What else is the winning method of Yuanqi group training? Guan Tianpei was a little surprised, but he couldn't help but ask more, he didn't bother to look at the target card again, but paid attention to the shooting situation of the group of braves, although the shooting rate was a little unsatisfactory, but I have to say that the shooting action of the group warriors is very skilled, not only fast, but also relatively neat, unlike the musketeers of the sailors, fast fast, slow and slow, uneven.

After about a quarter of an hour, when the gunfire stopped, Yi Zhizhi said: "I'll see the live ammunition shooting here for the time being, and I'll accompany the military gate to see the trenches below." ”

Trench? What trenches? Guan Tianpei was a little puzzled, as Yi Zhifen left the shooting range, when he passed through a large woods, his eyes were open, and a large area of trenches under the slope was displayed in front of him at a glance, these trenches were not straight, but zigzag, and after hesitating, he said: "This is a fortification?" ”

"This is the trench used by the Yuanqi regiment for training." Yi Zhizhi said: "It is mainly used for defense, of course, it can also be used for offense, especially when attacking fortifications, which can greatly reduce casualties." ”

There is Tuan Yong in the trench training, Guan Tianpei carefully observed with interest, and soon saw the benefits of this trench, Tuan Yong shot in the trench, greatly reducing the exposed target, and loading ammunition in the trench does not need to worry about being hit by the other party, not only calm, the loading speed is also fast, and it is not easy to make mistakes, in addition, this trench can also be effective defense against the enemy's artillery, unless the shell falls directly and accurately into the trench, it is difficult to cause damage, whether it is a solid bullet or a flowering bullet, It's hard to damage the soldiers in the trenches.

"Good, good! Good! Guan Tianpei shouted three times in a row, and said with excitement on his face: "I have to arrange for someone to dig some trenches for the Humen Fort, with this trench, the British artillery will be more dense." We're not afraid! ”

"Even if the military gate does not give orders, the lower ones will strongly ask the military gate to dig trenches in the large and small forts of Humen." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The British army attacked Dinghai by land and water, the battleships attacked head-on, and the flanks sent marines to outflank and seize the forts. The Humen Fort also had to be guarded against outflanking by the British army. ”

"Contentment." Guan Tianpei said first, and after a slight pause, he said curiously: "It goes without saying that it is used for defense in the 2 trenches, but it is enough to say that it can attack, and it is still a fortification, how can you say this?" ”

Yi Zhifen smiled slightly and said, "Let's talk about attacking the city, digging the trenches into the range of the muskets under the city at night, and using the muskets to cover and suppress the fire on the city." That would greatly reduce the number of casualties in the siege. ”

"Makes sense." Guan Tianpei nodded, and then said suspiciously: "The British army will not use trenches?" ”

"No, it won't." Yi Zhi said confidently: "As for the combat methods and habits of the British army, I have inquired in detail with some retired soldiers from Citigroup and France. ”

Regarding the trenches, it was clear to Yi Zhifen that at the time of the Civil War between the North and the South in the United States. Trenches only began to be applied to actual combat in the First World War. The trenches were only widely used, and the British army at this time had not yet suffered the losses of the trenches.

Guan Tianpei said: "Knowing each other and knowing oneself, no wonder contentment dares to agree to let the Yuanqi regiment train troops to Dinghai." ”

"There are conditions for sending troops to the sea." Yi Zhizhi said: "If the British army stationed in Dinghai exceeds 3,000 people, it will not blindly send troops in the future. ”

Three thousand British troops! Guan Tianpei couldn't help but say: "How many Western muskets does the Yuan Qi group practice?" ”

"The whole of Guangzhou. In the hands of the sailors and volunteers, there were no more than 6,000 Western muskets. Yi Zhizhi said: "Yuanqi's regiment is training a newly built division, confronting the division of Yingyi and fighting a hundred battles, and fighting one with two is the biggest limit. If the number of British troops is larger, there will be nothing they can do below, and they will not let the regimental warriors die in vain. ”

This is indeed the best ability, Guan Tianpei nodded, and did not say anything, in the past two days, the other party accompanied him to inspect the regimental training camp, so that he could understand the true strength of Yuanqi regimental training, and its purpose was naturally to let him come forward to dissuade Lin Zexu, and not to let Yuanqi regimental training blindly send troops to Dinghai.

In fact, after seeing the strength of Yuanqi's group training, he didn't want to lose the strength of Yuanqi's group training in vain, after all, this force can play a great role in assisting in the defense of Guangzhou, looking at Guangzhou, it can be said that no force can be stronger than Yuanqi's group training, if the Yuanqi group training is consumed in Dinghai, once the British army attacks Guangzhou, it is really helpless, and the Eight Banners Green Battalion can be mobilized from the surrounding provinces, and how much stronger can it be than the Eight Banners Green Battalion in Guangdong? Sincerity is not as reliable as Yuanqi's group practice.

As for saying that the Yuanqi regiment will form a big tail after the training, that is also a matter of the future, at present, the first to ensure the safety of Guangzhou, and the British war, now it seems that the loss, is inevitable, lose the war, negotiate with the British army, this is a matter of nine times out of ten, if the negotiations are carried out in Guangzhou, the British army is very likely to attack Guangzhou.

When the time comes, without the assistance of Yuanqi's regimental training, relying only on the Eight Banners Green Battalion, he is really not sure that he will be able to defend it, if Guangzhou falls, they are afraid that these local civil and military officials will not be able to escape death, and the future will be talked about later, and the first guarantee will be able to escape the catastrophe in front of him.

After being silent for a long time, he spoke: "The Yuanqi regiment has a neat military appearance, is well-trained, and skillful, but it is raised in the depths of the boudoir, so you might as well find an opportunity to show up, and also let the civil and military affairs of Guangzhou, the gentry and businessmen, and the small people feel at ease." ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhizhi couldn't help but smile, he also had this idea, Lin Zexu is going to step down, and other civil and military forces in Guangzhou don't have it, once the Yuanqi regiment shows its strength, they will definitely do everything possible to preserve the strength of the Yuanqi regiment to protect Guangzhou, smiled, and said: "This matter is not urgent, and wait for the news of Dinghai, if it is impossible to do anything, Yuanqi is ready to make a military parade to stabilize people's hearts." ”

In the afternoon, Guan Tianpei returned to Guangzhou, entered the governor's mansion, saw Lin Zexu in the study, and sat down with a slight greeting, Lin Zexu said directly: "I heard that Zhong Yin went to the regimental training camp to inspect, how is the situation, can there be gains?" ”

"The practice of the Yuan Qi group is really unexpected by the last general, and it was too neglectful before." Guan Tianpei said slowly: "As the ministry said, the Yuanqi regimental training is really better than the Eight Banners Green Battalion, if it is said that Guangzhou has a trip worthy of fighting with Yingyi, it is the Yuanqi regimental training." ”

Seeing that he admired Yuanqi group practice so much, Lin Zexu was slightly surprised, and said, "Zhong Yin is so optimistic about Yuanqi group practice? ”

"Yuanqi regimental training imitates the Western method of military training. There is something really good. Guan Tianpei said: "The last general has inspected the two large battalions of Huadi and Henan, and the brave soldiers of the regiment are neatly groomed, with clear hierarchies, strict orders, skillful drills, and good training. In addition, Yuan Qi was willing to invest money, promised a high salary, and promised heavy compassion, as long as he fought a few battles, he must be a strong army. ”

Lin Zexu said happily: "In this way, Yuanqi Tuanlian is fully capable of sending troops to recover Dinghai?" ”

"Yes." Guan Tianpei nodded and said: "However, Yi Zhifu said that the British army in Dinghai should not exceed three thousand before he can send troops." If it is more than 3,000, even if the Yuanqi regiment exercises even if it sends troops to Dinghai, it is in vain, don't look at the Yuanqi regiment training 10,000 people, but there are only 6,000 Western muskets in Guangzhou, after all, the Yuanqi regimental training is the initial construction, the training is insufficient, and the two fight one. It's the limit. ”

What was the total number of British troops who came to invade? More than 7,000 people, and the British troops left behind in Dinghai will exceed 3,000? Lin Zexu was determined. Asked: "Can the specific plan for sending troops be discussed?" ”

"Not really." Guan Tianpei said: "Yi Zhizhi said that the specific plan for sending troops will be formulated after the news from Dinghai is fed back." ”

"I have repaired the book with Deng Butang." Lin Zexu said: "He will try to collect the details of Dinghai as much as possible, and report it at any time, so you can be content and ready to go." ”

Just when Yi Zhifen was busy with the training of the regimental training and the pre-war preparations, July 22. The British troops blockading the waters of Canton suddenly launched an attack on the Qing troops stationed at the Macao Gate, not only shelling the Gate Battery, but also sending marines to land, and the battle began at noon and ended at dusk. It lasted six or seven hours, and finally the British army captured the gate battery, destroyed all the artillery on the battery, burned down the Qing barracks, pushed to the city wall, and after the great victory, the British army retreated to the battleship and took the initiative to withdraw from the battlefield.

The next morning, Lin Zexu received the news of the battle of the gate, after reading the battle report, his face was swollen red, he really did not expect that these British warships staying in Guangzhou were so bold, they dared to openly attack the Macao gate, and dared to send troops to land, after the battle, they actually took the initiative to evacuate, this is definitely a provocation! It's a mockery of the Guangdong sailors!

Just three days ago, he inspected the sailors in Shiziyang and held a huge drill, and when he turned around, Yingyi brazenly attacked the Macao Border Gate Fort, which can be described as a-for-tat, and it also shows that Yingyi did not take the Guangdong sailors in his eyes at all! This makes him, the governor of Liangguang, embarrassed!

At the same time, Yi Zhifen, who was in Rongyuan, also received a battle report from the Battle of the Macao Gate, but compared with the battle report of Lin Zexu's official article, the battle report he received was much more detailed.

At one o'clock at noon, Smith, commander-in-chief of the British ships in the Guangdong Sea, led the battleships "Dulu One" (44 guns), "Lani" (20 guns), "Hai Xixin" (20 guns), "Columbine" (18 guns), the speedboat "Louisa" (14 guns), the armed steamship "Enterprise" (12 guns), and 10 sampans.

The green battalion soldiers who were caught off guard on the gate fort were caught off guard, but they quickly organized themselves to fire back, and the eight large sailor boats moored in the inner harbor immediately sailed to the sea of Qingzhou and fired at the British ship through the lotus stem, and the two sides fought for nearly an hour before the artillery of the gate fort quieted down, and the British army immediately used sampans to transport soldiers to land, and the sailor boats continued to fire to prevent the British from landing.

At about 7:10 p.m., the British troops moved more than 20 cannons erected at the gate and other places, blocked the rest of the cannon gates, set fire to the barracks, pushed them to the boundary wall, and then took the initiative to evacuate the gate and return to the battleship.

In this battle, the specific casualties of the two sides are unknown, but according to visual observation and subsequent discussions, the casualties on both sides were very small, and the casualties were only twenty or thirty.

After reading the battle report, Yi Zhizhi couldn't help but laugh dumbly, what kind of battle was this fighting, the two sides shelled for an hour, only twenty or thirty casualties, it seems that the artillery accuracy of the British battleship is also very problematic, and besides, the green battalion soldiers are too unbearable, so the casualties of this idea people lost the battery, and let the British marines swagger land, and moved the artillery away.

In addition to being a provocation to the large-scale military exercise of the Guangdong Navy Division a few days ago, does the British army have any other intentions? The Portuguese in Macau have been closely cooperating with the Guangzhou government during the smoking ban in Guangzhou, not only actively banning smoking, but also obediently driving all the British out of Macau.

The British chose the Macao Border Gate as the target of the attack, not only to provoke the sailors, but also to warn the Portuguese, hoping that Portugal would fall to the British? In any case, the defeat of the Qing Dynasty in this war will have an impact on Sino-Portuguese relations and Anglo-Portuguese relations, and this Portugal is not something to worry about.

However, with Lin Zexu's temperament, the British army is so provocative, he will inevitably take the initiative to attack the British ship to save the impact, otherwise this is not only a loss of face, but also a problem of losing face, and he will not be able to give a message to the court, do you want to help? If he could sink or force down one or two British warships in one fell swoop, this would be a big victory, and Lin Zexu would not need to force Yuan Qituan to regain Dinghai.

In addition, he is also very keen on the British steamship, and if the steamship can be captured, it will definitely be a great thing for the Changzhou shipyard.

After pondering for a long time, he instructed the outside world: "Prepare a sedan chair." ”

"Where is the young master going?" It was not Li Wang who came in, but the girl Jin Ying.

Yi Zhicontent ignored her and asked directly, "What about Li Wang?" ”

Jin Ying said with a smile: "The weather is hot, the slave maid asked Li Wang to go out to buy a few watermelons for the young master, soak them in well water, and cool off in the afternoon." ”

"Nothing to do." Yi Zhizhi said angrily: "Let's talk about what's the matter, I don't have time to go around in circles with you." ”

Jin Ying glanced out and said, "The real person and Senior Sister Bai are here." ”

What's the mess at this juncture? Although Yi Zhixiang was slanderous in his heart, he knew that it was not okay not to see it, if he really didn't see it, they would come to Rongyuan, and he groaned slightly, and then he said: "Tomorrow night, call them to Lei Garden." As he spoke, he commanded, "Hurry up and get someone to prepare a sedan chair, I have to go to the governor's palace." ”

Jin Ying smiled and said, "Yes, young master, the slave will arrange it." ”

Jin Ying, who was waiting, left, Yi Zhizhi frowned, what was the real person doing in Guangzhou at this time? Could it be that the Qinglian Sect also wants to be like the Heaven and Earth Society, and wants to assist the British army? (To be continued.) )