My Realistic Simulation Game

Chapter 278 Emerging from Seclusion, I Will Flatten Quzhou

Xianxia Pass was the garrison of the First Army of the Restoration Army.

Under the fluttering military flag, Shi Zhenji, the commander of the First Army, stood on a makeshift platform, his sharp gaze sweeping over the two divisional officers and soldiers standing solemnly below.

He was only twenty-four or twenty-five years old, and his face still carried some youthful vigor, but seven years of fighting on the battlefield had etched a maturity and perseverance beyond his years between his brows.

Below the stage, the First and Second Divisions, his loyal old guard, stood in neat formation and high morale.

Most of the members were Guangxi soldiers, making them the two divisions with the most soldiers from Guangdong and Guangxi in the entire Restoration Army and even the Taiping Army.

In terms of combat effectiveness, it can be said to be the most powerful division in the entire Restoration Army, apart from the Fifth Division of the Second Army, which was the force protecting Commander Shi Dakai.

As for his Third Division, it was sent to the eastern front to cooperate with Fu Zhongxin's Fourth Army in attacking Yuxi and to carry out a diversionary mission.

"Brothers!" Shi Zhenji's voice boomed, piercing through the early autumn mountain breeze, "Do you remember a little over a month ago?"

"We retreated into Fujian from here, from Zhejiang, braving the Qing forces' pursuit and blockade, crossing the Xianxia Ridge."

"Back then, we were defeated, and we left with a belly full of pent-up resentment!"

"Have you forgotten this humiliation?!"

"I haven't forgotten! I haven't forgotten!"

A thunderous roar of response erupted from the audience, and the soldiers' eyes burned with the flames of revenge.

The frustration of being bogged down in Quzhou for three months and returning empty-handed, as well as the humiliation of being followed by the Qing army during the retreat, were thorns in the hearts of all the soldiers of the First Army.

"Good, I've never forgotten either!" Shi Zhenji clenched his fist. "Today, we're not retreating to Zhejiang, we're fighting back! With our swords and spears, we'll tell the Qing devils in Zhejiang that our Restoration Army has returned!"

"We're back this time to flatten Longquan, take Jingning, and get back everything we've lost, with interest!"

"Flatten Longquan! Take Jingning!" The thunderous slogans echoed through the passes.

Military orders are like mountains.

Shi Zhenji's strategic intentions were clear and bold.

He first dispatched a small group of elite cavalry to harass the Qing army's supply lines in the direction of Quzhou, creating chaos and attracting the Qing army's attention.

At the same time, he personally led the main forces of the First and Second Divisions to attack Longquan County, a key town in southwestern Zhejiang, with lightning speed!

The appearance of the large group of people in Zhejiang immediately attracted the attention of the local government.

However, before they could react...

A more powerful and resolute force appeared beneath their city walls than before.

Longquan County, the gateway to Chuzhou Prefecture, was captured in a flash, unable to hold out for even a day.

The speed was astonishing.

Shi Zhenji looked at the burned-out city gate and sneered, "Does Zhou Tianshou really think we'll just stay in Fujian and never leave the pass?"

"The military strength in this prefecture is so weak; they really don't take our First Army seriously at all!"

Deputy Commander Yu Zhongfu also did not expect that the first battle after entering Zhejiang would go so smoothly.

"Old Shi, I just counted the money and grain in Longquan County. It's enough to feed our entire army for more than a month. We've struck it rich."

He was all smiles, like a money-grubber.

Shi Zhenji was a young hero with great ambition; otherwise, he wouldn't have broken away from Shi Dakai and led a separate army to seek independent development after a disagreement with Shi Dakai in another period of history.

He didn't care about the money and grain, saying, "Old Yu, what's a little money and grain from Chuzhou?"

"This Zhou Tianshou's military tactics are so poor. Longquan, as the gateway to western Zhejiang, is so vulnerable. The inland areas must be even more vulnerable."

Shi Zhenji looked at Yu Zhongfu and said fiercely, "I have never forgotten the humiliation of Quzhou back then."

"Old Yu, how about we go and explore another wealthy and prosperous place?"

Yu Zhongfu was startled: "Old Shi, the commander's orders are for us to take Longquan and Jingning."

"The goal is to attract the attention of the Qing demons, forcing them to be constantly on the move. If there is an opportunity, we should cooperate with the Fourth Army to surround and annihilate the Qing demons in Nanning Prefecture."

"Going to Quzhou is going in the opposite direction!"

Shi Zhenji said in a hoarse voice, "I know all that you're saying, but I'm just not reconciled."

“My brother is so renowned, yet he has been suppressed by Zhou Tianshou for three whole months, thus diminishing his prestige.”

"If we don't take Quzhou, this thorn will always be in my heart."

"Moreover, I know that this thorn is not only in my heart, but in the heart of every Liberation Army soldier."

He looked around at the generals, and each of them met his firm gaze.

Yu Zhongfu naturally harbored this thorn in his side, but the reason he was assigned to serve as Shi Zhenji's deputy commander was to exert some control over him.

But given the current situation, he looked at the military officers around him.

Without a doubt, if he dared to shake his head, he wouldn't be able to stay in the First Army after that.

He pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "General, I support your attack on Quzhou."

"However, you must give me a regiment of soldiers."

“Jingning must be taken. Without taking Jingning, we cannot deter Wenzhou Prefecture, and we cannot harass the grain supplies that are continuously being sent from Zhejiang to Fujian.”

He would only agree to Shi Zhenji's actions on the condition that he completes the task assigned by Qin Yuan.

Only by completing these tasks can attacking Quzhou be considered as expanding the spoils of war.

Otherwise, it would be blatant defiance.

Shi Zhenji was Shi Dakai's cousin, and no one would doubt the loyalty of the Shi brothers.

However, Yu Zhongfu had to ensure that the First Army left no room for criticism or gossip.

Shi Zhenji was no fool; he naturally understood Yu Zhongfu's considerations.

He laughed and said, "Old Yu, I knew you would support me."

"Don't worry, I'll give you two regiments of troops, plus a cavalry company."

"Enough for you to take Jingning City."

After saying that, he quickly ordered two regiments of the Second Division to follow Yu Zhongfu.

He then rode swiftly with the remaining 15,000 men toward Quzhou.

Yu Zhongfu stood beneath the city wall of Longquan County, sighing as he watched the procession head in the distance.

Then he quickly adjusted his state.

the other side.

Zhejiang, Wenzhou Prefecture, the Governor's Headquarters.

Zhejiang Admiral Zhou Tianshou was already overwhelmed with planning for the Battle of Funing Prefecture, but the series of bad news he received made him extremely uneasy.

"Report! Urgent report from Quzhou Prefecture! A group of Cantonese cavalry with their hair tied up has launched a surprise attack on our grain transport convoy. The grain has been seized, and the officers and soldiers protecting the grain have suffered heavy casualties!"

"Report! Urgent report from Chuzhou Prefecture! Longquan County... Longquan County has fallen, the county magistrate has died defending the city, and the rebel army is in the city... looting people and money!"

"What?!" Zhou Tianshou stood up abruptly, his face turning deathly pale.

Shouldn't the Restoration Army be holding out in Fujian? Why have they suddenly returned to Zhejiang?!
Moreover, the speed was incredibly fast!
"Who is the commander of the rebel army? How many troops does he have?" he asked urgently.

"Reporting to the Admiral, the defeated soldiers said that the bandit leader's banner was 'Shi'. According to the surrendered soldiers, he seems to be Shi Zhenji, a cousin of the false Wing King and the current commander of the First Army of the Restoration Army. His forces... are probably no less than 20,000!"

"Shi Zhenji?!" Zhou Tianshou felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Shi Zhenji's troops were Shi Dakai's absolute loyalists, and their fighting strength was formidable.

They abandoned their base in Fujian and rushed north to Zhejiang? That's impossible!

Is it...

"They saw through our army's intentions, knowing that Fuzhou was heavily fortified and difficult to break through head-on. Therefore, they adopted the strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao,' attacking the place we must defend and forcing us to send troops back to reinforce it?"

This thought sent a chill down Zhou Tian's spine.

If Zhou Tianpei, Li Dingtai, and other elite troops were transferred back to Zhejiang from the Fuzhou-Ningxia front at this time, the long-planned decisive battle in northeastern Fujian would be completely aborted, the huge manpower and material resources invested in the early stage would be wasted, and the Restoration Army would gain a valuable respite, and might even take the opportunity to launch a counterattack.

But if we don't help, and let Shi Zhenji run rampant in southwestern Zhejiang, Chuzhou, Quzhou and even Jinhua may be shaken, and we will have no way to explain ourselves to the imperial court!

"Let's take a gamble!" Zhou Tian gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint in his eyes. "We must gamble that Fujian can win the final battle quickly!"

"As long as the main force of the Restoration Army can be defeated in the direction of Funing as soon as possible, Jianning can be recovered, and Xianxia Pass can be locked down, then Shi Zhenji will be isolated and deep in the enemy territory. At that time, it will be easy to turn around and encircle and annihilate him!"

"Issue the order!" Zhou Tianshou looked at the messenger: "Order all prefectures and counties in Zhejiang to defend their cities at all costs. The city must stand, and so must the people! Anyone who abandons the city and flees, regardless of rank, will be executed on the spot, and their entire family will be exterminated!"

"Issue another order to Zhou Tianpei, Li Dingtai, and other generals in Fujian: The imperial court has made up its mind to accelerate the advance and seek a decisive battle with the main force of the Restoration Army!"

"I will do everything in my power to ensure that the funds and provisions for Zhejiang are not lacking in the slightest!"

He paused, a hint of struggle and ruthlessness flashing across his face, but he ultimately lowered his voice and added a cruel secret order: "Tell Zhou Tianpei... to boost morale, he may... promise the soldiers that after capturing Jianning Prefecture, they will be allowed... a three-day manhunt!"

This order implied that soldiers were allowed to plunder, kill, and burn, which was a major taboo in military strategy and a sign of moral decay.

Upon hearing this, the officials beside him all turned pale.

Zhou Tianshou closed his eyes, seemingly aging considerably in an instant, and sighed softly, "Countless sins have been committed against me... all for the sake of eradicating the bandits as soon as possible and restoring peace to the court."

The surrounding trusted advisors were all "moved" and comforted him, saying, "The admiral has endured humiliation and carried a heavy burden, his selfless heart is a testament to heaven and earth, and the court will surely understand!"

However, deep within Zhou Tianshou's heart, a raging fire burned towards the south: "Shi Dakai! If it weren't for your heretical words and false doctrines, forcing the court to take drastic measures, things wouldn't have come to this!"

"If Jianning Prefecture is to be stained with blood in the future, it will all be your sins!"

He clutched the copy of the "Restoration Daily" that had terrified him, his heart growing heavier with each passing moment.

Three days ago, the imperial court issued a secret order, expressing its deep disgust for the "poisoning" of the Restoration Army's ideology, and ordering them to "purge" Jianning Prefecture and Shaowu Prefecture after conquering Jianning.

As a high-ranking official in the imperial court, he certainly knew what this purge meant.

While Shi Zhenji was stirring up trouble in Zhejiang, the battle situation in Yanping Prefecture took an even more dramatic turn.

Unlike the surprise attack on Zhejiang, the Restoration Army's offensive on Yanping Prefecture was accompanied by a subtle influence of "popular support".

Northern Fujian is characterized by high mountains and dense forests, dotted with many villages of ethnic minorities such as the She and Yao, which are almost autonomous.

These mountain dwellers had previously been indifferent to changes in government outside the mountains, but the arrival of the "Guangfu Xinbao" newspaper was like a boulder thrown into a silent mountain pool.

Newspaper articles discussing global trends and national peril made some insightful young people in the village no longer content with their small world.

"The Qing government is corrupt, and the foreigners are fierce. If we continue to guard the village, we will suffer sooner or later!"

"The Restoration Army must expel the Tartars and revitalize China; this is the right path!"

These remarks, along with the influx of the "Guangfu Xinbao" newspaper, continued to circulate in villages throughout Fujian.

This prompted many passionate young people to resolutely descend the mountain and seek refuge in Shaowu Prefecture, the nearest area controlled by the Restoration Army.

Among them, young people from Shihuzhai and Wan'anzhai were particularly enthusiastic. They were familiar with the local mountains and rivers and provided great help to the Guangfu Army's attack.

With the cooperation of Lai Yuxin's vanguard troops and He Mingbiao's main force of the Third Army, the Restoration Army made rapid progress.

Guided by their familiarity with the terrain, the militia led Lai Yuxin's troops to capture Jiangle County, which controlled the vital Shaowu-Yanping route, within a single day!

Meanwhile, He Mingbiao's main force advanced rapidly along the Futun River and quickly captured Shunchang City, a key transportation hub!

The two armies launched a pincer attack, quickly encircling Nanping, the capital of Yanping Prefecture.

In an instant, this important town in central Fujian was in grave danger!
SOS messages flew to Fuzhou, the provincial capital, like snowflakes.

……

Fuzhou City, Governor's Office.

The Fujian governor, Qing Duan, was in a state of utter panic and anxiety.

He knew very well that if Fuzhou fell, others might surrender and save their lives and property.

However, as a Manchu bannerman, he was destined to be sacrificed to the banner.

Therefore, anyone can surrender, but he alone cannot.

Initially, Shi Dakai led over 100,000 people into Fujian.

He prayed to the gods and Buddhas, hoping that Shi Dakai was just passing through and would turn towards Jiangxi from Fujian.

However, ever since the Taiping Army entered Fujian and changed its name to the Restoration Army, its behavior has become very different from before.

They not only did not act like those bandits, but instead seemed determined to establish themselves in Fujian.

Some time ago, the news of the "Restoration News" that had reached Fuzhou made him tremble with fear, and he almost left.

However, not only were Han Chinese beheaded for losing a city, but he, as a Manchu, would also be punished for fleeing without a fight.

Therefore, he cannot leave.

But what else can we do if we don't leave?
Not long after, his desk was piled high with urgent documents from all over the country.

Yanping Prefecture is besieged!
Gutian and Pingnan attacked!
Warnings have also been issued for Tingzhou and Longyan!
Even bad news from Zhejiang came through!

"These...are these Restoration Army soldiers some kind of superhuman force? How come they're everywhere?!"

Qing Duan's voice trembled as he looked at the officials in Fuzhou City: "Where exactly is their main force?! Doesn't Fuzhou have an army of 100,000? How come the bandits have managed to get right under my nose?!"

Someone said helplessly, "Sir, there are rebellions everywhere now, and we can't tell who the Restoration Army and the Taiping Army are anymore."

"Moreover, Nanning Prefecture did not guard the way out of Jianning Prefecture. In addition, the Restoration Army now controls the Jianning and Shaowu Prefectures, which completely control the biggest obstacle between Jiangxi and Zhejiang and our Fujian."

"They can attack or defend!"

Hearing this, Qingrui was stunned.

His greatest fears were twofold: first, if Gutian to the north were lost, the Restoration Army would gain a foothold in Fuzhou Prefecture.

Secondly, once Yanping Prefecture in the west falls, the Guangfu Army can sail down the Min River and advance by both land and water to attack Fuzhou!

Although Fuzhou is a fortified city, how long can it hold out?
As a high-ranking official in Manchuria, he would face certain death if the provincial capital fell.

"How many troops are currently in the city? How long can the treasury's funds and provisions last?"

Qing Duan forced himself to remain calm and questioned his subordinates.

He wasn't stupid; he knew he only had one path to take.

That is to hold the line and wait for reinforcements. As long as Zhou Tianshou wins in the Fuzhou-Ningxia direction, the siege of Fuzhou will be lifted.

However, Qingduan was unaware that the deadly threat did not only come from outside the city.

Within the city of Fuzhou, an undercurrent is brewing.

Shen Weiqing, the eldest son of the Shen family, used the Shen family's reputation and wealth to form a "military group" of several hundred people under the guise of "protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people".

Because he was the son of Shen Baozhen, the prefect of Guangxin in Jiangxi, and his mother was the daughter of Lin Zexu, he was able to join the government's city defense system very easily.

However, no one knew that Shen Weiqing's true purpose was not just to provide defensive assistance.

"Brother Yuan, Brother Yuan, you'd better get here quickly!"

Shen Weiqing gazed at the moon in the sky, revealing a set of white teeth.

(End of this chapter)