On August 15, 1903, the eighth year of the glory of the Great Chinese Empire, the Emergency Conference on East Asian Integration was held in Beijing of the Chinese Empire, attended by senior officials including the prime ministers or prime ministers of the four political entities of China, Japan, North Korea, and the Ryukyus, as well as the ministers of foreign affairs, national defense, navy and army, chief of general staff, and commanders of the navy and army.

None of the media in any country could get evidence about the details of the meeting, but the reporters who ate this meal were still able to write in the newspapers such as "The East Asian Conference News Control, the Four-Nation Coalition is Ready to Move."

Wen Yi, the prime minister of the Imperial Cabinet of China, did not bother to pay attention to such reports that might irritate the Russians, and he had more important things to do, he had to get the Senate and the House of Representatives, especially the House of Representatives, to pass a declaration of war, and at the same time, a special wartime financial control bill, before the Imperial Defense Minister Liu Yun drove his troops north of the Heilongjiang River, so that the country could fully enter the wartime economic system.

"So, is it really that hard?"

Zhang Zhigao, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, once asked, he is the most trusted person by Wen Yi, or rather, the person who Wen Yi wants to ask for something.

"No, the group of people in the Republic of China is too stubborn, and they have no choice but to use extraordinary means."

"Arrest them?"

"Arrest them for legitimate, legitimate reasons."

Zhang Zhigao was silent.

Wen Yi looked at Zhang Zhigao and shook his head with a wry smile: "Legitimacy is not equal to justice, legality is not equal to reasonable, but this is politics, there can be no ideal thing, only the compromise of the forces of all parties, if you can't compromise, you have to use the least damaging method to suppress the forces that are unwilling to compromise." You know, who am I going to compromise with now, I have to compromise, otherwise I will also be suppressed, the owner here is not me, I am just the foreman of this building. I hope this won't be the case in the future, but since I can't find a way for the time being, it's better to do my job. You know, I can't find a way to do it now, because the tide of history does not allow for something to be realized in advance, but even if the economy is really developed and there is a sufficient middle class, it will not automatically realize the ideal democratic politics. In order to separate China's history from the circle of dynastic changes, it may have to go through very drastic changes, from the economy to the culture, it will be completely renewed, but there is also the possibility of pessimism, that is, the power has taken advantage of the fruits of economic and cultural development to establish an ultra-authoritarian system that is more effective in suppressing the people's minds and purging the opposition......"

Zhang Zhigao listened quietly and did not interject until someone called him away.

Wen Yi watched him walk away and sighed: "Is history really something that one or two people can overturn?" History is just the intersection of hundreds of millions of people acting according to their own consciousness......"

It was August 16, the second day of the emergency conference on East Asian integration, and Wen Yi, as the chairman of the conference, was not in the mood to think about abstract questions about history.

An interpreter next to Wen Yi is interpreting a speech by Japanese Prime Minister Aritomo Yamagu.

"Since war is inevitable, our Great Japanese Empire is willing to fulfill the agreement of the alliance and send two divisions of troops to the mainland front to fight side by side with the Great Chinese Imperial Army, hoping that the Chinese Empire can successfully recover the lost territory, and also hope that the Chinese Empire can assist our country in recovering Hokkaido with appropriate naval strength."

Liu Yun, the Imperial Defense Minister beside Wen Yi, smiled coldly and spoke on the words of Youpeng in Shanxi: "We are pleased with the words of the Prime Minister of Shanxi, but I hope that your country will fully implement the treaty and support the allies with all its strength. First of all, I would like to ask you to carry out a general mobilization within three days of the announcement of our general mobilization, and then we will help you to recover Hokkaido as soon as possible, but after that, you should support us with all your strength until Russia accepts an appropriate peace treaty. ”

"It is true that Japan is willing to implement the treaty in its entirety, but, according to the estimates of our War Department, the recovery of Hokkaido will require the mobilization of five to six divisions, and with sufficient naval support, it will be possible to succeed within three months, and huge losses are expected.

"Fuck you, before the fight started, you said you couldn't afford to pay the pension, obviously you just want to take the opportunity to recover Hokkaido, what we mean is over, phew, it's not so easy for you to take advantage, don't pull your ten or two hundred thousand people to be cannon fodder, how embarrassed to make an alliance with you."

Liu Yun thought so viciously in his heart, his face was still sunny: "Prime Minister of Shan County, there will always be deaths in war, but I believe that your army will not be so fragile, Russia only has 20,000 naval and army troops stationed in Hokkaido, as long as the Russian Pacific Fleet is defeated or blocked, these 20,000 people can be surrounded on an isolated island, and there will be no problem in destroying it in a short period of time with about 100,000 troops of three or four integrated divisions. ”

Before Liu Yun's words fell, the commander of the Japanese Army, General Okazawa Sei, shouted angrily: "Marshal Liu don't worry, the Imperial Japanese Army is fully capable of recovering its own territory, and will do its best to support our closest allies in the future!" ”

After the interpreter translated the words, Liu Yun nodded in satisfaction, and then turned to the North Korean prime minister and asked about something else.

Yama Youpeng glared at Okazawa Jing and didn't say anything.

Wen Yi listened to Liu Yun turning over and over on the field, scolding and drinking, and interjecting a few words as the prime minister from time to time, he felt that he was indeed an out-and-out supporting role, and then, in a few days, the real protagonist should have a considerable status, and then, where will he go? Do you want to turn into an opposition, no, how can you oppose the political power you have created? But, if not the opposition, is it to lose status? Perhaps, the other party will leave a decent position for himself, or maybe he will step down from the name and exist as an advisor to the real ruler. If that's the case, it's okay, but what if you can't even get the position of an advisor and are completely liquidated?

"It's boring to think about this kind of question."

Wen Yi laughed at himself helplessly, glanced at the high-spirited Liu Yun, and continued his duties.

Three days later, after the conclusion of the emergency conference on East Asian integration, the chiefs of general staff and the commanders of the navy and army of the four countries gathered together and began to plan for the war.

In the first conference room of the General Staff Headquarters on the military street, more than a dozen generals and the same number of translators and adjutants shouted for a whole day, and in the middle of the night, the war arrangements acceptable to all parties were written down as plans, and the next morning, General Yang Zhengjin, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese Empire, personally presented it to Marshal Liu Yun, Minister of National Defense, and then the two of them went to the Prime Minister's Office together to explain to the Imperial Premier Wen Yi.

“…… On August 25, our country began a general mobilization, and within three days of the next three days, the imperial vassal states and Japan began a general mobilization to complete preparations for war by September 10......"

“…… Before September 10, the Japanese Empire must transport an integrated infantry division to Wonsan, Korea, to fight in coordination with the Korean army, and within 30 days, if the sea is unblocked, two integrated infantry divisions and a cavalry brigade must be transported to Dalian, and then transported by train to the Heilongjiang front......"

"Before September 10, the Kingdom of Korea must form a full-fledged field army, including two integrated infantry divisions, a cavalry brigade and a reserve division, which should be deployed in echelons on the line from Najin to Hunchun......"

"By September 10, the Kingdom of the Ryukyus must complete the combat readiness of the entire army, especially the coastal fortress troops, which must be able to repel small-scale naval attacks at any time and protect the country's important political and economic centers from damage......"

"The following is a separate operational plan for Russia by the General Staff of our country, which only considers the allied forces as an additional supplement, and requires that the war objectives can be accomplished independently with the strength of the country......"

“…… The Empire's railways began to be transferred to military control on August 22, transporting troops and supplies to predetermined territories, and requiring that Congress be forced to pass an emergency budget by August 25 to order arms and pay for military combat allowances......"

Before September 10, the Imperial Chinese Army should complete the following deployments in the mainland theater: * Northeast Front Command: Commander General Zhong Xiahuo, Chief of Staff General Deng Jian.

the 86th Independent Infantry Brigade, the 6th Cavalry Brigade, the 6th Independent Artillery Brigade, and the 103rd Reserve Infantry Brigade; Garrison - Jilin.

It has jurisdiction over the Praetorian Guard, the First Army, the Second Army, the Third Army, the Reserve Army and the Mobile Corps.

* Praetorian Guard: Commander General Liang Tianhe, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Zhang Yiye; It has jurisdiction over the 1st Praetorian Division, the 2nd Praetorian Division, the Praetorian Cavalry Brigade, the 1st Janissary Artillery Brigade, and the 3rd Reserve Praetorian Guard Division; Deployment area - Mohe southeast to Yichun line; The main targets of the strategy - Hailan Bubble (Blagoveshchensk), Svobodne, Tenda; The first combat mission is to cut off the connection between the Russian interior and the Primorsky Zone, and to annihilate the vital forces of the Russian army between the Outer Khingan Mountains and the Heilongjiang River.

* First Army: Commander Lieutenant General Zhao Feixue, Chief of Staff Major General Qin Feiye; It has jurisdiction over the 1st Infantry Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, the 1st Cavalry Brigade, the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, the 1st Independent Artillery Brigade, the 25th Reserve Infantry Division, and the 27th Reserve Infantry Division; Deployment area - the line from Mohe to the southwest to Manchuria; The main targets of the raiders - Krasnokamensk, Akinskoye, Chita; The main combat mission was to cover the left flank of the 1st Praetorian Army and advance to Chita as appropriate, blocking enemy forces coming from the European part of Russia.

* Second Army: Commander Lieutenant General Xiao Lieri, Chief of Staff Major General Hu Jingjing; It has jurisdiction over the 7th Infantry Division, the 10th Infantry Division, the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, the 2nd Independent Artillery Brigade, and the 30th Reserve Infantry Division; Deployment area - Yichun southeast to the line of Xingkai Lake; The main targets of the raiders - Birobidzhan, Boli (Khabarovsk), Vanino, Temple Street (Nikolaevsk); The main combat task - to cover the right flank of the 1st Praetorian Army, to clear the area of the lower reaches of the Heilongjiang River, to encircle the enemy forces south of the Great Ussurka River from the north.

* Third Army: Commander Lieutenant General Chen Xingyun, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Zhao Minhe; It has jurisdiction over the 11th Infantry Division, the 13th Infantry Division, the 5th Cavalry Brigade, the 4th Independent Artillery Brigade, and the 34th Reserve Infantry Division; Deployment area - Xingkai Lake to the south to Hunchun line; The main targets of the raiders - Shuangchengzi (Ussuriysk), Vladivostok (Vladivostok), Nakhod; The main combat mission was to cover the right flank of the Second Army, to clear the enemy forces south of the Bolshaya Ussurka River, and in particular, to capture the enemy's main naval base, Vladivostok, in cooperation with the Allies.

* Reserve Army (General Reserve): Commander Major General Li Xuedong, Chief of Staff Major General Su Sanling; It has jurisdiction over the 2nd Infantry Division, the 4th Reserve Guard Division, the 26th Reserve Infantry Division, the 33rd Reserve Infantry Division, the 104th Independent Infantry Brigade, and the 10th Cavalry Brigade; Deployment area - along the railway from Jilin to Qiqihar; The main task is to be ordered by the Front Command to support the field corps in need at any time.

* Mobile Corps: Commander Lieutenant General Shen Xingyi, Chief of Staff Major General Li Wei; It has jurisdiction over the 1st Marine Division, the 4th Marine Brigade, the 5th Marine Brigade, the 9th Reserve Cavalry Brigade, and the 36th Reserve Infantry Division; Deployment area - the main port from Tianjin to Dalian; The main task is to conduct amphibious landing operations, capture or attack important targets along the coast of the enemy, and cooperate with the Navy in the operation to recover Sakhalin Island (Sakhalin).

* Command of the Mongolian Front: Commander Major General Xiang Lan, Chief of Staff Major General Tsunami.

the 1st Mongolian Cavalry Brigade and the 93rd Independent Infantry Brigade; Headquarters stationed in Kulen (Ulaanbaatar); It has jurisdiction over the Mongolian 2nd Cavalry Brigade, the 4th Cavalry Brigade, the 6th Cavalry Brigade, the 95th Independent Infantry Brigade, the 96th Independent Infantry Brigade, the 3rd Mongolian Cavalry Brigade, the 4th Mongolian Cavalry Brigade, the 5th Mongolian Cavalry Brigade, the 107th Cavalry Brigade, and the 108th Independent Cavalry Brigade.

Separate 3rd Cavalry Artillery Group.

Deployment area - all of Outer Mongolia from Manchuria to the Altai Mountains; The main combat mission was to defend Outer Mongolia, cover the left flank of the First Army attacking Chita, and use highly mobile cavalry corps to attack and destroy the facilities along the Russian Trans-Siberian Railway near the border when the troops were sufficient.

* Northwest Front Command: Commander General Zhang Yaoqian, Chief of Staff Major General Yan Canglong; the 88th Independent Infantry Brigade; 8th Cavalry Brigade; Headquarters stationed - Dihua (Urumqi); It has jurisdiction over the 8th Infantry Division, the 7th Cavalry Brigade, the 91st Independent Infantry Brigade, the 99th Independent Infantry Brigade, the 1st Independent Garrison Group, the 2nd Independent Garrison Group, the 32nd Reserve Infantry Division, the 9th Cavalry Brigade, the 110th Independent Infantry Brigade, the 112th Independent Infantry Brigade, the 1st Division, the 4th Brigade, and the 10th Cavalry Infantry Brigade.

Deployment area - the part of Xinjiang bordering Russia from the Altai Mountains to the Pamirs; The main combat mission - to defend Xinjiang and cover the left flank of the Mongol Front.

In addition, the Kingdom of Korea, which is a vassal of the empire, shall form the First Korean Army, which shall govern the Korean Janissary Division, the Korean First Infantry Division, the Japanese Second Infantry Division, the Korean First Cavalry Brigade, and the Korean Reserve Sixth Infantry Division; Deployment area - Hunchun, China to the first line of Najin, North Korea; The main combat mission is to cover the right flank of the Chinese Third Army and cooperate with the Chinese Third Army to conquer Vladivostok and other important strategic targets.

By September 10, the navies of the Chinese Empire and the Allied Powers should complete the following deployments: * Combined Fleet: Commander Vice Admiral Lin Taizeng, Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Sa Zhenbing; It has jurisdiction over the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd battleship teams and 6 battleships; 1, 2, 3, 4 armored cruisers, 1st Japanese armored cruisers, 10 armored cruisers; 1, 3, 4 light cruisers, 1st Japanese light cruisers, 16 light cruisers; The 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th destroyer squadrons, 32 destroyers.

Deployment of sea areas - the Yellow Sea to the Sea of Japan; The main combat mission is a decisive battle with the main forces of the Russian Pacific Fleet.

* 1st Mobile Fleet: Commander Vice Admiral Yan Fu, Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Heihachiro Togo; It has jurisdiction over the 11th and 12th reserve teams of battleships and 4 old battleships; the 2nd Japanese armored cruiser squadron, the 11th armored cruiser reserve squadron, 4 armored cruisers; the 2nd and 5th squadrons of light cruisers, the 2nd and 3rd squadrons of Japanese light cruisers, 14 light cruisers; the 2nd destroyer squadron, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Japanese destroyer squadrons, 32 destroyers; The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Japanese torpedo boat squadrons, 33 torpedo boats, and 3 torpedo boat carriers.

Deployment area: the Yellow Sea to the southern coast of Japan; The main combat mission is to protect the rear of the Combined Fleet, to be deployed as a support force of the Combined Fleet at any time, to arrive close to support the islands in strategic operations, to guard the straits leading to the Sea of Japan, and to patrol and reconnoitre the Japanese archipelago.

* Second Mobile Fleet: Commander Rear Admiral Liu Guanxiong, Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Cheng Biguang; It has jurisdiction over the 6th and 7th squadrons of light cruisers and 8 light cruisers; destroyer 6th squadron, 8 destroyers; The 1st and 2nd squadrons of torpedo boats, 24 torpedo boats, 2 torpedo boat carriers.

Deployment areas - East China Sea and South China Sea; Main combat mission - to guard and patrol the eastern and southern parts of the empire mainland.

* 3rd Mobile Fleet: Commander Rear Admiral Lim Tsu, Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Kim Bong Rim (DPRK); the 8th squadron of light cruisers, the 1st and 2nd squadrons of Korean light cruisers, 8 light cruisers; North Korean destroyer squadrons 1st and 2nd, 12 destroyers; The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th teams of torpedo boats, the 1st and 2nd teams of North Korean torpedo boats, 73 torpedo boats, and 4 torpedo boat carriers.

Deployment area: Sea of Japan, based in ports in eastern Korea and northern Japan; Main combat mission - to support the combined fleet operations, reconnaissance, patrol, vigilance and torpedo attacks.

……

On this day, the black clouds were churning in the sky over Jingshi, and it was not raining.

Attached: The main combat ships of the Imperial Chinese Navy in July 1903 (below)

4. Destroyers: Destroyer 1st Squadron: 8 ships of the "Songxue" class: "White Snow", "Flying Snow", "Pine Snow", "Forest Snow", "Deep Snow", "Twilight Snow", "Mountain Snow", "Falling Snow". The design displacement is 850 tons, the speed is 26 knots, the main gun is 3 x 75 mm / 45 x diameter main guns or 3 x 100 mm / 40 x diameter, 2-4 secondary guns are 37 mm / 30 x d, 2 torpedoes are triple 406 mm, and 12 torpedoes are in reserve.

Destroyer 2nd Sentai Squadron: 8 ships of the "Water Moon" class: "Hazy Moon", "Cloud Moon", "Liyue", "Cold Moon", "Zhenyue", "Wine Moon", "Sun Moon", "Twilight Moon". The design displacement is 960 tons, the speed is 30 knots, 3 main guns are 120 mm / 40 times the diameter, 8 auxiliary guns are 37 mm / 30 times the diameter, 2 torpedoes are triple 406 mm, and 12 torpedoes are reserved.

Destroyer 3rd Sentai Squadron: 8 ships of the "Water Moon" class: "Haoyue", "Snow Moon", "Songyue", "Water Moon", "Jiangyue", "Lake Moon", "Sea Moon", "Guiyue".

Destroyer 4th (Reserve) Squadron: 8 ships of the "Songxue" class: "Rain and Snow", "Frost Snow", "Snowy Snow", "Misty Snow", "Wind Snow", "Cloud Snow", "Light Snow", "Snow Shower".

Destroyer 5th Squadron: 8 ships of the "Water Moon" class: "Ning Yue", "Jing Yue", "Qing Yue", "Ping Yue", "Ming Yue", "Ting Yue", "Ling Yue", "Xingyue".

Destroyer 6th (Reserve) Squadron: 8 ships of the "Matsuyuki" class: "Ice and Snow", "Plain Snow", "Melting Snow", "Plum Snow", "New Snow", "Ruixue", "Clear Snow", "Flower Snow".

Destroyer 7th (Training) Squadron: 4 ships of the "Songxue" class: "Yaxue", "Muxue", "Waxue", and "Lixue".

5. Torpedo boats: 7 teams and 74 ships. (Details)

6. Special Ships: Special Combat Ship First Team: Special 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Ships.

The second team of special combat boats: special sixth, seventh, eleventh, and twelfth boats.

The third (training) team of special combat boats: special five and nine boats.

(Details)