Chapter 197: The Girls’ School

Zuo Jin, the city later known as Haiphong, had always been France’s jewel in North Vietnam. The numerous Catholic churches, the tricolor flags fluttering everywhere, the crosses visible throughout the city, the ships of all sizes coming and going, and the blond-haired naval soldiers all vividly demonstrated the city’s strong colonial character.

But now, the city had taken on a completely different appearance, as if all traces of colonialism had vanished without a trace. Even the church entrances, once crowded with people, were now deserted. As for the tricolor flags and crosses, the residents of Zuo Jin had immediately thrown them into the sewers.

Compared to France’s traditionally powerful military, these local residents possessed an innate sensitivity—they could even predict the outcome of a battle just by seeing in which direction they fled.

Slightly less adept than these natives were the French missionaries known as “Vietnam experts.” They were now panicked but still making final plans.

Nguyen Huu Minh circled several names on a table. A priest beside him said in a sad tone, “God… France’s tricolor flag is dimmed at this moment… I think we will never be able to return to this land.”

“No,” Nguyen Huu Minh said through gritted teeth. “We sow, and we must reap… I believe the light of the Lord will surely return to this land!”

The missionaries had endured such persecutions hundreds of times before. As long as Western civilization remained superior to Eastern civilization, they would ultimately triumph—they would use bayonets and shells to make the pagans realize their error.

What he was doing now was to hasten the arrival of that glorious time: “We will move all our parishes underground until it’s time for them to sprout again…”

Although repeatedly devastated by the Hoa Kieu Church, Catholicism remained a powerful force in North Vietnam, with many loyal believers. As long as these believers continued to operate underground and resist the new North Vietnamese government, the regime would face serious troubles in the near future.

Right now, Nguyen Huu Minh was planning how to stay hidden and continue to fight against the Black Flag Army. But someone in the secret room spoke up: “I must say that, putting France’s interests first, I disagree with Lord Nguyen Huu Minh’s proposal.”

“Craig?” Nguyen Huu Minh recognized him at once and said angrily, “If it weren’t for your mistakes, how could we have lost this war?”

This Craig, who was part of the secret meeting, was considered an outstanding banker—the top figure at Crédit Lyonnais in the Far East. He had provided substantial financial support to the French forces in Vietnam and was regarded as the main contributor to the war’s continuation to date. Parisian newspapers praised him highly.

Yet everyone in North Vietnam knew Craig’s true nature. If it weren’t for his reckless lending to the Black Flag Army and his permission for them to acquire large amounts of military supplies, the situation would not have deteriorated to this extent.

But after the war broke out, not only was Craig not punished at all, he even rose in rank. He bribed journalists in Paris with francs to make the public forget that he had provided millions in loans to the Black Flag Army—even though those bad debts still appear on the accounts of the Oriental Bank of Commerce.

Nguyen Huu Minh didn’t cause Craig any panic; a faint smile appeared on his lips. “According to my information, the situation has changed now. The Black Flag Army has engaged in significant conflicts with the Qing forces. Any military observer can clearly see that a large-scale war between them is inevitable…”

Nguyen Huu Minh became angry. “That won’t change anything!”

If this conflict had occurred a few months earlier, it might have changed the fate of the entire war, but now it was too late!

The French forces defending Hanoi, after months of resistance, could no longer hold on and were forced to surrender to the Black Flag Army—an another glorious yet helpless surrender in French military history.

The battlefield situation throughout Vietnam was unfavorable for the French forces, whether in North Vietnam, Central Vietnam, or South Vietnam. Especially in North Vietnam, after losing Haiphong, the remaining French troops were confined to areas like Hai Duong and Haiphong, with only one reinforced battalion near Bac Ninh.

Their opponent, the Black Flag Army, was so powerful that, in the eyes of some observers, it had become an enemy even a French army group couldn’t defeat. Any proposal to send more troops to Vietnam would quickly be rejected by parliament.

Nguyen Huu Minh was also well aware of the Black Flag Army’s strength. This enemy, with a hundred infantry battalions, was no match for any French opponent. They alone had around fifty thousand advanced rapid-fire rifles, along with light artillery capable of producing large quantities of light weapons.

A French infantry division fighting them would get trapped in a quagmire; a French infantry army might pay a heavy price. What about sending a French army group to Vietnam?

Although Nguyen Huu Minh had lived in Vietnam for many years, he was still fundamentally French—a true Frenchman. “Will you let French youth’s blood be shed in vain? Will you continue to lend money to the Black Flag Army?”

Craig wore a mysterious smile. “Continue lending to the Black Flag Army? That’s a good idea. That’s exactly what I plan to do!”

Nguyen Huu Minh was now completely shocked. “What did you say? Lend to the Black Flag Army? You traitor!”

Thinking of how he had allowed the Black Flag Army to purchase strategic supplies worth millions, perhaps even tens of millions of francs, including some arms, Nguyen Huu Minh almost tore off his priest’s robe to beat him senseless, but he held back. “What are you saying? You’re negotiating with the devil!”

“That’s right! The devil brings the greatest profits!” Craig’s expression grew increasingly calm. “I’m here to inform you that I hope the Church will support our actions!”

“You’re mad!”

“I’m mad!” Craig said like a saint. “I’m acting in France’s interests. I hope the Church will cease any actions against the Black Flag Army.”

Ruan Youming broke into a cold sweat as he realized Craig’s plan seemed feasible.
“We demand that the Black Flag Army immediately cease all attacks on Christians. They must stop, and they have the ability to do so!”
But Craig wasn’t concerned about religious matters; what concerned him more was something else: “That’s not the core issue in my negotiations with the Black Flag Army. I think the Church can send a negotiator. What I want now is complete and full authorization from Paris.”
“What’s the bottom line?” asked a priest anxiously. “I demand a return to the situation before the war.”
“That’s impossible!” Ruan Youming rejected his proposal outright. “But I think we can keep Haiphong. Can we keep the Haiyang region?”
“We must keep Haiphong!” Craig replied crisply. “If the negotiations succeed, Haiphong will surpass Hong Kong as the largest trading center in the Far East.”
Everyone admired Craig’s vision. Although they were currently enemies of the Black Flag Army, if the two sides could cooperate, this emerging force could become a source of benefit for France.
Though the Black Flag Army was a new force, the central dynasty in the north was a powerful regime that had ruled the entire empire for over two hundred years. Their war with the Black Flag Army might last for a long time.
Like other Europeans of that era, the French had yet to fully understand the true strength of the Qing Dynasty. Their defeat in Vietnam only deepened their sense of awe.
So they quickly concluded that they could benefit from the situation: “I suppose since we were once enemies, offering them loans will show our sincerity better. How much loan does Mr. Craig plan to provide?”
“Depends on their concessions!”
After successive military defeats, Craig’s bottom line had become very low: “They must admit all the loans they took from us before the war and commit to repaying them…”
“Besides that, they must ensure the safety and freedom of Haiphong and its surrounding areas, guarantee equal trade rights. Also, the troops stationed near Bắc Ninh can withdraw peacefully, and all prisoners must be exchanged…”
“Missionaries in areas controlled by the Black Flag Army must be treated equally and freely!”
“Ruan Youming too!”
“Personally, I suggest that in exchange, we withdraw from Huế. It’s become a death zone plagued by diseases. Thousands of French soldiers have died there due to epidemics. We’ll never be able to conquer it!”
Craig agreed with Ruan Youming’s view: “So the Church agrees to my negotiations with the Black Flag Army?”
“Yes, as long as the interests of the Church and France are not violated!” Ruan Youming said with a bitter smile. “We’ve already lost this war!”
……
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The artillery sounds near Saigon had become a familiar noise to every citizen. Everyone had grown accustomed to the Black Flag Army using mortars to mark time.
Though no one welcomed these sounds, they made every Frenchman and Vietnamese realize the strength of the Black Flag Army.
“Hanoi has fallen!”

“A French lieutenant general led tens of thousands of French troops to surrender…”
“We need peace!”
“Peace!”
The colonists who had once been the most fervent advocates of war were now strong proponents of peace. As soon as Craig’s proposal reached Saigon, they immediately presented their suggestions to the governor: “We demand that those who recklessly started the war be punished!”
“We need peace!”
“We must negotiate with the Black Flag Army!”
Such petitions had been made many times before, but today’s was particularly powerful. Not only was it unprecedented in scale, representing the interests of the colonies, but at the same time as the petitioners arrived, the Black Flag Army launched a fierce artillery barrage.
Outside the city, the Black Flag Army suddenly launched a brutal attack. According to some officers, at least five of their infantry regiments were involved in the battle, and fierce fighting was underway. The Black Flag Army’s assault was so intense that within just a few dozen minutes, an entire battalion of indigenous infantry was nearly destroyed, with dozens of French soldiers killed. The Black Flag Army pressed forward relentlessly, almost breaking into the city.
“We are willing to negotiate with the Black Flag Army. I believe Mr. Liu Yu is also a courteous general; he will surely be able to reach an agreement with us.”
The governor had given up any plans to defeat the Black Flag Army: “Moreover, our enemy is extremely powerful. Within the colonies alone, they have dozens of infantry regiments. Even with the strength of two army groups, we cannot defeat them!”
If war was necessary, then the enemy’s strength had to be reduced; if peace was desired, the enemy would become even more powerful. Now, the governor insisted on this view: “Even three army groups cannot defeat the enemies of South Vietnam!”
This was clearly an exaggeration of the Black Flag Army’s strength. Although the Black Flag Army in Indochina had grown significantly since the beginning and had received support from forces like the former Yellow Flag Army under Huo Qiu, their total strength still amounted to less than thirty infantry battalions. But now, even if force couldn’t end the war, the French colonists in Indochina preferred to believe their enemy had thirty infantry regiments.
For the first time, the governor spoke openly: “We must end this war. France’s jewel is weeping. As long as the war can be halted, I am willing to negotiate with any opponent!”
Yet, alongside his desire for peace, the sound of the Black Flag Army’s guns grew louder, even reaching the outskirts of the city. Reserves were deployed, but they were met with even more enemy forces. It wasn’t until evening that the Black Flag Army’s attack was repelled, but the French suffered even heavier losses, strengthening their desire for peace: “We are all peace-loving peoples and should not bear the heavy cost for the mistakes of a few!”
“We hope both sides can hold ceasefire negotiations on the spot, with the Black Flag Army withdrawing from the colonies as soon as possible to restore the situation to pre-war levels.”
“We can make concessions; we can send representatives back to our country!”

But soon even more explosive news appeared: “The enemy has captured St. Mary’s Mountain School in the west of the city!”
“Thousands of barbaric enemies have taken it!”
“The barbarians have rushed in!”
Everyone was shocked by this news, while General Huo Qiu, who came from the indigenous Vietnamese infantry, said cheerfully to his subordinates, “It’s a surprise, a complete surprise!”
His eyes narrowed into slits: “This time, even if we lose, we can still have an easy explanation to give Commander Liu, let alone achieving such a brilliant victory!”