1890 King of Southeast Asia

On the afternoon of September 6, South China North Line.

In the frontline combat command, Army Major General Zhao Dabao was looking at the topographic map, and the chief of staff opened the tent and walked in.

"The landing troops have crossed the Bohai Strait. Are you ready, brothers?" Zhao Dabao took out a Borneo brand cigarette and handed one to the chief of staff.

"So the combat vehicles were checked twice, the parts that should be replaced, the fuel that should be replenished, the spare fuel, the supply vehicles, everything was taken into consideration." The chief of staff took the cigarette, lit a match, and lit it for Zhao Dabao.

"We have done everything within our human power. The battlefield changes rapidly. We can't consider everything, but we have done what we should do, and the result will not be bad." After the chief of staff lit his cigarette, he threw the matchstick on the ground and stomped it out.

"For cross-sea operations, the distance is too far, and the supply remains unchanged. Every battle must be calculated carefully. I'm not used to it." Zhao Dabao blew a smoke ring and nodded.

They did not think that this operation would fail, but nothing is absolute in the world, so they dare not be careless.

Tianjin is too far away from Borneo, the difference in optical latitude is more than 30 degrees, the straight-line distance is more than 5,000 kilometers, and the sea travel distance is even longer.

The supplies needed for each battle will take half a month to arrive. If the first breakthrough fails, the next battle will have to be launched half a month later. This is why Nanhua did not increase troops again on the southern front.

Half a month is enough for the Qing Empire to mobilize tens of thousands of people to rush back to Tianjin. At that time, Nanhua will be uncomfortable. Fight street fighting? Nanhua is unwilling.

"Okay, if nothing unexpected happens, the action will start tonight. The whole army is watching you. Don't be so sad." The chief of staff threw away the cigarette butt, stomped it out again, and patted Zhao Dabao on the shoulder.

"I know the severity of the situation. I am like this only when we are alone together. I used to laugh at people who went to Arabia and had to calculate even the water to drink. Now I know how much pressure they are under." Zhao Dabao took out another cigarette and lit it.

"Smoke less, and take a nap if you feel upset. The southern line has attracted a lot of firepower, and the strategic deception has been achieved. There will be no problem with the three-way attack." The chief of staff comforted him.

The two chatted, and it was eight o'clock in the evening.

At this time, on the land of Qing Empire, the achievements of the Second Industrial Revolution were limited to a few cities. At night, most places were quiet, including the positions of the South China Army.

At one o'clock in the morning, Zhao Dabao picked up the phone and issued an order.

"Action."

Boom~

Buzz~

The sudden roar broke the silence of the night, and people who could not leave the land due to their livelihood trembled when they heard the unheard roar.

But steel would not pay attention to them.

One armored vehicle and truck, towing artillery or supply vehicles, drove out of the camp and drove southwest with a roar.

More than half an hour later, the convoy passed in front of the Qing Empire position without stopping for a moment. The convoy passed through the gap and bypassed the Qing Empire position from the plain.

The awakened Qing Empire soldiers were in a state of confusion. Many of them were at a loss when they heard the sound and had no time to stop it.

The officers could only report it and then do what they had to do.

…

At about the same time, the two regiments of the Nanhua Army stationed in Huanghua on the southern battlefield, about 3,000 people, also set off by car.

Their route was closer and their number was smaller. Their mission was to create chaos and wait for an opportunity to attack the artillery.

After all, it was far less easy to destroy the artillery from the sea with warships than to attack from land.

…

At 3 a.m. on September 7, 14 transport ships and 38 landing craft arrived off the coast of Tianjin, accompanied by the Second Battleship Division and the Inland Gunboat Division.

The Second Battleship Division had a battleship, the Luoyang, and two destroyer formations with 12 destroyers.

The Inland Gunboat Division had six inland gunboats, four of which were patrol boats with a 76mm main gun, and two shallow-water heavy gunboats with a 152mm main gun.

There are a total of 71 ships and 19 combat ships.

The third-generation landing craft already looks like the American landing craft in World War II. It is a diesel flat-bottomed boat that can carry a platoon to the shallows at one time.

Two of the 14 transport ships are specially used to carry landing craft, and landing craft are also hung on several ships carrying supplies.

Thirty-eight landing craft can carry a regiment of soldiers ashore at one time, but they are light infantry. Heavy equipment needs to be transported separately and fixedly, which is not very efficient.

Because of this, battleships were sent to provide fire support, or to attract enemy shore defense firepower.

"It's almost time, let the boys get on board and get ready to work!" Marine Corps Brigade Commander Xu Juncai looked at his watch.

"Where is the army? Can they catch up?" asked the staff officer.

"The troops on the southern line are almost there. The northern line is about 40 kilometers away and can be reached within two hours.

According to the plan, the southern line will launch a harassing attack at 4 o'clock, and at 5 o'clock, the northern line will be interspersed and surrounded to separate the port and the city. At this time, we can land." Xu Juncai said.

The chief of staff nodded and arranged for the marines to transfer to the landing craft.

The transfer was also quite troublesome. It was too dark. For safety reasons, the landing craft was not released together. Instead, the landing craft was lowered and the team members climbed down through the rope net.

Around 4 o'clock in the morning, the landing craft slowly assembled, formed a team, and then waited for the opportunity.

…………

At 4:12 in the morning, the vanguard convoy heading north on the southern line crossed the bridge and entered the southern area of ​​Tianjin.

Thanks to the curfew system of the Qing Empire, the convoy had a smooth journey northward.

At 4:30, two regiments arrived at the small station, which was a large barracks with only a few hundred people.

Bombardment, after the bombardment, the armored vehicles rushed up, and the infantry followed up, easily taking the small station.

But the sound of the bombardment also woke up the sleeping city.

"Where is the explosion? Come! Change clothes!" Zhili Governor Yang Shixiang was awakened by the rumbling explosion.

The explosion was far away, and the sound was more like muffled thunder, but this muffled thunder was too dense.

After hurriedly putting on clothes, Yang Shixiang sent someone out to inquire about the situation.

Half an hour later, he got a reply, but in fact, he no longer needed a reply at this time.

Twelve minutes ago, the South China South Line Detachment set up a cannon at the small station, determined the coordinates with a compass and a map, and started bombardment.

The map is not very accurate, and it is difficult to find reference objects at night. The bombardment is not accurate. At least it was found afterwards that 90% of the shells did not fall into the military zone.

"Who is firing? Is it a rebellion? Whose troops are in the south?" Yang Shixiang was very anxious because he could not figure out the situation and did not know whether the soldiers were in rebellion (which is very common).

If it is a rebellion by soldiers, which part? Who should be sent to quell the rebellion?

If not...

"Let Wang Hao lead 500 troops to investigate in the south and make sure to find out the situation. Also, go to the artillery platform and let them prepare and turn the artillery platform." Yang Shixiang thought about it. Such a fierce bombardment should not be a rebellion.

There are only a few field artillery left in the whole of Tianjin. He thinks it may be Nanhua, which has the firepower.

But…

"If it was Nanhua, it would be impossible to arrive quietly from Cangzhou for more than 100 miles. Why didn't we receive any reports?"

"And how did they get here from such a long distance? How did they solve the problem of food and ammunition?"

Yang Shixiang couldn't figure it out because he didn't have the concept of mechanization in his mind.

It's not his fault. No country in the world has the concept of mechanization. At most, they rely on the railway network to transport troops quickly like the Germans.

Leaving the railway, mules and horses are still the main means of transportation. Ordinary infantry are not qualified to ride horses and can only move on their legs.

"Report! General Wang reported that the enemy's firepower is fierce and is advancing towards the artillery position. General Wang is short of troops and can't stop them. Please send reinforcements." The messenger ran in.

"Who is firing the cannon?" Yang Shixiang grabbed the messenger's clothes excitedly.

"Nanhua! It's Nanhua's soldiers who are attacking! They are wearing military uniforms, and they have machine guns and cannons." The messenger trembled.

"Transfer more..." Yang Shixiang got stuck in the middle of his sentence.

He originally wanted to transfer another thousand people to help, but he suddenly remembered that there were not many soldiers left in Tianjin.

The garrison on the fort, including the artillery, had more than 2,000 people, which was the largest force among the Tianjin garrison.

But can this force be moved? No!

What about the other troops? There were several hundred people in the small station, and it seemed that they were gone.

Just now, another 500 were sent out, and less than a thousand were gone.

"Transfer 300 people from the west city wall to support Wang Hao, and tell him that if he can't hold it, retreat to the fort. The fort must not be in trouble!"

"When necessary, you can turn the fort cannons to bombard the Nanhua Army. You must defend the fort, otherwise, come to see me with your head!" Yang Shixiang smashed a teacup.

The messenger responded and ran out in a hurry.

The battle continued, and Wang Hao naturally failed to withstand the offensive of the Nanhua Army and retreated into the fort area.

Seeing this, the Nanhua Army did not press forward. It was because the fortifications in the fort area were complete and could not be taken down by force for a while, so there was no need to increase casualties.

Nanhua turned and began to march into the city, causing panic and chaos.

Seeing that Nanhua was about to block the city from the port dock area, Yang Shixiang had no choice but to send most of his troops to fight with Nanhua on the streets.

At this time, there was only one team left in the defense of Tianjin in the north. It should have had more than 100 people, but because of the empty salaries, there were less than 90 people, which was extremely empty.

Boom boom boom...

Bang...

There was the sound of artillery fire in front and the sound of teacups breaking in the back.

"North! There are also in the north, attacking from the north and south... Nanhua!" Yang Shixiang gritted his teeth.

He no longer had mobile troops in his hands, and Tianjin City was broken!

His future was over!

"Report! A large number of enemy troops were found in the north of the city, and the defenders were defeated. Please send troops to support them quickly!" The messenger arrived soon.

"All troops, retreat to the vicinity of the Governor's Mansion, the fort defenders must defend the fort, send a message, and ask for help!" Yang Shixiang straightened his clothes and said calmly...

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