Beiyang Dream

Chapter 265 Yuan Shikai Arrives at His Loyal Station

Inside the conference room of the battleship "Baishan".

Oyama Iwao, Ito Sukeyuki, Inoue Hikaru, Samejima Kanogi, and the others all had ashen faces.

Kawahara Yoichi, who came from Incheon to "transmit the imperial decree," was standing there, looking at the face of the man who had introduced Emperor Meiji to these people, wondering how the damned Beiyang Fleet had slapped him so hard.

"The Qing Dynasty warships arrived in the early morning of the 25th, and first—landed on Yuigahama Beach in Kamakura..."

"What?"

"It really is Kamakura..."

"Th-that Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine..."

'

"Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine...it's burned down!" Kawahara cried, his face contorted with grief. "The naval command's secret telegram says the fire destroyed most of the shrine; the main hall and worship hall are completely gone, even the portrait of Minamoto no Yoritomo was burned, and the Minamoto clan's white flag inside the shrine was taken by the Qing Dynasty sailors who landed..."

'

"What?" Inoue Hikaru suddenly looked up. "The Genji White Flag? That's—that's the symbol of the samurai spirit!"

Kawahara Yoichi said with a wry smile, "Now it's in the hands of the Qing people..."

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Then Kawahara Yoichi added, "And also, at the entrance to Tokyo Bay... the 'Changyuan,' accompanied by the 'Zhiyuan,' is blocking the entrance to Tokyo Bay."

"They shoot at any ship flying the Japanese flag. The first one sunk was a whaling ship from Kamakura. Then came the Kasuga Maru...that was a cargo ship of over two thousand tons! It had only been out of Yokohama for a short time when it encountered the Changyuan and Zhiyuan, and was sunk right in front of the British ocean liner Empress of China..."

A collective gasp filled the conference room.

Burning down Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine and stealing the Genji's white flag was a humiliation, but it's something Japan can accept domestically.

It won't affect Japan's "dog position"—after all, there are so many shrines in Japan, burning down one or two doesn't seem like a big deal.

All we need to do is say that "Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine" is not important.

However, the "Changyuan" and "Zhiyuan" blocked the entrance and exit of Tokyo Bay and attacked Japanese merchant ships, even in front of British mail ships... with a whole ship full of foreigners watching!

How can I make this round?

Tokyo Bay is unimportant; can it be blocked or obstructed at will?

outrageous!

The news of the "blockade at Tokyo Bay" will make the front page of The Times within a week at most!

Then all the British ministers and members of parliament will know!

What will they think?

Don't you think Japan, this "watchdog," isn't very good at guarding the gate...?

Kawahara wasn't finished speaking yet!

He sighed and continued, "That's not all... The 'Changyuan' and 'Zhiyuan' blocked the waters outside Tokyo Bay, fighting for a whole afternoon. They sank four merchant ships in total, captured two more, forced them to raise a white flag, and took them away..."

Good heavens, not only did they sink four merchant ships, but they also captured two others...

Another silence fell over the meeting room.

After a long while, Oyama Iwao finally spoke, his voice muffled: "How's things...over Tokyo Bay?"

Kawahara Yoichi said, "The Changyuan and Zhiyuan escorted two of our merchant ships away; they must have gone back to Shanghai."

Going back to Shanghai wouldn't be a good thing for Japan!

Although the waters near Japan are safe for now, but... what about Shanghai?

Shanghai, the bustling metropolis of the 1930s!

There are several thousand foreigners living there, plus those passing through, the total number is easily over ten thousand!

Tens of thousands of foreigners witnessed the Changyuan and Zhiyuan escorting Japanese merchant ships and prisoners of war back in triumph...

How swollen will His Majesty the Emperor's face be now?

Kawahara continued, "The Naval General Staff has issued a strict order, commanding all ships in the Yokosuka Naval Base to be deployed for the search. But as you know, the largest ships in Yokosuka are just a few old gunboats; they can't catch up with the 'Chōin.' Even if they did—"

He didn't finish his sentence. But everyone present understood what he meant.

It's better not to catch up; even if you do, it's just suicide...

Kawahara finally finished speaking, and Ito Sukeyuki spoke up.

"So... His Majesty the Emperor ordered us to 'quickly seize Tianjin and march straight to Beijing' in order to salvage the situation?"

Kawahara nodded slightly: "Yes. How far is Kamakura from the Tokyo Imperial Palace? Fifty kilometers. Qing Dynasty warships have already reached right under His Majesty the Emperor's nose. The international repercussions are truly appalling..."

'

"Therefore..." Ōyama Iwao continued, "The Imperial Army must retaliate tenfold, a hundredfold! Only in this way can we salvage the situation and let those Westerners know that our Japanese Empire is still superior to the Qing Dynasty!"

"Since we have His Majesty's decree, there's nothing more to say. We'll postpone our landing at Jinzhou Bay for now... let's land at Beitang!"

Ito Sukeyuki nodded: "Alright! Right at Beitang... But we'll need a few days to prepare for the landing. Before that, the Imperial Army must take action!" He paused, then continued, "Once the 'Hakusan' is resupplyed, it will set sail immediately! Tonight we can bombard Dagu Forts... We must let the Qing people, and the Westerners in Tianjin, know that the Japanese Imperial Army will soon be marching straight to Beijing!"

Oyama Iwao nodded: "Then it's settled..." He then said to Chief of Staff Inoue Hikaru: "Inoue-kun, go and inform the 6th Division to prepare. The first landing force must depart tomorrow afternoon!"

"Hai!"

The 25th day of the sixth month of the Jiawu year, at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM).

Beijing, Summer Palace, Yulan Hall, East Warm Pavilion.

Emperor Guangxu was having a dream... a nightmare!

In his dream, he saw Japanese soldiers landing in Tianjin!

Li Hongzhang, that old fox, had his Huai Army pretend to guard the shore, firing a few shots before disappearing without a trace.

They run incredibly fast, they're all like rabbits!

Emperor Guangxu stood on the city wall and shouted, begging them to come back, but no one paid him any attention.

Then the Japanese soldiers marched north and soon reached the outskirts of Beijing.

Emperor Guangxu was frantic in his dream and immediately sent a telegram to Yuan Shikai, ordering him to bring troops back from Shanhaiguan to rescue him.

The telegram was sent, and they waited and waited, but Yuan Shikai still didn't come. Emperor Guangxu paced anxiously back and forth in the Qianqing Palace, as restless as an ant on a hot pan.

Then... before Yuan Shikai even arrived, Beijing was breached!

Emperor Guangxu heard Japanese soldiers outside shouting, "Capture Emperor Guangxu, destroy the Qing Dynasty!" The shouts were deafening!

He ran out of the Qianqing Palace and saw that the streets were full of Manchu bannermen running away, with armor, swords and spears scattered all over the ground!

Emperor Guangxu told them to stop and not to bring shame to their ancestors.

But nobody listened to him... all they did was run for their lives, they didn't even care about the Qing Dynasty!

Then Weng Tonghe appeared out of nowhere, grabbed him, and ran to the back.

The two ran and ran until they reached the top of Jingshan Hill. Standing atop the hill, Emperor Guangxu looked down and saw the entire city of Beijing engulfed in smoke and flames, with Japanese soldiers everywhere shouting, "Capture Guangxu! Destroy the Qing Dynasty!"

Then he saw a tree.

A crooked tree!

Emperor Guangxu stared at the tree for a long time, and suddenly he understood.

This is the very tree that Emperor Chongzhen "hanged" from!

Is it his turn to hang himself now?

No!

Emperor Guangxu didn't want to die, but his legs wouldn't obey him, and he walked step by step toward the tree. The tree grew closer and closer...

Then he heard someone calling him.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"

Emperor Guangxu suddenly opened his eyes.

Before me stood the carved bed beams of the Yulan Hall's warm chamber.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" a voice asked cautiously from the side.

Emperor Guangxu turned his head and saw the face of his trusted eunuch, Kou Liancai. At that moment, Kou Liancai was holding a cup of tea, and his expression was a mixture of worry and fear.

Emperor Guangxu did not take the teacup. He simply lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling for a long while before slowly recovering.

It was a dream.

It was just a dream.

He wasn't on Jingshan Hill, the Japanese soldiers didn't enter Beijing... It was all fake, all a dream!

Emperor Guangxu let out a long breath, feeling his whole body go limp.

He asked, "What time is it?"

"Your Majesty, it's the hour of Yin (3-5 AM)," Kou Liancai said. "Lord Weng is waiting outside, saying he has something important to report."

Emperor Guangxu was taken aback: "Master Weng? So early?"

"They said an urgent report came from Tianjin, and the Prime Minister's Office sent it in overnight."

What? Tianjin.

Urgent report!

Emperor Guangxu panicked.

He just dreamt of Japanese soldiers landing in Tianjin, and now an urgent report has arrived from Tianjin? What a coincidence! Could this dream... be a warning from God?

He immediately got out of bed: "Change your clothes...quick!"

When Emperor Guangxu came out dressed, all the electric lights in the main hall of Yulan Hall were already on.

Weng Tonghe knelt on the military aircraft mat, holding a telegram in his hands, his face full of anxiety.

When Emperor Guangxu saw his old face, his heart sank.

"Speak, what is it?"

Weng Tonghe kowtowed, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty, Yantai—is lost! Also, last night, Emperor Guangxu of Japan stood there dumbfounded."

His mind was buzzing, filled with the dream he had just had.

In my dream, Japanese soldiers landed in Tianjin, Li Hongzhang's men fled, and then they fought their way to Beijing.

Now, outside my dream, Yantai has fallen, and Dagukou has been attacked. Tianjin is right behind Dagukou; if Dagukou can't be held, Tianjin will be in danger. If Tianjin falls, Beijing...

Emperor Guangxu dared not think any further.

"Where is Yuan Shikai?" he asked in a trembling voice. "Where is Yuan Shikai? Has he marched his troops out of Shanhaiguan?"

Weng Tonghe paused for a moment, then looked up at Emperor Guangxu with a somewhat bewildered expression: "Your Majesty, Assistant Yuan—he led the troops from Lushun, not Shanhaiguan."

Emperor Guangxu was also taken aback.

Lushun?

Yes, Yuan Shikai withdrew from Lushun.

He's not Wu Sangui...

He was too anxious just now, and his mind was still foggy, so he confused the things in his dream with reality.

"Where is he now?"

"They should arrive in Tianjin today," Weng Tonghe said. "His 3000 New Army soldiers, 3000 Qing Army soldiers, and 4000 Yi Army soldiers all came to Tianjin by train."

'

Emperor Guangxu was silent for a moment, then said, "Send him to see me immediately after he arrives in Tianjin!"

"Well."

Emperor Guangxu turned around and looked at the "Ten Thousand Miles of Coastal Defense Map" hanging on the wall. On the map, the location of Yantai had been circled by him with a vermilion pen.

This circle no longer belongs to him.

He remembered the dream he had just had.

In his dream, he stood on Jingshan Hill, watching Beijing smoke rising from the city.

Hopefully, that dream won't come true.

The train clattered along, and I had no idea how long it had been traveling.

Yuan Shikai leaned against the wooden wall of the private room, his eyes closed, but he was not asleep.

His mind was filled with the urgent military situation at hand.

Yantai should have fallen by now, and Japanese warships are still blocking the gates of Tianjin... Their land forces could land at any time along the line from Beitang to Dagukou.

Faced with this situation, the imperial court and Li Zhongtang did not send Chang Zhenbang, the most capable general, to defend Beijing and Tianjin. Instead, they sent Li Zhongtang himself with 10,000 troops cobbled together from various sources to Tianjin.

That's a bit risky!

Having brought 10,000 men to Tianjin, the vast Liaodong region was left with only Duan Zhiquan's 4000 "railway protection troops" capable of fighting... At least until Chang Desheng's 10,000 new troops were transferred back from Korea, they would have to rely on Duan Zhiquan's 4000.

Human support.

Can Duan Zhiquan handle it?

I'm afraid that won't work.

The imperial court and Li Hongzhang have emptied their troops in Liaodong and left the responsibility of Lushun to Chang Zhenbang, whose main force is still in Korea... What are they really up to? But it's good this way. If the Japanese go to Liaodong where their troops are weak, it will be easier for me to defend Tianjin!

As he was lost in thought, he heard someone knocking on the door.

"My lord? My lord?"

It was Tang Shaoyi's voice.

Yuan Shikai opened his eyes and rubbed his face: "Come in."

Tang Shaoyi pushed open the door, poked half his body in, and said with a smile, "Sir, we've arrived at Tianjin Station."

Yuan Shi was momentarily dazed.

Small station...

New Army...

"Have we arrived at... Tianjin Xiaozhan?" he asked again, as if confirming something.

"We've arrived," Tang Shaoyi said again. "The train has stopped, and the brothers have all gotten off."

Yuan Shikai nodded, then suddenly muttered, "Xiaozhan—Xiaozhan is mine now—"

The sound was so soft that even he could barely hear it himself.

Then he turned around, bent down, walked out of the compartment, and strode off the train.

The platform at the small station wasn't big, only big enough for three or four trains to stop. It was already packed with people.

His soldiers were emerging from the carriages of the rear military trains. They were all dressed in the same style as the Nanpu New Army, wearing gray-blue uniforms, hats without tops or chin straps, carrying German-made 1888 rifles, and some burly men were carrying disassembled Maxim machine guns.

Commands could be heard everywhere on the platform.

"Attention... Right dress!"

"Look ahead, at ease..."

"Report your numbers!"

"One, two, three, four..."

"

Yuan Shikai stood there, watching the more than 3000 new soldiers below lining up so neatly, and his heart was filled with excitement!

Although his new army didn't preach about "preserving the race and upholding the Way," and only knew how to "eat Yuan's food and wear Yuan's clothes," the officers and soldiers were all "armed and trained by Nanpu," and even had German advisors to help with training! Their weapons and equipment were the same as the "Changji Nanpu Army," all German-made, and they were also equipped with Maxim machine guns produced by the German Ludwig Company and mortars from the Schneider Company... What the soldiers of "Changji" knew, the soldiers of "Yuanji" knew too!

This army was Yuan Shikai's capital and his seed...

Xiaozhan Daying was the blessed land where Yuan's new army grew and prospered!

Yes, that's for sure!

That's what Yuan Shikai thought!