The Imperial Palace of Japan, the former Tokugawa Shogunate's Edo Castle Nishinomaruden Palace, has changed from the Japanese-style wooden palace decades ago, and instead has more high-rise buildings that combine Japanese and Western styles. Not only is it the home of Emperor Meiji Hirohito
The place where I live is the current political center of Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito, who presided over the restructuring modeled after Germany, is now standing respectfully in front of Hirohito, meticulously reporting on the results of the actions of His Majesty the Emperor's sworn brother, Prince Komatsunomiya Akihito, in North Korea.
Prince Komatsunomiya Akihito is the Commander-in-Chief of Tokyo's Taipei Reinforcement and an Army Lieutenant General. In addition, he also serves as the principal of the Army Toyama School. With his noble status, he can be regarded as a big shot in the Japanese military.
This prince was the sworn brother of Emperor Meiji, and he was the highest-ranking and most senior among the princes of the emperor's line who served in the army. He had always advocated studying morality in an all-round way, annexing North Korea and the Qing Dynasty, so as to unite East Asia and dominate the world.
It is precisely because of this political philosophy that Prince Komatsunomiya Akihito has become a leading figure in the current Japanese military, and is listed as the right-hand man of Emperor Meiji alongside Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi.
The windows in a Buddhist hall are bright and clear. Emperor Meiji is sitting on a sofa wearing a Western-style royal military uniform, while Ito Hirobumi is standing at the bottom wearing a tuxedo.
After a while, Emperor Meiji raised his head from his desk and asked: "Is it too aggressive to start a war now? The Qing Dynasty is not North Korea, and we are not ready yet? What's more, what Westernization reforms the Qing Dynasty did, Emperor Xianfeng and the country
The Great Heavenly Master Qingxuan also said that the Qing Dynasty’s national strength is not what we expected before, so we started a war rashly... Can the soldiers of the empire defeat the Dao Protector Army?"
Japan has been spying on various intelligences about the Qing Dynasty since twenty years ago. Ito Hirobumi is most aware of the changes in the Qing Dynasty in recent years, and is extremely afraid that the Qing Dynasty will become a powerful country comparable to Britain and France after the successful reform. After all, the Qing Dynasty has a population of 40 million.
With countless resources, as long as they make a little progress, they will be a giant that is far beyond Japan's reach.
It is precisely because of this that we are ready to go to war in advance with all our might.
Everyone in the Meiji Dynasty, including Hirobumi Ito and Prince Akihito Komatsunomiya, knew that since the rise of the Qing Dynasty was already evident, the gap between Japan and China would become smaller as time went by. Although Japan was not ready now, the Qing Dynasty was more
The situation has not been adjusted yet. If it is delayed for another ten years, the Qing Dynasty will definitely have three to five hundred thousand advanced legions. Japan will be seeking death if it wants to go to war with the Qing Dynasty by then.
To put it bluntly, Japan is now making a huge gamble. The bet is that the Qing army, national strength, will, etc. have not yet entered the advanced ranks. The bet is that Japan can cut through the mess quickly with 200,000 elite troops.
The army annexed North Korea and defeated the Qing Dynasty, thus establishing its status as the most powerful country in East Asia.
Only by defeating the Qing Dynasty could Japan break the vassal circles that had ruled Asia for thousands of years, re-establish order, and become one of the great powers, carving up the land and population of the East with Britain and France.
The bets in Japan's hands have always been scarce, but its ambitions are beyond its own capabilities. This means that in the face of difficulties, Japan can only make desperate bets. If the bet wins, it will naturally take it all, but if it loses, it will inevitably fall into the trap.
Endless abyss.
After hearing Ito Hirobumi's explanation, Hirohito also nodded and said: "We are very lucky to be neighbors with the Qing Dynasty, but at the same time a little bit unfortunate. Now it is time to let the world know that Chinese orthodoxy is in our country. You should call Akira immediately to let him know.
He is waiting for the opportunity to move, and the domestic army and navy must also mobilize quickly and be ready to march westward at any time!"
Ito Hirobumi bowed his promise and withdrew, and soon Prince Komatsugu Akihito, who was stationed east of Seoul, received a telegram from Tokyo.
After throwing down the telegram, Prince Komatsunomiya Akihito, who was only 38 years old this year, stamped his foot excitedly and said: "Okay, we can finally take action!"
Inoue Soroku, who serves as deputy chief of staff and Army Major General, is the deputy of Prince Komatsunomiya Akihito. Hearing this, his eyes widened with excitement and asked: "Your Majesty finally agreed to take action in advance?"
Prince Komatsugu Akihito nodded and said: "Cao Liu, the time has come for us soldiers to make great contributions and be loyal to the emperor. Immediately mobilize the third division and the fifth division to approach Gyeongbokgung Palace. The first division and the second division
Stay alert when approaching the Qing Protectorate Army Camp..."
"Hai!"
After Inoue Soroku agreed, he asked: "If the king of North Korea asks, what reason will we give in response?"
Prince Komatsugu Akihito pondered for a moment, looked out the window with his small eyes, and said calmly: "We have lost a soldier, and we have to enter Gyeongbokgung Palace to find him."
"this……"
Inoue Soroku hesitated for a moment and then bowed deeply and agreed. Prince Komatsunomiya Akihito continued: "Go and tell Takano (Minister Plenipotentiary to North Korea) and ask him to contact the pro-Japanese faction with Iwata Shusaku (Kim Ok-kyun, leader of the Kaihua Party) as soon as possible.
If you attack Gyeongbokgung Palace in advance, you can control Li Xi, and if you fight against the Qing Dynasty's Taoist Guards, you will have the reputation of righteousness!"
"Hai..."
As orders were issued one after another, the Japanese troops entrenched outside Seoul began to move.
Japan's Minister Plenipotentiary to North Korea, Takano Shinkichi, also brought disguised leaders of the enlightened faction into Gyeongbokgung Palace to ask for an audience with Ri Xi.
Half an hour later, a burst of gunfire suddenly appeared north of the Han River. Immediately afterwards, Gyeongbokgung Palace was occupied by the Japanese army. King Yi Xi of Joseon also became a hostage in the hands of the Japanese army. Then Concubine Min was brutally ravaged and killed by the Japanese army led by the Kaihua Party.
The Qing Protectorate Army was not aware of the Japanese army's movements at first. When they learned that the Japanese army had captured Gyeongbokgung Palace, Taoist Yun Xiu, the commander of the Protector Army, snorted coldly and said: "Send up the old brothers to lead the team immediately, let's
Enter the city quickly!"
Taoist Qingxuan on the side had a thin face and frowned: "Shoucheng, don't worry, the Japanese army has two divisions near us. If we enter the city rashly, the Japanese army and the North Korean army will attack us, and there will be more than 20,000 soldiers protecting the road."
But they will all be sacrificed..."
The loyal king Li Xiucheng, who was saved because he converted to the Quanzhen Sect, and the Qian Wang Hong Renxuan argued for a few words, and then the famous general Li Xiucheng, who had become a Taoist priest in Yunxiu, snorted: "The Japanese army wants to start a war with us, so we will give it to them."
There is an opportunity. We have few soldiers and are not in a good position to fight in the field. We have to enter the city first and then defend the mouth of the Han River before we can fight...
Senior Brother Qingxuan, our 3,000 Ze troops are there with sufficient supplies and artillery, enough to support four Japanese divisions. When Shandong's 20,000 Dao Guards and 50,000 regiment drills arrive, Japan's claws will have to be cut off.
It’s incredible!”
Taoist Qingxuan knew that no one in the Qing Dynasty could be stronger than Zhong Wang Shoucheng, so he nodded and said: "Since you have made up your mind, I can only support it with all my strength. I will go to the dock to make arrangements first. Li Xi was
You don’t have to worry about Japan taking control. I’ll go down and pick up Da Yuanjun. At worst, I’ll ask Master Yi Feizi to issue an order to re-canonize one of Da Yuanjun’s heirs as the new monarch. This great justice will not reach the hands of the Japanese.
Junior brother, you don’t want to fight in vain. When I get to the dock, I will send a telegram to my three mentors and Grandpa Grandpa, hoping that our brothers can come to support as soon as possible..."
Taoist Qingxuan quickly entered the city with a group of pro-troops, and then the Taoist Guards also quickly dressed up, entered Seoul before the Japanese army had time to react, and quickly marched towards the dock.