The moon was dark and the wind was high, and a lonely moon hung lonely in the night sky, and the cold moonlight slowly fell on the silent street. It is now nearly three watches, and it can be said that in the middle of the night, the earth is excessively quiet. The night is dark, and there is no one walking on the street, so it is hard to imagine that this is Seoul with bustling traffic during the day.

In the vicinity of the Japanese Legation in the north of the city, electric lights lit up the street in front of the Legation, and several Japanese soldiers with loaded guns and ammunition stood on the inside of the Legation, with a slightly nervous expression on their expressions, while the Qing army still "protected the Embassy" outside the door.

"It seems that it can't stop the Qing people!"

In the minister's office, Semura Jun looked at Zheng Yongbang in front of him and sighed, but his fists were clenched tightly while sighing.

"Unless the country agrees to send troops, the situation in North Korea will be completely controlled by Tang Haoran......"

Zheng Yongbang's voice seemed a little heavy, he still subconsciously regarded himself as a Chinese, but at this time his mentality was quite complicated; on the one hand, he admired Tang Haoran's decisiveness; as a clerk of the Japanese legation, he did not know Japan's ambitions for Korea; in the past few years, successive ministers had all bewitched Korean monarchs and ministers to establish themselves as their own posts, and what they sought was the independence of Korea, and the so-called independence was only to prepare for the annexation of Korea in the future.

And now Tang Haoran's decisiveness has ruined Japan's business for more than ten years, and it is not a pity, in addition to the pity, his inner feelings, but there is a faint joy, if the ministers of the Qing Dynasty are like Tang Haoran, how can Japan ......

"Send troops ......"

Looking out the window and looking at the Qing soldiers on the street, there was a bitterness in his heart.

Japan may certainly send troops, but is it really possible to fight a war with Tang Haoran in Korea? If there is only Tang Haoran in North Korea, it is not to be afraid, it is only a thousand guards on the basis of it, and what is behind Tang Haoran? It's the whole Qing country!

And the Beiyang sailor who will wake people up from their dreams.

This minister, the general, the guard, and the Beiyang Fleet are waiting in Korea!

Again, Tang Haoran's uncompromising words once again appeared in the ears of Shirt Village, Beiyang, Beiyang, thinking of the four Qing warships in Incheon, Shirt Village's mind sank, and he said in a solemn tone.

"Send troops, the country is not ready to fight with the Qing State now!"

When he said this, he was extremely ashamed and indignant in his heart, the previous threat now seemed to be a complete joke, and Tang Haoran obviously realized how powerless the Japanese threat was, and he turned a blind eye to it, perhaps in the eyes of Li Hongzhang and other Qing bureaucrats, they had no intention of provoking foreign affairs, but in the eyes of Tang Haoran, a figure who knew the West, what was Japan?

"What about the U.S. side?"

The change in the minister's face made Zheng Yongbang realize that Japan simply did not have the strength to challenge the Qing State like a behemoth, at least with its own strength, it was far from being able to compromise the Qing State.

"American ......"

After a moment of silence, he shook his head and said.

"The United States is not Britain, and its naval strength is inferior to that of the Qing State, and in this case, the United States will only act in verbal protests......

"Can be ...... past"

"The past is the past, how can Tang Haoran not know the strength of the United States, he didn't even pay attention to Misun's protest today, but just told him that he would negotiate with the DPRK-US trade treaty as soon as possible, if it is not bad, if Tang Haoran remains tough, Misun can only face reality in the end, and even the trade treaty can only be made by the main peace!"

Just as Tsumura was thinking about the changes in the future, Zheng Yongbang said on the side.

"But if China is allowed to do so, then our country will inevitably lose one of the benefits that North Korea has gained."

Zheng Yongbang's words made Tsumura Jun nod his head thoughtfully, in the past ten years, the reason why Japan has been able to fully benefit from North Korea is because of its national strength that cannot be mentioned? It is completely relying on risky attempts and the weakness of the Qing court, and the reason why the matter of the valley defense order that has just been resolved recently is that it will drag on for several years depends on the weakness of the Qing state.

But now, just as Japan saw through the weakness and incompetence of the Qing State, Tang Haoran also saw through Japan's weak strength, in this case, it naturally will not regard Japan as an equal object of negotiation, and it is precisely because of this that it will completely ignore its own threat.

Turning his gaze to Zheng Yongbang, Tsumura asked in a deep voice.

"Now, if it is true, it must be trying to appease the British and Russians?"

"This, this, it should be so, the real great powers of North Korea are Britain and Russia, but the conflict of interests of the two countries makes them not sit idly by and watch each other expand their influence in Korea, and then both maintain the Qing State's suzerainty over Korea as their policy towards North Korea, if Tang Haoran can get the support of the two countries, then ......"

Zheng Yongbang's words made Shirt Village's heart sink, isn't it.

If Britain and Russia agree, what is the use of opposing the United States? In the past, perhaps the Qing people would regard verbal "interference" as trouble, but as far as Tang Haoran was concerned, how could he regard verbal "interference" as "interference"?

"Unless you directly bypass Tang Haoran and negotiate directly with Li Hongzhang!"

Zheng Yongbang's construction made the eyes of the shirt village light up, and he immediately commanded Zheng Yongbang.

"As soon as martial law is lifted, immediately send someone to the telegraph office to inform Tokyo, asking to bypass the minister stationed in Korea and negotiate directly with the Qing State!"

The Japanese legation was not idle, and the Nanbesu Palace, where the ministers stationed in the DPRK were located, was also not idle, and even until midnight, it was still very busy here, until three or four o'clock in the morning, when the Dayuan Jun took out the list of new ministers of the court, and looked at the pro-China faction that most of them were obvious to all, this side was a little more relaxed, and at least two-thirds of the people on the list were the result of Tang Haoran's collusion with the DPRK according to Yuan Shikai's construction.

"Brother Weiting, if there is no brother to help, I am afraid that it will be difficult to stabilize the situation in North Korea with the strength of my brother alone!"

Facing Yuan Shikai, Tang Haoran's words were heartfelt, no matter how later generations evaluated Yuan Shikai, but in the matter of North Korea, Yuan Shikai poured all his energy, and after he sent Tang Shaoyi to communicate with him, he cooperated with himself to implement the plan to abolish King Li.

If he hadn't led Concubine Min out of the palace to be killed, if he fled to a foreign consulate, I don't know how many troubles he would have caused. At this time, Tang Haoran was full of gratitude to Yuan Shikai.

"Brother is polite, what Shikai did is not outside the court, the Korean monarchs and ministers are bewitched, and want to betray China and abandon the Qing, how can Zhen Kai ignore it, if Shikai has the courage of his brother, how can this Korean problem drag on to this day, brother does not blame Shikai for leaving a trouble to you, Shikai is already grateful!"

In the face of Tang Haoran's compliment, Yuan Shikai was extremely calm, he even brushed himself off, in fact, although he was involved, he preferred to keep himself out of the matter, out of self-preservation, or prudence, this matter can be involved, but it must not invite credit, after all, what kind of chaos will be caused next, no one dares to guarantee.

"Brother is surprised by this, if there is no brother who has been running North Korea for several years, how can my brother do this!"

Tang Haoran, who had already had a thorough understanding of Yuan Shikai's thoughts, didn't know that he was eager to clear himself now, so he followed his words.

"In North Korea, my brother still doesn't know, this is not today's matter, my brother just wrote an urgent telegram, and asked my brother to take a look!"

As for the death of Concubine Min and others, it was all attributed to the "bewitched Korean rebels", as for why King Li was abolished, it was a last resort to maintaining the clan, and as for the truth or falsehood, the court would naturally not be able to scruple it.

"Brother, this telegram is fine, it's just ......"

Raising his head, Yuan Shikai looked at Tang Haoran and expressed his concerns.

"Now that the matter has been done, there is a ...... Concubine Min"

Seeing that Tang Haoran and Yuan Shikai did not tell him that Concubine Min was not dead, the reason why he did not kill Concubine Min was because of her beauty, and the second was to leave a "bargaining chip", as far as the imperial court is concerned, Concubine Min's death is no longer able to use Li Xi's death, but if Concubine Min is still alive, then the imperial court may entrust Li Xi to return to China. As for Tang Haoran...... is still in the hands of his Yuan Shikai.

"The imperial court is reluctant in every way, and it can only face the facts, but the problem is that all countries, although Japan is not strong enough, but it is just a bluff, naturally there is nothing to fear, if other countries ......"

"As far as Britain is concerned, its intervention was originally intended to prevent Russia from getting involved, and as for Russia, it is also subject to Great Britain, and it is for this reason that the two countries are compelled to recognize Korea as our barrier, and the policy of both countries is to maintain our barrier in Korea and avoid being taken advantage of by the other, as for the United States......"

He smiled coldly, among all the countries, the United States is probably the most enthusiastic about Korea's independence, and the reason why the United States supports its independence is that on the one hand it cannot understand the Eastern suzerainty system, and on the other hand, it is based on its attempt to get involved in Asia, but now it does not expect that it will make a wedding dress for Japan in the end with all its painstaking efforts.

The United States today is not the United States eight years from now, when the U.S. Navy is weak and there is no agreement at home on the expansion of overseas power, which means that it will never be able to intervene in North Korea by force, as long as it is not by force — there is nothing to fear.

"The United States must first obtain congressional approval for the use of troops overseas, and this matter is equivalent to what I did in Seoul, except for the dismissal of several American advisers, there is no fundamental damage to the interests of the United States, even if Mison asks Washington to intervene, the United States has no sufficient excuse, and now what I am most worried about is not how to negotiate with other countries, but what I am most worried about is ......."

With a long sigh of helplessness, Tang Haoran faced Yuan Shikai, but sympathized with his embarrassment in managing North Korea in history.

"I'm worried about the imperial court, although the imperial court will not show weakness for the time being, but what I'm worried about is that it will bypass me and negotiate directly with the imperial court, in that case, I'm only afraid of ......"

(The second update, I hope you will continue to support the speechless, ask for recommendations, ask for collections!) The Rising Sun of the Empire Readers: 150536833)