In the Qing Dynasty, there were Nanyang Navy, Beiyang Navy and Fujian Navy. Fujian Navy was eliminated in a shorter time, leaving only Nanyang and Beiyang. The leader of beiyang fleet is Li Hongzhang, while Nanyang is Zuo and Shen Baozhen. Although all three people serve the country, they are enemies politically, especially when it comes to their own interests. They never give in.

Because Li Hongzhang himself had a very high position in the imperial court, Beiyang Navy was the most powerful team at that time. After the Sino-Japanese War broke out, if the two naval divisions cooperated in unison, they might be able to pull back a game. In the end, Nanyang did not save the foreign navy in time. In fact, it was not the revenge of the Nanyang navy, but the fighting lasted for five hours. In this battle, beiyang fleet was completely annihilated. Although Nanyang Fleet wanted to save it, it didn't have time to save it.

Because the two teams had personal enmity before, there was little contact between them, and they didn't tell each other their battle plans before the war. Besides, Li Hongzhang is so conceited that he doesn't want Nanyang Navy to help him. Moreover, the Japanese side prepared a lot in this battle and bought all the new warships. After the defeat of Beiyang Army, Japan did not suffer any losses. If the Nanyang navy retaliates against the Beiyang navy at this time, it will have no effect at all, but will be destroyed by the Japanese army.

Therefore, it is precisely because of these reasons that the Nanyang Navy did not save the Beiyang Navy, and it is precisely because of the Sino-Japanese War that the history of the late Qing Dynasty began to undergo major changes.