What was the difference between the two sides in the Yalu River Defence War (a stop in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895)?

the total strength of the Qing army on the Yalu river defense line is 8 battalions, claiming to be 28,, and the actual strength is about 2,, with veteran Song Qing as the general commander. The Japanese attack force is the first army under Yamagata Aritomo's command, with the third and fifth divisions under its jurisdiction, with a total strength of more than 3, people.

The whole campaign process is as follows

The defense of the Qing army in the Yalu River defense line is "taking Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort as a brief point" (Yao Xiguang: A Brief Introduction to the Eastern Military Affairs, Fengdong Chapter). ）。 Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort is bordered by Yalu River in the east and pillow □ River in the north. □ The river flows into the Yalu River in the north of Jiuliancheng. To the east of the estuary and to the west of the river, there is a mountain, which is shaped like a crouching tiger, named Tiger Mountain (also known as Tiger's Ear Mountain) and is the gateway of Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort. Tracing back from Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort along the right bank of Yalu River, the sequence is Anping Estuary, Pushi Estuary, Sudian Estuary and Changdian Estuary. The lower reaches of the Yalu River in the southwest of Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort are Anton County, the Dadonggou at the mouth of the Yalu River in the southwest and Dagushan in the west. Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort connects Phoenix in the west, passes Yalu River in the east and reaches Yizhou in North Korea, which is the traffic tunnel between China and North Korea. Its city faces a river hundreds of meters wide, and the deepest part can reach three meters. The □ River in the northeast is also "as deep as the belly of a horse and more than 7 feet wide" (Historical Materials on Negotiations between the DPRK and Japan in Guangxu of Qing Dynasty (1878). ), the situation is dangerous, easy to defend but difficult to attack.

The Qing army deployed troops in the Yalu River defense line with Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort as the center, from the mouth of Changdian River in the northeast to Dadonggou and Dagushan in the southwest, and fortified the key passes along the Yalu River. Divided into the left and right wings: the left wing of the defense line is under the command of Iktangga, and it is divided into two positions, Anping Hekou, □ Louzi and Pushihe Hekou, which are stationed by the Sixth Battalion of Japanese Henge Qizi Lianjun; Iktangga led the 13th battalion of the town's border troops to defend Dongyang, Sudian and Changdian estuaries. The right wing of the defense line is under the command of Song Qing, from Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort, Hushan, Anton, Dadonggou to Dagushan and other key passes on the right bank of the lower reaches of the Yalu River, which are respectively stationed by Ming Army, Luyu Defence Army, Yi Army, Sheng Army and Feng Army.

After Song Qing arrived in Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort, he supervised all the armies to repair fortifications day and night. From Hushan to Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort and near Chestnut Garden, more than 4 large and small forts and many batteries were built. The base is three or four meters high and more than one meter thick, which is very strong. Japanese artillery shells are difficult to penetrate. Outside the base, pass through the moat and set up obstacles. After the base, several forts were set up to control the river surface. In Andong County, southwest of Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort, a series of forts were built from the Yalu River dike about three kilometers away from the county seat, passing through the right bank of the river about two kilometers long on the east and south sides of the county seat; In the western and northern highlands of the county, many forts were built to defend the river. Judging from the forces deployed by the Qing army in the Yalu River defense line, it can be said that it is not thick; Judging from the fortifications built, it can be said that they are not strong. If all the defenders can work together and stick to defense, it is impossible for the Japanese army to easily break through this heavily defended and fortified Yalu River defense line.

on October 24th, Song Qing learned that the Japanese army was ready to attack. He believes that "Tiger's Ear Mountain is bounded by rivers, which is extremely prosperous and actually wins" (Historical Materials on Negotiations between the DPRK and Japan in Guangxu of Qing Dynasty (1817)), and the Japanese army may "not cross the mountain to occupy our situation", and the Qing army "can seize the thief's anger and benefit the defense if it relies on the mountain first" (Historical Materials on Negotiations between the DPRK and Japan in Guangxu of Qing Dynasty (1817)) He led Nie Shicheng, Song Desheng, Ma Jinxu and other generals to survey the terrain of Hushan again. And gather the generals, and those who can keep this danger will be rewarded. Ma Jinxu volunteered to guard the pass behind Hushan Mountain. At the same time, Nie Shicheng and Song Desheng led the elite to strengthen the defense of Hushan position. Song Qing's estimation is correct. The Japanese army's attack on the position of the Qing army in Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort started from seizing the Hushan highland.

Second

On October 24th, the Japanese army began to attack the Yalu River defense line of the Qing army according to the pre-arranged invasion plan. The Japanese army first sent a force to attack Anping River mouth, which was defended by the left-wing defense line of the Qing army in the upper reaches of Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort, in order to confuse and contain the Qing army, and its main attack force was in Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort and Hushan. At 11 o'clock before noon on the 24th, the 18th United Front of Japanese Infantry, led by Masato Sato, began to wade across the river from the vicinity of Shuikou Town in North Korea. The Japanese soldiers who were guarding the Anping River Estuary practiced the army in unison, and after a little resistance, they retreated one after another. The left-wing Anping estuary position of the Yalu River defense line of the Qing army was quickly broken by the Japanese army. After the Japanese army occupied Anping River Estuary, the main Japanese army attacking Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort had not yet launched an attack. Sato was afraid of going deep alone and was surrounded by the Qing army. He camped at Anhu River Estuary that night for the follow-up troops.

when sato's detachment crossed the river from Shuikou town to attack the Anping estuary, the Japanese brigade stationed in Yizhou was trying its best to prepare bridging materials, preparing to set up a pontoon bridge on the river between Yizhou and Hushan in the dark that night, so as to cross the river and attack the position of the Qing army in Hushan.

Between Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort and Yizhou in the lower reaches of Yalu River, sandbars formed by sediment alluvial cut the river into three tributaries. The tributaries on the east and west sides are about 6 meters wide, and the current is shallow, so you can cross it. However, the middle stream is more than 15 meters wide and the current is deep. The deepest part can reach three meters, which is called "Zhongjiang". On the west side of Zhongjiang, there is a narrow sandbar across the north and south, which is called "Zhongjiangtai" and there are a few people living there. It also has the management office of Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort Supervision Bureau to manage the import and export trade between China and North Korea on the river. The Japanese army decided to set up a military bridge to cross the soldiers in the favorable terrain north of Zhongjiang. At 9: p.m. on 24th, the Japanese army sent an engineer named Taro Mihara, who was good at swimming. Under the cover of a brigade of infantry, he tried to swim across the Zhongjiang River and tie a long rope to the other side as a bridge cable for the pontoon bridge. Due to the cold night and the cold river, the soldier swam to the middle stream and his hands and feet were numb and drowned. The Japanese army then sent two more soldiers and finally swam to the other side to complete the tether task. After that, the engineers began to build bridges. Overnight, the Japanese army set up two military bridges on the Zhongjiang River opposite the Tiger Mountain and the tributaries on the east side, but the Qing army stationed on the other side of the river was unaware of it.

Before the pontoon bridge was built, Yamagata Aritomo sent some troops to cross the river by boat at 11: 3 midnight, and laid an ambush on the east side of Hushan. After the pontoon bridge was built, the Fifth Brigade was sent to force Shang Min to lead a force to the right, and at four o'clock in the morning, the troops crossing the river on the bridge and the troops crossing the river in advance made a detour to the right to seize the eastern highland of Hushan; In addition, Keitaro, the head of the third division, led the division team to cross the pontoon bridge at six o'clock and attack the Hushan position from the front. Japanese artillery also fired fiercely at the position of the Qing army in Hushan on the other side of the river near the Tongjun Pavilion in Yizhou, North Korea.

Although the Qing army was unaware of the Japanese army's building of a military bridge overnight, it was not alarmed by the sudden attack of the Japanese army. Ma Jinxu and Nie Shicheng, who are guarding Hushan Mountain, are "as cool as a cucumber" and "capable of fighting" (Kawasaki Saburo: History of Marine War in Nissin, Volume 4, pp. 189 and 19. ）。 At the beginning of the battle, Ma Jinxu encouraged his men: "Today's battle has a great relationship. The survival of Hushan, Shirel and others must work together to defend the enemy." The foot soldiers were excited, "Everyone shouted, willing to die and protect this mountain" (written by Yu Yunfeng and others: "Andong County Records", Volume 8. ）。 Before the backup troops arrive. Ma jinxu led his troops to "fight alone, and put the fast guns to more than 18", and Nie Shicheng and Ma jinxu "contacted each other and encouraged each other" (Historical Materials on Negotiations between the DPRK and Japan in Guangxu of Qing Dynasty (1843)), and fought with the attacking Japanese for more than an hour. At about 7 o'clock, Da Qiang Shang Min commanded the right-wing Japanese army, seized the eastern highland of Hushan, and stormed the Qing army from the side back to Hushan position. The Qing army was caught between Scylla and Charybdis, and the situation was critical. Song Qing immediately sent Ma Yukun and Song Desheng to lead more than 2, people from Yijun to cross the □ River and help Hushan position. The Ming Army, which was defending Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort, also sent teams to support it, but it did not cross the river. At this time, Yamagata Aritomo, who was bidding in Yizhou Junting, saw that the Qing army sent reinforcements, and immediately ordered the head of the tenth brigade to set up a left-wing team to cross the army bridge. Under the cover of artillery fire, he went around to the west side of Hushan and intercepted the Qing army who had given aid. The batteries of the Qing army also used wild guns to fight back. At this point, the battle is very fierce. "The shells thundered and the sound shook for dozens of miles" (written by Song Qing: Inscription on the Zhaoqing-Jianjinzhou Yijun Zhaozhong Temple). The monument is now in Jinzhou Museum, Liaoning Province. ）。 Ma Jinxu and Nie Shicheng, who were guarding Hushan Mountain, and Ma Yukun and Song Desheng, who came to support them, were attacked by the Japanese three-way artillery fire, and "there were many casualties, and there were still many stalemate" (Song Qing wrote: "Inscription on the Establishment of Zhaozhong Temple of Jinzhou Yijun in Qing Dynasty". The monument is now in Jinzhou Museum, Liaoning Province. ）。 Soon, Li Jian saw the Japanese left-wing team under the command of Shang Wen, and detoured to the west side of Hushan, which would cut off the rear road of reinforcements. Ma Yukun and Song Desheng were forced to retreat to the chestnut garden in the north of Jiulian City. The aid of Ming army also returned to Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort. The Japanese left, middle and right armies took advantage of the situation and launched a charge from the east, west and front of Tiger Mountain. Although Makin's headquarters, which is guarding Hushan Mountain, is isolated and helpless, it is still "stubbornly resisting and showing no signs of retreat" (Japanese Staff Headquarters: History of the Japanese War in Meiji 278, chapter 13, page 331. ）。 The Japanese army launched four charges on Hushan position, and Ma Jinxu and Nie Shicheng led their troops to fight back bravely. In the battle, Ma Jinxu was "injured in more than 2 places" (Yi Shunding: Miscellaneous Notes on the Soul of the North and the Soul of the East, Volume 5. ), "His younger brother's overseers were killed" ("Historical Materials on Negotiations between the DPRK and Japan in Guangxu of Qing Dynasty" (1843)). The Japanese army that charged also suffered "many casualties" under the resistance of the Qing army (Japanese Staff Headquarters: History of the Japanese War in Meiji 278, chapter 13, page 332. ）。 However, in the end, due to repeated attacks by the Japanese army, the soldiers became a single soldier, and the situation was exhausted. After a short battle, they also retreated to the river and went west (Yao Xiguang: A Brief Introduction to Eastern Military Affairs, Fengdong Chapter). ）。 Then, Ma Jinxu was forced to withdraw from Hushan position. At eleven o'clock in the morning, the Japanese finally occupied Hushan. After the Japanese army occupied Hushan, there were still more than 4 Qing troops, who held on to the northern position of Hushan and continued to resist until 12: 3 in the afternoon.

After the Japanese army captured Hushan, it took advantage of the situation to invade Liziyuan and Weizigou, north of Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort, and was savagely shot by the Qing army stationed in the western highland of Liziyuan and the northern highland of Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort. (Japanese Chiefs: History of the Japanese War in Meiji 278, chapter 13, page 335. ）。

Since the Japanese army occupied the position of Hushan, at 1: in the afternoon, Yamagata Aritomo led his staff to cross the river and set up an army headquarters in Hushan, and began to plan the operational deployment for launching a new attack on Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort. In the early morning of 26th, Keitaro led the third division to attack Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort's flank from Liziyuan. The fifth division led by Nojin Daoguan attacked the northeast of Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort along the right bank of the river; Another part of the troops were sent to attack Andong County in the lower reaches of Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort to contain the Qing army.

at dawn on 26th, the Japanese army launched a general attack on Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort according to the established operational deployment. First, concentrate the artillery to bombard. However, the interior of the city became silent, and there was no movement of the Qing army. And sent soldiers to climb over the city wall for reconnaissance, and found that the whole city was empty, and there was no shadow of the Qing army. Therefore, it was known that the Qing army had abandoned the city and fled the night before. It turned out that only Ma Jinxu, Nie Shicheng, Ma Yukun and Song Desheng led the army in the 25th battle of the Qing army. Liu Shengxiu and his men "Ming army only fired on the base". In the emergency of Hushan battle, Song Qing "ordered him to meet several times, only to the river bank and did not cross the river"; Sheng Jun, on the other hand, was "a little far away from Shahe, and did not add a single arrow" (Historical Materials on Negotiations between the DPRK and Japan in Guangxu of Qing Dynasty (1878). ）。 And seeing the fall of Hushan, the Ming army first "stunned"; "More than a dozen people in the Sheng army took advantage of the situation and collapsed, and set fire to ordnance" (Yi Shunding: Miscellaneous Notes on the Soul of the North and the Soul of the East, Volume 5. ）。 The Qing army was in chaos. So, "Ming army was defeated in the south, and Sheng army was defeated in the north", and Song Qingbing was single, and "Sixteen officers were injured in the camp of Yijun" (Song Qing wrote: "Inscription on the Zhaoqing Yijun Zhaozhong Temple in Jinzhou". The monument is now in Jinzhou Museum, Liaoning Province. ), unable to fight again, but also overnight "□ afraid to go north and surrender to Phoenix" (Yao Xiguang: "A Brief Introduction to Eastern Military Affairs, Fengdong Chapter". ）。 As a result, the Japanese army occupied Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort without firing a shot. The Qing army stationed in Anton County, hearing of Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort's defeat, also retreated to Dadonggou and Dagushan on the 25th night. On 26th, the Japanese army successfully occupied Andong County without any resistance. In this way, the Yalu River defense line of the Qing army, which was heavily stationed by more than 2 thousand troops, collapsed across the board in one day.

Third

The Yalu River defense battle was a key battle in the Sino-Japanese War. The battle for Hushan is even more fierce. So that later, "Japanese textbooks still talk about it" (written by Yu Yunfeng, etc.: "Andong County Records", Volume 8. ）。 Both sides suffered heavy casualties in this battle. According to the figures released by Japan itself, the number of casualties will be * * * 149 (Japanese Staff Headquarters: History of the Japanese Qing War in Meiji 278, Volume 2, Appendix 3, Table of Casualties of the First Army Fighting Near Hushan on October 25, Meiji 27). ）。 However, the Japanese army "always does everything it can to fake its own casualties" (Ma Jifen: Review of the Yellow Sea Naval Battle). ), so the number of casualties announced is not necessarily true and reliable. The exact number of casualties of the Qing army is unknown. According to Japanese records, there are more than 5 corpses left on the battlefield alone (Kawasaki Saburo: History of Marine War in Nissin, Volume 4, page 194. ）。 The casualties of the Qing army were mainly in the battlefield of Hushan. Among them, only Yijun sacrificed in Hushan, that is, "333 people" (written by Song Qing: "Inscription of Daqing □ Building Jinzhou Yijun Zhaozhong Temple". The monument is now in Jinzhou Museum, Liaoning Province. ）。 Not only did the Qing army suffer heavy casualties, but also the losses of various weapons and military materials were extremely serious. Only 78 guns and 4,4 rifles were captured by the Japanese army. Other military materials are not counted.

there are many reasons for the rapid collapse of the Yalu river defense line of the Qing army. The direct causes of this fiasco are:

First, the troops are not as good as the Japanese. The Japanese army invaded the Yalu River defense line with a total strength of no less than 3, troops. Although the Qing army claims to be more than 8 battalions, its establishment is seriously inadequate, and its actual strength is only about 2 thousand. For example, Fengjun (including Jingbian Army) has a nominal establishment of 13 battalions, but due to the casualties in Pyongyang, the actual number is only 3,. Other troops have a similar situation.

second, the equipment is insufficient and morale is low. Discarding discipline. Some of the Qing troops guarding the Yalu River defense line were defeated troops retreated from Pyongyang; Part of it is the defense forces deployed by various places. The failure of Pyongyang and the sacrifice of Zuo Baogui had a great influence on the morale of the Qing army. The so-called "Zuo Baogui in Pyongyang was killed in battle, and the soldiers who supported the armies were frightened" (Cao Heji: Notes on the Mission of Jinmen). ), afraid to see the Japanese. And the team that was defeated by Pyongyang, "Nine times out of ten, those who were injured in the heel were difficult to walk, but those who returned with guns were only six or seven times out of ten, and all the guns were only a few per gun, and all the pots and batteries were lost" (Historical Materials on Negotiations between the DPRK and Japan in Guangxu of Qing Dynasty (1642). ）。 Although it has been nourished, supplemented and rectified, it has not fully recovered. At the same time, the supply is poor and cotton-padded clothes are lacking. As Song Qing said, "Nothing can be done if the army needs it" (Song Qing wrote: "Inscription of Daqing □ Building Jinzhou Yijun Zhaozhong Temple". The monument is now in Jinzhou Museum, Liaoning Province. ）。 Disciplines of various armies have been abandoned. Sheng Jun, who was originally famous for his corrupt discipline, was still "defeated at the sight of thieves, captured at the sight of things, and killed without scruple ... Although this army is like nothing, it is still necessary to prevent its harassment" (Historical Materials on Negotiations between the DPRK and Japan in Guangxu of Qing Dynasty (194)). Transferred from all over the country, "it's almost natural to abandon the defense camp in peacetime. Once the team is in battle, the officials will panic and the brave will flee," ("Historical Materials on Negotiations between the DPRK and Japan in Guangxu of Qing Dynasty" (194)). For example, the Heilongjiang Qizi training army, which is guarding the Anping estuary, is at a touch; And keep Jiuliancheng Scenic Resort Ming, sheng army fled without a fight.

third, the commander-in-chief is incompetent, and the generals will not accept the transfer. Song Qing, President of the Yalu River Army, once said when accepting the appointment: "If you can't make a contribution to the Japanese in this trip, you will only die to serve your country" (Kawasaki Saburo: History of Marine War in Nissin, Volume 4, page 198. ）。 As a general, he has the determination to resist the enemy and can also be called brave and able to fight. However, he "has no scheduling, is not a general, and the generals are suddenly frugal and unhappy, so the armies are still undisciplined and undisciplined" (Yao Xiguang: "A Brief Introduction to Eastern Military Affairs, Fengdong Chapter)