My Realistic Simulation Game

Chapter 281 Maritime Hegemony, the First Confrontation with the Qing Dynasty's Land Power

October 3, 1858.

Yanping Prefecture, Nanping City.

Standing atop the city wall, He Mingbiao gazed at the grand city built against the mountains and beside the water, his heart filled with emotion.

If it were peacetime, he would surely see the river outside the city walls teeming with students, merchants traveling by boat on the way to Fuzhou, and cargo ships laden with tea, porcelain, or handmade paper.

The boats, one after another, sailed down the Jianxi River to Yanping.

First, we passed through the East Gate (Yanxi Gate), and then the Small East Gate (Yan'en Gate).

This particularly magnificent building on the city wall will surely attract the attention of those on the boat, and perhaps at the same time, someone is climbing the tower to look out at the river view and the people on the boat.

That building is called the Hundred-Cornered Building, also known as the Lingxu Pavilion, which is where he is now.

This place boasts an excellent geographical location, making it a great spot for enjoying panoramic views and composing poems. The walls are also adorned with numerous poems by famous scholars and artists.

However, what impressed He Mingbiao was not the elegant scenery, but Lai Yuxin's speed and methods in conquering cities and strongholds.

This notorious miser managed to unite with local anti-Qing forces such as the Red Turban Army and the Gelaohui, and through a coordinated effort from within and without, he captured this important town in central Fujian almost without bloodshed!
What frustrated He Mingbiao even more was that when Lai Yuxin saw that he had arrived with his main force, he did not linger in battle. Instead, he immediately requisitioned local boats, loaded his elite troops, and sailed down the Minjiang River straight towards Fuzhou.

"This enormous achievement was seized by that Lai fellow..."

He Mingbiao muttered to himself, but the order from the Commander's Office was very clear.

After capturing Yanping, we will immediately besiege Fuzhou.

Lai Yu-hsin could travel light and move quickly, but he couldn't.

As the commander of the Third Army, capturing the prefectural city was only the first step. The subsequent tasks, such as pacifying the local people, inventorying the treasury, maintaining order, and recruiting the surrender of subordinate counties, all required his command and decision-making.

Turning around, He Mingbiao's gaze fell on Jin Wanqing, the former prefect of Yanping, who was being escorted up with his hands tied behind his back.

This man was in his forties, with a thin face. Although he was a prisoner, he remained relatively calm.

“Prefect Jin,” He Mingbiao said in a loud voice, “I, Old He, have heard that two hundred years ago, when the Qing invaders came here, most of the officials of the Southern Ming followed Emperor Longwu to Tingzhou. Only a man named Wang Shihe was left here to defend the city. He wanted to fight to the death, but all the soldiers ran away. He couldn’t defend the city, and Wang Shihe committed suicide to die for his country.”

"Today, my Guangfu Army entered your Nanping City without losing a single soldier. Why didn't you follow Wang Shihe's example and die in the line of duty?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Wanqing sighed softly, straightened his somewhat disheveled official robe, and said frankly, "General, this humble official... alas, I have already died once, and I really do not wish to speak lightly of life and death again."

"Moreover, I have also carefully read your army commander Shi Dakai's magnificent article in the Guangfu Xinbao, and I was deeply moved."

"If I can use this useless body to do my part for China in its time of crisis, it may be more valuable than dying."

He Mingbiao raised his thick eyebrows, slightly surprised: "Oh? You, an official of the Qing court, have such awareness? It seems our commander's articles weren't written in vain."

He waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to untie Jin Wanqing, and then said, "Yanping Prefecture governs seven counties, and I have now acquired three of them (Nanping, Jiangle, and Shunchang). As for the remaining four counties, Youxi, Shaxian, Yong'an, and Datian, I will trouble Prefect Jin to use your former status to draft documents and persuade them to surrender."

"If we can restore the entire Yanping region without bloodshed, with minimal fighting and the safety of the people, I, He Mingbiao, hereby promise that I will not only save your life, but may also give you a place in my restoration army in the future."

Jin Wanqing stretched his wrists, which were numb from being tied up, and said with a wry smile, "General, you are truly magnanimous. I originally thought that the army of the Restoration Army was full of brave and heroic men, but I did not expect that you would have such a broad mind and insight. I am truly ashamed."

"Haha!" He Mingbiao laughed heartily, stroking his thick beard. "This isn't something I, Old He, was born knowing!"

"This is the rule of our Restoration Army. After conquering a city, pacifying the people, taking inventory, and recruiting are the top priorities, even more important than fighting the war!"

"Oh, right, there's one more thing you need to take care of for me."

"All official granaries, treasuries, and government-run shops within Nanping City must be sealed off immediately!"

"Without my personal token, not even the Heavenly King himself is allowed to touch a single grain of rice or a single copper coin!"

"Tell the gentry and merchants in the city that anyone who dares to raise rice prices or hoard rice will be dealt with according to military law!"

He left behind an elite infantry regiment to guard the treasury, maintain order, and "assist" Jin Wanqing in persuading him to surrender.

Without further delay, he immediately led the main force of the Third Army and the navy that had already assembled and was waiting for orders to board the ship and set sail.

Of the four field armies, only He Mingbiao's Third Army focused on building a navy.

Therefore, it wasn't just Fu Zhongxin who guessed that the important task of attacking Fuzhou Prefecture would be entrusted to him.

He Mingbiao himself had guessed it.

Therefore, even during the period of rest and recuperation in Shaowu Prefecture, he spared no effort to expand the navy and recruit boatmen and fishermen who were familiar with water skills into the army.

Today, his navy has more than 5,000 men and more than 300 warships and transport ships of various sizes!
At this moment, the massive fleet of ships stretched across the surface of the Minjiang River.

With sails like a forest and banners waving, the overwhelming military might shocked the onlookers on both banks.

He Mingbiao stood at the bow of the lead warship, exuding heroic spirit. With a "whoosh," he drew his precious sword from his waist, pointed it downstream, and his voice boomed like a bell:

"sail--!"

"Set sail!" the guard shouted the order.

"sail!"

"sail!"

……

The orders were rapidly transmitted and repeated through the massive fleet like waves. Hundreds and thousands of voices converged together, echoing the waves of the Minjiang River, creating a deafening roar and an astonishing momentum!
Standing on the East Gate Wharf of Nanping, which had just been occupied by the Restoration Army, Lu Chuanning looked at the orderly fleet of masts on the river and the soldiers on the shore who were in good military uniform and silently and swiftly carrying out the order to board the ships. He felt an indescribable shock.

These soldiers wore uniform dark uniforms, their hair tied up instead of in a braid, and they moved with discipline. Their eyes were sharp and firm, vaguely matching the description of the "new army" he had read in the "Restoration Daily".

After entering the city, they did not burn, kill, and loot as the "bandits" were rumored to be. Instead, they quickly took over the city's defenses, posted notices to reassure the people, and maintained order in the city.

They boarded the ship and headed east, preparing to head straight for Fuzhou. The whole process was orderly and well-organized, demonstrating a strong sense of discipline and organization.

“Father,” Lu Chuanning turned around and looked at the middle-aged man beside him, whose expression was complicated and who had been silent for a long time, “You have seen it with your own eyes, do you still think that the Restoration Army is just those insignificant bandits and outlaws that you mentioned?”

As a renowned young scholar in Nanping, Lu Chuanning was undoubtedly among the most susceptible to the influence of new ideas.

The "Restored New Daily" became his daily source of intellectual nourishment. It covered everything from analyzing the ambitions of the world's great powers to introducing basic scientific knowledge.

From interpreting the ever-changing international situation to providing real-time reports on the progress of the Restoration Army on various fronts...

This newspaper opened a door to a whole new world for him, allowing him to gradually accept and deeply identify with Qin Yuan's new perspective on the world and the fate of the nation.

However, his father, Lu Jiliang, was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations and was also a local gentry in Nanping County who owned several shops and a lot of land. He always held a deep-rooted prejudice against the Restoration Army, believing that they were nothing more than a group of clowns who would be wiped out by the imperial army sooner or later.

But at this moment, as Lu Jiliang gazed at the disciplined and purposeful fleet on the river, his lips moved, but he found himself unable to easily utter a word of denial.

The demeanor of this army was completely different from that of the Taiping Army, which he had seen in his early years when he was seeking refuge in Jiangxi and whose discipline was lax and who were like bandits!

This is an armed force with a clear political program, strict military discipline, and efficient execution capabilities!
"Fuzhou... is probably in grave danger."

Lu Jiliang did not directly answer his son's somewhat provocative question, but instead cast his deepest worries toward the provincial capital downstream of the Minjiang River, which must be in a state of panic at this moment.

The Restoration Army has captured Nanping and controlled the upper reaches of the Min River. It is only a matter of time before they sail down the river to take Fuzhou.

“Father,” Lu Chuanning’s eyes gleamed with a hopeful light that was completely different from his father’s worries, “The Restoration Army clearly stated in the ‘Restoration News’ that once Fuzhou is captured, they will open a new-style school in the provincial capital to teach science, mathematics, foreign languages, and even Western politics, economics, and law! At that time… can I apply to take the exam?”

He was sixteen years old and exceptionally intelligent. Three years ago, he had already passed the imperial examination and was a strong contender for the provincial examination this year.

However, the war that swept through Fujian had undoubtedly interrupted this traditional path to advancement through the imperial examinations.

"Chuan Ning!" Lu Jiliang turned his head sharply and warned sternly, "I allowed you to read the newspaper so that you would know about the changing situation and distinguish between advantages and disadvantages, not so that you would have these treasonous thoughts!"

"The schools run by the Restoration Army are dens of traitors! You dare to go there? You'll lose your head, and it might even implicate your entire clan!"

Lu Chuanning was not intimidated by his father's harsh words. Instead, he argued, "Father, the new school teaches practical knowledge and explores the true knowledge of enriching the country and strengthening the army. I am not going to join the army or rebel."

"The Restoration Army has a completely new look, and it's probably only a matter of time before the entire province of Fujian falls into their hands. Why should we cling to old ideas?"

Lu Jiliang is only thirty-seven years old this year, far from being one of those stubborn old men, and is not completely unable to accept new things.

but……

He took a deep breath, looked solemnly at his eldest son on whom he had placed high hopes, and said earnestly, "Chuan Ning, remember this: you are the eldest son and grandson of our Lu family, and the hope of the family rests on your shoulders!"

"Others may observe or even speculate, but you alone must never openly associate with the Restoration Army!"

Lu Chuanning tried to persuade his father with rational analysis: "Dad, the situation is so clear, can't you see it?"

"As you can see, which Qing army in Fujian can withstand the advance of the Restoration Army? Once Fuzhou changes hands, it will be attacked from the east and west by the main force of the Restoration Army in Jianning Prefecture. The 100,000 Qing troops trapped in Fuzhou and Ningxia will be cut off from their supply lines, and their defeat is inevitable!"

"Does the Qing court still have the capacity and time to restore the imperial examination system in Fujian?"

"Even if it were to be barely restored, what good would those formulaic essays, which merely copied and pasted phrases, do for the great cause of saving the nation from peril at present?"

He became more and more excited as he spoke: "The commander-in-chief made it very clear in the newspaper that in order to restore China and drive out the Tartars, we not only need swords, guns and cannons on the battlefield, but also new talents who are knowledgeable about the world and have practical skills!"

"Only in this way can we save our country and revive our nation from peril. This is the true path!"

Lu Jiliang shook his head heavily and said helplessly, "Chuan Ning, your vision is still too shallow. Although the current situation is favorable to the Restoration Army, it is far from the point where we can rest easy."

“I admit that Shi Dakai… truly possesses the qualities of a great ruler, and his methods of governing the army and managing the government are extraordinary.”

"But does Fujian province alone think it can compete with the Qing Dynasty, which controls fifteen provinces, for supremacy?"

"Difficult, more difficult than ascending to heaven!"

He lowered his voice and warned, "How do you know that once the imperial court recovers and renowned officials like Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang have dealt with the Taiping rebels along the Yangtze River, they won't mobilize the entire nation's army to launch a counterattack against Fujian?"

"When the royal army returns, how will the court punish those who were closely associated with the Restoration Army?"

"Chuan Ning, don't you even consider these matters concerning the survival and prosperity of the family?"

These words were heartfelt and full of a father's deep concern for his son and the future of his family.

He was well aware of the immense appeal of new learning and new ideas to young people.

But in his view, it was tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock to fight a nation with the efforts of one province.

However, Lu Chuanning clearly had a completely different opinion.

He read so much in the "Restoration News" that it was beyond the perspective of his time.

"Father, are you so certain that the imperial court will be able to win back the war?"

Lu Chuanning's voice also lowered, but carried an unusual calmness, "What if... the imperial court can never win back the war?"

Lu Jiliang was taken aback upon hearing this, and subconsciously asked, "Can't they fight back? Chuan Ning, you... have you figured something out?"

Lu Chuanning leaned closer to his father, his gaze intense, his voice soft yet clear: "Father, if we, who are in the midst of this situation, can see the problem clearly, how could Commander Shi, who can write those magnificent articles in the 'Restoration News,' and his capable ministers and generals not see it?"

"Fujian alone may not be able to support itself. But what if we add Taiwan, which is just across the sea?"

"What if we could unite with Guangdong and Guangxi, which are so close by?"

“Father, look at the European countries described in the newspapers. England, whose mainland is just a tiny island, is able to dominate the seven seas and eye Europe with its navy. It also has vast colonies in Southeast Asia and India, becoming the empire on which the sun never sets!”

"Commander Shi's article has already foreseen the situation, clearly pointing out that the ocean is the key to future hegemony!"

"Whoever controls the sea controls the gateway to the world and to prosperity!"

"If the Restoration Army can control Fujian and Taiwan, and then plot against Guangdong and Guangxi, it will have a long coastline and excellent ports, allowing it to attack or defend as it pleases. It may not be impossible for it to contend with the Qing government, which relies heavily on land power, to the very end!"

As Lu Jiliang listened to his son's discourse, which combined newspaper viewpoints with his own reflections, he couldn't help but gasp and stare blankly at his son, who seemed to have grown up overnight.

For the first time, he discovered that his existing knowledge seemed to be being challenged and shaken by a completely new vision of the future, which was full of risks but also contained infinite possibilities.

The river breeze rustled, fluttering the clothes of the father and son.

This also stirred up the confusion among countless Fujian people at that time about the Restoration Army marching south to Fuzhou, driving out the Qing government and taking over the entire province of Fujian with an overwhelming momentum.

And, the choices we make for the present and the future!
(End of this chapter)