Meiji, on the other hand, was helped by Ito Hirobumi and Togi Takayoshi, two pillars of the army, to quickly stabilize some of the subtle forms of the generals, and Meiji believed that as long as they passed the test of actual war, over time, the Japanese army would regain its former glory and become one of the great armies that could compete with the Taipings.

Seeing the situation of the army day by day, Meiji's heart was also very gratified.

And Ito Hirobumi and Togi Takayo are not as optimistic as Meiji, they have already learned the power of the Taiping Army, and they know better than anyone else that if they want to fight with the wolf-like Taiping Army with this rookie army in their hands alone, it is tantamount to seeking the skin of the tiger, it is simply looking for death.

So, they have to think of other ways to make up for this inherent disadvantage.

As a result, Ito Hirobumi told Meiji that the Japanese army needed to set up two lines of defense, inside and outside, to resist the attack of the Taiping army.

On the outer defensive line, they needed to rely on a strong Japanese naval fleet to block the Taiping army.

Japan has a special geographical location, if the Taiping Army wants to attack Japan, it must attack from the sea, first defeat the Japanese naval fleet, and then attack the Japanese mainland, and the Japanese Navy is the main force that the Japanese army has to rely on in this war, and the sea is the main battlefield of the battle between the two sides.

Although the Japanese Navy was damaged in the previous battle with the Taiping Invincible Fleet, after all, the main force was still there, and after some urgent repairs, some ships that had not been completely scrapped were repaired, and some reserve ships were replenished, so the Japanese Navy fleet was at least ninety percent of its strength, and it was really worthy of a battle with the Taiping Army.

And if the Japanese navy turned the Taiping Army out of the sea. Of course, even if it could not win the battle against the Taiping Armada, it would at least cause it to lose its vitality and thus cut off its desire to attack Japan.

For the Japanese side, this is the best result.

The inner line of defense, in addition to the outer line, was the second line of defense set up after the outer line of defense was not defended, and the Japanese army needed to defend it with the strength of the whole country.

The inner line of defense is also the last line of defense of the Japanese army, if the inner line of defense is broken. Then the Japanese army will be all finished. The state of Japan will no longer exist zài.

Therefore, Japan must fight to the death against the Taiping army with all its strength.

Hirobumi Ito was the No. 1 thinker under Emperor Meiji, and his advice was thorough and to the point. Meiji sees. Listen to it. I felt very justified, relieved, and overjoyed. In the end, of course, I gladly accepted it.

As a result, the Japanese were wiping their horses and soldiers, accumulating grass and hoarding grain, and waiting for battle.

In this life-and-death contest, the Japanese army is ready to give everything, and if it does not break the enemy, it will die.

After obtaining Meiji's consent, Ito Hirobumi and Togi Takayoshi also made a division of labor, Ito Hirobumi was in charge, Togi Takayoshi was outside, Togi Takayoshi led the navy to fight the Taiping army first, and if he was defeated, he retreated to the mainland to join Ito Hirobumi and fought to the death with the Taiping army.

They had already decided to step up the training of men and horses, just waiting for the arrival of the Taiping army.

On the side of the Taiping Army, after Huang Xu dealt with the affairs of Korea, he decided to take the imperial expedition and crusade against Japan.

He planned to use the Navy, the Tenth Army Corps, and the Special Operations Detachment as the main force to attack Japan.

The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Army Corps, which had originally aided Korea, were ordered to return to China for rest.

Hearing such an arrangement, Dongfang, who had been clamoring for a war, was not confused and did not do it.

He hasn't fought enough battles, so how can he just go back.

No, he won't go back.

"Your Majesty, let the marshal lead the army back, and the ministers are willing to follow the emperor on an expedition to Japan." Dongfang was not confused and put forward his wish to Huang Xu in public.

"No, since the order has been given, there is no possibility of changing it." Huang Xu shook his head and said.

Isn't the major event of the conquest a child's play, who goes and who doesn't, has their own arrangements, if they are all like the East is not confused, then wouldn't it be chaotic? How could Huang Xu agree to do so.

"Your Majesty, please be gracious and allow your ministers to go out with the army." Dongfang Bufu knelt down and pleaded with Huang Xu.

Dongfang Bufu really wants to fight, and if he is allowed to be idle, it will really make him feel more uncomfortable than killing him.

This is the first time he solemnly knelt down to Huang Xu, although he had also knelt in front of the public before, but it was only a child's play between brothers, and he didn't take it seriously in his heart, this time, he was serious, he was a vassal and begged his emperor to agree to let him go with the army.

Huang Xu saw that Dongfang was not confused, and he also had a strange feeling in his heart, he was embarrassed, in this case, he was really embarrassed if he didn't let Dongfang go.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to agree to let Dongfang accompany you, and the minister and Xiao Yong will lead the army and horses back to China as governors, and there will definitely be no difference." Tian Xiaoer pleaded for Dongfang Bufu.

Tian Xiaoer can not only understand Dongfang's unconfused mood, but also deeply understand Huang Xu's inner entanglement.

Therefore, as the brother of the two, he had to stand up and untie the knot for the two.

Huang Xu glanced at Tian Xiaoer, but did not speak, he groaned slightly, turned his head and asked Li Hongzhang beside him, "Strategist, what do you think?" ”

Li Hongzhang smiled slightly, looked at Dongfang Bufu, who was full of expectation, and said: "Your Majesty, it is okay for General Dongfang to accompany him, although the final chance of winning is quite large, but after all, one more person is still one more strength, in case of any emergency, maybe it is really useful to get General Dongfang's place." ”

Li Hongzhang's meaning has been said very clearly, and you can go if you are not confused.

Hearing this, Tian Xiaoer and Dongfang Bufu were relieved, they knew that Li Hongzhang said this, this matter was basically decided, and Huang Xu would definitely agree.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Hongzhang finished speaking, Huang Xu spoke: "Since the military advisers all say so, Dongfang, then you can go." ”

Huang Xu also hopes to have a confidant brother to accompany him, but the military order is like a mountain, since he has ordered the East to return to China without confusion, how can it be changed casually, if everyone is like him, then how can he be the emperor in the future, fortunately, Li Hongzhang knows his heart, and he solves this problem with a word that is not salty or light, Huang Xu is secretly happy in his heart, and he can't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Emperor Xie, Master Xie." The East is not confused, cheering and cheering.

It's a bit of a gaffe.

Seeing this, Huang Xu couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook his head, his brother is really true temperament, like a child.

"Dongfang, you can go, but you have to agree to a small request." Huang Xu also has to put a tight spell on Dongfang Bufu, lest he come out with something that doesn't fit in the four worlds, and it won't end well.

"Your Majesty, you will agree to any conditions." Dongfang is not confused, patting his chest, and taking care of the authenticity.

As long as he is allowed to go, no matter what conditions Huang Xu proposes, he will agree unconditionally.

"Okay, my conditions are very simple, you can go, but you have to follow me and follow my command." Huang Xu said with a smile.

"Big, no, Your Majesty, is there a battle to fight?" This is the issue that Dongfang Bufu is most concerned about.

"It depends." Huang Xu said.

Dongfang was not puzzled when he heard this, and stared at Huang Xu's face with some suspicion, he always felt that his eldest brother was playing a trick on himself.

"Okay, the minister agreed." Dongfang was not confused, and he agreed.

Let him be, the king wants the minister to die, can the minister have any objections, it is still Huang Xu who has the final say on whether he agrees or not, Dongfang does not believe that his eldest brother is for his good, besides, as long as he goes, can't he find a chance to fight, let's go.

The two brothers have their own minds.

"Okay, that's a deal." Huang Xu laughed.

And Dongfang is not confused, but he feels more and more that he has fallen for Huang Xu.

However, the matter was still settled.

After the pre-trial conference, a plan was decided, and everyone prepared separately.

Early the next morning, Huang Xu personally sent the army led by Tian Xiaoer and Wang Xiaoyong back to China, thirty miles outside the city, and then he bid farewell to Li Yuantong, the governor of the Korean Autonomous Region, and all the Korean ministers, military and civilians, and finally led a group of people to board the ships of the Invincible Fleet and march towards the Japanese mainland.

The Invincible Armada carrying the expeditionary army of the Taiping Army marched on the vast sea, Huang Xu looked into the distance, between the water and light, he couldn't help but be full of pride, he believed that he would be able to get what he wanted. (To be continued......)