My Italian

With the entry of three thousand Huai troops into Korea, Japan was not far behind. More than 4,000 Japanese troops from the third division of the Japanese army, Oshima Yichang, suddenly forcibly landed from Jemulpo. As a result, China and Japan were on the verge of war.

Regarding the sudden dispatch of troops by Japan, there was also a lot of discussion within the Qing court. The front-line generals Ye Zhichao and Nie Shicheng believed that at this time, China and Japan had a certain advantage in North Korea's military force in China, and they should quickly send reinforcements to assist the troops in the DPRK to control Seoul.

Yuan Shikai believed that, regardless of whether it was a war or peace, the Qing army must retreat northward to the front lines 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 Tonghe fought together to drive out the Japanese army in the DPRK. Of course, why is the main battle, in fact, many people know that no matter the victory or defeat, it can weaken the power of the Huai Army, and it is the emperor's wisdom to win.

In addition, the people headed by Prince Qing believed that it was better to rely on Britain and Russia to mediate when the battle was over.

The most important thing, Li Zhongtang, is not assertive, and he prefers that Japan does not dare to start a war. This may be another blackmail by sending troops to Taiwan.

Compared with Japan's basic unity of heart, China's war and uncertain attitudes have indeed seriously hindered war preparations.

Moreover, Japan also received good news in diplomacy at this time. The Japanese Minister to the United Kingdom, Shuzo Aoki, called from London, saying that the British government supported Japan in occupying Korea. A few days later, Aoki Zhouzang signed the "Britain-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation" with the United Kingdom, and Japan used this to take back the concession, consular jurisdiction, and some tariff rights. The Japanese government, whose confidence was encouraged, strengthened its determination to go to war with Qing.

Letting the British support Japan in this way is also the result of Li Zhongtang's long-term use of the barbarians to control the barbarians. Compared with Li Zhongtang, who has always refused to speak out, the British still believe that Japan's aggressive attitude is more reliable.

At this time, the Qing court finally made up its mind and ordered Li Zhongtang to send troops to North Korea, posing a posture that he would not hesitate to fight for North Korea.

Japan is also stepping up its preparations after learning of the Qing court's willingness to go to war.

On July 19, Keisuke Otori, the Japanese deputy envoy to the Qing State, submitted an ultimatum to the Qing court, requesting the Qing State to immediately abolish the Sino-Korean Protection Treaty, recognize Korea as an independent and sovereign state, and immediately withdraw all Qing troops from Korea. , this message is limited to reply within five days.

Even in the face of Japan's willingness to go to war, the Qing court was still not unwilling to give up Korea, the last vassal state, and continued to send troops.

On July 21, the named Admiral Ningxia Town Chief Guard Rugui led 6,000 subordinates stationed in Tianjin, and Ma Yukun, the named Admiral Yi Jun's rear army commander, led 2,000 officers and soldiers garrisoned in Lushun to land on the front line of Dadonggou adjacent to Dandong, ready to go. Pyongyang.

On the same day, the first batch of 1,500 officers and soldiers dispatched by Wu Yuren, the commander of the Beitang Defence Force and the commander of Yongzheng, led by the registered commander Jiang Zikang, took the two merchant ships of Jardine Matheson Renai and Feijing, as well as the transport ship Yushun of the Beiyang Navy. Under the **** of the Guangdong Navy Weihai, Guangjia and Beiyang Navy Weiyuan, they were transported from Tianjin to Asan.

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

Not to mention the intelligence departments of the Japanese Navy and Army, the Japanese civilian intelligence organization alone is enough to drink a pot. Take Xuanyang Society, the predecessor of Heilonghui, as an example. Since Xuanyang Society opened the Oriental Academy in Shanghai in 1884, Xuanyang Society, which has been deeply involved in the Qing Dynasty for ten years, has already extended its tentacles inland, in Hankou, Nanchang, Kaifeng, Baoding and other inland cities. There are information bases. These intelligence bases covered by the Chamber of Commerce stores continuously sent information from the Qing state back to Japan.

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

Of course, intelligence work cannot be reported in a timely manner at any time. If the first batch of 1500 Qing troops were not shipped from Tianjin to Asan, the Japanese intelligence department would not report in a timely manner. After the fleet arrived in Asan, the Japanese government could You know, this has also attracted a while of reprimand.

In an unremarkable teahouse in Tianjin, two middle-aged men in casual clothes had a secret discussion in a box.

"Assistant Li, the news last time was very useful to us. We are willing to hand over a lot of friends like Assistant Li. This is our additional thanks to Assistant Li."

Saying that, a silver note printed with two hundred taels of silver was handed to Assistant Li. Looking at the bank note in front of him, this assistant Li flashed a greedy look in front of his eyes, and put the bank note into his sleeve.

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

Seeing that the other party received the bank note, the middle-aged man continued to speak. "Assistant Li, when is the next ship to Asan, so we can continue to do business with the military lord."

"This is..."

"I understand……"

Another 200 taels silver bill was handed to Assistant Li in front of him.

"It's not easy to do this."

Looking at the 200 taels of silver notes, it was obvious that Li Fang was not satisfied.

"I think this will help your Excellency."

Another 200 taels silver bill was handed over.

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

Deputy Li is also very happy, getting the money is like pouring beans, and telling the information he knows.

"Thanks to Assistant Li for his accommodating. My account has made money, and I will never forget the good work of Assistant Li."

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

At this time, Japan had already decided to go to war with Qing, so after getting this information, Japan immediately transferred this information to the Ministry of the Navy.

Therefore, on July 25, the first guerrilla of the Japanese Combined Fleet suddenly attacked the two cruisers Jiyuan and Guangyi of the Beiyang Navy in the waters of Toyoshima, Korea, and then sank the British transport ship Gaosheng and captured the gunboat Caojiang. This also marks the complete outbreak of the war between China and Japan over North Korea.

Of course, before that, Japan wanted to seize the opportunity. The Oshima Brigade of the Third Division of the Japanese Army, which was the first to land, suddenly occupied Seoul on the 23rd and held Emperor Gojong hostage. Japan's consul general in North Korea, Komura Shutaro, delivered an ultimatum to the North Korean government, demanding that North Korea immediately abolish the Sino-North Korean protection treaty, immediately declare North Korea as a sovereign state, and expel the Qing army in the North.

In the face of Komura Shoutaro's alliance under the city, the North Korean government was shocked. Japan did not give North Korea time to think about it, and immediately brought out the king of the Great Yuan, reorganized the North Korean regime, and the concubine Min's power immediately fell.

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

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