Super Dictator

The fact that the Chinese army briefly occupied Jinzhou did not cause much of a stir in China and Japan. Except for high-level officials, the information was concealed from ordinary people.

The reason why the Chinese side concealed the news was because they were afraid that if the public learned about it, it would spark a new round of anti-Japanese fervor, which would affect the court's peace talks.

It is easier to understand why Japan concealed this matter. The Japanese base camp even asked the First Division to conceal the news of Yamachi Genji's suicide.

While Ito Hirobumi was negotiating with Li Hongzhang, the Japanese base camp dispatched troops to the Penghu Islands in accordance with the original plan.

On March 24, Wei Jichen led the Provisional Allied Forces to secretly disappear from Jinzhou and withdraw to Gaiping.

On the same day, the Japanese Penghu detachment, with the cooperation of the Japanese combined fleet, landed at Liangwen Port. By the next day, it had completely occupied the Penghu Islands. The Penghu Office was renamed the Penghu Civil Affairs Office, with Rear Admiral Tanaka Tsunasa as the office. long.

At Chunfan Tower, China did not receive any telegrams about Wei Jichen's occupation of Jinzhou. These telegrams were secretly intercepted by the Japanese.

This time, after learning that Wei Jichen had led his troops to escape, Mutsu Munemitsu handed the telegram from the Prime Minister's Office to Li Hongzhang.

"Wei Zijie actually led the army to regain Jinzhou." Li Hongzhang was overjoyed and his expression improved a lot. However, when he saw the Japanese negotiators opposite him sitting firmly on Mount Tai, Li Hongzhang couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart. How could the Japanese have such good intentions? Send this telegram to me? It seems that things have changed again later.

When Li Hongzhang looked at the date of the telegram, it turned out to be the telegram from the previous three days. He couldn't help but put the telegram on the table angrily.

Ito Hirobumi did not take it for granted and said with a smile: "Your country's Wei Jichen has brought us a lot of trouble. He even took advantage of the empire's lack of troops in Jinzhou to win the city with a hard fight. It's a pity that the empire has to wait until it concentrates its troops to think about it." When they wanted to surround him, Wei Jichen ran away in panic like a mouse. "

Li Hongzhang confronted him and said: "Since Wei Jichen was able to recover Jinzhou City for the first time, he can also recover it for the second time."

Mutsu Munemitsu sneered: "I don't know if Wei Jichen has the guts to attack Jinzhou again, but the imperial troops have already occupied Penghu."

When Mutsu Munemitsu brought up the matter in Taiwan, Li Hongzhang was startled, and then he realized that it turned out that the other party had been unwilling to cease the war, and it was because of Taiwan's intentions. No, we can't let them have a peep at Taiwan.

Li Hongzhang took a sip of tea, rolled his eyes, and said softly: "When your minister mentioned Penghu, he must have the intention to occupy our country, Taiwan. This may be the reason for his unwillingness to cease the war. However, Taiwan and Hong Kong are neighbors. It is said that the British do not May others take over Taiwan.”

Li Hongzhang did not explain China's determination to not allow others to separate Taiwan, but he pulled the United Kingdom into a trap.

Ito Hirobumi said unhurriedly: "The UK has nothing to do with this matter. If your country gives Taiwan to other countries, other countries will definitely accept it."

Ito's wolfish ambitions were fully exposed, and Wu Tingfang interrupted: "Taiwan has been established as a province and cannot be given to other countries."

Li Hongzhang nodded and said: "Twenty years ago, your minister Okubo once told me that China and Japan are neighbors, and war is like two children fighting. They can make peace in an instant, and they are even better friends than before."

"Thirty years ago Hedong, thirty years Hexi. The current situation is different. Zhongtang needs to figure it out. Now I can take any place in your country's territory. Which country can refuse?"

Li Hongzhang was so angry that he was speechless by Ito's arrogant words.

Ito Hirobumi then changed the topic and said unhurriedly: "Actually, if your country wants to have a ceasefire, it's okay to negotiate again."

When Li Hongzhang heard his words, he immediately forgot about the atmosphere and quickly asked: "What are the conditions?"

Li Hongzhang was afraid that Japan would ask the Chinese army to give him Haicheng, Dagu, and Tianjin for free before agreeing to a ceasefire.

In fact, Ito Hirobumi had already communicated with the base camp via telegram, and Kawakami Soroku had convinced the generals of the base camp to agree to a truce on the front line. At that time, Kawakami Soroku showed Wei Jichen's record: the three brigade commanders Nogi Nogi Nogi, Tachimi Naofumi, and Oshima Hisanao were killed by Wei Jichen. At the hands of Wei Jichen, the two division commanders Katsura Taro and Yamachi Motoharu were defeated successively, and countless regiment captains died at the hands of Wei Zijun.

The Japanese had already found out that Katsura Taro was captured, but Wei Jichen played a trick and spread false news that Katsura Taro was captured because he attempted suicide and was rescued by himself in time. This way, if Katsura Taro returns to Japan in the future, he will be less punished. A lot of criticism is conducive to his continued development in Japan.

Kawakami Soroku analyzed the situation in Liaodong and found that his side did not have the upper hand. If the fight continued, Wei Jichen might take the opportunity to regain some areas. Therefore, he believed that the Liaodong and Shandong theaters could cease the war, but the war in Taiwan could continue. .

Seeing Li Hongzhang's anxious look, Ito Hirobumi first took a sip of tea, and then calmly said in the face of the other party's eager eyes: "Shandong Peninsula and Liaodong Peninsula can be divided into armistice lines based on the actual occupied areas of both sides, but Taiwan That's a different matter. In addition, after the armistice, our army's military expenses should be paid by your country."

Ito Hirobumi enjoys this feeling of controlling the overall situation. Li Hongzhang is like a puppet in his hands. He can control his emotions and emotions by pulling and moving them.

"Taiwan." Li Hongzhang pondered for a moment. Now the Japanese have only occupied the Penghu Islands and have not invaded Taiwan itself. Li Hongzhang still wants to fight for it.

However, Ito Hirobumi pressed forward and said, "If your minister does not agree to the above conditions, we will discuss it another day."

After saying that, Ito Hirobumi prepared to leave.

Li Hongzhang panicked and said repeatedly: "Why is your minister so anxious? Let's discuss it later."

Ito Hirobumi shook his head and said seriously: "This is the greatest concession of the empire. There is no need for your country to hand over our country, Taku and three other places as hostage. Could it be that your country hopes to continue the war?"

Li Hongzhang was left speechless by Ito, and sighed secretly in his heart. This should be the best ceasefire clause that can be obtained. Compared with the last time, it is already a world of difference. I believe that even the Prime Minister's Yamen Will also agree.

"Okay, you and I will use the actual fighting line as the ceasefire line. As for the ceasefire period?" Li Hongzhang asked while the iron was hot.

Mutsu Munemitsu took out the armistice clauses from the folder and said with a smile: "From the date of signing the armistice agreement, the armistice will last for three weeks. After the expiration, there is no need to notify each other. If the peace talks break down during the armistice period, this armistice agreement will also Abort."

The Japanese side is forcing the Chinese side to finalize the collegial terms within three weeks, otherwise the two sides will be able to take action again after the expiration of the term.

Seeing that these were acceptable, Li Hongzhang said nothing more and told the Chinese representatives to sign an armistice agreement with Japan after reading it.

Ito Hirobumi was also well prepared, and it didn’t take long for representatives from both parties to sign the pledge.

Li Hongzhang said impatiently: "Now that the armistice agreement has been signed, I am willing to start discussions on the peace terms tomorrow."

Japan did not refuse, and the two sides agreed to continue peace negotiations here tomorrow.

After Li Hongzhang returned to his place, he telegraphed this "happy event" to the Prime Minister's Yamen through the Japanese side.

The Japanese Sixth and others in the Prime Minister's Office were relieved to see that the Japanese were finally willing to cease fire and negotiate. On the one hand, they reported to Cixi and Guangxu, and on the other hand, they notified all the troops on the front line, asking Liu Kunyi, Song Qing and others to restrain the soldiers and stop fighting. Unprovoked provocation.

Gaiping City Government Office Hall.

All the generals of the three armies have arrived, Song Qing is sitting at the front, and the other generals are arranged on both sides.

Song Qing first read the telegram sent from the Air Force Department, and then said with a smile: "Since China and Japan have ceased war and begun peace negotiations, on the one hand we must not cause trouble during this truce period, on the other hand we must be vigilant and do our best. Be prepared to fight again and go to the battlefield at any time if the peace talks break down."

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Wei Jichen was silent.

Because he knew that after this armistice, if there was no accident, there would be no possibility of fighting again, but when he thought of the content of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Wei Jichen felt like something was stuck in his throat.

Not to mention other things, just for the cession of the Liaodong Peninsula, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, the compensation is as high as 300 million taels, which is heartbreaking.

He probably won't sign such a harsh treaty this time. After all, he did a few things in Liaodong and won a few battles. If Li Hongzhang still signs a treaty that is exactly the same as the original history, then nothing has changed for him.

Isn't it that I have been busy for a long time in vain? Wei Jichen thought with some uncertainty in his heart.

Then I thought: Don't worry, the treaty will be known sooner or later anyway. It's just that in the original history, Japan agreed to sign the armistice agreement because Li Hongzhang was assassinated by a Japanese assassin. Japan was afraid of interference from other powers, so it agreed to sign it.

This time I didn't hear about Li Hongzhang's assassination, and the two sides had already signed an armistice agreement. It seems that I have changed some history.

Thinking of this, Wei Jichen couldn't help but have more confidence in the upcoming peace treaty. He hoped that Li Hongzhang could get better conditions. Although the current government is the Qing government, the wool comes from the sheep, and the compensation will eventually fall to Needless to say, the ceding of land on the heads of the common people has a far-reaching impact.

Seeing that Wei Jichen was unhappy, Song Qing thought he was unhappy, so he couldn't help but persuade him: "Zijie, I know you are unwilling to do so. It's all due to my carelessness. If my army hadn't been attacked by the Japanese in Fuzhou City, we wouldn't have been able to do it." As for asking you to withdraw troops from Jinzhou, maybe once the armistice agreement is signed, Jinzhou will be in our hands. "

Song Qing was too wishful thinking. Wei Jichen's acquisition of Jinzhou was like a nail driven into the heart of the Japanese. If they didn't pull it out, would they agree to a truce?

"Song Shuai said that originally it was because I mobilized the elite of the army that the army was slightly weak and the Japanese took advantage of it. The reason why the boy kept silent is because the current situation in Liaodong is not too corrupt. However, the imperial court was panic-stricken and eager to seek peace, fearing that the Japanese lions would open their mouths. "Wei Jichen did not have any scruples and directly spoke his mind.

Song Qing sighed, stroking his beard and said: "Although the situation in Liaodong is okay, the battlefield in Shandong is not so good. Besides, there are only a few ships left in the Beiyang Navy. The Japanese fleet can transport troops to Dagukou at any time, and then attack Directly targeting Tianjin, the Zhili region, and even the capital, it is understandable that the court would be anxious."

At this time, not to mention Song Qing, even Li Hongzhang probably did not expect that the conditions for peace talks would be so harsh and the Japanese would be so greedy.

Because the previous treaties signed with other countries, such as the "Treaty of Nanjing", only opened a few trading ports. The great powers hoped to make money through trade and did not cede territory. As for compensation, the cost of sending troops was slightly higher, but "Mars" The Japanese are just like hungry wolves, and they just want to make money through war. This is fundamentally different, and the terms listed at the end are naturally ten thousand times more vicious.

Forget it, why are you thinking so much now? Let's wait until the Treaty of Shimonoseki comes out before making plans. Wei Jichen shook his head to eliminate the distracting thoughts.