Beiyang Dream

This morning, before it was even fully light.

Naoemon Hashiguchi was jolted awake from his dream of "the Imperial Army defeating the Qing Dynasty and conquering Korea" by a burst of noisy work chants!

In this dreamlike state, his "empire" not only conquered Korea, but also forced the Qing Dynasty to cede the Liaodong Peninsula and islands, and extorted 200 million taels of silver in reparations...

That was a resounding victory!

How could this all be a dream...?

He cursed "Baka!" and opened his eyes with great dissatisfaction. Still grumpy from waking up, he heard shouts of "Heave-ho, heave-ho" outside the window, followed by the rumble of wheels rolling over the stone road.

That was quite a commotion! I wonder which merchant was so "ambitious" to start work so early in the morning. They really are hardworking citizens of the Empire!

Qiaokou turned over, wanting to sleep a little longer.

Then that damned chant got even louder: "Heave-ho...hey...give it your all!!"

That's not right!

That's Chinese!

Qiaokou immediately sensed something was wrong, quickly put on his pajamas, got up, staggered to the window, and pulled open the curtains.

Then he froze.

A flatbed cart rumbled past on the street. Rolls of steel bars, tied with hemp rope, were piled on it neatly. Four shirtless men, all with queues (traditional Manchu hairstyles), were pulling the cart; they were burly and broad-shouldered, clearly not Japanese. Two more men, dressed similarly and of similar build, were pushing the cart behind. They really were Qing Dynasty people! What time is it? Qiaokou glanced subconsciously at the clock on the wall. 5:53.

He rubbed his eyes and glanced at them again.

That's right, it's 5:53.

Standing at the window by the bridge, watching the flatbed truck rumble past, I was a little confused.

Those seem to be Huai Army soldiers who just arrived in Yuanshan yesterday...

It's only 5:53, and these Huai Army soldiers are shirtless, hauling steel bars in the street? After traveling so far, shouldn't they take a break? Are the Huai Army... really working this hard now?

Qiaokou was standing there, stunned, when he suddenly saw a familiar figure walking towards him from the street corner. The man was wearing a police uniform, yawning, and looked like he hadn't woken up yet; it was Inspector Shimada.

Hashiguchi quickly opened the window and called out, "Shimada-kun! Shimada-kun!"

Shimada looked up and saw Hashiguchi standing at the window in his pajamas. He was taken aback. "Consul? Why are you up so early?"

"I was woken up by those Qing people!" Hashiguchi said. "Wait a minute, I'll get dressed and come downstairs!"

He turned around, put on his pants, then a coat, slipped on his wooden clogs, and ran downstairs.

When Qiaokou rushed downstairs, Shimada was already waiting at the door.

"Shimada-kun, what's going on here?" Hashiguchi pointed to the flatbed cart that had already driven away on the street. "Why are the Qing people working so early?" Shimada gave a wry smile: "Your Excellency, I just went to the Qing concession area and saw... The people I sent to keep an eye on them said that they woke up at five o'clock in the morning with trumpets and started working at five-thirty."

Qiaokou thought he had misheard: "Get up at five o'clock? Start work at five-thirty?"

"Yes."

"Is the Huai Army... this diligent now?"

The people at the bridgehead were a bit confused!

Japan wasn't ready, but the previously oblivious enemy suddenly woke up and started "making a scene" at five o'clock! No, we have to report back home immediately!

Shimada was a little confused: "I don't know either. But what I saw with my own eyes was that things were going very well in the Qing concession. More than a hundred people were digging trenches, carrying cement... and not a single one was slacking off. Even their officers were busy at the construction site."

Qiaokou was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Let's go take a look."

Clearing out the foreign concessions.

Despite being called a "concession," it was really just a road and three buildings. One was the office of the Commerce Commissioner, another was the telegraph office, and the third was the Shen Dong Company. None of the three buildings were large, with gray tiles and white walls, surrounded by an earthen wall, looking somewhat shabby. But at this moment, this concession with only three buildings was already bustling with activity.

Chang Desheng stood beside a wooden table, a charcoal stick in his hand, quickly scribbling on a piece of white paper. A few strokes later, a crooked line appeared. "Listen carefully," he said, "I need a standard trench, not just a hole. See that lime line on the ground? That's called a zigzag shallow trench. Everyone dig along that line; no digging randomly."

After saying that, he handed the sketch he had just drawn to Kong Qingtang: "The first section is twenty zhang long. Start from that intersection and go straight south. When you reach the ash heap, turn right and go five zhang long, then continue south for another twenty zhang. Widen the corner by twice its width to leave room for a machine gun emplacement. You will personally lay the lime lines, following the blueprint exactly. No shoddy work."

Kong Qingtang took the blueprints and nodded: "Understood."

"Go."

Kong Qingtang turned and left. Chang Desheng picked up another sheet of white paper and began drawing the gun emplacement diagram.

He pondered: where should he position the three 120mm coastal defense guns? He needed a prime location with a wide field of view and a firing arc covering the direction of the dock. It just needed to be able to bombard the dock and the nearby beachhead; he didn't need to target any warships. After all, 120mm guns couldn't hit armored vehicles and were easily countered by larger naval guns. It was better to position them further out to sea and directly engage any landing forces attempting to seize the dock. The goal wasn't to damage enemy ships, but to inflict heavy losses on the enemy landing force! Therefore, these three guns couldn't be too close to the sea, and they needed to be surrounded by a ring of defensive fortifications… shallow trenches, barbed wire, machine guns, mortars, pressure-activated mines—heap up all the defenses he could!

Ideally, even if thousands or tens of thousands of people die, they still wouldn't be able to take it all down! Just as he was thinking this, Duan Qirui walked over from the side, holding a bowl of porridge in his hand, and slowly drank it.

"Brother Zhenbang, breakfast is ready."

Chang Desheng didn't even look up: "Leave it there, I'll finish drawing this first."

Duan Qirui didn't urge him, but stood beside him watching him draw. After a while, he suddenly said, "Isn't this gun position too far from the coast? It's impossible to hit the Russian ships..."

"It has to be far away," Chang Desheng interrupted him. "If the gun emplacements are too close to the sea, the enemy's large-caliber naval guns will fire right at us... We don't have any big guns that can go toe-to-toe with ironclad warships, and we don't need to keep the enemy out of the sea. We don't have a fleet to protect! What I need is this Yuanshan Port, one that can't be used by the enemy!"

Duan Qirui was silent for a moment, then said, "Is your enemy... Russian? Or Japanese?"

Chang Desheng chuckled: "That's right! As long as these three cannons arrive, we've got this game in the bag!"

Duan Qirui nodded, then glanced again at the large Russian warship on the distant sea, feeling something was amiss. When Hashiguchi and Shimada arrived at the Qing concession, they were met with a scene of rapid, high-speed construction…

Cao Kun stood on a large rock, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Brothers on the left outpost! Dig deeper over there! One and a half meters! Not one and a half meters! Can't you understand human language?"

Kong Qingtang and Wu Dingyuan, along with several "educated youths" from Southeast Asia, were squatting on the ground spreading lime lines. The lines were spread straight, with a specially widened section marked at the corners.

Chang Desheng and Duan Qirui stood beside a wooden table with a blueprint spread out on it, gesturing and discussing something. Meanwhile, the Qing soldiers were busy digging, carrying cement, and laying barbed wire. They were all shirtless, sweating profusely, and working with great enthusiasm. Even the young men dressed in Manchu bannerman uniforms were driving donkey carts laden with freshly cut wooden stakes, presumably to reinforce the fortifications.

Standing at the entrance to the Qing concession, Qiaoguchi looked around for a while, then turned to Shimada and said, "Shimada-kun, you served in the army, what do you think of this trench... how well is it dug? Can it hold off the Russians?"

Shimada squinted at it for a moment, then nodded: "The digging is indeed quite good. Whether it can stop the Russians is hard to say. But one thing is certain: these Qing soldiers are truly skilled..."

As he was speaking, Chang Desheng had already seen them.

Chang Desheng tugged at Duan Qirui's sleeve and said in a low voice, "Look, the free laborer has arrived."

Duan Qirui looked up and saw two Japanese men walking towards him with Yao Wenzao. He thought to himself, "Chang Zhenbang, what mischief are you up to now?" He asked in a low voice, "How are you going to trick me?"

Chang Desheng smiled and said, "I'll do it. You just need to support me."

Duan Qirui cursed inwardly: "I knew you'd lie. I need to write this down and report to the Grand Secretary."

But he nodded outwardly: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

Qiaokou walked to the wooden table and bowed to Chang Desheng: "Lord Chang, you've been busy since early morning. You must be very tired."

Chang Desheng smiled and returned the greeting: "Consul Qiaokou, your timing is perfect. I was just about to discuss something with you."

"Oh? What is it?"

Chang Desheng didn't answer directly, but instead pointed to the trenches on the ground: "Consul Qiaokou, what do you think of my fortifications? Aren't they alright?" Qiaokou nodded: "Very professional. I've spent many years in the Qing Dynasty and seen many Qing army camps, but this is the first time I've seen something as professional as Consul Chang's."

"Consul at the bridgehead, you flatter me," Chang Desheng smiled, then changed the subject, "However, as you can see, although my fortifications are professional, I simply don't have enough manpower. As you know, the Russian ships are anchored outside the harbor and could attack at any moment. My two hundred men are simply overwhelmed, having to repair fortifications, set up defenses, and maintain vigilance!"

Qiaokou didn't respond, waiting for him to continue.

Chang Desheng stepped forward: "Consul Qiaokou, I have a suggestion. Russian ships are currently outside the harbor, and Wonsan is in imminent danger. Both our countries have residents and interests in Wonsan. Once the Russians land, no one can escape. Why don't our two countries jointly establish a 'Wonsan Temporary Joint Defense Bureau' to build fortifications and defend Wonsan Port together?"

We will provide the land, soldiers, and weapons; your country will provide the labor and supplies. Once the fortifications are completed, not only will our Qing Dynasty concession be impregnable, but your nationals will also be able to seek refuge there in times of crisis. What is Your Excellency's opinion?

This "temporary joint defense bureau" was, of course, part of Chang Desheng's plan. "Joint defense, after all," he thought, meant that when the Russians were attacked, the Japanese would also get a share.

The Japanese first beheaded Nicholas II in Otsu, then used a Maxim gun to kill Russian soldiers in Wonsan... Could the Crown Prince Nicholas, who was still in Vladivostok, possibly slink back to St. Petersburg in disgrace?

Absolutely not!

Can Russians really support such a coward as emperor? Even if Nicholas II wanted to go back, he'd have to stay in Vladivostok and put on a tough front!

Qiaokou thought to himself: Joint Defense Bureau... Sounds good. We can use the Qing Dynasty's strength to defend Yuanshan!

Moreover, since it's a "joint defense," shouldn't the Japanese have a say? Once the Russian Crown Prince's anger subsides, the Japanese army can also use the pretext of "joint defense" to send troops to Wonsan.

"How many men does Lord Chang need from our side?" Qiaokou asked.

"Five hundred men! In addition, we hope you can help us with some of the timber, stone, and tools. Also, we came in a hurry and didn't bring enough rations; we hope you can provide some."

Qiaokou frowned slightly: "Five hundred men... Lord Chang, this number..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chang Desheng quickly added, "Consul Qiaokou, think about it. The Russian ships are right outside the harbor, ready to strike at any moment. Once they make their move, will it be too late to mobilize troops and supplies from the mainland? Now, while the Russians are still hesitating, let's build the fortifications first. Once the fortifications are built, the Russians will see that Yuanshan is prepared, and they might back down. This is using fortifications to fight, subduing the enemy without a fight."

It seems to make a lot of sense, but something still feels off at the bridgehead...

Duan Qirui added from the side: "Consul Hashiguchi, protecting Wonsan in Korea is protecting the Japanese mainland. If Japan and Korea are not invaded by Russia, the northeastern part of our Great Qing will not be caught in a pincer movement. This is a common interest of the three East Asian countries."

Qiaokou glanced at Duan Qirui, then at Chang Desheng, and was about to say something...

Just then, a middle-aged man in a suit came running from a distance, clutching a telegram in his hand, and shouted breathlessly, "Your Excellency! Your Excellency! Urgent telegram from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo!"

Qiaokou was taken aback, took the telegram, and unfolded it to read.

Chang Desheng and Duan Qirui exchanged a glance.

Both men knew that Hashiguchi must have sent a telegram to Tokyo yesterday, and now a reply had arrived. They just didn't know what Tokyo's intentions were. Had Li Hongzhang actually negotiated with the British and Japanese?

After reading the telegram, Qiaokou's expression changed several times. Then he looked up at Chang Desheng and took a deep breath:

"Lord Chang, we will send one thousand men."

Chang Desheng was stunned for a moment.

A thousand people?

He originally only wanted 500 people, but Qiaokou took the initiative to increase it to 1,000.

Looks like Tokyo's taken the bait; we can scam even more later!

His face remained impassive; he simply cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Consul Qiaokou is very understanding. Once the fortifications are completed, if any Japanese residents in the concession encounter any trouble, feel free to send them to me."

Qiaokou nodded, bowed to Chang Desheng and Duan Qirui, and then went to call for reinforcements.

That evening, aboard the Pamiyat Azov.

The captain's cabin reeked of alcohol.

Colonel Leontiev had already drunk half a bottle of vodka. He wasn't usually that heavy a drinker. But today was different. Standing at the porthole, he could see those yellow-skinned monkeys building fortifications in the concession, and the more he looked, the angrier he got.

He was furious!

He originally thought that this trip to Wonsan was just a formality. He thought that the warships would anchor outside the harbor, and at most, a few shots would be fired to intimidate the local officials in North Korea. They would have no choice but to obey. Japan was terrified of the Russian Empire and probably wouldn't dare to stop Russia from forcibly leasing Wonsan Port. At worst, Japan and Russia would each lease their own port. The sea around Wonsan was so big, and there was no shortage of deep-water berths.

If he can achieve this level of success, he'll undoubtedly be promoted to general when he returns!

But the result?

First, a ship flying the British flag arrived and unloaded over two hundred Qing soldiers. Then, these Qing troops, seemingly out of nowhere, began large-scale construction in the Qing concession early the next morning, digging trenches and building artillery fortifications. And then... even the Japanese got involved! A thousand Japanese.

They helped the Qing people build fortifications.

They even set up some kind of "Yuanshan Joint Defense Bureau".

Joint Defense Bureau.

Leontiev picked up his glass and took another sip.

Damn it, Qing China and Japan are actually going to unite to defend against Russia!

He slammed his wine glass down on the table with a loud thud.

A cautious voice came from outside the door: "Colonel? Are you alright?"

That was his orderly.

Leontiev ignored him. He stood up, walked to the porthole, and yanked back the curtains. Outside was the night view of Yuanshan Port; the sea was pitch black, and the lights of the Japanese concession on the shore were sparse. Further away, in the direction of the Qing concession, there were a few lights... Damn it, those yellow-skinned monkeys, they're working even at night!

He stared at the light for a long time, then suddenly turned around, walked to the door, and opened the hatch.

The orderly stood outside the door, looking nervous: "Colonel?"

"Go and fetch Captain Borovkov," Leontiev said, "now!"

The orderly paused for a moment: "Captain Borovkov? He... he's already asleep."

"Then wake him up," Leontiev said, staring into the orderly's eyes. "I mean... now!"

"Yes, sir!"

About ten minutes later, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged officer in a naval uniform walked in. The man was probably in his early forties, with a robust build and a neatly trimmed beard. He was Captain Borovkov, the marine commander aboard the Pamyat Azov.

"Colonel, you wanted to see me?"

Leontiev pointed out the window towards the shore, gritting his teeth as he said, "Tomorrow morning, I want you to bring men ashore."

Borovkov paused, taken aback: "Go ashore? For what?"

"Let's go cause trouble for those yellow-skinned monkeys!"