Princess Katrina Kaif nodded and said, "Yes, the most important thing is Kyushu Island in Japan. If we completely occupy Kyushu Island and completely settle down, there is no way for the British to do. The terrain of Japan is inherently conducive to defense."

Li Hongzhang personally was responsible for the politics of Jiuzhou, and Xuan Jianzhang led two brigades of the First Field Division of the Chinese Army.

Due to insufficient ammunition, Li Hongzhang and Xuan Jianzhang have been struggling. Princess Katrina Kafu thought that she was attacking Afghanistan now, and Emperor Hua made a little hurry, which was also due to this consideration.

With China's existing industrial strength, it cannot support the demand for large-scale wars, at least, it cannot support the demand for combat on both sides of Japan and Central Asia, not to mention that the two places are still separated by 108,000 miles.

The advantage of China is that it has a vast territory, but sometimes it has a bad point. Transportation is a big problem. There is another problem, because it needs to concentrate industrial scale. China's heavy industry is mainly concentrated in the Qinhuangdao area and the Northeast, and light industry is mainly concentrated in East China. Many military supplies, especially those that need to be transported to Afghanistan, belong to the category of light industry. They need to be transported from East China to Beijing, and then transported to Central Asia through the long Northwest Railway Network, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

This is also the reason why President Meng wants to build a municipality and industrial base next to the Caspian Sea as soon as possible outside Almaty in Central Asia. This will solve the problem of long-distance transportation. However, it is impossible to build a new city and an industrial base in more than five years.

Kyushu Island is the third largest island in Japan, located at the southwestern tip of Japan, opposite Honshu Island from the northeast through the Guanmen Strait, facing Shikoku Island from the east through the Fengyu Strait and the Fenghou Waterway, facing Shikoku Island from the southeast, adjacent to South Korea from the northwest through the Korean Strait, and adjacent to South Korea from the west through the Yellow Sea. The East China Sea is opposite to China. In the past, it was built before, built before, Fenghou, Fenghou, Feihou, Feihou, Hinata, Satsuma, Osumi, and a total of nine countries, so it was called Kyushu.

In a broad sense, Kyushu refers to Kyushu places, including Fukuoka Prefecture, Oita Prefecture, Miyazaki Prefecture, Saga Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture (including the Goshima Islands and Tsushima Island), Kumamoto Prefecture, and Kagoshima Prefecture.

Now, except for Satsuki Kawakano, all of them are under the control of the Chinese army, except for Satsuki Kawakano.

However, the problem that Li Hongzhang and Xuan Jianzhang have to face is that they must not only occupy the entire Kyushu Island with limited military force, but also prevent the Japanese, British and French coalition forces from Kitakyushu, and from various ports.

In this way, removing the remaining power of Takaho Saigo as soon as possible has become the focus.

If it were the original history, Takaho Saigo would have died long ago, but the arrival of Emperor Hua changed the course of history. The first time Saigo Takaho was fighting with the Japanese government forces was brought in by the Chinese army from the side and released Takaho Saigo.

Later, Xuan Jianzhang ambushed and captured Takaho Saigo twice in a row. Both were released by Xuan Jianzhang after asking Emperor Hua. Therefore, Takaho Saigo has lived to this day.

The reason why Xuan Jianzhang and Emperor Hua let go of Xixiang Longsheng was not because of compassion, but more because they were more politically speaking, and Li Hongzhang also had this idea.

Takamori Saigo has too high prestige in Japan. If the Chinese army rashly kill Takamori Saigo, it may cause a greater rebound.

This is from a political perspective, and Xuan Jianzhang believes that if Takamoto Saigo died, after that, facing Kyushu Island, which is mostly in the mountains, the Japanese samurai will continue to resist, and will all go into secrets and disperse, and will not be as concentrated as it is under the leadership of Takamoto Saigo now.

For the Chinese army, which has a strong advantage in individual combat, we naturally hope that the Japanese civil opposition forces will be as concentrated as possible. When they are not enough to resist, it means that the Chinese army has fully occupied Kyushu Island.

Saigo Takamori was born in Kagoshima, Kagoshima Castle, Satsumabashi, Japan. He received strict samurai training since childhood, which enabled him to develop a martial arts habit and have strong feudal moral concepts such as loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness.

In the first year of Honghua (1844), he served as the county clerk. Later, he served as the county clerk for a total of 10 years. He studied Yangming from Ito Shigeemon and Zhu Zi's Misreme, and studied Zen from the Wusan Monk of Fukuchang Temple.

He followed the county chief to inspect the countryside, contacted farmers, and was familiar with agricultural affairs.

During this period, the county magistrate Maitan resigned angrily because of the famine year's demand for the vassal government to reduce the annual tribute and exempt him from the unauthorized tribute, leaving him with an unforgettable impression. He was born in the lower samurai class on the verge of bankruptcy and served as a low-level official for a long time, which gave him a certain understanding of the lower-level people and aware of the political corruption at the end of the shogunate, thus embarking on the road of resolute reform.

After Shimazu Kibin inherited the lord of the Satsuma vassal state, the "Shencai Group" led by Takamori Saigo wrote a letter to explain the issue of reducing the burden on farmers. His political proposition was appreciated by Shimazu Kibin.

He served as a subordinate official since 1844. In 1854, he became a close follower of Shimazu Shimazu Shintsu (1809-1858), the enlightened vassal lord, and lived with him in Edo (now Tokyo), participated in the vassal government, and ran for the movement to respect the king and expel the barbarians.

In 1854 (the first year of An Zheng), he lived with Shimazu Shimazu Shinzu Shinto Edo for three years. He was working around for the "Kongwu Combination" movement jointly jointly with the royal ministers and shoguns, advocated by Qi Bin and others. He was very active and gradually became a famous reformist patriot. On the "Issue of Succession of Generals", he supported Ichihashi Keiki with Qi Bin.

In 1858, due to the sudden illness of Shimazu Tadaoyi, Shimazu Tadaoyi was appointed as the vassal lord, and the real power was in the hands of his father Shimazu Kuraku. When Saigo heard the news, he planned to die for Qi Bin. After the persuasion of the monk Yuezhao, he dispelled this idea and vowed to inherit Qi Bin's will and carry out the reform of the Shimazu.

Since then, he still traveled between Kyoto and Edo to carry out the king-sacrificing activities, planning to eliminate the top shogunate administrator Naohito. In September, Ii created the "Anmatsu Prison" and brutally suppressed the king-sacrificing men. Saigo and Yuezhao escaped from the capital to survive.

The two returned to Kagoshima one after another, but were ordered to leave the Satsuma clan. They felt that the situation of serving the king was hopeless. In despair, when the boat arrived at Jinjiang Bay, they hugged each other and committed suicide. When they were rescued, Yuezhao had passed away suddenly and Saigo was dying. Shimazu Kuraki exiled him to Amami Oshima.

In 1862 (2 years after Fumiku), Takamori Saigo returned to the Satsuma tribe with the help of Okupo Ritsu, who had already held the power of the vassal state. After the punishment was lifted, he began his activities as a vassal.

Kukumitsu originally wanted to use Saigo's reputation to realize his plan to go to Beijing to serve the king and continue to carry out the "public and martial arts fusion". Unexpectedly, Saigo opposed it, on the surface, because he believed that Kukumitsu's prestige and identity were not enough. In fact, his new political proposition "respecting the king and expelling the barbarians" had conflicts with the "public and martial arts fusion" of the vassal lords, and Saigo contacted the radical vassals. In a rage, Kukumitsu exiled him to Tokuno Island, and two months later he was transferred to the prison of the death row prisoner, Toyorabu Island.

However, he was exiled to the island again. After two years in prison, Xixiang suffered all the hardships, but he read a large number of Confucian works and recited poems from time to time.

One of his poems reads: "I am grateful to the morning and meet the pits in the evening, and life is like dark and bright. Even if I don't look back at the sun, if I have no luck, I will be sincere. All my close friends in Luoyang are ghosts, and prisoners in Nanyu are prisoners and prisoners and steal their lives. Why do you doubt the talent and talent of life and death? I wish to keep my soul to protect the imperial city." This expresses his remembrance of the patriots who died in the Anzheng Prison, and also explains his view of life and death and his ambition to be loyal to the emperor and be loyal to the king.

In 1864, due to the increase in the power of the anti-strait faction and the request of the vassals, Kurakutsu ordered the recall to Saigo and entrusted the important task of grasping the real power of the Satsuma Army and Navy.

Five or six years later, it was a period when Saigo's thoughts matured. He was originally a general of Kuraku, but later became the leader of the King's Anti-State.

He worked closely with Okupo Rito to carry out political reforms within the Satsuma vassal state and made contributions to the completion of the vigorous anti-shog reform cause in Japanese history.

In July 1864, the shogunate suppressed the ban on the gates launched by the patriots of the Nagashu clan. In Kyoto, Saigo followed the order of Kuraku, participated in the suppression activities, and was injured in the battle, so he was praised. In September, Saigo met with Katsukaisuke in Osaka.

Katsuki knew very well about the West and had a deep understanding of the inside story of the shogunate. This meeting broadened Saigo's horizons, realized the corruption and decline of the shogunate, and changed his thoughts. However, Saigo still had the local consciousness of the "Safan subject" at this time, so he was very shaken in his actions.

When the shogunate organized an army to attack the Choshu vassal in September, Saigo still started from the interests of the vassal state and participated in and commanded the vassal state. However, when the shogunate organized the second vassal state to attack the Choshu vassal state in April of the following year, Saigo had already implemented his proposal to jointly fight against the shogunate state in action. Despite repeated orders and urges from the shogunate state, he firmly refused to send troops. In December, he sent people to contact the Choshu vassal state, and in the first month of 1866, he signed a secret agreement with the leader of the Choshu vassal state, Kido Takayun, in Kyoto.

From then on, he carried out extensive anti-scene activities across the country as a leader of the anti-scene faction.

In July 1866, shogun Tokugawa Ishiki died and Tokugawa Kyoki succeeded him. In December, Emperor Takaaki, who had always suppressed the anti-south sect, died mysteriously (mostly believed to be poisoned by the 14-year-old Emperor Meiji succeeded him. The anti-south sect took advantage of the situation in the palace and began to prepare to arm the downward sect. With the mediation of the Tosaki Ryuma Sakamoto, the Satsuma clan formed a "Sa-Chang Alliance" with the Nagashu clan. Later, Satsuma clan and Tosa clan also formed an alliance.

These "strong southwest vassals" took over the power of the emperor's government and jointly attacked the shogunate.

Saigo and others also formed the "Saying Alliance" with the United Kingdom, hoping to buy weapons and obtain financial aid from the United Kingdom, but they were wary of Britain's attempts to invade.

On July 27, 1867, Saigo met with British Embassy official Shato in Osaka, saying: "We should do our best to change the political system in Japan. If we discuss with foreigners, it would be indecent."

Xixiang's answer shows that he already has a strong national consciousness.

In September 1867, Saigo and Okubo made preparations to issue the "Deliberation of the Secret" in the name of the emperor through ministers such as Iwakura. On October 14, the two vassals of Saigo received the "Deliberation of the Secret". After the deployment was ready, on December 9, Saigo and Okubo launched a coup, issued a large order for "Retro of the King of the King", announcing the abolition of the general system, and asked Tokugawa Keiki to immediately "resign his official position and accept the land."

The Anti-Sutra organized the new government on the same day, Saigo, Okubo and others to grasp the real power of the new government.

The old shogunate forces represented by Tokugawa Keihi were unwilling to withdraw from the historical stage, so the civil war broke out, because it was the Wuchen period, which was known in history as the Wuchen War.

In January 1868, in Toba and Fushimi areas south of Kyoto, the shogunate army had a large-scale military conflict with the government forces. Saigo commanded the decisive battle. Due to the courage of the soldiers and the support of the people, the government forces defeated the shogunate army three times that of their own and won.

Saigo was appointed as the head of the army and navy by the new government. In February, the Fushima Army set out from Kyoto to march eastward and surrounded Edo. At this time, Katsuhiba, who was defending Edo Castle, explained the domestic and international situation to Keiki, and prompted Keiki to make up his mind to surrender. In March, Saigo proposed seven conditions for surrender to the shogunate and went to Edo to meet Katsuhiba.

Finally, the Shogunate surrender agreement was signed, which was known in history as "Edo without blood to open the castle". In August, Saigo led the Fogun Army to fight in Kanto and Northeast China to fight against the remnants of the Fogunate vassal states and achieved victory after victory. After returning to the triumphant army, Saigo was rewarded for his outstanding military achievements. In September, he awarded three official positions for his merits in the Anti-Mao Reform Movement and the Wuchen Civil War, and rewarded two thousand stones of divine salary, becoming the highest official position among the retainers of the vassal states and the most honored title.

Saigo, who had achieved success and fame, believed that his fame and status was higher than that of the Satsuma vassal lord Shimazu family, which damaged the reputation of a "loyal minister". So he resigned in January 1870 and returned to Kagoshima to serve as a vassal political consultant, and later served as a vassal counselor.

Saigo left the central government and returned to the local area because he was dissatisfied with the Meiji government's implementation of policies that would harm the interests of the lower samurai. He sympathized with the tragic experiences of the lower samurai after the Meiji Restoration.

In a letter requesting the Satsuma government to help a soldier who participated in the civil war, Saigo Takamori wrote: "In the face of life and death, make it like a private property. After the matter is settled, he will abandon it and affect morality."

A widely circulated poem about aspirations reads: "After many hardships and hardships, my husband will be strong, and my shame will be broken. Do you know the family members? Don't buy beautiful fields for your children and grandchildren."

Xixiang Takaho did not stand many senior government officials pursuing fame and fortune, and were extravagant and accused them of forgetting their righteousness for "profit".

Saigo's personal character has always been praised by people in Japan.

It is precisely on these internal affairs that Saigo and Okubo and others had conflicts.

Although there were conflicts between Saigo, Okubo and others, they all realized that to establish a modern country and get rid of Japan's semi-colonial crisis, it is necessary to eliminate the feudal separatist situation and establish a centralized state regime.

Since 1871, they have joined forces under this goal and have made every effort to reform the abolition of vassals and the establishment of counties.

In July 1872, Xixiang served as the marshal of the Army and the commander of the Guards. In July of the following year, the government issued five documents including the "Regulations on Land Tax Reform", implementing the land tax reform that reforms feudal land ownership and establishes the modern land system. Before and after that, the government also carried out a number of bourgeois reforms in political, economic and military aspects. Xixiang presided over and participated in these reforms. Although there was no special contribution in the content of the reform, he commanded the military force and supported the reform with force to ensure the smooth progress. It should be said that it was his unique contribution.

Saigo, Okubo and Kido are known as the "Three Restoration Masters" for their role and contributions in the anti-straight reform activities.

Before and after this, he participated in bourgeois reforms such as abolishing vassals and establishing counties, and local tax reforms.

In October 1873, due to the opposition of "North Korea's envoys dispatched" and Okubo Rito and others, he resigned and returned to Kagoshima to establish a military and political school called a private school.

In 1877, it was promoted as the leader by the old Satsuma gentry and launched an armed rebellion against the government, known in history as the Southwest War.

Due to the intervention of Emperor Hua and the State of China, the Southwest War, which was originally completed in a few months, was extended indefinitely by the Chinese army, and it cannot be considered completely over until now.

Li Hongzhang and Xuan Jianzhang received telegrams from Emperor Hua almost at the same time.

Li Hongzhang is in Nagasaki Castle, Xuan Jianzhang is in Fukuoka. Fukuoka is a command center of the Chinese army on Kyushu Island and a transit station from Nagasaki Castle to the front line of the army.

Now the warrior army in Saigo Takamori's hands is less than 5,000, and most of them are cold weapons, which almost poses no major threat to the rear of the Chinese army. The key is the pressure from the Japanese government forces in the direction of Kitakyushu.
Chapter completed!