Super dictator.

The short-term occupation of Jinzhou by the Chinese army did not cause much sensation in China and Japan. Except for the high-level people who knew about it, ordinary people were concealed. www

The reason why the Chinese side concealed the news was because they were afraid that if the public learned about it, it would spark a new round of anti-Japanese craze, which would affect the peace talks of the imperial court.

It is easier for Japan to conceal this matter. The Japanese base camp even asked the First Division to conceal the news of Yamaji Motoji's suicide.

While Ito Hirobumi was negotiating with Li Hongzhang, the Japanese base camp followed the original plan to send troops to the Penghu Islands.

On March 3, Wei Jichen led the provisional coalition army to disappear secretly from Jinzhou and retreat to Gaiping.

On the same day, the Japanese Penghu Detachment, with the cooperation of the Japanese Combined Fleet, landed from Liangwen Port. By the next day, it had completely occupied the Penghu Islands. long.

On the side of Chunfan Tower, the Chinese side never received any telegrams about Wei Jichen's occupation of Jinzhou, and these telegrams were secretly intercepted by the Japanese.

Knowing that Wei Jichen had led his troops to flee this time, Mutsu Munemitsu handed over the telegram from the Prime Minister's Office to Li Hongzhang.

"Wei Zijie actually led the army to recover Jinzhou." Li Hongzhang was overjoyed, and his expression improved a lot, but when he saw the Japanese negotiator sitting on the opposite side, Li Hongzhang couldn't help but feel a thump. This telegram to me?It seems that things have changed again.

When Li Hongzhang saw the date of the telegram, it turned out to be the telegram from the previous three days. He couldn't help but angrily put the telegram on the table.

Ito Hirobumi didn't think it was a pest, and said with a smile: "Wei Jichen of your country has brought us a lot of trouble. He even took advantage of the empire's empty military forces in Jinzhou to win this city. When it was time to encircle him, Wei Jichen ran away in panic like a mouse."

Li Hongzhang confronted him and said, "Since Wei Jichen was able to recover Jinzhou City for the first time, he can also recover for the second time."

Mutsu Munemitsu sneered, "Whether Wei Jichen has the guts to attack Jinzhou again, I don't know, but the soldiers of the empire have already occupied Penghu."

When Mutsu Munemitsu brought up the matter over Taiwan, Li Hongzhang couldn't help being taken aback, and then realized that the other party had been unwilling to cease the war because they had Taiwan's idea in mind. No, we can't let them peep at Taiwan.

Li Hongzhang took a sip of tea lightly, rolled his eyes, and said softly: "When your minister mentioned Penghu, he must have a desire to occupy Taiwan, and this is also the reason for his unwillingness to cease war. However, Taiwan is a neighbor of Hong Kong. It is said that the British are unwilling Others occupy Taiwan."

Li Hongzhang did not explain China's determination not to allow others to separate Taiwan, but he used Britain as a tiger's skin.

Ito Hirobumi said unhurriedly: "The UK has nothing to do with this matter. If your country sends Taiwan to other countries, other countries will laugh at it."

Ito's wolfish ambitions were fully revealed, and Wu Tingfang interjected: "Taiwan has already been established as a province and cannot be given to other countries."

Li Hongzhang nodded and said: "20 years ago, your country's minister Okubo once told me that China and Japan are neighbors, and war is like two children fighting each other. They can make peace in an instant, and get along better than before."

"Hedong in 30 years, and Hexi in 30 years. The situation is different now. Zhongtang has to figure it out. Now, no matter any place in your country's territory, I can take it. Which country can come forward to refuse?"

Li Hongzhang was too angry to speak at Ito's arrogant words.

Ito Hirobumi then changed the subject and said unhurriedly: "Actually, it's okay for your country to negotiate after the truce."

Hearing his words, Li Hongzhang immediately forgot the atmosphere, and hurriedly asked, "What are the conditions?"

Li Hongzhang was afraid that Japan would ask the Chinese army to send him Haicheng, Dagu, and Tianjin for free before agreeing to a truce.

In fact, Hirobumi Ito had already telegraphed with the base camp, and Cao Roku Kawakami had persuaded the generals in the base camp to agree to a truce on the front line. At the hands of Wei Jichen, the two division commanders Katsura Katsura and Yamaji Motoji were successively defeated by Wei Jichen, and countless regiment commanders died in the hands of Wei Zijun.

The Japanese have found out that Gui Taro was captured, but Wei Jichen played tricks and spread false news that Gui Taro was captured because he attempted suicide and was rescued by himself in time, so that if Gui Taro returned to Japan in the future, he would be less punished A lot of accusations are conducive to his continued development in Japan.

Kawakami Caoliu analyzed the situation in Liaodong and found that his side did not have the upper hand. If the fight continues, Wei Jichen might take the opportunity to recover some places. Therefore, he believes that the Liaodong and Shandong theaters can cease fighting, but Taiwan can continue to fight. .

Seeing Li Hongzhang's impatient look, Ito Hirobumi first took a sip of tea, and then calmly said under the other's eager eyes: "Shandong Peninsula and Liaodong Peninsula can be divided into armistice lines according to the actual occupation areas of the two sides, but Taiwan That’s a different matter. In addition, after the armistice, our army’s military expenses should be covered by your country.”

Ito Hirobumi enjoyed the feeling of being in control of the overall situation. Li Hongzhang was like a puppet in his hands. He could hold it and move it, and he could control his emotions.

"Taiwan." Li Hongzhang pondered for a while. Now the Japanese have only occupied the Penghu Islands and have not yet invaded Taiwan. Li Hongzhang still wants to fight for it.

Ito Hirobumi pressed on step by step and said: "If your minister disagrees with the above conditions, we will talk about it another day."

After all, Ito Hirobumi made a gesture to leave.

Li Hongzhang panicked, and said repeatedly: "Why is your minister so impatient, let's discuss it again."

Ito Hirobumi shook his head and said solemnly: "This is the biggest concession of the empire. There is no need for your country to hand over Dagu and other three places to our country as hostages. Could it be that your country wants to continue the war?"

Li Hongzhang was speechless by Ito, and secretly sighed in his heart. This should be the best ceasefire clause that can be won. Compared with the last time, it is already a world of difference. would agree.

"Okay, you and our two countries will take the actual battle line as the ceasefire line. As for the truce period?" Li Hongzhang asked while the iron was hot.

Mutsu Munemitsu took out the terms of the armistice from the folder, and said with a smile: "From the date of signing the armistice agreement, there will be an armistice for three weeks. After the expiration, there is no need to notify each other. If the peace talks break down during the armistice period, this armistice agreement will also abort."

The Japanese side is forcing the Chinese side to finalize the terms of the agreement within three weeks, otherwise the two sides can start work again after the expiration of the period.

Li Hongzhang saw that these were acceptable, so he didn't say much, and after passing it on to the Chinese representatives to read it, he would sign an armistice agreement with Japan.

Ito Hirobumi was also well prepared, and the representatives of both parties signed the pledge in a short time.

Li Hongzhang couldn't wait to say again: "Since the armistice agreement has been signed, this minister is willing to start discussing the terms of the peace tomorrow."

The Japanese side has nothing to deny, and the two sides agreed to continue the peace talks here tomorrow.

After Li Hongzhang returned to his place, he telegraphed the "happy event" to the Zongli Yamen through the hands of the Japanese side.

Guiziliu and others from the Zongli Yamen breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the Japanese were finally willing to cease fire and negotiate. provocation for no reason.

Cover the hall of the government office in Pingcheng.

All the generals of the three armies had arrived, Song Qing sat at the front, and the other generals lined up on both sides.

Song Qing first read the telegram sent by the general's aircraft department, and then said with a smile: "Since the truce between China and Japan has begun to negotiate a peace, we must not cause trouble during this truce period, and on the other hand, we must be more vigilant and do our best to deal with it." Ready to fight again, once the peace talks break down, you can go to the battlefield at any time."

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Wei Jichen remained silent.

Because he knew that after this truce, if there were no accidents, there would be no possibility of fighting again, but when Wei Jichen thought of the content of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, his throat was stuck.

Not to mention other things, just ceding the Liaodong Peninsula, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, the compensation is as high as 3 million taels, which is heartbreaking.

This time I should not sign such a harsh treaty. After all, I still did a few things in Liaodong and won a few battles. If Li Hongzhang still signed the treaty that was exactly the same as the original history, then he would have changed nothing.

Isn't this half a day busy for nothing?Wei Jichen thought with some uncertainty in his heart.

Then I thought again: don’t worry, this treaty will be known sooner or later anyway, but in the original history, the Japanese side agreed to sign the armistice agreement because Li Hongzhang was assassinated by Japanese assassins, and the Japanese side was afraid of the interference of foreign powers, so they agreed to sign it.

This time, I didn't hear that Li Hongzhang was assassinated, and the two sides had already signed an armistice agreement. It seems that I have changed some history.

Thinking of this, Wei Jichen couldn't help but have more confidence in the next peace treaty, and hoped that Li Hongzhang could get a better deal. Although the current government is the Qing government, the wool comes from the sheep, and the compensation will eventually fall to the people. Needless to say, cutting the land above the head, the impact is far-reaching.

Seeing that Wei Jichen was unhappy, Song Qing thought he was unhappy, so he couldn't help persuading him, "Zijie, I know you are unwilling, it's all my carelessness, if it wasn't for my army being attacked by the Japanese in Fuzhou City, I wouldn't have As for your withdrawal from the Golden State, maybe once the armistice agreement is signed, the Golden State will be in our hands."

Song Qing is too wishful thinking. Wei Jichen's acquisition of Jinzhou is like a nail in the heart of the Japanese. If they don't pull it out, will they agree to a truce?

"What Song Shuai said was originally because I mobilized the elite of the army, which made the army a little weaker and let the Japanese take advantage of it. The reason why the boy is silent is because the situation in Liaodong is not too corrupt now. However, the imperial court is panicking and eager to seek peace, fearing that the Japanese will open their mouths." Wei Jichen didn't have any scruples, and directly said what was in his heart.

Song Qing sighed, stroked his beard and said, "Although the situation in Liaodong is okay, the battlefield in Shandong is not so good. Besides, there are only a few ships left in the Beiyang Navy. Directly pointing at Tianjin, Zhili area, and even the capital, the imperial court is justifiably anxious."

At this time, not to mention Song Qing, even Li Hongzhang probably did not expect that the conditions for peace talks would be so harsh, and the Japanese people would be so greedy.

Because the "Nanjing Treaty" signed with other countries several times before only opened a few treaty ports, the big powers hoped to make a fortune through trade, and did not cede land. The Treaty is different. The Japanese are just hungry wolves who want to make a fortune through war. This is different in essence. The terms listed at the end are naturally ten thousand times more vicious.

Forget it, why think so much now, let's make plans after the Shimonoseki Treaty comes out, Wei Jichen shook his head to eliminate distracting thoughts.