Li Hongzhang, having grown more astute, decided to temporarily compromise by agreeing to the "internal reforms" in Korea, but with the precondition that both parties must first withdraw their troops.
Mutsu Munemitsu, however, firmly refused to agree to a withdrawal. He went further, accusing China of insincerity and stating that if war broke out, the blame would lie squarely on China for intentionally provoking the conflict.
On July 14, Japan issued its second notice of severance to the Qing court.
The British, deeply troubled by the escalating situation, directly proposed establishing a "neutral zone" in Incheon, where no nation's troops would be allowed to enter. Out of respect for the British, Mutsu Munemitsu reported this plan to Emperor Meiji.
Emperor Meiji's response was a resounding no. Incheon was Japan's most crucial transit base for transporting troops from the mainland to Korea, and it could not be forfeited.
The British then suggested drawing a line within Korea, similar to the later 38th parallel: the area south of Seoul would be occupied by Japanese forces, while the area north of Seoul would be under Chinese control.
This plan already favored Japan significantly, yet Emperor Meiji still did not agree.
Japan's ambitions extended beyond half of Korea; they aimed for the entirety of Korea and the mainland!
With solid domestic support, Mutsu Munemitsu felt more confident. He understood why the British repeatedly compromised and accommodated Japan's seemingly insatiable demands: the British had no direct interests in Korea. Their main goal was to contain Russia, thus maintaining peace between China and Japan.
As to who benefited from Korea, the British were indifferent.
Therefore, Mutsu Munemitsu played a card that greatly concerned the British: Russia had already tacitly approved Japan's war plans.
He boldly shared the prior agreements with the Russian envoy and subsequent agreements exchanged between the two governments with the British.
This information deeply shocked the British.
As a maritime power, Britain maintained a small army and was unwilling to engage in direct conflict with Russia. Instead, they preferred to support one country against another on the continent, as they had done in Europe.
Previously, Britain supported the Qing Dynasty against Russia. Now, seeing Japan's interest, they didn't mind supporting an additional ally.
Britain's strategy was to entangle Russian and Japanese interests in Korea, transforming the Anglo-Russian conflict into a Russo-Japanese one. This way, Britain could meddle and manipulate the situation to their advantage.
Thus, the British quickly softened their stance, also tacitly approving Japan's war against China.
Moreover, Japan's last unequal treaty, the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, was revised.
The new treaty abolished British concessions in Japan, ended extraterritoriality, and allowed Japan to raise tariffs on British goods from 5% to between 10% and 15%.
Britain not only relinquished its privileges in Japan but also provided Japan with tariff benefits as financial support.
As a result, Li Hongzhang's "using one foreign power against another" strategy failed completely, while Mutsu Munemitsu's similar strategy achieved great success.
On July 19, three days after Britain had clearly expressed its support for Japan, the Japanese troops occupying Seoul took swift action. They stormed the Korean royal palace and presented an ultimatum to the Korean government.
Nominally addressed to the Kingdom of Korea, this ultimatum was essentially a pretext to justify a war with the Qing Dynasty. As a vassal state, Korea was bound to reject such demands, giving the Japanese a legitimate excuse to occupy the palace and force the Korean king to request Japanese assistance in expelling the Qing forces.
This maneuver provided Japan with a "legitimate" reason to attack the Qing forces.
On July 23, the well-known and deeply lamented First Sino-Japanese War broke out.
On July 25, Tsarevich Nicholas returned to St. Petersburg aboard the yacht *Polar Star*. He found his father, Emperor Alexander III, presiding over his sister Xenia's wedding, but the Tsar's fatigued appearance caused concern.
On July 28, the Battle of Asan saw the defeat of Qing forces.
On August 10, Alexander III, who had been "ill only twice in his life," fell ill. His feet swelled, and his skin turned sallow. Dr. Zakharin's examination found no severe issues.
Nevertheless, the Tsar's health deteriorated rapidly. Eventually, Ernst von Leyden, a German expert sent by Kaiser Wilhelm II, diagnosed him with nephritis, which was incurable at the time.
On September 15, the Battle of Pyongyang resulted in another defeat for the Qing forces.
On September 17, the Battle of the Yalu River saw the Qing navy defeated.
On September 21, Alexander III, accompanied by Empress Maria Feodorovna and Nicholas, arrived at the Livadia Palace. That evening, the family had a sorrowful dinner together in the imperial couple's room.
Maria Feodorovna tenderly cared for Alexander III, who murmured, "Before I die, I have met an angel," kissing her hand and saying, "Poor Minny."
On October 5, the family was summoned to the Tsar's bedside.
"Tell me the truth," Alexander III asked the doctor, "how long do I have to live?"
"That is for God to decide, but I have seen miraculous recoveries."
"Do I have two weeks?"
Dr. Leyden was silent but nodded, prompting Alexander III to ask Nicholas to immediately summon Alix (Alexandra).
When Alix arrived, the Tsar, with great effort, donned his full military uniform and medals to formally receive her but had little strength left to rise and kiss her.
Alix knelt at the Tsar's feet, and the exertion caused him significant pain, though he was delighted to see her. The effort left him unable to lie down without pain.
Alexander III made his final confession.
Father Yanishev inquired whether the Tsar had given Nicholas any advice. Alexander III curtly replied, "No. He knows."
A short while later, Alexander III summoned Nicholas and weakly advised, "Do not let anyone forget who you are."
On the night of October 19, Alexander III began coughing blood and moaning that he couldn't breathe. He insisted on getting out of bed, dressed in a gray coat, and was helped to his armchair, where he awaited dawn.
Empress Maria entered the room, and Alexander III sighed, "I feel my time is short. Be calm. I am calm."
Doctors administered oxygen, Father Ioann held his hand, Maria sat beside him, surrounded by relatives, doctors, courtiers, and servants.
Nicholas paced the balcony, already sensing the sacred burden of the Russian crown looming over him.
Father Ioann from Kronstadt performed the last rites and confession. The Tsar began to twitch lightly.
The Romanov family knelt and prayed. A doctor handed Alexander III a glass of water. He whispered a brief prayer, kissed his beloved wife, sighed, and his head fell onto Maria's chest.
The "giant" died as he lived, disdainful of grandiose displays, an enemy of theatricality.
Family members kissed the deceased Tsar's forehead and then the new Tsar's hand.
The crown prince—now Nicholas II—felt dizzy and could hardly believe it all.
At 4 PM, Father Yanishev conducted the oath of allegiance to Nicholas II at an outdoor altar in the garden. The warships of Sevastopol fired salutes in honor.
The next morning at 10 AM, Elena converted to Orthodoxy, taking the name Alexandra Feodorovna.
On October 24, the Battle of Jiuliancheng ended in another defeat for the Qing forces.
On October 27, the young Tsar, his brother Georgy, and their uncles carried the coffin from the Livadia Palace to a contingent of Cossack honor guards, who then transported it to the Yalta pier.
Thousands of peasants lined the path, crossing themselves and kneeling as the coffin passed.
On November 1 at 10 AM, Nicholas II arrived in St. Petersburg with his father's coffin by train.
Thus began the era of Nicholas II.