In June 1904, in order to avoid the frontal attack from Weihai Port, the Southern Army decided to land in Rongcheng. Following the route of the Japanese attack on Rongcheng that year, on the morning of June 15, the Southern Army began to prepare for landing on Rongcheng Longxu Island under the escort and cover of the Beiyang Fleet. The 8,000 Beiyang Fleet guarding Rongcheng was attacked by the Beiyang Fleet fiercely, and countless casualties were injured.

At noon, two thousand Southern Marines took the opportunity to attack and successfully landed on Longxu Island on landing craft. The 171st Regiment of the Marines headed by Sun Chuanfang took the lead in occupying Longxu Island.

On the 20th, the Southern Army divided its troops to attack Weihaiwei. On the 21st, Zhu Lianjie was stubbornly blocked by more than 2,000 Beiyang New Army along the line east of the bridgehead. However, the Beiyang New Army eventually lost to the enemy and fled.

On the 23rd, the Southern Army on the North Road had advanced to Baojia Village, behind Gushan. At the same time, the Southern Army on the South Road occupied the bridgehead and approached the hot springs.

Three days later, the southern army of the north and south began to attack the Beiyang New Army guards guarding the Weihai Abraham City. This battle started from sunrise to sunset. After nightfall, the Southern Army began to eliminate the remaining enemies. By the early morning of the next day, the Southern Army successfully captured the Weihai Guard. Since then, the Weihai Guard, who was seized by Yuan Shikai for two years, returned to the hands of the Beiyang Fleet.

After the Weihai Guard was occupied by the Beiyang Fleet, Yuan Shikai was shocked and immediately set off to Jinan, Shandong to supervise the war. He also mobilized 20,000 new troops from Zhili and Henan to support Shandong, intending to encircle the landing troops of the Southern Army above the Weihai Guard.

Jinan Prefecture, Shandong.

Yuan Shikai, who was in turmoil, had no time to rest and immediately convened the generals of the Shandong Beiyang New Army to hold a military meeting.

Those who walked with Yuan Shikai were his important advisers Liang Shiyi and Zhao Bingjun, while Tang Shaoyi stayed in Beijing to take charge of the overall situation.

The atmosphere at the meeting was serious. Yuan Shikai's face was gloomy and he stared at the Beiyang New Army generals present silently. Every Beiyang New Army general present lowered his head in cold sweat. Everyone knew that at this time, Yuan Shikai would definitely punish generals who were unfavorable to the battle in the name of supervising the war.

Yuan Shikai sat upright on the head and said coldly: "Bring me the general who guards Weihai Guards!"

As soon as Yuan Shikai finished speaking, two Beiyang New Army soldiers walked in with a colonel officer in his forties and with a goat beard. The colonel officer was named Wang Fenglin, who was the colonel commander who guarded Weihai Guard this time.

Wang Fenglin's military uniform was messy, and a few buttons in front of his clothes had fallen off. The armed belt was gone. In short, it was so embarrassing that he was too embarrassed. His small eyes were circling around his dirty face. When he was taken to Yuan Shikai, his legs were still trembling.

Yuan Shikai slapped the table suddenly and asked, "Wang Fenglin, do you know your guilt?"

When Wang Fenglin heard this, his body suddenly collapsed and knelt in front of Yuan Shikai and begged for mercy: "Master, please spare me, beg me for being a crime, beg me for being a crime."

"Where is the sin?" Yuan Shikai asked.

"It was Hu Shi's carelessness that he lost Weihai Guard!" Wang Fenglin did not forget to defend himself at this time, "But the Southern Army was really fierce in offensive, and there were also naval gun support. With the heavy artillery of the Beiyang Fleet, countless brothers under his command had already been killed or injured. Moreover, the number of soldiers in the south was large, with tens of thousands of people. Hu Shi's troops was insufficient, so I couldn't resist it. I hope the general would be clear and spare his life. Hu Shi's life will definitely be atone for his sins..."

"Fart!" Yuan Shikai interrupted Wang Fenglin's defense rudely and cursed: "Ten thousand people? How could the Southern Army land so quickly in just a few days? It was clearly you who were quibbling! Don't think I didn't know anything. You had a total of 5,000 people on Longxu Island. At that time, the Southern Army had only two thousand troops, but you didn't even defend it for a day!"

Seeing that Yuan Shikai had seen his sophistry, Wang Fenglin kowtowed and explained like a slap in garlic: "Master, please be aware! Although there are only two thousand people in the southern army landed, your firepower is several times that of ours. It is understandable that we can't hold on. I hope that the Master will be open to the Internet and think about the humble position and follow the Master for several years. If you have no contribution, you will have hard work!"

"Stop!" Yuan Shikai looked at Wang Fenglin with disgust and cursed: "The Southern Army has only two thousand people landed on Longxu Island. How could the firepower be several times that of your 5,000 new army? Don't make excuses for your fault!"

Seeing that Yuan Shikai didn't believe it, Wang Fenglin kowtowed and explained: "Master, it's true. The firepower of the Southern Army's landing forces is really strong, just like everyone is holding a Maxim machine gun. Once they attack, we can't raise our heads at all!"

"Everyone is holding a Maxim machine gun?" Yuan Shikai's heart was shocked. Could it be that Tang Jian invented a new weapon again?

Yuan Shikai dared not underestimate Tang Jian's scientific research power for studying new weapons. When he attacked the Forbidden City at night, it was Tang Jian's newly invented mortar that knocked open the city gate guarded by the Eight Banners Army. During the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Tang Jian used a new torpedo to sank the Japanese ship Yoshino, such as airships and armored vehicles, which were invented under the leadership of Tang Jian.

Moreover, seeing that Wang Fenglin looks like he is not fake, it may be that Tang Jian has really owned a new weapon. When he thinks of this, Yuan Shikai suddenly felt a strong sense of anxiety. Tang Jian chose to land from Weihaiwei and relied on the new weapon. Then the direction of Tang Jian's real counterattack was to insert into Zhili from Shandong. In other words, Nie Shicheng's 80,000 troops were his bait, to attract his attention.

It is worthy of being Tang Jian! Yuan Shikai sighed in his heart, this move is really exquisite!

Seeing that Yuan Shikai was in deep thought, and his expression changed on his face, Wang Fenglin thought that Yuan Shikai had forgiven him, so he stepped forward and continued to beg for mercy and said, "Master, I am willing to atone for my sins and continue to serve the Master!"

Yuan Shikai took back his thoughts, his face suddenly became cold, and he said, "No need!" Then Yuan Shikai pulled out the gun he carried with him in Wang Fenglin's astonished gaze. Then, without waiting for Wang Fenglin to react, the short gun hit his forehead. With a "bang", Wang Fenglin's head was like a bursting watermelon. A few generals of the Beiyang New Army were instantly splashed red and white.

Yuan Shikai put the gun on the conference table with a smoke-filled gun. A crisp "bang" sounded, and every general present was shocked.

Yuan Shikai sneered: "The defeated general dares to beg for mercy? If there is anyone like this next time, Wang Fenglin is your role model!"

The Beiyang New Army generals present were trembling in their hearts. As a division commander of the Beiyang New Army, Yuan Shikai killed him at any time without any hesitation. When he thought that such treatment would come to him at any time, all the Beiyang New Army generals were chilling.

The generals splashed with filth on their bodies did not dare to move. They just stared at Yuan Shikai nervously. Yuan Shikai sat upright and said, "Okay, the meeting has officially begun!" During this period, Yuan Shikai reiterated the military discipline again, and if there are any escapees at the battle, they will be killed and will not forgive.

"Do you have any opinions on the Southern Army's capture of Weihai Guard this time?" Yuan Shikai asked.

After a long time, no one responded, Yuan Shikai said angrily: "What? He's all mute?"

A few more bold Beiyang New Army generals said in a trembling voice: "This time the Southern Army is launching a large-scale attack, it is very likely that they will focus on Shandong's main attack, so I think Shandong's defense should be the top priority."

When others heard this, they agreed, saying that this speculation is very likely and that the main force of defense should be placed in Shandong. Nie Shicheng's 80,000 southern army was rushing thousands of miles, with a long journey and a long supply line. As long as Nie Shicheng besieged in Jinzhong for a long time, Nie Shicheng will inevitably withdraw his troops due to insufficient supply. On the contrary, Tang Jian is likely to increase troops in Shandong.

Yuan Shikai nodded. This speculation was not much different from what he thought. Seeing Yuan Shikai nodding in agreement, the generals of the Beiyang New Army present did not dare to express any other opinions.

However, some other generals did not agree with this speculation. They felt that the main attack direction of the Southern Army was still in Shanxi. However, when they saw Wang Fenglin's miserable situation, these people swallowed this speculation.

Since the opinions have been unified, the military meeting will end soon. The meeting concluded that the main attack direction of the Southern Army will be in Shandong, and the main defense force of the Beiyang New Army should be in Shandong.

After the meeting, Wang Fenglin's body was also carried down, and the other generals left the venue as if they were running away.

After the meeting, Liang Shiyi said to Yuan Shikai: "Master, I have received some information. I don't know whether to talk or not?"

Yuan Shikai said impatiently: "There is nothing you can't say, just say it!"

"Yes, yes!" Liang Shiyi nodded quickly, approached Yuan Shikai's side, and said, "I heard that there were many generals in the army who had good personal relationships with Feng Guozhang and Duan Qirui in the past who had written letters with the Southern Army."

"Really?" Yuan Shikai frowned. Since Feng Guozhang and Duan Qirui surrendered to the enemy, Yuan Shikai was quite disgusted with such surrender to the enemy at the last minute. He no longer wanted to see something like this happen. Yuan Shikai asked anxiously: "Is there any evidence?"

Liang Shiyi nodded affirmatively and said, "There are handwritten letters from Feng Guozhang and Duan Qirui as evidence. These letters were intercepted by me halfway. Most of them have not received these letters of persuasion to surrender."

Yuan Shikai said angrily: "These people are simply bold! I now order you to investigate this matter. All generals with these letters will be secretly controlled by them. Once they find that it is true, they will be executed on the spot!"

"Yes!" Liang Shiyi bowed.

"Also, I want you to put some spies into the army. Once someone has the tendency to surrender to the enemy, report to me immediately. I don't believe it. Who else dares to betray me!" Yuan Shikai said gritting his teeth.
Chapter completed!