In Shandong Province, Dengzhou Prefecture, the General’s Mansion of Dengzhou Town.
“Damn it! That cursed Li Jingyuan, that damned Li Hongzhang, how dare they actually rebel! They eat the Emperor’s rice, yet are disloyal to the Emperor, they are truly the scum of the Qing!”
Zhang Gao Yuan, the General of Dengzhou Town, cursed with a loud voice.
“My Lord, the rebel army has already entered Dengzhou Prefecture, numbering over ten thousand men. They are fully equipped with foreign rifles and cannons. What should we do?” Wan Rong, the Deputy General of Dengzhou Town, reported.
“How about our troops? How’s the assembly going?” Zhang Gao Yuan asked.
The troops under the jurisdiction of Dengzhou Town included the Xiangzi Battalion and another battalion, a total of one thousand men. There were also two battalions of Shandong Provincial Trained Army, totaling another one thousand men.
Furthermore, there were the Beiyang forces stationed in Weihai, including the Suigong Army, with twelve battalions of 4,500 men in total, encompassing cavalry, infantry, artillery, and torpedoes. The Guangwu Army with 4 battalions and 2,000 men were stationed in Jiaozhou Bay. The Beiyang Guard Army, consisting of 4 battalions and 2,000 men, was stationed in Weihai.
“My Lord, apart from the Xiangzi Battalion and the two battalions of the Trained Army who have assembled in Dengzhou Prefecture, the rest of the Suigong Army, the Guangwu Army, and the Beiyang Guard Army remain stationary.
They are originally Beiyang forces, and probably have already colluded with the father and son Li family!”
Wan Rong answered.
“Damn it! The court shouldn’t have let Li Hongzhang build Beiyang, it’s now a great threat to the Qing!” Zhang Gao Yuan showed a face full of hatred.
“My Lord, the rebel army will be here soon, with our strength, we probably can’t defend Dengzhou. We should run!
My Lord already did a great service by reporting Li Jingyuan’s rebellion. There is no need to die here!
If we flee Dengzhou Prefecture, flee Shandong, flee to Yanjing, we will surely be highly regarded by the court!”
Wan Rong persuaded.
Zhang Gao Yuan nodded repeatedly, he didn’t want to die here.
“Get someone, prepare. We will leave Dengzhou Prefecture quickly!” Zhang Gao Yuan made the decision.
An hour later, Zhang Gao Yuan, Wan Rong, and others packed their belongings, took their families, and sailed away from Dengzhou Prefecture.
Naturally, their troops could not be taken.
These troops, upon the arrival of the main force of the Beiyang Land Army 3rd Infantry Division, immediately chose to surrender.
The Qing army had little fighting strength to speak of.
Soldiers mainly joined the army for the sake of pay.
To make them fight to the death, it was simply impossible.
As for the Suigong Army, the Guangwu Army, and the Beiyang Guard Army, they were originally Beiyang forces.
Facing Li Jingyuan’s Beiyang Land Army, they naturally surrendered at the first opportunity.
Meanwhile, Wang Shizhen’s Beiyang Land Army 1st Infantry Division and Duan Qi Rui’s Beiyang Land Army 2nd Infantry Division were also attacking other prefectures in Shandong Province.
In all of Shandong Province, except for a few newly established trained armies, all other troops were old hands at dodging work.
As the saying goes, a good man doesn’t become a soldier, and good iron doesn’t get forged into nails.
In this era, only those who had no other choice would choose to join the army.
And these soldiers, were only there for the pay.
To make them fight to the death, not many would be willing.
Under these circumstances, Li Jingyuan’s Beiyang Land Army 1st Infantry Division and 2nd Infantry Division progressed very quickly.
One prefecture after another surrendered without a fight.
There were also a few officials who, shouting about loyalty to the Qing, chose to commit suicide in various ways.
Some slit their throats, some drank poison, some hanged themselves, and so on.
They may have thought that by doing this, they were loyal to the country, and could leave a mark in history.
But, they forgot, history is written by the victors.
Once Li Jingyuan overthrows the Qing and restores the Han dynasty.
Then, those who are Han people but loyal to the Qing will undoubtedly be the scum and traitors of the entire nation.
They still want to be remembered in history, simply wishful thinking.
They will only be remembered in history with infamy!
On July 6, 1788, the Beiyang Land Army 1st Infantry Division’s Reconnaissance Battalion reached the outskirts of Jinan City.
However, they didn’t attack Jinan City, but instead dispersed around it to scout.
At the same time, they sent a letter from Li Jingyuan into the city.
Zhang Yao, the Governor of Shandong Province, was originally from the Chu Army.
After Zuo Zongtang's death, he was transferred back to the mainland from the frontier.
This part of the Chu Army, after recruiting some more soldiers from the mainland, formed the Songwu Army.
Later, Zhang Yao defected to Li Hongzhang, and the Songwu Army also joined the Beiyang faction.
However, Zhang Yao is now at least a Governor, a high-ranking official.
To expect him to immediately respond and follow Li Hongzhang and the Li family father and son when they rebelled was simply impossible.
Besides, the Qing government must have already contacted Zhang Yao.
It’s possible that they already promised Zhang Yao high rank and generous salary.
Under these circumstances, whether Zhang Yao would consider himself a member of the Beiyang faction, whether he would follow the Li family father and son, is very uncertain.
For Li Jingyuan, it would be great if Zhang Yao could follow them.
This way, they could take Jinan, and even the entire Shandong Province, with minimal cost.