Xinjiang is very large, with three mountains sandwiched between two basins. The Tianshan Mountains, Altai Mountains, and Kunlun Mountains then form the Junggar Basin and the Tarim Basin.
The Tarim Basin has all fallen into the hands of Aguba, while the northern Xinjiang, the Jungar Basin, is still holding on to the Qing government with difficulty.
The Jungar Basin alone covers an area of 400,000 square kilometers, not counting the surrounding deserts and mountains!
Only five thousand cavalry guard such a vast land area? Gordon was stunned.
Rongquan looked at Gordon with a vigilant look on his face. He had been sent to the frontier during the Xianfeng period, and he had not participated in the entire war to quell the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
Gordon has never been seen before!
Guan Lu quickly introduced, "This is the Admiral General of the Imperial Court, Admiral Gordon of the Ever Victorious Army... This time he was hired by Lord Long Live to train the new army of the Qing Dynasty!"
"Oh? It's the victorious army that evolved from the earliest foreign gun team? That's disrespectful, that's disrespectful..." Rong Quan quickly clasped his fists and saluted.
He had never seen it before, but Rong Quan had seen it in the imperial newspaper. He had also heard from his colleagues that when Gordon went to the countryside, he followed the Romans and performed a fist-holding ceremony commonly used by military generals.
"Sir Gordon, let's talk while walking... It's not that I don't want to train more troops, it's just that I really can't train troops. Without the support of the court, how can I train troops..."
From Rongquan's words, Gordon learned that when he was not in China, a very serious but relatively low-key strategic dispute between coastal defense and land defense broke out within the Manchu Qing court.
At the end of the Qing Empire, it could be said that the dilapidated houses were leaking air everywhere, and internal and external troubles were rising. However, they also encountered major changes that had not been seen in three thousand years.
The industrial revolution in human society is getting deeper and deeper, and the fighting capabilities of the great powers are becoming more and more fierce, giving no respite to backward nations at all.
There are maritime powers such as Britain and France on the sea, and outside the customs and Xinjiang, we have encountered the greedy Tsarist Russia. The imperial finances are simply unable to sustain a two-front war... No, no, no, it should be called a two-line defense.
The Qing Empire has long since lost the strength and courage to attack. It would be a blessing to be able to defend the territory left by our ancestors!
The imperial finances could not maintain two or even multiple lines of defense, so they had to give up part of it. At this time, the important officials in the DPRK began to divide into two factions.
The Huai army forces headed by Li Hongzhang, the predecessor of Beiyang, demanded that Xinjiang be abandoned to concentrate on coastal defense, build fleets and forts, and develop ocean shipping and trade business.
On the other hand, another faction of powerful officials represented by Zuo Zongtang refused to give up the inherent territory of Xinjiang. Of course, they did not want to abandon coastal defense but gradually developed the navy on the premise of defending Xinjiang.
Both ideas are actually the last resort after the Qing Empire fell into despair. Who let the national power be gone? Even if there is no money, it cannot be changed.
It was originally a policy debate on the strategic direction of the country, but it was so infected by the bad atmosphere of the Manchu officialdom that it turned into a strange party dispute.
Officials in the DPRK and China were divided into factions. Those who were close to Li Hongzhang supported coastal defense no matter what the reason. They may not have known that ships were made of steel.
Officials who had interests entangled with Zuo Zongtang refused to give up Xinjiang, even though he had never been there in his life.
Once the discussion turns into a party dispute, the matter will be troublesome. This will force the officials of the DPRK and China to take sides!
Both sides dislike each other, so as long as they are not of their own faction, then go ahead and impeach them!
The little emperor has not yet taken charge, the treasury is empty, foreigners are surrounding him from all directions, and the domestic turmoil cannot be calmed down for a while.
This creates an extreme void in Xinjiang’s defense!
Rongquan recalled his entire experience in Xinjiang, and he felt heartbroken from beginning to end. Ever since the Agubai rebellion, the court had not sent a penny of military pay.
At that time, there was no choice but to spend all the money on Ping Changmao and Nianjun!
Without money, weapons and ammunition, the situation in Xinjiang could only be supported by the local people. Many times the Qing army used broadswords and spears to fight Agubai's musketeers. How could such a battle be won?
Gordon said that five thousand cavalry was a small number, but these five thousand cavalry were trained by Rong Quan with five years of hard work!
"General Admiral! The imperial court has no money to give me, and it doesn't even give me rights or policies... Until now, I am still an acting general. I don't even have the right to mobilize the Kobuto garrison in Uliasutai in the north. !”
"I can only use the little power I have to collect taxes, train troops, and accumulate food and grass... I can raise these five thousand cavalry, which is already the limit!"
"Fortunately, the main passes of the Tianshan Mountains are still under our control. They are all dangerous places that can only be blocked by one man. If we guard these passes, the enemy will not be able to attack them for a while!"
"But if you want me to attack, it's extremely difficult... It's really impossible without reinforcements!"
Gordon and his party finally entered the small tower city. After sitting down in the carriage, he asked, "You have not received any assistance here or even the expansion of your rights..."
“Does this prove that Li Hongzhang’s coastal defense strategy has become a national policy?”
Upon hearing this, Doro sneered and said, "Shit! I still don't know the virtues of those big men in Sijiu City? They want it because they want it, and they also want their face..."
"The East China Sea is now tightly controlled by Xiao Letian. Li Hongzhang still wants to engage in coastal defense? Yes, yes, it means defense. What else can he do besides defense?"
"I'm afraid that in the end there will be no coastal defense, and Xinjiang will also be lost..."
Everyone in the room sighed. At this time, two red-hot charcoal braziers were brought in, and a charcoal fire was lit in the yard. The tender lamb bought from the herdsmen outside the city had already begun to be roasted.
"Life here in Tacheng is simple, there is nothing to entertain, only dried mutton dishes can entertain guests... Let's chat while eating!"
Rong Quan picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. "Ah... so happy. I didn't expect to see my relatives in Sijiucheng this year. I'll do it first as a token of respect!"
"Brothers, I am begging you here...after you meet Master Zuo and Lord Long Live, please send me a message!"
"Although the thieves in Xinjiang are powerful, they are not invincible... I beg the court to send a large army to Xinjiang quickly. We will win this battle!"
"The imperial court's dispute over coastal and land defenses is purely natural in my opinion... In fact, it's not that Xinjiang is difficult to fight, nor is it impossible to defend!"
"It depends on what method we use!"
Guan Lu and Doluo's eyes lit up and they drank the wine in one gulp. "General, please tell me... Long live the Lord sent us here to listen to the truth and to see the truth!"
"God knows how many private goods are included in the memorials of those ministers!"
