Chapter 204: Guilin (Part 2)

The flames from the Hatzikis machine guns swept across the city walls like a torrential rain, causing astonishing losses to the Qing forces. All that could be seen was a cloud of smoke and blood, with countless people emitting heart-wrenching screams.
“Great work, the artillery!” The infantry cheered loudly. Under the cover of the artillery fire, they launched another attack, but after advancing just over twenty meters, they were forced to stop.
All the firing positions came back online again. The Qing forces fought with remarkable determination. Even two yellow flags appeared in sight—two infantry battalions of the Qing army tried to take advantage of this opportunity to launch a counterattack.
However, their dense formations became perfect targets for the mortars and machine guns. In just fifteen minutes, their once-solid formations were completely shattered.
The battle became increasingly intense. Even after Ye Chenglin sent in a third infantry battalion, the fighting remained fierce. By sunset, the Black Flag Army still hadn’t made any decisive progress.
“I bear the greatest responsibility for the first attack on Guilin City. But I must say that the enemy’s troops and firearms in Guilin were more numerous than we had imagined…” (From Ye Chenglin’s memoirs)
“…Before the battle, our army estimated that there were less than ten thousand enemy troops in the city, most of whom were unskilled local militia. Only a few were combat-effective, especially those from Wang Debang’s forces. Due to the aggressive mobilization by reactionary leaders like Li Bingheng, along with reinforcements from Guangdong, the total number of enemy troops in the city reached seventeen thousand. There were also nearly ten thousand Qing troops outside the city holding us at bay…”
“We should also learn from our deployment of forces. For an important provincial capital heavily guarded, we sent only two undermanned infantry battalions to attack—clearly insufficient. We didn’t send in a third battalion until after the attack failed, which only made matters worse. Although the infantry coordinated well, the artillery alone couldn’t solve everything in such a situation.”
“…In short, there are many lessons to be learned from the failure of the attack on Guilin…” (Summary section from Selected Cases of the Guilin Attack, Guilin Infantry School)
Yet for the Black Flag Army, the battle the next day also didn’t result in a decisive victory. They exerted all their strength that day, firing thousands of shells of various sizes. At least eight infantry battalions on the Qing front line suffered devastating blows.
But the battle remained stalled. The Qing forces showed remarkable courage, holding firm on the city walls. The Black Flag Army had to drive them back step by step. The news that Liu Yu received also shocked him: “More than a thousand Xiang Army troops have entered the city to reinforce?”
Due to the Black Flag Army’s aggressive advance, their units became severely disconnected. Some units had to take on the role of rear guards. So, although nominally two infantry brigades had reached the outskirts of Guilin, their actual strength was less than two reinforced infantry regiments. More troops were still advancing toward Guilin at full speed.

At the same time, the vast and corrupt war machine of the Qing Dynasty was also trying its best to plunge into this unfamiliar war. Reinforcements sent from Guangdong before the battle greatly boosted the morale of the defending forces, and today’s arrival of over a thousand Xiang Army troops gave the Qing troops the courage to hold on at the last moment.
“The enemy’s forces are greater than we thought, but the most important thing is that we must unite as one!” Liu Suiyun blurted out. “Our forces are too few, and the casualties are high!”
Two infantry brigades suffered over 600 casualties after two days of fighting. Such a figure would be astonishing even in the Anti-French War, let alone the fact that these two brigades actually consisted of just two reinforced infantry regiments.
“I said it—prepare a thousand coffins, but we must take Guilin!”
For the Black Flag Army, capturing Guilin was their only option.
Taking Guilin meant the Black Flag Army would control the entire Guangxi province, giving them the strength to confront the central government. As long as Guilin wasn’t taken, the Black Flag Army would have to rely on the meager resources they had accumulated over history to fight against this corrupt and vast empire, slowly draining both sides of their strength.
Moreover, Liu Yu knew well that such bloodshed was akin to Yuan Shikai’s final inscription: “Removing a major threat for Japan!”
In this era, in this world, Japan was China’s greatest enemy!
“Don’t fear casualties!”
The fighting on the third day became even more intense. The Black Flag Army used blasting tactics several times to breach Guilin’s city walls, and several assault teams managed to break into the city, only to be driven back by the concentrated forces of the Qing troops, resulting in over 400 more casualties that day.
But for the Black Flag Army, the worst news didn’t come from the battlefield—it came from the rear and flanks.
Guizhou sent several hundred trained soldiers to support Guilin, and in addition, hundreds more Xiang Army troops arrived. The Chu Army led by Wang Debang, who had been defeated by the Black Flag Army many times, suddenly became active. Realizing that the Black Flag Army couldn’t take the city in one fell swoop, they even attacked them. Yet the Black Flag Army still had a decisive advantage in open combat, forcing Wang Debang to retreat in disarray, leaving behind over a hundred corpses.
But this wasn’t a good sign. Even worse news came from near Liuzhou: “The enemy, taking advantage of our advance near Guilin, has gathered thousands to attack Liuzhou!”
In Liuzhou, there were only two newly formed infantry companies with weak combat capabilities, along with several non-combatant personnel from the rear, who were struggling greatly under the siege of thousands of rebels.
These rebels included defeated soldiers scattered by the Black Flag Army, local tyrants, and scholars loyal to the Qing Dynasty. When the Black Flag Army passed by, they retreated to the countryside, and once the army left, they reappeared.
Besides Liuzhou, there were also signs of instability in Nanning. Upon learning that the Black Flag Army’s attack on Guilin hadn’t succeeded at once, these people stepped forward, trying to create trouble for them.
“There’s only one reinforced battalion in Nanning…”

Faced with dozens of cities under their control, the Black Flag Army was forced to spread its forces. Although some troops were brought in from Northern Vietnam, they were still not enough to govern such a vast area. Liu Suiyun made it clear: “Guangxi must become our solid base; without controlling Guangdong and Guangxi, we cannot resist the Central Plains!”
Pan Dingxin added, “Only with a stable rear base can we truly show our strength!”
Liu Yu glanced at Pan Dingxin and suddenly asked, “Are there any insiders in Guilin?”
Pan Dingxin lowered his head and replied, “There are some rumors, but they’re all opportunists…”
Liu Yu suddenly said, “Brother Qinxuan, would you be willing to help me eliminate these bandits?”