(This chapter is free)

On July 4, 1894, Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty personally issued an imperial edict declaring war on Japan.

In the afternoon of the next day, Liu Yun's military and political officials in Beijing gathered at the residence of the Chief of General Staff for a "Second Planning Department" meeting.

The so-called "Secondary Secretariat" was originally a joke of Wen Yi, because at that time most of the civil servants in Liu Yun's department were junior ministers, and there was a saying of the "secretary ministers' cabinet". The military attaches occupied the general staff, and the "secretary ministers' cabinet" plus the general staff were formed.

Later, the civil and military officials of Liu Yun's department successively accepted this new term, and collectively called the meeting of personnel in the system held at Liu Yun's residence the "Second Planning Department" meeting.

Before the birth of the democratically elected cabinet, this "Secondary Ministry" actually controlled the military and political power of the empire and decided most of the country's important affairs. For example, by rewarding industry and commerce, concentrating on the development of road, mining and heavy industries, it accumulated huge social wealth and strong

It established an industrial base, built an elite army and a powerful navy in an advanced and efficient manner, developed modern education, and completely abolished the imperial examination system in 1893.

Now, the "Second Planning Department" meeting has begun.

"The Intelligence Service bears unshirkable responsibility for this failure, and I request to take the blame and resign."

"The plan of the Operations Department was the main reason for this failure. I request that I be removed from my post."

"Shut up, you guys are quitting. Who can I ask to do it? I am the one who should resign, but I can't resign. Do you understand? Sit down if you understand!"

Zhu Tao and Yang Zhengjin slowly sat down under Liu Yun's emotionless gaze.

Liu Yun looked around at everyone, took off his military cap and put it away, and everyone followed suit.

"This failure has taught us a lesson," Liu Yun paused and said in a more serious tone, "Don't think that just because you come from the 21st century, you must be higher than the people here! I used to be the one with the highest military rank here, and

I just became the commander of a special operations group and commanded over a thousand people. Not to mention you, all of them were company commanders, platoon commanders, and the highest was battalion commanders. And none of them had ever been in the navy or naval warfare.

We have no idea how to fight. Now we have an elite army of more than 100,000 or 200,000 people. If necessary, we can mobilize the training army across the country. The Eight Banners Army has 400,000 people. We also have a fleet, three major fleets, which are composed of the best.

Although the Zhenyang Fleet suffered heavy losses in the Inchon battle, most of the cutting-edge warships are still intact. Our every move is not a matter of killing hundreds or thousands of people, but determines the fate of the entire country, the entire nation, and the fate of 300 million to 300 million people.

The future and destiny of 400 million compatriots and their descendants! Think about it, if we still use the thinking of being a company commander or battalion commander to guide our actions, can we make good use of these troops? Can we shoulder this responsibility? We

Are you worthy of your eighteenth generation ancestors?"

Everyone was silent.

Liu Yun took a breath, drank a sip of tea, and calmed down a little, then said: "Things are already like this, and I am also wrong, but we don't have time to discuss the gains and losses of this battle now. The key to the problem is what to do next. According to the original

According to the strategic plan, if the naval battle is initially defeated, the navy should first rest and recuperate, and then look for opportunities for a decisive battle. The army should enter North Korea to control key areas and resist the possible landing of Japanese troops. What do you think about this?"

Wen Yi said: "The losses of our army in this naval battle were much greater than those of the Japanese army. I thought that the Japanese army's landing would be inevitable. The most likely landing sites are Busan and Wonsan. Busan is closest to the Japanese archipelago and has better naval protection."

It is easy and the risk is low; while Wonsan is on the east coast of North Korea, landing from here can directly attack Pyongyang, blocking our army's way to support Seoul, and there is no worry of being attacked by our sea for the time being."

Yang Zhengjin, Director of the Operations Department, said: "Wen Yi is right, but I think if we send the second detachment of the Zhenyang Fleet south to search for the enemy and block the Korean Strait, it will prevent the Japanese troops from landing, and our army can safely occupy all parts of Korea.

Important land."

Liu Yun shook his head: "No, the second squadron cannot attack for the time being. It can at most be used to cover the army's landing at Dadonggou. If we want to go out as a whole squadron, we have to wait for the first squadron's main ship to be repaired and the Nanyang and Oceanic fleets to dispatch ships for reinforcements. This time we don't want to

A small victory requires annihilating the enemy's main force in one battle and seizing absolute control of the sea, so all available forces must be concentrated to attack."

Zhu Tao, director of the Intelligence Division, said: "If our army does not have maritime support, the Japanese army will soon complete the landings in Busan and Wonsan, and the first task force group currently stationed in Seoul will be trapped in the dilemma of being attacked from both sides."

Wen Yi Dai Liu Yun responded: "Then withdraw from Seoul, stick to Pyongyang, and wait to seize control of the sea before launching a full-scale counterattack."

Liu Yun nodded: "Wen Yi is right. Seoul is surrounded by plains and there is no danger to defend it. If it is attacked from the north and south by the Japanese army again, the First Special Mixed Group will definitely die. It is better to withdraw to Pyongyang. Not only can it be defended by the mountains and rivers

, and can more easily obtain reinforcements and supply support.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, and after some detailed discussions, the advance battle plan for the Korean War was finalized.

Just after talking about military issues, Liu Yun turned to Wen Yi and said: "I heard that some people in the cabinet and the Zizheng Yuan made a fuss about this defeat. What's more, they wrote to Guangxu to remove me. Have you heard about it?

?”

Wen Yi smiled bitterly and said: "Not only do we want to remove you, but also me, the chiefs of the various divisions of the General Staff, and the various ministers sitting here. In short, some people hope that we will all fall so that we can replace them."

Liu Yun asked again: "What is Guangxu's attitude?"

Wen Yi said: "You already apologized to him yesterday, what else can he do? Guangxu depends on us to survive. I'm afraid he knows this better than we do."

Liu Yundao: "Remember those who want to replace us. After the war is over, they will attack us one by one and add insult to injury to us. They are simply seeking death."

Time flies to July 25, 1894. On this day, the Qing Army’s First Task Force (which governs the First and Second Regiments of the Guards Marine Corps and the Fourth Brigade and Tenth Regiment of the Second Guards Division) was under the command of the commander of the task force.

Under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Xiao Lieri, head of the 10th Guards Regiment, and 800 Korean Imperial Guards, they escorted more than a thousand members of the Korean royal family to abandon Seoul and retreat to Pyongyang. At this time, in Suwon, less than fifty miles away from Seoul, the Japanese army

Lieutenant General Oshima Yoshimasa, commander of the Third Division, and his staff were carefully planning a strategy to capture Seoul. Two days later, his army entered Seoul without firing a shot. The general was diligently working at Gyeongbokgung Palace with his own hands.

The battle plan that he had worked out all night long was burned to the ground.

On the same day, in Jiangdong, fifty miles east of Pyongyang, and Zhonghe, thirty miles south, the Qing Army's Second Guards Division (the Qing Guards' Fourth Brigade), which arrived in Pyongyang on the 16th, was fighting with the Japanese Fifth Division.

Fierce fighting.

On the Jiangdong front line, there was a continuous sound of gunfire.

Major General Zhong Xiahuo, commander of the Second Imperial Guard Division, was escorted by only thirty cavalrymen and rushed to the northeast mountain position of the Yangtze River to inspect the battle situation of the 15th Regiment of the 5th Imperial Guard Brigade.

In the headquarters of the 15th Regiment behind the mountain, the regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Chen Xingyun, saw a group of cavalry rushing from the rear from a distance, and quickly ordered the guard company to enter combat mode until he saw clearly the dragon flag in the hand of a cavalryman.

"Captain Chen! I am Zhong Xiahuo! Tell your subordinates not to go off the rails!"

Zhong Xiahuo's loud voice created a deep echo in the valley, and Chen Xingyun immediately waved his hand and ordered: "Restore alert status!"

Zhong Xiahuo jumped from his horse and landed, just in time to meet Chen Xingyun who was coming up to him.

"Teacher, why are you here in person?"

"Can't you come and see it?"

"It's dangerous here."

"There are more dangerous things. Stop talking. How are you doing here?"

Chen Xingyun led Zhong Xiahuo into the regiment headquarters - a tent with ventilation on three sides. It was midsummer now, the sun was blazing, and the tent was extremely hot. There were beads of sweat on everyone's forehead.

"Commander, look," Chen Xingyun clicked on the map, "the 19th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Army has launched five charges since this morning. Before each charge, it bombarded our positions with blazing artillery fire.

We dug extensive anti-artillery holes, but the enemy's heavy artillery shells were too powerful. Our frontline battalions suffered heavy casualties. Although we repelled all enemy charges, one-third of the entire regiment suffered casualties. We are now undergoing the enemy's sixth charge.

If we don’t have any more support, I’m afraid we will be at the end of our rope.”

Zhong Xiahuo looked at the map carefully and shook his head with a smile: "Captain Chen, the terrain you are on is very favorable. There is absolutely no possibility for the Japanese army to break through with an infantry regiment. The more desperate the enemy is to attack frantically, the more exhausted they will be."

The time will come sooner. Your regiment has lost one-third of its casualties, and the Japanese army may have suffered two-thirds of its casualties. This attack may be the last chance to shine."

Chen Xingyun was still worried: "That may not be the case. The Japanese army seems to have concentrated the entire division's artillery to violently bombard our position. If it continues like this -"

Zhong Xiahuo clicked on the map: "You want reinforcements, right? To tell you the truth, starting from yesterday, the direction of neutralization has been tight, and all reserve teams have been transferred. We must guard the south gate of Pyongyang to meet the first mixed group.

, once Zhonghe is lost, all the more than 5,000 friendly troops will be destroyed, and the Korean royal family will fall into the hands of the Japanese. We will be at a disadvantage both tactically and strategically. Therefore, there are no reinforcements for you. My order is,

Hold the position for me at all costs."

Chen Xingyun said: "Yes, I promise to complete the task!", but he was still mumbling in his heart.

Zhong Xiahuo saw that his attitude was not firm enough, so he deliberately said: "Let's take me around the position to see how fierce the enemy's artillery fire is, and then I will calculate how many cannons I should bring to you."

Chen Xingyun was startled: "Commander, please don't go to the position. I can't be responsible for anything that happens. In this way, I will try my best to hold the position, and I won't mention the reinforcements. It's just -"

"You think I'm afraid of death?"

"This subordinate has absolutely no intention of doing this. Commander, if you really want to understand our fifteenth regiment, please allocate four or five basic ammunition. Our Wuqi Mountain Artillery is almost out of food."

Zhong Xiahuo turned around and said to the correspondent: "Remember, allocate thirty boxes of May 7th artillery shells and ten boxes of machine gun bullets to the 15th Regiment, and deliver them before dusk."

Chen Xingyun was so happy that he almost bent down to perform the old-fashioned salute.

The position of the 1st Battalion of the 15th Regiment was located at the southern foot of Beishan. At this time, there were numerous bomb craters. Not a single tree on the mountain was intact. The trenches were divided into sections by bomb craters. Dead bodies were scattered all over the position, with broken arms and legs scattered among them.

The wounded soldiers abandoned on the hillside were wailing endlessly. The scene was like a hell on earth.

Soon, the rapid sound of gunfire engulfed everything.

Major Mo Huahu, commander of the 1st Battalion, heard in the anti-aircraft hole that the Japanese heavy artillery fire had extended backwards. He immediately rushed to the trench, and together with the soldiers of the machine gun platoon, pushed a ten-barreled Gatling machine gun into the fighting position, and then 'operated' the gun himself.

'Shoot'. The barrel of the Gatling gun rotated rapidly and fired one after another. The 7.92mm bullets poured like a heavy rain towards the Japanese troops charging down the mountain with their bayonets drawn.

Suddenly there was a whistling sound, and a group of Wuqi Mountain Artillery shells exploded on the Japanese skirmisher line again, blowing up several pieces at once. Mo Hua shouted in his mouth: "Okay, beat him, it's better than my family harvesting wheat."

Faster!" He held his finger on the trigger and quickly emptied the entire 100-round ring drum.

"Bullets, bring the bullets!" Mo Huahu roared, but he saw Second Lieutenant Xu Hun, the leader of the machine gun platoon, running over and panting: "Report to the battalion commander, there are only 300 rounds of machine gun bullets left in the whole battalion. Each machine gun

Just enough for one drum."

"Idiot, why are you nervous? Don't you still have three hundred rounds? Give me a drum first!"

"Yes." Xu Hun handed over the drum, thinking that he should be the battalion commander, and Mo Huahu was only qualified to be a machine gun shooter.

One hundred bullets were only enough for the greedy Gatling gun to swallow for half a minute. Mo Huahu's machine gun stopped with another "click".

"Are there any more bullets?"

"The second class is using a drum, this is the last drum——"

"Bring it!"

Xu Hun slowly handed over the last drum, with an expression on his face as if he was handing over his biological daughter to a rent-seeking landlord.
To be continued...