Chapter 168 A Day to Decide Destiny

The cold current from the Arctic Ocean still hit Tokyo with light snow. Despite the cold wind, a snow brought the flavor of some years to Tokyo.

The atmosphere of the New Year may be that I am rapidly westernizing, but some habits that have been learned in China for thousands of years cannot be abandoned, just like this New Year.

However, compared with the bustle and joy of the people celebrating the approaching Spring Festival, the military and political dignitaries in Tokyo are burdened physically and mentally, and they all seem to be exhausted. Today is the moment to decide their fate. On this night, many people can't sleep peacefully.

At dawn on February 4th, Ito Hirofumi received the holy order of "quickly entering the palace". He got up immediately and immediately entered the palace. The place where it was introduced was the harem where the emperor often lived. As the living room of the Meiji emperor, it was Hirofumi Ito, who was the minister of the palace and the prime minister, who came here for the first time.

He took off his shoes and walked into the bedroom. He saw that the emperor was still wearing white indoor clothes, as if he had not washed up, so he stayed up all night waiting anxiously for the dawn in order to summon him to the palace. What needs to be discussed is still a matter of determination to go to war.

"At the invitation of Prime Minister Gui, I will have a major decision to be announced at today's senior cabinet meeting!"

Meiji, who turned his back to Hirofumi Ito, slowly turned around and looked at Hirofumi Ito bowing.

"Therefore, I want to hear Aiqing's opinion!"

Meiji, with a sad face, looked directly at Hirofumi Ito and said in a low voice.

"Please speak frankly!"

Hirofumi Ito raised his head and bowed again, "Your Majesty, please be clear!"

Ito Hirofumi's voice was not loud enough to reach Meiji's ears.

"The national disaster is coming. If we are still like now, just looking for a little peace, one day, we will invade the foreign enemy. At that time, it will not be a repeat of the attack of the black ship, but the prestige to the survival of our country."

Hirofumi Ito looked up at Meiji, who turned around again.

"Now only when loyal and brave ministers fight to fight can they maintain the immortality of the country!"

Hirofumi Ito's words plunged Meiji into deep thought. His eyes were dark in the night sky, but his heart was calm. Today... Today is the fate of Japan!

Standing in the corridor, quietly looking at the gloomy sky outside the corridor, Chen Moran held a cigarette in his hand, spitting smoke in the outer garden from time to time, and then stared at the smoke spreading in the breeze.

The current Chen Moran is completely different from the past. Judging from his neat clothes and straight back, he is obviously not as negligent as he did in the past. The collar of his shirt is white and stiff, and the folds on the trousers are ironed straight. Not only have there been completely different changes in clothes, but also in appearance. The skin is no longer white in the past, but it looks a little dark, and the eyes have become deep, but it does not see the melancholy of the past. Like ordinary people who are over 30 years old, after three years of this time and space, his eyes His horns are full of wrinkles, and he seems to be deeper than in the past, because he is always used to frowning.

"It's today!"

When he tore open the long-marked wall calendar in the morning, Chen Moran knew that if the so-called butterfly effect did not affect the Japanese book, then today, the Japanese book would make a decision on their orders, not only the moment when the Japanese book would make a decision on their fate, but also at dinner in the morning, Chen Moran Seeing the moment of deciding the fate, it also came to me.

"Su Song Tai Dao Rui's strict investigation of the industrial company's excess building..."

Corresponding to it is the former transfer of 12 battalions from Duanfang in Dangtu County and Shanghai County. They are undoubtedly ready to do the right industrial company. They are ready to do it, and they are also ready to do it.

"Although I can win, I will never be a real winner!"

"It is true that it can win, but after this war, the expansion of its power will certainly arouse the suspicion of the great powers, especially the United States. The Hawaii crisis of the United States a few years ago has shown a potential conflict of interests between the two countries in the Pacific Ocean. If it is a complete victory and the loss of Russia's checks and balances, the United States will have to consider the threat posed by the Pacific Ocean to its rapid rise and strong naval power! And it is also necessary to adjust the order of the imaginary enemies in the Far East. Now it is Russia, and he said it must be the United States.

"The British Alliance has made the United States more vigilant to Britain and Japan. The confrontation between the United States will force the United States to find a suitable ally on the other side of the Pacific Ocean! And who can take on this responsibility except China!"

"After this war, the real winner is China..."

Thinking of Jiang Fangzhen's words last night, Chen Moran smiled a little. Maybe the Qing Congress missed the opportunity to form an alliance with the United States, but he must seize this opportunity, not only for diplomatic needs, but also for political and military needs.

"China is the real winner!"

Take advantage of the favorable opportunity of this war to realize the restoration of the nation, use the vigilance of the United States after the war to form an alliance with the United States, and then... we must seize the opportunity!

When I was thinking about it in my heart, there was a rapid footsteps behind me. For the first time, Chen Moran saw Guan Mingtang with some burnt color on his face.

"Zheqin, why are you in such a hurry? What's wrong?"

You don't need to ask Chen Moran to know what happened. It must be for Pudong.

"Yes, this morning, the tax officials of Shanghai County have entered Pudong to start taxing, and some officials have ordered Su Song Taidao to order the company to stop work immediately!"

Guan Mingtang, with a burnt face, frowned when he spoke. Although he was ready, he didn't expect to come so soon that he was not ready at all.

"What should come will always come!"

Chen Moran just whispered.

"It's just right now!"

"But... we need more time!"

Gang Mingtang said that he had been leaning against the corridor to smoke, spitting clouds and fog one after another. At this time, he took another deep cigarette. He rarely smoked, but today, after one bad news in the company, he had smoked a pack of cigarettes.

"Yes, you should ask Man Sili, the British Consul in Shanghai. In addition, Mr. McGraley of the New Jersey Standard Oil Company called. He said that if we need it, he can meet Mr. Gunner, the American Consul, who is the leader of the Shanghai Consular League. If Guna is willing to..."

"Consul Man Sili and I have a good relationship. We have a mutual friend. Like Admiral Fisher, he was born in a family of officials in the Ceylon colony. They have known each other since childhood. As mentioned in Fisher's letter, Man Sili also takes good care of me and the industry, and Guna is a Republican, although Say it's because of the antitrust Theodore? Roosevelt caused the Rockefeller family to be quite dissatisfied with it, but it did not prevent Gunner from getting Rockefeller's support in the future, so if we get their support, we can get through it safely, right?

With that, Chen Moran turned around and looked at Guan Mingtang, and then he threw the cigarette butt out of the corridor.

"What's the final result? Internationalize the Pudong issue, right?

Chen Moran smiled coldly again and looked at the garden outside the window.

"I will go to them for some help, but this kind of help is limited. I will never risk the expansion of the concession and ask them!"

"I want to..."

Gang Mingtang exjected a heavy puff of smoke and turned his head to look directly at Chen Moran.

"You must be ready, just waiting for the uprising, right?"

Chen Moran's refusal made Guan Mingtang realize that he was no longer willing to wait. With his surname, is it possible for him to let the officials attack the industrial company?

Chen Moran shook his head and re-lighted a cigarette.

"It's not the best time yet!"

Then Chen Moran turned his eyes to the garden outside, with a little hesitation in his eyes.

"We still need time. At least we can't take action until the things in the northeast are confirmed!"

"But if I don't rely on the help of the British and American consuls, I think it will be difficult to put it off."

"It's a day that can be delayed!"

Taking a deep cigarette, Chen Moran frowned into a ball.

"Rui Wei likes money, so we take the money to let him delay the matter for a few months. Anyway, the investigation, trial and so on can always be delayed for a while. If there is no righteousness, the only way to save Pudong is to turn Pudong into a concession. I will never do this, but I can seek appropriate help, for example, through Guna. Express your dissatisfaction to Qing Zhengxu. After all, there are also American buildings here. In addition, you can also go to see Zhang Zhidong. Well, he will definitely help us!"

Chen Moran thought about the people who could help him.

"Yes, and Yuan Shikai, the governor of Zhili, doesn't he have a good relationship with us? I remember he still owes me tens of thousands of pairs of boots,"

Thinking of Chen Moran, he couldn't help laughing. The thief still owed his own money.

"In a word, when we go to court in Shanghai, we have to drag things down. Over there, we use money and move relationships, and call injustice for us in the court. It's better to pull up the newspapers. Aren't we controlling a few newspapers? Let those newspapers publish comment articles such as "Shen Wansan in this life" and mix up the pool of water, at least to delay the first half of the year, this half of the year..."

As he spoke, his tongue suddenly swept the knot, his eyebrows frowned again, and then pondered for a while before continuing.

"In the past six months, we will further expand the army, and..."

With a calm heart, Chen Moran smiled bitterly.

The current expansion of the army has suffered the loss of the "invention" of epoch-making ammunition. The unique 7.62*57 bullets make the company need to consider the caliber problem even when purchasing rifles. If it hadn't been for the purchase of more than 100,000 rifles directly from Germany, it would have saved a lot of effort, not to mention ammunition. Supply problems.

"In a word, it just takes time!"

"I...I will try my best to buy you more time!"

In Chen Moran's sigh, Guan Mingtang also had no choice but to say that he knew that the company needed time to train and produce weapons. In addition to time, the company also needed a more appropriate time.

When the two of them were talking, the sky was dark and it was completely cloudy. At this time, the sky had completely dimmed, and a whistle of wind came to his face with wet rain. The thick clouds pressed low and squeezed each other in disorderly manner.

"It's really a dark cloud now!"

When sighing at the clouds in the sky, Chen Moran squinted and looked into the distance, looking as calm as a child who had just woken up.

"Many things can only be done with human resources and dare not do anything. Whether things are done or not, we should at least do a little. Whether we try our best or not. If we try our best, we will not regret even if we lose..."

"What if...if you lose?"

As soon as the words came out, Guan Mingtang hated his crow's mouth and said such an ominous word at this time.

"I can't fail..."

To be sure, Chen Moran looked at the withered grass in the garden gently. Will he really not be defeated? Maybe!

"I have prepared for the worst, and I believe we can win!"

At this time, Chen Moran was cold and quiet. He just looked at the garden quietly. At this time, the rain fell, a drop of rain blown into the corridor by the wind, and the cool raindrops into Chen Moran's neck. He was trembling all over. Looking at the increasingly confused scenery, he was stunned for a while and turned back to Guan Mingtang.

"It's going to rain, Zheqin, go in quickly! The company can't live without you!"

After saying that, Chen Moran threw the cigarette butt on the ground and walked to the end of the corridor. After entering the room, he went directly to the sunny room on the first floor. At this time, he heard the baby's cry in the room. At the moment he pushed the door open, Chen Moran's face was full of his father's smile. This was his daughter's room. Between.

At the moment of opening the door, Chen Moran saw his wife even more. Ji Li was holding her daughter in her arms and carefully breastfeeding her. Chen Moran just stood quietly by the door and looked at it, with a happy smile on his face. Because he loved his child, Chen Moran did not want to hire a wet nurse to breastfeed, but asked Ji Li to raise the child by herself. Fortunately, she had enough milk. Such a thing seems to be an initiative in a rich gentry family like Shanghai, so it has caused all kinds of gossip from outsiders. However, Chen Moran has always laughed at it. Is it decent to hire a wet nurse?

After breastfeeding, my daughter let out a uniform and sweet nasal sound and fell into a deep sleep. As soon as Ji Li put her back in the cradle and covered with a small blanket, Chen Moran walked over.

Looking at the daughter in the blue, Chen Muran gently wrapped around his wife's slender waist. Neither of them spoke, but just looked at the sleeping daughter in the cradle. The daughter's long eyelashes were peacefully closed together, and there was a dreamy smile at the corner of her mouth. When his fingers touched his daughter's face, Chen Moran smiled. Does his daughter, who is sleeping in a dream now, know what she will bring to her in a few years?

Thinking about it, he increased his strength with his wife's left hand. Chen Moran knew what he wanted.

"Ji Li, thank you!"

Looking back at his wife, Chen Moran didn't know how many times she said such words. She gave herself a home and a daughter. What a complete family it was!

"Yes..."

Ji Li just wanted to say something, but Chen Moran realized her mouth. He knew what she wanted to say. She had always cared about not being able to give birth to a son for herself.

"There will always be a chance in the future!"

Chen Moran's sentence is also used to comfort himself. If he has a daughter, he will always be somewhat disappointed, but fortunately, there is no family planning in this era.

"Do you know? Ji Li, today... is the day that determines the future!"

When he said this sentence to divert Ji Li's attention, Chen Moran turned his eyes to the northeast. Have you made a decision there?

"Don't let me down!"

In the evening, it was decided to start a war. Emperor Muren entered thousands of halls and said to the elders who had been discussing for a whole day.

"This decision is not my intention. However, when things have evolved to this point, I have no choice.

The elders and cabinet members, including Hirofumi Ito and Aritomo Yamagata, were looked at each other by the emperor's words, leaving only fear. At this time, Ming Shi whispered as if he were talking to himself.

"If this war fails, I don't know how to apologize to the royal spirit of the emperor. In addition, in front of 30 million people, what kind of face will I look at each other?

With that, Meiji burst into tears. Tears fell to my chest. Tears. Emperor Meiji, who has always been proud of his fortitude and determination, has never happened before. The elders and cabinet members sitting here were speechless, only feeling that the responsibility on everyone's head was unprecedented.

"It's up to you!"

There were tears on Meiji's face when he said this, and he was even afraid.

After the last imperial meeting, after the fierce debate among the elders and cabinet members finally reached an agreement, Meiji made the final decision and made the determination to start the war. At the end of this imperial meeting, it was nearly six o'clock in the afternoon, and the twilight had sank. After returning to the inner palace from the thousands of halls, Meiji's face was abnormal. Except for his pale face, he even trembled involuntarily sometimes. He had been immersed in silent meditation.

Meiji, who is 52 years old and suffering from diabetes, is far from selling as much as when he decided to start a war with the Qing Dynasty ten years ago. Russia is a much stronger and more terrible opponent than the Qing Dynasty. The terrible prospect of the failure of the war makes him constantly distracted. When he returned to "between the phoenixes", he faced the queen and returned. When God came, he said to the queen beside him intermittently.

"I finally decided to break off diplomatic relations with Russia. It was completely a last resort, not my intention."

After two or three minutes of silence, he said to himself.

"If this war fails, I'm really sorry..."

It looks like she is still speechful, which just makes the queen's heart tighten.

That night, Meiji tossed and turned and stayed up all night. Meiji, who still lacked confidence in victory, was shaken again, and he almost hurriedly called the chief minister of Tokuda Temple.

After the chief attendant of Tokuda Temple arrived at the harem, Meiji said in a helpless tone.

"I want to send a telegram directly to Emperor Nicholas..."

And when the chief minister of Deda Temple learned that his intention was to use the last resort to talk directly with the Russian emperor, and even at the cost of giving up North Korea in exchange for a contract, he hurriedly dissuaded him.

"The Foreign Minister Komura has issued a notice to Russia to break off diplomatic relations. Now... Your Majesty, there is no chance."

(to be continued)