() After the news that Japan's government lost its landing fleet again, they did not deal with it as low-key as the previous time because they were frightened. The ships dispatched twice exceeded half of Japan's fleet, plus two
A division of the army disappeared inexplicably and mysteriously. This is not a small problem in any government. The entire Japanese government and military headquarters were devastated.
First, he angrily questioned Qing Zhengfu, asking him to thoroughly investigate the two disappearances, take responsibility for them, and compensate Japan for its losses. Then he notified Britain, France, Germany, and Russia, requesting a joint investigation of Japan's activities in Taiwan waters.
The naval fleet disappeared without reason.
The Qing government was scolded for being confused, the Beiyang Navy was completely wiped out, Liaodong and Taiwan were ceded, and now the Japanese Navy is missing. But does this matter have something to do with the Qing Dynasty? Li Hongzhang immediately met with the ambassadors of various countries
, requesting all countries to come forward to prevent the Japanese from blackmailing the Qing Dynasty again.
The governments of various countries received requests and pleas from Japan and the Qing government. At first, they felt that Japan was blackmailing them in order to avenge the return of the occupied territories in Liaodong. The Russians and Germans thought that Taiwan had already been ceded, and the handover procedures were
Everything has been done, and we will not return to the Qing Dynasty
The Japanese protest was rejected on the grounds of government control. The British and French did not reject it directly, but they also privately warned the Japanese not to push the envelope too far. They would get compensation for occupying space, so don't go on endlessly.
However, after repeated pleas by the Japanese, Britain and France also felt that something was strange. They knew about the incident and did not take it seriously. It was already the territory of the Japanese, and they did not intend to interfere. But if the Japanese
Many capital ships of our fleet were silently wiped out near Taiwan. Britain and France still don't believe it. The South China Sea has always been the back garden of the British and French. The existence of such a powerful naval force here will make
The fleets and governments of both countries could not sleep.
In the name of assisting in the investigation, Britain and France successively sent ships to the waters near Taiwan, intending to form a fleet of three warships, the gunboat "Clear" and the French ironclad cruiser "Attalante", and officially enter the waters near Taiwan to carry out investigation missions.
Before the British and French fleets set off, the British "China Fleet" headquarters in Hong Kong notified Taiwan's new government by telegram.
fu, claiming that he was just conducting a routine investigation and had no malicious intentions. Liu Fu also received the telegram and discussed with the staff of the staff all night how to deal with the intervention of the British and French fleets. After half a night of discussion, they could not reach an agreement.
As a result, most
The foreign staff members all advocated giving the British and French fleets the right to investigate, because if they were hard-topped, they would be annoyed and two more powerful enemies would be added unnecessarily; while the Chinese staff members all advocated a firm rejection of all ships that entered the war zone without permission.
All are enemies.
Liu Fu personally prefers the view of the foreign staff officers, because from their standpoint, although a bit conservative, they are still relatively objective; and those Chinese staff officers overestimated Taiwan due to the two great victories in ambushing the Japanese fleet.
With their own strength, they regard the weapon of submarine as extremely magical, and they are looking forward to overthrowing all the previous oppressors in one fell swoop and becoming the master immediately.
"The British-French Combined Fleet is electrified. Since mines are deployed in Taiwan's ports and offshore waters, and the situation is relatively chaotic, we cannot guarantee their navigation safety. We ask them to try not to approach any port or near the port without notifying us."
waters, otherwise we cannot guarantee their safety and remind them that it is best to keep in touch." Liu Fu ordered and sent this order to the British and French combined fleets.
"Although we have defeated the Japanese fleet both times, don't be too optimistic. We just took advantage of the enemy not knowing us. If everyone sets up a good battle, our losses will be huge. And we have a fatal weakness,
It is our army. Although the new army has been reorganized very quickly and worked very hard, it is still a question whether our new army, which has never seen blood, can withstand it if it is landed by the enemy. So, now we have to endure it and don't
If you make enemies easily, focus on dealing with the Japanese first." Liu Fu explained to the staff members who were doing this.
"Captain, we have received a message from the Taiwan New Zheng&nance. The first mate is holding a telegram and reporting to the captain." The captain of the "ance", Redel, held a large pipe in his mouth and said slowly.
"Then what should we do? Not go to the port for inspection?" The young first mate seemed a little unwilling.
"Oh, dear Charlie, this is not our war. This is the Japanese war. We don't need to use the lives of British boys to prove anything to them. I just hope that I can take you good boys home safely.
"Riddle took off his pipe and said to the first mate beside him with a serious face.
"Order the fleet not to get close to Taiwan. We can just circle around it."
Following Ryder's order, the three British and French ships slowly turned and headed towards the waters off Taiwan.
Fifteen days later, the results of the British and French investigations were transmitted back to Japan through Japan's Minister to the Qing Dynasty, Mr. Lin. The investigation results stated that the British and French fleets conducted a detailed and rigorous investigation around Taiwan and found no fleet that could threaten Taiwan.
The British and French fleets had maritime armaments, but mines were discovered in the waters near many ports in Taiwan. Therefore, the final conclusion that the Japanese landing fleet was attacked and annihilated near Taiwan is nonsense.
This result has also been recognized by Germany, the United States, Russia and other countries. Although Japan itself has doubts about the investigation results, there is nothing to do. It cannot arrange a fleet to investigate by itself. Moreover, Japan can no longer send a fleet in the short term.
Not to mention warships, even troop transport ships cannot be mobilized. Moreover, Taiwan has declared war with Japan, and any Japanese ship approaching Taiwan waters will be attacked.
Since the Taiwan issue cannot be solved temporarily by force, then rely on diplomatic channels. Japan's Zhengfu telegraphed the Minister Lin Dong in the Qing Dynasty to contact the ministers of Britain, France and other countries, requesting Britain and France to come forward to help Japan contact Taiwan to see if it can be resolved through negotiation.
question.
Countries such as Britain and France are the most enthusiastic about resolving disputes through negotiation. They don't have to send troops, money or effort. They can get benefits at the negotiation table just by talking. Who wouldn't want to do such a thing? If you don't get it, you won't get anything. So.
, the British Fleet Command in China issued a formal invitation to the Taiwanese government, hoping that the Taiwanese government would send people to Hong Kong to sit down with the Japanese to hold negotiations on the Taiwan issue, and for mediation by Britain, France and the United States.
