Chapter 109: Failure of the Plan

Ye Chenglin immediately glared at the Vietnamese sergeant, his gaze filled with murderous intent. “How many people can you bring back?”
The sergeant immediately softened. With a forced smile, he said, “There are quite a few of our comrades in that bunker behind. Sir, it’s just that…”
His words carried deep meaning, and Ye Chenglin understood what he meant. “If you can bring those people over, I’ll promote you to an officer. It depends on your ability.”
Hearing this, the Vietnamese sergeant was overjoyed. “Thank you, sir, for your recognition. My name is Li Qiu. I’ve long wanted to join the side of justice, but those French scoundrels kept a tight watch.”
A Vietnamese native infantryman, no matter how meritorious, generally had no chance of becoming an officer. Only a few lucky ones would be promoted to second lieutenant. Li Qiu, after eleven years of service, was still just an ordinary non-commissioned officer. But now he saw another path.
“Lao Qi, come with me to the Nguyen country. We’ve known each other for a long time. We can’t let them die in vain!”
The two soon disappeared into the hail of bullets. The battle continued, but a few minutes later, a French-built building behind the Crow Camp suddenly raised a white flag. Li Qiu shouted, “We’re rebelling! We’re rebelling!”
Just yesterday, he was still one of the most stubborn leaders of the Vietnamese native soldiers. But now he handed over this important stronghold, with over thirty defenders, to the Black Flag Army. “Sir Ye, I’ve done well, right?”
This white flag couldn’t shake the Frenchmen’s resolve, but it was devastating to the morale of the native infantry—they had reached a critical point.
They weren’t superhumans made of steel. Their previous outstanding performance was due to confidence in the French. But now Li Qiu saw clearly that there was no future in following the French.
“Captain Bissel said that if we hold on another day, a thousand reinforcements will arrive. But what good is that?” he shouted at the native infantrymen lined up. “After fighting for so many days, it’s still us Vietnamese who die the most. Even if reinforcements arrive, we native infantrymen will be dead!”
He saw things clearly: “Brothers, now that we’ve rebelled, we belong to the Black Flag Army!”
Ye Chenglin disliked this tone, especially since Li Qiu immediately identified himself with the Black Flag Army. But he didn’t show it. “No! You are still soldiers of the Xiliu Infantry Regiment. As for any title, I need to consult the regiment commander.”
The phone had been connected to the concession area, and Liu Yu readily agreed over the phone, “We can let them keep a title, but they must not participate in combat. In the future, most of their rifles must be kept by us, with only a few reserved for self-defense.”
No one knew if these defectors might turn against them, so Liu Yu personally went to talk to Li Qiu. “You’re Company Commander Li? Thirty-five years old? Very good, very good! You’re the first to rebel at the front line—worthy of praise. Now, all the units that have rebelled will be under your command to form a company. We’ll reserve some rifles for you, but they must be in the hands of people you trust.”

Li Qiu was also an experienced and slick individual. He said respectfully, “To rise to such heights in just one step—it’s truly an honor! Thank you, sir, for your recognition.”
Liu Yu narrowed his eyes and said to the man wearing a white straw hat, “I have complete trust in you. Others might return to the French, but as the first to rebel, you will never go back.”
Li Qiu was aware of this, but he knew even better that if he refused to surrender, he would already be a frozen corpse under the Black Flag Army’s assault. “From now on, I’ll devote myself wholeheartedly to serving you, sir.”
This sergeant from the indigenous infantry, dressed in dark blue uniform and wearing a white straw hat, had significant influence among the Vietnamese in the concession. After he surrendered and gave a speech to the concession, over 200 Vietnamese people rushed out—some from the Annamite indigenous infantry, some from the Tonkinese indigenous infantry, and a few Catholics.
Everyone understood that if the fighting continued, the French might not be destroyed, but these pawns would surely perish. They even brought more than 100 rifles and thousands of bullets. Yet Li Qiu soon realized that not all of these Vietnamese rebels who had risen up at the front lines were under his command. Each battalion was jealous of these captives and loot, treating them as their own property.
Only about 70 people were under his command, equipped with 10 rifles for self-defense. Still, he was overjoyed because not only were there ten times as many subordinates as before, but he would also earn a great feat for the Black Flag Army.
As Liu Yu had said, as the first leader to surrender collectively at the front lines, he had no chance of turning back—the French would never let him go. Only if the Black Flag Army won could he achieve success. As he chewed on a chicken leg, he reported to Liu Yu, “Sir, I’ve made contact with them. An entire Annamite indigenous infantry company is almost intact!”
Li Qiu himself came from the Annamite indigenous forces. Later, due to his contributions in suppressing the Vietnamese in Tonkin, he was transferred to the Tonkinese indigenous forces as a low-ranking sergeant. Yet he still had many connections within the Annamite forces.
Now, with Hanoi falling, the Vietnamese also wanted to find a way out for themselves. “They said that once they arrive, they demand not to be armed, not to be reorganized, and that their own officers will be appointed!”
“Great! As long as they kill the French officers, it doesn’t matter if they don’t join our Black Flag Army!”
Liu Yu had calculated this carefully. Losing one elite indigenous infantry company meant fewer casualties on his side and gaining an entire infantry company. As for how to reorganize this company once it arrived, that was a problem to deal with later.
He patted Li Qiu’s shoulder. “Do your best!”
The battle to capture the Hanoi concession took on a new form. The Black Flag Army and the Xiliu Infantry Regiment adopted a different strategy—they didn’t attack the French-held core strongholds directly but instead infiltrated the smaller outposts surrounding them like blades, forcing the Vietnamese indigenous forces to surrender and strengthen their own forces. Although this took longer, it was more advantageous for the Black Flag Army.

Especially Li Qiu, a former colonial soldier, caused even greater damage to the French forces. Entire units of indigenous troops surrendered to the Black Flag Army, and without their support, the French troops in Hanoi quickly revealed their weakness in numbers. The Black Flag Army’s several attacks successfully targeted key positions of the French, causing massive losses. Captain Bisselle tried every method available, even executing several colonial soldiers, but more and more people realized they were doomed to be cannon fodder and preferred to live longer. There were even cases of French soldiers sent to monitor the colonial troops being killed by advancing indigenous infantry before surrendering in formation. The French suffered increasing casualties; even a 65-mm cannon was seized by the Black Flag Army, though it had been damaged in advance. Moreover, the Black Flag Army became increasingly adept at such urban combat, especially their snipers, who were deadly killers. In just a few days, they took the lives of dozens of officers and non-commissioned officers. But apart from fighting to the death, Captain Bisselle could do little. May 23rd, morning. Captain Bisselle put on his best formal uniform. All the soldiers saluted him: “Commander!” But everyone lacked their usual confidence. The battle grew fiercer, troop numbers dwindled, and even some lower-ranking French officers considered surrendering. Near the headquarters, there were countless wounded soldiers who, with no one to care for them, no longer even had the strength to groan; they only cried out, “Please, give me a shot! Give me my pistol! Dear Green, I’d rather go back to the battlefield!” There was nowhere to rest, and outside in the open area, there were even more indigenous infantry. A single mortar shell could send a dozen wounded soldiers to “heaven.” The stench mixed with the smell of gunpowder turned the headquarters into a hellish place. Yet Captain Bisselle still put on his best breeches, shiny epaulets, medals that once dazzled girls’ eyes, and crisp red breeches. He stood there, holding his cane. That cane had been left to him by Colonel Li Weiyeh. He was mentally prepared: “This will be the last day of the defense of Hanoi.” From dawn, the Black Flag Army launched fierce attacks. The two sides engaged in a life-and-death struggle in the narrow area. The Black Flag Army even had to admire their enemies. Despite being defeated repeatedly, these French people gathered again and again, using all their strength in this desperate fight. They aimed their cannons almost directly at the chests of the Black Flag Army soldiers, defending their last dignity with bayonets. It was because of these French soldiers that, although some Vietnamese fled or surrendered, many stubborn ones continued to defend the concession. Liu Yu glanced at Li Qiu and then asked, “Has that indigenous infantry unit still not made up its mind?” “No, but it will soon!” Li Qiu’s forehead was covered in sweat. “I’ve sent Lao Zhang over. I believe contacting them will solve the problem.”

Liu Yu glanced at the fortress in the distance—one of the few remaining key strongholds in the concession. Comprising a company of Annamite native infantry as the core, along with some Tokyo native infantry and remnants of Catholics, a total of 130 to 140 men held the fortress.

The defenders of this fortress had initially been in contact with Li Qiu, but their enthusiasm was extreme at first; only upon further engagement did it become clear they were indecisive. They firmly adopted a wait-and-see attitude, and they also had substantial resources. When the rear troops launched an attack, more than a dozen men were killed or wounded, yet they failed to capture the fortress.

“Fight!” Ye Chenglin said simply beside him, “Make them suffer before they surrender!”

Li Qiu also understood well the psychology of those who refused to surrender. He knew the defenders still harbored last hopes for the French army, believing it would surely come to their rescue, which was why they hadn’t surrendered yet. He spoke up first, “My lord, if they still refuse to surrender this time, I think we should fight hard! Fight until they completely admit defeat. Only by making them suffer will they surrender.”

He himself had only decided to surrender after being thoroughly defeated by the Black Flag Army. If it weren’t a matter of life and death, who would abandon their prestigious position as a native infantry leader to join these bandits of the Black Flag Army?

“Fight!” Liu Yu had made up his mind: “Capturing this fortress is almost the final step!”

All units of the Black Flag Army were also launching a full-scale assault. The French army was just around the corner; several fronts had reached the point of bayonet combat. Li Qiu knew clearly that most of the native infantry had already been killed or wounded. Even if the defenders of this fortress refused to surrender, they couldn’t hold out much longer.

Just as victory seemed within reach, an unexpected event occurred—the phone rang again: “Report! Eight enemy ships are heading toward Hanoi under our artillery fire. One of our cannons has been destroyed, but we’re still fighting!”

“Report! The enemy ships carry a large number of reinforcements!”

Liu Yu hung up the phone in a daze and sighed deeply, “We need to prepare for battle—it will be long and tough!”

The reinforcements were Captain Bissell’s last hope: a French infantry battalion of 500 men and an artillery company of four mountain guns sent by Governor Qin Chong. Their warships belonged to the Chinese Sea Fleet. They arrived in Haiphong aboard an armored ship and a cruise ship, then transferred to inland vessels to reach Hanoi. Now, Major General Mei Yi had bet everything on this effort—he had even sent out motorboats.

The Black Flag Army’s artillery units couldn’t suppress such a powerful inland fleet during the day. They broke through the waves and engaged the Black Flag Army’s artillery on the riverbank, but they didn’t dare stay long and quickly transported their reinforcements to the Hanoi concession.

It was daytime, and their unloading operation faced intense mortar fire. Before all the infantry could be landed, nearly half of a French company was wiped out. But with these 500 reinforcements, Captain Bissell was almost on his knees in gratitude. He would be able to wear this uniform again in the days to come!

For the Black Flag Army, this was bad news on top of bad news. At the critical moment of completely defeating the defenders of Hanoi, fate played a cruel joke on them.

They attacked continuously for four days and three nights, suffering heavy losses; the soldiers were extremely exhausted. The additional 500 reinforcements from the French army proved to be the final straw. Even the usually calm Wu Fengdian said, “We need to withdraw!”
Liu Yu also said, “It’s time to retreat!”
After thinking for a moment, he added, “I suggest Liu Suiyun’s unit take on the role of covering forces. Don’t worry; even if we can’t wipe them out completely, we’re still confident in withdrawing to Huai De. We’ve gained enough from this battle!”
Everyone thought of the weapons captured and the prisoners taken, and couldn’t help but smile. Just then, Li Qiu rushed in in a hurry, furious, and said, “They’ve brought out Zhang Feimao!”