Chapter 25 Argument

Tokyo on March 14th is now like a volcano erupting with flames. The noise is boiling, and the burning air melts everything in the world. This boiling seems to give a feeling of summer.

This time, the boiling in Tokyo was not because the imperial army had won another major victory. Three days ago, a lantern parade with millions of people just staged in Tokyo, and this time, the boiling of the whole people was because of anger.

The news of "[***] shameful irredeclaration of war, sneak attack on the imperial army, and enter Fengtian" has spread all over Tokyo and all corners of the island country through extras and newspapers since yesterday afternoon. Crazy and angry people rushed to the streets and shouted wildly. Streets, squares, parks, crowds surged, and deafening shouts echoed in the streets.

When the shout sounded, in the imperial palace of Tokyo City, on the garden stone path tightly surrounded by the smell of early spring, the emperor was standing by the window in agitated mood. The wide golden kimono, like a dazzling sun, scorching around uneasily restless. Although the spring was strong, it failed to melt the dark clouds in the hearts of the descendants of Tianzhao God.

With his back on the Minister of Internal Affairs, Yoshikawa Xianzheng, so that the worries carried by Meiji's "divine face" that looked "incomparable" in the eyes of the ministers were not seen by outsiders, but he could hide the worries in his expression, but in his words, he could not hide his inner worries.

"I don't agree with this war in the first place. The cabinet ministers said that they had to fight, so I agreed. This war is a war of ministers.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Yoshikawa, was beside the emperor. Although he was slightly aware of the emperor's attitude, he did not expect it to be so serious, so he was very surprised.

"Yes, with the sacrifice of loyal and brave soldiers, we have won again and again. However, each of us knows that we have exhausted the last silver coin and even the last drop of blood, but now, the Chinese... In the tariff incident, I once said that in order to avoid the trouble of others, We should compromise with China, but what are you doing? You don't want to believe that the Chinese will merge with the Lu Chinese people, but what about now?

However, the war has already begun. Up to now, it's not easy for Your Majesty to say that. After your majesty finished a nagging, Fangchuan Xianzheng just said:

"I am sincere and frightened. Today, after the year of fighting with Lu Guo, the people are united as one and swear to the public. In this case, please don't say such words, or I don't know what will happen.

But the mood in Meiji's heart is still unrelent changed.

"Stop talking, I don't even want to see you again. Back off!"

Your Majesty's decision made Fangchuan retreat back to the mansion in fear. This is not the first time that the emperor is angry with his ministers. I don't know how many times before, especially in the past year, after the cabinet repeatedly rejected the emperor's request to make peace with Lucia, His Majesty has expressed his feelings with anger several times.

Privy Council, "We must declare war on China immediately!"

A friend in Shanxian County shouted loudly that the issue of whether to declare war on China had been discussed for a whole day, and yesterday afternoon, it was a fruitless one.

"In my opinion, I'm afraid that looking at the whole world, there is nothing more ridiculous than now. The Chinese bombed our troops with cannons yesterday. The Chinese army is attacking the third group outside Fengtian City. In Kaiyuan, they have launched small-scale attacks many times. What were we doing when the soldiers were killed by the Chinese there? We are talking about whether to declare war on China here, and we have been talking about it for two days!"

"But the Chinese did not declare war on us, and..."

After the foreign minister Shoutaro Komura finished speaking, the Minister of the Army, Masayoshi Terauchi said.

"Their behavior is more shameful than the declaration of war. They are sneaking up!"

When he said this, he obviously forgot that a year ago, their attack on Lushun was also a sneak attack. At least on March 13, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed it on the "Armed Guards Neutrality Statement".

"General of the temple, the Chinese did not declare war on the Japanese. According to their accusations, the two countries first surpassed their designated war zone before the current battle of Fengtian!"

Hirofumi Ito, President of the Privy Council, said.

"In view of the current situation, I think we should immediately collude with China and reaffirm China's respect for the principle of China's neutrality, instead of declaring war on China. There is no doubt that it forces the Chinese people to fall into the arms of the country, which is very unwise!"

"Aren't they falling to the Russians? While the Manchurian Army of the State of Lu withdrew its army, the [***] team besieged Kaiyuan, and the defenders of the State of the State of Lu surrendered without fighting. This was obviously allowed. Their 200,000 troops, Kaiyuan front line, confronted our army. In Fengtian, they mobilized nearly 100,000 people to besiege the Naimu Army. However, they were more than 20 people on the front line of Tieling. Wandi [***] team, the back road will be cut off, and now, they have seriously threatened the 1st, 2nd and Yalu River Legion of the Empire. Marshal Dashan has sent multiple telegrams, emphasizing that even if it only confronts and not fights with the Chinese Second Army, if Fengtian can't supply supplies to the front line, then a month later, our army Don't fight and collapse because of fruitless food!"

A friend in Shanxian reminded everyone in the house.

The decisive battle of Fengtian is the largest land decisive battle between the two sides in this war. The two countries have invested nearly 70 troops. The Japanese army consumed 21.7 million rifle bullets and 345,000 cannonballs, exceeding the total ammunition consumed in the previous three decisive battles, and also exceeded the production capacity of Japan.

Since the outbreak of the war, the lack of shells has been trapped around the Japanese political axe and the army. In addition to producing at full capacity in China, it has also borrowed money to purchase from foreign countries. But even so, it still can't catch up with the consumption of the battle. In the Battle of Shahe, due to the lack of artillery shells, the Japanese army's attack once stagnated, making it impossible to expand the results.

Now the Fengtian Campaign has run out of ammunition and the troops chasing the exposed army. There are shortages and ammunition, and the food is limited. It is in this case that the Chinese suddenly attacked Fengtian and fundamentally cut off the back road of more than 200,000 troops on the front line of Tieling. They don't need to detour at all. All they need is more Cross the Liaohe River.

In

, [***] launched the most deadly blow to the Japanese army at the most appropriate time and in the most appropriate place. This is the conclusion reached by Shanxian County after learning that [***] attacked Fengtian and launched a tentative attack on the Japanese army in the Tieling area from multiple points when it broke into the original city.

"Mr. Shanxian, then you come back to me. If you declare war on China, can you defeat the Chinese army in the current situation of our army in Manchuria?"

Hirofumi Ito asked rhetorical.

"Of course, ten years ago..."

"Ten years ago, Shanxian Jun, just one day and one night, the Chinese broke through the defense line of the Third Army. According to what you mean, the Third Army is not good enough to fight? Or did they surrender without fighting in the face of the attack of [***]?

When Hirofumi Ito questioned Shanxian, Masayoshi Terauchi said.

"Dean Ito, I think we must do everything to ensure that Fengtian does not lose. In addition, if necessary, we should send a navy to southern China to force it to stop any action in Manchuria!"

"Impossible!"

Yamamoto Quan Bingwei, the Minister of the Navy, immediately said.

"If the navy recklessly sends troops to China, should it send the main force or several warships? If the main force is sent, and China refuses to compromise, the sea will inevitably have a fierce battle with the Chinese coastal artillery, and the Yangtze River has been the sphere of influence of Britain, the United States and other countries. Will the two countries accept China's sent fleet to put pressure on China? On the other hand, it is expected that the Luguo fleet will sail into the South China Sea in half a month at most. However, when our fleet leaves the port, it may encounter the exposed ship. If the scale of the Chinese fleet is small, it may be attacked by the exposed ship. If the scale is large, it may lead to a decisive battle with the naval unfavorable battlefield and the Russian navy!"

Yamamoto Quanbingwei stared at the younger generation of Terauchi Zhengyi.

After the fall of Lushun and the destruction of the Luk Squadron, in addition to a patrol fleet to monitor the Luk Republic of Vladivostok, Togo Heihachirō led the main force of the joint fleet to Canada one after another and overhauled the ships in winter. Although after the loss of two warships, there were only four warships left to face the Second Pacific Fleet of Russia. It is still full of confidence, but confidence is confidence after all.

"According to the analysis of the base camp, as long as the Imperial Navy controls the Korean Strait, it can stand in an invincible position in the naval battle. If the fleet is sent to the Yangtze River in China to exert pressure, China [***] is bound to deter the main force of the Dutch fleet from moving north. If the navy wants to win an advantage, it needs to mobilize at least two warships, two An armored cruiser with at least three cruisers can form an advantage over the Chinese navy, and then completely annihronizing the Chinese navy. However, for example, the Chinese navy, with its Sandu-Macao base as the protection, the coastal defense artillery in the harbor, and the arrival of the arrival of the Russian army, it may be in the same place with the Russian Second Pacific Fleet, and at that time, China's wharves and ships The factory can be used by Luguo for Luguo to repair warships and soldiers. As soon as the naval battle broke out, our joint fleet must cultivate the Luguo navy and the Chinese navy. If the Luguo navy relies on the port, please ask! Mr. Shanxian, how many chances does the navy have to win some naval battles?

He turned his eyes to Yu Peng in Shanxian, and Yamamoto's voice became much more severe. He didn't wait for Shanxian to speak, and Yamamoto asked like a cannon.

"If the navy is defeated at that time, even if it is forced to stop its operations in Manchuria, the sea is for the exposed people. How can the army without weapons, food and soldiers be able to stop the attack of the exposed people?"

Yamamoto Quanbingwei's questioning made Shanxian Youpeng, who was originally shouting for war against China, dumb. If there was no navy, if the ocean was controlled by Luren, even if there were millions of Japanese troops in Manchuria, it would inevitably be defeated under the joint attack of China and Russia.

Prime Minister Taro Katsura, who had not spoken for a long time, finally said something.

"Your Majesty, please!"

(to be continued)