On July 19, 1894, guns sounded from the sea outside Yashan, announcing the beginning of the death battle between East Asia in the 18894. One side had been accumulating strength for a long time, and the other was in a daze. Three Japanese fast cruisers raided the Qing Dynasty's escort fleet, "Caojiang" sank, "Guangyi" sank, and "Gaosheng" sank! Hundreds of elite Huai army land divisions were buried in the belly of fish, and the Qing Dynasty's most powerful warship, "Jiyuan", hurriedly retreated. The actions of this warship and its captain Fang Boqian, will become an unclear lawsuit in the future. In short, "Jiyuan" still ran away!

After the sound of cannons on the sea of ​​Yashan, the world was shocked. The entire Qing Dynasty, from the Qing Dynasty, which was preparing for a long life, to the Beiyang, which was actually responsible for North Korea, to the Prime Ministers and the affairs offices of various countries, to the well-informed bannermen, were all shocked and silent.

In everyone's impression, Japan is a small and poor country. Although the Qing Dynasty is now in a downturn, it is several times more powerful than its financial resources. Japanese people have never seen them. They are short, half-dressed and half-weather-dressed, and do business in some Haikou cities, carefully selling their low-quality oriental goods...... There are Japanese kilns in the concessions in Tianjin, Shanghai and other places. Those Japanese kiln sisters are not first-class people. Seeing the Qing Dynasty's men still have to be gentle and charming to hold back some of the repeat customers who are greedy for freshness... When did these short Japanese pirates become strong and powerful, and they bit the Qing Dynasty hard as soon as they made a move?

After being shocked, he became angry. The Qing Dynasty had been doing the Western Affairs for decades, bought military ships, foreign guns, and ammunition. The Beiyang has been known as a powerful force for a long time. In addition, since the Qing Dynasty was bullied by Westerners, it has now paid more attention to international public law. It is believed that civilized powers in the world all talk about international public law, so that only by signing a treaty can the Qing Dynasty not be bullied by foreign devils... Now, Japan dares to violate the laws of the public laws of all countries to attack himself?

On the day of the incident, Qingliu wrote a letter, and the censors responded one after another. Impeached Li Hongzhang for unfavorable negotiations, which encouraged the arrogance of the Japanese pirates. Since Japan first started a provocation, it demanded that the Qing Dynasty declare war on Japan immediately! Mobilize the Beiyang brigades to suppress the Japanese pirates who were on the land of North Korea. The Beiyang Navy and the Nanyang Navy combined to find the Japanese ships to take revenge!

The Imperial Party immediately smelled this smell. These days, the Qing political power, which was squeezed by local powers such as the Later Party and Beiyang, made a judgment immediately. The best strategy now is to declare war. It can make Beiyang and Japan lose money, and if there is something wrong, it can impeach Li Hongzhang. Moreover, this war can also allow Guangxu to gradually come to the front of the stage to obtain power. For the Imperial Party, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

At this time, no matter the flag han, who would dare to mention it for the longevity of the Lord Lafayette, or tolerate it and negotiate and resolve it. The world was so fierce that it was enough to overwhelm the opponent! They couldn't say one thing. After all, the Qing Dynasty still said that filial piety was governed by the world. Who doesn't know that the Navy's money was spent on the three seas, which made the navy defeat now... declared war with a tough one, which also caused the face of Lord Lafayette and increased the emperor's majesty!

For a time, starting from Beijing, there were sounds of shouting and fighting. These imperialists never thought about whether they would defeat the war. I guess they were all thinking in their hearts. Since the Japanese pirates and our China knew each other, in two thousand years, from the Baijiangkou of the Tang Dynasty, Qi Jiguang pacified the Japanese, and the three battles of the Central Aid Korea in Wanli, when wasn't this little Japanese who was ignorant of the great power? Everyone was the eldest brother of the Western devils, not to mention the second brother, but the glorious Qing Dynasty still had the power of consular judging and extraterritorial legal power in Japan! The Beiyang Navy can use the Japanese port as a supply port. A few years ago, there was no need to send some warships to deter them, and the small Japanese pirates were also obedient.

How could this battle be lost? The only thing to consider is how big the domestic forces they represent can chew on this pie of power changes falling from the sky!

For a time, the tide of declaration of war swept across China and the foreign countries. The governor and the governor also came with each other, and they were all righteous and strict. Guangxu also sent a telegram to Li Hongzhang to ask: "Is there any confidence in the war now? Is the North Korean mainland division enough to defeat the enemy? Li Hongzhang's official negotiations were unscrupulous, which led to the Yashan incident and greatly damaged the prestige of the country. The official will work hard to serve himself!"

Later, the party figures, including Cixi, lost their voices for a while.

On the truth, if things happened in China, Cixi, who had been at the highest position in the Qing Dynasty for decades, would have calmed down while chatting and laughing. It was an accident that he could not handle Xu Yifan recently. Unexpectedly, this guy simply put the four words "I am shameless" on his face. Even if he cheated, there would be some ways to deal with him after his life.

However, since Cixi's defeat, these post-party figures said one thing, and there was no way. They always responded passively, and they would smile when they kicked their butts. Anyway, it was not her who was embarrassing, and someone was under the slap. Japan's move was so hard that it was apologized to Japan, and Cixi was also very upset about the trouble of Japan's trouble. However, if they wanted to fight, no one was worried about it. What was Japan's plan, what preparations were, and how much strength was, and everyone was confused. Many ministers probably couldn't even tell the difference between Portugal and Spain!

No one can do anything about how to deal with it, whether it should be hard or soft. For a moment, they only care about the opinions of the ministers in various countries in Beijing, and they can only watch the imperial party figures jumped out and shouted loudly. No one can resist this fierce attitude, right?

The reactions of the ministers of various countries were also unremarkable. The Russian minister immediately issued a statement and visited the Zongli Yamen. He believed that Japan had destroyed the laws of all nations and destroyed the peace situation in East Asia, and should be jointly condemned by civilized countries. In terms of negotiations, the Russian Empire was definitely on the side of the Qing Empire...... People did not say how to condemn Japan and how to help the Qing Dynasty.

The opinions of the British Empire, which the court attaches most, make people feel cold. The British Empire's minister just expressed regret to see this incident and believed that it would be better for both sides to negotiate to resolve the issue. However, the British Empire believes that it is also a problem to maintain such a backward vassal system in North Korea. The Qing Dynasty's interests in North Korea were too great, which was not conducive to East Asia's peace. In North Korea, it is still necessary to introduce more national interests to maintain the balance of the situation in East Asia... Others, wait until the minister receives domestic orders before speaking.

France still remembers the grudges of the Sino-French war, and this time it looks a bit gloating. Besides, their interests are in the southwest of the Qing Dynasty and the disputes in the northeast are too lazy to care about, and they just said something that is not painful or itchy.

The American minister said some things that believed that Japan was too rebellious and believed that Japan's actions were irrational behavior that undermined the peace situation in the Pacific. He hoped to hold talks mediated by countries including the United States immediately, and hoped to open the doors in North Korea and Northeast Asia, and all countries had equal opportunities... The United States probably still remembered Japan and their bonds in Hawaii. Besides, the United States now does not have much influence.

After such a stir, the ministers of the Prime Minister's affairs offices looked at each other. No country said anything important. The country with the strength to mediate was watching coldly, while the country without the strength to mediate was causing trouble. In other words, no international force is willing or capable of restraining Japan's actions now, and the Qing Dynasty can only face it alone! Needless to say, if you lose, even if you win, it is estimated that North Korea's status cannot be preserved!

Can it be really only by teaching a lesson for Japan to get through this level?

The only permanent naval and continental divisions in North Korea's Zhili and Northeast China are the Beiyang. Can Beiyang defeat Japan?

At least the current figures of the Empress Party of the Qing Dynasty have not yet thought of Xu Yifan, who is alone north of North Korea. Even the imperial party who wanted to win over Xu Yifan the most did not think that they had the power to change the situation. Just calculate the numbers and you will know that Xu Yifan's troops were 8,000 soldiers (the matter of Xu Yifan's expansion of the second town was not reported to the court), and Li Hongzhang had more than 25,000 elite mainland divisions in North Korea, and there were 17,800 permanent mainland divisions in Zhili, Northeast, Shandong, Suiyuan and other places. The reserved weapons and ammunition were enough to be equipped with tens of thousands of new recruits. Not to mention that Li Hongzhang and the Beiyang Navy!

The tide was violent, but apart from anger, the city of Beijing, the central city of the Qing Dynasty, was in a turmoil, and no one knew where the situation would develop.

"Zhongtang! Let's hurry up and visit the ministers of various countries and request a joint mediation!"

"The little Japanese bullies too much. Zhongtang, let's fight!"

"Ding Yuting's death, the ship is insulting his power, and the central hall must be reprimanded!"

"The North Korean mainland division is now alone, we must come up with a solution!"

"Now the upper side is pressing too hard, we have to reply... We must show up to fight, otherwise we can't explain it!"

"Where is the salary? Where to prepare the salary? Now we are all consuming food for the Yin and Mao. Once the troops are launched, we will ask for money to recruit soldiers, we will ask for money to the arms, we will ask for money to raise food and grass, and we need to prepare money to prepare for the prevention... It's like there is no fucking money! Not to mention that the Beiyang investment has been used up this year, and there are a lot of advance loans and advance payments everywhere, and they have to be paid back every year... The court pointed at us at Beiyang for war, so we must not give money!"

"What is the intention of the little Japanese? Can they really expect to knock us down? What exactly are they going to do?"

In Li Hongzhang's signing room, there were a lot of noises in the staff. From the bad news of Yashan, the news from all over the place was like snowflakes, and old people who were nearly 70 years old rushed towards the Beiyang center.

It is easy to say that if there is no war, once the war approaches, I find that the deployment of Beiyang is full of holes. The navy has shrunk to the northern part of the Yellow Sea, only covering several bases in the Bohai Bay, and almost completely abandoning the North Korean coastline. The mainland division is almost unprepared for a major war. Not to mention that these tens of thousands of mainland divisions have been almost exhausted in North Korea for a year. The reserves of ammunition, military uniforms and supplies are less than a month's supply. The most convenient supply on the sea route has been cut off after the Yashan cannon fire.

The most important thing is that even in the Qing Dynasty, the Beiyang forces that were the most open and knew the best overseas, basically knew nothing about Japan's intentions and trends! No one could tell clearly what Japan's appetite was and what their deployment was! Only know that the Japanese fleet was already on the coast of Korea, and Japan had 6,000 soldiers in North Korea. Now, telegrams could not be sent out in several Japanese consulates!

Li Hongzhang clenched his fists and sat on the chair. Without the support of the case, he felt dizzy and was about to fall down.

The Qing Dynasty was like his Beiyang, and it looked a little bit when it was peaceful. Everyone was waiting for this exchange to support the final decency. Once the storm hit, they realized that the house was made of paper! From any angle, this country was not prepared for a battle that concerns the national destiny!

The entire Qing Dynasty now has no ability to concentrate China on modern wars!

What’s more important is that the pressure is now all on Li Hongzhang, and behind it is the indescribable power disputes in the Qing Dynasty. If you are not careful, it will be the fate of Li Hongzhang’s lifelong achievements, including the Beiyang group that he built up to fall apart!

The sound below was still chaotic, and there was a tendency to be louder and louder. Li Hongzhang's forehead veins leapt straight, and finally he finally couldn't bear it and shouted: "Enough!"

The loud voice scared everyone in the room. When it came to Li Hongzhang's position, he had to behave gracefully, and be generous in his conversations and laughter. Li Hongzhang had long been the same as when he was a bandit Hanlin in his early years. Such a loud roar had not been seen for decades, and it suddenly made everyone silent.

Li Hongzhang pressed his forehead extremely tiredly and turned his eyes to Yang Shixiang. However, he was disappointed to see the Beiyang little Zhuge's expression at a loss.

Yang Shixiang shook his head slightly at Li Hongzhang: "Zhongtang, you can't beat him..."

Li Hongzhang whispered: "But the current trend in the court..."

Yang Shixiang smiled bitterly: "The court trend cannot kill our Beiyang, but once the army is launched, it will be the end of the Beiyang!"

Li Hongzhang thrust his eyebrows, just looking at Yang Shixiang, and everyone was silently looking at Yang Shixiang. The room was quiet.

Seeing everyone's eyes focused, Yang Shixiang didn't know where to start. Is it that he personally felt the disintegration of the Huai Army, the arrogance and cowardice of the main force of North Korea's Sheng Army, or is it that the current financial weakness is in need of money, but he has no money everywhere? Beiyang, and even the entire Qing Dynasty are just a swollen air. There is still a little bit of courage inside, but nothing can be relied on the outside? He is a Beiyang think tank and the general office of the Army Barracks Office. He is very clear about the strength and wealth of Beiyang. Everyone just has two words to maintain. As long as the airs are not overwhelmed, you can rely on it to make a living. But with the sound of Yashan cannons, can this airs be maintained?

It turns out that this is the airing that is important, and Li Hongzhang's false reputation as the Eastern Bismarck. The signing of the renewal of the treaty against Japan and Tianjin made Beiyang even more successful. Japan was afraid of Beiyang and Li Hongzhang. When the sound of Yashan cannon sounded and found that it could no longer scare Japan, it was only when it saw that he was wearing only a pair of shorts!

The Beiyang is responsible for protecting Zhili and even defending the entire Northern China. It is said that he has been practicing military force for twenty years and has a complete naval and continental division. When he is in peace, he can be arrogant and be regarded as a giant by the world. When things come, the real insider will realize his weakness!

There is no need to analyze the other things. Just talk about money. Once the war begins, the money needed is astronomical. The central finance of the Qing Dynasty had long gone bankrupt during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period. The commanders and generals from all over the country supported the entire Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rebellion by developing an independent local financial system, using Lijin as the main source of income. After the fall of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Qing Dynasty's finance was completely dispersed. The income originally expanded through Lijin was quickly divided by the rapidly expanding bureaucratic team and various so-called new policies. In other words, the Qing Dynasty did not have the ability to open up new sources of wealth. This outdated financial system could not raise funds by issuing public bonds. Breaking debt from foreign countries was an extremely difficult thing when fighting with foreign countries. The Sino-French War was a lesson for the past. Beiyang took out a good mine port as collateral, and there was no way to borrow money all over the world!

This is the problem of money alone, not to mention the organization of the army, the mobilization of the people, and the adaptation of various systems.

The medieval state system is so big when it comes to modern nation-states, and the gap in resource transformation into war capabilities. Yang Shixiang and Li Hongzhang may not understand this truth, but they can see their own weakness too clearly.

"But the court's attitude was extremely tough..." Li Hongzhang murmured to himself.

"That's the emperor's tough attitude! It's not the queen mother's tough attitude!" When it comes to the domestic power struggle, Yang Shixiang was extremely sober and had a way.

"Zhongtang, let's negotiate... No matter how much profit you give up, it's good to maintain our Beiyang status. Even the empress dowager is actually happy to see the tide that day... We can't afford this battle, no matter how winning or losing. Only negotiation!"

Before Li Hongzhang answered, he heard a loud voice at the door of the signing room saying, "What if Japan is determined to fight? Should we give up the entire North Korea? Then open the port to Japan? In this way, the Emperor will not be able to explain it. Japan is eager to export their crisis and wants to use the East Asian continent to enhance its national strength. How much can we make? Japan has been planning for a long time, and has been lying on firewood and tasting gall for twenty years. We can only face the battle!"

Everyone turned their eyes and saw Zhang Peilun wearing a blue shirt standing at the door, holding a roll of newspaper in his hand. Looking at the head, it was the Qing Dynasty newspaper run by Tan Sitong.

Yang Shixiang stood up suddenly and sneered: "Youqiao, this is not the Ma Jiang of the past! It's not your turn to make such shocking statements! How do you know Japan's intentions? What are we going to fight? You don't know the current situation in North Korea!"

Yang Shixiang revealed the scars of Zhang Peilun's defeat in Ma Jiang, which made his face turn blue, but he didn't say much, but walked to Li Hongzhang and placed a stack of newspapers in front of Li Hongzhang's case: "There is already a discerning person in the middle hall, and he has already told Japan's intentions and determination. This battle is already a must... It's ridiculous that we are still in a mess. If we make preparations for a day, we will take the initiative... We are already very retreating... "

Li Hongzhang looked idly, just looking at the stack of newspapers, but he didn't say a word. The old man's mind was already in chaos, the power disputes in the court, Japan's brazen actions, the current situation in Beiyang, and all kinds of strife have been mixed up, and there are fierce confrontations in his mind. But it is difficult to make a decision.

"How to deal with it? Youqiao, what are your ideas? Now that the sea route is cut off, the situation in North Korea is so bad that it is beyond the severance of negotiations to stabilize Japan, what else can I do? The Zhongtang can only endure humiliation and bear the burden!"

"Of course there is a way!" Zhang Peilun turned around proudly.

"The Mainland Division retreated and retreated to the Datong River area, and merged with Xu Yifan. He entrusted the North Korean land affairs with him. He was the front-facing Japanese mainland division brigade...... The navy patrols the port and keeps the ships in a tight position. The mainland quickly adjusted the new army and filled the ports, and could also ensure an invincible situation!"

Before he finished speaking, the room was full of an uproar. Not to mention that the court has not yet determined to declare war on Japan, such an action is equivalent to a wartime mobilization of Beiyang. Even if the Lu army retreated to the Northern Dynasties, gave up Seoul, and handed over power to Xu Yifan, it would have been the biggest rebellious voice in the group! If Zhang Peilun was not Li Hongzhang's son-in-law, there would probably be all those who curse.

Yang Shixiang just sneered and said two words: "Absurd."

Zhang Peilun wanted to refute, but when he heard Li Hongzhang speak coldly: "Enough."

Everyone's voices were low, but Li Hongzhang still said these two words blankly: "Enough."

He slowly stood up and picked up the newspaper on the table: "I'm very tired, I have to go and rest first. Don't tell me any news......A big thing, wait until I'm in a good mood."

Zhang Peilun's expression suddenly became excited: "Zhongtang! Now is the most important time. It is better to make any decision than not! The Japanese people are determined as iron, and they will never pause and wait for us to find a way. They will advance again, right in front of them! At that time, it will be an uncontrollable scene!"

Li Hongzhang suddenly burst out: "What decision should I make now? What decision can I make? It's all over the top and the bottom... This Qing Dynasty is not my Li Hongzhang!"

He roared like thunder, and all the depression and panic broke out in the past or two days: "So what can it do? A person dies and birds are facing the sky, and they stand in the wind when they are frozen to death! What is Japan going to come, and I will go on! It's nothing more than Beiyang collapses, and I, Li Hongzhang, have my braids and pull them down! I want to see, except for me, Li Hongzhang, who can still have the power to restore the sky and can paste this broken house well! There is such a person, I will let the virtuous!"

After shouting, he turned around and left the room, leaving the people in a daze. After a while, Yang Shixiang smiled bitterly: "You Qiao, you should be more considerate of the Zhongtang. The above were quarreling, but they were all a group of scholars who could only speak loudly. They thought that with a mighty spirit, the world would be the best, but they didn't know how difficult the actual situation was... The below would only complain and ask Zhongtang to get the method. What's the solution now? Retreat from North Korea, the sea route is broken, and it is impossible to retreat. Advance, that is, to start a full war, and the responsibility is all the responsibility. He is tired enough... We can only walk and see. Little Japan... After all, it can't swallow our Qing Dynasty."

Zhang Peilun's expression was even more sad than Li Hongzhang. He shook his head gently: "It's time to delay for a day, and the disaster will be even heavier... How can a hero take the tide? How can a hero take the tide? Lotus House, the world of the central hall can no longer be saved!"

Hiroshima, outside Upin Port.

After the third day after the sound of Yashan cannons, the Qing Dynasty was still in chaos. However, in Japan, the entire system had already been resolutely and efficiently.

Several of the first batch of standing divisions to go to the expedition quickly enriched their troops and weapons. These were all drawn from other standing divisions, and after strengthening, they could be fully staffed and used immediately. The divisions that extracted personnel and weapons were not idle either. They immediately began to receive reserve troops and were urgently organized and could be dispatched as a continuous force at any time. These plans had been prepared long ago, and with the sound of cannons in Yashan, they would start immediately!

The docks at Yupin Port were full of freighters and merchant ships, and they were all recruited from emergency services. They were all fires ready to go, and smoke was soaring into the sky, and whistles sounded interlaced.

On the pier, there were full of Japanese soldiers in black uniforms. These short and solid soldiers were holding rifles, carrying backpacks, and waiting silently. There were surging military caps and bayonets everywhere. The satisfied officers met each other and paid homage to each other with murderous intent. People from all kinds of people who served the country held flags and slogans and sent them together. On the pier, there was a solemn atmosphere.

"Tomorrow, war will be declared on the Qing Dynasty..."

Ito, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the Hiroshima Branch Base Camp meeting room where you can see Upin Harbor, muttered to himself.

"I guess the Qing Dynasty is still in chaos now... Blessing the gods, since the black ship knocked the gate, our Japanese Empire has finally become a modern nation-state one step ahead of time. And the eldest China is still the medieval structure... The national fortune of East Asia for two thousand years has finally come to change..."

He turned his head slowly and looked at the head of the mountain standing respectfully behind him.

"Toushanjun, this time it depends on your Xuanyang Society's achievements in the operation of the 20 years in North Korea. The mountains and rivers, the military and geography, and the pro-Japanese forces within North Korea are all important conditions for the success of the Qing Dynasty...... In the past twenty years, you have also made important contributions to the rise of the empire...... These days, you still need to be at the base camp. We make decisions, and you, the North Korean leader, are indispensable."

Toushan smiled: "I dare not do my best."

Ito smiled: "Touyama-kun, do you think this war will go smoothly?" Although he was asking, the confident smile on his face had already shown that he actually didn't need an answer.

Toushan wanted to answer for granted, and everything went smoothly, but hesitated for some reason.

Ito looked at his expression like a hawk: "Toushanjun, what are you worried about?"

Toushan was silent for a moment, and finally replied: "Li Hongzhang is insignificant......Your Excellency, I am thinking about another person. He really doesn't look like a Chinese person..."

"Is Xu Yifan?" Ito asked softly.

Since Xu Yifan destroyed the Dongxue Party riots and Seoul Palace transformation caused by Kawakami Kawakami Kawakami Kawakami's army represented and the ronin forces of Toyama-man, Japan's North Korean strategic considerations have added this variable. However, everyone thinks that it is at most a trouble rather than a threat. Xu Yifan is an isolated army, and he is even more enemies in the world. How big can the waves can be drawn against the power of Japan? Kawakami Kawakami has already been holding back this time and wants to completely eliminate Xu Yifan in the Northern Dynasties... If he doesn't run fast enough.

Thinking of this, Toushan smiled in disgrace: "I am thinking a lot, please don't be surprised."
Chapter completed!