On the banks of the Daobi River, nearly 10,000 remnant Cossack troops took a short rest in the dense forest. The tired soldiers nestled behind the leeward tree trunks, chewing something unknown in their mouths.
Surprised soldiers were chasing hares and sika deer in the distance. After the sound of gunshots, they slaughtered all the prey in the entire forest like locusts.
At this moment, this Cossack vanguard force has long lost its previous pride and arrogance. The continuous tug-of-war has worn away everyone's patience. Their combat effectiveness has become weaker and weaker after losing supplies. If it weren't for the fact that they still have some elite troops in their hearts. Pride, I am afraid that I have become a beast by now.
As commanders, Gogol and Furmanov did not receive any special treatment at the moment. They were sitting next to a campfire, roasting pine nuts with two pieces of broken stone. The pine nuts were sizzling on the hot stone slab. The beep exploded, and the heads of the two bearded commanders were almost touching each other, and they were clumsily peeling pine nuts.
In ordinary times, who would have thought that the dignified Cossack division commander would eat such a thing? Isn't this a rat's ration? But now there is no choice. Last night, my men caught some squirrels, and the two officers roasted them and ate them.
When people are the hungriest, their minds are often clearest. The brain circuits that are often clogged by food and wine are once again unblocked. All the weirdness in this war gradually emerges before our eyes.
"Gogol... do you think we were fooled? Why did the defenders defending Vladivostok during this period have different tactical styles every day, and the cooperation between the various units was also very stiff..."
"Based on normal combat experience, even if this is a group of defenders, they are all new recruits. They are just a group of farmers. After such a long period of fighting, they should have become veterans and become more and more experienced..."
Listening to Fumanov's words, Gogol nodded, "Yes, I also have this strange feeling, as if what we attack every day is a brand new group of defenders..."
"Their cooperation every day is very unfamiliar, but their physical strength has always been very strong, and there is no trace of fatigue after long-term combat..."
"In addition, there is their poor marksmanship and panic formation. If it were not for their numerical advantage, I am afraid that we would have smashed the defense line countless times..."
Furmanov dug into the soil with his bayonet in frustration, "And their artillery, it's so accurate. I didn't expect these thugs to have such powerful artillery. It's incredible..."
Gogol sighed, "What a bullshit volunteer army, that's the regular Chinese army. Sooner or later, this land will belong to Xiao Letian. Now I believe it. These Chinese people really weren't just joining in the fun during the Austro-Prussian War. Before, All the rumors are true..."
"Damn it! After the confrontation with the French, did he target our Tsarist Russia again? He is too arrogant. His Majesty the Tsar will definitely punish him... But why hasn't Fadeyev come yet? Is there something wrong with him too? ?”
"No, it's impossible. Who can stop the main force of 30,000 Cossacks? Even if the Chinese regular army is powerful, they are all dragged here. Who can go north to stop our main force? Don't worry..."
Just as the two were comforting and cheering each other, several guards came over carrying more than ten pounds of venison. "Sir, we hunted a deer. We have venison to eat today... It's a pity that there is no salt. What a pity!"
It’s already good to have meat, but why do you expect to eat salt? The two division commanders, like reincarnations of starving ghosts, snatched the venison and put it on a bonfire with bayonets and began to roast it slowly.
The sizzling oil dripped out, and the rich aroma of the meat was extremely tempting. They couldn't wait for it to be cooked, so they took out their knives, cut off the top layer and stuffed it into their mouths. They both screamed because it was so hot. .
The commander of an army has already become so virtuous due to hunger, let alone other soldiers. In this resting camp, those who can eat two bites of barbecue are all officer-level, and more soldiers can even eat a few bites of raw meat. There were also many people who drank two sips of deer blood.
While eating, Fumanov suddenly became emotional. He dropped the barbecue and stood up, pacing back and forth with red eyes. "What on earth are we doing? When did the Cossacks ever live in such misery?"
"Look at that abandoned camp in the north... That's where the volunteers fired their first shot in the Far East. Now we're trapped here again. Could it be that God wants to abandon us..."
This was a true prophecy. As soon as Fumanov finished speaking, he heard a sudden loud blast of bugles from the southwest and the thunderous sound of horse hooves. The sentries on the periphery rushed up like crazy, "There are enemies! The Chinese cavalry... there are more than two thousand, prepare for war!"
"Damn it!" Gogol jumped up angrily, "You dare to attack us with just over 2,000 people. How much do you look down on us? Prepare to fight and eat these arrogant guys!"
Countless soldiers in the woods shouted and jumped on their horses. They drew their sabers and quickly organized into a charging front. More than three thousand Cossacks began to gather at the edge of the woods.
Just when the military formations of the two sides were more than a thousand meters apart, the Chinese team suddenly slowed down. A white flag fluttered in the middle. Two Chinese cavalrymen began to break away from the team and gallop towards the army with a Cossack prisoner between them.
"Wait... the enemy raised a white flag and sent one of our officers, who seems to be a captain? Let them in and see what medicine they bought in the gourd!"
The fluttering white flag was getting closer and closer. When it approached 200 meters, the Russian captain in the middle began to wave the white flag in his hand: "Don't shoot, I am one of my own..."
"I am the deputy company commander of the third battalion and first company of the third division, Captain Peter... I have brought Fadeev's latest military order! Don't shoot..."
With a bang, the Cossack formation was in a commotion, and everyone was stunned. "The commander of the regiment sent a military order? Why are they being held hostage by the Chinese? What happened..."
Captain Peter's horse rushed to the front of the battle. At this moment, he was crying with tears. "Immediately report to Commander Gogol and Furmanov... Our main force of 30,000 troops was defeated... on the island in the middle of the Amur River..."
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Ah... There were screams of panic in the camp. At this time, Gogol and Furmanov rushed up and yelled, "You fart! Are you a traitor? How can we lose? I will chop you to death..."
Fumanov drew his knife and was about to kill someone, but the captain took out a piece of white paper from his arms and said, "It's useless if you kill me. This is the surrender order written by the general himself. You will know it as soon as you read it..."
"The Amur River has opened. We are completely divided in the Far East. There are no more reinforcements!"
"Why go through the Amur River? Why not force a crossing from the mouth of the Songhua River? What happened..." Gogol stopped Furmanov and asked loudly.
"Where can we go through Heilongjiang! Hunchun, the general of the Qing Dynasty Ning Guta, launched a mutiny. Heilongjiang is no longer Tepuxin's territory. These Chinese have chipped the ice at all the crossings. We can't get through..."
