The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

The Japanese soldier naturally wouldn't forget him; he'd even noticed him long ago, because Wu Tianxi's bayonet skills were so poor that he was practically committing suicide. However, facing three enemies and seeing Wu Tianxi charging straight at him, the Japanese soldier had no other choice but to turn, deflect Wu Tianxi's bayonet, and then lunge forward, attempting to stab the enemy to death. The other two field armies couldn't miss such a precious opportunity; their bayonets instantly pierced the Japanese soldier's body. The Japanese soldier's bayonet also pierced Wu Tianxi's ribs. Because Wu Tianxi's entire body turned as he deflected the bayonet, Wu Tianxi was lucky to survive, and the bayonet only inflicted a wound of more than 20 centimeters on his ribs. Wu Tianxi spun around and returned, his eyes fixed on the Japanese soldier.

Suddenly, he noticed fear on the Japanese soldier's face. At that moment, he understood what bayonet fighting was all about. He also understood the meaning of the words the Field Army had always taught him, such as "When two meet on a narrow road, the brave prevails." Just as he was about to kill two more Japanese soldiers, he suddenly felt a burning pain under his ribs. Looking down, he saw that the entire piece of skin under his ribs was gone, and now there was blood pouring out.

He grimaced for a moment, then looked around and saw that the Japanese were completely surrounded and their numbers were very small. He also saw the division commander leading reinforcements. He also saw that many of these reinforcements were holding pistols. After running closer, they fired a few shots at the stubborn Japanese soldiers. After the bullets were exhausted, they also shook their bayonets and rushed into the battle group.

At this moment, Wu Tianxi looked at those distorted faces, listened to the field army shouting "Kill" and the Japanese devils shouting "Board." The field army shouted "Die." His blood boiled, and he didn't care about the pain in his ribs. He rushed forward with bayonet raised. At this moment, he seemed like a veteran who had practiced bayonet countless times. Stabbing, thrusting, blocking, all done in one breath.

He smelled the thick smoke and pungent smell of blood from the battlefield. He heard the sounds of collisions, gunfire, roars, and screams, and the pain in his ribs made him even more excited. He roared and rushed towards the next Japanese soldier.

Akita was now completely desperate. Two divisions of troops had been brought from Tieling to relieve Fengtian, but now, without even touching the walls, they were on the verge of annihilation. This fact was difficult for him to accept. But what could he do? The fact was that after breaking through the enemy's defenses, the troops were stopped in a bayonet fight.

It's worth noting that when they first charged in, the enemy's bayonet-fighting strength was only a third of the Imperial Army's, yet they were still holding them back. By the time the Imperial warriors reached the second line of defense, the enemy had fully reacted. Seeing at least two more lines of defense erected in the distance, Akita felt a chill in his heart, along with a wave of helplessness.

You have to remember that these soldiers were all veterans of the Russo-Japanese War. The Russian army's "grey beasts of burden" performed quite well in hand-to-hand combat, but they were no match for him. Now, these enemy troops before him showed such determination in the face of the Imperial warriors, and their overall combat effectiveness was no less than that of the Imperial Japanese Army. He was filled with panic, wondering where these enemy troops came from.

If such a hostile empire's army is trained to have hundreds of thousands or even millions of troops, what will the Empire of Japan do?

At this time, more and more soldiers joined the bayonet fight, and the Japanese soldiers inside were divided and surrounded. At this time, the Japanese soldiers had reached the point of fighting one by one. Of course, the field army would not suffer such a loss, and directly shot the remaining Japanese soldiers with pistols.

This was a completely unequal battle. The Japanese army was caught off guard by our artillery fire, which directly destroyed nearly 70% of their combat effectiveness.

Under Akita's valiant efforts, the Japanese, without heavy firepower or artillery support, ran into our fire net. Although they were fortunately breached a few times, our brave and fearless soldiers fought tooth and nail and persevered until reinforcements arrived. This bought enough time for the field army to completely encircle and destroy this Japanese force...

In the end, the two divisions of Japanese troops remained in the Northeast forever and became nutrients for the black soil.

Chapter 500:

Zhang Yinghao, in the combat command room, received the victory report from the Northeast. He was in complete disbelief. His first reaction was that the Northeast Field Army was about to achieve something incredible. You have to remember that during the Russo-Japanese War, the two sides fought for a year, and who had ever heard of an entire division being wiped out? Even a single regiment of garrisoned troops would take many days to capture a point. In all his years of fighting the Japanese, he had never heard of such a fantastic story. Even the anti-Japanese dramas didn't dare to portray it this way.

However, after reading the telegram, Zhang Yinghao began to understand a little bit. Such a record is almost impossible to replicate. If the Japanese army had known about the field army and been prepared, this situation would never have happened. Generally speaking, during war, one side is about to attack, and the other side also knows that the enemy will attack. In fact, both sides know that the war is going to start and have defensive positions. When fighting, it is natural to go back and forth, attack and defend. Unless one side has an absolute advantage, it is not easy to overwhelm the opponent in a very short time, defeat, or even completely destroy the opponent.

However, the Japanese army was completely arrogant, complacent, and careless in this battle. They were riding an unprotected train and were completely exposed to their own artillery fire. More importantly, the Japanese army had no defensive preparations at all, and two rounds of artillery fire already secured victory. As for the complete annihilation of the Japanese army, it was first of all due to their superior numbers and firepower, and secondly, the desperate efforts of all the soldiers, especially those guarding the northern line, whose casualties exceeded 70%, a heavy loss. However, the complete annihilation of the Japanese army made all the sacrifices worth it.

"Chairman, once word of this victory reaches us, the Fifth Field Army will be famous throughout the world. This victory will greatly boost national morale!"

Hearing Cai E's somewhat envious tone, Zhang Yinghao smiled faintly and continued, "Once you learn to kill, there will inevitably be victory and defeat, life and death. Victory in war depends on the right time, place, and people. Victory can be known, but it cannot be achieved. Cai E, what do you think is the fastest way for us humans to learn?"

"What's the fastest way to learn? I can't really say."

"Haha, all animals in the world, if they want to survive, must learn to find food, and animals obtain their food directly from nature. So, for humans, learning to directly acquire wealth is the fastest way. Note that I'm talking about directly acquiring wealth. What does directly acquiring wealth mean? It can also be called extraordinary acquisition of wealth. For example, if you toil your whole life, and I kill you with a single blow, I can easily take away all your accumulated wealth. As long as someone teaches you, or even just by watching you, you can learn it. This kind of thing is the easiest to learn. It may seem unimaginable if you've never done it before, but once you do it, it's like taking opium; it's hard to stop."

"Chairman, if you put it that way, isn't that what we did when we fought against the landlords and divided the land?" Zhang Yinghao nodded and said, "Yes, for us humans, killing is actually something that is very easy to learn. It is just a matter of emancipating our minds. Ordinary people dare not even think about killing. Why? Because it will bring severe punishment, right? We all have the saying that killing someone means paying with your life! However, killing someone on the battlefield is meritorious service. Therefore, once you learn to kill, you will find that killing is actually easier than killing dogs and pigs. Since the soldiers of the Fifth Field Army have learned to kill the enemy and have someone to lead them, as long as they are well prepared, victory is inevitable. Also, you see, the peasant uprisings in ancient times were all forced at the beginning. Why did the honest peasants revolt? Officials forced the people to rebel! However, once they actually began killing officials and rebelling, they immediately learned the benefits they could gain, their momentum quickly grew, and even became uncontrollable. The same is true for our PLA soldiers. Guns and cannons are merely tools for killing. Once soldiers are trained and know how to use these weapons, they will actively learn how to effectively kill the enemy and protect themselves. Therefore, for us humans, killing our own kind for wealth is an instinctive thing, constrained by social order. We fight against the local tyrants and divide up the land in order to disrupt the existing order. Of course, after that, we must begin to establish and maintain the order we need.

"Indeed, if there is no order and everyone goes plundering, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

"That's why laws exist. Prisons have existed in our country since the beginning of recorded history, simply for this reason, to maintain the order needed by the ruling class. If people are killed and then their wealth is plundered without much punishment, society will naturally become chaotic. Hey, isn't that what's happening now that foreigners have so-called consular jurisdiction? It causes chaos throughout society, and people become more like dogs than humans, groveling and fawning when they see foreigners. Why? Those who say these people are spineless simply don't understand the concept of order. In fact, it's really no wonder these people are servile. Our common people can't even hold their heads up when standing before foreigners. Why? Because they are doing it for their own safety, and they have no choice. If you offend foreigners and are killed by them, your death will be in vain, and no one will seek justice for you. This is especially true for ordinary people without power or influence. Who would dare to provoke foreigners? Even if some people accidentally provoke foreigners and try to force themselves, others will think that they are unlucky and that letting them suffer is a blessing, so as to keep the peace.

Some people demand that the people have backbone and stand firm. But what's the point of stiffening one's neck? Who will be held responsible if something goes wrong? Everyone else will just watch coldly, and those who demand that others have backbone and not be afraid of foreigners will only become angry and flee faster than rabbits. Therefore, demanding that the people stand up straight and face foreigners without changing the order is absolutely impossible. It's deceptive and a way to get people killed. This is all easy to understand. Of course, if this kind of servility still occurs in our liberated areas, it means that these people want to kneel down, and there's nothing we can do about it. We can't help them."

All the comrades who heard this nodded, and everyone's understanding of social order became much deeper.

"Chairman, what is the current situation in Northeast China? What does it have to do with order?"

"The original order in the vast areas of Northeast China has been destroyed by the Russo-Japanese War. The order in Northeast China is now the order of war, a chaotic order or even the absence of order. It is a special form. Whoever adapts to war first and learns about war will be able to adapt to and master this special order. Only after victory can they change this order and establish the order they need. Comrades can also imagine, if there were no field army and the Forward Party, what kind of order would Japan and Russia establish in Northeast China after the end of the Russo-Japanese War?"

"Chairman, if I were Japan, in the short term, I would definitely support a few proxies to fight against the Qing Dynasty, Tsarist Russia, and other powers, while I would take the opportunity to expand my power and gain more benefits. In the long term, I would naturally devour them, with the ultimate goal of annexing Northeast China. The same would be true for Tsarist Russia."

"No, Tsarist Russia would always think about revenge. However, if I were Tsarist Russia, I would want to expand to other places, such as Outer Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Tibet."

Zhang Yinghao listened to the discussions of his comrades, just smiled, and did not give any answers. He let them think about it themselves, so that the comrades would have a deeper understanding of Japan and Russia.

After leaving the command room, Zhang Yinghao sat alone in his office, drinking tea and thinking quietly. He had absolutely no involvement in the field army's ambush, but they had indeed made the best choice based on their own circumstances and completely defeated the enemy.

Although the general trend of history was correct, Zhang Yinghao gradually felt that countless specific details were no longer under his control.

Comrades like Liu Wenxiu had created a vast situation in Northeast China and achieved brilliant success. They were no longer just small-time soldiers he had brought up, but powerful figures capable of influencing China. Furthermore, these comrades were no longer puppets he could manipulate; they were flesh and blood, with their own ideas...

I had previously taught them how to make revolution. Even if some hadn't attended my classes in person, relevant documents had been distributed to them, just like Comrade Li Tong. They had carved out a niche in the Dabie Mountains, and now, as they entered other regions, they were equally successful. For example, wasn't the Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant operating flawlessly? After taking Pingxiang, the coal from there was shipped to Wuhan, easily solving Wuhan's coal shortage.

Just like the industrial sector that had previously approached us, once they learned of the abundance of high-quality coal in Liupanshui, they figured out how to transport it themselves, no longer needing any guidance. The same thing happened with the fertilizer plant: after one was built, the relevant technical engineers immediately began designing and constructing the second, and once the second was completed, they began building the third, each one better than the last.

Zhang Yinghao believes that under the correct ideological guidance, comrades will make continuous progress on their own.

Zhang Yinghao turned back to look at the map. Even with such a significant victory north of Shenyang, it hadn't significantly improved the situation in Northeast China. The troops attacking Lushun and Dalian to the south and Andong to the east should have already set out! Could they pull off a miracle, achieving victory in a short period of time, as the Japanese had done during the Pearl Harbor attack or the German blitzkrieg in Poland? This was the real key to a swift end to the war in Northeast China.

Zhang Yinghao then considered that the combat effectiveness of the field army might indeed be comparable to that of the Japanese army at this point. Even if there was a slight difference, the field army still had the advantage of home base, so he really didn't have to worry about anything. Even if the conventional war failed, the situation in Northeast China would not become devastating and out of control. The reason was that the Japanese army was not strong enough at the moment and had no ability to swallow up Northeast China in one go, not even half of it.

By this time, the Fifth Field Army was fully formed. The worst-case scenario after defeat would be similar to the KMT-CCP ​​initial struggle for Northeast China, where the field army dispersed and occupied the entire rural area of ​​Northeast China. So, if the attacks on Dalian, Lushun, and Andong failed, a full-scale war with the Japanese army in Northeast China to see if they could take it would be a good option!

After Zhang Yinghao understood this, he put all his worries aside, picked up his pen to write a telegram of commendation and consolation to his comrades, and continued to teach his comrades with peace of mind while holding the courseware.

Chapter 501:

Liu Wenxiu was also thinking about the next strategic and tactical issues at this time. He now basically knew the comparison between the combat effectiveness of the field army and that of the Japanese army. He was also more confident about the next battle to hold Shenyang and defend to the north. He decided in his heart to issue a comprehensive war mobilization order, mobilize all personnel and materials to support the war, and achieve the ultimate strategic goal of the Chairman's plan in the shortest time.

However, before doing so, he immediately ordered the troops responsible for attacking Japanese strongholds and cities along the railway. For example, the troops attacking Anshan and Liaoyang were to dispatch the Japanese troops south or east after defeating them to support the frontline troops in capturing Port Arthur, Dalian, and Andong. If Li Hu or Du Lisan succeeded in their attacks, or if news of the field army's actions became public, they would immediately mobilize to eliminate all visible Japanese forces in Northeast China and restore peace to the people of Northeast China.

The lack of grassroots power in Northeast China due to the Russo-Japanese War and the Qing Dynasty gave Liu Wenxiu and his team the opportunity to develop in the countryside and gain a vast territory. The Russo-Japanese War also gave Liu Wenxiu and his team the opportunity to organize the people of Northeast China.

If the Field Army had not yet seized the railway, cities like Port Arthur, Dalian, Andong, and Shenyang, there might still be a chance for peace. Liu Wenxiu knew that once the Japanese knew they had mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops to reap the final fruits of the Russo-Japanese War, which had nearly bankrupted them, they would be furious and furious, and would definitely retaliate, sending a large-scale fleet to retake Port Arthur. If the Field Army failed to capture Port Arthur, the Japanese would send a fleet to defend it.

Liu Wenxiu knew that the key for the field army to hold on to Port Arthur was actually to use the coastal defense artillery left by Tsarist Russia after liberating the Dalian-Port Arthur area, and to defend the Dalian-Port Arthur area with all their might, so that the Japanese army would have to fight another brutal war to capture Port Arthur like the Russo-Japanese War, reminding the Japanese army of the tragic casualties in the previous capture of Port Arthur, so that the Japanese army would give up and retreat automatically, or drag the war out until Japan could no longer sustain the war.

Therefore, after Yu Dehai finished the battle, he had already left the front line with the elite artillery. More than a dozen heavy artillery pieces and the two heavy howitzers left with them. Especially the heavy howitzers, Yu Dehai originally wanted to take them to attack the Lushun and Dalian areas, but Liu Wenxiu felt that if the attack of the field army heading south was successful, then there must be a large number of super cannons left by Tsarist Russia in Lushun. These two cannons alone would be of little use. If the attack failed, these cannons might not be brought back.

Yu Dehai felt that this was also true. Perhaps Anton needed this super cannon more. Perhaps this super cannon could catch the Japanese troops in the Anton direction by surprise.

At this time, Du Lisan led the Seventh Corps and the Cavalry Column southward. The vanguard troops, wearing Japanese uniforms, took advantage of this opportunity to eliminate the Japanese garrison in Haicheng, taking over the city, which now had few Japanese troops. After occupying Haicheng and other cities and the railway, the field army also seized a sufficient number of locomotives. He led his men, equipped with sufficient weapons and equipment, boarded a train and headed south to Lushun.

The Field Army had already thoroughly researched the terrain and the number of Japanese troops stationed along the route. Although this operation was extremely hasty for Du Lisan, he was not completely unprepared. In particular, the Field Army, having fought in Northeast China, had repeatedly practiced using trains to transport troops for attacks. More importantly, even on the Liaodong Peninsula, they had comrades along the way. Therefore, the Field Army avoided the risk of operating on external fronts and could operate on internal fronts, eliminating unfamiliar blind spots.

Li Hu also began to move westward. At this time, the Anfeng Railway had not been fully completed, so Li Hu could only march quickly for a while before seizing the locomotive on the Anfeng Railway and heading all the way to Andong.

The Anfeng Railway runs between Andong (present-day Dandong) and Fengtian (present-day Shenyang). In February 1904, the Japanese army launched a surprise attack on Port Arthur, officially triggering the Russo-Japanese War. To expel Russian influence from the Liaodong region and fulfill Japan's ambition to dominate Manchuria, the Japanese dispatched troops from Korea to occupy Andong in April 1904. In early May, after occupying Fenghuang City, the Japanese army began unauthorized construction of a push-type light railway between Andong and Fenghuang City. In July, the Japanese Imperial Headquarters decided to expedite the transportation of war supplies from Korea to Liaodong. To this end, the originally planned push-type light railway was converted into a narrow-gauge military railway (0.762-meter gauge) for small rolling stock. On August 10, the Japanese Provisional Railway Brigade began construction of the locomotive-hauled narrow-gauge light railway. Construction reached Fenghuang City in November and Xiamatang in December, totaling 303.7 kilometers.

In the absence of a developed transportation system and road network, the value of railways cannot be overstated. Japan secretly mined, stationed troops, and built infrastructure along the Anfeng Railway, preparing for further expansion of its invasion of Manchuria. The Japanese cabinet stated that the construction and emphasis placed on the Anfeng Railway were necessary from military and economic perspectives. In particular, as it would connect the Korean railways to the South Manchuria and Eastern China railways, it would contribute to the improvement of Korean railways. It was also necessary to develop a Eurasian transportation highway with Busan as its southernmost terminus, facilitating imperial activities.

Goto Shinpei, the first president of the later Manchuria Railway, was even more blunt: "Without the Anfeng Railway to connect the Korean Railway with the South Manchuria Railway, the South Manchuria Railway would be a dead end."

Du Lisan and Li Hu had nearly identical ideas and actions. After occupying Haicheng and other cities, they saw numerous locomotives parked inside. They immediately came up with an idea: to requisition all the locomotives along the route, using them as military vehicles to transport soldiers and supplies. The trains would then proceed wherever they could, significantly resolving the challenges of troop movement and logistical transportation.

Li Hu and Du Lisan were already riding slowly towards their target on a locomotive, feeling a sense of amusement. They had also received news that Zhao Yong and the Fifth Corps had seized a rare opportunity and had just launched an artillery barrage against the Japanese troops on the train, inflicting heavy losses. But now, the Field Army had actually boarded the captured locomotive and headed straight for their destination. This wasn't because the Field Army wasn't afraid of the Japanese artillery fire, but rather because they were exploiting the slow pace of information transmission in that era, betting on the Japanese army's delayed response.

Of course, Du Lisan and Li Hu wouldn't actually grab a train and leave immediately. If they did, it would be strange if they didn't crash along the way. The current China-Eastern Railway and the Anfeng Railway both operate on a single track. If they forced their way through, the probability of a train collision would be even greater.

However, train dispatching has its own rules. In this vast land of Northeast China, after painstaking efforts, there's no intelligence or information Liu Wenxiu and his team can't obtain. Having been in Northeast China for two years, Liu Wenxiu and his team have easily recruited some comrades on the railway. Finding a few who speak Japanese isn't difficult either, and they themselves are now quite fluent in Japanese. Furthermore, to facilitate this operation, the main force of the field army has donned Japanese uniforms, eliminating the need for evasive maneuvers. Naturally, they simply rode the train and led the way.

The Liaodong Peninsula is the southernmost region of the Northeast, and Dalian and Lushun are located even further south. The train from Haicheng to Dalian is over 250 kilometers, and at that time, train speeds were only 20 to 30 kilometers per hour. Therefore, reaching Dalian required a train ride of over ten hours, during which anything could happen. Du Lisan was deeply troubled. How to transport so many troops to Dalian and Lushun quickly and without being exposed was a huge problem.

In war, the more strategic the strategy, the greater the chance of victory. By this time, the Corps' General Staff had already distributed the battle plan to the cadres. The specifics of how to capture Lushun and Dalian would require a certain degree of flexibility. As for how to manage the cities after they were captured, detailed planning had already begun.

Du Lisan's plan changed a little at this time. His idea became simpler. If the train could reach Wafangdian, then the battle would be half won. If they could break into Dalian, then the battle would be very easy to win. At this time, Du Lisan also knew that as long as he occupied Wafangdian, Dalian and Lushun would be a dead end. He was not so anxious to take Lushun and Dalian immediately. If he could take them, that would be the best. If he couldn't, he would settle for the next best thing.

The total number of Japanese troops participating in the Russo-Japanese War was over 1.1 million, but only a few hundred thousand could actually reach the front lines. For example, the Japanese army at the Battle of Liaoyang numbered 135,000, the Battle of Shahe numbered about 120,000, and the largest number of troops at the Battle of Mukden was only 250,000 after the Japanese captured Port Arthur. Moreover, before the Russo-Japanese War had completely ceased, Japan had already begun withdrawing its troops due to excessive logistical pressures and other issues.

After the Russo-Japanese War began, Japan could no longer maintain such a large military presence in Manchuria, and began withdrawing some of its forces back to Korea and mainland Japan. The reason was simple: Liu Wenxiu and his men had implemented a policy of scorching the countryside. Furthermore, Liu Wenxiu and his men had eliminated so many wealthy landlords that the Japanese army's plunder was significantly less than it would have been historically. At this point, impoverished Japan simply could not maintain such a large military presence in Manchuria. To confront the Russians, Tieling and Kaiyuan were the main bases of the Japanese army, with Kaiyuan being the largest. Furthermore, the Japanese army also had to guard a vast railway line, and without the Manchurian Railway Company to manage it, they had no choice but to maintain military garrisons to ensure smooth operation.

At this time in Northeast China, Japan did not have hundreds of thousands or even millions of Japanese expatriates to mobilize for armed forces, and all forces had to rely on soldiers. Even if there were a million troops, if they were spread across the land of Northeast China, how much could each place get? Therefore, the Japanese garrison left in Jinzhou and Wafangdian was not large, just enough to maintain public order. The number of Japanese troops stationed in cities in the rear such as Shenyang and Liaoyang was considered large. If there were no accidents, that is, if there were no field armies, according to the original history, the Japanese troops in these places would be absolutely safe and could also maintain local security.

Chapter 502:

The Japanese army's current strength was no problem against Russia, a similarly foreign power. However, compared to the vast Northeast, it was nothing, so the Japanese army was merely guarding the transportation lines. Japan's plan to swallow up Northeast China was impossible without long-term infiltration and immigration. Forcing it to swallow up Northeast China would only lead to indigestion, unless they learned from the Qing Dynasty's massacre.

Du Lisha and his men had already arrived in Wafangdian by train. Such a smooth operation could perhaps be said to be a case of the Japanese army falling into a blind spot in their thinking.

However, after the troops arrived at Wafangdian, they finally encountered some trouble. The Japanese were not fools, and it could even be said that they were quite rigorous. When the train blew its whistle and entered the station with billowing smoke, the stationmaster in charge of Wafangdian Railway Station saw that this train did not appear in the scheduling schedule at all, and immediately expressed deep doubts. You must know that such temporary scheduling of trains must be notified to them. As a single-line train track, if there is no plan for operation, the entire system will be in chaos, and even a major accident will occur. Even if a train does not run according to the plan, it will not work.

The stationmaster, knowing the seriousness of the situation, immediately emerged from his office, cursing and shouting at Liu Wenxiu and the others who had just gotten off the train: "Baga, what's wrong with you? Which army are you affiliated with? Why didn't we receive any notification from the dispatcher of your train? Did you know this was going to cause such a serious traffic accident? Damn it!"

Even when the stationmaster saw Liu Wenxiu and the others disembarking in their military uniforms, he remained unfazed and, despite his indignation, he could have cursed them. This was because he himself had served in the Russo-Japanese War, had retired from the army, and had distinguished himself in the war. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been the stationmaster of this train station. Furthermore, the Japanese military had a very strong hierarchy, and they generally knew that stationmasters had connections. Before they could fully understand the other party's strengths and weaknesses, ordinary Japanese officers naturally had to be polite to the stationmaster, even bowing and scraping. After all, whether the train could leave or not depended on their words.

When Liu Wenxiu and his men got off the train at Wafangdian Railway Station, it was not because they had nothing to do or wanted to get some fresh air, but because the field army had to control all the train stations along the way and prohibit all personnel from entering and exiting to prevent information leaks. At the same time, it was also to ensure smooth and unobstructed railway operations.

Commander Du knew this was not the time to argue with these little Japanese, so he immediately said, "We are carrying out this secret military mission, and no one is allowed to stop us for any reason."

After he finished speaking, he raised his chin and waved his hand, and the soldiers immediately took action, ready to take control of the entire station.

Seeing these soldiers, they gave a word and were about to take control of the station. The Japanese stationmaster immediately shouted angrily: "Who are you? I have no orders. Show me your warrant, otherwise you can't do this. You..."

"This is a secret mission from the military. To prevent the news from leaking, we must control the station. Don't worry, we will leave immediately after completing the mission. All this is for the Great Empire of Japan. Long live the Emperor."

Commander Du was quite cunning, even shouting out the slogan "Long Live the Emperor". The staff at the train station looked at each other in bewilderment. What else could they do now? Oppose the "Long Live the Emperor" slogan? Everyone looked at the stationmaster. The Japanese stationmaster's face flushed red at this moment. He didn't know that the officer in front of him had switched concepts. He just felt that something was wrong. He couldn't think of what was wrong for a moment, so he could only continue to observe. He could only awkwardly shout out: "Long Live the Emperor." Group number of this book: 775111838

"Yoshi, all of you gather nearby now and do a headcount. The news of our arrival must not be leaked."

The Japanese stationmaster rolled his eyes and said immediately, "Okay, I'll go to the stationmaster's office right away and use the loudspeaker to call everyone over."

The Japanese stationmaster was no ordinary man. He'd quickly noticed something was terribly wrong. Aside from the officer he'd spoken to, none of the other Japanese soldiers had spoken a word, much less engaged in conversation. This was decidedly out of character. After arriving at a train station, people typically disembarked to relax, perhaps even feel relaxed, and naturally chatted with their companions. But the soldiers before him were completely silent. Was this normal? Furthermore, the look in their eyes was strange. As a veteran of the military, he was certain he'd never seen or even heard of such an army. He knew the Japanese military well, but seeing their eyes gleam with excitement, and yet no one spoke, was unbelievable. Furthermore, as a soldier, he could easily tell from their movements that they weren't defending the outside world, but rather guarding against those inside the train station. This made it even more bizarre. Therefore, he planned to return to the stationmaster's office and call his superiors to ask what was going on. It would be best to verify the specific identities and organization of these troops.

Commander Du naturally would not let the Japanese station chief leave, knowing that they were very close to Lushun, and if they were not careful the news would be exposed and all their efforts would be wasted.

"Don't bother with that. Just let the people below do it."

As expected, just as Commander Du finished speaking, the station's loudspeaker blared, demanding that everyone stop what they were doing and gather inside the station within two minutes, or face court-martial. Commander Du knew that his comrades had taken control of the stationmaster's office.

The Japanese who arrived in Northeast China were indeed well-trained. Even those squatting in the toilet, upon hearing the call, immediately clamped their mid-pull, closed their anus tightly, wiped it twice, and ran out to assemble with their pants pulled up. Soon, all the Japanese ran onto the platform, their faces full of impatience. However, when they saw that it was filled with soldiers armed with live ammunition, they immediately became as obedient as crane quails, becoming silent and obediently lining up behind the stationmaster.

However, two minutes was too short after all, and a few Japanese were still late. Commander Du smiled coldly, walked up to these latecomers, and after two "Baga" sounds, said: "If this were on the battlefield, you would have been dead."

With that, Commander Du began slapping the Japanese. The clapping noises were so loud they could be heard from afar. Seeing this, the comrades in the field army curled their lips, almost wanting to laugh out loud. That's the good thing about the Japanese: their strict hierarchy. Even if you slap them, they'll keep saying "Hi, Hi, Hi, Hi" and bowing to Commander Du, not daring to resist.

Seeing the Japanese station chief and others about to speak, Commander Du immediately winked at the comrade next to him. The comrade immediately said to the person who stepped forward to try to stop him: "We are carrying out military secrets, which are not convenient to disclose. Now let him follow us and not leak any information, otherwise he will die."

The Japanese were incredibly obedient, and the rest of the group immediately half-bowed, saying "Hi!" Having temporarily tamed the Japanese, Commander Du received the signal for the train to continue south. He waved his hand, still aching from the slap, and said a satisfied "Yoshi." Without caring about the Japanese's reactions, he carried the dazed man, who had been slapped, onto the train.

Then, all the Japanese on the platform were forced aboard the train by other soldiers, with the excuse being that they were worried about leaking military secrets. Commander Du left behind a battalion of field troops to continue controlling the station, coordinating with subsequent troops to capture Wafangdian and annihilate the remaining Japanese garrison.

At this time, the Japanese army had not yet discovered that the field army had entered Liaodong, so Commander Du was able to continue riding the train south. As for the few Japanese devils who were put on the train, after a brief interrogation, except for a few technical workers, the others were told to go to see Japan's Amaterasu. As for the claim that this was a massacre of civilians, Commander Du didn't care at all. He had followed Liu Wenxiu to retaliate against Russian civilians, and killing them was so satisfying. Naturally, he knew what the commander-in-chief's attitude was towards these so-called "civilians". Moreover, whether these people were civilians or not was really a matter worth discussing. How many "civilians" were willing to run to the Northeast before the Russo-Japanese War was over?

Commander Du was genuinely excited. Having passed Wafangdian, the Field Army had truly entered the heart of Princess Iron Fan. At this point, the battle was already half won. Liu Wenxiu and his men only needed to wait for their victory telegram, and then the comrades throughout South Manchuria would be mobilized, and half of Northeast China would immediately change color.

However, Commander Du was not in a hurry at this point. Naturally, he had to do his best to complete all strategic tasks. As the train raced along the tracks, Du Lisan couldn't help but brood over the scenery. Telegraph lines everywhere should have been cut. The Japanese army hadn't yet deployed radios on a large scale, and there weren't even any dedicated telegraph operators within the army. The Japanese army only began to establish this department by capturing Russian telegraph operators. Du Lisan believed that the remaining Japanese behind him must have been in a state of chaos when they discovered that their communications had been cut off and they couldn't contact their superiors. But no matter how chaotic they were, no one would have expected the field army to take Dalian and Port Arthur so quickly by train.

As Commander Du had anticipated, the Japanese troops in these strongholds sensed a serious threat after discovering their telegraph lines were down and the messengers they had sent to contact their superiors had mysteriously disappeared. In this unfamiliar land, facing strangers, they immediately became terrified and anxious, like ants on a hot pan. However, the reaction of these small groups of Japanese troops was a minor matter, as the vast majority of them were destined to die in Northeast China.

Just as Commander Du continued to head south on the train, the troops following him had already charged along the railway, especially the cavalry column. They had initially intended to compete with the train in speed, but were soon left behind by the train, even though they spared no effort in using their horsepower. How could these proud cavalrymen bear this? They could only vent their resentment on the Japanese troops along the way, so they divided their troops into several routes, attacked southward, and cleared out all the Japanese they encountered along the way.

The Japanese troops along the way lacked heavy machine guns and other firepower, and even bullets were severely scarce because they had to be supplied to the front lines first. They could only use rifles with few bullets and bayonets to intimidate and threaten the locals and maintain order. Faced with the cavalry attack, the cavalry comrades, who knew the strengths and weaknesses of these Japanese troops, were naturally not afraid of them at all. They really slaughtered the Japanese troops to the point of having no way out, and they died tragically under the iron hoofs of the field army cavalry columns.

Chapter 503:

Lushun is located at the southernmost tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, about 30 kilometers east of Dalian City, facing the Yellow Sea to the south and the Bohai Sea to the northwest. It faces the Shandong Peninsula across the Bohai Strait. It is the throat of the Bohai Sea and the gateway to Beijing and Tianjin. Its strategic location is very important.

The so-called "Lüshunkou," also known as the "Lion's Mouth," is a natural seaport nearly 300 meters wide, formed by two mountains facing each other. It has a single channel, barely 90 meters wide, wide enough for only one large warship at a time. Flanking this channel are the majestic Huangjin Mountain to the east, the towering Laotie Mountain to the southwest, and Jiguan Mountain to the west. The harbor is only about 270 meters wide, making it very easy to defend.

The entire harbor resembles a closed bay, with its entrance facing southeast. It stretches 4 kilometers from east to west and 2 kilometers from north to south. To its west, a curving dry beach, resembling a tiger's tail, has earned it the name "Tiger Tail Peninsula." Entering the harbor, the sea surface opens into a vast expanse, unfrozen and unsilted, offering excellent shelter and windbreak. The peninsula, in turn, forms a natural breakwater, giving the harbor the appearance of an inland lake—a natural harbor the navy longs for.

Construction of Lushun Port began in 1880 and was completed in 1890. The construction of its docks and shore and land artillery batteries made it the largest and most complete naval base and strategic fortress in modern Chinese history, laying the foundation for the development and growth of the Beiyang Fleet.

The Qing Dynasty was really magnanimous. After the Three Powers intervened to return Liaodong to China, they dared to lease such an important place to Tsarist Russia, which was responsible for protecting Beijing and Tianjin. The Russians were naturally ecstatic when they got the ice-free port they had dreamed of. They immediately sent the Pacific Fleet to Port Arthur, attempting to occupy it forever. Therefore, after two years of geographical exploration and design, Tsarist Russia spent 30 million rubles, recruited 60,000 Chinese workers, and spent four years to build Port Arthur into a solid fortress, even though the construction of such a huge project as the Trans-Siberian Railway made its finances extremely difficult.

Because of the vast Siberia and the fact that the Trans-Siberian Railway had not yet been built, the Tsarist Russia's hegemony in the Far East at this time mainly relied on sea power. Although the Tsarist Russia had acquired another good port, Vladivostok, also known as Vladivostok, earlier, this port still had a freezing period, which was extremely unfavorable to the navy. Therefore, the key to the Tsarist Russia's control of sea power in the Far East lay in the Port of Lushun.

If they were to attack Port Arthur head-on from the sea, they would inevitably be subjected to indiscriminate bombardment from the Port Arthur fortress's coastal defense artillery, resulting in unimaginable casualties. Furthermore, a head-on attack on Port Arthur would require a sea landing, which would make it difficult for troop transports to dock under the fortress's artillery fire, and even more difficult for the landing force to establish a beachhead. Therefore, even if the attacking force suffered heavy casualties, it was essentially impossible to capture Port Arthur head-on in an era without an air force.

To capture Lushun, one must secure a retreat. The importance of Jinzhou is clear. Known as the "Great City of Liaodong," Jinzhou borders Jinzhou Bay to the west and Dalian Bay to the east. The land between the two bays is less than three kilometers wide at its narrowest point, as slender as a wasp's waist. Holding this place secures Lushun's retreat, a crucial point connecting Lushun and Dalian to the south and the Northeast hinterland to the north. Furthermore, for over 700 years, from the Yuan Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, Jinzhou served as the seat of prefectural, state, and county governments, serving as the political, economic, cultural, and military center of the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula.

During the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the Japanese army easily saw the importance of Jinzhou's geographical location and made it the main target of the army's landing operation. Jinzhou was lost in a very short time, and the fall of Lushun was inevitable.

During the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese blocked the exit of the Port Arthur naval port but were unable to capture it. Naturally, the Japanese Army once again landed at Piziwo, north of the Jinzhou Isthmus, cutting off Port Arthur's retreat. After capturing Jinzhou, although the Russians had built a strong fortress position in Port Arthur, supported by fortress artillery and naval guns, the isolated Port Arthur was still captured by the Japanese at a heavy price, seizing this excellent naval port and once again making Port Arthur a treasure.

It can be imagined that the Japanese army had given up Port Arthur once and it was then stolen by Tsarist Russia. This time, they paid such a price to take Port Arthur. Unless a war was launched, the Japanese army would absolutely not hand over Port Arthur again. Otherwise, Japan would have no way to explain to the country and the Japanese soldiers who died in the war and their families.

The Japanese army was still reveling in the jubilation of their navy's victory over the Russian expeditionary fleet at the Battle of Tsushima. There was no doubt in the minds of all Japanese that this naval victory had laid the foundation for victory in the Russo-Japanese War. Commander Du had already sensed this joyous atmosphere when he captured Pulandian. Upon arriving at Jinzhou Railway Station, congratulatory banners were already displayed, and the Japanese troops on the platform appeared in high spirits.

This was a natural cause for excitement. For a long time, white people had bullied yellow people. The only three Asian nations that hadn't been completely colonized—Qing, Japan, and Siam—were forced to sign numerous unequal treaties with Western powers. Japan's victory dispelled the myth of "white people's innate superiority," proving the Japanese's ability to confront Europeans. This greatly boosted Japanese morale, and naturally, they felt proud and, understandably, began to look down on other Asian nations. The idea of ​​Japan leading the entire Asian people to victory, freeing them from white control, naturally took root in the Japanese mind. While the initial idea might have been a good one, reality proved harsh. Ultimately, Japan strayed down the wrong path, embarking on a militaristic path of brutal oppression at home and colonial plunder abroad, a path of no return.

The train puffed smoke and chugged into Jinzhou Station. The train was naturally carrying the Field Army, and the soldiers were already familiar with the route. Using the train's puffs of smoke as cover, they quickly disembarked and controlled the station's entrances and exits. Then, with their sheer numerical superiority, they could slowly outnumber the Japanese inside. The Japanese at stations along the way were essentially wiped out by the Field Army in this manner. The stationmasters of subsequent stations had no way of receiving reports from stations along the Middle East Railway; they could only receive reports from the previous station, from all trains heading south.

Of course, as the train was heading south, it encountered an unexpected problem in a hurry. Just after passing Pulandian, it encountered a train heading north. Fortunately, trains in this era were slow, so as long as the brakes were applied in time, it could still stop. Of course, the northbound train was naturally captured by Commander Du and his men.

Commander Du, sitting on a crate filled with rifles, was about to disembark. He always felt like laughing when he thought about his recent haul and the killing of those unsuspecting Japanese soldiers. But now, he found the Japanese truly strange. After the two trains stopped, officers disembarked from both sides, all dressed in Japanese military uniforms. Of course, the trains had met midway, a matter of dispatching and unrelated to these "passengers." Naturally, both sides exchanged friendly greetings, and the disembarking comrades readily understood that, due to the renewed Russo-Japanese conflict and the severe depletion of munitions on the front lines, the northbound train was carrying a massive load of munitions and supplies, and that the Japanese soldiers aboard were escorts.

Commander Du was naturally overjoyed to receive this news. He gleaned at least two insights from it. First, the news that Commander-in-Chief Liu Wenxiu and his men had captured Shenyang had not yet been fully revealed. Second, their advance southward had not yet been exposed. In fact, the Japanese forces in Jinzhou and even in Port Arthur and Dalian were completely unprepared...

Commander Du immediately thought about how to trick all the Japanese soldiers off the train and then shoot them. However, he thought about it over and over again and still couldn't come up with a good idea, and he couldn't help but feel anxious. He knew the rules of escorting munitions. There must be Japanese soldiers in the carriages with munitions. If an accident happened, the Japanese soldiers in the carriages would choose to destroy the munitions to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy if they were sure they were no match for the enemy. If it was guns and cannons, it would be fine, but if it was bullets, shells, or explosives, it would be dangerous. If they were detonated, it would be a disaster.

"Maybe I'm overthinking it. It's better to simplify complex problems. The simpler they are, the more powerful they are..."

Commander Du thought about the military training he had received and the strict hierarchy of the Japanese army. He immediately came up with a simple and crude solution. He got out of the car wearing the Japanese military uniform representing a general officer, and then raised his chin and said to the squadron leader escorting the munitions: "Everyone get out of the car. I want to give a speech."