2. In the 28th year of Xianfeng, the emperor was almost fifty years old. His originally beautiful and slender figure gradually gained weight. There were fine wrinkles on his forehead and corners of his eyes, but his eyes were still as bright as before. He heard that Yi led the Japanese Navy and Army came in frequently and even summoned the ministers to Japan for many consecutive days. He pretended to be puzzled and asked, "According to what you said, Japan intends to seize Taiwan?"

"I dare not say that Japan has the will to make amends to me, but from this kind of origin, there are indeed signs."

"I think, probably won't." He made a long-standing look. "How many years have the Japanese Navy been established? How many ships do you dare to invade my Qing Dynasty? Don't they think about the consequences? Besides, they have such courage and do they have such power? The islands of Pengtai have been defending for many years. Will the soldiers on the island watch the Japanese go to the island without firing a single shot? Once the war begins, the Nanyang Navy moves when they hear the news. How will the Japanese Navy deal with it? This matter must be a rumor, and there is no need to pay attention to it."

"Your Majesty, I heard from the news from the ministers of various countries that Japan is asking Western countries to prepare for mediation in the future. From this point of view, this matter may not be a false statement?"

The emperor laughed loudly, "Lao Liu, when will it be the foreigners' turn to take care of my Qing Dynasty? The Japanese will be honest this time. Once the war is started, it depends on when I am willing to withdraw the troops from Western countries and can I be my master? Jokes"

"The emperor, for the sake of the future, should he call the Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang to strengthen his defense against the Taiwan-Peng Strait?"

The emperor thought about it and said that if it was not accurate, it would start in the future, and recalled that the traces of his own artificiality would be too obvious, "Okay,"

Tell Li Hongzhang that he would send people across the sea, inform Li Henian and Luo Bingkun to step up defenses on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to prevent the Japanese from really daring to take the world's worst offense and launching troops to infringe on the sea border."

"yes"

"Although I don't think the Japanese have such courage, I should not be careless about this matter. Shen Baozhen is the Minister of War who is specialized in naval affairs. Do you think that with the response of the South China Navy and the coastal defense fortifications near the Taiwan-Penglish coast, can the important task of blocking the enemy be completed?"

"I think that if I rely solely on the fortifications of Taipeng, I am afraid that I will sometimes be worried about Yu Yue. The coastal defenses of Taipeng and Pengerang were all the ancestors and even Emperor Rui. This means that they were built during the Jiaqing period and were destroyed after decades of wind and rain. However, since the court asked Luo Bingkun to train, eliminated and evacuated the green camp soldiers on the island, integrated and merged many places in Xuntanghaikou, there has been no results. There are many shortages of soldiers in Taiwan and Pengerang. I am afraid that Lord Li and Lord Luo will feel that they are not good at cooking without rice."

While hearing him, the emperor reached out and scratched the scalp on his head, looking impatient, "This is indeed a troublesome thing, but it will not be, and it should not be the reason for allowing the Japanese to covet our Qing Dynasty territory, especially the Nanyang Navy is not far away, and there is no reason for allowing the Japanese Navy to swim freely in the strait. He asked him to step up his precautions and pay attention to the movements in the strait. Once there is a policeman, he will report to the court immediately."

He added another sentence, "However, the Nanyang Navy does not fire the first shot."

Yi was wondering in his heart, what kind of tune is this? If the patrolling sea ships find Japanese warships, but cannot fire the fire first? Should we let the other party go? "The emperor, I think it is better to recruit Japanese ambassadors to China and explain our position in detail... so that the Japanese know that I have precautions early in the morning and dispel the wolf's ambitions?"

"Okay" the emperor did not think that doing so would make the Japanese restrain themselves. But many necessary procedures still have to go. The main thing is that China fulfills its responsibilities and gives Western countries as much respect and respect as possible. It will also take strategic initiative for future wars, so it does not prevent "just like this, go ahead first."

The Military Affairs Office retreated and returned to Zhilu. Yi didn't have to rest for more time. He also sent a sedan to go directly to the General Administration Office, and the assistants and ministers of various countries who were responsible for their responsibilities. The Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economics of the Ministry of Finance and Economics were invited to the General Administration Office immediately notify them of the Consuls in China on the 11th of the month. If there is any consultation, everyone will accept the order and leave the office without mentioning the matter.

On the sixth of April, the news sent back from the ministers in various countries in Japan made the Emperor and Saigo Congdao, Saigo Takamori, Katsukaiju and others mixed with joy and sorrow. Russia made it clear that it would not take any stance on this matter, but Russia's interests in the Far East could not be affected at all. Otherwise, it would be necessary to take the necessary measures for its own interests.

The attitudes of Britain and the United States are also very ambiguous. Although Emperor Xianfeng of China once said that Taiwan was beyond the reach of the Qing government, to what extent could this be the basis for the Japanese to take advantage of the situation and regard Taiwan as a land of no border, it is not favored by Western countries. Taiwan is China's territory, there is no doubt that the Japanese talk to themselves just because of a wrong statement from the Chinese emperor, and even use force to invade the island. How will China rebound afterwards? It is also unsure and predictable now.

However, for Japan's second requirement, that is, if the situation becomes serious, it is requested that Western countries come forward to mediate. There are many countries that agree. The fastest reaction was France. "Once China has a decision to intensify the dynamics of the Far East, France will never sit idly by, and it will never allow France's interests in the Far East to be damaged by anyone."

The Japanese knew the meaning of elegance when they heard the string song and immediately said, "When Taiwan is fully involved in Japan, France's interests in Taiwan will not only not decrease, but will increase compared with the Qing Dynasty. These include Green Island, Lanyu Xiaolanyu, Eluanbi, Maobitou, Ryukyu, this is Xiaoliuqiu, not the Ryukyu Islands and other islands, and other ports outside the island, all French merchant ships and warships can be allowed to dock and supply."

The Japanese are so informed and tactful, France is very satisfied, and the two sides are in love with each other and reach a preliminary agreement

Seeing that the matter was no longer resolved, Terajima Sonya decided to resign. This time the emperor did not try to keep it, and Hirofumi Ito temporarily took up the responsibility of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and ordered Saigo Congdao to be fully responsible for the use of military service against Taiwan. Saigo Congdao received the order and was very happy. This time, he finally got the hatred of Kawamura Junyi being killed innocently.

But although he was keen on using force against China, he was also reckless. He knew that the Chinese Nanyang Fleet was cruising back and forth on the seas of Taiwan, without the protection of the navy, and even this area of ​​water could not be safe, let alone military use. He immediately asked the Emperor for an order, "Outside the troops transport ship, I hope to get the permission of His Majesty, and send Yun-class iron-clad ships to escort."

"This is necessary." Needless to say, the Emperor had thought of this section, "Your Excellency Prince, why not resolve this matter with your colleagues in the Admiralty?"

"yes"

Prince Arisugawa Miyaki Hitomiya is the president of the three-position president, agreed to participate in the separate course system of the Army and Navy Military Affairs Course, which is the number one figure in the Japanese military department. With his help from the side, Saigo is full of confidence, and naturally, he is more motivated.

However, the Admiralty was very dissatisfied with the wishful thinking of Saigo Congdao. By the tenth year of Meiji, the Japanese Navy had already purchased and leased 17 naval ships, namely the làng-class ironclad ships Fusang, Kwang, Bi, and Takachiho; the Yangcheng-class gunboats Yamato, Katsuki, Musashi, Làng, Akashi, Miyako, totaling six ships.

In addition, French designer Emile was invited to invite him.

The four-scene ships designed and manufactured by Betan are the so-called "four-scene ships" designed and produced by the Yuan-class ironclad ships of the Qing Navy. They are four ironclad ships named after four Japanese tourist destinations, namely Matsushima, Itsuki, Hashita and Akitsushima.

The various parameters of this warship are no longer below the Yuanzi-class iron armored ship. Its standard displacement reaches 18,000 tons; the full load displacement is 19,500 tons, a total length of 153 meters; the width is 27 meters; the draft is 81 meters; the capacity is 957 people to install three triple-mounted 300 mm main gun turrets, sixteen mén 230 mm caliber secondary guns and eight mén 150 mm caliber shè cannon, canceling the meaningless torpedo tubes on the Chinese Yuanzi-class iron armored ships.

In terms of power, Jingchuan uses the 35-type coal-fired boiler main engine produced by the 12-seater Osaka Steel Boiler Manufacturing Factory. For the first time, four French Méngs. When the output power of the 38-type steam turbine power system of the steam engine factory reaches 8,900 axle horsepower.

According to the engineer's calculation, the maximum of the Scenic Ship can reach twenty knots. Although the actual maximum is reduced, it is enough to meet the requirements of the Navy.

In terms of protection, engineers shortened the length of the hull and concentratedly prepared the main gun, thereby reducing the length of the main armor belt. At the same armor weight, the armor thickness is increased and the protection capacity is enhanced. In addition, the underwater part of the hull has also been added to the outside of the coal-fired compartment, which has improved the ability to resist underwater strikes and also satisfied the navy.

The Shijing Ship is the Japanese Navy's ship. Although it is not as powerful as the Nara, the Tsuka-class battleship under construction, it will not be a big problem to protect the Japanese coast.

The navy Qing Shenghaizhou did not agree with Saigo Congdao's opinion. For China, not to mention that the strength of the Japanese navy is not enough, even with such strength, it is better that Japan will not be provoked without provoking Japan's territory and lack of resources. If it continues to fight for a long time, it will definitely not be a match for China.

However, the emperor's decree must be implemented seriously. After discussion with Katsukaisuke, Iwakura Koshi and others, 2,600 soldiers were transferred from Kumamoto Town, one of the six towns and Taiwan, to visit the five old-fashioned gunboats of the Shogun era, Kaiyang, and the four ironclad ships of Katsuki, Musashi, Làng, and Akashi, left Nagasaki Port, turned south and sent troops to Taiwan.

The departure date is set on May 14th, but in order to ensure the concealment and smooth progress of the plan, the army and the navy will not set off from Nagasaki together, but will leave the shore from Nagasaki, Okura, Kobe, Osaka and other ports respectively, and will reconcile the reservation on the sea, and then turn around.

Just as the Japanese Navy boarded Musashimaru and raised the fire and was about to set off, a telegram suddenly came, "Suspended the march"
Chapter completed!