"That is, in the future we will have 2 battleships of the second rank, and 4 armored cruisers of the 12,000-ton class that are more powerful than battleships of the second rank, as well as 1 protected cruiser of the first rank and 2 protected cruisers of the second rank? I really didn't expect us to have such a powerful fleet now, Ito-kun, you're doing a great job. Mutsu Munemitsu's face was full of happiness and joy.

"Mutsu Aokun has won the award." Although he is very modest in his words, in fact, Ito Hirobumi is still very proud in his heart. This is really stealing the sky and hiding the world!

"Since we have such a strong navy and at the same time can get the support of the British, then we will fight it directly, and the Americans will probably not even be qualified to enter the battlefield. What else do you care about him? Mutsu Munemitsu's words stunned Hirobumi Ito and Kotoshi Saionji. I didn't expect Mutsu Somitsu, a person who usually looks quite honest, to be even crazier than himself?

"The British have already helped us to keep the United States out of this battle for the Philippines without us having to do anything." Mutsu Munemitsu looked very proud. "What do you mean by neutrality? Neutrality means not helping each other. You can imagine who has the upper hand if all countries do not help each other. ”

I'm rubbing, that's the truth! According to the Qing-Japanese treaty, Japan can have concessions in Kaohsiung and Tainan in southern Taiwan, and these two places can be directly used as advance bases for the navy and army! If the British did not provide the American fleet with ports and adequate supplies, then where would the American fleet be based? It can only be Samoa! This place is far from the Philippines! I obviously have a first-mover advantage! Hirobumi Ito's geography is not bad, and he figured this question out directly.

"What is the current US Asian fleet? A 5,800-ton cruiser Olympia may be a little stronger than the Takasago, but only to a limited extent. The Podmoa is only 4,400 tons and has four 8-inch L35 guns and six 6-inch L30 guns. The performance is not as good as that of Takasago. The cruiser Lolly, but about 3200 tons. 1 6-inch L40 gun and 10 5-inch L40 guns. There is also a Boston that was commissioned in 87 years, with a tonnage of only 3,000 tons, and this battleship is not considered. With such a little power, what can the Americans think? ”

Although Mutsu Munemitsu is engaged in diplomacy, he has also studied the consent of the navy, after all, he wants to buy a ship. Be professional. The strength of the US fleet in Asia is also relatively clear, there are only 4 cruisers that can be called cruisers, and only 3 can be used at a time. Coupled with the geographical disadvantage, if the Americans really dare to attack the Philippines when Japan makes a move, it is because there is a problem with the brain, or is there a problem. Or is there a problem? Of course, the Americans still have some gunboats, but it doesn't make a difference whether they are counted or not.

"But what if the Americans increase their troops? Your vision came about without the United States' knowledge. But what if the Americans were prepared in advance? The Americans also have two armored cruisers of more than 8,000 tons and a whole bunch of cruisers, including two 7,000-ton protective cruisers. If they temporarily strengthen the Far Eastern Fleet. Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said with some concern.

"Hehe, temporary reinforcement, this is possible. But even if all the warships you just mentioned have arrived, what are the odds of winning against the Imperial Navy? Mutsu Munemitsu's face showed a hint of hideousness. Until now. Is there room for us to retreat? We have used up the last accumulation of the empire, will we give up the Philippines to others? It doesn't matter who it is! Whoever wants to take it from us, then we will fight them to the end! ”

"It would be better if we could take Hawaii into our hands. The Americans will never reach the Far East! What about the power of the United States, no matter how strong? What can they do without Hawaii? Mutsu Munemitsu had long recognized the seriousness of the conflict between the United States and Japan, and this time the policy of banning Japanese immigrants from entering Hawaii made him a little annoyed. Now that the face has been torn, as long as the Americans dare to move! Then pack it all together!

"It's a radical approach." Although Ito Hirobumi was a little hesitant to say it, he was constantly calculating the balance of power between the two sides in his heart. On his side, there are 6 10,000-ton warships and 3 cruisers. The Americans combined for 15 patrol and protective cruisers nationwide. But a lot of them are junk cargo, and the guys of 3000 tons and 2000 tons are naturally not suitable for the war. It's not as good as cannon fodder. It would be nice to have 8 battleships that can really pull over. But what about even the strongest Brooklyn in the face of the Sunrise? How many rounds can you take?

As for other interfering forces? France is a little far away, Russia is not close, and the current Russian fleet in the Far East is only 1 battleship Petrobarov and 3 cruisers. But if the Japanese fleet just got up, it is estimated that in addition to the 2 Munich-class armored cruisers that can survive the shipwreck at the beginning, the other two big ships are estimated to not even be able to run, don't look at Rurik's self-proclaimed cruiser, and the speed of 19 knots still wants to run away from the hands of the Nisshin? What do you think?

To put it mildly, the current Japanese Navy is already the first in the entire Far East. The lineup of the British Eastern Fleet can't be compared, except for the British, the strongest remaining is the Russian Far Eastern Fleet, with 1 battleship, 3 good cruisers, and some scum cruisers. The number is comparable to that of the Japanese fleet of warships of more than 4,000 tons, but the combat effectiveness is obviously not a grade. France and Germany were even weaker, and Germany had only one cruiser Hamburg and a couple of scum ships in Samoa.

Now, even if the three countries integrate the forces in their hands, relying only on the forces of the Far East will be just as good as the Japanese fleet, and even more so the American fleet, what can you do if you come? A bunch of warships with an average load of not even 1,000 tons of coal, departing from Samoa to fight in the Philippines? Let's not talk about whether you can beat it, the endurance is enough to choke! The Americans just need to beat the weak chickens, and the current Japan is just now, do the Americans dare?

Of course, although they are ready to face it head-on when necessary, the Japanese in this plane are still very sensible, and in line with the principle of not fighting if they can, and dissuading them to retreat and never directly demolishing their homes, the Japanese intend to force the other side to submit through diplomacy and deterrence, and diplomatically they naturally join forces with the British to drive the American fleet out of the Far East through so-called neutrality, after all, some warships have a maximum coal load of 700 tons. Can this endurance support operations in the oceans? And the military deterrence is obvious, brother has so many warships, aren't you afraid! That's what Hirobumi Ito thinks anyway. So I don't really care about this matter.

Thanks to the book friend Fang Zhan 2004, bighill1982, the reward ~~~, and the book friend one meter & sunshine & monthly pass support ~~~. There are two more ~~~ this afternoon, please subscribe and ask for a reward~~~. (To be continued.) )