The Russian army's combat plan was: the attack was divided into two groups, the Eastern Corps (left) of Siberia 1, 2, 3rd Army and the Siberian Cavalry Division, the commander was Lieutenant General Stagrifort, responsible for circumventing from the right wing, slashing the Japanese right wing, cutting across from the southeast, cutting the Japanese Korean Peninsula supply line, and encircling the Japanese side and rear. The Western Corps (right) of Siberia 10 and 17th Army, Siberia 5th Army and Usuri Cavalry Regiment, the Coastal Dragoon Regiment, etc. The commander was General Bildanlin, responsible for sieging the left wing of the Japanese army and attracting the Japanese army. In addition, the 4th and 6th Army of Siberia, the 1st Army of Nazabaykar Cavalry Division, and the Kokasas Cavalry Brigade were reserved. The Japanese army was also divided into two corpses in the east and west to fight.

On October 11, the Eastern Russian Corps of the Russian Army began to attack the Benxi Lake defense line with the 1st and 3rd Army of Siberia as both wings. The eight brigades (battalions) of the Guard Reserve Infantry Brigade commanded by Major General Meize Daoji and the 14th Company (Regiment) of the 12th Division. As a result, the Japanese army had obviously disadvantaged troops defended the defense line. After a day of fierce fighting, all Japanese troops in the Japanese army were in a hard battle. Some used up the reserve team and had no troops to adjust, while others suffered huge losses. Many squadrons and squads lost all their officers, and the soldiers were extremely casualties, and some even all of them were killed in battle. The Russian army was the attacking side, and the losses were even greater. The 3rd Army of Siberia alone suffered more casualties.

However, the Russian Western Corps, which was responsible for restraining, was hit hard by Japan. The Russian troops attacked from all directions were defeated by the Japanese army. In the early morning of the 12th, Japan and Russia launched a fierce battle around the battlefield key three stone mountains. The three stone mountains are located in the west of Beida Mountain. They are stone mountains composed of three large granites on the plains. They are 114 meters above sea level. They can prevent the Japanese army from entering Beida Mountain and protect the side and back of the western corps, thereby maintaining the connection between the East and West Corps. The Russian army guarding Sanda Mountain has two regiments and an artillery brigade.

The two sides started fighting from 1 a.m. until 10 a.m. The Japanese army invested a brigade and suffered more than 1,500 casualties, and finally captured three stone mountains.

However, despite the heavy price, Japan gained the initiative on the battlefield in one fell swoop. Since the connection between the Russian East-West Corps was cut off, the Russian army was in chaos. In addition, the morale of the Russian army was not high, so the Siberian 4th and 10th Army of the Western Corps retreated first, creating a big gap, and the Eastern Corps could only be forced to retreat, and soon the Russian army retreated in a complete manner.

However, due to insufficient troops, the Japanese army was unable to advance while victorious and expanded their results, so they were forced to move into defense on vested positions again and could only launch an attack in some key areas. On the night of October 15, the Japanese army attacked and captured Wanbaoshan, the commanding height of the Russian army, forming a threat to the Russian defense center. The Russian army then launched a counterattack. After two days of fierce fighting, the Russian army finally recaptured Wanbaoshan and saved its position at the cost of 3,000 casualties. Then both sides were unable to fight again, and each consolidated its vested positions and repaired fortifications to form a confrontation.

At the end of the Battle of Shahe, the Russian army suffered more than 40,000 casualties, of which 5,084 were killed in battle and 5,868 were missing; the Japanese army suffered more than 20,000 casualties, of which 4,099 were killed in battle. Although Japan did not win completely, the casualties were only half of the Russian army. It not only defended its own position, but also pushed the defense line forward one step, creating a good situation for Japan's next attack on Fengtian.

Overall, although the Japanese army failed to conquer Lushun, they completely cut off the external contact between Lushun and the defenders in Lushun city with only one army, and only a few warships were used to completely block the remaining warships of the Pacific Fleet in the port, and basically gave up the sea control power to Japan. On the northern front, the Japanese army successively won the battles of Liaoyang and Shahe Battle, Japan had already gained great strategic advantages. The Russian army was forced to retreat to Fengtian, and with Fengtian as the core, organized defense. The overall situation was very passive.

By this time, Japan was very optimistic about the outcome of the war, believing that Russia had no resistance and that Japan was sure to win. There were newspapers who even predicted that it would end at the end of this year and at the latest in February and March next year. Therefore, many media began to exaggerate that this was a greater victory than the Japanese-Singapore War, marking Japan's entry into the ranks of world-class powers. Some newspapers issued a ceasefire clause, believing that Japan could receive 8-10 yen compensation, and obtain land within the three eastern provinces of China, Jeyedao, Vladivostok, etc.

But at this moment, news came from Europe that in order to save the war, Russia had formed the Second Pacific Fleet of the Baltic Fleet and a warship of the Black Sea Fleet. Rozjestevensky served as commander and went to the Far East to participate in the war. The fleet had set sail from Europe on October 15. And from the books, it was indeed very powerful, with a total of 7 battleships, 2 armored cruisers, 6 protective cruisers, and 9 destroyers. Therefore, the European media commented: "All efforts made by Japan so far will collapse after the arrival of the Russian Second Pacific Fleet.

It turned out that after the Battle of Liaoyang, almost all European media believed that Russia's failure had changed from "possibly impossible" to a time issue of "early and late". Tsarist Russia would certainly not surrender. When the news that Russia formed the Second Manchurian Army to prepare to continue the war indefinitely, all securities related to Russia on the Paris Stock Exchange fell sharply. As Russia's largest creditor country, its ally France had clearly expressed its desire to stop the war.

The Russian government is also very clear that the current situation in the Far East is very dangerous. In fact, there have always been voices opposing this war in Russia. Of course, it is not that they like peace, but that there are better means than war. So they also made suggestions at this time that the war should be ended, otherwise it will cause a major political crisis in the country. After all, signs have appeared. However, Tsar Nicholas II believed that he must not sit idly by the failure of the Far East. Not only would he lose Russia's face, but the dignified polar bear was actually defeated by the yellow-skinned monkey. How could this make the fighting nation feel? As for the political crisis, the Tsar believed that winning the war was the best way to resolve the crisis, so he had to increase military investment in the Far East. So the Tsar ordered the dispatch of the army from Europe to reinforce the Far East.

Rozjestevensky, who was still a major general at that time, suggested to the Tsar that it would be not enough to reverse the situation in the Far East and increase the army alone, but to advance at the same time as the sea and land. Now Russia has three fleets, namely the Pacific Fleet in Asia, the Baltic Fleet in Europe, and the Black Sea Fleet. Although the remaining warships of the Pacific Fleet are trapped in the Port of Lushun and do nothing, the strength of the Baltic Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet are still there, and the situation in Europe is relatively eased. There is nothing to do when these two fleets stay in the port. It is better to send one to the Far East and merge with the Pacific Fleet to re-enhance Russia's naval strength in the Far East. In this way, the sea and land advance together can reverse the victory.

Although most people scoffed at Rozjestvinsky's suggestion, believing that the operationality of this suggestion is extremely low, because the voyage to the Far East is nearly 30,000 kilometers, and Russia has no base and port to provide support on the way, so even if the fleet is not forced to drive to the Far East, it will be exhausted. It is impossible to fight without a few months of renovation. Will Japan give the Russian fleet time to repair it?

But Nicholas II was very interested in this suggestion and believed that it was an important step to reverse the situation in the Far East. So he immediately ordered that the Baltic Fleet be the main force, supplemented by some Black Sea Fleets, form the Second Pacific Fleet and go to the Far East to participate in the war.

Originally, the Tsar appointed Lieutenant General Pililuev, the commander of the Baltic Fleet, as the commander of the Second Pacific Fleet, but the accident-prone Lieutenant General knew that this trip was a good fortune and it was hard to say that he could not get to the Far East. Even if he arrived, it might not be possible to change the situation in the Far East. So he refused the appointment and removal on the grounds of illness. The Tsar changed his order to make this suggestion as the commander. Although Rozheshistvinsky's rank was still major general and was not qualified to serve as the commander of the fleet, the Tsar used a big stroke to promote Rozheshistvinsky to lieutenant general, which easily solved the problem of qualifications.

After receiving this news, the first thing the Japanese government leaders realized was that they thought things too optimistically. Russia was not the Qing court. Russia owned 50 of Japan's territory; 10 times Japan's national income; and 3 times Japan's population, and it was not easy to surrender if it lost a few battles. So we immediately organized a new fleet that was not inferior to the Pacific Fleet.

Although the Pacific Fleet is now blocked in the port, this does not mean that the Pacific Fleet is unable to fight again. The Pacific Fleet still has 5 battleships and 1 armored cruiser. Its strength cannot be underestimated. It is because it lacks auxiliary frigates, so it is unable to go out to fight.

The Second Taiping Fleet has a large number of auxiliary ships, so the two sides will form a huge fleet with 12 battleships, 3 armored cruisers, 6 protective cruisers, and 9 destroyers. Their strength will be far above the Japanese joint fleet. The maritime power will definitely not be preserved, and once the sea power is lost, Japan will undoubtedly lose.

So the Japanese cabinet, army base, naval command and other departments quickly launched joint consultations and finally made a resolution to capture Lushun, annihilate the Pacific Fleet, and capture Fengtian before the Second Pacific Fleet arrives in the Far East, and determine its absolute advantage. Only in this way, after the Second Pacific Fleet arrives in the Far East, Japan still has the opportunity to fight with it. The top priority is to capture Lushun and annihilate the Pacific Fleet.

The Army Base Camp also felt severe pressure. After all, the Pacific Fleet is now hiding in the port and not coming out. Only after capturing Lushun can there be a chance to annihilate the Pacific Fleet. So the Base Camp also began to formally discuss whether to replace Nogi Hinomi. After all, the main general cannot conquer Lushun.

However, Emperor Meiji believes that changing generals at the last stage is a taboo in military strategists, and replacing Nogi Hashinomi at this time will undoubtedly be a huge humiliation for him. It is estimated that Nogi Hashinomi will actually commit suicide to maintain his dignity. However, senior officers like Nogi Hashinomi who committed suicide due to unfavorable wars will be a heavy blow to the morale of the army. Therefore, the base camp decided to give Nogi Hashinomi another chance.
Chapter completed!