Chapter 27: The First Sino-Japanese War Begins

  Overseeing production, grasping training, watching drills, making presentations, listening to reports, and making decisions - these were Liu Rong's daily tasks for several months, continuing until the summer of 1894. News arrived from Liu Mingchuan that the imperial court was going to send troops to Korea, as there seemed to be a rebellion in Korea. Liu Rong also received intelligence from his own "Golden Elephant Pharmacy" that the imperial court's troop ships had set sail.

  "It's started, it should be North Korea this time. Why is it 94 years? Didn't the tourist map say that Japan occupied Taiwan in 95 years? Did Japan only come after a year?" Liu Ye held the tourist map book, flipping through the sentences he had read countless times, puzzled and incomprehensible.

  "Just wait and see, if Korea starts fighting, then that's it." Liu Mei didn't analyze it anymore, thinking was useless, what could be confirmed was that the First Sino-Japanese War started from Korea, as long as the fight started, then it would be correct.

  In July 1894, Liu Mingchuan received another telegram from the imperial court, Japan had increased its troops in Korea. The old man now believed more and more in Liu's words, the Japanese had indeed started to take action. However, Liu still did not dare to move, because once he made a move, it would be a killing blow, there would be no turning back, he must confirm that the war had begun.

  In late July 1894, Liu Mingchuan received consecutive telegrams from the Beiyang Fleet and the imperial court that Japan had launched a surprise attack on a Beiyang troopship near Korea and also sank a British ship. This news was all too familiar to Liu Mingchuan, although he couldn't recall the exact dates, but he could still vaguely remember the details. The Japanese had sunk Qing troopships and British merchant ships, which meant war had begun. Liu immediately discussed with Liu Mingchuan throughout the night and decided to start preparing for war immediately, regardless of whether the imperial court agreed or not, as it was now too busy to care about Taiwan anyway.

  On July 31, 1894, Liu Mingchuan ordered the implementation of martial law throughout Taiwan, requiring all Japanese and Japanese companies, as well as Japanese ships, to leave Taiwan within 5 days. Those who failed to comply would be arrested and their property confiscated. All ports, fortresses, and naval vessels were also placed on high alert.

  At that time in Taiwan, especially in the central and southern regions, there were some Japanese trading companies and Japanese people who existed. They were mainly engaged in sugar refining and camphor business. Of course, it's hard to say whether there were spy agencies like "Genyosha". However, this order was to thoroughly eliminate Japanese influence from Taiwan, root and branch. Those who left early were considered lucky, while those who left late, including those who went to the local government offices to make trouble, were all captured and detained by new soldiers after the deadline, and their property was confiscated.

  Liu's naval forces were also on high alert, with submarines equipped with long-wave radios patrolling in batches in the northeastern waters of Taiwan, mainly around the Ryukyu Islands. Liu believed that if a landing was to be made on Taiwan, it would likely use the Ryukyu Islands as a transit point.

  On August 1, 1984, the imperial court formally declared war on Japan through a telegram. On that day, Liu ordered the blockade of the Taiwan Strait and outer seas, sinking any Japanese ships encountered, and only allowing capture if it did not expose them.

  In the following month, the Huai Army was defeated in Korea and the Beiyang Fleet encountered the Japanese Combined Fleet as scheduled. History marched on like a stopwatch, without any deviation. Liu Mingchuan was so enraged by the news of the Huai Army's defeat and the Beiyang Fleet's avoidance of battle that his old illness recurred, and he took to bed. When Liu Bi heard the news and rushed back, he saw that Liu Mingchuan could no longer speak, and grasped his father's trembling hand. The murky eyes of Liu Mingchuan clearly showed a sense of resentment and unwillingness. This old soldier, who had devoted his life to the Qing dynasty, couldn't bear to see his own government being defeated on land and sea.

  Liu Ye was willing to help, but he really didn't have a ship that could run so far. Submarines are not suitable for searching for people to fight on the open sea, and torpedo boats can't even reach the Yellow Sea. These two types of weapons can only be hidden at home, waiting for an opportunity to strike when no one is paying attention, and once they do, it's always a fatal blow.

  Although unable to go to the Yellow Sea to help, there were still not small gains in the Taiwan Strait. More than 10 Japanese cargo ships were suddenly sunk one after another, and all personnel on board were shot dead. A total of 4 cargo ships were captured by submarines, and all personnel on board were locked up in mines. As for whether they can come out, it depends on individual physical quality and resistance.

  Liu Xing commended the most efficient 017 boat, which sank 7 Japanese freighters under the leadership of Boat Captain Huang Dayong. It also tracked a Japanese cargo ship for half a day until it was completely dark and there were no other ships around, then surfaced and captured it with machine guns. For this, Liu Xing promoted Huang Dayong to deputy commander of the First Submarine Squadron.

  It's not just about eating meat, but also about taking a beating. In this month-long hunting operation, two submarines made mistakes: one was scratched by a cargo ship and the other ran aground in the strait. If they hadn't been equipped with long-wave radios to call for help, they would have been discovered by passing ships. As for the two submarine captains who made mistakes, Liu didn't show any mercy, sending them back for retraining and re-examination before allowing them to return to duty. After all, submarines are being produced continuously, so there's no shortage of captains, just a shortage of ships to command.

  Now the Japanese seem to have realized that there are almost no Japanese ships in the Taiwan Strait. So many ships disappeared in a short period of time, it must be related to the Qing Dynasty, but the Japanese didn't have the energy to deal with this matter, and could only let Japanese cargo ships change course and detour.

  The war continued from the Battle of the Yellow Sea in August to the fall of the Liaodong Peninsula in November, until the Beiyang Fleet was completely destroyed at Weihaiwei Base in January 1895. Liu Yongfu had been anxiously watching from Taiwan, but even by March 1895 when peace talks began, there was no sign that Japan would attack Taiwan.

  Liu Mingchuan's condition thoroughly erupted in April. From the telegram sent by the imperial court, Liu Mingchuan only knew that the imperial court had sold Taiwan and ceded it to Japan. That night, after reading the telegram, Liu Mingchuan vomited blood and died. This pioneer of the Westernization Movement, who led the charge against foreign invasion, was betrayed by his own country without even being consulted.

  Liu Yi only knew the news afterwards, and hastily returned to the governor's mansion. After completing the funeral, he arranged for Liu Fu to put down everything in his hands, take a boat north, go to Beijing, pick up the eldest son and second son, and bring them back to Taiwan. Along the way, they would also go to their old home in Anhui and bring back Liu Mingchuan's family members who were still there. Under the pretext of rushing for the funeral, all the property that could not be taken away was left untouched. The faster they returned, the better. First, they would deal with the court in Taiwan as long as they could, and if they really couldn't cope, then so be it.

  On April 25, at the Tamsui harbor where Liu Ming-chuan led his troops to fight against the French that year, Liu Ao and other old subordinates of the Huai Army who followed Liu Ming-chuan in battles everywhere, buried Liu Ming-chuan on a small hill and renamed it Heroes' Cemetery. From now on, all Taiwan New Army soldiers who died in battle will be buried here.

  After settling Liu Mingchuan's posthumous affairs, Liu Yongfu utilized the tens of thousands of New Army troops and "Storm Troops" under his control to launch a massive purge across Taiwan. All officials dispatched by the imperial court were re-examined, and those willing to remain in Taiwan could choose to stay, but their original positions were not guaranteed, pending new appointments. Those unwilling to stay in Taiwan were ordered to leave within a time limit, and all property and land that could not be taken away would be purchased by Liu Yongfu at market price.

  On April 30, Liu Yongfu established a new Taiwan military government and persuaded the original Taiwan General Yu Dehui to serve as the president of the Taiwan military government. In fact, this was just a nominal president with advisory power but no financial, military or personnel powers, still serving as a shield for Liu Yongfu in front.

  Then, in the name of the Presidential Office and the Military Government of Taiwan, telegrams were sent to the Qing government and various consulates, declaring Taiwan's independence. The waters near Taiwan were set to a state of war, and all incoming ships could only enter and exit through Tainan's Chihou Port, with all other ports closed. All ships that did not stop would be warned, and Taiwan would treat them as enemy ships. Finally, a declaration of war against Japan was announced.

  The 430 Declaration did not bring about any great repercussions. The Qing government and the foreign envoys in China did not make any statements regarding the entire declaration. The Qing court was still preoccupied with internal power struggles following their defeat, and had no time to bother with Taiwan's declaration; besides, Taiwan had already been ceded to Japan, so whether it became independent or not was none of the Qing government's business. The foreign envoys saw that the Qing dynasty as a whole had failed, and a small island would have no ability to continue fighting, so they regarded the declaration as merely a ploy by politicians to attract attention. They estimated that once Japanese troops landed, it would all come to nothing.

  Liu didn't care whether they paid attention or not, this declaration was mainly for the unity of thought within the island and the fighting goals afterwards. Can't just do nothing, let everyone follow you to fight, right?