Chapter 14: A Great Victory on the River

The first to fire were several bronze cannons of the Black Flag Army. With a unified command, their artillery, hastily arranged in position, began firing almost simultaneously. Flames erupted from the cannons’ muzzles, and thick white smoke filled the entire battlefield with a strong smell of gunpowder. The cannons recoiled several meters backward, after which the Black Flag soldiers rushed forward to reset them, with others using wool brushes to clean the barrels.

The Black Flag Army’s artillerymen also faced difficulties. Although mortars did not need to be reset, the 60-mm mortars emitted sharp bursts of sound. Then the observer shouted, “Well done! Fire in unison—thirty meters forward!”

These mortars, using nitroglycerin as propellant, had a smaller caliber but far surpassed the Black Flag Army’s bronze and cast-iron cannons in firing speed.

Meanwhile, the French gunboats and transport ships anchored on the river were caught in a barrage of fire. Various types of shells—solid shells, explosive shells, and mortar shells—rained down on the river, creating countless waves.

Nearly sixty shells were fired in the first round. Five of them hit the Black Flag targets; one grenade caused one of the gunboats to sway violently on the water. Two shells also hit the mortars.

Surrounded by countless steel fragments, the sailors on these small ships were instantly killed or wounded. Blood and shrapnel fell at the same time. An officer shouted, “Counterattack! Counterattack!”

Nighttime artillery attacks were a highly advanced technique neither the Xiliu Camp nor the Black Flag Army had mastered before. But now, the night sky was as bright as day, especially with those gunboats serving as perfect targets.

Solid shells struck the river surface, creating countless white waves. Each warship was pushed forward by the waves toward the opposite bank. “Counterattack! Counterattack!”

Now, a fierce artillery duel had begun. The French Navy remained utterly confident in its victory. Each of their gunboats and even transport ships was equipped with more than one cannon—cannons that would rank among the best in even the British Navy.

Their opponents, though possessing dozens of old-fashioned cannons, had slow firing speeds, poor sustained firepower, and low accuracy. Although the previous bombardment had caused significant casualties, it was now their turn to show their strength.

“Fire!”

The gunners at the positions reacted quickly. A hot cartridge was swiftly loaded into the cannon, and the soldiers began firing at the Black Flag Army’s artillery positions. Back and forth they fired, with the sound of artillery echoing across the entire river.

Both sides continued firing despite the intense bombardment. Gunners on both sides suffered casualties immediately. The Black Flag Army’s artillery units were berserk, ignoring their own losses and the great danger to keep firing.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they were unwilling to let it pass. The Xiliu Camp’s mortars were even more cunning—they even changed positions temporarily.

The entire river was a sea of fire and water. Many shells flew through the sky, and the water was churned into endless waves. The dual roars could be heard across the river.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

The French Navy now found itself in a delicate predicament. Under normal circumstances, its four gunboats would have been able to overwhelm the Black Flag Army’s artillery forces, but it was night, and the French ships were clearly illuminated by the fires in the concession, making it difficult to see the enemy’s artillery positions. They could only attack by guesswork.

Worse still, to strengthen the defense of the concession, the French had removed many cannons from these warships and dispatched a considerable number of gunners and sailors, reducing the effectiveness of the gunboats to at least 60–70% of their original capacity.

“Move!” Once in motion, the Black Flag Army and the Xiliu Camp’s accuracy suffered greatly. Although they formed a barrage of fire, only a few shells actually hit the targets. The damage inflicted on the gunboats was significant but not fatal.

The French forces in the concession also noticed this artillery duel. Several cannons removed from their ships were quickly brought in to join the bombardment.

Wu Fengdian was in high spirits. He clearly saw that the four French gunboats were still within range, but he focused on another aspect: no matter what happened that night, the French had to leave something valuable behind.

“Fire!” Standing among the artillery crew, he shouted over the incessant falling shells, “What’s there to fear? Sink those big ships, and I’ll treat you to a feast!”

The observers of the Xiliu Camp were even busier, rapidly reporting the positions of the enemy ships to guide the mortar attacks. From time to time, a 60mm mortar shell struck a ship, causing some damage.

Liu Yu also observed the battle through binoculars from a makeshift anti-armor bunker. As the two sides exchanged fire, he felt as if his ears were deafening from the noise.

Just a few small gunboats, yet they had such courage. Liu Yu almost stamped his foot in frustration, but he quickly maintained a calm demeanor.

So what if they were just a few small ships? They weren’t fleeing but were still trying to maneuver while engaging in artillery combat with the Black Flag Army—a very good sign.

Even an ironclad ship wouldn’t easily enter the effective range of army artillery. Now, with sixty cannons of various sizes firing recklessly at the French ships’ dozen or so guns, it was the French who would suffer in the end.

The waves grew larger, and the French casualties increased. When the white waves receded from the gun positions, they turned into streams of blood. French officers realized this fighting style was disadvantageous for them. The flagship sent a signal: “Close in for bombardment!”

This meant greater danger, but it also meant easier observation of the enemy, greater chances of hitting them, and staying away from the deadly lights in the concession.

In that instant, the entire fleet set sail. They crossed the river’s midpoint, braving the white waves rushing at them, and headed bravely toward the other shore: “French Navy, forward!”

Meanwhile, the Black Flag Army’s artillery had slowed its firing rate, and even the Xiliu Camp’s mortars could no longer maintain their high firing pace. It seemed the French had gained the upper hand in this artillery duel. They became even bolder, carrying out these daring actions right along the riverbank.

Seeing this, Liu Yu immediately put his mouth to the phone: “Order… full attack!” On the riverbank, many soldiers from the Hanhai Battalion, upon receiving such an order, rushed off the bank almost instantly. Before them were France’s most advanced inland gunboats, yet they didn’t even have a rifle with them. The officers shouted loudly, “Throw grenades! Throw grenades!” Each of them carried a large basket filled with six grenades, and all the soldiers began frantically throwing them: “Kill them!” The French gunboats were too close to the riverbank, and the river was too narrow, allowing the Hanhai Battalion to reach the gunboats with their grenades. Many grenades landed on each gunboat and transport ship, followed by continuous explosions. Although the grenades weren’t powerful enough—even those filled with picric acid— to cause significant damage to the ships themselves, the exposure of the gunners on the gunboats led to loud screams, and blood covered every gunboat in red. The relentless barrage of grenades continued; they were so close that the Hanhai Battalion soldiers could easily throw them at the ships and watch massive explosions occur. The grenade throwers could throw without hesitation, with others even providing them with more grenades. But this wasn’t the deadliest attack. Suddenly, a cannon position behind them roared, “Fire!” Four 82-mm mortars and two 60-mm mortars, hidden for a long time, fired simultaneously under Cai Yunnan’s command. The power of 82-mm mortar shells was far beyond that of 60-mm shells, and their sufficient explosive charge caused the ships to shake violently as soon as they exploded. The deadliest attack came from the riverbank: “65-mm guns, five shots! Five hits!” Flames erupted from the barrels, and the first shell hit the transport ship dozens of meters away. In just a moment, the ship exploded violently, and many crew members and sailors jumped into the river under bombardment. After hearing that shot, they lost all hope, believing victory was impossible, as they recognized that sound too well. It wasn’t the sharp sound of mortars nor the heavy sound of bronze cannons—it was the artillery they were most familiar with: “65-mm ship guns!” These were also their main weapons. Even if not sunk, small ships hit by one or two of these shells would be severely damaged. With another explosion already occurring on the ship, it was certainly not a sign of victory. The officers also lost all confidence after that shot. Only a few remained on the ships, while most jumped into the water to escape. Now, half of the targets for the Black Flag Army remained. Before the Xiliu Battalion could fire a second 65-mm shell, the entire French fleet had reorganized. They had lost all courage and didn’t even dare to counter the Black Flag Army’s artillery, allowing them to bombard mercilessly.

After a brief bombardment, the Xiliu Camp achieved another brilliant victory. One gunboat, clearly unable to withstand the artillery fire, crashed directly into the opposite riverbank in an attempt to land, with sailors escaping from the nearly destroyed ship under heavy fire. The other two ships fled desperately, not even daring to look back; they suffered heavy casualties after being hit by several shells, and their hulls were taking in water. Without good luck, they might have been destroyed right away. Their ability to hold on could be attributed entirely to sheer luck, coupled with the dedicated efforts of the damage control crew. Yet after this operation, they even doubted whether they could return to Haiyang, as only one-third of the crew remained unharmed. After all targets were eliminated, the Xiliu Camp and the Black Flag Army turned their attention to the transport ship on the Red River, which had been hit by grenades. But it was the French artillery in the concession that fired first. They couldn’t imagine what would happen if the Xiliu Camp seized that ship. After firing over twenty shells, the ship finally collapsed in flames. The fire still burned as dawn broke. Whether it was Wu Fengdian, others, or Liu Yu himself, everyone was satisfied with the results of the night’s battle. One transport ship was sunk, one gunboat was destroyed (after a successful landing but now within their own range and no longer useful to the French), and the other two gunboats were hit multiple times and severely damaged by the Black Flag Army. The remaining French warships on patrol also disappeared without a trace at that moment—they knew full well that the river belonged to the Black Flag Army for the time being. Liu Yu stared at the sunken ship and the stranded warship on the opposite bank, a faint smile on his lips—there was plenty of value to be gained from them. Tang Jingsong, dressed in a Qing dynasty official robe, appeared out of nowhere and asked, “Commander Liu, was it a great victory last night?” “A great victory!” Liu Yu never expected the French navy to give him such an easy win, even allowing him to engage in close-quarters combat using grenades and bayonets, and he emerged victorious. Although four cannons were destroyed and over twenty people were killed or injured, they had defeated the French navy. The French concession would now be like a naked woman, at their mercy. Tang Jingsong was overjoyed and tentatively asked, “The front camp wishes to volunteer for the main attack. What do you think, Commander Liu?” Liu Yu checked the time and saw that the fires in the concession on the opposite bank still hadn’t gone out. He said, “It’s 6:30 a.m. on May 20th. The battle is likely to start in the afternoon. I’ll participate fully!” As he spoke, he continued to watch the stranded inland gunboat on the opposite bank, its surface ravaged by the Black Flag Army’s artillery, resembling the surface of the moon. Even if it were towed back to the homeland for repairs, it would take two to three months to be ready for combat—such severe damage could not be repaired in Vietnam. But Liu Yu knew well that even such a abandoned ship posed a danger—the French could rearm it as a fixed firing point or carry out basic repairs. Yet what concerned him more were the shells and other supplies that might still be aboard.

Last night, five 65-mm shells were fired, making him feel a bit wasteful. Even if that ship was dismantled, a lot of good steel could still be obtained, and now it was under joint control of both sides.
Tang Jingsong followed Liu Yu’s gaze and saw some blood on the river surface, along with several corpses of French sailors. He felt pleased: “Good! I’ll have Huang Shouzhong exert more effort then!”
For Captain Bissel, being abandoned by his naval colleagues was the most humiliating moment for him: “Now, to defend Hanoi, we can only rely on ourselves!”
That fire indeed kept the Black Flag Army at bay for a night, but it also forced the naval ships stationed in Hanoi to withdraw. Any additional reinforcements would have to consider the danger of coming within cannon range.
Some naval officers removed one cannon from the ship that had successfully landed, but the other cannon was already damaged. Without strong naval fire support, they could only rely on themselves.
Last night, he saw the Black Flag Army’s firepower—it was powerful, only slightly weaker than their own. But the only thing that comforted him was that they had received two waves of reinforcements. There were still about 900 regular troops in the city who could fight, and despite several escapes, 500 armed Catholics remained.
The Xiliu Camp and the Black Flag Army were unaware of the French reinforcements. As soon as Tang Jingsong returned to the front camp, he encouraged Huang Shouzhong: “My loyal minister, this is a golden opportunity for you to achieve great feats! I’ve learned that the cannon ships in Hanoi have been driven away. There are only 500 troops in the city, and the actual French invaders number less than 300.”
Huang Shouzhong smiled and said, “If I can achieve something great this time, I hope Lord Tang will speak well of us before the Holy Emperor so that we can be granted some honors.”
He was fully confident in winning this battle, but the only thing that worried him was the Hanhai Camp.
The Hanhai Camp had 300 to 400 fewer troops than the front camp, but it had many more rapid-fire guns. He had also witnessed last night’s battle firsthand—the Xiliu Camp’s artillery unit was truly exceptional. He even dared say that the entire Black Flag Army’s artillery combined couldn’t match the Xiliu Infantry Regiment’s artillery.
Those small cannons, though indirect-fire weapons and difficult to master, were flexible and could retreat at any time. Their power was great, not inferior to ordinary cast-iron cannons weighing over 100 pounds. As for the two larger types of cannons, they were even more powerful than theirs.
The Xiliu Camp also had some bronze front-loading cannons, which were top-quality. In sieges, the most important thing was powerful artillery. Once the artillery fired, the infantry would charge in to take control of the city.
As for the rumored scenario of digging tunnels to attack the city, Huang Shouzhong had only heard of it but never experienced it. So he thought the first place should go to the Hanhai Camp, and he wanted to aim for second place.
Someone beside him said, “Commander, I am willing to be the first to lead the entire camp!”
Tang Jingsong glanced over and saw it was Captain Deng, a man of loyalty and righteousness. He immediately agreed on behalf of Huang Shouzhong: “My loyal minister, we can’t let Captain Deng’s sincere efforts go to waste.”
Captain Deng bowed deeply to Huang Shouzhong and said, “Yesterday, seeing the strength of the Xiliu Regiment’s artillery unit, I had an idea…”

“Speak!” Huang Shouzhong remained polite to his old subordinate Deng Shichang. “Whatever your request is, just state it. As long as a concession zone is established, anything can be discussed!”
Deng Shichang, who had always been close to the Xiliu Camp, mustered the courage to say, “I’d like to borrow cannons from the Xiliu Camp!”
“Borrow cannons?” Tang Jingsong interjected, “I’m afraid Commander Liu won’t agree!”
But Huang Shouzhong remembered that Deng Shichang had a particularly good relationship with the Xiliu Camp, so borrowing cannons shouldn’t be a problem. “Just go and borrow them. If Commander Liu has any demands, I’ll agree to them!”
Tang Jingsong was somewhat surprised. “Could it be that the Front Camp has such a good relationship with the Xiliu Camp?”
In the Black Flag Army, he could command his own battalion, which was Huang Shouzhong’s Front Camp, but it seemed the relationship between the Front Camp and the Xiliu Camp was even better.
This gave him some ulterior thoughts.