Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 466 Ji'an Railway
On the 21st day of the 12th lunar month in the 29th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Japanese ambassador to Russia Kurino handed an ultimatum to Russian Foreign Minister Ramsdorff, announcing the severance of diplomatic relations with Russia.

On the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, Japan captured the Russian ship Russia in Incheon.

On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the Japanese army attacked the Russian fleet in Port Arthur, and Tsar Nicholas II ordered the Chinese Eastern Railway to be put on a wartime status.

On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, Japan and Russia simultaneously declared war, and the Russo-Japanese War broke out.

The war was taking place in the Northeast region, but the Qing government issued Thirty-Six Articles of Neutrality, strictly adhering to its neutrality.

All countries did not take the Qing government's declaration of neutrality seriously and regarded it as just a piece of paper.

At this time, Japan had not yet penetrated deep into the Northeast interior, had fewer disputes, and the outcome was still undecided, so it adopted a policy of recognizing the neutrality of the Qing court.

As for Tsarist Russia, they had originally intended to use the war to speed up the annexation of the Northeast, so they arrogantly rejected the Qing government's statement and demands.

It was also declared that the railways passing through the three northeastern provinces and the northeastern corner of Mongolia were important places for transporting troops and could not be excluded.

Due to the sudden outbreak of war, this year will definitely not be a good one.

Qu Shaoyang issued strict orders for all localities to deploy tight defenses and do their utmost to protect the people from the impact of the war.

If Japanese or Russian troops break into Jilin Province, they can be stopped.

At the same time, Qu Shaoyang sent a message to brothers Chen Yunzhe and Chen Yunhan, asking them to quickly gather heavy troops and guard the Yalu River.

The Japanese will definitely not abide by any neutrality. Once the war breaks out, they will most likely cross the Yalu River from Goryeo and fight against Tsarist Russia.

The eastern road is close to the Yalu River. No matter what, it must be defended to prevent the people from being ravaged by artillery fire.

On the second day of the first lunar month, the Russian Far East Governor-General Alexeev sent a note to Shengjing General Zhang Xiulan, asking him to be responsible for protecting the railway.

He also stated that city walls and bridges that were a hindrance to military operations should be demolished at any time, but was rejected by Zhang Xiulan.

On the fourth day of the first lunar month, Alexeev arrived in Fengtian and demanded that Zhang Xiulan withdraw the Qing army 60 versts (more than 200 li) from the railway within May, and limit the number of troops left in Fengtian to 600.

Ma Yukun, the governor of Zhili, led his troops out of the border and stationed in western Liaoning to maintain the neutral zone.

On the ninth day of the first lunar month, Russian envoy Sarel requested that the areas west and east of the Liao River be included in the war zone, but was rejected by the Qingcheng government.

On the 27th day of the first lunar month, in order to oppose the war between the two countries in the Northeast region, the South Manchuria branch of the Chinese Eastern Railway and the railway between Harbin and Tieling were blown up by local people in several sections, resulting in the interruption of transportation between the north and the south.

In February, the Ningguta section of the Chinese Eastern China Railway was also destroyed by bombs several dozen feet long by local residents.

In the same month, Russian businessman Weber seized the Shibeiling coal mine in the southeast of Changchun, neither paying prices nor paying taxes.

Qu Shaoyang signaled the forest patrol team to cooperate with the local people to expel them.

On February 21, the Dingbian Army stationed in Yanji Hall expelled Li Yunfan and others, the Goryeo inspector, who had crossed the border without permission and caused trouble in Shajingou, Dehuashe, Shanxishe, Sanjiangkou, and the Tumen River area.

In March, the Japanese army crossed the Yalu River and attempted to invade Andong and Jiuliancheng, but was blocked by Zhao Zhengguo's Dingbian Army and had to retreat to the Goryeo territory on the other side of the river.

As the Dingbian Army strictly guarded the Yalu River, the Japanese army failed to negotiate with the Qing government several times. So they protested to the Qing government and deployed a large number of artillery on the south bank of the Yalu River in an attempt to force their way across the river.

Upon receiving the news, Chen Yunhan quickly assembled a large number of troops and deployed them on the north bank of the Yalu River.

Seeing this situation, the Japanese army was afraid of being attacked by the Russian and Dingbian armies, so they had to change to landing from other places.

Patriotic intellectuals led by Ding Kaizhang published an open manifesto in the magazine "Continental" to denounce the shameless actions of Japan and Russia.

He called on students, generals and rebel leaders from the four provinces of Zhili, Fengtian, Jilin and Heilongjiang at home and abroad to drive the Russian invaders out of the Northeast.

Because Goryeo repeatedly invaded and harassed the people.

After Qu Shaoyang petitioned the court, he appointed Hu Dianjia, commander of the Dingbian Army, Chen Zuoyan, director of the Yanji Office, and Kim Myeong-hwan, commander of the third battalion of the fifth regiment of Goryeo, and Cui Nanlong, police officer of the North Hamgyong border, to hold talks with Guangjiyu of the Yanji Office to agree on the "Border Post-War Regulations."

The boundary between the two countries is evidenced by the Baishan Stele. Before the two countries send personnel to survey the boundary, the Tumen River is still the boundary. Soldiers from both sides should guard their respective garrisons and not allow armed soldiers to sneak across the border and cause trouble.

If Goryeo commits the offense again, the Dingbian Army will resolutely fight back, and Goryeo will bear any consequences.

At the end of May, the Japanese army and the Tsarist Russian army fought the Nanshan Battle, which controlled the throat of Luda.

From July to August, the Battle of Liaoyang was fought. In September, the Japanese army captured Liaoyang and then attacked Lushunkou.

At the same time, the Japanese army and the Tsarist Russian army also engaged in fierce fighting at sea.

The war of aggression and struggle for hegemony between the two imperialist powers, Japan and Russia, was fought in the Northeast region.

They ignored the Qing government's statements and demands, and the safety of life and property of the people in Northeast China, and fought each other.

As a result, huge losses and severe disasters were caused to the people of Northeast China.

The corrupt and incompetent Qing government, regardless of the fact that the people of Northeast China were suffering, dared not break off relations with Japan and Russia in the name of neutrality.

But the people of Northeast China, who have a glorious tradition of fighting against aggression, are unwilling to endure the brutal ravages of imperialism.

So, with strong national hatred and regardless of the Qing government's compromise and concessions, they ignited the flames of resistance against Russia and Japan everywhere in the vast land of Northeast China.

The masses in various parts of the Northeast adopted measures such as refusing to work for the enemy, refusing to sell food and fodder to the enemy, closing businesses and refusing to use enemy military coupons to fight.

Since the main force of the Dingbian Army was stationed in the east to protect the territory and the people, Qu Shaoyang ordered Liu Yonghe, Yang Yulin and others to transform themselves into horse bandits and volunteers, unite with the people from all over the country, and attack the Japanese and Russian troops everywhere.

They looted Russian war horses, raided Russian granaries, attacked Russian military food routes, destroyed railway power lines, raided Japanese military camps, and obstructed the Japanese army from building the Anfeng Railway, etc.

These people are good at fighting in a cavalry style. They are elusive, quick to act, brave and tenacious. At the same time, they are well organized and disciplined, and are deeply supported and loved by the people from all over the Northeast.

This prompted volunteers from all over the Northeast to respond and join in the battle to resist the invaders and defend their homeland.

By the end of the 30th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the number of rebel troops in the Northeast had increased to more than 100,000.

Under the attacks of the people of all ethnic groups in the Northeast and the rebel army, the Tsarist Russian invaders were in a very embarrassing situation.

For this reason, the Russian envoy repeatedly asked the Qing government to help suppress the rebels.

The Qing court sent an order to the Jilin General's Office, ordering Qu Shaoyang to send people to suppress the rebel army and prevent the situation from escalating.

Qu Shaoyang simply claimed that the main force of the Dingbian Army was stationed at the border and had no time to take care of other things, and begged the court to send troops to help suppress the rebellion.

Secretly, Qu Shaoyang ordered people to send food, weapons, and horses to the various volunteer armies to help them continue fighting against the Japanese and Russian invading forces.

At the same time, under the supervision of Zhao Guangzhi and others, the construction of the Jilin-Changchun Railway was proceeding at a rapid pace.

By June of the 31st year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the Jilin-Changchun Railway was completed.

While building the Jilin-Changji Railway, Qu Shaoyang took advantage of the fact that Japan was fighting with Tsarist Russia and had no time to take care of other things, so he contacted the Harriman Railway Company.

After a series of negotiations, the two sides reached an agreement to jointly invest in the construction of the Jilin-Andong Railway, with each holding half of the shares.

Thirty years after the railway is completed and put into operation, the ownership of the railway will return to China.

Harriman Company needed to apply to the Qing court, and at the same time, Harriman Company would be responsible for surveying and technical personnel.

In the autumn of the 30th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Harriman & Co. applied to the Qing government, which also realized the consequences of Tsarist Russia's dominance in Northeast China.

Therefore, there is no excessive aversion to American capital entering the Northeast.

Some officials even believed that if another railway was built by the American Harriman Company, it would reduce the control and influence of the Middle East Railway over the Northeast.

Therefore, after several discussions, the imperial court communicated with the Jilin General's Office and finally agreed to the construction of the railway.

In this way, in the winter of the 30th year of the Guangxu period, representatives of the Jilin General's Office and the Harriman Company signed a charter for the construction of the Ji'an Railway.

Afterwards, Qu Shaoyang sent Zhao Guangzhi and others to work together with Zhang Tianzhi and other aspiring people in Tianjin to recruit capital in Beijing, Tianjin and other places.

Although there was still a war in the Northeast at this time, due to the proper deployment of troops and active defense of the Jilin General's Office, the war affected Jilin Province but the impact was not significant.

Compared with the miserable conditions in various parts of Feng Province, Jilin Province and Dongbiandao are simply paradise.

Therefore, domestic capital highly recognized and admired the abilities of Jilin General Qu Shaoyang, and was confident in the construction of the Ji'an Railway.

With everyone's active preparations, a total of 8 million taels of silver were raised in one winter.

In the spring of the 31st year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Harriman & Co. joined forces with financial capital such as Citibank to establish the Ji'an Railway Company in Jilin.

The company's general manager was appointed by the Jilin General's Office, and two people were appointed from the Harriman Company and the Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, Tianjin and other places as assistant managers.

In the winter, technical personnel from Harriman Company had already gone to Jilin Province and Dongbian Road for surveys. By the beginning of spring, the specific planning and design drawings for the railway construction were ready.

Both sides were willing to build the railway while Japan and Tsarist Russia were still at war.

Therefore, after the funds from all parties were in place, construction began in Andong in March, and groundbreaking ceremony was also started in Jilin in April.

While the construction of the two railways in Jilin Province was in full swing, Fengtian Province, which was the main battlefield between Japan and Russia, was in ruins.

Gaiping, Jinzhou, Haicheng, Liaoyang, Yingkou, Lushun and other places fell into the hands of the Japanese army one after another.

In March, Japan launched the Battle of Mukden against Tsarist Russia.

The Japanese Fourth Army occupied Yuling Fort in the north of Fengtian, and the Second Army crossed Fengtian and pursued the Tsarist Russian army westward.

Afterwards, the Japanese army attacked Fengtian City. The First and Third Armies of the Japanese Army surrounded the Russian army near Pu River, cutting off part of the Russian army's retreat route, and the Fifth Army captured Lushun.

The Tsarist Russian army retreated to Tieling and the Battle of Fengtian ended.

The Russian army that retreated to Fushun set fire to food and fodder, which spread to three houses, and took the opportunity to loot shops of all sizes.

The Tsarist Russian army that retreated to the Xiaobei Gate of Fengtian set fire to the Bawang Temple. The Fengtian Machinery Bureau, Fengtian University, Nanta Guangci Temple, Chang'an Temple, Guangshou Temple, as well as the ancient towers of Baita Pu and Chenxiangtun were all destroyed in the war, and the treasures of the Forbidden City were also looted.

The commander-in-chief of the Japanese Manchurian Army, Iwao Oyama, led his headquarters into Fengtian City and established the Fengtian Military and Political Office.

Fengtian General Zhang Xiulan strictly adhered to the principle of neutrality of the imperial court. In addition, Fengtian Province was short of troops and was unable to contend with both the Japanese and Russian armies, resulting in the loss of many cities in Fengtian Province.

When Fengtian City was breached, Zhang Xiulan became so angry that he vomited blood and fell ill.

Oyama Iwao ignored the Fengtian General's Office and actually established a Military and Political Office in Fengtian.

Zhang Xiulan dragged his sick body to argue, but was rudely driven away by the other party. His illness worsened and he fell ill when he returned to the general's mansion.

Zhang Xiuan fell ill and was unable to manage the affairs of Fengtian, so the court ordered Tingjie to temporarily serve as the acting general of Fengtian.

Under the escort of his subordinates, Zhang Xiulan went to Phoenix City for recuperation. Doctor Chen was also in Phoenix City at that time. Zhang Xiulan knew that Doctor Chen was a skilled doctor, so he invited him to treat him.

After learning the news, Qu Shaoyang, who was in Jilin, immediately rushed to Phoenix to visit the sick Zhang Xiulan.

"Godfather, how are you? You have always been in good health, how come you suddenly fell ill?"

Qu Shaoyang rushed to Zhang's house, saw Zhang Xiulan lying on the sickbed, and asked with concern.

"Oh, don't mention it, it's too cowardly.

Shao Yang, you didn't see the scene at that time. If you had seen it, you would be so angry that you would die."

Zhang Xiulan looked pale and sick, and he started coughing after speaking a few words.

"What a shame, what a shame.

On the land of my Qing Dynasty, the two countries burned, killed, looted, destroyed my cities, and killed my civilians.

And I, a general of Fengtian, am powerless to stop it. I feel so ashamed of the people."

When it came to the touching parts, Zhang Xiulan, a sixty-year-old man, couldn't help but shed tears.

Upon hearing this, Qu Shaoyang could only sigh. Yes, the imperial court was corrupt, the foreign powers were bullying, and the people were suffering.

In front of Zhang Xiulan, Qu Shaoyang didn't know what to say. He could only persuade Zhang Xiulan to be more open-minded, take good care of his illness, and rest for a while until he recovered.

Now that things have come to this, what else can Zhang Xiluan do? He can only rest and recuperate.

After visiting Zhang Xiulan, Qu Shaoyang went to meet Doctor Chen and his wife, as well as Chen Yunzhe.

The area under the jurisdiction of Dongbian Road was well defended because the Dingbian Army deployed its troops early, dug deep trenches, built fortifications, deployed a large number of artillery, and constructed walls and fortresses in each village.

In addition, there were no Tsarist Russian troops stationed here, and the military and civilians in the east cooperated fully, so not many places were affected by the war, and Phoenix City was quite stable.

Doctor Chen and his wife were particularly happy to see Qu Shaoyang, and they couldn't help but ask about the recent situation of their daughter and grandson.

Qu Shaoyang told them about the situation in Jilin City and how Chen Xiuyun and the children were doing in the mansion.

After learning that their daughter and grandson were doing well and that Qu Shaoyang's two concubines had given birth to a son and a daughter for him, Doctor Chen and his wife nodded repeatedly.

After meeting his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Qu Shaoyang and Chen Yunzhe went to the study and had a long secret talk.

Due to the numerous military and political affairs in Jilin Province, Qu Shaoyang could not stay in Phoenix City for long.

He stayed for only one day, and after visiting everyone, he set off back to Jilin to continue to preside over various affairs.

In particular, the construction of the Ji'an Railway must be completed by at least one third before the end of the war.

In this case, by the time the war is over and Japan and Russia react, the outcome will have already been decided, and it will be too late for them to object.

In June of the 31st year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Tsarist Russia suffered a complete defeat in both land and sea battles. Japan captured Sakhalin Island and the Russian garrison surrendered.

At this point, the Russo-Japanese War was basically declared over, and Japan asked the US President to mediate.

In July, Japan and Russia negotiated at Portsmouth, a naval base 80 kilometers north of Boston.

In August, without the Qing government's knowledge, Japan and Russia signed a treaty to cede Korea and the Northeast.

(End of this chapter)