1905: Beer Hall Speaker

Page 26

Zhao Yan's strategy of building strongholds and fighting a protracted war was copied from the Xiang Army's tactics against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and incorporated many elements from World War I. It was best suited for the revolutionary army, a novice army lacking equipment and training.

As long as logistics are sufficient and there are enough troops, winning the battle may be difficult, but dragging the enemy down is definitely not a problem!

Chapter 46 Observation Group of the Great Powers

1906 2 Month 12 Day.

Beijing-Hankou Railway, Xinyang Station, Henan Province.

A group of foreign envoys and military attachés were watching the revolutionary soldiers digging in the soil. The bewildered foreigners couldn't figure out what the revolutionary soldiers were trying to do.

Thousands of soldiers were seen digging pits and trenches all over the area, which spanned several square kilometers. The officers had become foremen, shouting and urging the soldiers to swing their hoes and shovels faster and harder.

The land surrounding the station, apart from houses and cargo yards, was completely covered with a dense network of trenches, earthen bunkers, foxholes, and communication trenches.

Three days ago, the revolutionary army set off from Wuhan to launch the Northern Expedition. Hundreds of thousands of troops marched along the railway line, and all the trains on the Beijing-Hankou Railway were requisitioned for military use to transport various supplies with the army.

The army marched north in a grand procession, and people from all over Hubei came to watch the spectacle. They praised the army's strength and might, believing that the Northern Expedition was promising and the revolution was bound to succeed.

Unexpectedly, after leaving Wuhan, the Northern Expeditionary Army transformed into a massive engineering force, building fortifications wherever they went, turning every station into a field position.

Along the entire Beijing-Hankou Railway, there were fifteen first-class stations, twenty-eight second- and third-class stations, and more than a dozen fourth-class stations. The revolutionary army didn't care about the details; as long as it was a station, they had to stop and build fortifications, turning the station into an impregnable fortress and leaving enough troops to defend it before the main force could continue north.

At least two thousand men were stationed at first-class stations, and at least one thousand men were stationed at second-class and third-class stations. The barbed wire and heavy machine guns were all arranged in a very clear manner.

The trenches, bunkers, and various traps and fortifications were densely packed together. The speed and standard of their construction were so impressive that even the officers of the great powers were ashamed of themselves.

Many new recruits in the revolutionary army may not know much else, but if you ask them to dig holes or dig the ground, they don't even need training; they're experts at it as soon as they pick up a hoe.

Zhao Yan's tactical thinking in this Northern Expedition spanned the past and the future. He first borrowed the "strategic thinking of fighting according to battle formations" from the Song Dynasty, then borrowed the "strategic thinking of building strongholds and fighting a protracted war" from the Xiang Army, and finally borrowed the trench warfare approach from the future World War I.

The Revolutionary Army Headquarters prepared standard defensive position drawings in advance according to the size and scale of the stations along the line. Each station had to be equipped with sufficient defensive positions, leaving a small number of heavy machine guns and a large amount of barbed wire as the core of the defensive tactics.

The first thing the troops did after they arrived was to unload supplies, and then construct the positions according to the blueprints. You had to build exactly as the blueprints were drawn.

This requires very little skill from the soldiers; even farmers could do it. Once the fortifications were built, the plan for defending against the enemy was also clearly laid out.

The Hunan Army's tactical thinking of building strongholds and fighting a protracted war was also implemented: once the barbed wire was erected and the trenches were dug, you would shoot the enemy when they charged.

If the enemy breaks through the barbed wire and enters the trench, you engage in hand-to-hand combat. If you can't hold the first line, retreat to the second line. If you can't hold the second line, there's no line you can't hold. The railway line is right there, and reinforcements will arrive in no time.

This method killed many people in the Song Dynasty, but Zhao Yan used it perfectly, turning a proper field battle into a brawl, so you junior officers don't have to worry about it, just stay here and guard.

The troops defending the supply lines were newly formed units with poor combat capabilities. If these troops were sent to the front lines to fight the Beiyang Army head-on, it would be tantamount to killing people, but they were just right for guarding trenches and filling in the lines.

You don't need to fight in the field. From a distance, you just get sprayed with heavy machine guns. If they rush over, you fight hand-to-hand with shovels and entrenching tools. That's the treatment for a line-filling division.

You won't have to hold out for long; the railway line is right behind you, and reinforcements will arrive in no time.

There was much discussion within the revolutionary army before the expedition, but after the expedition began, no one dared to utter a word, because Zhao Yan's plan was indeed the most suitable tactic for the revolutionary army at present.

The various units cooperated well, and the plan was not difficult to execute at all, which perfectly suited the current situation of the revolutionary officers and soldiers who had passion but lacked combat effectiveness.

Everyone has their own work to do, and everyone is useful; you won't be idle.

The revolutionary army was perfectly clear about what they were doing, but the foreign observation group that came with them was completely confused. What kind of fighting style was this? They had never seen anything like it before. The enemy was still thousands of miles away. Instead of rushing forward to seize advantageous terrain and prepare for a decisive battle, why were they building fortifications all the way?

The West's current strategic thinking is still stuck in the Franco-Prussian War era, emphasizing speed and rushing in to sweep away the enemy before they can fully mobilize.

But this tactic of starting to build fortifications thousands of miles away and advancing while building them was truly an eye-opener for the foreigners.

"John, are these Chinese here to fight or to farm?" German diplomat Schulz asked John, the military attaché beside him.

John was also baffled, and mumbled, "Perhaps this is the mysterious art of Eastern warfare? The people here seem to have a completely new way of fighting!"

"I haven't seen the specific details of the battle between the two armies yet, so please forgive me for not being able to speculate on this new tactic without actual combat performance."

Schulz was somewhat annoyed by the revolutionary army's performance. Although the Germans had not provided any actual aid or investment to the revolutionary army, they had still given some behind-the-scenes assistance.

Germany hoped to see the revolutionary army shatter the Iron Curtain over East Asia, break the long-standing British and French monopoly on the Far East market, and make it easier for the Germans to get a share of the profits.

The Far East, especially China, was not a barbaric land, but a thriving consumer market. The rest of the colonies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America had been divided up by Britain and France.

The Empire's only colony in Africa was in a state of complete barbarism. The black men there didn't even wear shoes or need underwear. The African colony was of no use to the Empire's industrial market demand.

Now, an opportunity has arisen in China in the Far East of Asia. If a new regime were to emerge here to replace the Qing Dynasty, which was loyal to Britain, the Germans would be very happy. They would even be happy if the new regime were pro-British, as long as it did not blindly obey Britain like the Qing Dynasty.

For a long time, the most purchased items from Germany by Chinese people have been military equipment. However, military equipment is only one branch of German industry. Germany needs China's vast civilian market even more to stimulate the development of its domestic industry.

With a try-it-and-see attitude, the Germans wanted to see if the revolutionary army could achieve this goal, but now it seems that the result is somewhat unsatisfactory.

"I didn't ask you to make assumptions out of thin air. As an officer, you should be able to make reasonable deductions, right?"

"Just imagine that you are leading six divisions of the Imperial Army from Beijing southward to annihilate the Revolutionary Army, and predict the outcome."

Schultz frowned, looking at the battlefield that resembled a construction site, and was quite dissatisfied.

John, however, fell into deep thought and began to seriously speculate.

"This is a bit tricky. These strange defensive positions look rudimentary, but they're actually quite difficult to attack, especially those damn barbed wire fences!"

"That revolutionary leader was very clever. He used the railway line as a battle line and filled it with these weak peasant recruits. This kind of fixed, pre-planned battlefield has the lowest requirements for the quality of the army."

"If it were the Imperial Army attacking, they would have to waste a lot of artillery shells and chip away at the enemy piece by piece, while the Beiyang Army probably didn't have such extravagant firepower."

The Beiyang Army could only advance by piling up the flesh and blood of its soldiers. This design of trenches, barbed wire, and heavy machine guns was truly insidious; the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese War are the best example of this!

Schultz's eyes lit up: "Oh? So that means even if the Revolutionary Army can't win, it won't be defeated anytime soon, right?"

John nodded: "It's a disgusting tactic. The railroad is the most convenient and powerful land transportation route, and neither side in the conflict can afford to give it up!"

"We can't even do a flanking maneuver; we can only fight head-on. Once you give up the fight for the railway line, the enemy will advance along it. They can advance hundreds of kilometers every day without any problem, and the Tatar capital happens to be at the end of the railway line."

"This war was like a tug-of-war among the Chinese, with the railway line as the rope and the hearts of both sides at the end of the rope."

"If a railway like this were built between Paris and Berlin, I'm afraid we would have no other way to fight the French."

"Such a war is an insult to the art of military affairs. It has no technical content whatsoever and is entirely a contest of the logistics and mobilization capabilities of both sides. Even if six divisions of the Imperial Army set out from Beijing to attack, it would take at least half a year to reach Wuhan."

Furthermore, the subsequent replenishment of troops and the loss of supplies would be enormous. To achieve victory, they would have to take down each station one by one; such a war is terrible.

Schultz nodded: "Perhaps we can place some small bets in advance and get more barbed wire and heavy machine guns sourced from the mainland and sent to the Far East."

"Next, we should talk to that revolutionary leader. Germany needs this vast market. Germany cannot just look up at the sky; we also need to keep our feet on the ground and seize more benefits!"

Chapter 47 Give me a line, and I can fill it until the end of the world!

"That's right, this is the Zhao family's line-filling tactic. As long as you can find a line on the map, whether it's a railway line, a battle line, or a river or mountains, just fill it in, and you're sure to succeed!"

Inside the Xinyang frontline command headquarters, Zhao Yan confidently looked at the map and said, "We don't need Huo Qubing, we need Li Jing!"

"In any war, you must first ensure that you are invincible before you fight, and then seek victory. You must calculate your own resources and manpower, and understand the enemy's manpower and resources."

Finally, it's about addition and subtraction: if they're stronger than us, we strive to avoid defeat; if they're weaker, we aim for victory while remaining undefeated!

Inside the headquarters, a group of students from the military academy and newly admitted Party members listened attentively to Zhao Yan's speech, while the other officers all looked constipated.

Even Wang Chongshan felt that he was misleading his students. How could he teach students like this? If this continued and Zhao's military ideology was allowed to spread throughout the army, wouldn't the revolutionary army become cowards in the future?

"Sir, isn't your strategic thinking a bit too conservative?" Colonel Zhu Jing, Chief of Staff of the First Division, couldn't help but ask.

Zhao Yan said nonchalantly, "Whether it's conservative or radical, the most important thing is to kill the enemy!"

"Behind us lies the land of fish and rice in Hubei and Hunan, as well as the Hanyang Arsenal and Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant. The southern provinces have also submitted to us one after another, and we have sent troops to garrison them."

Soon, large sums of money, provisions, and equipment will be continuously transported to the front lines. At this point, we can afford to delay, but the Qing Dynasty cannot!

"Why risk an attack when you can simply outlast the enemy? Take a steady, methodical approach, make yourself invincible first, and then seek victory!"

"If attacked, we can hide our weak points in a corner, making it impossible for the enemy to find us and leaving them helpless!"

"Then find an opportunity to give your opponent a good bite, and once you've got your grip, you won't let go!"

"Please look at the map, everyone. Our army has deployed its forces along the entire line, with numerous defensive nodes along the way to protect the entire supply line."

If the enemy attacks our rear from a flanking maneuver, our head will be there; if they attack our center, both head and tail will be there; if they attack our strongest force, the head, then let their blood flow like a river!

Wang Chongshan muttered, "Isn't this a pig's tactic?"

Zhao Yan looked up and said, "Chongshan, what are you muttering about?"

Wang Chongshan quickly stood up: "I say Your Majesty's opinion is brilliant!"

Zhao Yan nodded and continued, "Throughout history, countless large-scale wars have been fought in the Central Plains, and the rights and wrongs, successes and failures of these wars are difficult to judge."

"But history has proven that this ancient battlefield determined the rise and fall of many dynasties!"

"If you want to unify China, you must fight for the Central Plains!"

"Back then, when Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, launched a northern expedition against the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, he led his troops northward and ultimately recovered the Central Plains, drove out the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, and restored the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, which had been ravaged by the barbarians for hundreds of years!"

Ultimately, this led to the unification of China, and the world once again adopted the Han dynasty's attire!

Six hundred years ago, when Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, led his army on a northern expedition, the people welcomed him wholeheartedly wherever he went. The vibrant scene of life and everything flourishing there is still vivid in my mind!

Could this place become the burial ground for our Han army six hundred years from now?

"I don't understand! Why is everyone discussing Yuan Jia's hasty and chaotic retreat northward? As if his six Beiyang divisions were some kind of god descending to earth?"

Wang Chongshan was dumbfounded: "I really didn't say that!"

The other officers were just staring at each other blankly. Who the hell said such a discouraging thing? It's clearly your leader who's scared, okay? We're all very brave!

The prevailing opinion is that we should take the initiative and win the world in one battle. It is your leader who insists on taking such a conservative approach and proceeding step by step!

Hearing his men start whispering again, Zhao Yan slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Shut up! No matter what, in a battle, with 150,000 troops against 100,000, the advantage is on our side!"

Everyone fell silent. Zhao Yan had said all the good and bad things. He was the one who was conservative and said that everyone lacked confidence. No matter what he said, he was right. Who could interrupt?

At this moment, Zhao Hao, the chief of the attendants' office, came to report and walked up to Zhao Yan, whispering something in his ear.

"Let's put our words on the table!" Zhao Yan said unhappily, rejecting Zhao Hao's offer, "We're all on the same side, why are we whispering amongst ourselves?"

Zhao Hao's eyes widened. "You said it yourself!" he exclaimed. "Reporting to the Führer, a delegation from the great powers has come to request an audience! Please give your instructions!"

Immediately, all the officers present, even the academy students and new party members, raised their heads, their eyes filled with murderous intent and hostility, and many were ready to draw their guns.

What is the revolutionary army's mission? To eliminate the Manchus, revive China, and expel the foreign powers, thus achieving national independence!

The Manchu Qing dynasty and the foreign powers were both enemies on the open, and mortal enemies on the road to the great rejuvenation of the Han nation!

Previously, when they were advancing into the three towns of Wuhan, the revolutionary army had been eager to make a move on the concession area, but without Zhao Yan's orders, they ultimately maintained the status quo and simply sealed off the concession area.

Representatives from various powers sought an audience with Zhao Yan, but Zhao Yan was either suffering from a cold or a fever. Don't ask why, the answer is always the same: he was sick!

Zhao Yan consistently avoided contact with foreign powers and turned a blind eye to the issue of concessions, adhering to an idealist philosophy: if I don't see it, it doesn't exist!

Fortunately, the Manchus and Bannermen acted as a pressure relief valve, satisfying the revolutionary army's national pride. However, when it came to the issues of foreign powers and concessions, Zhao Yan was truly unable to stand up straight at this time.

Dealing with the Beiyang Six Divisions was troublesome enough. If they angered the great powers, causing several major powers to send military aid to the Qing Dynasty, it wouldn't take much. The great powers could easily spare hundreds of thousands of rifles and thousands of cannons and send them to the Qing Dynasty. The revolutionary army would be wiped out in an instant.

There's no way around it; the country hasn't been unified yet, and Zhao Yan simply doesn't have the ability to compete with the great powers. But compromise is out of the question either, since Zhao Yan rose to power based on nationalism.

If he compromises with the great powers, his public image will collapse from the ground up, and the nationalist banner of the Revival Party will be smashed immediately!

The issue that had been avoided before has unexpectedly come to the front lines with these stubborn foreigners. This time, Zhao Yan can't say that he is still sick, because no one will believe him. Who would lead an army to the north while bedridden?

Moreover, right now, everyone in the headquarters is watching you, dozens of eyes are on you. Are you afraid of foreigners?

Zhao Yan glared angrily at Zhao Hao, thinking to himself, "You really are a spy! Wasn't it enough that you tricked me all the way during our escape? Now you're pulling this stunt too?"

Zhao Yan had had enough of his two terrible teammates, Zhao Hao and Liu Shangsheng.

"The Führer is furious!" Zhao Hao exclaimed. "The great powers have gone too far in bullying us; the Führer has reached his limit!"

Wang Chongshan immediately drew his gun and stood up: "A subject dies for his sovereign! The foreign powers have gone too far, daring to bully our revolutionary army's front-line command! Gentlemen, let us join you in punishing the traitors!"

Zhao Hao immediately raised his fist, barely suppressing the urge to kill Zhao Hao: "Wait! In war, envoys are not to be killed! Our great ancient civilization of China still upholds this rule!"

"Gentlemen, line up on both sides and watch how I debate with you all!"

"Guards, bring in the delegations of the great powers!"

He's already been put on the spot. Zhao Yan can retire from the army, but he can't show any weakness in front of the core members of the revolutionary army. The revolutionary army will not be loyal to a weak leader.

Zhao Yan sat imposingly in a chair covered with white tiger skin, in the high seat of the bureau chief, flanked by young, hawkish revolutionary generals exuding murderous intent.

Soon, the delegations of the great powers were invited into the headquarters. Representatives from Britain, France, the United States, Russia, Japan, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and other countries arrived together, seemingly very united, and they were there to cause trouble for Zhao Yan.

Leading the group was Denker, the British Consul in Hankou. There were more than thirty foreigners in the group. After they squeezed in, they immediately sensed that something was wrong. Why was there such a murderous atmosphere?

But no one cared, because the forces that killed them didn't exist yet. Don't underestimate them just because they were only thirty-odd people; they represented a group of the world's top powers.

Denker, who held himself in high esteem, spoke directly in English: "Your Excellency, Leader of the Revolutionary Army, Consul of the British Empire in Hankou, Denker greets you!"

Representatives from other countries observed diplomatic protocol and paid their respects to Zhao Yan in their respective native languages.

The revolutionary army officers present couldn't understand foreign languages, and they all looked at Zhao Yan with confusion, which immediately energized Zhao Yan.