Japan's intelligence system has also built its own intelligence network within the Beiyang system, especially when a considerable number of people in Beiyang are full of envy, jealousy, and hatred for Gu Weijun, an upstart, the news spreads faster. After learning about the negotiations between Beiyang and the British, there was great tension in Japan.

Britain and Japan are actually very clear that if Japan wants to expand its interests in China, it can only cut meat from Beiyang at this stage. This is also why Britain allowed Japan to attack Tsingtao, and only allowed Japan to attack Tsingtao. Japan knows the intentions of the British, and the British just want Japan to be obedient dogs. After Japan did its best to win, Britain would also throw a bone for Japan to gnaw.

"Britain's naval power in Asia is not as strong as ours in the Japanese Empire, and it would be rude to treat us with such an attitude." This has even begun to circulate in the Japanese Admiralty. Of course, the Japanese Navy has also inherited Japan's "ventriloquist technique" and will not directly say that Japan wants to replace British hegemony in Asia, but will express its attitude with Japanese characteristics such as "maintaining order in the Far East for Britain."

Naturally, it was impossible for the War Department, which had just suffered a dismal appearance, to oppose such an attitude towards the Admiralty. Moreover, the War Office itself was opposed to the British-led Asian order, resulting in a rare acquiescence and support from the War Office and the Admiralty on this view.

Of course, the Japanese cabinet could not have been stupid to this extent, and without the support of Britain, Japan would be nothing. At present, Japan's enemies are not the British, or even the People's Party, and the only way to maximize Japan's interests in China is to attack Beiyang. In response to this problem, the Japanese cabinet entrusted the intelligence department with organizing an analysis of this problem. The result of the analysis of the Japanese intelligence department is that since the coexistence of the People's Party and Beiyang, the People's Party has almost taken on political, economic, and military actions to defend China's interests. Whether it was a quota trade deal or an attack on the German army in Qingdao, the People's Party did everything in its power to prevent China's decline. The only thing that puzzles Japanese intelligence is that the People's Party has not used this kind of operation to gain its own dominance in China.

Naturally, the Japanese cabinet will not fail to understand that any attempt by the People's Party to seize power from the central government will lead to an all-out backlash from the Beiyang government. Any attempt to gain power would lead to an early rupture between the People's Party and Beiyang. If there had to be a reason for such action, the BJP, more than any Chinese power, would have avoided the outbreak of civil war. A civil war is bound to be a great drain on China's strength, and Japan is well aware of this. Especially at a time when the People's Party regards all foreign forces in China as its primary enemy, a civil war can only crush China, and even if it replaces the Beiyang forces, it does not mean that the People's Party will have the strength to smoothly dominate the situation in China after that.

But the BJP's patience has paid off, and the influence of foreign powers on China has been minimized as Europe is at war. Even if the BJP started a civil war, it would not lead to strong foreign intervention. So the BJP took the offensive just right.

For Japan, the current situation is extremely bad. Due to the restraint of the People's Party, the power of the Beiyang clique has not been damaged, and Yuan Shikai's power is even stronger than when the Beiyang government was first established. Strong enough to repel even the Japanese in land battles. As a result, the British and Beiyang powers showed superiority over Japan. Unless Japan completely tears its face with Britain and throws itself into the war of aggression against China with the strength of the whole country. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for Japan to take advantage of the fire to loot. Even if Japan made such a determination to defeat Beiyang and Britain, Japan would inevitably face the offensive of the People's Party.

At present, Japan has 18 divisions and regiments, and the standing army is 500,000. Throwing these 500,000 people into the Chinese battlefield, that is, occupying a very limited number of China's coastal cities, and even without war, the huge logistics could eat down the Japanese economy. According to the intelligence gathered so far, the elite areas of China are already the Central Plains controlled by the People's Party. With the lessons of the Kyushu Division and the Sendai Division, Japan simply did not dare to allow its troops to engage in a large-scale land war with the People's Party outside the defensive range of the naval guns.

"Could it be that while the situation in China is in turmoil, the imperial kingdom is sitting on the sidelines?" This issue was raised in the Japanese Cabinet.

Taking advantage of the fire to rob is the most wonderful and the most lucrative, and it is completely unable to intervene in China's current chaotic situation, and the hearts of Japanese cabinet members are as uncomfortable as cat scratches.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the current situation is to solve Japan's economic problems first, and once the economic problems are solved, our external problems can also be reopened." Finance Minister Takahashi said. At this time of urgency, Takahashi is Kiyoshi is already considered the first choice for the next prime minister of the cabinet.

"Do you want to let go of the opportunity of the moment?" Although Katsura Taro, a veteran of Japanese politics, is no longer the prime minister, he is still the Minister of Civil Affairs. Katsura Taro was a strong supporter of the War Department, and he felt sorry that he could not intervene in Chinese affairs. Historically, the prime minister, who was ousted by the Japanese people in 1913 because of his hard-line policies, is still the biggest hardliner in the Japanese cabinet.

"As long as the war in Europe continues, Britain will continue to buy goods from Japan. With this revenue, Japan's finances will still be able to improve. If Britain continues to invest in the war, not only will Britain be dissatisfied with Japan, but its current fiscal revenue will also be in a situation where it will not be able to make ends meet. Takahashi is facing the current crisis as a financial master, and any action that affects the direction of the Japanese economy is within his scope of opposition.

"If the People's Party seizes power in China, how can we protect our interests in Manchuria?" Katsura Taro has no intention of quitting.

Takahashi is Kiyoshi is almost going to skim Katsura Taro with contempt. The so-called Manchurian and Mongolian interests must be actual interests. At present, there is a lack of railways in Manchuria, and even if the mines can be opened, there is no railway to transport them to the sea. The most important thing is that Katsura Taro is so shameless in shouting about the interests of Mongolia, and what makes the Japanese Empire so passive, isn't it the War Department represented by Katsura Taro? If the two divisions had been able to defeat the People's Party in the Battle of Qingdao and seize Qingdao, one of the few industrial port cities in China, how could Japan have faced the extremely unfavorable situation at present?

It's just that Takahashi is Kiyono was born in a small house, and he can have today's status by completely getting rid of Japan's westernized spring breeze. Katsura Taro is a member of the imperial family, and he was also proudly awarded the title of duke because of the royal family. Takahashi is Kiyoshi is directly in conflict with Katsura Taro is extremely disadvantageous.

"At present, the trend of factory closures is intensifying, if we can't get factories to start working as soon as possible, let the private materials flow quickly. Military action could well be discussed later. Takahashi said to the other ministers.

Of course, the other ministers were also aware of the domestic situation in Japan, where domestic food prices soared due to sluggish exports for several years, and rice riots spread throughout the country. If we do not hurry to restore the economy, we are afraid that the commotion will turn into an uprising.

"There must be no softness on those socialists!" Katsura Taro said viciously. In 1910, Japanese socialists and anarchists launched a wide campaign against the emperor's autocracy, and Sukako Kanno made it clear that the emperor was "the chief of economic plunder, the root of political evil, and the source of ideological superstition." In this regard, Katsura Taro took extremely severe repressive measures, and carried out a large-scale search and arrest of socialists on trumped-up charges such as "conspiracy to assassinate the emperor", and innocently sentenced 24 people to death, of which 12 people, including Kotoku Akisui and Kanno Sukako, were hanged successively, and the other 12 were sentenced to life imprisonment. With this achievement, Katsura Taro established himself as a political figure. As long as they are against the workers' movement, they all support Katsura Taro.

"The political stance of the People's Party is socialism, and as far as I know, many Japanese non-nationals have defected to the People's Party. Quite a few even took part in the Battle of Qingdao. The families of these non-nationals must not be spared. "Katsura Taro turned the conversation to his advantage," and the minister to China suggested getting rid of Chen Ke, the chairman of the People's Party. Only by getting rid of this person can we change the situation in China. The War Department's intelligence department is also working on this issue. ”

After hearing this suggestion, the members of the Japanese cabinet all looked at each other, and many people had a thought in their hearts, "Katsura Taro is crazy!" ”

It is impossible to directly assassinate the leaders of China's political forces, regardless of success or failure, without leaving a horse behind. At that time, Japan's attitude towards China was nakedly exposed. If nothing else, there are many Japanese businessmen under the control of the People's Party, and the People's Party will definitely not turn a blind eye to these people. At the better point, these people's property was confiscated. At worst, if the People's Party arrests these people in the name of spies, it will cost countless lives. When the Japanese people die, they die, and Japanese businessmen all exist with some background. Who will be willing to take responsibility in China when the time comes?

However, before the cabinet members could speak, Katsura Taro had already sneered: "Gentlemen, killing Chen Ke may not require us to do it ourselves. The BJP has so many enemies that thousands of people want his life. There are candidates. ”

"Enough!" Takahashi Shiqing finally couldn't help but shout. Because the Japanese military forces have repeatedly gambled on the success of the country's fortunes, they have had a great influence on Japanese political circles. But Takahashi is the Qing Dynasty who is most disgusted by these representatives of the military department. Wars are won and lost, and it is impossible to win them all the time. A single defeat at Tsingtao blocked the possibility of continued Japanese interference in China's affairs. If Japan continues to make things bigger, and all of Japan's energy is focused on the war, the only possibility that can save the Japanese economy will be lost. At that time, the accumulation of decades after the Meiji Restoration in Japan would only turn into water. Even Japan would again become a British colony.

Thinking only about victory, but completely ignoring the result after defeat, this is the attitude of the military department. This is true for both the Navy and the Army.

Hearing Takahashi Shikiyo's scolding, Katsura Taro's eyes widened. It was unthinkable that a baron from a small family would dare to be so rude to a duke. Even Japan today is incredible.

However, the boss of the Political Friends Association, Xiyuan Temple Gongwang, coughed, "Let's discuss economic issues first." "He has a strong back and finally prevents this quarrel from continuing to expand.