Wild North America 1846

Chapter 549 The Tragic Battle of Sedan

In 1870, that is, the ninth year of Tongzhi, the envoy of Fusang Kingdom Liuyuan Maemitsu arrived in Tianjin, requesting to enter into a business agreement with the Qing government, and accompanied by a letter from Fusang Foreign Minister to the Prime Minister’s Yamen of the Qing Dynasty:

The general idea is that Fusang Kingdom has traded with Tang, Britain, France, the United States and other countries, and Huaxia is a close neighbor of Fusang, and has been on good terms for thousands of years, so it requests to sign a trade treaty with the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

The Zongli Yamen replied:

It is enough to do business as before, and there is no need to sign a trade treaty, and the Fusang country is directly rejected.

This kind of ending is actually not difficult to predict. According to the tradition of the Qing Dynasty’s yamen, one more thing is worse than one thing less. If you think of me as a country in the sky, with a wealth of treasures, who is patient to do business with your mere Japanese country?

At this time when Li Hongzhang was the governor of Zhili, Liu Yuan, the envoy of Fusang, came to visit him, and spoke with a very respectful attitude;
"Fusang was forced to trade with Great Tang, Great Britain, France, the United States of America, and the Confederate States of America. Fusang was bullied, felt wronged and helpless. Considering that the Fusang Islands are the closest to the mainland and the two sides have a thousand-year tradition of friendship, Fusang hopes that To be able to do business with the mainland and work together to resist foreign aggression..." Yun Yun.

This conversation touched Li Hongzhang's idea of ​​"uniting barbarians to control barbarians". In addition, he received generous gifts from Fusang,

Therefore, Li Hongzhang told Zongli Yamen that he could sign a trade contract with Fusang.

The reason is that "Fusang admires Chinese culture and is proficient in Chinese characters. We should unite with Fusang to resist Western powers, and we should not make Fusang fall to the great powers and become their accomplices.

But Li Hongzhang emphasized; "Trade with Fuso is different from Western powers. In particular, the treaty should be negotiated and decided separately. You cannot sign unequal trade treaties like Britain, France and Russia...

When the news reached the center of the Tang Empire, His Majesty the Emperor only approved one sentence: "The Japanese are far from peaceful masters, and we can make a decision after watching their words and deeds."

Seeing that the Fuso people had just resolved their internal troubles, the shogunate abandoned traditional rule and adopted a new concept of democratically elected government, and introduced a series of innovative measures, which eased domestic conflicts to a considerable extent.

No... It hasn't been a year since it stopped, and it started to fiddle with foreign policy again.

The Fusang reformers aimed their future colonization at the Korean peninsula. With frequent small moves, they began to continuously send spies to the Korean peninsula, develop pro-Japanese people, and prepare for the next step of colonizing the Korean peninsula.

There is really no one here, and there is no time for a few days to stop.

In consideration of curbing Tsarist Russia's increasingly obvious tendency to invade the east, Emperor Richard also acquiesced in the impatient expansion of the Fusang people, keeping a wait-and-see attitude for the time being.

In his opinion
I don’t even have the slightest favor for Han Bangzi. Fusang’s colonization of the Korean peninsula is like a dog eats a dog. This is the original historical track, so let him go!

The Qing government's garrison on the Korean peninsula was nothing more than a show. The real old Russians would kill them as soon as they came, and people like Yuan Shikai would not be able to keep the door of North Korea.

The situation in East Asia is becoming clearer and clearer. If the Fusang people do not occupy the Korean Peninsula, the old Russians will go south to occupy it. This is beyond doubt.

Whether it is the three northeastern provinces or the Korean peninsula, the Qing government inside and outside cannot bear the pressure.

Instead of taking the risk of meddling in the situation in East Asia, it may be the best choice to let the situation in East Asia develop according to its original historical appearance.

There are three disadvantages of the Tang Empire intervening in East Asia;

The first one is a strong attempt to counteract the invasion of Tsarist Russia to the south, and the second one is to cause extreme dissatisfaction in the Fusang Kingdom, because the Tang Empire has blocked the only direction in which the Fusang Kingdom can expand. .

The third is to comprehensively deteriorate the relationship with the Qing Dynasty, and the relationship with the world powers such as Britain and France, which will lead to the development of the world situation in an unpredictable direction.

The former is because the Tang Empire and the Manchu Empire share the same culture, the same species, and the same bloodline. What's more terrible is that the Chinese control the power of the empire. The threat to the Manchu Dynasty is obviously greater than that of foreign aggression.

The so-called "It is better to give to foreigners than to domestic slaves".

The Manchu Qing Dynasty would definitely regard the Tang Empire as the No. [-] enemy in Tianzi, and completely cut off relations from immigration, commerce and trade, which would inevitably have a major impact.

If there is not a large-scale war between the two countries, it may be difficult to solve this hidden danger.

The latter is because the Tang Empire touched the cake of world powers such as Britain and France because of its direct involvement in the situation in East Asia, which would inevitably attract strong strategic hostility, just like the Tsarist Russian Empire.

Therefore,
Responding to all changes with the same is the best countermeasure.

In the heart of Emperor Li Cha
Now the economic development of the Tang Empire is the top priority. On the basis of digesting the achievements of the previous expansion and colonization, the economic strength will be raised to a higher level, and it will be the top priority to build the imperial economy well.

early september

Just as the international situation was in turmoil, another explosive news came from Europe;

France was defeated, Napoleon III was captured and surrendered, and offered his sword to pray for peace.

Go back in time to September 1870, 9

The besieged French Marshal Bazin led the French army in the Fortress of Metz to break through and fought a bloody battle head-to-head with the Prussian army. The battle lasted for two full days. The Prussian army blocked back.

at the same time
The 21 main force of the Third Corps of the Prussian Army launched a large-scale attack in Sedan, launching a full-scale bombardment of the 12 French troops of the Chalon Corps entrenched here. More than 700 artillery bombarded the French camp, and the shells fell like dense raindrops. , the whole city of Sedang was in flames...

"Boom boom boom boom... boom boom boom..."

More than 20 artillery positions of the Prussian army roared in unison, throwing off their arms to deliver fierce artillery fire, and the empty shell casings piled up like a hill.

His Highness Tang-Li Kun was standing not far away, and seeing this vicious force that vowed to tear the Frenchman into pieces, he couldn't help but feel his scalp go numb.

What a great hatred this is, is it really against death?
Reminiscent of the grievances and grievances of the French popularization for hundreds of years, and the split and backward state of the German nation, the French are one of its main hostile forces, and they can only shake their heads and smile wryly.

The main reason why the officers and soldiers of the Prussian army became as excited as chicken blood was that the French emperor Napoleon III was in the city of Sedan, and the opportunity to establish immortal feats was at hand.

More than 20 Prussian troops surrounded the city of Sedan, and the faces of officers and soldiers from top to bottom showed a high-spirited fighting spirit that was bound to win.

King William I of Prussia, Prime Minister Bismarck, Chief of Staff General Moltke and other top Putin officials were all present at the scene, personally commanding this crucial decisive battle, ready to make a decisive battle in one fell swoop.

His Royal Highness Tang-Li Kun raised his hand and looked at the exquisite Swiss watch. It is now around 10:10 in the morning. The continuous bombardment of Sedan City has been going on for an hour and a half. The solid stone buildings in the city collapsed one after another. Chips flew across, and countless French officers and soldiers were buried in the violent artillery bombardment.

Putting down his hands, His Highness Tang-Li Kun asked General Mace, the head of the British delegation standing beside him; "General Mace, do you think the French still have a chance?"

"Unless there is a miracle, or Joan of Arc leads a surprise army to break through the heavy siege, otherwise..." General Metz spread his hands in regret, expressing his extreme disbelief about the prospect of the French emperor being able to escape.

His Highness Tang-Li Kun sighed softly, and said, "It's no wonder others, His Majesty Napoleon III has implicated the Xialong Army!"

"I very much agree with your opinion, Your Highness." General Mace responded.

The French Emperor Napoleon III, who had left the front line, received a telegram from the Regency Council in Paris, trying to persuade him not to return to Paris, which would lead to a collapse of public confidence and endanger the rule of the French Second Empire.

In desperation

Napoleon III turned directly to the city of Sedan, where he joined the 12 main force of the Charon Corps who were ordered to rescue the French army from the siege of the Metz Fortress.

this action
It directly brought catastrophe to the Xialong Corps. The main force of the Prussian army who heard the news gathered like sharks smelling blood, and soon cut off the access to the surrounding areas of Sedan, forming a large encirclement.

On the morning of September 9, the Prussian army occupied Fulizi, Donchery and other places, successfully cut off the way for the French army to retreat westward, and blocked the French army's retreat from behind.

The battle started at 4 o'clock in the morning. The Prussian heavy troops surrounded from all directions took the lead in capturing more than 10 French towns around Sedan. At that time, the Prussian army decisively launched an attack before dawn.

The battle first broke out in the town of Basalis, which was the key defense area of ​​the French army. A solid barricade, artillery positions and multiple machine gun positions were established in the town, and a large number of troops were stationed for defense.

The Prussian Sixth Army under the command of Prince George of Saxony was responsible for attacking the town of La-Monsalle, while the friendly neighbor General von der Dunn was responsible for attacking the town of Basalis on the right flank. The troops started at 3 o'clock in the morning Just start taking action.

At 4 o'clock in the morning, when the sky is dark and dark

When a brigade of soldiers under General Dunn passed the pontoon bridge built overnight and crossed the river near the town of Basalis, they encountered fierce resistance from the French army.

All of a sudden, there was loud gunfire, and the trailing gunfire was like an intertwined fire net. The branches and leaves of the trees and bushes were flying, and the screams were endless.

The soldiers on both sides couldn't feel the movement of the other side, nor could they see the figure of the other side. They just covered their heads and fired desperately. The battle was quite fierce.

The battle by the river attracted more troops to participate, and soon... Several brigade soldiers from the 13st, [-]th and No. [-] regiments of the French army came to reinforce, and the Prussian army also invested more troops, just in the early morning A fierce battle broke out in the woods by the river.

It's past seven o'clock, when the sky is bright

The fully loaded 8th Division of the Prussian army arrived, launched a fierce offensive with superior forces, and broke through the French defense line in the grove beside the town in one fell swoop, and the battle moved to the town of Basalis.

at this time

Fierce fighting broke out in more than 10 villages and towns around the city of Sedan. The fast-moving Prussian troops had broken through the outer defense line of the French army and strode towards the city of Sedan.

General von der Dunn came to the front line of the battle in person. After carefully observing the solid defenses of the French town, he ordered the follow-up artillery to approach and set up positions, determined to break the French will to resist with fierce artillery fire.

20 minutes later
The Prussian artillery began to bombard the town of Basalis violently, while the Prussian soldiers on the other side poured into the town like a tide, and started a fierce battle with the French army from house to house, and quickly established a victory and occupied the French town .

Before he had time to catch his breath, the 8th Division of the Prussian Army received an order to support the Bavarian army attacking the town of La Monsalle.

The French army entrenched in the town resisted tenaciously, constantly throwing in reinforcements and repeatedly fighting with the Bavarians. A building changed hands several times and still did not give up. The battle was unprecedentedly bloody and cruel.

After receiving the order, the 8th Division ran forward immediately, and soon arrived at the town of Na Montsaler, which was only about ten kilometers away, and then rushed and beat the French together with the Bavarian army...

When the more than ten towns around the city of Sedan had not been fully grasped, King William I of Prussia issued an order for a general offensive, and more than 700 artillery bombarded frantically regardless of the cost, blowing up the city of Sedan into a sea of ​​flames.

In just over two hours, more than 46 shells were fired.

Such an attack density made His Royal Highness Tang Li Kun feel astonished, and he has a new understanding of the cruelty of European wars, which is really inhumane!

46 rounds of shells are worth more than 600 million Tang Yuan, plus the discarded rifled barrels of these more than 700 artillery pieces, 700 million Tang Yuan will be lost in this way. It is really a waste of money!

However, considering that there is a French emperor in the city of Sedan, there are 12 elite officers and soldiers of the main force of France, the Charon Legion, and the strength and glory that the German nation dreams of, I feel that all the efforts are worthwhile.

11 am

After more than two hours of heavy bombardment, the shelling finally stopped, and the overwhelming Prussian army launched a full-scale attack on the city of Sedan from all directions.

Order of William I;
All the troops launched a full-scale attack, there was no key attack direction, no main attacking force, and all Prussian troops were the main attacking force until the French Emperor Napoleon III was captured alive or killed.

As soon as this murderous order was issued, the more than 20 Prussian troops all boiled, their morale was high as if they had been injected with chicken blood, and they charged towards the city of Sedan with their rifles in hand.

At this moment, the most tragic scene appeared.

The proud French cavalry, led by General Magritte, rushed out from the southwest of the city of Sedan like a hurricane, and launched a tragic and desperate charge against the Prussian army, vowing to tear a breakthrough for His Majesty the Emperor.

Tens of thousands of French cavalry charged with their sabers high, their horseshoes trembled on the ground, gathered into an unstoppable torrent, and then... there was no more.

The scene that happened at the Bali Bridge once again happened under the city of Sedan, and this time the sad protagonists were the French cavalry.

The hot summer wind mixed with blood and gunpowder smoke blew, and the thick smoke and dust gradually drifted away. What was unfolded in front of everyone was a horrific killing field. The corpses of horses and cavalry were mixed together and spread across several kilometers.

The battle flag is broken, people die and horses die...

The charge of modern cavalry facing dense arrays of infantry is tantamount to suicide, and history has once again verified this point.

(End of this chapter)