Dominate the Country

Gansu in June is hotter than inland areas. The sun is so hot that people get hot. There is not a single cloud in the blue sky. The sun is scorching the earth. The water in the river is hot and the soil in the ground is smoking.

The Qing army that fled from Liangzhou, Ganzhou, and Suzhou to Yumen Pass was almost at the end of its rope. They lost all their artillery and ammunition reserves. The only ammunition they had was the ones they had on their bodies. And a musket without gunpowder bullets is not even as good as a fire stick. The atmosphere of failure completely enveloped the Qing army in the northwest. Yongrong found that what he had expected before was impossible to achieve. He thought people's hearts were too simple.

No one would want to go to Xinjiang to eat sand. After the Battle of Lanzhou, the precarious Qing army did unite closely around Yongrong for a while. However, as the Fu Han army stopped in Lanzhou, Yongrong found that the number of his Eight Banners people had decreased by more than 30% in one winter.

Gansu's remote and complex geography, as well as the widespread existence of big-footed wives among the people, gave ordinary bannermen a living space to escape.

At the end of the road, the Eight Banners people proved with their actions that Xinjiang was far from being the Northeast [hometown], and it gave them more confidence and self-confidence.

When the ice and snow melted and the breath of spring swept across the northwest, the Fu Han army resumed its attack on the Qing army in the northwest. The Qing army retreated all the way, and a considerable number of bannermen fled or were captured by the Fu Han army during the retreat. Even his own concubines and princesses died on the road. When Yongrong retreated all the way from Liangzhou Prefecture to Yumen Pass, the number of his Eight Banners people was still four or five thousand less than that of the Eight Banners soldiers.

Many bannermen in the current situation do not care about their own lives, but they hope that their families can survive, especially their children. Many of the Eight Bannermen fled on their own initiative, rather than passively.

Since last winter, there has been little rain and snow in western Gansu. The poor harvest of spring wheat here is a foregone conclusion, and it depends on whether it will be completely harvested. In addition to the plunder of the Qing army and the impact of the war, there should not be too many refugees. If it were not for the accent, the remaining bannermen of the Eight Banners might have run away.

Potemkin's brilliant golden hair is still bright, shining with golden luster in the sun. He is still wearing the Russian lieutenant general's uniform, which is bright and neat, and a black triangular boat hat on his head. The warhorse he sat on was also washed with a luster, which was extremely beautiful. But at this time, Potemkin no longer had the original sharpness and absolute confidence!

After fighting with the Chinese Fu Han Army for so long, Potemkin had to admit that he had seriously underestimated the fighting power of the Chinese.

Not to mention the Fu Han Army that beat the Qing army and made them flee, even the Eight Banners New Army of the Qing Dynasty had a combat effectiveness far beyond his imagination. But since he led his troops to officially intervene in this war, he has never heard of victory.

The relatively superior cavalry units of the Qing-Russia coalition could not bring them much help. Whether it was the main force of the Fu Han Army or their logistics and transportation units, the powerful artillery power turned them into iron hedgehogs, which always discouraged the coalition cavalry with numerical advantage.

When their superior cavalry force could only be used for battles and frontal combat, in this era, the greatest force of cavalry had been seriously weakened.

And Potemkin did not expect that he could see neat European cavalry like rows of copper walls in the distant East.

Although the number of Chinese cavalry was at a disadvantage, they used traditional cavalry and wall cavalry alternately, short-range assaults, and combined with the army units with unmatched firepower. The power they could produce in frontal combat was far greater than their number.

The Russian army, which followed the Qing army all the way to the outside of Yumen Pass, was also in low morale. Therefore, whether it is the Qing army or the Russian army, they all need a victory now.

Just when the people of Nanjing were paying attention to the water towers at the end of their own fields, and when people all over China were discussing patents and one million, on a hot night, in Ying'e Gorge northwest of Yumen County. Now this is still a relatively rich place with abundant water and grass. Go north from Yumen County to Mulongquan, pass Ying'e Gorge to Mazong Mountain, and there are abundant water and grass along the way. It is not the desolate Gobi Desert in the 21st century. It is also different from Huaniu Mountain in the northwest of Yumen County. The latter goes north from Yumen County, and the land begins to lose green not long away.

When you arrive at Huaniu Mountain, you can often see a big tree standing on a bare land from a distance. There is only such a towering tree in a radius of ten miles, or even farther.

The Russian cavalry under Potemkin were hiding in Yinge Gorge. Now behind Potemkin stood a group of cavalrymen in untidy clothes. They were Potemkin's personal guards. When they first entered China, these people wore green uniforms, tall hats, sabers, muskets and at least two hand cannons on their waists. They were armed to the teeth and there were exactly three hundred of them.

But what about now? The total number of this group of people is probably only one hundred and sixty or seventy.

Although he didn't want to admit it, Potemkin had a premonition of his failure. The Chinese people's steps to unify their own country were not something he could stop, Gansu now, Xinjiang in the future. Potemkin knew that China had also made moves in Lake Baikal and the Amur River, especially in the former, where they dispatched more than five thousand cavalry troops, all of whom were equipped with breastplates.

The core of Russia in Siberia, Lake Baikal, has always been under the guns of the Chinese. This is definitely a great sorrow for Russia.

Potemkin’s biggest hope now is to win a battle before the troops withdraw from the war and save his last face. He came to China to gild himself, so he must not be stripped naked.

Leading 10,000 cavalry into the East was originally what Her Majesty the Queen wanted him to gain credit for, but he ended up like this. Potemkin didn’t know what the situation was like at Lake Baikal, whether the reinforcements from Western Siberia had arrived, and how many had arrived. What he was most concerned about now was the current war. The cavalry troops that the Chinese were pursuing arrived at Yumen yesterday, while their infantry troops were still in Jiayuguan, more than 200 miles away. The Chinese were too arrogant and too arrogant. To use their own old saying: "Arrogant soldiers will be defeated!"

A great opportunity is right in front of us!

"General, the Tatars have sent news that the Chinese vanguard has entered Sandaogou."

A Cossack with a layer of loess on his body ran to Potemkin and conveyed the latest battle situation to Potemkin.

A smile appeared on Potemkin's face, "The Chinese have entered Sandaogou, so let's seal the entrance to Sandaogou." This is Potemkin's best chance to wash away his shame.

From Yumen County, go through Sandaogou to Anxi Prefecture, and then enter Hami in Xinjiang from Anxi Prefecture. Although there are Gobi Deserts in the middle, the road is already well-traveled. Qianlong sent troops to conquer Mongolia and Hui in Xinjiang several times, and the army took this road, which is the so-called Lanxin Avenue.

From Mazong Mountain, go through Niulanzi to Yemajing, and then follow the Minshui River to Xingxingxia, you can also reach Hami. And there are water and grass along the way, and you don't have to go through the desert area between Anxi and Hami.

However, there are pros and cons, and the journey is too long.

Yongrong certainly did not choose to go to Mazong Mountain, he took the Lanxin Avenue, and the Qing Dynasty's base in Xinjiang had already gathered in Hami, ready to welcome.

Since the Qing Dynasty was driven out of Beijing, the Qing Dynasty's rule in Xinjiang has also come to an end. Not to mention the Mongols here, even the H people are sharpening their knives against the Qing Dynasty. Even if it was the Hami King's family who was loyal to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning, the old king Yusup had only been dead for a few years? He was the hero of the portrait in the Purple Light Pavilion. The new Hami King Sake was going to break off with the Qing Dynasty. Although he did not turn his face against the Qing Dynasty, he ordered his troops to defend Hami City. Refuse the Qing soldiers to step into the city again!

Hami Oasis is the eastern gate of Northern Xinjiang. If you want to enter Northern Xinjiang, you must go through Hami. From Hami to the west to Barkol, the Qing Dynasty set up a general town in Barkol, and then to the west is the ancient city, and then Urumqi. After Wusu, this is the nine cities of Yili!

In Xinjiang now, both sides maintain a relative balance. The indigenous people of Meng and Hui cannot unite as one. Although their overall strength is above that of the Qing army, no one wants to bleed themselves and let others reap the benefits. So far, the Qing Dynasty's rule in Xinjiang has collapsed, but wars, especially major wars, have not broken out. Several important towns are still firmly in their hands. For example, Barkol, Urumqi, and the Nine Cities of Ili in northern Xinjiang, and Yarkand and Kashgar in southern Xinjiang.

The population of Xinjiang in later generations is more than 20 million. After deducting the population of the Nine Cities of Ili, can Xinjiang have a million people in the whole region? The King of Hami seems to be a prince, commanding the Hami area, but the total number of troops in his hands is less than 1,000. Now he is about to break up with the Qing Dynasty, and the total number of troops has only increased to about 2,000. The male population in Hami City and its surrounding areas has been drained. According to the survey of the population of Xinjiang by the dark camp, it is very likely that the population of Xinjiang does not reach one million. From this, we can also see why the Junggars were able to firmly control Xinjiang for more than a hundred years.

So here, the Han people have a lot to do. Buddhism and Taoism will also flow in with the tide of immigration, as well as the National Education Administration!

…

Sandaogou is a fairly wide area. If the Cossack cavalry is unwilling to charge, they can completely bypass the interception of the Fu Han Army cavalry. But in this way, they have to guard against the oblique attack of the Fu Han Army cavalry.

The sound of hooves was faint, and soon it was like thunder rolling underground. From far to near, the Cossack cavalry appeared. They were not timid and rushed up without hesitation.

This powerful cavalry that has been traversing the Eurasian continent for hundreds of years did not take a detour. They rushed straight towards the Fu Han Army. The Cossacks are fierce and proud. They stick to their own honor and turn a blind eye to the fact that some of the Fu Han Army cavalry soldiers who stayed behind dismounted and lined up. They themselves are unwilling to dismount and fight.

It's like the tide of the sea. At first glance, it's just a line, but in a blink of an eye, it's raging.

Hundreds of Cossacks came in disarray, waving sabers in their hands. A voice shouted, "Brave Cossacks, for Her Majesty the Queen, for the glory of Russia, charge——"

"Charge——" At least one battalion of Cossack cavalry was galloping! The Cossack centurions bravely rushed to the front.

Black cloaks, galloping horses, and sharp cavalry swords, these are the Cossacks.

"Ura——"

The shouting slogans rang out among the Cossacks.

The Fu Han cavalry on the opposite side was not moved at all. A sergeant stood in front of the unmounted cavalry team and shouted loudly: "Shoot in the front row on your knees!"

The soldiers in the first row knelt on one knee. They held their guns, put their shoulders on the guns, and put their fingers on the triggers. The front row was in a kneeling shooting position, and the back row was in a standing shooting position.

"Aim."

"Ready!"

"Fire--"

When the Cossacks were close to 100 meters, the sound of gunfire rang out like a rainstorm, and dense bullets swept out.

The charging Cossack cavalry seemed to hit an invisible high wall, and the horses and people fell down for a while.

However, the Cossacks were not afraid, and they became more ferocious like a wounded beast. The Cossack cavalry shouted "Ura", and the speed of the horses galloped faster, and the sabers were swung faster.

At a distance of 100 steps, the two horizontal columns that had finished loading fired another volley. Although some of them were hit by the Cossack cavalry with muskets. The latter had already rushed to the front!

So their second shooting also caused more Cossack cavalry to fall down.

"Kill!" The cavalry team in the back row of the Fu Han army attacked, and when the Cossack cavalry was about to rush to the dismounted infantry. The cavalry of both sides collided violently, and screams immediately rang out on the battlefield. Then the dismounted infantry neatly put away their muskets, quickly returned to the place where the war horses stayed behind, and turned over to ride their own war horses. "Brothers, follow me..." The sergeant waved his saber and shouted loudly, and one soldier after another waved his saber and rushed to the battlefield fearlessly.

The swords crossed, and blood splattered. The sound of pistols rang from time to time in the fierce fighting...

Dong Wei soon received the news from behind-a large number of Russian cavalry suddenly attacked the team left at the entrance of Sandaogou. Soon the news of the retreating troops was also delivered. The Russian cavalry that rushed to kill was not only Cossacks, but also more Tatar cavalry and Russians. The cavalry battalion left behind could only retreat.

The troops that the Fu Han army chased into Sandaogou were of course cavalry troops.

As a force that relies heavily on firepower, the Fu Han Army is naturally heavily dependent on logistics. In the current situation where Gansu is carrying out disaster relief, the farther the Fu Han Army is from Lanzhou, the slower its mobility and speed will be. The only force that can keep pressure on the Qing army is the cavalry!

Dong Wei immediately realized that he was trapped. But he was not worried. There was no soldier in Yumen County. All the people in the pursuit force were concentrated in Sandagou. As long as they took good protection and dismounted to fight, the current offensive capabilities of the Qing army and the Russian cavalry were completely non-threatening. He was not afraid at all.

Yes, the main force of the Qing army in front blocked the exit of Sandagou. Although the Qing army had no artillery, it was still difficult to break through with the strength of the cavalry unit of the reinforced regiment in his hands. But the mission of their team was not to defeat the Qing army and the Russian army. Their mission was just to stick to the Qing army and prevent them from slipping too fast.

The current posture is that the Qing army and the Russian army want to pit them. That's simple, just consume it!

This place belongs to the alluvial plain area in the middle reaches of the Shule River. The terrain is relatively flat and is divided into Gobi belt, low mountains and hills, and alluvial plains. Many tributaries of the Shule River run through the territory, so there are three ditches.

Blocked by the Russians behind, it is really difficult to turn around and leave in this terrain. There is no thick ice on the river surface, and there is no bridge. But it is also a hindrance for the other party to attack.

"Order the troops to move to the riverside and defend with all their strength!"

Dong Wei now has only more than 2,000 troops under his command, which is a reinforced regiment. If he fights to the death with the Qing army and the Russian army, it is purely seeking death. But these people said that relying on the rifles in their hands to attack, and then there is a small-scale counterattack by the cavalry, it is not easy to eat more than 2,000 people.

And with Dong Wei's order, a shovel of engineer was held in the hands of the soldiers. The cavalry also has an engineer shovel. The engineer shovel that can be assembled quickly is often used as a tool for cavalry soldiers to eat teppanyaki.

Along the river, defensive positions or trenches were being built quickly. Outside these people, small hollow formations, artillery and line soldiers, and cavalry ready for battle, were like a huge rock standing on the seashore, enduring the impact of the waves day and night.

"Your Highness, we must teach them a painful lesson. Otherwise, the Chinese will chase us and kill into Xinjiang..." Even if this "lesson" would cause them to suffer heavy casualties, Potemkin would not hesitate.

Yongrong's eyes flashed coldly.

On the battlefield, the Russians had already begun to attack.