As 3,000 Huai troops entered North Korea, Japan was not far behind. More than 4,000 men from the Oshima Uichang Division of the Japanese Third Division suddenly landed forcefully from Jemulpo, putting China and Japan on the verge of war.
Regarding Japan's sudden dispatch of troops, there was a lot of discussion within the Qing court. Frontline generals Ye Zhichao and Nie Shicheng believed that China and Japan had a certain advantage in terms of military strength in Korea at this time, and they should quickly send reinforcements to assist the Korean troops in controlling Seoul.
Yuan Shikai believed that whether it was war or peace, the Qing army must retreat northward to Jeonju and Asan, 120 kilometers south of Seoul, or at least to Pyongyang to avoid fighting alone.
Guangxu and Weng Tonghe, who were in Beijing, fought together to drive out the Japanese troops in Korea. Of course why they fought, many people knew that no matter whether they won or lost, they could weaken the power of the Huai army, which was too big to defeat, and the victory was a wise act of the emperor. , the defeat was due to Li Zhongtang’s poor command, but it was a good move.
Others, led by Prince Qing, believed that it was difficult to determine the outcome once the war started, so it was better to rely on Britain and Russia for mediation.
The most important thing is that Li Zhongtang has no independent opinion and prefers that Japan does not dare to start a war. This may be another blackmail to send troops to Taiwan.
Compared with Japan, which is basically united as one, China's warlike and uncertain attitude has indeed seriously hindered war preparations.
Moreover, good news came from Japan's diplomacy at this time. Japan's Minister to the United Kingdom, Aoki Shuzo, received a call from London. The British government supported Japan in occupying Korea. A few days later, Aoki Shuzo signed the "Anglo-Japanese Commerce and Navigation Treaty" with the United Kingdom. Japan took this opportunity to take back concessions, consular jurisdiction, and some customs duties. The Japanese government, whose confidence was boosted, strengthened its determination to go to war with the Qing Dynasty.
For the British to support Japan so much is also the result of Li Zhongtang's long-term use of barbarians to control barbarians. Compared with Li Zhongtang, who has always refused to express his position, the British still believe that Japan's aggressive attitude is more reliable.
At this time, the Qing government finally made up its mind and ordered Li Zhongtang to send troops to North Korea, showing that they would not hesitate to fight for North Korea.
Japan is also stepping up its preparations after learning that the Qing government is willing to fight.
On July 19, Japan's deputy minister to the Qing Dynasty, Otori Keisuke, submitted an ultimatum to the Qing court, requiring the Qing Dynasty to immediately abrogate the "China-North Korea Protection Treaty", recognize North Korea as an independent and sovereign country, and immediately withdraw all Qing troops from North Korea. , this letter is limited to reply within five days.
Even in the face of Japan's attitude of not willing to fight a war, the Qing court was still unwilling to give up Korea, the last vassal state, and continued to send troops.
On July 21, the registered admiral Ningxia Town General Guard Wei Rugui led 6,000 troops stationed in Tianjin, and the registered admiral Yijun rear army commander Ma Yukun led the 2,000 officers and soldiers stationed in Lushun. They landed at Dadonggou line adjacent to Dandong, preparing to march to Pyongyang.
On the same day, the first batch of 1,500 officers and soldiers dispatched by Wu Yuren, the commander of the Beitang Defense Army and the commander-in-chief of Yongzhen, was led by the registered commander-in-chief Jiang Zikang. They boarded two merchant ships, the Yihe Matheson Renai and the Flying Whale, and the Beiyang Navy transport ship Yushun. It was transported from Tianjin to Yashan under the escort of Weihai and Guangjia of the Guangdong Navy and Weiyuan of the Beiyang Navy.
The actions of the Qing army had been known to Japan from the beginning. In the field of intelligence, the Qing and Japan were simply on two levels.
Not to mention the intelligence departments of Japan's navy and army, Japan's civilian intelligence organizations alone are enough to make the Qing Dynasty drink a pot. Take the Xuanyang Society, the predecessor of the Black Dragon Society, as an example. In 1884, Xuanyang Society opened the Oriental Academy in Shanghai. , Xuanyang Society, which has been deeply involved in the Qing Dynasty for ten years, has extended its tentacles to the inland, and has intelligence strongholds in inland cities such as Hankou, Nanchang, Kaifeng, Baoding, etc. These intelligence strongholds, which are covered by chambers of commerce and shops, provide a continuous flow of intelligence from the Qing Dynasty. Sent back to Japan.
No, the specific information about the Qing Dynasty sending troops to North Korea was obtained by Xuanyangshe.
Of course, intelligence work cannot be reported in a timely manner at all times. The Japanese intelligence department did not report the first batch of 1,500 Qing troops shipped from Tianjin to Asan in a timely manner. After the fleet arrived in Asan, the Japanese government
You know, this even led to a burst of reprimands.
In an inconspicuous teahouse in Tianjin, two middle-aged men in casual clothes were having a secret discussion in a box.
"Agent Li, the last message was very useful to us. We are willing to keep friends like Assistant Li. This is our extra thanks to Assistant Li."
As he spoke, a silver note with two hundred taels of silver printed on it was handed to Assistant Manager Li. Looking at the silver note in front of him, Assistant Manager Li had a greedy look in his eyes, and he casually put the silver note into his sleeve.
middle.
"You're welcome, you're welcome!"
Watching the other party collect the cash check, the middle-aged man immediately continued, "Assistant Li, when will the next ship to Asan be, so that we can continue to do business with the military master."
"Well..."
"I understand..."
Another two hundred taels of silver note was handed to Deputy Li.
"This matter is not easy to handle."
After taking a look at the two hundred taels of silver notes, it was obvious that Assistant Li was not satisfied.
"I think this will help you."
Another two hundred taels of silver note was handed over.
"On the 23rd, the Senior Assistant Office of the Battalion Affairs Office will take the second batch of officers and soldiers to Asan on the Gaosheng of Yihe Matheson Company. They are expected to arrive on the 25th."
Deputy Li was also very cheerful. He poured out the information he knew as if he was pouring beans after receiving the money.
"Thank you to Assistant Li for your accommodation. Now that I have made money, I will never forget Assistant Li's good work."
In the evening of that day, a secret message was sent to Shanghai through the commercial telegraph line in Tianjin, and then along the submarine telegraph line that night, it was sent from Shanghai to Japan.
At this time, Japan had decided to go to war with the Qing Dynasty, so after receiving this information, Japan immediately forwarded this information to the Navy Ministry.
Therefore, on July 25, the First Guerrilla Force of the Japanese Combined Fleet suddenly attacked the two cruisers Jiyuan and Guangyi of the Beiyang Navy in the waters of Toyoshima, North Korea, and then sank the British transport ship Gaosheng and captured the gunboat Caojiang. This
It also marked the complete outbreak of the war between China and Japan over North Korea.
Of course, before that, Japan wanted to seize the opportunity. The Oshima Brigade of the Japanese Third Division, which was the first to land, suddenly occupied Seoul on the 23rd and took Emperor Gaozong hostage. The Japanese Consul General in North Korea, Komura Jutaro, submitted an ultimatum to the North Korean government, demanding
North Korea immediately abrogated the Sino-North Korean protection treaty, immediately declared North Korea a sovereign country, and at the same time expelled the Qing troops in North Korea.
Faced with Komura Jutaro's alliance under the city, the North Korean government was shocked. Japan did not give North Korea time to think about it, and immediately carried out Daewonjun and reorganized the North Korean regime. Concubine Min's power fell immediately.
Faced with Japan's preemptive move, the Qing Dynasty had no choice but to declare war.
At this point, the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894 completely broke out.
