Songhua River was the boundary river between Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces in the Qing Dynasty. It was also the largest tributary of Heilongjiang. To the east of Heilongjiang was the boundary of Jilin, and further east was the Wusuli River. It also flows from south to north and merges into Heilongjiang, expanding its water volume. Heilongjiang was renamed the Amur River and left the territory of the Qing Dynasty and entered the Far East of Tsarist Russia.
The Russian Cavalry Regiment chose the Songhua River Estuary to enter the three eastern provinces. It was indeed a very wise choice. First of all, the season was chosen well. In early April, it was still ice and snow outside the pass. The ice on the river was thick enough to run horses. As long as the horses' hooves were wrapped with animal skins. If you still have straw, you don’t have to worry about slipping, and your daily marching speed can be guaranteed.
In addition, both sides of the river are relatively prosperous places. Because of the convenience of the river, villages and ports are dotted. Most of the high-quality wood outside the customs is transported to all parts of the country by river transportation. The supply of densely populated areas is natural. very convenient.
Gogol carried a large amount of gold and silver with his army, which he had snatched from herdsmen on the Mongolian grasslands. This gold and silver was enough for him to buy military rations, horse feed and other supplies along the way.
However, things went against expectations. The reputation of Rakshasa ghosts was already bad in the streets outside the customs. When these cavalry rushed into the Songhua River in darkness, the villages on both sides of the river fled.
The Qing army guarding the Songhua River Estuary knelt in the snow and cried in the direction of the Forbidden City. He didn't understand why the general would issue such an order. He had guarded the Songhua River Estuary all his life and was on guard against the old man on the other side. Why today? He actually lured the wolf into the house.
"It's hard to disobey the king's orders, and it's hard to disobey the army's orders!" The garrison was full of enthusiasm, but he couldn't stand the general's military orders. Moreover, Tepuqin was afraid of causing trouble, and even asked his staff to show him the secret telegrams from the court.
When the guard saw the secret message from the Queen Mother and the Prince, he gave up all resistance. The situation was settled and the situation was no longer something that his small guard could stop.
How could any dynasty not have a few loyal ministers? Not all of them are heartless after two hundred years of kindness. Especially in the Manchus' hometown of Baishan and Heishui, men who have not been affected by the prosperity and materialism in the pass still maintain the simplicity of the past. .
"I can't kill you foreign thieves and big bandits. Can I kill myself? Your Majesty! This slave didn't guard the country's gates well. I deserve to die, my slave."
While crying, the garrison officer took advantage of the situation, unsheathed his sword and slashed at his own neck.
"General, don't want it." Tepuqin's staff turned pale with fright, but how could a scholar stop the guarding general? The sharp knife directly cut his throat, and blood spurted out like an arrow.
"Master General", the Manchu family didn't have a few loyal servants. The soldiers on guard held the body of their master and cried loudly. The shocked Rakshasa who was running couldn't help but look at the river bank.
"The master is dead and we can't survive, so just follow him!"
"The sky has eyes! Your Majesty, please open your eyes and take a look! Don't chill the hearts of us local officers and soldiers, Your Majesty, please wake up!"
According to the Eight Banners system, if the master dies, the slave will naturally be guilty of being disadvantaged in guarding. In addition, these generals have been guarding for many years and are no different from a family. Seeing this scene, the six soldiers drew their swords and wiped their necks without saying a word. .
With a pop, the staff sent by Tepuchin sat down on the ground. He was so frightened that he said, "It's hard for the country to meet the loyal! It's hard for the country to meet the loyal! Wuwuwu!"
On the ice, Gogol and Furmanov stared blankly at this scene. The cavalry behind them moved southward like a flood. The horseshoes as big as bowls were wrapped in animal skins and straw, and they stepped on the ice and snow, making bursts of muffled thunder. Such a sound.
Fumanov scratched his head, "I didn't expect that there are so many bloody men in this Qing Empire! Damn it, if all the Qing people had some courage, it would be really difficult for us to deal with it."
Gogol raised his head and saluted the dead body. He murmured in his mouth, "Warriors are worthy of respect, but it is a pity that the national destiny of your Qing Dynasty is gone. It is impossible to count on one or two warriors to turn the tide!"
"Including Xiao Letian, who caused earth-shaking turmoil in the south, is just a flashback to the decline of China's national destiny! Eastern civilization has had the upper hand for thousands of years, and it is our turn in the Western world to counterattack as the tide turns. !”
"This is destiny, this is the general trend of the world, I firmly believe it! Poor savior martyrs, you are just a group of old men guarding the tomb!"
Furmanov looked at Gogol's muttering and asked in confusion, "What are you talking about? What's so interesting about a few dead people? It's time for us to set off!"
"Yes, let's go! Vladivostok is not far away, and General Diachenko is waiting for our rescue! The whole army assaults"
Facts have proved that the promises of the Rakshasa ghosts are absolutely untrustworthy. These beasts only believe in the law of the jungle. When the dead letters from the guards began to be passed along the river, all the promises of Tsarist Russia became lies in the hearts of the people.
The people in the villages along the coast fled. People took their families and hid deep in the mountains. They took away all the money and food they could take away. What they couldn't take away was not left to the invaders even if they were burned.
"Run! The Rakshasa ghosts who eat children alive are here. They broke through the mouth of the Songhua River and came to kill them. The defenders were killed, and the army ran away with countless casualties!"
Rumors spread along the river like the wind, even faster than a cavalry charge. He thought he could use gold and silver to buy food and horse feed from local villagers. However, Gogol found that all the villages along the way had been abandoned, and the entire Songhua River was on both sides. It turned out to be a dead place.
"What should we do?" Fumanov shouted loudly, "Our soldiers can go without food for several days, but the horses cannot go hungry. They must supplement fodder and beans. It is best to bring some eggs, otherwise the horses will lose their strength. We can't fight at all!"
"What to do! What to do? When we come out this time, the legion commander appoints you as the leader and me as the assistant! You must make up your mind."
Gogol held the riding crop in his hand and kept turning the handle. He was racking his brains and thinking. Finally, the riding whip snapped in the air, sending a whip into the air.
"I can run away from a small village, but I can't run away from a big town to rob him! I don't care about any diplomatic conflicts now, time is everything!"
Fumanov laughed loudly, "That's right! If you were so cheerful, we would have had hot food already! Brother, speed up and get ready to fight!"
The 20,000-strong army tore off their hypocritical masks and began to attack the big towns along the coast. The string of towns leading to Sanxing City such as Buqihe, Fukejin, Susu City, Kemayi, and Yindashui were all in trouble.
After all, those big towns have wealthy households and businessmen stationed there, and their information is still well-informed. They already know the news about the Rakshasa ghosts taking advantage of the passage. They thought that these Rakshasa cavalry would not dare to blatantly harass towns with thousands of people, but People would never imagine that there is no limit to a hungry ghost.
Towns were captured one after another, granaries and horse yards were occupied, and all supplies needed by the cavalry regiment were snatched away!
As long as all the people who resist are killed, in the eyes of Fumanov, he only robs you but does not massacre the city. This is already a great kindness. What else do you, a group of pagan and inferior people, want?
