Singing resounded in the fields, and the sun shone brightly from the clear April sky. A group of infantry came neatly from the paved road, and it was obvious that these infantry had only just returned from the field, and they did not know how many days they had been there. Their Western-style uniforms had been washed white, and the shoulders where they carried their guns, and the hands and joints that often rubbed against the ground were patched. The mud and sweat are mixed together, making the uniform look a little soft and collapsed. Only the armbands of the Praetorian Guard, still bright and eye-catching.

Both officers and soldiers have turned their complexions into bronze, no matter where they came from. They all look thin, but they all seem to have endless energy in their bodies. All this suggests that the Praetorian Guard, at least the First Town, is no longer a rookie ranks.

Behind this infantry contingent, which numbered about a battalion, was a squad of artillerymen, drawn by four horses with seventy-five-millimeter barreled field guns. The artilleryman sat on his back on the gun wagon. Perhaps it was because the brothers walking in front of them were too comfortable to look at them, an officer shouted, and the soldiers immediately sang a military song: "The warriors of the Three Kingdoms are brave, and Zhao Zilong is the first to be promoted!" ...... "With the military song, he also stepped on the ground hard, splashing clouds of smoke and dust, rolling straight towards the artillery behind, choking people with bursts of coughing. An officer wearing a Hungarian hussar coat, the green bars of different widths on the sleeves of his uniform indicate that his army is actually artillery, and that he is now sent as a battalion commander, which is at least equivalent to the rank of a Qing military attache in the Praetorian Guard.

This officer is actually a foreigner! The black hair of the Latins peeked out from under the beneath the beanie Silesian hats that he wore crookedly. The black eyes are also deep, the nose is pointed and small, and he is not very tall. Rushing to the front, it was immediately a series of expletives. In response to him was a louder laughter, and none of the officers leading the team were willing to take care of such a noise from the infantry.

This foreigner is the exiled cavalry artillery officer of Austria-Hungary and Italy, and I don't know if he has the wrong line in his brain, or Lord Xu's brain has the wrong line. It is more likely that this guy committed something big in other countries, and he applied to join the Qing nationality and became a military attache of the Qing Dynasty. Lord Xu agreed, and he was promoted again, and he actually got him the only battalion commander of the artillery battalion directly under the Praetorian Guard! Although there are still three artillery battalions in training, this teaching artillery battalion is the only one that can follow and fight in the field, maneuver, and cooperate with the battle. The rank of this foreign guy has also been raised to guerrilla.

Overall, he's a lawless guy and a jerk enough. In Seoul last year, he was also the first to use his saber to slash those advance officers and soldiers of the Huai Army, and I have to say that he also has a hand in training artillery. But everyone always felt a little out of place with him. Especially the officers from Nanyang, who has a good impression of foreign devils?

At the moment, laughter and scolding were mixed, but the team still walked straight. Although Bartoni knows a lot of Chinese, it seems that he still suffers from the scolding. After a while, the battalion commander who led the team saw that it was almost over, and scolded him. The procession continued to march neatly and quietly, but the smoke and dust of the march were not reduced at all.

Bartoni covered his face with his cloak and looked back at his artillerymen, all of whom looked at him stunned. There was no one to help them with the foreign devil commander, and the Latins secretly swallowed and foamed: "Fuck, if you really want to fight, I will let you know that on the modern battlefield, the queen is no longer an infantry, but our artillery!" Let you kiss my riding boots one by one! ”

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The current time is already May of the twentieth year of Guangxu, and according to the Gregorian calendar, it is already June of the first four years. Time flies, and people don't grasp anything, and they disappear without a trace.

A lot of things have happened in these days. went to the special envoy of Xiehe, and finally sent a painless minister to Yueben to play a fox whistle. For the messenger who topped the cylinder for Xu Yifan, of course, the minister was full of worries. After reading a polite letter to Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito, he disappeared without a trace. Only Tokyo's Geiki privately had some impression of the minister.

With regard to the change of envoys to the country, and this attitude is still the same, the voice of protest in the country is very high. But for the Huai army is still stationed in North Korea, it is strange that there is no word. This attitude of putting the cart before the horse made the Qing Dynasty feel that Xiao Yueben was actually still strong outside and in the middle. It's even more disagreeable at the moment.

The two sides are still negotiating news about the follow-up of North Korea, and there are still some small actions from time to time, such as the construction of a cable telegraph line between Seoul and Busan...... Ask for an increase in the garrison of the Legation in Seoul...... There are a lot of things to do, but everyone is okay with the big face. These things are just casual conversations, and Li Hongzhang, who is in charge of all this, didn't pay attention to it at all, let alone the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty.

Everyone's mind is now on the longevity of the Queen Mother Lafayette, this longevity, starting from the preparation of the Sanhai Works, is interspersed with the return of Lafayette to the government, I don't know how long it has been troubled, and I don't know how many people's tops have been broken! Seeing that it is coming, everyone is thinking enough to decorate this peaceful and prosperous world.

All kinds of treasures and benefits have been intensively prepared, and all kinds of projects have been swept up in time. Legend has it that this longevity is also a shortcoming, the palace has been released from the wind, if there is a report, there is no class can be specially ordered to pass the class, want to put a name above the road is really lacking, you can also discuss. The number of fat shortages in the world is also clearly marked, Shangguan Road, 800,000 yuan, several salt roads, 300,000 ...... The people who ran the door gathered at the Beijing Gate, and they were busy with a miasma.

Rao is like this, and the degree is still a little insufficient. The birthday rewards prepared, the celebration fees, and the general rewards of the flag people have not yet been seen. The household bank has begun to run mice, and the inner bank is also a river and a sea. It's Li Lianying who passed the word again, and the governors of various places also took the lead in repaying a little bit? Especially staring at Li Hongzhang's Beiyang area, three customs, two salt roads, plus Zhili Lijin are all in his hands, and there are so many provinces that support his Beiyang army, which is the fattest. As soon as the news came out, Li Hongzhang didn't say a word, and reported two million!

The governors of various places also made an uproar, and they expressed their loyalty one by one. From the beginning of the Three Seas Project, more than ten years before and after, until the current longevity, the Huanghuang Qing Dynasty, for Cixi's "return to power" after the leisurely years, more than 160 million taels of silver have been paid! That's 80 million dollars, nearly 30 million pounds...... You can buy more than 200 ironclad ships like Dingzhen, even if it is a sea overlord who is about to come out, a battleship of the former dreadnought-class, you can buy dozens of them! Not counting the more than 100 million taels of silver that went into the state treasury and the inner treasury, and how much income officials at all levels added to it and put it into their own private pockets.

All this stupidity, corruption, slumbering, mediocrity, in the year of one or four years. In the Qing Dynasty, it was the most prosperous moment when flowers were blooming and cooking oil was fired.

As for Xu Yifan, it seems that he has long been forgotten by the power center of the Qing Dynasty to the back of his head, and he doesn't know which corner.

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Xu Yifan didn't take himself seriously.

The hot spring where he opened the two exquisite buds of Du Juan and Chen Luoshi is now the location of a secret office of the newly established town general staff headquarters. This is in the mountains, but it is not very far from the base, Li Xuan used his private money to build a building and renovate the road for this hot spring, preparing to enjoy it as Miss Li's North Korean Winter Palace. As a result, he was taken by the unscrupulous Xu Yifan at a glance - it is a secret here! Once the mountain pass is pierced, no one can enter. There are many things he has done that cannot be humanized by outsiders, and it is really amazing to spread it. For example, what is it like to swagger to meet the leader of the North Korean rebels in the barracks?

And the enjoyment is also good, after a busy day, take a hot spring or something, it is really heavenly.

Throughout the winter and spring, he was running between the barracks and here. While vigorously grasping the training of the troops, he temporarily worked in this staff headquarters. A piece of information is summarized, a piece of information is gathered, ideas are put forward, and plans are formulated...... His whole mind and energy were occupied by the coming storm. Sometimes he is counting on his fingers, which day will the fight start? He couldn't remember the specifics, but he always felt that it was time to come, right? It's time to come, right? It's the same as the hairy young man looking forward to saying goodbye to his virgin body.

But what will happen to me? In the Sino-Japanese War caused by the chaos of the Donghak Party in history, these guys have been pacified by him, and now the old party uprising in the waist of the Korean bee is also completely under his control...... These guys were all tied up by Jiang Ziming and sunk in the Han River.

However, he had no doubt that he could find an excuse. Anyway, in the end, it's all about strength and guns and warships, and it doesn't matter how ridiculous the excuse is...... I will come after all!

Now the paradox is that while he is looking forward to the arrival of Jia Wu, he also hopes that he can have more time to prepare. There are too many things to do, training equipment, improving the relationship with the bright-eyed people of Beiyang, optimizing their strategic situation, and one by one must be carefully deduced...... Let him lose his hair a handful of these words. It's so fucking brain-draining!

It is a pity that there are not many people in Beiyang who see that this is the unknown and quiet night before the storm is brewing, at least not the people who are eye-to-eye with him -- Ding Ruchang has not had such a thing since he came to a letter a year ago! Maybe the tranquility of these days made him, the admiral of the sailor, feel lucky, thinking that he had made a mistake in judgment. After all, dealing with Xu Yifan is too risky and irrational. Everyone knows that after the Queen Mother Lafayette has a long life, it is the end of Lord Xu. Besides, is the backer of Beiyang reliable, or is this little Praetorian Guard reliable?

Xu Yifan is soaking in the hot spring now, with a towel on his head, lazily not wanting to move. On the stone next to it, there is also a glass of chilled freshly squeezed apple juice, and the hot spring is so hot that the water droplets on the outer wall of the cup continue to roll down.

Speaking of which, he was not iron-blooded and puritanical enough. There are a lot of wives, and I like to enjoy it a little. But now in the Qing Dynasty, the requirements for a good leader are actually very low. If you can do things, you can be less greedy.

Xu Yifan can undoubtedly do things, what kind of ability is it to pull such a steaming group from scratch? As for corruption...... Raising the Praetorian Guard, it's all about him paying for it! If you want to be corrupt, you don't have this opportunity, and you have to look for money all day long.

At the end of a busy day, his ears are still buzzing. The staff officers and the German advisers were at loggerheads. Everyone is judging when it is most advantageous for Ben to do it. The German advisers believed that the army could defeat the main force of the Huai army if it was done at any time, and the army that had undergone modernization training -- they also had a compatriot, Major Merkel, who participated in the process of building the modern army, but the Chinese staff officers had different opinions. According to various information, the army has not yet begun formal mobilization and has not been concentrated into a field corps. Even if it starts now, I am afraid that when we land in Korea and seek a battle, it will be winter. In such a cold Korean winter, can the main battle be launched? Everyone is inclined to say that it is very likely that the New Year is going to be turned over......

Everyone stared at the army, and only Chu Wanli's opinion was a few people. His opinion is that the 25,000 or 6,000 Huai Army land divisions in North Korea are already meat on the board. The modernized national army has won a comprehensive victory over this old-style army, which is only equipped with firearms, in terms of establishment, tactics, fighting spirit, and combat effectiveness. Even if the mobilization is not sufficient, it is far ahead! The only important point to focus on is the mobilization of the Navy. As long as the navy is mobilized, the war is imminent!

As long as the sea power is mastered, the elite main force of the Huai army hanging alone in the south of Korea is the turtle in the urn. It is said that the army can come and go freely and change the direction of strategic strikes at will. And after the elite main force of the Huai Army is empty, everyone understands what the consequences are.

However, until now, the strategic information about the Navy's strategy has not been sent...... Li Daxiong initially set out to operate the strategic intelligence network, and needless to say, he has mastered the intelligence of the economy and is an expert. Even the army is okay, and high-level classified intelligence cannot be obtained, but the army's mobilization situation is still more than enough. It is said that this army is a local corps, and if it is mobilized, it will not be able to hide from people, and in order to mobilize, it must be established in wartime, and in wartime, it is necessary to recruit reservists. Look at where there are more red envelopes for reservists, and you will know which corps Ben is mobilizing!

But the navy is different, it is all standing forces, full of strength. The military port is also heavily guarded, not to mention infiltrating the upper echelons of the navy......

Xu Yifan frowned in distress, shrunk his head under the water, and spit out a burst of bubbles.

This is the right time...... He's going to have to evacuate his belongings early! Some actions must also be carried out at the right time, either early or late. When will this signal be sent?

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"Zhongtang, this is Nie Junmen's excerpt...... It's a fire ......"

Yang Shixiang was holding a stack of official documents and was following Li Hongzhang. In Li Hongzhang's signing room, there were still a bunch of people, listening to the old man's assignment of tasks.

"Has the silver that entered Beijing to report the service been boxed? Don't think that the silver is over, you have to enter all the doors, and the door bag must be prepared! One thing is not right, that is, I Li Hongzhang has no face! Two million silver to serve, you have to 300,000 bags to match, let's play a little wider, I would rather more than less! ”

"The army of the guards is ready, and they want to be the most majestic, even if they smoke my goshha! Why don't you send a ticket to the past...... You pig brain! Doesn't the Queen Mother want the dignity of the governors of all places? At this time, there must not be a little bit of trouble for Lafayette......"

"The sailor wants to pay for repairs and ammunition? What's the mess at this time? It's been so long, and after ninety-nine worships, I can't bear this trembling? On the other side of the book, I, Li Hongzhang, are not dead, and one eye is still staring! Everything will wait for longevity! Now all reimbursements are stopped! ”

It was easy to wait for Old Man Li to finish the distribution in full spirit, and Yang Shixiang handed over the official document. During this period, Yang Shixiang was also a little cautious. planted a big heel with Xu Yifan, even if Li Hongzhang came back, everything was still the same for him, but he always felt shameless. Although he is still in charge of the camp office, he also knows that his prestige is not as good as before, and many people tell him jokes behind his back. Therefore, there is less management of official affairs, and Li Hongzhang also runs less, just to help Beiyang prepare for longevity, and the money and materials are busy.

These days, he has been thinking about a question, why did Xu Yifan do this? On the surface, he calmly let go of the official affairs of the North Korean side, but in fact, he has not relaxed his efforts to collect news from there. This time, Nie Shicheng sent the benefits, and specially asked him to transfer the excerpt directly to the old Zhongtang, otherwise, Zhongtang is now busy with longevity, and he doesn't know when to see it. This excerpt also coincided with the problem he had been considering, so it was sent immediately without stopping.

After Li Hongzhang was busy, his spirit was a little overdone, and he was a little dizzy when he sat there. Looking at Yang Shixiang holding the fold of Nie Shicheng, the current commander of the North Korean Fengjun, I really didn't want to see it. But it was just Yang Shixiang's face, and finally took it lazily, opened it and glanced at it casually, and immediately snorted: "Add to the chaos!" ”

Yang Shixiang has long known the content of this excerpt. The above words and sentences can even be memorized, Nie Shicheng is a martial artist, and he actually has such a vision! The great appreciation for Nie Shicheng is also the reason why he turned this fold with his own hands.

“…… Our army was originally ordered to quell the Korean rebellion, and it was stationed for a long time, and it was tired and tired. It is even more lacking in salary, and the morale of the army is sluggish. Tens of thousands of Beiyang tigers are hanging alone in South Korea, and the sailors are not enough to transport and feed. The land division is not up, and the water division is unprepared. The Japanese have been watching Han me for a long time, and once something happens, I am afraid that there will be something unbearable to talk about!

Within the Han realm, Xu Yifan's army was enough to pacify. I may be able to keep 3,000 troops and control Seoul is enough. The brigade took over the internal ferry to consolidate the momentum of Bangning at the cost. If something happens to Han, Xu Yifan deserves it alone, and I Beiyang can collect the effect of transshipment. If the Japanese invade it, Xu Yifan deserves it. When both sides were defeated, our army went out of Jiulian City to Pyongyang to tarsal its back, and the naval warship brigade Sai Incheon stifled it, and it would definitely be able to break it with one blow at that time. If nothing happens, Chengguo Dynasty is very lucky.

Mark the foolishness of a mark, and pray for the wisdom of the hall. ”

Seeing what Yang Shixiang wanted to say, Li Hongzhang didn't give him this opportunity, raised his hand and said: "Lianfang, don't worry about the affairs of North Korea...... The big thing now is the queen mother's longevity! ”

He raised his eyebrows: "If it weren't for the Huaijun Brigade there, why would Xiao Yueben be so honest recently?" If it weren't for the Beiyang Naval Division patrolling the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea, why wouldn't Xiao Yue's warship even dare to show its face? Withdrawing is a lot of worry, but if there is chaos in North Korea and it adds a faceless face to Lafayette's longevity, then what will happen to us? The reason for doing things in Daqing is to make the top people happy and less trouble! ”

Seeing that Yang Shixiang's face turned red, Li Hongzhang also felt that his tone was a little heavier, and a little smile appeared on his face: "Lianfang, I know you remember Xu Yifan's humiliation...... But now I really can't move. When the Huai army came back, he had to make up the salary first. Where do I get the money now? It's better to be still than to move...... Besides, once the Huai army comes back, Xiao Yue can't come back, so isn't it to lose North Korea to Xu Yifan? What's that going on? It's so decided, the Huai army will not move! ”

Yang Shixiang only nodded, he also knew that what Li Hongzhang said was all true, but he always felt a little up. Considering these words, the situation of the Huai army is indeed too unfavorable. It is unfavorable to the extent that the generals with the troops can sniff out! Once something happens, Huaijun will undoubtedly face himself, and Xu Yifan is in the north, which is the position of advancing and retreating. Not only will he not be able to do anything to him at that time, maybe this kid will get a big prize...... Thinking of Xu Yifan's proud appearance, he added to the blockage!

Nie Shicheng's idea is the best way. can keep Beiyang active, and can put Xu Yifan on the front line...... But will I really come? If they don't come, but the Huai army comes back, it's a big joke!

During this time, the little Oriental people should not be too honest, and the little troublemakers in the past are almost extinct. Zhongtang's negotiations are also unfavorable, and Zhongtang's judgment should be trusted......

He kept convincing himself, but he always felt that there was a dark cloud pressing on the bottom of his heart, and it was difficult to breathe.

Forget it, you are a person who is only embarrassed, don't stir up any more...... There is a middle hall for everything.

Li Hongzhang had already gotten up and staggered out of the signing room, after a busy day, the old man wanted to rest. When he went out, he seemed to guess what Yang Shixiang was thinking in his mind, and turned around and smiled: "With me Li Hongzhang, Xiao Yue can't beat it!" No matter how bad we are, we are so much bigger than the Orientals...... There I am! ”

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Said Ben, Kure Harbor.

This military port, which is called Ben, is heavily guarded today, and there are sailors with white leggings everywhere, carrying Murata-style rifles and opening the cordon. It is said that the Prince accompanied the Western dignitaries on their visit to ensure the safety of His Royal Highness.

In the military port, warships and warships are neatly arranged. "Matsushima", "Naniwa", "Yoshino", "Chiyoda", "Itsukushima", "Hashidate", "Takachiho", "Akitsuzu", "Hiei", "Fuso", "Yaeyama", "Tsukushi", "Atago", "Maya", "Chokai", "Amagi", "Yamataka", "Kongo", "Tenryu", "Oshima", "Yamato", "Iwaki", "Katsuragi", ......

It is said that the essence of the Navy's 20 years of training and education is all here. Some of these warships are old-fashioned self-built gunboats, some are cutting-edge fast cruisers purchased from the United Kingdom, and some are equipped with 320 mm cannons under the guidance of foreign technicians, which are specially aimed at the secret weapons of the two major ironclad ships in Dingzhen, Beiyang......

The sailors stood on the side of the slope, their uniforms straight and motionless, only the shawls and streamers of the sailors' uniforms moved with the wind.

On the bridge, a group of people gathered at the stern of the ship, with a military band on the side, ticking and ticking the march of the warship. A flag was slowly raised.

In May of the 20th year of Guangxu, on the 10th day of June 10th of the 14th year of A.D., the Navy merged the West Sea Fleet and the Standing Fleet for the first time to form a joint fleet! The Navy has officially entered the wartime system today!

With it was raised the flag of the commander of the Combined Fleet. Vice Admiral Tsuyoke Ito, the first commander of the Combined Fleet, stood in the middle of the queue and gave a British military salute.

The brief ceremony was quickly completed, and Lieutenant General Ito never smiled, but only kept his face strained. I don't seem to hear the words of encouragement to others. It wasn't until Hirobumi Ito, who had traveled from Hiroshima, walked up to him that he bowed stiffly in return.

"Your Excellency, the affairs of the sea are all entrusted to you. The national fortune of the country of the country of the next 100 years is in your hands. and the whole 80,000,000,000 people of your country stand behind you. We don't hesitate. ”

Ito Hyungwoo didn't answer, just looked at the steel armor soldiers floating around, and said softly: "The gamble of the country......"

"No faith?" Ito asked rhetorically with a smile on his lips.

Hyungyu Ito also smiled: "At least at sea, contemptible people have absolute confidence!" It's easy to start the war, and I hope you have a plan on how to end it! ”

Ito Hirobumi laughed: "I'm not Li Hongzhang!" The base camp in Hiroshima has been established, and the entire base camp is decided by me in one word, although the Qing country is big, but who can turn the tide of the tide? ”

(To be continued)