Chapter 002 Chapter 003 Shells Falling from the Sky

Hiroshima, Japan, the wartime base camp of the Japanese army.

In the war room, Emperor Meiji, dressed in a marshal's uniform, sat on a high chair. In front of him, the civil and military officials sat straight at a huge rectangular table.

The emperor's right head sat Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito, Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu, and cabinet ministers such as Prime Minister, Tibetan Prime Minister, French Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, and Wenxiang.

The emperor's left head sat in turn as the chief of staff General Qiren of the Army, the Army Staff Kawakami, the Navy Staff Nakata Kuranosuke Navy*, as well as the Director of the Military Station, the Minister of Transport and Communications, the Field Supervision Minister, the Aide Military Officer, the Ministry of the Ministry of the Navy, the Army, the General of the General of Military Order.

Meiji Emperor Mujin's face was expressionless and his eyes seemed to be a little empty. His thoughts did not seem to be on the civil and military ministers all over the room, and even had nothing to do with the topic they were talking about.

Emperor Meiji's interest is in the seats of the civil and military ministers in the war room.

Wenyou Wuzuo, this is an unwritten rule. This rule comes from Japan's close neighbor, the 5,000-year-old central empire.

In China, the right has always been the largest, and the right is on the upper left. In ancient Chinese vocabulary, a person goes from the right to the left, indicating that he is unlucky. Therefore, when the minister is degraded by the emperor, there is a saying of "left move".

The minister is on the right and the general is on the left, indicating that the minister's status is higher than that of the general, which is a performance of the Chinese people's attention to the rule of culture.

In the Chinese way of thinking, culture is the most powerful and the most effective means of governing the country and the world. This ancient country also has a glorious history of expansion. For thousands of years, her territory has continued to expand from the narrow areas of the Yellow River Basin to the east, west, north and south, and gradually surrendered to her. Finally, a great country with a radius of thousands of kilometers has been formed.

However, China has always despised force. In many cases, the sharp weapon she expands is not a sword, but culture.

Culture is like running water, weak and clear. Anyone can easily deform water, but water is pervasive and indestructible!

Take Japan as an example. Japan claims to be completely westernized and completely abandons the Chinese culture she inherited from the Tang Dynasty. She gave up the Spring Festival and Hanfu. Now, she is going to go to war with China and vows to completely defeat this ancient neighbor.

However, in this war room, in the highest command post leading the war, Japanese civil servants and generals, adhere to the ancient Chinese tradition, sit upright and sit upright in accordance with the rules of the left.

Emperor Meiji couldn't help sighing secretly that China's ancient culture had already penetrated into Japan's bloodline. Can Japan really defeat China?

In the battle room, there is a powerful voice echoed by General Komatsumiya:

"As of 11:00 on January 25, our army was progressing smoothly on all fronts. In Rongcheng Bay, under the cover of the joint fleet, the Second Division of the Second Army launched a landing operation in Luofenggang, Machang and Daxizhuang at 6:40. The Qing army's resistance was weak. Our army occupied the Chengshanjiao Lighthouse. A brigade's troops successfully landed and established a beach position. Now, the leading troops are advancing towards Rongcheng. Under the fierce attack of our army, the Qing army's defense along the way quickly collapsed. It is expected that the striker will arrive in Rongcheng County this evening!"

There were cheers in the war room.

"In Liaodong, the first brigade of the 1st division launched an attack on Yingkou based on Haicheng. The Qing army had no fighting spirit. Our army captured Yingkou at 10:00 and captured the port of Yingkou. The first division has ordered its second brigade to set out and go to Yingkou to prepare to seize Shanhaiguan by boat!"

"H Long live the Emperor!" The civil and military ministers cheered again.

"What about North Korea's Linjin River?" Prime Minister Hirofumi Ito asked, "Is the enemy there also so vulnerable?"

General Komatsunomiya said, "According to the report of the First Army Command, the First Army launched a river crossing at 6:00 a.m. today in Jiuhuali, Wenshan and Mazhili. Among them, the main force of the Fifth Division of the First Army attacked the front of Wenshan, the fifth division attacked Jiuhuali, and the second brigade of the third division entered Attack Ma Zhili. As of 10:00 a.m., the Fifth Division has successfully broken through the front defense line of Wenshan and occupied the Wenshan Ferry. 2,000 troops, including the Wild Artillery Wing, have successfully crossed the river. Now they are launching a strong attack on Qingqiu, which is garrisoned by the enemy. It is expected to seize Qingqiu this afternoon and eliminate the remnants of the ferry.

The chief of staff, General Qichuan Gongchiren asked in a low voice, "So what about the direction of Jiuhuali and Ma Zhili?"

"Jiuhuali and Ma Zhili are the direction of our army."

"That means that our army's attack in Jiuhuali and Mazhili was frustrated." Qichuan Gongchiren said.

"It can be said." Komatsu Miyasho said: "In Jiuhuali, the second brigade of the third division once occupied the beach of the Linjin River, but it was tenaciously counterattacked by the enemy, and a large brigade that had crossed the river was shattered. In Ma Zhili, the river was wide and rapid, and our ships crossing the river were shelled by the enemy and it was difficult to get to the shore. However, I think that the battle between Jiuhuali and Ma Zhili will not affect the overall situation. The enemy's defense focus in the Linjin River is Wenshan Ferry. Now, the ferry that our army has occupied has firmly grasped the initiative of the battlefield. I think it will not be long before the main force of the Fifth Division will cross the Linjin River at Wenshan Ferry, and the enemy's Linjin River. The defense line will completely collapse. The recovery of Pyongyang is just around the corner.

In the war room, there was a whisper.

Ito Hirofumi asked, "So, what's going on in the court of the Korean Empire in Seoul?"

Foreign Minister Lu Ao Zongguang said: "Emperor Li Xi and Empress Min Ziying are holding a banquet for civil and military officials in the palace to celebrate the Japanese army's launch of the Linjin River Campaign to recover Pyongyang. The Seoul court issued a statement that the actions of the Japanese army were to fight for the unity and independence of North Korea. The Korean imperial government expressed loyal thanks to Japan's internationalist assistance. A 1,000-strong Korean Imperial army is ready to go in Seoul to cooperate with our army to recover Pyongyang.

"Is that also called the army?" Kawakami's six armies* made a burst of ridicule. Chuan Shangkeliu, the army staff officer, knew very well that the so-called Korean imperial army was a semi-military organization armed with thream and spears, and they could only be called militia at best.

There was a burst of laughter in the battle room.

Qichuan Gongchihito asked, "Is there anything else to add?"

"No more." Komatsu Palace said.

Arisugawa Palace stood up and bowed to Emperor Meiji and said, "Your Majesty, the Japanese navy and army have made the expected progress in Liaodong, Shandong and North Korea. I think the future progress of the war will also be completely in the hands of our army, so the military department believes that it is time to launch the Taiwan war. For the Empire of Japan, Taiwan is our fundamental interest!"

Emperor Meiji nodded slightly and said slowly, "Can't the Taiwan issue be solved politically?"

In the war room, it suddenly became quiet.

Everyone knows that Emperor Meiji has not approved of this war since the beginning of the war.

Emperor Muji is a pacifist, and he is also a believer of cultural supremacy. In Muren's eyes, violence itself is a manifestation of cowardice, because only an unconfident nation can become so crazy!

Arisugawanomiya Chihito bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Guards Division has been equipped with their hair in Hiroshima. They are Your Majesty's most loyal guards. Therefore, Your Majesty has handed over this battle that determines the fate of Japan to them. This is the glory of the Guards Division! Your Majesty, please.

The Japanese standing army has a total of seven divisions, five of which are sent to the battlefields of China and Korea. Now, only the most elite Guards and the Fourth Divisions are left. This is Japan's general reserve. Their mission is Taiwan.

Now the Guards Division has boarded the ship and targeted Taiwan, but at this time, Emperor Meiji hesitated.

Ito Hirofumi asked, "What's the movement of Beiyang Mariners?"

Komatsu Miyasho said, "The Beiyang Marines are all trapped in the Weihai Guard Port. They are no longer able to go to sea to fight, and it is impossible to pose any threat to my troops attacking Taiwan."

"So, what about Lushun?"

"Lushun is firmly in the hands of the First Division, and the Qing army cannot pose a threat to Lushun!"

Hirofumi Ito nodded: "His Majesty's concerns are also correct. Before the complete elimination of the Beiyang Marine Division, our army will take risks to attack Taiwan! The Guards Division is Your Majesty's Guards, and we can't take this risk. Therefore, I think it is better to wait for our army to capture Weihaiwei before discovering the Taiwan Campaign.

Foreign Minister Lu Ao Zongguang stood up and said, "I agree with the Prime Minister's suggestion. If my army fights smoothly in the Qing Dynasty, I am sure that I can force the Qing government to sign a treaty to cede Taiwan through political means. In this way, the Japanese soldiers will no longer have to bleed.

Kawakami's six army * said in protest: "What if the Qing court does not give in! They can use this time to strengthen Taiwan's defense and fight to the death with our army! Now, the Qing Dynasty's inability to take care of Taiwan is the best opportunity for us to occupy Taiwan. Once this opportunity is lost, Japanese soldiers will shed more blood!"

Emperor Meiji said coldly, "I don't think the army is worried about losing the occupation of Taiwan. What you are worried about is losing this opportunity to cast the star!"

The Meiji Emperor's voice was not high, but the generals were speechless.

Everyone knows that with the combat effectiveness of the Qing army, it is impossible to resist the Japanese attack now or in the near future. Sooner or later, Taiwan will fall into the arms of Japan.

The generals are unwilling to make a peaceful transition to Japan by political means. Because without war, soldiers will have no chance to be promoted!

War is the interests of soldiers, and peace is the interests of politicians!

General Arisugawa Palace bent down to the emperor and said, "I will remember your majesty's teachings!"

"Then, please pay more attention to Lushun!" The emperor said slowly, "I know that someone has tainted the reputation of the Japanese Empire in Lushun!"

The room full of civil servants and generals trembled, and the emperor finally knew Lushun Tucheng!