April 13.

I don't know when the battle in Anzhai ended yesterday. In short, the troops led by Duran did not return to the city that night. Lagail believed that it should be following the defeated Black Flag Army to continue to go to Bavi. But early this morning, the guards brought him bad news.

The French soldiers stationed in SX City suddenly discovered an armed force outside the city. They were wearing the Seven-Star Black Flag and now they were densely surrounded by SX City.

However, before sending troops, Elgaret had already expected the situation in front of him. There were only two or three thousand Black Flag Army outside the city. Ragail did not attack enough, but he had more than enough defense to defend the city, so he was not afraid of the Black Flag Army's attack. He just wanted to be safe, but he still sent a telegram to Hanoi for help.

"Report! Commander, SX sent a telegram, Major Laguer said that a large number of black flag troops were found outside the city and requested support."

Lieutenant General Mile, who was calculating the results of the battle in Hanoi City, was shocked when he heard the news, "What? Didn't you just receive a telegram from SX yesterday that Lieutenant Colonel Duran has left the city to wipe out the Black Flag Army? Why did the Black Flag Army appear in Adjutant SX and answered: "I don't know the arrangements of Commander Elgarai, but Major Laguer's telegram did say that the Black Flag Army of the brigade was discovered and asked the commander for support."

"Did Lagail say how many troops the enemy has?"

"The enemy troops have been discovered so far, but I don't know if there are any hidden enemies. However, Major Laguer said that Lieutenant Colonel Duran should have had a fire with the enemy in Anzhai Village not far from SX. He judged that even if the enemy still has ambush in SX, the total force should not exceed 5,000."

Mileluo thought about it and immediately said, "Since that's the case, I'll send a command to Colonel Morebo and order him to lead the gunboats of the Tokyo Squadron to carry the Third Battalion infantry to support him."

"Yes!" The adjutant took the order and left.

Two hours later, more than 1,000 soldiers from the 16th Infantry Regiment were assembled, and Morebo opened the way with about four gunboats, and the rest of the soldiers accompanied him on three steamships and went to SX to support him.

When the fleet barely passed the river section near DF ​​County, the Hurricane gunboat in front suddenly stopped.

"What's going on?"

The communications soldier immediately asked the captain of the Hurricane gunboat through the flag. The answer he got was: "The river channel ahead was blocked. I believe the Chinese had set up ambush in the river channel to delay our army's support. Our ship could not continue to move forward. My soldiers had just checked and our gunboat draft was not passed."

Seeing that he could not use the ship to go upstream, Moreboo felt a bad premonition in his heart. "How long will it take to clean up these?"

“It takes about two to three days.”

It is obvious that the enemy was preparing ambush in advance to block the rescue fleet from Hanoi. The Black Flag Army suffered enough of the French gunboats in the previous few firefights, so this time they must have hoped to block the reinforcements of the French gunboats as much as possible before conquering SX.

The military situation was urgent, Moreboo ordered helplessly: "The gunboat returned on the same route, and the three barges carried infantry to continue moving forward."

So, the three barges began to lean towards the shore, bypassing the gunboats and continuing to move forward. At the same time, the four gunboats in front and behind began to turn around and prepare to return.

At 13:00 pm, three barges carrying infantry and two small boats that were rushing to SX rescue arrived at a river section less than five kilometers away from SX. At this moment, a row of soldiers pushing gun cars suddenly appeared on the river bank on the Red HB bank.

On the morning of the 12th, except for the troops of a battalion, the Black Flag Army, which completed the Anzhai ambush, left behind a battalion, the other soldiers immediately crossed the river and returned to the Red HB shore with their captured weapons and ammunition.

That night, a team of Black Flag Army equipped with 6 Hatchacas machine guns and four Green guns went east along the north bank river embankment and arrived at the pre-made ambush site in advance.

After the Honghe River passed SX, the river gradually calmed down, and the mud and sand brought down from the upstream torrents gradually deposited in the lower reaches of the river, forming the rich Red River Delta. At the same time, the Honghe River also formed a large area of ​​sandbanks in the river section between DF County and Milen County.

These sandbanks make this section of the Red River with only a narrow channel of dozens of meters that can accommodate the French gunboats of hundreds of tons. As long as one or two ships are sunk here, this section of the river can be blocked. Although it does not affect the passage of barges with shallow drafts, gunboats will definitely not be able to walk.

The target of this Black Flag Army is the three barges that have lost the protection of gunboats.

The total weight of Haqikas 37mm 5-barrel machine gun, including the land-used artillery truck, is only 200 kilograms, and can be dragged even by manpower, which is very easy to move. The shells are divided into flowering shells and solid shells. The bullet weighs 2.4 pounds, the initial velocity is 370 meters per second, and the maximum range is 4,400 meters. It can penetrate 24 mm thick steel plates at a distance of 300 meters, and the firepower is very fierce.

It is conceivable how sad it would be when three ordinary steamers with no armor protection were flowing up the Red River at a speed of 4 knots, facing the dense Hatchkas machine guns fired from 500 meters away. What's more, there are four Green machine guns with the same firepower?

The three wooden steamers were instantly hit by fierce fire, and the soldiers carried on the ship were seriously injured. Even so, the French army, who was in desperate situation, still picked up weapons and fought back. The steamers were not equipped with weapons, so the soldiers used the Hachkas machine guns and their rifles carried with the ship to shoot like on the shore. At the same time, the two motorboats escorted also used the machine guns they carried to launch a counterattack on the Black Flag Army.

Between the line of life and death, the captain of the steamer also drove the ship to the maximum speed, hoping to escape from the enemy's firepower range as soon as possible. At the same time, the three steamer ships were also sailing as much as possible toward the south bank, hoping that the distance could reduce the lethality of the enemy's firepower.

However, what made the French soldiers desperate was that at this moment, a large number of Black Flag Army soldiers and more machine guns appeared again on their backs, that is, the Red HN shore embankment.

Failure is no longer possible to be restored. Instead of burying with him, it is better to preserve his strength.

Ten minutes after the battle, the two severely damaged motorboats left the three steamships in dilemma and fled quickly from the battlefield. In front and behind the Black Flag Army, the three steamships supported each other for another five minutes and then sank one after another. Whether they jumped into the river before or sank with the ship, all the French soldiers who were swallowed up by the surging Red River. If they survived, they could only pray for God.

After completing the rapid ambush again, the Black Flag Army quickly disappeared on the river bank.

Two hours later, Mile was shocked when he received the news that the motorboat fled back to the city. He didn't know where so many enemy troops emerged. According to Courbet's report, the Black Flag Army should have been defeated at the end of last year. And now, not only is SX surrounded, but Elgaret was restrained, but a large number of Chinese troops appeared along the Red River.

What surprised Mile even more was that the other party was actually equipped with a large number of rapid-fire weapons such as Hatch Cass machine guns.

There are less than 3,000 defenders in Hanoi city now, and the river channel is blocked, so it is impossible to continue to support SX. Mile now has to pray that Laguer can support Elgarde's troops to return.

At the same time, in Yong'an, a small town on the Hong HB shore, Liu Yongfu said unwillingly: "Now SX is within reach, are we really going to give up?"

Liu Shaoqing sighed helplessly: "Father should know that the French have the advantages of firepower and surface ships. The SX is only a few miles away from the Red River, and is completely within the range of the French river-surface gunboats. If we occupy SX, wouldn't we fall into the dilemma of last year again?"

"Our firepower, troops, and supplies are far from that of the French army. The only advantage is flexibility and maneuverability, so we should look for opportunities to eliminate the enemy in the movement. Siege cities and lands just put shackles on us. As for food supplies, we can use war to support the war. Didn't we get at least three days of ration this time? Moreover, in addition to the French, we can also seize food from the Vietnamese. Anyway, the Vietnamese court has completely turned to France now. Since they have ordered us to expel us, why are we still polite to him?"

Liu Yongfu said in annoyance: "I know this, I'm just a little unwilling to accept my father."

Liu Shaoqing said: "Didn't my father teach my child before that he would not fight for a while, and the shortness of the land? Why do we need the child to enlighten him today? Besides, although there are only more than 1,000 French troops left in SX, it will take at least two days to completely seize the lives of thousands of soldiers. What can we get if we take SX? The French army will probably burn the food that my father wants before the city is broken. As for arms and weapons, isn't it easier and labor-saving for us to seize them from outside the city?"

Liu Yongfu smiled bitterly, just as his son said, if he really wanted to win the SX, he would really not get anything besides taking time and effort.

After tidying up his mind, Liu Yongfu said again: "What should we do next?"

Liu Shaoqing said: "Waiting for the other troops to meet up and then heading north to Taiyuan. Our next goal is Fuping. At the same time, we contacted Baosheng's left-behind troops and asked Wu Fengdian's regiment to come over and exchange defense with Huang Shouzhong's regiment; inform Ding Huai, let their Yunnan army prepare in Hengshan, and after we arrive in Fuping, we will start an attack on Taiyuan."

This time, Liu Yongfu came out to lead two regiments, namely Huang Shouzhong's army and Yang Zhuen's army, leaving Wu Fengdian in Xuanguang, and Lianmei continued to recruit and train in Baosheng. After these two days of fierce fighting, Huang Shouzhong and Yang Zhuen's troops suffered varying degrees of war damage. Liu Shaoqing planned to ask Huang Shouzhong's army to return to Baosheng first to repair and replenish the troops, and Lianmei in Xuanguang, and Wu Fengdian replaced Huang Shouzhong.

In this way, all troops will have the opportunity to rest and replenish, and they will almost be tempered and made military achievements.

On April 15, the main force of the Black Flag Army and the Yunnan Army set off from Yong'an and headed north. Three days later, the troops arrived at a small town south of Gaizi SD and stood on standby. At the same time, a large number of spies were scattered towards Beining and Fulangtang.

Five more days later, Wu Fengdian led a large army to come. Ding Huai, the general of the Yunnan Army, was also here.

As soon as they met, Ding Huai and Wu Fengdian first greeted Liu Yongfu, and then Ding Huai folded his fists and congratulated him: "I heard that the military gate has made another extraordinary achievements outside SX City and beheaded more than 3,000. It is a blessing for the Qing Dynasty and the people! I have reported to Duke Cen. It is estimated that Duke Cen has received this great news now. The imperial court's reward is just around the corner."

Liu Yongfu clasped his fists and returned the salute, laughing and said, "Everywhere, the soldiers are all using their lives. Moreover, the soldiers of the Yunnan Army in your unit are also striving for the first place, and they have their contributions."

Liu Yongfu had the highest position among several people. After meeting with Liu Yongfu, Ding Huai and Wu Fengdian met with Yang Zhuen, the Black Flag Army General Yang Zhuen, who came out to greet him, and Li Yingzhen, the garrison guard of the Dian Army, met with Li Yingzhen.

Greeting each other, talking and laughing, several people entered Liu Yongfu's temporary residence. After sitting down in the main and second place, Ding Huai bowed and said, "The military gate, the last general heard that the military gate was planning to attack Taiyuan in Xuanguang, so the ministry had already entered Hengshan as required. I just don't know when the military gate will send troops?"

Liu Yongfu said: "Today, when General Ding Shen came with Yalou, Brother Yu knew that your troops had already taken office. However, the way of using troops was relaxed and relaxed. Your troops had just arrived in Hengshan, so it would be better to cultivate for a few days. As for attacking Taiyuan, Brother Yu had already spread his eyes and was collecting news about French troops, generals, mobilizations, etc. It is said that knowing oneself and knowing one's enemy, you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. When the news is ready, it is not too late to take action."

If Ding Huai had just met last year, he might have urged Liu Yongfu, or had some doubts about what Liu Yongfu said. But in the past year, almost every time Liu Yongfu's judgment was accurate. He said he would fight, he would definitely win; he said he would not fight, he would really not win. So Ding Huai was really admired from the bottom of his heart at this time, and only the leader of the Black Flag Army was following.

So he clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for your compassion, the last general only followed the military leader, but by orders, there was no other word."

Liu Yongfu laughed: "General Ding Shen is polite. It should be that you and I work together to serve the court. Well, since we are gathering today, we will drink and have a happy conversation. Brother Yu has already ordered the following to hold a banquet to welcome General Ding Shen. However, the mountain residence is bland and the dishes are a little thin. I hope General Ding Shen will not be treated strangely."

Ding Huai waved his hands repeatedly and said, "How dare the military generals be picky about it?"
Chapter completed!