The war between China and Japan in Korea touched the eyes of countless people in the world. On August 1, 1894, China and Japan officially declared war. In the declaration of war, Emperor Meiji Mutsuhito said, "DPRK was the first inspiring the empire to be an independent country that was in charge of all countries." He claimed that the reason for the war was that "the empire persuaded North Korea to reform its political affairs... Although North Korea has promised, the Qing Dynasty has always secretly hindered... and sent large troops to South Korea to attack our ships in the South Korean Sea, which was extremely arrogant." He said that his purpose was to "make North Korea avoid disasters and chaos forever", "maintain peace in the overall situation in the East", and "promote the glory of the empire at China and abroad."

In the first round of PK, in the naval battle, the Battle of Toyoshima caused the Beiyang Navy to lose Guangyi, Caojiang, Gaosheng, and Jiyuan retreat. The Qing Dynasty lost the ability to send troops to support North Korea at sea, and the Japanese navy won a great victory. In the battle of Chenghuan, China and Japan suffered losses. Due to Ye Zhikui's participation in the war, Japan suffered serious losses. The two sides retreated to their garrison and remained in a stalemate.

On the evening of August 3, in the Political Center of the Qing Dynasty, in Beixianliang Temple on the Bingcao Hutong Road, the capital's main land, Li Hongzhang, the Beiyang Minister in his seventies, just lay down to rest when he heard a hurried knock outside the door. Li Hongzhang sighed inwardly and had to get up and open the door. Li Hongzhang, who was in his seventies, was already old and his energy was not as good as before. In addition, the Beiyang Navy's defeat a few days ago made the central hall even more exhausted and wanted to quit.

Li Hongzhang coughed a mouthful of phlegm, opened the door and saw that some of his confidant aides, Wang Kaitai, Chen Nai, Zhang Peilun, etc. Li Hongzhang thought to himself that it was so late, was there any big thing that happened? The money for the Lafayette birthday party was not enough, and the Japanese came to the capital?

Before Li Hongzhang could speak, Zhang Peilun moved forward and helped Li Hongzhang up his hands, with a little excited voice, and said, "Master Zhongtang, it's a great victory! I just received a telegram from Korea. Ye Zhichao and Nie Shicheng fought with the Japanese army in Chenghuan, and wiped out more than 3,000 Japanese troops, two Japanese colonels and five Japanese soldiers, so that the Japanese people could not make progress.

When Li Hongzhang heard this, he immediately showed joy. While leading everyone into the house, he secretly thought about the gains and losses of the interests. In the past few days, Li Hongzhang has been in a state of turtle. The defeat in the Battle of Fengdao made Li Hongzhang worried that the Beiyang Navy would suffer another loss, so he had to order the warship to retreat to the alley, which caused Emperor Guangxu to be strongly dissatisfied. The West Palace was originally very resentful to the navy because of the silver issue in the garden. This time he even said that if the silver was used in the garden of Ai's family, it would be better than to sink into the water. The pressure from the emperor and the empress made the master of the central hall need a victory to embellish his abilities.

Zhang thought to himself: Most of these more than 3,000 people need to be discounted, but even if the Japanese army suffers more than 1,000 casualties, it is a rare victory. I will hand in a letter to ask for me tomorrow. Li Hongzhang is a little strange about so many officers who have died in the Japanese. He believes that Ye Zhichao dare not falsely report it because it is too easy to find out.

Li Hongzhang picked up the teacup, snatched it, and asked, "You Qiao, many officers died in Japan. Can this news be verified?"

Zhang Peilun reached out to cover the silver notes in his arms. This was sent by the Ye Mansion just asked someone to send them. Before he could warm up, he nodded and replied: "Well, according to the telegram, Ye Zhichao's nephew Ye Zhikui was killed with cannons. Ye Zhikui was brave and resourceful in fighting and led by the way. He heard that he was also seriously injured."

"Oh, Ye Zhikui, but the one who just returned from Germany not long ago? He lived up to his uncle to send him to study abroad. I saw this young man a few days ago, which is very good!" After a pause, Li Hongzhang glanced at everyone around him and continued, "Young people should give more opportunities. Look, this big house is in its seventies and eighties, and how many years can it live. I remember that when I met Wen Zhenggong (Zeng Guofan), I was young. Now I am old."

Then the old man in a big room commemorated the past year. On the morning court, Li Hongzhang submitted a memorial to Ye Zhichao and Nie Shicheng for success. At the same time, he issued a notice to the embassies of various countries, saying that he had killed more than 4,000 Japanese pirates, and even the young hero Ye Zhikui killed more than ten Japanese officers. When Emperor Guangxu saw the good news, he was so happy that he danced with joy and was so excited that he couldn't speak clearly. He praised Ye Zhikui, "Young people are so good that young people can accept my improved ideas." He only said that the Qing Dynasty was not something that a small Japanese could defeat. He shouted to give Japan a good look, and at the same time issued an order to urge Li Hongzhang to engage in a naval battle.

Japan, Tokyo Current Affairs News reported on August 3: "The Japanese and Qing dynasties started a war in the North Korean state of Chenghuan. A telegram arrived from Busan yesterday morning, and a big news circulated: The Qing army's Nie Shicheng tribe and Ye Zhikui tribe launched a provocative raid on our army on the morning of August 1. Although our army hastily responded and was forced to fight back, under the bravery and good fighting of the Great Japanese Imperial Army, it occupied the Qing army's Yashan area and killed and injured more than 5,000 enemy troops. When the whole country is joking, our citizens are please buy national debts and do their best to the Sino-Japanese war."

Outside the Meiji Emperor's bedroom, Japanese Foreign Minister Muro Somitsu and Prime Minister Hirofumi Ito stood outside the door and waited for Emperor Meiji to get up. The door of the bedroom creaked, and Muro and Ito quickly met. But they walked out of the inside, but a beautiful woman in messy clothes. Muro and Ito quickly stopped and bowed down. Ito looked at him secretly, feeling a little familiar, and looked at him meaningfully. Muro whispered: "It's the Crown Princess Kujo Shiko." Ito hurriedly replied: "Be careful! Muro jun."

Soon, Meiji Emperor Mutsuhito walked out, and the three of them sat down one after another. Ito said, "Your Majesty, our Japanese Army has fought with the Qing Army, and both sides have a chance of winning. Oshima Jun called to ask the General Staff Headquarters to provide tactical guidance because of insufficient weapons. The base camp has agreed to the request, and the Fifth Division's team has entered North Korea."

Emperor Meiji yawned and waved his hand and said, "Just as the base camp means, the military department said that Oshima Yoshihara's leg was injured in this battle, will it affect the next battle? Who is responsible for the failure of this battle?"

Hirobu Ito dripped a drop of cold sweat and replied: "Although Oshima Jun was injured, it was not a big deal. I hope to continue to lead the Ninth Brigade. The battle was defeated because of insufficient intelligence preparation, which made Oshima Jun misjudgment. The Qing army Ye Zhikui's band shadow hid not far from Cheng Huan and launched a sneak attack from behind despicablely. Oshima Jun's leg was also injured at this time."

Emperor Meiji nodded and said, "Ye Zhikui? It seems that the empire's intelligence department needs to continue to expand. This person is included in the assassination list."

"Yes, Your Highness." Seeing that Emperor Meiji was not holding him accountable, Hirofumi Ito and Somitsu Mitsuki quickly agreed.
Chapter completed!