Chapter 165: Yuan Shikai Sends Troops (Requesting Monthly Votes)

If the escort mission had not yet been completed, Guan Ning leading a force to attack upon reaching Qinan would be defaulted by the system as one of the trial challenges of the mission, leaving Chen Haonian with no choice but to rely on his own wits to withstand it head-on. Having survived two large-scale attacks, the escort mission was already of immense difficulty. Since Guan Ning was launching an attack out of personal grievance without having formally accepted the quest, the system would most likely not classify it as an official mission trial. This meant Chen Hao could fully utilize the NPCs in the game to help, and the chances of success were remarkably high.

Chen Hao ordered the convoy to halt for resupply. He sought out Madam Nie, the mother of Nie Shicheng, and requested her to draft a letter, dispatching Feng Yong to deliver it to Yuan Shikai at a gallop. Feng Yong changed into a different attire, rode all the way to Qinan, and presented the letter at the Governor’s Yamen. Yuan Shikai held the post of Governor of Qilu. Even though Cixi relied on the Boxers to fend off foreigners, the old Yuan was still paying lip service while carrying out suppressive measures behind her back. It was precisely because of this that vast numbers of Qilu Boxers had fled into Zhili.

With the suppression of the Boxer bandits coming to a temporary lull, Yuan Shikai had found himself much more at leisure recently. When Feng Yong delivered the letter, Yuan was in the midst of discussing the next phase of the Boxer suppression plan with Yang Shixiang. Upon hearing that Feng Yong was the personal bodyguard captain of Zhili Tidu Nie Shicheng, the old Yuan granted him an exceptional audience. After reading the letter, Yuan handed it to Yang Shixiang beside him, sighed, and said, "Nie Gongting has resolved to repay the country with his death, entrusting his orphaned children and widowed mother to me. How can I possibly sit by and not lend a helping hand?"

After reading the letter, Yang Shixiang also let out a long sigh and said, "A magnificent soul, Nie Gongting! Even if Your Excellency cannot save him, we must not slight his family. Feng Huaifu once served as a staff officer under his command; it is only fitting that Huaifu be sent to protect his dependents."

Yuan Shikai nodded and said, "That is precisely what I had in mind. Nie Gongting has deep ties with the Yuan family of Xiangcheng and has maintained frequent contact with us over the years. It is only right that we look after his family."

In the first year of Tongzhi, Nie Shicheng had enlisted in the Luzhou military camp as a martial youth scholar, serving under the Banner Militia Minister Yuan Jiajun, and had once followed Yuan Jiajun to suppress the Nian Rebellion. Yuan Jiajun was the first person from the Xiangcheng Yuan family to enter officialdom through the imperial examinations, and was the grand-uncle of Yuan Shikai. Because of this lineage, Nie Shicheng and Yuan Shikai had maintained numerous exchanges.

Shortly after, a subordinate summoned an official to stand before Yuan Shikai—none other than Feng Guozhang, one of the three great tigers and dogs of the Beiyang clique. At this time, he was serving under Yuan Shikai's command. In 1899, for his meritorious service in suppressing the Boxers, Yuan Shikai memorialized the throne to promote him from a candidate prefectural magistrate to a candidate prefect. Because Feng had previously served under Nie Shicheng, Yuan Shikai intended to dispatch Feng Guozhang to protect Nie's family.

Feng Guozhang had joined Nie Shicheng’s army as a staff officer in 1893. He was loyal to his duties and had accompanied Nie to the northeastern frontline in 1895. Feng Guozhang repeatedly devised strategies for Nie Shicheng, and Nie’s forces achieved stellar records, earning him deep trust from Nie. In April of the same year, Feng Guozhang traveled to Japan as a military attaché, where he attentively observed military affairs and accumulated his observations into several volumes of military treatises, which he presented to Nie Shicheng. Although Nie did not pay much attention to them at the time, they were later forwarded to Yuan Shikai, who praised them as "precious treasures."

Feng Guozhang’s rise to prominence was tied to Nie Shicheng, and he had received great favors from him. Hearing Yuan Shikai speak of Nie Shicheng’s family, Feng Guozhang said resolutely, "The elder General Nie showed me immense grace. Now that his family has fallen into peril, I naturally ought to ensure their safety. I beg Your Excellency to grant permission."

Yuan Shikai stroked his beard and smiled slightly, "Huaifu, there is no need to be hasty. The reason I summoned you here is precisely to send you to protect Nie Gongting’s family. Commander Chen Baxian of Aihui has escorted the elder Madam Nie to Qinan. Madam Nie’s letter states that there are eccentric individuals colluding with the Boxer bandits in Qinan, and they intend to ambush her carriage. Take fifty Geshika guards to provide protection. Should those audacious outlaws dare to ambush Madam Nie within Qinan, I shall personally lead troops to reinforce you."

Feng Guozhang quickly selected fifty Geshika guards, rode out of the city, left the jurisdiction of Qinan along the post road, and located the convoy escorted by Chen Hao in a small town. Feng Guozhang strode forward, cupped his fists toward Chen Hao, and said, "Commander Chen, by order of the Governor, I have brought men to escort Madam Nie to the Governor’s Yamen."

Having known Feng Guozhang’s appearance from his future memories, Chen Hao cupped his fists in return and said, "Many thanks, Lord Feng. I have heard that Your Excellency once organized and compiled the *Travel Records of the Eastern Tour*. Baxian will soon depart to take up a post in the Northeast, and I sincerely hope Your Excellency will not stint on your guidance."

Feng Guozhang asked in surprise, "You have heard of me?"

Chen Hao nodded and said, "Your Excellency once followed General Nie during the First Sino-Japanese War and is renowned for your resourcefulness. I once heard General Nie speak of you."

Feng Guozhang laughed heartily and said, "I never expected General Nie to still remember me. Since General Nie arranged for Brother Baxian to escort the old madam, it shows you are a person worthy of trust. In the future, the two of us should grow closer."

From October 1893 to May 1894, Feng Guozhang had accompanied Nie Shicheng as he led students from the Military Academy to inspect the border regions of the three eastern provinces, while simultaneously assisting Nie in compiling the *Travel Records of the Eastern Tour*. The book recorded daily itineraries and observations along the way, detailing local historical evolutions, local customs, products, and trade, with particular emphasis on border conditions such as military geography, topography, garrison deployments, post stations, and roads.

In the game, the attributes of the book *Travel Records of the Eastern Tour* provided a +10 bonus to strategic analysis when operating in the Northeast region. It was a rare and exceptional treasure. Since Yuan Shikai had sent Feng Guozhang to protect Madam Nie, Chen Hao intended to seize the opportunity to build a good relationship with him. If he could manage to acquire the book, it would be all the better.

If the *Travel Records of the Eastern Tour* were handed over to Wu Peifu for use, Wu Peifu's strategic analysis would rise to over ninety points, equivalent to an increase of five points in command ability, which would drastically enhance troop combat effectiveness during operations. Later on, if Chen Hao wanted to establish a base in the Northeast, he could take the book back for his own use, compensating for any personal deficiencies in command.

Seeing that Feng Guozhang had brought only fifty men to protect Madam Nie, Chen Hao felt a surge of secret delight. When Madam Nie was writing the letter, he had stood by and dictated the contents, informing Yuan Shikai in the letter that more than a hundred outlaws were stirring up trouble. The Guan Ning Iron Cavalry numbered in the thousands, but the reason he had the old madam write "over a hundred men" was to seize the opportunity to trap the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry.

If Yuan Shikai had sent too many soldiers to guard Madam Nie, the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry would not dare to attack. But since Feng Guozhang had arrived with only fifty men, if Guan Ning were blinded by rage and ordered an assault, the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry, who had been rooting and developing their forces in Qilu, would definitely be wiped out completely by Yuan Shikai.

The number of troops Yuan Shikai sent was crucial. If too many came, Guan Ning would not dare to make a move; if too few came, they would fail to withstand the charge of the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry, resulting in the death of Nie Shicheng’s family, which would outweigh any gains. Yuan Shikai's troops were exceptionally elite. The ideal state was to send 50 to 100 men to protect Madam Nie. With personal guards like Feng Yong and the Maxim machine gun operated by the fishing passerby cooperating, holding off the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry for twenty minutes would pose no problem.

Although Yuan Shikai happened to send exactly fifty men, he had assigned Feng Guozhang to lead the detachment. Feng Guozhang’s command attribute was over 80, giving him a massive multiplier when commanding operations of companies under a hundred men. A guard force of several dozen could unleash the combat power of a hundred, making it virtually impossible for the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry to resolve the battle quickly.

Once a large-scale firefight broke out within Qinan, word would soon reach Yuan Shikai's ears, and the old Yuan would undoubtedly dispatch a massive army as reinforcement. The ideal scenario was for Feng Guozhang’s guard detachment to suffer some casualties, which would throw the old Yuan into a fury and cause the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry to be uprooted entirely.

Even if Chen Hao were not scheming against them, Yuan Shikai would still suppress the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry anyway, though perhaps not with the earnest intent of complete annihilation—merely driving them out of the territory. But since Guan Ning dared to ambush Madam Nie within Qinan, Yuan Shikai would strike with lethal force, ensuring that the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry suffered catastrophic losses and their established base was thoroughly demolished.

If Chen Hao’s plan succeeded, Guan Ning would undoubtedly hate him to the bone. However, since he and the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry were already locked in a life-or-death struggle, he hardly cared if they despised him a little more.

Feng Guozhang led his guard detachment to join the escort formation, forging ahead to clear the path, while Chen Hao followed behind the carriage with eleven guards. Upon entering Qinan territory, Chen Hao instructed Feng Yong and the other bodyguards to exercise caution. At the same time, the fishing passerby set up the Maxim machine gun, ready to adapt to any contingency at a moment's notice.

Seeing the Maxim machine gun inside the carriage, Feng Guozhang said in surprise, "Brother Baxian actually brought a Maxim? This weapon possesses boundless might, yet using it merely for escort duty is far too wasteful; it is entirely unnecessary."

Chen Hao smiled bitterly and said, "To be frank with you, the journey thus far has been fraught with perils. Without this Maxim, we simply could not have withstood the attacks of those Boxer bandits."

Feng Guozhang laughed heartily and said, "Northern Jili is crowded with a massive gathering of Boxers, which is why it is somewhat chaotic. Ever since Governor Yuan assumed office as the Governor of Qilu, he has exerted his utmost effort to suppress the Boxer bandits. They are virtually extinct across the Qilu land, and with Governor Yuan holding court in Qinan, Brother Baxian need not—"

"Bang, bang, bang."

"Enemy attack!"

Before Feng Guozhang could finish his sentence, his words were interrupted by three consecutive gunshots. A massive, ink-dark swarm of cavalry appeared not far away, and the guards hastily drew their weapons to return fire. Well-versed in the battlefields, Feng Guozhang quickly regained his composure, his face darkening as he commanded, "Do not panic! Hold your ground! The Governor will send troops to reinforce us shortly."

Guan Ning had struck after all. As the game had not yet progressed to the point where the government began large-scale encirclements and suppressions of players, he was oblivious to the severe consequences of such an action. Having already gathered his subordinates, Guan Ning had heard that Qinan Prefecture had dispatched fifty soldiers to protect Nie Shicheng’s family; though he worried an attack might offend the authorities, after hesitating for a moment, he decided to proceed anyway.

The Guan Ning Iron Cavalry had gathered over a thousand horsemen in Qinan. Even with fifty additional guards, Guan Ning was confident of victory. The Qing court was rotten to the core; as long as one was willing to spend silver, offending the officials could always be smoothed over. His reasoning was sound, but what he did not know was that this fifty-man guard detachment had been sent by Yuan Shikai. No matter how much money he spent, old Yuan would never let him off the hook.

The guard detachment led by Feng Guozhang was well-trained and quickly established a defense relying on the terrain. All fifty guards were elite soldiers, and their individual combat capabilities were no inferior to those of Feng Yong and his men. Chen Hao voluntarily relinquished command, leaving Feng Guozhang to direct Feng Yong and the others. Feng Guozhang methodically arranged the defense, and with the cooperation of the Maxim heavy machine gun, the first wave of the cavalry charge was quickly beaten back.

Long Dahai, who was responsible for leading the cavalry charge, lost four riders in the first wave. He gnashed his teeth and said, "Damn it, these guards are formidable. I originally thought we could take them easily, but now it seems we are going to lose quite a few men."

Smiling Maitreya sneered, "No matter how formidable these NPCs are, there are only so many of them. We are in no rush to charge. Fall back, fire from a distance to deplete their ammunition, and we can take them in a single wave when the time comes. Besides, we aren't the ones who should be anxious."