Chapter 245 Heavier than war

Yamaji, the commander of the 1st Division, looked at the map and said, "The best time to attack should be January 25th! It was the Chinese Spring Festival. On this day, the Qing soldiers should hide in the barracks to eat dumplings!"

"Mountain General, don't forget that at that time, Japanese soldiers should also eat rice cakes!" The Chief of Staff of the Second Army laughed.

The Lunar Spring Festival was once a common festival between China and Japan!

However, after the Meiji Restoration, the fully westernized Japan abandoned the Spring Festival, and New Year's Day became the most grand festival for the Japanese.

This marks that these two ancient peoples with a common history and culture have parted ways on the road of modernization.

Dashanyan finally said, "Our soldiers can give up rice cakes, but the soldiers of the Qing Dynasty can't give up dumplings!"

The originally noisy headquarters immediately calmed down, and all the officers stopped arguing and looked at the rocks on the handsome chair. Their eyes were full of impatient flames because of excitement. They wished to fly to Shandong immediately and show their sharp swords to the Qing Dynasty.

Dashanyan owes his body and said slowly, "A country that has given up rice cakes has embarked on the road of modernization, and a nation that treasures dumplings is hesitating at the fork in the road! What's wrong with giving up and cherishing?

Yamatoji Lizheng said, "Your Excellency, this problem is clear at a glance. Rice cakes and dumplings are old-fashioned manifestations. Japan gave up rice cakes and began to make rapid progress, while the Qing Dynasty guarded dumplings, but it is declining day by day! Obviously, the country is strong and needs to give up something! There is no way out because of the old way!"

"What you said makes sense." Dashanyan nodded: "However, it is too early to draw a conclusion about the debate between rice cakes and dumplings! Perhaps, 50 years, a hundred years, or even longer, will history give the right answer!"

"I don't understand." Yamachi said.

"Yes, you don't understand. I don't think I understand either!" Dashanyan said, "However, it is clear that no country can live without history. If we give up something easily, it is tantamount to cutting off our history! Or, cut off the connection between a wanderer and his hometown! As far as I know, China is the only country in the world that has never cut its history, even when she was most weak!"

"But..."

"Forget it, this is a heavy topic!" Dashanyan waved his hand: "It's heavier than the cruel war we are going to carry out! Officers, I think we should talk about a more relaxed topic - the Battle of Shandong, Chief of Staff. Now, you can want to announce the action plan of the Second Army.

The officers let out a relaxed laugh.

Yes, war has been easier than history!

The chief of staff raised his baton and pointed to a bay in the north of Shandong Peninsula: "In the early morning of January 25, China's Lunar New Year, the Second Army will land in Rongcheng Bay under the escort of the joint fleet! The 2nd Division, 3rd Division and 6th Division are responsible for the landing operation. After the landing operation is completed, they immediately launched a raid on Rongcheng. After overcoming Rongcheng, they will fully attack the rear of Weihaiwei! At the same time, the joint fleet will block the exit of the Beiyang Marine Division on the sea and surround the Beiyang Marine Division in the port. Our army will attack Weihaiwei from both land and sea, so as to achieve the purpose of annihilating the Beiyang Marine Division! The base camp gave us 15 days to complete the whole Weihaiwei campaign.

"Guys, do you have any questions?" Dashanyan asked.

Yamachiji stood up and said, "Your Excellency, why don't you let the First Division take on the offensive mission? Is our combat effectiveness not as good as the Second Division?

Zuo Jiujian, the head of the second division, said, "That's because the base camp doesn't want to turn Weihaiwei into the second Lushun!"

The violence of the first division in Lushun. OK, it is an open secret in the Japanese military. In the view of Zuo Jiujian Zuomatai, the First Division killed civilians, which is a disgrace to the Japanese army!

The local governance of the mountain was furious: "You..."

"Mountain King!" Dashanyan stopped the roar of Yamatoji: "The First Division is one of the most elite troops of the Empire of Japan, which is recognized by His Majesty the Emperor. Your task is to defend Liaodong! Liaodong is not only a base to support the Shandong Campaign, but also a bridgehead to attack Manchuria in the Qing Dynasty. Its strategic position is extremely important. The base camp has expressed its hope to build Liaodong into an overseas colony of the Japanese. Therefore, there can be no mistakes in Liaodong. And the 100,000 troops of Song Qing of the Qing army stared at Liaodong and may invade Liaodong at any time. Therefore, the base camp decided that you and your first division should defend Liaodong, Mountain King, you should understand that this burden is not light!"

Shan Zhi laughed: "Is Song Qing's 100,000 army also an army? They can't even get over the Golden State!"

Dashanyan shook his head slightly: "Mr. Shan, don't forget that there is also a Qing army in North Korea. This army has made friends in Shan County suffer. In addition, the Russians seem to be also very interested in Liaodong. They seem to have the idea of using North Korea's Zhangjun to infiltrate Liaodong."

Yamaji laughed and said, "As far as I know, it is impossible for that the troops to leave North Korea. The court of the Qing Dynasty did not trust them and refused to provide them with any logistical support. They were overwhelmed. Moreover, if they really dare to attack Liaodong, Yichang, the big island of Seoul, will not let go of this opportunity to recover Pyongyang!"

Yamatoji suddenly asked, "Mr. Kamio, what has your intelligence agency gained?"

Komi Mitsumi, who sat at the farthest end of the long table, stood up.

In the headquarters of the Second Army, Kamio Mitsumi, a colonel, has the lowest rank and sits the farthest.

However, as an intelligence officer stationed in the Second Army in the base camp, he was originally qualified to sit very close to the commander Dashanyan.

God-tailed Mitsumi chose to sit in the farthest position, which is a punishment for himself.

Although the base camp was satisfied with his Anzhou operation, he successfully eradicated a traitor who threatened the national interests of the Empire of Japan!

However, in his opinion, the Anzhou operation failed. He failed to bring Kamei back alive, and he lost an excellent subordinate - Kenichiro Mukaino.

Mitsuomi Kamio can't forgive himself, not to mention that he doesn't think Tsumei Kamui is a traitor.

Shenwei Guangchen said, "Your Excellency, intelligence shows that Beiyang Minister Li Hongzhang sent a staff named Zhang Peirun to Pyongyang to persuade Zhou Charter to give up North Korea and lead Zhang's army to recover Liaodong."

"Do they really want dogs to jump over the wall!" The mountain and local people drink.

Shenwei Guangchen shook his head: "Zhou Charter has clearly rejected Zhang Peilun's request!"

"Is the intelligence reliable?" Dashanyan asked.

"Reliable!" Shenwei Guangchen said, "The provider of intelligence is Liu Fen. He is Li Hongzhang's nephew. This man once provided us with accurate information about the transportation of Qing soldiers into the North Korea and helped the joint fleet intercept Gao Sheng in Fengdao. According to Liu Fen, Li Hongzhang was very ill after learning that Zhou Charter refused to send troops, which is completely understandable, because Li Hongzhang regards Zhang Jun as the last opportunity of the Beiyang Marine Division! Now, because of the failure of the war, Li Hongzhang has been removed from command by the court.

"What is the attitude of the Qing court towards Zhang Jun?" Dashanyan asked.

Shenwei Guangchen said: "The court of the Qing Dynasty, especially the Empress Dowager Cixi, was extremely wary of Zhang Jun. Recently, the Empress Dowager Cixi wanted to marry Zhou Charter with a political marriage, but was rejected by Zhou Charter. Cixi was very angry about this. She has regarded Zhang Jun as a rebel and secretly ordered Song Qing's troops to gather in the Yalu River to prevent Zhang Jun. Cross the river and return to China. This is also one of the reasons why Song Qing's troops stopped attacking Liaodong. In addition, because Zhou Charter refused to attack Liaodong, the Russians also stopped providing weapons and equipment to Zhang Jun.

The Chief of Staff of the Second Army said: "It is puzzling that according to the First Army of Seoul, the Zhang army suddenly occupied the position on the north bank of the Linjin River and had the intention to attack Seoul."

Dashanyan couldn't help laughing: "It's not strange at all! If I were Zhou Charter, I would do the same! This is a political gesture that has nothing to do with military science. This Zhou Charter, like all the bureaucrats of the Qing Dynasty, knows how to be an official! He let their empress dowager and emperor know that Zhang Jun did not stand by. I believe that Commander Nozu Daoguan knows how to deal with this symbolic attack. Zhou Charter intends to spend the Spring Festival in North Korea.

"It can be said in theory." Shenwei Mitsuson said.

"Theoretical? What does this mean? Dashanyan asked.

Shenwei Guangchen pondered for a moment and said, "Commander, in my opinion, Zhou Charter is difficult to infer from common sense."

Yamaji sneered: "Mr. Kamio, this fatalistic statement should not come from an excellent intelligence officer. Zhou Charter is far away from North Korea, separated by Song Qing's 100,000 troops and a Yalu River. How can he enter Liaodong? You should know that the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea are the world of the combined fleet, and the sea road is not feasible at all. Moreover, even if Zhou Charter comes, does his troops have the ability to fight a modern war? They don't seem to even have cannons!"

God's tail light minister is silent.

What Yamato said is undoubtedly correct, and all the information also proves that Zhou Charter has no intention or possibility of entering Liaodong.

However, an intuition made him feel uneasy!

Unfortunately, he has no evidence to prove this inexplicable intuition!

The local governance faced Dashanyan and bowed and said, "Then, please allow the commander to serve as the main attack of the Shandong Campaign!"

Dashanyan shook his head: "Mountain lord, your task is to consolidate Liaodong! This has nothing to do with the Zhou Charter! You should remember that in the past, Lushun was the eastern fortress of the Qing Dynasty, but now it is the eastern fortress of the Japanese Empire!"