarzhan both use 140-pound step bows. If they fight within 20 meters, they can nail their opponents to the ground with one arrow.

In order to resist the strong crossbows and muskets of the Beihai Reconnaissance Team, Guan Bao ordered all the leaders to wear two sets of cotton armor inlaid with iron leaves and copper nails. In addition to bows and arrows, they also carried two flintlock pistols. Muqin horses have 220 fat horses, and each person rides in pairs.

The order given by Guanbao to the two was to investigate the road from Tongken Mountain to Hunchunling East Road, and by the way, find out the assembly personnel and troop deployment of the North Navy on the south bank of the Suifen River, and report back immediately afterwards.If you encounter the North Navy, you should try to avoid exchange of fire.

Two days later, the Qing army reconnaissance team set off from the Hunchun Camp, and the group arrived at the Tongken Mountain Fortress in three days along the Hunchun River Valley.According to legend, this mountain city has existed since the Goguryeo era, and it continued to be used in the Ming Dynasty. It belonged to Tongken Mountain Guard under the jurisdiction of Nuer Gandusi.Since the rise of Hou Jin at the end of Ming Dynasty, Tongken Mountain Guard has gradually been abandoned.

Although this road is all inside the defense line of the Qing army, due to the frequent activities of the reconnaissance team of the Northern Navy recently, for safety, Xizhi Madai, the assistant leader of the Xianghuang Banner, sent five two-person teams to go out to scout after setting off. Each team is equipped with a Kurkazi hunter, and the five teams rotate alternately to send early warnings in time.The rest were divided into two teams, led by Xizhi Matai and Zarzhan respectively.

The fortress of Tongken Mountain was built after Qing Gui took office. After the Northern Navy defeated the Qing army in Fuldan City, Wang Yuanfang broke through Karen, Mongolia on the southern line, and passed through the southern foot of Tongken Mountain very easily. Quickly occupied the wharf on the Hunchun River.In view of this, after Qinggui ordered people to inspect the former site of Tongken Mountain City, he decided to expand the site and restore its original military functions, making it an important military fortress guarding the northern section of the Hunchun River Valley.

In fact, Qinggui built more than one military fortress in Hunchun.Including Shuiliufeng Mountain City and Shitouhezi Ancient City in the south of Hunchun City, Tingyan Mountain City in the northwest of Hunchun, Sachi City in the northeast, Gangouzi City, Yingchengzi City, and Tongken Mountain, there are a total of seven mountain cities, all of which are guarded. The throat section is dangerous.

For example, in the Tongken Mountain Fortress in front of us, only a low wall was built on the east and south sides because they were adjacent to the cliff, while the city walls on the west and north sides were built with stones, and there were piles of sacks behind them.

The Qing army built five barracks and two wells here; it was equipped with 500 musketeers and [-] archers, as well as many skyrocketing cannons and mountain-splitting cannons.

Over the past few years, the gunners of the Qing army have also fought against Beihai Town several times.Now that I have learned a lesson, more than half of the shells used have been replaced with explosive bombs fired after ignition.Once the Northern Navy attacks, the Qing army can rely on the danger and start bombarding condescendingly.

Xizhi Matai and Zarzhan rested in the Tongken Mountain Fortress for one night, and continued to head north at dawn the next day. Unexpectedly, they found traces of the Northern Navy just ten miles away from the mountain city.

"My lord, the footprints found thirty steps ahead are not ours."

Xizhi Madai heard the report from his subordinates, and immediately said to Zarzhan who came over: "Stay here and watch, I'll go over and have a look."

At this time, more than 30 Sauron soldiers had already stretched their bows to guard around the area where the footprints were found. Xizhi Madai came over and looked down for a while, and he already had a rough idea in his heart.These Saurons have been hunting in the mountains and forests since they were young, and they can tell whether they are male or female, old or young just by looking at their footprints.

The leader in charge of exploring the road next to him urged: "My lord, judging from the footprints, there are five of these guys, without horses, and they are heading west."

Xizhi Madai's face was solemn, and he snorted coldly: "These gangsters are really unscrupulous, they don't even hide their footprints lazily."

The reason why he made this judgment was because after the Northern Navy occupied Ningguta, Hunchun forbade the border residents of the four townships to cross the Rath River and the Hajimi River to hunt, so as to prevent contact with Beihai Town.

The leader reminded: "Looking at the distance and depth between the footprints, it should be very anxious."

Xizhi Matai nodded, so he went back to discuss with Zarzhan, and asked his men to expand the search area on the way forward.

It is said that although the reconnaissance team on the southern line of the Beihai Navy is powerful, the problem is that there are only a few dozen people in total.From the Tongken Mountain Fortress to the south bank of the Suifen River, it covers an area of ​​10,000+ square kilometers, densely covered with primeval forests and canyons.Even if Zhao Xin sent out the two regiments on the side of Fuldan City and let the drones on hand fly around 24 hours a day, it would be impossible to monitor every corner.

However, this Qing army came out of Hunchun with ten local guides. These Kulkaqi hunters were very familiar with the area around Hunchun Ridge. While surveying the road terrain, they arrived at the western foot of Hunchun Ridge in four days.

At the foot of the mountain, a Kulkaqi guide pointed to the mountain peak not far away, and said to Xizhi Madai and Zaergu: "My lords, as long as you climb over this mountain, enter the ravine and walk for two days, the south bank of the Suifen River will be on the way." It can be seen that it is not far from ten."

Xizhi Madai is a serious guy, he nodded with a sullen face, and said to his subordinates: "Brothers, take a breath first, climb over the mountain and set up camp to rest."

All the armored soldiers drove for half a day. At this time, people were tired and horses were exhausted. After listening to the words of Master Zuo Ling, they unloaded the horses, fed and watered the horses, and took some time to eat something by themselves.

At this time, a leader in charge of security was wearing armor and holding a bow and arrow, looking around. When he turned around, he suddenly felt a thorn in his back.

This feeling is not born with it, but gradually formed after battles and life-and-death struggles.

Seeing his posture, the others immediately stopped what they were doing, and took off their bows and arrows from their horses to be on guard. As long as Lord Zuo Ling made a gesture, dozens of plum needle arrows would immediately shoot in that direction.

"Horratu, what's the matter?"

"Someone is watching us."

As soon as this remark came out, Zuolin Zargu immediately made gestures. When a dozen Sauron soldiers saw it, they did not make a sound. The direction is surrounded.

(End of this chapter)