Chapter 272 Before the War

Not only did the *** government withdraw troops from the Ryukyu Islands, but instead continued to increase troops to the area, which aroused the vigilance of the government of the Republic of China.

After research and decision by the General Staff Department, it is necessary to take the initiative to deal with *** and not to send troops before the *** government is deployed properly.

In this regard, on December 1, Ye Zhikui issued a mobilization order to the army through the Supreme Command.

The battle clouds were covered with all the major military regions, and they were busy preparing for the battle against Japan.

There are different opinions on the situation between China and Japan, but most of them believe that the two countries will not fight in a short period of time. First, China must avoid fighting on both sides, which is probably to scare the people and act like a gesture. However, the *** country is not ready to go to war. The Japanese army on Ryukyu islands have not yet been deployed, and the Japanese army will not take the lead in provoking the war.

However, an American scholar, Antis, wrote an article in a newspaper to raise objections. He claimed that after his own research, looking at the wars initiated by Chinese President Ye Zhikui, he could not judge Ye Zhikui by common sense. Often, Ye Zhikui supported the place and time that others thought could not start, and the people were even more inexplicable. Many wars were suddenly taken when their own strength was weaker than their opponents and achieved incredible victory.

Before every battle, Ye Zhikui will first provoke public opinion, and then use the public opinion to pressure the government and the army. In recent times, Ye Zhikui has successfully aroused the hatred of the Chinese people towards the Chinese people, and there are also many voices of Chinese people asking for war.

Therefore, although the time for war between China and Japan is not ripe, we cannot look at these two Asian countries from a Western perspective.

Other Western military strategists sneered at Mr. Antis, believing that he was a foolish dream. A war would take at least several months to prepare. It is obvious that the preparations of both sides are not sufficient. How could China and Japan fight in a short period of time?

On the 3rd, the Chinese North Sea Fleet and the East Sea Fleet left Keelung Port and disappeared into the night.

The disappearance of the two fleets did not attract much attention, because the Chinese fleet has frequently entered the Ryukyu waters over the period of time, but has not entered the Okinawa Prefecture named by the *** people. When they see the lonely *** ships, they will show off their power for a while, which often makes the *** ships flee in panic and dare not appear alone again.

Since both governments now claim that the waters of Du Ryukyu have sovereignty, and in the Sino-Japanese Treaty signed in 1879, the *** government also admitted that China owns some Ryukyu islands, so they were not good at slapping themselves. For a moment, they had no choice but to do anything. As long as the Chinese do not enter the Okinawa waters, they will bear it. When our great empire is properly arranged in Ryukyu, you Chinese will have no good results.

The departure of the navy did not seem to affect Taiwan's military affairs. In the Taipei Prefecture Supervisor, Taiwan Governor Liu Mingchuan was still holding a welcome banquet for the Ryukyu royal family.

Members of the Ryukyu royal family have temporarily settled in Taiwan. After a period of rest, most of them have adapted to the atmosphere here. They have continuously delivered speeches everywhere in Taiwan, recounting the inhuman treatment they have encountered in the past few years, and have been warmly welcomed by Taiwan.

Shortly after the banquet began, the atmosphere was already very warm.

Wow and chat with each other, some Taiwanese celebrities were also invited to attend the banquet.

The Princess of Ryukyu Shang Qing was no longer able to see her haggardness on the boat that day, and became the brightest pearl at the banquet. A large group of romantic boys came to chat with her.

However, the Ryukyu princess obviously did not think about it here. She just had a brief conversation with those self-proclaimed young talents in Taiwan out of etiquette.

"Brother Wu, do you mean that my father will come to Beijing to pay homage to the President." The little girl blinked her beautiful eyes and looked at Wu Xiaoyi, the life-saving benefactor of the Ryukyu royal family.

"If there is no accident, your father will set off the next day." Wu Xiaoyi picked up a piece of pastry, threw it into her mouth, and said vaguely.

Wu Xiaoyi's current responsibility is to protect the Ryukyu royal family, and he is clear about his itinerary with the Ryukyu king.

"So, can I go with my father?" Shang Qing has been pestering Wu Xiaoyi for the past few days, asking him to share some customs and folk customs from all over China. Wu Xiaoyi traveled around the world and spoke humorously, but he often exaggeratedly, saying that Beijing City was in the sky and there was only one place on the ground. Shang Qing, who had been imprisoned, was longing for it. Moreover, she was also curious about the wise and powerful Chinese President Ye Zhikui in Wu Xiaoyi's mouth, and wanted to take this opportunity to take a look.

Wu Xiaoyi curled her lips and replied with a smile: "Don't Miss Shang keeps seasick? How could your father be willing to let you suffer this pain again?"

Shang Qing's eyes turned around when he heard this, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

As the host of the banquet, Liu Mingchuan, the governor of Taiwan, appeared for only a dozen minutes, and had been drunk for thirty years with King Shangtai of Ryukyu. After a little signal to others, he found an excuse to leave.

The King of Ryukyu Shangtai seemed to be fighting with everyone else, but in fact he was paying attention to him. Seeing this, he put down his wine glass and followed him.

When Shang Tai asked to see Liu Mingchuan having something to discuss, he was told that Liu Mingchuan was holding a military meeting and asked him to wait for a while.

In the conference room, Taiwan Governor Liu Mingchuan frowned slightly and sat in front with a hunchback. As he grew older, he felt that his energy was not as good as before. He was a former tiger general, and I wonder if he could still fight now.

Below, the Taiwanese generals were sitting in a serious and serious manner, with Liu Yongfu, Deng Chang'an, Zhang Gaoyuan, Lin Zejing and other generals.

Liu Mingchuan first coughed, then told the guard next to him.

After the personal guard left, he spoke without rushing and said: "No need to say more to everyone. Now China and Japan have become a hot topic. It is inevitable that the two countries will go to war. The President has sent an order from Beijing that, except for some of the Taiwan troops, most of them will attack Ryukyu with the navy."

After Liu Ming finished the legend, he looked at the faces of the people below. Except for a few of them who were a little surprised, most of them sat still as usual.

Speaking of which, although the Taiwanese generals were mentally prepared, they were still slightly shocked now that they had been confirmed. I wonder what it felt, is the war going to begin?

As if he had guessed everyone's thoughts, Liu Mingchuan smiled and continued: "But you don't have to worry too much. The establishment of the Taiwan Military Region was essentially a group of new and old soldiers. He had not experienced much war. Given this, we will not be the main force of the war, but will serve as auxiliary forces to assist the new national defense army."

Liu Yongfu is now the garrison of the Penghu Islands. This time he came to Taipei to hold a military meeting. When he heard Liu Mingchuan say this, he felt a little dissatisfied and interrupted: "Sir, I just want to die on the battlefield for the general. Although Liu is old, he is willing to be a front pawn and be a vanguard. Please agree to me."

When the other generals heard Liu Yongfu say this, they were unwilling to fall behind and asked for a fight. For a moment, they seemed to have a little momentum, but I don’t know if it’s the truth.

Liu Mingchuan smiled helplessly, saying that you, Liu Yongfu, are all half-body buried in the soil, why are you still so active?

He had no choice but to show the governor's majesty, press his hand down, stop everyone's request for war, and said lightly: "If you want to fight, there is no need to ask me for a request, because I am standing in the rear, defending Taiwan, supporting the front line, and fighting on the front line will not be commanded by me."

Liu Mingzhi said that he was helpless at this point. He was a famous general in the past, but now he was not favored by the Republic of China government and has fallen to the rear of the defense.

If Liu Mingchuan did not command the battle, everyone showed inquiring eyes.

"Okay, now I'll invite General Song Pinglan, the commander of the Nanjing Military Region." Liu Mingchuan did not lie, directly answered everyone's doubts and spoke out the candidate for the front-line commander.

As soon as Liu Ming's message was finished, Song Pinglan took Cao Kun and other generals from the Nanjing Military Region and walked in with a proud look on his face.

After receiving Ye Zhikui's order, Song Pinglan took the lead and left Nanjing with some senior generals. He naturally looked down on the Taiwan defenders, but he couldn't make it clear, so he had to discuss with Liu Mingchuan first, and then Liu Mingchuan politely convey their mission.

On November 5, 1895, Song Pinglan entered Taiwan and began to form a command base for the front line of combat against Japan. Following closely behind were more than 15,000 people dispatched from the Nanjing Military Region, who would slowly cross the Taiwan Strait in steps.

Now, all the experts in the matter were silent, and only Antis expressed his foresight with complacent expression.

On the 8th, in the Ryukyu Sea, the North Sea Fleet and the East Sea Fleet were slowly moving forward. When the fleet passed by the Sulphur Bird Island, a warning order for the whole ship was heard from the flagship Zhenyuan.

The ship's stewards did not dare to neglect, so they hurried to the bridge to observe the situation.

But there was a fleet of *** in the distance moving forward rapidly, with more than 30 ships of all sizes, including Matsushima, Takachiho, and Washisu, as well as transport ships of Yokohama Maru and Satsuma Maru.

The fleets of China and Japan encountered unexpectedly in the Okinawa waters.

"I've met the transport fleet of the *** people." Lin Tai, the leader of the Zhenyuan Pilot at the forefront of the fleet, put down his telescope and murmured to himself.

*** The transport ship is guarded tightly in the middle, and you can get the answer with a little speculation.

On the Matsushima, the Minister of the Navy Command of the *** Navy, Shiki Kawayama, was furious. Although he knew that the Chinese fleet had been rampant for a while, he never expected that the Chinese would set foot in the waters of Okinawa Prefecture. The Navy could still be foolish about those controversial Ryukyu waters, but the Okinawa waters was really no different from arriving at the *** island.

Is it because I am leading the fleet to start the war now? Shiki Karayama stared at the Chinese fleet in anger. He was a transport fleet with more than 5,000 Japanese troops on the ship. Ten thousand people were in conflict. These troops could not help, and if the transport ship was sunk, the losses would be great.
Chapter completed!