Chapter 25 Sudden change of situation

It turned out that there was a civil strife in North Korea in the east, the king Li Xi was weak, and the princess Min was in power. Li Xi's real father was Li Shiying, and his title was "Lord of the Great Court".This time the civil strife was caused by Daewon Lord's henchmen, who attacked the palace, injured the princess, and killed Minister Min Qian Ho and others.Seeing an opportunity, Japan sent troops to North Korea. Li Shuchang, the Minister in Japan, sent an urgent message to Zhang Shusheng, Governor of Zhili, suggesting that Beiyang send warships to contend with the Japanese army.

Zhang Shusheng wanted to make a big splash at first, but when he received Li Shuchang's warning telegram, he decided to send troops to observe the change and report to the court at the same time. The imperial court appreciated Zhang Shusheng's quick response, but because France was conspiring against Vietnam at that time, and North Korea issued an alarm, they were afraid that Zhang Shusheng would not be able to deal with it, so they decided to order Li Hongzhang, who was in charge of the system, to return to Tianjin on the same day. Therefore, someone persuaded Zhang Shusheng: "Since the central government has ordered him to take charge of this matter, it seems appropriate to send troops after Hefei returns to his post." Whip first, China will fall behind.He bears the heavy responsibility of Beiyang, so he can't follow his own mistakes.

So when the second telegram urging Li Hongzhang to leave had just arrived in Hefei, Li Hongzhang had already repeated the message and went on his way. When he transferred from Shanghai to Tianjin, the army sent by Zhang Shusheng was already on the way to "conquer the east across the sea". Zhang Shusheng sent two generals on land and water, one was Ding Ruchang, the registered admiral of the Beiyang Navy, and the other was Wu Changqing, the admiral of the Guangdong Navy.The name of this person is in the navy, but he is actually the army. He is a veteran of the Huai army, stationed in Dengzhou, Shandong, and accompanied the sixth battalion of the Huai army. He was a twenty-four-year-old son of the Jianghuai family, who was born in the Imperial Academy, an official to the Minister of the Household Department, and Yuan Shikai, the nephew of Yuan Baoheng who once ran a grain platform for Zuo Zongtang.

Yuan Shikai didn't like reading since he was a child. Although he was a child of a family, he behaved like a scoundrel and despised the township party.Unable to survive in his hometown, he had a wild idea and gathered more than ten jobless teenagers from Xiangcheng, Henan to Yantai, Shandong, leaving his companions in the hostel, and went to see Wu Changqing alone. At that time, Wu Changqing was in charge of military affairs in Shandong as the admiral of the Guangdong Navy. He and Yuan Shikai's heir father, Yuan Baoqing, were friends of eight worshippers. Yuan Shikai replied: "As the son of a general, I will join the army." He also said that the dozen or so young men he brought were all rare generals, "I ask you to hire them all."

Wu Changqing was very surprised, so he couldn't call him absurd, and dismissed it as presumptuous.Immediately, an officer was sent to the inn with a bank note to send his companion away with good words.Of course, Yuan Shikai was left behind. "Have you entered school yet?" "No." Yuan Shikai was not even a scholar, but he donated a supervisor, so he could pass the Beiwei-Shuntian Township Examination as usual, so Wu Changqing asked him to study in the camp and worship Zhang Jian as his teacher.This person, Ji Zhi, is a famous scholar in Nantong. He was a military counselor in Wu Changqing's shogunate, and he was also a professional teacher of Wu Changqing's second son Wu Baochu.

Since he had to take the exam, Zhang Jian of course taught him to do eight-legged essays.Yuan Shikai lacked interest, but he talked with Zhang Jian about current affairs and the methods of employing people to control people, but he was very clear, which was very appreciated by Zhang Jian.In Wu Changqing's shogunate, there was also Zhu Mingpan, who was also from Nantong, and together with Zhang Jian and another excellent poet Fan Kentang, was known as "Three Lives of Tongzhou". This Zhu Mingpan also had a good impression of Yuan Shikai, so when When Zhang Jian recommended Yuan Shikai, and Zhu Mingpan supported him, Wu Changqing appointed Yuan as an assistant in the camp affairs office and sent him two orderlies.This was the year before last - April of the sixth year of Guangxu.

When civil strife broke out in North Korea, Zhang Shusheng sent Ding Ruchang to summon Wu Changqing to discuss matters.Wu Changqing, together with Zhang Jian, spent three days in secret business in Tianjin, making plans to put down the chaos.This year Renwu, "Ziwu Maoyou, the year of Dabi", Yuan Shikai was ordered to go to Beijing for the provincial examination, and happened to be in Tianjin. He heard that he was going to send troops to North Korea, so he went to see Zhang Jian.Zhang Jian agreed, and asked Wu Changqing for him, and he got his wish. After arriving in Yantai, Wu Changqing went back to Dengzhou to dispatch troops and generals, and Zhang Jian was in charge of sending ships to Yantai to collect food and prepare luggage. The Camp Office" is actually on its own.

On the evening of July 12, Wu Changqing led a brigade from Yantai to Incheon, North Korea, but the Japanese navy and army arrived an hour earlier.It's just that it's getting late, and the Chinese and Japanese armies are living on the ship, preparing to land at dawn. Unexpectedly, in the darkness of night, the secret envoy sent by Concubine Min arrived.It turned out that Li Xi, the king of Korea, was a successor like Emperor Guangxu. Li Shiying, Li Xi's biological father, "Dayuanjun" was equal to Prince Chun, the difference was that "Dayuanjun" was the regent.After Li Xi became an adult, the "Governor of the Great Court" returned to the government, but Li Xi was cowardly, and the power fell into the hands of the concubine Min.Concubine Min, like the Empress Dowager Cixi, was very capable. She thought that North Korea was a vassal of China, so as long as she devoted herself to making friends with Chinese officials, she would naturally gain the upper hand.At this time, Japan's ambitions were growing. Seeing that the two parties in North Korea were confronting each other, they deliberately looked for opportunities as an excuse to invade.

The opportunity came.North Korea’s internal affairs were not maintained, and the people were in poverty. The soldiers’ wages were owed for several months, and they repeatedly “argued about the wages”, and the payment was not enough, so there were often rebellions and rebellions. The Japanese bribed the rebels and deliberately let them rob The Japanese consulate, in the name of protecting the consulate, Japan is planning to send troops to North Korea. Concubine Min got the news and informed the Chinese officials. The envoys stationed in Japan also sent urgent telegrams to Beiyang. The secret envoy had an audience with Wu Changqing and Ding Ruchang, saying that Japan and Li Shiying had colluded.Whichever country's army reaches Seoul, the capital of North Korea first, will control the entire situation.This is the same reason as Chu and Han fight, and the first to enter Xianyang wins.

"For today's plan, we persuade the army of the Celestial Dynasty to land in the dark and enter Seoul by the secret road, and they can reach it in a day and night. This short-cut road is unknown to the Japanese." "The idea is very good, but what about the daily supply? Soldiers have to eat!" "Please don't worry." Concubine Min's emissary said, "The equipment is ready along the way." Wu Changqing was overjoyed, and immediately summoned Zhang Jian and Ma Jianzhong for a secret discussion, and decided to accept Concubine Min's plan, and first sent 500 people to land overnight, and another 1,000 people to disembark at dawn, and the rest stayed on board for orders.

The secret meeting was established, and Wu Changqing ordered soldiers to issue orders in the dinner room of China Merchants Steamship. This should have been a scene of high morale and eagerness to be the first, but after Wu Changqing gave the order, there was silence for about five minutes, and the atmosphere became very stiff now. Finally a leader surnamed Liu approached Wu Changqing and said in a low voice: "This battalion is the army, and has never been out to sea. Now the ship has just stopped, and many brothers are seasick. Can you ask the commander to be considerate and let everyone Rest overnight and go ashore at dawn." As soon as this remark came out, Wu Changqing's face immediately changed, but there was another request of the same kind. Wu Changqing was furious, slapped the table and scolded: "When and where is this? How dare you disobey my order? Don't tell me you don't know military law?" As he said, he wanted to draw his arrow and kill that Liu Bangdai. Zhang Jian was at the side, before he could open his mouth again, he rushed to say: "Marshal, it is not appropriate for Liu Bangdai to lead troops anymore, let's send someone else!" "Who should I send?" "I think Yuan Shikai can take over." "Okay!" Wu Changqing said to the left and right: "Take care of the surname Liu first, and deal with it after I finish the big things." At this time Yuan Shikai had been notified and came in to salute. Zhang Jian said, "The commander-in-chief has sent you a mission. Listen carefully." Wu Changqing interfaced and ordered: "Liu Bangtao didn't obey the order, I have dismissed him and took care of him. Now I will send you as the gang leader to take over his team. Prepare immediately. After half an hour, first lead a battalion of people and take the boat sent by North Korea." Landed, led by North Korean guides, and marched overnight. Yuan Shikai, can you take on this mission, can you not take it?" "I can take care of it." "Okay! If anyone of your subordinates disobeys orders and violates military laws, you are allowed to kill them first and report later." Wu Changqing passed the command arrow in his hand forward. Yuan Shikai received the order in his hand, and replied loudly: "Follow the commander-in-chief's order." In less than half an hour, Yuan Shikai had already put on his clothes, straw sandals and shorts, and came in to report to Wu Changqing: "I have discussed with the North Korean interpreter and decided to march overnight after landing. I will go to Guoshan for breakfast in the morning and wait for the commander-in-chief there. " After the farewell, I will disembark immediately.At dawn, Wu Changqing took charge of the two battalions and continued to advance. When he arrived at Guoshan at noon, Yuan Shikai dismounted to greet him. "How's the road going?" "Safe trip, North Korea's supply is complete, please rest assured, Commander." "Okay!" Wu Changqing asked again, "Is there anything else to report?" "The discipline of the soldiers is not very good, they rob the people of things, and they are rude to women. Master Wang is in chaos. This will make people look down on him. Shikai has obeyed the general's order and executed seven people on the spot." Hearing this, Wu Changqing was relieved.I thought he would not be able to lead troops, but now it seems that he is really worthy of being a general, so he comforted Yuan Shikai and told Yuan Shikai to move on. In the middle of the night, 500 pioneers arrived in Seoul and camped at the south gate.At around ten o'clock in the morning of the next day, a thousand people under Wu Changqing's personal command also galloped up again, and set up a camp at Tunzi Mountain, seven miles away from Seoul.At that time, "Lord of the Grand Court" Li Shiying had already received the news, and sent his son General Li Zaimian to meet Wu Changqing to express his condolences.Wu Changqing was also very polite and perfunctory, and when Li Zaimian left, he immediately went to the city to visit Li Shiying, and made a deal of politeness. After leaving the city and returning to Daying, Wu Changqing immediately summoned senior generals and aides for secret business.Ma Jianzhong suggested that when the thief and the king are captured, Li Shiying should try to detain them and send them to Tianjin when Li Shiying pays homage back and forth, so as to frighten the courage of the party.If the rebellious party is not appeased, it will be suppressed again. Wu Changqing thought the plan was great, and the rest of the people agreed, so he secretly deployed and set up a trap to wait for Li Shiying to vote himself. When Li Shiying paid homage back and forth, it was at four o'clock in the afternoon. He brought dozens of guards into the account, and Zhang Jian and Ma Jianzhong had a written conversation with Li Shiying. Once there, it is also very troublesome.When Li Shiying's guards outside the camp were isolated, and seeing that it was almost time, Wu Changqing immediately said, "I am ordered by the imperial court to deliver an order to send your vassals to Beijing in person to present everything about the rebellious party." After speaking, regardless of whether Li Shiying understood or not, Ma Jianzhong helped Li Shiying out of the camp. There was a sedan chair outside, and he was stuffed into the sedan chair. After galloping for 120 miles, he arrived at Nanyang port early the next morning and boarded the Weiyuan military ship. Only then did Li Shiying know what was going on. The next target is Li Shiying's eldest son, Li Zaimian, brother of Han Wang Lixi.It is said that the rebellious party was directed by him.Wu Changqing sent Yuan Shikai to lead troops into the city and arrested Li Zaimian, but the rebel party had already fled. That night, Wu Changqing received a secret report from Li Xi that the rebel party was stationed in two places, one called Litaiyuan and the other called Wangxunli.Wuxunli was near Wu Changqing's camp, so he went out in person. Li Taiyuan sent Yuan Shikai to make a surprise attack in the dark and arrested more than a hundred people. The rest of the mob fled away one after another. The situation in Wuxunli was similar .By the time the 3,000 Japanese troops marched along the main road to Seoul, the situation had calmed down. As a result, the Japanese army had no reason to enter the city again. In order to avoid conflict with the Qing army, they stationed outside the city.Yoshima Hanabou, the Japanese Minister to South Korea, also returned to Seoul to negotiate with South Korea for compensation. This was not Wu Changqing's business.