Chapter 187: Accident (Part 2)

The epidemic in Huế at that time also dealt a severe blow to the French forces. It should be noted that on the three battlefields, the French forces in China and Vietnam were the only ones still able to take the initiative. But after suppressing Liu Yongfu, they found themselves unable even to leave Huế City.
Every regiment, every French soldier suffered to varying degrees from this mysterious epidemic. Many regiments were left with only twenty or thirty soldiers left. Even without Liu Yongfu’s attacks, they lost over a thousand men.
For the French forces of that era, epidemics were one of their greatest enemies. Historically, when the French entered Taiwan, Liu Mingchuan’s army did not cause them much damage, but epidemics forced them to pay a heavier price than battles against the Qing forces—hundreds of French soldiers fell ill or died.
All of this led to despair among the governor-general of Indochina regarding the situation: “Although reinforcements have been sent from the homeland, the situation in Indochina and Tonkin has not improved. The reinforcements are like morning dew, while the enemy is like the vast sea. The enemy fires shells at Saigon every hour, and our reinforcements are not even enough to cover the casualties…”
“The situation in Indochina has reached an extremely serious level. I only have three and a half regiments of mobile forces. We can only abandon the occupied areas and let the enemy roam freely. Every French infantry regiment must face the attack of an entire enemy infantry regiment…”
“Given such a serious situation, we agree with Minister Baohai that a peace agreement should be reached with China. We can provide financial and material support for Chinese forces to take actions favorable to us along the Vietnamese border. I believe Governor Pan can play a significant role with our assistance…”
“But personally, I believe the situation in the Kingdom of Vietnam is beyond redemption. Although the cabinet has promised to send a brigade as reinforcements soon, I think that to ensure Indochina’s safety, an infantry division must be sent to the colony. To conquer the entire Kingdom of Annam, at least a corps is needed (that’s the minimum).”
“This is not an exaggeration. I have made many mistakes in this war, the biggest of which was underestimating the Black Flag Army and Liu Yu. But as a frontline commander, I urge the cabinet to take action for the entire colony: to end the war, we must adopt different tactics than before…”
Hanoi.
If the shelling of Saigon was like a clock ticking away time, then the gunfire near Hanoi was as splendid as fireworks.
The entire city of Hanoi was under constant attack from the Black Flag Army’s artillery. What angered the French the most was that the Black Flag Army even brought out some of the oldest cannons—brass cannons, cast-iron cannons, and even earth cannons, including famous cannons from the Civil War era, such as 12-pound Napoleon cannons, 12-pound mountain howitzers, and 18-pound long cannons. In the past, the French would have confidently shattered these old-fashioned cannons with a barrage of fire.

But now it was these old-fashioned cannons that kept bombarding Hanoi, with one violent roar after another shaking everyone. The French artillery seemed to nonexist, firing only a couple of shells occasionally before falling silent again.
This, the largest siege in the history of the Black Flag Army, had now lasted eighteen days. The French forces defending the city no longer had the fighting spirit they had at the start, their artillery completely suppressed.
Although each cannon still had a small supply of shells left, the French commanders clearly realized that these remaining shells must be reserved for the final battle. Against the Black Flag Army’s use of so many antique cannons, they had only one way to cope: to endure the bombardment bravely. What worried them even more was that, aside from the first few days of attempts to attack, the Black Flag Army had not deployed many of its main forces yet. What surrounded Hanoi were only a small number of mixed troops led by the Black Flag Army.
Yet these mixed troops, under the command of the Black Flag Army, became completely different—launching desperate attacks that routed many local infantry units. Even those more combat-effective forces often collapsed under their siege, knowing that their ranks often included capable Black Flag Army soldiers.
The battle had lasted eighteen days, with increasing casualties on the French side and fewer reinforcements, especially with almost no shells available. Everyone knew that if this continued, Hanoi could fall to the Black Flag Army at any moment.
Liu Yu stood outside the city, watching Hanoi, where the fighting was sometimes quiet and sometimes intense. “How are the French now?”
“They’re almost exhausted!” Liu Suiyun reported the latest situation. “There are only six thousand defenders left in the city, including about 1,700 Frenchmen, 200 Foreign Legionnaires, and 200 Algerian soldiers…”
Liu Yu nodded. In the initial attacks, the Black Flag Army also suffered heavy losses. After all, the French were in a fortified city, while the Black Flag Army had fought numerous brutal battles, with many infantry battalions reduced to the size of a small platoon.
But after forming the siege, Liu Yu decisively changed tactics. The main forces of the Black Flag Army were now stationed over ten kilometers outside the city as a reserve force, resting for a week at a time. Captured prisoners and newly mobilized recruits were added to the troops to prepare for the final assault. In a short time, all the infantry battalions regained their strength.
Meanwhile, the French forces in Hanoi remained in a passive position, constantly under attack. Especially those local mixed troops who wanted to take advantage of the weakened French. They initially thought the Black Flag Army wanted to use them as a means to eliminate them and assign them such combat tasks.
But after the battle began, they found that the Black Flag Army not only didn’t eliminate them but also allowed them to grow stronger. At least the number of prisoners they captured was less than their casualties, and the loot from battles filled them with joy.
Although the Black Flag Army took the majority of the spoils, the harder someone fought, the more they gained. Moreover, they could gain experience in such battles, which drove everyone crazy—yet the most crucial factor was that there were dozens of Black Flag Army battalions behind them.

Liu Yu was satisfied with this outcome: “Keep going. Once we’ve worn down the native infantry, we can prepare for the final assault!”
All the officers agreed with Liu Yu: “Taking Hanoi this time should be no problem!”
Just then, someone shouted loudly, holding a telegram: “Commander, ten battalions from the Qing army led by Wang Debang are attempting to enter our controlled area in Binh Ninh!”