The incident of the burning and shooting of the Legation in Seoul was reported back to the country at the first time. At noon the next day, the major newspapers had already posted out the emergency number, and the major newspapers even sent newsboys in white mourning clothes to send them off the number along the street!

Army garrisons throughout the country urgently put on alert, and officers and men returned to the camp on leave. Various figures began to campaign, fighting for their own interests in this general change in East Asia. Before the Emperor's Palace, before the Prime Minister's official residence, there were already petition groups headed by ronin, one by one, holding their trumpets, crying and screaming to the heavens, asking their Emperor His Majesty to immediately send troops to fight against Korea and the Qing Kingdom!

Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu urgently summoned the Qing envoy to Yue, the British minister to Yue, and the Russian minister to Japan, and began to lodge the most solemn protest and prepare for the toughest negotiations.

Tokyo is already in turmoil like a beehive.

The Imperial Diet convened an emergency meeting, and some time ago, they presided over the impeachment of Ito's cabinet, attacking him for his incompetence in domestic economic affairs, and Ito Hirobumi brazenly threatened to dissolve the parliament. The two sides are facing each other and fighting, and now as soon as the news came, the clouds and fog in the sky disappeared, and not only did they not impeach the Ito cabinet, but put forward a bill to urgently increase the public debt by 30 million yuan!

It seems that the pressure accumulated in the country has found a place to pour out at this time!

Tokyo is like a huge whirlpool, but it is not there that the center of the situation in East Asia is not there. Even Hirobumi Ito is not in Tokyo. And in Hiroshima.

The establishment of the base camp is extremely secret news for the country.

The building of the Hiroshima branch of the Imperial Bank has been requisitioned as the base camp. Looking out of the building's south-facing window, you can see the sparkling waters of the Seto Inland Sea, and the port of Kabingoura, which is known as the most beautiful port in the inland sea, is filled with white sails and seagulls rising and falling, and the sound of chirps in the distance.

The water is blue and the sand is white, the sky is high and the clouds are light, and the sun is so clean that it seems to be used for bathing.

However, in the Western-style conference room of the Hiroshima branch of the Imperial Bank, no one was in the mood to enjoy the scenery outside the window.

Everyone's face, in addition to being excited and nervous, was still excited and nervous. Every look, a slight movement, seems to be filled with the smell of gunsmoke!

Minister of War, Army General Earl Oyama Rock.

Admiral of the Admiralty, Earl Saigo, from the province.

Lieutenant General Kawakami Tsuroku Kawakami, Chief of Staff and Director of the Military Station Division.

Commander of the First Field Army of the Qing War, General Aritomo Yamagu, who had served as prime minister and all the important commanders of the army.

Navy Staff Officer and Vice Admiral Viscount Nakamuta Kuranosuke.

Minister of Transport and Communications Army Infantry Masaki Osaji Teramichi.

Field Superintendent, Minister of Minister, Army Superintendent Noda Takemitsu.

Chief of Field Health, Chief of Minister, Army Medical Chief, Tadasada Ishiguro.

The Emperor's Attendant Military Attache Major Generals Seiki Okazawa, Satoru Nakamura, and Minoru Saito......

In addition to preparing in the Combined Fleet, Admiral Shikishi Kayama, the Chief of the Naval Command Command, and Vice Admiral Ito Yuhiro of the Combined Fleet, who were preparing for the bloody sea. It is said that the famous generals of the Empire, the heroes of the Meiji Enlightenment, and the essence of the cultivation since the 20 years of Western-style training of the army and navy are all concentrated here!

Looking at the posture of these people, they have been waiting here for quite some time. Everyone sat upright, silently waiting for something.

Footsteps suddenly sounded, and the attendant military attache, Army Major General Okazawa Seiki, stood up straight and called loudly: "His Royal Highness Prince Oriinnomiya, Chief of Staff of His Majesty the Emperor, Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito, the chief commander of His Majesty's headquarters of the Emperor, has arrived!" ”

Everyone stood up, bowed stiffly forty-five degrees, and the seniority was as deep as Dashan Yan Xixiang from Daoshan County, and everyone was no exception. This prince is placed here as the representative of the emperor, and Ito Hirobumi is the chief planner of this war! Emperor Meiji has already given him full authority, no matter how big the matter, it will be decided by Ito Hirobumi!

Prince Oriin Palace and Ito Hirobumi both entered in dresses, and Ito's eyes flashed with a fierce look. All the energy and all the intelligence in his body seemed to be raised, and he was waiting to deal with the war in front of him that would determine the general trend of East Asia in the next hundred years!

Prince Oriren Palace smiled and asked everyone to sit down with his hands in a false manner, and sat down on the first chair without saying a word. He didn't speak, his mission was to press the formation here as a puppet-like figure, and if he couldn't hold it down, Emperor Meiji might have to come over in person. But the real person talking here is still fifty-three-year-old Hirobumi Ito!

Ito Hirobumi is also not polite, at this time, he is absolutely deserved, he does not sit down, his hands are clenched into fists on the table, his eyes swept around: "Everyone, I have good news for you, just last night, in London, we and Britain have signed all the amendments to the "British Treaty of Commerce and Navigation", after we have made huge concessions, everything has been finalized, the British attitude has shown that as long as our expansion in Korea is conducive to replacing the weak Qing and preventing Russia from going south, Then there will be no interference in our actions in the DPRK...... As a support, the millions of dollars of government bonds issued in the London market yesterday have been eaten up by the British banking syndicate...... Ladies and gentlemen, the gate of Korea, the center of the East Asian stage, has been opened for the Great Empire! ”

This news shocked everyone, everyone knows that the British Treaty of Commerce and Navigation was signed in 1858, and you can imagine how unequal it was at that time. After the country's national strength was booming, negotiations began in 1872 and lasted for more than 20 years. In order to win over Britain to stand on the ship, in the end, Ito Hirobumi made a comprehensive concession and signed the treaty in spite of the domestic protests and betrayal of the country! After 1895, Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway was about to open to traffic, and after such a behemoth was involved, North Korea was no longer a matter of the Qing Dynasty.

At this time, as long as Britain supports it, Russia is basically powerless even if it wants to win the fire.

Last night, Ito Hirobumi did not care about the plot of the Legation fire carried out by the army intelligence system, and kept a close eye on the news coming back from the telegraph line. So far, I finally got the news that the revision of the treaty was signed!

There was silence in the room, and Kawakami stood up excitedly: "Long live this empire!" Long live His Majesty the Emperor! With him, there were also younger officers such as Terauchi, all of whom were flushed red and waved their fists, eager to jump on the table!

All obstacles have been cleared, and the rest is just waiting to be seen on the battlefield!

After Ito Hirobumi was briefly excited, he quickly regained his composure, and turned his head to look at Aritomo in Yamaprefecture: "Is the Nozu detachment ready?" ”

Yama County snapped and stood up: "The main force of the detachment with Lieutenant General Nozu as the backbone of the Ninth Brigade of the Hiroshima Division is already on standby at Ujina Port, and with an order, you can board the ship and set off!" ”

Ito Hirofumi nodded with satisfaction, and explained a few more words: "With a thunderous situation, the Nozu detachment must land in Busan within three days...... To protect the safety of expatriates and legations! Diplomatic compromises, the army doesn't care, just ask you to march! ”

Shan County nodded: "Is the army mobilization order going to be issued accordingly?" ”

Ito smiled and shook his head, now that everything was in his chest. This feeling is like the land and ocean of East Asia, all in the palm of his hand.

It feels so good.

“…… Don't scare the Qing people too quickly, it's enough to send these 6,000 detachments first. Let them think that their more than 20,000 Huai troops can still keep North Korea. Li Hongzhang is too confident in his negotiation ability - Oriental Bismarck! Let him negotiate slowly, in order to strengthen the strength of the North Korean garrison, as a basis for negotiations. The Beiyang Naval Division will inevitably be dispatched in a big way, going back and forth between China and South Korea day and night to transport supplies and munitions...... After the decisive victory at sea, the troublesome army made a big move to destroy all Li Hongzhang's fighting armies in one fell swoop, and at that time, the Qing ......, no, the door of China was all open for us! ”

"The key is the future decisive victory at sea!"

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

"Ding Junmen, Zhongtang is in an emergency!"

Liu Buyun, the commander-in-chief of the Chinese Army of the Naval Division, hurriedly knocked on the door of the admiral's cabin of the distant ship, and when he heard that there was no movement, he knocked twice more eagerly.

In the official cabin, Ding Ruchang's tired voice came: "Zixiang, come in." ”

Since Ding Ruchang was startled last night, until now, a day has almost passed, and Ding Ruchang has no news at all.

The Seoul incident, like a thunderbolt on the head, hit the heads of the Beiyang civil and military. Everyone knows the consequences of this incident!

Needless to say, the generals of Lu Shizhu sent piles of telegrams to the Beiyang center, asking for instructions. I heard that Lao Zhongtang was awakened in his sleep and was so frightened that he stayed for half an hour. Immediately after that, a bunch of telegrams were thrown at the top of the Beiyang Naval Division, who was now temporarily in Incheon.

Officers of the collection sailors were asked to get on board, add coal and water, and be ready to light a fire and anchor at any time. Ding Ruchang also moved from the land official office to the Zhenyuan. The judgment of the naval division is unanimous, if you want to prepare for battle, the naval division's warships and warships are by no means sufficient.

Nearly a year has passed, and the warships are in extremely poor condition, lacking ammunition and staffing. If you want to fight at sea, you must return to your home port to repair and replenish your organization. As soon as the water division goes, the land division will lose its security, and at this time, the best way is to cooperate with the water and land, withdraw the main force to the country, and consolidate the fundamentals first! Ding Ruchang immediately sent telegrams to discuss with Lushi Zhuzhen. Except for Ye Zhichao and Ma Yukun Wei Rugui who did not express their position, Nie Shicheng and Zuo Guigui agreed with his opinion, and immediately sent a joint telegram to the past. Demand that the main force be immediately reorganized and return to the country! Here in North Korea, there are both Xu Yifan's soldiers, and it is enough to leave three or four thousand land divisions. As long as the main force can be saved, there will be a way in case of a war!

What Liu Buyun is holding in his hand now is Li Hongzhang's callback.

When Liu Buyun walked into Ding Ruchang's official cabin, he smelled the smell of leaf smoke. Ding Ruchang doesn't smoke much, but after this day, he doesn't know how much he smoked! I saw that his eye sockets were also blue, his eyebrows were drooped, and he was sitting there slowly drinking strong tea, still holding on.

In the official cabin, there are charts everywhere, pens and inkstones, and they are everywhere.

Liu Buyun frowned, handed the telegram to Ding Ruchang, and went over to open the porthole of the official cabin. The sea breeze blew in, and Ding Ruchang, whose brain had become a pot of porridge, was in high spirits, and he hurriedly opened the newspaper to read it carefully. After only looking at a few lines, he slammed the table, and all the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone jumped up, and the ink splashed all over the chart.

"Zhongtang is old! Can't you smell it yet? ”

"My lord, what do you mean by calling back?"

Ding Ruchang shook his hand and handed the telegram to Liu Buyun, and said in a low voice: "You read it yourself, read it yourself...... Zhongtang wants us to stabilize the situation in North Korea and not make the slightest concession. The main force of the land and sea division is concentrated here, and people should not dare to move lightly...... Nakado said that the country was in a state of depression, and the Ito cabinet was impeached twice, which was a time of turmoil. Although North Korea provoked this time, the Seoul Palace was so chaotic a year ago, and Zhongtang still negotiated with one person to quell it. This time, the Russian minister Cassini has already expressed his stance to the Central Hall...... 'The close neighbors of Russia and South Korea will never tolerate the intervention of the original and forgetful'...... Confused, confused, our main force is here, and the situation has become too bad to be worse. The country is so empty, and the strength is gone, what to negotiate with? ”

Liu Buyun is a meticulous person, and after reading the telegram carefully, he said in a low voice: "Zhongtang also has his concerns, and the telegram is also pointed out...... The Queen Mother's longevity is imminent, and the withdrawal of troops from North Korea is a matter that greatly hurts the dignity of the court and Lafayette...... There is another one, that is, our Beiyang is revitalizing this time, Zhongtang is already a small car and can only push forward, the last time the North Korean matter, did not clean up Xu Yifan, this time if the main force is withdrawn first, I am afraid that the Chaotang Qingliu attack will not be able to stand it, if Beiyang does not hold on this time, once it collapses, I am afraid that I will not be able to get the status again! ”

When it came to the interests of the Beiyang group itself, Ding Ruchang had nothing more to say. After being silent for a long time, he said softly: "The sailor who has been painstakingly raised for twenty years has just been ruined?" ”

Liu Buyun's face was also pale, and he only felt that he was in a dilemma. The power of the Beiyang group is the overall situation, but the sailor is also a naval seed! It is also the reliance on the status of these people, and the most important thing is the Qing Dynasty Sea Ping Domain!

What to do? What to do? Continue to call Zhongtang to withdraw troops?

Ding Ruchang stood up, walked around in circles, and just muttered to himself: "Who can save this crisis?" There are no extraordinary means, and you can't take this storm as sinister! Zhongtang is already going to hold on, we are in a dangerous situation, and we can only join forces to think of a way to survive! ”

He stood firm and raised his head violently: "Call Deng Zhengqing!" ”

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

"Zhongtang, Zhongtang, if you want to withdraw your troops, you must withdraw your troops!"

It was Zhang Peilun who spoke, this Li Hongzhang's romantic son-in-law no longer had the appearance of being chic, but just chased after Li Hongzhang, and kept begging for permission.

Li Hongzhang sat behind the public case of the signing room, and Yang Shixiang and several masters kept holding telegrams and asking him to read them.

The old man's face was pale, he gritted his teeth and just couldn't get along with himself, and every once in a while he asked for a hot hand towel to wipe his face and squeeze out all his little energy.

As soon as the North Korean incident broke out, documents and telegrams poured in like snowflakes everywhere. The imperial court's edict inquiry, the prime minister's yamen's foreign affairs consultation, the Korean garrison's request for instructions, and the telegram of Beiyang officials in various places to wait and see...... The old man was busy with all fours facing the sky and not falling to the ground.

It's even more like frying and cooking in my heart, why has it been so bad these years!

Yang Shixiang hurriedly walked in again, glanced at Zhang Peilun, and whispered to Li Hongzhang: "Zhongtang, the Russian Minister Cassiny has arrived in Tianjin and wants to meet with Zhongtang. The British Minister, Lord Sir O'Gner, also replied with a message, explaining that he had met with the Middle Hall. ”

As soon as Li Hongzhang heard this, he quickly stood up and stretched out his hand to ask for his big hat. When the death of several hundred Orientals in Korea came out, his hope for mediation was to count on the Russians. The old man has been playing with razing all his life. He also knew that Britain and Yue Ben were good friends, but with the strength of the Qing Dynasty and the Russians, such a big two countries, could the little Yue Ben dare to do it? It is rare that this time the Russians are also so active!

Seeing that Li Hongzhang was about to go out, Zhang Peilun couldn't care about it, and pulled Li Hongzhang's arm: "Zhongtang, if you don't withdraw your troops, there will be no place to bury Beiyang if you die!" Not only will North Korea be lost, but the Qing Dynasty will also be in danger! ”

Li Hongzhang turned his head violently: "Youqiao, what nonsense are you talking about!" The Sino-French war made you guts? The old man has been in the palace for 40 years and has fought thousands of miles. France, England, Taiwan, North Korea, when did not I settle down? Withdraw troops, where to withdraw? Before I moved, you panicked like something...... After the withdrawal of troops, where will the imperial court put it decently, and where will the Beiyang put its dignity? Unconscious! ”

The old man had never been so harsh about this son-in-law, and Zhang Peilun didn't care, just looked earnest: "Zhongtang, I was taken in back then, Peilun and my body and mind are all Beiyang!" This is also for the reputation of Zhongtang Qianqiu, and for my great cause of Beiyang! The North Korean incident has come gradually. It is said that people provoked several times, and then stopped several times. By this time, the business arrangement has been completed, the ironclad ships have been added one or two years, and the army has also been refined, and they are thinking about it in North Korea!

And it coincides with the situation in my Beiyang, which is now so bad that it is too bad to be repeated, once it collapses, it will be powerless to return to the sky! The best strategy now is to withdraw troops from North Korea and let Xu Yifan go to the top! Zhongtang, take a step back and open the sky! ”

Li Hongzhang calmed down at this time, and glanced at Zhang Peilun lightly: "Youqiao, these words, you should continue to study and nourish your qi." You don't want to come to my signing room...... What's the matter, I, Li Hongzhang, deserve it. ”

After saying that, he turned around and went out, Yang Shixiang glanced at Zhang Peilun, didn't say anything, and went out. Zhang Peilun left Li Hongzhang's signing room in despair, returned to his study, and was in a daze for a long time before picking up a copy of the Qing Times.

"What is the relationship, the situation in East Asia, is explained by Xu Yifan through Tan Fusheng's pen...... In the entire Qing Dynasty, why didn't anyone figure it out? Who can help the crisis? ”

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

Pyongyang.

Xu Yifan has already changed into a military uniform, and as soon as the Seoul incident came out, he already understood.

Time's up.

The Janissaries immediately stepped up their mobilization, and the evacuation went on even more day and night. All the staff officers were sent out to inspect the battlefield again, make plans, and build positions. Live firing, tactical training has also been doubled and doubled. Combat materiel also began to be distributed, and in addition to the reserves, the ammunition base of the field units was also increased.

And he just worked with Chu Wanli and other officers, studying the map day and night, speculating about future changes in the situation.

Because of the flapping of his butterfly wings, the current situation of the Huai army is only worse than in history. At the beginning, there were only more than 10,000 troops in North Korea, and the naval division was not as tired and broken as it is now. Now almost all the elite land divisions are hanging alone in South Korea, and the naval divisions have no time to repair and replenish. The fate of Beiyang can be imagined...... But with one more Xu Yifan, what kind of changes will happen?

The opportunity has come, and I have made countless preparations. But it's still too sinister to predict!

There is no doubt that all his plans are to become a hero in this Great Tribulation, and officially embark on the road of usurpation, but can all this be as he wishes?

Is it struggling with the ups and downs of history, or can he tie the dragon with his bare hands?

With a snap, Chu Wanli threw the red and blue pencils on the map: "If I were Li Hongzhang, I would quickly order a retreat now, and North Korea would be lost to us." In this kind of situation, if you want to win, unless you ...... in your dreams"

Xu Yifan patted the map: "Li Hongzhang will not retreat." ”

Chu Wanli looked at him, and Xu Yifan also glared at him. In history, Li Hongzhang did not withdraw in the first place! Now that there is more of him here, up to the imperial court, down to Li Hongzhang, can he really rest assured that North Korea will play with him?

"Then only we can do a good job, eat if we win, and eat porridge if we don't win. It's all on your own......" Chu Wanli shrugged his shoulders, he had been dealing with German devils for a long time, and he had also learned a lot of foreign devils.

Xu Yifan smiled: "What does Yunzong mean?" ”

Li Yunzong has been silently looking at the map, and replied without raising his head: "We only need to perform a little better than Beiyang...... My lord, I have faith in the Praetorian Guard. ”

Xu Yifan looked at him, this guy looked iron-blooded all day long, but he didn't expect to be sober! I know what I mean, good man!

Chu Wanli just sneered: "With such a big battle, the two countries are fighting each other, and they still want to keep their hands...... No one knows what will change! Everyone, when the time comes, nothing will change as expected! ”

Xu Yifan just glared at him fiercely, eager to kill this guy with his eyes! Tell all the things he worries about in his heart!

Although he has been planning for a long time, arranging for a long time, and preparing for a long time. I've been eagerly looking forward to this period, but it's really coming. Under the calm bearing, there is an indescribable fragility.

After all, this is a battle of fortune that has laid the general trend of East Asia for a hundred years! He had 20,000 soldiers, but there were no more than 10,000 soldiers. The territory is only close to the left of the Datong River, and it is the enemy of the world. To navigate this war, will everything really change according to his expectations?

However, we have come to this point. Everything, just come.

He sighed softly and dropped the red and blue pencil in his hand. Li Hongzhang can't retreat, how can he retreat?

This general trend in East Asia, the road to usurpation, is already in front of usurpation, but can you grasp it yourself?

(To be continued)