Tuqing: My first love was Cixi

Chapter 299 The battle that overwhelms the country! A great victory over Japan!
The declaration of war against Japan did not cause an uproar.

After all, in the eyes of many people in the Qing Dynasty, Japan was simply not worth mentioning. Only those who know the history of future generations know how cruel this country is.

However, not long after the war was declared.

Sir Bruce, the British Minister to China, approached Su Yi and expressed serious concern about the war.

"Prince Regent, if you start this war, it will harm the interests of the British Empire." Bruce said: "Our country also has a lot of investment in Japan and has considerable diplomatic relations."

Su Yi said: "Is your investment in Japan one-tenth of that in China?"

Bruce said: "You also know that it is okay to increase things like interests, but it is absolutely impossible to decrease them."

Su Yi said: "The Japanese burned down our embassy and massacred our officials stationed in Japan. Should we endure it?"

"The Ryukyu Kingdom is our vassal state. The Japanese sent troops to illegally occupy it and asked it to remove its name. Should we tolerate this?"

Bruce said: "However, your actions did hurt the authority of the British Empire in East Asia."

Su Yi was silent for a while and then said slowly: "Mr. Minister, in the eyes of you and many bureaucrats in London, have you never regarded our country as an equal ally?"

"If we were treated relatively equally, would we be allowed to suffer such humiliation?"

"I just want to ask, what would you do if your country suffered such treatment?"

Minister Bruce said: "But the British Empire is not your China, isn't it?"

Su Yi said slowly: "Then I want you to ask yourself whether your interests are greater in China or in the British Empire."

"I hope you think carefully before answering this question."

"Now I'll give you a choice, let you return to London and be a minister of a certain ministry. Are you willing?"

Minister Bruce fell silent.

There is no doubt that he is unwilling to do so.

Nowadays, the position of Minister to China is extremely generous. Although being able to be a minister in a certain ministry in London would have a better reputation, in terms of power and influence, the difference is too far.

Because the British Empire's overall interests in China are nearly 100 million pounds.

And it is still growing rapidly.

In addition, there was no telegraph line between London and Asia, so any order or communication would take two or three months to go back and forth.

This also means that he, the Chinese minister, is the Turkish emperor in the Far East.

Countless financial groups and related interest groups want to come to the Far East to make money, and the first person they have to visit is him, the minister to China.

Who is willing to give up such a lucrative position?

Just like Hart, the Chief Taxation Department, he handles tens of millions of tariffs every year, and he is also a top official in China.

He also didn't want to go back to London.

"I don't want to," Bruce said.

Su Yi said: "You will return to London in the future, but before you retire, you should return to London to be gilded, and then retire with glory and huge property. So your interests are in China, not in London."

"Then when you think about things, you should consider China's interests, right?"

Bruce said: "Waitoma is watching with eager eyes, ready to overthrow my position at any time."

Su Yi said: "As long as the British businessmen in China spread the word and do not allow Witoma to serve as minister to China, or even assassinate him when necessary, then he will never become the minister."

"Mr. Bruce, for you to be able to secure this position, your biggest supporter is not London, but me!"

"I have a deeper friendship with Sir Basili, but he has always only been your deputy. Why? This is because we feel that you can represent our interests, and we want to have a normal succession. After you retire, He will be succeeded by Sir Basil."

Bruce fell silent.

A few minutes later, he said: "Then let's fight and talk at the same time. Diplomats from China, Japan, and Britain will conduct tripartite negotiations. I will ask Japan to withdraw its troops from the Ryukyu Kingdom unconditionally, regain the independence of the Ryukyu Kingdom unconditionally, and allow Ryukyu to become independent unconditionally." The country paid tribute to the Qing Dynasty, and formally apologized to the Qing Dynasty for the massacre at the legation, handed over no less than 500 murderers to the Qing Dynasty, and paid compensation of 8 million taels of silver."

This...is right.

This also provides an explanation for London.

Moreover, Japan will never agree to such conditions.

Bruce said: "Of course, these conditions need to be raised by your envoy. For the sake of peace, our delegation from the British Empire will urge Japan to agree to these conditions."

Su Yi extended her hand towards Bruce and said, "It's a pleasure to cooperate."

Sir Bruce said: "It's a pleasure to cooperate."

..............................

There is no doubt that Japan's actions are by no means unilateral.

Soon, the Russian minister once again entered the palace and asked to see the regent.

"Your Excellency the Prince Regent, on behalf of the Russian Emperor, I formally make a request to your country, please abide by the relevant provisions of the "Aihun Treaty" and the "Qing-Russia-Beijing Treaty" and withdraw your troops from our territory."

"Otherwise, our country will launch a devastating war against your country."

Su Yi's reply was very simple: "Did we cease the war? Aren't we still in a state of war?"

This answer made the Russian Minister's face become cold, and he said for a long time: "Your Highness the Regent, your arrogance will be punished."

Then he left in anger.

obviously!
The Russian army is about to move next.

It took Tsarist Russia nearly five years to mobilize more than 200,000 troops to the Far East, and it took more than three years to build an extremely strong fortress defense line.

Of course, China is no exception.

In the past two years, Su Yi has deployed nearly 300,000 troops on the Qing-Russian border.

Dense and more impregnable defense lines and fortresses were built.

The density of artillery is simply astonishing.

Moreover, Heilongjiang at this time was no longer as deserted as it had been for thousands of years, and already had a large population.

At least food, coal, and many other supplies don’t need to be transported thousands of miles.

Even for this war, many factories were built directly in Heilongjiang.

There are also several arsenals that have been in production for more than a year.

Because everyone knows that a national war will break out here.

..............................

"Telegram, telegram, telegram!"

"Vietnam War Report, Vietnam War Report."

"The French army illegally occupied Hanoi!"

This news had little shock to the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty.

Although Vietnam is a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty, the French have been at war with Vietnam for many years, and they just captured the three provinces of Nanqi three years ago.

Hanoi is of course very important to Vietnam.

But for the Qing Dynasty, it was not important at all.

Therefore, it did not cause much trouble in the court.

but……

War reports from the south came one after another.

After the French army captured Hanoi, the frontiers continued to move northward, getting closer and closer to Guangxi.

Finally one day.

The telegram from the governor of Guangxi reached the capital.

The French army penetrated deep into our country and massacred thousands of soldiers and civilians.

Suddenly, the whole court was shocked.

Are the French crazy?

If you want to fight Vietnam, fight Vietnam. Why fight Guangxi?

There is a lot of inside information here.

Because after the fall of Hanoi, many Vietnamese troops, including some rebels, fought and retreated, often retreating to Guangxi.

And the French are so arrogant, they are already full of hostility towards Su Yi.

The opposing general sent envoys to the Guangxi Governor's Yamen to protest and strongly demanded that China hand over the Vietnamese rebels.

The governor of Guangxi refused very forcefully.

Therefore, the French army chose to attack across the border.

Not only did they kill many Vietnamese troops, they also killed many innocent soldiers and civilians in Guangxi.

At the same time, the adopted son of King Nguyen Phuc Thi of Vietnam, who could even be called the crown prince of the Nguyen Dynasty, came to the capital as an envoy.

Officially requested help from China.

Ask the Qing Dynasty to send troops to save Vietnam.

Su Yi met with the prince and once again expressed his sympathy for Vietnam and his strong indignation at the shameless behavior of the French.

Next, the Prime Minister's Diplomatic Office held negotiations with the prince.

A secret agreement was signed.

And this secret agreement is very thorough.

Open ports, open markets, garrison troops, etc.

Vietnam was not only a vassal state, but also a protectorate. It received diplomatic guidance and accepted the canonization of the suzerain state.

The Qing Dynasty had the responsibility and obligation to use any means to protect the integrity and independence of Vietnam.

Next, Bao Jun, the Chinese Minister in Vietnam, formally negotiated with the French envoy.

Demand that the French army withdraw from Vietnam unconditionally and return the three provinces of Nanqi.

France was furious.

Of course, the negotiations between the two parties ended in vain.

At the same time, Chinese troops have continuously entered Guangxi.

Coach Chen Yucheng, deputy coach Feng Zicai.

This pairing is quite unique, having been rivals and enemies for a long time.

Historically, Liu Yongfu of the Black Flag Army was also in this southern expedition.

This time, the French invasion of Vietnam exceeded 35,000 troops.

The Southern Expeditionary Army assembled by the Chinese side consisted of more than three divisions and approximately 53,000 people.

Not only that, there are still 20,000 to 30,000 rebels in Vietnam, who are also indirectly under the control of the Intelligence Bureau.

China and France have conducted negotiations again and again.

In the end, the conditions were too disparate and the negotiations broke down completely.

The British Empire tried to prevent this war through mediation time and time again.

Because France is its ally, and Su Yi is also its ally.

Mediation ultimately failed. However, in order to respect the British Empire, China promised not to formally declare war on France.

Moreover, the name of the Southern Expeditionary Army was changed.

Instead, this 50,000-strong army was named the Black Flag Army, which only appeared as a Vietnamese rebel army.

With an order.

These more than 50,000 troops left Guangxi and entered Vietnam.

At this point, the Sino-French war broke out.

..............................

Diplomatically, there was no formal declaration of war against France.

But in the imperial court and in the country, the propaganda caliber was completely based on the war between China and France.

Finally, domestic public opinion began to become extremely tense.

In the eyes of the Chinese people, the Russians are only a secondary power, and France is considered a top power.

Ten years ago, the British and French forces entered the capital and suffered a disastrous defeat at Baliqiao and a disastrous defeat in the capital.

The main foreign force at that time, the army, was French.

The Qing Dynasty was defeated so miserably, which shows how powerful the French are.

And this time, the Qing Dynasty not only went to war against Japan, but also went to war against the French?
What to do if defeated?
The name of this top power is still useful.

Sure enough, this war overshadowed other things.

Followed by.

Su Yi met a secret guest, the secret envoy of Bismarck, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Prussia.

"Your Highness the Regent, does the secret agreement between you and Prime Minister Bismarck count?"

Su Yi said: "Didn't your envoy hear about it?"

The secret envoy said: "I have heard that your country has launched a war against the French."

Then, the emissary sighed: "I really can't imagine that His Highness the Regent has such great courage."

When the Prussian emissary came to China, he was still very uneasy.

The regent of China did not sign anything, it was just a verbal secret agreement.

Besides, it's France.

For China, it can be regarded as a top power.

And going to war against the French would undoubtedly anger the British.

Therefore, many people have absolute doubts about whether China will abide by its agreement with Bismarck.

In order for China to go to war, they have even agreed to some conditions, especially in terms of money and weapons.

result……

By the time he arrived in China, war had already begun.

Su Yi asked: "When will your country's war against France begin?"

The emissary hesitated for a long time because this was an absolute secret.

Su Yi said: "July?"

The emissary was astonished.

Su Yi smiled disdainfully and said, "Mr. Secret Envoy, you are far less frank than Prime Minister Bismarck."

The emissary said: "I'm very sorry, I don't have the ability or the qualification to be honest."

………………

Bruce and Bashari, as the highest officials of the British Empire in the Far East, were under tremendous pressure.

Going to war against Japan would already destroy the order in East Asia.

Going to war against France is a huge provocation to the entire order. Waitomart and others repeatedly warned Bruce and Bashley that they would impeach them.

"You two are no longer worthy of being ministers of the British Empire. You have been completely bribed by Su Yi."

"You are totally betraying the interests of the British Empire."

"I will impeach you to Her Majesty the Queen and to the Prime Minister."

"The power of the British Empire in the Far East must not fall into the hands of you two traitors."

However, the current Wetoma can only be helpless and furious.

It takes more than a month for the news to reach London, more than a month for the debate, and more than a month for the order to be sent to Shanghai.

........................

And this year of 1870 is destined to never stop.

Not long after, an urgent call came from Heilongjiang's eight hundred miles.

The Russian army is officially coming.

Countless and dark, they invaded our country once again.

As a result, the war between Qing and Russia broke out again.

After five years, it broke out again.

But this time, the scale is much larger.

The troops invested by both sides exceeded 500,000.

This is the largest scale of the Qing Dynasty's foreign war in the past hundred years. This is also the largest war since Su Yi traveled through time.

Of course, it is still incomparable to the Russo-Japanese War in history.

But...even in the whole world, this is a large-scale war.

It can be regarded as a battle that will overwhelm the country.

Because this battle was so important, Su Yi had to leave the capital once again, go to the front line, and personally direct this battle.

........................

At this time, all the focus and core of the entire country are on these three wars.

The so-called emperor's personal rule was completely suppressed.

At this critical moment, who dares to mention that the emperor is in charge?

Who dares to ask the Queen Mother of the two palaces to withdraw the curtain.

The country as a whole faced three foreign wars, and two of them were world powers.

In the hundreds of years since the founding of this dynasty, there has never been such a magnificent moment.

A little carelessness can lead to disaster.

At this time, the stability of the DPRK prevailed over everything else.

The emperor was young and the regent went north to fight.

If the empress dowagers of the two palaces withdraw their curtains, the political situation might be in chaos.

..........................................

"Boom boom boom boom..."

The waters near Ryukyu.

After fighting for a long time, the fleets between China and Japan finally encountered each other.

Seeing the Japanese fleet, Xu Youren immediately sneered.

This...is this the Japanese fleet?
What a big joke.

Is the Japanese fleet this large?

These are clearly American ships, French ships, and some Russian ships, with Japanese flags flying on them.

Even many of the soldiers on the ship have foreign faces.

But Su Yi has done this kind of thing before, so the eldest brother should not talk about the second brother.

Moreover, what if the United States, France, and Russia support it?
The current Chinese fleet is no longer what it used to be, and is definitely the number one in Asia.

Moreover, there is also a small North Korean navy to support it.

Another point is that the Chinese fleet is all newly manufactured ironclad ships, and even Su Yi participated in the relevant design.

The high-pressure steam furnace came out more than ten years in advance.

It is a pity that the rapid-fire guns have not yet been fully installed. Only six of them have been installed in time, but it is more than ten years earlier than in history.

In addition to the advancement of steam furnaces and artillery, the tonnage and artillery of the Chinese fleet still exceed that of the Japanese combined fleet.

Moreover, this is also the first real appearance of the Chinese Navy.

This country ranks first in Asia and sixth in the world. Does it have any moisture?

The entire sea area was filled with artillery fire.

The fighting was extremely fierce.

It lasted for more than two hours.

There has been a tilt in the results.

The Chinese fleet is three or four knots faster and is much more agile.

Moreover, the rapid-fire cannon is too powerful.

In the historical Sino-Japanese War of 1898, the Beiyang Navy lacked high-explosive bombs, and a considerable part of them were backward solid bombs.

At this time, although it was more than twenty years earlier, the quality of the artillery shells was far superior.

"Boom, boom, boom..." There were violent explosions.

Japan's combined fleet was very unlucky. The flagship was directly hit by the ammunition depot.

A violent explosion occurred throughout the battleship.

The entire battleship was cut into two pieces directly in the middle.

then……

The results began to show a one-sided trend.

About seven hours later.

The sea battle is over!
The Chinese fleet won a great victory.

An unprecedented victory.

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Note: Because of my daughter’s ambition to be promoted to junior high school, I only have 5,000 words today. I’m sorry, thank you all.

(End of this chapter)