Zhennanguan Pass was built very early. The Han Dynasty established a pass here more than 2,000 years ago. It was first named "Yongji Pass" and later renamed "Jieshou Pass" and "Da Nanguan Pass".
In the first year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1368), in order to consolidate southern Xinjiang, it was rebuilt into a two-story gatehouse. Later it was renamed Zhennanguan. In the following years, Zhennanguan has always been the most important checkpoint in Vietnam and Guangxi.
However, now there are only a bunch of ruins left in Zhennanguan, because the French burned the pass after occupying it before. The Qing army is now stationed in the pass area in front of the pass, and its commander is the veteran general Feng Zicai.
As for this person’s experience, there is no need to say much. He was born in the Tiandihui and engaged in anti-Qing activities. He was subsequently ordered to peace and participated in the suppression of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement. He was later promoted to the governor of Guangxi and suppressed various anti-Qing movements. He retired and returned home two years ago.
Prepare to spend your remaining years peacefully.
Later, because Zeng Guoquan was transferred to Liangjiang (because Zuo Zongtang rushed to serve as the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang), Zhang Shusheng, who was temporarily acting as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, invited the veteran to come out again. Although Zhang Zhidong later took over as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, he still trusted him.
But speaking of it, Feng Zicai was somewhat helpless when he led his troops to station in the Zhennanguan area. Because he had many disputes with Pan Dingxin, the governor of Guangxi, mainly because the governor of Guangxi had different ideas from him.
Master Pan kept demanding that all ministries should not fight at will. He regarded the French army as the army of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and wanted to build a stronghold to fight the war.
However, Feng Zicai believes that today is different from the past, the French are much more powerful than those rebel bandits, and this kind of strategy will not work at all.
So the two had a dispute. Pan Dingxin was a civil servant and a governor of a province. Feng Zicai was originally an admiral of a province, but now he is still a veteran general who has come back from the army. So, one can imagine the relationship between the other ministries and him.
Fortunately, the new Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Zhang Zhidong, had great trust in him. No, less than half of the newly arrived batch of Italian firearms were shipped to him.
"General Feng, here are a thousand Italian fast guns, eight fast cannons, six electric cannons, a thousand artillery shells, and 400,000 rounds of various bullets. This is a list, please click on it."
The officer in charge of the escort reported to Feng Zicai the weapons shipped from Guangzhou and submitted a list.
"Thanks to my brother for bringing us the weapons. I feel a lot more at ease now."
Because Feng Zicai was born in the Tiandihui before, he still has some habits that he has not changed to this day, such as calling his soldiers Erlang.
However, this was not the main reason for Feng Zicai to talk to him. He pulled the official over and glanced at Cosenz and others standing nearby who were dressed similarly to him, but there was something wrong with their faces.
"Brother, why are you bringing foreigners here?"
Facing Feng Zicai's inquiry, the official showed an inscrutable smile. "These are the same Italians as on the second ship Zhijing. They are here to help us."
"But it looks awkward to me."
General Feng was obviously a little uncomfortable with the presence of Italians in his military camp.
"Old General, these people have been specially transferred here by the master of Taiwan Production. Among other things, do you have anyone who knows how to use the electric cannon? Moreover, with these people, you can have multiple helpers when using the fast cannon."
The official's words made Feng Zicai feel much better. But he thought of a question and asked quickly, "How do you say they are under my command?"
The official thought for a moment and then said, "That's right, but they are mainly responsible for operating the electric cannon. In addition, the manufacturer has issued a strict order prohibiting them from being used as infantry."
It was obvious that Governor Zhang was also afraid that someone would use these foreign soldiers as consumables.
"Don't worry, how dare I, Old Feng, disobey Master Tai's orders."
After sending the official from Guangzhou down, Feng Zicai recruited his eldest son.
"Renqing, arrange these foreign soldiers so that no one notices them."
Obviously, Feng Zicai is also a person who understands military affairs and intends to conceal the fact that he received a batch of ordnance.
"Father, leave this to me."
Then Feng Xiangrong, the eldest son, rushed over with several soldiers.
"All heroes, please follow me."
Feng Xiangrong didn't know what to call him, so he simply called him a more quaint title. Of course, Cosenz and others would not understand this, let alone Feng Xiangrong's thick Guangxi accent.
But it doesn't matter, isn't there a translator? Cosenz and others immediately followed Feng Xiangrong's footsteps and were taken to a separate barracks area. During this period, Feng Xiangrong basically gave them the best treatment in the barracks.
After settling the Italians, Feng Xiangrong returned to his father.
"Father, the arrangements for the foreign soldiers have been made."
Facing his son's report, Feng Zicai retracted his gaze from the map. "I understand, Renqing."
"Father is still worried about the French?"
When Feng Xiangrong saw that Feng Zicai was still looking at the map, he knew his father better than his son, and he immediately guessed what his father was thinking.
"How can we not worry about this?"
Facing his son, Feng Zicai expressed his thoughts without hesitation. "Currently, the company has three thousand troops in Lang Son and Wenyuan, including two thousand French soldiers and one thousand Vietnamese auxiliary troops, with complete guns and artillery.
On the other hand, we only have five thousand soldiers waiting at Zhennan Pass, and less than half of them can use guns and cannons. Although we have geography, the disparity in strength is huge. If we don't use dangerous tactics, we have no chance of winning."
A soldier must take risks, and taking risks is not a good idea when it comes to military affairs.
Feng Zicai has been fighting for so many years, how could he not know the risks involved? Although there are guns and cannons sent by Taiwan, they are still not as sharp as the guns of the company, so head-on confrontation is not within his scope.
But now he had an idea, and he was going to use aggressive methods to lure the legal person to attack. To this end, he was going to personally find out the legal person's background.
"Renqing, go and call Lao Er, I have an idea."
"Okay, Father."
"Remember not to make any noise about this matter."
"Father, please rest assured. I am not a three-year-old boy. I know the importance of things."
In the next two days, Feng Zicai did not move, but the five hundred soldiers he brought from his hometown secretly prepared torches, kerosene and other items for night travel.
On the third day, after talking with General Feng and his deputy Wang Xiaoqi, he secretly led his two sons and 500 soldiers from his hometown to Wenyuan. Taking advantage of the darkness, Feng Zicai, led by the local Li people, arrived in front of the French camp.
.
Subsequently, under his command, five hundred soldiers invaded the French camp, shot and killed 32 Vietnamese servants and three French soldiers. They also set fire to the camp and burned 31 barracks and tents. The Qing army suddenly attacked
, which made the French commander Nigri, who was then the commander of the 2nd Brigade of the Beiqi Expedition, extremely angry.
Then he decided to teach the Qing army a profound lesson. To this end, he reported to his superior, Colonel Poliye, and asked the colonel to allow him to conduct a raid on the Qing army in the Zhennanguan area.
Due to the poor performance of the Qing army before, Colonel Poliye agreed to his request and sent a battalion to support Nigri in order to be sure.
Nigri, who had received support, collected supplies and waited for an ammunition supply before coming to Zhennanguan with two thousand French soldiers and one thousand Vietnamese servants.
