People who have watched the movie " Sino-Japanese War " have no impression of me, the sailor on the Jiyuan warship Wang Guocheng ? When the Japanese enemy ship Yoshino was approaching the critical moment of our warship, Wang Guocheng stepped forward and opened fire to severely damage the enemy ship, thereby protecting the Jiyuan ship and returning safely. This heroic feat left a deep impression on people. So, is Wang Guocheng a real person? People hope to know more about this patriotic hero.
The patriotic sailor Wang Guocheng did exist in history. He was born in Wendeng County, Shandong Province in 1867 into a poor peasant family. After the kingdom grew, he was advised to go to the Weihai Navy Guard Camp to apply for the sailor exam. Because at that time, Weihaiwei was the base of the Beiyang Navy, and the sailors were recruited from the coastal areas of Shandong. Applicants must undergo a visual inspection by the boat training officer together with the driving mate and medical officer before admission. Although Wang Guocheng was thin, he was able to endure hardships and stand hard work, so he was hired as a training officer.
According to the regulations of the Beiyang Navy, a review must be conducted every three years. This is a grand ceremony for the Beiyang Navy, and it is very grand. Beiyang Minister Li Hongzhang came from the west to inspect Zhonghai . May 20, 1894 was the day of the Beiyang Navy review, and the whole army was actively preparing.
At this time, in order to prepare for the review and meet the quota of sailors, Wang Guocheng was transferred to the third-class sailor and sent to the Jiyuan ship. This Beiyang Navy review is actually a general exercise for naval forces across the country. Participating in the review were not only the nine warships commanded by Admiral Ding Ruchang of the Beiyang Navy, but also the six warships commanded by the registered Admiral Yuan Jiugao of the Nanyang Navy and the three ships commanded by Yu Xiongfei, the registered commander of the Guangdong Navy. They gathered the best of the navy across the country. The Qing government attached great importance to this review. During this review, Wang Guocheng performed outstandingly and was rewarded and promoted to second-class sailor.
Just after the naval review was completed, the Donghak Party peasant uprising broke out in North Korea. The Japanese government had long planned to provoke a war of aggression against China and North Korea. Therefore, on the one hand, it sent some ronin (unemployed samurai) to organize the "God's Blessing Knights" to break into the Korean rebel army and sow discord; on the other hand, it induced the Qing army to enter North Korea as an excuse to launch an aggressive war. As expected, the Qing government was fooled and sent about 2,000 troops to North Korea, escorted by the two ships Jiyun and Chaoyong. This time Wang Guocheng went to North Korea with the Jiyuan ship. He saw the arrogance of the Japanese army, knew that war was inevitable, and determined to devote himself to the country. He said to his brothers on the same ship: "We have been paid for several years, and it is time to serve."
In late July of the same year, the Qing government sent another 5th battalion to reinforce the garrison in Yashan, North Korea, and ordered the three ships Jiyuan, Guangyi, and Weiyuan to escort them. At this time, news came that the Japanese combined fleet was sailing from Sasebo Port. Jiyuan A few days before setting sail, Wang Guocheng walked ninety miles away from home, said goodbye to his wife, and returned to the ship resolutely the next day. On July 22, Jiyuan and other ships left Weihaiwei Port and arrived at Asan Harbor on the 23rd. On the evening of the 24th, they brought back news of the Japanese fleet's attack tomorrow from Inchon Harbor on the evening of the 24th.
Because Weiyuan was a wooden ship and could not withstand artillery fire, it immediately returned first. At 4 o'clock in the morning on the 25th, Jiyuan and Guangyi set off to exit. At 7 o'clock, three Japanese warships, Yoshino , Akitsusu, and Naniwa , were suddenly seen crossing the sea, seeming to block the way of the Chinese warships. At 7:45, when the warships of both sides were 3,000 meters apart, the Japanese ship suddenly launched artillery fire on the Chinese ship. Jiyuan and Guangyi were forced to fight back in self-defense. This is the famous Sino-Japanese War Toshima naval battle in modern Chinese history.
The Japanese Navy's pirate-style attacks made all Chinese soldiers extremely angry. In the situation where the strength of the enemy and ourselves was hugely disparity, they were not afraid of danger and fought bravely to the death. At this time, Wang Guocheng's duty was to transport artillery shells to the tail gun. Although the enemy ship's artillery fire was like raindrops, he showed no fear and carried the heavy shells back and forth on the deck. At 8:20, a 15-cm-caliber shell fired from the tail gun of Jiyuan hit the starboard side of the Japanese ship Yoshino, but did not explode. Yoshino was lucky enough to avoid sinking. However, after all, the disparity in strength between the enemy and ourselves is too great.
During the fierce battle, unexpectedly a cannonball flew from the Japanese ship. First officer Shen Shouchang was hit by the cannon, and then second officer Ke Jianzhang and trainee Huang Chengxun were unfortunately shot and died. At 8:30, the Guangyi ship had been severely damaged, turned around and escaped from the combat waters, ran into Shibajia Island on the west coast of North Korea, ran aground and set itself on fire. At this time, Jiyuan had lost 13 people and injured 27 people. It was difficult to resist, so they drove westward at full speed to avoid. The Japanese ship came after me. Jiyuan police officer Fang Boqian first hoisted a white flag, then hoisted the Japanese naval flag under the white flag, and still fled at full speed.
12:38, the Japanese ship Yoshino was about two kilometers away from Jiyuan. It hit hard with its starboard cannon and approached at full speed, hoping to capture Jiyuan. At this time, the gunner of the tail gun had died, and and had no order to fire. Seeing this situation, Wang Guocheng was already furious, so he stepped forward, ran towards the tail gun, and asked loudly: "Who will help me deliver the shells?" Sailor Li Shimao heard the sound and got up and helped from the side. So, the shells were pushed and four shots were fired in a row: the first shot hit the Yoshino wheelhouse; the second shot hit the Yoshino bow; the third shot missed the line; and the fourth shot hit a vital part of the Yoshino hull. At 12:43, Yoshino was seriously injured and suddenly became angry. The bow of the ship was lowered, not daring to fight, and turned around to escape.
Unfortunately, Fang Boqian still did not give the order to turn the rudder at this time, which delayed the fighter plane. If you use the cannon at the rudder to hit hard, you will definitely achieve great success. After Jiyuan returned to Weihai safely, Admiral Ding Ruchang commended the meritorious personnel who injured the Japanese ship Yoshino. Wang Guocheng and Li Shimao were the first to be rewarded with 500 taels of silver each.
After the Sino-Japanese War, Wang Guocheng retired and returned to his hometown to farm, and used the reward money to buy some fields in his hometown. I wanted to live a worry-free life. Unexpectedly, natural and man-made disasters came one after another, just like the decline of the Qing government. Wang Guocheng first sold his land to treat his sick wife, but failed to keep his wife. Later, his wife died of illness, and then Wang Guocheng went to Lushun to find another job. Because he had no livelihood and could not return to his hometown, he saw that the Qing government was weak and incompetent and suffered bullying. Wang Guo became angry and could not go anywhere. In addition, he was suffering from many illnesses, so he died in Port Arthur in 1900. Wang Guocheng had no children, leaving only one daughter. He married the Zhang family and lived with each other, spending their time hard.
The patriotic Sino-Japanese War sailor Wang Guocheng, who had outstanding military exploits, had such a desolate later life! This has to be chilling.
