Tongzhou South Gate, Zhongcang, Yuanqi New Army Camp.

Tongzhou's two major granaries - the West Warehouse and the Middle Warehouse, the two warehouses have 250 warehouses, which can store 2.5 million stones of grain, however, with the opening of the railway, the grain is changed to the railway, and the transit function of the Tongzhou granary has been lost and gradually deserted and decayed.

At the gate of the camp, two groups of heavily armed soldiers stood like nails, vigilantly watching the large and small carriages and mule carts entering and leaving.

Listening to the movement, the battalion commander Zhong Dawei hurried out, and when he saw the horse team outside the camp gate, he couldn't help but hesitate, the horse team was very mixed, some were wearing new military uniforms, some were wearing official robes, some were wearing armor, and some were wearing yellow coats.

An officer in a new-style military uniform urged him to step forward and asked politely, "May I ask, can Yan Junmen and Feng Junmen be in the camp?" ”

"No, they all went to Zhangjiawan." Zhong Dawei replied truthfully.

"Then may I ask, who is in charge of the camp now?"

"It's our brigade commander, An Daoran."

"Then please give me a good word." The officer arched his hand and said, "The Beijing Division Officers' Observation Group has come to report." ”

Officers' Observation Corps? In the command headquarters, the brigade commander An Daoran frowned, he had never heard of any officer observation group at all, but considering that the other party had a large number of people, the grade was not low, and the ingredients were mixed, he said: "Send a report to Zhangjiawan, saying that the Beijing Division officer observation group came to report, please instruct." ”

Yan Yangtian replied quickly, "Warm welcome, polite and thoughtful, and proper arrangement." ”

Holding the telegram, An Daoran secretly wondered in his heart, what is the origin of this officer observation group? Want a warm welcome, polite and thoughtful, and properly arranged? After thinking about it, he left the headquarters and went to greet him in person.

There are quite a few officers in the observation group, there are more than 100 people, plus the accompanying entourage, the number of people is more than a battalion, An Daoran muttered to himself in his heart, what kind of officer observation group should be here to fight the autumn wind? As soon as he led the group into the camp, he looked up and saw the deputy brigade commander Zhang Baigui holding a telegram with a smile on his face and walking quickly to meet him.

"Zhangjiawan is a great victory, and the enemy striker is completely annihilated by 6,000!" Zhang Baigui said with a smile: "The Yan army ordered our brigade to immediately open the ........ to the Xianghe. ”

Zhangjiawan won a great victory, annihilating 6,000 enemy forwards! The officers of the accompanying group of officers couldn't help but be dumbfounded, this is too fast! They hurried over, and they also wanted to go to Zhangjiawan to observe how the new army of Yuanqi fought this battle, but they didn't expect that the battle was over, and it was a great victory, completely annihilating the enemy's forward 6,000, how did this battle be fought? It's only been a few hours? For a while, everyone couldn't help but talk about it.

After reading the telegram, where did An Daoran still have the heart to care about what officer observation group, he just left, he couldn't catch up with the battle of Zhangjiawan, he was already very depressed, but he didn't want to miss the opportunity to pull out to Xianghe, this was completely a counterattack!

"Lao An." Zhang Baigui took advantage of the gap in the assembly team and walked over quickly, "The officer observation group is also going to Xianghe, do you want to ask for instructions?" ”

Yan Yangtian attaches great importance to the officer observation group, this point An Daoran is clear, follow to Xianghe, there may be a war along the way, in case there is anything wrong, he is afraid that he will not be able to bear the responsibility, when he said: "Hurry up and send a telegram for instructions." ”

Zhangjiawan, Yan Yangtian, who had just come out of the headquarters, did not hesitate at all after receiving the telegram, "Call back, allowed." ”

The officers of the officer observation group were all middle and high-ranking military attaches in the Eight Banners New Army and the Eight Banners stationed in Beijing, and according to the Yuan Qi New Army, they were at least brigade and regiment-level officers.

On the one hand, Yi Zhishu really hoped to improve the combat effectiveness of the Eight Banners New Army and promote the reform of the imperial military system through actual combat observation, on the other hand, he also had a plan to take the officer observation group as the hostage, and the 20,000 troops were transferred to the Tongzhou area, and he was not at ease with the imperial court. Furthermore, he also hoped that the observation group would truthfully feedback the strong combat power of Yuanqi's new army to the imperial court to play a deterrent role.

Baliqiao Qing army position, received the battle report passed by the fast horse, Seng Lingqin was not surprised at all, he led the Eight Banners New Army to assist Yuanqi to drive away the Taiping army, transferred to Tibet, for the Yuanqi new army is quite clear about the combat power of the Yuanqi new army, in Tianjin and saw a large number of new guns, ammunition and grenades, etc., and the battle of Zhangjiawan is to fight more and less, and completely annihilate the opponent's 6,000 forwards, completely in his expectations.

He knew very well that Xianfeng cherished the Eight Banners New Army, if it was to ask for war before the war, most of them would not be allowed, after the victory in Zhangjiawan, he asked for war again, maybe Xianfeng had the possibility of permission, after all, the Eight Banners New Army was in urgent need of weapons and equipment, and if he did not participate in the war, he would not have the opportunity to divide the spoils of war, tens of thousands of mini guns and a large number of artillery, he did not believe that Xianfeng would not be moved.

Tianjin, Haiphong Office, Headquarters.

"In the battle of Zhangjiawan, the rest of the army, at the cost of more than 200 casualties, completely annihilated 6,000 forwards of the coalition army, killed more than 2,300 enemies, captured more than 3,600 prisoners, captured 28 artillery pieces, more than 4,000 guns, and more than 800 war horses......" Cao Gensheng said slowly: "The rest of the army is now advancing towards the Xianghe River with the strength of the three brigades. Yan Yangtian, Feng Renxuan. ”

"Good fight!" Yi Zhixiang smiled, "The telegram is rewarded, I hope they will make persistent efforts and good news will be spread frequently." In addition, the original telegram was forwarded to the Military Aircraft Division. ”

After Cao Gensheng left, Zhao Wenlie smiled and said: "The victory in the first battle, the total annihilation of the 6,000 forwards of the coalition army, is really inspiring and morale-boosting, and the imperial court should also dispel the idea of colluding with the coalition army?" ”

"It's not about the big picture." Yi Zhizhi said: "We have to see the battle of Bohaikou." ”

Zhao Wenlie said: "The total annihilation of 6,000 Xiyi coalition troops is also a rare victory, which is enough to eliminate the defeat of Dagukou and Beitang. ”

"That's as it should be." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "This is the first big victory since the war with Britain and France, and the good news will be forwarded to major newspapers. ”

Jingshi, Qianqing Palace, Xinuan Pavilion.

Putting down the telegram in his hand, Xianfeng picked up the teacup with a flat expression and took a sip of tea, and annihilated 6,000 Xiyi coalition troops at the cost of more than 200 casualties, Yuanqi's new army is really strong, although this battle may solve the threat of the Xiyi coalition army to the Beijing division, but he is not happy in his heart, the stronger the Yuanqi new army, the greater the worry in his heart, for the imperial court, Yuanqi is also an enemy.

Turning over Monk Lingqin's fold, he pondered for a long time before looking at Su Shun, who was kneeling below, "Are you in favor of increasing troops to assist Yuanqi's new army in attacking Xianghe?" ”

"The minion agrees." Su Shun hurriedly said: "Xianghe is not far from Langfang, and the Xiyi coalition army has more than 40,000 troops in the Xianghe area. Moreover, what the monk king said is not unreasonable, if you don't send troops, you can't share the spoils. ”

Xianfeng changed his mind, "Has the officer observation group arrived in Zhangjiawan?" ”

"Back to the emperor, I have arrived." Su Shun replied: "However, the battle of Zhangjiawan was quickly resolved, and they failed to catch up with the observation, and now they have gone to Xianghe with the army. ”

After a slight groan, Xianfeng spoke: "Assign the three newly formed recruit brigades to Monk Greenqin. ”

Where is this to increase troops to assist, it is clearly to snatch the spoils of war! Su Shun felt a little blushing, but he had to say softly: "The slave obeys the order." Picking up, he pondered and said: "Zhangjiawan is a great victory, relieving the danger of the Beijing Division, and the slave earnestly prays for the emperor's telegram to praise him." ”

Commendations? That's okay, Xianfeng said briskly: "The intention is ......." ”

"Extra! Extra! Zhangjiawan was victorious, and the new army of the imperial court annihilated 6,000 Western soldiers! ”

"Extra! Yuanqi's new army won the first battle! ”

Approaching dusk, countless newsboys suddenly appeared in the streets and alleys of Jingshi, the crisp sound of selling newspapers came and went, heard that it was a great victory, and the pedestrians who passed around rushed to buy, for a time, the victory of the new army of Yuanqi Zhangjiawan spread rapidly, and for a time there were many discussions, originally because the Xiyi coalition army was approaching Tongzhou and the people were panicked inside and outside the Beijing division quickly settled down.

Dongcheng District, Dongjiang Rice Lane, Russian Pavilion.

Putiyatin put down the number in his hand in disbelief, and asked in a deep voice: "Can the data reported above be verified?" ”

"Judging from the information collected so far, it should be true." The Orthodox Church Guardian Perovsky said in a deep voice: "The battle of Zhangjiawan did not last long, less than two hours before and after, and it is said that the French army only launched a wave of charge, and was defeated and suffered heavy casualties. retreated backwards, and encountered most of the opponent's cavalry and cut off the retreat route. ”

Only launched a wave of charges and was defeated? Putiyating hesitated: "The rear-loading guns of the Yuanqi New Army are so powerful? ”

"And copper-hulled bullets." Pirovsky said: "With a rear-loading gun and copper-shelled bullets, the rate of fire of the rifle should be increased by four or five times." ”

"Whatever you do, get a few guns and bullets." Puti Yatin said in a deep voice: "Didn't the Qing court set up an officer observation group? Find a way to gather intel from them. ”

Tongzhou, Xiji Town.

Xiji Town is only more than ten miles away from the Xianghe, although it can not be compared with Zhangjiawan, but it is also a large town of nearly 1,000 households, when the coalition army captured the Xianghe, the people in the town have fled, when the new army of Yuanqi arrived, the whole town was in a mess, apparently looted by the coalition forward.

As soon as he entered the town, Yan Yangtian ordered in a deep voice, "Camp on the spot and build a position." ”

Feng Renxuan knew that he was facing twice as many enemy troops, and he also knew the importance of building a position, so he smiled and said: "The Northwest Army is not good at building positions, and if it is a simple position, it will be no problem......." ”

Yan Yangtian glanced at him, "When I was in Annan Hongji, the level of Huadi Battalion's construction position was not bad, but it has been abandoned in the northwest in the past few years?" ”

"It's really deserted." Feng Renxuan did not deny it, and explained with a smile: "In the northwest campaign, most of the cavalry charges into battle, and it is very rare that there is a need to build a position. ”

Yan Yangtian smiled, he estimated that most of the Northwest Army did not even have an engineer battalion, and immediately said: "Then wait for the infantry behind to catch up, and set up a headquarters first." Then he ordered: "Connect the headquarters to the cable telegraph as soon as possible." ”

Tianjin, Wuqing, Xianghe, Tongzhou to Jingshi, even if the railway was opened, this line is only gradually declining, it is still a traffic artery, the original cable telegraph was erected along this road, and it is not difficult for the headquarters to connect the cable telegraph.

Yan Yangtian, who saw it, ordered to set up a wired telegram as soon as he came, and Feng Renxuan quipped: "It seems that in the future, the war scouts will have another task - to cut off the other party's wired telegram." ”

"The current army has become more and more complex." Yan Yangtian said: "The communication corps, medical corps, and engineering corps ....., and it is estimated that there will be more ...... in the future." ”

When it was dark, the cavalry squads sent around to reconnoiter rushed back, and in the command headquarters, Yan Yangtian marked the map one by one by candlelight, and after a while, he dropped the thick red pencil, took out a cigarette and lit one, Feng Renxuan came in slowly, glanced at him, and said, "Have eyebrows?" ”

"It's not a good fight." Yan Yangtian sighed lightly, "Zhangjiawan wiped out the opponent's strikers in one battle, they were scared, and the troops on the periphery all retreated to Xianghe, 40,000 troops, if we want to gnaw down, I am afraid that we will have to pay a lot of price." ”

Feng Renxuan lit a cigarette with a candle and asked slowly, "What is the situation with the navy?" ”

"I've already asked." Yan Yangtian said: "The main fleet has blocked the Bohai Sea, and the coalition fleet has rushed to the Bohai Sea. ”

"Since the other party has no reinforcements, what is the hurry, gnaw slowly." Feng Renxuan said disapprerovingly: "With our weapon superiority and cavalry superiority, the 40,000 allied troops in Xianghe are equivalent to turtles in the jar, and they can't run away if they want to." ”

Yan Yangtian shook his head slightly and said, "In this battle, it is best to solve it quickly, otherwise it may change." ”

What could change? Feng Renxuan said keenly: "Brother Zhi Gao refers to the imperial court? ”

"It's just a hunch." Yan Yangtian said perfunctorily: "If this battle drags on for too long, there will inevitably be some unexpected variables. ”

Report ——。 An officer reported aloud outside: "The monk king is here." ”

Monk Grinqin is here? Yan Yangtian and the two glanced at each other, and hurriedly got up to greet him, Monk Lingqin was not only very close to Yi Zhi**, but also led the Eight Banners New Army and Yuan Qi to have many collaborative combat experiences, and the two really didn't dare to slack off on him.

"Zhangjiawan fought really beautifully!" Monk Lingqin smiled heartily as soon as they met.

"I've seen the prince." Yan Yangtian and the two saluted together.

After returning a military salute, Monk Greenqin smiled and said, "How are you going to fight next?" The king came with four brigades to help. ”

Four brigades? Yan Yangtian couldn't help but be surprised, and at the same time he was vigilant in his heart, for the imperial court, he has always been on guard, a small Xianghe, concentrated more than 40,000 coalition troops, more than 20,000 Eight Banners New Army, and Yuanqi New Army but only more than 10,000 troops, this variable, for them, is definitely not a good thing!