At the end of November, 1788, the temperature throughout the North had begun to plummet.
In some parts of the Guanwai region, snow had even begun to fall.
Due to the weather conditions, the four infantry divisions deployed to the Northern front by the Beiyang Army had ceased their advance and shifted to a defensive posture.
By this time, the Beiyang Army had captured numerous prefectures and counties in Southern and Central Zhili. The vanguard was less than a hundred kilometers away from Yanjing City, and the 7th Infantry Division of the Beiyang Land Army, which had advanced from the East, was only a few dozen kilometers away from Jinwei.
To defend the safety of the Yanjing and Jinwei frontline, the Qing army had also assembled a large number of troops.
Even the newly established Banner New Army, consisting of over two hundred thousand soldiers who had not yet completed their training, had been thrown into this fight.
With the strength of four infantry divisions, it was still somewhat difficult for the Beiyang Army to defeat these Qing troops and capture Yanjing and Jinwei.
Furthermore, the mobilization on the Japanese side was nearing completion.
It was estimated that soon, an army of tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers would arrive at Jinwei by sea and land there.
This made it even more crucial for the Beiyang Army to be on guard.
Jinan, Lusong Province, Beiyang Army Headquarters.
Xu Shi Chang, Lieutenant General and Chief of Staff of the Beiyang Army, was reporting the situation of each unit to Li Hongzhang and Li Jingyuan.
“Governor-General, Commander-in-Chief. Currently, the Southern Front troops have conquered the entirety of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. The Western Front troops have captured the entire Henan Province and are preparing to launch an attack on Hubei Province.
The Northern Front troops have advanced to the Baoding-Qingxian line.
However, due to the weather conditions and the imminent arrival of the Japanese troops, our Northern Front forces have ceased their offensive and shifted to defensive operations.”
Lieutenant General Xu Shi Chang reported.
“Good, very good!” Li Hongzhang was very pleased.
In just two months, the Beiyang Army had captured three major provinces in succession.
Combined with Lusong Province, the total population under the control of the Beiyang government had reached over 160 million, equivalent to forty percent of the entire country.
Thanks to the land redistribution system, the Beiyang Army had gained the support of the vast majority of the people in Lusong Province and the newly conquered Jiangsu, Anhui, and Henan provinces, solidifying its rule.
It could be said that the Beiyang government was now fully capable of challenging the Qing government on an equal footing, and even surpassing it.
The other high-ranking officials of the Beiyang government also wore smiles.
If before, there were still doubts about whether they could successfully overthrow the Qing dynasty, then now, almost everyone believed that the Beiyang Army would definitely succeed in overthrowing the Qing.
“Father, my lords. Originally, according to our plan, we would have a final decisive battle with the Qing army next spring to completely overthrow the Qing government.
However, contrary to our expectations, the Qing government colluded with foreigners, betraying the interests of the entire country and nation in exchange for foreign support.
While the Sun Never Sets people did not directly engage in combat with us, they warned the Germans not to sell us any more weapons and equipment. They also acted as intermediaries, connecting the Qing government with the Japanese, leading to the Japanese dispatching a large army to reinforce the Qing government.
Soon, tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers will land and join the fight against us.
This undoubtedly increases the difficulty of our task to defeat the Qing army and overthrow the Qing government!”
Li Jingyuan addressed the crowd.
The expressions of the Beiyang high-ranking officials couldn't help but become serious.
The backward and decadent Qing government, with its weak and poorly equipped army, was no match for the Beiyang Army.
But the Qing government's collusion with foreigners posed a significant threat to the Beiyang Army.
“However, everyone should not worry. No matter how many troops the Japanese dispatch to aid the Qing government, they will not be our match. We will kill as many as they send!
The 12 infantry divisions we have newly established are undergoing intensive training and will soon be combat-ready.
Furthermore, we captured a large number of Qing troops during the battles in Jiangsu, Anhui, and Henan.
Next, we will eliminate the weak and recruit more robust individuals to form the 25th to 36th infantry divisions.
The necessary weapons and equipment for these newly formed units can be partially solved by using captured Qing army weapons, and our arsenals can produce some as well.
Moreover, the machinery and equipment we ordered from the Germans have already arrived in Songjiang Prefecture. The Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau will be further expanded, becoming a larger arsenal than the one in Laizhou Prefecture. It will produce a large quantity of weapons and equipment for us, enough to expand our army and meet the needs of the war.
In addition, we have the support of millions of people, so we do not lack manpower.
Therefore, even if the Qing government colludes with foreigners, they will not be able to withstand our upcoming offensive!
We will still win this war!”
Li Jingyuan displayed immense confidence.
Li Hongzhang and the other high-ranking officials of the Beiyang government, as if infected by Li Jingyuan's confidence, also expressed their confidence in victory.