Chapter 93: Lobbying

Time passed swiftly. From 1882, when Li Weiyeh captured Hanoi, to the early days of 1883, the two sides began to make contact in Hanoi. However, under the relentless pressure from the French, the Vietnamese were struggling to hold on and repeatedly asked the Black Flag Army to withdraw from Baosheng and leave the Red River defense area. Liu Yu was among those most affected, but Liu Yongfu faced even greater pressure.

Over these two years, Huang Zuoyan had gone too far in playing political games. The Black Flag Army was only given half of its promised rations, and it didn’t even receive any nominal official positions. For example, Huang Shouzhong, who held the second-highest rank in the Black Flag Army after Liu Yongfu, was merely a seventh-rank defense officer in Heyang.

Huang Guilan, who commanded the Guangxi defense forces, also offered only empty promises of support without providing any tangible assistance. In contrast, Tang Jiong, the governor of Yunnan, personally met with Liu Yongfu at Muchang and provided ten thousand taels of funding for the army. Huang Guilan’s only action was to withdraw two hundred soldiers from Liu Yongfu’s forces to station them at the front lines in Bining.

He placed the Black Flag Army at the front lines but offered no support. He instructed his officers, “If the Black Flag Army engages the French, none of the units shall wear distinctive uniforms; we’ll wait to see their outcome before making a decision.”

Because of this, Liu Yongfu grew increasingly disheartened. Meanwhile, Colonel Li Weiyeh was finally about to receive the reinforcements he had been waiting for all year long. The reinforcements he would receive were even more than he had expected. Qin Chong, the new governor of Cochinchina, promised him that as long as the additional thousand soldiers sent from the mainland reached Saigon, he could transport two to three thousand soldiers to Haiphong and turn the entire Vietnam into a protectorate. If the Vietnamese government resisted, he would personally lead twelve hundred soldiers to attack Haiphong.

Of course, this promise could only be implemented with the approval of the Minister of Naval Colonies. But Li Weiyeh knew it was only a matter of time. Thus, on March 27, 1883, he took action again.

If there was a wealthy city in Tonkin second only to Hanoi, it was undoubtedly Nanning. He sent troops to Nanning and captured this crucial port city within just one morning. Although the Vietnamese put up a fiercer resistance than in Hanoi, no French soldiers were killed. Since he had kept troops in Hanoi, he used even fewer troops than when attacking Hanoi. Yet within a few hours, thousands of Vietnamese soldiers were scattered again.

At this critical moment, Liu Yongfu finally received his savior. An official from the Qing dynasty’s central government arrived in Shanxi, and Liu Yongfu personally went to Shanxi City to welcome him.

Standing at the bow of the ship, Tang Jingsong gazed at the city transformed into a fortress, his mind filled with thoughts. Liu Yongfu thought he could reach the emperor’s ears, but he knew clearly that he was just an ordinary court official. There were countless such unimportant officials in the capital.

Yet, somehow, Tang Jingsong felt different from those who had struggled to climb the ranks. He remembered his mentor’s words: “What a great man Ban Dingyuan is!”

He wasn’t there to idle away his time. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of Chen Tang and Fu Jiezi and make his own achievements in distant lands. His heart was filled with passion. Thinking of the fifteen wasted years in the capital, he resolved to make up for that lost time.

He was from Guanyang, Guangxi. In 1865, he passed the imperial examinations and became a jinshi. After serving in the Hanlin Academy for three years, he was appointed as a seventh-rank shujishi upon graduation. Fifteen years later, he was promoted by one rank to become an officer in the History Department, but he remained a pending official, not holding an actual position.

At the thought of this position as a pending officer in the History Department, Tang Jingsong felt his heart surge with enthusiasm. Even if he couldn’t achieve wealth or glory, he could still realize his ambitions in a distant land.

Liu Yongfu watched the unremarkable small boat on the shore with excitement, his emotions rising again and again. He had seen many things over the years—provincial governors, nominal commanders, and prefects—but this sixth-rank pending officer from the Ministry of Personnel was the person he valued the most, for he could convey messages to the imperial court.

What he valued even more was this person’s sincerity. Over the past decade, countless Qing officials had come and gone, but none had ever set foot in the territory controlled by the Black Flag Army, leaving them completely ignorant of everything related to Vietnam and the Black Flag Army. The same was true for Tang Jingsong—there were many debates about what kind of force the Black Flag Army actually was. Reformists like Zhang Peilun regarded the Black Flag Army as a powerful force and believed it should be fully utilized to fight against the French, while others like Li Hongzhang held different views. The strongest arguments in their favor came from Liu Yongfu.

With at most 100,000 yuan in funds raised each year and only 3,000 soldiers, what kind of achievements could such strength bring? The Black Flag Army was insignificant in the face of the French; it would be better to give up on them early. In that era, for court officials to get promoted, it usually came down to two things: “imperial advisor or king’s right-hand man” or “acting under divine inspiration.” Tang Jingsong believed he didn’t have the fate to be an imperial advisor or king’s right-hand man, and as for “acting under divine inspiration,” the term “divine envoy” referred to Western envoys, and “imperial envoy” referred to those from the Divine Strategy Corps—positions he also didn’t qualify for.

Tang Jingsong didn’t seek wealth or fame; he only wanted to realize his ambitions! The Black Flag Army was almost his last hope. He had volunteered to travel thousands of miles to Vietnam to promote Liu, and although high-ranking officials in the court appreciated his efforts, none dared take action and gave no responses or instructions. In the end, a highly vague imperial edict was issued: “Tang Jingsong, a pending officer in the History Department, shall be sent to Yunnan and placed under the command of Cen Yuying.”

The meaning of this edict was clear: Take full responsibility if things go wrong!

Yet he was willing to take on all the responsibility. Last December, he went to Thanh Hóa to discuss anti-French strategies withNguyen dynasty officials, but was greatly disappointed. Now, holding Liu Yongfu’s hand, he recounted the results of those discussions: “It turns out that these rulers and subjects are foolish and incompetent, with no plan for defense or attack, and even their peace negotiations lack organization.”

It was hard to find a government more incompetent than Vietnam’s in that era: “Liu Yongfu, the southern country is extremely cruel; its people suffer greatly. Since Hanoi fell, their sources of income have dried up. Their annual revenue is barely a million. The French, with just a little temptation, become complacent and suspicious of China.”

Tang Jingsong had a broader vision than Liu Yongfu: “As for the southern country, I have only one thing to say…”
“It can’t be supported!”

Listening to Tang Jingsong’s experiences in Thanh Hóa, Liu Yongfu also sighed repeatedly. In fact, among the members of the Black Flag Army, he was the one who cared the most about Vietnam. All his fame and wealth came from Vietnam.

But he also knew clearly that this corrupt and declining kingdom could not give him what he wanted. Meanwhile, Tang Jingsong continued to talk about his experiences in Hue. Officials like these were seasoned players in political struggles, especially when driven by passion—making them even more formidable opponents. Tang Jingsong did not speak Vietnamese and had to rely entirely on written communication with Vietnamese officials. Yet he could clearly see that the Vietnamese harbored suspicion toward the Black Flag Army and Liu Yongfu. He shared these feelings with Liu Yongfu, who was trapped in Tonkin and felt powerless as a hero. Knowing that the root of the problem lay in Hue, he sighed deeply and said, “Liu Yongfu owes his life to the people of the South. Now, all I can say is…” He repeated Tang Jingsong’s words: “There is nothing to rely on.” Since this person was beyond saving, it was necessary to prepare in advance. Tang Jingsong said to Liu Yongfu, “Commander Liu, I have an idea…” It was a very bold idea. He had originally thought he wouldn’t bring it up, but what he saw in Hue made him realize that no ordinary method could save this vassal state—he had to take drastic measures. He lowered his voice and said, “Let’s find a place to talk properly!” Realizing it was a matter of utmost importance, Liu Yongfu nodded immediately, “That would be great…” The reason Tang Jingsong brought up this idea so directly was that he had seen the Black Flag Army in Shanxi to be even stronger than he had imagined. The Black Flag Army was a renowned and powerful force in Tonkin, a fact acknowledged by officials in the capital—whether it was Li Hongzhang, Zhang Peilun, or others. However, opponents argued that the Black Flag Army had far too few troops, with only five thousand soldiers and a mere hundred thousand in funds, which was nowhere near comparable to the French invasion forces. Back then, at Baliqiao, the Monk King and Sheng Bao had assembled thirty to forty thousand troops but were still utterly defeated by the French. No matter how strong the Black Flag Army might be, it was likely only on par with the Guangxi Defense Forces and might not be able to resist the French. Li Hongzhang understood this, but the reformists underestimated the French. Since the Opium Wars, they had harbored the delusion that foreigners relied on their powerful navies, but once ashore, they might not be much stronger than the Qing army. Though this illusion was shattered time and again, they preferred to believe it. Tang Jingsong was also influenced by them to some extent, but after entering Vietnam, he witnessed the strength of the French troops and was deeply shocked. Unexpectedly, he saw such elite forces right outside Shanxi. The Guangxi Defense Forces had brought three thousand Remington rifles from Tianjin and claimed to be a powerful force. But these Remingtons were domestically produced rifles of poor quality, many of which wouldn’t fire, leaving only a few usable. Still, they had upgraded some units. Tang Jingsong personally felt that although they were not as elite as the Huai Army, they were far superior to ordinary Green Standard Army and Eight Banners troops. But once in Shanxi, he was secretly amazed: “No wonder the Black Flag Army can resist the French on its own!” He saw the troops of the Xiliu Camp—each one full of energy and vigor, marching in perfect formation with excellent equipment. Every battalion followed a unified standard, comparable to the Huai Army, which was known for its finest firearms in the land.

Upon closer inspection, it was astonishing—each officer in the Xiliu Camp was highly versatile. In the Huai Army, they could all serve as battalion officers or commanders. Moreover, these officers were seasoned veterans who had fought through countless battles. It was based on this observation that Tang Jingsong’s thoughts became more active. What had he come here for, thousands of miles away? Chen Tang, Fu Jiezi, Ban Dingyuan—these were the things Tang Jingsong intended to accomplish. If he were to achieve something remarkable, he would die ensuring his name would be remembered through the ages. However, after investigating the Black Flag Army and the Xiliu Camp further, he realized that the Xiliu Camp was virtually untouchable; in other words, Liu Yu could now take control of the entire Black Flag Army. The news of Tang Jingsong’s arrival in Shanxi boosted the morale of the Black Flag Army. The next day, Tang Jingsong went to see Liu Yu: “Commander Liu!” Liu Yu did not dare be casual and replied promptly, “Sir Tang, what brings you here?” It was the Shanxi governor’s residence where Tang Jingsong was received. Tang Jingsong glanced at his guards and confidants and said, “Please dismiss everyone; I have important matters to discuss.” “Very well!” Liu Yu had read historical records about Tang Jingsong before. His most famous act was his efforts to defend Taiwan after it was ceded, and he had even served as the president of the Republic of Taiwan. He was an ambitious and rare talent, but lacking perseverance. He was not good at managing subordinates. Still, Tang Jingsong was considered one of the most magnanimous figures of the late Qing Dynasty. “Sir Tang, please speak your mind!” Tang Jingsong was not in a hurry. He glanced at the governor’s residence, which was quite luxurious and considered the best house in Shanxi City. “Is this the governor of Shanxi’s residence?” Liu Yu smiled. “The governor built a new house and gave me the old one.” Tang Jingsong found out that the current governor of Shanxi didn’t want to stay here under the influence of advisors and simply pretended to be ill and refused to appear. Liu Yu continued, “What? Are you interested in this, Sir Tang? Well, I’ll move out right away!” Tang Jingsong spoke seriously, “Commander Liu, I’ve come to discuss an important matter with you today.” Liu Yu also became serious. He invited Tang Jingsong to sit and personally brewed tea for him. “Sir Tang, please speak. As an envoy from the imperial court, whatever your instructions are, we will do our utmost to carry them out.” Tang Jingsong pondered for a while before saying, “Do you think the Southern Kingdom has the strength to turn things around today?” “An irredeemable loser!” Liu Yu said bluntly. “The ruler is a ruler of a fallen nation, and the subject is a subject of a fallen nation!” “Well said!” Tang Jingsong took a sip of tea, removed his hat, and said to Liu Yu, “Commander Liu, are you interested in becoming the King of the Southern Kingdom?” Liu Yu glanced at him again, puzzled, but replied, “I’m not very interested.” He added, “I would rather be a general for China than a commander in the Southern Kingdom.” These were words spoken by Liu Yongfu. Besides, the title of King of the Southern Kingdom only existed in novels; it was impossible in reality. Liu Yu had no interest at all in the King of the Southern Kingdom in Vietnam.

Tang Jingsong said calmly, “That’s right. Being a king of equal rank under the King of Yue holds little meaning. But, Commander Liu, if Yuan Ting becomes the ruler of Vietnam and you become a king of equal rank, wouldn’t that be extremely satisfying?”
No matter how experienced Liu Yu was, he was stunned by Tang Jingsong’s idea—what a bold man!
He had once read a thesis related to Tang Jingsong, which stated that after entering Vietnam, Tang Jingsong immediately persuaded Liu Yongfu to take over Vietnam, an incident recorded in his own diary of offering to serve. However, the thesis argued that Tang Jingsong’s diary was a retrospective account and not based on fact.
But Liu Yu realized now that Tang Jingsong was truly fearless, with a spirit akin to Chen Tang’s. Such courage was rare in this world.
He had to seriously consider Tang Jingsong’s proposal.
In truth, Liu Yu’s goal was clear: to return to his home country. He had no desire to stay in Vietnam for long. But he couldn’t return due to objective constraints—he hadn’t defeated the French, so he couldn’t go back.
Tang Jingsong said, “Since Vietnam is like a helpless A Dou, we just need to replace its king! I think although Yongfu comes from humble origins, he is indeed a heroic figure. If he ascends to the throne, he will naturally rely on you brothers!”
Unfortunately, at that moment, Liu Yu had already decided it was unfeasible. He already had a plan for the Vietnamese government—to use the planned method.
The Nguyen dynasty had ruled for seventy years, causing widespread resentment in Vietnam, but it still had deep roots. Uprooting it wasn’t easy, especially with the French invaders now present.
He asked with a smile, “What does Yongfu think?”
At this, Tang Jingsong grew disheartened. “Since the South has lost its leader, I can take his place. Now is the perfect time. If the Black Flag troops rebel together, the North will be mine. Then you can request to submit to us—what a great achievement! But Yongfu says he owes the King of Yue years of kindness and doesn’t want to betray him.”
Liu Yu disagreed with Tang Jingsong’s view in his heart. This method might have worked forty years ago, but now it was a last-resort tactic. It would mean fighting on two fronts—against Vietnam and against France.
It was hard enough to deal with France alone, let alone add Vietnam as well. Although Liu Yu admitted that the Vietnamese army was weak, the problem was that even dealing with weak forces required effort. Moreover, these weak forces were numerous, and even after defeating them once, twice, or ten times, they would rebuild their army and attack again. Thinking of this, he resolved to use his own method.
Still, he didn’t reject Tang Jingsong. “Since Yongfu refuses, why should I be the villain? But your plan is indeed excellent. I wonder if there’s a middle ground?”
Hearing this, Tang Jingsong felt pleased. He said, “A middle ground? I haven’t thought of one yet. Are the troops inside and outside Shanxi City all from the Xiliu Camp?”
Liu Yu nodded. “Yes, they’re troops I’ve trained over the past few years. They’re considered strong forces in the North.”

Tang Jingsong now understood that among the Black Flag Army, the most powerful and best-equipped force was Liu Yu’s Xiliu Camp system, followed by Huang Shouzhong’s vanguard. Although Liu Yongfu was the commander-in-chief of the entire army, his own direct troops were not as strong as those of Liu Yu and Huang Shouzhong, which was likely why he refused to take the throne. To become the king of Vietnam, one naturally needed great strength, but within the Black Flag Army, it was the peripheral forces that were stronger. Under such circumstances, he naturally wouldn’t step forward. He glanced at Liu Yu again and suddenly asked, “Commander Liu, do you have any interest in becoming the king of Vietnam?” After thinking it over, he realized that Liu Yu was only seventeen or eighteen years old, the youngest, with unlimited potential. His chances of becoming the king of Vietnam should naturally be greater than Liu Yongfu’s. Although Liu Yongfu was nominally the supreme commander of the Black Flag Army, with his support, Liu Yu could surely rise to power. It now depended on whether Liu Yu had the courage: “Liu Yongfu owes much to the Southern Kingdom, but Commander Liu doesn’t seem to have such concerns!”