The war to destroy the Qing Dynasty launched by the East China government was divided into two lines, north and south, and of course it was mainly wars on the northern line, while the war on the southern line only supplemented and prepared for the future unification of the country.

Now that the first phase of the Northern Front War has ended, the pre-war goals have basically been achieved. Before the rule of Beijing is stabilized, new wars will not be launched, because the war on the Southern Front can also be launched.

The purpose of the southern front war is to control the entire territory of Hubei Province, not only to obtain a base for advancing south to the south of the Yangtze River, but also to control the important roads in the Yangtze River Basin.

During the Qing Dynasty, Hubei Province divided into 10 prefectures and 1 prefecture, namely Wuchang Prefecture, Hanyang Prefecture, Huangzhou Prefecture, Anlu Prefecture, De'an Prefecture, Jingzhou Prefecture, Xiangyang Prefecture, Yunyang Prefecture, Yichang Prefecture, Shinan Prefecture, and Jingmen Prefecture. Now the East China Government occupies the three prefectures in the northwest of De'an, Xiangyang, Yunyang Prefecture, and Hanyang Prefecture and Huangzhou Prefecture, all of which are located on the north bank of the Yangtze River.

The troops responsible for attacking Hubei Province were the Marine Corps and the 9th Field Army of the Southeast Military Region. Because this battle had the task of crossing the river, the Marine Corps also participated in the war. The core of Hubei Province is Wuchang and Hanyang Prefectures, which is also the first attack direction of this advance. The 9th Field Army was responsible for attacking Hanyang Prefecture and the Marine Corps attacking Wuchang Prefecture.

In fact, crossing the river is much simpler than crossing the sea and landing. Even if the Marines are not used, the army can complete it. However, considering that the army will be the protagonist of the war for a long time in the future, and the Marines basically have no chance to fight, this time it will be assigned to the Marines to have certain combat tasks. After all, the war against the Qing court was basically an opportunity to make meritorious contributions. In addition, the Marines, like the Army, have carried out a large-scale expansion of their army, with most new recruits in the army, which also gave these new troops an opportunity to practice in actual combat.

After receiving the combat mission of the Military Commission, Luo Yue also began to formulate a combat plan to attack Wuchang Prefecture. The capital of Wuchang Prefecture is Wuchang. This is a city with many distinctive characteristics in Chinese history. Its biggest feature is that it is built on the river. Moreover, the Yangtze River flows from southwest to northeast in the Wuchang City basin first, near Qingshan in the northeast of Wuchang, and from northwest to southeast, becoming a natural semi-encirclement defense line in the northern part of Wuchang City. There is also East Lake in the east of the city, which can be said to be a very good defense condition. Moreover, the Hubei New Army was stationed in Wuchang City, which was formed by Zhang Zhidong. It was second only to the Beiyang New Army in the Qing court. It once fought with the People's Army, which was called the Volunteer Army at that time. Although it was defeated, it still had a certain combat effectiveness and should not be ignored. If you attack rashly, you may suffer great losses.

So based on the terrain of Wuchang, the hydrology of the Yangtze River waterway and the deployment of the Qing army were examined. Luo Yue formulated a two-line attack plan, attacking along the Yangtze River, and landing battles at Pinghumen, Hanyangmen and Wushengmen in the northwest of Wuchang City. However, it was actually a feint attack to attract the attention of the Wuchang defenders. The other route landed in the Baihu Mountain area east of Wuchang City. It was about 30 kilometers away from Wuchang City, and it was across the East Lake from Wuchang City. The terrain was evasive and there was basically no defense. After the landing was successful, it went straight to Zhongxiaomen and Binyangmen in the east of Wuchang City. This route was the main force for the attack on Wuchang. A total of 1 division and 2 brigades were dispatched, with about 30,000 people.

After the order for combat on the southern front was issued, Luo Yue immediately ordered the troops to attack. First, 8 destroyers and 8 patrol ships formed four water detachments, and launched artillery on the river surface northwest of Wuchang City.

Although the areas controlled by the East China Government are all north of the Yangtze River, the entire Yangtze River basin in Hubei is controlled by the East China Government. Although the Yangtze River shipping in the Qing government controlled areas south of the Yangtze River must cooperate with the East China Government, the governors and governors of the Qing court south of the Yangtze River are still very guarded against the East China Government. The governor of Huguang is Zhao Erxun, a member of the Zhenglan Banner of the Han army, and the governor of Hubei Duanfang is a member of the Zhengbai Banner of the Manchuria. Relatively speaking, his relationship with the Qing court is closer than other Han ministers. Because he is Duanfang, he is loyal to the Qing court and is quite hostile to the East China Government.

Moreover, the East China Government launched the war to destroy the Qing Dynasty, especially after capturing Beijing and capturing Cixi. After the Guangxu period, the Qing government governors and governors south of the Yangtze River also began to strengthen the deployment of their jurisdiction. Duanfang personally inspected the city defense, facilities, and arranged troops in Wuchang. Many beacon towers were built along the river to deliver alarms. Therefore, as soon as the East China Government fleet entered Hubei Province, the Qing army lit the beacon and issued an alarm to Wuchang. Of course, this was what the East China Government hoped to see, and it did not stop it.

After Duanfang received the alarm, although he was not sure whether the East China Government launched a war against Hubei, he still ordered the city gates along the river to be prepared for defense. Sure enough, after the fleet arrived at the northwest river surface of Wuchang, he launched artillery bombardment on the river wall of Wuchang. However, at this time, the Qing army was also ready for battle, and the Hubei New Army was well-trained, so he immediately launched a counterattack on the fleet of the East China Government. Moreover, Duanfang also personally rushed to the city wall to command the battle, so the cannons roared on the river surface, which was quite lively.

At this moment, two brigades of the People's Army Marine Corps landed on the banks of Baihu Mountain, and then divided into two groups, one along the north bank of Donghu Lake and attacked Zhongxiaomen; the other along the south bank of Donghu Lake and attacked Binyangmen.

At this time, the Qing army's attention was completely attracted by the fleet attacking on the river. He did not expect that the People's Army would attack from its side and rear. Sure enough, the Qing army's defense at Zhongxiaomen and Binyangmen was very empty, and Zhao Erxun, Duanfang received the emergency and hurriedly dispatched troops from the northwest to reinforce Zhongxiaomen and Binyangmen. It was too late. The People's Army easily broke through the city gate, entered Wuchang City, and fought fiercely with the reinforcements of the Qing army.

The Hubei New Army does have a certain combat power and is fighting at its home court, so both sides are evenly matched and difficult to solve. However, at this moment, the People's Army fleet attacking on the river also strengthened its offensive, and the speed and frequency of artillery bombardment were greatly increased. At the same time, the landing army also landed in Pinghumen, Hanyangmen, Wushengmen and other places under the cover of the fleet's firepower. Most of the Qing army guarding the city gate were transferred by Duanfang to reinforce Zhongxiaomen and Binyangmen. As a result, they lost one thing, which caused the garrison forces in Pinghumen, Hanyangmen, Wushengmen and other places to be vacant, and were successively captured by the People's Army.

Seeing that the general trend of Wuchang City had gone, Zhao Erxun and Duanfang did not dare to fight in the city. They hurriedly led the defeated army to withdraw from Wuchang City and retreat to Yuezhou Prefecture in Hunan Province. The People's Army took advantage of the situation to capture Wuchang.

Almost at the same time, the Ninth Field Army of the People's Army also attacked from De'an Prefecture to attack Hanyang Prefecture and successfully captured Hanyang City. However, after successfully capturing Wuchang and Hanyang Prefectures, the People's Army did not rush to advance, but first captured other prefectures and counties in Wuchang and Hanyang Prefectures. This also gave Zhao Erxun and Duanfang a chance to retreat to Yuezhou Prefecture. At the same time, the Hunan Governor Yang Wending also rushed to Yuezhou Prefecture and negotiated solutions with the two.

There is no good idea now. After all, the fight cannot defeat the People's Army. Duan Fang suggested asking other governors for help. Although Beijing has lost and the emperor has become a prisoner of the East China Government, the southeastern provinces are still there. Everyone is lost. The two lakes are lost, and the territory of other governors is difficult to preserve. Therefore, at this time, everyone must unite against the enemy and work together to fight against the East China Government.

But Yang Wending believed that he could ask someone to ask for peace from the East China Government. Everyone might as well sit down and negotiate the conditions. If the price offered by the East China Government can afford it, peace will be more expensive and not use swords and guns. This middleman could ask Yuan Shikai for help, because he and the East China Government have always maintained a good relationship.

Zhao Erxun knew very well that Duan Fang's suggestion would not work at all. Even if other governors and governors were willing to send troops to rescue Hubei, the military mobilization would not be possible in a short time. Moreover, Zhao Erxun did not think that the governors and governors in the southeast could fight against the East China government by uniting together. Bi Jing was not in the time of the change of the Gengzi country. At that time, the governors and governors in the southeast could create a mutual protection for the Southeast to deal with foreigners and strive to ensure that the southeast was not lost. However, among the governors and governors, there are no such heavy boss-level as Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, and Liu Kunyi.

Officials, and the Southeast East China Government is not comparable to foreigners. Therefore, Yang Wending's suggestion is reliable. If the East China Government is only satisfied with occupying Hubei Province this time, then let them go. At least there is Hunan Province to gain a foothold. If the East China Government is not satisfied with occupying Hubei Province and taking down Hunan, he can only admit his bad luck. He either surrenders to the East China Government, or he can still find a job in the East China Government, and he will be able to live in the old age and leave after his death, or he will live in seclusion in the hometown and live in this life.

So Zhao Erxun immediately contacted Yuan Shikai and asked him to help Zhou Xuan mediate. Although Duan Fang did not agree, he was helpless and could not speak out, so he could only let them do it.

After receiving the telegram from Zhao Erxun, Yuan Shikai couldn't help but be overjoyed because he was about to find an opportunity to communicate with the East China Government.
Chapter completed!