Master Yuan, start!

"boom"

"boom"

The Korean soldiers who gathered in front of the embassy and consulate to besiege it were quickly killed.

"Who is leading the troops on the opposite side that are so brave?" Zhang Jian, who had been fighting around the embassy and consulate for a long time, was shocked that the Incheon New Army crushed the Korean New Army with just one round of attack.

"May I ask which commander is leading the troops in front? There is chaos in Seoul now. We are grateful for your assistance. Otherwise, our embassy and consulate would be in trouble today."

"Ji Zhi, is the hero in front Brother Ji Zhi?" Yuan Xiangcheng heard the voice of the person shouting in the distance sound familiar, so he shouted back.

"Weiting, is that you? Great! I thought you had died in this incident." Seeing that it was an acquaintance, Zhang Jian couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

Zhang Jian was originally stationed in Korea as Wu Changqing's aide. As they were both in Korea, Yuan Shikai and Zhang Jian became familiar with each other after a few visits.

Although Yuan Shikai knew that Zhang Jian was the famous industrial tycoon in later generations, at this moment Zhang Jian had not shown any industrial talent and was also the aide of his immediate superior Wu Changqing, so he did not try to poach him.

"Ji Zhi, didn't you follow Lord Wu back to Jinzhou to garrison? Why are you in Seoul now?" Yuan Xiangcheng was also quite puzzled. There was no record in history that Zhang Jian had experienced a coup in Seoul.

"Alas, Wei Ting, you don't know. After Lord Wu and I moved to Jinzhou, Lord Wu died in office within a month. With Lord Wu gone, there was no room for me to display my abilities in the Qing army, so I had to return to my hometown to study and take the exam. This time I returned to Seoul to pack my luggage and valuables, and I will take a boat back home soon." Zhang Jian explained the whole story helplessly.

"But who would have thought that such a misfortune would occur in Seoul."

"What? Lord Wu is dead?" Yuan Xiangcheng was also stunned when he heard the news. He vaguely remembered that Wu Changqing did not participate in the suppression of the Jiashen Coup, nor did he participate in the subsequent Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, but Yuan Xiangcheng really did not know the exact time of his death.

"Weiting, please accept my condolences. Lord Wu has helped and promoted both of us, and I know you feel bad." Zhang Jian saw that Yuan Xiangcheng had no expression and thought that he could not accept the news for a long time.

"But the most important thing now is to put down the rebellion in Seoul." Zhang Jian pointed to himself and the group of people behind him who had fought against the Korean rebels before.

"I was packing my luggage in my house today, about to say goodbye to my Korean friends, but suddenly I heard gunfire in the city. I then gathered all the Korean merchants and guards to defend myself."

Only then did Yuan Xiangcheng realize that this group of "friendly troops" were mostly seven or eight people in coarse linen shirts guarding one person in a silk robe, which was indeed a business style.

"Thanks to you, Weiting, for leading the team to attack us, otherwise we would have died here today." Zhang Jian still felt a little scared.

"Now that things have come to this, Brother Ji Zhi, there is no need to worry too much. Just follow me to the embassy." After understanding the situation clearly, Yuan Xiangcheng ordered his men to replenish the guns of these merchant guards and unify their command.

After a while, they arrived in front of the embassy and consulate. They saw that the building in front of the embassy was relatively intact, the gate was closed, and there were only some bullet marks on the wall. Yuan Xiangcheng was relieved.

It seems that the North Koreans are not crazy enough to attack foreign embassies. The people here are all valuable talents with Western education and my future revolutionary helpers. It would be a pity if one of them died.

"Brother Mei Shu, Ma Jianzhong's name! I have led my troops to clear out the surrounding Korean rebels. Open the door quickly!"

After a while, Ma Jianzhong, the German Mu Linde and a group of embassy assistants came out together to greet Yuan Xiangcheng and others.

It was obvious that the large group of troops behind Yuan Shikai were not the Qing troops stationed in Korea. At least they were much more elite than the Qing troops stationed in Korea.

However, Ma Jianzhong did not say much after hearing the hint from his cousin Ma Xiangbo.

However, the German Mulinde obviously did not have such a tacit understanding. Instead, he kept asking:

"Yuan, when did you acquire this army? I saw it clearly from upstairs just now. Your men wiped out the rebellious army with just a few rounds of attacks."

Yuan Xiangcheng laughed it off, and Ma Jianzhong took the opportunity to chime in: "Master Mu, the most important task right now is to quell the chaos in Seoul. Everything else is secondary."

Mu Linde also came to his senses and nodded repeatedly, and then several people discussed countermeasures together in the embassy or consulate.

"Weiting, do you know what caused the rebellion in this city?" Ma Jianzhong has been trapped in the embassy and consulate since the rebellion and has not gone out because he is quite confused.

"It is really the Korean Enlightenment Faction who have forgotten their roots and are obsessed with greed. They are trying to ally with Japan to expel the Qing Dynasty, which is why they have caused the current riots in Seoul." Yuan Xiangcheng told everyone the information he heard from Wang San.

"If so, won't the Japanese also get involved?" Zhang Jian couldn't help but worry.

"The Treaty of Chemulpo between Japan and Korea stipulates that Japan only has the right to establish a few guards at the legation, not the right to station a large-scale military presence," Ma Jianzhong, familiar with diplomatic regulations, immediately added, then gave Yuan Xiangcheng a deep look. "And the over a thousand elite troops under Weiting's command are more than enough to resist the Japanese military and police. Brother Ji Zhi, there is no need to worry."

"That's right. However, when the Japanese see this chaos, they will definitely take action. We still cannot let our guard down." Yuan Shikai said to everyone in the room.

"Brother Jizhi, courtesy name Zhang Jian, and Brother Mingqian, courtesy name Ma Xiangbo, you two will lead 500 new troops, centering around the embassy and consulate, to continuously eliminate the rebellious troops in Seoul."

"Master Ma Jianzhong, Master Mu, you two are familiar with diplomatic protocols. Immediately take 500 new recruits to the Russian embassy and consulate and kill the rebels along the streets. However, the key point is to prevent the Russians from participating in this rebellion of the Korean New Army."

After saying this, Yuan Xiangcheng was still a little worried, and warned Mu Linde:

"Lord Mu, I know that you have caused the displeasure of Lord Li Zhongtang because of your attempt to persuade Russia and Korea to sign a treaty of amity and commerce. However, if you have made any contribution to the suppression of this rebellion, I will submit a report praising your achievements to Lord Li."

"I will lead the remaining new troops to find the King of Korea." Yuan Xiangcheng assigned tasks to everyone, and took action immediately after making a decision.

"Weiting, even if the King of Korea falls into the hands of the rebels, he must not fall into the hands of the Japanese." Ma Jianzhong reminded him again, fearing that Yuan Xiangcheng did not know the importance of the King of Korea.

"If things get critical and necessary, the King of Korea can..." Ma Jianzhong made a gesture of wiping his neck.

Yuan Xiangcheng understood what he meant, and in an instant a large group of people poured out of the embassy.

At present, the four battalions of the Incheon New Army have a total of more than 2000 people, plus the Qing troops stationed in Korea who hurriedly escaped from the barracks.

Yuan Shikai had a total of more than 2500 troops, but nearly 500 of them were Qing troops who were of little use.

So they were allowed to join Zhang Jian and Ma Xiangbo in suppressing the rebellion together with Duan Qirui's battalion of 500 new troops.

The 500 new troops from the second battalion led by Sheng Fei, led by Ma Jianzhong and Mu Linde, rushed towards the Russian embassy.

Yuan Xiangcheng currently has more than 1000 available troops. Although not many, it is more than enough for the current Seoul.

"The Japanese only have a few dozen soldiers and police stationed around the embassy, ​​and including the Japanese ronin, there are no more than a hundred of them at most. I want to see how the Japanese will reap the benefits of this Jiashen Rebellion."

Soso group 9667!0L% Soso q group: *102

Yuan Xiangcheng looked at the sun rising to the center of the sky above his head, and couldn't help feeling full of energy. The advantage is in his hands.

Chapter 14 Go ahead, sir!

Inside the Japanese embassy, ​​Minister Shinichiro Takezoe listened to the riot outside the window and walked back and forth excitedly in the room.

"Mr. Fukuzawa, today the new Korean army will rise up and attack the Qing army and the Qing Chamber of Commerce as you planned. Your plan will succeed."

"Mr. Takezoe, this matter is not over yet. It's too early to say that it has been accomplished." Inside the embassy, ​​Fukuzawa Yukichi thought while holding the printed version of the book "Survival in Japan" in his hand.

"I wonder who this East Asian scholar is. He has narrated the history of Japan since the return of government so thoroughly, and has also written down several possible futures for Japan in this book. It is really admirable." The more Fukuzawa Yukichi read this book on survival in Japan, the more he felt that Japan's future was bleak.

The book clearly states that Japan is an island country with a small market and scarce resources.

Apart from port resources, there are almost no resources needed for industrialization, which means that everything has to be imported from abroad.

If there is no unexpected wealth, one way out is to follow the example of the Netherlands, which was the pinnacle of Japan's development. That is, relying on excellent ports and the vast East Asian market, to conduct commercial trade between Europe and the United States and East and Southeast Asia.

In this way, the 30 million Japanese citizens may be able to sleep peacefully for decades.

The second way out is that if Japan insists on dominating one side, it can only invade other countries, use Korea as a springboard, invade Manchuria and Mongolia, and seize China's resources as nourishment for Japan's industrialization.

However, this move will undoubtedly be met with strong counterattacks from North Korea and China. By then, the East Asian continent will be in flames everywhere, and even if Japan can win, it will only be a miserable victory.

Not only will it arouse the resentment of 350 million East Asian people, but it will also attract the Russians to move south to reap the benefits.

8 The third solution is to form an alliance with European and American countries to divide China. However, once Japan forms an alliance with European and American countries, its national strength will be too weak to divide China.

The essence of China's fertile land will not be handed over to Japan. This move will not only stir up anti-Japanese sentiment among the Chinese people, but the cost will not be proportional to the gain.

Fukuzawa Yukichi was shocked. If it was true as this East Asian nationalist said, how could Japan ever stand proudly and independently in the world?

After a moment's hesitation, Fukuzawa Yukichi spoke cautiously, "Takezoe-kun, in recent years, I've increasingly felt that of the three East Asian nations, Korea is small and weak, while China is large and frivolous. Both are not entirely ignorant of modern civilization, but they mostly turn a blind eye and remain unmoved, clinging to ancient customs and practices, no different from those of thousands of years ago."

"I observe that the Qing dynasty's so-called Westernization Movement, while not studying its principles, merely adopts its tools. Their understanding is superficial, leaving no hope for progress. I thought that Japan could seize this opportunity presented by the Qing dynasty's obsession with artifacts and catch up, potentially closing the gap in a decade or so."

3. "I never thought that there would be such a person with long-term thinking in the Qing Dynasty. If this person were to be in the center of the Qing Dynasty, then my great Japan would be in danger!"

He thought, "Mr. Fukuzawa is wrong. If the Qing Dynasty could make use of such talents, how could the capital fall and the emperor flee to Rehe and die of fear?" Takezoe Shinichiro did not take Fukuzawa Yukichi's worries to heart. Instead, he narrated the embarrassing stories of Emperor Xianfeng with a condescending attitude.

"You are aware that the book Haiguo Tuzhi by Wei Yuan of the Qing Dynasty, which introduces the geography, customs and people of all countries in the world, was banned and burned in the Qing Dynasty. It was even strictly forbidden for the people to print and sell this book privately." Takezoe Shinichiro seemed to sigh for Wei Yuan, with a helpless expression on his face.

"The Qing emperor was born a wild man from the White Mountains and Black Waters of Manchuria, and seized power by chance. For hundreds of years, he feared and used the Han people, and could not trust Han officials. And most of the Manchu officials were incompetent and idle."

Yue: "In today's Qing Dynasty, as long as the Manchu nobles are not eliminated, there is no hope for the country to rise again."

Fei Fuze Yukichi nodded, as if he had put aside his worries.

"As Mr. Taketomi said, the Qing Dynasty's stubborn illness cannot be cured by one person or one book. It has long been incurable, and there is no need to worry about the emergence of new talents."

"I heard that the Empress Dowager Cixi, who is in power in the Qing Dynasty, recently replaced all the ministers at the Central Government. She dismissed the virtuous Sixth Prince and replaced him with a bunch of incompetent and greedy people."

"Now the south is still fighting with the French, and she is busy celebrating her 50th birthday? Hahahaha, how can the Qing Dynasty not decline with such a ruler?" Takezoe Shinichiro laughed out loud as if he thought of something happy.

When Fukuzawa Yukichi heard this, he finally put his mind at ease.

The current Qing rulers cannot tolerate even the promising people of the same clan, and take the opportunity to dismiss them.

The country was still at war, but the ruler was only concerned with building a garden for himself and selecting an opera troupe.

Such a country, such a government.

How can we compare with the prosperous, wise and powerful Emperor Meiji?

The laughter had not yet ended when the embassy door was clanged.

"Mr. Fukuzawa, the imperial edict has been delivered to us. We ask our Japanese friends to send troops as soon as possible to resist the Qing invasion."

It turned out that Park Yong-hyo finally arrived at the Japanese embassy with a yellow cloth with the words "Japanese Envoy Comes to Wei" written on it.

Seeing one of the five coup makers coming, Takezoe Shinichiro quickly stopped grinning and asked Park Yong-hyo.

"Where is the king now? Why is there only a brief imperial edict? Didn't we previously discuss bringing the king to our embassy?"

Park Yong-hyo was also cautious and did not tell everything to the two people in front of him.

"Takezoe-kun, the Qing army has entered the city. The journey is long, and I am afraid that the king may cause trouble along the way, so I have moved him to a safe palace. Now, all you need is for you to send troops to escort him, and he will be able to see my king."

Fukuzawa Yukichi frowned when he heard this, and hesitated whether to send someone to pick up the King of Korea.

　After all, it was only the Korean rebellion at the moment. Even if the Qing Dynasty inquired about it, it could say that it had nothing to do with Japan. At most, some weapons had been shipped to the Koreans in advance.

But which Western country has not done such a thing as sending guns and ammunition to the enemy's rebel army?

Even if Japanese ronin took the opportunity to cause chaos, they can claim that it was a personal act and had nothing to do with the government. After all, you see, there are also Koreans who take advantage of the situation.

It wouldn't be a big problem to put this on the international stage for public opinion from all countries.

But if they dispatched the Japanese military and police in the embassy right now, found the King of Korea and brought him back successfully, it would be fine. But if they failed to find him and had to fight with the Qing army, that would be disastrous.

Just as Fukuzawa Yukichi and Takezoe Shinichiro were hesitating, Park Yong-hyo, who was standing aside, became a little anxious as he saw their thoughtful expressions.

It was still early morning when he led his troops in rebellion. At that time, the new Korean army was like a deserted place in the city, and there was no organized armed force in the city to stop them.

But now the sun was setting, and on the way from the palace to the embassy, ​​we received news from time to time that the new army in a certain place had been defeated by the Qing army again.

If the Japanese don’t send troops to take the king away.

All of them are finished!

"Don't hesitate, do it, sir!" Park Yong-hyo took a step forward and said sincerely to the two people in front of him.