Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 425 Recovering Phoenix City

"How dare you, young boy! You have only won a few battles, but you are here to disrespect your superiors and speak nonsense.

Everyone here is a veteran in the army. When we were leading the troops, you were still nursing your mother. How could you have the right to speak?"

Qu Shaoyang suddenly spoke, and no one reacted at first.

After the others came to their senses, several veteran generals in the army began to scold Qu Shaoyang.

"That's right, Qu Shaoyang, you are just an inspector, and the Dingbian Army is just a militia.

"We are discussing important military matters, and we are already showing you mercy by allowing you to listen. How dare you speak nonsense here? Who gave you the courage?"

Everyone was talking at once, all heading towards Qu Shaoyang.

Even though these people are not very good at fighting and killing enemies on the battlefield, they are very good at verbal battles.

They all puffed their beards and glared at each other, as if Qu Shaoyang had said something extremely outrageous.

After all, Qu Shaoyang is young and not one of those old hands in officialdom. He has never been an official in his previous life.

So he didn't understand why Wu Dacheng insisted on attacking Haicheng first.

In order to protect the important Fengtian Mausoleum, the imperial court was eager to recapture Haicheng.

Moreover, despite the heavy pressure from the enemy, the Qing army failed in its four counterattacks on Haicheng.

As the commander-in-chief, Wu Dacheng made a big promise before he came.

However, the two counterattacks he personally commanded were of no use at all, and he was completely embarrassed.

Wu Dacheng is very crazy now. He urgently needs to take over Haicheng to clear his name.

Moreover, the Japanese troops in Haicheng had been trapped for a long time and were exhausted. Relatively speaking, it was safer to attack Haicheng with a greater chance of winning.

Although Qu Shaoyang had long known that the Qing court was corrupt and its officials were incompetent, it was only after he personally participated in it that he truly experienced the anger and powerlessness.

Qu Shaoyang had been patient for so many days and was really furious.

The current situation is clearly very urgent. If we make a mistake, all the steps will be wrong and there will be no recovery.

But these old stubborn people are still scheming and playing tricks on each other, which is really infuriating.

Qu Shaoyang couldn't bear it any longer, so he stood up suddenly.

"Well, since you gentlemen say so, I don't have to stay here any longer.

The Dingbian Army is a militia, and I don't think it can contribute much to the counterattack on Haicheng. In this case, Qu will take his leave. "

Instead of hanging out here with a bunch of officials, it’s better to do your own thing.

Qu Shaoyang was too lazy to waste time talking to them, so he just waved his sleeves and left, leading his men back to the garrison. Then he ordered the Dingbian Army to immediately break camp and set off for Phoenix City.

Phoenix City was considered the headquarters of the Japanese First Army in the Northeast, and was also an important supply and transfer center for the reinforcements from Goryeo to attack Fengtian.

Right now Nozu Michitsugu is leading more than 10,000 people to rescue Haicheng, and Phoenix City is short of troops.

Qu Shaoyang meant to take advantage of the opportunity and find a way to recapture Phoenix City first.

The geographical location of Phoenix City is very important. If Nozu Michitsugu learns the news, he may turn around to rescue Phoenix City. In this way, the crisis in Niuzhuang, Yingkou and Tianzhuangtai can be resolved.

Of course, it doesn’t matter if Nozu Michikuni doesn’t come to rescue. Qu Shaoyang can first take over Fenghuang City, and then recapture Jiulian City and Andong.

In this way, the Japanese army's food supply and retreat routes can be cut off.

In war, it is not only about destroying the enemy's manpower, but it is also best to destroy the enemy's options.

The best strategy is to leave the enemy with only one choice, and the best strategy is to leave the enemy with no choice.

Nozu Michitsugu led his troops to attack Anshan to relieve Haicheng's predicament. This tactic was also learned from our ancestors, besieging Wei to rescue Zhao and attacking the enemy who must rescue it.

Don't underestimate these Japanese people. They are well-versed in Chinese military strategies and history books.

Qu Shaoyang believed that no matter what time it was, the initiative of the war had to be in one's own hands, so as not to be led by others and beaten everywhere.

If Qu Shaoyang wants to attack Phoenix City, the 5,000 Dingbian Army's current troops are definitely not enough.

So he sent people to Kuandian on horseback to contact Zhang Xiulan, Chen Yunzhe and others.

In Kuandian, because the people evacuated the county town in advance, there were not many available supplies in the city.

So on the 19th day of the first lunar month, the Japanese army went out of the city to harass and loot, but they were attacked successively by Chen Yunhan's militia in Sandaogou and Putaojialing.

The Japanese army had no choice but to retreat back to the county town.

Immediately afterwards, under the command of the Chen brothers, Lin Yuanfu and others of the Yi Zi Tuan led their troops to seize Huangyi Mountain, and from their high ground, they bombarded the county town with cannons.

Afterwards, Chen Yunhan, who was lying in ambush in the eastern suburbs of the city, led his troops to attack the county town through the east gate.

The Japanese army was forced to flee from the south gate to Dingjiatanzi, but was ambushed by the militia who had ambushed them in advance on the bank of Donglou River. The Japanese army fled to Tandian in panic.

Chen Yunzhe and Lin Changqing led their troops in pursuit until midnight before withdrawing back to the city.

Early the next morning, the militia captured dozens of Japanese soldiers alive from haystacks and cellars.

In this battle, more than a hundred Japanese troops were annihilated and the county town was recovered, which was called the Kuandian Victory.

On the 30th day of the first lunar month, more than 3,000 soldiers and civilians from Kuandian took advantage of the victory to recapture Changdian and killed seventy or eighty enemies.

On the third day of February, the military and civilians marched towards Xianglugou and encountered an ambush by the Japanese army outside the village.

The two sides fought fiercely, and nearly a hundred soldiers and civilians in Kuandian were killed, and dozens of Japanese soldiers were killed. They abandoned their weapons and food and fled to Phoenix City.

On the sixth day of February, the Chen brothers led more than 2,000 people to capture Hongtonggou and eliminate the last two strongholds of the Japanese army in Jinchang and Changgang, thus clearing the entire Kuandian area.

The Chen brothers had just led their troops back to the county town when people sent by Qu Shaoyang also arrived.

Upon learning that Qu Shaoyang was going to lead his troops to attack Phoenix City, Zhang Xiulan was a little hesitant at first, but later, after being persuaded by Chen Yunzhe, Zhang Yue and others, he nodded in agreement.

Therefore, the Chen brothers led a militia of more than 4,000 people, and Zhang Yue and Rong Xi led a reorganized patrol battalion of 2,500 to 2,600 people, and they went to Phoenix City together to meet up with Qu Shaoyang.

Qu Shaoyang led his troops on a rapid march and finally arrived near Phoenix City on the tenth day of February.

The three armies gathered together and discussed the counterattack on Phoenix City.

Because Nozu Michinari led a large army to rescue Haicheng, there were less than a thousand Japanese troops in Fenghuang City at that time.

However, Phoenix City occupies a strategic location, and the Japanese army set up strongholds on Phoenix Mountain in the south of the city and Jiguana Mountain in the northwest of the city, and deployed troops for defense.

At the same time, the city of Phoenix is ​​strong and it is not easy to capture it in a short time.

After discussion, Qu Shaoyang led his troops to seize Phoenix Mountain in the south of the city, the Chen brothers occupied Jiguana Mountain in the northwest of the city, and Zhang Yue and others led their troops to intercept the Japanese troops coming out of the city to rescue.

With the cooperation of so many parties, we try our best to capture two commanding heights.

That night, Qu Shaoyang led his troops to sneak up to Phoenix Mountain. Under the guidance of local people, they took a shortcut up the mountain and launched a surprise attack on the Japanese troops guarding the mountain.

The Japanese army was caught off guard and responded hastily.

After a bloody battle, fifty or sixty people were killed, more than twenty were captured, and only more than ten people rushed down the mountain to report the news to the city.

When the Phoenix City defenders heard the news, they realized something was wrong and immediately sent someone to send a letter to Haicheng, ordering them to strengthen the city's defense. On the other hand, the Chen brothers also took the approach of a surprise attack, sneaked up to Jiguan Mountain, and killed dozens of Japanese soldiers.

The rest of the people fought desperately to break out and escape back to Phoenix City.

On the morning of February 11, two high grounds, one in the south and one in the north, fired at Phoenix City at the same time.

The Japanese troops guarding the city also retaliated with cannons.

However, the Japanese army had insufficient guarding force and few cannons, and under the Qing army's attack from the north and south, the city walls and fortifications were destroyed.

"Don't rush into the city yet, keep bombarding it with cannons."

Qu Shaoyang did not rush to lead the infantry to charge, but continued to fire artillery to destroy defenses in various parts of the city.

Only after all the defensive fortifications in the city were destroyed did Qu Shaoyang lead his troops to attack Phoenix City from the south and west gates.

At the same time, the Chen brothers attacked from the north gate, and Zhang Yue and others led the patrol battalion to attack from the east gate, surrounding the Japanese troops in the city with all their strength.

There were not many defenders in the city, and many of them died under the artillery fire.

However, the Japanese army was still quite strong. They occupied the streets and engaged in fierce street fighting with the Qing army.

The battle lasted from the afternoon until dark. In the end, most of the Japanese soldiers defending the city were killed or wounded, and only a hundred people broke through and escaped from the east gate.

Ever since the Japanese army occupied Phoenix City, the people in the surrounding villages and towns have spontaneously formed militia groups.

The Dingbian Army and Kuandian militia attacked Fenghuang City, and the surrounding militia set up ambushes everywhere to stop the fleeing Japanese troops.

The Japanese troops that escaped from Phoenix City were repeatedly ambushed by militia on their way to defeat, and less than half of them finally escaped to Jiuliancheng.

The Dingbian Army and the militia joined forces to capture Phoenix City, winning the first battle.

When Zhang Xiulan received the news, he immediately brought people back and organized the people to clean up the mess.

"Sir, I want to lead the army to attack Jiulian City and recapture Andong City." Qu Shaoyang found Zhang Xiulan and discussed with him.

“Shao Yang, Jiulian City has strong fortifications and the terrain is strategic, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack.

You led your army on a long journey and just captured Phoenix City. Your soldiers are tired and exhausted. If you attack Jiulian City now, your chances of winning are slim."

Zhang Xiulan had many concerns, mainly the fear that Fenghuang City could not be defended, so he persuaded Qu Shaoyang and did not want him to lead troops to attack Jiulian City.

"My Lord, as the saying goes, the first blow is a great success, the second is weaker, and the third is exhausted.

Our army is at its peak right now, so we should take this opportunity to recapture Jiuliancheng and Andongcheng.

If there is any delay, the soldiers will become tired and lose their fighting spirit.

My Lord, most of the defenders in Jiulian City have also gone to Haicheng for rescue. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that cannot be missed."

Qu Shaoyang naturally refused to give up, so he continued to persuade.

"My lord, Commander Qu is absolutely right.

Right now the main force of the Japanese army is near Haicheng, so we should take this opportunity to recapture Jiuliancheng and Andong, cut off the Japanese army's retreat, and prevent them from sending more reinforcements from Goryeo."

Chen Yunzhe also agreed with Qu Shaoyang's proposal and joined in persuading him.

In the end, Zhang Xiulan had no choice but to agree to send Qu Shaoyang and the Chen brothers to lead the Dingbian Army and the militia to Jiuliancheng.

However, the patrol battalion and militia led by Zhang Yue, Rong Xi and others remained in Phoenix City.

Phoenix City was previously the base camp of the Japanese army and a food and material transportation center, so after Qu Shaoyang and others attacked the city, they seized a lot of guns, ammunition, food, tents and other supplies.

Taking this opportunity, the Dingbian Army and the militia replenished a lot of ammunition.

Not only that, the surrounding militia, local warriors, hunters, and even bandit gangs, upon learning that the Qing army had recaptured Phoenix City, all came to surrender.

Taking this opportunity, Qu Shaoyang and the Chen brothers recruited thousands of people to expand their team.

On February 15th, they led nearly 10,000 people to Jiuliancheng.

At this time, there were not many defenders left in Jiulian City.

Especially after learning that Fenghuang City had fallen, the Japanese troops in Jiulian City did not dare to disperse their forces any further, so they concentrated their forces on the defense around Jiulian City.

On February 16, Qu Shaoyang and others led their troops to the vicinity of Jiuliancheng.

Qu Shaoyang led the Dingbian Army to capture Zhendong Mountain to the north of Jiuliancheng. The Chen brothers led their troops separately, with one part capturing the east bank of the Ai River and the other part occupying Guojiabaozi and Zhaojiagou to prevent the Japanese army in Andong City from learning the news and coming to rescue.

After a day of fierce fighting, the defenders in the city were defeated and fled to the south bank of the Yalu River.

Qu Shaoyang and others took advantage of the situation to recapture Jiuliancheng, and with the cooperation of local people, they then captured Datonggou, Shahezi and other places.

Within a few days, all the places originally occupied by the Japanese army, except for Andong City, were recovered, and the situation in the Dongbiandao area was very good.

However, what Qu Shaoyang and his men did not know was that at this time, an army of 10,000 Japanese troops, led by Nozu Michikuni, captured Niuzhuang on the ninth day of February.

Wei Guangtao, the defender of Niuzhuang, led 3,000 troops in a fierce street battle with the Japanese army.

After a day and night of fierce fighting, more than 1,800 Qing soldiers were killed and nearly 400 Japanese soldiers were killed or wounded. Wei Guangtao finally broke through under the cover of his soldiers.

After capturing Niuzhuang, Nozu Michitsugu made another surprising move and divided his troops to attack Tianzhuangtai and Yingkou at the same time.

Wu Dacheng fell into the trap and withdrew his troops to Tianzhuangtai, and ordered Song Qing to rush to Tianzhuangtai as well.

Wu Dacheng was Song Qing's superior. Song Qing had no choice but to leave 3,000 men to guard Yingkou, and he led the rest of the troops to Tianzhuangtai.

On February 11, the Japanese army took the opportunity to capture Yingkou. Not only was the siege of Haicheng lifted, but Nogi Maresuke, who had been blocked in Yingkou, also joined the First Army.

On February 13, the Japanese army used three divisions, nearly 20,000 troops to capture Tianzhuangtai. Wu Dacheng retreated to Jinzhou, and Song Qing retreated to Shuangtai.

When capturing Tianzhuangtai, Nozu Michitsugu learned the lesson from the heavy losses he suffered in the previous street battle with Wei Guangtao in Niuzhuang.

This time he did not engage in street fighting, but instead ordered his men to bring in hundreds of barrels of kerosene.

The Japanese troops collectively poured oil and set fire, and the fire took advantage of the wind and turned the prosperous town of Tianzhuangtai into a scorched earth.

Countless supplies, weapons, ammunition, etc. in Tianzhuangtai City were all burned.

After the Japanese army captured Tianzhuangtai, they opened up an important land route.

The Japanese mainland army can be quickly transported to Lushun by troop transport ships, and then move smoothly northward from Lushun to attack Fengtian.

Alternatively, from Yingkou and Tianzhuangtai, turn southwest to attack Shanhaiguan.

In other words, the Japanese troops in the northeast have threatened Fengtian and the capital.

The Beiyang Fleet was gone, Weihaiwei was occupied, and the Liaodong Peninsula from Tianzhuangtai to the east along the Liaohe River and from Anshan to the west was basically occupied by the Japanese army.

Although the military and civilians of the Eastern Road recaptured Kuandian, Fenghuang City, Jiuliancheng and other places, their geographical location did not have such a big impact on the overall situation of the war.

On February 20, Japan established the "Governor-General's Office of the Qing Expedition" and appointed Army General Prince Komatsu Akihito as the Governor-General of the Qing Expedition.

The Qing court was now completely panicked, so it quickly sent people to negotiate peace.

At worst, we can sign a treaty and pay some silver as compensation, which is better than letting the enemy attack the capital.

(End of this chapter)