Ten days later.

In the northern part of the Tien Shan Mountains, at the northern foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau Mountains, inside the Fort Alimatu (the former capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty).

Russian Major General Nakaev frowned, and two staff officers beside him looked at the intelligence in their hands and bowed their heads silently. In the middle of the sound, Nakaev coughed twice, cleared his throat and said, "I've seen it all." This is the military information transmitted back by Colonel Babkov, Liang Litai of Huiyuan City in Ili, led 5,000 troops down the Ili River, menacing, seven days ago Nababkov said that he was ready to lead his troops to retreat, but Liang Litai ignored it and still attacked me along the river. Seven of our army's posts on the banks of the Ili River were destroyed by him, and more than 130 soldiers were lost. Moreover, according to the latest information received, the enemy forces are not only the forces of this way down the Ili River. From the city of Kokand to the southwest, there was another enemy army, all cavalry, moving quickly, along the upper reaches of the Syr Darya, and the expected target was also our Fort Alimathu. ”

An older staff officer said incredulously: "General, are you saying that the Han army that captured Kokand City will join forces with Liang Litai, the governor of Xinjiang, to attack my Alimatu Fort?" This, this can't be, right? How dare they be? ”

Nakaev shrugged and sneered: "How is it impossible? Even the city of Kokand has been conquered by the Han Chinese army, and the Kokand Khanate has become the pocket of the Chinese Empire, and our strategy has completely failed. In the area of the Ili River Valley, only Fort Alimatu is the largest fortress, and the largest number of troops are stationed, and if they want to occupy this area, they must conquer this fortress first. What's more, that Liang Litai came along the Ili River, and the Han cavalry that set off from the city of Kokand, the direction was this Alimatu Fort. By the way, Babkov said that they went back to the fort, why haven't they come back for so long, could it be that something happened on the way? ”

The older staff officer bowed his head and remained silent.

Another younger staff officer said: "General, please be relieved, Colonel Babkov led 2,500 Cossack warriors, even if Liang Litai has 5,000 soldiers, with the military ability of Cossack warriors, he is not afraid of them." If Colonel Babkov hadn't been too cautious and cherished his subordinates and didn't want to lose too much, he could have defeated Liang Litai's 5,000 Han soldiers. ”

When Nakaev heard this, he remembered the bravery of Babkov's group of Cossacks, and he also relieved himself and said: "Also! With those Cossack soldiers who crisscrossed the Yuz Khanate, it was indeed not a problem to fight one against two. General Ben was still worried about the Han Chinese army that had conquered the city of Kokand and annexed the Kokand Khanate. Inquire clearly, how many of them are there? ”

The younger staff officer said: "General, yesterday the outpost reported that the vanguard of the opposing cavalry had arrived near Lake Tus, and it is expected to arrive around Fort Alimatu in a day or two. Since the other side had a lot of southern Sikh cavalry who could fight well, the outposts did not dare to get too close, and could only estimate the number to be no less than three or four thousand. ”

Nakaev's face froze, and he sighed: "If you can capture Kokand in a short time, it seems that the opponent's forces are not weak, but I am afraid that there are more than 4,000 troops." It seems that our Fort Alimatu is in trouble this time, but fortunately Babkov wisely did not exchange fire with Na Liang Litai, and hopes that he will lead his troops back to the castle earlier, plus our existing 1,800 soldiers, more than 4,000 soldiers, should be able to defend the castle. Alas, if only there had been time, it would have been nice to bring in three thousand Cossack cavalry in Reimburg, and this would have been done without the need to defend and would have taken the initiative to attack. ”

"The three thousand Cossack cavalry in Rymburg are responsible for guarding the most important fortress in the Syr Darya Valley, and there is no room for error, and the recent Kazakh rebellion in the Syr Darya region has just been put down, but it has not been completely resolved, and it is impossible for the governor's palace to agree to transfer troops." The older staff officer couldn't help but remind: "But there are still more than 800 soldiers in the Kopal Fort in the east of Lake Balkhash that can be transferred." ”

Nakayev also knew that he had a point, and the town of Reimburg guarded the mouth of the Syr Darya River and the northeastern gate of the Aral Sea, and could not afford to lose. However, he thought more, aren't there still four small warships in the Aral Sea? It should be to assist in the defense of Reimburg, then at least 1,000 cavalry, 2,000 cavalry and four warships can be transferred from Reimburg to guard Reimburg, and the Governor's Palace should agree, as for the soldiers of Kopalburg, they can indeed be called, but the number is a little small, but it is finally a force.

"Prepare for the worst, no matter what. Sent people to the Doge's Palace and Reimburg for help, asking Reimburg to send at least 1,000 Cossack cavalry to the rescue, and 500 troops from Kopal Fort. As soon as Nakaev finished speaking, the door of the room was slammed open, and a second lieutenant officer led two bloodstained officers hurriedly rushed in to report: "General, it's not good. ”

Nakaev's face changed drastically, and he already recognized one of the major officers in rags and bloodstains, who was Babkov's deputy, and it must have been Babkov's two thousand five hundred Cossack soldiers who had an accident.

Sure enough, the major officer told the reason for the incident with a sad face: Colonel Babkov led 2,500 Cossack warriors to retreat along the Ili River to the Kapchagai outpost more than 100 miles north of Fort Alimatu, when he was ambushed by Liang Litai of the Han army, suffering heavy casualties, Colonel Babkov was killed on the spot, and he led nearly 100 Cossack cavalry to break out with his superb riding skills.

"General, the damned Eastern Han army will soon attack, we have to prepare early, annihilate the incoming enemy, and avenge Colonel Babkov!" At the end, the major officer shook his fist fiercely, gritting his teeth.

Nakaev's heart sank, and he asked eagerly: "Are you telling me that the 2,500 Cossack soldiers led by Babkov were almost wiped out, and only less than a hundred of you came back?" ”

The major officer did not dare to answer, and acquiesced.

Nakaev's mouth was full of bitterness.

Just now, I was thinking that by virtue of the geographical advantage of Fort Alimathu, 1,800 battle-hardened Cossack warriors, plus 2,500 Cossack soldiers led by Babkov, with their superb command, showed the enemy weakness, attracted the enemy to the fortress, let the enemy slowly attack the fortress, consume its sharp energy, and completely drag it under the castle. As soon as the reinforcements from Fort Rem and Fort Kopal arrived, they could attack from inside and outside, crushing the enemy in one fell swoop, and even completely annihilating the enemy was not impossible. At that time, he will surely become famous, and then lead his troops to pursue the victory, whether it is to snatch the upper Ili region occupied by the Han people or the Kokand Khanate, etc., it will be a great achievement, but it is not impossible to succeed Sir Alexander Dugameli, the somewhat elderly governor of Western Siberia.

But now, with the annihilation of Babkov's army, all his plans and ideas have come to naught.

"What the hell is going on? Didn't the Han army surnamed Liang always follow you, and when did he sneak up in front of you and ambush you, you didn't even notice it? What about your outposts, what does Babkov eat? The more Nakayev thought about it, the more angry he became.

"General, those Han troops, marching at the speed of infantry marching out of cavalry, must have secretly made a detour, day and night, to set up an ambush in front of our army. Moreover, the other side had muskets that could shoot from a distance, which could hit the outposts from hundreds of meters away and clear all of our outposts, so we lost our eyes and ears, and we were ambushed in a moment of carelessness. The major officer seemed to remember something extremely terrible, his face was pale, his pupils were a little dilated, and he said with palpitations: "General, although those Han soldiers are thin and short, they are well-trained, especially the muskets in their hands, which are much stronger than the muskets in our hands, not only have a long range and great power, but also, the most terrifying thing is that they fire very quickly. I remember that when they intercepted in the valley, Colonel Babkov personally led 800 cavalry to charge, and the rest of the 1,700 infantry pressed down, but in just a few rounds of muskets, more than half of the 800 cavalry were lost, and the infantry lost thousands of men before they could rush to the line of fire. The Han army in pursuit also rushed up and attacked from both sides, and in less than an hour, we had already declared defeat. ”

"It's all those bastards in St. Petersburg, self-righteous guys, our muskets have been twenty years behind the whole of Europe, and I can't even think of this backward East!" Nakaev was a little suspicious, and now he could only hope that the fortified Fort Alimatu could withstand the enemy's artillery fire, but at the same time, he also had to be prepared with the other hand, prepare his horses, and if he could not hold it, he would break through and abandon the Fort Alimathu, for him, his own life was the most important thing.

At that moment, as the sentry at the lookout on the castle shouted, a shrill siren sounded. At the same time, several Cossack cavalry sentinels in the distance also rushed in, kicked up a dusty road, came to the fortress and shouted: "Enemy attack, enemy attack." ”

I saw the mountain stream in the distance, the dust was flying, and the thunderous sound caused by thousands of troops and horses on the ground came from far and near, and the momentum was amazing. Then, three or four miles away from Fort Alimatu, surrounded by mountains on three sides, a large team of horses appeared in the sight of the defenders of the castle, including Nakaev, and their faces turned pale.