Just as the fleet was performing reconnaissance missions, on the battlefield in the Liaodong region, the land battle between Japan and Russia had already entered its most important time.

Although Japan also agreed to accept mediation between Britain and France, it has been actively reorganizing its military and preparing for war and preparing to attack Chenyang. Of course, the Russian army did not place all hope on mediation between Britain and France. It is also working hard to mobilize troops from the European direction, and build a defense line with Chenyang as the core. At the same time, it has also strengthened lobbying against the East China government and vigorously encouraged the East China government to send troops to attack the Japanese army.

By late February, the Japanese army had already concentrated five troops on the Shenyang line, totaling about 270,000 troops, and the Russian army also gathered 350,000 troops in Shenyang. The two sides held each other on the front line that stretched for about 100 kilometers, and the war was about to begin.

However, although the Russian army has a certain advantage in total force and has a defensive geographical advantage, the morale of the army is low and the supplies and ammunition are insufficient. After all, more than half of the Russian army were urgently transferred from Europe, but at this time the Siberian Railway was not fully completed. In addition, Russia's service efficiency was in a habitual manner, so it was very good to be able to transfer the army from Europe to the Far East. It was also necessary to take care of ammunition and drug resources. Anyway, I would like to get all the people together.

Due to the successive battles and winning streaks, the entire army was highly motivated and the yuwang was extremely high. Therefore, seeing this, the Japanese headquarters decided to launch the Battle of Fengtian. After all, if it drags on, it will only become increasingly unfavorable to the Japanese army.

On February 23, the 5th Japanese right-wing Army led the way north from the upper reaches of the Taizi River and detoured towards the 1st Russian left-wing Army. The Russian chief Marshal Kuropatkin immediately transferred the right-wing reserve team to strengthen the defense of the left-wing, but he did not know that this move hit the Japanese army's plan to lure the tiger out of the mountain.

On February 27, the 2nd and 3rd Japanese troops began to detour on the right wing of the Russian army, which had weak troops, to launch an assault. This change immediately put the Russian army in a dilemma. Kuropatkin hurriedly decided to transfer the reserve team from the left wing back and forth to return to the right wing. However, due to the troops being exhausted from going back and forth, they were still unable to stop the Japanese attack. The Russian right wing position was continuously broken by the Japanese army. By March 4, the 3rd Japanese Army had already advanced to the railway line north of Fengtian, and the battle was urgent.

Although the Russian army immediately concentrated another 80,000 troops to launch a counterattack on the Japanese 3rd Army, under the command of the commander of the commander Nogi Hidian, the Japanese army fought several consecutive bloody battles with the Russian army, causing the Russian army to return without success. Nogi Hidian commanded the 3rd Army and continued to detour north of Fengtian.

During this period, the Japanese army also strengthened its attack on the left wing of the Russian army on March 1. Although the Japanese army's attack did not make much progress under the tenacious blockade of the Russian left wing's 1st Army. However, since the Russian army had to mobilize troops to support the right wing, weakening the troops on the right wing, Kuropatkin decided to retreat the 1st and 3rd Army on the left wing to shorten the front line and save troops.

However, the Japanese army seized the fighter jet of the left-wing Russian army retreating and launched a fierce attack on the Russian army. On March 9, it successfully broke through the Russian defense line and deviated from the left wing to the rear of Fengtian. On the same day, the Japanese 3rd Army on the right wing had already deviated to the rear of the Russian 2nd Army. The left and right wings were almost advancing in unison, and the Russian army was facing the dangerous situation of being fully surrounded.

Faced with the critical situation, Kuropatkin lost the courage to persevere and ordered the abandonment of Chenyang on the night of March 9, and the entire army retreated towards Tieling. However, due to the poor organizational capabilities of the Russian army, the retreat became extremely chaotic, and a large amount of supplies were abandoned. The cavalry, who should have been responsible for the cover of the rear, retreated from infantry and artillery, and carried too much baggage, which blocked the road, and the troops were repeatedly bombarded by Japanese troops.

Fortunately, after several days of fierce fighting, the Japanese army was very tired and there was a lack of ammunition. This was not because of the Japanese dispatch or organizational problems, but because of the limited production capacity in Japan and the potential of war had reached its limit. Therefore, it was unable to pursue the Russian army. It only entered the Shenyang City, which the Russian army had abandoned, on March 10. On March 11, the 1st and 3rd Japanese army met in the Hunhe area and then occupied Changtu. The Russian army fled to Siping before stabilizing its position.

At this point, the Battle of Fengtian was over, and the two sides once again fought each other in the area between Changtu and Siping, but the Japanese army pushed the front about 150 kilometers northward.

The Battle of Fengtian was the largest scale since the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War, with the largest number of troops and the longest rank. The two sides invested a total of more than 600,000 troops, the front line exceeded 200 kilometers, and the duration was 17 days. The war ended with the victory of the Japanese army. The Japanese army suffered about 70,000 casualties, while the Russian army suffered more than 115,000 casualties, and basically withdrew from the Liaodong Peninsula.

After the end of the Battle of Fengtian, almost all public opinion in European countries believed that Russia had lost the war. French politician Gleman believed: "This war will change the pattern of the world, Japan will enter the ranks of powerful countries, and the French-Russian alliance has become a burden for France."

Even Russian newspapers emphasized that the war should be ended: "Russia has fallen into a state of full despair, and it is not a shame to abandon colonial policies now."

Former Russian Finance Minister Witt also stated in his proposal to Tsar Nicholas II: "Continuing the war is very dangerous", the reason is that continuing the war will cause fiscal imbalances, increase the burden on the people, and cause social dissatisfaction, conflicts and turmoil; in contrast, the country needs more military force, so we should immediately make senile judgments with Japan, etc.

As soon as he received the news of the defeat in the Battle of Fengtian, Nicholas II was also very shocked and immediately called for a meeting of imperial predecessors to discuss the progress of the war. However, at the meeting, no one proposed to end the war or negotiate with Japan, but decided to continue the battle.

Naval Secretary Avilan said: "The Baltic Fleet is still there, and if necessary, it can invest all maritime forces to win maritime victories and isolate the Japanese army in Manchuria."

Army Minister Sakharov also said: "The army can transport another 600,000 infantry, 32,000 cavalry, 2,000 artillery and a large amount of military supplies to Manchuria, which can completely turn the situation around the war."

The emperor's uncle Alexei also believed that the war was not yet irreversible. Although the Battle of Fengtian was defeated, since the Japanese army launched the first attack, this was a great contempt for the mediation led by Britain and France, and would definitely be extremely dissatisfied with Japan's behavior. Britain was the biggest supporter behind Japan. Therefore, Russia could take the opportunity to differentiate the relationship between Britain and Japan, which at least made Britain less firm in its support for Japan, so that it could strike Japan's war potential; in addition, there was a major variable of overseas Chinese.

Before the Battle of Fengtian, the relationship between the East China government and Japan had deteriorated significantly, and was gradually approaching Russia. However, the approach between the East China government and Russia was mainly due to Russia's unilateral efforts, while the attitude of the East China government was very ambiguous. Although it maintained a relatively kind response to Russia's favor, it did not make a clear statement and did not take any actual actions. It was just that compared with the war between Japan and Russia, it was indeed a significant improvement.

However, Russia also understands the intention of the East China government. Firstly, Russia has not given up some substantial interests, and the East China government is also the one who does not show off the rabbit and does not show off. Of course, it will not make a statement easily; secondly, the East China government also wants to sit idly by and watch the war between Japan and Russia, and it will be hurt by the success or failure, so that it can make a profit from it.

But now that Russia has been defeated by Japan, the East China government must have taken action. Otherwise, when Russia really makes peace with Japan, Japan can concentrate on dealing with the East China government. Such a situation is also extremely unfavorable to the East China government. Of course, Russia can be more proactive in diplomacy and actively negotiate with the East China government to strive to allow the East China government to join the war as soon as possible.

After listening to the ministers' suggestions, Nicholas II felt much more at ease. Russia was indeed not at the end of its reach, and there were still many good cards to play, and there was still a great opportunity to save the defeat. So Nicholas II also decided to continue the war and not consider negotiating with Japan.

Of course, someone must also bear responsibility for the defeat of the Battle of Fengtian. Therefore, Nicholas II ordered the removal of the position of Governor Alekseyev from the Far East, transferred him back to St. Petersburg, and demoted the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Army to the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Army to the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Army, and was responsible for commanding the battles in the Far East region in full, and continued to increase troops to the Far East. He also ordered the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Second Squadron to speed up and rush to the Far East as soon as possible to participate in the war.

At the diplomatic level, Russia ordered the Consul in Qingdao, Peterov, to contact the East China government again, and could directly propose joint efforts to deal with Japan like the East China government, to see what the attitude of the East China government is or what conditions it has, as long as it can be negotiated. At the same time, it also negotiated with Britain and France, accusing Japan of undermining mediation and demanding that Britain and France interfere with Japan's actions. On the other hand, it also strengthens consultation with Germany and eases relations, so that more troops can be drawn from the European direction to the Far East, and puts pressure on France to continue to support Russia.

In fact, Britain and France were also quite annoyed by Japan's behavior of launching the Fengtian Battle, which was equivalent to slapping Britain and France in the face; because it was Britain, because the whole world knew that Japan was actually the younger brother of Britain, France even directly proposed to the UK, asking Britain to manage Japan well, and even claimed to the outside world that Japan had undermined the peace process in the Far East and must be responsible for this.

Britain also has trouble, but who knows that Japan is completely out of control? In fact, before Japan launched the Battle of Fengtian, it informed the UK that Russia was only using the time of mediation between Britain and France to increase its troops to the Far East. Therefore, this mediation itself seriously damages Japan's interests, and Japan must take the lead in launching the Battle of Fengtian. Even if it is a famous discussion on damaging the peace process, it will be spared. I also hope that Britain can understand Japan's approach.
Chapter completed!