With the entry of 3,000 Huai troops into Korea, Japan was not far behind, and more than 4,000 people of the Oshima Yoshima Division of the 3rd Division of the Japanese Army suddenly forcibly landed from Jemulpo, thus putting China and Japan on the brink of war.

The front-line generals Ye Zhichao and Nie Shicheng believed that at this time, China and Japan had a certain advantage in Korean troops, and they should quickly send reinforcements to assist the Korean troops in controlling Seoul.

Yuan Shikai believed that regardless of whether it was war or peace, the Qing army must retreat to the north to the line of Jeonju and Asan, 120 kilometers south of Seoul, or at least to Pyongyang, so as not to fight alone.

In Beijing, Guangxu and Weng Tongyi fought the main battle to drive out the Japanese army in Korea. Of course, why the main battle, in fact, many people know that no matter whether they win or lose, they can weaken the power of the Huai army, and if they win, they will be wise, and if they lose, they will be unfavorable to Li Zhongtang's command, but it is a good move.

In addition, the people led by Prince Qing believed that it was difficult to say whether the war would be won or lost, and it was better to rely on Britain and Russia for mediation.

The most critical Li Zhongtang is not assertive, and he is even more inclined to Japan's dare not start a war, which may be another blackmail to send troops to Taiwan.

Compared with the Japanese side, which is basically united in one mind, China's warlike and uncertain attitude has indeed seriously dragged down war preparations.

At this time, there was also good news from Japan diplomatically, and the Japanese minister to the United Kingdom, Shuzo Aoki, sent a telegram from London saying that the British government supported Japan's occupation of Korea. A few days later, Aoki signed the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with Great Britain, whereby Japan recovered its concessions, consular jurisdiction, and some customs rights. The Japanese government, which was encouraged by its confidence, strengthened its determination to start a war with the Qing state.

The British supported Japan so much, which was also the evil result of Li Zhongtang's long-term use of razing to defeat Japan. Compared with Li Zhongtang, who was always reluctant to express his position, the British still believed that Japan's aggressive attitude was more reliable.

At this time, the Qing court finally made up its mind and ordered Li Zhongtang to send troops to Korea, putting on a posture of not hesitating to fight for Korea.

After learning that the Qing court did not hesitate to fight a war, Japan was also stepping up its preparations.

On 19 July, Keisuke Otori, Japan's vice minister to the Qing Dynasty, submitted an ultimatum to the Qing court, demanding that the Qing state immediately abrogate the "Sino-Korean Protection Treaty," recognize Korea as an independent and sovereign state, and immediately withdraw all Qing troops from Korea.

Even in the face of Japan's attitude of not hesitating to fight, the Qing court was still not unwilling to give up Korea, the last subject country, and continued to send troops.

On July 21, Wei Rugui, the commander-in-chief of Ningxia Town, led 6,000 of his subordinates stationed in Tianjin, and Ma Yukun, commander of the Hou Army of the Named Admiral Yi Army, led 2,000 officers and soldiers stationed in Lushun, landed on the front line of Dadonggou near Dandong and prepared to leave for Pyongyang.

On the same day, the first batch of 1,500 officers and soldiers sent by Wu Yuren, commander of the Beitang Defense Army and commander-in-chief of Yongzhen, led by Jiang Zikang, a registered commander-in-chief, transported from Tianjin to Asan on two merchant ships, Jardine Matheson Renai and Flying Whale, as well as the transport ship Yushun of the Beiyang Naval Division, under the escort of the Guangdong Naval Division Weihai and Guangjia and the Beiyang Naval Division Weiyuan.

The actions of the Qing army were known to Japan from the very beginning. In the field of intelligence, the Qing and Japanese countries are simply two levels.

Not to mention the intelligence departments of the Japanese navy and army, the intelligence organizations of the Japanese civilian army alone are enough to drink a pot of water. Taking the Xuanyang Society, the predecessor of the Black Dragon Society, as an example, since the Xuanyang Society opened the Oriental Academy in Shanghai in 1884, the Xuanyang Society, which had been deeply involved in the Qing Dynasty for ten years, had extended its tentacles to the interior, and had intelligence bases in inland cities such as Hankou, Nanchang, Kaifeng, and Baoding. These intelligence bases, which were covered by the Chamber of Commerce, continuously transmitted information about the Qing Kingdom back to Japan.

No, the specific information on the Qing State's dispatch of troops to Korea was found out by the Xuanyang Society.

Of course, intelligence work is not always reported in a timely manner, and the Japanese intelligence department did not report in a timely manner if it was not for the first batch of 1,500 Qing troops that were shipped from Tianjin to Asan by sea, and the Japanese government did not know until the fleet arrived at Asan, which also attracted a burst of reprimands.

In a nondescript teahouse in Tianjin, two middle-aged men in civilian clothes negotiate secretly in a private room.

"Helper Li, the news from last time was very useful to us, a friend like Helper Li, we are willing to hand over more, this is our extra thanks to Helper Li."

Saying that, a silver ticket printed with two hundred taels of silver was handed to Deputy Li's eyes. Looking at the silver ticket in front of him, a greedy gaze flashed in front of his eyes, and he casually put the silver ticket into his sleeve.

"You're welcome, you're welcome!"

Seeing that the other party had collected the silver ticket, the middle-aged man then continued. "Helper Li, when is the next ship sent to Asan, and we can continue to do business with the military master."

"Well...... this"

"I know ......"

Another silver ticket of two hundred taels was handed to Deputy Li.

"It's not easy to do."

Glancing at the two hundred taels of silver tickets, Deputy Li was obviously not satisfied.

"I think this will help you."

Another silver ticket of two hundred taels was handed over.

"On the 23rd, the senior assistant of the battalion office will take the second batch of officers and soldiers to Asan on the Gaosheng of Jardine Matheson & Co., which is expected to arrive on the 25th."

Assistant Li was also refreshing, and getting the money was like pouring beans, telling the information he knew.

"Thanks to Assistant Li's accommodation, I have made money, and I will never forget the good of Assistant Li."

In the evening of the same day, a cipher telegram was sent to Shanghai through the commercial telegraph line in Tianjin, and then sent from Shanghai to Japan that night along the submarine telegraph line.

At this time, Japan had already decided to start a war with the Qing State, so after receiving this information, Japan immediately forwarded this information to the Admiralty.

Therefore, on July 25, the 1st Guerrilla Group of the Japanese Combined Fleet suddenly attacked the two cruisers Jiyuan and Guangyi of the Beiyang Naval Division in the waters off Toshima in Korea, and then sank the British transport ship Gaosheng and captured the gunboat Caojiang. It also marked the complete outbreak of the war between China and Japan around Korea.

Of course, before that, Japan wanted to seize the opportunity. The Oshima Brigade of the 3rd Division of the Japanese Army, which was the first to land, suddenly occupied Seoul on the 23rd and held Gojong hostage. The Japanese consul general in Korea, Komura Shotaro, delivered an ultimatum to the Korean government, demanding that the DPRK immediately abrogate the Sino-DPRK protection treaty, immediately declare the DPRK a sovereign state, and expel the Qing troops in the DPRK.

Faced with Komura Shoutaro's alliance under the castle, the Korean government was shocked, and Japan did not give North Korea time to think about it, and immediately raised Daewonjun to reorganize the Korean regime, and Concubine Min's forces immediately fell.

In the face of Japan's preemptive move, the Qing State could only declare war on the tiger.

At this point, the Sino-Japanese War broke out completely.