Chapter 26

On September 16th, the 4,000 troops of the Beiyang Army finally boarded the five transport ships of the Beiyang Fleet.

At the command of Admiral Ding Ruchang, the signal for departure was hoisted on the mast of the ironclad Dingyuan, and the shrill whistle of the steam whistle echoed through the sky. Dozens of sailors strained to turn the massive steering wheel, slowly lifting the heavy iron anchor from the water and securing it firmly at the bow. In the engine room, the blowers had already begun to pump fresh air into the round boilers, and the sailors shoveled coal into the furnaces, where the flames roared and the machinery rumbled. The high-pressure steam released its internal energy in a designated area, driving the steam engine to operate in a regular, repetitive motion.

At 1:00 AM, the massive Beiyang Fleet set sail. The large battleship, with a displacement of over 11,000 tons and now renamed "Kaoyuan," led the fleet. Behind it, the main warships "Dingyuan," "Zhenyuan," "Zhiyuan," "Jingyuan," "Jingyuan," "Laiyuan," "Jiyuan," "Guangjia," "Chaoyong," "Yangwei," "Pingyuan," "Guangbing," "Zhenzhong," and "Zhenbian," as well as the torpedo boats "Fulong," "Youyi," "Youer," and "Youisan," followed in two columns, forming the "double fish formation" of the Beiyang Fleet. Due to the urgency of time, there was no opportunity to form a new formation suitable for the Kaoyuan. Moreover, Li Hongzhang never intended for the Beiyang Fleet to engage the Japanese main fleet head-on, so this broadside battleship was oddly incorporated into the fleet's traditional bow-first formation.

Although Ding Ruchang was eager to quickly transport the army to Korea, he understood that this large-scale maritime operation must be absolutely safe. To ensure this, he ordered the five transport ships, fully loaded with soldiers and supplies, to set sail one hour later than the escort fleet, following the route cleared by the main Beiyang Fleet. This way, even if the fleet encountered the Japanese Navy en route, the warships could detect the enemy first and protect the transport ships, allowing them to turn and retreat.

Under the bright moonlight, in the vast darkness, over twenty ships of various types, under wartime blackout conditions, slowly moved eastward. The sound of the waves and the low hum of the machinery filled the air. If one were to consult a map of the Korean Peninsula and align it with the compass on the flagship "Dingyuan," the destination of this voyage would be clear. In the admiral's command center, Ding Ruchang, with bloodshot eyes, placed his finger on the low-scale map, focusing everyone's attention on a name that would never be forgotten by those who understood China's modern maritime defense.

"Dandonggou!"

Ding Ruchang looked around at the gathered officers and said slowly, "According to the orders from the Viceroy, the fleet will follow the coast of the Liaodong Peninsula and finally unload at Dandong Port at the mouth of the Yalu River. The success or failure of this operation will directly determine the situation on the Korean front. Its importance is clear to all! For the next six hours, everyone must be fully alert and act with caution. Do you understand?"

"Complying with the orders of the military commander!" The officers responded in unison, their expressions solemn.

Liu Buzhan, looking at the admiral, had a complex expression and hesitated to speak. Ding Ruchang, perceiving the abnormality in his trusted subordinate, turned to him and said, "Zixiang, do you have something to say?"

Liu Buzhan clenched his teeth and said, "May I ask, Commander, what will the Beiyang Fleet do after the army lands at Dandong Port?"

Ding Ruchang, somewhat displeased, replied, "Two days ago, when the fleet set sail from Weihaiwei, didn't we already plan all the steps for this operation? After the army lands at Dandong Port, the Beiyang Fleet will immediately return, passing through Dalian back to Weihai, maintaining a strong presence to deter the Japanese. As the captain of the flagship, why do you need to ask me this?"

Under normal circumstances, Liu Buzhan would have bowed his head and remained silent. However, today, he was clearly different. Despite Ding Ruchang's rebuke, Liu Buzhan met his gaze and said firmly, "Japanese warships have already appeared on the Dajiang River. Why don't we head south to seek out the enemy and avenge the Fendao Sea Battle?"

This statement, like a large stone thrown into a calm lake, caused a great stir. Everyone stopped their work and turned their attention to the admiral, their faces filled with anticipation.

Ding Ruchang's narrow eyes narrowed, his sharp gaze seemingly piercing through Liu Buzhan's eyes to the depths of his mind. For a moment, the entire command room was silent, except for the low hum of the steam engine from the lower deck, echoing in the 40-square-meter space.

After a while, Ding Ruchang said slowly, "Zixiang, tell me, why did we choose to land at Dandonggou on the border between China and Korea, rather than directly transporting the army to the front line in Pyongyang?"

Liu Buzhan was slightly taken aback but quickly explained the reasons for the operation.

It turned out that there were two routes for the Beiyang Army to reinforce the Korean battlefield: one was to cross the Yellow Sea by ship directly to Korea, and the other was to advance along the northeastern land route, crossing the Yalu River into Korea. The maritime route was efficient and quick, but since the Fendao Sea Battle, the situation in the Yellow Sea had become tense, with frequent appearances of Japanese warships, making the maritime route much more dangerous. A single mistake could lead to a repeat of the Fendao disaster. The land route, while safe from ambush, was long and arduous, with the transportation of large amounts of supplies being time-consuming and labor-intensive, and the long march would also affect the combat effectiveness of the troops. After careful consideration, Li Hongzhang decided on a compromise: the army would first sail along the coast to Dandong Port at the mouth of the Yalu River, then proceed to Korea by land. This method, which balanced safety and efficiency, was quickly implemented during the war.

Ding Ruchang snorted and said, "You know this well. The success of this operation is to safely deliver these 4,000 Beiyang soldiers to Dandonggou! Our duty is to protect the army and ensure they are not harassed by Japanese warships during the voyage. Seeking battle by heading south is a case of putting the cart before the horse."

"But Commander, we can wait for the army to land safely, then cruise south for a while before returning! If we can find one or two Japanese warships and destroy them, it would be a great way to repay the emperor's grace, avenge the fallen soldiers, and vent the anger of the people. This would be a great opportunity!" Liu Buzhan said urgently.

"Nonsense!" Ding Ruchang's low shout, though not loud, made everyone in the room tremble. The veins on his forehead stood out, creating a stark contrast with the wrinkles, and he said sternly, "Liu Zixiang, do you really know nothing about the situation in the court and the Viceroy's position? How did the Beiyang Fleet become what it is today, and how did the Viceroy manage to stand firm in the central government? Heading south to cruise would put the entire fleet at risk. If we fall into an ambush and suffer heavy losses, or if the Japanese take advantage of our absence to attack Weihai, how can I explain this to the court and the Viceroy?"

Seeing Liu Buzhan's flushed face from excitement, and thinking of the middle-aged man's years of service in the Beiyang Fleet, his meticulous and diligent work, and his role as a trusted subordinate, Ding Ruchang felt a pang of sympathy. He sighed and said, "Zixiang, I understand your youthful enthusiasm and your desire to avenge your fallen comrades. I, too, harbor a deep resentment. However, in our position, we must focus on our duties. As the admiral of the Beiyang Fleet, I bear the trust of the Viceroy and the expectations of the court. I must both eliminate the Japanese pirates and protect the ships. We must proceed with caution, like walking on thin ice, and cannot act rashly, disregarding the overall situation."

Liu Buzhan remained silent, his fists clenched. How could he not understand Ding Ruchang's difficulties? With the enemy at the gate and being attacked and suspected by the reformists, who wanted to remove him, Ding Ruchang's burden was immense, despite Li Hongzhang's protection. However, the shadow of the Fendao disaster lingered in his mind, and he was always ready to strike back. Now, with the addition of this large ironclad, how could he not want to take action?

Ding Ruchang turned away, his back to the others, and said calmly, "I am tired. I will rest in my quarters for a while. During my absence, all matters, big or small, will be handled by Captain Liu." He paused and added, "If we encounter Japanese warships, report to me immediately."

Everyone responded in unison.

Ding Ruchang nodded, opened the door, and left the meeting room, walking through the narrow, dim corridor to his small room. The moonlight, like water, streamed through the bright porthole, casting a slanting light on the weary old man. He crossed his arms and sighed softly, muttering, "I hope the defenses at Pyongyang are as solid as a rock."

What no one in the Beiyang Fleet could have imagined was that, at that very moment, the fortress of Pyongyang, thousands of miles away, had fallen in less than a day due to the cowardice and incompetence of its commander, Ye Zhichao. The elite Huai Army, numbering over ten thousand and meticulously trained by Li Hongzhang, was ambushed by the Japanese in the dark, rainy night outside Pyongyang, resulting in a massacre. Ye Zhichao led the remnants in a mad retreat, abandoning all of Korea. That night, over 2,000 Huai Army soldiers were killed, and more than 500 were captured. The Korean battlefield was in complete disarray, beyond salvation.