Not only did Sir Zhu Erdian report the strength of the Northern Army to China, but the Japanese minister to China, Hayashi Quansuke, also sent an urgent telegram to Tokyo overnight. The Northern Army actually had more than 1.1 million troops, which undoubtedly posed a great threat to Japan.

After receiving the telegram from Minister Hayashi Quansuke, the Japanese cabinet immediately became noisy. War Minister Masashi Terauchi asked for additional appropriations so that the Japanese Army could further expand its military strength and increase its total strength to one million men with the ability to fight the Northern Army.

The Japanese Navy also demanded more appropriations to accelerate the construction of the Japanese Navy's battleships and continue to maintain its lead over the Northern Army.

However, Japan's fiscal situation is not improving. The huge debt has weighed them down. Therefore, neither the requirements of the army nor the navy have been met.

However, in order to further weaken the strength of the Northern Army, the Japanese cabinet asked the army and navy to find a way to prevent the Northern Army from rapidly unifying China. In the end, it was decided that the Japanese Navy would dispatch warships to prevent the Northern Army from crossing the Yangtze River, and all the river from Wuchang to Jinling would be blocked. As long as the Northern Army is unable to cross the Yangtze River, it will naturally not be able to eliminate the Beiyang government. The full strength of the Northern Army will also be dragged north of the Yangtze River, and it will no longer pose a threat to Japan.

The navy of the Northern Army was almost in a blank slate. Therefore, Japan's dispatch of the navy to blockade the Yangtze River is undoubtedly the best way and the least investment. Of course, the Japanese Navy was ordered not to go to war with the Northern Army unless it was absolutely necessary. Today's Japan, without the consent of Britain, or rather without the support of Britain, simply does not have enough money to fight a large-scale war. Especially when the Northern Army has become so strong.

As a result, Britain and Japan have undergone a fundamental change in their China policy. British actions against the Japanese. Neither supported nor blocked. However, Britain also warned Japan that war would never break out.

On the Yangtze River, the warships of the British Navy flying the St. George flag were evacuated, and only the destroyers of the Japanese Navy flying the plaster flag remained. These destroyers went on a rampage in the Yangtze River. Many fishing boats or civilian boats were sunk by them, and the momentum was very arrogant.

"Young Marshal, all the warships of the British Navy have left, and according to the information we have received, the British warships have gathered at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Now on the river, only the destroyers of the Japanese Navy remain. Lieutenant General Shi Tianhan reported to Wu Haoxuan.

"Well, are our guys ready?" Wu Haoxuan asked.

"It's ready!" Shi Tianhan nodded.

"Well, order them to start crossing the river! If the Japanese destroyers dared to ram our ships, the artillery group immediately opened fire. Wu Haoxuan's face was resolute. He has already made up his mind, and this time he must solve Beiyang. There was a shift in the attitude of the British. Wu Haoxuan was very satisfied. Although the Japanese still look extremely vicious, Wu Haoxuan is not afraid. Without the British, could little Japan afford to fight this war? Just in case, Wu Haoxuan had already ordered the army on the Yalu River defense line to get ready. As long as little Japan dared to make a move, the army of the Yalu River defense line immediately launched an attack on Korea, so that the Japanese could not interfere in the great cause of the reunification of the northern army.

"Yes, young marshal!" Shi Tianhan said excitedly. For this day. They have been preparing for a while. Now, it's finally time to get started. Lieutenant General Shi Tianhan believed. This time it will definitely work.

Jiujiang is located at the dividing line between the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and has always been a strategic location. The river is only a few hundred meters wide. If you want to cross the river, this is undoubtedly a very suitable location.

After the northern army approached the Yangtze River, they began to make preparations for crossing the river. Even though they were stopped by British and Japanese warships, the preparations never stopped. By mid-January 1901, the preparations were fully completed.

January 16th. The Northern Army began to cross the river from Jiujiang. Hundreds of civilian and cargo ships, transporters and equipment of an infantry division began to cross the river. On the banks of the river, the heavy artillery brigade of the Northern Army had already formed artillery positions. If a Japanese naval warship appeared, they would have issued a warning against it. If the Japanese warships dared to attack the Northern Army crossing the river, they would launch an artillery bombardment on them. Until it is sunk.

During the dry season, all the destroyers that entered the Yangtze River were Japanese Navy destroyers. The destroyer has a small displacement, a shallow draft and weak defense. The artillery used by the Northern Army was enough to send these destroyers to the bottom of the river.

"Send a telegram to the artillery brothers, and if something happens, be sure to stop the Japanese. Otherwise, the infantry brothers will be miserable. Major General Shi Tianchuan, commander of the 4th Infantry Division of the Northern Army Army, who was responsible for commanding this river-crossing operation, particularly advised. Although many people can swim, once this weather falls into the river, I am afraid that they will be frozen to death!

"Yes, General!" The staff officer nodded and went to telegraph.

In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the plan to cross the river this time, the Northern Army specially transferred the 1st Heavy Artillery Brigade and the 5th Heavy Artillery Brigade. Of these, the 1st Heavy Artillery Brigade was responsible for the defense of the western flank, and 144 155-mm heavy howitzers were deployed on six artillery positions, forming six artillery groups. Ensure that it is enough to cover the entire Yangtze River with powerful firepower. The 5th Heavy Artillery Brigade was deployed on Jiangxin Island, just south of the island. More than 100 155mm heavy howitzers were enough to stop the Japanese warships coming downstream.

Hundreds of boats sailed into the Yangtze River and began to row quickly across the river. Although, the Beiyang Army also deployed a town defense in Jiujiang. However, the town was only hastily formed, and it did not have much combat power at all.

"Lord Commander, the big thing is not good, the Northern Army has crossed the river, and the river is densely packed with ships of the Northern Army!" A junior officer reported to the town's command with a pale face.

"What? Quickly contact the Japanese, the northern army has crossed the river, let their warships stop it! The commander hurriedly ordered.

Relying on their own strength alone, it was obvious that they could not prevent the northern army from crossing the river, and they could only turn to the Japanese for help. In fact, these Beiyang troops, from generals to ordinary soldiers. Everyone knows that Beiyang is already in the waning days. Everyone is a monk for a day and hits the clock for a day, and they have to get by. As a result, although there was a defense of the Beiyang Army on the bank of the river, they did not fire a single shot, and watched the ships of the Northern Army getting closer and closer.

South of Jiujiang, less than ten kilometers away, there was a battleship flying the plaster flag upstream. The destroyer. It is the destroyer Fukiyuki of the Japanese Navy and the sixth ship of the destroyer of the Haruyu class.

The Chunyu class destroyer, 69.2 meters long, 6.6 meters wide, 1.8 meters draft, standard displacement of 375 tons, armed with two 80 mm single guns, four 57 mm single guns and two 480 mm torpedo tubes, with a maximum speed of 29 knots.

Now. The captain of the ship, Captain Tsutsui Wei, was by the window of the bridge, looking at the scenery on both sides of the Yangtze River. The beautiful river scenery made him feel enchanted, and it also made him think more and more that such a beautiful and rich land was occupied by the Chinese, which was completely wasteful. If the Japanese had such a vast territory, they would have become the most powerful country in the world.

"Sooner or later, the empire will surely conquer the whole of China! Those people are just a group of inferior people. They don't deserve the land at all. Captain Tsutsui told himself secretly.

"Captain, orders from the command." Suddenly. A second lieutenant officer handed a telegram to Captain Tsutsui Noshiri.

"Yaga, those damned Shina people actually dared to forcibly cross the river despite the warnings of the Great Japanese Empire, so bold. Increase the speed to twenty-five knots and get ready for battle. Captain Tsutsui gave the order immediately.

The power system of the battleship 'Blowing Snow' began to work rapidly, and the speed of the battleship became faster and faster. It left a deep water mark on the surface of the river. For the destroyer Blowing Snow, whose speed has been increased to 25 knots, the distance of 10 kilometers only takes more than 10 minutes. Captain Tsutsui had already thought about it, and when the time came, he would use the battleship to ram the civilian ships of the Northern Army. Neither the displacement nor the degree of solidity of warships can be compared with civilian ships. When the time comes. It will definitely be able to crash those civilian boats to pieces, so that all the soldiers of the Northern Army will fall into the river and freeze to death. As soon as he thought of this, Captain Tsutsui Weinori's face was covered with a hideous smile.

Soon, the destroyer "Fuxue" arrived at Jiangxin Island to the east of Jiujiang. At this time, the artillery of the Northern Army began to warn the destroyer "Blowing Snow" with flags. To the effect that the Northern Army has blocked the river here, and then the warships that enter the river here will be attacked by the Northern Army.

When the communications officer informed Captain Tsutsui of the meaning of the flag, Captain Tsutsui sneered, "Hmph, those people are just bluffing. Did they dare to fire at the battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy? Ignore them and move on. ”

"Yes, Captain."

The destroyer "Fukiyuki" ignored the warnings of the Northern Army and continued to sail westward.

"Prepare to open fire, aim at the river in front of the Japanese ship, and carry out the combat mission of blocking the river." The commander of the 5th Heavy Artillery Brigade of the Northern Army, which was stationed on Jiangxin Island, immediately gave an order.

The 24 155-mm heavy howitzers of the artillery battalion deployed in the easternmost part suddenly opened fire, and one shell after another roared into the Yangtze River, blowing up columns of water that rushed to the sky. The water column fell and smashed against the surface of the river, making a crackling sound as if it were raining. (To be continued......)

PS: The second update is here, and the chase behind is so tight! Book friends, it's all up to you, let's make the monthly pass more violent! Thanks to the book friend Heavy Sword No 1, The Sky of the Lighter, Fengyue Zheng, Deep Blue Oral Love, Yuan yh1234567, Falling Leaves Don't Come Back, Mighty and Domineering Warlord, Spicy Little Bookworm, Under the River Bridge, Earthly Wandering, A Little Bit of Drunkenness, and Liu Lijin's Heart in Dongshan Village, Ningxiang County! Thanks to Book Friends 13422718554, Bingyue Xinkong, Qi Zhu, When to Wine, Chu Moyan, Jiayi, Earl Qingfeng, Chensong 79, Yanyu Tingxia, Su Su, asdfghjklyf, South Gate Tiger, Gao Shu, and Messiah. , Time and Space Proof, Wild Wolf 1978, Lonely Ancient Buddha, Night Supper Brother, MWEB, sgzsf, Lonely Reading Noisy, The King in the Flying, A Court, sdgsgsdg, wuhongjun, Love Nan Snow Wolf, Mouse Love mm, Baby Obedient 888, xiaohei1218, Fengyue Zheng, maoxunjun, Famous Murderer, bobo3785, ebird2000, Morning Swimming, albless, Sz5742, Tianze Dragon King, Flying Snow Wolf, The passers-by of the world, ★ the war eagles ★, zhubaiyao, the Chinese * soldiers, the ink stream, and the monthly pass that is a little drunk! There are also many book friends who did not record because Xiaoyu went to learn to drive in the afternoon, thank you for your support!