Empress Dowager Cixi has never been so happy as she is today.
When she heard that the Nanyang Army began to move north along the Beijing-Fengtian Road, she was furious and issued five orders in a row asking Lin Youde to withdraw the troops. When news of the Nanyang Army's victory came from Fengtian, her anger calmed down somewhat, but she still felt sorry for Lin Youde.
Ignore your own orders and hold a grudge.
"Even if he wins, it cannot change the fact that he is disobedient," the old woman said to Prince Ronglu and Qing on Wanshou Mountain that day. "If things continue like this, will China still be a country?"
At this moment, a train loaded with trophies and Russian prisoners coming back from Fengtian was stopping on the platform in front of Cixi. She watched a group of blond and blue-eyed foreigners kneeling in front of her and walking out of tune to Batou.
She shouted "Good luck to the Queen Mother" in Chinese even though she couldn't stop herself. The little woman's vanity in Cixi's heart finally broke out.
"After all, this is a victory," Cixi said with a smile to Ronglu, who was submissive beside her. "Victory is always good, and it is not a bad thing to let those Western barbarians see the prestige of our country."
Ronglu said yes repeatedly with a smile on his face, while the iron-hatted kings behind Cixi looked at each other.
This group of Manchu elders and young people had previously discussed how to deal with Lin Youde and the Nanyang Army, just like before the Eight-Nation Alliance in the last time and space. Two different opinions formed among them. One group believed that it should be dealt with seriously, and immediately agreed to Tsarist Russia's request for assistance in the suppression.
, in order to resolve the anger of Tsarist Russia and maintain the "Sino-Russian friendship"; the other faction is the main battle, believing that it can take the opportunity to weaken the power of Han bureaucrats and strengthen the control of the Manchu nobles over the government. If they win, it will be a good leadership of the court.
, then you can open an altar to worship heaven and comfort Emperor Daoguang, who advocated fighting against the British barbarians.
Originally, Cixi was leaning toward the Peace Party, but under the current circumstances, Cixi would most likely change her mind.
The strategy formulated by Chen Hongda and Chen Tianhua to send trophies to win Cixi's support had an immediate effect.
When she spoke again, Cixi's tone was completely different from before the train arrived in Beijing this morning. She asked Ronglu in a cold and condescending tone: "What are the actions of the Russian Emperor? Have they declared war?"
"Back to the Queen Mother, not yet."
"Well, we will not agree to any request made by the Russian envoys. If they declare war, we will respond with a declaration of war."
**
The countryside in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian is in a state of uproar.
On the day the news of the victory came, Lin Ji launched a public opinion war plan. The families of the soldiers in the North Expedition detachment received victory condolences from Lin Ji, and victory commemorative medals were hung at the door. That night, Lin Ji controlled
All the grassroots villages in Linji were decorated with lights and colorful decorations. The main halls in various places in Linji pulled out the fattest pigs from the pig pens and slaughtered them. Many hens in the chicken farms were also killed in one go and supplied to the whole village for free.
of old and young folks.
Early the next morning, the command flags were hoisted at the local headquarters. The mobilization system that Lin Youde had spent so much effort to establish immediately showed its power. The first batch of mobilization soldiers spontaneously came to the local headquarters to register and report on the same day. Not only that,
Many young and middle-aged people from the second and third batches of mobilization also gathered in front of the main hall, clamoring to go to the battlefield.
On the Holang Yabo side, the second batch of the northward detachment has boarded the ship and is escorted by the Navy's Pacific Fleet, embarking on the journey north.
Although the second batch of troops has set off, Lin Ji's base camp is still very busy. The transportation sequence of troops, the raising and distribution of supplies, the deployment of industrial production capacity, etc., etc., many things make Lin Ji's base camp a veritable place worthy of its name.
It's a city that never sleeps, with a constant flow of people coming in and out 24 hours a day.
Only Lin Youde, who was at the center of this busy whirlpool, was as leisurely as if nothing had happened.
Since the war between the north and the Russian army began, he has done several things: First, he personally assigned Pan Runnian, who was originally responsible for intelligence affairs in the direction of Manila, to go to Russia to contact revolutionaries such as Shirley Yakes and Vladimir Lenin.
, preparing to provide them with funds for revolutionary activities and armed uprisings through French banks...
The second was to meet with representatives of Japanese overseas Chinese in the Philippines and agree with them to organize volunteers to go to the Northeast to participate in the war.
Then it disappeared. While others were busy, Lin Youde was strengthening his relationship with his daughter and wife, and even did such speechless things as leaving the base camp to go fishing.
On October 31, Josephine finally couldn't stand it anymore.
Faced with his wife's question, Lin Youde replied calmly: "My principle is to leave professional matters to professional people, and I am only responsible for placing the right people in the right positions."
Josephine looked dissatisfied, but could not come up with any effective words to refute her husband, because she saw with her own eyes that Lin Ji automatically ran towards the goal he pointed out after Lin Youde only gave some rough instructions.
So after a few seconds of stalemate, Josephine sighed and compromised: "So, great leader, where are you going to put me?"
"My escort and military advisor, I think this is the position that is most suitable for you at the moment."
Josephine showed obvious dissatisfaction with Lin Youde's answer. Just when she was about to express this dissatisfaction in words, Sophie opened the door and entered Lin Youde's study.
The little girl imitated the officer of the technical experimental unit, put her legs together, and saluted Lin Youde with a snap: "I'm telling dad that all preparations for Nezha's sea plan are complete."
Lin Youde clapped his hands, and his brows were filled with joy. He pulled Josephine over, kissed the girl's forehead gently, and said in an affectionate tone: "My dear wife, now is the time for you to show off your talents. I want to revisit the old place for a while."
In a moment, I’ll beg you to guard.”
**
On the outskirts of Texas, Army Minister Yuan Shikai camped.
"So, it is only a matter of time before we declare war on Russia?" Yuan Shikai pressed one hand on the map on the Eight Immortals table and stared at Sheng Huaixuan sideways.
"I'm afraid that is the case, unless Tsarist Russia is really frightened by the victory of the Nanyang Army and dare not declare war. Otherwise, a war between China and Russia is almost a foregone conclusion."
Yuan Shikai raised his hand and subconsciously touched his big, smooth forehead. Everyone present knew that this was Yuan Shikai's habitual action when he was meditating, so they remained silent, waiting for the Minister of War to come to a conclusion.
They didn't wait long.
"Shizhen, immediately mobilize troops to strengthen Tianjin's defense. If the land route is blocked, the Russians are likely to come from the sea."
"Commander, this..."
Yuan Shikai glanced at Wang Shizhen, who was slightly doubtful, and said: "After all, Lin Youde won the battle and won the favor of Lafayette. We can't do it without any expression."
"Yes, I'll do it right away."
Seeing Wang Shizhen take the order and leave, Xu Shichang took a few steps forward and said: "Commander, if the war really starts, I'm afraid our Beiyang Army will have to go north to join the war. Should we start preparing winter clothes for winter operations in the Northeast now?"
?”
Yuan Shikai remained silent for now and continued to shake his head and touch his big head. He thought for a long time before answering: "Why are you so anxious? War hasn't been declared yet? You and Shao Yi should go to the British and French ministers."
Let’s explore the rumors and find out their attitude before we make a decision.”
"yes."
"In addition, in the name of the War Department, a telegram was drafted to the Nanyang Army's Northward Detachment, questioning in stern terms why their military operations were not approved by the War Department, and demanding that they must obey the Army Department's command and dispatch in the future.
"
Of course Yuan Shikai knew that it was impossible to hand over the command of the Nanyang Army to the Ministry of War. It was the private army of the King of Nanyang. However, as the Minister of War, he could deal with the Nanyang Army and take advantage in theory, so why not
Why?
**
On November 3, 1900, the Tsarist Russian government declared war on the Qing Empire. Shortly after the declaration of war was issued, under the instruction of the Empress Dowager Cixi, Emperor Guangxu issued an edict declaring war, and Tsarist Russia and the Qing Empire entered a state of war...
The strength of the Russian Far East Front is mainly divided into three parts. Its main force and the Third Cossack Holy Knights are led by Front Commander Kuropatkin, all of which are deployed on the Liaodong Peninsula. It includes two infantry divisions and one of the First Siberian Army.
The cavalry brigade, the Third Siberian Army has two infantry divisions and one cavalry division. The two armies have a total of four infantry divisions and one and a half cavalry divisions, a total of 60,000 people. In addition, the Third Cossack Holy Knights Regiment accompanying the troops is about 10,000 people. This
The cluster also concentrated the Russian army's main general troops, with a total of more than 300 generals of various types. There is no doubt that this unit is the main force of the Russian army in this battle.
The Heilongjiang cluster led by Lieutenant General Steph Xieli has an infantry corps and two cavalry divisions with about 40,000 people, dispersedly deployed in Harbin, Qiqihar and Jiamusi.
Then there is the Vladivostok Group, led by Lieutenant General Zharubaev, as the total reserve force for the campaign, with more than 50,000 soldiers.
In addition, the Russian military also has a large naval fleet of the Navy's Pacific Fleet with a total of 7 pre-dreadnoughts, 8 armored cruisers and 20 destroyers to assist in the battle. In addition, a total of more than 8,000 marines are stationed in Dalian and Lushun.
After the declaration of war was issued, part of the Third Siberian Army stationed in the Dashiqiao area west of Yingkou immediately began to move toward Jinzhou, while the main force of the Third Army moved northward according to Kuropatkin's order, preparing to fight with the troops starting from Lianshanguan.
The First Siberian Army besieged Fengtian together.
Although occupying Jinzhou can cut off the Jingfeng Road, but for the railway to work, it is useless to just stand on the track. There must be locomotives and wagons. Therefore, Fengtian City, which has a locomotive repair shop and has a large number of locomotives and wagons, is of no use to the railway.
It is a strategic key point that the Russian army must capture.
Compared with the powerful Russian army, the Qing Dynasty's only 30,000 old Qing troops that could be put into action immediately were the 30,000 old Qing troops originally stationed in Fengtian City, the 6,000 accompanying troops of the Shenji Battalion, and the reinforcements from the Nanyang Army heading north.
There are more than 7,000 people in the detachment.
The only thing that is more encouraging is the comparison of the unconventional combat capabilities of the two sides. The Fengtian Qing Army Generals Battalion is also equipped with more than 200 relatively new generals armor. The paper combat capabilities of the Shenji Battalion are also as good as the Third Cossack Paladin.
The group is similar.
However, in terms of conventional combat power, the Russian army undoubtedly has an overwhelming advantage. Therefore, although the Russian army in the Heilongjiang cluster has been slow to move and has not mobilized troops south to participate in the siege of Fengtian, the Russian army headquarters is still determined to capture Fengtian within November.
Cheng completely mastered Jingfeng Road and was full of confidence.
But history always likes to surprise those who think they can grasp its direction.