On July 22, the fourth year of A.D., it was only three days after the sound of cannons on the ocean surface of Phushima Island off the coast of Asan sounded. While the great powers were still waving the banner of mediation and negotiations, they had already announced that due to the deployment of the Qing troops in Korea, the provocation of the Qing Navy and the Army and Navy stationed in Korea, and the burning and shooting incident in Seoul had not been fruitful for a long time. It is said that the empire was forced to maintain the dignity of the empire and the national system, and the Qing State was already at war.

The power accumulated in 20 years gushed out at one time.

Emperor Meiji visited the Ise Grand Shrine and prayed for a long time in the country.

The Imperial Council unanimously approved the proposal for the Battle of Yizan.

In the 41 counties of the three prefectures, the government bonds subscribed to the national league and the reservists reported nearby, and there were people everywhere who went to the local shrine to pray.

The whole book has been running on this road for so long, and now is the moment to decide the future fortune of the country!

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"Ben has declared war on us today!"

The officers in the audience stood straight and motionless, and could only hear their own heavy gasps, and everyone looked excited, and the muscles on their faces twitched.

Xu Yifan was also fully dressed and stood at the front of the queue, and beside him was Chu Wanli and Li Yunzong, the Janissary Guard. In front of him are these officers who have been raised by hundreds of hands.

The day he had finally waited for. No matter what the future holds, he was left behind at this moment.

A small country in the east, after two thousand years of accumulation and forbearance, the violent national surname finally broke out in this year, knocking the Qing Dynasty, which had fallen in a straight line, to the ground. No matter how the usurped road goes, he has no capital to retain his strength now, and he can only play a role if he uses all the resources he has to the extreme, and can he become a dazzling existence in this war that changes the fortune of the nation!

Besides, what he wants to usurp is Qing, not to betray this land, betray the ancestral gods, and betray his own bloodline!

The only way to do your best is to die. Other selfish distractions, at this moment, are useless.

Everyone's eyes were focused on his face, and Xu Yifan was also as pale as iron at this moment. At the beginning, he crossed over, and the soft and delicate face lines rushed out between two years of life and death, and after the tempering of everything he had done with great effort, he had become contoured and his eyes were deep.

Even Chu Wanli, who was the least serious, was full of murderous aura at this time.

The Canglong military flag of the Praetorian Guard was hunting and fluttering behind Xu Yifan. Hundreds of officers of more than one company are all standing in the most standard military posture, with the blue sky of East Asia above their heads and the Datong River roaring around them. More than 10,000 Praetorian Guards, armed to the teeth, are already waiting for the bayonets to see blood!

Looking at these tiger ben that he had raised single-handedly, Xu Yifan was speechless for a while.

"The country's national fortunes are about to fall to the bottom...... You have come from the North Ocean, from the South Sea, and from all directions, and you have gathered lessons in Korea, which is nothing more than to turn the tide and fall! In the past 100 years, the fortune of this country has been weakened to the extreme, and even the Wa country, which has been looking up to us and learning from us for the past 2,000 years, is now showing its fangs and sharp teeth to us!

What about the princes? What kind of longevity is still being prepared, and we are still squeezing the Praetorian Guards who pacify North Korea and watch the land of Ping Domain for the country. We walked all the way, without taking a penny from the treasury, without getting a single shot or bullet of support. At this time, we are not fighting for these lords, but for the natural mission of our Praetorian Guard!

We, the Janissaries, are loyal to only this country! ”

This is the first time Xu Yifan has shouted such rebellious words. But all the officers and men of the Praetorian Guard did not change their faces, but just listened quietly.

The situation over the years has also been clearly seen by these lower-level officers. Since Xu Yifan established himself in North Korea, he has faced wave after wave of oppression by domestic forces. First, Rong Lu's surveillance and containment, and then the Huai army attacked. And Xu Yifan trained and raised salaries in this crack, and also calmed the situation in North Korea. Great merit and country, but received such treatment. Since the Huai army was stationed in Korea, the good situation has gradually deteriorated, and the Huai army has been forced to come to the door, and the Huai army has a number of combat strength and Janissalines, but they are just hoping to negotiate, and they are unguarded. Everyone thinks that if Xu Yifan controls the whole of North Korea, he will definitely not let him land in Busan!

Then there was the great humiliation of the fleet off the coast of Asan being attacked by Yuben, and by the time Zaibon declared war, the entire Qing Dynasty was in chaos, and there was no weak protest, but only the great powers were looking for mediation to participate. In the end, he didn't even let his grandson do it, and directly declared war!

On the sea, I don't know how many warships are floating in the sea with the division of tigers and wolves, and the entire coast of Korea is patrolled by the combined fleet of Yuben. According to the report, the Huai army garrison along the Han River in South Korea has become a mess, not to mention the center of the imperial court -- Xu Yifan has always been happy to report these bad news to the entire Praetorian Guard.

In the war, the Praetorian Guards are confident that they can fight and dare to fight, and they are the only lone army in North Korea!

The fluttering blue dragon flag, with a bit of tragic pride, echoed in the hearts of the Praetorian Guard officers and soldiers.

Their origins, their experience of training and fighting in a foreign land alone. The Praetorian Guard has become the only armed group with the most modern national characteristics in the Qing Dynasty, which makes them feel a sense of belonging to the group despite the sacrifice and salvation of tens of millions of people.

For these young officer groups with the highest average knowledge level in the Qing Dynasty, Xu Yifan's words were not against the slightest disobedience. It's deafening!

What they are eager for now is just Xu Yifan's order, leading them to rush to the front line, to fight, to sacrifice, to save such a big country!

Xu Yifan did not disappoint them either.

“…… The Imperial Court has not yet declared that Heben is also in a state of war, but for us the Praetorian Guard, the war has begun! Now I give the order that the whole army enter the highest alert level! The troops in charge of the defense, immediately enter the position, prepare enough food and ammunition, act according to the plan drawn up by the General Staff Headquarters of the Praetorian Guard, and be ready to fight at any time! …… Jiang Ziming! ”

Jiang Ziming, who was in the queue, walked out, he was transferred back from the front a few days ago. His horse corps has expanded to more than 1,000 people, both Han Chinese and Koreans, and with the Korean "insurrectionary" army in Nam Yoon-yong, which is actually in his hands, it is an excellent reconnaissance and alert detachment, and a sufficiently powerful warning curtain has been opened in the border area between North and South Korea. The movements of the Huai army in the area of the Han River were all transmitted back by him. The backbone of these horse teams, as well as the North Korean puppets that can be mastered, have been transferred back by Xu Yifan a lot, and they will be further trained and reminded, and they will be an effective intelligence force in future operations.

Jiang Ziming also changed into the standard military uniform of the Praetorian Guard, but he was still a little unaccustomed to wearing it, and the code he followed when he stepped out was also the old style of the Huai Army. But his chest was as tall as he was, and that kind of fierce aura was not at all less than that of the other Praetorian Guard officers. Xu Yifan had already promised him the future of at least one adjutant general, and he was also the only standard-level officer who participated in the deduction of the senior division on the map of the Praetorian Guard's staff headquarters, so he should be one of the officers with the most knowledge of the current situation.

From the precarious leader of the horse thieves, to Xu Yifan's henchman, Jiang Ziming's desire to repay is only more relevant than others.

"Jiang Biaotong, you immediately rush back to the front, master the reconnaissance and alert troops, master Nan Yunrong's strength in this regard, and provide comprehensive tactical information in a timely and reliable manner...... You know, you are our pioneer! If the Huai army collapses, take them back to the north, and if the army advances, it will be up to you to force them to start early! Along the way, the grain reserves, roads, and houses can be destroyed as much as possible, so that the army has nowhere to collect grain and grass, and let the army be vigilant against your disturbance at any time...... Got it? ”

Jiang Ziming shouted: "Mark and understand!" ”

Xu Yifan smiled faintly and looked at the other officers. The military heart is already available, and the rest depends on his operational planning. Seriously, he's not sure, but hasn't he gotten it this far? He has already made all the preparations he can make, just waiting for the baptism of blood and fire...... But what about the Great Qing Dynasty? Is Daqing ready?

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"Hooray! Banzai! ”

The soldiers who stood on top of each other on the hillside let out a high cheer. Major General Yoshimasa, the supreme commander of the Oshima Mixed Brigade Regiment, who was standing at the top of the hillside, also smiled with satisfaction.

The Oshima Brigade is an advance detachment based on the Ninth Brigade of the Fifth Division of Hiroshima, with more than 6,000 soldiers plus more than 10 field artillery mountain guns and sufficient field supplementary columns.

The day before the outbreak of the Battle of Toshima, that is, four days before the declaration of war, the detachment had received a secret order from the base camp to set out from Pusan, carrying 130 rounds of ammunition and 1 liter of 2 heaps of white rice, and pounced on the 2,000 Nie Shicheng troops in the area of Asan on the west coast of Korea. Supplies were requisitioned along the way, news was blocked, and the march was forced to march. When encountering Koreans from the north, all of them were shot on the spot to ensure that the operation was secret.

It was said that the headquarters of the First Army of the Honsho Dynasty had been established, and when the Oshima detachment left Busan, the rest of the Fifth Division had secretly taken over the defense under the cover of the combined fleet. It is said that the First Army of the Expedition to Korea includes the Fifth Division and the Second Division, and the main goal is to blockade the west coast of Korea!

In addition to the fact that the Combined Fleet is now seeking war on the west coast of Korea, the task of the First Army is to close the road from Inchon to Seoul as soon as possible, completely cut off the sea supply of the Huai Army in Seoul, and to conquer Incheon, then the Asan Nie Seseong Army in front of Incheon is an obstacle that cannot be bypassed!

The Oshima Detachment, as the land vanguard of the entire First Sino-Japanese War, had already made up its mind to defeat or even eliminate Nie Shicheng's troops as quickly as possible, suppress the Huai army in Hancheng, block the loopholes that might be smuggled by sea, and completely bring the main force of the Huai army to death. After the rest of the First Army arrived in Busan, the whole army went north and completely wiped out the Huai army in the Seoul area!

On this day, the news from the rear has been sent up, saying that the Empire has declared war on the Qing State, the First Army has arrived in Pusan, and the general of Yama County has raised the flag in Busan for the post of commander of the First Army, and now what we have to wait for is the good news of the Oshima detachment!

After Oshima Yoshimasa read the edict declaring war to the whole army, he was greeted by a frenzied shout.

Oshima Yoshimasa raised his fist high above his head and pointed sharply to the north: "Gentlemen, thirty miles ahead is Chenghuan, forty-five miles is Asan, and ninety miles is Incheon...... After crossing the sea, Yanjing is 400 miles away! Advance! ”

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"Dear Dad, this time it's Xiao Yuben who is coming to the door! also pointed at our Qing Dynasty's nose and declared war, we really have no way out! ”

In the Le Shou Hall, Guangxu stood straight, wearing a full body of court clothes, and made a generous statement to Cixi on the soft couch. His complexion today looked much better than in the past, but his pale face was now flushed, and he was so excited that he could barely stand, and he almost wanted to walk in front of Cixi.

For this son of heaven, these words are unprecedentedly arrogant!

The situation led by Cixi was loosened by the surging tide of North Korea. The old lady is helpless about the current situation in North Korea, and her declaration of war can be said to be helpless. And the surging call for war in the clear stream, under the guidance of the imperial party, has now become the mainstream of the Qing Dynasty, and by declaring war on Yue, Guangxu can take back some of the power!

As for the Beiyang of Li Hongzhang, one of Cixi's dependents as the most powerful faction in North China, is just at the forefront, as long as the war starts, it is also his strength that is lost, and it is a little wrong, you can also find his mistakes and cultivate your own ministers to take over part of the Beiyang strength...... These words, Guangxu even has to wake up laughing in his dreams!

Cixi's face was ugly, she twisted the Buddhist bead bracelet and did not say a word, and several eunuchs standing behind her, including Li Lianying, hung their heads and did not dare to say a word.

It was said that this declared war on the Qing Dynasty, and Guangxu took all the military aircraft, including some of the six Jiuqing, to Leshoutang to ask Lafayette to be kindly trained...... Xiao Yueben bullied the door, can Daqing still soften?

Those ministers of military aircraft have descended from Shiduo, all lying on the ground, and they don't dare to raise their heads, this muddy water between mother and son, don't go if you can, don't go anyway, fight or not, it doesn't have much to do with them, with Li Hongzhang here, it's not his head to fight? Besides...... What can Xiao Yue do with Daqing? The power struggle in this court is really related to their net worth and surname.

After a while, Cixi said softly: "So, are you going to fight?" ”

Guangxu's eyes lit up, and he said loudly: "Lafayette Mingjian, the court and the court, all think that it is impossible to give in. If Xiao Yueben is allowed to bully the door like this, and there is no movement at all, and Xiao Yueben is not punished for disturbing Lafayette's longevity, how can the Qing Dynasty stand among the nations of the world? Now the government and the opposition are unanimous, just one word, hit! ”

Cixi snorted, and felt in her heart that it seemed that she couldn't stop fighting. Daqing is not pinched in mud, even Xiao Xiaoben dares to come to the door to take a bite! It hurt her longevity to be unsteady, and she had no place to spread this anger. The most important thing is that Bendu has declared war, can the Qing Dynasty not be accompanied? If she wants to say that if she doesn't fight, she won't be in prison in this position! However, looking at Guangxu's smug appearance, the old lady still felt uncomfortable.

"It's good to fight...... Can you win? ”

Guangxu was stunned, and immediately recited Weng Tonghe's words: "Our Qing Dynasty has a land area forty times that of Yueben, a population ten times that of them, a financial resource several times that of them, and hundreds of thousands of training troops, how can Xiao Yueben be our opponent?" ”

Cixi snorted again: "How many soldiers did Xiao Yueben transfer and how much salary did he raise?" How many troops can we transfer, and how much pay can we raise? How did they come, how did we welcome them? Your Majesty, do you also say something? ”

Now Guangxu was really stunned, the people around him, including the entire Qing Dynasty, only saw that the Qing Dynasty was big and small, and ninety-nine out of a hundred thought that no matter how they fought, they would win. No one paid attention to how their troops were arranged, what kind of situation North Korea was in now, how much money they had to raise if they wanted to fight, and how they would raise money......

Guangxu is around, but there is no staff headquarters like Xu Yifan's side to do overall planning, anyway, the war is also Li Hongzhang's business, isn't it? Cixi waited for him to answer, Guangxu thought about it, and only replied vaguely: "Lafayette, the morale of the people is like this, and it must be convenient to raise salaries and transfer troops...... Governors from all over the country have sent telegrams, saying that Xiao Yu is too deceitful, and they will try their best to raise salaries and transfer troops, Lafayette, this anger cannot be vented! ”

Looking at the ministers kneeling on the ground, and thinking about the folds of these governors who had been watching, Cixi was suddenly full of irritability, and shouted screaming: "Let you make trouble!" Anyway, I am a return to politics and honor, and I don't feel at ease in my life! Your Majesty, you are really filial! ”

As soon as he said that, Guangxu knelt down with a thud, and poked straight there and didn't dare to speak.

Cixi waved her hand: "Go down!" Declaring war, raising salaries, and transferring troops are all up to you, don't let me clean up the mess when the time comes! Your Majesty, I'll just say a word, fighting a war is not just a scholar's shouting, you still have to discuss it with Li Hongzhang, and you have to fight a good look! ”

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Tianjin, Beiyang Minister Yamen.

In just one or two days, Li Hongzhang's old state was so obvious that he could no longer hide it.

In the past, it was said that this important minister of the Qing Dynasty had a straight body, a loud voice, and a generous bearing between talking and laughing. However, after the declaration of war and the announcement of the news at the joint mediation meeting with a sneer, and the departure with his purse, Li Hongzhang, who had been trying his best to maintain himself, suddenly aged a lot.

The burden of the entire war was all on his shoulders at once!

Everyone knows that Li Zhongtang has been responsible for the defense of North China for 20 years. And this declared war, and the main battlefields were in North China and North Korea, both of which were his Li Hongzhang's territory!

Under the current situation, it is no longer possible to fight without war. But once there is any mistake in the battle, his Li Hongzhang's life's work will be put into waste! After the Sino-French war, Li Hongzhang has been infamous all over the world, that time it was in the south, and against such a powerful country as France, he will definitely fail to provoke the little one!

As soon as the news of this declaration of war arrived, Li Hongzhang immediately returned to the Yamen to take up his town, telegrams and snowflakes were issued, and a series of orders were sent out at various ports and localities to raise funds for prevention and wages. The most important thing is North Korea, and he sent a series of telegrams to Ye Zhichao, only to win, only to stabilize the situation in North Korea, and not to fail! What reinforcements does he want, Li Hongzhang worked hard, and he took out his old bottom and sent it to him! In case of failure, before he Li Hongzhang stepped down, he was still sure to cut off Ye Zhichao's head!

I didn't know that Dongfang was white, and I heard Yang Shixiang's voice in a daze: "Zhongtang...... There was news from the imperial court from Yanjing, and the emperor took the ministers to invite Cixun, and it seemed that he was about to declare war on Yue...... The trend of the government and the opposition is that they must respond to the battle, and they cannot retreat...... Maybe tomorrow will declare war on Yue......"

Li Hongzhang looked up and saw that Yang Shixiang's eyes were also dark, and the whole person seemed to have lost weight, reporting a stack of telegrams and emaciated as if he could fall down at any time.

Li Hongzhang's heart warmed, this lotus house has also suffered a lot with him in the past year, not to mention the painstaking planning, and was almost cleaned up by Xu Yifan in North Korea!

Thinking of Xu Yifan, he made a blockage, and in the matter of North Korea, Xu Yifan's 10,000 soldiers were a great help, but now he can't pull his face to ask Xu Yifan for help, just within the scope of his Li Hongzhang. Now that he has caught up with the shelf, he can't fall, he has to hold up the scene and show weakness to Xu Yifan, which shows that he Li Hongzhang is not sure about the war, so the impeachment will soon be like snowflakes!

He, Li Hongzhang, is not only fighting against Yueben, but also fighting at home......

The stormy and devastated Qing Dynasty really can't afford to fight a war of modernization! Now what he Li Hongzhang can count on is that the children of Beiyang who he has raised for decades can inspire Tianliang and blood sincerity and work hard for him!

Looking at Li Hongzhang's warm gaze, Yang Shixiang's eyes were hot, and he couldn't help it, and finally hesitated: "Zhongtang, look, should I go to Pyongyang and go to find Xu Yifan......

Li Hongzhang raised his hand: "If the car doesn't fall, just push it, now how can I leave you?" I believe that Ye Shuqing, the kindness is here, the punishment is here, and if he wants to keep his fame and power, he has to sell his life! I, Li Hongzhang, am not a person who has no kindness......"

As he was talking, he saw a staff member hurriedly walk in, his face full of joy. Seeing Li Hongzhang and Yang Shixiang there, he raised the telegram in his hand and said loudly: "Zhongtang! Nave! Ye Junmen is in a hurry, and Asan is a great victory! A great victory for Asan! ”

There was a boom, but it was Li Hongzhang who pushed down the inkstone on the table, and for a while, the old man's face was pale, and tears flashed in his eyes.

(To be continued)