War is always cruel. No matter how well-equipped the dominant side is, how correct its tactics are, or how advantageous the terrain is, as long as both sides enter the stage of hand-to-hand combat, casualties are inevitable.
A French cavalry battalion of more than 400 people has lost more than 150 people in just 20 minutes of fighting. The battle loss rate is more than one-third. According to current European military regulations, it is enough I chose to withdraw my troops as appropriate.
But the veteran battalion commander who participated in the Crimean War chose not to retreat. He just encouraged his soldiers with one sentence: "This is the land of France, this is our motherland, if we all retreat here, , how will we face our children and grandchildren in the future..."
With this sentence, all the French troops present went completely berserk. They ignored the cold Tatō jungle and drove their horses to charge forward like crazy.
One after another, the cavalrymen and their horses were hacked to death in front of the Tai Sword Formation, and this place had become a hell of killing. On both sides of the Tai Sword Formation were the King of Wings on one side and Luo Huo on the other. They were controlling the battlefield with their daggers and bayonets, protecting the two wings of the Tai Sword Formation.
These new army soldiers still underestimated the tenacity of the French. One-third of the reduction could not contain their offensive, and even the sharp Tatō jungle could not stop their charge. In the end, some brave cavalrymen even jumped up high and used their bodies as weapons to smash into the military formation.
The first one to break through the formation was followed by the second. When more and more cavalry rushed into the formation, the tight formation of the infantry could no longer be maintained. Hyoutaro yelled angrily, "Spread out, fight freely, and fight hand to hand." ..." As he spoke, the sword in his hand was swung like the wind, and a huge horse head was chopped off.
When the fighting reaches this level, there is really no technical content. The cavalry and infantry are entangled together, just like a battle between street gangsters. The only thing that is not planned is the sharpness in the heart.
The cavalry battalion commander held the rein in one hand and waved his saber desperately with his right hand to slash at the new army beneath him. The horse under his crotch was spitting violently, and pressed forward with his shoulders and neck against the gap in the crowd.
"Damn Chinamen, go to hell! Go to hell all..."
"Damn French big nose, you want to fight with me in hand-to-hand combat, you are not qualified..." Although Luo Huo's kung fu is not as good as Long Ye, he has practiced Dahong Boxing for more than ten years since he was a child. He only saw a bayonet in his hand. He stopped the oncoming saber and hit the horse's neck hard with an elbow from his right arm. The strong Arabian horse fell to the ground.
The battle has completely transformed into the medieval era of human society. Cold iron tools pierced the enemy's body. Fists, stones, and even teeth and nails have become people's fighting weapons. Everyone's eyes are scarlet, and bright red blood seeps into them. The earth was trampled into red mud by pairs of military boots.
The French fought hard because this is their motherland and this is their hometown.
The Chinese fought hard because they wanted to save their comrades and avenge the fire six years ago.
There is only one voice in everyone's heart: "Fight to the death... The entire army will fight to the death..." The tragic atmosphere infected everyone present. Xiao Letian and others standing on the Swiss side had their hearts in their throats. Ping'er Already fainted from fright, Huniu and Fangguan did not dare to look. They hid back in the carriage and just kept crying.
Xiao Letian's hands were trembling. Every time a familiar figure fell in the telescope, his heart would tremble. He could feel his head numb and numb. This was a symptom of extremely high blood pressure. .
"Hurry up, Xiao Hexin, can you please hurry up... we can't kill more people, I don't have many talents, one less person will die..."
Just as Xiao Letian was praying silently in his heart, on the main road due west, Xiao Hexin and Sima Yun were already running so fast that they almost stuck out their tongues.
Heading from Besançon to Switzerland, the altitude is constantly rising, and the entire march route is climbing a steep slope. After marching sixty kilometers in one night, and still climbing higher and higher, I'm afraid the Iron Man will collapse from exhaustion after running down.
Xiao Hexin felt as if his legs were filled with lead, and his throat was burning and painful. Every time he breathed, it was like a knife was cutting his trachea. He wanted to swallow, but found that his mouth was dry, and his throat and eyes were stuck together and he couldn't separate them. opened.
This feeling of sticking together in the throat is so uncomfortable that Xiao Hexin really doesn't want to speak now, but he is an officer, and his biggest responsibility is to boost the morale of his brothers.
"Keep going...keep going...don't stop trotting! It's not far, it's really not that far. We'll be safe after crossing the border..."
"I know everyone is tired and thirsty, but we can't rest now... If we want to escape from the tiger's mouth, we have to work hard again!"
Xiao Hexin looked at the staggering comrade running beside him, and without saying a word, he carried Spencer on his shoulder to himself.
"Sir...I can do it!"
"What's okay? I didn't see you being bitten by a stray bullet in your thigh... stop talking nonsense and run a few more steps..."
Not only Xiao Hexin, but now Sima Yun and squad leaders and platoon leaders at all levels are encouraging the comrades around him. Once they find someone who is weak, they will immediately take over their load.
Xiao Letian has said countless times that there is absolutely no need for senior officers in his new army. In battle and charge, you have to shout 'Follow me'. In practice, you have to shout 'Follow me'. In the current situation, officers have to endure even more hardships. in front.
This is the rule, this is the rule set by Xiao Letian. This is not forced by status. It was brought out by Xiao Letian himself at the beginning of the founding of the New Army.
Thinking back to the bloody battle in Naha, Xiao Letian never skipped a step and always took the lead when charging. What kind of leader there is, there will be what kind of army. This is the soul of the army, and this is the inheritance.
By this time it was getting dark, and frightened faces could be seen in the windows of countless French houses on both sides of the road. They stared at the earth dragons on the road in surprise, constantly guessing the identities of these people. But no one dared to go out of the house, and some even sneaked out of the back window and hid in the fields.
"Speed up, speed up, cough cough cough... If I remember correctly, we passed a small stone bridge when we came here. According to the distance, we should be almost there..."
"We found it. We found a stone bridge and a creek ahead. We are not far from the border...Long live!"
The crowd suddenly cheered, and everyone's speed increased. After a while, the vanguard had seen the stone bridge and heard the sound of running water.
"It's a life-saver... Everyone obeys the order. Each person can only drink one handful. You must not drink too much. This is an order..." Sima Yun knew that if you drink a lot of cold water after a forced march, you will suffer from cramps in your hands and feet. Suffering from a lifelong chronic disease is something that cannot be taken carelessly.
One after another, the New Army soldiers stepped into the cold stream, scooped up a handful of stream water to moisten their throats, and then continued to run forward. The cool stream gave them strength, and the march speed accelerated again.
Sima Yun stood on the stone bridge and shouted at the crowd of people, "Quick, quick, quick... don't linger, speed up the march... Why is that so-and-so drinking all the time? You don't want your life..." At this moment, suddenly there was a message from the East There was a burst of thunder, and countless soldiers were stunned. When they looked up, there was no cloud in the sky.
"What's going on? It's thundering on a sunny day...fuck, is it?" The brothers present almost guessed a frightening possibility at the same time. This is not thunder, this is an explosion. Could it be that you have encountered an accident? Is there an enemy ambush?
"Damn it, charge... fight, don't give me your life to charge... The Prime Minister is in danger!"
More than one hundred and fifty young men all went crazy. They ran on two legs like Hot Wheels, with veins popping on their necks. The forced march completely turned into a life-threatening charge.
There is only one thought in everyone's mind, speed up, speed up, speed up, you are in danger, you need our support.
Many years later, farmers in the Franco-Comté area often talked about this urgent march. They had never seen anyone running so hard in their lives. They were all like Pheidipudis, eager to close the hot springs. News of the victory was sent back to Athens.
"That was a group of terrifying Chinese people. When they were running wild, they were like a group of furious buffaloes, more like a group of wounded wild wolves. To this day, I still shudder when I think back to the murderous aura emanating from them... I remember it. Children, please don’t be an enemy of such an army, it’s too scary…”
The loud noises Xiao Hexin and the others heard were the explosions of the three piles before the hand-to-hand fight. Now Xiao Letian's escape journey has reached the most critical moment.
Xiao Hexin and the others didn't know what happened at the border checkpoint, and Xiao Letian didn't know where the brothers who were marching on only two legs had gone. The two groups communicated almost by relying on some intuition.
"Mr. Xiao, I must remind you that there are only five minutes left before the half hour you mentioned... Please make a decision immediately!" The battlefield was so tragic that even the Prussians could not stand it. Yes, Jonas grabbed his pocket watch and shouted desperately at Xiao Letian.
"Enough, I've had enough of you, you are a lunatic! You don't cherish your soldiers too much. Such a brave young man cannot die in vain! You are committing a crime..."
"That's enough! Shut up..." Xiao Letian lost control of his emotions. He grabbed Jonas's bow tie and shouted, "What do you know? Do you know what sacrifice is in vain? Do you know the comradeship of these soldiers?" Are you united? Do you know the history of our army?"
"More than one hundred and fifty brothers are trapped in France. If I abandon them, they will have no other choice but to break into pieces... They will not surrender, they will only choose to die together. I am my soldier. Understand their hearts..."
Xiao Letian burst into tears, "I firmly believe... I firmly believe that they can arrive. I have this intuition and I also have this confidence! My army is invincible. They were born by destiny. They have not done what they should do." It’s over, they won’t die, they definitely won’t die…”
Xiao Letian, filled with sadness, let go of Jonas, looked at the battlefield in the distance and murmured to himself, "My brothers, don't let me down, and don't let our nation down. There are so many people waiting for us to save Well, how could you die here? Remember, your burial place will always be on the continent where you were born and raised..."
Jonas was about to collapse. He really wanted to punch Xiao Letian hard and wake him up. But he couldn't do it. The sadness shown on Xiao Letian moved him to tears.
At this moment, the Prussian observation post hidden on the commanding heights of the hillside suddenly stood up, opened his mouth and screamed, feeling extremely nervous.
"What's wrong? What is he talking about? Tell me..." Xiao Letian yelled.
Jonas's face turned pale, and he said with trembling lips, "Reinforcements... French reinforcements have arrived! Another cavalry battalion has arrived! They will go into battle soon! We have no hope!"
...
