"So, from the perspective of warships, our losses are slightly better than Japan, but from the perspective of personnel losses, we are not much different from Japan."

In the Forbidden City, some giants of the Qing Dynasty were also holding meetings to discuss the next stage of action plan. In the Navy, Li Hongzhang was naturally reporting.

After two naval battles, the Qing Dynasty lost six main warships, while the Japanese side lost thirteen. The war loss ratio of warships was basically one to two. However, because five of Japan's thirteen warships were 1,000 tons, and one of the six main warships of the Qing Dynasty, Zhenyuan. In addition, even if it was injured, the Qing Dynasty still lost a large number of naval personnel. Therefore, judging from the losses of personnel, the two countries were basically the same, and the Qing Dynasty even suffered a few losses. After all, the loss of Zhenyuan was more than that of Japan's three small ships.

"Fortunately, our naval personnel reserves are more than Japan, so we can still organize a deterrent fleet. Even if the Japanese ships receive Russian ships, they cannot form combat effectiveness in a short period of time because they lack the skilled sailors and technicians they should have on the ships."

To measure a naval power, the tonnage of surface ships is naturally a major indicator, and its personnel quality and echelon construction also play an important role. In this regard, the Qing Dynasty was better than Japan in terms of talent echelon construction because of its population base and its thigh of Britain. This is also due to the fact that in order to rectify the navy a few years ago, Emperor Guangxu issued an order to directly allocate a part of the Guards to the navy, which immediately doubled the navy's personnel reserves.

"If the Japanese side cannot meet the personnel required by the fleet, how likely is the Russians to directly intervene in the war? Will other powers intervene directly?"

Emperor Guangxu asked immediately.

Before this, Yi Xin had been communicating and exchanging in embassies of various countries in China. On the one hand, it was to obtain loans through various countries to support the war, and it was also to collect intelligence from various countries and understand attitudes towards China.

"From the current situation, although Britain and Germany have sent additional warships to the Far East, both Britain and Germany have sent fleets as many as the Russian fleet. Therefore, the two countries are likely not to interfere in the war, even if Russia directly intervenes. Perhaps the two countries will send more troops when the situation is difficult to regulate, but that may be next year." Yi Xin replied.

"As for France, it was originally an ally of Russia and would not interfere. The United States, Italy and other countries are unable to intervene. After all, Russia is the third naval power in the world at present."

According to the information collected by Yi Xin, the Russians sent a total of fifteen ships, including thirteen combat ships, two 10,000-ton first-class cruisers, three fast dome cruisers and six small auxiliary combat ships - such as third-class cruisers and torpedo ships. The other four supply ships were served by merchant ships. This is because the Russian fleet cannot supply along the way and can only carry the fleet's supply supplies on its own.

Britain and Germany sent four warships and three warships respectively. Fortunately, Britain has bases and fleets in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Star Singapore, Mumbai and other places. The German Navy is clearly doing this time. What can a 4,000-ton fast cruiser and two third-class cruisers do?

"A fleet of such a huge is equivalent to one-quarter of the Russian Navy. If the Russians have no intention of the Far East, no ghosts believe it. Could it be that the British are just watching Russia occupying the unfreezing port in the Far East?"

"Because of the loan agreement with the Japanese, it is almost a foregone conclusion that the Russians obtain the Far East unfreezing port. Even if the British intervene fully, Russia can at least obtain the right to use Japan's ports based on the secret agreement between Japan and Russia (here, the important officials of the Qing Dynasty did not think that Japan would win the war, so they did not consider the ports of North Korea). Unless the UK fully annexed Japan and tore up the Japan-Russia Agreement, this is obviously impossible. In addition, the British are now focusing on the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, so they are likely to acquiesce to this situation."

This is what Zai Tian is most worried about. "So, the Russians are almost certain to directly intervene in military affairs?"

Yixin nodded and said, "As far as I see, I'm afraid this is the case. In addition, there are definite reports that the Russian fleet is also equipped with a powerful army, organized into a division, equipped with the latest Russian Mosin-Nagan continuous-fired rifles and rapid-fire artillery. This shows that the Russians may not only be limited to maritime intervention, but may also directly send troops to land in battle."

Zai Tian was shocked: "What, are the Russians ready to fight a total war with us?"

"If you go back to the emperor, this is not necessarily the case. Judging from the Russians' move to sell weapons and ammunition from the Far East troops to the Japanese, the Russians may not necessarily launch military operations on our territory. After all, their army is now focused on Central Asia. But the Russians are likely to join forces with the Japanese to invade North Korea! The Japanese purchased a batch of weapons from France, which is enough to arm the forces of the three Japanese divisions. These forces cooperate with maritime support, and the Japanese have no reason not to seize North Korea again. After all, Russia's purpose is not to freeze the port, and Japan cannot be willing to the Russians to occupy their ports and not leave. The best thing is to pass by is naturally to give North Korea to Russia."

This is almost the worst result. Once Japan and Russia jointly act, all the results achieved by the Qing Dynasty in the first phase will be wasted. Not only that, everything the Qing Dynasty has accumulated hard in the past five years will be completely shattered. The Ryukyu Islands will definitely be occupied by Japan again, and even Taiwan may be annexed. The Korean Peninsula will definitely not be able to defend it, and even the Liaodong Peninsula or the Shandong Peninsula do not know whether it will become someone else's on-the-spot meal.

"Dear friends, you can deal with it strategically!" Zai Tian was really anxious now. Is the fate of the Chinese nation really so bumpy? It was destined to be weak at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century? Otherwise, why would he be suppressed by other countries as soon as he was excited?

The palace of Yangxin suddenly became quiet. There was no way, this was almost a decisive ending, and no one with the ability to do so would be able to reverse it.

"A bunch of people! You know how to make money. When things come to an end, there is no one who can do it. What's the use of the country supporting you? I tell you that if this war is really defeated, you all go home to farm for me!" Zai Tian was really angry.

The emperor broke up, and at this time there was no way to find a way.

"The emperor, in the opinion of an old minister, should immediately strengthen the military forces of Liaodong and Zhili, and immediately transfer the troops gathered in Jiangnan to the north. At the same time, he ordered Liu Shaoqing in North Korea to retain his troops as much as possible and retreat to Pyongyang. In this way, perhaps half of the North Korea will be guaranteed in the future. In the navy, he can only use the speed advantage of our ships to raid the enemy's supply line and delay the war. Everything will only be possible after receiving two British battleships next year to form combat effectiveness."

Li Hongzhang is worthy of being the old commander of the Huai Army and has worked in the navy. His military strategy capabilities are incomparable to several other military ministers and ministers.

It should be said that it is the best strategy. Resist the enemy's offensive on land, and try to delay time at sea. When the main ship we purchased is in place, we will find an opportunity to turn the tables.

Zai Tian thought about it and said helplessly: "That's all. Ronglu is ready to go north, so let them set off. As for how the troops are assigned, the Ministry of War and the General Staff of the Guards will join forces with me."

The meeting ends here, and it is basically over. The rest is that the ministers will formulate plans and hand them over to the emperor for approval.

At this moment, a young official ranked last suddenly stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, I have an idea, I don't know whether to speak or not."

This person is Cai Yuanpei, the newly promoted head of the Ministry of War. This meeting was to discuss issues between Japan and Russia, and considering that he had learned more about Russia, he specially arranged for him to attend the meeting.

"I'm asking you to come here to listen to your opinions. If you want to say something or not, let's talk about it." Zai Tian's mood is extremely bad now, and his tone is naturally not very good.

Cai Yuanpei immediately saluted: "Abide by the order. I think that the Russians may indeed participate in the war, but it may not be the situation that Prince Gong said. On the contrary, I think that the Russians' military target is not us, but Japan!"

A stone stirred up a thousand waves, and Cai Yuanpei's words made Zai Tian's already dead heart come alive again.

"What do you mean by this? The Cai Qing family quickly tell me carefully!"

"Abide by the order. There are two key points. The first is the purpose of the Russians. The prince once said that the Russians' purpose is the unfreezing port in the Far East, so the prince inferred that the Russians might send troops to North Korea to obtain the port of North Korea. But the prince ignored one problem, that is, even if North Korea is taken down, the Russians will share the fruit with Japan. With the greed of the Russians, after they paid so much, they still have to share the fruit with another country. This is not the character of a polar bear. At the same time, Japan also has the so-called unfreezing port, and there are many. If Russia simply defeats Japan, then he will monopolize the fruit of victory. Anyway, he has to fight, so why not choose the exclusive one."

As soon as these words were said, someone immediately refuted: "Russia and Japan are allies, how could the Russians turn their heads and attack Japan!"

"Yes, I can't figure it out, Cai Aiqing, why is this?"

"Haha, this requires another key point. That is, we must let the Russians understand that the Japanese are unable to support the wall and are not enough to support and rely on them. In this way, if the Russians declare war on the Qing Dynasty, they will risk their divisions being unnamed. Here I want to correct one of Mr. Zhang's views, that is, Japan and Russia are not ally. Japan and Russia have only signed some secret agreements, but have not publicly formed military allies. Therefore, once Japan's defeat is decided, the Russians have to consider it, and it is a generation that will make greater contributions.

The price had a great war with the Qing Dynasty, and finally the loss of troops was the generals and the United Kingdom was able to reap the benefits of the fisherman? Or beat the dogs in the water and directly slaughtered the crippled Japanese to get more benefits. There is no doubt that the dogs in the water not only paid less and gained more, but also because Japan was the party that initiated the war in this war. Doing so could stand on the moral commanding heights and leave other countries with nothing to say. Even if the wall fell down, everyone pushed them. When the Russians began to capture Japan, Britain, Germany, even the United States, France and other countries would come to get a share of the pie."

I'll go! It really woke up the dreamer with just one word. Cai Yuanpei's words immediately turned the outcome of losing the first time into a conclusion of winning. Zai Tian simply believed that the most correct thing he had done in the past twenty years was to promote Cai Yuanpei and let him attend today's meeting.

"I understand that as long as we achieve decisive victory before the Russians arrive, it is very likely to form a chain effect and make Japan the only loser."

"Yes, that's exactly that."

"That's right, that's right. It's right. It's right! OK!" Zai Tian seemed highly excited at this time: "Immediately order the navy to draw all warships. Even those who are under maintenance in the shipyard can run and fight, I will pull it out. Order Ronglu to modify the route and not come to Zhili, we will directly attack the Japanese mainland!"

The Qing Dynasty had already planned to land on the Japanese mainland for a long time, but because the Russians were probably worried that they would be cut off their retreat and become a lonely army in foreign land like Dashanyan, they never dared to move. Now, Cai Yuanpei woke up the dreamer with one word, and Zai Tian finally made up his mind.

Indeed, the risk of the Russians delivering the warship to Japan and then cutting off the retreat of the Qing army still exists, but as Cai Yuanpei analyzed, even if Russia helped Japan win the war, they could only obtain benefits based on the Japan-Russia Agreement. This is not in line with the nature of the greedy polar bears. Therefore, they will definitely seize benefits by themselves!

"Also, order Liu Shaoqing to clean up the Japanese army that was lost in North Korea at all costs within ten days. The Ministry of War, the General Logistics Department of the Guards and the Navy Office will do their best to transport some ammunition to North Korea in the past two days. If necessary, you can first draw from the defenders in Zhili!"

Zai Tian is going to take a gamble. The Russians have now passed India and have a voyage of up to half a month from Japan. The success or failure is only half a month.
Chapter completed!