Chapter 170 Gambling

At night in Tokyo, there is a trace of desolation in the night.

In just a few months, I deeply adjourned to heaven and hell. Three months ago, they won the protracted war and defeated the world's first mainland power. After that, I suddenly completed a qualitative transformation and became a world-class power with a third-rate country, so that The international stage has its own voice, and no country will dare to ignore the voice of this country.

But on the other hand, the war, which lasted for one year and six months, destroyed the Japanese economy in a sense. After the end of the war, Japanese prices did not improve a little because of the end of the war. On the contrary, due to the relaxation of wartime control, prices increased rapidly.

In just three months, the price of rice has increased by 2.5 times, and the increase of rice price is directly reflected in various commodities. The soaring price and the actual depreciation of the yuan are almost beyond everyone's imagination. Although there are rumors that the political axe has to issue a large number of banknotes due to the pressure of foreign debt to exchange as much as possible. The currency paid off the debt, but the Ministry of Tibet never recognized it.

In the face of soaring domestic prices and declining actual purchasing power, the original meager income can be said to be a resentment. In the past, farmers had to sell their daughters in order to pay debts and pay taxes, but now even the workers' families in the city even have to sell their daughters in order to survive.

What's wrong with Japan?

Why did the war win and the people's lives become poorer?

A series of questions continued to appear in the newspaper, and no one had a clear explanation. In the face of this situation, the Ministry of Tibet announced that it would investigate the rise in prices, but before the investigation began, a more surprising news suddenly spread all over the world.

The Southern Expeditionary Fleet was defeated!

The joint fleet, which was regarded as the "pillar of the empire" and the "guardian god of the empire" by the Japanese people, was defeated!

The impact of this news on the Japanese people is far greater than the increase in prices. People can hardly believe the news. They would rather take the news as a rumor.

But the rumors evolved from the Southern Expeditionary Fleet to the Combined Fleet in one day, and evolved from a heavy blow to the destruction of the whole army. It seems that the Combined Fleet no longer exists. The panic caused by soaring prices was originally caused by prices, and the fear was expanded to the maximum at this time. When they attributed all this to rumors, they I would like to believe that the combined fleet was defeated by the Chinese.

Then, the official report confirmed the rumors to some extent.

"The Southern Expeditionary Fleet was besieged by the Chinese Navy in the South China Sea in the early morning of this morning, and the four ships sank..."

Whether it's a lie or the truth, it proves to some extent the fact that the southern fleet is defeated, but is there really only one southern fleet?

Those people who have cheered for the combined fleet do not know what the truth is, and I'm afraid only a few people can understand it.

At almost four o'clock in the afternoon, as the first official announcement of the fiasco of the Southern Expeditionary Fleet spread in Tokyo. Prime Minister Katsura Taro called the minister of the palace and asked to see the emperor. The prime minister, who was born in Changzhou, was the head disciple of Youpeng in Shanxian, the first elder of the army. He became his spokesperson after Youpeng retired from politics in Shanxian.

He has a neatly trimmed European beard. To some extent, Taro Katsura is a rare politician with a certain strategic vision after Hirofumi Ito's death. In particular, he has repeatedly warned that Japan's policy must be based on cooperation with Britain. Theory, all of which have left a deep impression.

The conclusion of the British alliance was regarded as the foundation of the Japanese-Japanese war, and the Japanese-Russian war was carried out. During the Japanese-Russian war, he actively advocated the conclusion of China. In the face of the war carried out by China to maintain neutrality, he advocated temporarily enduring humiliation and bearing the burden. It can be said that to a certain extent, Katsura Taro had a decision. A pragmatist, his mind is clear and practical, but this kind of clear mind and practicality will conflict under certain circumstances.

Just like in dealing with China, Taro Katsura's clear mind and practicality have become the most fundamental reason for his support for war against China, because he believes that China is the biggest threat to Japan. He believes that if he does not fight now, there will be no chance in the future. Moreover, in his opinion, this war is also related to the Prime Minister. Whether the position is stable.

"Your Majesty is very unhappy!"

After arranging for Katsura Taro to visit the emperor at 5:10, after Katsura Taro entered the palace, the first words of Togakumoto greeted Katsura Taro shocked Katsura Taro.

"Your Majesty, you don't seem to want to take any more risks!"

"However, now that the national policy has been decided, it is impossible to change it!"

Listening to Tokata Hisamoto's words, Taro Katsura, who was not surprised, said affirmatively.

"And we have declared war on the Chinese people. If we make peace with the Chinese people because of a small defeat, then it would have become a joke!"

Taro Katsura's explanation made Tokata nod heavily, and then he sighed again.

"Alas, go and convince your majesty!"

A few minutes later, under the guidance of Tokata Hisamoto, Katsura Taro entered His Majesty the Emperor's House, while Emperor Meiji stood by the window of the House and looked at the lake outside the House.

"Prime Minister Gui!"

After Katsura Taro's invitation, the dignified Meiji Emperor looked at the lake dyed golden by the sunset and said.

"I think it's time for me to write a handwritten letter to the Chinese emperor to explain the conflict and end the war!"

When he spoke, Meiji's expression was solemn and his tone was low. The defeat of the Southern Expedition Fleet was beyond his imagination. In his opinion, this at least shows that it was impossible to completely defeat China. Originally, according to the ministers, the victory of this war was a naval battle, not a land war, and the army also It is also said that it is almost impossible to break through the defense line set up by the [[***] team on the other side of the Yalu River.

"Your Majesty, please take back your life."

Kura Taro, who bowed deeply, categorically refused His Majesty's suggestion, and then he continued.

"This problem is extremely serious."

He raised his eyes slightly and looked back at his majesty, and Katsura Taro continued.

"Your Majesty, there will always be losses in war, but if there is a change in national policy due to a defeat, it may lead to the complete defeat of the whole country. Please forgive me for taking the liberty of making this opinion to Your Majesty.

Taro Katsura's answer only made the expression of the Meiji weather more solemn. Eleven years ago, at the insistence of the ministers, he defeated the seemingly invincible Qing Dynasty. A year ago, at the insistence of the ministers, he defeated Lu, who seemed to have almost no chance to defeat. West Asia, and now?

Whether it is the Qing Dynasty War or the Dew War, it has won an advantage from the beginning and has shown the possibility of victory, but now it is different. As soon as the war broke out, the Imperial Navy lost four warships, even two battleships and a 10,000-ton armored cruiser, compared with the Dew War last year. Among them, the two battleships that shocked the whole "demon's week" lost were different from the cruiser Yoshino. These four warships were not sunk by mines or hit by the collision angle of friendly ships, but were sunk in a dignified naval battle with all their advantages.

"7 pairs of 2, 8 12-inch guns, 14 8-inch guns, 42 6-inch guns..."

The numbers have constantly appeared in Meiji's mind in the past few hours. Although he is not a soldier, he also knows what a naval battle is. In this situation of dominance, the Southern Expedition Fleet has been defeated. So, what about the future?

Is there any possibility of victory in the future?

It was obvious that Katsura Taro paid a visit to the emperor this time. He talked to the navy. Although no one dares to guarantee the future, he still firmly believes that he instinctively defeats China, or has a chance to defeat China.

"Your Majesty, from the history of diplomacy, we all know that Britain is touted as "honour isolation". In the past hundred years, Britain has not formed an alliance with any country. But the year before last, they abandoned the "enor isolation" of one of the century-old policies. With the Japanese alliance, it is naturally willing to do this because it believes that there is a big relationship between the rise and fall of the nation and the survival of the country. As for the Japanese, as an emerging country in the East, we have just been liberated from the shackles of the great powers for only ten years, and have formed an offensive and defensive alliance with the world's first powerful empire, resulting in the history of our defeat of the world's first continental countries. This is really the greatest success of our nation.

Kura Taro's voice seemed a little excited, and when it came to the British Alliance, he was even more proud, because it was he who contributed to this treaty.

"However, Your Majesty, this treaty is only valid for five years. Five years later, there is no way to know whether Britain will renew the contract. However, on the issue of dealing with China, Britain has become divided. The British king and the upper nobles are hopeful to give up the alliance with Japan and turn to form an alliance with China. The role of the British queen of China. It has been revealed that in five years, the current favorable situation will be all owned by China. Your Majesty, may I ask if the empire of the time has the ability to block the powerful China of Britain!"

Kura Taro's words deeply pierced the pain of Meiji. As an emperor, he knew more about the "powerful essence" than his subjects. The powerful thing was just a blown balloon. If it hadn't been for the full support of Britain, the loser of this war would only be the Japanese version, not Russia.

In his heart, Meiji was afraid of failure. He was afraid that he would return to the era of no status and prestige in the decades after the attack of the black ship. It was because of this that he hoped for a truce, hoping to use the truce to maintain the "prestence" that Japan has now.

But will the Chinese continue to let Japan have this kind of prestige? If there is a truce now, perhaps in the future, as Taro Katsura said, in the next war, the Chinese will attack Japan with the Sino-British Alliance Treaty.

"Your Majesty, in this war against Lu, the empire has offended Lucia. A few years later, once Lucia recovers her vitality, she is bound to retaliate against our country. China, whose strength has been further expanded, is bound to further take advantage of the fire. At that time, even with the protection of God, it will not be able to stop the siege of the two continental empires. Attack, I'm afraid that at that time, it will be reduced to the colonization of other countries and become the North Korea of the Far East, and even India!"

After a sigh, Meiji sighed for a long time. With a solemn and slightly desperate expression, he looked back at Katsura Taro and finally sighed.

"Then please! Prime Minister Gui!"

After Katsura Taro met the emperor, the cabinet liaison meeting was held in the Prime Minister's official residence in accordance with the prescribed practice. The liaison meeting was an informal meeting between the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Land and the Minister of the Sea, as well as the Chief of the Naval Order Department, the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Deputy Chief of the Military Order and the Deputy Chief of Staff. Other cabinet members and experts sometimes participated in the meeting to make comments or provide information. At today's liaison meeting, the army sent Yuan Laoshan County Youpeng and the navy sent the navy sent Yuanshan Quan Bingwei to attend the meeting.

The conference room of the Prime Minister's official residence is not big or small. The Prime Minister is in the middle, sitting in an armchair, surrounded by other people. The three secretaries - the Cabinet Secretary, the Army Military Director, and the Navy Military Director - sat down at the door.

The contact meeting is very active, because there is no one to preside over the meeting, there is no strict etiquette, and it is common to have an argument. The liaison meeting system began last year to coordinate the activities of the government axe and the military. After the end of the war against Lu, the meeting was interrupted for a period of time, and now it has resumed again.

"...Although the Southern Expedition Fleet has suffered defeat, on the other hand, many people still do not doubt that we can win. For example, many embassy military officers in Tokyo predict that we can defeat China in the naval battle!"

"In war, it is inevitable that there will be wins and losses, and temporary defeats will not affect the overall situation."

In between talks, people seem to forget the failure of the Southern Expedition Fleet. Sometimes people's surnames are always like this. When they are almost desperate, they will see hope and reasons to persevere.

"I don't think so!"

At this time, Tama Gentaro suddenly opened his mouth to object.

"At least the army has no hope of crossing the Yalu River at all."

Eryu's words did not cause his refutation. The gap in equipment and strength between the army and the Chinese army is a well-known fact. In fact, in this war, the army has always been very careless or unwilling to be involved in it.

"We always think about attacking the Chinese at sea, but we didn't expect whether the Lu Chinese would retaliate against us. In that case, it would be difficult to fight with the two countries at the same time."

"The army doesn't want to mess with China at present."

This is a well-known thing at the top of Japan. In the eyes of Eryu and even many generals of the army, they are absolutely unwilling to provoke China until they make up for the gap between the strength, artillery and machine guns of the same team.

"We now place our hopes for all the victory in the naval battle, and at first I did not object to it, but..."

You might as well have a try. Eryu muttered in his heart that he was once full of hope for the navy. According to his opinion, the war against China should be quick and decisive, not long-lasting.

"Do we all understand that there is no national strength to compete with China in an all-round way? I don't know when the foreign debt owed by Lucia will be repaid, and it is obviously unwise to be involved in the arms race with China. Therefore, I have opposed the war against China in the future, but my goal is to weaken the Chinese navy through naval warfare, so as to prevent the arms race.

Then Kodama Gentaro paused again.

"But what about now? The fiasco of the Southern Expeditionary Fleet made me have to consider a factual question, that is, how likely we have to win this war!"

"General Eryu, please answer my question, can we guard the Yalu River!"

At this time, Youpeng, the veteran of the army, suddenly interrupted Eryu's words.

"If the sea transportation continues, we have 60% hope to hold North Korea. We now have 11 divisions in North Korea. There is no problem in defending North Korea, but if we attack..."

Attack! Kodama Gentaro smiled bitterly. Each infantry squad of the middle [***] team has a machine gun, a company has three heavy machine guns, each battalion has a machine gun company equipped with five Maxim, and in the air, they also have aircraft for reconnaissance. In this case, it is simply a nightmare for the attacking side.

"That,"

Jian Youpeng nodded and said, interrupting the words of Yuyuan Taro.

"That's enough. We just need to defend North Korea. As soon as the navy defeats the Chinese navy, everything has become a forbid situation. Remember that China's capital and China's economic and industrial centers are all in the Yangtze River!"

There is a friend in Shanxian County who smiled bitterly and turned his head to the sea.

"Marshal Yamamoto, is it possible for the navy to attack Wusong Fortress?"

Kodama Gentaro's words made Yamamoto Quanbingwei silent and attack the fortress? Just kidding, the navy of any country will not attack the well-equipped fortress from the front. "In short, I don't think we can win! Or get a complete victory like the war against Lu!"

"So, Chief of Staff, are you against this war? Are you suggesting a truce?"

Taro Katsura asked rhetorically, and then said in a heavy tone.

"If that's the case, the empire will have to face the fact that in the next few years, we must..."

He shook his head, but Kodama Gentaro said.

"I know that in terms of economic and financial resources, every day, the Chinese people are leaving us behind. The economic and financial support will make the Chinese [***] team surpass the Japanese in the next two or three years. In the future, it will rise one after another. Soon, we will not be an opponent of China, just like the war against Lu. If the declaration of war is postponed to this year, the Siberian Railway will continue to send the Lu [***] team to Manchuria, and the Russian navy will also be stronger. Time and time will never be on the side of Japan!"

With a long sigh, Kodama Gentaro closed his eyes in pain and told him rationally that he should never go to war with China now, but the reality told him that if he didn't go to war now, he would not even have a chance to win in the future.

War is gambling, but in less than two years, Japan has to gamble twice in a row...

(to be continued)