The invincible armada of the Taiping Army carried Huang Xu, the Tenth Army Corps, a special detachment, and the 40,000 troops belonging to the navy, totaling about 250,000 horses, and rushed towards the Japanese mainland.

A formation of 200 ships marched rapidly across the sea, and the momentum was very strong.

After a few days of sailing, the Armada had passed through the Korean Strait and entered the Sea of Japan, which was not far from the Japanese mainland, and according to the spies, they would be able to reach the Japanese mainland in almost a day's way.

At this time, Japan had a land area of about 380,000 square kilometers and consisted mainly of four large islands and more than 3,900 small islands in Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

Therefore, the main target of the Taiping army's attack at this time was the four large islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

According to the priority of the attack, the Taiping army planned the order of attack: Kyushu, Honshu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido, and Honshu was the most important of the four islands, because Tokyo, the capital of Japan, was located there.

In the past few days, the wind and the sun have been beautiful, the waves on the sea have calmed, and it is not an exaggeration to describe the water waves, and such weather and sea conditions are very suitable for war.

Therefore, Huang Xu ordered the whole army to march in, and it must be driven outside Kyushu Island within one day, he hoped to take Kyushu Island with lightning speed, so as to seize the opportunity of this battle.

Li Hongzhang and others agreed and moved forward at full speed.

In the blink of an eye, half a day has passed. The Armada is getting closer and closer to the island of Kyushu.

Huang Xu had also chosen the first target for attack after the landing, which belonged to Nagasaki Prefecture on Kyushu Island.

Nagasaki, a famous county to which Japan belongs, is a large prefecture, with a large population and fierce folk customs, all of which are brave and ruthless, and it is also one of the main places for the collection of Japanese national soldiers, and also one of the birthplaces of Japan's right-wing ideology.

In Japanese parlance. If Japan is to be destroyed. Unless the people of Nagasaki are dead.

This shows Nagasaki's status in Japan.

This is also the reason why Huang Xu chose it as his first offensive target.

"Your Majesty, according to the report of the spies, there are more than 20 nautical miles to sail, and we can reach Kyushu Island." Li Hongzhang respectfully said to Huang Xu.

And Huang Xu, who was sitting on the flagship of the Invincible Armada, heard this. He nodded slightly. Then he said, "Yes." Order the army to be ready and ready to go ashore at any time. ”

"Yes, the minister will arrange it immediately." Li Hongzhang clenched his fists and promised.

Everyone has been waiting for this day for a long time.

"Strategist. Is there any change in the Japanese? Huang Xu suddenly remembered something, and abruptly stopped Li Hongzhang, who was about to leave, and asked again.

"Your Majesty, the Japanese have not changed yet." Li Hongzhang said truthfully.

Huang Xu couldn't help but be stunned, and said a little surprised: "There is no change yet?" Impossible. ”

Huang Xu didn't believe it a little, how could this be possible, his army had reached the door of people's homes, people would be unprepared, who could believe this?

Moreover, although what he said in his mouth and what he thought about in his heart was a surprise attack, Huang Xu knew better than anyone else that this was a bit impossible, just think about it, how could he be caught off guard by so many people and such a big movement on his side.

Huang Xu himself was a little unconvinced.

In that case, the Japanese should have reacted a little, but they were silent at this time, what does this mean?

There must be fraud in this, Huang Xu thought.

But what kind of medicine are sold in the gourds of the Japanese?

Huang Xu was puzzled.

"Your Majesty, the minister originally thought the same as yours, and I didn't believe that the Japanese would be so quiet, but the facts reported by the detective report are true." Li Hongzhang seemed to know that Huang Xu would ask this question, so he said unhurriedly.

The Japanese army was unprepared, at least unprepared on this sea, this is a fact after the investigation.

"Impossible, impossible, impossible, if so, you say, where is the Japanese navy? The last Battle of Inchon did not annihilate its main forces, and according to the intelligence department, the main forces of the Japanese navy have returned to Japan, and their strength has been replenished, and it is impossible for the Japanese navy to give up resistance at sea and let us land directly. Huang Xu shook his head and said.

He thinks there's a lot of work in it.

"But the facts are right in front of you, so how can you explain that?" Li Hongzhang spread his hands and said.

He also had a lot of headaches about it.

"We can't afford to be blinded by appearances, and that's going to be a big loss." Huang Xu took a long breath and said quietly.

He has dealt with Japan countless times in his past and present lives, and he has a clear understanding of Japan's temperament, how could Huang Xu believe that the Japanese would be so kind to give up the road to their hearts.

This is absolutely impossible.

He concluded that Japan must have some plan.

"So what do we do?" Li Hongzhang, who has always been resourceful, also began to hesitate when he heard Huang Xu's words.

"Send additional sentry agents, we must detect the hiding place of the Japanese fleet, otherwise, we can't rush in." Huang Xu said decisively.

The enemy situation is unknown, and they can't rush forward, so it's better to be cautious.

Decisions must be made only after the situation has been clarified.

"Will the army continue to advance, or will it be stationed here and then fixed, and ask the emperor to show you?" Li Hongzhang saw Huang Xu's resolute attitude, and hurriedly asked for instructions.

"The army is temporarily stationed and will act after the situation is clarified." Huang Xu waved his hand and said.

Huang Xu always felt a little uneasy in his heart, they must not be so reckless and lose to break in, otherwise, they may really suffer the loss of the Japanese.

"Yes." Li Hongzhang obeyed.

As a result, the army was temporarily anchored at sea, awaiting further instructions.

And once again, more sentries were sent to inquire about the news.

However, after further investigation, they still got the same news, the Japanese did not move, and the whereabouts of the Japanese navy were still unknown.

What to do? Is it to wait, or to move forward?

Huang Xu was also a little undecided.

"Strategist, tell me, what should I do?" Huang Xu thought about it for a long time, and then threw the conversation to Li Hongzhang.

"Your Majesty, waiting to the death is not a solution, and we can't afford it, we don't have much supplies for this attack on Japan, and we must fight quickly, so we can't wait any longer." Li Hongzhang thought for a while and said.

The reality of the situation does not allow them to wait forever.

Perhaps, venturing the offensive is their only option now.

"Well, that's true, Strategist, you go on." Huang Xu also felt that this was the reason, and he motioned for Li Hongzhang to continue.

"Yes, Your Majesty. In this way, we can divide the whole fleet into three groups, form three sub-fleets, advance in batches, each detachment is separated by a certain distance, cover each other, and then land one fleet after another. Li Hongzhang said slowly.

This is a good way, even if the Japanese set up an ambush, it will not be possible to wipe out the entire Invincible Armada.

"Well, that's a good idea." Huang Xu nodded and agreed with Li Hongzhang's approach.

In the absence of an enemy, there is really no better way.

"Did the emperor agree?" Li Hongzhang then said.

He listened to this, and Huang Xu agreed.

"Well, I'm right, but how to group this fleet, you and Luo Junshi discuss it, you are experts." Huang Xu waved his hand again and said.

"Emperor Xie, the minister will immediately discuss it with Luo Junshi, and try his best to come up with a detailed plan to ask the emperor to decide." Li Hongzhang clenched his fists and bent over.

Huang Xu waved his hand again.

Li Hongzhang comprehended and prepared for it. (To be continued......)