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Volume 3: War in the Far East Chapter 136: Disagreements within Japan

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    Japanese Imperial Palace, military and political meeting hall.

    At this time, in the meeting hall of the Japanese Imperial Palace, Japanese military and political ministers were sitting on both sides. There was no sound in the entire meeting hall, and you could hear a pin drop. The faces of every Japanese military and political minister present were full of solemnity, although they were  After waiting here for more than two hours, even though their legs were numb, no one dared to move casually because the person they were waiting for was Emperor Meiji.

    At this time, a dull sound of footsteps sounded, indicating that Emperor Meiji had arrived.

    Emperor Meiji¡¯s beard was already graying at this time, and his haggard face still could not hide the unruffled and intimidating aura in his eyes.

    When everyone saw the arrival of Emperor Meiji, they bowed their heads and said respectfully: "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

    Emperor Meiji nodded slightly, then knelt down on the silk cushions. The attendant on the side quickly drank a cup of tea for the emperor.

    Emperor Meiji looked around, and then said in a hoarse and majestic voice: "Since the return of the great government, the whole country has worked hard to reform, and the results have been remarkable. There is a faint tendency to catch up with Europa, and in just ten years of hard work,  , defeated the Qing Dynasty. However, that was only the temporary glory of the empire. Since the Sino-Japanese War, the empire has never won again. The combined fleet was destroyed one after another, and hundreds of thousands of Korean elites were lost in one day! Who can tell me why? "Emperor Meiji never won again."  The tone was calm at first, but the last few words were almost shouted.

    Indeed, since the end of the shogunate era, Japan has embarked on the road of reform and reform to make the country prosperous and the people strong, and in just a few decades, Japan has established its dominant position in the Far East.

    In the Sino-Japanese War of 1898-1898, the Imperial Army never lost a single victory and marched forward triumphantly across the Yalu River, approaching Zhili. The combined fleet first captured Lushun, then Weihaiwei, and completely annihilated the Beiyang Navy. In less than a year, they would have  The Qing Dynasty, which had an army of millions, was beaten to a pulp. The Qing Dynasty's Empress Dowager Cixi immediately knelt down and begged for mercy, ceding Liaodong, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, and paying military indemnity 200 million taels of silver.

    The Empire of Japan was so majestic at that time. After the complete defeat of the Qing Dynasty, the Empire completely controlled North Korea, and the long-planned mainland policy had also completed the first step.

    Just when the Empire of Japan was preparing to take the second step to conquer Manchuria and Mongolia, Tang Jian suddenly appeared. In just a few years, he built the incomplete Beiyang Fleet into a tiger and wolf army. With his cunning and cunning,  Annihilating the combined fleet, then completely destroying the Sasebo base, and bombing Tokyo, knocking back the strength of the Japanese Empire to more than ten years ago.

    However, this is not the end. Tang Jian used his strong personal leadership ability to unify the north and south of the Qing Dynasty in just three years and established Huaxia. After the founding of the Huaxia State, its economic and military strength increased by leaps and bounds. In just a few years, it became  emerged from the civil war and caught up with Japan.

    Just when the Japanese Empire wanted to take off again, Tang Jian faced the enemy head-on. He first annihilated the Japanese army in Korea and controlled the entire territory of Korea, and then gathered and annihilated the combined fleet. Now he has captured Xiaguan and penetrated deep into the Japanese mainland.

    Tang Jian is simply the nemesis of the Japanese Empire!  As long as Tang Jian exists in this world, the Japanese Empire will never have peace for a day, let alone take off again and realize the great mainland policy!

    The glory of the Japanese Empire is gone!

    This is the true thought in the minds of most of the Japanese military and political officials present.

    "Your Majesty Shanxian, didn't you promise me that Xiaguan, under the leadership of Oshima Yimasa, will hold on for three days, and that all subsequent Chinese troops that invade the mainland will be wiped out on the mainland, but what about now?  I haven't been able to hold on for a day, and I even lost Shimonoseki. Can you give me an explanation?" Emperor Meiji stared at Yamagata Aritomo with burning eyes.

    Yamagata Yutomo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, bowed deeply, and said: "His Majesty the Emperor, this is my dereliction of duty. I overestimated Oshima-kun's ability. Yamagata requests punishment from His Majesty the Emperor!"

    Katsura Taro sneered and said: "Yamagata-kun, I'm afraid it's not that you overestimate Oshima-kun's ability, but that you underestimate the strength of the Chinese Army. Now they have captured Hiroshima. Their speed is so fast that it can be said to be the world's army."  This is rare in the history of war. I wonder if Your Excellency Shan County has any countermeasures?"

    Emperor Meiji sighed and said: "Now that the empire's navy and army generals are all gone, if you are punished, who can defend the empire against the Chinese invasion."

    You Peng from Shan County knelt down on the ground with gratitude and said piously: "Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty. Shan County is terrified."

    Emperor Meiji nodded and asked: "Katsura Taro is right. Does Mr. Yamagata have any countermeasures now?"

    Youtomo from Shan County straightened up and said: "The speed of the Chinese Army's invasion was beyond my expectation, but according to Shimonoseki and Hiroshima, etc.The local defenders learned that this time the Chinese Army went deep into the empire alone, with a total strength of only more than 30,000 people. A mere 30,000 people dared to penetrate deep into the empire's mainland. Therefore, it must be difficult for them to supply supplies, so I canceled  Instead of ordering the reinforcements to Hiroshima, we ordered the army to assemble in Kyoto. As long as we block the lone Chinese army in Kyoto for ten days, the imperial soldiers from Kobe, Osaka, Nara and other places will assemble a hundred thousand troops to surround this lone army.  In Kyoto, until annihilation!  "

    Emperor Meiji rubbed his temples with a headache and said: "I hope it is as you said. After the Chinese Army has passed Kyoto, only Nagoya will be left. Once Nagoya is lost, the imperial capital Tokyo will appear unobstructed in front of the Chinese Army."  before!"

    "Hi!" Yamagata Yutomo bowed and said: "Except for Kyoto, from Kyoto to Nagoya, and from Nagoya to Tokyo, I have mobilized at least 150,000 militiamen and 50,000 imperial soldiers to attack in a ladder-like formation. The Chinese lone army  If you want to break through the Kyoto defense line, you will inevitably suffer heavy losses. Under this situation, the Chinese lone army will definitely not be able to pass through the blocking lines I have set up layer by layer. At such a long distance, their supplies will be difficult to deliver, and even if they are dragged, they can be defeated.  Drag it to death! Besides, the last hundred thousand elites of the empire are concentrated around Tokyo, and they will definitely ensure that the capital is safe! On the vast mainland, all citizens will become warriors under His Majesty the Emperor, and will defend the empire to the death!"

    Emperor Meiji nodded with satisfaction. From Yamagata Aritomo's description, Emperor Meiji could imagine that extremely strong defense lines had been built on the empire's homeland.

    Katsura Taro asked: "Yamagata-kun, don't forget that China not only has a powerful army, they also have a Pacific fleet that already dominates the Yellow Sea. They can attack Yokosuka Port from the Pacific at any time, and then attack Tokyo!"

    Shanxian Youto had long expected Katsura Taro's question, and saw Shanxian Youto say confidently: "Part of the Chinese Army's troops have been dispersed to station in North Korea. Now the Chinese Army that can land from Xiaguan is all the Chinese Army can."  The troops mobilized, Chinese President Tang Jian will not be so stupid and will not easily open a second battlefield. This is unrealistic for his limited troops, and his already very tight supply lines will not be able to bear such a large force.  Consumption. The Pacific Fleet is just a navy. Does Katsura Taro think that Tang Jian will let his navy land and fight ashore? Don¡¯t forget that the navy on the shore basically poses no threat. Even if the Pacific Fleet threatens Yokosuka, the wartime base camp has already been prepared  In preparation for war, a large number of advanced mines have been deployed in the vast waters of Yokosuka Port and Tokyo Bay. If the Pacific Fleet wants to enter Tokyo Bay, it will take several days to clear the channel. Even if they open the channel, the Pacific Fleet will face the future  It is a heavy artillery with powerful firepower on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, which means that if the Pacific Fleet wants to enter Tokyo Bay, it must pay an extremely heavy price!"

    Hearing this, Katsura Taro just nodded slightly. He did not refute Yamagata Aritomo's defense plan, but pointed his gun at Ito Hirobumi, who had been silent for a long time.

    "Ito-kun, I don't know if you have sought help from the great powers recently?" Katsura asked aggressively.

    Ito Hirobumi¡¯s face was ugly. Obviously, Katsura¡¯s words touched his sore spot.

    Emperor Meiji also asked: "Ito-kun, I also need to know the answer."

    Ito Hirobumi glanced at Katsura Taro bitterly, bowed to Emperor Meiji and said: "Hi, His Majesty the Emperor, I have already called the European and American countries. The United States and Germany have secretly formed alliances with Tang Jian, so although they remain neutral on the surface,  Secretly they still sided with China. Britain, France, Italy, Austria, Hungary and other countries were afraid that provoking China would damage their interests in the Far East, so they all stated that they would strictly abide by the neutrality law and would not interfere in the war in the Far East."

    Katsura Taro sneered and said: "Ito-kun, is this your strong diplomatic skills? Didn't you reach an alliance agreement with Britain, France, Italy, Austria-Hungary and other countries? Why would they stand by and watch, even if they would not intervene with force?  Financial aid?¡±

    Ito Hirobumi glanced at the expressionless Emperor Meiji and said cautiously: "All countries are deeply doubting the economic solvency of the empire, so"

    Katsura Taro grabbed the handle in Ito Hirobumi's words and immediately retorted: "Look, let me just say, it was such a stupid way to use the empire's tariffs as collateral to raise funds to rebuild the combined fleet. The rebuilt combined fleet didn't even have the money.  It did not have the slightest effect it should have, but it also lost the economic autonomy of the empire"

    "Okay, stop arguing. It's not about who is right or wrong. Now that we are facing a powerful enemy, how can you unite to resist foreign humiliation instead of blaming each other here!" Emperor Meiji got angry on the spot.

    He really couldn¡¯t stand the two people¡¯s conflict with each other. Emperor Meiji¡­It is very clear here that when the empire encountered its first crisis, Katsura Taro's cabinet was the staunchest militant group, and now that the roles have been reversed, it is simply that the two of them want to regain power or protect their own power through this empire crisis.  that power.

    That¡¯s all.

    PS: Today¡¯s second update.

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