Chapter 49: Hesitation

  "Better not go back," said Zhou Xuan Zhang shaking his head.

  "Why? Didn't your Great Qing Empire send troops?"

  "This... " Zhou Xianzhang couldn't bear to tell the poor outcome to this innocent little girl: "It's really not the time now, there's still a battle to be fought over there."

  "But my dad..."

  "Your dad will be okay."

  "Really?"

  "Really." Zhou Xianzhang nodded solemnly, as long as he could give this little girl some comfort. He didn't know why, but Zhou Xianzhang was afraid to see the disappointment on her face.

  Zhou Xuanzhang said as he walked out of the room door.

  The streets were even more chaotic, the soldiers had been promised by Zhang Xun to "eat well and drink well", they became even more lawless, the noise echoed throughout the entire Jiuliancheng.

  The restaurant owner stood at the door, staring blankly at the eight human heads hanging on the gate. Inside the restaurant, soldiers continued to drink and play rock-paper-scissors, completely indifferent to the eight bloody heads.

  The First Sino-Japanese War broke out suddenly, but the Qing government's officials and soldiers were still indulging in a life of luxury and ignorance within the Nine-Palace City!

  Zhou Xuan Zhang asked: "Boss, where is General Song's big camp?"

  Just now Zhang Xun said that the Yalu River has been closed off, and no one is allowed to cross the river without Song Qing's approval. Zhou Xuanzhang doesn't know Song Qing, but he has Liu Buzhen's token on him, and Liu Buzhen is also a well-known figure in the Qing military, so he thinks that Song Qing will give some face.

  "Out of the city and heading east, just by the river." The boss said blankly.

  "Thank you." Zhou Xuan Zhang cupped his hands together and turned eastward.

  Out of the nine connected cities, the hustle and bustle gradually subsided, and on both sides of the main road were shoulder-to-shoulder tents, flags fluttering in the night wind, camp lanterns flickering, and moonlight shining brightly.

  Three miles eastward, the sound of river waves came from the front. A large camp stood towering, and under the moonlight, a huge flag was faintly visible in front of the camp gate, fluttering in the wind. On the flag, a Song character could be vaguely seen.

  "Who goes there!"

  A team of soldiers suddenly appeared at the gate, holding rifles and wearing large knives. The leader shouted at Zhou Xuan Zhang: "You little boy, you really asked for it!"

  It was Zhang Xun who spoke, he led the patrol team to make a round trip in Jiulian City and returned to Song Qing's camp.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang rushed to Zhang Heng and gave a Western-style military salute: "General Zhang, you know that I want to cross the river to find Zuo Baogui, Mr. Zuo. Would you please inform General Song and get his approval for me to cross the river?"

  Zhang Xun didn't even glance at Zhou Xianzhang: "You little brat, you think you can play Western tricks on me? You have Liu Buxian's token, so I won't dare to do anything to you. Just wait and see if the Commander will see you, it all depends on your luck."

  Zhang Xun turned around and entered the camp gate.

  Zhou Xuanzhang secretly smiled to himself, this Zhang Xun was a ruthless killer, but he was also straightforward and didn't bother with petty formalities, unlike Feng Guozhang who was so sour.

  After a long wait, Zhang Yun finally came out of the camp gate and said: "You little boy, you really have face, General Song had just fallen asleep, but when he heard that you were coming, he didn't sleep anymore. Do you have an old relationship with General Song?"

  The Admiral is a first-class military general of the imperial court, and Zhou Xuanzhang's current identity is that of a small soldier in the Beiyang Navy. When Song Qing heard that Zhou Xuanzhang had arrived, he didn't even sleep, which was truly astonishing.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang had never seen Song Qing before, how could they have any old relationship? However, he saw that Zhang Xun's attitude had softened a lot. Zhou Xuan Zhang hummed and hawed ambiguously, who knew what kind of tricks the Commander was playing, as long as he could see him it was fine.

  Zhang Xun did not dare to slack off, leading the way in front, and brought Zhou Xuanzhang into the camp gate. After passing through two roads and three trenches, they walked into a small forest, where a military tent appeared in the shade of the trees. The tent was surrounded by mountains on three sides and faced the river on one side, with excellent concealment.

  Zhou Xuanzhang followed Zhang Xun into the military tent, where the lights were shining brightly. On a tiger skin commander's chair sat an old general with white hair and beard, his face gloomy, his eyes bloodshot, looking very tired.

  "Northern Navy's Zhou Xuan Zhang, at your service, Commander-in-Chief. I have been sent by Lord Liu with an urgent military matter to attend to in Zuo Bao Gui's unit."

  Song Qing was not an ordinary commander-in-chief, he used to be a subordinate of Zuo Zongtang, followed Zuo Zongtang in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, made many military achievements, held the title of Sichuan Commander-in-Chief, but his troops were stationed in Lushunkou. Four years ago, the imperial court conferred on him the title of Taizi Taibao, with the rank of Minister, he was a meritorious minister of the imperial court. Therefore, Zhou Xianzhang did not dare to neglect Song Qing when he saw him.

  Zhang Heng handed the token to Song Qing's desk, and Song Qing picked it up, took a look, and said: "Zhou Xian Zhang, get up and talk."

  "Thank you, sir." Zhou Xianzhang stood up and bowed.

  "Liu Buzhen ordered you to go to Zuo Baogui's department, isn't the imperial court determined to start a war?" Song Qing asked. Liu Bu was Li Hongzhang's trusted general, and at this time Liu Bu sent someone across the river, so naturally Song Qing would think of the war with Korea.

  "Your Majesty, I am just a personal guard, acting on orders. Major state affairs are beyond my knowledge."

  Song Qing nodded and let out a long sigh.

  Song Qing's troops were ordered to rush from Lushunkou to Jiuliancheng, it has been half a month.

  After the outbreak of the rebellion in Korea, the imperial court was indecisive between war and peace. According to the imperial edict, Sichuan Governor Song Qing garrisoned Jiuliancheng, commanding all military forces along the Yalu River, while Zhili Governor Ye Zhi-chao led his army into Korea, stationed at Yashan, as the highest military commander of the Qing army in Korea.

  Due to the limited maritime transport capacity of the Qing Dynasty, most troops had to take the land route, passing through Jiuliancheng into Korea. As a result, up to now, Ye Zhicha's troops in Yashan have only over 3,000 soldiers, while the Japanese army has more than 8,000 troops in Korea.

  Ye Zhi-chao deeply felt the inadequacy of his troops and repeatedly sent letters to Song Qing, urging him to quickly dispatch reinforcements to enter the capital. Two days ago, Song Qing ordered Zuo Bao-gui to lead 3,000 troops across the Yalu River and rush into the capital.

  However, as soon as Zuo Baogui's vanguard had just departed, Song Qing received Li Hongzhang's order to assemble the troops of Wei Ruguigui, Ma Yukunwei, Feng Sheng'a and others who were gathered at Jiuliancheng, to stop advancing, not to cross the river, and even to request that Zuo Baogui's troops, which had already crossed the river, withdraw.

  Song Qing knew that this was Li Hongzhang's hope for intervention by foreign powers, in order to avoid opening hostilities with the Japanese army.

  But all indications were that the Japanese had made up their minds to fight.

  There are reports that after ōshima Yoshimasa led the Mixed Brigade to land in Incheon, the Japanese wartime headquarters appointed Yamagata Aritomo as the commander of the newly formed First Army, commanding the 3rd Division and the 5th Division, which successively departed from Japan and headed to Korea. After all arrived in Korea, the number of Japanese troops stationed in Korea will exceed 20,000. Moreover, the Japanese army is stationed near the capital city, putting pressure on the Korean imperial court.

  Ye Zhi-chao repeatedly sent people to urge Song Qing to advance, and the Korean royal court also dispatched a secret envoy to Jiulian City, stating that the capital was under severe threat from the Japanese army, and begged Song Qing to send troops as soon as possible. Otherwise, Korea would have no choice but to surrender to Japan and declare independence from the Qing dynasty.

  The situation on the Korean Peninsula is highly volatile, yet the Qing imperial court is reluctant to issue an order to advance.

  Song Qing did not dare to disobey the imperial edict, all he could do was to use the excuse of high mountains and long roads, not to pursue the troops that had already crossed the river under Zuo Baogui's command, hoping that Zuo Baogui's army would be able to join forces with Ye Zhicha in time and help Ye Zhicha defend against Ya Mountain.

  However, news from Zuo Baogui's side was disappointing.

  Korean rivers run vertically and horizontally, with mountains standing upright. The Korean people are poor, and the government never repairs the roads. From Jiulian City to Yashan, there is a distance of one thousand li, after the precious Feng army crossed the river, they were blocked in the vast mountains, marching less than 50 li every day, two days passed. They have not yet arrived at Pyongyang, and Pyongyang is still 800 li away from Yashan on mountain roads.

  Just today, Ye Zhi-chao sent someone with an urgent letter, requesting Song Qing to send troops across the river and rush to reinforce Ya-shan.

  Song Qing was in a dilemma.

  Song Qing said in a deep voice: "Zhou Xianzhang, you are from the Beiyang Navy. Now that the Japanese Combined Fleet has also arrived off the coast of Korea, Liu Buxuan ordered you to meet with Zuo Baogui, it must be extremely urgent!"

  Zhou Xuan Zhang wanted to see Zuo Bao Gui, in fact, it was to escape with his life. Speaking of which, it was also a matter of great urgency, so Zhou Xuan Zhang nodded.

  "This official is from the army and it's inconvenient for me to ask about your Beiyang Navy affairs. Let's do this, you quickly prepare, and cross the river tomorrow morning."

  "Thank you, sir." Things had gone so smoothly that Zhou Xuanzhang let out a sigh of relief.

  Song Qing turned to Zhang Xun: "General Zhang, Liu Cuipeng's Beiyang Navy and Zuo Baogui's Feng Army have a joint action. Zhou Xianzhang is carrying out an extremely important liaison task and cannot afford any mistakes. So I order you to bring one battalion of troops, no, three battalions, a total of 1,500 people, with ten large cannons and ten Gatling machine guns, to protect Zhou Xianzhang as he crosses the river. Remember, you must ensure Zhou Xianzhang's safe arrival at Yashan!"

  "Understood!" Zhang Xun bowed and said, then glanced at Zhou Xuanzhang with a hint of puzzlement in his heart.

  1,500 men, 10 large cannons, and 20 Gatling guns! General Song actually used such a well-equipped army to escort Zhou Xuanzhang across the river. Needless to say, Zhou Xuanzhang and Song Qing are not just old acquaintances, but probably sworn brothers who have been through life and death together!

  Zhang Heng couldn't help but feel a little inferior in front of Zhou Xuanzhang.

  Zhou Xuanzhang was first startled, then secretly smiled.

  Now he finally figured out what kind of tricks this Commander Song was playing.

  Collect! Don't forget to collect!