Affected by the victory in Hanoi, the remnants of the French army in Hai Phong, Nam Dinh and other areas evacuated by boat, leaving all French power in the northern part of Annam.
On April 11, the Nanyang Army successfully took over Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, and advanced troops arrived in Taiyuan, Haiphong and other areas.
"Governor Mei, there is a letter from the Annan government, requesting our troops to withdraw from Hanoi, Haiphong, and Taiyuan provinces, and transfer the control areas in the three provinces to Huang Yanzuo's command."
"Send someone to reply to the Annan court. The threat from the French and barbarians in the northern provinces still exists, and rebel armed forces are swarming everywhere. Our officers and soldiers will temporarily take charge of Hanoi, Haiphong, and Taiyuan provinces. Once the situation stabilizes,
Then immediately transfer the area to the Huang Consort's command."
"This is the third time that the Annan court has sent people to urge them. Will such a reply cause them dissatisfaction?"
Tang Jingsong asked.
"The French reinforcements will arrive in ten months. Our army suffered a lot of losses in weapons, ammunition, and logistical materials in the Battle of Hanoi. If we don't take advantage of the French evacuation to seize the wealth that the French and their dependent forces have gathered, how can we reward those people?"
Soldiers who have made meritorious deeds?"
Mei Dongxing said directly, "The outcome of Annan's survival is unknown. The news of Hanoi's tragic defeat is likely to trigger revenge from the French. The 2,500-man expeditionary force may be just the first batch of supporting troops. If the French are determined to fight us in Annan,
, then the next batch of French reinforcements cannot be only two or three thousand people. Therefore, we must be prepared for the worst, on the one hand to deal with the threat of the next batch of French reinforcements, and on the other hand
, make every effort to gather Chinese immigrants and young armed forces scattered throughout Bei Ban to Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong, in order to evacuate the Annam area as quickly as possible when the situation worsens."
"The Nanyang Army has more than 10,000 troops. If the overall mobilization plan is implemented, it can use more than 50,000 young and strong troops. Such a force is enough to separate northern Annan. If we give up easily, wouldn't it be an advantage to the French?"
Tang Jingsong was very puzzled. He had only joined the Nanyang Army for more than a month, but he was greatly surprised by the combat effectiveness of the Nanyang Army during the battle with France and the strength of weapons and equipment comparable to the French army.
The main force of more than 5,500 regular troops of the Nanyang Army has a breech-loading rifle equipment rate of more than 70%. It is equipped with 21 locally imitated Gatling hand-cranked machine guns, twelve 75mm howitzers, and more than 30 small
Mountain artillery, with training standards twice as strict as those of the French Cochinchina colonial army, high combat morale, and various advantages combined, made the first large-scale battle between the Nanyang Army and the French army end with a clean victory.
More than 5,500 regular main force, more than 3,000 garrison troops, plus 5,000 militiamen who have undergone regular training,
Tang Jingsong did not understand why the Nanyang Army, which had nearly 15,000 troops, prepared to evacuate before fighting the French army for the second time.
"Annan is indeed a good place. If circumstances permit, if Xu Tu develops and strengthens his power by occupying Annan, he may have the opportunity to send troops northward to regain the Central Plains. However, today is different from the past. Lang Son and Guang Ning are the bases of our army.
Province, the newly controlled Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Haiphong and other places cover an area of less than 100,000 square kilometers. If placed on the mainland, it would be no more than one state.
In the Annan area, the northern part of the area controlled by our army is facing the threat of the Manchu and Qing troops. Externally, French troops are pressing down on the border. Internally, the Annan government is increasingly wary of our army. If we are not careful, our army will be besieged on three sides by the Manchu, French, and Annan governments.
,
The situation was dangerous and surrounded by enemies. Our army's strategic environment did not improve with the victory in Hanoi. On the contrary, the Battle of Hanoi exposed the true strength of our army. The Manchu and Qing government saw that our army was able to annihilate nearly a thousand Frenchmen.
The white army is probably more suspicious than before. When our army fights the French army in the future, it will not only face a frontal attack by the French army with naval superiority, but also face a sneak attack from behind by the Manchu and Annan governments."
"Is there no way to remedy this? Your Majesty started out with a few hundred old and weak laborers and traveled thousands of miles across South America. Now the Nanyang Army has no shortage of troops, weapons and equipment. Why can't you open up the situation in Annan like your Majesty did?"
Tang Jingsong was nearly forty years old. During the first half of his life, he was mediocre and underappreciated within the Manchu court. It was precisely because he was unwilling to waste what he had learned that he was willing to take risks and join the Nanyang Army with his family.
But what Mei Dongxing said just now poured cold water on his burning heart.
"The remedy is not impossible, but it is very unrealistic. Unless the French give up their ambition to establish a colonial empire in the Far East, they will not sit back and watch the Nanyang Army occupy northern Annan for a long time."
Liang Xing, the intelligence chief of the Nanyang region, saw the disappointed expression on Tang Jingsong's face and explained, "The Nanyang Army's plan to evacuate Annan is not because of the gap in combat effectiveness with the French colonial army and the Manchu Qing army, but because both sides are in the Annan region."
, determined by the different comprehensive strengths that can be exerted.
The sea distance from Han to Annan is longer than that of France. The military war supplies stored by the Nanyang Army can only last for one year. Nanyang is far away from the mainland. If the French send part of the main navy to reinforce the Annan area, then the connection between the mainland and Annan will be
The channel will be cut off and blocked by the other side just like it was during the Argentine War.
At that time, there were no imported supplies of weapons and ammunition from the mainland, and the soldiers of the Nanyang Legion, even if they had a strong will to fight, could not withstand military attacks from three sides."
"Unfortunately, I thought I could do something great in Annan, but I didn't expect that it would end dismally in the end."
Tang Jingsong said dejectedly, "Tang was nearly 40 years old and had been busy for half his life. He never had a chance to relax his thoughts. Although he was rejected by the Manchu government and sent here to Annan alone, it can be regarded as satisfying Tang's wishes."
"My lords."
Tang Jingsong's expression suddenly changed and he said firmly, "If the Nanyang Army evacuates in the future, I apologize for not being able to go to South America with you to visit His Majesty. Tang would rather stay in Annan and fight to the death with Fa Yi than let Fa Yi succeed easily. Please also ask
Your Majesty, make it happen!"
Tang Jingsong's violent reaction was beyond the expectations of Mei Dongxing, Liang Xing and others.
If his family hadn't already arrived in Annan, Liang Xing would have really thought that Tang Jingsong was a spy sent by the Manchu Qing government.
"The withdrawal from Annan is a worst-case scenario plan. Whether it is implemented or not depends on the development of the situation in Annan and the outcome of negotiations between the two parties. Moreover, even if our troops withdraw from Annan, it does not mean giving up all areas of Nanyang."
After once again confirming that Tang Jingsong's expression did not appear to be fake, Liang Xing decided to reveal more information to him.
"Brother Tang should have heard of Songkhla and Lanfang. Although the population of the two places is slightly less than that of the area controlled by our army in northern Annam, their area is larger than that of Lang Son and Quang Ninh. Moreover, Songkhla and Lanfang are
Both areas are dominated by Chinese people. Within the jurisdiction of both places, there are instructors and consultants sent by the local authorities to help control local affairs. If our army evacuates from northern Annan in the future, Brother Tang will also make great achievements in Songkhla and Lanfang.
Why must it be limited to Annan?"
The forces of the Han State have penetrated all over Nanyang, but as for the strength of the Han State in various places, external forces can only see a small part of it that is exposed, and cannot know all of it.
After a few words of advice from Liang Xing, Tang Jingsong gradually regained his composure. Although he did not immediately agree to follow the Nanyang Army to other areas, he did not insist on staying in the Annan area.