Maseki.

At night, the Sekido Strait between the main islands of Shikoku, which is directly facing Shimonoseki, is the time when the moon is as bright as a mirror and the waves are shining. Looking up to the sky, a bright moon appears large and round, like an ice plate, unchanged for thousands of years.

A warship of the Imperial Navy, perhaps the old ship of the emperor of the feudal state, is agitating the paddle wheel, passing along the coast with a roar, the whistle is desolate, and the splash of the two paddle wheels on the side of the ship brings a little light, but it adds a little cold meaning.

On the beach, Ito Hirobumi wears a Western-style coat and sings a Chinese poem.

“…… The river sky is a color without fiber dust, the lonely moon wheel in the bright hole, who first saw the moon on the riverside, and when did the river and the moon shine at the beginning of the year? …… Life has been infinite from generation to generation, and Jiang Yue looks similar every year. I don't know who Jiang Yue treats, but I see the Yangtze River sending flowing water! ”

The tone is gloomy and distant, as if there is a hundred years of depression, and it is silent in the heart.

Suddenly, he coughed again, and several of the attendants who were standing in the shadows moved, trying to follow, but Ito waved his hand backwards as if he had eyes behind him, and no one dared to move.

Ito remained one of the most powerful men in the empire.

Although the army and navy went alone, and combined with a considerable number of new chaebols, some of the old ministers such as Inoue Shin, the Meiji Emperor had to disband the base camp and put His Majesty the Emperor alone in the form of "military order return". Stealing the dominance of the war, and even the diplomatic power. However, Ito Hirobumi, as the person with the highest status left in the Meiji era, also represents the interests of a considerable number of Chinese, chaebols, and Anglo-American politicians, and such a position cannot be easily shaken. The Imperial Diet had planned to impeach Ito, but in the blink of an eye, it fell silent. And no one dared to suggest that Ito Hirobumi would be the head of the cabinet. It's just that there are still some rumors behind it: "As an important minister and samurai, if you are a little shameless, you should have the courage to bear the responsibility for the military disadvantage and diplomatic defeat in the early stage, even if you don't cut your stomach, you should always resign!" ”

However, Ito Hirobumi remained in the position of prime minister without saying a word, and although he had lost control of the war, he also left Tokyo and temporarily lived in Shimonoseki to recuperate. His posture, although the army and navy who walked alone expressed dissatisfaction on the surface, but the people in the army and navy bureau did not feel relieved, in the deepest part of their hearts, I am afraid that they also felt the same, when they walked alone like this in the unlikely event that the situation was unfavorable, there was also this lonely Ito Hirobumi on the shore, which could also be used as the last reliance of the Yuben Empire!

"Your Excellency, I hope you can understand my painstaking efforts, in the army, the only one I can count on now is you! The current glimmer of life of the empire, which can guarantee not to fall into the irretrievable abyss, is not in our hands! Do you understand? ”

Ito Hirobumi looked up at the moon with a gloomy expression, but the secret letter that passed through the fast steamer to the Imperial War Minister, the Earl, and the commander of the General of the Second Army, Oyama Yan, passed through his heart word by word, and his mind was only tied to this letter.

“…… Your Excellency, this is a failure! With a small number of soldiers in a big country, with decades of national strength in the civilized and restored districts, the military and financial equipment are ten times that of my Qing country, and the quick battle cannot be won, and the imperial opportunity will not be in the hands of you and me.

If you dream of the first day, a generation of heroes have worked hard to create the fortune of decades, and the most recent time, from the palm of your and my generation, but just a stone's throw away! We have exhausted the personnel to the extreme, but the Qing country has a Xu Yifan who does not descend!

The army and navy went alone, and this generation was ignorant of the current situation and lighter than advancing and retreating. I don't know that once the time passes, I will no longer turn around, and I will not abandon the current things, I am afraid that in a few decades, the empire will sink in a corner of the East China Sea!

The contemptible man did not give up his position as the center, and even endured humiliation and stealing his life, hoping that with this crippled body, he could save the fortune of the empire in case of emergency. The Western powers were already inclined to the Qing State at this time, and the Qing State had one Xu and one Fan, and they would fight to the death. If I continue to fight in Zhili, if Xu Yifan destroys the essence that I have raised for twenty years, the empire will no longer have the ability to resist. This is the youngest person, the most fearful one, if Xu Yifan's son brings this to help the crisis and make great contributions, steal the power of the Qing Dynasty, and use this person's hero, the future of the empire, will be Yi Hu Di?

The empire is feared, not the boss's Qing country. The empire is afraid, only Xu Yifan swept up the tide and awakened the 40,000 terrible creatures in East Asia! East Asia for 2,000 years has been controlled by this Yanhuang Huaxia. Jiashen Manchuria East Yiding Ding Central Plains, for the Manchurian family, had to suppress this great nation, destroy, oppression, in recent years, there are more Western powers to press, this tribe snoring deeply, once awakened, the empire wants not to sink on the land, how can it be obtained?

The only chance of life now is not in one or two victories on the battlefield, but between the center of the Qing Kingdom! Xu Yifan's rise was too fast, and he did not operate for a long time. The only ones who are afraid are the Praetorian Guards and the prestige. If you can stay between Lushun and Jinzhou, you will not seek an inch, but only delay. The more time passes, the more tired Xu Yifan's troops become, and the prestige he relies on will be said to be invaded and eliminated. In the center of the Qing Dynasty, there is no doubt that there is no doubt about the self-respect of the Kou and the person who peeps at the artifact. Moreover, this person is only in North Korea, that is, the heavy troops of our two divisions are broken, and Your Excellency Shan County has become a god, if Your Excellency can endure for March and May, even if there is no doubt between the countryside of the Qing Dynasty?

Xu Yifan hung his troops in southern Liaoning, and was not allowed to operate the existing land in North Korea, and the land where the two rivers would be, and the Praetorian Guards fought hard, but also suffered heavy losses. The center of the Qing Kingdom must have the means to deal with Xu Yifan! Once this person goes, why should the Qing Kingdom be afraid? Even if we withdraw our troops and make peace, there is no doubt that we will return to the East Asian continent!

Just an inch of heart, you can learn from the sky, the fate of the empire is only tied to your own thoughts! ”

"General Earl, it should be the last person to understand in the army......" Ito Hirobumi sighed lowly, although he has exhausted his talents and is grasping the last ray of life for this empire, but what is the outcome, he is just an ordinary man, how can he understand?

But it was his lifelong wish to let the empire control the future destiny of East Asia!

A low voice suddenly came from behind: "Your Excellency, Toushan-kun has arrived." ”

Ito Hirobumi tightened his clothes, turned around slowly, and saw a figure in a kimono on the silver-white beach illuminated by the moonlight, getting closer and closer. Ito Hirobumi smiled bitterly, ronins and spies, in his heart, have always been icing on the cake, and history has never been driven by conspiracy. But at this time, he also had to rely on these means.

Touyama walked closer, in front of Ito Hirobumi, his expression was always so respectful, in the sound of the tide crashing on the shore, he bowed respectfully to Ito Hirobumi: "Your Excellency, the contemptible person is here on order." I wonder what your Excellency commands? ”

Ito Hirobumi's coat was blown up by the sea breeze, and with his current physical condition, he shouldn't have fought on the beach for so long, but he just stood here night after night, watching, thinking, and smiling bitterly.

"Toushan-kun, I raised a special fee of about six million yuan...... You must know that up to the present time in this war, the special expenses spent by the army are only 750,000 yuan...... I'll hand it over to you, and you will spend it all when you get it to Qingguo! The imperial historian of the Qing State, the generals of the Qing State in southern Liaoning, all kinds of people who can play a role in this war, you have to find a way to contact and find a way to buy! I only have one request, let everyone's spearhead be aimed at Xu Yifan and his group! ”

Tou Shanman's expression did not move, and he bent down slightly, he was still the gentle and elegant appearance that Xu Yifan had when he first saw him. After listening to Ito Hirobumi's instructions, he thought for a moment and said with a wry smile: "Your Excellency, it is very difficult, the Xuanyang Society does not have so many connections, and Xu Yifan is now as prestigious as Zhongtian in China, if he wants to attack him, even if he takes the money, he will not do anything." ”

Hirobumi Ito looked at him quietly, his expression almost transparent. When he came to Maguan, he had always looked unhealthy. If it had been someone else, he would have fallen a long time ago, but it seemed that there was still something to support at the end, and he still stood straight in the sea breeze.

“…… Regarding the relationship between Qing Guo, I have some friends who can assist you. There are also foreigner friends, so you don't need to worry about this...... As for whether the attack on Xu Yifan has any effect...... When this war could not end quickly, Xu Yifan's heavy troops were always placed in southern Liaoning, where the Beijing division was elbowed and armpited. The tide he stirred up will always subside...... Qingguo has not completely woken up! At that time, will there be no characters who attack Xu Yifan? You must know that Xu Yifan is in North Korea, or if he goes to Liangjiang in the future, it will be difficult for us to deal with him, and these have been proven countless times. But now he is alone in southern Liaoning, except for the Praetorian Guard, the team he pulled up single-handedly may not be reliable! ”

Toushan raised his head violently: "Didn't the army ask for a quick advance to Zhili and hold a battle in Zhili?" Your Excellency, can you still order the Army to carry out the humiliating delay of the most undesirable and humiliating kind of death? ”

Ito Hirofumi raised his head proudly in front of Touyama Man, under any circumstances, he would not show the slightest weakness in front of this spy leader, the head of the ronin.

"This is the empire I built!"

Tou Shanman didn't say anything more, just bowed deeply. Ito Hirobumi wrapped his coat tightly and spoke lightly, and the sea breeze came, blowing his modest words into pieces.

"Toushan-kun, I know your Excellency's ambitions, if this matter can save the fate of the empire, I can arrange for your Excellency to enter the cabinet, starting with the minister. Within 10 years, I can guarantee that you will be in the position of Prime Minister! ”

Toushan was full of violent shocks, and they, the remnants of the southwestern domains, started from the lord Xixiang Longsheng, and they were not adhering to this dream? Who doesn't want to take the fate of the empire into their own hands?

He bowed again, nodded heavily, and turned to stride away, leaving only Ito Hirofumi's thin figure standing in the sea breeze.

Watching Toushan go away, Ito Hirobumi looked up into the distance, the silver wheel like an ice tray was still cold and lonely hanging above the sea and sky, thousands of years, she watched the flow of luck in the world, and watched the ups and downs of the heroes of the world.

With a pounce, Ito Hirobumi spit out a mouthful of blood, and the entourage standing behind him was shocked, and rushed up to support his crumbling body, and when he shook his hand, it was cold!

"Hey, little Toshio Ito from Yamaguchi, do you really think that the fate of the empire can be reversed?" In the arms of his flustered entourage, Ito Hirobumi closed his eyes and muttered, at this moment, he seemed to never want to wake up again.

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

"My lord, don't you really think that the little devil is still planning to rush up and fight him to the death, right?"

In a ruined temple north of the Great Stone Bridge, Chu Wanli held a candlestick and illuminated a map hanging on the wall.

Since Xu Yifan collected all the troops in southern Liaoning and began to prepare for a counterattack, Chu Wanli immediately put his command position from Liaoyang all the way to the front line guarded by the Dashiqiao army, which was only more than ten miles away. More than 10,000 people fought in Korea for 3,000 miles, and the main force of the Praetorian Guard in Haidong was drawn at the same time and gathered troops in one place. However, they did not launch an attack on the army in front of them, and the front line of Tianzhuangtai was full of artillery fire, but in the area of Dashiqiao, the two sides were silently confrontational, ignoring a single shot.

Xu Yifan's instructions were very clear, strategic judgments were always made by him, and specific tactical command and combat organization were the affairs of the officers and the officers who led the troops. In Xu Yifan's judgment, according to the consistent arrogant style of the army, it will definitely not retreat, especially at this moment of reversal of the war situation, the army will definitely concentrate the main force and fight a decisive battle with the armies of southern Liaoning, either victory or destruction! He waved his army to storm the front line of Tianzhuangtai, and did his best to turn the focus of the attack of the army to the west, and the Praetorian Guard army wanted to seize the gap in the northern line of the army and resolutely slammed its flank.

Chu Wanli held the candlestick and looked at the map carefully, all kinds of markings on it were already densely packed, there was still a hint of mockery at the corner of his mouth, and the military uniform on his body was also loose, never expect this kid to be as standard as Li Yunzong's military posture.

Xu Yifan's decision, after two years, is not much different from the oracle in the Praetorian Guard. The Praetorian Guards were all focused on the narrow area from Grange Terrace in the west, to Dashiqiao in the north, and no more than Gaiping in the south, where the main battle of the two sides was expected. However, Chu Wanli was on the front line of Dashiqiao, and did not deploy the Praetorian Guards in a single line, and only one target was arranged on the front line, which was still a target in the second town of the Praetorian Guard. The four targets of the first town of the Praetorian Guard, which had the most combat effectiveness, were still all arranged in marching columns, with artillery and machine guns on pack horses, ammunition and military supplies not getting off the wagons, and there was no intention of launching the main force for a battle, but putting on a posture of marching and pursuing!

"We, adults, really think that little devils are so kind? Aren't you afraid that the little devil will shrink with his life and defend Jinzhou Lushun? The longer this battle is fought, the less qualified this Xu Wumu will become......"

He scratched his head and put the red and blue pencil on his ear: "...... How do I think that the little devil who thinks in his head is not the real little devil now? The little devil in his head is tougher, but also dumber? He couldn't understand that the devil didn't have many soldiers on the front line of Tianzhuangtai on the right bank of the Liao River, otherwise he could fight so smoothly with the soldiers of Nie Shicheng and Yi Ketang'a? ”

There was a sound of footsteps outside, and Chu Wanli asked without looking back, "What's the situation ahead?" ”

A staff officer snapped upright: "The battle line of the first brigade of the first division of the army is still not moving!" ”

Chu Wanli snorted and waved his hand to let the staff officer retreat. The situation on the front line was reported once a day according to his request, but no matter how it was reported, he just did not give the order to attack.

The staff officer hesitated for a moment, and then slammed his heel and hit Lizheng: "Lord Chu! ”

Chu Wanli was so frightened by the big voice of this staff officer that his hands trembled, the candle oil dripped on his hands, and he jumped up and shook his hands in pain: "Fuck, Chu Laozi is not dead, there is no need to shout souls!" ”

The staff officer stood stubbornly: "My lord! Order the troops to unfold! Now that the main force is in a marching column, how can it be pulled up when it really wants to fight? The marshal is fighting hard in the west, we can't just watch! ”

Chu Wanli shook his arms there, jumped up and burned his hands with the candle just now, and now he was holding his paws and turning around, when he heard this, he tilted his head: "Are you smart?" Little bastard, go to the front, keep an eye on Lao Tzu, the devil has a little movement, just notify me! ”

The staff officer was driven out by Chu Wanli like something, and he muttered and ran to the front again: "The troops don't deploy, what is the little devil moving, let's just run into it?" When the big handsome man was not there, Lord Chu began to be lazy......"

Of course, Chu Wanli heard the staff officer's muttering, but he just smiled. The troops below have heard a lot of slander against him in the past few days, but most of the time he just laughs. He walked out of the ruined temple, and the guards standing at the door saluted solemnly with guns, and he didn't return the salute, but slipped out with his hands behind his back.

Looking to the west, there was a faint red light in the dark sky in the distance, which was bombarded by artillery fire, but the sound of artillery could no longer be heard here. Looking at the big stone bridge himself, there is nothing but darkness or darkness. In the silence of the night, more than 10,000 of the most elite tiger warriors in the entire Qing Dynasty were silently waiting for the order to launch the attack. On the other side, there are also tens of thousands of soldiers.

This war is really coming to an end.

"My lord, sometimes you don't see it so clearly, I really think you know everything...... I'll fight this last battle for you...... Save you from thinking that Lao Tzu will only eat......"

However, Chu Wanli had a habit similar to Xu Yifan, and the serious look on his face couldn't last for three minutes, and then he collapsed his shoulders and began to scratch his head: "It's fucking weird, I understand this adult, I can take advantage of it without suffering." At the beginning, I had already made enough face without surrendering, and the prestige of this war had reached the top of the mountain, and it was downhill wherever I went, and it was too late...... It is also true that he resigned from the Manchurian general to run the two rivers. Now that the situation is clear, no matter how much the little devil plans, he is still dying, why do he have to stay on the cusp of this? With a bunch of Liaonan armies counterattacking, do you have to finish this battle from beginning to end? If you win the war, you should, if it is a little unfavorable, it is to smash your own signature time-honored brand, this business is a big loss, if you change me, now take advantage of the Yiketang A to go up, stop and stop going to Liangjiang, take advantage of the collapse of Beiyang to quickly recruit strength, and leave a few thousand soldiers to fight here, with credit, can you still have a share of Haidong Xu Shuai? Why do you have to play the whole game? …… Or do you think that there are a lot of big and small women in the family, and when they arrive in Liangjiang, they are all newlywed after a long absence, and they can't satisfy others, so they are here? ”

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In a gray mist, Xu Yifan was alone, stumbling and walking for a long time. Outside the fog, there is breathless darkness. There is also a voice that has been echoing in this empty world: "I give you this chance, I give you this chance!" Tear through the darkness of this hundred years! ”

Xu Yifan was not afraid, but he was surprised, what about his tens of thousands of tigers? What about Pu Yang, who follows him all day long? And Chen De, what about these loyal Goshha?

Suddenly, when he thought of this, he simply opened his voice: "Pu Yang! Where's your kid? Chen De! Lao Tzu wanted to supervise the army to advance, personally pressed behind the head of Song Qingying, and erected the banner of Lao Tzu Canglong to see if they could sell their strength! Hurry up and escort Lao Tzu to the front! ”

In the midst of the roar, the mist turned, revealing a faint figure. The figure seemed to be standing on the bridge of a warship, with its back like a mountain, holding a telescope and staring into the distance. Hearing Xu Yifan's roar, he put down his binoculars and turned his head and smiled slightly.

In an instant, Xu Yifan was surprised and delighted: "Zhengqing! Why are you here? I heard that Zhiyuan is sinking, how did you come here? ”

The person standing on the bridge was Deng Shichang! He laughed, and his brows no longer had a trace of gloom that always hung there: "Brother Chuanqing, how could I die, how could Zhiyuan sink?" I still remember the incident of our bombardment of Nanyang, and now I will take Zhiyuan around here and take a look at the Chinese people who were once protected by me! ”

Xu Yifan strode over, standing side by side with Deng Shichang, the scenery in front of him changed, and it was already the blue sea and blue sky of the South Sea. The bow of the Zhiyuan ship was at the foot, plowing a white wave, and the muzzle of the gun was high, pointing at the sea and sky in front of him. On the bow of the ship, people wearing various military uniforms were looking into the distance, and at this time, as if they knew that Xu Yifan was coming, they all looked back at the bridge and nodded and smiled at Xu Yifan.

Many of them, Xu Yifan has not seen them, but I don't know why, I can call their names at this time.

Lin Taizeng, Zuo Guigui, Liu Buyun, Yang Yonglin, Ding Ruchang, Dai Zongqian, Zhou Zhanjie who was sent to Lushun by himself...... Many of them were in tattered uniforms, but their demeanor was high.

"Zhengqing, you're right, this sea is really big!"

"The Westerners came from this sea? The Oriental devils also came from this sea? Our sea frontier has not been fortified for hundreds of years? Fortunately, now with us, we are in the sea! ”

"Forget hundreds of years, there will always be a time to remember, once we remember, don't expect to be able to bully us again!"

"Xu Dashuai is also here? This way, play beautifully! ”

"Dashuai, the mark is in Lushun, and there is no one who has lost you!"

Deng Shichang just smiled and nodded, Xu Yifan stood beside him, just full of questions, but he didn't bother to ask at this time. Deng Shichang turned his head to look at him: "Brother Chuanqing, you are just afraid that it is not Chuanqing, but usurpation, right?" ”

When Xu Yifan heard this, he subconsciously shook his head and waved his hand: "Rumors, pure rumors!" Brother Zhengqing, I am familiar with it, I will sue you for slander if you talk nonsense! ”

Deng Shichang smiled and waved his hand: "Usurp, usurp, this Qing Dynasty has already taken the road!" At this time, what are you still hiding from my eldest brother? ”

Xu Yifan smiled wryly, but he didn't know what to say, but Deng Shichang looked solemn: "Since you want to usurp, then why are you still in southern Liaoning, and attack forward with all the camps in southern Liaoning that are not your henchmen?" Your reputation and prestige have reached the extreme at this time, it's time to seize the time to gather your strength, and you still want to gain a higher reputation in this war? Impossible! When people reach the peak, they are going downhill everywhere, so hurry up and climb another slope! ”

Xu Yifan scolded him so weakly that he straightened his neck and retorted: "It's not for you to fight this battle to the end!" He pointed to the people on the bow of the Zhiyuan ship: "It's not the humiliation of a hundred years ago, which overwhelmed me, and now I'm in it again, in Jiawu, on the battlefield!" Every time the dark clouds roll overhead, I think it's your unwilling roar on the clouds! From here, I will tear apart the darkness of the next few decades! How can I be willing not to watch the devil being driven into the sea? ”

At this time, he suddenly remembered that everyone in front of him was already dead!

Tears welled up in his eyes, smart and upright thought that he was a god, these heroic souls of a hundred years ago were undoubtedly gods. And why did they come to see themselves?

Deng Shichang smiled slightly, just like when he said goodbye to Xu Yifan in North Korea, this smile was down-to-earth and reassuring.

"Brother Chuanqing, I'm already dead, if I had some regrets, now because of you, it's all gone......"

Xu Yifan grabbed his arm: "Lao Tzu will cross again!" One more time crossing! This time, you won't be able to die! His biggest regret is that although he has changed this Jia Wu, these heroic souls are still moving towards their fate unchanged!

Deng Shichang gently took off his hand: "Brother Chuanqing, go all the way...... Your eyes are looking ahead, but behind your back, you have to take care of them...... The devil in front of you is not the devil decades later. They're just rising, and they're smart leaders, and they're still going to know how to advance and retreat, and they're not going crazy to the end...... Even if you want to fight, you have to end this war as soon as possible! What the future holds, we are watching you from heaven! ”

Xu Yifan woke up from his dream and sat up. Outside the tent, Pu Yang and Chen De, the two generals, rushed in, with a concerned expression: "Dashuai, what's wrong?" ”

Today, Xu Yifan rushed to the head of Song Qing's camp to supervise the battle, but at the end of the day, Song Qing's attitude was still not the point, and he stayed in Song Qing's military camp overnight this night. Unexpectedly, the tiger tent slept at night, but the heroic soul came from a dream.

"The devil in front of you is not the devil in a few decades......" Xu Yifan ignored Pu Yang Chen De and the others, and waved them to retreat.

Since the beginning of the counteroffensive, although Xu Yifan has adhered to his strategic judgment, he has been bent on seeking a battle in the area of Tianzhuang Taida Stone Bridge. But he always felt that something was faintly wrong, and he wanted to quickly resolve this war, and then go to Liangjiang to watch Daqing go to the end of the road - of course, it was indispensable to secretly push it. However, although the attitude of the southern Liaonan army was uncertain, the uneasiness in his heart became bigger and bigger.

Is this dream a thought, a dream at night, or is it not far away, and the dream is ignited?

The devil in front of you is not the devil in a few decades!

For Yu Ben, the only enemy is nothing more than him, and what is their most advantageous choice? If you can't defeat him from the front, you can focus on it from the side, and the best way is to leave him alone in southern Liaoning for as long as possible! He was very clear about the virtues of the Qing court. Whether it is the imperial party or the post-party, he is probably an even more hateful existence than a little devil!

He turned over and sat up: "Go!" Go back to the camp and find Li Yunzong! Fuck, the little devil has to shrink, and the first line of the Grange is so smooth! ”

(To be continued)