Volga estuary delta.

Late at night. Cold guns and cannons still rang out from time to time on the position, and the bullet dragged a long note across the dark night sky. Everywhere near and far there were flickering fires, and occasionally there was an explosion or two, dull and long.

Everything is still a reminder that this is a battlefield.

In the evening, the battle began, and it was extremely fierce. A number of positions are fighting white-knuckle battles. The Wehrmacht's offensive was fierce and the number of troops invested was as large as ants. The fighting continued until the early hours of the morning, when the Wehrmacht onslaught captured only two outlying positions, and was still far from New Astrakhan.

The post-battle position was as silent as death, and there was nothing but the groans and screams of the wounded on the battlefield. This continued until two o'clock, when each side had consolidated its positions and received the wounded and prisoners, and then the cold guns and cold guns began.

After the gunshots, the land returned to tranquility.

The bodies of the soldiers killed in the battle of the two armies were scattered throughout the battlefield. The broken rifles, the scattered helmets, and the bloody bayonets all silently tell people the ruthlessness and ruthlessness of war.

The night was still dark and dreary, the sky was full of stars, and the night sky was so bright. The smoke that filled the sky over the entire battlefield had already dissipated, and some light flashed on the ground. But it was no longer the ruins of the fortifications that continued to burn, but the lanterns in the hands of the soldiers.

Time has quietly come to the eighth month of the lunar calendar, and the cold north wind has swept the Volga.

Bagration's troops had been besieged for more than a month, but Bagration had been prepared for it, and he had already planned to be surrounded. The warehouses in the town of New Astrakhan are stocked not only with a large amount of ammunition and food, but also with a large amount of winter clothing, medicine and forage, coal, and even a lot of timber.

Many of the important warehouses were built below the surface, and the houses were covered with a thick layer of silt, especially wooden ones. And every three or five days, the Russian army will organize people to water and splash it again.

Although silt is not the best fireproof material, it is the best choice for Bagration in such a scene of the Russian army.

But the disease still spread within the regimental areas of the Russian army.

Over the course of a month, too many people on both sides of China and Russia have died. It is impossible for these bodies to be cleaned up in full, mainly on the part of the Russian army, the Wehrmacht has already buried or cremated on the spot, but what about the Russian army? They are under siege, and even if they contain so many corpses, what can they do with them?

Therefore, many Russian corpses can only be simply buried, or simply ignored, which will give birth to many, many germs.

Chen Wei has never launched a general offensive against the Russian army, although the strength of the strong attacks he launched seems to be not small, but it is always a breath of air. As long as this encirclement exists, sooner or later the Russians will run out of money, just like the 400,000 Zhao troops who were surrounded during the Battle of Changping, exhausted and hungry. Whether they launch a death charge or surrender, the ultimate fate that awaits them is the destruction of all their troops.

They will eat everything they can eat, including grass roots and bark, and they will eat their last horses and livestock when they are hungry, and the cold will soon come, and the cold will not only consume the heat of the Russian army more, but also swallow up all the materials that the Russian army can burn - let them burn their tents for warmth.

Chen Weisheng is in hand, so he won't fight hard now.

In such a powerful situation, how to reduce one's own casualties and increase one's own results is the thing that needs to be put in the first place.

And it is very likely that the Russians will send troops to the rescue, so this is also an excellent place to wear down the strength of the Russian army, and surround the point to send reinforcements.

Within a month, the North-Western Military District again sent reinforcements of an integrated division to Astrakhan, and the Seven Khanates again sent a cavalry group of 20,000 men to the Volga.

A month flies quickly. Both sides are adjusting their forces and deploying reinforcements. The decisive battle is about to begin.

The cavalry units of the Seven Khanates converged with the Ottoman armies on the Sea of Azov, and the fortress of Vladikavkaz was captured by Deng Yun during this period. Platov, with the remnants of less than two thousand cavalry, fled to Tsaritsyn.

It can be said that the entire Caucasus region has been controlled by Chen Han. Then a large number of Russians were expelled. Those Russian civilians who had insisted on staying where they were before had to choose to leave under the harsh pressure and in a desperate situation.

It's not that they are unwilling to bow their heads and admit defeat, but that Chen Han doesn't give them this opportunity at all. And at the same time, the armies of Persia, Baku and other countries have also set off their own slave hunting frenzy.

Which of these large and small countries is not clear about the demand for white slaves in Chen Han's country? The Chinese do not want black slaves, and the yellow race has been completely under their rule, either becoming Chinese or becoming a vassal state of China, then the only remaining are white slaves.

At first, she was a female slave girl, but now she wants all adults, children, men and women. China's starry factories and mines are like a huge bottomless pit that needs to be filled by a large number of slave laborers every year.

The Chinese do things according to the rules, just drive out the Russians, and would rather spend money to buy white slaves later than take the opportunity to start now. But they are different, they don't pay attention to morality and face, and they go directly to catch people, and what they get is silver.

Tsaritsyn continued to gather reinforcements from all walks of life, but the person who led these reinforcements was none other than Grand Duke Konstantin, which really made the military intelligence bureau that spread rumors before.

Russia has gathered an army of more than 100,000 people, but unfortunately, most of the soldiers in this army are just conscripted reserve soldiers, although these people have received basic military training, but they are only limited to being able to shoot and line up, and even bayonet fighting they are just in contact. Although Russia has established a huge reserve system, with Russia's strength, they do not know that such a large reserve will carry out rigorous military training.

Only a small percentage of the population are veterans and veterans, many of whom have gray beards.

The strength of such an army, even if it can be compared with the Bagration department, is a world of difference.

Chen Wei was still a little nervous at the beginning, after all, the Russian army's reinforcements exceeded 100,000, and in this series of battles, the performance of the Russian army really made him very positive, but as more and more detailed information was gathered into his hands, Chen Wei was not worried.

On the battlefield, there is a big gap between the combat effectiveness of new recruits and veterans.

……

A thick mist rose on the Volga, winter came, and the Wehrmacht was already wearing slightly bulky winter clothes.

In Tulinsk, on the old dilapidated positions, gunfire rang out sporadically, and the vanguard of the Russian army began to make contact with the alert units on the Wehrmacht positions.

War seems to be a great cycle. Chen Han and Bagration had fought a battle in Tulinsk, and now the battle between the two sides began here for the second time.

This is a small blocking position with the former city of Tulinsk as the core, and it is not a decisive battlefield.

Like the previous test of Bagration in Turinsk, this time Chen Wei also wanted to weigh the weight of the Russian army here.

Tulinsk was guarded by only one regiment, Zheng Guohong, who is now Chinese New Year's Eve six years old. Having experienced the war in the Americas, he has certain combat experience, bravely and daring to fight, and admires the bravery of the Eastern Jin Dynasty general Zhou Chu who died in battle because he could not save the soldiers, and thought that the soldiers should be like this. And angry at the intemperate behavior of surrendering to the Xiongnu after the defeat of Li Ling in the Han Dynasty, "The aid is exhausted, and the husband should die." ”

It can be said that he is a very good representative of the middle-level officers of the Wehrmacht, although he does not have too outstanding military talent, but he is loyal and brave in battle, and regards the honor of soldiers as more important than life.

It has been eleven days since Zheng Guohong's regiment arrived at the Tulinsk position. These days, the whole regiment, under the leadership of Zheng Guohong, is working like crazy - repairing the defense line and strengthening the position.

Many soldiers spend two-thirds of their 24-hour day repairing their positions.

Fortify the breastwork, deepen the trenches, build permanent fortifications, and rush all sorts of supplies.

Because they know that once the war starts, these things will never be delivered to the position. No matter how much they despise the Russian army - a bunch of recruit eggs. The Russian army of more than 100,000 people is not something that one of their regiments can withstand. Even if this battle is just a trial, they must be very bitter and difficult.

Eleven days of struggle, and the whole of Tulinsk has changed beyond recognition. The remaining houses were either demolished and the building materials were used for the construction of defensive positions outside. Either they were reinforced and reinforced, and they became one firepower point after another.

All the warehouses where ammunition and supplies are stacked or the command headquarters at all levels are a few meters below the surface. Ammunition and munitions are also scattered to prevent them from going all out in case they all go wrong.

The regiment's artillery unit consisted of only twelve 75mm hexagonal guns, but this was already a reinforced number, and they were all placed in camouflaged and reinforced artillery bunkers behind the first line positions. It's not that the Wehrmacht's artillery is scarce, but I sincerely feel that no matter how many cannons are placed here, it will not change the fact that there is a huge disparity in firepower between the enemy and us.

The area of the position of a regiment is not large, and it is really impossible to press more artillery.

Although Zheng Guohong's group wants to fight a real tough battle here, there is no need to waste it.

If the Russian army wants to go straight to Astrakhan along the Volga, here is a nail that they must pull out. This was true before and it is now. And the Russians could not play any siege tactics at this critical juncture, because the Grand Duke of Constantine led a new army, and they had to boost their fighting spirit before facing a real big war, and the Russians needed to express their attitude. Therefore, Zheng Guohong's regiment is destined to face the crazy firepower of the Russian army, and if the artillery positions cannot form effective security protection, then no matter how many placements there are, it is useless.

After being busy these days, Zheng Guohong's eyes have been red. He was sitting on a pile of wooden boxes talking to Wang Xipeng, a regimental staff officer who also looked tired. Yes, Wang Xipeng has been promoted again.

Wang Xipeng performed heroically in the previous battles and was promoted by Zheng Guohong from the battalion staff officer to the regimental headquarters.

"Tuanza, Lao Maozi is really here. The large number of soldiers poured in from the west like a tidal wave, and only the vanguard troops, at least 10,000 people! ”

"Didn't you prepare for it? Take this task, that is, come and work hard. If people die and don't die, our whole group will be rich. Lao Tzu can also cross that hurdle smoothly. ”

As the saying goes, a soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier, Zheng Guohong has already reached the position of the regiment, and of course he wants to go further.

Zheng Guohong took a sip of strong tea, and his tone was very weak. He is thirty-six years old, and sitting in the position of the regiment seems to be smooth, but if he compares with those shining stars in the army, there is really no harm if there is no comparison. People are not as old as him, and they are already generals.

And the general can be regarded as a real senior in the army.

Zheng Guohong also showed embarrassment on his face, and Wang Xipeng was even more silent. He is much younger than Zheng Guohong, but he is not a sergeant now, and the gap between him and Zheng Guohong in terms of rank and rank is even greater.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Until a few muffled explosions came from outside, it was Russian artillery firing!

Zheng Guohong stood up suddenly, nodded at Wang Xipeng, and said, "You prepare, come with me to the front line to have a look." As he spoke, he picked up the binoculars on the table, and then gave the names of a few more staff officers and heralds, plus guards.

The shelling just now was just harassing firing and test firing by the Russian artillery, and more intense bombardment and subsequent infantry attacks were yet to come!

……

"Are both the 4th and 5th regiments ready for battle? Do the soldiers have enough ammunition in their hands? Is morale high? They have to face a bitter battle, and they are the first stab we have against the Chinese. They must succeed! ”

The commander of the 15th Army of the Russian Army, which is a new formation, General Nikolai Nikolayevich Raevsky, quietly looked at the commander of the 55th Division, Nevorovsky, waved his arms, and issued a strong call to the officers under him. This exaggerated mobilization of the body posture seemed to outsiders to be a nervous disorder, but here it received an enthusiastic response from the officers of the 55th Division.

Nevorovsky was Nikolai Nikolayevich Raevsky's old subordinate, when the Borodino Battle was fought, Raevsky was the commander of the Russian Seventh Army, and Nevorovsky was the commander of the 27th Division under the Seventh Army. In the Battle of Borodino, the Seventh Army's multi-sided fort defended by the 27th Division repeatedly repelled the frantic attacks of the superior French army, and was known as the "Raevsky Fort".

"Very good. But you also have to remember that you have to move fast, faster than on the training ground! Don't be along, this is not against the barbaric natives, the enemy on the opposite side is Russia's most formidable opponent.

This war is a contest between the Russian Empire and China! It's a contest between the Western world and the Eastern world! It's a contest between Caucasians and Yellow Races. ”

"The glory of the empire is in your hands, do not let the glory of the Russian empire fall from your hands......"

Raevsky walked out of the division headquarters of the 55th Division, stood on a small high ground, looked to the east, and quietly waited for the start of the war. His eldest son, Alexander, who was 17 years old, followed him, while his youngest son, Niccolò, who was five years younger than Alexander, had already been sent back to St. Petersburg by Raevsky.

When Napoleon led an army of 600,000 men into Russian soil, Alexander and Niccolò were put on the battlefield by their father as Raevsky's internal servants. During the Battle of Smolensk, Nikolai took part in the blocking of the village of Satanovka with his two sons.

Raevsky's two sons at that time, one sixteen and the other eleven.

When the Russian army launched an offensive against the French, Raevsky and his two sons rushed to the front of the Smolensk regimental column. The youngest son, Niccolò, even charged alongside him. The feat of the commander's father and son encouraged the cavalry, who had hesitated under the onslaught of the enemy, and they bravely charged and broke the French line.

It was also thanks to Raevsky's courageous charge that time was bought for the retreat of Bagration's army group. Bagration retreated to Smolensk at a smaller cost.

"Have you made contact with His Royal Highness the Grand Duke? When will the follow-up troops arrive at the front? I don't have time to greet them. Tell Davydov to greet His Royal Highness the Honorable Grand Duke on our behalf. ”

Denis Vasilyevich Davydov was a hero of the previous war against France, who recognized Bagration as an adjutant for six years, and at the beginning of the war in 1812, he served as a battalion commander and later a partisan leader in the Akhterka Hussar Regiment, successfully active behind enemy lines, and was one of the initiators and organizers of the guerrilla movement against the Russian army during the French War.

Once, when the French army was arrogant, various guerrilla forces converged, surrounded and captured a 2,000-strong column of the French army.

Therefore, although Davydov, who was born in the aristocracy, did not have a high military rank before, but after the victory of Russia in the war against France, he was quickly promoted to major general of the Russian cavalry by Alexander I.

Nevorovsky sat upright in his headquarters, his face sinking like water. Now he no longer has the exaggerated mobilization posture he had before, as an experienced Russian officer, he can only forcibly suppress the messy distractions in his heart, and strive to build a map of the distribution of his troops in his mind. An officer, in order to win a war, must take full control of his troops and control them to make the most correct actions with brief orders.

Although there were few Chinese in Tulinsk, the battle was significant.

As an outpost of the second stage of a general war that will determine the fate of Russia, if it fails, the morale of the great Russian army will inevitably be demoralized, and it will have a bad impact on the entire campaign. And if the whole campaign had failed miserably, Tsarist Russia would have to be on the absolute defensive in the east. The one of the two-headed eagles that stretched out to the east was completely cut off.

More importantly, if the door of the East is closed to Russia, then Russia can only turn its head to the West to forage for food, but in the case of Western civilization as a whole being suppressed by the Chinese, the future Western world must reduce civil war and internal strife as much as possible, that is to say, Russia may have no food to find, which is too cruel for Russia.

"May God bless us!"