On December 21, 1903, behind an inconspicuous snow-capped mountain on the Sino-Indian borderA large group of British soldiers crossed the boundary pillar and crossed the Indian line into Chinese territory.
A few days later, ** under the city of Gyantse,Dozens of British artillery pieces were spewing fire at the city gates, and then a large group of British horses rushed into the blown up city gates. In December 1903, Britain sent troops across the Sino-Indian border to launch an armed invasion of **. As early as the eighties of the nineteenth century, the expansion of power was carried out until, and in 1900, the thirteenth of the religious leaders, who colluded with each other, attempted to monopolize it. Britain's move angered, and the Tsar proposed to Britain: For Britain's move, he thinks it is an obstacle to the overall situation, and may try to protect his power in **". Britain, of course, ignored ** and continued to march to Lhasa after occupying Gyantse, and relations between Britain and Russia immediately became tense.
And at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, the ministers of the Meiji Emperor argued endlessly over the interests of Japan and the three eastern provinces of China. Japan's Meiji Emperor is talking with Prime Minister Katsura Taro. Katsura Taro, Prime Minister of Japan, enjoys a high reputation at home and abroad for his outstanding leadership and political wisdom.
Mujin: "Katsura Taro, what do you have to do?" ”
Katsura Taro: "Your Majesty the Emperor, if you want to dominate the three provinces of Manchuria in the Qing Dynasty, only by declaring war on the Japanese Empire can we ensure the interests of the Japanese Empire in Manchuria." ”
Muren: "Katsura Taro, you said that ** wants to dominate Manchuria, is there any evidence?" ”
Katsura Taro: "The minister has evidence, and it's true. ** In April 1902, an agreement was signed with the Qing to withdraw the troops that had occupied Manchuria in 1900. ** Promised to withdraw troops in three batches from the time of signing. The interval between each session is half a year. In September 1902, ** withdrew the troops southwest of Shengjing according to the agreement, but when the second withdrawal period expired in April 1903, ** not only did not comply with the agreement to withdraw Shengjing and the troops in Jilin and other places, but also made a seven-point demand to the Qing State as a precondition for the withdrawal. These demands actually demanded that the Qing recognize the three eastern provinces and that Mongolia become an exclusive sphere of influence in order to realize the attempt to establish a 'Yellow Russia'. ”
Muren: "You're right. Katsura Taro, if Japan and Russia go to war, what will be the attitude of Britain, the United States, and the Qing Dynasty? ”
Katsura Taro: "Please rest assured that Japan and Britain formulated the 'Japan-Britain Alliance Treaty' in 1902 specifically for **, and Japan and Britain and even the United States are allies. As for the Qing State, there is no problem, the minister even heard that some people in the Qing State advocated that when Japan and Russia went to war, send troops to help Japan fight together, and the Qing State has now broken out in many provinces and regions to resist Russia, and the contradictions between the Qing State and ** have already intensified. ”
Mujin: "Katsura Taro, in the 28th year of the Meiji era, ** united Germany and France to sail the fleet into the Sea of Japan, forcing me to return Liaodong to the Qing State, and the shame of the three countries' interference in returning Liao is now time to reckoning. I approve your use of troops in Manchuria at a time to be determined by the generals. As for the Qing State's request to enter the war, it cannot be agreed, as long as the Qing State strictly maintains the middle level. ”
Katsura Taro: "The minister obeys."
In the face of the situation of domestic and foreign difficulties, Qing ** has been powerless, like a lion on the African savannah that was besieged by hyenas and fell, dying. Renshou Hall of the Summer Palace in BeijingCixi was convening Rong Lu, the chief minister of military aircraft, and Yuan Shikai, the minister of Beiyang, to discuss the matter.
Rong Lu: "Show Lafayette, ** refuse to withdraw troops in the three eastern provinces, causing strong dissatisfaction in Japan, Japan and Russia are afraid of war, Weichen received some invitations to say that some ** want to unite Japan to fight against Russia, in order to recover the power of the three eastern provinces, whether to send troops to fight Russia please Lafayette decide." ”
Cixi: "Yuan Aiqing, what is your opinion?" ”
Yuan Shikai: "Lafayette, Weichen thinks that when the two strong forces are fighting, they should be careful to stay outside the situation for safety, even so, there must be a heavy fortification, and carefully examine the form, briefly fortify, this must have at least 60,000 people, with 10,000 people to defend the Beijing Division, with 50,000 people to distribute the border points, Shu can be shielded. But Weichen only has 20,000 troops in his hands, and there is no source of salary. At the time of the First Sino-Japanese War, there were no less than 200,000 troops inside and outside the Guan, and they were still worried about the soldiers. Lafayette, please, take a look. ”
Cixi: "Zhuangzi said: 'Those who are heavy on the outside are clumsy on the inside', the imperial court does not have the power to participate in the game between Japan and Russia now, and can only watch chess, do you understand?" ”
Rong Lu and Yuan Shikai knelt down and said, "Weichen obeys the order." ”
**In the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, the lights are bright, and Nicholas II reclines down next to his beloved hound with a red wine glassDeliberations with the courtiers.
Nikolai: "Minister of the Interior, the Emperor would like to hear your views on the situation in the country. ”
Previ, ** Minister of the Interior.
Minister of the Interior Plevy: "Your Majesty, the situation in the country is not good, since 1900 there has been a serious economic crisis in our country, the workers of the factories are often on strike, and in order to avoid a revolution in the country, we need a small but victorious war." Several ministers laughed.
Your Majesty, I think it would be foolish to start a war with a foreign country to divert the attention of the domestic **, although Japan and Britain have signed an alliance treaty against the United Kingdom, but our country can also form an alliance with France to counter Japan, and there is no need to solve the problem with war, even a small war. After the Chancellor of the Exchequer Witte finished speaking, he glared at Previ.
Witt, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Previ was anxious: "Your Majesty, ** was not established by diplomats, but by force. The solution of the Far Eastern question is no exception, not with the pen and mouth of a diplomat, but with a bayonet! ”
Nikolai: "Speaking of foreign affairs, does the Minister of the Interior also listen to the Foreign Secretary's opinion?" ”
Ramsdorf, ** Foreign Secretary.
Foreign Secretary Ramsdorf: "Your Majesty, I have heard that the Japanese Empire has shown signs of hostility. As early as 1900, when the minister and the Qing state signed a separate Russian-Chinese treaty, the Japanese minister in Russia sent a direct note to the minister saying that the Russian-Chinese treaty under negotiation violated China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and also infringed on certain treaty powers of other powers. If China had not issued a timely notice not to conclude a separate agreement with China. Then Japan will not hesitate to go to war with us! Now everything is clear that negotiations with Japan must not be relied upon to avoid disputes. ”
Nikolai nodded: "When the Foreign Secretary talks about the war, what does the Minister of War think?" ”
Kuropatkin, Minister of War.
War Minister Kurobatkin: "My opinion is very simple, Japan is an island country that cannot be made into a climate, and although it won the war between Japan and China in 1894, its national strength and military strength are far from being comparable to those of the world powers. The Japanese Army, in addition to the garrison in Taiwan; In its homeland, 13 divisions and 1 railway brigade were deployed, 2 cavalry brigades and 2 artillery brigades were newly formed, a battalion of infantry was stationed in Korea, 7 infantry companies and 1 cavalry platoon were stationed in North Manchuria, and the total strength of the Japanese army was 156 infantry battalions, 54 cavalry companies, 106 artillery companies and 630 artillery pieces, 38 engineering companies, and only about 540,000 people including reservists. And we have a world-class army with a total strength 10 times that of the Japanese army, reaching 5 million people. Specifically, there are 1,740 infantry battalions, 1,085 cavalry battalions, 700 artillery battalions, and 220 engineer companies. In addition, there are 35 brigades of the border guards, several regiments of the militia and 340 battalions of infantry of the National Guard. I dare to assert that once the war starts, the Russian army will win, and the Japanese army will die! ”
Nikolai: "My chamberlain, tell the ministers about the navy. ”
Rozhdestwinsky, head of the Naval Command Department, attendant general. ”
Rozhdestwinsky, head of the Naval Command Department: "In terms of the navy, although our ** navy is not as good as the British Armada, it is still more than enough to deal with Japan. The Pacific Fleet deployed in the Far East has 7 battleships, 14 cruisers, 7 gunboats, 2 mine gunboats, 18 destroyers, and 15 torpedo boats, with a total tonnage of 190,000 tons, and 14 large ships that can be converted into cruisers. The Baltic Fleet, which is ready to rush to the aid of the Far East, has 11 battleships, 21 cruisers, and dozens of destroyers and torpedo boats, with a total tonnage of 280,000 tons.
The strength of the Japanese Combined Fleet was: 6 battleships, 18 cruisers, plus destroyers, torpedo boats and other ships, a total of 152 ships, with a total tonnage of more than 230,000 tons. It is no exaggeration to say that the Navy's Pacific Fleet, together with the Baltic Fleet, which can participate in the support, will completely sink Japan's combined fleet in the Sea of Japan. Of course, it would be a great honor for me if His Majesty the Tsar asked me to lead the fleet on the expedition! The crowd laughed.
Nikolai laughed, "Japan is a small island country, how can it be compared to my strong ** across the Eurasian continent." Whether it is the number of people, the strength of the army or the tonnage of the sea, we have an absolute advantage. I said to Kaiser Wilhelm II the other day that war would not happen in 1904 because ** was not ready. The ministers laughed.
Tevey: "Your Majesty, rash words and contempt for opponents are short-sighted behaviors. ”
Nikolai: "Well, in order to save some face for the daring and loyal minister, Mr. Werther, the Foreign Secretary may begin negotiations with Japan on the Far East and intensify negotiations on an alliance with France; In order to give a little encouragement to the generals who dared to use war to achieve the highest national interests, the emperor decided to remove Witte from his post. Aleksayev was appointed Governor-General of the Far East, and his duties were to be responsible for the military and political affairs of the region east of Lake Baikal and to have full authority over foreign affairs with China, Japan, and Korea. ”
Kurobatkin shrugged at Werther, who smiled in return.
A few days later, China Lushun mouth** The Pacific Fleet sailed out of the tiger's tail and set up a formation on the sea. Dozens of large and small ships fired a salvo of artillery, and a wave of explosion rose on the sea.