The Beiyang government's comprehensive implementation of land distribution in Shandong Province shocked the entire country.
For centuries, no one had ever dared to do such a thing.
Land, since time immemorial, has been the most important means of production, a symbol of wealth.
It was something that countless powerful figures and vested interest groups would never relinquish, even in death.
Now, the Beiyang government's actions were undoubtedly overturning this fundamental principle!
The high officials and local officers of the Qing Dynasty, one after another, submitted petitions, demanding that the court assemble a massive army to suppress the Beiyang army's rebellion.
After all, the Beiyang government was directly targeting their foundation.
Which of these individuals wasn't a major landowner with vast tracts of land?
The Beiyang government's attempt to undermine their foundation naturally prompted them to rise up in resistance.
The Qing Dynasty's high-ranking officials, of course, were eager to receive support from this landed gentry class.
As for those impoverished peasants, they were never considered worthy of their attention. In their eyes, these "mud-legged" people were nothing more than tools for cultivation and servants to cater to their every need. The country, in their view, was ruled by officials, scholars, and landowners—the ruling class. They had wealth, culture, and armed power. Those "mud-legged" peasants were merely their farmers and servants.
Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu issued a decree, declaring that the Qing Dynasty would not recognize the Beiyang rebels' actions in Shandong Province, where they forcibly seized the land of officials, scholars, and landowners, distributing it to the peasants.
The Qing Dynasty would stand up for these wronged officials, scholars, and landowners and would reclaim their lost land.
This declaration from the Qing Dynasty naturally filled the scholars and landowners of Shandong with joy.
They yearned for the Qing army to defeat the Beiyang army as soon as possible, so that everything could revert to the way it was before.
Scholars, landowners, and officials outside of Shandong were immensely satisfied with the Qing Dynasty's stance, readily pledging their unwavering support for Qing rule.
Furthermore, they actively contributed both money and manpower, raising additional troops for the Qing Dynasty to fight the Beiyang army.
However, the lower-class peasants harbored a deep longing for the Beiyang army. They hoped that they, too, could share in the land distribution like their counterparts in Shandong, freeing themselves from their current hardships.
As time passed, the vast population of Shandong, under the Beiyang government's guidance, received their own land, igniting an immense anti-Qing fervor.
The various units of the Beiyang army were also diligently engaged in training.
Simultaneously, the formation of new units progressed smoothly.
Countless peasants, having received their land, sent their sons to the army.
Even if it was only to safeguard their hard-earned land, they would never allow the Beiyang army to lose this war.
This facilitated the successful formation of the 13th to 24th Infantry Divisions of the Beiyang Army.
Upon the arrival of weapons and equipment purchased from the German Empire, these units swiftly commenced training.
Within a few months, or at the latest, by next spring, these newly established units would be combat-ready.
Then, the time would come for the final showdown between the Beiyang army and the Qing army.
Meanwhile, the several infantry divisions previously formed by the Beiyang army, along with several infantry divisions composed of reorganized Huai Army units and various units from the Beiyang system, had gradually developed combat capabilities through a period of training.
This marked the maturity of the Beiyang army's initial counteroffensive against the Qing army.
In late September of 1788, Li Jingyuan, commander of the Beiyang army, convened a military conference with the army's key leaders.
"Gentlemen, by now, all units should have essentially attained combat readiness, wouldn't you say?" Li Jingyuan inquired.
"Commander-in-Chief, all regiments and battalions of the 4th Infantry Division are ready for combat. Our soldiers are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to engage the Qing army!" Major General Li Ben Tang, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, immediately declared.
Subsequently, Major General Cao Kun, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, Major General Wang Zhan Yuan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, Major General Ma Yu Kun, commander of the 7th Infantry Division, Major General Xu Bang Dao, commander of the 8th Infantry Division, Major General Zuo Bao Gui, commander of the 9th Infantry Division, and Major General Wang De Kui, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, all echoed his sentiment.
Li Jingyuan nodded approvingly.
"Excellent. Then, we can initiate our initial counteroffensive against the Qing army.
The 4th and 5th Infantry Divisions, in coordination with the forces on the northern front, will launch an offensive against the Qing army. Before winter sets in, we must secure at least half of Zhili Province and advance to the vicinity of Yanjing.
The 6th Infantry Division, working with the forces on the western front, will crush the Qing forces concentrated in the eastern part of Henan Province, facing off against us, and strive to capture the entire province before winter.
The 10th Infantry Division, alongside the southern forces, will crush the Qing forces stationed in the northern part of Jiangsu Province, facing off against us. We will push southward relentlessly, bringing Jiangsu and provinces south of it under our control!"
Li Jingyuan commanded.
"Yes, Commander-in-Chief!" All the division commanders responded in unison.
It was already late September, on the cusp of October.
Once winter arrived, large-scale offensive operations would become impossible.
However, the southern provinces were less affected by weather.
The Beiyang army could seize this opportunity to advance southward in force, bringing the southern provinces under their control.
For the Qing court, these southern provinces were vital sources of revenue and taxes.
Losing these provinces would severely cripple the Manchu government, rendering it incapable of resisting the Beiyang army.