There are many wars and conflicts in the history of Russia, but in a special place among them is the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The defeat in it was one of the reasons for the end of such a state as the Russian Empire. But ten years before the Russo-Japanese War, another conflict occurred, allowing the Japanese Empire to be convinced of its own strength. It was the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 that became the final exam for the nascent army and navy of the Land of the Rising Sun. However, sometimes one grain of sand is enough for a well-functioning mechanism to fail. And such a grain of sand for the course of history was a simple, if not average, young man who, at the whim of unknown forces, got at the right time and in the right place. He saved at least one of those people who had considerable chances to change the course of the future war. No, the saved was neither a member of the august surname, nor a multimillionaire. Not a brilliant scientist or an eminent manufacturer. But on the other hand, the captain of the 2nd rank, Jenish, was considered one of the leading artillery specialists of the entire Russian Imperial Navy. Welcome to the Northern Fleet of the Qing Empire, gentlemen Russian volunteers! And God help you!