PNB Chapter 208 Mediation
Chapter 208 Mediation
"Damn it, the Chinese laid mines!" The fleeing Japanese ships all stopped in their tracks.
A large number of enemy ships were pursuing them from behind, and an unknown minefield lay ahead. The Japanese ships were caught in a dilemma, unsure of what to do!
"Signal! Tell them their flagship, the Mikasa, has surrendered! Make them surrender too!" Cao Yong ordered from the cruiser, taking a drag of his cigarette.
In response to the East China Sea Fleet's offer of surrender, the remaining seven or eight Japanese ships could not escape. Apart from two cruisers being scuttled, the other warships raised the white flag.
In the Battle of the Bohai Sea, the Chinese fleet annihilated the Japanese fleet at minimal cost, drawing the attention of the world.
The formidable strength displayed by those battleships, in particular, secretly alarmed various countries, prompting them to send people to inquire how the Chinese had accomplished this.
The British had already guessed it, but of course they wouldn't say it. They simply sent a telegram back home, demanding that the development of the fire control ranging system be accelerated.
"Newspapers for sale! Newspapers for sale! Our East China Sea Fleet has annihilated the Japanese Navy!"
"Newspapers for sale! Newspapers for sale! Our navy has annihilated all Japanese ships and captured more than ten warships!"
The newsboys' voices echoed through the streets and alleys, once again triggering a buying frenzy.
"The humiliation of the First Sino-Japanese War has been avenged today!" An old man held a newspaper, tears streaming down his face.
Firecrackers crackled and popped throughout Jinan, and people cheered with joy. It was even more exciting than celebrating the Lunar New Year!
This scene played out all over China, and Shen Lian's fame spread to every household.
Inside the Forbidden City, Empress Dowager Cixi and a group of princes and ministers were beaming with joy, loudly discussing how to reward Shen Lian and the naval officers and soldiers.
"The Marquis of Zhenyuan has performed such an unprecedented feat that it wouldn't be too much to bestow upon him the title of a king!" Empress Dowager Cixi nodded with a smile.
"Your Majesty, since the founding of our Great Qing Dynasty, apart from the original Three Princes of Shun and the Prince of Pingxi, we have never enfeoffed a prince of a different surname! I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!"
"Moreover, everyone knows the final fate of those princes! We should still be wary of the Han people!" Tie Liang stepped forward and reported.
"Yes! Your Majesty, if another Wu Sangui were to emerge, the court might not be able to withstand the turmoil!" Other princes and ministers echoed in agreement.
"Alright! Let's postpone this matter! The Northeast is still in the midst of a major battle. Let's wait until we drive the Japanese out!" Empress Dowager Cixi waved her hand.
Yikuang's lips moved, but in the end he said nothing. Suppressing the Han people was the collective will of the entire Manchu group, a policy that had been in place for over two hundred years. He couldn't say much more.
Shen Lian paid no attention to the outside world's turmoil; he was currently directing his army in a massive pursuit.
When news of the complete annihilation of the navy arrived, Oyama knew it was all over. He immediately ordered the Japanese troops at the front to retreat to Korea.
The Japanese army's escape was not so easy; the well-prepared New Army immediately gave chase. The New Army had tanks, armored vehicles, and a large number of cavalry.
Most of the Japanese troops were infantry, and the Japanese troops left behind to cover the rear were almost immediately routed.
The Japanese army's retreat turned into a rout, with about 200,000 Japanese soldiers fleeing in disarray towards Korea. The distance from Fengtian (Mukden) to Korea is considerable; even on a modern highway, it's two to three hundred kilometers.
With the current road conditions, it's even further!
The new army pursued at a leisurely pace, and whenever the Japanese army stopped, they would send armored divisions to attack. The Japanese army was routed and retreated for hundreds of miles, with its troops scattered all over the mountains and fields.
These Japanese soldiers lacked ammunition and food; how far could they possibly run?
Large groups of Japanese soldiers kept surrendering, and the road was littered with their corpses.
Because the Japanese 4th Division was the furthest away, it was overtaken by the 2nd Cavalry Division, and its commander, Ogawa, committed seppuku again. The two brigade commanders led their entire divisions to surrender to the 2nd Cavalry Division.
Shen Xiaohu was incredibly awesome for forcing an entire Japanese division to surrender with just one division!
Shen Lian shook his head upon receiving the telegram. He certainly knew the name of the Osaka Division. This merchant division was notorious for its cowardice and greed, so it wasn't surprising that they would surrender.
"Good that they're afraid of death! That's exactly the kind of Japanese soldiers I need." Shen Lian ordered that all Japanese prisoners of war with Chinese blood on their hands be executed!
The remaining prisoners will be locked up for now, and we'll deal with them after the war!
The pursuit lasted for a week! The new army eventually captured more than 150,000 Japanese prisoners, and more than 20,000 Japanese soldiers escaped into Korea.
Shen Lian deliberately let these people escape, intending to let them cause trouble in Korea for a while. Anyway, he had already blocked the sea routes, so they couldn't escape.
In his mind, North Korea has no reason to exist! To avoid it jumping out again to annoy people and compete with him for World Heritage status.
After those vicious Japanese troops have done their fill of ravaging Korea, I'll send my own army to rescue them. Surely the Koreans will be grateful to me then! Hehe!
Shen Lian left two divisions to monitor the Japanese army at the border, while the rest of the army began to retreat to Lushun.
Shen Lian and his headquarters personnel also arrived in Lushun!
Several mass graves outside the city have been reburied, and tombstones have been erected in front of the tall mounds. Shen Lian, along with military and political officials, immediately paid their respects to the innocent civilians who had sacrificed their lives.
In the square in front of the cemetery, hundreds of Japanese prisoners of war are buried alive, kneeling on their sides. These are Japanese officers and soldiers who were identified as having participated in the massacre.
"Fellow villagers! Rest in peace! The murderers who killed you have been brought to justice, but that's not enough. I will make the Japanese pay tenfold, a hundredfold price! To comfort your souls in heaven!" Shen Lian murmured.
"General, the Japanese peace envoy and envoys from various Western countries have arrived!" Shen Lian had just returned to headquarters when his staff officer reported this.
"Let them wait!" Shen Lian waved his hand impatiently.