Sun Kaihua joined Ting Army (troops commanded by Bao Chao) and became a brave Hunan soldier when he was only 17 years old. Since he directed military affairs properly and his troops were highly disciplined, he finally was promoted as the chief general in Zhangzhou. In 1866 (the 13th year of the reign of Emperor Tongzhi), Japan dispatched troops to attack Taiwan on the excuse of the incident that people from Okinawa were killed by the aboriginal people in Mudan after they had been drifted to the south part of Taiwan. Sun Kaihua was ordered to garrison Xiamen that stands facing Taiwan and Penghu, managing marine affairs and recruiting local braves to form a military camp named Zhuosheng Camp (win victory camp). He was sent to Taipei and Suao to open up mountains and manage aboriginal people.
In 1884 (the tenth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), the Sino-French War broke out and French troops attacked Tamsui. Sun Kaihua led soldiers of Zhuosheng Camp and local braves to resist French troops. At the battle of Huwei, Sun Kaihua first dropped rocks in water to block the estuary of Tamsui River, preventing French warships from entering the port. When French troops landed, Sun ordered Gong Zhan’ao, commander of Zhuosheng Right Camp, to lead his soldiers to hide in Jiagang, Li Dingming, commander of Zhuosheng Middle Camp, to lead his soldiers to hide at Youchekou, and Fan Zhangyun, commander of Zhuosheng Rear Camp, to lead his soldiers as backing. Commanders and soldiers performed their assigned duties conscientiously and finally defeated French troops, winning the battle of Huwei.
Sun Kaihua not only received awards including a feather tube made of white jade, but also appointed as Deputy Commander of Taiwan Military Affairs, earning very good reputation. He left Taiwan to assume the post of provincial commander-in-chief of army in Quanzhou in 1886, because he was at odds with Liu Mingchuan. He died in 1893 in Quanzhou. The battle of Huwei was the most successful war that Sun Kaihua had ever won. Besides the stern discipline, Sun Kaihua had a strong, resolute, as well as tolerant disposition and enjoyed the support of soldiers and civilians, which made him respectable and famous.
(Main reference: Xu Xueji, "A Study on Deeds of Sun Kaihua, Famous General Resisting French Troops", Taiwan Literature, Volume 36, Issue 3, 1985)
In 1884 (the tenth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu), the Sino-French War broke out and French troops attacked Tamsui. Sun Kaihua led soldiers of Zhuosheng Camp and local braves to resist French troops. At the battle of Huwei, Sun Kaihua first dropped rocks in water to block the estuary of Tamsui River, preventing French warships from entering the port. When French troops landed, Sun ordered Gong Zhan’ao, commander of Zhuosheng Right Camp, to lead his soldiers to hide in Jiagang, Li Dingming, commander of Zhuosheng Middle Camp, to lead his soldiers to hide at Youchekou, and Fan Zhangyun, commander of Zhuosheng Rear Camp, to lead his soldiers as backing. Commanders and soldiers performed their assigned duties conscientiously and finally defeated French troops, winning the battle of Huwei.
Sun Kaihua not only received awards including a feather tube made of white jade, but also appointed as Deputy Commander of Taiwan Military Affairs, earning very good reputation. He left Taiwan to assume the post of provincial commander-in-chief of army in Quanzhou in 1886, because he was at odds with Liu Mingchuan. He died in 1893 in Quanzhou. The battle of Huwei was the most successful war that Sun Kaihua had ever won. Besides the stern discipline, Sun Kaihua had a strong, resolute, as well as tolerant disposition and enjoyed the support of soldiers and civilians, which made him respectable and famous.
(Main reference: Xu Xueji, "A Study on Deeds of Sun Kaihua, Famous General Resisting French Troops", Taiwan Literature, Volume 36, Issue 3, 1985)
