Chapter Thirty-Six: The Ambition of the Wolf

Several days later, Feng Chengqian received an invitation from Li Hongzhang.

By then, Feng Chengqian had already received news from Richthofen. On May 7th, the Eastern Learning Party's army defeated the government troops dispatched by Kim Munhyeon, the Jeolla Province Inspector, at Baishan, forcing them to retreat to Jeonju. When the news reached Hanseong, King Gojong of Joseon was panic-stricken and urgently sent Hong Qixun, Commander of the Capital Guard, as the Suppression Commissioner for the Two Lakes, leading eight hundred soldiers aboard the Beiyang Fleet’s Pingyuan, Canglong, and Hanyang steamships, hurrying to Jeonju by sea. Another contingent was sent overland to attack the Eastern Learning Army. Kim Munhyeon, seeing reinforcements from the capital, believed the Eastern Learning Army was about to collapse and launched a preemptive attack. On May 10th, the government forces suffered a crushing defeat, with over eight hundred casualties; their commander, Li Genghao, was killed in battle.

Though the outcome was still uncertain and Hong Qixun's troops had not yet reached Jeonju, with its imminent fall, King Gojong could no longer endure and, for the third time, sent envoys requesting Qing intervention.

The international situation at this time was tangled and complex.

Although the Western powers remained indifferent to Korea, Japan kept a close eye on it.

On May 11th, the day before Li Hongzhang invited Feng Chengqian, Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi formally notified Qing Prime Minister Li Hongzhang, stating that Korea was a vassal state of Qing and Qing should assist Korea in quelling the rebellion, while Japan respected Korea’s independence.

Feng Chengqian understood the significance of this communication well. It was precisely this notice that led Li Hongzhang to believe Japan would not dispatch troops to Korea, prompting him to decide on intervention.

Unfortunately, Li Hongzhang greatly underestimated Ito Hirobumi.

In the notice, Ito Hirobumi only mentioned respect for Korea’s independence, without explicitly stating Japan would refrain from sending troops, leaving room for subsequent action.

It must be remembered that Li Hongzhang’s previous indecision was heavily influenced by the Treaty of Ganghwa signed between Japan and Korea. This treaty stipulated that Japan enjoyed equal rights and obligations with Qing in Korea; thus, any Qing intervention would give Japan grounds to intervene as well.

Did Li Hongzhang not understand this implication?

Clearly, he should have realized Ito Hirobumi’s plot—to lure Qing into intervening, then use the Treaty of Ganghwa as justification for Japanese intervention.

Would Li Hongzhang fall for it?

After meeting with Li Hongzhang, Feng Chengqian understood: even if the Qing Prime Minister saw through the Japanese Prime Minister’s hidden intentions, he had no excuse to delay any longer.

Jeonju was a strategic stronghold of Korea, and also the site of the ancestral shrine of King Taejo Lee Seonggye.

If Jeonju fell, the Eastern Learning Party’s army would advance unchecked, and the Korean government could not hope to defend Hanseong.

Besides the precarious military situation, there was pressure from the imperial court.

Korea was a Qing vassal; if Qing could not even quell a rebellion in a vassal state, what face would it have left?

Weighing all these factors, even if Li Hongzhang had ten thousand reasons to refuse, he had no choice but to step into Ito Hirobumi’s trap and stake the fate of the Qing dynasty.

War was inevitable; preparations became paramount.

Though Li Hongzhang was still reluctant to accept reality, faced with no other options, he could only sign the harsh loan agreement.

The agreement stipulated that Qing would lease the coastal areas of Jiaozhou Bay to the German Empire to repay the interest on military equipment loans, until Qing had settled all debts. During the lease, the Empire would enjoy administrative, judicial, and customs monopoly rights in the concession.

With the agreement signed and sealed by Li Hongzhang, Feng Chengqian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

On May 15th, the Qing Foreign Office placed its first order with the Krupp company. The order focused on ammunition: one million rifle cartridges and one hundred thousand artillery shells.

Two days later, Li Hongzhang made the decision to send troops to Korea.

For this purpose, Li Hongzhang appointed Ye Zhichao, Governor of Zhili, and Nie Shicheng, Commander of Taiyuan, mobilizing the Beiyang Fleet to enter Korea by sea.

By the end of May, the Krupp company had begun delivering the ordered arms to Qing.

By then, the Qing Foreign Office had placed three orders, not only for large quantities of ammunition but also for fifteen thousand rifles and one hundred mountain cannons.

In early June, Ye Zhichao and Nie Shicheng set out with their troops.

The Qing forces dispatched were not numerous—only two thousand five hundred Huai Army soldiers in total. Yet for Korea, this was a formidable force. After all, King Gojong had only sent eight hundred troops to Jeonju, and the Eastern Learning Party’s army numbered only a few thousand.

With the suzerain’s army about to arrive, both the Joseon dynasty and the Eastern Learning Party recognized a crucial issue:

If Qing forces lingered in Korea after suppressing the peasant uprising, Korea would not only have to support this army but also lose what little sovereignty remained.

For the Joseon dynasty, this meant Qing control.

For the Eastern Learning Party, it meant losing all hope of victory.

If the civil war continued, neither side would profit—the real beneficiary would be the distant Qing.

Thus, as soon as Ye Zhichao’s Huai Army landed at Asan, the Korean dynasty began negotiations with the Eastern Learning Party, and within days reached the “Jeonju Accord.” According to the agreement, the Eastern Learning Party withdrew from Jeonju and established offices in fifty-three counties under their control to manage local affairs.

Before Qing troops could even participate, the Korean civil war had ended.

Yet the Korean conflict was not over.

As Li Hongzhang sent Qing troops into Korea, Japan, citing the protection of its citizens and embassy, had already landed seven hundred soldiers at Incheon.

Now the situation in Korea became extremely complicated.

Although Li Hongzhang sought to avoid war with Japan, actively proposing mutual withdrawal, Ito Hirobumi paid him no heed.

Having landed troops in Korea, Japan would not withdraw so easily.

Over the next month, Qing, Japan, and Korea engaged in constant diplomatic negotiations. Li Hongzhang appeared anxious but achieved nothing substantial.

At the time, Qing and Japan were entangled over which side would withdraw first, with neither willing to yield.

During negotiations, Ito Hirobumi faced a no-confidence impeachment and thus acted with great firmness, not only refusing to withdraw but also steadily increasing Japanese troops in Korea.

Though Britain, France, Russia, and the United States attempted mediation, their efforts failed, as Korea touched upon the interests of all major powers.

On July 23rd, Japanese troops, claiming to protect their embassy, suddenly attacked Hanseong, seized King Gojong and Queen Min.

Two days later, without a declaration of war, Japanese forces suddenly attacked a Qing troopship anchored off Pungdo, and war between Qing and Japan erupted.

By the time the news reached home, Feng Chengqian had already returned to Jiaozhou Bay.

Although Feng Chengqian kept an eye on the Korean situation, knowing the Eastern Learning Party uprising would not be easily quelled, over the past month his main focus had been planning the construction of the Qingdao naval base, and he had not devoted much attention to Korean affairs.

When Richthofen sought him out, Feng Chengqian was deep in discussion with Tirpitz about the layout of the naval port.

“So the war has started so quickly?” Tirpitz was somewhat surprised, as he knew the Qing Beiyang Fleet had not yet completed preparations.

“Japan provoked the conflict, Qing had no say,” Richthofen sighed, adding, “Li Hongzhang has already ordered Ye Zhichao to fight the Japanese army with all his might. But Qing’s troops in Korea are far fewer than Japan’s, and their morale is low. I fear defeat will come swiftly.”

“Not just fear—it’s inevitable.”

“The Count is so certain?”

Feng Chengqian nodded, replying, “Given the combat strength of Qing’s troops, if they can hold south of the Yalu for two months, it will be impressive.”

“If Qing is defeated within two months, then…”

“Qing will not be defeated so quickly. However capable the Japanese army, they lack enough troops to invade Qing territory itself. At most, they’ll make trouble in Korea. Besides, the situation in Korea is not so simple. Japan used the Eastern Learning Party incident as a pretext to send troops to Korea; their first concern is how to control Korea, not to use Korea as a springboard to attack Qing. So after defeating the Qing troops in Korea, the Japanese army will not rush north.”

“So the Count means…”

“The key lies in the naval theater. Only when the Beiyang Fleet is defeated will Li Hongzhang realize he has lost a war he never thought he could lose.”

Richthofen nodded thoughtfully, seeming to grasp Feng Chengqian’s meaning.

“Has Li Hongzhang made any further requests?”

“Qing will certainly purchase more arms, but that’s not the Count’s concern—just follow the agreement.”

“Alright, then I need not remain here.”

“Count…”

“At this time, it’s best I avoid seeing Li Hongzhang. Let him stew for a few days, then he’ll appreciate my value.” Feng Chengqian smiled, saying, “The port plan is nearly complete, just waiting for funds. Since we have time, let’s take the fleet out for a few days—perhaps we’ll catch some excitement.”

“I was thinking the same,” Tirpitz quickly agreed.

Feng Chengqian nodded, “Go make preparations. We set sail at dawn.”

“Count, at this moment, is it really appropriate for you to go to sea with the fleet?”

“There’s nothing inappropriate. If you encounter any matters you can’t resolve, put them aside and wait for my return,” Feng Chengqian glanced at Richthofen, “We shouldn’t be too enthusiastic about this war—let’s just treat it as a spectacle. After all, who wins or loses is not directly our concern.”

Seeing Feng Chengqian’s mind was made up, Richthofen said no more.

Though war had broken out, it was long anticipated, and Feng Chengqian had already made arrangements. If he appeared overly eager now, it would be counterproductive. By following the fleet out to sea and avoiding Li Hongzhang, Feng Chengqian was sure to achieve unexpected results.

Richthofen did not stay in Qingdao; he returned to Beijing that very day to gather information for Feng Chengqian.

Early the next morning, Feng Chengqian boarded the battleship “Friedrich der Große.” Under Tirpitz’s command, the Imperial Far East Fleet sailed out from Jiaozhou Bay.