Chapter 3: The Desperate Charge

What he did not know was that the sudden encounter with such life-and-death trials after his crossing would greatly temper his mindset in a very short period, overshadowing the unbearable psychological despair he felt after the transition

The weakness lies in the northern artillery position of the two artillery formations. For the convenience of attack, this artillery position is set close to the front line and relies on the firepower of infantry and the mobility of cavalry for its defense

Kill! The cavalry responded with a roar like a tidal wave. Guan Zhuofan gritted his teeth, steeled his heart, and squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, charging out of the formation. Alongside six other horses, he led the charge towards the French army's position, with over three thousand furious imperial cavalrymen behind him. The seven men who had snatched their lives back from the jaws of death had no way to retreat, all sharing the same thought: if they do not die, they will enjoy the blessings.

This raid was exceptionally clean and beautiful. The French artillery on the other side, having regained their composure from the initial chaos, began retaliatory fire against the cavalry. Seeing that the formation was already well within sight, Guan Zhuofan truly felt like laughing heartily, completely unconcerned about the shells that occasionally exploded.

Kuaishui, the other deputy beside Shengbao, suddenly pointed at the distant Bali Bridge and whispered, "Look, it is the Monk King."

"How can we hold back the French army without confronting their formation?" This time, Sheng Bao could no longer underestimate Guan Zhuofan, and he furrowed his brows as he asked.

This is a major transformation that has not occurred in three thousand years

I will change history

Guan Zhuofan nodded—he neither knew their names nor what to say. It was truly a helpless situation where they recognized him, but he did not recognize them. He glanced at his current physique; he was tall and slender, yet strong and robust.

Brothers, let us charge once more and break through the artillery positions of the French devils! Today is the day to achieve great deeds, to use the blood of the foreign devils to honor the fallen heroes!" Sheng Bao shouted with a knife in hand, "The seven men of the central army will lead the way, and kill for me with the map and the book!"

"Success, it has been entrusted to me!" Deming received the military order, his facial muscles twitching as he glared fiercely ahead. He raised the saber in his hand and waved it forward: "First squad, first assistant, charge with me!"

"It was originally a world apart." Guan Zhuofan chuckled bitterly. According to the historical records of the Battle of Baliqiao, today should be August of the tenth year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty, which is more than a hundred years since he had crossed over.

Guan Zhuofan raced at the forefront, swinging the knife in the air to create dazzling arcs of light, his heart filled with a peculiar sense of self-satisfaction and an indescribable thrill—Brother, you are truly impressive!

As I ate and pondered, I soon felt satisfied. Wiping my mouth, I stood up, gazing at the moon in the sky and then at the distant shadow of the Eight-Li Bridge, discerning the direction. I sheathed my knife, slung my pack over my shoulder, and headed north. After walking a few steps, a sudden chill ran through me: by taking this knife, it would no longer be able to appear in the future Eight-Li Bridge Museum.

As for the words spoken by Shengbao—"Although you are my kin," it is uncertain how far this kinship extends. The banner people enjoy establishing connections, intertwining like vines; even families that are worlds apart can somehow find a way to connect. Considering his own status, it is unlikely that Shengbao would take the initiative to claim kinship with him; it is more probable that his own family has somehow ingratiated themselves with the Shengbao household.

The artillery of the French army roared, the sound of explosive shells echoed, and from behind Guan Zhuofan, the mournful cries of men and horses continuously emerged. After charging forward for several dozen steps, dense gunfire erupted from the infantry formations on both sides, and one by one, the horses beside him began to suddenly collapse.

However, as a mere time traveler, what can I possibly achieve in such a situation

Thinking of another world, of his own parents, friends, and classmates, he couldn't help but feel a wave of confusion in his heart. However, no matter what, one cannot simply say to end it all and give up on life, can they

First, I need to clarify who I am

He began to admire his own nonchalance—despite the circumstances, he was still able to smile.

With this determination, he suddenly felt a sense of lightness throughout his body. He found his fallen yellow steed, took out the water pouch and dry rations from the saddlebag behind the saddle, and sat back on the horse, eating while quietly contemplating his current situation

... ...

Is it possible to go back again? Guan Zhuofan searched with his gaze and finally found his gleaming battle knife on the ground not far away. He imagined that on a stormy night, he would stand like a javelin on the peak of a mountain, raising this knife high and pointing it towards the sky, until a powerful lightning bolt struck down, hitting the blade.

The French forces atop the artillery position were thrown into disarray. The gunners, fuse handlers, and ammunition bearers scattered in all directions, some hiding beneath the gun carriages to evade capture, while others picked up their rifles to load and fire, making a desperate stand. However, they often managed to fire only a single shot before being overwhelmed and cut down by the surging cavalry.

Guan Zhuofan knew that the British and French allied forces had mobilized three elite cavalry units from around the world for the victory in this war. The British Household Cavalry had already moved north, preparing to encircle the main force of Senggelinqin, while another powerful cavalry unit—the "Spahis" cavalry regiment formed by the French in their African colonies—should still be on its way to the battlefield at this time. Now, as long as the opposing Sikh cavalry can be diverted, causing the French artillery positions to lose their flanking protection, there may be a slim chance for the Qing army to succeed.

Sheng Bao thought anxiously and finally nodded slowly. He turned to his deputy, De Ming, and said: "Old De, take five hundred cavalry and charge towards Lei Family Hollow once more. As soon as you engage with those black-armored cavalry, turn south and draw them away—remember, under no circumstances are you to return to the main formation!"

Then, let us live well in this era under hetushu.com

Please send a detachment to lure the Sikh cavalry southward. Guan Zhuofan pointed to Sheng Bao and said, The main force will directly charge the artillery position on the left side of the French troops. Whether we break through the formation or maneuver around it, the goal is to force the foreign soldiers moving towards the Eight Mile Bridge to return for support, giving the monk king time to reorganize his lines. At that time, whether we fight or retreat, the credit will belong to you.

Where else is there still time? The Jingying cavalry, steadfastly resisting the gunfire from both flanks, paid no heed to the foreign cavalry pursuing from behind. They surged through this small gap and finally approached the French army's artillery formation, which was equipped with fourteen cannons, like a rising tide of the sea, unstoppable, and in the blink of an eye, they overwhelmed the artillery formation

At that moment, a shell exploded in front of him on the right, and Guan Zhuofan, along with his horse, was thrown into the air by the shockwave of the explosion. His vision went dark, and he lost consciousness once again

He stood up and, illuminated by the moonlight, assessed himself. It appeared that he had not sustained any external injuries, which eased his mind, knowing that he had managed to save his own life. Remembering how he had complained about the weather at the museum that morning, he couldn't help but feel as if he had traversed a chasm between life and death several times, experiencing a sense of disconnection from reality.

... ...

Uncertain how much time had passed, Guan Zhuofan slowly regained consciousness. Upon opening his eyes, he saw the night was dark, with a bright full moon illuminating the clearing where he found himself. The weapons and banners abandoned during the battle, along with the bodies of men and horses, were scattered chaotically around him. The two opposing armies had vanished without a trace, and the surroundings were eerily silent, devoid of any sound

The person whose body I have traversed into is most likely a cowardly and spineless individual. When faced with being tied up and executed, he would either faint from fear or die of fright, which is why I have ended up in his body. This fellow seems to have some decent skills with a sword, which I have inherited as part of the original body's memories

So this is the formidable Mongolian Iron Hat King, Guan Zhuofan felt a surge of emotions as he recalled the flagpole in the museum. Moreover, this brave act by Senggelinqin served as a significant encouragement to Shengbao and his Beijing troops

Guan San, along with the six individuals who were released alongside Guan Zhuofan, gathered in front of the horse formation. Among them, a bearded officer whispered, "I always thought you lacked courage; I didn't expect you to be so bold! Today, regardless of who survives, we brothers owe you a debt of gratitude!"

The battlefield is a strange place; when a person is pushed to the brink of death, they tend to cast aside the thoughts of life and death that usually occupy their minds. Guan Zhuofan was swept up in an inexplicable fervor, wielding his battle knife in his right hand, controlling the reins with his left, and leaning forward to charge ahead. In his heart, there remained only one thought: to rush in, to rush in and kill these damned bastards!

His strategy succeeded! Whether it was the Sikh cavalry pursuing the deputy general Deming or the royal guard dragon cavalry heading to intercept the monk king's rear, at this moment, they were all hurriedly turning back, attempting to block the way. However, they could not arrive in an instant, instead falling behind the rapidly advancing Qing army, only able to follow closely in pursuit. The French infantry on both sides also hurriedly moved to try to compensate for this flaw in formation

The Guarjia family? ... Interesting, very interesting ... ? ... Speaking of which, isn't this identity just the best form of camouflage?

In this era, it is almost the darkest and most chaotic time in China. The Manchu court, which has occupied the Central Plains for over 200 years, is beginning to decline. After establishing its capital in Nanjing, Hong Xiuquan's Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has also rapidly fallen into decline. Meanwhile, those formidable enemies from the West are forcefully opening the gates of this Eastern continent with their powerful ships and cannons

This is the final opportunity, entirely dependent on whether Shengbao can take it in

The remaining two thousand cavalrymen were entirely following his yellow steed, thus he did not stop to strike, for otherwise this troop of cavalry would immediately fall into the encirclement of the French army, facing the risk of annihilation. Therefore, amidst the cries of the French artillery, the entire cavalry unit passed through the formation, emerging from the east and the library, making a large detour, and galloping back towards their own lines. Guan Zhuofan was well aware that each twelve-pounder cannon of the French army required a crew of eight gunners. Now, with nearly two hundred French soldiers in the artillery position, it was certain that casualties had exceeded half, rendering this artillery position effectively paralyzed.

It is truly unbelievable that I actually died from being struck by lightning

Most likely, it will be burned into a piece of charcoal, he shook his head. Experiencing being struck by lightning is enough once; one must never act arrogantly again.

At this moment, everyone knows that the true full-scale charge is about to begin

Guan Zhuofan involuntarily looked in the direction he pointed to, and saw in the distance at the Bali Bridge, those Mongolian cavalrymen who had suffered heavy casualties after several charges, once again forming a resilient line. In the center stood a tall warhorse, and on it, the commander held aloft a massive yellow flag, swaying it left and right amidst the cannon fire and smoke, still challenging the British troops opposite.

What of it? Guan Zhuofan secretly laughed at himself for making a fuss over a mere knife, tightened the strap of his bag, and without further hesitation, continued on his journey forward

Five hundred cavalrymen charged along the exact route of Su Cheng'e's first assault, making another show of a sudden attack. Unsurprisingly, the Sikh cavalry regiment launched another offensive, advancing to meet them. As the two cavalry forces lightly collided, the Qing troops retreated south, while the Sikh cavalry resolutely engaged, aiming to rout this contingent of Qing forces

It is essential to accurately identify the opponent's weaknesses. Guan Zhuofan is not a military expert, but the Battle of Baliqiao has been thoroughly studied by historians in later generations. The French army's formation was overly arrogant and had evident weaknesses

At this stage of the battle, attempting to turn the tide is exceedingly difficult; however, even if one takes risks, it is essential to find a feasible approach. A direct assault on the infantry phalanx, not to mention the immense lethality of the foreign troops' three-line formation tactics, is already formidable. Just considering the combination of the firepower of the Armstrong heavy artillery and the densely layered infantry bayonets is enough to leave the cavalry at a loss.