"According to information from the embassy in St. Petersburg, anti-Japanese sentiment in the Russian Empire has continued to rise since the outbreak of the conflict in the Far East.

Many people in the tsarist government advocated tough measures against us, and the arrogance of the main war faction was high, and the possibility of starting a war could not be ruled out.

The international community has shown great indifference to the conflict between us and the Russians, and apart from the British verbal support, most countries are in a state of mind. ”

Inoue Xin said helplessly.

Since the rise of fanatical nationalism, it has been difficult for the Japanese government to be an official, and the foreign minister in charge of handling international affairs is even more hot.

The folk radicals do not use their brains at all when they look at problems, and they always have hot brains in doing things, and their ambition and strength are seriously unbalanced.

In this context, foreign ministers are often backstabbers, and in the people, it is about the same as the existence of "traitors".

No matter who goes up, it's the same, you must know that after the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Ito Hirobumi, as a great hero, was almost condemned by heaven as a thief.

Such a challenging job cannot be done without a strong heart.

No matter how strong her heart is, in the face of the current international situation, Inoue Xin also feels her scalp tingling.

In the international context of the confrontation between the two powers, even if he has too many dragon slaying skills, there is no room for them to be displayed.

Since he is messing with the British, he expects to be able to curry favor in front of Shinra. It is human instinct to cling to the strong, and as a sea power country with the most powerful navy, there is nothing wrong with Britain.

The crux of the problem lies with the boss. In recent years, for some reason, the British boss has suddenly become weak, and he is gradually at a disadvantage in international competition.

First lost its lead in the Second Industrial Revolution, then lost control of the European continent, and now even the supremacy of the Royal Navy is on the verge of collapse.

The supremacy of the sea was under attack, all thanks to the world cruises of the HRE Navy. All countries that have conducted joint exercises together know the difference between super-battleships and traditional battleships.

The British, however, were a step behind in this, and although their dreadnoughts were also launched, they were in a hurry and suffered from a bad disease.

Just like the earliest "Roma" of the HRE, is it okay to put it at home to prop up the façade? Once you drive it out, it's not good.

Against this background? Although the British also had super battleships, they could only watch the Shinra Navy stir up the storm and establish its might.

In the eyes of those who care? This is how the backwardness of the Navy manifests? At least in terms of warship construction technology, the British were one step slower.

The phrase "boom and bust" is not popular in the European world, but it is well known in East Asia. Including before the forcible seizure of the Philippines? It's all based on this judgment.

What worries Inoue even more is that the British boss is not only lagging behind in science and technology, economy, and military? Even the best diplomacy is now bogged down.

The boss's diplomacy can't be played? The younger brother's diplomacy is even more difficult to unfold. In this era when Europe is the center, who knows that Japan is the green onion?

In order to change this passive situation of diplomacy, a comprehensive Westernization movement broke out in Japan, that is, the "Secession from Asia and Entry into Europe" movement? As foreign minister, Inoue Shin is the leader of this strategy.

Hirobumi Ito: "It's not that serious? It was just a diplomatic conflict, and the Russians were not going to start a war over it.

The current international situation is very divided, Britain and HRE are opposed, and the Russian Empire, which is in a second-power position, seems to be majestic, but in fact they are also very embarrassed.

Logically? The Russian-Austrian alliance has lasted for decades, and the Russians should support the HRE, right? But they are on the same continent and happen to be neighbors.

One mountain can't accommodate two tigers? The European continent also cannot accommodate two large countries. Once the HRE defeated Britain, the Russian Empire wanted to go any further.

From the strategic point of view of long-distance and close attack? An alliance between Britain and Russia to deal with the HRE is the best option. After all? Russia and Austria are both land powers? The British are sea powers.

Even if Britain won hegemony, it would not threaten the survival of the Russian Empire, and vice versa.

However, Britain and Russia have deep grievances, which cannot be resolved if they want to, and the two sides lack the most basic trust, and there is no basis for an alliance at all.

At this point, it is not in the interests of the Russian Empire to support anyone, but they must take sides, otherwise London and Vienna will not be reassured.

This was a big problem, and the tsarist government would not make any trouble until it was resolved.

Moreover, with the power of the Russians in the Far East, it will not be enough to start a war. Once war breaks out, logistics alone will be able to drag them to death. ”

After listening to Hirobumi Ito's explanation, Emperor Meiji's face was obviously much soothed. Because of the butterfly effect, Japan today is not as lucky as it was in the original plane.

Despite the success of the war against the Far Eastern Empire, there was one more money-losing war in the Philippines, and the navy was much larger than at the same time in history.

All of this costs money, and if the plundered war reparations are used to fill these two huge holes, there will naturally be less money for domestic development, and the national strength will be much weaker than in the same period in history.

The most immediate response is fiscal. It is unthinkable that the balance of fiscal revenue and expenditure can be achieved without bankruptcy, and it is all blessed by eight million gods.

Facing the Russians is not only militarily stressful, but also financially.

From this point of view, Japan and Russia are similar, both poor countries with cleaner pockets than their faces.

Prime Minister Shigenobu Okuma: "Ito-kun, this is just an inference under normal circumstances, but don't forget that the Russian Empire is often abnormal.

I have studied Russian history, and many times the decisions of the tsarist government were made without going through the brain.

The most famous is Peter III, because of his personal preference to betray the alliance and aid Pupus, he directly cut off the westward expansion of the Russian Empire.

There are even more that are not famous, including several wars of the modern Russian Empire, which can hardly be called sane.

Including Nicholas the Great, who was highly regarded by the Russians, blindly launched the war in the Near East, although he finally seized the Constantinople area, and seemed to have won the war.

It can be seen from the price paid by the Russian Empire that it was a lose-lose war, and the Russians won only face.

The next Alexander II was about the same, without carefully weighing the pros and cons, blindly going to war with Prussia.

In the end, the war was indeed won, but at the cost of the Russian Empire's fall from the top powers to the second echelon.

……

In short, when the tsarist government made decisions, we cannot judge it by common sense, otherwise it will suffer a big loss. ”

I don't know if I don't analyze, and I'm shocked when I analyze it. When you encounter a competitor who is used to playing cards out of common sense, your scalp will be numb.

In fact, the law of interest inference itself does not hold. It is true that interests come first among countries, but the rulers are still people. Since it is human, it is impossible to be absolutely rational.

In many cases, politicians' personal preferences and perceptions can also influence government decision-making, especially in feudal monarchies.

There is no doubt that the Russian Empire was a typical feudal monarchy. Even Alexander II's reforms failed to change this essence.

It cannot be said that the monarch's personal will determines the country's decision-making, but the monarch's personal perception has an undoubted influence on the country's decision-making.

The most typical was the anti-Japanese faction in the upper echelons of the Russian Empire, and there were very few pro-Japanese creatures in the tsarist government.

For no other reason than the two scars on Nicholas II's body. This alone is enough to make everyone hate the Japanese Empire.

This is also political correctness. Someone assassinated the monarch you were loyal to, and if you were still indifferent, would you want to get involved?

What you sow, what you reap. Whether you want it or not, the Japanese government will have to pay for the mistakes that have gone before.

Of course, there are many more people who think about it. It seems that the mistakes of the tsarist government in recent decades have finally allowed Austria to take advantage of them.

They can't help but think about it too much, once can be a coincidence, two or three coincidences, then it is too much of a coincidence.

Come to think of it, there's not much you can do right now. They can all see the problem, and others can see the problem as well.

These problems were also identified by the top echelons of the tsarist government. Otherwise, the first thing every tsar did after succeeding to the throne was to get rid of dependence on Vienna.

No one wants to be led by the nose, let alone an unruly furry bear.

It's just that the gap between reality and ideals is a bit far, and if they really let them cut themselves off and cut off the connection between Russia and Austria, they won't be able to make up their minds.

Since it is inseparable, you can only be cautious when making decisions to avoid being led off the pace.

After all, this influence was carried out in secret, and the Vienna government did nothing on the surface.

Even if they stepped on the pit, the tsarist government could only knock out its teeth and swallow it in the stomach. It is absolutely impossible to admit it to the outside world, and if the lid is really lifted, it will only prove that they are incompetent.

……

Both governments were trying to avoid war, and the Japanese government did only a little more and strengthened its defense against the Russians.

However, the people were different, anti-Japanese sentiment was high in the Russian Empire, and anti-Russian sentiment in Japan was equally strong.

Looking at the crowd of protesters outside in the dark, the staff of the Russian Embassy in Japan did not even dare to go out to buy groceries.

The incessant cursing seemed to never stop from morning to night, and made Minister Ftoriac angry.

"Call the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

The staff member whispered: "Your Excellency, the telephone line has been cut off, or shall we send a telegram?" ”

It can be seen that Minister Ftoriac is still very prestigious in the embassy, and the staff does not dare to stab at all.

Minister Vatoriac roared angrily: "Then what are you still standing here for, don't hurry up and send it!" ”

As soon as he finished yelling, Vtoriac realized that he had lost his words. Since you want to send a telegram, you naturally have to have content, and you haven't said anything, so you naturally have to wait for what you want to do.

"I'm sorry, Frank. I didn't mean to, I was just by the Japanese.

The movement outside is so big, I don't believe that the Japanese government doesn't know about it. Knowing that someone is making trouble and not stopping it, this is a provocation against the great Russian Empire.

Let the guards be prepared, and if anyone dares to cross the line, they don't have to be polite to me. ”

Undoubtedly, the last sentence is just angry words. If they dared to shoot, the people below would have fired a long time ago.

After a pause, Vtoriak continued: "Inform us of the situation we are facing, and by the way, invite the embassies of various countries in Japan to put pressure on the Japanese government.

Notify the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and order them to expel the troublemakers within two hours, or ......"

Otherwise, Fontoriac himself does not know.

Diplomatic blackmail also has to be targeted, and this is not to say that Japan cannot blackmail. The crux of the matter was that the power of the Russian Empire in the Far East could not frighten the Japanese at all.

This kind of diplomatic note with a stern warning, if it were sent by HRE or Britain, it is estimated that it would still have some deterrent effect, and as for the Russian Empire, it is still a little bit worse.

However, Minister Vatoriac was not worried, this is the embassy area, and there is not only one Russian embassy, but also the embassies of Britain and the HRE a few hundred meters away.

There was such a big commotion outside, and it was not only their family that was affected, but also the neighbors around them.

If it's just to see the excitement, it's enough to make a fuss for so long. Even if it's for a good night's sleep, people will put pressure on the Japanese government.

You must know that in Japan, there is no shortage of extremists. Ordinary Japanese people can't tell the difference in appearance between Europeans, but it's just that they are all white.

If things really get bigger, don't think about everyone's life. It is all too common to accidentally injure gods.

A "bump" sound.

"What sound?"

Furtoriak could be sure that it wasn't a gunshot, that the sound of a bullet was not, and he still had some experience.

What's more, no one who can serve as an embassy guard is a fool, and no matter how much he looks down on the Japanese, he knows where this is.

If there are hundreds or thousands of Russian troops stationed here, then naturally there is nothing to say, just do it directly.

It's a pity that there are only a dozen guards in the embassy. Compared to the crowd of protesters outside in the dark, it is really insignificant, not even with a gun in hand.

People are under the eaves and have to bow their heads. In the case of a huge disparity in strength, no matter how angry you are in your heart, you must hold it back first.

"The glass shattered, and someone threw stones inside the embassy."

This is just the beginning. People are blind followers, and as long as someone takes the lead in anything, there will be no shortage of followers.

For a while, there was a crackling sound, and the flying stones could not only break glass, but also hurt people.

The situation is moving towards chaos, the frenzy is ignited, and everyone is getting more and more emboldened.

No one noticed that just a few hundred meters away, a black gun with the barrel was aimed at the protesters.

"Aim at the flag-raising shot, the degree of discrimination is higher."

……