While the British were enjoying the bright sunshine of late spring and enjoying the beauty of life, thousands of kilometers away in Eastern Europe, a war of unprecedented scale was going on.
On April 24, after Russia declared war on Turkey, Romania, a "country" that nominally belonged to Turkey, immediately agreed to the Russian army's attack on Turkey. In retaliation, the Turks immediately shelled Romanian towns. In response, Romania took the opportunity to declare a complete war on Turkey.
Independence. Since the defeat of Crimea, the Russian army, which has been reformed and strengthened for many years, is like a polar bear, advancing all the way. Although Turkey's new army has a large number of advanced imported guns, it is far behind in terms of morale and organization.
The Russian army, which was far behind, was defeated steadily under the fierce attack of the Russian army.
The Bulgarian rebels also joined the Russian army. By May, one-third of the Russian army was Bulgarian.
Finally, the Russian army, which was advancing all the way, arrived at the Shipka Pass. This is an extremely important mountain pass and is crucial to capturing and controlling Bulgaria. A force led by Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko
An advance team of more than 10,000 people arrived here, but he was required to join forces with Prince Nikolai Mirsky before launching an attack.
"That's totally unnecessary, General."
Li Bin, who was a member of the military observation group, said directly.
"The purpose of the war is to win. While you are waiting here to join up with other troops, the enemy's strength is also strengthening. Now, what is the most important thing? To take advantage of the lack of troops of the Turks to directly crush them
resistance!"
"Captain, are you saying I should attack now?"
General Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko looked at the bright officer and asked.
"General, you can at least give it a try. Your troops have 24 powerful 150mm mortars, and the Turks' defenses are extremely crude. You can completely destroy their resistance with shelling! After their reinforcements
Seize their position before they arrive!"
Picking up Phoenix binoculars and observing the Turkish defense line, General Gurko thought for a while and then ordered.
"Then let's do it!"
Following the order, the Russian artillery roared. In a short period of time, hundreds of artillery shells weighing 33 kilograms fell on the Turkish position. The violent explosion directly destroyed the poor Turks.
Simple fortifications, the flying rubble turned into sharp blades, tearing the bodies of Turkish soldiers into pieces.
At the same time as the fierce bombardment, Russian soldiers and Bulgarians armed with Type 72 rifles began to attack. Their attack was very brave. Even in Li Bin's view, they launched the attack almost desperately, and then used bayonets and bullets to fight with
The Turks were killing each other.
Under fierce artillery fire, although the smaller Turkish defenders withstood the first two attacks, they realized that they could not hold on. So on June 9, they first pretended to surrender, and then took the opportunity to break out. So in a short time
In just two weeks, Gurko relied on his own strength to seize three important mountain passes one after another.
It was not until this time that the belated troops of Prince Nikolai Mirsky arrived at the mountain pass. After congratulating General Gurko, Prince Nikolai expressed his intention to lead the army and continue to advance.
"Captain, for safety reasons, I hope you can stay here!"
Prince Nicholas pointed to the mountain pass behind and said.
"This mountain pass is very important, but I don't have any extra troops to guard it. I only have some weak Bulgarians and a small number of Russian troops. I hope to assist Colonel Walensky in guarding this place!"
"Of course, Your Highness, if this is what you need!"
Li Bin did not refuse the prince's request. He was just a member of the military visiting group. Being able to go directly to the front lines and even directly participate in the war was already taken care of by the other party.
However, just ten days later, a more powerful Turkish Suleiman Pasha led an army of 38,000 people to attack the Shipka Pass. At this time, there were only 5,000 Bulgarian volunteers and 2,500 Bulgarian volunteers at the Shipka Pass.
Russian Army. On July 2, the Turkish Army began to shell the coalition positions and dig trenches.
A charge ensued, and the Bulgarian volunteers, who had been previously thought to be fighting, fought bravely and repelled several of their attacks.
In the next three days and nights, the Turkish army dropped thousands of corpses under the Shipka Pass, but the defenses of the Shipka Pass remained firm.
Early in the morning, the overwhelming artillery fire hit the Russian position again. The Russian position at Shipka Pass was carefully designed by Li Bin, a captain of the Ming Empire Army. Under his guidance, in addition to strengthening the original
In addition to the fortifications, two trenches were dug. Deer villages were built outside the trenches, and crisscrossing communication trenches were dug between the trenches. Artillery and machine gun positions were also carefully arranged, with 26 cannons, 37 small mortars and 16
The Gatling guns formed a tight cross-fire network. In order to protect the machine guns, he also introduced the Ming Dynasty's unique stone fortress, which was built with logs and stones. The top of the fortress could withstand direct hits from 80mm mortars.
Relying on those inconspicuous stone fortresses, they withstood the Turkish artillery fire and repelled the Turkish army's waves of attacks for three days, killing no less than 3,000 enemy troops, and their own casualties in the fierce battle were only a mere handful.
Hundreds of people.
On this day, Turkey deployed hundreds of cannons opposite the Shipka Pass. They fired, fired, and fired again at all costs. The artillery shells swept across the Russian positions in a violent storm. The artillery was commanded by a converted Prussian officer.
Under his command, the Turkish army's artillery fire became more and more precise.
I saw Russian artillery positions, machine gun firing points, bunkers, and infantry bunkers being hit by artillery shells one after another. For a time, the mountains were covered with flying earth and rocks, and blood and flesh were flying everywhere. Wherever the artillery fire passed, the mountains were shaking.
It's boiling...
After the command post was hit, when Walensky was dug out of the collapsed bunker by his subordinates, although his face was covered in blood, most of it was superficial wounds. As soon as he came out, he asked.
"Reinforcements... haven't the reinforcements arrived yet?"
The subordinates responded in the negative.
"It doesn't matter if you don't arrive..."
Walensky looked at the officers around him and said.
"As long as we hold on here, even if we all die in battle, our souls will be able to see the cross re-erected in Constantinople. That is a miracle from God. God will remember our merits. Gentlemen, let
We use our lives and blood to defend God's will." Walensky stood up with a smile and accepted the bandage while looking at Li Bin and said.
"Captain, you should leave here now. After all, this is not your war."
They are just foreign observers accompanying the army, so what if they are allies? This war is not a war of the Ming Empire, but a war of the Russian Empire.
There is no need for them to sacrifice their lives in this place.
"Colonel, if I leave now, I will live in shame for the rest of my life!"
Facing the colonel's persuasion, Li Bin said seriously.
"I will fight with you until the end. After all, we are close allies!"
This chapter has been completed!