Qing Dynasty Secret History

Chapter 98
It is said that after Empress Dowager Cixi returned to power, she was free and had nothing to do, and she often stayed in the Summer Palace to play and play.

Dezong was a pure and filial person, and he had everything he could do, and he still waited for the benevolent palace's orders, and never dared to act arbitrarily.Fortunately, in the past few years, nothing happened in all directions, and the world was peaceful.Although they had negotiated with Britain about the matter of the Tibetan philosopher Mengxiong, and with Russia about the Pamirs, thanks to the spirit of the country, it was settled peacefully soon.

This year was the Jiawu period in the 20th year of Guangxu. Since the battle of Jiashenfayue to the present, it has been a full ten years of peace, and weapons have been sold out for the sun and moonlight.At this time, there happened to be a great auspicious event, that is, the longevity of the [-]-year-old Virgin Mary.Emperor Dezong knew that Empress Dowager Cixi liked to be lively by nature, so he issued Yuzhi. Each province will send two or three people to Beijing to celebrate the Empress Dowager's longevity, and will arrive in Beijing before the first day of October, waiting for the due date to accompany the congratulations.It was also reported to the Ministry of Internal Affairs that he was asked to lead craftsmen to draw patterns and build lamp sheds in the Summer Palace.And custom-made all kinds of lanterns, all must be exquisite, gorgeous and unique.From Da Nei to the Summer Palace, along the way, the subjects were ordered to embellish the scenery, build scripture altars, and spread monks and Taoists to recite the scriptures of longevity.At that time, the emperor, together with Chinese and foreign ministers and kings, will go to Longevity Hill to celebrate.He also issued a decree of grace, conferring concubines and princes outside the clan, and granting grace to Chinese and foreign ministers of civil and military affairs.He also ordered the palace to tell all the deacons in charge, as well as various handymen, eunuchs, palace eunuchs, etc., to report the size of the clothes, and ask the Weaving House to rush to make new clothes.All kinds of fuss, too much to describe.

Unexpectedly, in May, there was another extraordinary storm in North Korea. The Japanese took advantage of the momentum to march in, fueling the flames and causing war disasters.It turns out that the king of North Korea is a happy man. If he knows how to indulge in pleasure, he doesn't care about sorrow. Min Yongjun handles all state affairs.Min Yongjun was greedy for patriarchal power, amassing millions of dollars, official positions were only obtained by bribes, and shortages were not possible without money. As a result, there was not a meter in the warehouse, and there was no money in the treasury.Knowledgeable people know that North Korea is a country that will perish sooner or later.

Liu Ruifen, the imperial envoy stationed in Britain, France, Germany, and Russia, wrote a letter to Li Boye, Minister of Beiyang, saying that North Korea is adjacent to the three eastern provinces.It is advisable to take advantage of its internal weakness, take over the whole country, and rebuild the provinces. This is the best policy; if you pay tribute to the land for a long time without suffering punishment, it will be the same as the British, American, and Russian powers, and the protection of the company is enough to ensure safety.This is the second policy.Uncle Li is very dissatisfied with the general administration of business.The ministers of the General Administration like to save trouble, so naturally they refused to do so.

In the 15th year of Guangxu, North Korea banned the export of rice grains because of the shortage of the year.Japan strongly objected, writing a note, claiming that the Wonsan rice merchant lost 14 yuan, and demanded compensation.The North Koreans were afraid of Japan, so they punished Zhao Bingshi, an official who sold rice, and promised to pay back 6 yuan.The Japanese refused to give in, and they debated and argued until the Minister of Sanyi fought for the compensation. It was not until the 19th year of Guangxu that they lost 11 silver dollars before it was completed.The important figures of Kaihwa Party, Jin Yujun and Park Young Hyo, all fled to Japan. The Japanese tried their best to protect them, but the Koreans had no choice but to send Li Yizhi and Hong Zhongyu to assassinate.Zhong Yu is Hong Yingzhi's son, and because of Yujun's instigation and execution, he is determined to take revenge and pretends to have sex with him.In February of the 20th year of Guangxu, Zhong Yu and Yujun came to visit Shanghai and lived together in Donghe Pavilion. Zhong Yu killed Yujun.Hua officials questioned North Korea, and the North Koreans replied that Yujun was a traitor to the party and Zhong Yu was an official. Please take it back and manage it yourself.The North Koreans killed Yujun's body to vent their anger and salted his head.On the one hand, when Zhong Yu was promoted to an official position, the Japanese people were uproarious, and Yu Jun was mourned.Li Yizhi assassinated Park Young-hyo in Japan, but was arrested by Japanese officials and put to death.

For these two things, the North Koreans hated Japan even more.So the Dongxue party members rose up.The Donghak Party is also a cult in North Korea. The founder is Cui Fucheng.During the four years of Tongzhi, North Korea banned Catholicism, arrested Christians, and arrested Dongxue Party Qiao to kill them.In the 19th year of Guangxu, the party members went to the palace to sue Qiao for injustice, and begged Zhaoxue, but the king forbade it.The party members' pleadings became stronger, and the king was annoyed for a while, and he ordered the arrest of the party leader.Party members are resentful, and their thoughts are more anxious.By March of this year, taking advantage of the opportunity of the people complaining about the sun, they set up a flag in Gufu County, Jeolla Province, and started an uprising.Threatening to denounce the barbarians against the Japanese, to protect the country and to be loyal, the momentum is very powerful.The king specially sent Hong Qixun as an emissary to recruit two ships from China, one was a Pingyuan warship and the other was a Canglong transport ship. They crossed the soldiers from Incheon to Changshanpu and fought several battles in the whole state. The party fled into Baishan, and the North Korean soldiers chased after it. They were ambushed, killed several defeats, and almost wiped out the entire army.The rebel party invaded Chungcheong directly from Jeolla, the North Korean soldiers collapsed, the city fell, and they threatened to attack Wangjing directly.

So King Juzhe of North Korea was in a hurry, and he notified Yuan Gong, the Chinese imperial envoy in Korea.At this time, Yuan Gong has been promoted to a Taoist position, and he has been awarded the title of third-rank minister.Received Han Zhiwen.With the message Beiyang Minister, please send a boat to protect the business brigade in Incheon with 300 people.

At present, Dezong received the emergency report from the King of Han, and gathered all the kings and ministers of the military aircraft to discuss, and all the kings and ministers said: "Let Li Hongzhang consider this matter."

De Zong said: "Neighbors are in emergency, and we must save them. What's more, China's military strength is very strong."

Not many days later, Li Hongzhang and Ding'an Zhou visited Lushun and other places, and reviewed the fortifications of the coastal army and various platforms and docks. give it a try.I just don't know whether to send the navy first or the army first? "

The Minister of Military Aircraft said: "In my humble opinion, it seems that the army should be dispatched. The Korean rebels are all on land."

Dezong returned to the empress dowager, but the empress dowager didn't say anything, so she sent a telegram to Li Hongzhang, the minister of Beiguan, to send appropriate personnel to help South Korea.Uncle Li appointed Ye Zhichao, the admiral of Zhili, and Nie Shicheng, the commander-in-chief of Taiyuan Town, to lead the Luyu defense troops to the east.Generals Ye and Nie didn't dare to be negligent, ordered Qi Shima, and traveled all day and night to North Korea.

Uncle Li is a person who abides by the treaty. He telegraphed Wang Fengzao, the imperial envoy stationed in Japan, and asked him to inform the Japanese outside that because North Korea invited troops, China was obsessed with the vassal service and had to send troops to suppress the rebellious party.Unexpectedly, Mutsu Munemitsu, the Japanese Foreign Minister, replied to the letter and said: "Although your country refers to North Korea as a vassal state, North Korea itself does not recognize that it belongs to China. North Korea signed a treaty with our country, and the first number at the beginning shows that it is an independent state. also."

Wang Fengzao played Beijing electronically, and the government ministers looked at each other in blank dismay, unable to think of a way to deal with it.Japan's diplomatic methods are really agile. While responding to Wang's envoy, they sent Oshima Keisuke to lead [-] troops to Hanjing first.The brigade continued to advance, with a total of more than [-] people.He also asked Komura Judaro, the Minister in China, to inform China of the reason for his departure to quell the chaos.The General Administration was shocked, and the Japanese envoy of the reply letter, I served in the court of Fusui Fan, because I asked for troops, so I ordered the general to quell the civil strife.Your country does not need to send heavy troops, and North Korea has not asked for troops from your country, and your country's soldiers do not need to enter its interior.Komura replied: "After receiving the call from my country, my country has not yet recognized North Korea as a vassal of China. Now I am sending troops to North Korea in accordance with the Jemulpo Treaty between Japan and North Korea and the Tianjin Treaty between China and Japan.

There is no limit to the entry of soldiers into the interior of North Korea. "

Looking at his note, he is very confident.The ministers of the government can't do anything about him.

However, Yuan Gong, the imperial envoy stationed in South Korea, heard that Ye Titai's army had arrived at Yashan, and that Japanese ships carrying troops were successively coming to South Korea. Please inform Ye Zhichao with this letter.Outsiders often say that Korean officials are corrupt and abused, and that they are innocent of disrupting the party. Please spread the word and show leniency.Only punish Jukui, and threaten Wangzhi.The concubine will settle down as soon as possible, and there will be no other changes.Ye Ying acted according to his words, and as soon as the announcement was made, the Dongxue Party was frightened and fled in all directions, and Ye Jun took advantage of the momentum to conquer Quanzhou.Yuan Gong sent a note to Keisuke Oshima: "As things in Korea are gradually calming down, our troops are planning to withdraw immediately to escape the summer rain. I heard that your country sent troops to Korea, and China will also increase its troops. There will be rifts between the two armies. If you take the time to tease , or the Westerners will also increase their troops to fight against each other in order to reap the benefits. Not only will the day be in danger, but China and South Korea will also suffer. It is better to withdraw from each other to return to peace."

Although Da Daokou promised, both the land and water armies continued to increase.

Fang Boqian, the captain of the Jiyuan ship, was stationed in Incheon. Seeing that the Japanese army was increasing day by day, he was afraid of treachery, so he moved the ship first.At this time, inside and outside Seoul, Japanese soldiers, benevolent, Han and Chinese merchants fled one after another, blind men and horses, and the situation was extremely dangerous.Uncle Li of Beiyang is old and prudent. He repeatedly called Yuan Gong and asked him to use his sharp tongue to say that he would withdraw from the Japanese army.Yuan Gong replied to Li Boye, please transfer the North and South Navy to be strict, and the Concise Lu division to listen to the call, and ask the ministers of various countries stationed in China to mediate.He also suggested: "Military law is the most important thing when sending troops out of Xinjiang. Gains and losses in matters, and the end of quarrels are all related to this. It is advisable to carefully select senior officers who know the soldiers, think of them as the commander, and obey the control of both land and water to avoid differences in orders , the malpractice of inconsistency in affairs and powers, and select and send people who really understand the public law in wartime to prepare for it. The common people will avoid mistakes and mistakes, and Du other countries will intervene."

Uncle Li had no choice but to make up his mind and wanted to withdraw the Japanese army according to the agreement. He was afraid that the increase of troops would be an excuse for Japan.He refused to follow Yuan Gong's plan, and warned Ye Zhichao by telegram, and never approached Han Jing to initiate provocations.

At this time, the Japanese invaded Seoul, and spread mines at the mouth of the Han River to block the way for the Chinese soldiers to enter Han.Army guards were sent to all the city gates, and Chinese people were searched when they came in and out.A cannon was erected in the city, and the muzzle of the cannon was directly facing the Chinese Yamen.Rumors abounded that the overseas Chinese in South Korea were crossing the country one after another, and they were riding a tiger, which was extremely dangerous.Yuan Gong was in a hurry and called Uncle Li.Uncle Li also loves peace, and he can't bear to seek revenge and abandon good ones.This is called Hong's kindness in not killing, and Ji's patience in not being punished.Unexpectedly, the Japanese are better than anything else.Given the opportunity, the star gallops, and refuses to relax at all.Punish you for peace, punish you for patience, and there will be ways to provoke you to provoke.He declared that "North Korea's internal affairs are not being repaired, and the people are in turmoil, and the ministers of the two countries are invited to Korea to replace them.

Wang Fengzao, the envoy stationed in Japan, replied to Japan's external affairs, generally saying that to rectify internal affairs, North Korea will do it on its own, and China is unwilling to intervene; since your country regards North Korea as an independent country, it should especially not interfere with its internal affairs.

As far as each other withdraws troops, please follow the special provisions of the peace treaty" and so on. Japan replied that it only said that China and Japan were united in their internal governance, and North Korea was safe enough. Unexpectedly, China did not say anything, but asked our country to withdraw its troops. , the British government is well-intentioned to mediate, but China is extremely absurd. If there is a military incident because of this, it is your country that is really to blame."

Wang Qin sent a telegram to Beijing. The Beijing government knew that the enemy was strong and the talent was weak, so they were not up to the task, so they ordered Beiyang Minister Li Boye to discuss with the Japanese.The Japanese claimed 300 million yuan in compensation. Uncle Li is a mature, prudent and foresighted person. He thought that he would be compensated with some money, and it was always the best policy not to start a war.Unexpectedly, the officials in the court did not know the situation, and there were many people who decided to go to war.One person proposes, the whole family agrees, Uncle Li is alone, how can he resist it? I wish for a day. Uncle Li was watching official business in the signing room, and suddenly remembered something, and he wanted to send someone to the upper room.It just so happened that several on-duty housekeepers drove away, but none of them were in sight.I had no choice but to get up personally, and when I passed the hall, I heard someone talking outside the window, and the only thing I could hear was: "Our young master has become a consort of the East, that's what people say outside."

Uncle Li's heart skipped a beat. When he stopped to listen, he only heard one question: "Where did you hear that?"

One said: "That's what people say outside, our master is unwilling to start a war with Dongyang just because of such a heavy family relationship, otherwise, he would have turned his face for a long time."

One said: "It's strange, I also heard people say that a small country in the East dares to demand compensation from China, and it depends on someone's help. According to you, the person who helped is our master."

Uncle Li felt very uncomfortable in his heart, and he was not in the mood to listen to him anymore, so he walked to the room.I thought to myself: "The rumors are so powerful, my future is very dangerous. Now the whole court advocates war, and they take Japan too lightly. I don't know that the Chinese navy doesn't feel anything on the face, but in reality it is really hopeless. If the funds were not allocated to the construction of the Summer Palace at that time, there would always be a complete idea. However, it is the Empress Dowager's business, and Prince Chun is in charge. Who can stop him? Now, the old man stretched his feet and left, taking off the burden The burden, let me alone, it’s okay to arrange it well, if it’s not good, don’t I be scolded to death by everyone?”

When I was bored, I sent a telegram outside, and hurriedly passed the translator to find out that it was sent by Yuan Gong, the imperial envoy in Korea. I saw that it was written: Beiyang Li Boxiang Jun Jian: If the government decides to start a war, please transfer back to the embassy first. , A certain person serves the country without fear.But for fear of humiliating the mission and damaging the prestige of the country, Kai Han goes up.

Look at this telegram, Yuan Gong's urgency is really urgent.But Uncle Li is busy with many things, so he put it aside after reading it.In a few days, Yuan Gong called again, reporting that "Oshima Keisuke has led his troops into the palace, killed the Korean guards, and Han Wang Lixi was taken into captivity. The king of Dayuan was pushed to preside over the state affairs, and Han Chen Min Yongjun and others were exiled to the evil islands. All matters are decided by the Japanese. South Korea has declared independence and will not corrupt the Chinese vassals."

Uncle Li saw that the fire was burning his eyebrows and the snake had swam up to his buttocks, so he called Yuan Gong to return home.

At this time, the imperial court has issued a strict order to prepare for the war, and sent four soldiers. Wei Rugui, the commander-in-chief of Datong Town, led the [-]th Battalion of the Sheng Army and set off from Tianjin; Ma Yukun commanded the Yi army and set off from Lushun; Zuo Baogui, the commander-in-chief of Gaozhou Town, commanded the Feng army and set off from Fengtian;Twists and turns, travel hundreds of miles a day.The majestic formation, the banner of righteousness, if you can conquer without fighting, you can be regarded as the teacher of the king.

Uncle Li heard the four soldiers starting from land, he was shocked and said: "Ye and Nie are alone in Yashan, the reinforcements are so slow, where can we get help?"

Following the transfer of the Beitang Defense Force, we rented a British merchant ship named Gaosheng, loaded it, and went to help at night.He also ordered the boat to be transported by the river, loaded with ordnance, and went forward with him.China's navy has been fully established since the 14th year of Guangxu, and Ding Ruchang, a general of the Huai army, was appointed as the admiral of the navy.Most of the navy soldiers are from Fujian, and only the commander Ding Titai is from Huai.General Bian, who is a native of Fujian, doesn't take him very seriously. Military orders and camp regulations are regarded as child's play.No one below the commander-in-chief of the left and right wings lived in the boat.Whenever the Beiyang freezes, as usual, he will tour the Nanyang, always in Hong Kong and Shanghai, gambling money and prostitutes.This time North Korea changed, Uncle Li ordered the warship Jiyuan to lead the Yangwei and Pingyuan ships to North Korea to suppress them.Ji Yuan Guan led Fang Boqian, even though he was a member of the navy, he would feel dizzy and vomit as soon as he was in the ocean. Seeing the large gathering of Japanese soldiers, he was terrified.The good man didn't suffer the immediate loss, turned on the wheel engine, and fled back in the rushing waves.Uncle Li thought that talents were rare, so he imitated Uncle Qin and used Meng Ming's methods. He didn't participate in impeachment, and didn't give a word of warning.At this moment, the matter is about to break down, and sea mines have been dropped in North Korea's Haikou.

After careful calculation, he issued a decree and ordered the three warships Jiyuan, Weiyuan and Guangyi to sail to Yashan with their masts.On this day, Uncle Li was planning defense in the signing room with a few friends, when an alarm was sent from outside that the ship Gao Sheng was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese ship, and the boat Cao Jiang was also looted.

Uncle Li said angrily: "Japan is really unreasonable. We let him, but he took up step by step. Look at this, he really wants to make life difficult for us. Fortunately, in the public law of all countries, whoever fires the gun first will be the worst. Strong, you can't escape this one bad word."

Busyly asked the screen friends to draft a draft to play the imperial court.The telegram was drafted, just before it was sent out, and the alarm came again, but it was the three ships Jiyuan, Weiyuan, and Guangyi who encountered a Japanese ship in the northwest ocean of Toshima and were bombarded by the Japanese ship.Guangyi was seriously injured and tried his best to escape, Jiyuan followed, and the Japanese ship Yoshino Naniwa pursued closely.Guan Dai Fang Boqian was anxious and wise, and said to everyone: "Don't panic, don't panic, I have a clever plan to defeat the enemy."

Then Ling Gao raised the white flag and Yuan Jiu chased after him.Bo Qian said: "It doesn't matter, I still have a life-saving golden elixir, nothing will hurt me."

He ordered the Japanese flag to be set up instead, and when he saw the Japanese ship, he still sailed like an arrow.Fang Boqian was at the end of his wits and did a lot of things in a panic without making sense.He was in a critical situation, when he suddenly heard a sound like the sky collapsed on the ship, Fang Boqian was terrified, he hurriedly hid at the thickest part of the iron plate, and drowned in his pants.They searched for the pipe belt, and found it after searching for a long time. They pulled him out, but they refused to live or die. They just asked, "This ship has been hit by a cannon, are you injured?"

Everyone said: "No injury, and no bullet."

Fang Boqian asked in surprise, "What was that ringing just now?"

Everyone said: "It was the cannon fired by the sailors of this ship."

Bo Qian asked in surprise, "Why did you fire the cannon?"

The crowd said: "The Japanese ship couldn't pursue them, and the guns were enough, so they fired. Now the Japanese ship has hit our guns, and they have retreated."

Only then did Boqian feel relieved, he started the engine and drove back to China.I sent a telegram to Uncle Li, saying that he encountered a Japanese ship on his way and fired a bombardment. Guangyi was severely injured, and the Japanese ship was repelled by the ship's return of artillery.Uncle Li only took it as the truth, and forwarded the call to Beijing, and the imperial court issued an edict to declare war on Japan.At this time, in the yamen of the Beiyang Minister, there was an afternoon of military books, and there was an endless stream of newspapers and newspapers. Uncle Li and his friends in the curtain were so busy that they had no time to eat and drink, restless, and temporarily pressed down.

But it is said that Ye Zhichao, the governor of Zhili, and Nie Shicheng, the commander-in-chief of Taiyuan Town, were stationed in Yashan. Suddenly, an alarm was issued, the ship Gaosheng was sunk, and the boat Caojiang was captured.Nie Shicheng said to Zhichao: "Since the seaway is blocked and Yashan is in danger, it is impossible to defend it. The situation in the left and right mountains of the whole prefecture is dangerous. If you move the camp there, you will win the first battle. You can stand by and wait for help. Even if you are invincible, you can also detour. out."

Zhichao heard that it was reasonable, so he waited for the order to move the camp, and the meteor scouted the horses, and flew to report the military situation, saying that the Japanese soldiers had been forced to make fun.Shi Cheng said angrily: "The Japanese are so rampant, there are no Chinese in their eyes."

Then lead the five battalions of the headquarters and set off immediately to welcome the enemy into Chengcheng.Ye Zhichao led his troops and headed towards Quanzhou.

When Shi Cheng traveled to Cheng Huan, it happened that the Japanese army's forward came in a whole team.Shi Cheng gave the order to shoot, and the sound of cannonballs exploded in the sky, and the sun was covered by gunpowder smoke.The soldiers of the fifth battalion shouted in unison. The Japanese soldiers could not resist the enemy and fled one after another.Nie Shicheng saw that the Japanese soldiers' infantry was disordered and sent orders to chase them down.As soon as the order was given, all the people obeyed, and the electric wind galloped, and the dragon and the tiger leaped, and the Japanese army rushed to nowhere.Take the team back to the camp, follow the soldiers, and go to Ye Junmen to report victory.On the one hand, there is a banquet to celebrate.While having fun, I suddenly reported to the Japanese army group, which was only five miles away.Shicheng ordered to stand in line, but without saying a word, the Japanese artillery bombarded the future like an avalanche.Blooming cannonballs, as if they had eyeballs, only exploded towards the place where Nie Jun was stationed. Flames shot up everywhere, and flesh and blood rotted everywhere.If you want to know whether Nie Shicheng can resist, let's listen to the next chapter.

(End of this chapter)