Chapter 46: Nine Linked Cities

  Ten days later, Zhou Xuan Zhang rushed to Fengtian and heard that the Feng army had set out five days ago.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang hurriedly rushed to the Yalu River and arrived at Jiuliancheng on the banks of the Yalu River.

  Since the Yuan Dynasty, Jiuliancheng has been a "mutual market" for trade between China and North Korea. It is an important passage for trade between China and North Korea during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and it is also a must-pass place for envoys from both countries.

  Jiulian City is backed by Zhen Dongshan, adjacent to the Yalu River and Youyi River in the east. The terrain is dangerous, with nine large and small cities connected, hence the name. In the Ming Dynasty, the town of Jiangcheng was built in Jiulian City, and the Longdingbao patrol was moved here to station troops, making Jiulian City a military stronghold on the southeastern border of Liaodong. During the Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates repeatedly invaded Korea, and the Ming army launched several attacks on Korea from Jiulian City.

  By the Qing dynasty, Jiuliancheng was still a major border trade and military outpost of the Qing Empire in Northeast China, and it was an essential route for the Qing army to enter Korea during wartime.

  Zhou Xuzhang traveled north from Tianjin, a journey of thousands of miles, and wherever he went, there was an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, without any signs of war. Even in the military stronghold of Fengtian, the civilians were busy with their own businesses, and they only knew that the Feng army was going to Korea, but no one knew why the troops had to go to Korea, nor did anyone care. The only concern for the civilians was when the Feng army would return, because they relied on these soldiers to do business.

  The vast Qing Dynasty has only a small area of Jiuliancheng with some war atmosphere.

  In fact, the so-called war atmosphere is just that countless troops have gathered here, from Zhen Dong Mountain to Yalu River, flags are flying and military camps are all over.

  However, on the narrow streets of Jiu Lian Cheng, there were drunken Qing officials and soldiers everywhere. These soldiers in colorful uniforms came from all over the country, including Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, and Guangdong provinces. They roamed around in groups of three to five. The citizens inside the city were even more delighted, as the sudden arrival of so many soldiers brought great prosperity to their businesses, earning them a lot of silver. Only fools would be worried.

  On the bustling streets, groups of drunken soldiers were shouting and scolding, while in the shops on both sides of the street, the sounds of drinking and playing rock-paper-scissors rose and fell, with shop owners carefully welcoming and sending off guests.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang sighed secretly in his heart.

  The army and civilians all regard sending troops to Korea as a vacation!

  It's no wonder that even now, the officers and soldiers in Jiu Lian Cheng still think that their mission to enter the imperial court is to suppress the Korean rioters.

  Dealing with a group of unarmed rioters is more comfortable than going on vacation. Vacation requires spending one's own money, while suppressing rioters not only allows for good food and play, but also the opportunity to plunder and return with spoils.

  The Qing government never revealed the truth to the public, the imperial court did not trust its own people, nor did it trust its own soldiers!

  Tens of thousands of troops were scattered within a radius of tens of miles around Ji'an City, with tents connected and shoulders touching. Zhou Xunzhang made a big circle from Susizi Garden, Weizigou, Tiger Mountain, all the way to the Anping River mouth by the Yalu River, but still couldn't find the location of the Feng Army.

  Zhou Xuanzhang had no choice but to go into the city of Jiulian to ask around, but the small city of Jiulian was in a state of chaos everywhere. The people Zhou Xuanzhang encountered were either bewildered civilians or soldiers who were so drunk they didn't even recognize themselves. No one could clearly say where the Feng army was stationed.

  The sky had already darkened, and his stomach was growling with hunger, so Zhou Xuanzhang had to enter a restaurant to fill his belly first.

  The restaurant was packed with soldiers, all of whom were drunk and had red faces and thick necks. They stared with bloodshot eyes, rolled up their sleeves, and stomped on the benches as they played a game of rock-paper-scissors, shouting and cheering incessantly.

  Zhou Xunzhang wore the uniform of the Beiyang Navy, but there was no "shou" character on his uniform, indicating that he was just an ordinary sailor. However, the uniform of the Beiyang Navy was made of woolen fabric and looked much more elegant compared to the coarse linen uniforms worn by the soldiers.

  The soldiers of the Qing dynasty were mostly uncultured, they were all local garrisons from all over the country, and in their daily lives, they only wandered around the nearby areas where they were stationed, and had not seen much of the world. Many people had never even heard of the Beiyang Fleet, let alone seen its naval uniforms.

  However, they recognized the 1888 Committee rifle on Zhou's back.

  In early 1894, Zhang Zhidong established the Hubei Rifle and Cannon Factory in Wuhan, introducing a production line for German 1888 Commission Rifles to produce domestic 88-style rifles. Less than three months later, the production line had not yet been put into operation. The German 1888 Commission Rifle carried by Zhou Xuanzhang was an original imported German product, which at that time in the Qing Dynasty belonged to high-tech luxury goods.

  A man wearing a bright woolen uniform and carrying an imported rifle stood out in the midst of the chaotic troops.

  The shop owner hastily came forward and gave Zhou Xuanzhang a thousand: "I'll give this to... General Master."

  The Qing army, except for the Beiyang Navy, did not have military uniforms. The boss couldn't tell if Zhou Xuan Zhang was a soldier or an officer, but he recognized the fabric on his body, and those who could wear woolen fabrics were at least a battalion commander.

  It's not just the boss who thinks so, but also the soldiers in the house. The noise subsided a lot, and many of the soldiers stared at Zhou Xuan Zhang with red eyes.

  "Boss, get me a seat."

  The boss beamed with a smile: "Master wants to dine in our humble shop, it's really our good fortune. Please go upstairs, Master, it's quieter up there."

  Zhou Xuanzhang followed the boss upstairs and came to a private room facing the street. Zhou Xuanzhang sat down, handed the boss a handful of loose silver coins: "Boss, bring a bowl of noodles, add more beef, and also bring 50 beef pancakes, take-out." Zhou Xuanzhang knew that the logistics support of the Qing army was completely disorganized, after going abroad, it's probably hopeless to rely on them, if you want to fill your stomach, it's best to rely on yourself.

  "Alright." The boss replied and left the private room. Before long, a steaming bowl of beef noodles and a large package of braised beef pie were placed on the table.

  The boss left the room, and Zhou Xuanzhang slowly ate.

  Upstairs and downstairs, the whole place was in an uproar, every shop was filled with the clamor of Qing military officers. Zhou Xuanzhang shook his head and sighed. In the new barracks of the 21st century, instructors said that the failure of the Sino-Japanese War was due to the corruption and incompetence of the imperial court. Now it seems that it's not just because of the corruption of the imperial court, but also because the Qing army is simply not a fighting force!

  Just as he was eating, amidst the noise, a woman's crying voice could be faintly heard.

  Zhou Xuan's eyebrows were tightly furrowed. In the army of the Qing Dynasty, there must be no women! This is a military rule, offenders will be executed!

  Although the Qing army was gradually corrupt, some officials secretly kept women in the army, and their superiors turned a blind eye. However, now that they are going to the front lines, no one dares to bring women to fight in Korea.

  Was it not the case that the Qing army forcibly seized civilian women?

  Zhou Xuanzhang shook his head. Although the Qing army was corrupt, it was unlikely to commit any outrageous atrocities in Korea, but now they were still within the borders of the Great Qing Empire and did not dare to act recklessly.

  Moreover, there isn't a single woman in the nine connected cities. Since the army arrived, all the women here have run away, and the ordinary people of the Qing Dynasty naturally have such a sense of security - when soldiers pass through, women hide.

  No woman would voluntarily go into a barracks unless she's looking for trouble.

  Zhou Xuanzhang thought he had misheard, and continued to eat with his head down, but the woman's crying grew clearer and clearer. Every time she cried out, a group of men burst into laughter and shouted out all sorts of obscene language.

  Zhou Xuanzhang put down his chopsticks and rushed towards the door, shouting: "Boss!"

  The boss rushed in: "What are your orders, sir? I'll go and take care of it right away."

  "What's going on next door?"

  The boss looked embarrassed: "This is General Zong's place, next door is Sheng Jun's people, disturbing General Zong's meal, I'm also helpless."

  Zhou Xuan Zhang had heard of Sheng Jun. Sheng Jun was stationed in Tianjin Xiaozhan, with a total of 13 battalions and more than 6,000 cavalry and infantry troops, led by General Wei Rugui.

  Sheng Jun was Li Hongzhang's direct descendant of the Huai Army, and in the battle against the Nian Army, they repeatedly achieved military merits, with excellent equipment and considerable combat effectiveness, making them the main force in this expedition to Korea. However, this army was also notorious for its arrogance and lawlessness, with a strong bandit-like atmosphere among both officers and soldiers, who never put others in their eyes, and their military discipline was also problematic. It is said that before Sheng Jun set out, Li Hongzhang had warned Wei Rugui to strictly enforce military discipline and not to harass the civilians.

  "How can there be a woman next door?" Zhou Xuan Zhang asked: "This is the territory of the Qing Dynasty, they are flirting with civilian women, this courage is too big, right?"

  The boss shook his head and said, "This general, it's true that there are women next door, but they're not from our Great Qing, they're Korean women, a mother and daughter, pitiful and lonely. They ran over from the Yalu River two days ago and are staying in a small shop. Unfortunately, they encountered soldiers. General, I think you're different from those soldiers, your face looks kind, but it's better if you don't get involved in this matter. The people of Sheng Jun are not easy to deal with."