The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

In 1865, Liu Yongfu defected to Huang Sihong's army. In 1866, Liu Yongfu led over 200 men willing to join him and defected to Wu Kun, leader of the Yanling Kingdom, then the largest anti-Qing force in southern Guangxi. Wu Azhong allowed Liu Yongfu to command his 200-strong force and provided him with money and food. Liu Yongfu then established the Black Flag Army at the Ande Beidi Temple in Guishun Prefecture (present-day Jingxi, Guangxi). Due to his numerous military achievements, Wu Kun appointed him as the vanguard of the left wing.

In the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign (1867), Wu Kun was defeated and wounded by the Qing army, and his power plummeted. Liu Yongfu resolved to break away from Wu Kun and establish his own faction. He set up a large table in his courtyard, burned incense and paper money, and declared to heaven and earth, swearing a blood oath with his followers, vowing to work together and never regret. He also shattered the ivory seal of the Left Vanguard awarded by Wu Kun with his sword. At this time, the core members of the Black Flag Army included Pan Gezhao, Deng Aying, Lu Manjin, Liu Fenggang, Wang Zhilian, Huang Youfu, Huang Tingyang, Xu Yidong, Huang Dingbang, He Dezhi, Lu Tianqiu, Huang Youmei, Fuli, Liu Aqi, Na Zhener, Huang Sanjiu, Yu Asi, Lu Meixian, Deng Youfu, and over 20 others, forming a united front. Believing that the situation in Bac Cha was chaotic and the Nguyen government was unable to quell it, Liu Yongfu decided to assist the Nguyen government in resolving the Bac Cha issue, leading over 300 of his troops into Vietnam. Their first stop was the Su Street market, which was occupied by over a hundred men led by Deng Zhixiong and Liang Junxiu, former peasant army leaders who had later entered Vietnam and received official positions from the Nguyen government. General Nong Xiuye ​​suggested killing Deng Zhixiong and Liang Junxiu, but Liu Yongfu refused. He subsequently surrendered to the Nguyen Dynasty and was appointed leader of the Tuan Quang militia.

In the first month of the seventh year of the Tongzhi reign (1868), Liu Yongfu stationed himself in Lu'an Prefecture and engaged the White Flag Army led by Pan Wenyi (Pan Wen'er), a "Qingdi bandit." Liu Yongfu had only about 300 men, while Pan Wenyi's army exceeded 10,000. With the help of local civilians and a clever bamboo stick formation, he finally defeated Pan Wenyi. Taking advantage of Pan Wenyi's defeated troops' weakened morale, Liu Yongfu orchestrated an assassination, eliminating the Black Flag Army's first enemy since entering Vietnam. Liu Yongfu then dispatched Black Flag soldiers to capture and behead the various rigged officials Pan Wenyi had installed in Lu'an Prefecture and its vicinity. The heads of these officials, along with Pan Wenyi's own, were presented to the Nguyen Dynasty authorities. In April, King Nguyen Phuc of Vietnam promoted him to the rank of centurion.

In June, Liu Yongfu, believing that Lu'an Prefecture was too small to be conducive to further development, led his forces, including Huang Shengli and Xu Yuanbin, peasant generals recruited during the Lu'an campaign, to attack Baosheng (present-day Lao Cai Province, Vietnam), a key trading town adjacent to Yunnan. Baosheng was occupied by a Chinese named He Junchang, who set up checkpoints and collected taxes, and the Nguyen government had no control over it. Liu Yongfu defeated He Junchang, who sent envoys to Heyang to request the Yellow Banner Army led by Huang Chongying to assist. Huang Chongying's group, also from the "Yanling State" and with a large force, led Liu Yongfu to send envoys to Huang Chongying to offer humble words of peace. Huang Chongying then agreed to allow Liu Yongfu to garrison Baosheng. Later, suspecting Huang Chongying of planning a surprise attack, Liu Yongfu launched a preemptive attack on Huang Chongying.

In April of the eighth year of the Tongzhi reign (1869), Liu Yongfu fought Huang Chongying at Baosheng. In May, he defeated Huang Chongying and took up residence in Baosheng. At the same time, Feng Zicai led his Qing army into Vietnam to encircle and suppress Wu Kun. The Nguyen Dynasty was unhappy with Liu Yongfu's prolonged stay in Baosheng and requested that Feng Zicai bring him back to China or eliminate him, but Feng Zicai refused.

In July of the ninth year of the Tongzhi reign (1870), Huang Chongying seized the opportunity presented by Feng Zicai's retreat into the Pass to stage a comeback, defeating the Nguyen Dynasty's government forces. In August, Liu Yongfu petitioned the Nguyen Dynasty to encircle and suppress Huang Chongying. King Nguyen Phuc of Vietnam then instructed him, "Using barbarians to attack barbarians is a strategic move. You can use them wisely, but their wild nature is difficult to tame. Don't overdo it, or they'll become difficult to control." He agreed to allow Liu Yongfu to deal with Huang Chongying. Liu Yongfu initially dispatched some Black Flag troops to join Feng Zicai's Qing forces in suppressing the enemy. Feng Zicai dispatched his generals, Yang Ruishan and Feng Yueliang, to Baosheng to meet Liu Yongfu, requesting his assistance and promising to award him a Blue Feather medal upon success. Liu Yongfu immediately selected the best and strongest Black Flag troops and organized them into two battalions, the front and rear, under the name "Fu" (meaning "Fu"), and assigned them to General Nong Xiuye ​​to lead the charge against the Qing forces. These two battalions fought bravely and assisted Feng Zicai in capturing Huang Chongying's base in Heyang. Later, Feng Zicai indeed awarded Liu Yongfu a fourth-rank blue feather medal and a wooden seal. Liu Yongfu himself led the main force of the Black Flag Army in Xinghua Province, fighting Huang Chongying and wounding him at Longlu. As Liu Yongfu gained a foothold in Bac Cha, Vietnam, several units of the Guangxi peasant army that had entered Vietnam, such as Yang Zhuoen, Wu Fengdian, and Huang Shouzhong, joined him. Huang Shouzhong's forces, in particular, quickly expanded the Black Flag Army, which had originally numbered only a few hundred, to over 2000 men, becoming a significant armed force in Bac Cha.

In September of the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign (1873), the Nguyen Dynasty government appointed Liu Yongfu as the acting defense envoy of Xinghua Baosheng for his victories over the Yellow Banner Army and the recovery of Huning and Lishi counties. Despite his status as a Vietnamese official, Liu Yongfu still wore a braid and Qing Dynasty clothing. He would only wear his braid in a bun when meeting with Vietnamese officials, then put on Vietnamese official uniform and discard it.

When Liu Yongfu rose to power, Vietnam was in trouble, with internal and external troubles and no peace in the country.

In the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign (1873), in order to open up the shipping route from the Red River to Yunnan, the French colonial authorities of Cochinchina sent naval captain An Ye to lead 56 soldiers (later increased to more than 100 armed personnel) to invade Bac Cha, Vietnam.

On the first day of October, the important provincial capital of Hanoi (Huai Duc Prefecture) was captured, and the Vietnamese defender, Nguyen Tri Phuong, died for his country. Huang Zuoyan, the Vietnamese governor of Bac Cha, was Liu Yongfu's superior and had recommended Liu Yongfu for promotions several times, establishing a good relationship between the two. Upon learning of Hanoi's fall, Huang Zuoyan transferred Liu Yongfu to defend An Ye. Upon receiving the order, Liu Yongfu led hundreds of Black Flag soldiers south, setting up camp at Luocheng, just ten miles from Hanoi. Huang Zuoyan's Vietnamese troops retreated two or three miles. Both sides agreed that the Black Flag Army would spearhead the attack, while the Vietnamese would undertake all tasks such as building fortifications, guarding the camp, and transporting supplies.

On the second day of the eleventh month (December 21st), the Black Flag Army challenged An Ye. Upon hearing the news, An Ye, who was negotiating with Vietnamese official Tran Dinh Su, hurried out of the city with 20 French troops, several Vietnamese soldiers, and a mountain cannon to meet the enemy. The Black Flag Army feigned a retreat, luring An Ye to a paper bridge where they had set an ambush, where they killed An Ye and more than a dozen of his men. This was Liu Yongfu's first battle against the French, but by then the Nguyen Dynasty had already decided to compromise with the French, and Vietnamese officials were also negotiating with the French in Hanoi. Therefore, King Nguyen Phuc of Vietnam had a low opinion of the battle, saying, "Liu Tuan lured An Ye to his death with a stratagem (a taboo character for "Shi") to capture him. If they had fought them in a fair fight, I don't think they would have been able to hold out." He only promoted Liu Yongfu to deputy commander. Later, France returned Hanoi to Vietnam, but signed the Treaty of Gapsin with Vietnam, stipulating that Vietnam open the Bac Cha and Red River waterways, and ignoring China's sovereignty over Vietnam, calling Vietnam an autonomous and independent country, and requiring Vietnamese diplomacy to be coordinated with France, which sowed the seeds of the Sino-French War ten years later.

After that, Liu Yongfu continued to fulfill his responsibility of suppressing bandits in Vietnam, and his Black Flag Army became the main force in Vietnam's anti-bandit army.

In August of the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign (1874), he was promoted to the rank of chief military officer for his meritorious service in the encirclement and suppression of Huang Chongying in Xinghua and other places. The Nguyen Dynasty also officially allowed the Black Flag Army to set up customs and collect taxes in Bao Sheng, collecting about 50,000 taels of silver in taxes each year, of which 30,000 taels were used to supplement military expenses. The Black Flag Army gradually grew to 3000 people.

In October, the Nguyen Dynasty mobilized four armies from Xinghua, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Xuanhua to suppress Huang Chongying, and ordered Liu Yongfu to serve as the deputy admiral of the Three Xuanhua provinces to supervise the four armies.

In July of the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875), Huang Chongying was captured alive by the Qing-Vietnamese coalition forces in Fangdushe and subsequently executed by slow slicing. Afterward, upon the recommendation of Acting Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, Cen Yuying, the Qing government awarded Liu Yongfu the rank of fourth-rank official. Following Huang Chongying's defeat, the Vietnamese government, fearing that Liu Yongfu would obstruct French navigation in Yunnan and thus affect Franco-Vietnamese relations, repeatedly attempted to transfer Liu Yongfu from Baosheng to Haining (present-day Mong Cai, Vietnam) or Taiyuan, but to no avail. Liu Yongfu, unwilling to be deployed by the Vietnamese government again, pleaded with local officials in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces for permission to return to China to seek a living, stating, "I would rather be a captain of a thousand-man corps in China than a high-ranking official in Vietnam." However, his request was rejected. Huang Chongying's remaining forces, disunited, continued to operate in the mountainous areas of northern Vietnam. Unable to suppress them, the Vietnamese government relied on the Black Flag Army and the Qing army, allowing Liu Yongfu to continue to expand his power from Baosheng.

In the winter of the fourth year of the Guangxu reign (1878), Qing general Li Yangcai rebelled and fled to Vietnam. Liu Yongfu, who assisted in suppressing the rebellion, was awarded the title of Vice Admiral of San Xuan by the Vietnamese government in February of the following year. He subsequently continued to fight banditry in northern Vietnam with the Vietnamese army, but was ultimately unable to completely eliminate the rebellion.

In the seventh year of the Guangxu reign (1881), France planned to conquer Bac Cha, Vietnam, open up the Red River waterway, and officially turn Vietnam into their protectorate.

In October, Zeng Jize, the Chinese ambassador to France, reported to the Qing government news of France's impending military action in northern Vietnam, sparking the Qing government's concern about the Vietnamese issue. The Qing court requested relevant governors-general and officials to submit countermeasures. Guangxi Governor Qing Yu, Guangdong and Guangxi Governor-General Zhang Shusheng, Yunnan and Guizhou Governor Liu Changyou, and Yunnan Governor Du Ruilian all requested contacting Liu Yongfu. The Qing court, however, reacted negatively, believing that "Liu Yongfu might not be trusted and that his presence would be too exposed." During this period, some French merchants and soldiers repeatedly attempted to enter the Bao Sheng area, but were blocked by the Black Flag Army. In November of the seventh year of the Guangxu reign (1881), the French officially notified the Vietnamese government, demanding that Vietnam expel Liu Yongfu or face French action the following year. In October, amidst tensions with France, Liu Yongfu requested to return to Vietnam to visit his parents' graves. Liu Yongfu had previously requested leave twice, but the Nguyen court had refused each time. Seeing his resolve, the Nguyen court granted him a five-month leave. On the 21st day of the first lunar month in the eighth year of the Guangxu reign (1882), Liu Yongfu returned to his former residence in Xinxu, Shangsi, after an absence of over 20 years, where he was warmly welcomed by the villagers. His true purpose was to secure Qing aid. During a meeting with Wang Jingbang, the Xuanhua Prefect, dispatched by Zhou Xingyu, the governor of Zuojiang, Guangxi, he requested that the Qing government send 20,000 troops from Guangdong, Yunnan, and Guangxi to aid Vietnam in its fight against the French. Before he could receive a response from the Qing court, he learned from an envoy sent by Liang Huiyi, the governor of Lang Son, that French naval commander Lieutenant Commander Li Weiye (Li Weiye) was approaching Hanoi, prompting him to return to Vietnam.

On March 8th, Hanoi fell. The Vietnamese defender, Huang Yao, committed suicide. Huang Zuoyan urgently dispatched Liu Yongfu to defend the city. Liu Yongfu arrived in Shanxi on March 19th and offered sacrifices there on April 1st, preparing for the expedition. Due to manpower shortages and France's deep involvement in the Egyptian crisis, Li Weili agreed to return Hanoi. Nguyen Phuc then ordered his troops to remain in control and later demanded that Liu Yongfu withdraw to allow for negotiations with Li Weili.

In early May, under the persuasion of Huang Zuoyan, Liu Yongfu and Lu Yuzhen, Huang Tingyang and Zeng Jitai of the rear camp led 600 soldiers back to Baosheng. At the same time, they arranged for Huang Shouzhong to lead 1200 brave men from the front camp of the Black Flag Army to block Heyang. Wu Fengdian of the left camp led 500 brave men to move to Buba County, Shanxi Province. Yang Zhuoen of the right camp led 500 brave men to guard Taiyuan City. Ye Chenglin led 300 brave men from the front team to station in Longlu, Xinghua Province. After that, Liu Yongfu frequently asked for help from Liu Changyou, Huang Guilan and other Yunnan and Guangxi military and political officials. These officials agreed to "secretly help", but except for the meeting between Yunnan Governor Tang Jiong and Liu Yongfu in Muchang in September and the one-time payment of 10,000 taels of silver, there was no other substantial assistance. Liu Yongfu was forced by the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam and did not get any substantial assistance from the Qing Dynasty. Moreover, the French

— was determined to expel him, thus isolating him and putting him in a difficult situation. He even went so far as to lead his troops to march into Shizhou (now Laizhou and Son La provinces in Vietnam) in the name of chasing and suppressing the remaining bandits.

Belt), to investigate the situation in case the anti-French cause fails in the future, and to use the Ten States as the Black Flag Army's retreat.

At the height of Liu Yongfu's difficulties and helplessness, Qing official Tang Jingsong volunteered to travel to Vietnam to persuade Liu Yongfu to rekindle his resolve and aid Vietnam in its fight against the French. Tang Jingsong first traveled to Phu Xuan (Hue), the Vietnamese capital, and met with high-ranking Nguyen officials, confirming their lack of resolve and their suspicion of Liu Yongfu. In a memorial presented to the Qing court at the end of the eighth year of the Guangxu reign (1882), Tang emphasized the need to provide Liu Yongfu with military supplies and military pay.

In the ninth year of the Guangxu reign (1883), as Tang Cangsong was preparing to enter Vietnam for a meeting with Liu Yongfu, the situation in northern Vietnam took a sharp turn for the worse. The newly installed French cabinet, under the direction of Juvery, was determined to accelerate the conquest of Bac Cha, Vietnam. Under his instructions, Ly Vai Li again dispatched troops, capturing the provincial capital of Nam Dinh on February 18th. Nguyen Phuc, once again leaning towards resistance against the French, ordered Huang Zao Yan to actively fight. Huang Zao Yan, in turn, ordered Liu Yongfu to join the campaign. However, Liu Yongfu, having been thwarted in his previous anti-French campaign, lost trust in the Nguyen dynasty and, despite six attempts, failed to respond. Against this backdrop, Liu Yongfu and Tang Cangsong met in Shanxi, Vietnam, on March 8th. The following day, Tang Cangsong presented Liu Yongfu with three strategies: the best strategy was to claim the throne of northern Vietnam (some say there was no such strategy), the middle strategy was to advance into Hanoi, and the worst strategy was to defend Baosheng. After several days of deliberation, Liu Yongfu decided on the middle strategy during his meeting with Tang Cangsong on March 13th.

On March 19th, inspired by Tang Jingsong, Liu Yongfu once again set out in Shanxi to attack Hanoi. Li Weili had only a few hundred soldiers, so no matter how Liu Yongfu challenged him, he would not leave the city to fight, but waited for French reinforcements. Liu Yongfu attacked Hanoi several times without success, so on April 9th, he sent Huang Shouzhong, Wu Fengdian, and Yang Zhuoen with 400 soldiers.

The French attacked a church outside Hanoi at night and were repelled by the French army stationed in a bunker next to the church. However, Li Weili felt that the church attack made him lose face and did not take Liu Yongfu seriously.

On April 13, Liu Yongfu led over 400 men out of the city to suppress the Black Flag Army. Liu Yongfu learned of this news from Vietnamese spies in the city. His general Yang Zhuoen still set up an ambush at Zhiqiao. Because the French army was large in number and well-equipped, they were able to repel the Black Flag Army despite being ambushed. Yang Zhuoen was killed. Li Weili looked down on Liu Yongfu even more.

Fu led the French army to continue advancing. They were ambushed again in Shang'anjue Village. A fierce battle broke out. The Black Flag Army won and chased across the paper bridge. In this battle, 32 French soldiers including Li Weili were killed (Li Weili was beheaded), 52 French soldiers were injured, and the Black Flag Army also suffered casualties.

The Second Victory of Paper Bridge cost Liu Yongfu 50 lives and 56 wounded. To commend Liu Yongfu for his military achievements in the Victory of Paper Bridge, the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam promoted him to the rank of San Xuan Commander, bestowed upon him the rank of Second Rank official, and later conferred him the title of First Class Yiliang Man.

However, the Qing court was influenced by the advice of Li Hongzhang and other pro-peace factions, and only strengthened the strength of the Qing army stationed in Vietnam and tried to avoid aiding Vietnam in its fight against France. Without effective foreign aid, Liu Yongfu could not pursue the victory and recapture Hanoi. Only Tang Jingsong was willing to join him.

On the other hand, the French invaded Vietnam and planned to invade Hue with seven ships and 1000 soldiers led by Courbet.

Hua led 2000 troops to attack the Black Flag Army's positions in Bac Cha. The former operation was facilitated by Vietnam's weakness and the chaotic political situation following the death of King Nguyen Phuc To. The first Treaty of Hue (the Guiwei Treaty) was signed, formally transforming Vietnam into a French protectorate. The latter operation involved an attack on Liu Yongfu's headquarters in Huay Duc Province on July 13th. Liu Yongfu and Tang Jingsong put up a staunch resistance, repelling the French. On the 15th, a flood destroyed the Black Flag Army's headquarters, forcing them to retreat to Danfeng County, 30 miles away.

On July 29th, Bohua attacked Danfeng. Due to flooding, his firepower was limited, and the Black Flag Army's stubborn resistance forced him to retreat to Hanoi after three days of stalemate. Liu Yongfu then relocated to Qingwei County, located on higher ground, to await an opportunity to retake Hanoi. Meanwhile, news arrived that the French had taken control of Hue. The Vietnamese government ordered the officials of Bac Cha to cease resistance and halted payments to the Black Flag Army. Upon hearing of the Vietnamese surrender, the Qing troops stationed in Vietnam, who had supported Liu Yongfu, also withdrew from Shanxi. The Yunnan Army retreated to Xinghua, and the Guangxi Army to Bac Ninh. The Black Flag Army was forced to retreat to Shanxi, receiving a monthly stipend of 5,000 taels of silver from Yunnan. Tang Jingsong seized the opportunity to again propose to Liu Yongfu a secessionist regime in Bac Cha, but Liu Yongfu refused, believing Shanxi to be difficult to defend, and intended to retreat to Baosheng. Tang Jingsong then instructed Huang Shouzhong to urge Liu Yongfu to defend Shanxi to the death. Liu Yongfu then resolved to do so, but this sowed the seeds of a split in the Black Flag Army.

In September 1883, Sino-French negotiations reached a stalemate due to France's pressure on China to recognize the Jiaxu Peace Treaty. The Qing government decided to adopt a tough stance against France. On September 22, it issued an imperial decree allocating 100,000 taels of silver to Liu Yongfu and Tang Jingsong, publicly supporting their anti-French cause. Liu Yongfu sent a representative back to China to recruit 1000 soldiers, while Tang Jingsong also requested 1000 men from the Third Battalion of the Yunnan Army to defend Shanxi. By then, Courbet had already led a 6000-man naval and land force, equipped with a variety of sophisticated weaponry, north to Beiché, directly attacking Shanxi. Although the Qing Yunnan, Guangxi, and Black Banner troops defending Shanxi also numbered 6000, they comprised 1000 newly recruited soldiers and were equipped with only a small number of modern foreign rifles. The rest were mostly outdated muzzle-loading rifles and muskets, and their cannons were cast from heavy iron, making them far inferior to those of the French.

On November 14, the first battle of the Sino-French War—the Battle of Shanxi—began. After three days of bloody fighting, Liu Yongfu temporarily repelled the French attack. However, judging that the city could not be defended with the existing forces and munitions, he left some Black Flag troops to defend the city while the main force retreated. On November 20, the Black Flag and Qing forces retreated to Xinghua. Soon after, Cen Yuying arrived with 20 battalions of Yunnan troops, helping the defeated Black Flag and Qing forces to stabilize their positions.

In the first month of the tenth year of the Guangxu reign (1884), Liu Yongfu issued a declaration of war to the new French commander, Mi Le. Mi Le pretended to schedule the battle for the second day of the second month, but in reality, he shifted his attack to Bac Ninh, the headquarters of the Gui army. The Gui army appealed to the Yunnan army for assistance. Cen Yuying dispatched Tang Jingsong and Liu Yongfu, leading 12 battalions of 4000 men from Xinghua to Bac Ninh. On the fifth day of the second month, they stationed in Anfeng County, seven miles outside Bac Ninh's provincial capital. On the eighth day of the second month, at the behest of Guangxi Governor Xu Yanxu, Liu Yongfu led his troops to attack the French forces in Gia Lam. Liu Yongfu and Tang Jingsong then entered Bac Ninh to discuss the war with two Gui army generals, Zhao Wo and Huang Guilan. However, the four disagreed and could not reach a conclusion. Due to a lack of food supplies in Anfeng County, Liu Yongfu moved his Black Flag Army outside Bac Ninh.

On February 15th, the Battle of Bac Ninh began. The 20,000-man Gui army collapsed immediately, and the Black Flag Army, outnumbered, also fled. Liu Yongfu initially retreated with the Gui army to Taiyuan. On February 25th, the French army captured Taiyuan without a fight. The Gui army retreated to the Lang Son area, and Liu Yongfu fled back to Xinghua, with only about 3700 men left.

In mid-March, Liu Yongfu withdrew from Xinghua with the Yunnan Army and led Wu Fengdian and other troops to garrison Wenpanzhou and Datan, while Huang Shouzhong's troops were stationed in Xuanhua. In May, Xuanhua also fell into the hands of the French.

At that time, the pro-peace faction within the Qing court, led by Li Hongzhang, had a negative attitude towards Liu Yongfu, believing that he was the cause of the discord between China and France. They advocated abandoning or even eliminating Liu Yongfu and the Black Flag Army. However, the pro-war Qingliu faction, such as Zhang Zhidong and Zhang Peilun, strongly advocated assisting Liu Yongfu in resisting the French. The central government of the Qing court adopted the latter's opinion and continued to fight against the French army after the Guanyin Bridge Incident and the Battle of Mawei.

On July 6, 1884, when the Qing government officially declared war on France, Liu Yongfu was awarded the title of Admiral-in-Chief, a flowered plume, and ordered to expel the French and recover Vietnam. In September, an additional reward of over 50,000 taels of silver was granted, and the Black Flag Army commanders were rewarded and commended. From then on, Liu Yongfu began fighting as a Qing official. Prior to this, by mid-August, Liu Yongfu's Black Flag Army and Yunnan Army, totaling 6000 men, had surrounded Tuyen Quang and had been engaged in relentless battles against French reinforcements.

In October, Tang Jingsong, under the order of Zhang Zhidong, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, led four battalions of his Jing army to Xuanguang to assist in the siege.

In November, Ding Huai led 3000 Yunnan troops to reinforce Xuanhuai. It was decided that Liu Yongfu would lead the Black Flag Army to attack the reinforcements in Zuoyu, while Tang Jingsong and Ding Huai would be responsible for attacking Xuanhuai City. The Qing army subsequently attacked Xuanhuai six times without success. After defeating the Gui army led by Pan Dingxin on the eastern front and capturing Lang Son, the French sent 3,000 to 4,000 troops westward to reinforce Xuanhuai.

On the 16th and 17th days of the first lunar month in the 11th year of the Guangxu reign (1885), fierce fighting broke out between the Black Flag Army and the French at Zuoyu. The Black Flag Army was routed, and the French suffered over 400 casualties, the heaviest casualties in any engagement between the Black Flag Army and the French. Liu Yongfu, having previously been at odds with Huang Shouzhong, blamed Huang Shouzhong for the defeat after the Battle of Zuoyu. Huang Shouzhong led 800 men to defect to Tang Jingsong, while over 2,000 defeated soldiers fled to other Qing units. Liu Yongfu was left with only 500 men, and the Black Flag Army thus split.

In the spring of the 11th year of the Guangxu reign (1885), Liu Yongfu dispatched his generals, including Wu Fengdian, Li Tang, Wei Minggao, and Hu Kunshan, to Guangdong and Guangxi to recruit 5000 more troops within May for another battle against France. During this period, Feng Zicai achieved a major victory at Zhennan Pass and recaptured Lang Son. Following Li Hongzhang's advice, the Qing court decided to seize the opportunity and negotiate peace with France, effectively relinquishing suzerainty over Vietnam and allowing trade across the Red River. Naturally, Liu Yongfu could no longer remain in Vietnam.

On April 1st, Zhang Zhidong telegraphed Tang Jingsong, asking Wu Fengdian and Li Tang to postpone their recruitment. Under pressure from France and urged by the Qing court, Liu Yongfu, after handling the aftermath of the Baosheng stronghold, led his Black Flag Army and family into Nanxi, Wenshan, Yunnan, on May 13th. On May 15th, the Qing court bestowed upon Liu Yongfu the title of Yiboden Batulu and bestowed titles on three generations. His son, Liu Chengliang, was exempted from the same class selection and remained in Yunnan as a prefect. Before his departure, Liu Yongfu wept bitterly and said to the Vietnamese people who tried to keep him, "This is the urging of the great emperor of our motherland, nine times. I cannot defy his will... You wait. I will enter the Pass for three years and then go to the Celestial Empire to observe the situation." He later sent a message to Nguyen Quang Bi, the governor of Xinghua, Vietnam, who had come to China for assistance, saying, "Until the foreign invaders are quelled, I will not return soon." He never returned to Vietnam again.

At the same time, the resettlement of Liu Yongfu was also put on the agenda.

On February 22, the Qing court ordered Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou, Cen Yuying, and Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Zhang Zhidong, to handle Liu Yongfu's resettlement. Both believed that Liu Yongfu should be stationed in Guangdong and Guangxi. Zhang Zhidong also advocated stationing him in Qinzhou or Shangsi. Liu Yongfu expressed his willingness to be stationed in Nanning. Guangxi Governor Li Bingheng was concerned that Liu Yongfu's guerrillas might cause trouble with the French in Guangxi and did not want him stationed there. Finally, Zhang Zhidong decided to station him in Qiongzhou. However, Empress Dowager Cixi was still worried, saying, "Qiongzhou is an isolated island, and our navy is weak. If something were to happen, how would we deal with it?"

On September 27th, Zhang Zhidong adopted Tang Jingsong's suggestion and transferred Liu Yongfu to Guangzhou. He also used thousands of taels of silver donated by charities to purchase a large residence for Liu Yongfu in Guangzhou. Prior to this, Liu Yongfu had already marched from Wenshan on August 4th and arrived in Nanning on September 24th. Zhang Zhidong ordered him to dismiss the newly recruited soldiers, retaining only about 1000 men, divided into five battalions (200 men each) and 100 personal soldiers, known as the "Fu Army." After Liu Yongfu had settled his family and belongings at his wife Huang's maternal home in Binzhou (present-day Binyang, Guangxi), he returned to the capital.

He arrived in Guangzhou on December 22nd and met with Zhang Zhidong the next day. Zhang Zhidong assigned Sun Hongxun and Chen Wenxu to manage the Black Flag Army camp. He also provided Liu Yongfu with "book and history lectures, constant advice, etiquette instructions, and understanding of his secrets." After nearly a month of observing Liu Yongfu, Zhang Zhidong submitted a memorial to the Qing court on January 19th, the 12th year of the Guangxu reign (1886), recommending Liu Yongfu for the position of general. Empress Dowager Cixi accepted the memorial and sent Li Yangsheng, the general of Nan'ao Town in Guangdong, to the Ministry for an interview. Liu Yongfu filled the vacant position. However, due to the Qing court's further instructions to postpone his appointment, Liu Yongfu remained in Guangzhou, taking leave to visit his ancestors in Bobai and reunite with his family in Pennsylvania.

In the summer of 1887, during the 13th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, clashes broke out between local residents and foreign Christians in Jieshi, Guangdong. A prestigious military commander was needed to suppress the conflict. Zhang Zhidong recommended that Liu Yongfu be appointed acting commander-in-chief of Jieshi Town. Liu Yongfu took up his post on August 1st. Soon after, the Qing court instructed him to come to Beijing for an audience and requested that the Fu army be reduced by another three battalions.

On August 23rd, Liu Yongfu departed Guangzhou, accompanied by Guangdong Navy Admiral Fang Yao. He sailed from Shanghai aboard the ship "Haiyan" to Tianjin. He arrived in Beijing on October 2nd. On the third day, he met with Emperor Guangxu at the palace. On the fourteenth, he met with Empress Dowager Cixi and bid farewell to Emperor Guangxu. On the eighteenth, Liu and Fang left Beijing and continued their duties as commanders of Nan'ao Town in Guangdong.

In July 1894, the Sino-Japanese War of 7-8 broke out. The Qing government ordered Liu Yongfu to Taiwan to assist Governor Shao Youlian in managing defense. In August, Liu Yongfu led the Black Flag Army to Taipei and was later ordered to garrison Tainan. He recruited new soldiers in Chaoshan, Taiwan, and other places, expanding the Black Flag Army to eight battalions, determined to fight to the bitter end to defend Taiwan.

In April 1895, the Qing government, defeated and seeking peace, signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan, ceding Taiwan and the Penghu Islands to Japan. To force the Taiwanese people to surrender, Japan dispatched Prince Kitashirakawa Norihisa, commanding the main Imperial Guard Division. On May 27, they assembled in the waters of Nakajo Bay in the Ryukyu Islands and launched a two-pronged attack on Taiwan. One of the Japanese forces forcibly landed at Diaojiao and captured Keelung. They then advanced on Taipei. Governor Tang Jingsong and others, fearing the Japanese, fled back to the mainland. Taipei fell to the Japanese on June 7. At this time, Liu Yongfu issued a call in Tainan for a united resistance against Japan, stating that he would "die at any cost" to defend the country, and that "even if only a shred of territory remains, even a thread of strife, we must act hastily and not allow the Japanese to seize it." On June 28, the local gentry and people of Tainan elected Liu Yongfu as President of the Republic of Taiwan to lead the anti-Japanese struggle. Liu Yongfu insisted on not accepting the appointment, but still served as assistant director, commanding the defense forces and the Taiwanese volunteer army to fight against the enemy and protect Taiwan.

In mid-August 1895, the war shifted to Taichung. To defend Changhua, the Black Flag Army and Taiwanese rebels engaged the Japanese in a fierce battle along the Dajia River, achieving a decisive victory and seizing numerous Japanese weapons. Later, unwilling to accept defeat, the Japanese hired spies to lead a surprise attack on the Black Flag Army's rear, resulting in the Japanese seizing Dajia River. After the fall of Dajia River, the Japanese advanced steadily, capturing Taichung and other areas. Liu Yongfu was forced to retreat to Changhua.

On August 28, 1895, the Japanese army launched a massive attack on Bagua Mountain north of Changhua City. The Black Flag Army and the rebel army engaged in hand-to-hand combat, killing over a thousand men of Japan's elite Imperial Guard Division and Major General Yamane Nobunari. In this tragic and bloody battle, the rebel leader Wu Tangxing was killed by artillery fire, and Liu Yongfu's general Wu Pengnian died heroically. Over three hundred members of Liu Yongfu's elite Seven Stars Regiment also perished, and Changhua fell. Yunlin and Miaoli subsequently fell, and Chiayi was in dire straits. Liu Yongfu ordered Black Flag Commander Wang Debiao to quickly lead his Seven Stars Regiment north to reinforce. He also dispatched General Yang Sihong to lead the Black Flag battalions and closely coordinate with the rebel forces from various regions, and personally commanded the Chiayi front. Thanks to the bravery and skill of the Black Flag Army and the rebel forces, and under Liu Yongfu's command, the various rebel forces worked together to achieve a resounding victory, killing nearly a thousand enemy troops. They successively recaptured Yunlin, Miaoli, and then launched a counterattack on Changhua. However, after continuous and bitter fighting, the Black Flag Army and the rebels were deprived of their pay and weapons. Liu Yongfu sent envoys back to the mainland for assistance. Instead of providing aid, the Qing government forcibly withheld funds raised from mainland China for aid to Taiwan and ordered a strict blockade of the coastal areas, cutting off reinforcements to Taiwan. Heartbroken, Liu Yongfu lamented, "The mainland officials have misled me, and I have misled the Taiwanese people!"

On September 11, 1895, Japan sent the Second Division to reinforce Taiwan. In the Battle of Chiayi, Lieutenant General Kitashirakawa Norihisa, commander of the Imperial Guard Division, was seriously wounded and died. On October 15, the Japanese attacked Takao Harbor, southeast of Tainan. Liu Chengliang, Liu Yongfu's adopted son, led his troops to repel the Japanese attacks several times. Later, the soldiers guarding the artillery fort were too hungry to fight, so Liu Chengliang led his troops to retreat to Tainan. Meanwhile, the Black Flag Army and the rebel army stationed at Zengwen River engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the attacking Japanese forces. However, their isolated force was defeated, and Tainan's last line of defense fell.

On October 18, 1895, Liu Yongfu convened a meeting of his generals to discuss strategies for war and defense, but reached no conclusion. The next day, the Japanese launched a massive attack on Anping Fort. Liu Yongfu personally fired cannons and bombarded the enemy ships. That night, the Japanese siege intensified, leaving the city depleted of ammunition and food. After the grueling battle, the soldiers were exhausted, unable to raise their weapons or wield their swords. Chaos reigned within the city, and Liu Yongfu attempted to charge back inside, but his subordinates vehemently dissuaded him. Seeing the situation hopeless, Liu Yongfu looked up to the sky, beat his chest, and cried out, "How can I repay the imperial court? How can I face the people of Taiwan?" Late that night, Liu Yongfu, his adopted son Liu Chengliang, and a dozen others boarded a small boat and boarded the British merchant ship "Delis" for a ferry to Xiamen. On the 21st, Tainan fell, and all of Taiwan was occupied by the Japanese.

In the spring of 1897, Liu Yongfu returned to Qinzhou for a period of seclusion. Long discontent with the corrupt and incompetent Qing court's capitulation and treasonous behavior, Liu Yongfu began to harbor revolutionary ambitions. The following year, Guangdong Governor Tan Zhonglin telegraphed him to return to Guangzhou to take up his position at the Ordnance Bureau, but he declined.

In 1899, Liu Yongfu returned to Nanning to recruit soldiers and rebuilt the Fourth Battalion of the Black Flag Army. After returning to Guangzhou, he was ordered to send troops to suppress peasant fights several times but refused to do so. He argued that "there was no rebellion" and used persuasion, education and mediation to save the people from disaster, earning him widespread praise.

In the winter of 1899, the Boxer Rebellion swept through Beijing. Liu Yongfu, ordered to garrison the city, delayed his departure, and only departed after repeated urgings. Upon reaching Hengzhou, however, he was ordered back to Huizhou and Chaozhou in Guangdong to suppress the peasant revolution. Liu Yongfu led his troops back to Shaoguan, observing the situation until the situation subsided before returning to Guangzhou. Guangdong Governor Deshou ordered Liu Yongfu to handle the aftermath, but Yongfu declined the assignment, citing unfamiliarity with the situation. Liu Yongfu's sympathy for the peasants and his support for the revolution were evident in his actions.

In 1902, Guangdong Governor Tao Huang transferred Yongfu to Qiongzhou Town. Yongfu, citing unfamiliarity with the area and difficulty adapting to the remote, mountainous terrain, requested a transfer to Jieshi Town, which was approved. Tao Huang, already fearing Liu Yongfu's high prestige and large military presence, sought to weaken his forces.

In 1903, an order was issued to transfer Zhang Laiying, one of Liu's troops, back to the provincial capital. With only two battalions remaining, Liu Yongfu, no longer considered a significant force, requested to be dismissed. With the approval of Guangdong and Guangxi Governor-General Cen Chunxuan, he was dismissed as a farmer, leaving him as a nominal garrison commander.

In 1904, Liu Yongfu simply resigned for the third time due to rheumatism. Guangdong Governor Cen Chunxuan commented: "Your reputation is well-known both at home and abroad. Even if you have a minor illness, you can just stay in bed and recover."

He had no choice but to return to the Liu Family Temple in Shahe, Guangzhou to recuperate and treat his illness. Guangzhou was one of the centers for Sun Zhongye's revolutionary propaganda activities, and Liu Yongfu became more and more receptive to revolutionary ideas.

As time went by, his understanding became deeper and deeper, and his thoughts underwent a profound change. Thus, he went from sympathizing with and supporting the revolution to actively participating in it, becoming a pioneer of the democratic revolution.

Chapter 334:

After Zhang Jianping finished describing the other two routes, he emphasized, "This time, the main force will be our Central Army. The first batch will consist of three main divisions entering Yunnan, along with artillery units. We will march from southern Sichuan directly to liberate Zhaotong and advance directly on Kunming! However, our ultimate goal isn't simply to liberate Yunnan; it's to drive out the imperialist forces there and defend it."

Then, Zhang Jianping briefly outlined the battle plan, and everyone listened carefully. This plan was standard, but everyone knew that the PLA was going to win by force. There was no need for any clever tactics. I was going to fight you head-on, learn about war from war, and while training, also see how the Qing army would resist!

Pre-war preparations are far more than can be explained in a few words. Although preparations have never stopped and detailed battle plans have been drawn up long ago, there are still many things missing before departure.

Zhang Jianping said directly: "Now each department will report on their preparations, starting with the logistics department."

"Commander-in-Chief, Xu Prefecture has already stockpiled 550,000 dan of grain, 200,000 each of compressed biscuits, vegetables, and canned meat. In addition to these, we also have soybean oil, salt, cloth, matches, and other items. The quantity is sufficient to sustain our army for three and a half months. We have also hired a large number of civilian carriages to transport livestock and civilians. Wherever our army liberates, our logistical support will be there..."

Zhang Jianping, the commander-in-chief, had been promoted before the war began. After all, several division-level units couldn't function without a leader. Zhang Yinghao simply created a temporary commander-in-chief, leaving the others unchanged and letting Zhang Jianping lead the battle.

After listening to the report, Zhang Jianping nodded and said, "I asked about logistics first, not arms. You should all understand why. The troops that entered Tibet before did not eat local food. Yunnan is not rich, so it's best for us to do the same. We should minimize the resistance of the people to us. Of course, not eating local food does not mean that we can't buy it with money. There is no problem buying it with money. Yunnan has a rugged terrain. The deeper we go into the hinterland of Yunnan, the more we will lose along the way. If we can deliver 30% of the 100%, it will be good. I think this food is not enough!"

"Don't worry, Commander-in-Chief. We are still mobilizing the people to sell us their surplus food. Food is still arriving continuously, and the food allocated to us by the central government is already on the way. If nothing unexpected happens, it will be enough for the army."

"There's another problem. No matter how quickly we advance, Yunnan will inevitably face a short-term food shortage. Furthermore, with the rebellion and the subsequent devastation, there will inevitably be refugees. The people's livelihoods cannot be left without protection. We must also leave enough food for the locals to appease them and prepare for any eventuality!"

"We've already made preparations for this. We all know the importance of local stability. Our infrastructure engineering troops will immediately move into newly liberated areas and begin organizing road construction and other construction activities. As long as you're willing to contribute, you won't have any problems with food."

Everything was almost ready. After a simple reorganization, the People's Liberation Army launched its army and resolutely decided to cross the Jinsha River and march into Yunnan. Xuzhou once again witnessed the conflict between Sichuan and Yunnan. Unlike the last time, this time it was Sichuan that took the initiative and began to march into Yunnan.

The two armies faced off on the banks of the Jinsha River. Sichuan's dedicated research efforts over the past few years had finally yielded some success. The entire army's artillery unit was equipped with cannons boasting longer range, greater accuracy, and greater power. In an era dominated by 75mm field and mountain guns, the 105mm cannon was a terrifying ogre.

The artillery engagement was a foregone conclusion. The Qing army, lacking any awareness of artillery defense, suffered a devastating blow from the unprecedented PLA artillery fire. The scattered Qing troops spontaneously gathered together, becoming prime targets for the artillery. In a short while, the Qing army's riverside defenses were completely annihilated by the PLA artillery barrage.

Then, hundreds of small fishing boats that the People's Liberation Army had prepared long ago were quickly lifted onto the river, carrying the first batch of vanguard troops to the opposite beach for landing. They quickly occupied the beachhead position, repeatedly repelled several sporadic counterattacks by the Qing army, expanded the position area, consolidated the beachhead position, and waited for the attack of the large force.

The engineers immediately split into two groups. One group connected all the small boats to form a floating bridge. The other group drilled holes in the huge rocks on the shore and inserted steel pillars. These had been carefully explored and were easy to construct. Not long after, a large ship approached from a distance, carrying a large amount of iron chains. The engineers immediately used a winch to hook the chains, dragging the thick chains to the steel pillars and hanging them there. The long chain stretched straight to the other side. The PLA soldiers immediately laid the wooden planks they had prepared on top of the chains, and a simple iron chain bridge was built.

Without stopping, the troops crossed the pontoon and chain bridges directly into Yunnan territory. Although artillery and other items still needed to be transported by boat, the crossing speed was greatly increased. The PLA's original plan was to use only small boats to connect the pontoon bridge, but considering that civilians would also need to cross the river, this plan was rejected and both options were used simultaneously. The chain bridge would not be dismantled after the troops crossed the river, but instead, cement would be poured on both ends to facilitate the crossing of the river. Of course, this chain bridge was temporary and would undoubtedly be replaced by a stone or iron bridge in the near future.

After crossing the Jinsha River, the first important place the People's Liberation Army wanted to liberate was Yanjin. As the name suggests, Yanjin has salt wells and is also a ferry, hence its name. It is an important route connecting Sichuan and Yunnan, known as the gateway to Sichuan and Yunnan, and its strategic location is very important.

Especially after Sichuan was liberated by the Forward Party, Yanjin became Yunnan's frontier position against the People's Liberation Army. However, after the Qing Dynasty set up checkpoints here and was defeated by the People's Liberation Army twice, the Qing Dynasty abandoned Yanjin for a time, causing it to become a buffer zone between Yunnan and Sichuan. This in turn promoted Yanjin's prosperity, and it became a key place for the exchange of Yunnan specialties and Sichuan industrial products, with constant trade and commerce, and it was very lively.

The PLA caught up with the fleeing Qing troops outside Yanjin City. These Qing troops had been frightened by the PLA's artillery and had long lost the will to fight. Seeing the PLA catching up, they chose to kneel down and surrender. The PLA chased the fleeing Qing troops all the way to Yanjin. Seeing the PLA's aggressive approach, the Qing troops in Yanjin chose to surrender directly. The PLA took over this Sichuan-Yunnan gateway without bloodshed, and the speed was very fast.

The people of Yanjin were well-versed in Sichuan. When the PLA entered Yanjin, they quickly posted notices. The people of Yunnan had long since grown tired of the Qing Dynasty's tyranny, and those along the Sichuan-Yunnan border had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the PLA and its liberation. Now that the PLA had finally arrived, they flocked to greet them, lining the streets for a welcome and offering rewards and condolences. Yunnan residents also joined in, offering to transport supplies and serve as guides for the PLA.

Seeing this scene, the PLA was very happy. This was the treatment a truly righteous army should receive. The PLA soldiers' fighting spirit immediately rose a lot.

"Political Commissar, we have easily seized the Sichuan-Yunnan gateway. Xiliang has completely given up on garrisoning Yanjin. It seems he is not someone you can easily deal with."

"Commander-in-Chief, as the saying goes, there's always a thief who steals for a thousand days, but there's no such thing as a thousand-day defense against thieves. Yanjin is too close to Sichuan, and it's hard to defend. We've taken down the checkpoints in Yanjin twice before, and the Qing Dynasty even abandoned it. Now Zhaotong has become the gateway to Sichuan and Yunnan, and we might have trouble advancing."

..……….

After passing Yanjin, the PLA split into two groups: one marched straight toward Zhaotong along the traditional main road, while the other took a detour via Wuliang. Yiliang, pronounced "Liangwu" (literally "Liangwu"), is known for its large Yi population. It was also a notoriously impoverished area, home to a diverse mix of ethnic groups. The Qing had little control over the area, and therefore had no way of deploying troops. They simply sent word through Xiliang, asking them to block the PLA's passage.

Because the Yi people here have long been in contact with the Han people, communication is not difficult. This isn't the same difficulty as when the People's Liberation Army liberated the Yi-populated areas of Liangshan. When the revolutionary army arrived, the Liangshan Yi region was still a slave society, and many tasks were impossible to carry out.

At that time, Zhang Yinghao directly instructed that all people of all ethnic groups are equal and are brothers and sisters. At the same time, Zhang Yinghao also pointed out that in minority areas, we should not rush to fight against local tyrants and divide up land, as this would only intensify ethnic conflicts. This policy allowed the revolutionary army to gain a foothold in minority areas.

Later, after obtaining the surrender of Dorje Sengge, the Progressive Party understood these ethnic issues from a different perspective and truly began to pay attention to the ethnic issues in these areas.

Later, a large number of ethnic minorities were recruited into the army, and the conditions for land reform in these areas were finally ripe. Even so, there are still many ethnic minority areas that have not undergone land reform because the people there do not trust the Progressive Party and the People's Liberation Army. However, by this time, the Progressive Party had already summed up a set of methods specifically for treating other ethnic groups.

The Yi people of Yiliang were bewitched and deceived by the Qing court. Upon entering the Yi area, the People's Liberation Army was immediately blocked by local Yi armed forces. The PLA immediately issued notices and, through interpreters, explained the PLA's nature and political stance. Through the connections of several local tyrants, the two sides engaged in conversation, expounding the Party's ethnic policies in a simple and accessible manner. They also offered large quantities of salt, cloth, and other supplies as a bridge of friendship.

However, the local chieftains were aware of the land reform being implemented in Sichuan. After receiving assurances that the PLA would not force the reform and that the troops would not enter their tribes or villages, they were immediately "inspired" by the PLA's policies. Not only did they immediately release the troops, they also sold them a significant amount of grain. The PLA's presence had a widespread impact on the Yi people and laid the foundation for further reforms.

However, while passing through a Miao village, the PLA came under direct attack. Those who dared to fire at them were naturally retaliated. Faced with the PLA's advanced tactics and weaponry, which were two generations ahead of their time, the PLA captured 300 Tusi forces at the cost of only three casualties. These Tusi forces were subsequently transformed through education and became outstanding PLA soldiers, playing a significant role in the subsequent land reform in Yiliang.

While the People's Liberation Army passed through the Yi area smoothly, the main force encountered trouble.

"Report, the vanguard has discovered a huge pothole on the road ahead. The road is damaged."

"See, I said the advance wouldn't be so smooth. It seems Xiliang is going to slow down our advance."

"Let's go and have a look."

Xiliang was unsure whether the Jinsha River could stop the PLA's attack, so he arranged the Jinsha River as his first line of defense. If the Jinsha River was breached, then Yanjin would no longer be necessary to defend and would have to be abandoned. Therefore, Xiliang did not deploy heavy troops in Yanjin. However, he did assign a task, which was that if the Jinsha River was breached, the Qing troops that had been deployed in advance would immediately destroy the road and slow down the PLA's advance.

According to Xiliang's original plan, if the Jinsha River could not stop Sichuan's attack, then the defense of the enemy outside Yunnan would have to be turned into an internal battle. This would extend the PLA's supply distance and, even if it was impossible to defeat the PLA, it would have to wear down Sichuan.

To fully resist the Sichuan attack, Xiliang had already planned to abandon all other areas and focus on defending Zhaotong. However, he did not expect that the Jinsha River defense line would be breached by the People's Liberation Army in a short time, which was beyond his expectations. He had expected that with the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, even if it was defeated, the Qing army should be able to delay Sichuan for ten days to half a month.

Yunnan's roads, ravaged by years of disrepair, were extremely difficult to navigate. The damage done by the Qing army to many sections further exacerbated the situation. While it wouldn't have been a problem for infantry alone, a 105mm cannon weighed over 4,500 jin (2,000 jin), making it nearly impossible to move without good roads. They had to rely on livestock and human labor, and even with rubber-wheeled carts, moving them was still a challenge.

The PLA needed to transport artillery, so they had to use the open road. Without the artillery, they would be completely free from constraints. Each had its pros and cons. After Zhang Jianping and his team saw the two-meter-diameter hole and the damaged road, they hurriedly called a brief meeting with their comrades.

"Comrades, this situation is not a solution. Even if we repair the road, we've wasted a lot of time. Furthermore, it's easier to destroy than to build. If Xiliang keeps sending people to sabotage us, we won't be able to handle it."

The comrades did not expect to be hit hard by reality as soon as they entered Yunnan. They also knew that time waits for no one, so they offered suggestions and advice one after another.

"Commander-in-Chief, can we slow down the heavy artillery fire? I think we can defeat the Qing army with just mortars and small-caliber artillery."

"All engineers will be dispatched to help the army repair the roads. We can also hire local Yunnanese to build roads and help transport artillery."

“It can also allow civilians to transport supplies.”

After listening to his comrades' plan, Zhang Jianping finally said directly: "The vanguard troops will lead the way and make sure to eliminate all Qing troops along the way. All engineers will be dispatched to level the road. The logistics department will hire civilian workers to help us complete the work. All troops must strengthen their vigilance to guard against sneak attacks by the Qing army..."

Although they didn't understand why they had to guard against a surprise attack by the Qing army, the troops still did as they were told. As expected, there was strength in numbers, and the troops' marching speed had significantly increased. However, Zhang Jianping was still frowning, because the marching speed was still less than two-thirds of their expectations. The longer it took, the greater the pressure on the PLA's logistics.

Night was falling, and just then, a burst of gunfire erupted from the distance ahead. Almost immediately, another burst of gunfire followed from behind, and then, from both sides of the road, huge explosions erupted. Zhang Jianping's worry deepened. "It seems my worst fear has finally come true. Are the enemy harassing us?"

Sure enough, a soldier came to report after a while: "Commander-in-chief, our army encountered a surprise attack from a small group of Qing troops. One of our sentries was killed and one was injured. Our covert sentries killed two Qing soldiers. The road was blown up by the Qing troops. Please give us your instructions."

Zhang Jianping listened and said directly: "Arrange for immediate treatment for the injured comrades. Strengthen the vigilance immediately to avoid another surprise attack by the Qing army."

Zhang Jianping finished speaking and turned to the political commissar, saying, "Political commissar, it seems everyone knows the strategy of retreating when the enemy advances and harassing when the enemy stays."

"This is the best way to delay our advance."