Chapter 65: Securing Victory

Discussing victory? Liu Yu couldn’t help but wonder.
Could this be a trap? Besides, Liu Yu indeed had reasons why he couldn’t leave.
After imposing military control over the entire province of Shanxi, trivial matters suddenly piled up.
To start, the Shanxi Yue army numbered 15,000 troops, but due to many vacant officer positions, salaries were paid as if there were only 3,000 soldiers. However, after the battle, it turned out there were only 2,400 to 2,500 troops—nearly half of them absent.
Most of these 2,400 to 2,500 soldiers were sent back to their hometowns according to Liu Yu’s plan, with only a few officers and those unwilling to farm remaining. There were still over 700 soldiers left, who harbored resentment toward the Xiliu Camp, which had taken their livelihoods. Especially the officers who had previously reaped huge profits were now extremely dissatisfied, having lost a major source of income.
Figuring out how to handle this situation was undoubtedly difficult. Additionally, during this military operation, the Xiliu Camp captured over 40 cast-iron and bronze cannons. Though insignificant compared to French steel cannons, they were still high-quality compared to the current artillery equipment. Organizing a new artillery unit was also an urgent task for Liu Yu.
Not to mention dealing with the relationship with the governor of Shanxi—how to manage over a dozen counties with just 40 advisors, as well as the relationship between advisors and the troops, and forming two new infantry companies—these were all issues Liu Yu needed to resolve.
Ye Chenglin added, “Liu Yongfu has fought against Panlun Si’s Black Gun troops before…”
This was an old incident from 1869. Back then, Liu Yongfu attacked He Junchang, who was defending Baosheng from Liu’an Prefecture. He Junchang wasn’t a match for the Black Flag Army, so he invited Huang Chongying to help. On the surface, Liu Yongfu appeared obedient to Huang Chongying, but he suddenly struck first. Caught off guard, Huang Chongying was defeated, and the Black Flag Army seized Baosheng.
Ye Chenglin brought up this old story to warn Liu Yu to be more cautious. But Liu Yu clenched his fist and said, “I don’t think Liu Yongfu is that foolish. If he wanted to harm me, he could just send an assassin. Why go to such lengths?”
Liu Yongfu might be short-sighted, but he wouldn’t go so far as to destroy himself. Turning to Ye Chenglin, he said, “Chenglin, pick a few trusted soldiers and come with me to see the general.”
Seeing that Liu Yu had made up his mind, Ye Chenglin said, “It’s best to form a small squad of personal guards so we don’t have to draw troops from the posts.”
Zhang Biao, full of confidence, waited for Liu Yu to call his name, but unexpectedly, Liu Yu chose Sima Tai instead: “Sima! I entrust you to lead a platoon to protect me and Officer Ye.”
Sima Tai had been responsible for guarding the old camp for the past two years. Hearing this, he became excited and said, “I’m willing to go with the officer.”
Liu Yu assigning Ye Chenglin and Sima Tai must have had a deeper purpose: “Each of you bring 13 cartridges—this way, we won’t fear even ten thousand enemies!”
Baosheng, the base of the Black Flag Army, was later known as Laojie. It was separated from Yunnan by only a river. The Black Flag Army had operated there for a decade, similar to Liu Yu’s control over Shanxi. All their supplies and families were there, and they could also collect taxes, making it their most important source of income.

Liu Yu’s team of about sixty people, after bidding farewell to Jiang Ningxue, headed upstream along the Red River, traveling safely the whole way. Once the banners of the Xiliu Camp were displayed, even the most reckless bandits dared not provoke them. The troops along the route became extremely nervous and retreated to the city, fearing of offending Liu Yu. Before reaching Baosheng, they saw a seven-star black flag appearing on the opposite side. Upon closer inspection, it was Huang Shouzhong from the front camp in Heyang leading his personal troops. Some people there immediately called out, “Hello, brothers from the Xiliu Camp!” “Hello, brothers from the front camp!” The two camps had always been close, with the Xiliu Camp occasionally supplying the front camp with advanced firearms. Huang Shouzhong rode over on a small horse. He was renowned for his bravery in battle but was also very warm-hearted toward friends. “I thought you guys from the Xiliu Camp wouldn’t come. I was about to send someone to inform you! This time, Huang Zuo Yan has really angered the general. Now is the best opportunity if you want to improve relations with him.” “What happened?” Liu Yu asked immediately. “What’s the matter?” Huang Shouzhong then explained the situation. This incident occurred a few months earlier than in the history of another timeline. It started in the fourth year of Guangxu’s reign (1878, the 30th year of Emperor Tự Đức’s reign in Vietnam). That year coincided with the king’s 50th birthday celebration. In October, Tự Đức issued 34 imperial edicts, one of which stated that the parents of civil officials of the fourth rank and military officials of the third rank and above could be granted titles as per tradition. At that time, Liu Yongfu, serving as a military commander with the rank of vice commander of the three military regions, fell under the category of military officials of the third rank and above, so his parents should have been granted titles according to tradition. The Vietnamese government thus posthumously awarded his father the title of Academician. This should have been a good thing, but the problem was that Liu Yongfu himself was unaware of it. Later that year, it was also the 70th birthday celebration of the Vietnamese queen mother. The king granted titles to civil and military officials, and Liu’s father was awarded the title of Grand Master of the Imperial Stables. Yet this matter was also overlooked. But secrets eventually leak, and some news of this significant incident did spread. Liu Yongfu somehow obtained accurate information from an unknown source and was naturally furious. After all, he was a high-ranking vice commander of the three military regions in Vietnam, a second-rank official. Shouldn’t he enjoy the same benefits as others? Moreover, this title grant was issued by the emperor himself and approved by all the ministers in court—how could someone dare to ignore it! He first suspected Huang Zuo Yan, who was in charge of military affairs in northern Vietnam, and then thought of many of his rivals in the court. Deciding to take a bold step, he feigned illness, summoned the officers of the Black Flag Army’s various camps to Baosheng for a meeting. When Huang Shouzhong and Liu Yu went to see Liu Yongfu, his eyes were red and swollen, and he was still indignant about the matter. “Granting titles to parents as per tradition should have been a great honor for my family. It was the emperor’s decree and the goodwill of the ministers in court. Yet someone dared to be so audacious. If any friend had informed me, I wouldn’t have known about this until now…” He noticed Huang Shouzhong and the others entering and immediately called out, “Commander Huang, Commander Liu, Commander Ye, please help me figure this out! Was what they did right?”

It turned out that the relationship between Xiliu Camp and Liu Yongfu had dropped to its lowest point. Liu Yu had already formed his own faction in Shanxi and refused to obey Liu Yongfu’s orders. Yet just a few words of greeting now had brought the two sides much closer.

“My parents worked hard their entire lives to raise me, but they passed away before I could show them filial piety at their bedside. Back then, I was young and our family was poor, so we could only bury them hastily. For over twenty years, this has been a source of deep regret for me…”

As he spoke, Liu Yongfu’s tears streamed down. “Failing to fulfill my duty as a son is a lifelong regret. Though I am now wealthy, every time I think of not properly handling my parents’ remains, I wake from my dreams. After finally receiving a title in the south, corrupt officials embezzled it.”

He was a heroic man, but whenever this matter came up, he would weep bitterly, as if the matter of his parents’ burial weighed as heavily as heaven and earth. Liu Yu couldn’t help but think to himself, “What a true peasant…”

This thought from Liu Yu carried no hint of contempt; it was purely an expression of admiration for Liu Yongfu’s filial piety and simplicity, traits typical of Chinese peasants. No matter where they were, these Chinese peasants always longed for their homeland, having an unbreakable bond with it and their parents.

Meanwhile, Liu Yongfu, filled with heroic spirit, pulled Huang Shouzhong aside to talk about his early life.

He was a child raised in hardship. His mother was a remarried widow who brought her son from her previous marriage when she married Liu’s father. Thus, Liu Yongfu was the second son, also known as Liu Er or Liu Yi. He was born in Fangcheng and moved to Shangsi at the age of eight. Having faced many hardships early on, he started working as a laborer on boats at thirteen and became a boat captain at fifteen. He worked hard all year round without ever having enough to eat.

Recalling these experiences, Liu Yongfu’s tears kept flowing. “At the age of seventeen, my mother passed away in August. My father used his savings to buy a coffin for her, but my uncle, who was a gambler, took the money and never returned. Our grief deepened, and with no money left, we had to use plywood to bury her hastily. I fainted from crying at the grave…”

“Unexpectedly, in November of that year, my father also died in poverty. My brothers and I were utterly destitute. We had to use bedplanks from our house to make a coffin and bury him hastily. From that day on, I became an orphan…”

As he spoke, Liu Yongfu’s tears flowed again. “By December of that year, my uncle, who lived with me, fell ill. We no longer had even bedplanks, so we had to use wood shavings to line a pit and wrap his body in straw to bury him… Ah, it’s already been twenty-seven years since then.”

Within a few months, three close relatives died one after another. Later, creditors came knocking, forcing them to sell their old house to pay off debts. The two brothers were left with nothing. This was the most miserable time of Liu Yongfu’s life.

Yet deep in the heart of this simple peasant lay great guilt: “My parents were buried hastily, and I’ve carried this regret for over twenty years. I’ve been unable to return home, and can only gaze at my homeland through tears. I thought I couldn’t serve them at their bedside in life, but if I could offer incense and gifts from afar, it would be a way to repay their kindness.”

A man should not shed tears easily—only when deeply moved. Clearly, this matter touched Liu Yongfu’s deepest sorrow, leaving him extremely emotional. “Should I seek justice for my parents?”

At this moment, he behaved like an ordinary Chinese farmer—illiterate, narrow-minded, unaware of the changes in the times. Yet he had his own beliefs, and on matters of principle, he would set aside his peasant-like cunning to show you the true Liu Yongfu. Everyone spoke up to advise him. Huang Shouzhong said, “General, the Vietnamese and Huang Zuoyan handled this matter wrong. It’s time to show them our strength.” Liu Yu also said, “The Xiliu Camp has been up to some tricks, which is perfect for us to rally behind the general.” From the perspective of the commanders of the Black Flag Army, this situation also chilled them to the core. What did it mean? It meant the Vietnamese government never truly regarded the Black Flag Army as one of its own; they were always just unreliable mercenaries. Bestowing honors on their parents seemed like a trivial matter, yet even such a small thing was distorted by those who sought to exploit it. Liu Yongfu was deeply saddened. He bowed to each commander in turn and said, “Thank you, brothers, for your support this time!” It was Liu Yu’s turn. He glanced at Ye Chenglin first before saying, “Officer Liu of the Liu Camp, go ahead and act boldly in Shanxi. After all, we’ve been oppressed by them for over a decade. No matter how great the pressure, I, Liu, can endure it. Since you’re helping me this time, I certainly won’t let you down.” Liu Yu pulled Ye Chenglin along and quickly bowed, saying, “Thank you, General! We will surely defend Shanxi’s gates for the Black Flag Army.” Liu Yongfu wiped away his tears and said, “I’m sorry for making you laugh. I’m illiterate and short-sighted, knowing only how to be filial to my parents… I heard that you two officers have also accomplished great things in Shanxi.” Knowing that the commander of the Black Flag Army was deeply upset, Liu Yu briefly replied, “It’s nothing major. It’s just that we’re owed a lot of wages, and after repeated demands with no result, we had no choice but to resort to military protest.” “Good! Then you two should also support my military protest.” Liu Yongfu didn’t want to talk further and said to Wu Fengdian, “Take a few officers to rest. I need some time to think.” Wu Fengdian first arranged accommodation for Huang Shouzhong, then led Liu Yu and Ye Chenglin to settle in. This time, Liu Yu brought an additional squad of guards, making it difficult to find lodging for so many people inside Baosheng City. Wu Fengdian handled things efficiently. Without saying much, someone vacated a house for Liu Yu and the others to move in. Then he asked, “Ayu, Chenglin, do you two want something to eat? The scenery around here is beautiful. You can go for a walk after dinner.” “No need!” Liu Yu merely glanced northward. Across that river was China, his homeland. One day, he would cross that river and return to his homeland to achieve something extraordinary. It wasn’t until Liu Yu and Ye Chenglin were properly settled and had their meals that Wu Fengdian said, “This time, Yuanting is truly angry! He’s served the King of Vietnam and Huang Zuoyan for so many years, yet in the end, the Vietnamese still treat him like a household slave.”

From this modest incident, one can discern the Black Flag Army’s status in Vietnam: “Last time, Yuan Ting was somewhat angered over the Crow Camp matter, but this time since your Liu Camp spoke up in his defense, he must have taken it to heart. If I speak well of you to Yuan Ting as well, you can focus on handling matters downstream from now on.” Although both Ye Chenglin and Liu Yu were camp officers, Wu Fengdian clearly knew who was in charge between the two. Ye Chenglin wisely stayed silent, while Liu Yu immediately replied, “Then I thank you, Master Ya Lou.” Wu Fengdian calmly continued, “I heard that the Xiliu Camp has added two more outposts in Shanxi.” Liu Yu replied calmly, “Yes, both the Xiliu and Crow Camps have each added an outpost. With Shanxi covering a thousand li, using four outposts to control the entire province is somewhat insufficient. That’s why I added two more outposts, all with new recruits. There’s no one assigned as outpost leaders yet. They’re decent for defense but not suitable for combat.” Wu Fengdian glanced at Ye Chenglin, who was happily sipping wine, which made him feel frustrated. His own defense zone was in Shanxi, so he knew the region’s defenses best. To control the whole province, one battalion of 300 men was sufficient, and even 200 could manage it barely. Now, Liu Yu had expanded his forces to two camps, six outposts, and six platoons—over a thousand men in total—clearly determined to take control of Shanxi. The future was unpredictable. Looking at Ye Chenglin, he felt even more annoyed. In terms of relationships, his Left Camp had always been close to the Xiliu Camp, but he never expected this former Yellow Flag Army general to take the lead and become a favorite of Liu Yu. From the information he’d gathered, Ye Chenglin’s troops not only had all been equipped with rear-loading guns but also had new outposts added. The Xiliu Camp organized itself into larger units, so their single outpost was almost as large as half of his Left Camp. Seeing Ye Chenglin thriving while his own Left Camp remained unchanged, having only acquired a dozen rear-loading guns from the Xiliu Camp, he asked, “I heard that the officers of the Liu Camp are very resourceful and have acquired some rear-loading guns recently.” “Just this once, only this once!” Liu Yu didn’t dare reveal his secret of modifying rear-loading guns. “If I did it again, I’d run out of ways. It’s good I managed to get them; otherwise, I wouldn’t know where to find equipment for these two outposts.” Inside the Xiliu Camp, outposts were gradually being renamed as companies, but in public, the traditional term “outpost” was still used. “Even now, these two outposts still lack sufficient equipment.” Although it was a shortage, Wu Fengdian said calmly, “So does the Liu Camp plan to expand further?” Liu Yu was caught off guard by the question. After thinking for a while, he replied, “We do have such plans.” Wu Fengdian glanced again at the silent Ye Chenglin before changing the subject. “Yuan Ting wants to return home to visit his graves. He and I agreed that while he’s in Guangxi, I’ll temporarily take charge of the Black Flag Army.” Whether it was Liu Yu, Ye Chenglin, Sima Tai standing at the door, or even Wu Fengdian himself, everyone fell silent at these words. Wu Fengdian broke the silence. “I think I can take on this responsibility. Apart from Yuan Ting, you’re the first to know this. Even Cheng Liang isn’t aware.”

The responsibility is too heavy, especially for a force like the Black Flag Army; the burden of leading the entire army is even greater. Wu Fengdian only commands one battalion of 300 men, while the Xiliu Battalion and the Front Battalion are both large units of around a thousand men each. Liu Chengliang of the Rear Battalion is also Liu Yongfu’s adopted son. It seems that apart from his own Left Battalion, Wu Fengdian can truly command only Yang Zhen’en’s Right Battalion. This is akin to Liu Yu leaving the old camp but leaving Ye Chenglin and Sima Tai behind at the same time—Sima Tai being a veteran sentry officer and Ye Chenglin a newly appointed battalion officer. No matter who is assigned to stay behind, coordination problems will inevitably arise. Liu Yu noticed that Wu Fengdian could remain calm, waiting for his reply for a full half minute. The situation of the Xiliu Battalion now determines the direction of the Black Flag Army. He asked, “When will Yuanting leave?” “It’s still early. He can’t leave in ten days or half a month; he must first sort out the matters at hand.” Wu Fengdian knew Liu Yongfu well: “Also, Yuanting’s return to the country this time is not just for ancestor worship.” “Vietnam is in decline, and France is pressing hard. Our Black Flag Army will surely engage in a fierce battle with France. In the past, we defeated An Ye and forced France to withdraw hastily, but this time it won’t be as simple as before.” Liu Yu agreed: “The situation now is different from when we defeated An Ye. Back then, France was defeated by Prussia and unable to deploy troops in the Far East, so it had to withdraw hastily. But now that France’s strength has recovered, it certainly won’t settle things as casually as before.” Wu Fengdian didn’t have Liu Yu’s global perspective; he could only view the world through his own eyes: “That makes perfect sense. But Yuanting returning to the country for ancestor worship is likely to seek aid from the Qing Dynasty. After all, Vietnam is a vassal state of the Qing, so they should be able to obtain military pay and weapons.” This was something he and Liu Yongfu had discussed repeatedly. Since the Qing intended to use them in Vietnam to deal with France, they must provide some military pay and weapons. With that, everything would be secure. The reason the Xiliu Battalion could rise so quickly was because they had modern weapons and sufficient pay. Yet no matter how advanced the Xiliu Battalion’s equipment was, it couldn’t compare to that of the Qing Dynasty. The Qing imported countless advanced weapons every year—just in Hong Kong alone, tens of thousands of rifles could be acquired annually, along with many field artillery pieces like Krupp cannons and Gribeauval cannons. It was said that a single fast cannon firing in rapid succession could equal three hundred of their own cast-iron cannons. With even a small amount of military pay and weapons leaking out from the Qing, the future of the Black Flag Army wouldn’t be a concern. Liu Yongfu had calculated: “If we fight hard to defend Vietnam for the Qing, we should be able to get a few hundred rifles and tens of thousands of taels in military pay!” That’s why his return to his hometown was imperative, and Wu Fengdian also wanted Liu Yu’s support on this matter. But Liu Yu asked him, “What should the Xiliu Battalion do about this?”