Wild North America 1846

Chapter 549 The tragic battle of Sedan

Author: Portuguese toothless

Chapter 549 The tragic battle of Sedan

In 1870, the ninth year of Tongzhi, the Fuso State envoy Yanagihara Maemitsu arrived in Tianjin and requested to enter into a trade agreement with the Qing government. He also carried a letter from the Fuso Foreign Minister to the Qing Prime Minister’s Yamen:

The general idea is that Fusang State has traded with Tang, Britain, France, the United States and other countries, and China is a close neighbor of Fusang and has had good relations for thousands of years, so it requested to enter into a trade treaty with the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

The Prime Minister’s Office replied:

Just trade as usual, there is no need to conclude a trade treaty, and we directly rejected the Fuso Kingdom.

In fact, it is not difficult to predict this outcome. According to the tradition of the Qing government, it is better to do less than to do more. If we think about our vast empire and abundant resources, who will have the patience to do business with you, a mere Japanese country?

It happened that Li Hongzhang was appointed governor of Zhili at this time, and Fusang envoy Liu Yuan came to visit him and spoke with great respect;

"Fuso was forced to trade with the great powers of the Tang Dynasty, Britain, France, the United States and the United States. Fuso was bullied and felt aggrieved but had no choice but to do so. Considering that the Fuso Islands are the closest to the mainland and the two sides have a thousand-year tradition of friendship, Fuso hopes that

Able to trade with the mainland and work together to resist foreign aggression..." and so on.

This conversation moved Li Hongzhang's idea of ​​"uniting the barbarians to control the barbarians". In addition, he accepted the generous gift of Fusang.

Therefore, Li Hongzhang expressed to the Prime Minister's Office that he could sign a trade contract with Fuso.

The reason is that "Fusang admires Chinese culture and is proficient in Chinese writing. We should unite with Fusang to resist the Western powers and not make Fusang turn against the powers and become their accomplices."

But Li Hongzhang emphasized; "Trading with Fuso is different from Western powers. In particular, treaties should be negotiated and decided individually. Unequal trade treaties cannot be signed 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 being peaceful masters. We should watch their words and deeds before making a decision."

Seeing that the Fuso people had just solved their internal problems, the shogunate gave up traditional rule and adopted a new concept of democratically elected government, and launched a series of innovative measures, which alleviated domestic conflicts to a considerable extent.

No... not even a year after it stopped, it started tinkering with foreign policy again.

The Fuso reformists aimed their future colonization at the Korean Peninsula, and made 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 left here, so there is no time to calm down for a few days.

In order to curb Tsarist Russia's increasingly obvious tendency to invade eastward, Emperor Richard also acquiesced to the Fusang people's impatient expansion moves and maintained a wait-and-see attitude for the time being.

In his opinion

I don’t even have the slightest fondness for Han Bangzi. Fuso’s colonization of the Korean Peninsula is like dog eating dog. This is the original historical trajectory, so just let him go!

The Qing government's garrison on the Korean peninsula was just a facade, and the real Russian old men could kill it with just one stab. People like Yuan Shikai could not hope to defend the Korean peninsula, and they were not as good as the Fusang people.

The situation in East Asia is becoming more and more clear. If the Fuso people do not occupy the Korean Peninsula, Tsarist Russia will take advantage of the situation and go south to occupy it. This is undoubtedly a matter of course.

Whether it was the three eastern provinces or the Korean Peninsula, the Qing government inside and outside could not withstand the pressure.

Rather than risk intervening 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.

The Tang Empire’s intervention in the situation in East Asia had three disadvantages;

The first was a strong attempt to counter the Tsarist Russia's invasion from the south, and the second was to cause extreme dissatisfaction in the Fusang Kingdom, because the Tang Empire had blocked the only direction in which the Fusang Kingdom could expand, which would inevitably lead to resentment and worsening of relations.

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The third one is the comprehensive deterioration of relations with the Qing Dynasty and the comprehensive deterioration of relations with 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, race, and blood. What's more terrible is that the Chinese control the imperial power. This poses a huge threat to the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, and is far greater than foreign aggression.

As the saying goes, "I would rather give it to a foreigner than a domestic slave."

The Manchu Qing Dynasty will inevitably regard the Tang Empire as the number one enemy in heaven, and completely severing relations from immigration to commerce will inevitably have a major impact.

Without a large-scale war between the two countries, it may be difficult to solve this hidden danger.

The latter was due to its direct involvement in the situation in East Asia. The Tang Empire touched the cakes of world powers such as Britain and France, which would inevitably arouse strong strategic hostility, just like the Tsarist Russian Empire.

so,

The best strategy is to remain unchanged in the face of ever-changing situations.

In the heart of Emperor Richard

Nowadays, the economic development of the Tang Empire is the top priority. On the basis of digesting the results of the early colonial expansion, raising the economic strength to a higher level and making every effort to build the imperial economy is the highest priority policy.

early September

Just as the international situation was turbulent, another exciting news came from Europe;

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

Back in time, September 1, 1870

The besieged French Marshal Bazin led the French army in the Metz Fortress to break out and fought a bloody battle head-on with the Prussian army. The battle lasted for two full days. Tens of thousands of French troops fell on the way to the breakout, and were still beaten by the tough troops.

The Prussian troops blocked back.

at the same time

The 210,000 main force of the Prussian Army's Third Corps launched a massive attack in Sedan, launching a full-scale artillery bombardment against the 120,000 French troops of the Chalon Corps entrenched here. More than 700 artillery pieces bombarded the French camp, and the shells fell like dense raindrops.

, the whole city of Sedan was a sea of ​​fire...

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

More than 20 artillery positions of the Prussian army roared together, throwing away their arms and delivering fierce artillery fire. The empty shell casings piled up like a hill.

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

How much hatred is there, are you really going to die?

Thinking of the hundreds of years of grievances and grievances between France and France, and the current divided and backward state of the German nation, with the French being one of its main hostile forces, I can only shake my head and smile bitterly.

The main reason why the Prussian soldiers were so excited was that the French Emperor Napoleon III was in the city of Sedan, and the opportunity to establish immortal achievements was right in front of him.

More than 200,000 Prussian troops surrounded the city of Sedan in a weather-proof environment, and the faces of the 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 to personally direct this crucial decisive battle and prepare to decide the outcome in one fell swoop.

His Highness Tang Li Kun raised his hand and looked at the exquisite Swiss watch. It was now around 10:10 in the morning. The continuous bombardment of Sedan City had been going on for an hour and a half. The solid stone buildings in the city collapsed one after another.

Debris flew everywhere, and countless French officers and soldiers were killed in the fierce artillery bombardment.

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

"Unless a miracle occurs, or Joan of Arc leads a surprise force to break through the siege, otherwise..." General Metz spread his hands with a regretful expression, expressing that he was extremely unoptimistic about the prospect of the French Emperor being able to escape.

His Highness Tang Li Kun sighed softly and said, "It's no wonder that others are not to blame. His Majesty Napoleon III has caused trouble for the Xia Long Army!"

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

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

In desperation

Napoleon III turned directly to the city of Sedan, where he met the 120,000-strong main force of the Chalon Corps, which was ordered to rescue the French army besieging the Metz Fortress.

this action

This directly brought disaster to the Charon Corps. After hearing the news, the main forces of the Prussian army gathered together like sharks smelling the smell of blood, and soon cut off the access roads around Sedan, forming a large encirclement.

On the morning of September 1, the Prussian army occupied Fulizi, Dongsheli and other places, successfully cutting off the French army's westward retreat, and blocking the French army's retreat from behind.

The battle started at 4 o'clock in the morning. The Prussian heavy army group, which was surrounded from all sides, took the lead in attacking more than 10 French towns around Sedan. It was still dark at that time, and the Prussian army decisively launched the attack.

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

The Sixth Army of the Prussian Army under the command of Prince George of Saxony was responsible for attacking the town of Na-Monsale, while the friendly neighbor General von der Dunn was responsible for attacking the town of Basalis on the right. The troops started at 3 a.m.

Just take action.

At 4 o'clock in the morning, when the sky is pitch black

When the soldiers of General Dunn's brigade crossed the river near the town of Basalis through the pontoon bridge built overnight, they encountered fierce resistance from the French army.

For a moment, there was a loud sound of gunfire, and the trailing gunfire was like an intertwined fire net, hitting trees and bushes with branches and leaves flying, and screams could be heard endlessly.

The soldiers on both sides could not see the movements of the other side, nor could they see the other side's figure. They just covered their heads and opened fire as hard as they could. The battle was quite fierce.

The battle by the river attracted more troops to participate, and soon... several brigades of soldiers from the French 1st, 5th and 13th legions came for reinforcements, and the Prussian army also invested more troops. 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 getting brighter

The fully equipped 8th Division of the Prussian army arrived, and with superior strength, they launched a fierce offensive and broke through the French defense line in the woods near the town. The battle moved to the town of Basalis.

at this time

Fierce fighting has broken out in more than 10 villages and towns around the city of Sedan. The fast-moving Prussian troops have broken through the French army's outer defense line and are striding towards the city of Sedan.

General Von Da Dunn personally visited the first line of the battle. After carefully observing the strong defenses of the French town, he ordered the follow-up artillery to move closer and set up positions, determined to use violent artillery fire to disintegrate the French's will to resist.

More than 20 minutes later

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

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Before they had time to take a breath, the Prussian 8th Division received an order to support the Bavarian army attacking the town of Na-Monsale.

The French army entrenched in the town resisted tenaciously, constantly throwing in reinforcements and fighting with the Bavarians repeatedly. Even though a building changed hands several times, they still refused to give up. The battle was unprecedentedly bloody and cruel.

After receiving the order, the 8th Division immediately ran forward and soon arrived at the town of Na-Monsalle, which was only about ten kilometers away. Then they rushed and fought fiercely, and together with the Bavarian army, they beat the French to pieces...

Before the more than ten towns around Sedan City were fully under control, King William I of Prussia issued the order for a general attack. More than 700 artillery pieces bombarded Sedan City at all costs, turning Sedan City into a sea of ​​flames.

In just over two hours, more than 460,000 artillery shells were fired.

This density of attacks shocked His Highness Tang Li Kun, who gave him a new understanding of the cruelty of the European war. It was so inhumane!

460,000 rounds of artillery shells equals more than 6 million Tang Yuan. In addition to the discarded rifled barrels of more than 700 artillery pieces, 7 million Tang Yuan was 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 120,000 elite officers and soldiers of France's main force, the Charon Army, and there is the power and glory that the German nation dreams of, I feel that all these efforts are worth it.

11 am

After more than two hours of fierce bombardment, the bombardment finally stopped, and the overwhelming Prussian army launched an all-out attack on the city of Sedan from all directions.

William I ordered;

All troops launched an all-out attack, with no key attack direction and no main attacking force. 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 200,000 Prussian troops were all excited. Their morale was as high as if they had been given blood, and they rushed towards the city of Sedan with rifles in hand.

At this moment, the most tragic scene occurred.

The proud French cavalry, led by General Magritti, rushed out like a hurricane from the southwest of Sedan City and launched a tragic and desperate charge against the Prussian army, vowing to open a way for His Majesty the Emperor to break through.

Tens of thousands of French cavalry charged with their sabers raised high, their horses' hooves trembling against the ground, forming an unstoppable torrent and flowing down, and then... nothing more.

The scene that once happened at Bali Bridge happened again at the foot of Sedan City, and this time the tragic protagonist was the French cavalry.

The hot summer wind mixed with blood and gunpowder smoke blew, and the thick smoke gradually dispersed. What was revealed in front of everyone was a horrific killing field, with the corpses of war horses and cavalry mixed together all over the area for several kilometers.

The battle flag was broken, men and horses died...

Modern cavalry is tantamount to committing suicide when faced with the charge of densely arrayed infantry. History has once again verified this.

(End of chapter)