"My lord, Chelik's contact with Almaty is becoming more and more urgent. ''x'" Wei Ming, who continued to hang one arm, lifted the curtain and strode into the tent. The wind and snow all over his body, and the drooping braids on the back of his head have become a popsicle, but he doesn't feel cold at all, but has a smile on his face.

Kaufman was so eager to contact Almaty, and in the last few days it has reached a wave every two days, although the letter is a secret word, and the Cossack cavalry sent out is all diehards, and they would rather die than surrender. But the expeditionary army just thought with their toes, and knew that it must be Chellick who was short of food.

Deliberately let go of a few and let them send the news to Almaty. All Liu Xian could do was pray that the Russian army in Chelik Town would eat up the last grain of grain in his hands before the situation in southern Xinjiang changed dramatically.

Zhang Zhongkui's letters have been delivered day after day in recent days. Because Zhang Zhongkui sent one letter a day to Liu Xian. The situation in the old city of Kashgar is very bad, counting the ten-day postponement period, it may be that the current old city of Kashgar has fallen into the hands of the Russian army.

Zhang Zhongkui was already gathering coolies to repair and consolidate the new city of Kashgar, preparing to continue to hold on to the new city and resist the attack of the Russian army after the old city was lost. At the same time, all the people, whether Manchu or native, moved to Ingishhar, and even abandoned the two big cities of Abarth and Tashbarik on the left and right.

The battle situation in southern Xinjiang has been fighting so far, and the biggest problem is that Zhang Zhongkui has no idea how much strength the Russian army on the other side still has. He is not Liu Xian, there is a virtual map. Zhang Zhongkui saw only waves of Russian charges, and saw endless forces that seemed to have no end. The preparations and intentions he has made can only start from the worst outcome-

The old town could not be defended. The new city is also dangerous. But in order to buy time for the relocation of the people and the solidification of Ingishal, he could only lead the remnants of his army to defend the new city. And the two big cities of Kashgar, Abarth and Tashbarik, located in the northeast and southeast of the old city of Kashgar, are also unable to take care of it.

If the town of Chillik is still as calm as it was half a month ago. Liu Xian had already rushed to southern Xinjiang. However, the opportunity for the change of the war situation on both sides seems to have been rushed together, and the old city of Kashgar is shouting 'I can't hold it', 'I can't hold it', and Kaufman's side is also shouting 'there is no food', 'there is no food'. It stumbled Liu Xian's legs and feet all of a sudden, making him dare not go south.

……

"Boom-"

A flowering bomb landed on a house on the side of the street, and the explosion blew off the entire roof. Half of the house collapsed in an instant.

"General, be careful—" The guards reflexively shielded in front of Zhang Zhongkui.

The coolies around the house were scattering like non-stop worker ants, but there was still a hapless creature who fell to the ground howling and wailing, and his waist was hit by a collapsed beam. Half of his body was 'slammed' into the collapsing wall.

Pushing away the guards in front of him, he was walking forward. The wounded coolie was obviously not saved, the lower half of his body was smashed, and the bones of his internal organs and waist and hips were leaking out. You can see it clearly through the scattered bricks and stones.

The wails grew weaker and weaker. But Zhang Zhongkui's face still flashed coldly. It's easy to lose faith with this kind of wail.

He gave a look to one of the guards beside him. "Give him a hand. Don't let him suffer any more. ”

The guard nodded. A "snap" shot rang out. The sound stopped immediately. The eyes of the coolies around him were focused on the shooter, a Qing soldier.

Fear, fear, and perhaps a hint of resentment, the coolies raised their heads and lowered their heads instantly, and went about their business. In front of the Qing army's grandfather, these coolies who were born as prisoners of war in the Agu Bai Army have no human rights.

After more than two months of entanglement and fighting, the old city of Kashgar was lost. Zhang Zhongkui and Huo Guangcheng led the remnants of the army to retreat into the new city two days ago and continued to hold on.

Compared to the old city. Not only are the fortifications of the new city far inferior to the former, but even the strength of the defenders is simply not comparable to the previous one.

Thirty artillery pieces are now only thirteen. The number of soldiers was only less than 2,000.

The Battle of the Old City of Kashgar. The casualties and wounds of a large number of soldiers were the heaviest losses in the southern part of the expeditionary army. However, in addition to the casualties, there were also a considerable number of recruits of the hussar battalion, who had broken down in spirit and were decadent and devoid of fighting spirit and courage in the cruel and long war, and Zhang Zhongkui could only withdraw these people to the rear, so that there were only 2,000 insufficient troops in his hands.

Of course, the cavalry strength of the southern Xinjiang expeditionary army is still strong. But they have their own opponents. The Russian army is dominated by a regiment of Cossack cavalry, accompanied by conscripted Kokand cavalry and a small number of Kazakh cavalry, which is comparable to the cavalry strength of the southern Xinjiang expeditionary army.

During the battle of the old city of Kashgar, the Russian cavalry raid battle, and the cavalry interception and ambush battle of the expeditionary army were an important part of the impact on the direction of the war.

After more than two months of fighting, the defenders of the expeditionary army in the old city of Kashgar never suffered from the shortage of gunpowder, which was all due to the efforts and sacrifices of the cavalry troops.

Zhang Zhongkui's destination was the front-line headquarters, and the commander of the front-line of the expeditionary army was still Huo Guangcheng as in the old city. He may not be able to take on the big responsibility, but he is brave and resolute, and he is the most suitable person to fight the offensive and defensive war, which is a death, hard, and stupid battle.

Now the Russian army is only firing artillery and building forward positions outside the city. The infantry offensive has not yet begun!

Zhang Zhongkui did not give any hope for the prospect of the Battle of Xincheng. The defeat of the old city dealt a very heavy blow to the southern Xinjiang expeditionary army. In reality, there is no army that can immediately lift its spirits and continue to move on to the next wave of battles after losing a bitter battle for more than two months.

Zhang Zhongkui is now extremely hopeful that Liu Xian can come. Even if he doesn't bring a single reinforcement, as long as he comes to Kashgar, it will make the low morale and wavering morale of the army solidify and stir up. Although it still doesn't live up to the previous appearance.

Huo Guangcheng still has a fighting spirit. Unlike Zhang Zhongkui's disappointment with the prospect of the Battle of Xincheng, Huo Guangcheng believes that his own army may not be able to block the Russian army under the city.

Because he didn't believe that the Russian army that had captured the old city of Kashgar, he still had the courage and strength to fight the second battle. In the battle of the old city of Kashgar, the southern Xinjiang expeditionary army suffered heavy losses, and the losses of the Russian army in the offensive state will only be heavier and greater.

"It's a mule or a horse, don't you know when you see the real chapter!" Huo Guangcheng was so relieved to Zhang Zhongkui.

At the same time, the negotiations between China and Russia in Beijing have also reached the most critical moment.

Buze took advantage of the momentum of the Russian army to break through the old city of Kashgar, and his attitude towards China suddenly hardened, and once again insisted on the reparation of 9 million rubles, the unconditional release of the captured officers and soldiers of the Russian army, and the addition of consulates, which had previously loosened the conditions.

The Forbidden City was in a hurry, but there was no way to reverse the situation. Because everyone understands what northern Xinjiang looks like in winter, the Qing government is now trying to reinforce Liu Xian sincerely, but now it can't do it. And Liu Xian lacks soldiers and weapons, and everyone knows that he has insufficient money and food.

He single-handedly leveled most of Xinjiang, and then opened three battlefields in a row, and Liu Xian had already shouted in the continuous recital, 'Strength is not enough'.

"Alas, I knew that I regretted it today."

The small flower hall of Prince Gong's mansion, Yi? and the Seventh Prince, Yi Xun drank sullenly. Some words, Yi? No matter how depressed he is, he can't tell Wen Xiang and Bao Jun, and the only person who can spit out with him is Yiyun.

Because Yi Xun was the person in charge of the army, this Cixi's brother-in-law obviously had Cixi's trust, and after the Xinyou coup, he was successively awarded the positions of capital commander, imperial minister, minister of the guard, and management of the Shenji battalion. So far, it has been deeply rooted in the military. Some information could not be hidden from him.

For example, as early as the middle of the year, Liu Xian said that his troops were insufficient, and asked to transfer part of the old troops from Hanzhong to the north of Ganshan, attack the ancient city through Hami and Balikun, and attack the Ming army from east to west with the northbound army he was about to send. But Beijing will not allow it.

Why?

Because Beijing does not want Liu Xian to have the great credit of pacifying Xinjiang. The multi-army of Gan and Shaanxi is more of Beijing's descendant than the expeditionary army.

At the same time, many people in the army also unanimously opposed the Qin army's passage through Ganshan. It is said that the war in Gansu and Shaanxi has been in turmoil for many years, and the people's livelihood has withered, and it is difficult to bear the supply of the Qin army. This is talking nonsense with open eyes, there are 30,000 or 40,000 soldiers and horses, not much more than the number of Qin troops? Military discipline is not comparable to that of the Qin army.

In the final analysis, it is still Liu Xian's meritorious service. In addition, Gansu and Shaanxi are very close to Xinjiang, and some military leaders in the multi-armed forces do not have the intention of going to northern Xinjiang to make a contribution.

This was the strategy formulated by Duolonga at the beginning - to sweep away Ganshan and pacify northern Xinjiang. Don't let Liu Xian specialize in beauty. It was only because of Dorona's sudden injury that it was delayed.

As for why there are no signs of many armies leaving the customs until now, it is not simple, there is no opening fee, there is no additional money, there is no food and logistics supply.

There are a lot of.

Seeing that it was impossible to go to northern Xinjiang, Liu Xian could only mobilize part of his troops to take the old road of more than two years, Qinghai, and then enter southern Xinjiang. As a result, it is now that I have gone to Xining.

If the northern Xinjiang route is followed, even if the part of the Qin army that is transferred later cannot defeat Dong Fuxiang's army in the ancient city, it can greatly reduce the pressure on Dong Fuxiang's army, and it will also give Liu Xian room to transfer troops.

Now that southern Xinjiang has been defeated, the Russians have hardened up at the negotiating table. It is not an exaggeration to say that Beijing has committed its own crimes.

Of course, Yiyun knows the inside story, and she also knows that there is her sister-in-law in the middle. In the final analysis, the Manchu Qing Dynasty's precautions and vigilance against the military power of the Han people were deep-rooted.

"Sixth brother. Swings and roundabouts. We are now in a disadvantage in negotiations, but Liu Xian's reputation has also been frustrated, which is not a good thing. ”

"The war between China and Russia will end sooner or later, and Liu Xian will be transferred back to the mainland sooner or later. With the fame of this son, you must guard against it......" (to be continued...... R640