Chapter 44: Confrontation

The Yellow Flag Army surged forward like a tide, on top of each other! It seemed they were about to overwhelm the defenders behind the mud wall.
Zhang Biao made a painful decision: “Retreat! Retreat to the second line of defense!”
At his command, the soldiers of the Xiliu Camp jumped into the dug trenches and moved toward the rear breast wall.
The two Remington riflemen stationed on higher ground now showed their skill—they set up their guns on the rooftops, aimed at the enemy, and began firing to halt their advance.
Zhang Biao stood at the back of the line, guiding the soldiers into the trenches while loading his gun. It wasn’t until the Yellow Flag Army was almost upon the mud wall, and their fierce eyes could be seen clearly, that he calmly opened fire.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Firing in rapid succession without aiming, he shot at the enemy just a few meters away. After knocking down two or three Yellow Flag soldiers, he finally jumped into the trench, stepping over the spent shells.
The Yellow Flag Army cheered again—they had reached the mud wall. The toughest part, the paddy fields, was already under their feet; victory was within sight.
“Fire!” This was the order given to the Xiliu Camp soldiers after they retreated behind the breast wall. They reloaded their guns one by one and fired.
Another barrage of bullets erupted, stopping the crowd rushing at the mud wall. Another collision followed.
They tried to launch another attack. Some tried to climb over the obstacle barehanded but were immediately shot by the Black Flag Army’s concentrated fire. Before they could steady themselves, they fell back, covered in blood.
The seemingly unstoppable tide was halted not by the Black Flag Army’s gunfire but by this reinforced mud wall.
The wall wasn’t very tall—less than a person’s height—but climbing over it required agility. Those who were less nimble needed help to get up.
Worse still, the Xiliu Camp had set up some simple obstacles in front of the mud wall. Breaking through them took time. But before they could climb over, the Black Flag Army had already reorganized themselves on the second line of defense.
This breast wall was more solid than the mud wall and had a slope, allowing for concentrated fire downward. The anxious Yellow Flag soldiers behind the mud wall were fortunate—many of their comrades who fell behind ended up in the crossfire.
The yellow crowd was blocked. From time to time, someone tried to climb the mud wall, but often they were shot down in a burst of gunfire before they could even stand firm. Even those lucky enough to survive could only run a few more steps after jumping down.
Damn it! After several desperate attempts, the main force of the Yellow Flag Army retreated behind the mud wall. Now the two sides faced each other across the wall, engaging in fierce gunfights from time to time.
The Xiliu Camp had more guns, but the Yellow Flag Army had the advantage of numbers. They adopted a tactic of alternating between loading and firing—after one group fired, another group of infantry would take over. The Yellow Flag Army’s artillery in the rear also provided some firepower support.
Though both sides relied on their fortifications, with bullets raining down, the casualties grew fewer. As darkness fell, it became difficult to see even the enemy just a few dozen meters away.
Qiao Erchi kept his face tense, crouching as he made his way through the paddy fields in the darkness.

At this moment, gunfire from both sides ceased, and the standoff became eerily silent, with nothing but faint scraping sounds audible. Everyone knew that another fierce battle could erupt at any moment. Behind the mud walls lay a tragic scene: the Yellow Flag Army had practically carved a bloody path through piles of corpses. In the cold field water, wounded soldiers from the Yellow Flag Army lay, emitting cries of pain and desperation that shattered even the hardest hearts. Their screams grew weaker as they lay in the bloodwater, surrounded by corpses, gradually turning into them themselves. Yet despite the darkness, the Yellow Flag Army had no time or means to care for these wounded soldiers. Thirty meters of solid walls separated them, with snipers lurking in the shadows, ready to target any movement. “How many are dead or injured?” Qiao Erchi felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife—these were his remaining comrades from the Yellow Flag Army. “Old Qiao, I’m sorry for them.” “Eighty or ninety, not including those with minor injuries!” The Yellow Flag Army’s count excluded those who were still in the ranks despite being shot—“It’s less than we thought!” Contrary to Qiao Erchi’s pessimism, the leaders of the Yellow Flag Army saw a glimmer of hope: “If we break through those walls, we’ll have a chance to survive.” At this point, these seasoned soldiers were ready to risk everything: “There’s definitely a chance.” They saw through the weaknesses of the Xiliu Camp—although this force had strong firepower, it dared not engage in close combat, and its firepower couldn’t be sustained. All that remained was those thirty meters of distance. If they fought hard, it would definitely work. But Qiao Erchi felt bitterness in his mouth—these were the troops he could rely on. In just a few minutes, they had lost an entire squad like moths flying into a flame, not to mention those with minor injuries still in the ranks. If they rushed further into the firestorm, more lives would be lost. “Let’s fight! There are only ten meters left. If they can’t kill me, I’ve been wounded dozens of times since I started fighting—every time I’ve survived.” “Exactly. Their marksmanship isn’t precise. I estimate they’ve fired seven or eight hundred shots so far, yet only wounded eighty or ninety of us.” “Old Fu, it’s easy for you to say. The dead and wounded are all my men. If you lead the charge later, don’t try to steal the spotlight from me.” “I know you’re upset, but every member of our Yellow Flag Army is a brave man. A few stray bullets won’t scare us.” In such an atmosphere, Qiao Erchi also leaned against the mud wall, his hands covered in blood, and decided to risk everything as well: “To be honest with you all, before I came here, Father Ruan Youming told me that the Black Flag Army is France’s greatest enemy. So if we can win this battle…” “Not only will the French fleet and customs officials turn a blind eye to the goods entering, but the Archdiocese of Hanoi will also offer whatever help it can to our cause.” The news brought by Qiao Erchi clearly boosted the morale of the Yellow Flag Army: “Good. Let’s take it all in one go this night.” “No rush. Let’s eat first. Old Qiao, the brothers have been fighting all afternoon. We can’t fight on an empty stomach. You know those foreign missionaries—ask them to get us some food. Once we’ve eaten, we’ll strike while the iron is hot and take it over in the darkness!”

“Take it down!” They held hands, filled with confidence: “Take it down!”
Just as they spoke, their vision suddenly cleared.
Zhang Biao didn’t even have time to catch his breath—the intensity of the battle made it feel as though he was breathing flames.
Although the gunfire had stopped, every soldier quickly loaded their guns, ready to face the next wave of attacks from the Yellow Flag Army.
“There must be a thousand of them? We’ve knocked out at least several hundred.” Every soldier thought they had killed five or six enemies, yet the enemy’s arrows and waves of soldiers kept coming.
This kind of battle, where enemies were seemingly defeated but the onslaught couldn’t be stopped, left the soldiers exhausted. Fortunately, they had already eaten dinner earlier, and at the slightest sign of movement, they would become the best soldiers.
“What about casualties?” Zhang Biao asked anxiously. “How much ammunition do we have left?”
They could clearly hear the struggles and groans of the wounded from the Yellow Flag Army in the rice fields across from them, which not only confirmed their achievements but also boosted morale. However, the Xiliu Camp also suffered significant losses: five were injured, two of them seriously.
Zhang Biao now regretted not bringing the entire infantry platoon instead of granting a few soldiers leave. Otherwise, a full platoon wouldn’t be in such a dire straits—five injuries meant losing one-sixth of their combat strength.
What worried him even more was the darkness. In the night, their firepower advantage would be greatly reduced. “Light the fires!”
The bonfires prepared by the Third Regiment were lit, illuminating a large area in front of the breast wall, but it also exposed the defenses of the Xiliu Camp to the Yellow Flag Army.
Yet for the Black Flag Army, this had another meaning.
Fire represented light and hope, as well as the approaching reinforcements.
A few minutes later, on a hill about ten kilometers away, three fires suddenly ignited, followed by three brilliant fireworks bursting in the night sky.
These were the agreed-upon signals—fireworks set off by the sentries to indicate an urgent situation and request support.
Those three fireworks shone brilliantly in the night sky, leaving a lasting impression on everyone.
Li Yangcai saw them more clearly than Zhang Biao; he could even faintly hear the explosions.
Reinforcements for the Xiliu Camp were on their way. He ordered his old subordinates, “Use all your strength. Let’s give it our all in this battle.”
His men, seasoned veterans with years of combat experience, laughed at his words. “Sir, don’t worry. Just a hundred or so kids daring to mess with us! We’ll make them hit an impenetrable wall.”
No wonder they were so arrogant. As the army of the Qing Dynasty, they were generally weaker in offense than in defense, excelling in “building strong fortresses and fighting stubborn battles.” And in front of Li Yangcai was just such a heavily fortified camp.
Two mountain-cracking cannons were aimed at the direction from which the enemy was advancing. The camp had three layers of defenses, with fortifications and many gun ports in every direction.

The defense line consisted of adding a thick layer of soil on top of the delivered wood; not only could backloaded rifles not penetrate it, but even ordinary cannonballs couldn’t. To break such a fortress, the enemy would need to exert great effort, possessing both numerical superiority and firepower. The placement of firing positions was even more ingenious—no matter which direction the enemy attacked from, they would face attacks from mountain-cracking cannons, backloaded rifles, Minie guns, and shotguns. If time and manpower weren’t limited and they had to reinforce the existing fortifications, Li Yangcai would have built multi-sided fortresses as well.
“Well done!” The two French missionaries who witnessed this were highly satisfied with Li Yangcai’s defensive arrangements. “With such top-notch fortifications, during the battle, we will send hundreds of loyal believers to assist you in attacking them from all sides.”
Li Yangcai wasn’t satisfied with this promise. Clutching his hair, he said, “I need more! I have no way to retreat anymore. Do you still have a way out? You must attack them at all times, leaving none of them unharmed!”
In the distance, the gunfire along the Red River had ceased. Thinking back to the flames and fireworks earlier, it was clear that the Red River outpost hadn’t been taken. Now, it depended on their performance.
The French missionaries knew this was a critical moment for the church’s future in the region. Holding their Bibles, they promised Li Yangcai, “Rest assured, the diocese will do everything in its power to support your efforts, no matter what the cost.”
With such promises, Li Yangcai became full of confidence. “Good! With your help, I’m sure even if the entire Xiliu Camp attacks, I can hold out all day.”
Let the Xiliu Camp suffer heavy losses.
Lao Shi, I’ve repaid your kindness.
The old Xiliu Camp.
The alarm bells rang. Everyone rushed outside and found that the usually fierce-looking small fortress was now eerily solemn.
“End the break! All personnel, return to your posts!” The bells kept ringing, and everyone understood what it meant: “Emergency alert! Emergency alert!”
“The Red River outpost has been attacked by the enemy. The number of enemy troops is unknown, and the situation is unclear.”
Almost at the same time as the greedy fisherman delivered the bottle, the sentries on the Red River also spotted Zhang Biao’s bamboo raft and the tied red rope: “The situation is extremely urgent.”
Liu Yu received new intelligence—the relay outpost there had lit beacons, with three bright fireworks exploding in the sky: “The Red River outpost is under attack. Request for support.”
That hidden sergeant’s post could no longer be used, but it was good news.
“They’re still fighting!” Cai Yunnan almost smashed the table. “They’re still battling!”
The sending of rescue signals meant Zhang Biao’s team was still fighting, and that was enough.
After all, it would be a crime if an infantry platoon equipped with backloaded firearms couldn’t hold out for a while.
Liu Yu pressed his hands hard on the table. “Order the troops to assemble! Emergency assembly, right away!”
His fingers were sweating. “We’re now in combat mode. Those who disobey military orders will face military punishment!”

For the Xiliu Camp, entering combat mode meant a complete departure from normalcy. At that moment, the four infantry platoons left behind and the other combatants lined up neatly in the square to report for duty.
War had now begun. All leave was suspended, and everyone was ordered to join the combat ranks. Those who showed fear or disobeyed orders would face immediate military punishment.
The soldiers in Cai Yunnan’s platoon were particularly anxious. Armed to the teeth, they were ready to charge at any moment. Cai Yunnan also stepped forward and asked Liu Yu, “Let me be the vanguard leader.”
Of the three platoons at the left flank, Liu Suiyun’s platoon had gone to Heyang, and Zhang Biao’s platoon was fighting at the Red River outpost. The only fully organized unit was Cai Yunnan’s platoon.
Liu Yu was pleased by Cai Yunnan’s determination. Although he hadn’t completed his mission to contact the Tiandihui and lacked military experience, it was precisely this boldness that convinced Liu Yu: “You will be the vanguard leader!”
Even more anxious than Cai Yunnan were the five or six people left behind from Zhang Biao’s platoon. Without hesitation, they packed up their gear and stood by the camp gate, ready to set off. “If we had known trouble was coming, we wouldn’t have taken leave.”
As for the right flank, this company was composed mainly of the veterans of the Liu Camp. Now, Sima Tai rushed over and saluted Liu Yu. “All 143 soldiers of the right flank are assembled. Please give orders.”
He added, “Let Cai Yunnan and his men stay behind. We will ensure we reach the Red River outpost by noon tomorrow.”
“I guarantee it.”
Deciding how to deploy these four infantry platoons was a difficult task. To ensure the safety of the old camp, one platoon had to stay behind, while another infantry company would attack the enemy forces ahead to carry out the rescue mission.
The advantage of the right flank was that it was a complete infantry company, making it easier to command. These veterans of the Liu Camp also wanted to prove themselves, but Liu Yu had other plans: “Cai Yunnan’s platoon will serve as the vanguard.”
Then he said to Sima Tai, “Have Liu Haohao lead half a platoon to stay behind.”
No one wanted to take on the role of staying behind, but Liu Haohao wasn’t expecting Liu Yu to call his name. He had competed with Liu Yu for leadership of the Liu Camp and, despite losing, had managed to rise to the rank of platoon leader. Yet he always suspected that Liu Yu might undermine him at critical moments.
But with this order, he felt overjoyed. The old camp couldn’t afford to lose, so assigning him to stay behind must mean Liu Yu trusted him greatly.
He was too impulsive and bold under normal circumstances and would never take on a defensive role. Liu Yu choosing him now must be because he was a veteran of the Liu Camp and, being of the same clan, absolutely trustworthy.
Liu Yu wouldn’t be so reckless as to abandon the old camp—this meant it was his turn to shine. He glanced at Sima Tai and immediately stood up, expressing his resolve, “Please rest assured, commander. I will defend the old camp to the death and refuse to engage in battle.”
He also understood the importance of the old camp and added, “If anything happens, I will first seek advice from Jiang Linyang.”

Liu Yu didn’t react at first and only later remembered that Jiang Linyang was his father-in-law. Everyone understood the implication of those words: “Apart from your half platoon, everyone else in the old camp, including Ning Xue, is under your command.”

Besides Liu Haohao’s half platoon, some combatants from the old camp remained. By opening the warehouse and distributing Spencer rifles along with thirty rounds of ammunition to them, a temporary reserve platoon was formed.

They were originally blacksmiths, carpenters, merchants, and other non-military professionals. After just two days of training, they were roughly at the level of militia. As for the rest of the elderly and weak, they were organized into a support platoon responsible for assisting in defense.

At the entrance of the old camp, three and a half infantry squads formed a square formation: “Reporting to the commander, all 175 men of the Xiliu Camp are assembled. Please give orders.”

“At ease!” Liu Yu saluted all the soldiers. “Come with me to save our comrades! We will not abandon any of them!”

He checked his pocket watch: “It’s 7:26 now. Only 23 hours and 20 minutes left! No, even less time—our comrades’ fate depends on our strength!”

The crowd cheered. After his brief speech, he signaled Cai Yunnan: “Cai Yunnan’s platoon, take the lead. Your deputy platoon leader should join the vanguard squad.”

Sima Tai would serve as the rear guard and flanking troops, while Liu Yu led the remaining half platoon of Liu Haohao along with a few soldiers from Zhang Biao’s platoon as the main force: “Salute to our comrades in battle! Let’s go!”

The 175 soldiers immediately took up combat formations and stepped into the darkness, carrying the light of fire.

At that moment, the Red River outpost remained eerily quiet, aside from the increasingly faint cries coming from the paddy fields.

The opposing sides only occasionally launched hostile actions. The Yellow Flag Army often launched a massive feint attack. This stalemate had lasted for three hours, and it seemed they intended to continue it.

But both sides knew it was just a deception. The Yellow Flag Army had eaten their simple dinner beneath the mud wall. Their bodies were soaked in blood. After just a simple meal, they had exerted tremendous effort.

They brought ladders, stools, ropes, and even dug soil to create two ramps along the nearly man-high mud wall, allowing infantry to leap over it and charge forward.

As for the defenders’ defenses, they had also observed them for a long time—just a parapet and cover. The distance from the mud wall to the parapet was only ten zhang; gritting their teeth, they could charge over immediately.

In any case, it was easier than crossing those over a hundred meters of paddy fields. The Yellow Flag Army had made up their minds—they were even ready to turn their precious artillery into a suicide squad.

The moon grew fuller, and the three bonfires still burned fiercely.

At 9 p.m., the standoff continued without a sound.

Suddenly, loud shouts erupted from the mud wall, like the momentum of an army in charge. Then, several soldiers from the Yellow Flag Army suddenly appeared on the wall.

The Yellow Flag Army had used this tactic several times before, but this time they were serious.

The commando team didn’t bring shotguns but instead prepared various knives and swords. Some stood on the mud wall while others jumped down and started running forward.
History has shown that those who ran fastest were usually the first to fall. The rifles in the Xiliu Camp fired almost simultaneously; in the darkness, it was impossible to see the bullet trajectories—only the roaring sound of gunfire could be heard. Those who jumped up were all riddled with bullets.
But more people appeared on top of the wall. Zhang Biao’s platoon had not yet undergone the third rifle training session, so their night-time shooting skills were not high. Yet, thanks to the fire network formed by the Spencer rifles, almost none of the first two waves of the Yellow Flag Army’s commando team managed to reach halfway before the gunfire stopped.
Hearing the sudden cessation of gunfire, Qiao Erchi thought it was the best music in the world.
The Xiliu Camp had retreated to their last line of defense—they had nowhere left to go.
Almost at the same time, countless yellow flags appeared on top of the wall. As they waved the flags, they formed several arrowheads and charged forward.
The yellow tide surged forward. Under the light of the fires, the soldiers of the Xiliu Camp could see everything clearly. At the same time, soldiers from the Yellow Flag Army lay on top of the wall, firing fiercely.
“Quick! Quick! Quick!”
Zhang Biao shouted loudly. The soldiers loaded their rifles much faster than usual. He heard someone being hit by a bullet, but he saw that the massive wave of attackers was about to reach the parapet.
They loaded their rifles again.