Ivory Ridge is just an inconspicuous small mountain in North Korea, and a north-south road connects Chenghuan and Kaesong, because Ivory Ridge is close to this important road, so it is gradually becoming known. There are two main roads from Asan and Chenghuanyi, one is the main road that goes straight to Kaesong through Seoul, but now Seoul is under Japanese control, and Japan has stationed thousands of troops in Seoul. The other is the road leading to Kaesong through Ivory Ridge, which is not very wide, but it is much closer to Kaesong than to Seoul, so Ivory Ridge has also become a strategic point that the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese army often pay attention to.

At this time, it was almost noon, and an army came from the south on the road, which was the remnants of Ye Zhichao's Beida Battalion, marching all the way here. Shan Lianke urged the horse to Ye Zhichao's approach, and said: "Dashuai, we have reached the Ivory Ridge, cross the Ivory Ridge, and then go north less than eighty miles to reach Kaecheng, which has reached the edge of the Japanese army's control range, as long as we turn over, the Japanese army will be beyond the reach of the whip, and we will be completely safe." ”

Ye Zhichao perked up and said, "Pass the order, let the brothers work harder, and go through the Ivory Ridge with all their strength to rest again!" ”

Shan Lian Chaogao shouted: "Brothers, work harder, after this ivory ridge, Kaesong is close at hand." When the time comes, let you have a good rest, Lao Tzu will prepare wine and meat for you in Kaesong, work harder, and continue to march! ”

When everyone heard about the good wine and meat, their spirits were immediately lifted, and their strength rose a lot, and they shouted and continued to move forward.

In the dense forest of Ivory Ridge, Xu Huaijin led more than a dozen brothers who had been waiting here for a long time, and they rode their war horses all the way to gallop all the way, and arrived here in less than a day, and then divided into two teams and took turns to monitor the movement on the main road. Xu Huaijin held a straw in his mouth, pillowed his arms, crossed Erlang's legs, and reclined in the dense forest, closing his eyes to recuperate.

At this time, Qin Daqi gently pushed him and said softly, "Captain Xu, Ye Zhichao is here." ”

Xu Huaijin perked up, jumped up gently, lay on a mountain rock, and looked in the direction of Qin Daqi's finger. I saw a Qing army scattered in the south, scattered and embarrassed, it was Ye Zhichao's troops from the northern battalion.

Xu Huaijin shouted lightly: "Everyone is in a fighting state and ready to fight!" Brother Qin, did you find Ye Zhichao? ”

Qin Daqi shook his head and said, "Not yet, the team is a little far away, and when it gets closer, I'm identifying you." ”

Xu Huaijin nodded, staring intently at the Beidaying army on the official road, and sweat stains gradually appeared in his palms.

After less than half a cup of tea, Qin Daqi and Zheng Sihu shouted softly in unison: "Here, the one in the team wearing a flower feather on the top and bandages on his arm is Ye Zhichao!" ”

Xu Huaijin stared at him and asked, "Two brothers, are you sure you are not mistaken?" ”

The two of them nodded and said in unison: "It's not wrong, the appearance and dress are all right." You can't go wrong! ”

Xu Huaijin shouted lightly: "Everyone is ready to shoot, wait for the team to get closer, shoot together, and be sure to kill Ye Zhichao with one blow!" ”

Ye Zhichao walked slowly in the crowd, due to the injury of his right arm, his speed was relatively slow, he lowered his head and was thinking about how to restore the battle situation on the side of the court next, holding the top on his head.

Suddenly, a burst of gunfire rang out, Ye Zhichao felt a soreness on his body, and in an instant, he had already been shot several times and fell off the horse.

The team of the Beida camp was suddenly in chaos, and when Shan Lianke saw Ye Zhichao fall off his horse, he shouted: "Protect the handsome!" Saying that, he urged the horse to squeeze towards Ye Zhichao, and the other soldiers looked panicked and at a loss.

Xu Huaijin on the hillside smiled and said, "Brothers, set off firecrackers!" ”

The brethren of the blue wolf brigade did not know when they each prepared two firecrackers, which were lit at once and resounded.

Seeing Ye Zhichao being shot and falling off his horse, at the same time, a rapid "gunshot" sounded on the mountain, thinking that the Japanese army was ambushed here, and they immediately made a mess and dispersed. Shan Lianke couldn't see it well, so he had to leave Ye Zhichao behind and flee in a hurry.

Xu Huaijin saw that the people and horses of the Beidaying were running away, stood up, and sneered: "A group of stupid pigs! The first team is on guard on the side of the road, and the second team is going to check with me to see if Ye Zhichao is dead. ”

When everyone came to Ye Zhichao's side, Qin Daqi lowered his body, took a closer look, stood up and said, "That's right, it's Ye Zhichao, who is already dead." ”

Xu Huaijin sneered and said, "Give the head to the two commanders and throw the body aside." "The head of Ye Zhichao, a person, came up below, and everyone retreated like a gust of wind.

Across the sea from Korea, in Tokyo, Japan, Ito Hirobumi was pacing back and forth in the Prime Minister's Office, Japan and the Qing Kingdom had already started a war, and this war was a battle for the survival of the Japanese Empire. Ito Hirobumi was also very anxious in his heart, thinking about the battle situation on the Korean battlefield while waiting for the information on the war situation in North Korea.

At this time, an intelligence officer hurriedly walked in and said urgently: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, General Yoshimasa Oshima of North Korea has sent an urgent telegram. ”

Ito Hirobumi's face changed, and he hurriedly said: "Bring me the telegram!" Oyama Iwa, Kodama Gentaro and others around him eagerly surrounded him.

The intelligence officer handed over the telegram, and Ito looked at it, his brow furrowed. muttered: "Our army attacked in the middle of the night, only defeated the North Day, the siege of the South Camp failed, both sides were damaged, our army was stationed for a small group of Qing troops to sneak attack, the remaining logistics squadron was routed for it, and the weapons and baggage were burned?" Then faced with a squadron of Japanese cavalry several times larger than himself, how could it be possible? How is this possible! When did the Qing Dynasty have such a powerful army! ”

Immediately, Ito Hirobumi was furious, tore the telegram to shreds, and scolded angrily: "Yaga, Oshima Yoshimasa, this waste, sneak attacked at night, and he couldn't even deal with the stupid pig-like Shina! Rubbish! ”

Gentaro Kodama frowned tightly and said, "Prime Minister, the Qing Army's Ye Zhichao Department is vulnerable, so there is nothing to worry about; However, it has long been heard that Nie Shicheng is the first-class elite of the Huai Army under Li Hongzhang, with outstanding military achievements, and is one of the most warlike elite soldiers in the Qing Dynasty. Nie Shicheng defended the danger and came prepared, and it was reasonable that Oshima Jun did not finish the first battle. Now that the Qing reinforcements are constantly entering Korea, it seems that our army is going to step up the transportation of reinforcements into Korea. ”

Ito Hirobumi said angrily: "Baga! Oshimabe is the first-class elite of Great Japan, and its morale, quality, supply, and equipment are superior to the Qing army. Yaga! ”

War Minister Oyama Iwa persuaded him: "What Kodama Genjun said is extremely true, now that the Japanese Qing war has begun, we are already like a tiger, and this battle can only succeed and not fail. In the event of a defeat at the front, the path to imperial power will suffer huge losses. I suggest urging the first army of Yama Prefecture Aritomo to step up its march into Korea, join up with Oshima Yoshimasabu, launch an offensive, crush the Qing army in one fell swoop, and take Korea! ”

Ito Hirobumi was silent for a long time, and said slowly: "Saigo-kun, how is the combat preparation of the Imperial Navy now?" ”

The Minister of the Navy, Saigo, replied proudly: "Your Excellency Prime Minister, now that the Imperial Navy's war mobilization has already been issued, everything is ready, and soon we will wait for the opportunity to start a big war with the Qing Beiyang Navy near the Yellow Sea. ”

Ito Hirofumi sighed: "Saigo-kun, Li Hongzhang is the hero of the world, Western countries are called the Oriental Bismarck, it is really not to be underestimated, the Beiyang Navy is known as the first in Asia, and the combat power will not be underestimated by us, this war is very important, we should be cautious, if there is a fighter, we must annihilate it in one battle!" Don't give it a chance to breathe! ”

Saigo nodded vigorously and replied, "Hai! ”

Ito Hirobumi waved his hand violently and said: "Order, the commander of the First Army, Aritomo Yamaguchi, quickly dispatch the Fifth Division to support North Korea, and the Navy will do a good job of transportation!" Order Yoshimasa Oshima, North Korea, quickly assemble the Korean garrison, continue to advance northward, be sure to annihilate Ye Zhichao and Nie Shicheng's troops before the Qing reinforcements arrive in Pyongyang, and then join forces with the follow-up reinforcements to attack Pyongyang and force the Qing territory! Order, the Navy Ito Youheng, step up the deployment of maritime offensive matters, wait for the opportunity to annihilate the Qing Beiyang Navy, at least hit it hard, and dare not sail on the high seas again! Seize sea supremacy in the waters of the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan! ”