Chapter 6, Who Fired the First Shot
I know this person, who is taciturn and unremarkable, not a graduate of the Marine Corps, having spent a long time in the UK, and has few friends in the country. Should we give him another chance
Lin Tai had discerned the urgency of the situation from the actions in Dongxiang and suggested to Li Hongzhang to increase the deployment of torpedo boats, advocating for the abandonment of Incheon in favor of firmly defending Yashan Bay. However, this proposal was rejected by Li Hongzhang and Ding Ruchang, who instead ordered the complete withdrawal of the Beiyang Fleet's vessels from the Korean Peninsula back to the Lushun base, reportedly in preparation for a decisive naval battle.
The naval development of Japan and China began around the same time, both learning from the British. However, there existed a significant disparity in national strength between the two countries. Why was Japan able to build a powerful navy within approximately 20 years, allowing it to defeat the Beiyang Fleet during the First Sino-Japanese War with such ease?
The salute of a warship involves the saluting party first lowering the naval ensign to half-mast. After the exchange, the flag is then raised back to its original position. The responding party also lowers the flag before raising it again, but it does not need to be lowered as low as in the salute.
Despite being over 7 knots faster than the Jiyuan, the Yoshino was unable to catch up. Initially, visibility was obscured by smoke. Once it exited the smoke zone and the three Japanese warships regrouped to pursue the Jiyuan, the Jiyuan lowered its naval ensign, signaling a readiness to surrender. As the Japanese warships hesitated, the Jiyuan resumed its westward escape.
The plan could not be executed; the garrison commander at Yashan, Ye Zhichao, stated that both land and sea routes were unsafe and refused to move, instead demanding further reinforcements. Is there danger on the route of withdrawal, yet safety on the route of reinforcement? Surprisingly, this logic was accepted by Li Hongzhang, which led to the initial increase in troops. The ships Jiyuan, Guangyi, and Weiyuan escorted the British merchant ship Airen, and after the Feiqing arrived at Yashan, this time they were there to welcome the last ship, the Gaosheng. The Weiyuan had already returned to Weihaiwei the day before.
On June 29, Lin Taizeng commanded the Pingyuan to proceed to Incheon, where it encountered the Langsu at sea
Dongxiang is now ready to put into practice the principles learned from the Royal Navy
How could such a thing happen
The arguments of Fei Limante and Holland primarily assert that the captain is the supreme authority on the ship. Once the captain consents to the presence of others, the resistance from the Qing forces can be regarded as an act of piracy, akin to the hijacking of the vessel. Therefore, the bombardment of the Gao Sheng by the Dongxiang is merely a response to the actions of pirates and is unrelated to the nationality of the Gao Sheng
Xixiang supported Yamamoto Kunpei
After confirming that the Gao Sheng was a British-registered vessel chartered by the Beiyang Fleet, carrying 1,200 soldiers and 14 cannons, Dongxiang Pingbalang ordered the Gao Sheng to follow his commands. However, the Qing troops on board refused to surrender and demanded to return to Dagu. After more than four hours of negotiations without results, Dongxiang raised the signal flag B, indicating "Abandon ship immediately, attack now" (red signal flag). Crew members who understood the signal began to jump into the sea, and Dongxiang subsequently launched torpedoes and opened fire on the Gao Sheng. The torpedoes surfaced midway and failed to hit their target, while the shells struck the engine room of the Gao Sheng. At 2 PM, the Gao Sheng sank
The "Regulations of the Naval Base," "Fleet Regulations," "Fleet Personnel Regulations," "Warship Personnel Regulations," and even the "Naval Salute Regulations" were all established under the leadership of Shimamura
Xixiang found it somewhat difficult: "These are all meritorious officials since the Saing War; the current generals alone account for half of them. They are all colleagues and fellow townsmen from Satsuma. Is it feasible to take action?"
The captain of the battleship Naniwa is Captain Heihachiro Togo. Togo experienced numerous naval battles, including the Sino-Japanese War and the Boshin War, and was later dispatched by the Meiji government to study naval military affairs in the United Kingdom. Togo spent eight years in the UK, and after being denied entry into the naval academy by the British government, he transferred to a merchant marine school, starting his practical training as a low-ranking sailor.
6. The main force of the Beiyang Navy first protected the maritime transport of the army, then supported the army in Korea, while simultaneously guarding the entrance to the Bohai Bay
1. The 6,000 troops of the Shengzi Army, led by Wei Rugui, stationed at the outpost, traveled to Pyongyang by sea
This was a naval battle of relatively small scale, yet it remains an unforgettable event for both China and Japan
In fact, less than five minutes after the naval battle began, Commander Fang Boqian of the Jiyuan ship turned around and fled to the west
However, was the Battle of Tsushima, characterized by overwhelming force and numbers, truly a flawless victory? The answer is no. How could three nearly brand-new battleships allow a slow-moving warship, already ten years old, to escape? This was a point of immediate criticism following the battle. Rear Admiral Kōzō Tsuboi, the inventor of the line-ahead battle formation and the president of the Naval War College, faced intense criticism. As a result of this criticism, during the subsequent Battle of the Yellow Sea, the Japanese Navy fully exploited its advantage in speed.
It is more advantageous to acquire the colonies of the enemy nation than to eliminate the enemy fleet, therefore the target of the French fleet's attack is not the enemy fleet but the colonies of the enemy nation
5. Before being surrounded by the enemy, 3,000 troops from the Yashan Leaf Division led by Zhi Chao and Nie Shicheng retreated to Pyongyang via sea routes
This viewpoint naturally attracted the attention of the financially constrained Japanese Navy. Minister of the Navy Yamamoto Isoroku (who had also served as Minister of the Navy, which seems somewhat peculiar) convened the main naval leaders and the staff of the Navy General Staff to study and discuss this topic, along with Vice Minister Hayashiyama Yoshinori, who even organized a special "Shimizu Conference" in Shizuoka Prefecture in June 1888.
Colonel Yamamoto had a short sword on his desk as he met with the officers on the list, announcing their dismissal decisions one by one. Regardless of the furious shouts of "usurpation and rebellion" or the desperate pleas, Yamamoto remained unmoved, cold-heartedly carrying out the first "downsizing operation" in the history of the Imperial Japanese Navy. However, he hesitated over one name and consulted Minister Saigo: "Is there a problem with this name?"
While pursuing Jiyuan, the Guo Yi, with a displacement of only 1,000 tons, charged towards Langsu and Qiuzhou, attempting to ram Qiuzhou with its bow. The closest distance to Qiuzhou was only 300 meters.
By eliminating the enemy fleet, one can obtain the colonies of the enemy nation
Do not engage in battles without a solid grasp of the situation, concentrate all efforts on maintaining one's own advantageous position, and seek out the enemy's weaknesses
The high-ranking officials were like this, and the Beiyang Fleet itself was even less inclined to consider real combat. Unlike the Japanese Navy, which frequently engaged in the study of warfare, there was no visible theoretical research on combat within the Beiyang Fleet. Therefore, when the war broke out, it was quite normal for the Beiyang Fleet to be constrained in every aspect.
In this situation, the decision to reinforce the front line in Korea, which is always on the brink of conflict, with additional troops did not involve the full mobilization of the Beiyang Fleet. What exactly were Li Hongzhang and Ding Ruchang thinking?
However, under the bombardment of the two cruisers, Nagato and Akitsushima, a massive explosion occurred at the bow, rendering the ship incapable of combat, forcing it to withdraw from the battle and retreat to shallow waters, ultimately running aground
Apart from the British captain, the first mate, and another British crew member, Heihachiro Togo did not rescue anyone. The next day, a passing French warship rescued approximately 200 people.
The plan formulated by the Qing army on July 16 includes the following six points
The following naval generals of Japan were listed in the Marshal's Office: Saigo Tsugumichi, Ito Yuyoh, Inoue Yoshitaka, Togo Heihachiro, Prince Arisugawa Taruhito, Ijuin Goro, Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito, Shimamura Hayao, Kato Tomosaburo, Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu, Yamamoto Isoroku, Nagano Shoshin, and Koga Mineichi
The comparison of forces in the Battle of Tsushima is as follows: On the Japanese side, there are three ships: the cruiser Yoshino, with a displacement of 4,216 tons, a speed of 22.5 knots, equipped with 25 cm and 12 cm rapid-fire guns, launched in October 1892; the cruiser Naniwa, with a displacement of 3,709 tons, a speed of 18 knots, equipped with 26 cm and 15 cm rapid-fire guns, launched in March 1885; and the cruiser Akitsushima, with a displacement of 3,150 tons, a speed of 19 knots, equipped with 25 cm and 12 cm rapid-fire guns, launched in July 1892. On the Beiyang Fleet side, there are three ships: the cruiser Jiyuan, with a displacement of 2,300 tons, a speed of 15 knots, equipped with 21 cm and 15 cm guns, launched in 1883; the cruiser Guangyi, with a displacement of 1,000 tons, a speed of 17 knots, equipped with 12 cm guns, launched in 1890; and the gunboat Caoyang, with a displacement of 950 tons, a speed of 9 knots, launched in 1860. A comparison of these details allows one to infer the outcome of this naval battle.
The Battle of Tsushima left the issue of the British merchant ship HMS Highflyer being sunk. The Japanese government only became aware of this matter on July 28. Initially, Itō Hirobumi and Mutsu Munemitsu were quite flustered, fearing British intervention. On that day, Foreign Minister Mutsu summoned the British Chargé d'Affaires in Japan, Waghorn, stating that the Japanese government was conducting an investigation, and "if the actions of the HMS Nisshin were unjust, the Japanese government would provide appropriate compensation." The British government also summoned the Japanese Ambassador to the UK, Aoki Shūzō, on August 3, issuing a note stating: "Regarding the sinking of the HMS Highflyer, the Japanese government should be prepared to assume full responsibility." However, during the British naval maritime trial held in Shanghai, the commander of the British Far East Fleet, Admiral Philimont, testified that Tōgō's actions were justified. Additionally, British international law authority, Professor Holland from Oxford University, published an article asserting that Tōgō Heihachirō did not violate international law, which quelled the surging anti-Japanese sentiment in Britain at the time.
Whether this argument is reasonable is one matter; it should be noted that British public opinion has changed in accordance with the developments of this naval battle. God only saves those who help themselves. The performance of the Beiyang Fleet before, during, and after the Battle of Dongsushima led the British to conclude that the inevitable victor of this war would be Japan, and that the British Empire would not support a side that was destined to fail. Therefore, the UK shifted from a slightly biased neutrality in favor of the Qing Dynasty to a position favoring Japan.
Apart from Isoroku Yamamoto, who died in battle, and Koga Mineichi, as well as the three members of the Imperial family, the others still hold some influence. Perhaps less well-known are Sokuo Shimamura and Goro Ijuin. I will discuss Ijuin later; in fact, Sokuo Shimamura is quite a character, deserving of the title "Marshal".
In fact, the internal discourse within the Japanese Navy differs from the statements issued by the General Staff.
Ishimura and Katō Yūzaburō are both from the 7th class of the Marine Corps. This 7th class is notorious for its brutality and violence, producing a significant number of individuals, including four Admirals in the Navy.
Yamamoto Kunpei responded very firmly: "It is sufficient to award them medals for their contributions; there is no reason to retain their official positions. As for the connections with Satsuma, they have already been heavily criticized by the National Assembly. Among these individuals, some do not even understand steam warships; they are relics from the age of sailing warships. With such people in the navy, progress will be impossible."
There are significant systemic reasons as well as minor reasons related to military management mechanisms
In fact, when Pingjing departed from the Sasebo base on July 23, he had already received orders from Minister of Military Affairs Hayama Sakuki: "After the 25th, if encountering Qing naval vessels, a preemptive attack may be initiated." This directive from Hayama Sakuki was not issued lightly; it was authorized by Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi and Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu. This was due to the fact that Japan's ultimatum to the Qing government on July 19 included the statement, "Any reinforcement activities by the Qing army in Korea will be regarded as a threat to Japan." The deadline for a response to the ultimatum was set for July 24.
Jiyuan took the opportunity to escape, simultaneously sending a signal of "Quick Escape" to the Caojiang.
In 1892, with the support of Minister Saigo, Yamamoto Gonnohyōe initiated his first action to reform the Japanese Navy, reorganizing the naval structure and dismissing those naval officers who were no longer suited to the circumstances. Yamamoto compiled a list of eight senior officers starting from vice admiral and 89 junior officers, and discussed it with Saigo.
If we say that before the Battle of Dazhi Island, the Japanese Navy was still a cautious gambler, then the battle was like a shot of adrenaline, invigorating them. This naval engagement ruthlessly stripped away the facade of the "first navy in Asia," revealing to the Japanese that the Beiyang Fleet was, in fact, a paper tiger. Such a careless and muddled troop deployment plan indicated to the Japanese that the Beiyang Fleet was merely for show or intimidation, and those in command of the fleet had no intention of utilizing it in actual combat. This reasoning is quite straightforward; the Beiyang Fleet had not added any new ships for ten years since the Jiyuan, and aside from the Dingyuan and Zhenyuan, which were already 13 years old and could still contend with the Japanese Navy, the other vessels were no match for the Japanese Navy's ships in that era of rapidly advancing naval and artillery technology.
However, Dongxiang recognized that Lin Taizeng had been on the ship from the flag. The individual whom Dongxiang had identified as the "most capable and most formidable commander of the Qing Navy" after repeated observations of the Beiyang Fleet would not be so easy to deal with, and Dongxiang already had a premonition of this.
In fact, the strategic tactics of the Japanese Navy bear the imprint of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. The initial success of the Japanese Navy was attributed to its strategic tactics, while its later failures were due to an inability to adapt its strategies and tactics to the changing times
Both sides exchanged formal salutes with a tense atmosphere, brimming with hostility and animosity
4. A total of 1,500 soldiers from Fengsheng Aluisheng are to travel by land to Pyongyang
On July 25, 1894, the Japanese Combined Fleet's First Detached Squadron, commanded by Rear Admiral Kozo Tsuboi, engaged in battle near Incheon in the waters off Toyoshima with the Beiyang Fleet's cruisers Jiyuan and Guangyi, as well as the gunboat Caoyang. The outcome was that Guangyi was damaged and ran aground, Caoyang was captured, and only Jiyuan managed to escape. At the same time, the British merchant ship Gao Sheng, chartered by the Beiyang Fleet, was sunk by the cruiser Naniwa, resulting in the deaths of nearly all of the 1,200 Qing Army soldiers and 14 field guns on board, except for a few who were rescued by a passing French warship. The Beiyang Fleet suffered a significant defeat.
After the meeting concluded, exercises were specifically organized to validate this theory, and it was compiled into the "Naval Warfare Exercise Manual" and the "Naval Regulations". To further deepen this theory, starting from August 1888, Captain Shimamura was dispatched to the United Kingdom for investigation, where he practiced for a year aboard the Edinburgh cruiser of the British Mediterranean Fleet. This internship system for the Japanese Army and Navy is commendable; unlike simply sending individuals abroad for study, these officers with practical experience are able to gain a clearer understanding of the strengths of foreign military forces.
Moreover, the one who was dispatched to France at the same time was the later Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Jisong Moutaro. Jisong Moutaro was also a member of the 7th class of the Naval Academy. The two maintained correspondence, comparing the differences between the French Navy and the British Navy. After their discussions, they discovered that the main idea of the French Navy is
After the preparation phase of the First Sino-Japanese War commenced, the appointment of Isomura Hayao, a major in rank, as the chief staff officer of the Combined Fleet, serving as an instructor in naval tactics, illustrates the Japanese Navy's emphasis on Isomura's theories. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Japanese Navy executed a sudden attack; it was an inevitable action
Ishiguro spent a total of two years and eight months in the United Kingdom. After returning to the country, he served in the First Section of the Military Affairs Bureau of the Navy Ministry, drafting regulations related to the then non-existent "wartime organization" and "preparation for deployment".
However, the British did not bully the Japanese. It was said to be a merchant marine school, but in reality, a significant portion of the graduates entered naval service. There, they were trained to the standards of naval officers to cultivate merchant ship crew members. The merchant fleet and the navy of the British Empire were inherently interconnected. The sole purpose of the Royal Navy was to ensure the safety of the British Empire's merchant fleet and to guarantee the smoothness of trade routes. The purpose of the Royal Navy's Union Jack flying across the seven seas was to allow the British Empire's merchant fleet to navigate freely across the oceans. To ensure the security of trade routes, the Royal Navy's principle was "attack upon sight of the enemy" without any unnecessary talk.
Both Tōgō and Saigō were from the same shipbuilding town, and of course Yamamoto was as well. Saigō could not intervene to plead, but at this moment, since Yamamoto had spoken: "Sure, the Naniwa is just in need of a captain, let Tōgō give it a try," thus, on the eve of the First Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese Navy seized the opportunity to reorganize, placing a group of the most capable officers in suitable positions. Looking back at the Russo-Japanese War a decade later, it is astonishing that the Russian fleet still had officers who could only operate sailing ships, which explains why the Russian Navy faced defeat.
In terms of organization, if Yamamoto Gonnohyōe is regarded as the "Father of the Navy" in Japan, then in terms of military strategy and tactics, Isamu Yamamura can also be considered the "Father of the Navy" in Japan. Due to the influence of the renowned author Shiba Ryōtarō's "Clouds Above the Slope," the name of Akiyama Saneyuki, the former chief of staff of the Combined Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War, is well-known to all. However, the space allocated to Major General Isamu Yamamura, the chief of staff of the Combined Fleet, in "Clouds Above the Slope" is quite limited, leading readers to the impression that Yamamura, who served as the chief of staff during the First Sino-Japanese War, merely held the position due to his seniority, with little understanding of what he actually accomplished.
The Gao Sheng and Cao Jiang were unable to escape due to their slow speed. The Cao Jiang surrendered to the Qiu Jin Zhou and was taken by the Qiu Jin Zhou to the main fleet of the Combined Fleet in the mountains. Yoshino then began to pursue the Ji Yuan, while the Gao Sheng was handed over to the Nankai.
The occurrence of being struck unexpectedly is quite common; later, Americans were also caught off guard by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. In fact, there is a characteristic of the Japanese's unexpected strikes: they are not actually heavy and do not pose a lethal threat; the key lies in how the other party reacts.
Dongxiang issued orders to prepare both salute shells and live ammunition simultaneously. The main gun's breech was opened, and the gunners took cover behind the shield, acting upon his commands, while he himself raised the telescope on the bridge to observe the movements in the distance
In retrospect, regarding the Beiyang Fleet, after acquiring the Dingyuan and Zhenyuan, and with all the captains being graduates from British institutions, as well as the assistance from the British in formulating nearly all the operational regulations, it is indeed questionable whether anyone truly considered the significance of these regulations. The role of the Beiyang Fleet in the Qing Dynasty was quite ambiguous, as the court funded Li Hongzhang to maintain a private army, and Li Hongzhang had no genuine intention of employing it in actual combat against European nations. The outcome of naval battles during the Sino-French War further solidified Li Hongzhang's confidence. As for Japan, Li Hongzhang initially did not believe that Japan would dare to go to war, but later found himself in a state of panic and helplessness, which provided the Japanese navy with the opportunity to realize its f = mv².
Eliminating the enemy fleet will enable control over the shipping route
If 1,200 reinforcements and 14 cannons were added to Ye Zhichao, it cannot be guaranteed that he would definitely be able to hold Chénghuān and Yáshān, but one can certainly imagine that the outcome would not be so easily disastrous.
Is this sneak attack the legendary "Invisible and Traceless Fist"? The answer is still "No." Lin Tai, the commander of the left wing of the Beiyang Navy and captain of the Zhenyuan, had already issued a warning about this.
1. Disrupting the enemy's trade routes is more advantageous than annihilating the enemy fleet; therefore, the objective of the French fleet is not the enemy fleet but rather the trade routes of the enemy nation
In fact, the reason why the Japanese fleet fled first during the Battle of Tsushima, rather than the Beiyang Fleet, also answers this question— the two fleets had different combat tactics
In 1888, Admiral Isokichi Yamamoto expressed his strategic thought in a paper titled "A Glimpse of Naval Tactics" using a momentum formula: f = mv², where f represents naval combat power, m denotes the tonnage of warships and other hardware indicators such as the caliber of artillery, while v encompasses software indicators such as formation, speed, training, and command. Yamamoto's theory posits that software is more important than hardware
In the future, Tōgō Heihachirō's fame began with his position as the captain of the battleship Asahi. However, his appointment as captain was quite fortuitous, as he nearly had nothing to do with the Asahi, having almost been dismissed from his post.
However, Li Hongzhang is much kinder than Pingjing Kozo imagined
However, Li Hongzhang did not seem to regard this statement as a problem and continued to reinforce troops in Korea. Reinforcing troops is certainly not an issue, but under the circumstances where war could break out at any moment, the deployment of only ships like Jiyuan, Guangyi, and Caijiang cannot help but lead one to conclude that Li Hongzhang did not genuinely believe that a conflict would arise between China and Japan in Korea
Pinglei stated: "At 7:52 AM, at a distance of approximately 3,000 meters, our fleet opened fire first, and the enemy ship immediately responded." The flagship's Kawahara said: "At 0752, at a distance of 3,000 meters, my port battery fired at Jiyuan, marking the first shot of the battle, followed by fire at Guangyi." Akitsushima's Uemura reported firing from the port side at 7:55 AM. Nankai's Tōgō also reported firing from the port side at 7:56 AM.
That is Wu Zhen's Chief of Staff, Higashikuni Heihachiro
The Battle of Doshima raises the persistent question of who fired the first shot. The Qing Dynasty naturally accused Japan of launching a surprise attack on the Beiyang Fleet before formally declaring war, thus instigating the First Sino-Japanese War. International opinion also aligned with the Qing's perspective, as logically, the claim from the Japanese High Command that the Jiyuan fired first at the Yoshino is difficult to accept. Naval warfare differs from land warfare; the tonnage of ships and the caliber of their guns largely determine the outcome of naval battles. A small vessel of around 2,000 tons would not initiate fire against a Japanese fleet whose total tonnage exceeds 10,000 tons, unless the commander of the Jiyuan, Fang Boqian, were a belligerent madman. However, in reality, Fang Boqian was known for his tendency to turn and flee, making it implausible for him to challenge the Japanese fleet proactively. Furthermore, the Japanese Combined Fleet has demonstrated in all subsequent conflicts, from the Russo-Japanese War to the Pacific War, that they have consistently engaged in deceitful tactics.
How could the Beiyang Fleet, reputed to be the strongest in Asia, be caught off guard? More than a hundred years after this naval battle, incessantly blaming the Japanese Navy for their sudden attack or treachery is ultimately unhelpful. What we should seek to understand is the reason behind being caught off guard and why, after being struck, we truly fell silent.
After the battle, all levels of commanders are required to submit a "detailed battle report." The Japan Ministry of Defense's Historical Division still preserves the detailed battle reports from that time, including those from Major General Kozo Tsuboi, Commander of the First Guerrilla Unit, Captain Yoshino Kawai, Captain of the Akitsushima, Lieutenant Commander Hikonojō Uemura, Captain of the Akitsushima, and Colonel Heihachirō Tōgō, Captain of the Naniwa.
At this moment, two plumes of coal smoke appearing from the West caught the attention of the First Guerrilla Brigade; they were the British merchant ship Gao Sheng and the escorting gunboat Cao Jiang.
The main philosophy of the British Navy is
In comparison, the differences are stark. The objectives of the Japanese army were very clear; from the outset, they planned to engage in combat within Chinese territory in order to secure their interests in Korea. In contrast, the Qing army's operational plans, aside from troop movements, reveal no discernible combat intentions. The Qing forces, tasked with defending Korea, never considered extending the conflict to Japanese territory from the very beginning. Furthermore, in the deployment of the Beiyang Fleet, aside from escort duties, there is no indication of any concept of "naval supremacy". The Qing army's operational plans, aside from troop movements, reveal no discernible combat intentions. The Qing forces, tasked with defending Korea, never considered extending the conflict to Japanese territory from the very beginning. Furthermore, in the deployment of the Beiyang Fleet, aside from escort duties, there is no indication of any concept of "naval supremacy".
It can be said that the outcome was already determinable at the onset of that war
3. It is unnecessary to emphasize the concentration of one's own forces, as the primary goal of eliminating the enemy will inevitably lead to a favorable situation. The conclusion is that the Japanese Navy should learn from the British principle of "engage the enemy whenever encountered," as this fundamentally addresses the issue. However, due to Japan's lack of the imperial power of Great Britain, Japan must adhere even more strictly to the principle of "engage the enemy whenever encountered." In essence, this means relying on surprise attacks and ambushes, which is the true origin of the Japanese Navy's penchant for gambling and trickery. However, due to Japan's lack of the imperial power of Great Britain, Japan must adhere even more strictly to the principle of "engage the enemy whenever encountered." In essence, this means relying on surprise attacks and ambushes, which is the true origin of the Japanese Navy's penchant for gambling and trickery.
As for Pingjing Kozo, firstly, after the 25th, he can initiate an attack. Secondly, seeing the Beiyang warships in this area startled him, as he knew that the Beiyang Fleet had already withdrawn from the Korean waters. The appearance of the Jiyuan here indicates that the Beiyang Fleet has returned. At this tense moment, it is unreasonable for the small ship Jiyuan to appear alone; the Dingyuan and Zhenyuan must be nearby. Their mission this time is to retrieve the Yawata Maru, and it is very likely that the Japanese warships in the vicinity have already been cleared out by the Beiyang Fleet. At this tense moment, it is unreasonable for the small ship Jiyuan to appear alone; the Dingyuan and Zhenyuan must be nearby. Their mission this time is to retrieve the Yawata Maru, and it is very likely that the Japanese warships in the vicinity have already been cleared out by the Beiyang Fleet.
Later, the Minister of the Navy, Marshal Admiral Kato Yuzaburo, was then the gunnery officer of the Yoshino. The sixth Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Yoshimatsu Shigetaro, was then the turret officer of the Yoshino. Major General Shimauchi Kenta, who later served as the captain of the Fusō, was then a midshipman candidate on the Yoshino. His recollection is as follows: "At a distance of 3,000 meters, the order to 'fire' was issued on board. The turret officer asked me to confirm on the bridge. Just as I climbed up to the bridge, the gunnery officer shouted at me, 'Why aren't you firing yet?'" Captain Tōgō Heihachirō of the Nisshin recorded in his diary: "At 7:20 AM, after confirming the Qing warships Jiyuan and Guangyi far off the coast of Toyoshima, I immediately ordered combat. At 7:55 AM, the battle commenced, and five minutes later, we were searching for the enemy ship's traces amidst the smoke to engage in bombardment. At this time, Guangyi was behind me, and I hurriedly fired the portside guns. Possibly hit, Guangyi headed towards the land. I began to pursue Jiyuan, and soon Jiyuan raised a white flag."
Therefore, Nomura Minoru, a former historian at the Japanese Defense Agency's Defense Research Institute, a professor at the National Defense Medical College, and a renowned naval historian, clearly pointed out: "Upon reviewing these materials, one can only believe that the Yoshino was the first to fire in the Battle of Tōyama. Commander Kōzō Tsuboi mistakenly believed that the war had already begun, and that the Jiyuan and Guangyi were Qing warships coming to challenge us. It was the General Staff that concealed the fact that the Yoshino fired the first shot due to concerns about the responsibility for the war." In fact, over one hundred ten years after the Battle of Tōyama, continuing to debate who fired the first shot is meaningless. Rather, the focus of research should be on why the Beiyang Fleet did not fire the first shot. Knowing that war was inevitable at that time, sending small units to escort reinforcements resulted in the loss of over one thousand infantry and 14 artillery pieces. Consequently, during the Battle of Chenghuan, which began at 5:10 AM on July 29, the already fearful Ye Zhichao, with 3,000 men against the Japanese 10th Brigade's 3,500, abandoned Chenghuan in just two hours. Later, at 2 PM, he also lost Yashan. In the battles of Chenghuan and Yashan, the Qing army suffered approximately 500 casualties, while the Japanese had 82.
"Indeed, it is General Lin," Dongxiang exclaimed. The deck of the Pingyuan was empty, and Lin Taizeng had been observing the Langsu with a telescope from the bridge, which clearly suggested that Lin Taizeng had adopted the same approach as Dongxiang—both learned from their British instructors.
However, reality does not provide room for imagination
3. The Left Precious Department dispatched 3,500 troops to Pyongyang by land
Admiral Tōgō had no choice but to abandon the idea of a preemptive strike, issuing orders to fire salute cannons and render honors. Naval vessels at sea are required to salute ships of higher rank. The Beiyang Fleet did not have modern military ranks, but the Japanese classified the Qing Dynasty's generals as major generals and captains as colonels. Thus, Lin Taizeng was considered a major general, and when Colonel Tōgō encountered Major General Lin, he was expected to salute with cannon fire.
2. The 6,000 troops of the Ma Yukun Yi Army stationed in Lüshun, after landing at Dadonggou, proceeded to Pyongyang by land