The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 466: Somewhat Reluctant Encirclement and Annihilation Battle
The next day, the sky was just beginning to turn white behind the vast mountains in the east, and the thin morning mist had not yet dissipated.

In a shelter hastily built last night on the high ground north of Shipo Village, Teng Yuzhao could not wait to raise the telescope in his hand and look down at the morning mist, as if he was born with a pair of eyes that could penetrate the mist.

Wu Peifu and Liu Changfa, who were standing behind Teng Yuzao, stretched their necks to look down at the area where the mountain road should be. All they could see was a vast expanse of white. They looked at each other with wry smiles.

This so-called shelter was very simple. Although the Russian army did not station troops on this mountain due to the steep mountain terrain and the distance from the mountain road.

However, it was not until the second half of the night that Zuo Mingyang, under the escort of the Special Guard Squadron, brought the staff of the General Staff to the top of the mountain. They could only build it hastily. What was actually a thatched hut without walls and a roof built in the depression on the top of the mountain.

Because there was a company of Russian troops stationed on the mountain not far ahead, close to the edge of the mountain road, they did not dare to start a big fight when they were quietly building this shelter last night.

However, this shelter is too simple. Although there is enough height for people to stand inside, people have to bend over no matter which direction they go out.

The only advantage is that this recessed area is very large, and it is more than enough to accommodate a war room.

The tables and chairs in the shelter were naturally also made of makeshift materials, and were built using empty ammunition boxes.

In addition to two artillery sights and six magnetic telephones, there were more than a dozen staff officers, including the artillery town staff.

Although there are only two observation telescopes here, there are six more on the top of the mountain outside. Most of the only seven artillery observation telescopes in the artillery town are concentrated on this hill by Liu Changfa.

Now this shelter is not only used by Teng Yuzhao, but also the headquarters of his artillery town and Wu Peifu's Fifth Town are both here.

Although Teng Yuzhao's battle plan was executed very smoothly last night, Li Jinyu's Eighth Regiment continued to harass the extremely exhausted Russian troops who had been marching so fast, just as they had done in recent days. Gunshots and grenade explosions could be heard all night long along the dozens of miles of mountain roads and even on nearby hilltops, making it difficult for more than 100,000 Russian troops to sleep all night.

Under the cover of gunfire and grenade explosions, the personnel, mortars and mountain artillery of Liu Shijiu's Fourth Regiment, Wu Peifu's Fifth Regiment, and even the artillery town had moved to the designated area. The mountain artillery of seven battalions had even entered the positions and had been on standby since night.

But because the situation changed, Teng Yuzao had to make some temporary adjustments to the battle plan.

According to Teng Yuzao's estimation, the Russian troops camping in this area tonight should be only about six to eight regiments in size. But in fact, due to continuous harassment, the extremely tired Russian troops marched a little slowly today. When they camped, there were actually more than twice the number estimated by Teng Yuzao that had not yet walked out of this section of the mountain road.

As a result, there are now more than 60,000 Russian troops in the Yushe encirclement area.

There is another reason why so many Russian troops are concentrated here. Although the mountain road in this area is still not wide, the valley in this section is very wide. The narrowest place is 200 to 300 meters, the widest place is 700 to 800 meters, and some sections are even more than a thousand meters.

Not only is the valley wide here, but the north side of the road is lined with steep peaks, making it difficult for most people to find a flat place on the top of the mountain. Even if they wanted to ambush on the mountainside, they would not be able to hide if there were too many people.

The steep mountains also did not allow the ambush troops to rush down the mountain. Only near Longhu Village, two miles east of Gunao Village, was there a ravine that could lead into the depths of the mountains.

The southern peaks are not only relatively low, but also far from the mountain roads, making them very suitable for large groups to camp.

In addition, there is another reason. Less than two miles west of Shibo Village, the valley suddenly narrows. If the Russian army camps there, even a rock rolling down from the peaks on both sides will kill or injure people. The last reason is that if the Russian army marches faster tomorrow, it can reach Shexian in one day.

Although there were various unfavorable factors, and it was even a bit too difficult to forcibly encircle and annihilate more than 60,000 well-trained and ferocious Russian troops with a force of just over 90,000 including the artillery town, after much thought, Teng Yuzhao was determined to destroy these 60,000 Russian troops here.

Teng Yuzao would never agree to put more than 60,000 Russian troops into such an almost natural pocket and miss this great opportunity.

Since there have been major changes in the enemy situation, the battle plan must naturally change accordingly. It is an eternal truth that when the enemy changes, we must change.

In view of the fact that the terrain in the north was not suitable for ambushes and attacks by large forces, Teng Yuzhao divided Wu Peifu's Fifth Regiment, which was originally ambushed in the north, into two. Two of the regiments were directly handed over to the command of Liu Shijiu who was ambushing in the south. Wu Peifu was only responsible for commanding the remaining regiment and the troops directly under the Fifth Regiment who remained in the south.

The troops directly under the Fifth Concorde Regiment that remained in the south, except for a small number of troops carrying mortars and heavy machine guns to occupy the mountains on the north side, attacked the Russian troops in the encirclement from a high position.

The remaining troops of the Fifth Regiment that remained in the north were all concentrated near the lower valleys near Longhu Village, preparing to attack the chaotic Russian army from behind when Liu Shijiu's Fourth Regiment launched an assault from the south.

Major changes were also made in the use of artillery.

There are no longer any restrictions on the shelling. The criterion for stopping the shelling is to completely disrupt the Russian troops in the encirclement. Wherever there are Russian troops gathering, the artillery fire will be directed there.

The deployment of the seven mountain artillery battalions also changed.

Three mountain artillery battalions were responsible for shelling Lishupo, west of the encirclement. As long as that place was blocked, it would seriously affect the Russian troops outside the encirclement from coming to the rescue.

In addition, despite the fatigue of a night, Li Jinyu's Eighth Regiment will quickly seize the mountains on both sides of the narrow road hundreds of meters west of Lishupo and establish blocking positions after the battle starts.

The Eighth Regiment had fewer three-man mortars, but there were more than fifty of them. With the crossfire of more than a dozen heavy machine guns and the intensive artillery support of the mortars, they were able to cope with the Russian rescue troops.

There is another very important reason. The mountains on both sides of the Russian camp west of Lishupo are also very steep. The Russian artillery must fire at a high angle to hit Li Jinyu's blocking position.

Moreover, the enemy must have an observation and aiming officer to go to the top of the mountain to observe the situation at Li Jinyu's blocking position. Li Jinyu has made corresponding preparations for these situations. It is quite difficult for the Russian observation and aiming officer to go to the top of the mountain.

Finally, the morning sun peeked out from behind the mountains in the east. As rays of dazzling light broke through the morning mist and illuminated the nearby mountains, the morning mist at the foot of the mountain seemed to be much thinner.

While Teng Yuzhao, Liu Changfa and Wu Peifu were anxiously waiting, it took a long time before the situation in the valley could be seen from the top of the mountain.

Wu Peifu, who had already put his eyes on the artillery sight in the shelter, was the first to shout in surprise.

"Marshal, the Russians on the mountain have come down!"

Upon hearing this, Teng Yuzao also hurriedly bent down in front of another artillery sight, put his eyes to the lens, and observed in the direction Wu Peifu pointed.
(End of this chapter)