Time Travel to 1859: The Iron-Blooded Soldier King

Soon, the 50,000 taels of silver allocated by the Ministry of Revenue arrived in Baoding. Along with the silver, there were also 300 American-made rear-loading rifles and ten cannons. For the sake of his own kingdom, Emperor Xianfeng spared no effort to support Liu Ye.

At this time, Liu Ye had gritted his teeth and laid off all the soldiers. The treasury of the entire general's mansion was completely empty, and even the funding from the monk king was lost.

Just when several people were extremely anxious, the silver from the Ministry of Revenue arrived, and Liu Ye and others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The next thing was simple. Recruit soldiers immediately. Baoding Prefecture was the most important town in Zhili, with a population of hundreds of thousands. It was easy to recruit 1,800 people.

Liu Ye organized five large battalions from the reorganized Baoding Town. The Cavalry Battalion, consisting of 400 men, was supervised by Lieutenant General He Qimou; this was the most crucial combat force. The Left Wing Battalion, consisting of 500 men, was personally commanded by Zhu Hai, and the Right Wing Battalion, consisting of 500 men, was led by Zuo Baogui. The Central Guard Battalion, consisting of 500 men, was assigned to Gao Qi, and the Rear Army Battalion, consisting of 500 men, was led by Lian Shan, the former commander of the Second Battalion of Baoding Town. In addition to the five large battalions, Liu Ye also established a 200-man supply battalion. In modern warfare, the role of logistics support has become increasingly prominent. Liu Ye, fully aware of this, entrusted this important task directly to Gao E. Two lieutenants, Luo Zili and Ke Yu, were assigned to battalion affairs and confidential affairs, respectively. Although Liu Ye despised these two, he had no choice but to make do with them. Fortunately, he had full control over the five large battalions, and even Lian Shan, the rear army commander, had a formidable force under his command.

After dealing with the affairs of Baoding Town, Liu Ye began all-round training of troops, including military discipline, physical fitness, tactics, the use of guns and artillery, and coordination between infantry and artillery. Almost all modern military concepts, as long as Liu Ye mastered them, he tried his best to instill them into the generals below, and then infiltrated them into each camp bit by bit.

In just one month, the appearance of Baoding Town was completely changed. When the people in Baoding Prefecture saw the Qing army, as long as the soldiers walked by with their heads held high, they would point and say, "These are soldiers from Baoding Town!"

However, accidents always happen when people least expect them.

Just as Liu Ye was training the new recruits, a shocking event occurred in the north.

Tsarist Russia in the north learned that the Qing government had signed peace treaties with Britain, the United States and France, gaining certain benefits, but had left their Tsarist Empire aside. This really angered the newly enthroned Tsar Alexander II!

After spending all this time, we didn't get any benefit at all. Instead, we were taken advantage of by Britain, the United States and France. This is intolerable!

At Alexander's command, the Governor-General of East Siberia, Mushavyov, began to mobilize the army. After everything was prepared, he brazenly launched an aggressive war against the area east of the Ussuri River in China. Thousands of Tsarist Russian Empire troops entered China, began to burn, kill, loot and carry out military colonization in the area east of the river.

Heilongjiang General Yishan repeatedly warned and protested to Tsarist Russia, but Musaviyov ignored him and continued his aggressive actions.

Under tremendous pressure, Yishan had to send troops and mobilize 6,000 troops stationed in Heilongjiang to launch an attack on the Russian army, attempting to drive the Russian army out of the area east of the Ussuri River.

As a result, the huge military advantage of 6,000 people against more than 3,000 people did not play any role at all. The corrupt Qing soldiers were completely vulnerable to the fierce Russian army. In a blink of an eye, they were beaten to pieces by the Russian army. Yishan almost lost his life.

Yishan was so frightened that he led his remaining troops all the way back to Qiqihar and sent an urgent message to the court over 700 miles, requesting military support.

When Emperor Xianfeng received Yishan's urgent report, he was so angry that he overturned the table on the spot. Yishan was a complete waste. In just a few days, he was beaten to a pulp by the Russians? Useless, useless!

But what could be done now? All the elite troops of the imperial court were deployed in the Jianghuai area to suppress the Taiping rebels. In the north, Senggelinqin's army was stationed in the capital, deterring the foreigners and the Nian rebels who were constantly stirring up trouble in the north. How could they possibly have the troops to rush to Heilongjiang?

At the morning court, Emperor Xianfeng asked for advice from all the court officials, but they were all silent. There was nothing they could do. The Russians were very ferocious. It was said that they even ate children alive. They were tall and strong, and had strong fighting power. How could the ordinary Qing army resist them?

Grand Secretary Gui Liang suggested to negotiate with the Russians again, but was severely reprimanded by Grand Secretary Weiren. What nonsense! The war has just started and we are in a hurry to ask for peace. The Celestial Empire has lost face!

But what else can we do if we don’t seek peace?

The emperor and his ministers were at a loss as to what to do.

Suddenly, Xianfeng thought of Liu Ye who was training troops in Baoding. Liu Ye had told him personally that if the Russians dared to come, he would send a division to Heilongjiang to fight the Russians to the death and never let the Russian conspiracy succeed! At that time, Guo Ye was full of vigor and confidence!

Xianfeng immediately grabbed a life-saving straw. Yes, Liu Ye, Liu Ye, the general of Baoding Town, now is the time for him to use this deadly magic weapon!

Before Xianfeng could say anything, Yi Xin stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that if we want to fight against Tsarist Russia, it must be General Liu Ye of Baoding Town. I'm afraid that others may have the will but not the strength. However..."

Xianfeng asked quickly, "Prince Gong, if you have anything to say, just say it directly. What is it?"

Prince Gong replied, "Your Majesty, Liu Ye has only been in Baoding for a month. We, the emperor and his subjects, have no idea of ​​the military strength and combat effectiveness of Baoding. Even if Liu Ye is very capable, he cannot cook without rice. I am afraid that it will be of no use. Moreover, I have heard that Tsarist Russia is still planning to send more troops to Jiangdong..."

Xianfeng couldn't care less now and shouted, "Immediately issue an order, ordering Liu Ye to come to the capital immediately to discuss state affairs. He promised me that the Russian Empire would not send troops to Jiangdong. Even if they did, he was confident that he could repel them!"

As soon as Xianfeng finished speaking, a eunuch hurried in and said urgently, "Your Majesty, General Yishan of Heilongjiang has sent an urgent battle report from 700 miles away!"

Xianfeng was shocked. Just now a war report came, how come there was another one?

Xianfeng quickly took the memorial, which contained only a few words: The Governor-General of East Siberia, Mushavyev, led thousands of troops to launch a surprise attack on Vladivostok, advancing by land and sea, and captured Vladivostok. The entire Jiangdong region, with a radius of nearly a thousand miles, fell into the hands of Tsarist Russia!

Xianfeng was stunned at that time. All the land within a radius of nearly a thousand miles was lost!

"Immediately issue an order, rushing seven hundred miles, to summon Liu Ye and Senggelinqin to the capital!"

Xianfeng roared hysterically.