When the fleet arrived at the port of Tehuantepec, just as planned, the entire city was already controlled by Chinese armed forces.
When occupying the city, the Mexican government forces and local residents put up "resolute resistance" and the "battle" lasted all day. So when the Marine Corps entered the city, they saw that the lampposts in the city were covered with loyal and unyielding symbols.
Mexicans and all white people in the city are almost dead.
The person in charge of Tehuatepec looked aggrieved: "I have stopped it, and members of our leadership have stopped it, but the anger of the masses cannot be stopped. General Chen, the conflicts between the Chinese and the locals here have been going on for a long time.
It's on the verge of an explosion. If we don't take action, a tragedy like Torreon will happen sooner or later. The difference is just which side is massacred. We have done our best just to protect the Indians and blacks according to Mr. Lin's wishes. Really
It’s because the mind is full but the strength is not enough.”
Chen Haihui, who served as the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, had no choice but to send a telegram to Lin Youde. Lin Youde's reply was also very helpless: "If it is slaughtered, it will be slaughtered. No one in the hands of a first-class powerful country has any blood debt."
Immediately afterwards, Lin Youde's propaganda machine kicked into high gear and began to promote the "fierce battle in Tehuantepec", emphasizing the fierceness of the battle and the "heavy losses" suffered by the Chinese.
While the public opinion war was going on, the landing troops began to advance toward Coatzacoalcos along the railway line as planned, while the naval fleet that completed the escort mission went north along the coastline to Manzani, Mexico's largest port on the Pacific coast.
On the way, they also annihilated Mexico's only maritime force that came to make a fool of themselves.
At this time, the Chinese federal government officially declared war on Mexico on January 1, 1907.
**
Manzanillo harbor, fleets gathered.
The Overlord is using a loudspeaker to shout to the city: "Our army will start at 0:00 a.m. on January 2 to cover the city with artillery fire. Please leave the city as soon as possible. Repeat, our army will start at 0:00 a.m. on January 2 to cover the city with artillery fire."
The city is covered by artillery fire, please leave the city as soon as possible..."
The Chinese Federation Navy is characterized by a small number of battleships, only two so far, but a large number of patrol ships. These patrol ships adopt Lin Youde's idea of carrying big guns in small boats, and only install two heavy naval guns in the middle part of the hull, which is the widest.
, in order to ensure stability when shooting, the middle part of the hull is designed to be thicker than ordinary cruise ships, and the underwater part also has side strips for stability.
The combat idea of this kind of ship is to use the sky eye to detect the enemy at a long distance, and then cooperate with the small fire control god to conduct naval gunfire with the enemy at a distance of more than 20,000 meters. Therefore, they have enough maneuverability to maintain the combat distance, and enough
Heavy artillery that destroys most enemy ships at long range.
A fleet composed of a large number of such mounted patrols will be very effective in covering immobile land targets with firepower. It is far from comparable to the mounted patrol fleets of other countries that only have medium-sized naval guns.
As for why he didn't bomb directly, Lin Youde was preparing to create panic. People are dead when they die, but refugees can put huge pressure on the government and create shaky emotions among the people.
The naval fleet of the Chinese Federation has been shouting words outside the port of Manzanillo for a whole day, and while shouting back, it is test firing and calibrating, exploding water jets in the sea water in the port.
At midnight on January 2, 1907, West Coast time, the Chinese fleet began to bombard Manzanillo. From zero o'clock until 8:30 the next morning, tens of thousands of heavy naval gun shells were fired, and the entire city was directly destroyed.
There was a sea of fire, the blazing fire and the thick smoke that covered the sky and made the sun eclipse it.
Most of the residents who did not heed the advice to leave the city were killed in the shelling, and the rest rolled out of the city in piss, spreading fear and uneasiness.
After blowing Manzanillo into a sea of flames, the federal naval fleet continued to move north. Every time it arrived at a relatively large port city, it would stop, broadcast for a day, and then blow the city into ruins. What about Mazatlan and Los Mochi?
The whole city was bombed into a dead city. When they arrived at Guaymas, the locals had already fled before the fleet even started broadcasting. At noon, not a single trace of smoke could be seen in the entire city...
A British newspaper commented on the navy's actions this way: "Regardless of the truth about Tehuantepec, the retaliatory actions of the Chinese Federation Navy have obviously exceeded the limits of what a civilized society can tolerate. It reminds people of the crimes committed by the Mongolian cavalry in Europe.
This is a heinous crime. If Lin Youde’s ambition is not stopped, Western civilization will suffer a heavy blow."
The Mexican government does not have the luxury of the British. For Mexico's dictator José de la Cruz Porfilio Díaz Mori, a heavy blow has come. The industrial areas on the entire West Coast of Mexico
Not many ports were destroyed, and the residents living in the coastal areas, no matter whether it was a famous port or not, all fled inland for fear of being bombarded. In addition, the Chinese would land and massacre for Torre.
Rumors of revenge for the murder in Ong City spread widely, and the entire West Coast of Mexico was in panic.
What's worse is that all intelligence indicates that the Chinese troops who have landed are rapidly advancing eastward. If no action is taken, Mexico's territory will be cut into two parts, one large and one small.
Finally, Porfirio Díaz decided to assemble troops in a small town called Idagotitlan on the railway line from Coatzacoalcos to Tehuantepec to stop the Chinese army's offensive. Di
Yas has received a fairly complete military education. He believes that the Chinese cannot mobilize a large number of troops in a short period of time. Coupled with the limitations of transportation capacity, the strength of the Chinese army currently attacking is roughly between 7,000 and 10,000.
In fact, this estimate was not too inaccurate, but he did not expect that the Chinese had invested in new weapons.
**
Idagotitlan was worth defending for two reasons.
First, there is a large train supply center here, which can replenish coal, water and provide maintenance for passing trains. Second, this city is located on the bank of the Coatzacoalcos River. With the river as a barrier, the difficulty of defense is greatly reduced -
—Although the river is only more than 300 meters wide.
General Franco Francisco led more than 10,000 hastily assembled Mexican troops to this small town on the afternoon of January 4. While building a defensive offensive, he waited for the support promised by Mexico City.
However, the Shenji reinforcements that Diaz promised to arrive by the night of January 5th at the latest were nowhere to be seen until January 6th.
**
"Report to the general, I have confirmed with Mexico City that the Shenji troops did set off by railway. The central government is confirming whether there is a problem with railway transportation. Our telegraph line was cut off by those hateful Chinese immigrants.
Wireless telegraphy has also been interfered with, and even the central government cannot fully grasp the situation..."
Franco nodded seriously to the staff officer who came to report, and said: "Continue to keep in touch with the central government. I must confirm the status of the Shenji troops. I want to know where they are. In addition, hurry up and collect the Chinese troops.
Information to advance progress.”
Since the city of Almoloya at the pass of the Cordillera Mountains fell four days ago, the Mexican side has completely lost sight of the movements of the Chinese army. Every town on the railway line with telegraphs has lost news at almost the same time, so no one knows that the Chinese
Where did it advance?
This is the most taboo situation in war. No wonder Franco was on pins and needles at this time.
"What are the reports from the cavalry units that are scouting west along the railroad?" he asked his cavalry commander.
The colonel, who was about the same age as Franco, shook his head: "In the past two days, we have sent six cavalry reconnaissance teams in succession. Except for the first one that turned back successfully after advancing 50 kilometers to the west, there is no news about the other five troops.
"
"Do you want to say that they have reached a place fifty kilometers away from here? This is impossible! They cannot advance three hundred kilometers in four days, this is absolutely impossible!"….
As he spoke, Franco looked down at the map. After a moment, he pointed at the map with the riding crop in his hand and said: "Send the cavalry in this direction, and also contact Sir Folado to the north to ask him to pay attention to whether the Chinese
Going towards them, the attack on Coatzacoalcos may be a feint by the Chinese!"
At this moment, a messenger rushed into Franco's simple command room panting.
"Cavalry, the cavalry is back!"
When Franco heard this, he immediately became energetic. He picked up the long sword placed on the map table, thrust it into his waist and strode out.
As soon as Franco went out, he saw a cavalryman lying on his horse covered in blood, staggering towards him along the main road of the town. The black horses were covered in sweat from running, and their fur was as shiny as if it had been wiped.
layer of wax.
As soon as he saw Franco, the rider struggled to reach out to the commander, his eyes bulging like goldfish, he opened his mouth and tried his best to squeeze out the sound: "...Ride...China...Ride...
…”
After squeezing out these two words, his life came to an end, he rolled his eyes and rolled off the horse.
"Cavalry..." Franco didn't even look at the dead soldier. He held his chin, "Could it be said that the Chinese invested cavalry? This..."
At this time, the lookout post on the top of the nearby church shouted: "A large amount of smoke and dust was found in the southwest! It may be a large-scale cavalry regiment!"
Franco was stunned for a moment, then pulled out the command knife from his waist and shouted: "Get ready to fight!"
Before he finished speaking, the lookout post shouted again: "Observed the light of Shen Ji ascending into the sky! There are only a few in number!"
At this time, Franco finally confirmed that the Chinese really used cavalry units: several Shenji were deployed among the cavalry units that quickly crossed the attack to deal with the defenders' generals. Although this tactic was not common, it was by no means a common tactic.
This new method of warfare was invented by the Chinese. It was used by Napoleon of France, and Kutuzov later responded in kind. This allusion is well known in the military circles of this time and space.
"Don't panic!" Franco said to the surrounding soldiers who looked shaken when they heard the presence of the goddess, "these goddesses on the opposite side are here to deal with our generals. We only need to crush the enemy cavalry attack.
The few Shenjis will naturally retreat! Use the Fengjia troops to show your momentum! Hold back the Chinese Shenji! Others immediately enter the outer positions!"
With the efforts of Franco and other officers, the Mexican military morale stabilized, and the soldiers began to gather and move towards the defensive positions still under construction on the outside of the town.
Franco himself also took his staff and messengers to the southwest of the town to observe the enemy's situation.
Then both Franco and his cavalry commander realized that something was not right.
"The smoke and dust are too big," the cavalry commander gave his professional opinion. "If you just let your horse trot, it is impossible for a cavalry army of about 10,000 people to create such a big smoke and dust. It is possible when charging.
But charging at such a long distance, their horses will be exhausted before they reach us."
At this time, the Chinese goddesses in the air had already begun to shoot at the generals from a high position - obviously they only wore light armor that was easy to ride on, and did not dare to rashly fall into a small town where more than 10,000 Mexican troops were stationed. Otherwise, the Mexican army would issue
The rune ammunition is enough for them to drink a pot.
This shows that Franco's judgment is basically correct.
But no matter how hard Franco tried, he couldn't figure out what kind of medicine the commander of the Chinese cavalry brigade in the distance was selling in his gourd.