101: Chapter 11: All Elite Forces Deployed

Section I

The spring of 1903 arrived exceptionally late.

Just after the Lantern Festival, Jiangning Prefecture was still immersed in the lingering festive atmosphere. Before the lanterns on the streets and alleys could even be taken down, Li Ling received an urgent war report from the capital—the main rebel force had regrouped in Hebei, claiming to have 300,000 troops, entrenched in the Baoding Prefecture area, eyeing the capital covetously.

"300,000?" Li Ling slammed the war report onto the table and sneered, "They didn't even bother to draft their lies. It would be a stretch if they even had 150,000."

In the study, several core generals sat around a long table, with a newly drawn map of the northern war situation hanging on the wall. This map was an enlarged version of satellite reconnaissance photos, with the rebel force deployment, fortifications, and supply routes clearly marked; every detail was accurate to the meter.

"Sir, according to intelligence, the actual rebel strength is about 120,000." Chen Zhiyuan adjusted his glasses and pointed to several marked spots on the map, "The main force is concentrated in Baoding Prefecture and its surrounding areas, deployed in three directions. To the north, they rely on the foothills of the Taihang Mountains to build a large number of fortifications; to the east, they have set up defenses along the Daqing River, using the water network terrain to block our Army's advance; the southern flank is relatively weak, which might be a deliberate flaw to lure our Army into attacking from there."

"A lure?" Li Ling scoffed, "With their limited brains, do they even deserve to use strategy?"

The system popped up in his mind, saying lazily: "Host, do you want me to help you simulate the war situation? I guarantee it will be foolproof."

"Didn't you go to play with your singing and dancing system? Why are you back?" Li Ling retorted in his mind.

"The singing and dancing system is currently holding some 'Qingxia Good Voice' competition and thought I was in the way, so it kicked me out." The system's tone carried a hint of grievance, "I had nowhere else to go, so I came back to see you."

"Fine, you were just disliked by them and came back to use me as a spare tire."

"Host, can you not speak so harshly? What do you mean by spare tire? This is... a strategic transfer!"

Li Ling couldn't be bothered to bicker with the system and continued looking at the map.

"I've decided." He stood up, resting his hands on the edge of the table, and swept his gaze over everyone present, "In three days, we launch a personal expedition to Hebei. The First Army Group will deploy in its entirety, and one corps of the Second Army Group will follow as a reserve. The Air Force Reconnaissance Squadron will provide support throughout, and the Special Forces will infiltrate behind enemy lines in advance."

"Sir, you are personally leading the expedition?" Chief of Staff Zhang Wanshan was somewhat worried, "The rear still needs you to hold the fort..."

"The rear is being watched by the Princess and Empress Su Wanqing, so there won't be any trouble." Li Ling waved his hand, "This battle concerns the overall situation of the Northern Expedition, so I must go personally."

The generals no longer tried to dissuade him. They knew that once Li Ling made a decision, no one could stop him.

Section II

On the day of departure, a spring rain fell in Jiangning Prefecture.

The drizzle was like silk, shrouding the entire city in a hazy mist. At the wharf, the first batch of troops was lining up. The soldiers wore brand-new grey military uniforms, carrying rifles on their backs, with ammunition belts and Hand grenades neatly arranged at their waists. Steel helmets glinted dimly in the rain, and military boots made dull thuds on the wet wharf.

Six transport ships and one Dreadnought were docked at the wharf, smoke rising from their chimneys, ready to set sail at any moment. This expedition adopted a combined sea and land approach—the main force traveled north by sea, landed in Tianjin, and then pushed west to strike directly at the rebels' rear. The Air Force Reconnaissance Squadron took off in advance to scout enemy movements along the way and provide real-time intelligence for the fleet and the Army.

Li Ling stood on the wharf, saying goodbye to the Princess, Empress Su Wanqing, and Emily, who had come to see him off.

"Husband, take care on the road." The Princess helped him adjust his military uniform collar, her eyes slightly red, "I will wait for you to return at home."

"Brother Ling, you must return safely." Empress Su Wanqing handed over a food box containing pastries and dried meat she had made herself, "Eat on the road, don't go hungry."

"Li Ling, you promised me that after the war, you would take me to eat Buddha Jumps Over the Wall." Emily blinked, "Don't you dare go back on your word."

Li Ling took the food box and smiled: "Don't worry, I have a tough life, I won't die. You all stay well at home and wait for me to return."

The three women nodded, their eyes filled with reluctance and worry.

Li Ling turned and boarded the Dreadnought "dragon soar", stood on the bridge, and waved at the wharf. The steam whistle blew long and loud, and the warship slowly pulled away from the wharf, cutting through the rain and mist as it headed north.

The rain grew heavier, and the sea was rough, with white waves crashing against the hull, making dull thuds. Li Ling stood on the bridge, watching the gradually receding port, a complex emotion surging in his heart.

This was the first time he had left Jiangning Prefecture for so long, and it was also the first time he had handed over all the affairs of the rear to the three women. He trusted their abilities, but he was still a bit uneasy.

"System." He muttered in his heart.

"Hmm?" The system responded lazily.

"Help me keep an eye on the rear, and notify me immediately if there is anything unusual."

"Fine." The system said, "But I'm warning you, my energy is limited and I can't cover everything. You had better keep your own guard up."

"I know." Li Ling nodded, "By the way, about the singing and dancing system... are you really out of luck?"

The system's voice immediately went up an octave: "Who says I'm out of luck? That's called advancing by retreating! Once its so-called 'Qingxia Good Voice' is finished, it will naturally come back to find me."

Li Ling held back a laugh: "Fine, you're amazing, keep it up."

"Tch, what do you know."

Section III

The fleet sailed for three days and two nights, the journey smooth and calm.

On the evening of the third day, the fleet arrived at Bohai Bay and began to approach Tianjin. On the Radar screen, ship signals in the surrounding waters were clearly visible—mostly fishing boats, with the occasional merchant ship, and nothing unusual.

"Sir, an unidentified fleet formation has been discovered 20 nautical miles ahead, numbering about 15 ships, approaching our position." The Radar operator suddenly reported.

Li Ling walked to the Radar screen, looking at the dense light spots, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Course? Speed?"

"Heading southeast, moving in the opposite direction to us, speed 12 knots. Judging by the formation and speed, it could be the rebel navy, or it could be support vessels from Japan."

"Rebel navy?" Li Ling sneered, "Do those broken ships of theirs dare to intercept us?"

He walked to the sea chart and quickly calculated the positions and distance of both sides. The rebel fleet formation was positioned exactly on the fleet's necessary route; if they were not destroyed, the fleet could not safely enter Tianjin Port.

"Order all ships to enter combat status." Li Ling commanded, "Dreadnought main guns ready, target the enemy fleet, free fire!"

"Yes!"

After the order was given, the main guns of "dragon soar" and the other Dreadnoughts began to rotate, their massive barrels pointing at the distant sea surface. The gunners nervously adjusted the firing parameters, waiting for the order to fire.

Twenty minutes later, the enemy fleet appeared in view. They were a dozen dilapidated gunboats and Torpedo boats, flying the rebel flag, along with some flying the sun flag of Japan. Most of them had a displacement of only a few hundred tons, and their equipped weapons were also very backward; the largest gunboat only had a few old-style naval guns.

"Just this?" Li Ling put down his binoculars, unable to laugh or cry, "Are they here to die?"

"Sir, shall we demand surrender?" The adjutant asked.

"No." Li Ling shook his head, "Attack. Let them see what a dimensional strike is."

"Fire!"

The main guns of "dragon soar" fired first, 305mm shells whistling out, accurately hitting the enemy flagship—an old-style gunboat with a displacement of less than 1,000 tons. The shells penetrated the thin deck and exploded inside the hull, blowing the entire gunboat into two pieces, which quickly sank to the bottom of the sea.

The other Dreadnoughts also opened fire, and shells fell like raindrops into the enemy fleet. Those dilapidated gunboats and Torpedo boats could not withstand such a strike, being sunk or heavily damaged one after another. Some were hit in the ammunition magazine and turned into fireballs after exploding; some were hit in the engine room, losing power and floating on the sea, burning with raging flames; others tried to turn and escape, but their speed was too slow and they were quickly caught up.

The entire battle lasted less than half an hour. Of the 15 ships in the rebel navy, 11 were sunk, 3 were heavily damaged, and only one managed to escape. Li Ling's fleet suffered no losses, not even wasting a single shell.

"Sir, a complete victory!" The adjutant reported excitedly, "11 enemy ships sunk, 2 captured, and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition seized."

Li Ling nodded, without any smile on his face: "Rescue the fallen enemy officers and soldiers and treat them according to prisoner protocols. Continue to advance to Tianjin."

"Yes!"

The fleet continued to sail, cutting through the waves, heading toward Tianjin Port. On the sea, the wreckage of the sunk ships was still burning, thick smoke permeating the rain and mist, emitting a choking, burnt smell.

Section IV

The next morning, the fleet arrived outside Tianjin Port.

The rain had stopped, the sky had cleared, and sunlight shone through the clouds onto the sea, shimmering. In the port, the remaining ships of the rebel navy had long since fled, leaving only a few civilian ships moored alone at the wharf.

The Marine Corps landed first, occupying the port's key facilities. There was no resistance—the rebel troops guarding the port ran as soon as they heard the fleet's gunfire, not even having time to take their weapons.

When Li Ling landed on the wharf, the Marine Corps had already controlled the entire port area. Soldiers were clearing the wharf, transporting supplies, and setting up a temporary command post. In the distance, the outline of Tianjin city was looming in the morning light, and rebel flags could still be seen on the city walls.

"Sir, according to reports from local people, there are about 5,000 garrison troops in Tianjin city, and the commander is a brigade commander surnamed Zhang." Intelligence Officer Chen Zhiyuan handed over the newly collected intelligence, "Most of these people are newly conscripted, poorly equipped, with low morale, and their combat effectiveness is estimated to be very weak."

"5,000 people?" Li Ling thought for a moment, "Have the First Division send a regiment to attack Tianjin city, and have other troops stand by outside the city, preparing to push west."

"Yes!"

The battle to attack Tianjin city went very smoothly. With the cooperation of the Air Force, a regiment of elite infantry breached the city gates in just one morning. The rebel garrison collapsed at the first touch; some surrendered, some fled, and some changed into plain clothes and mixed in with the common people, attempting to muddle through.

Li Ling met the surrendered rebel commander at the city gate—a fat man in his forties, wearing an ill-fitting military uniform, with a face full of flesh, kneeling on the ground and trembling.

"You are Brigade Commander Zhang?" Li Ling looked down at him.

"Yes... yes..." The fat man kowtowed like a garlic masher, "Sir, spare my life! I was also forced into this! It was the order from above, I didn't dare to disobey!"

"How many men do you have under your command?"

"Reporting to Sir, originally there were 5,000, later some ran away, and there are still over 3,000 left..."

"What about the weapons?"

"They... they are all in the warehouse, I didn't dare to touch them."

Li Ling waved his hand: "Take him down and interrogate him properly. Ask clearly about the rebel troop deployment, fortifications, and supply lines; every detail must be asked clearly."

"Yes!" The soldiers dragged the fat man away.

Li Ling stood at the city gate, looking at the dejected prisoners, a complex emotion surging in his heart. Most of these people were ordinary commoners who had been forcibly conscripted; some were still half-grown children who couldn't even hold a gun steadily before being pushed onto the battlefield.

"Pass the order." He said to the adjutant, "Prisoners who are willing to surrender are to be incorporated into the reserve and undergo reform. Those who are unwilling are to be given travel expenses and sent home. Do not make things difficult for them."

"Yes!"

Section V

That evening, in the temporary command post in Tianjin city, Li Ling gathered all officers at the battalion level and above to hold a pre-battle meeting.

The conference room was set up in a requisitioned chamber of commerce hall. The hall was spacious and bright, with maps and operation plans seized from the rebels hanging on the walls. Staff officers were busy organizing intelligence and marking the situation of the enemy and ourselves.

"Gentlemen." Li Ling stood in front of the map and got straight to the point, "Early tomorrow morning, the main force will push west, targeting Baoding Prefecture. The rebel main force is 120,000 strong, and our First Army Group has 100,000 men. With the support of the Air Force, we do not have an absolute advantage in manpower, but we crush them in firepower."

He pointed to several key locations on the map with a wooden stick.

"The First Division will attack from the front to attract the rebels' attention. The Second Division and Third Division will outflank from the north and south wings to cut off the rebels' retreat. The Fourth Division will serve as the general reserve, ready to enter the battle at any time. The Air Force Reconnaissance Squadron will provide aerial reconnaissance and fire support throughout."

"The Special Forces have already infiltrated behind enemy lines in advance, responsible for paralyzing the rebels' command system and supply lines. After dawn tomorrow, they will blow up the rebels' communication hubs and ammunition depots to create chaos."

"Our goal is to annihilate the main rebel force, leaving not a single one behind."

The officers nodded one after another, their eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.

"Sir, will the rebels run away?" A battalion commander asked.

"Run?" Li Ling laughed, "Where can they run? To the south we have our troops, to the north is the Taihang Mountains, to the east is the sea, and to the west is our Second Army Group. Unless they can fly, they won't be able to escape."

Laughter erupted in the conference room.

"Alright, all units go back and prepare." Li Ling put away the wooden stick, "Launch the attack on time tomorrow morning."

"Yes!"

After the officers dispersed, Li Ling stood alone by the window, looking at the pitch-black night sky outside.

In the distance, there were still sporadic lights on the streets of Tianjin city, where the common people were lighting lamps to cook. On the city walls, patrolling soldiers held torches, and the sound of footsteps could be heard faintly. Further away, on the sea, the lights of several warships flickered in the darkness like stars in the sky.

"System." He muttered in his heart.

"Hmm?" The system's voice was lazy, as if it were dozing off.

"Tell me, after this battle is over, will the north be more or less pacified?"

"More or less." The system said, "After the main rebel force is annihilated, the rest are just small fry, unable to stir up any trouble. However, there is still Zhang Zuolin in the northeast, and Yuan Shikai in Zhili; they are both tough nuts to crack."

"I know." Li Ling nodded, "That's why this battle must be fought beautifully, to show off our might, so those warlords who are watching from the sidelines know what the consequences are for opposing me."

"Host, you are becoming more and more like a real commander."

"Of course." Li Ling laughed, "I am a person who wants to be an emperor."

"...You said it again."

"Say it if I want to, anyway, you are not an outsider."

The system was silent for a while, then said: "Alright, I should go find the singing and dancing system. It has a final tonight, and I have to go cheer it on."

"You, a system, why would you cheer someone on?"

"This is called support! Do you understand?"

"Alright, alright, go ahead." Li Ling waved his hand, "Don't get disliked by them again."

"Tch, mind your own business."

The system's voice disappeared, and peace was restored in Li Ling's mind.

He turned around, walked back to the table, and continued to study the map.

Outside the window, the night grew deeper, and the east began to pale.

A new day was about to begin.