Border crisis

Author: Li Haisheng et al. / Country:
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-08-01
Features: The Debate on "Border Defense" vs. "Coastal Defense"
In the summer of the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign (1874), Li Hongzhang, Governor-General of Zhili, petitioned the court to temporarily suspend the westward campaign on the grounds of "vulnerability in coastal regions," proposing to transfer the "West Pacification Funds" to "Coastal Defense Funds." Li's proposal was supported by many officials, and for a time, the call to suspend the westward campaign echoed throughout the court. The arguments for temporarily suspending the westward campaign and strengthening coastal defense included five points:
1. Border defense was less important and urgent than coastal defense, as Beijing was closer to the coast while Xinjiang was farther from the capital.
2. Due to financial constraints and the uncertain success of the Xinjiang campaign, it was necessary to reconsider whether the campaign was feasible.
3. Xinjiang's land was barren and not worth such a high price to reclaim.
4. Xinjiang was surrounded by powerful neighbors and could not be held for long.
5. Delaying the recovery of Xinjiang was not to abandon the land but a temporary measure to preserve strength for future opportunities.
Zuo Zongtang strongly opposed the proposal, arguing against sacrificing "Border Defense" to preserve "Coastal Defense." He believed that "Border Defense" and "Coastal Defense" were two interconnected aspects. If "Border Defense" was neglected or abandoned, the Russians would seize the opportunity, which in turn would encourage Western powers to harass coastal defense. Additionally, compared to Western powers, Russia posed a greater threat to China. With a shared border, if the northwest were lost, it would not only be difficult to reclaim in the future but also endanger Mongolia, posing a direct threat to the capital.
Next, he analyzed the feasibility of implementing the westward campaign strategy from three perspectives. First, from the perspective of the international situation, Western powers were unlikely to provoke conflict in China's coastal regions at the moment, whereas "the enemy's influence in the far northeast was intense." Focusing on defense, "recovering Xinjiang was urgent." Second, from the perspective of strategic interests, recovering Urumqi and Aksu was imperative, especially since Urumqi was not in Chinese hands, leaving Xinjiang without a key point to control. The northern and southern routes of the Tianshan Mountains were known as the "Eight Rich Cities" and "Eight Poor Cities." The fertile land and abundant resources from Urumqi to Aksu in the west were all part of the "Eight Rich Cities." If the wealth there were utilized, it could sufficiently support the troops stationed in Xinjiang. If the campaign were abandoned, it would be as if Xinjiang were handed over to outsiders. Third, from the perspective of enemy strength, although the enemy in Xinjiang was fierce, the number of combat-ready soldiers in Urumqi was at most several thousand. Eliminating them would be straightforward. If leniency were shown, combined with the international background of Britain, Russia, and Turkey, leaving the matter unresolved for too long would inevitably lead to major problems.
Both Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang were high-ranking officials with significant authority. Their differing opinions on "Border Defense" and "Coastal Defense" left Emperor Guangxu in doubt, and he could not decide, ordering the Military Affairs Office to deliberate carefully. At a critical moment, Wen Xiang, Grand Secretary of the Wuying Palace and a member of the Military Affairs Office, openly expressed support for military action in Xinjiang, reversing the situation. Thus, after months of debate on "Border Defense" and "Coastal Defense," Zuo Zongtang and his allies emerged victorious, and military action in Xinjiang became inevitable!
While the westward campaign was intensifying, the Qing army on the east front used the opportunity to regroup and reinforce. In January 1885, the French government sent an additional 8,000 troops to Vietnam; by the end of January, the French army had fully assembled; on February 3, the French army, led by Colonel Negrin with the Second Division as the vanguard and Colonel Jean Basot with the Third Division as the second echelon, launched a fierce offensive against the Qing army on the east front, advancing rapidly and capturing several towns in Liangshan, with their vanguard reaching the Annam Pass. They only stopped because they feared the line would stretch too thin, leaving their flanks exposed.
On February 25, the French blew up the walls of the Annam Pass and nearby fortifications, retreating to the line of Wenyuan and Liangshan. As they retreated, Negrin erected a wooden sign at the ruins of the Annam Pass, inscribed with the words: "The gateway to Guangxi no longer exists," showing extreme arrogance. With the frontier breached and border tensions high, scattered soldiers and refugees flooded the rivers, and the entire province of Guangxi was in panic. At this critical moment, the aged Feng Zicai led his troops forward to the Annam Pass. Along the way, he collected retreating soldiers, reorganized regiments, united various units, and enforced strict discipline, earning the respect of the troops and being appointed as the commander of the front. All camps from Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi, and Guangdong came under his command. Thus, the Annam Pass front regained unified command, and the troops, reinvigorated, fought with high morale. Local civilians also erected a sign next to the French sign, reading: "We will rebuild our gateway with the heads of the French."
Feng Zicai had been reappointed by the court earlier in the year, appointed as the Chief of the Guild Armies of the four prefectures of Guangdong and Guangxi. On September 2, 1884, he petitioned Zhang Zhidong, Governor-General of Liangguang, volunteering to lead his troops from Guangdong into Vietnam to open a new battlefield in coordination with the armies in Yunnan and Guangxi. On December 3, Feng Zicai intensified preparations in Qinzhou and established 18 camps of the Cui Army. On December 17, he led the troops out for the Guangxi front.
On January 20, 1885, the Cui Army arrived in Longzhou. On February 25, Feng Zicai was appointed as Deputy Commissioner of Guangxi Military Affairs, gaining real authority over the east front. Deeply aware of his responsibilities, Feng Zicai personally led nine camps of the Cui Army to the front, surveyed the terrain near the Annam Pass, and decided to establish his base 10 li away from the city, using the terrain's advantages to hold the position and wait for the opportunity to counterattack.
In early March, the Qing army concentrated over 90 camps with nearly 40,000 troops along the line from the Annam Pass to Longzhou to prevent the French from advancing further. The Annam Pass was the main frontline position, where Feng Zicai deployed the 10 elite camps of the Cui Army on the Long Wall and Dongling, while appointing General Wang Xiaojun to defend Xiling. At the same time, Feng Zicai organized a second echelon and a general reserve, forming a multi-tiered defense system.
On the 23rd, the French army arrived in full strength at the pass, and both sides engaged in fierce fighting. "Shots piled up to an inch thick, with casualties on both sides being roughly equal," and the battle raged until night, with neither side gaining the upper hand. The next morning, thick fog covered the battlefield, and the French, taking advantage of their equipment superiority, advanced toward the Long Wall under the cover of heavy artillery. The Qing army's position was breached. Seeing this, Feng Zicai, regardless of his own safety, rushed forward with his two sons, Feng Xianghua and Feng Xiangrong, to attack the French. The entire army was inspired, and every soldier fought with courage and determination. Historical records state: "The sound of enemy cannons shook the sky, and the mountains echoed. The enemy even approached the Long Wall, or had already breached it. Feng and Su (referring to Su Yuanchun) fought to the death, telling the commanders, 'Anyone who retreats, regardless of their unit, will be executed. Set up checkpoints at each pass.' Feng, already over 70, wrapped his head in a cloth, went barefoot, and rode a simple saddle, shouting and charging forward. Seeing Feng's resolve, all the commanders fought with even greater vigor" (Wang Kangnian: "Outline of the Capture of Liangshan").
After fierce close-quarters combat, Feng Zicai recaptured the entire position at the Annam Pass. During this time, the local Vietnamese people provided close cooperation, reporting enemy movements and constantly harassing and ambushing the French, making the invaders feel like lost dogs. When Negrin, the French commander in Liangshan, heard the news and sent reinforcements, he was ambushed and defeated by Wang Debang's troops led by Feng Zicai, suffering a crushing defeat. As a result, the isolated French forces became like fish in a net, unable to advance or retreat, and over 1,000 soldiers and dozens of officers were killed.
On the 26th, Feng Zicai led his troops into Wenyuan. On the 28th, he launched an attack on Liangshan, dealing heavy damage to the French, and Negrin was wounded and fled. The battle of the Annam Pass was a complete victory for the Qing army. Meanwhile, the Black Flag Army also defeated the French in Linzhou, recapturing several towns, including Guangwei Prefecture, Huanggang, Hejiang, and Laoshè.
On March 29, Feng Zicai pursued the retreating French, and by the 31st, he recaptured Gusong and Tunmei, with Langjia, Chuantou, and Beining within reach. The French, having suffered a catastrophic defeat, had lost all morale and were already in a state of collapse at the mere mention of Feng's name. As MacNair wrote in A Selection from Modern Chinese History: "The last battle of the Battle of Tokyo was the French defeat, followed by a clear panic caused by General Negrin's injury. At that time, the French army, mistaking shadows for enemies, caused a disorganized retreat."