In the staff department, Liu Buyun, who had just arrived, was stunned by the scene in front of him just like Li Hongzhang, who came for the first time. Under the leadership of Wang Shizhen, he took a good tour of the General Staff, learned the workflow of the General Staff carefully, and then began to work under the four staff officers he assigned to him, but the Beiyang Fleet has been repaired in Lushun, so he haunts and has much to do.

Since Wang Shizhen, chief of the General Staff, moved to the Fengtai camp with his staff officers, it is Li Hongzhang and Li Zhongtang who are now standing on the high platform. Seeing that Zhongtang's hair had turned a lot white, Liu Buyun was also a little unbearable in his heart, if it wasn't for the defeat of the Beiyang Fleet, he would have come to this situation. At the same time, he also yearns for the day when he can stand on the stage and command thousands of troops.

Today, he received the emperor's will and stepped onto the stage. Looking at the busy staff officers in the audience, I was very excited. In fact, he is very excited every time he comes up.

Guangxu laughed and asked, "What?" Want to stand on top of this? ”

Liu Buyun smiled a little embarrassedly.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, a soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a soldier, and a soldier who doesn't want to stand on the stage is not a good general. I'm here to test you for less. ”

"Yes." Liu Buyun learned from the staff officers and saluted.

"There's no need to salute here." Guangxu smiled and asked, "Now report on the situation of the Beiyang Fleet." ”

"Yes. The Beiyang Fleet began a comprehensive overhaul on June 20. The emperor wisely arranged a large number of technicians and workers in advance, as well as a large number of materials provided by Asia Mining for direct use, and the new artillery was also installed at the same time. After more than a month of maintenance, on 1 August, the seven main ships of the Beiyang Fleet -- Ding, Zhen, Lai, Jing, Jing, Ji, and Pingping -- had all completed the main part of the repair. Although there are still some cabins in the interior that have not yet been repaired, they have not affected the normal navigation and combat of the ship. At the same time, the Beiyang ships have completed maintenance, and the fleet has now regained its combat effectiveness and resumed its cruise from Lushun to Weihai on 3 August. ”

"What about ammunition, coal, food, etc.?"

"It's all sufficient. In addition to the full load of the ships, there are currently 305 howitzers and 918 ...... in Port Arthur."

"Okay, you don't need to report the specific quantity." Guangxu interrupted Liu Buyun's words: "As long as there is no more Zhang Shicheng, I will still be better than you generals who were born and died." ”

"Weichen Xie Emperor trusts. Please rest assured that the Beiyang Fleet is currently in charge of the ammunition and other ammunition of the Beiyang Fleet in person, and judging from his regret that he failed to sink the Yujun Yoshino in the Yellow Sea, he will definitely grasp the ammunition and so on. It's just that one of the ammunition reported by Deng Dalai is 150 armor-piercing shells and 1822 pieces. What is this armor-piercing projectile ......? ”

"It's about the same as a solid bullet. The difference is that an armor-piercing projectile explodes after penetration. Guangxu saw Liu Buyun with excitement on his face and said: "Don't be happy too early, the newly developed one may not have the effect." ”

During the naval battle in the Yellow Sea, all the shells were gone. In the end, he could only take out a solid steel bullet to hit, how many times he hit, but he didn't explode when he wore it, thinking of this, Liu Buyun burst into tears.

"What is the current situation of the army?"

"Back to the emperor, yesterday was 7 days, the army had occupied Jinzhou, and all the trains had returned to Fengtian and Lushun, and none of them fell into the hands of the army. But the Bonglu railway was completely disrupted. Lushun is only left by sea. At present, the Yue army occupying Jinzhou is rushing towards Lushun, and the Yue army has stopped increasing its troops at Huayuankou. According to the latest information, the total number of troops on Huayuankou Road has exceeded 20,000. According to the assessment of the Army Staff Office of the General Staff, Zhao Huaiye's troops currently defending Lushun will not be able to resist the attack of the Yue army, and Lushun will soon fall into the hands of the enemy. All the fleet supplies hoarded in Lushun are being transferred to Weihai. ”

"Tell me about the specifics."

"Yes. Since the Beiyang Fleet completed the repair, a large number of technicians and workers were all thrown into the process of material transfer. Lin Yongxiang's Pacific Freight Company and Sheng Huaixuan's steamship China Merchants have been fully invested in the transshipment process. All the ships could only be transported at night, and they had to be escorted by the Beiyang Fleet, and the two sides went back and forth. The speed of transshipment is slow. ”

Inadvertently, it created the first fleet escort mechanism. But Guangxu was not satisfied: "Offense is the best defense." With the Dingzhen two ships in front and the fire support of other cruisers, how could he fight with Yu himself again. Moreover, in the first battle in the Yellow Sea, the unsinkable Dingzhen Second Ship was already frightened. As long as the Beiyang Fleet maintains the pressure on the Ben from the coastal waters, where will the fleet of ships transshipment materials be in danger? Hasn't anyone ever proposed a plan to attack instead of defend? ”

"Back to the emperor, there is. The commander of the Beiyang Fleet, Lord Lang Weili, and the deputy commander, Lord Deng Shichang, proposed to carry out a tentative attack on the combined fleet. However, after the discussion between Lord Zhongtang and Weichen, it was believed that now that the army was strong, if it was defeated again, the army would be unscrupulous to land on the coast of the Qing Dynasty, and it was better to retain its strength to deter the army. ”

"Defend the ship and defeat the enemy?" Guangxu snorted: "What about the situation of the combined fleet?" ”

Liu Buyun secretly glanced at Li Hongzhang: "Back to the emperor, although there is no exact information. However, after discussion with the Beiyang Fleet, we believe that the combined fleet still has eight capital ships, including the Itsukushima and Hashidate, and that the four ships Matsushima, Yoshino, Hiei, and Akagi, which were heavily damaged in the Battle of the Yellow Sea, should be repaired quickly. ”

Guangxu sighed deeply: "The two fleets that were originally of equal strength overestimated their opponents and underestimated themselves because of artificial reasons. As a result, the two unsinkable warships did not dare to go to sea to meet the enemy. It's sad. You all thought that my four ships, Matsushima, Yoshino, Hiei, and Akagi, would be repaired soon. Let me tell you, my spies in this book have found out that the four broken ships will not be able to leave the dock in half a year. Didn't you think that the Beiyang Fleet would not dare to come out, then let me see it. Spread my will, so that Lang Weili made a plan to launch a surprise attack on Yuben. ”

"Your Majesty, please think twice." Li Hongzhang hurriedly said: "Lushun is not guaranteed at the moment, and if any more ships are injured in the naval battle, there will be nowhere to repair." ”

"Didn't I build two 10,000-ton docks in Weihai and transfer personnel and materials to Weihai. We have made up our minds, and the warships can only sink in the way without attack, and must not be sunk by the enemy in their own harbor. Preach the message. ”

Dalian Bay is in front of Lushun, and since 1888, the Qing Dynasty has built a fort here to protect the Lushun Military Port. However, on the night of August 10, Zhao Huaiye, the commander of the Qing army, who did not dare to fight, fled before the battle. When the army began to attack on the 11th, the two wings of the 1st Division occupied all the batteries by noon without any resistance. The funniest thing is that the Yue army thought that it would meet fierce resistance, and called the Combined Fleet to help in the battle, and on the morning of the 11th, the Combined Fleet began to shell the signal posts and barracks of the Qing army, but surprisingly, no one returned fire. Suddenly, I saw that all the batteries began to set up their banners, and soldiers in black coats and hats were everywhere, and I realized that the army had already succeeded. The speed at which the Qing army fled shocked the navy.

Stimulated by the Second Army's battle territory in Dalian Bay, the commander of the First Army, Yama Prefecture Youpeng, summoned the main officers of the First Army in Jiulian City to make the final mobilization for the next stage of the offensive.

The old tax bureau of Jiuliancheng is now the headquarters of the First Army of the Qing Dynasty in Youpeng, Shanxian County. At this moment, the senior generals of all departments of the First Army of the Qing Dynasty gathered in the old customs bureau. While the officers of the Japanese army were arguing about when to launch the next round of offensive against the Qing State, the commander of the First Qing Army, General Aritomo Yamaprefecture, the commander of the Fifth Division, Lieutenant General Michikan Nozu, the commander of the Third Division, Lieutenant General Katsura Taro, and a diminutive middle-aged man. Striding in through the door.

Boom, the officers of the army all stood up solemnly, and there was the sound of spurs and military boots bumping.

"Today, His Majesty the Emperor has sent a message of encouragement...... "Youpeng of Shan County glanced around at everyone, opened the telegram in his hand and read, "Qing and others are loyal and brave, they can attack against all odds, retreat the enemy outside the borders of Korea, enter the enemy country, occupy the key places, and I am deeply appreciated...... Qing and others love each other, and hope to succeed in the future! ”

"Onboard, onboard, onboard." With each shout, all the officers raised their hands above their heads at the same time. As far as the officers of the First Army of the Qing Dynasty were concerned, the great victory in Pyongyang and the Yalu River, coupled with the telegram of encouragement specially sent by His Majesty the Emperor to all the officers and men of the First Army of the Qing Dynasty today, at this moment, the pride was written all over everyone's faces.

Shan Shan Youpeng raised his hand in satisfaction and motioned for the officers to be quiet.

"This person next to me is Komura Shoutaro-kun......... former imperial minister in the Qing Kingdom," Yama County Youpeng pointed to the short and thin middle-aged man behind him and said, "The imperial wartime base camp has been ordered, from now on, Komura-kun will set up a civil affairs department in Andong County, Qing State, and serve as the director of the civil affairs department, managing local political affairs, and I hope that all departments of the First Army will cooperate to assist Komura Jundi in his work." ”

The officers of the Yue Army who stood solemnly were all stunned, and they didn't understand what this meant for a while. Komura Shoutaro smiled and bowed and said, "The Civil Affairs Department is the place where the empire administers the country. In other words, from now on, the land managed by the Civil Affairs Department will be the territory of my Imperial Empire, and the Civil Affairs Department will enforce the laws of the Imperial Empire here. This also means that the princes have completed the feat of opening up the territory of the empire to the outside world, which is an unprecedented event for the empire, and this will be the beginning of the empire's take-off. Thank you for your efforts......"

After speaking, Komura Shoutaro took out a notice from his briefcase and handed it to the officer in front of him, "This is the "Letter to the Heroes of the Eighteen Provinces" drawn up by Your Excellency Shan County, please order your subordinates to post it in the territory of the Qing Dynasty, so as to facilitate the effective management of the territory occupied by the empire, and also ask the princes to restrain their subordinates and treat the people of the empire in the future." This will also be of great benefit to the disintegration of the people's hearts and minds of the Qing Dynasty......"

"The barbarians of the Aixinjue Luo clan outside the original Saiwai are neither the virtue of the order, nor the merit of China, taking advantage of the decline of the emperor's fortune, violent robbery, pretending to be for a while, full of opportunities, and skillful in the world. …… I say that this empire should obey the heavens and the people, and the soldiers should drive for a long time. In order to ask the Yanjing court, I will force the lord to surrender and accept my request. Swear never to resist me and then rest...... The people of your country are of the same species, the same culture, and the same ethics as my own nation, and they have a friendship of glory and honor, and there is no hatred for them. I hope to forgive me for the sincerity of my disciples, never suspect the thoughts, observe the backs of heaven and man, and follow the general trend of the world. Singing righteousness in the Central Plains, entangled the strong men and the revolutionary army, and then loved the Manchu Qing of the Xinjue Luo clan outside the country. The real heroes are reckless and support the great cause......"

Komura Shoutaro shook his head and recited this piece of "Telling the Eighteen Provinces Haojie", which made these military officers all look dazed, and they didn't understand what the county pavilion meant by this notice.

"The Qing rule was dominated by a very small number of Manchus ruling over the majority of the Han Chinese, and the Han people had a long history of dissatisfaction with the Manchus, which was the most useful point of the empire, and only for the Han people to understand that the empire sent troops to help them overthrow the Manchu rule. in order to plunge the Qing State into civil strife and create an opportunity for the empire to quickly conquer the country...... There is one thing you need to keep in mind. The Qing kingdom was too large and too populous, and the best way to defeat it was to plunge it into chaos and dissand forever. After saying with a solemn face, Shan Shan Youpeng nodded to the attendant adjutant beside him.

"Ming said that the Second Army of the Qing Dynasty was about to launch the final occupation of Lushun. The First Army also launched the second phase of the offensive from Ming Day. Now read out the order of His Excellency Yamaguchi, commander of the First Army of the Qing Dynasty, that all units of the First Army of the Qing Dynasty will launch the second phase of the offensive against the Qing State at 8 o'clock in the Ming Dynasty, with the 3rd Division under the headquarters of Lieutenant General Katsura Taro as the left flank to attack the Dagushan and Xiuyan of the Qing Dynasty, and the 5th Division under the headquarters of Lieutenant General Nozu Michikan as the right flank. Attack the Qing Kingdom Phoenix City and Lianshan Pass. All units must capture the above places within half a month, and join forces with the Second Army of the Qing Dynasty on the line of the Liao River in the Qing State. Launching a final offensive against the Qing ......"

On the rugged mountain road, a group of officers and soldiers were marching quickly westward in a neat queue. But all the soldiers had a look of disappointment on their faces.

This unit was the 1st Regiment of the 1st Division of the Great Fresh Army. As soon as they arrived in Liaoyang, the news came that the Yalu River had been completely lost. As soon as the news of the loss came, the entire First Division of the New Army was shocked, and although it had been expected that the Yalu River defense line would be lost, the Yalu River defense line, which had more than 30,000 people, was defeated by Yu himself in six days. As soon as the defense line on the Yalu River was lost, the Chinese army had enough space to operate its troops, and with the strength of 10,000 troops of the first division of the new army, it was able to resist the two divisions of the Chinese army, and the situation was already extremely critical.

After learning of the loss of the defense line of the Yalu River, Ouyang Zhenhua immediately ordered all 2,000 people of the first regiment led by Duan Qirui to quickly march along the line of Lianshan Pass, and be sure to reach Phoenix City before the Yue army, and resist the offensive of the Yue army with the Qing army retreating to Phoenix City, waiting for the arrival of most of the first division. If Phoenix City falls into the hands of the Yue Army, the First Division will be pressed on the front line of Lianshan Pass, and the advantage of the inner line will be wiped out, and it will face a situation of defense everywhere and passive beating everywhere.

Duan Qirui was also anxious at this time, gave up all the mountain artillery and field artillery, left all the logistics baggage, and each person carried a rifle, 20 rounds of ammunition, five days of dry food, and rushed to Phoenix City day and night. He didn't expect the Qing army, which had been defeated on the Yalu River defense line, to hold out in Phoenix for long, but only hoped that he could rush to Phoenix before the army launched an offensive. As long as his 2,000-strong troops are in Phoenix, there is hope that the situation will be turned around.

However, the 2,000-strong army has been marching for three days and two nights, and the whole army has been exhausted to the extreme, but both officers and soldiers have been stirred up by the repeated defeats of the Qing army at this time, and they have gritted their teeth and persevered. All of them have one goal in their hearts, Phoenix, Phoenix!

As a result, Phoenix fell. This made the officers and men of the First Regiment, who had just arrived at Jiguan Mountain, lose their support for a while, and they all sat on the ground. With the 2,000 guns of the first regiment to attack, Oshima Yoshimasa mixed brigade defense with strong city defense and artillery defense is tantamount to hitting an egg against a stone.

No matter what Duan Qirui does, the routed troops all over the mountains can't change the rout that the rout has already retreated without confidence. Looking at the empty and disappointed eyes of the defeated soldiers, Duan Qirui was hesitant. The herald standing on the side kicked a rout soldier down with a kick in the eye: "TMD, are you still a man?" Do you have any eggs? Your guns are burning sticks, an hour, as long as an hour, why can't you hold TMD......"

In one more hour, the first regiment will be able to enter Phoenix. Duan Qirui waved his hand with difficulty, signaling the soldiers around him to let go of these routs. The whole person stood in place in a daze, looking in the direction of Phoenix, his lips trembled, and he gave the order to retreat.

Where can I return it? Huanghuang Qing Dynasty, when can't even hold on for an hour! (To be continued.) )