Hiroshima.

In the base camp, there was a joyful atmosphere. The people sitting down kept nodding and smiling at each other, and they couldn't suppress their pride. From time to time, the sound of leather boots clattering and saluting together. The lieutenants and secretaries will also look at each other and give Scotch whisky at the right time. Now when Yuben is still worshipping the ocean, drinking some of this wine when celebrating is more magnificent than Yuben's own wine.

Navy victory! The army also won a big victory!

Needless to say, the main force of the Beiyang Fleet has retreated to Lushun for urgent repairs, and it is expected that the next step is to return to the home port of Weihai. There is no longer the will and ability to fight a decisive battle at sea, and the ocean has been left to the free passage of the fleet. The Beiyang Naval Division, which was once overwhelmed, has now become a thing of the past!

On land, Yama Youpeng personally went out to attack from two directions with only more than 10,000 troops of the first division, capturing Seoul within half a month, breaking through the elite main force of the Huai Army of 25,600, and aiming directly at the key pass of Pyongyang. The land war also tested the quality of the Huai army that the Qing court relied on for the Great Wall, and the war was not good, and the defense was not solid, and the land division that had been trained hard completely had the upper hand!

Now that the strategic situation is extremely favorable to Yueben, the gates of Gyeonggi and the hinterland of the northeast of the Qing Dynasty have been opened, and under the cover of the sea power controlled by the combined fleet, the army can choose the focus of the attack at will. The main force of the northern land division of the Qing court has been defeated, and even if it recruits troops temporarily, it will not be able to gather much strength. As long as the national strength of Yuben can support the consumption of the war, it is not too much of a problem to hit Yanjing City...... With such an advantage, how can you not make this full seat of elites so excited that they almost lose their temper?

The guests on the seat pointed and scratched, all with arrogant looks.

"Qingguo is no longer good! They were clad in the fur of a tiger, but underneath them were nothing more than cowardly cats...... East Asia should be put in the hands of more capable peoples! ”

"The two hundred years of rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty have indeed degraded the determination and will of the Han nation...... Ethnic change is also a regular thing, China has ruled East Asia for 2,000 years, and I say that this empire should also have 2,000 years of luck, right? ”

These words are made by ambitious politicians.

“…… The Qing Army is really too old...... And not their weapons. It's that they have no idea how to build and raise a modern army! From the establishment, from the training, from the combat tactics, from the courage, all are backward in all aspects...... And there is no offensive spirit at all! In front of our brave Imperial Army, it is difficult for them to have any ability to resist, it turns out that Li Hongzhang boasted of being an elite soldier who had been training hard for 20 years, and this was what it looked like? ”

"The Qing Army is fighting for silver, but our Imperial Army is fighting for the Emperor and the fate of the Kingdom of God! If the Qing people don't understand this truth, they will never build an army that can fight a war! ”

"Now is the time to take advantage of the fact that the main force of the Qing State is in Korea, land in Dalian Bay as soon as possible, and then attack the Qing port in Shandong...... It's a pity that Tianjin has Westerners' concessions and interests, otherwise we could have attacked Tianjin directly! What should the emperor of the Qing Dynasty do? ”

"Isn't the base camp going to make a decision this time and make a comprehensive unforward attack? Ladies and gentlemen, the opportunity for the Army to make contributions is right in front of you! Don't be beaten by the navy! ”

Naturally, it was the generals of the army who made such a discussion about the shining stars of the epaulettes and the sonorous collision of Western-style sabers. Speak loudly and laugh loudly, as if you are afraid that the whole room will not be able to hear. Lieutenant General Zachu Kawa Kami, who is the core figure of this group of base camp army generals, still maintains some reserve, just nodding and smiling.

It is said that the direction in which the navy is now being taught has always been British. Navy officers eat Western food and speak English, although they are all small and short-legged, but they still have to learn a bit of the gentlemanly style of the British. Seeing that the army opened his voice and loudly praised his exploits, he nodded and smiled at each other, and there was a hint of disdain in his smile.

“…… If our navy hadn't defeated the Beiyang Naval Division, what would these army horse manure talk about attacking the heart of the Qing country? The next attack operation, that time do you want our navy to cooperate with the cover transport? Even if we don't ship a day's supplies, it's up to you to go hungry and fight......"

When the warm atmosphere in the room reached its peak, he heard the attendant military attache shouting: "His Excellency Ito, the chief commander of the base camp, has arrived!" ”

Prince Oriingu has fallen ill again, and has returned to Tokyo to recuperate, and Emperor Meiji has not yet appointed a new chief of staff, and now the entire base camp is Ito Hirobumi in one word!

Everyone stood up with a bang, and the sound of riding boots bumping against each other. Everyone stood solemnly, and they heard the sound of leather shoes sounding briskly, and then they saw Ito Hirobumi walking in in a formal dress with a spring breeze on his face. With a bang, the attendant lieutenant unfolded a huge map behind him, on which several huge cyan arrows had been marked from the sea and land!

Everyone's eyes were already attracted to the map, and Ito also stood there with a smile and a smile waiting for everyone to look at it for a while. Hearing the buzz of the discussion, he lengthened his voice: "His Majesty the Emperor's edict of Heyin!" ”

“…… The ministers worked state affairs, and won successive battles, and our invincible imperial army had fallen to Seoul, and even destroyed the enemy's boast of the strongest navy in Asia. I also hope that all the ministers will make persistent efforts and win a complete victory in the war! ”

"If the ministers dare not be afraid, they will only die!"

Ito smiled and stretched out his hand to signal everyone to sit down. The goal that a politician has been striving for for many years is in front of him, and he will inevitably rise in East Asia after this war. Even if he is as deep as Ito and is in the high position of prime minister, he really can't hold back the smile on his face. He calmed down, stretched out one hand, and pointed to the map behind him: "The general mobilization of the expedition is already in full swing!" Ladies and gentlemen, the final battle you are looking forward to is just around the corner! ”

“…… His Majesty the Emperor's 3rd and 5th Divisions formed the 1st Army of the Seiqing Army, which was responsible for the Korean War. Under the cover of the navy, the Fifth Division from the front, and the Third Division from the flank, flanked the last remnants of the Qing State stationed in Korea, overcame Pyongyang, and forced the Yalu River - the Yalu River is not the final boundary of the First Army, and it must go all the way to the west and step into the northeast territory of the Qing Dynasty! Advance to Liaonan Attack! ”

“…… His Majesty the Emperor's 2nd and 6th Divisions of the Army formed the Second Army of the Qing Dynasty, and they had already begun to organize their ship groups, so they must land on the Qing State's Dalian Bay before September, attack and advance to the northeast, and capture Lushun, which the Qing State boasted of being the largest fortress in Asia! ”

“…… His Majesty the Emperor's First Division of the Army, as a reserve corps of the Second Army of the Qing Dynasty, after the fall of Lushun, with the cooperation of the Navy, attacked Weihai, the general base of the Beiyang Naval Division! ”

“…… His Majesty the Emperor's navy is to fully control the sea power, cover the transportation of army ships and regiments, blockade the Qing navy in the port, and master the specific tactics at the discretion of the Combined Fleet, and the base camp will not be ......controlled by remote control."

"Gentlemen! When the Imperial Army controlled Korea, controlled Lushun, controlled Weihai. After the main forces of the First Army and the Second Army converge in the northeast of the Qing Kingdom, we can wait for the envoy of the Qing State to sue for peace! The base camp has made a full mobilization decision, and the strength of the monarchs is pursued! The first large-scale battle was the Battle of Pyongyang, and after the arrival of the 3rd Division on Wonsan, it was expected that around 20 August, a full-scale battle would be launched to annihilate the main force of Qing Korea and the Praetorian Guard, which had brought us trouble, in the area of the Taedong River! ”

After Ito finished the strategic decision of the base camp in one breath, his hands were clenched into fists, he leaned on the conference table, and looked at the people present with blazing eyes: "Gentlemen, do you have any questions?" ”

"Your Excellency! Why wait for the Qing state's peace envoy? After our First Army and Second Army achieved such an advantage, why didn't we directly approach the Qing State and directly subordinate it to the Gyeonggi Plain, so that it would be better for the Qing State to be an alliance under the city? If the strength is not enough, we can also organize the third army and the fourth army, and the Qing Army lacks combat effectiveness, and it will definitely not be the opponent of our Imperial Army! ”

Ito smiled faintly, it was really satisfying to show his strategic superiority in front of these people. (During the Meiji Restoration, there were a few famous ministers and generals with a comprehensive strategic outlook, as if they were genetically mutated.) Later, it was the weasel cubs, and a litter was not as good as a litter, and the true character of the national surname that was said to be the emphasis on small profits and the overall situation was restored. It is indeed necessary to grasp the limited historical opportunity to make the country rise, and it does require great wisdom. During the Victorian period of Britain and the founding of the United States, all of them gathered together for a while, and the state of talent was at its peak, which could not be replicated in a hundred years, and I don't know whether the heroes created the times, or the times created heroes? A sigh. - Oscar Note)

“…… When a war begins, it prepares for the end. I don't know how to end it, what is it going to do with this battle? Our purpose is to force the Qing country to shake and seize the benefits as much as possible, and we have not yet destroyed a country, especially the power of such a large country! Gentlemen, you must know the limits of your abilities...... However, the contemptible people believe that the great cause of the empire's future conquest will be smoother and smoother every time! We can coerce Zhili and intimidate the emperors and ministers of the Qing Dynasty, but the battle of Zhili is harmful and cannot be supported by our national strength...... Got it? With such a strategic advantage in our country, the Qing State will not fail to seek peace...... Got it? ”

The questioner bowed and sat down, looking convinced. Ito glanced around at the people present, and was satisfied with the announcement that the meeting was over, and the detailed decision-making operation plan was about to be issued. I heard one of the people present raise his hand, then stood up and saluted Ito respectfully: "Your Excellency, can the battle of Pyongyang be carried out arbitrarily by the general of the prefecture?" ”

Ito was stunned, and the person who stood up was none other than Kawakami Koroku, with a faint look on his face. Ito was immediately a little displeased, it was this Lieutenant General Kawakami who made a high estimate of Xu Yifan, and he took prudent measures in the base camp decision-making, and after the 3rd Division landed in Wonsan, it attacked Pyongyang with the 5th Division in front. Now it's him who jumps out against it!

Seeing that Ito's face sank, Kawakami still looked unmoved: "Your Excellency, General Yama Prefecture swept most of North Korea from the headquarters of the Fifth Division of the dissatisfied army, and more than 20,000 Huai troops were defeated. Now that the troops have approached Pyongyang, if the general is asked to take a cautious stance, wait for the 3rd Division...... I'm afraid this will hurt the self-esteem of the general of the county and the army. Please consider carefully! ”

As soon as these words came out, the army generals present nodded one after another, looking like they were related to me.

Ito frowned irritably: "Kawakami-kun, it is ......you who say that the combat effectiveness of the Qing Guard's combat effectiveness cannot be underestimated" He already understood in his heart that the navy had achieved such a great achievement by breaking through the Beiyang Naval Division. No matter how the army attacked the Qing headquarters in the future, it would be said that the navy risked the death to fight a decisive battle and cleared the way for the army. Although Kawakami also thinks highly of Xu Yifan's strength, at this time, he must fight for the army. The huge merits of the post-war period are to be divided, and the specific merits represent the influence of the army and navy in the future of the empire!

At this time, the army must strive to annihilate the Qing army headquarters in Pyongyang in advance, and then cross the Yalu River as soon as possible. This is a real achievement of the Army itself. They will step into the Qing territory one step earlier than the navy to open the way and enter the Qing country before the Dalian Bay raid operation that is fully covered!

The faces of the admirals present also turned ugly. Kawakami's face was pale, and he seemed to be a little shaken and hesitant, and finally bowed deeply: "Please believe in the army, and believe in the general of Shanxian County!" Please be sure to give the general of Shan County a chance! ”

"Are you sure?" Ito asked coldly.

"I will live up to your trust!" Kawakami Yakoroku, who is desperately standing on the position of the army, only has a dead duck's mouth to the end.

There was silence in the room, and Ito nodded heavily, and his tone was cold: "Then the base camp will give His Excellency the Yama County General the power to decide!" Let's see how the army can take Pyongyang as soon as possible and sweep away the whole of Korea! ”

You can't help but give the army this face...... Now he can still suppress the army and navy and let them cooperate as much as possible. After you go, what about after the Meiji ministers go? What will become of the Imperial Army and Navy?

At this time, this thought flashed through Ito's mind.

Maybe that Xu Yifan really can't be a hit in the army. Li Hongzhang is already the most capable Qing countryman, and his elite main force is nothing more than that, what can Xu Yifan do?

The curtain of war will be opened, and no one can save it!

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

Hwanghae-do, North Korea, Seoheung.

The general flag of the First Army of the Qing Dynasty was flying high in this city.

The soldiers of the brigade are either on the march or in a short period of repair. After more than ten days of fighting, this army already looked quite embarrassed, its uniforms were broken, and everyone looked black and thin. The field kitchen was erected around the city, and every pot was churning, but there was not much rice in it, but there were all kinds of wild vegetables, and a few livestock were slaughtered, and they were divided according to each squadron, and each squadron was really limited.

With such a bleak meal, the soldiers and officers who were marching and repairing couldn't stop looking in the direction of the field kitchen. The Adam's apple rolled up and down, and his eyes looked hungry and green.

On the tail of the marching army, there are often more emaciated and embarrassed Korean people, most of whom are old and weak, and few are young and strong. Carrying the army's few supplies on his shoulders and head, he numbly moved forward under the bayonets and horsewhips of the army, and fell into the mud, most of which could not get up.

At this time, the logistics of the army are far from being able to fully support large-scale operations, and it would be good to be able to ensure the delivery of ammunition. All grain and fodder must be requisitioned and distributed on the spot. Fortunately, when fighting in South Korea, Seoul fell, and the military rice left by the Huai army could not be eaten. When you arrive in North Korea, it's a different story entirely, with sparsely populated roads and clean migrations. Most of the villages have been burned, and the fields have been burned to ashes. It's completely hard and clear!

Of course, this is the credit of Jiang Ziming's cavalry, as well as Nan Yunrong's cooperation with the annihilation. The army was originally lightly pursued, tired and hungry all the way, and encountered heavy rain for several days. Immediately announced that the cooking was cut off and went out to collect food, the small troops often could not come back, and the large troops could not go far, and they could not catch anything. Some people at the military station had already taken the blame and laid off their own crimes, so they had no choice but to order the people in south Korea to quickly organize the people and transport the materials they had looted from that side to the north immediately. Hundreds of miles of roads, how many people can transport it!

The vanguard of the army had already made contact with the outpost of the Praetorian Guard, and for this army with the Canglong banner, the army thought that after releasing the gun, a charge would collapse—the same as Ye Zhichao's department. As a result, after several small-scale fire reconnaissance, the other side showed no signs of collapse at all, and the resistance was not hurried, and after a while, it retreated to the rear. The outpost of the army advanced so hard, first received hundreds of corpses from a large number of families, and then all the departments reported one after another, and in the area of Dongxian Ridge, they found that the main positions of the enemy army, stretching for a long time, were in front of them, and there were a large number of enemies stationed in front of them! You have to attack with the main force to advance in order to break it!

Therefore, the army had to stop on the spot, wait for all the infantry to catch up, and pull up the artillery. In any case, they still believe that as long as the main force comes up and makes all efforts to break through the current resistance and reach North Korea, there will be absolutely no problem!

In the yamen of the former envoy of the Ruixing Joseon Dynasty, the officers of the Fifth Division sat around the table. The yamen was also burned, and the roof was open with teeth and teeth, so that you could see the stars when you slept at night. Now it is the location of the headquarters of the First Army of the Qing Dynasty.

Up to the army commander Yama County Youpeng, the Fifth Division Zhang Yejin Daoguan, down to the staff officers at all levels, as well as the wing commander and captain, all gathered in this dilapidated house. Shan County treated, rice mixed with wheat, miso soup, a little vegetable tempura, as well as black plum and a little sugar, and the officers at all levels ate a snoring without lifting their heads.

Shan Shan also looked much haggard, with a deep beard. He finished eating first, quietly watching the eating appearance of the officers below, and waited for everyone to finish eating. He nodded lightly: "I have wronged you, when I return to Yuben, I will definitely make up for everyone's best kaiseki cuisine......"

Lieutenant General Michikani Nozu was a grinning fat man, touching his belly and laughing: "It's already the best meal in recent times!" I thought that His Excellency the General had summoned us to come and announce something important, but I didn't expect it to be a banquet, what a blessing! ”

The officers below were about to laugh in agreement, but they saw Shan Shan stand up and bow deeply to the east. All the officers hurriedly stood up, touched the dishes and rattled, and bowed with him.

When Shan County raised his head, he already had a murderous face: "Our army has been approved by the base camp, and it can make an independent decision to launch a main attack on the frontal Qing army!" ”

"Huh?"

"Hooray!"

The officers who reacted raised their arms and shouted, they were also full of murderous energy! The front of the base camp ordered them to wait for the arrival of the 3rd Division and launch an attack together. But if it drags on like this, I'm afraid that the sharpness will be exhausted!

From the mountain to the county down, I don't understand why the base camp is so cautious, can the Qing [***] team stop their progress? Waiting here, when the Third Division arrives, I am afraid that the Fifth Division itself will be half starving. It's better to take advantage of the current sharpness and attack directly, as long as Pyongyang falls, all the supplies that are lacking will be replenished!

Shanxian looked cold: "My brave first army, my brave fifth division, can't live up to the high hopes of the base camp!" Now the officer commands! The whole division was ready to launch an attack on 15 August. The four wings are all in battle, and they must go down to Dongxian Ridge in one battle! Twenty days ago, I will see the military flag flying at the head of Pyongyang. The Qing general Xu Yifan, who hurt my loyal and brave soldiers, I want you to lead him in front of me! ”

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"Ahh Xu Yifan woke himself up from a good sleep with a sneeze. Recently, he has been able to eat and sleep, and the situation is like this, just waiting for the battle to see the winner, and there is no need to think about anything else.

"Who wants me to come? I can't even dream of it! It can't be my daughters-in-law, right? Xu Yifan touched his chin in a daze: "It's a pity that North Korean girls really don't have anything to look at, otherwise I, a minister who is on the mission of Siqin, secretly find one to warm the bed, it's not a big sin, right?" Anyway, if Lao Tzu can defeat the devil, it will be! ”

He didn't finish thinking about it half-asleep, tilted his head and fell asleep again. Chen De, who was napping at the door, was also awakened by Xu Yifan, and when he stood up with a pistol, he wanted to look inside, but then he heard an even low snoring.

He put his pistol back in his holster and sat back down at the door.

"My sister is blessed, look at Lord Xu, the devil is pressing, and she is so calm!"

(To be continued)