Europe, Britain, when Congress passed the motion to launch a war against China, Britain, the world's number one military and economic power at that time, began to operate efficiently. One month after the motion was passed, a detailed plan of combat against China was placed in front of the Prime Minister, and the British Minister of Navy, Army and Finance also appeared.

"15 million pounds? It really requires such a large expense?" After reading the plan, the Prime Minister looked up and asked the Minister of Finance. The Minister of Finance shrugged his shoulders and looked at the other two ministers, saying that all this should be asked the other two. The Prime Minister's eyes turned to the other two ministers, and the Prime Minister's expression was very serious.

"Mr. Prime Minister, in fact, this is true. Through our intelligence agencies' predictions, the Chinese army has made great progress compared to the last war. The coalition's defeat this time is that we realize that China currently has an army, and this army is formed in full accordance with the current Western army model, and its number should be between 80,000 and 100,000." The Secretary of the Army stepped forward to report:

"Is the situation true?" the Prime Minister asked again.

"It is completely true. According to the intelligence, the equipment of this army is from Prussia. Judging from the fact that their artillery can encircle and annihilate our naval fleet, they have a considerable number of artillery. While fighting with our coalition forces in the north, the Chinese army still has the energy to launch an attack on Guangzhou and Hong Kong, which shows how many of their numbers are." This time the answer was the Minister of Navy.

"Does France know this? What is the scale of their expected military dispatch?" the Prime Minister continued to ask.

"The French side should have relevant information, but we still informed the French side. It is said that they were also feeling that the imperial meeting was convening." The Secretary of the Army continued to answer.

"Fifty thousand army, one hundred warships, and a large number of transport ships, are your expenses accurate?" The Prime Minister already felt that his head hurt a little. Although Britain is very rich, the military expenditure of 15 million is not a small amount. If the war fails, the opposition parties will have to make a big deal again, so the Prime Minister must do it with caution.

"Totally accurate, Mr. Prime Minister, we still consider the conclusions that we can make after organizing some supplies in China." The Minister of Finance paused and looked at the Prime Minister and continued to say: "I am ashamed that organizing supplies in China means plundering." Although the Minister of Finance used a very implicit word, the Prime Minister still understood what he meant, that is, after the army reached China, it could plunder and supplement the troops' food and grass.

"Okay, I understand. Finally, I would like to ask, if we launch a war against China on this scale, how long is the preparation period? How much is the confidence to win?" The Prime Minister continued his own question after thinking for a while.

"Sir, the preparation period will take at least half a year, and it will take half a year to concentrate the troops to the base in Southeast Asia. At about this time next year, we believe that we should be 60% sure of fighting against the Chinese army at this scale." The Army Minister came to his own conclusion.

"Sixty percent sure?" The Prime Minister looked at the ministers in question.

"Yes, sir, it's 60%. There is no consideration for France and Russia. As for the United States, I don't have much hope for their commitment to sending troops."

"Very good, gentlemen, I'll go to Jin to meet Her Majesty the Queen now. I hope this time I will get news of victory and a considerable amount of compensation from China." A smile finally appeared on the Prime Minister's face.

"As you did, sir." Several ministers answered at the same time.

The British judgement was still very objective. Although Yang Yi and his new army have reached nearly 30 people, they have fully met the equipment standards. There are only six divisions, about 90,000 people. Moreover, these few divisions are still used in scattered manner. Chen Yucheng went south to bring two divisions, and Li Xiucheng's 100,000 troops, and there was only one well-equipped division in Li Xiucheng's 100,000 troops, and the others are based on old-fashioned muskets. Considering that Nie Shicheng went to the Northeast alone and might fight against Russia alone, Yang Yi gave Nie Shicheng a reorganized new equipment division, and most of the cavalry. Yang Yi was the supreme commander of the new army. The more than 10,000 people he led were also new equipment. There was also a division cooperating with other troops to stay in Jiangnan to monitor Zeng Guofan and Shi Dakai.

The problem of artillery was also the problem of artillery, especially the caliber artillery. The new army's large-caliber artillery was not equipped with many large-caliber artillery. Perhaps because the steelmaking technology was not mature, the large-caliber artillery produced was easily exploded if it was fired continuously. In the last artillery battle with the British Navy, a considerable number of artillery fired. In addition to the combat losses, Yang Yi did not have many large-caliber artillery. The last problem was the problem of ammunition. Although Yang Yi implemented new economic policies in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, vigorously supported machine production, and promoted the development of national industrial industry. But objectively speaking,

At present, China is still in its infancy in industry. Even the military industry on which Yang Yi relies on is quite small in scale. It can still be dealt with in local wars. Once the war is too large, the troops will be short of ammunition. This is why Yang Yi has been unable to quickly control the country. Compared with Britain and France, which had completed the industrial revolution in the West, China's industrial strength and war strength are completely incompatible. In Yang Yi's opinion, once a war with the West is about to be maintained, it is very good. Once the stalemate stage, Western countries will have a long journey and the problem of supply difficulties will be exposed.

Just as the British cabinet was discussing the scale of the war against China, Napoleon III of France also summoned his ministers to discuss the intelligence sent by Britain.

The French were not fools either. As the largest army in the European continent, the French army had the best quality at that time, both soldiers and officers. Otherwise, what would Napoleon use to sweep the European continent?

The French have their own views on fighting against China. After restoring the imperial system and controlling domestic rights, there were many opposition forces in France. They originally planned to expand the emperor's prestige among the people by launching a war against China, expand France's influence on the European continent, and get large sums of compensation from China. Who knew that the coalition forces were wiped out in annihilation. For a moment, hostile forces at home and abroad applauded, and His Majesty the Emperor's situation was extremely difficult. In order to save this situation, it was necessary to return to the war against China. France is a weakness in the navy, so the navy mainly relies on Britain. Since the navy cannot play much role, it can only increase its strength in the army. The British dispatched 50,000 troops, plus the Shanghai army, and the French should dispatch at least 80,000 troops. China is too far away, dispatched such a large scale

The army has huge expenses, but this battle has to be fought. After urgent consultations between the monarch and his ministers, France decided to send 80,000 troops, and it was entirely the army, so the navy had to ask Britain. The war machines of Britain and France have begun to operate. As allymen of this war, Russia may be the most convenient country to send troops to China. Russia borders China, and the Tsar also covets the territory of eastern China and Mongolia for a long time, so Russia's attitude towards China's war is also very positive. The only thing that makes the Tsar's headache is that Russia lost 200,000 soldiers in the Crimean War. Due to the failure of the Crimean War, Russian Tsar Alexander II realized that reform of the serf system was imminent, and he also hoped to make up for the domestic economic and political difficulties by reaping certain benefits from the war against China.

However, the attitude of Britain and France in the Crimean War caused Russia to have many concerns about the sincerity of the two countries. Although they were all alliances on the surface, several countries fought in Turkey two years ago. Therefore, although Russia urgently hoped to gain benefits from China, in the early stages of the war, it still held a wait-and-see attitude and always had to wait and see when Britain and France fought similarly before they could send troops to take advantage of the situation. Although they had the mentality of watching the fire from the other side of the river, the attitude still had to be made, and the Tsar began to assemble troops to the Chinese border.

As for the United States, the current domestic situation is turbulent. The emerging bourgeoisie in the north and the conservative slave owners in the south have great differences and contradictions in social form and ideology. The opposition between the two sides is extremely strong, and the contradictions are getting deeper. The clouds of war cover the United States. If we send troops to China, we only shout a few times. If we expect the United States to send troops, we don’t have to fight this battle.

While European countries were preparing for war, China's Yang Yi's national control plan also came to a critical step. The arrival of Concubine Lan and Prince Zaichun gave Yang Yi a problem, but it also gave Yang Yi an opportunity. At least it was an opportunity to temporarily stabilize the country.

Outside Chengde City, after discussion, Yang Yi and Zhang Jian first used the emperor to order the princes, and then gradually disintegrate the domestic power and then complete control of the whole country. After all, if the new army wants to completely control the whole country, it will not be possible in the short term. Moreover, the attack of Western countries is imminent. Yang Yi and the new army have no time to prepare. After repelling the attack of Western powers, they will turn back to clean up the domestic situation. This is the most feasible solution at the moment. China must return to the hands of the Han people. The purpose of the People's Party is to "expel the Tartars and return me to China." This point will not be forgotten, both Yang Yi and Zhang Jian will not forget. The Qing Dynasty's notice to China and the disaster brought to the Chinese nation is really clear to Yang Yi, a hot future. The tragedy of history must not be repeated in his own hands. Yang Yi told himself clearly.
Chapter completed!