Chapter 2: The whole city is full of chrysanthemum remnants

  Just as Ye Zhi-chao was deploying his troops, the command center of the Japanese Army's 5th Division's Mixed 9th Brigade had three infantry battalions and one artillery battalion. Major General Oshima Yoshiaki put down the intelligence in his hand with a pleased expression, looked around, and had an air of confidence that everything was under control. The several battalion commanders and staff officers around him saw him close his eyes and suddenly open them again.

  With a loud bang, Oshima Yoshiaki slammed his fist on the table, with a hint of recklessness and neurosis, shouting loudly: "Gentlemen, this is a heaven-sent opportunity! After removing the Korean army, Nie's army has only about 1,000 people left. Gentlemen! We will defeat the enemy in one move, pass my order, and advance on Seonghwan at dawn tomorrow!" He treated the Korean army as if it were a dish, not taking them seriously at all, thinking he could devour them whenever he wanted.

  As he spoke, ōshima Yoshimasa excitedly drew his command sword and slashed forward, shouting: "Gentlemen! Long live the Emperor, long live the Great Empire of Japan!"

  Several battalion commanders and staff officers were already familiar with this routine, so they didn't think it was strange. They immediately followed ōshima Yoshimasa in shouting slogans and declaring their determination. Then, they lifted their heads, puffed out their chests, sucked in their bellies, and marched out the door to transmit the orders.

  ōshima Yoshimasa glanced at his adjutant, Koinu Ichio, and said, "Koinu, wait a moment!"

  The little dog lifted one leg, gave a salute, and shouted: "Hi!"

  "Little dog, stay tonight!"

  "Hey! Young general! I'm going to prepare the whip!"

  "Ah! Don't forget, there are also candles!" Oshima Yoshimasa exclaimed. On the twenty-eighth of July in the first year of Bunsei (1818), at dawn, Ha Yuzuki stood on a nameless high ground, with several scouts following behind him, and Bao Tong had already returned to his unit.

  The front line transmitted the rumbling sound of artillery fire. Not long ago, ōshima Yoshimasa had already begun to attack Chenghuan. Nie Shicheng's military fortifications in Chenghuan were divided into left and right wings. The left wing was deployed on Niuheli high ground about 2 kilometers northwest of Chenghuan, concentrating the main firepower and troops to block the Japanese army's road from Chenghuan to Yashan. The right wing was in the area of Yuefeng Mountain, with relatively weak forces.

  ōshima Yoshimasa, although a bit neurotic, still had good military training. He divided his three battalions into two parts: Two infantry battalions formed the main force to attack Mount Gwongbok, while one infantry battalion attacked to pin down Niu Cheng's left wing, in order to prevent Niu's left wing from reinforcing his right wing. ōshima Yoshimasa personally commanded the artillery battalion to fiercely attack Niu Cheng on Mount Gwongbok. The 9th Brigade's artillery battalion had eight mountain guns, all of which were explosive shell cannons.

  This fierce attack, Nie Shicheng could not withstand it. Although he had the advantage of terrain, he did not have the numerical superiority of the Japanese army, nor their strong firepower, so his line was precarious. Nie Shicheng braved the hail of bullets, rushing back and forth to rally his troops, but in his heart, he was extremely anxious. If Ye Zhikui's reinforcements had not arrived yet, then if things continued like this, losing the position would only be a matter of time.

  The Japanese army employed a wave-like attack method, taking advantage of their numerical superiority, with one squadron after another pressing forward, and indeed it was very fierce. The battle was intense at this time.

  Ye Zhi Kui put down the telescope in his hand and took a look at the several eager old generals behind him, thinking to himself that it was time.

  "Gentlemen, our chance to make a name for ourselves is now! Japan is just a small country, a mere pimple on the skin of China. What's there to be afraid of?! The front and rear scouts will attack the Japanese artillery battalion from behind, the left scout will attack from the left flank, and the right scout will occupy the right flank to prevent reinforcements from the Japanese infantry battalion. My personal guard unit and the artillery unit will follow me into battle. As soon as you hear our cannons fire, launch the attack!" After a pause, Ye Zhi-kui continued in a cold tone: "Gentlemen, if anyone retreats, my personal guard unit is not to be trifled with! We must win this battle! Blast away Daisho no Yashiro's chrysanthemum!" The scout leaders didn't know what Daisho no Yashiro's chrysanthemum referred to, but at that moment the best response was to shout loudly: "Blast away Daisho no Yashiro's chrysanthemum!" Ye Zhi-kui's face was drenched in sweat.

  The troops received the order and immediately took action, as they had been well-prepared. Ye Zhiwei led his own guard team and artillery team to follow the rear guard. What surprised and delighted Ye Zhiwei was that he had three teams of mountain cannons, all of which were German Krupp-style breech-loading cannons. Looking at the three steel cannons in front of him, which were about 80% new, Ye Zhiwei was overjoyed. Estimating that they had already reached the maximum range of the Krupp-style breech-loading cannon, Ye Zhiwei looked at the three team leaders in front of him. These three team leaders were likely to have been firing cannons for a long time and were all dark-skinned and rough-looking, making it difficult for Ye Zhiwei to tell them apart. "Everyone! Now is your chance to shine. Your target is Oshima Yoshiakira, the high-ranking official I showed you with binoculars earlier. If you can blow him up, I, Ye, will ensure that you are promoted and wealthy." Ye Zhiwei knew that at this time, the Huai Army was fighting for promotion and wealth, so he didn't say anything about grand principles. The three artillery team leaders were excited, but the eldest among them cautiously replied: "Sir, although the distance is a bit far, we will do our best not to disappoint your expectations."

  Ye Zhi nodded and said: "En, there is only one chance. You will fire cannons at the same time, then freely attack the enemy artillery position. Go prepare."

  Three people were busy responding, at this time the sky had just brightened, ōshima Yoshimasa was overjoyed to see Nitta Tadakatsu being attacked, ōshima Yoshimasa looked at the intelligence report and found that the Qing army in Gongzhou had not yet left the city, so he didn't leave many troops to defend it. However, he did not expect that there would be a strange soldier like Ye Zhikui waiting for him to deliver a fatal blow.

  "Gentlemen, the Chinese are about to collapse!" ōshima Yoshimasa glanced at his watch and said: "Our Great Japanese Imperial Army will take down the enemy's right wing with one blow, then surround their left wing. By that time, gentlemen, we'll have lunch together at Chenghuan Temple!" ōshima Yoshimasa led a group of colonels and lieutenant-colonels from the command center, among whom some were from the 9th Brigade, while others were lieutenant-colonels from other units of the 5th Division who had come to observe the Qing army's combat strength. After all, it was the first land battle between China and Japan; one must know oneself and know the enemy in order to succeed.

  Everyone hurriedly clapped their hands and said: "This is all due to your clever strategy and excellent command!"

  ōshima Yoshimasa nodded in satisfaction, seeing that Koinu was walking a bit crookedly and knowing that he had played too hard the night before. He said with concern: "Koinu-kun, if you're tired, go rest for a while first."

  The surrounding Taisho and Chusa are looking at Inukai Takeru with envy, secretly lamenting that they don't have Inukai Takeru's "looks". Inukai Takeru graduated from the Army University this year, has a delicate complexion, and was immediately taken notice of by Oshima Yoshiakira, who regards him as a treasure.

  Koinosuke replied with emotion: "It is my honor to serve the General, I don't feel tired at all." Koinosuke was expressing his admiration for ōshima Yoshimasa here, when suddenly several cannonballs flew by his ears.

  The puppy looked up and saw several bombs flying towards it. As it was about to dodge, it tripped on a small stone and changed direction, landing on Oshima Yasuaki's body. By this time, everyone had reacted and found a place to lie down nearby.

  Three bombs, one exploded a bit far away, slightly affecting the crowd, one didn't know where it flew to, and one hit the crowd's position just right. All that was heard was a loud bang, and the explosion sent limbs flying everywhere, severed hands and feet, and shredded flesh scattered all over the ground.

  ōshima Yoshimasa only felt his head buzzing, and in that instant he couldn't hear any sound. He saw the small dog that had jumped on him vomiting blood, and it seemed like it wouldn't survive.

  ōshima Yoshimasa's eyes were bloodshot, his veins bulging, and he shouted in a rage: "Chinaman, I will not coexist with you!" Then his eyes turned black, and he fainted.

  The Japanese were stunned by this sudden blow, and the commanders of all levels of the artillery battalion who had just followed behind ōshima Yoshimasa were still unknown whether they were dead or alive. No one came to organize them to counterattack, so they could only fire randomly according to their own ideas, looking very disorganized.

  Ye Zhi Kui was naturally unaware that Oshima Yoshimasa had taken a liking to him, but he was extremely satisfied with the three cannons. Although he didn't know if he had killed Oshima, seeing several Taisho blown up was enough to satisfy him.

  Each outpost had long been prepared for the charge, and upon hearing the sound of their own bombs, they suddenly rushed out from their hiding places, shouting "Chrysanthemum of Okinoshima" with abandon, and charged forward with reckless abandon.

  Wu Dashan led the vanguard, and he had just witnessed the scene with his own eyes. He saw the Japanese army running around like headless flies, and thought to himself that if they didn't take advantage of the situation now, when would they?

  Wu Dashan shouted while running: "Brothers, whoever captures a Japanese officer, I'll treat him to flower wine, and let Ye Shao reward him with a Japanese woman."

  To say that the vanguard of this leafy banner and its troops are indeed the elite of the Huai Army, using relatively advanced repeating rifles at the time, their weapons were in no way inferior.

  The Japanese artillery battalion had more than 300 people, if someone was in command, it would be a hard bone to chew, but now its command system is chaotic, giving Ye Zhikui an opportunity. The Qing army advanced with crushing victories from the left and rear sides.