1890 King of Southeast Asia

Prince Qing was a little scared. Nanhua was completely different this time. In the past, Nanhua treated Qing Empire mainly through negotiation, which could be called mutually beneficial.

This time, Nanhua only gave an ultimatum. Qing Empire did not respond, so it directly started fighting, just like Nanhua fought Japan, Portugal, and Spain.

Prince Qing saw more clearly than Zaifeng. Qing Empire could not beat anyone if it was picked out alone. It was just "using barbarians to control barbarians", letting foreigners balance foreigners, and at most paying some money.

On August 3, Prince Qing won Zaifeng's "support" with his qualifications and prestige. (Seizing power)

On August 3, the Qing Empire government appointed Tang Shaochuan as the plenipotentiary minister, bypassing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to negotiate with Nanhua.

At the same time, it ordered the Beiyang Third Town (Zhili) and the Fourth Town (Shanhaiguan) to leave their garrisons, move south, and build fortifications.

The 15th and 16th towns filled the defense gap after the Beiyang was transferred away - Zaixun's plan of killing two birds with one stone, a plan that even a child could see.

Beiyang was actively mobilizing, and when Zaixun's plan came out, many Beiyang officials were afraid that the cunning rabbit would die and the running dog would be cooked. Until the end of the war, the 4th town only sent out one team (company).

The 3rd town gave up its defense zone.

…………

On August 5, the Nanhua artillery arrived at the front line, and the Dengzhou defenders surrendered. On the afternoon of the same day, the Cangzhou defenders were defeated and fled the city.

On August 8, after resting and replenishing supplies, the two armies surrounded Wuding Prefecture. At this time, the news had already spread, and the Wuding Prefecture defenders fled.

After that, Nanhua temporarily stopped the attack, not because the negotiations began, but because the troops were limited and the Qing Empire's new army was mobilizing, and they could no longer be dispersed.

"Please!" The secretary pushed open the door and motioned Tang Shaochuan to go in.

In the room, Lin Pingzhi was reading the Romance of the Three Kingdoms leisurely. When he saw Tang Shaochuan coming in, he gave him a look and motioned him to sit down.

"Lord Lin, our brotherly alliance has come to this point today, which is really unbearable. Is there any way to shake hands and make peace?" Tang Shaochuan suppressed his emotions and sat down.

Bang!

Lin Pingzhi closed the book.

"Lord Tang, how many times have we cooperated? Let me count... Nanhua has helped you to avoid disaster four or five times, right?" Lin Pingzhi stood up and looked down at Tang Shaochuan.

"Do you think this is what you should do? Do you think we can be bullied just because we are easy to talk to?"

"I'm really sorry, this matter is Zaixun..." Tang Shaochuan wanted to explain.

"Don't use Zaixun to evade me, is it just a problem of Zaixun?" Lin Pingzhi sat back in the chair and looked at Tang Shaochuan arrogantly.

"From the time Zaixun did something stupid until today, Nanhua's factory in Qing Empire has been harassed more than a dozen times, attacked nearly a hundred times, and suffered losses of up to one million. Are all these caused by Zaixun? I don't believe it."

Tang Shaochuan opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

"Special Envoy Tang, why are you here today? Declare war? Cease-fire?" Lin Pingzhi looked at the silent Tang Shaochuan.

"Special Envoy Lin, I'm here today for the friendship and peace between the two countries." Tang Shaochuan sighed and said in a low voice.

"Oh? Did your country agree with the opinions I put forward before the war?" Lin Pingzhi picked up the teacup with a smile.

"This..." Tang Shaochuan looked at Lin Pingzhi, his face became more and more ugly.

"Forget it, tell me your conditions? Don't be too outrageous, we can't let our army come here in vain, right?" Lin Pingzhi felt a little bored.

It's better to solve this matter as soon as possible and promote the implementation of the industrial plan. I heard that the industrial plan involves a larger plan.

He is not stupid. He has a guess that the plan that is bigger than controlling the Qing Empire's industry is still related to the Qing Empire, but he can't say it.

"We will compensate your country for all losses in this incident, severely punish the culprit who planned this incident, apologize to your country, and give your country more convenience." Tang Shaochuan tried vaguely.

"Is the culprit Zaixun?" Lin Pingzhi knocked on the table.

"...Prince Ning, as one of the main participants, will get the punishment he deserves, but considering that he is a noble relative of our country, he should enjoy the treatment that matches his status. We will compensate according to international practice." Tang Shaochuan said.

"Tsk~~" Lin Pingzhi shook his head.

At this time, the Qing Empire still holds Zaixun. Sure enough, the deterrence is not enough. It's time to take drastic measures, but it's not too late now.

"Special Envoy Tang, our attitude is very clear. Either we deal with Zaixun, at least publicly try him and imprison him; or we pay 300 million taels of silver in compensation according to the contract, and we will return Hanyeping to your country."

"There is no third or middle option." Lin Pingzhi served tea, but did not drink it. He just looked at Tang Shaochuan quietly.

The so-called international practice of treatment in accordance with status, for the prince, can be used to compensate for his crimes with wealth - this works in every country now.

If it is handled according to international practice, Zaixun will pay his "personal property" - tens of thousands of pounds or even less, and this matter will be justified.

After Tang Shaochuan left, Lin Pingzhi had no mood to read the book. He wanted to convey the attitude of the Qing Empire back.

...

"Is that so? My mistake was too generous to the Qing Empire." Liu Yiming put the telegram on the table, raised his head and said to Lin Anmin.

"The Qing Empire is too... ignorant. No one would have thought that such a large... and still shaky empire full of contradictions would let a man in his twenties serve as regent." Lin Anmin helped Liu Yiming find excuses.

These reasons were completely valid, but they did not hold water in Liu Yiming's case.

After all, Liu Yiming could never forget the last emperor and his father, the regent, and a stupid woman who thought she was the second witch.

It shouldn't be strange for such a combination to do something weird, right?

"I originally thought that it would not be too big to irritate the British. It would be better to teach the Qing Empire a lesson, making the British uncomfortable but unable to say it, and seek a stronghold by the way."

"But now it seems that the Qing Empire has never figured out the situation and feels good about itself."

"I want to expand the scale of the war and take Tianjin. What obstacles are there?" Liu Yiming looked at Lin Anmin.

"As a core city in the north, Britain, the Russian Empire, Japan, and the United States may intervene."

"Britain is the easiest to deal with. After taking over Tianjin, we will establish a joint management, and we will manage them and participate in supervision. Now Britain has insufficient experience, so it is easy to solve."

"The greedy Tsar may worry that we will infiltrate the north. Find the French as an intermediary and sign a contract."

"As long as no one takes the lead, the United States will not take the lead, but it may provoke the Japanese to take the lead."

"Japan... Japan has opened many gyms in Tianjin and is gradually infiltrating. If we take action, they will not sit idly by, and it will be difficult for us to drive them out."

As a core city in the north, Tianjin's importance at this time is basically the same as that of Shanghai later, and it is a relatively sensitive city.

Fortunately, it is located in the north and is relatively conservative. Western forces have only infiltrated and have not yet controlled it.

"Unfortunately, Kitakyushu has been burned once, and it would be a bit deliberate to burn it again." Liu Yiming knocked on the table.

The final trouble turned out to be the Japanese, who are specifically disgusting.

"Japan is seeking to produce its own navy and wants to buy a mine from the Qing Empire to develop heavy industry. A lot of internal information of Hanyeping has also been plundered." Lin Anmin said.

"There is also rice riots. Unfortunately, Japan is not fighting a foreign war now. The internal repression is too strong. Even if the rice price fluctuates like this, there is no large-scale resistance." Liu Yiming said regretfully.

Nanhua has been constantly impacting the international rice market recently. The price of rice fluctuates greatly. It is estimated that before the harvest period, more than 100,000 tenants in Japan have gone bankrupt.

Yes, Japan, which has completed the Meiji Restoration, still has a basic agricultural relationship based on the tenant system. The land rent is similar to that of the black-hearted landlords in the Qing Empire, 30% to 70%.

Who is 7? Haha...

Japan's agricultural production is different from the self-sufficiency of the Qing Empire. Their agriculture is gradually integrating into the market and is greatly affected by market fluctuations. If there are huge fluctuations in food prices, it is normal for poor people to go bankrupt.

"Okay, let's ask the Japanese government why they stole Nanhua's property and make it known to everyone, so that they don't have so much energy to care about Tianjin.

After the fait accompli, it will be too late for them to do anything." Liu Yiming waved his hand.

Just when Lin Anmin was about to leave, Liu Yiming picked up the telegram sent by Lin Pingzhi again.

"By the way, tell the Qing Empire that since they have chosen the war, it is not up to them to decide when it ends. I hope he will be more sensible. Now is not the time." Liu Yiming shook his head with regret.

...

In the afternoon, Liu Yiming convened a high-level military meeting, and senior generals from the navy, army and air force were all present.

"I plan to expand the scale of the war, extend the front line further north, and take Tianjin. Considering the foreign interference, how sure are you? What is the cost?" Liu Yiming raised the topic.

"Tianjin?"

"It's a good place with convenient transportation, but there are artillery batteries, so landing is a bit troublesome."

"Not only that, there are several divisions around, all of which are new troops with good equipment. If you want to maintain your advantage, you have to use heavy equipment, so you have to take over the dock, otherwise you can't unload."

"Foreign interference is mainly from the Japanese, and Britain and France are out of reach. As for the Japanese, the navy can blockade the Bohai Strait. Unless there is a war, a few destroyers will be enough."

"Ah, right, right, right..."

As soon as Liu Yiming said this, a group of officers discussed, and only the air force officers were alone.

The air force cannot be exposed for the time being, so it cannot participate in foreign operations.

It will take five or six years for the air force to be officially included in the battle. Five or six years! This time is enough to open up a generation gap.

After discussing for about half an hour, the navy and army officers made a simple report based on the Beiyang Army's equipment.

"If the Beiyang Navy remains closed, we will have to face at most 70,000 to 80,000 new troops, 144 to 180 cannons, and 64 coastal defense guns."

"The initial combat plan is that the temporary detachment will continue to operate in Shandong, try to involve more troops, and at the same time replenish military vehicles to improve mobility.

Land another mobile division in the north to disrupt the enemy's layout and affect the enemy's judgment ability, withdraw the third town stationed in Zhili, and then the mobile forces in the north and south will attack, and the navy's firepower will cover the beach landing.

As long as the logistics supply is sufficient, the casualties are expected to be within an acceptable range, but the consumption may be not small, after all, it is an ocean-going operation."

After Xie Hui finished speaking, he looked at Liu Yiming.

"In this case, make a detailed combat plan as soon as possible, handle the preparations as soon as possible, and plan the defense of Tianjin after the war."

"Meeting adjourned!"

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