The six-dimensional pictures of emperors of all dynasties were exposed, and the ancestors panicked

Chapter 801 The people thought the Qing Dynasty had won!

Wu Zhou.

Wu Zetian looked at the sky, her fingers tapping the armrest subconsciously, and said in an inexplicable tone:
"This is the third time..."

The two quails beside him hadn't reacted yet.

Shangguan Wan'er whispered softly:

"Yes, including the Sino-Japanese War, there have been three large-scale battles between China and Japan, two neighboring countries."

"China won two of them, the Battle of Baekgang and the Korean War during the reign of Emperor Wanli."

"And this time, Japan won."

Only then did Taiping and Li Dan understand what Wu Zetian was talking about.

Wu Zetian touched the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and sneered:

"But Japan's first two defeats came at no significant cost, did they?"

"And the victory in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 greatly improved Japan's national strength in the short term."

"In the long run, it also fosters Japan's ambitions..."

"Japan……"

She felt upset whenever she heard these two words.

Although I regretted giving the name when I saw the Korean War, at this moment I felt not only regret but also shame and anger!
Especially the word "Japan" keeps popping up!

Shangguan Wan'er lowered her head and said softly:
"But it's not easy to take the challenge lightly at this time."

Wu Zetian did not comment on Shangguan Wan'er's words, but just smiled and said:

"You guys are usually very smart, why are you so confused now?"

Shangguan Wan'er and the two "quails" were confused.

Wu Zetian smiled and said meaningfully:
"Japan was able to transform into a powerful country in a short period of time."

“Let alone the governing system, without real resource supply, all systems are nonsense.”

"Even if there are no resources, it must have something that can be exchanged for resources!"

"You forgot that Tianmu mentioned something a long time ago..."

“Japan has mines.”

The three of them understood immediately.

Wu Zetian smiled happily:
"Select some capable people to go back with the Tang envoys to investigate Japan."

"It's fine if it really meets my expectations, but if it doesn't..."

"The Han envoy's work can also be done."

……

Ming Dynasty - Longqing Period
"During the Tang Dynasty, Japanese envoys continued to visit the country. Why?"

Qi Jiguang said angrily:

"The reason is the Battle of Baekgang!"

"It was the Battle of Baekgang that brought out the might of the Tang Dynasty! It also brought out the spirit of learning in Japan!"

“And what about the Korean War?”

"Although we maintained our dignity and repelled Japan, the fact is that the seven-year Korean War also greatly weakened our national strength."

"The Liaodong Army was severely damaged. The weakening of Liaodong's defense force directly caused the Later Jin to rise up!"

Zhang Juzheng glanced at Zhu Zaigui, who looked like a puppet, and said with a stiff face:
"Yuan Jing! You are so outrageous!"

Zhu Zaigui waved his hand and said calmly:
"I understand Yuan Jing's meaning."

"He means that Japan is a country of wolves. If you defeat him, he will admire you and worship you."

"But he's always thinking about how to bite you to death."

"So, you must kill him."

Qi Jiguang nodded repeatedly.

"Yes! Your Majesty is right! That's exactly what I think!"

"You pity him, but he will just turn his back and laugh at you!"

"He doesn't know your feelings, he will only think you are more deceitful!"

"To deal with a wolf, you can only use a stick, nothing else will work!"

Zhang Junzheng looked at the emperor and his ministers who responded together, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Yeah, well said.

"So the question is, where's the money?"

"Where does the money for the war come from?"

Zhu Zaigui was surprised and asked:

"Don't Japan have silver mines?"

Zhang Juzheng said helplessly:

"Yes, but we have to conquer it first. The key is that we have no money now!"

Qi Jiguang looked at the emperor and his ministers staring at each other, and an idea suddenly came to his mind!
"Hey! I have an idea!"

Zhu Zaigui and Zhang Juzheng looked at Qi Jiguang.

“Follow what the British did to the Qing Dynasty!”

"What the hell is that trade deficit?"

"Once they see real money, some people will volunteer!"

Zhu Zaigui and Zhang Juzheng looked at each other and grabbed Qi Jiguang.

"Elaborate."

……

【The destruction of the Beiyang Fleet forced Emperor Guangxu and his former pro-war group to agree with Empress Dowager Cixi and seek peace with Japan.】

[After the Battle of Port Arthur, Western powers began to worry that Japan's excessive expansion would threaten their own interests and felt the need to restrict it.]

[Britain warned Japan that if it attacked Beijing and caused the Qing Dynasty to collapse, it would not be good for Japan.]

[The United States also told Japan that if the war was prolonged and its army and navy could not be restrained, the European powers with interests in the Eastern situation would inevitably make demands on Japan that would be detrimental to its future peace and happiness in order to facilitate the end of the war.]

【At this time, the Japanese troops had been evacuated, although the military represented by Yamagata Aritomo advocated taking advantage of the victory to march directly to Beijing and fight a decisive battle in Zhili. 】

【Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi believed that defeating the Qing Dynasty would inevitably lead to intervention by other countries, which would result in Japan gaining nothing from the war. He advocated forcing a peace treaty with the Qing Dynasty to maximize the benefits from China.】

[In order to achieve this goal, the Japanese government first rejected the Qing government's representatives for peace talks, Zhang Yinhuan, the Minister of the Zongli Yamen and the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and Shao Youlian, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and the Governor of Hunan, claiming that they were not qualified and specifically required Yi Xin or Li Hongzhang, who had the power to "act at their own discretion, decide the peace agreement, and sign and seal the agreement", to come to Japan.]

[The Qing Dynasty appointed Li Hongzhang as the first plenipotentiary minister to go to Japan to negotiate a "peace treaty." ]

……

On the canopy.

Guangxu looked at the telegram in his hand and said softly:
"Japan is concerned about ceding territory and paying indemnity. The indemnity is probably more than 100 million taels, and the territories ceded are probably not just Taiwan and Penghu."

The old minister looked unhappy and said in a deep voice:

"Li Hongzhang probably intended to cede Taiwan and Penghu to Japan."

"Fengtian is the birthplace of the Qing dynasty, so of course it cannot be ceded. However, the Japanese army did not occupy Taiwan and Penghu, so why should we cede them?"

Yi Xin, who was resting with his eyes closed, spoke up:

"I'm afraid that ceding territory is inevitable. Now it seems that the Japanese attitude is very tough. If we don't cede territory, there will be no outcome."

"If we must cede territory, it is obvious which is more important, Taiwan or Fengtian." The old minister looked at Yi Xin and said in a shocked voice:

"The Japanese army did not occupy Taiwan and Penghu, but ceded this place, and the people lost their hearts!"

"If Taiwan is ceded, the hearts of the people will turn away from the Qing Dynasty!"

"The Minister with the Plenipotentiary Power for Peace Negotiations should strive for the interests of our country. The court should give Li Hongzhang an order so that he can avoid ceding territory if he can!"

Yi Xin glanced at the silent Guangxu, then at the old minister, with a hint of sarcasm on his face, and said:

"You can't say that. How can we expect him to fight for it?"

"Then Ito Hirobumi issued an order to transfer more than 30 ships, which passed through Shimonoseki in a mighty manner."

"This is a post-war agreement, not a normal negotiation."

"If he can fight for it, he will fight for it. Is there any need to say that?"

"The problem now is that time is limited. The Japanese want us to answer whether we agree or not!"

The old minister looked surprised, glanced at the emperor, and continued:
"Whether to agree or not, and what to agree to, the court has given Li Hongzhang full authority, and he should handle it accordingly."

"We can't just blame everything on the court!"

Yi Xin took the snuff bottle and sniffed it, saying sarcastically:

"I understand what Master Weng means. Let's just talk here..."

"Not ceding territory is good, but what if the Japanese attack and the capital is lost?"

Guangxu looked at the telegram, listened to the debate, and made up his mind:

"Ceding Taiwan is a major matter and must be reported to the Queen Mother."

……

[Japan demanded that the Qing government send a minister to negotiate peace. In addition to confirming Korea's "independence" and paying military expenses, it also required the cession of land.]

[The Qing Dynasty notified the Japanese government through the American Minister to China, Dean Bey, that Li Hongzhang was appointed as the first-class plenipotentiary minister, "giving him full powers to sign and seal"]

【Emperor Guangxu summoned all the ministers. Li Hongzhang submitted a memorial "about ceding territory", Yi Xin echoed it, Weng Tonghe did not agree, and the rest did not express their views.】

【Emperor Guangxu also ordered his ministers to ask Empress Dowager Cixi to make the decision, but Empress Dowager Cixi claimed to be ill and would not see him.】

【Emperor Guangxu had no choice but to "instruct Li Hongzhang to grant him the right to negotiate the transfer of land and to order him to weigh the pros and cons and make a final decision with the Japanese."】

……

Qing Dynasty - Taizong Period
There is no need to guess about Huang Taiji.

Now that we've come to this, is there anything you don't understand?

What is the bottom line?
If they had to cede territory, Taiwan, far away from the capital and isolated overseas, would certainly pose less threat to Japan than Fengtian.

If Fengtian were occupied, it would be like a sword hanging over the head of the capital.

"To take all the blame is to take no blame at all."

Bumbutai also understood this.

"It was always because the Qing Dynasty was too weak to resist the Japanese army, and was afraid that the Japanese army would attack the capital, so it had to do so."

"If the imperial court approves it, we will curse the imperial court as well."

"But the court is the emperor, how can the emperor be scolded?"

"You can't scold the emperor, so you can only scold the plenipotentiary minister."

Huang Taiji felt very depressed.

……

In a quiet pavilion.

Facing the smiling, well-dressed Japanese.

Li Hongzhang lowered his head and signed the treaty in front of him.

……

[At 1895 a.m. on April 4, 17, the Sino-Japanese negotiations in Shimonoseki ended with the Qing government losing its sovereignty and humiliating the country.]

[The plenipotentiaries of China and Japan signed the Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty, also known as the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Shimonoseki]

[Including 11 articles of the "Peace Treaty", 3 articles of the "Special Articles for Negotiation", 3 articles of the "Additional Agreement", and 2 articles of the "Additional Articles for Extending the Armistice".]

[The main contents include: 1. China recognizes North Korea's complete "autonomy." ]

【Second, China ceded the entire island of Taiwan and all its affiliated islands, the Penghu Islands and the Liaodong Peninsula to Japan.】

【3. Compensate Japan for military expenses of 200 million taels.】

【Fourth, open Shashi, Chongqing, Suzhou, and Hangzhou as commercial ports.】

【5. China shall not arrest traitors who serve the Japanese army.】

[Sixth, the Japanese army temporarily occupied Weihaiwei, and the Qing government had to pay 500,000 taels of silver per year as expenses for the Japanese army's garrison.]

……

On the canopy.

The children sat together, looking at the prints in their hands.

There is a picture above showing a naval battle scene.

One of the Japanese ships had been hit by several large earthenware jars filled with gunpowder and was on fire. The ship was sinking.

The picture also shows hundreds of similar large earthenware jars floating on the sea.

A painting next to it shows a group of Japanese prisoners in shackles and chains, some of whom are locked in cages.

A line of small characters is written clearly.

"China has won a great victory!"

The children cheered.

The wind blew across the print, which showed defeated and captured Japanese soldiers tied up with ropes and imprisoned in cages by the Qing army, and sent to be beheaded.

……

【Everyone in the Qing court knew that the Qing dynasty had lost.】

【But this matter cannot be made known to the public. 】

【So the Qing government implemented an information control policy. 】

[As it was difficult for the Shenbao and other civilian media to obtain information from reliable sources in a timely manner, they relied too much on hearsay in the early stages of the war. Like other civilian media, they mistakenly believed that the Qing army was invincible and was beating the Japanese army in Korea, and their reports were seriously distorted.]

[Ironically, the Qing government implemented information control on the people, preventing the people from knowing the real situation of the war on the front line.]

[However, the information confidentiality effect on Japan is almost non-existent. ]

[According to the then Japanese Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu, before the two countries officially declared war, the Japanese side had already deciphered the secret telegrams between the Qing Dynasty's ambassador to Japan, Wang Fengzao, the general who went to Korea, Yuan Shikai, the Beiyang Minister Li Hongzhang and the Zongli Yamen.]

[During the subsequent peace talks at Shimonoseki, he completely seized the initiative in the negotiations by deciphering the Qing court's telegrams, and gained the greatest benefits at the negotiation table.]

[After the Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese government carefully concealed the fact that they had deciphered the Qing Dynasty telegrams.]

[The "Kenkenroku" written by Mutsu Munemitsu at the end of 1895 was also delayed for 30 years before it was published. ]

[The Qing dynasty did not know until its demise that it had been completely wiped out by the Japanese government in 1895.]

……

{So... the people actually didn't know that the Sino-Japanese War was lost?}
{Is it strange? An information cocoon?}
{In May 2014, the Asian History Center of the National Archives of Japan, in collaboration with the British Library, held a special online exhibition on its website titled "Paintings of the Sino-Japanese War: Brocade Paintings, New Year Pictures, and Official Documents."}
{It displays 235 prints produced in China and Japan during the Sino-Japanese War of 179-, of which are works by Japanese painters, and most of them are brocade paintings.}
{The remaining 56 pieces were created by Chinese painters in the late Qing Dynasty.}
{Among the 56 Chinese prints stored in the British Library, there is one called "Capturing Japanese Traitors, Interrogating and Executing Them", which is the one the children are watching in the video.}
{The producer is "Incheon Bishengzhai Stone Seal", the painter is noted in the upper left corner as "Songshan Taoist", and the painting time is "Autumn of the Jiawu Period of the Guangxu Period"}
{There is also a print titled "The Victory of the Korean Naval Battle", which shows the Qing navy defeating the Japanese navy. The print is signed "Meizhou Hermit".}
{The inscription on the upper left corner reads: "The Japanese rebels launched an attack on China without any reason, occupied the capital of Korea, acted recklessly and bullied Chinese merchants. All of us in the government and the public are deeply indignant..."}
{There is also a print titled "Navy Victory", which shows the Japanese navy being severely beaten by the Qing navy. The print is signed by "The owner of Wangping East Hall"}
{In short, in these prints, whether it was land battles or naval battles, the Japanese army was no match for the Qing army. In every battle, they were defeated by the heroic Qing army.}
{I keep winning, I am so tired of winning, I have a super, super, huge, huge ability to indulge in sexual fantasies.}
{The ministers devoted themselves to researching which jokes would please the emperor, and then pushed them to him.}
Suddenly I understood two things.

One is why the history of Qing Dynasty cannot be completed.

One is why we are so obsessed with the issue of historical nihilism.

Question, understanding, and transcendence.



(End of this chapter)