June 6, 1894, solar term: Grain.

In the second hall of Beiyang Yamen, Li Hongzhang opened a newly published "Guowenbao" with both hands. He felt that the four pieces of rough paper weighed a thousand pounds. The calm mind that he had experienced throughout his life was actually unstoppable and was shaken. His gloomy face seemed to be fostering a storm that was about to break out!

Those who sat or stood below were all his most valued staff and confidants. They all lowered their heads and held their breath, and did not dare to breathe, waiting for his thunderous anger to burst out!

After a while, Li Hongzhang's old voice cut through the depressing atmosphere that was about to be suffocated, with a hint of fatigue and self-deprecating: "Okay! I didn't expect that I have been arrogant and smart all my life, but today I was fooled by that mere little bandit, and all my face was thrown into the Java Sea! But I asked a boy who couldn't stay here to poke it out. The slap was very strong!"

No one below dared to answer the conversation. Everyone could hear that the Lord Zhongtang had already rushed to the top of his anger and had accumulated to the extreme. There was no more and more violent thunder, but every word was like a knife, piercing the hearts of their loyal staff!

The principle of the Lord humiliating the minister to die is not only applicable to the emperor. They were promoted by Li Hongzhang to be today. The humiliation of the Lord Zhongtang was caused by their negligence. It was not yelling, but it was even more uncomfortable than pointing at the nose and cursing her mother!

Li Hongzhang shook the newspaper gently and then said, "I don't intend to doubt whether the above said is true or false. Now I just want to know, if it is true as the newspaper says, Japan is determined to go to war with me, and Britain deliberately stands by and choose which side to support based on the results of the war. Then, besides starting a war, there is really no way out?"

He raised his old eyes and slowly looked at the faces of everyone present. His most trusted foreign secretary, former U.S. Vice Consul in Tianjin, Bidege (the previous article was wrong, changed), cleared his throat and said frankly: "Sir Zhongtang, based on our understanding of the strategies between powerful countries, the situation mentioned in the newspaper is very likely to appear."

Li Hongzhang did not comment, and looked at De Cuilin again. The German narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded, saying, "This is probably true. Although the agreement between Britain and Japan has not been signed, everything that should be discussed has been discussed, and the result will not be much changed. You know, Britain needs an Eastern fulcrum to influence Russia and control the expansion of France and the United States. The cooperation targets must have strong military action. In terms of performance in the past two months, the Qing Empire has obviously delayed a lot."

"However, we still have a great chance of winning. In terms of comprehensive national strength and military strength, the Qing Dynasty was stronger than Japan. As long as this war was won, Japan's economy would collapse, and the bonds they issued in London would become debts that crushed them. The British Empire had no choice but to support us."

Hannagan seized the opportunity to make a judgment. He had just returned from Europe and learned more about the situation there.

The foreign aides' understanding and arguments are generally similar, but without exception, they are not optimistic about the policies Li Hongzhang had implemented before. In particular, he imagined that the great powers would continue to wait and see if they were not biased. As long as they played power, they could make Japan retreat without fighting. This was purely a way to seek death in international disputes that advocated the laws of the jungle.

The national aides can do things, but they will inevitably lack some of them when they are promoted to international priorities. However, they have a wide range of ways to win, especially their experience in internal infighting and deceitful struggles.

Zhang Peilun coughed lightly and interrupted: "Secretary Fu! I believe that there have been newspapers in the palace at this moment. In addition, the civil discussion has been incited, and the sound of war will inevitably continue. If we are hesitant and are afraid that the population will be detrimental, it will be unfair. In the following foolish opinion, it is better to send troops to North Korea to increase as soon as possible and make the navy vigilant along the way! Otherwise, as the report said, the Japanese have completed the troops and waited for an opportunity to attack, and a sudden attack will occur, the situation in North Korea will inevitably be in danger! We must not ignore it!"

"I'm afraid the news is not true! I'm mobilized all the troops and found that the Japanese had no intention of starting a war. Wouldn't it be a joke?"

Li Hongzhang was really hesitant. He was too conceited and absolutely believed that his judgment would not be wrong. The Japanese kept showing a small and flattering attitude in front of him, and explained it repeatedly and without any intention. Even this time, Keisuke Oto took his people to North Korea, and it was only 20 policemen and one Yaeshan ship. Even if there were 300 sailors, what could they do when facing Nie Shicheng's first batch of 910 elite soldiers?

Besides, people also explained that those people went to protect overseas Chinese, so how can they be enough to fight?

In Japan, the exact news about Wang Fengzao has not been sent. Li Jingfang's constant "Japanese threat theory" has already made him feel numb and disturbed, and it is difficult to make a decision for a while.

But subconsciously, Li Hongzhang had to remind himself that his previous views might be really wrong!

This issue of "Guo Wenbao" is like an atomic bomb of tens of millions of tons, slamming hard on the heads of countless Chinese people who are still immersed in the dream of the dream of the Celestial Empire. Because its power is too strong, countless people have absent-minded for a moment!

In the front page headline, there is a photo that is not very clear, with shocking words written next to it: "War is approaching! Japan has established a wartime base camp!"

Below the photo, there are detailed lists of the imperial meeting lineups with the newly appointed Naval Commander Shiki Kawayama, Navy Minister Saigo Congdo, Privy Council Speaker Aritoshi Yama Prefecture, Army Minister Oyama Iwa, Deputy Chief of Staff Headquarters Kawakami Kawakami, and other members of the General Staff Headquarters.

The following are the detailed list and positions of the entire base camp organization, the composition of the newly established joint fleet, the names and division of labor of all ships, the currently reorganized six divisions, etc.

The article lists the roots, purpose, action strategy, command of the Japanese navy and army, the public opinion direction of clamoring for war in Japan, and the British connivance and secret support. The focus is more on the point that Japan openly denies the Qing Dynasty's vassal relationship with North Korea, claiming that "the imperial government has never recognized North Korea as a Chinese state", and it is also clear that it must follow the Tianjin Convention to send troops. Whether the Qing Dynasty allows it or not is meaningless!

If this is not convincing enough, then in the second edition of "The Rise of Great Powers: Japan" series, a full four editions are specially used to detailed the details of Japan's rebellion, reform, strengthening its military, building its business, and culturalization since its founding. It has clearly left Asia and Europe, conquered South Korea again and again, occupied Ryukyu, gained a goal, set up a "sovement line" and "interest line", formulated the "Plan for Struggle against the Qing Dynasty", proposed the "Plan for Struggle against the Qing Dynasty", and completed all preparations in 1892!

Later, against Dingyuan and Zhenyuan, the two specially customized three-scene ships, the Japanese emperor Mu Ren, was frugal and called on the people to donate together. He sent thousands of ** to Nanyang, the United States, and the Qing dynasties to sell - off, and went to Europe to issue war bonds to build more advanced warships. His deputy chief of staff, Kawakami Kawakami, took action personally, from Busan, North Korea, Incheon, Seoul to Yantai, Tianjin, Nanjing, and Shanghai, China, to conduct extensive and meticulous investigations, dispatching a large number of spies to find out military intelligence.

Everything is waiting for the best opportunity to provoke a war, defeat the Qing Dynasty in one fell swoop, gain support from Britain, and then rise to become the most powerful country in Asia!

Since the Japanese Reformation, the military, industry, education, legal system, and all aspects have surpassed the Qing Dynasty in all aspects. Various potential forces that no one could see before, and the shocking numbers made everyone who saw it shocked and speechless!

By comparing the two, no fool can draw a clear conclusion. In contrast, Li Hongzhang's wishful peace or the mediation of the great powers all became jokes! Even though the other party's knife had been handed out, he was still foolishly confused by the hypocritical smile on his face. It's no wonder that Li Hongzhang felt as if he had been slapped in the face!

The slap was so loud that countless ministers and countless literati and talented people from all over the Qing court were at a loss for a moment. They would rather think that this was the "Guowenbao" that was attracting popularity and exaggerating, but the reputation laid out by more than a month in the past made them involuntarily believe that all this was true!

In the palace, Emperor Guangxu was so angry that he trembled all over and asked Weng Tonghe with the newspaper: "Master Weng, do you think this is true? Li Hongzhang just let the Japanese play around with him? There are so many people from all over the Qing Dynasty, but none of them can see their wolf ambitions clearly? I don't believe it!"

Weng Tonghe was very happy to see Li Hongzhang's unluckyness and he didn't mind doing anything at all. He nodded solemnly: "Your Majesty, Li Shaoquan has always been a child. He believes that he has no right to do Western affairs and diplomacy. It is inevitable that he will be negligent and careless. The most urgent task is to remind him not to make mistakes! He is personally embarrassed and has little trouble. If the military situation is unfavorable, it will damage the dignity of the emperor and the heavenly dynasty and disrupt the sacred life of the empress dowager, it will be a great crime!"

"Hmph! I don't believe that a mere small country can beat our Qing Dynasty! Tell Li Hongzhang that this time you must not fail!"

Guangxu was impatient and had just taken power in name only and was about to make some achievements to prove himself, but with Weng Tonghe and his group of people who were whining about Qingliu, they were so anxious that they got into trouble.

On the Summer Palace, Guangxu's words of advocating war reached Cixi's ears. She said lightly: "Then let Li Hongzhang take care of it! Those who raise such large ships of soldiers cannot just eat their wages and do nothing, right?"

Li Lianying quickly passed the meaning to Li Hongzhang. Li's hesitation thoughts were settled immediately and ordered Nie Shicheng and Ye Zhichao to speed up the transport of troops and go to the court quickly. However, he was still looking forward to it, and it would be best not to fight.

"No fight? How is that possible! I've tried to push things to this point, just waiting for you to fight!"

Yang Hao was riding a steam gunboat, drifting from Tanggu to North Korea, rushing through the waves and running on the sea! ps: Thank you for your reward from book friends and book friends 141028093616317!
Chapter completed!