On May 8, Li Yang-tzu returned with hunters excited:
Its bad, captain. There are many, many Japanese soldiers. A lot of big guns. Russian is one old cannon, and Japanese is four new cannons. I put it all around. He set up Tyndyl, put Palizon near, put it here near Liudiagou. Their general walked around, everything looked.
Yes, we are late, thought Yeremeyev. Probably, all their army is already concentrated around Kinzhou, but now I will send a report. This is an important message: Russian is one old cannon, Japanese is four new cannon. The captain grinned bitterly and spat out loudly, exclaimed:
I am ashamed!
On the morning of the tenth of May, a small enemy infantry squad appeared in front of the northern walls of the city. The arrows opened fire and drove the enemy away. But the captain saw that the activity of the Japanese was increasing. On the same day, they tried to occupy the old Chinese port, located near the village of Chudyatun. The next evening, the Japanese infantry began shelling the city. I had to use the guns and ask for help from a fortified position.
At night a strong wind blew. Our hunters brought disturbing information. On the twelfth of May, long before dawn, shells of Japanese field guns fell on the city. Siege guns began shelling fortified Kinzhou. But the shells put to blow, not all torn. The sound of the shots, as well as the marks on the remote tubes could be concluded: Japanese guns are far away and shoot from a distance.
But where are the batteries? Captain Yeremeyev asked himself the question and sent for Lee Yang-tzu.
Despite a thorough search, the Chinese were not found. Apparently, he left the city in the evening.
So, the danger is not far off. If not today, then tomorrow there will be a general attack.
The wind was still raging. The bay was noisy with breaking fine waves. Throughout the shallows in the pre-dawn haze glowing boils broke, from the walls of the town were visible outbreaks of guns, which are no no no and light the foothills of Samson. On the breastwork of our batteries, clubs of earth and gases rose. An hour later, the siege batteries fell silent, but shells of small-caliber cannons continued to fall into the city.
We are on the road, We need to be destroyed, said the defenders of the city. But the enemy has been bombing for five hours now, and only four of our people have been wounded.
And the Chinese?
Maybe five people, and even less. All left, like a cow licked. Their intelligence works better than ours.
During the day the wind did not subside, but in the evening it even increased.
At dusk, Captain Yeremeyev received reinforcements. Now he had a company and a half, one foot team, two guns and two machine guns at his disposal.
The Japanese acted on this site assertively. They tried to bypass the city from the west. Having been repulsed, they launched an offensive from the north. At midnight, surrounding the city, they dragged a mine to the gate. The sentinels noticed the enemy, one of them ran up to Captain Yeremeyev.
Your honor, at the gates of the Japanese with a bomb.
What kind of talk, the captain laughed. They would have blown it up a long time ago.
By golly! exclaimed the shooter. And dont worry about the explosion, they know what they are doing. Reinforcements are waiting to be flocked to the city.
But youre right, Schetkin.
Captain Eremeev chose five hunters and, heading them, went to the gate. The case was very responsible.
If they didnt get me wrong, thought the captain.
The Japanese with a bomb, lay along the wall at the gate. They were already in a dead space, where gun bullets did not reach. Captain Eremeev through the embrasure slot saw their legs. There was some scuffling. Obviously, they moved landmine. By order of the captain, the soldiers gathered two buckets of ash from the outbreaks. Spread out the shooters, Yeremeyev bared his sword and quietly commanded:
Pour the ashes on the wall! Open the gate!
While the Japanese were rubbing their eyes, the captain cut the wire, and at the same time the bayonets plunged into the Japanese miners. Ours from the city wall opened fire. The Japanese responded with machine gun fire. The landmine was dragged into the fortress and the gate was closed.
Rainfall interfered with the monitoring of the Japanese, located around the city.
Eh, if regiment two is now right here. And during the night you could destroy all the plans of the enemy on his right flank. All batteries placed so carelessly would be ours Do we really know the terrain badly? reasoned Captain Yeremeyev.
Fires began in the city. The ranks of his defenders melted, but held tight. The arrows were waiting for reinforcements and strikes against the enemy along the seashore in addition to the city walls. All the language spun phrases:
Lure and flatten.
Fock is an old fox. He knows what to do
At four oclock in the morning, Captain Yeremeyev received orders from Colonel Tretyakov to clear the city and retreat to the position.
Chapter Thirteen
one
The highest point of the Nanshan Fortifications was Redoubt No. 13, located on the edge of a steep southern slope. The main approaches to Kinzhou were well visible from it. On the redoubt was the commander of the fifth regiment and the head of the position of Colonel Tretyakov.
At the first glimpses of dawn near the height of seventy-fifth, they found an enemy column. Our gunners hit it with shrapnel. This first morning shot served as a signal for the Japanese. All the siege light and heavy guns of the enemy suddenly opened fire, concentrating fire on the lonely mountain Nanyian.
The daily battery of the second, on hearing the first distant volleys, shuddered and whispered:
Its them
Behind the mountain was buzzing, the earth shuddered. In our positions exploded enemy shells. Measured group shots lasted about ten minutes. Then the sounds of gunfire and explosions merged. Our batteries responded vigorously. He stopped shaking, he was numb. Riding rifles and gunners rose all around and anxiously examined the sky in the north. Suddenly, on the left, a deafening and dense click, as if here twenty to thirty paces struck thunder. The horses crouched, began to tear, shaking the guard post. Litter ran to Podkovin, who was getting tired and relaxed.
I heard! What are these things?
The enemy ships fire their long-range cannons.
How are they allowed? confusedly said the daily.
In the morning they will disassemble and drive off.
Podkovin scraped dirt from his overcoat, rolled up and tied his overcoat to the front end of the carriage.
Ill go look at the hill. He may hit the hill.
It is clear, maybe, but later, and after our battery starts to shoot.
Riders harnessed horses, and Podkovin ran to the top of the mountain. Samson Peak hung its teeth over the low-lying Russian fortifications. Numerous spurs of sinister tentacles moved into the hollow. Across the entire isthmus, the fires of enemy volleys flickered continuously. From a distance they seemed to be a trembling grid of illuminated advertising, on which intricate fiery signs ran from right to left and vice versa. In the dark expanse of the sea, long flames of crimson flames flashed in pairs: the gunboats fired. On the Nanshan hill was visible the dancing of lights from the bursting enemy shells and shots of serf guns. Looking closely, Podkovin realized that the enemy half-ring of fire was narrowing, threateningly approaching a lonely position.