Chapter 164: The war breaks out

With a long whistle, a blue steel locomotive imported from Belgium drove into Jinan Station with a few short carriages. Behind the train was a strange train. From beginning to end, there were two locomotives covered with rivets, one in front and one in the back, and a steel armored turret on the roof, which extended three or four black holes of 75 mm field guns. There were firing holes on the carriages, and the 37 mm battalion guns and the muzzles of Maxim heavy machine guns were extended. This was a powerful armed armored train. The reserve army fought along the Jiaoji Line, and with such an armored train, the control of the railway was even more solid. The rear also transferred the armored train brigade directly under the headquarters to support it. It seemed that it had indeed made the worst plan.

The officers who welcomed the General Staff on the platform were attracted by the iron armored train. Only Cai E stood there calmly and reservedly. Looking at his face carefully, he could see a hint of anxiety from the calm. The combat plan to solve Qingdao within half a month he had reported was rejected by the General Staff. He just telegraphed him that Sima Zhan would come to Jinan with the combat plan to arrange everything. If the headquarters shortened the time to solve the problem, how should this battle be fought? Qingdao is a fortress that looks like an iron hedgehog. The firepower is neat and the fortifications are extremely solid. The time is shortened and the firepower is not distributed enough, so he can only use his life to fill it! The school officials under his commander, the central instructor, the 9th Division and other troops are all backbones of the National Defense Forces! Sacrifice them like this is the dereliction of duty of his commander! He waited for Sima Zhan to get off the train with a stern face, and was ready to argue.

The train slowly approached the platform, and there was a long neigh at the front of the car, and the steam rolled on the platform. Before the steam had dissipated, Sima Zhan was wearing knee-length German calfskin horse boots, and his military uniform was straight and he walked down with a group of escorts. Today he was surprisingly less sloppy than before, and seemed to know the weight of the task he was going to assign. The two groups saluted each other on the platform, and then shook hands enthusiastically. Cai E pulled him, the proud student.

He sighed, "I finally waited for you! The situation is getting tighter and tighter. No formal combat order has been issued yet, and the reserve army is anxious from top to bottom. We are half-defense in this battle, and it is difficult to do it!" He sighed slightly and walked out with Sima Zhan side by side. The Jinan platform is already heavily guarded, and the officers and soldiers of the special service battalion of the Preparatory Army Headquarters are on guard and blockade news. The platform is full of soldiers with live ammunition. Jiaodong has become a war zone, and this is the largest military order.

When Sima Zhan heard Cai E's words, he smiled and said, "Teacher, am I here? But this plan is very fatal! And the president's determination is determined and cannot be changed!" Cai E was startled and blurted out, "How many days?" Sima Zhan stretched out his fingers and compared the words Qi with a serious expression, which immediately made Cai E's heart sank. In the seventh day, he fought step by step, and even the periphery could not be wiped out completely! This is forcing the reserve army to make a fuss and sell it!

He immediately asked his students a little unceremoniously: "Churu, why don't you argue with the president? The fierce battles are dangerous, it's not a joke. How much sacrifice will our army have to make in seven days? What if several main attacking troops injured their vitality, how can we deal with the next situation? The staff and staff are to assist the commander in their judgment and cannot issue such a fatal order!"

Sima Zhan smiled bitterly: "Teacher, comprehensive opinions from all sides. This principle has been decided. The General Staff also agrees with this judgment. We must take Qingdao before Japan intervenes. Austro-Hungary gave Serbia a month's ultimatum time. In this way, the war broke out at the end of July and early August. Seven days are the most time left for us. If Europe declares war to mid-August, we will be ready to go to war with the Japanese! Teacher, our troops can only bear such sacrifices in order to ensure the integrity of the country and prevent the country from falling into a more sinister situation!" Cai E was speechless. He stood on the position of the captain and had to fight for this, but Sima Zhan could only dismiss the situation from the overall position. Both teachers and students were relatively speechless. Finally, they sighed.

Tone. Sima Zhan's voice became solemn: "Teacher, the principle has been decided this time and cannot be changed. The students came here to assist the reserve army in formulating specific combat plans and supervising the operation as the headquarters representative. Everyone's tasks are very urgent. If you don't say anything, do it!" This is what he said in the name of the headquarters' operations director. Cai E also agreed: "Resolutely obey the order!" Sima Zhan smiled again in a blink of an eye: "Teacher, the national defense army across the country is supporting the reserve army, you can relax. The 18th Division of Wuhan has moved the 11th Division, and all three brigades of the division have been transferred to Nanjing. As the support of the reserve army at any time, the Yangtze River's turrets are being prepared. We have also made complete preparations as much as possible. At this point, we can only fight this battle as required!"

As the two of them spoke, they got on the waiting car first. The guards jumped onto the pedals and left immediately. Sima Zhan's arrival was equivalent to sounding the horn of the reserve army's advance, and the 100,000 troops were ready to take action at any time.

"Seven days, seven days..." All the staff from the headquarters and the staff from the reserve army headquarters were surrounded in front of the spacious combat map platform and were talking. Everyone was in a difficult position. The preliminary task was not easy. When the war started, it was immediately expelled the German troops near Qingdao to cover the guard posts and locked their artillery into the launching position. The infantry had to approach the fortresses to reach the attack position. Then clear the peripheral artillery to attack the core! These all took time, and a large amount of artillery bombs were piled up, and the sacrifices of brave soldiers were also made! But now there was no such time! Only after the attacking troops were in place, the peripheral artillery and core artillery were launched at the same time, and the German resistance was occupied in one fell swoop. These staff officers were familiar with the terrain around Qingdao. The terrain of Qingdao was familiar with these staff officers.

The German army's military artillery deployment also obtained accurate information from various channels. The German army had a total of four permanent artillery batteries and twenty-two temporary artillery positions. It was equipped with 53 heavy artillery more than 88 mm, 47 medium-sized artillery pieces, and 30 machine artillery pieces. In terms of the number of heavy artillery, both sides of the attack and defense are similar. These artillery positions are guarded by five group infantry fortresses and are arranged around the fortress area. Behind the fortress area is the sea, and in front of the land is a Haibo River as a natural barrier. There are also trenches with a depth of five meters and a width of six meters between the river and the infantry fortress. Behind the trenches are densely packed with machine guns! Only by breaking through these obstacles can we finally attack the German command center, the Ilchs North Fort! Modern Chinese troops have never attacked such a strong fortress position guarded by the army's powerful army!

"Only a comprehensive attack! Five infantry fortress support points launch a full restraining attack. Each route drills into the gaps, cut off the connection between infantry fortresses, and occupy their traffic trenches. At the same time, the combat engineers point directly at the Ilchis North Fort. The other three turrets also launch a restraining attack at the same time! As long as the combat engineers can destroy their command and occupy their core, the rest of the Germans may not resist to the end! After all, there is no army that must be rescued outside, and there is no city that must be defended inside!"

"We have enough troops. We can directly use nine infantry regiments and one combat engineer regiment when attacking Qingdao Fortress. But the firepower is insufficient! There are only two heavy artillery regiments on the entire line, two division-owned artillery regiments and two brigade artillery battalions, plus the team-owned artillery. Comprehensive attack means comprehensive suppression and opening up paths for all impacts. However, there are so many obstacles, Luzhai and so many firepower points. It will become drizzle for our artillery firepower to each regiment. This does not conform to the principle of concentrating firepower in modern warfare. There must be key suppression and clearing the way for combat engineers! But the enemy firepower in other directions cannot be suppressed, and the casualties will be too great!"

"The president has made up his mind? The troops also have the courage to sacrifice. What are we still arguing about here? Hurry up and make a plan. I will apply to go to the combat engineer regiment to start the war. Since we want the troops to make such sacrifices, we cannot hide behind us! Otherwise we will have no shame to see them!"

"A command is an order, and no command morality is an order! If we don't take into account the overall situation, who else can take into account the overall situation? At that time, did the An Meng army and other troops achieve industry with a sacrifice mentality? The General Staff gestured on the map. Even if we have any ideas, we will fill in the life! I agree with everyone's opinions. Our staff officers will also go to the front line at that time, otherwise we will make such a plan and order. I'm sorry to our brothers!"

The morale at all levels of the army was high and willing to make sacrifices. But behind this, there was also dissatisfaction with the General Staff's inhumane plan. They did not dare to have any emotions towards Yuchen, so the spearhead was all pointed at the General Staff. Regarding this emotion, Sima Zhan and his group of the General Staff's imperial envoys could only smile bitterly. He secretly looked at Cai E. The general sat upright and looked at the map, with a trace of disguise in his expression. The pain. Suddenly, Sima Zhan also seemed to have appeared in the darkness in front of the fortress before the strong position. The firelight fired by the shells shone red in the sky, and the machine gun bullets formed interlaced fire in the air. The young and brave officers and soldiers of the National Defense Forces fought to the death at this night and kept falling down. This is an order that any commander with some moral commanders is difficult to face! But in this overall situation, the troops can only do so.

Cai E slapped the table suddenly: "What else is there to say? Mom is a slut! This is the little Japanese who forced us to do this! He is a vicious neighbor. He is an unyielding enemy on our road to national rejuvenation! As a soldier in the Republic of China, you must have such an awareness! I have made up my mind to enter the position in advance and drive out the German police guards in advance. What responsibilities should I bear alone! Give our soldiers an extra day of time! Chen Bing is waiting for the general attack order under the Qingdao Fortress! The principle of combat is to launch a full restraining attack, concentrate troops and firepower to tear apart a passage. Even if you use your teeth, you must also chew the German General Command of the Ilchs North Fort!"

This Confucian general who was light and furnished on the northwest front line had a flushed face and a bright look at this time. He had a rare swear word burst out from his mouth. His determination also set a tragic tone for the coming bloody battle. All the staff saluted the commander silently, turned around and devoted themselves to the most intense work before the war.

At this time, the mobilization order was officially issued in the country where the evil neighbor of the Chinese nation was located. The red postcards of the army were sent to the families of reserve soldiers. The supplementary forces and weapons drawn by other troops were all concentrated in Tokyo, where the Guards Division was located, Kumamoto, where the 6th Division was located, and the Otachi where the 18th Division was located. In particular, the 6th Division of the Japanese army had always been one of the two most fierce divisions of the Japanese army with the Second Division of Sendai. This division, composed of the children of Mikushu, boasted as "black skin, red blood". In the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and the Russo-Japanese War, they were always the pioneers. The organization has always been a large organization of 15,600 people, and this time it has been strengthened to more than 25,000 people.

When I first heard the defeat of the 5th Division, I laughed at the fact that the 5th Division was wiped out by the Manchu girl and was no longer samurai spirit, and was ready to take revenge at any time. At that time, under the pressure of Britain and the United States, the politicians chose to negotiate, so they asked the beast soldiers of the Kumamoto Division to go to Tokyo to seek justice with these non-nationals. This time, the selection of the order was to go to Shandong, which made their beast blood boil, and they must use the heads of the Chinese soldiers to rebuild the prestige of the Imperial Army! These days, Kumamoto streets were full of soldiers marching in line and conducting prestige before the war. The Japanese citizens were also cheering for them and encouraging them to go to other people's territory to establish the military achievements of killing. The Japanese war machines were also mobilized.

The second fleet of the Navy also completed the assembly mission in Wugang. Lt. General Kato Dingyoshi was the leader. The new and powerful British battlecruiser, the Battlecruiser of the USS Kartoon, Satsuma, and the two quasi-fair-level battleships of the Hornet, plus the Anglema, the Tsukuba, and the Armored Cruiser of the Asama. It formed a daunting lineup and has appeared on the sea between China and Japan. With the departure of the German cruiser, this powerful fleet was divided into the first place.

The Southern Detachment, the Second Southern Detachment, and the US Detachment, respectively carried out missions. The continuous coming and going outside Jiaozhou Bay, the first Southern Detachment was the First Southern Detachment, including four main battleships of the armored cruisers and above, including King Kong, Anma, Tsukuba, Asama, as well as the Sea Feng and Shanfeng destroyers. This fleet gave China a larger impression than the army of the three divisions they mobilized. Because at that time, it was not able to compete with the maritime power of this fleet.

Japan has already opened his hideous minions. The two countries on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, both facing each other across the sea, are holding their own thoughts and waiting for Europe to break through formally. With the overall situation in Europe, perhaps the Far East will splash out magnificent sparks. The situation has been completely tense for a while. The biggest test that Yuchen has faced since he came to power is right in front of him.

Qingdao, Prince Henry Hotel. Major General Mayor Mayor Wadek, the German fortress commander in Qingdao, looked carefully at his apartment in this hotel. He closed the door reluctantly. They had received the order from the General Staff without hesitation. For the honor of the German military flag and for the expectations of His Majesty the Emperor, they must resist in this fortress until the end! What a great place! Looking down from the McLeanburg Rehabilitation Hospital on the top of the mountain. The white beach and the blue sea

, The scenery is the Laoshan Bay of the people. There is also the glory of the Germans' colonial management in the Far East for twenty years! Will it be all turned into dust and smoke from the past at this moment? Although the Major General was a soldier, the Germans were all musicians and philosophers. At this time, it did not prevent him from having some non-military feelings. He had to move to the underground sheltering command center of the North Fortress of Ilchis Mountain. There was no elegance and comfort of Prince Henry Hotel there, only six 120 mm cannons defending him overhead!

He also knew the desperate situation he was facing. There were 100,000 Chinese troops on the land, armed with German guns and cannons. He had been completely oppressed and wanted to disarm them under the banner of neutrality. There were also Japanese fleets on the sea and army that could invade. At this time, in the port, there were only a few small German gunboats and an old Austro-Hungarian cruiser. He had no resistance at all. Only coastal fortresses and some fortress guns against sea artillery could resist.

I also knew that the two enemies had conflicts. But their strength in every aspect was much stronger than that of themselves. Perhaps at this time, all he could wait for was glorious destruction. But what about the six thousand soldiers under his command? Isn't it possible to die in a foreign land like this? These thoughts were just slipping through his mind, and the middle-aged officer who was promoted to major general, strode down the stairs of the hotel under the escort of his followers. The convoy was waiting for him to move to the command post under Ilchis.

These days, the Chinese army has strengthened its operations in the southwest and has been oppressing along the Jiaoji Line. There is also a large marching column detour from the left and directly into the Longkou. Originally, along the Jiaoji Line, there were his search troops, and a large number of churches were also his eyes and ears. However, the Chinese army politely and resolutely oppressed forward. The search troops have all retreated back to Qingdao Fortress Area, and the German expatriates on the Jiaoji Line have also retreated with their families. Now, in addition to their 6,000 combat troops, there are two or three more people in Qingdao.

Thousands of expatriates, technical personnel and military advisers who were building aid to China, were waiting for the ships from Europe. If these expatriates could not be withdrawn before the war broke out, what kind of terrible situation would it be? Wadek felt a little trouble when he thought about these problems. Fortunately, there was enough supplies in the fortress area, so let's keep them first! Those military advisers can also be added to the defenders and strengthen their command. They have no way out! He finally looked at the blue sea and white sand on the beach and stepped into the car heavily. The war is about to begin!

The situation is still moving forward unstoppably. After the ultimatum period for one month in Europe came. With Russia's support, Serbia did not succumb to the threat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. On July 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia. People were anxiously watching whether Germany and Russia, which were responsible for the war between the two countries behind the scenes, would show a trace of reason at this juncture and save European civilization from the brink of war. But the reality is so cruel. Russia immediately announced a general mobilization at home, and Germany immediately expressed its strongest protests against Russia's mobilization. Then, using the excuse that Russia did not stop mobilization. On August 1, 1914, Germany declared war on Russia. Two days later, on August 3, the millions of German troops who had already been waiting for it began to implement their established Schliffen-Little Moltke plan. The German army was powerful.

The vanguard of assault troops attacked the neutral and protected countries Luxembourg and Belgium without declaring war. The Belgian army concentrated its main force on the front line of the Liege Fort to prepare for the most tenacious resistance. On August 4, Britain and France declared war on Germany at the same time under the pretext of Germany's invasion of Belgium's neutrality. World War I officially kicked off. No one expected that this would be a huge tragedy in human history that lasted for four years, with more than 30 million casualties and involved a population of 1.5 billion. At this moment, the most important thing was the honor of the country, the dream of the nation, the ambition of the emperor, and the enthusiasm of the people. In Europe, people seemed to have been waiting for this war for a long time. In Asia, there were also two countries waiting for this war. Some were to realize their ambitions, while others were to a simple and passionate dream.
Chapter completed!