My Realistic Simulation Game

Chapter 284 The First Step in Conquering Taiwan

Jianning Prefecture City.

A swift horse galloped towards the commander's mansion in the city center, its hooves thundering like a torrential downpour, breaking through the morning mist on the bluestone road.

Merchants and pedestrians on both sides of the street turned their heads to look, their eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and speculation.

The people of Jianning Prefecture today are no longer the isolated villagers of the past.

Although they were in the relatively safe rear, they were well-informed about the war on the front lines through the "Restoration Daily," which had now penetrated deep into the towns and villages.

Over the past two weeks, news of the Restoration Army launching attacks on all sides has been coming in like snowflakes.

In the Zhejiang direction, Shi Zhenji's First Army captured Chuzhou and advanced towards Quzhou, shaking western Zhejiang.

At the front line of Fuzhou, Fu Zhongxin's Fourth Army and Zhou Tianshou's 100,000-strong Qing army were locked in a fierce stalemate along the Zhoudun and Chiyanzhen line.

On the western front, He Mingbiao's Third Army successively captured Jiang Le and Shun Chang, and took Yanping Prefecture City Nanping, opening the gateway to Fuzhou.

The latest focus is undoubtedly the major battle with troops aimed directly at Fuzhou, the provincial capital!
The extensive newspaper reports made ordinary people clearly aware that a storm that would determine the landscape of Fujian and even the entire southeast was unfolding.

"Judging from this urgent report, could it be that there's news from Fuzhou?"

"Yanping Prefecture was completely liberated last week, and good news is also pouring in from Chuzhou Prefecture and Quzhou. Could it be that Fuzhou..."

"Impossible, right? Fuzhou is the provincial capital, with high walls and deep moats, surrounded by mountains and rivers. Even Emperor Guoxing..."

The whispers spread quietly through the streets and alleys.

Everyone realized that the sound of horses' hooves carried news that could potentially change the fate of the entire Fujian province.

Standing on the steps of his own "Lin's Silk Shop," Lin Lichuan watched the dust rise from the departing horse and felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of unease.

"It's only been a few days? The news of Yanping Prefecture's fall is still fresh in our minds. Could it be... that something big has happened in Fuzhou again?"

He muttered to himself, his tone filled with disbelief, "Fuzhou is a formidable city with high walls and deep moats, protected by three mountains and surrounded by two rivers. It has always been a strong city that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. The Zheng family used it to resist the Qing Dynasty for decades!"

"No matter how capable the Restoration Army is, can they be more powerful than Koxinga back then? How could they possibly win without three to five months of bloody fighting?"

He couldn't help but recall the old story mentioned in the "Guangfu Xinbao" about how Shi Dakai, the Wing King, besieged Quzhou in Zhejiang for more than ninety days but returned empty-handed.

The old steward Liu Fu, who was standing beside him, was even more worried and lowered his voice to say, "Master, our Lin family's ancestral home is in Houguan County, not far from Fuzhou City!"

"And the Shen family... I heard that Lord Shen Baozhen of Guangxin Prefecture killed quite a few Taiping rebels in Jiangxi. If Fuzhou falls and the young lady marries into the Shen family, will she... will she be implicated and retaliated against?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Lichuan's face darkened further. He took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm, saying, "Liu Fu, calm down."

"From what I have observed of the Restoration Army's actions since entering Jianning, although they have acted swiftly and decisively, rectified officialdom, surveyed land, and collected taxes, showing no mercy to the gentry and powerful, they have not harmed ordinary merchants and law-abiding citizens. They are not the bandits who burn, kill, and plunder as rumored."

"I think... even if we conquer Fuzhou, we shouldn't have to carry out a large-scale massacre and harm the innocent."

“Songtian is a sensible man. He must have already arranged for his family and his mother to go to Zhangzhou for refuge.”

He said this not only to comfort the housekeeper, but also to comfort himself.

In the midst of chaos, the safety and survival of his family constantly weighed on his mind.

Just as the master and servant were feeling uneasy, suddenly, an unusual commotion came from the direction of the Western Restoration Army Commander's Mansion. Immediately afterwards, the two heavy vermilion gates of the yamen were flung open!

A group of spirited soldiers from the training regiment, dressed in brand-new indigo uniforms and with red armbands, rode tall horses and rushed into the street like a whirlwind!
The young officer at the head of the group, unable to hide his excitement, spurred his horse forward, shouting at the top of his lungs to the crowds along the way:

"Great victory in Fuzhou! Great victory in Fuzhou!"

"Our army has recaptured Fuzhou, the provincial capital, the night before last!"

"Fuzhou has been liberated!"

The shouts were like thunderclaps from a clear sky, instantly resounding throughout the entire Jianning Prefecture!
"What? Fuzhou...has been liberated?!"

"Only a few days? Ten days? Half a month? And the provincial capital has already been lost?!"

"My God...this...this Restoration Army, are they really heavenly soldiers and generals?!"

The street was initially deathly silent, then erupted into deafening screams, discussions, and incredulous clamor!
The news spread like wildfire, rapidly traversing the crisscrossing streets and alleys!
Standing at the entrance of the silk shop, Lin Lichuan was struck as if by lightning. He froze on the spot, his eyes wide open and his mouth slightly agape, but he couldn't utter a sound.

Those words kept echoing in his mind—"Fuzhou Liberation"!
"How could this be... how could this be..." he murmured in a daze, "High walls and solid city walls, surrounded by three mountains, the key to the two rivers... Fuzhou... has changed hands just like that?"

The enormous shock was hard for him to accept; all his previous predictions and judgments were shattered by reality at that moment.

An indescribable shock, coupled with an even deeper and more unfathomable uncertainty about the future, caused him to panic instantly.

Meanwhile, at the General Headquarters of the Restoration Army, in the operations command center.

In stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere outside, the indoor atmosphere, though lively, was orderly.

In front of the huge Fujian model, Qin Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly fixed on the symbol representing Fuzhou, which was now adorned with a small red flag.

"Hahaha, Commander-in-Chief, a great victory! This is an unprecedented victory!"

Even Zhang Suimou, who was known for his composure, was so excited that his cheeks flushed and his voice trembled slightly. "Starting from the Third Army under He Mingbiao's attack from Shaowu, in less than half a month, they have successively captured Jiangle, Shunchang, and Nanping, broken through the natural barrier of Minqing, and are now heading straight for the walls of Fuzhou!"

"The siege lasted only a few days before they launched a coordinated attack from within and without, and captured the city in one fell swoop!"

"Such overwhelming force is nothing short of miraculous speed!"

"He Mingbiao and Lai Yuxin deserve the greatest credit for this battle!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, his eyes burning as he looked at Qin Yuan: "Commander, the liberation of Fuzhou will surely shake the entire province."

"The 100,000 troops in Fuling Prefecture have no way out and can only become turtles in a jar for my Restoration Army!"

"As long as our army pursues the victory and annihilates them all in the mountains of northeastern Fujian, then there will be no large-scale Qing army in Fujian that can contend with us!"

"At that time, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Tingzhou, and even Taiwan Prefecture can be pacified with a mere proclamation!"

"Our army finally has a real base!"

No wonder Zhang Suimou was so agitated.

Although Jianning and Shaowu were good prefectures, they were located in the mountainous area of ​​northern Fujian, with barren land, making it difficult to support a large army and the potential influx of people in the future.

Only by taking control of the prosperous Fuzhou Plain, the lower reaches of the Min River, and the coastal ports could the Guangfu Army truly establish itself in Fujian and acquire the initial capital to contend for supremacy.

However, despite this tremendous victory, Qin Yuan did not show much elation on his face; he was even excessively calm.

He gently raised his hand to stop Zhang Suimou from speaking, his gaze still focused on the area of ​​Fu Ning Prefecture on the sand table.

"Prime Minister, it is too early to celebrate now."

Qin Yuan's gaze was calm and composed as he said indifferently, "The change of Fuzhou has only opened up the situation. The real key lies in whether we can take advantage of this fleeting opportunity to completely capture the main force of the 100,000 Qing troops in Fuzhou!"

He picked up the small blue flag representing the Qing army and planted it heavily in the Zhou Dun and Fu'an area. His tone turned stern: "Zhou Tianshou, Zhou Tianpei, Li Dingtai and others are all fierce generals of the Qing court in Zhejiang and Fujian. The 100,000 men under their command are the elite of the Qing army in the southeast."

"If they realize that Fuzhou has fallen, their morale will collapse, and they will fight desperately to break out. Whether they return north to Zhejiang or flee south to Fuzhou, they will become a huge hidden danger, and our previous gains in Zhejiang, Fuzhou and other places may be lost again."

He raised his head and scanned the assembled generals and staff officers with his gaze: "That's why we absolutely cannot let the tiger return to the mountain!"

"We must trap and annihilate these 100,000 Qing troops within Fujian!"

"If this battle succeeds, the Qing army in Zhejiang and even Jiangxi will be severely weakened in the coming years, and will be unable to launch a large-scale invasion of Fujian. Only then can our army truly focus on building up our base!"

Zhang Suimou's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately suppressed his joy, saying solemnly, "Commander is a man of great foresight. We were blinded by victory. Please give the order, Commander!"

Without further hesitation, Qin Yuan walked to the sand table and, speaking quickly and clearly, issued a series of commands:

"Order the First Army under Shi Zhenji to immediately join forces with Yu Zhongfu's troops, abandon their entanglement in Quzhou, and advance eastward with their main force to strike directly at Ruian, Zhejiang, threatening Wenzhou!"

"Then head south, seize Fenshui Pass, and completely block the Qing army's land route to Zhejiang!"

"I will make him suffer a complete defeat, leaving him nowhere to retreat!" Zhang Suimou waved his hand, and someone immediately wrote down Qin Yuan's military order. Zhang Suimou personally stamped it with the seal of the General Staff Headquarters, and then added Qin Yuan's commander's seal.

A staff officer took the urgent order and quickly left the operations room.

Qin Yuan didn't even lift his eyelids, and continued, "Order Chen Hengrong's Second Army to abandon its guerrilla harassment in Gutian and Pingnan, assemble the entire army, and launch a fierce attack on Ningde!"

"Take this place at all costs and cut off the last land route for the Qing army in Fuzhou and Ningxia to reach Fuzhou!"

"Order He Mingbiao's Third Army to hand over the defense of Fuzhou to Lai Yuxin's troops and the newly reorganized forces."

"He Mingbiao personally led the main force of the navy, along with elite land troops, northward along the coastal road, heading straight for Fuzhou (Xiapu), bombarding the port, cutting off its sea route, burning its provisions, and stabbing Zhou Tianshou in the back!"

Finally, his gaze fell on the position of the Fourth Army on the sand table, which was still locked in fierce combat with the main Qing army force, and his tone was grim:
"Tell Fu Zhongxin, the time for a counterattack has come!"

"Hold back no more! Launch a full-scale counterattack! I'll teach Li Dingtai and Zhou Tianpei a lesson in what it means to be surrounded on all sides, to have nowhere to turn!"

A series of orders, like a sudden storm, were issued with clear objectives and ruthless methods, outlining a grand blueprint for an encirclement and annihilation campaign.

Qin Yuan intended to take advantage of the psychological shock and strategic initiative brought about by the great victory in Fuzhou, and seize the opportunity when the Qing army was in a state of panic and confusion.

By mobilizing all mobile forces, a strategic encirclement was completed from the north, east, and south, supplemented by a naval blockade. Finally, Fu Zhongxin's troops delivered a fatal blow from the front, completely burying the 100,000 Qing troops in Fuzhou.

"Gentlemen," Qin Yuan said, looking around at everyone, his voice deep and resolute, "the outcome of the Fujian campaign hinges on this one battle! If we annihilate Zhou Tianshou's forces, the entire Fujian region will be under our control!"

"We will obey the Commander's orders and vow to annihilate the Qing demons!"

Inside the command center, the staff officers responded with a thunderous roar, their killing intent filling the air.

The staff officers accepted the orders and left, while Qin Yuan left behind Zeng Jinqian, the Minister of Propaganda, Cheng Xueqi, the Minister of Commerce, Shi Zhenchang, the Minister of Logistics, as well as Zhang Suimou and Yu Zian.

His gaze swept over the five men one by one, then he picked up a detailed battle report that had just been sent from the front lines in Fuzhou and said slowly, “I didn’t mention this before, but I’m telling you all now that He Mingbiao’s detailed battle report mentioned that the greatest credit for the fall of Fuzhou belongs to a young man named Shen Weiqing.”

"It was he who opened the water supply department at night, coordinating with our troops from the inside and outside, which allowed our army to enter the city so quickly."

"Not only that, this man also killed the deputy commander of the garrison, Mao Rujie, amidst the chaos of battle, and helped capture the governor, Qingrui. He can be called the number one hero of the Fuzhou campaign."

"Shen Weiqing?"

The name startled everyone present.

They had been wondering how the fortified city of Fuzhou had fallen so quickly; it turned out there was an inside agent who opened the gates.

But who is this Shen Weiqing, that he has such power and courage?

Before they could ask any questions, Qin Yuan revealed the answer: "This man is the son of Shen Baozhen, the prefect of Guangxin."

"What?! The son of Shen Baozhen, the prefect of Guangxin?!"

Shi Zhenchang gasped in shock, while Zeng Jinqian and Cheng Xueqi were also horrified.

The son of a local prefect turned against his lord on the battlefield, killing a Qing general and capturing a high-ranking official.
This news is absolutely shocking!
Cheng Xueqi wondered if this was a player.
This must be a player.

Only a player, and one who is inclined to support Qin Yuan, would be capable of doing something that breaks with conventional thinking by using the identity of Shen Baozhen's son.

His gaze quickly met Qin Yuan's eyes.

Qin Yuan nodded slightly to him and continued:

According to He Mingbiao, Shen Weiqing had written a letter to Guangxin before taking action.

"If nothing unexpected happens, Lord Shen Baozhen will most likely abandon his post and flee in order to protect himself."

"Guangxin is adjacent to my Shaowu Prefecture. The most likely escape route for them is to sneak into my Shaowu Prefecture via Qianshan and Zixi Ancient Road or come directly to Jianning Prefecture to avoid disaster."

He looked at Yu Zian and ordered, "Zian, you shall immediately dispatch capable officers in the name of the Training Corps, carrying my order, to secretly investigate and provide support at key checkpoints along the borders of Shaowu Prefecture and Jianning Prefecture."

"If you encounter Shen Baozhen and his family, be sure to treat them with courtesy, make proper arrangements for them, and escort them to Jianning Prefecture City as soon as possible."

“This man is a rare talent. If he can be put to use, he will be of great benefit to the cause of restoration.”

At this moment, Yu Zian also realized what was happening.

This Shen Weiqing has now essentially tied the entire Shen family to the war chariot of the Restoration Army, and the Qing court will never let Shen Baozhen go.

Shen Baozhen had no other choice but to join the Restoration Army.

He knew that if he could recruit a capable official like Shen Baozhen, it would greatly enhance the legitimacy and appeal of the Restoration Army regime.

He immediately replied, "I understand. I will make arrangements immediately to ensure that the message is delivered properly and that Mr. Shen does not suffer any mishaps on the way."

After dealing with Shen Baozhen's matter, Qin Yuan changed the subject, turning his gaze to Shi Zhenchang, who was in charge of ordnance logistics, and his tone became serious:
“Zhenchang, although Fuzhou has been liberated, this battle has also exposed the huge shortcomings of our army in attacking fortified positions.”

"We are both well aware of the lessons learned from the Battle of Quzhou."

"Ultimately, the problem is that our methods of attacking fortified cities are too simplistic. Once our attempts to breach the city walls fail, we are helpless when faced with fortified cities."

"He Mingbiao and Lai Yuxin also mentioned this issue several times in their battle reports during the Battle of Fuzhou. How is the progress of the heavy siege equipment you are overseeing the construction of?"

Shi Zhenchang looked troubled and reported, "Brother, heavy siege weapons are nothing more than ladders, siege towers, siege engines, catapults, and giant crossbows."

"However, Fujian is mountainous and the roads are rugged. These machines are huge and it is extremely difficult to transport them by land. Often, they will miss the opportunity to fight before they even reach the front line. If we take them by water, our existing ships are too small to carry such large machines."

He paused for a moment, then presented the prevailing opinion among the craftsmen: "Right now, most craftsmen believe that instead of the effort of transporting heavy machinery, it would be better to increase the power and range of the cannons."

"However... this requires high-quality steel and more advanced cannon-making technology, which must be purchased or imported from foreigners."

"Foreigners..."

Qin Yuan tapped the table lightly. In this era, these two words were almost synonymous with "advanced technology" and "powerful military force".

We definitely need to buy them, but Guangfu Army must also have its own firearms production and manufacturing capabilities.

He pondered for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on the table as his mind raced.

Currently, only one-third of the Kwangmyong Army uses firearms; most of them still use longswords and spears.

However, gunpowder is the foundation of all modern firearms, and its power has a vast potential for further development, even in terms of its ability to enhance the strength of future generations.

With that in mind, he made a decision immediately.

He looked at Cheng Xueqi and said, "Xueqi, when your Ministry of Commerce contacts foreign merchants, you can try to purchase relevant technical information or hire technicians. Also, ask if there are any foreigners willing to sell firearms. Price is not an issue."

Cheng Xueqi nodded slightly. As a player, he was well aware of the importance of firearms in the current era.

"But buying isn't enough; we also need to know how to make it ourselves."

Qin Yuan continued, "The technology for producing steel pipes is beyond our current reach."

"However, the refining and standardized production of black powder must be put on the agenda immediately and a special project must be established."

Then, he looked at Shi Zhenchang and asked a crucial question: "To refine gunpowder, a large amount of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal are needed."

"Charcoal is widely available in the mountains and forests of Fujian, so it's not difficult to solve the problem."

"Sulfur... I've heard that there are abundant mineral veins in the volcanic areas of northern Taiwan, is that true?"

Shi Zhenchang, a native of Guangxi, would have no idea about things in Taiwan.

He answered stammeringly.

Only Cheng Xueqi, one of the few, discerned some of the nuances.

Mr. Jing wouldn't mention Taiwan without reason!
There is only one possibility for this to be mentioned suddenly.

That means we must take over Taiwan!

(End of this chapter)