"Bluffing?" Emperor Meiji was stunned for a moment, "The Ministry of War is not a report, Hayashi Yoshizhe has indeed led the fleet to sea as the Qing government said!" ”

"But this fleet has not been heard from since it went to sea. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info," said Hirobumi Ito.

"Could it be that they have already launched an attack on our troops in Taiwan?" Emperor Meiji remembered the 3,600 army troops and 3 Japanese warships taken away by Saigo from the province, and his heart was in a hurry, and his voice trembled a little.

"But now I don't get any news like that." Hirobumi Ito said.

"That is to say......" Emperor Meiji's expression was still very calm, but his eyes had already revealed the excitement in his heart.

"The disappearance of the only Qing fleet, which is combat-ready, shows that its commander is obviously deliberately avoiding the battle." Hirobumi Ito said.

Hirobumi Ito's conclusion not only surprised Emperor Meiji, but even himself was a little incredulous.

But Ito believes only in the facts.

Moreover, he came to such a conclusion, not now.

After Yanagihara Maemitsu returned from Fuzhou, Ito Hirobumi found Yanagihara Maemitsu many times and asked him in detail about Hayashi Yoshizhe's situation, including family members, daily life and other trivial matters, and inquired about everything clearly. After Yanagihara Maemitsu told him that Lin Yizhe's wives and concubines, whether they were Chen Wan in Fuzhou's house, Caiyue who had passed away and Li Sizhu who had not yet passed the door, or Lu Yingyan who was far away in England, they were all first-class beauties without exception, and after showing the portrait of Aya to Ito Hirobumi, Ito Hirobumi suddenly had such a feeling in his mind!

It is very doubtful for a high-ranking official of the Qing State who has such a good private life, is accompanied by so many beautiful women, and whose career is going smoothly, on the battlefield!

"The minister believes that now that the situation has changed, His Majesty might as well withdraw his previous order and support Saigo-kun to complete this military operation." Hirobumi Ito said.

"But if a full-scale war with the Qing State starts because of this, it will still be very dangerous to Japan!" Emperor Meiji hesitated.

"The Qing country's current reaction has already shown that there will be no all-out war with our country." Hirobumi Ito said, "The fact that the Kiyoku have learned the news but have not declared war on our country shows that they do not have the guts to do so." What's more, the Qing State is now at odds with the two great powers, France and Russia, and the main force of its army is fighting in the northwest region. ”

"In the worst-case scenario, the Qing state insists on not recognizing the empire's claims to Taiwan, and according to the past performance of the Qing government, it is likely to ask the Western countries to suspend and exert pressure on China to force China to give up Taiwan. Even then, the empire could claim military indemnities from the Qing and get monetary benefits. As long as it can deter the Qing Dynasty, Japan can truly embark on the road of strengthening its army and enriching the country! ”

"Conquer Taiwan and North Korea and deter the Qing ......," Ito Hirofumi said in a deep voice, "and at the same time implement constitutional government, reorganize education, collect military power from the imperial family, and develop industry...... Your Majesty, as long as these things can be carried out one by one, Japan will surely be among the great powers of the five continents! ”

"As long as we can realize this dream of a strong army and a rich country...... Whatever the price, it's worth it! Ito Hirofumi said word by word, "The minister is willing to go to the soup for His Majesty!" Don't hesitate! ”

Ito stood up as he spoke, then bowed deeply to Emperor Meiji, who was bluffed into standing up from his seat.

"Good! Let's do as Ito wants! Emperor Meiji was first thrilled by Ito's gaze, and then he was so excited by this promise of great ambition that his blood was running wild, and he immediately replied.

Emperor Meiji took a few steps and looked into the distance side by side with Ito Hirobumi - the red sun was rising in the east at this time, and the cherry trees and trees in the garden had completely shown their verdant colors.

After Ito Hirobumi's farewell, Emperor Meiji left the Imperial Garden and returned to the palace, where he found Empress Ichijomiko waiting for him in the cloister.

Seeing Ichijomiko in a kimono and Aiko Yanagihara, a servant of the power line, greeted him with a low eyebrow and a bow of his head, and Emperor Meiji immediately stepped forward.

Empress Ichijomiko came to Emperor Meiji and raised her head, and Emperor Meiji saw the melancholy look in the queen's eyes, and understood that the conversation between himself and Ito Hirobumi just now should have been heard by the queen, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Is it really going to start?" Ichijomiko asked softly.

Emperor Meiji nodded.

"But...... But I don't know ...... in my heart," Emperor Meiji replied in a whisper.

At this moment in the face of the empress and the power servant, Emperor Meiji, who was raised in the deep palace and born at the hands of a woman, seems to have lost all his courage just now with the departure of Ito Hirobumi, and has returned to the cowardly and timid child he was when he was a child.

"Since Your Majesty has decided, let's relax!" Ichijomiko noticed the change in Emperor Meiji's mood and immediately said.

Emperor Meiji looked at Empress Ichijo Miko, and then at the Quan Attendant on the side, and the beautiful Aiko Yanagihara, the sister of Count Yanagihara Maemitsu, whom he loved very much, sighed.

"If it doesn't work out...... I'm so sorry for you...... I beg your pardon ......."

At this moment, the weakness of Emperor Meiji, the first generation of Restoration Heroes, was exposed in front of the two women closest to him.

At this time, Ito Hirobumi, who had already left the palace, did not know what the emperor was like now, and he was in a hurry to find Okubo Toshitsu, tell Okubo that he had done the work of Emperor Meiji, posthumously recognized Saigo's dispatch of troops, and agreed to continue to increase troops.

At about the same time, the second group of reinforcements led by Rear Admiral Akamatsu Norira, consisting of the transport ships "Asahi Maru" and "Meiguang Maru" and the gunboats "Fengxiang" and "Kasuga", a total of more than 1,500 men of the navy and army, were already on the route to Taiwan and would soon reach the Langqiao coast.

"The fog has lifted! The fog has cleared! ”

A strong sea breeze blew, and the thick fog like a curtain on the sea gradually thinned, Lin Yizhe heard the cheers of the sailors, and immediately rushed out of the command tower of the "Fujing" and came to the flying bridge.

Watching the dense fog dissipate little by little, the sea in the distance and the outlines of the battleships behind him became clear, Lin Yizhe's heart almost jumped out of his cavity!

"Set sail now!" There was a tremor in Lin Yizhe's voice when he gave the order.

There was a sound of anchor chains from the bow of the ship, and the Chinese sailors struggled to operate, put away the anchor chains, and after a while, the "Fujing" whistled and sailed forward. Behind the "Fujing", one battleship after another set sail.

"My lord, the Japanese are really ...... Will it make landfall on the Langqiao Coast? Pei Jinquan looked at Lin Yizhe, who was focused on the chart, and asked in a low voice on the side.

"Yes." Lin Yizhe said, "The Americans landed in this area before and attacked Fanmin, but this time they have Americans as guides, and they must still land in the old place." ”

Of course, Lin Yizhe could not tell Pei Jinquan why he was so sure that the Japanese army would definitely land at Langqiao.

"Don't worry, my lord, after so many days, it is estimated that the Penghu Navy Division has arrived, and it will definitely prevent the Japanese army from landing." Pei Jinquan comforted Lin Yizhe and said, "The two countries did not go to war, he sent troops without authorization, and he was already clumsy, and when he saw my troops coming, he would not dare to act rashly." Maybe you've already turned back to your home country by now. ”

"I hope so......" Lin Yizhe's words had just fallen, only to hear an officer shout: "My lord! A steamboat has appeared ahead! ”

Lin Yizhe was shocked, and came to the observation window with Pei Jinquan and raised the telescope.

At this time, the dense fog on the sea surface had dissipated, and the sea visibility was good, Lin Yizhe saw the figure of a steamboat gradually getting bigger in the telescope, and when he recognized the identity of the ship, his heart couldn't help but sink.

"'Phenom'! It's the Phenom! Pei Jinquan also recognized the "Feihong" and said in surprise, "Why are you running so slowly?" Seems to be running diagonally? ”

"I think I'm hurt!" Lin Yizhe said in a deep voice, "Speed up!" Catch up! ”

The "Fujing" sped up its speed, and at this time, the "Feihong" also discovered the "Fujing" and immediately sailed over to this side.

Soon, the "Feihong" approached, and the "Fujing" ordered the sailing to be suspended, and Lin Yizhe saw that the hull of the "Feihong" in front of him was full of shrapnel scratches, there was a huge hole in the stern, and the hull of the ship was already tilted.

The "Feihong" put down the dinghy, and Lin Yizhe was even more worried when he saw Huang Jianxun wrapping half of his head with a bandage.

Lin Yizhe and Pei Jinquan got off the flybridge and came to the deck, Huang Jianxun just climbed down the gangway to the deck, and Lin Yizhe quickly stepped forward to support him.

"Kikuto, what's wrong with you?" Lin Yizhe asked with concern.

"My lord! Penghu Sailor, it's over! Alas! Huang Jianxun's face showed a look of grief, and he immediately told him that the Japanese army had undeclared war and brazenly opened fire on the "Feihong" when the Japanese ship was asked to stop sailing, resulting in the annihilation of the Penghu Naval Division.

"The subordinates were invincible, so they could only escape first and come to report the news, not because of the fog, and they could not advance or retreat. In addition, the stern of the ship was penetrated by enemy artillery, and it was afraid of wind and waves, so it had no choice but to stop sailing and wait here. Huang Jianxun said hatefully, "Fortunately, it's finally time for adults!" ”

"'Feihong' is seriously injured, can he still move forward?" Although he suddenly heard the bad news, Lin Yizhe still tried to calm himself.

"Yes!" Huang Jianxun nodded.

"Juren immediately took the 'Feihong' to Penghu, repaired it slightly, and then went to Fuzhou to report the details to the Supervision Office." Lin Yizhe immediately decided, "I'm going to the landing place of the Japanese army to attack it!" Revenge for the dead brothers of the Penghu Water Division! ”