The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Zhang Yinghao pulled himself together, immediately recovered, and asked, "What's the matter? Why are you so anxious?"

"Chairman, I'm sorry, but no one answered your door just now, so I had no choice but to break it down and come in."

Hearing this, Zhang Yinghao became even more certain that he had just entered a state of enlightenment, one without sight, hearing, nose, tongue, body, or mind. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a cultivator. To think that the dream had been interrupted so easily was a stroke of luck. If this world wasn't the Dharma Ending Age but a world of advanced martial arts or even immortal cultivation, this would be a hindrance to one's path. This was a matter of life and death...

Zhang Yinghao suppressed his wandering thoughts and asked again: "What happened? Why is it so urgent?"

The secretary also knew that Chairman Zhang Yinghao had a rule that good news should not be reported unless it was bad news that he needed to deal with personally, so he immediately said, "Chairman, we just received a telegram saying that some Japanese naval guns attempted to force their way through the Yangtze River defense line and bombarded our Ma'an Fortress..."

Hearing this, Zhang Yinghao had an idea and immediately waved his hand to

The interruption of the secretary's report also gave Zhang Yinghao an immediate inspiration. He immediately picked up the pen and wrote a few words. Only then, satisfied, he said to the secretary with a relaxed look: "Go on."

"Yes. The telegram said that the garrison of our artillery fort discovered a warship flying the Japanese flag going upstream, and immediately sent a signal to the warship not to go any further. However, the warship claimed that they had the right of free navigation on the Yangtze River and insisted on forcing their way in. Our artillery fort immediately fired a cannonball to warn the Japanese warship going upstream. The Japanese warship then opened fire on our Ma'an Fort, and our garrison immediately fired back..."

Zhang Yinghao nodded and said, "Order all artillery units to retaliate at all costs against any warships that dare to fire on the Yangtze River. Ideally, sink two more warships."

Zhang Yinghao's meaning was very clear, that is, no country's warships would be allowed to dare to bombard cities along the Yangtze River.

"Yes."

Before you could even turn around, another secretary came running over to report, "Report, Chairman, the Japanese warships have been repelled, but they are now indiscriminately shelling residential buildings along the river."

Zhang Yinghao quickly took the telegram, read it, slammed the table and said, "Damn Japs!"

Zhang Yinghao paced back and forth, holding the telegram. His first thought was that the Japanese were crazy. Were they going crazy for Wuhan's coal and iron? This was obviously impossible! But considering that the Yangtze River was the British sphere of influence, how could the Japanese have the courage to do such a thing? Zhang Yinghao immediately thought of another word: "for the king, the vanguard." Was this a dog scouting the way for its master, the British?

But Zhang Yinghao didn't think so. Maybe it was for the coal and iron in Wuhan, or for the British, or maybe... Zhang Yinghao suddenly thought of the situation in the Northeast, and immediately came up with an answer: the fact that the Forward Party led the Northeast was exposed, and the Japanese were desperate.

Zhang Yinghao stopped and said, "Hey, every wrong has its perpetrator, and now the Japanese devils are finally going to find me, the real culprit."

After thinking of the reason, Zhang Yinghao felt relieved. He glanced at the paper on which he had just written a few words and sneered. Now that the Japanese want to jump, he will jump with them.

However, Zhang Yinghao knew that he had no other way to deal with the Japanese gunboat except using air power. But then, it suddenly occurred to him that he probably had his own gunboats! Didn't he order two of the gunboats he had captured in Wuhan to go down the river?

"Didn't I order two gunboats down the river? Where are they now?" "Mr. Chairman, the two gunboats are now in the Jiujiang and Hukou areas. There are also British warships here, and the two gunboats are now on guard against the British warships."

Hearing this, Zhang Yinghao was even more certain that the Japanese had discovered that Sichuan was behind the Northeast. Zhang Yinghao was not surprised at this. After all, as long as Japan mobilized enough forces, it would not be difficult to find out this matter.

"Then what are we waiting for? Are we going to let these two gunboats just sit there? The warships of other countries can't move now, so are these warships that have already opened fire still afraid to move? Haven't we captured a lot of British people? I really don't believe that the British warships dare to open fire now, but we have to be on guard. Then order one of the warships to continue downstream to deal with the Japanese warships that are firing. From now on, the army will advance along the Yangtze River, and the warships will sail along the Yangtze River, relying on each other and covering each other, to ensure that wherever our army controls the Yangtze River coast, that place will be safe."

"Yes."

Zhang Yinghao immediately asked, "Where is our airship now?" "In Wuhan, on guard against British warships!"

"Mad, British, British, it's the British again."

Zhang Yinghao cursed inwardly. There weren't many airships being manufactured now, so if they were dispersed, they wouldn't be very useful. Furthermore, Wuhan was more important than any other city in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Naturally, most of the airships could only be stationed in Wuhan to ensure the safety of the steel mills and other factories.

"We must get rid of the British warships in Wuhan, or, Mad, we can just see if there is a chance to seize them."

Zhang Yinghao immediately thought of the book "Thick Black Theory" he had read in his previous life. Being a person and doing things requires being thick-skinned and ruthless. Even now that the British concession in Hankou has been reclaimed, they still shamelessly allow their warships to remain in Wuhan. Zhang Yinghao knew that the British warships were only able to stay in Wuhan at the request of other countries with concessions there. Without the help of these concessions, the officers and soldiers on these warships would die of thirst and starvation on the warships. Of course, the British were also reluctant to withdraw their warships from Wuhan. They knew that it would be difficult to return after withdrawing. They were still hoping that things would change so that the British Empire could retake the concessions...

Zhang Yinghao acted immediately, saying, "Send a secret telegram to the Wuhan Military Commission, asking them if there's a chance they can use their special forces to seize the British warship tonight and then drive it away, leaving no evidence. If not, have them find a way to force the British warship away."

"clear!"

Chapter 546: Second update!

Aren't the British and other powers shameless and black-hearted? Then I will be even more shameless and black-hearted than you, and take everything away without admitting it. Let's see what you dog powers can do.

Zhang Yinghao also knew that in order to prepare for the next major changes, it was necessary to make Wuhan and other hinterlands absolutely safe. The British warships were a thorn in his side, a time bomb. Even if they accidentally exploded on him now, they were targets that had to be eliminated in advance.

Zhang Yinghao issued the order to the Wuhan Military Commission and then left it alone. If the Wuhan Military Commission couldn't handle such a small problem, then it was necessary to replace them. As for the Japanese shelling along the Yangtze River, the problem was solved in a few seconds. Of course, this was for Zhang Yinghao, but for the front line, it meant fighting, sacrifice, and difficult and arduous work.

After watching the two secretaries leave, Zhang Yinghao picked up the few words he had written and began to read. A sudden realization struck him: a single leaf blinding him to the mountain. He should have known the key to breaking the impasse in Northeast China long ago, but had simply overlooked it. If Japan hadn't known that the actions in Northeast China were being led by Sichuan, and that the Fifth Field Army was solely responsible, this situation would have been incredibly difficult to break. Perhaps, for reasons of face and other issues, Japan would have fought to the bitter end against this obscure force, the Fifth Field Army.

However, once Japan realized it was facing not just the Fifth Field Army in Northeast China, but the Forward Party from Sichuan, it became more open to compromise. This was because Japan must have understood that, given the Forward Party's current size and the current situation in Japan, it was impossible to defeat the Forward Party and the People's Liberation Army in Sichuan. There was no other option but to cease fire or negotiate, unless Japan truly wanted to persevere, which was definitely not in Japan's best interests unless the great powers could bring greater benefits to Japan.

The Sino-Japanese confrontation in Northeast China is a contradiction. Can this contradiction be resolved? Life-or-death feuds are absolutely impossible to resolve simply. Since this contradiction cannot be resolved, the solution to it has already emerged. Contradictions can be divided into primary and secondary contradictions, and within contradictions, there are primary and secondary aspects. Primary and secondary contradictions can transform into each other. If Japan's attack on Northeast China is the current primary contradiction, the solution is to create another contradiction to transform it, turning it into a secondary contradiction.

Attacking the enemy where they must rescue could divert this contradiction, so the four words Zhang Yinghao wrote on the paper were: mess up Korea. As long as Korea was in chaos, Japan would no longer have the energy and mind to attack Northeast China.

This is a good way to deal with Japan's attack on the Northeast, or the Japanese and Russian armies attacking the field army, and preventing Japanese warships from bombarding the Northeast coast. Perhaps this is also the best way to solve this problem with China's own strength.

Originally, Japan, as a nation, would never negotiate with the Fifth Field Army, a mysterious local power. Their status was completely unequal, and Japan couldn't let go of this pride. But now that Japan knew the Sichuan Forward Party was behind the Fifth Field Army, there was a basis for negotiations between China and Japan, and both sides were qualified to engage in equal dialogue.

"Hmm! Perhaps we can use the Japanese bombardment of the Yangtze River as an excuse to reclaim some of our rights!"

Zhang Yinghao, who was clacking his abacus, suddenly laughed. He closed his eyes and sorted out the whole situation again. After determining the order of events, Zhang Yinghao began to draft the telegram.

The first telegram was sent to Wuhan, urging the Wuhan Military Commission to act quickly to capture or expel the British gunboats. After Wuhan had no warships, they immediately sent troops to take over the Japanese concession in Wuhan. The reason was ready-made, that is, Japan's shelling of the Yangtze River was an act of war. In fact, Zhang Yinghao pointed the finger directly at Japan, and in fact, he was also telling Japan, "I already know that you Japanese already know that we are the mastermind behind the Northeast. Come and negotiate!"

"I just wonder if Japan can guess my secret hint?" Zhang Yinghao muttered to himself, and suddenly laughed. Why did he care so much about the special code? Why did he have to solve the warship problem in Wuhan first? In fact, Zhang Yinghao was worried that the great powers would go all out, or become desperate and do something desperate, which would be more trouble than gain.

Zhang Yinghao then wrote a second telegram to the Northeast, describing the worst-case scenario in which Japan and Russia might begin negotiations, reconcile after exchanging prisoners, or even send troops to jointly attack the Fifth Field Army. He then wrote: "Send several elite soldiers, in regimental and company units, preferably cavalry, to sneak across the Yalu River into Korea, maneuver quickly, smash all Japanese local governments in Korea, destroy factories, mines, and machinery, destroy Japanese-built railways, blow up bridges, divert conflicts, and make sure Japan has no energy to attack the Northeast..."

After Zhang Yinghao finished writing, he immediately felt like he was commanding the whole country. He was truly making plans within the tent and winning battles from thousands of miles away...

Zhang Yinghao had no immediate plans to seize half of Korea, as the pressure of facing Tsarist Russia to the north was too great. However, Zhang Yinghao was fully aware of Korea's importance to the strategic security of Northeast China. A buffer zone was necessary between Northeast China and Japan. If China and Japan were not hostile, it would be fine, but Taiwan was still in Japanese hands, so the confrontation between China and Japan would continue, or confrontation would outweigh cooperation, until Taiwan was reclaimed. Now that Korea was in Japanese hands, Northeast China was the front line. Faced with the possibility of war at any moment, Northeast China could no longer fully devote itself to development.

At this time, Zhang Yinghao could also understand that there must be a buffer zone between major powers, and he could also understand why both Tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union had their eyes on Mongolia. Without Mongolia as a buffer zone, Russia would not dare to carry out large-scale construction in East and West Siberia, or even in Central and Siberia, because once a war broke out, all these hard-earned constructions would be wasted and all would be destroyed.

Furthermore, the Soviet Union established the Far Eastern Republic in Siberia as a buffer zone with China and Japan. When Xu Shuzheng recaptured Mongolia, and Mongolia was still under Chinese control, the Far Eastern Republic's capital was Verkhovna Udinsk. After the Soviets took control of Mongolia, the capital became Chita. This also shows that if China wanted to reclaim Mongolia from that point on, there was no other way except to launch a war. The Soviet Union would never allow this buffer zone to be lost. Mongolia was arguably one of the Soviet Union's core interests, and it would be preserved at all costs.

After the Soviet Union was established, the only way to recapture Mongolia with minimal cost was during World War II, when Germany invaded the Soviet Union. At that time, the Soviet Union was completely preoccupied with its eastern expansion. However, even if China managed to conquer Mongolia, what would the situation be? Mongolia had already completed its ethnic cleansing and land revolution, and any inland troops advancing northward would have little chance of gaining the support of the local herders, who would instead view them as invaders. Then, China would likely face the Soviet Union's massive, million-strong army. Just as the Soviet Union had attacked the Kwantung Army in Northeast China, China's national strength at the time meant that even with the full force of its forces, it would have been powerless to resist the Soviet Union's massive, steel-like force on the Mongolian steppes. Even a forced resistance would have been like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Back to the topic, just when Zhang Yinghao was proud of his strategy to resolve the Japanese threat, Li Hu had already been driven into Andong City by the Japanese army from the Yalu River. If nothing unexpected happened, he would continue to retreat.

Since Li Hu had been on guard against the Japanese army, the observation post noticed the Japanese warships as soon as they appeared. Li Hu had two fortress cannons in his hands, and he knew this was the best opportunity to launch a surprise attack on the Japanese warships. Therefore, when the Japanese warships approached within the optimal range of the cannons, he fired two cannons at once. Very fortunately, one of the two shells hit a Japanese cruiser, and the shell exploded in the side, blasting a large hole and forcing it to withdraw from the battle. With the deterrent effect of this shot, the Japanese ships no longer dared to get too close to fire, which was a pleasant surprise.

However, the fact that a naval cruiser was damaged before the battle even began was unacceptable to the Japanese, who loved ships like their lives. The other warships immediately opened fire on the shore. Now, Li Hu finally understood the power of warship artillery. With just one round of bombardment, the entire beach was transformed, with huge craters everywhere. Such power was beyond human power!

Seeing the power of the Japanese artillery shells, Li Hu suddenly felt fortunate. Because as soon as the field army captured Andong, they immediately began to mobilize the local people, evacuating those who needed to evacuate immediately, and at the same time, all supplies were transported away by locomotive. Then Li Hu ordered the main force to remove the railroad tracks and hide them as they retreated...

Chapter 547: The third update!

In both the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese army had launched landings into the heart of Northeast China from the Jiuliancheng-Anton line. With these two prior offensives, the Japanese army was well-versed in landing operations across the Yalu River. Commander Kawamura Kageaki of the Yalu River Division was confident. After all, he had been one of the commanders of the Andong landings in Northeast China during the Russo-Japanese War. He knew that the Japanese army was even more familiar with the terrain than the newly arrived field army. With a combined land and sea force, victory against the field army was inevitable.

Of course, no matter how foolish the Japanese were, they wouldn't have braved a hail of gunfire to force a landing by boat across the Yalu River. Besides being tactically foolish, the Japanese army had no way of guaranteeing their own logistical security. At that time, there was no Yalu River Bridge, so weapons and ammunition would have required a large number of ships to transport them. If the opposing field army had specifically shelled the crossing boats, destroying their supplies, the already short-staffed Japanese army would have had no need to fight.

The bulk of the Japanese forces were concentrated on the Korean side of the Yalu River. Only after Japanese warships arrived for cover and observation balloons were launched did the Japanese forces begin to force their way across the Yalu River and land near Andong. General Kawamura Kageaki, the Yalu River commander, personally led the 11th Division, the 1st Reserve Division, and the 1st Independent Infantry Artillery Battalion. Under cover from Japanese naval gunfire, they forcibly landed on the Andong frontier.

Faced with the Japanese army, which was protected by naval guns and artillery shells fired from across the Yalu River, the mortal field army could only avoid the enemy's attack. Aside from a few initial shots, the main force chose to retreat. They resolutely carried out Chairman Zhang Yinghao's orders, a choice that exemplified the principle of keeping one's weapons within reach and waiting for the right moment to strike. Of course, not all soldiers retreated immediately. Elite soldiers remained in the permanent fortifications left by the Tsarist Russia to defend them, preventing the Japanese from easily expanding their occupied territory without a single casualty.

"Hurry and seize the high ground on the right."

Jiro Goki, a squadron leader of the 11th Division who had just crossed the Yalu River, saw a high ground near the landing site and shouted to his subordinates without thinking.

The Japanese soldiers, upon hearing the order, also rushed forward, rifles in hand. Itsuki Jiro watched as his men shouted and rushed forward, rapidly approaching the high ground, with no enemy blocking their way. Before it was even possible for him to breathe a sigh of relief, he suddenly heard a burst of intense gunfire.

In a matter of moments, these brave Japanese soldiers fell to the ground in a chaotic mess. At least one squad of Japanese soldiers was instantly killed on the way to the attack, which shocked Jiro Goki and made him even more unbelievable. However, Jiro Goki didn't know that in addition to the elite soldiers shooting, there was also a soldier on the opposite side holding a metal bucket filled with firecrackers. The purpose was to deceive the Japanese army into thinking that they were heavy firepower, thereby concealing the soldiers' accurate shooting ability and attracting enemy firepower.

"Bakayaro, machine gun, push the heavy machine gun up and shoot." Jiro Goki immediately gave the order.

The Japanese heavy machine gun was immediately pushed up. The machine gunner quickly set up the machine gun and pulled the trigger. The heavy machine gun immediately roared.

"Fire ninety rounds and move!"

Jiro Goki knew that heavy machine guns were a target of particular concern to the enemy, with a high mortality rate, so he issued another order. Unfortunately, Jiro Goki was considered quick to react, but it was obvious that the field army's reaction was even faster. A squad of soldiers hiding in a permanent fortification saw the Japanese army bring out heavy machine guns. The squad leader immediately laughed and said, "The Japanese don't have many heavy machine guns in total. We can get one this time, which is not bad. We can fire a few more shots and then retreat. If we are surrounded, we can't retreat. We can aim and fire the mortars."

Just as the squad leader finished speaking, two "bangs" were heard. Two shells exploded accurately next to the heavy machine gun, turning the heavy machine gun into parts. The main gunner, deputy gunner, ammunition feeder and six other Japanese soldiers were killed directly by the two shells.

The enemy artillerymen had no intention of stopping, and they fired shells one after another, exploding continuously in the Japanese army. The Japanese army did not have mortars at that time, so seeing such a dense barrage of shells, they naturally thought they were being bombarded by multiple artillery pieces of the field army.

However, the Japanese were also well-trained troops. They immediately lay on the ground or hid behind safe obstacles. Goki Jiro had no idea where the extremely curved shell came from, so he immediately lay on the ground and shouted loudly: "Artillery, order the artillery to fire immediately!"

Itsuki Jiro thought that facing the enemy's artillery, the natural response was to use artillery. However, the enemy's attack came quickly and disappeared even faster, and soon stopped completely, as if nothing had happened.

The squad leader on the other side, seeing this, seemed to have foreseen the outcome. He immediately said, "To avoid casualties, the Japanese will definitely mobilize artillery and surround this area. There's no need to stay here. You guys go out first. I'll set a few booby traps and then we'll retreat."

After saying that, the squad leader took out the grenade from his waist and began to arrange it. The other soldiers immediately retreated. After a while, the squad leader came out, and a squad of soldiers ran out according to the pre-planned route before the Japanese army came up.

Before he ran far, he heard a series of explosions behind him. As expected, the Japanese army started bombarding him in frustration. In fact, the squad leader was not afraid of the Japanese artillery fire. The permanent fortifications were still quite strong. However, if he stayed there and was surrounded by the Japanese army, he would be doomed. It was better to retreat as soon as he had gained something.

When Goki Jiro heard no artillery fire and began to investigate, he was stunned. Aside from the wailing of the wounded, there was no sound at all. It was as if everything they had just experienced was a dream. If it weren't for the wailing of the wounded on the ground, reminding them that this wasn't a dream, some might have wanted to sleep on it.

Just as the Japanese troops, still in shock, began to rise and regroup, Goki Jiro looked at the casualties. Wow, another dozen or so were killed or wounded by the shells. Furious, he pointed his sword and shouted, "Kill them!" Immediately, everyone rushed towards the spot where the enemy had just been firing.

When they arrived outside the fortifications, they encountered no resistance, and the Japanese knew the enemy had already evacuated. At Goki Jiro's command, several Japanese soldiers immediately entered the fortifications to search, finding not even a single shell casing left. Just then, a soldier accidentally broke a thin rope, and soon smoke began to rise. The soldier was confused for a moment, then reacted. However, at that moment, a grenade exploded, leaving the soldiers with nowhere to hide in the enclosed space. They were all blown to pieces.

When Goki Jiro heard the news, he drew his command knife and chopped a small tree nearby, which was as big as his wrist. The tree was cut directly, which showed that Goki Jiro was extremely angry at this time. Almost a whole squad of soldiers were killed without even seeing the enemy. How could this battle be fought?

At this time, similar incidents were constantly unfolding near the Japanese landing site. It wasn't just Gokijiro who was attacked; many other Japanese forces, as they expanded their occupied areas, were met with head-on blows from the field army. This wasn't the only squad that retreated after the battle; other squads also withdrew immediately after their gains. As for the particularly unlucky squads, those that were directly hit by Japanese naval guns were completely rendered useless by their permanent fortifications, effectively wiping out the entire squad.

However, facing the field army's obstruction, the Japanese army also responded quickly, and directed the warships to bombard several places where the field army might be hiding. Large-caliber artillery also began to be moved to the front line to support the infantry attack. Before the smoke cleared, the Japanese army had readjusted its troops and started a new round of attack.

This time, the Japanese army encountered no resistance. Itsuki Jiro and his troops easily captured one field army position after another. However, they found nothing but trampled weeds, not a single body, a pool of blood, and only a few shell casings. It was clear that the field army had already evacuated and cleared the battlefield.

The further away from the coastline, the bolder the field army grew. Just as the Japanese were about to report to their superiors, a sudden burst of muffled noises could be heard in the distance. Following the sound of artillery shells exploding, the Japanese troops who had rushed to their positions were once again subjected to a fierce barrage of artillery fire. It turned out that these evacuated positions had long been designated as bombardment sites by the distant field army artillery. Moreover, this time the shells were significantly more powerful than the previous mortar shells. Amidst the rumbling sound, the fragile Japanese soldiers were blown into the air, spinning several times in the air before falling to the ground.

Because of his previous experience, Goki Jiro dared not risk his life on the front lines again, instead commanding from the rear. This saved his life. However, Goki Jiro was still in shock, carefully observing through his telescope. Through his telescope, he saw the rolling hills and the ubiquitous smoke, which he could not tell was smoke or gunpowder, but he could not see a single enemy. After the bombardment, there was no movement, not even a trace of a field army soldier.

Chapter 548: First update!

To mask the smoke from the bombardment, the Field Army created thick smoke everywhere. The Field Army artillery had already adjusted their firing parameters and aimed at their targets, allowing them to fire beyond visual range without worrying about the smoke obscuring their vision. On the contrary, the smoke made it even more difficult for the Japanese to locate the Field Army's artillery positions. In fact, the Field Army artillery withdrew immediately after the bombardment, giving the Japanese artillery no chance to fire back.

However, facing the field army's artillery bombardment, the Japanese suffered heavy losses. The Japanese commander, Kawamura Kageaki, quickly ordered the artillery to open fire again, and the naval guns began firing in all directions. The warships' cannons could even reach 20 to 30 kilometers, their power immense. Perhaps a blind cat would catch a dead mouse. These landing troops now occupied the high ground, with topographic maps and observation balloons. After all, it's always easier to see from a high vantage point. The Japanese artillery extended their bombardment appropriately, causing the field army to lose several artillery pieces.

After several rounds of bombardment, the Japanese troops received orders to continue to expand their occupied areas, search for traces of the field army, and continue to attack the field army. At the same time, they were ordered to immediately send out reconnaissance teams to scout everywhere and make sure to find the main force of the field army.

Kawamura Keiaki's favorite kind of war was a war similar to the one fought by the Russian army: a small, decisive battle where both sides knew the enemy's location. This simplicity and efficiency significantly mitigated the Japanese army's disadvantage of insufficient manpower. Therefore, Kawamura Keiaki initially anticipated that the Fifth Field Army would defend itself relentlessly, preventing the Imperial Army from landing in Andong at all costs. The Imperial Army would then seize the opportunity to annihilate the Field Army's effective forces, creating favorable conditions for its subsequent advance into the heart of Northeast China.

Unfortunately, things went against his will. The Field Army simply gave in, thwarting Kawamura Kageaki's plan. Kawamura Kageaki didn't know that the Field Army would never engage in a decisive battle with the Japanese. The Field Army now had a home-field advantage. The deeper they advanced into Northeast China, the more dispersed the Japanese forces would become, extending their logistics lines, and their own strength would only grow stronger.

Even if the Japanese army marched into Northeast China with hundreds of thousands of troops, what would it matter? They could only occupy a few cities and major roads, establish strongholds to ensure smooth logistical transportation, and the vast rural areas would still be dominated by the field army. Moreover, if the main force of the Japanese army penetrated deep into the hinterland, if the field army mobilized a large force to cut off its retreat, it would be in danger of annihilation. Therefore, Li Hu knew that as long as he continued to resist and did not engage in a decisive battle with the Japanese, the Japanese would not be able to destroy the main force of the field army. Even if the field army opened up the main road at this time, the Japanese army might not dare to advance into Northeast China under the strong enemy.

Facing the Japanese infantry attack, a fierce but brief battle ensued. Goki Jiro soon painfully discovered a huge problem that he couldn't believe. The enemy ambushed the Japanese everywhere, using cold guns and cold artillery everywhere, and simply used every possible means. They suddenly and violently fired at the Japanese from some simple positions, and then retreated after the attack, without any intention of conducting any defensive operations. If they eliminated all the Japanese troops, they would immediately evacuate after seizing the guns and ammunition. If the Japanese reacted, they would not only abandon the guns and ammunition of the Japanese soldiers they killed, but also immediately retreat while fighting. If the Japanese army immediately pursued, the field army would have ambushed these pursuing Japanese troops on the retreat route, causing heavy losses to the pursuing Japanese troops.

Furthermore, Goki Jiro discovered that some of the field army's soldiers were extremely accurate shooters, often retreating immediately after firing, leaving the enemy's position elusive. Even if they called in artillery fire to eliminate these shooters, it was impossible. Most importantly, the field army employed a type of artillery with a high curvature and rapid firing rate, often disorienting the Imperial soldiers and causing heavy losses. This artillery was placed in positions completely out of sight. His own side had no idea how to use it, relying solely on the smoke from the runaways to determine the firing position. However, the enemy would still retreat after a few shots, making it difficult to defend against.

The Japanese landings now relied on the cover of their naval guns. Without the precise firepower support of these warships, the Japanese were nothing more than human flesh and blood. The firepower of the Japanese warships' heavy artillery was indeed formidable, with a single shell sending rocks flying, dust billowing, and thick smoke billowing. However, these scattered bombardments could not frighten the field army. The field army, scattered throughout, fearless of life and death, kept firing and retreating, engaging in a life-and-death battle with the Japanese, inflicting heavy losses on both the attacking and pursuing Japanese forces.

The battle raged until late in the evening, with Goki Jiro's squadron suffering over fifty casualties. They had also captured eight field army positions, a remarkable achievement. Yet, Goki Jiro showed no sign of elation; instead, his expression was profoundly solemn. As darkness approached, Goki Jiro, becoming cautious, sensed danger and immediately halted the attack. The repeated, inexplicable losses had taught Goki Jiro enough lessons, and even at the risk of appearing timid, he ordered his troops to retreat a distance to a safer location before stopping.

He immediately reported the casualties to the captain behind him and said: Our squadron has suffered too many casualties and hopes to temporarily stop the attack for repairs and replenishment.

After dispatching the messenger, Goki Jiro arranged the sentry post before letting his men set up camp and rest. He himself observed with a telescope for a long time, and after confirming that it was safe, he sat down on the ground, exhausted and leaning against a rock to rest. Although the two bumps on the rock made him very uncomfortable, he didn't want to move at all after sitting down.

In stark contrast to Goki Jiro's situation, the soldiers of the 16th Reserve Brigade, newly arrived on Andong soil, were tasked with protecting and transporting logistical supplies. Along the way, they had heard that the "Field Army" was cowardly, terrified of the Imperial Japanese Army, allowing the Imperial Army to cross the Yalu River without firing a shot, ceding a large swath of beachhead, allowing the Imperial Army to significantly expand its occupied territory. Although they had also heard of subsequent resistance from the Field Army, the current situation far from disheartened the soldiers of the 16th Reserve Brigade, instead ignoring their desire to attack. They had been fully mobilized before the crossing. This battle not only hinged on the fate of the Imperial Japanese Empire, but more importantly, upon entering Northeast China, they would retain all the captured treasures, except for the portion they surrendered. This incited the Japanese troops to a fierce battle, eager for action.

Yamada Ryoutama, one of the squadron leaders of the 16th Reserve Brigade, was thrilled to be entering Northeast China again. He knew this invasion would have a profound impact on his family's fate. Due to the Russo-Japanese War, the country was in dire straits, with rice riots continuing. He had received a letter from home, confirming that the money he had looted during the war had been sent home, finally providing enough money for his younger siblings to attend school. However, his family also informed him that food and other supplies were becoming increasingly expensive, leaving them with little money left.

Yamada Ryoutama had previously left the Russo-Japanese War due to a promotion. Every time he recalled the thrill of looting and wantonly raping Qing women during the Russo-Japanese War, he yearned to reenter Northeast China and roam freely. During the Russo-Japanese War, as it was his first time in Northeast China, he was somewhat reserved when he began looting. However, he knew that countless soldiers had already become wealthy by then. Every time he thought about his reserve, he felt a deep regret for his foolishness.

Unexpectedly, just as he was worrying about money, opportunity presented itself again. This time, the brigade commander had already given them a lecture: their entry into Northeast China was to completely subjugate the Chinese people there, terrifying them of any further resistance to the Empire of Japan... Hearing this, Yamada Ryoutama was incredibly excited. He knew exactly what this meant. Furthermore, having already regretted his decision once, he absolutely did not want to miss out on another opportunity to make a fortune.

By now, all Japanese troops knew they were facing the "Fifth Field Army," a Qing-led army. Their military action, as their commander described it, was nothing more than an armed parade. These officers and soldiers, having grown up hearing stories of the glorious deeds of their predecessors in the Sino-Japanese War, naturally yearned to be among them, to defeat the Qing and bring glory to their country. Although everyone now knew of the field army's resistance, they naturally took it lightly.

The sudden action of the field army completely disrupted Japan's plans. Japan's mobilization was extremely hasty in the face of this emergency. In order to better stimulate the army's combat effectiveness, countless promises were made. It was also truly an attempt to rob money and supplies to make up for the severe shortage of domestic supplies. Therefore, the navy and army briefly joined forces and temporarily cooperated, even showing rare high efficiency in troop transportation and coordinated attacks.

At this time, more and more Japanese troops were landing on the ground in Andong. All the Japanese soldiers believed that as long as all the Japanese troops were transported here, the field army would be no match at all. They would definitely be able to deal a fatal blow to the field army and completely destroy it...

Chapter 549: Second update!

Li Hu was also ready to fight the Japanese army for a long time with low intensity by clearing the fields and luring the enemy deep into the city. The Japanese army had naval guns to cover and now had a large number of

The Japanese army landed in Andong, and the Yalu River was too narrow. The field battle was completely unable to drive the Japanese army into the water.

If we want to defeat the Japanese army, we must become friends with time, prolong the war, and compete in consumption.

Facing the Japanese attack, Li Hu recalled the events of a previous training session, during the Qing Dynasty's war with the Ming Dynasty in Northeast China. On February 11, the 47th year of the Wanli reign, a Ming army boasting 470,000 troops split into four groups, leaving the fortified city walls to attack Nurhaci. Nurhaci decided, "I'll punish you for attacking in several directions, while I'll attack in one direction." Leveraging the swift maneuverability of his cavalry, he secured victory after victory, crushing the Ming offensive in one fell swoop and achieving a resounding victory.

If the field army is compared to the Ming army and the Japanese army to the Qing army, the situation has now changed. Would the Ming army fear a Qing attack if they held their ground? Clearly, they were not. The field army is now fully engaged in defense, and in fact, they are not afraid of the Japanese army concentrating their superior forces and launching a continuous attack. If the Ming and Qing armies had not engaged in a field battle, but instead held their ground and fought a losing battle, perhaps the Ming Dynasty could have survived for a few more years.

Moreover, times have changed. In the era of breech-loading rifles, the importance of logistics, especially weapons and ammunition, has been infinitely elevated, and there is basically no condition for traveling back and forth. It may be okay in the short term, but it is bound to fail in the long term. Li Hu thought of the previous top-secret telegram and realized that it is indeed feasible to act quickly and march into North Korea to disrupt the Korean War.

The protracted nature of the war was confirmed. That night, to paralyze the Japanese, the Field Army, aside from occasional long-range artillery harassment, refrained from deploying infantry to launch surprise attacks. However, while Li Hu remained silent, Liu Wenxiu and his men did. After receiving Zhang Yinghao's telegram, Liu Wenxiu and his men were enthusiastic about the idea of ​​disrupting Korea. This was perhaps the only effective and short-term solution for the Field Army to address the Japanese threat.

Without any hesitation, Liu Wenxiu and his men began to draw out elite troops that day, temporarily forming three cavalry units of 1,000 people and two infantry regiments, preparing to let these more than 5,000 soldiers smuggle into Korea. The cavalry units would use their mobility to specifically traverse Korea and smash everything Japan had built in Korea, including the regime, industrial and mining enterprises, etc., while the infantry would be responsible for ensuring the safety of the cavalry's retreat, and would not allow the Japanese army to cut off the cavalry's retreat, and would ensure the cavalry's safe return after completing their mission.

This sudden invasion of Korea to sabotage was intended to take the enemy by surprise and strike them when they were least prepared. The field army faced pressure from the Russians as well as attacks from the Japanese from Andong and other areas. The Japanese would never have imagined they would dare to send troops into Korea. Zhang Yinghao could even imagine the Japanese, if they discovered the field army had entered Korea, would leap up like a cat with its tail stepped on, baring their teeth and claws in protest.

Of course, Zhang Yinghao and Liu Wenxiu knew that Korea was mountainous, with many obstacles and few plains. Cavalry was most advantageous on plains, where their mobility could be best utilized. Therefore, fighting in a mountainous Korea would be difficult for cavalry, but if horses were used as a means of transporting supplies, it might greatly improve the army's combat effectiveness. Of course, as for the final outcome, no one knew. Only by sending cavalry into Korea could we know how to fight and whether cavalry would be effective.

To save time and energy, the troops marching into Korea also chose to take the Anfeng Railway, disembarking midway and then sneaking north across the Yalu River into Korea. Just as Liu Wenxiu was transporting the troops on the train to Shenyang overnight, the Wuhan plan to seize the warships also began. In fact, the Wuhan Military Commission had long harbored a deep hatred for the British gunboats on the Yangtze River, a thorn in their side. They had long been keeping an eye on everything related to the warships, and the General Staff had even made several corresponding preparatory plans.

However, collective leadership is what it is; it requires unifying opinions from all parties. Whoever issues an order must also bear responsibility and the consequences. Furthermore, Hubei had just been liberated, and there were so many things going on that no one had ever raised the issue of resolving the British warships. Furthermore, resolving the British gunboats was a huge issue, involving the major powers and too many other issues to mention. Without a central government order, and without the British warships attempting to fire or sabotage, how could anyone dare to resolve the situation?

Now that they had received Zhang Yinghao's order, Chairman Zhang Yinghao would naturally be held responsible for any problems. Therefore, the Wuhan Military Commission made a swift decision, sending a special forces team that night to seize the warship and then sail it upstream.