"Yamasan-kun, Korea is an independent country. Pen Fun Pavilion www.biquge.info"

"Yes, Ito-kun. I know. ”

Korea was an independent state – no matter what one might think, it was not another country's territory, not a colony, not even a semi-colony – five years earlier, in 1895, under the Fourteen Articles of Hong Beom and the Treaty of Shimonoseki, the Korean Empire, then the Kingdom of Korea, was officially freed from China's thousand-year-old control and ceased to be a vassal state of China, and from that time on, it was an internationally recognized independent state.

And it is a protected independent state.

"Yamasan-kun, we all know that since the relocation of the Rokan in the 29th year of the Meiji era, Korea has been an independent country under the protection of Lucia."

"Yes, Ito-kun. I know. ”

The relocation of the open hall. Yamaguchi recalls that in February of the 29th year of the Meiji era, that is, in 1896, after secret consultations with Lucia's minister in Korea, the 26th monarch of the Joseon dynasty led the prince of the Yi family, Yi Kun, to leave the palace and enter the Luguo Legation, asking for refuge and issuing an order to arrest the traitors of the state......

The anger radiated little by little with the recollection, but Yama Prefecture did not stop, and continued to recall the events of a few years ago - Li Xi's actions directly led to the collapse of the pro-Japanese cabinet established in Meiji 28, and several "rebels", Prime Minister Kim Hongji, Minister of Agriculture and Industry Jung Byung-ha, and Minister of Doji Yu Yunzhong were killed one after another, and only the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Justice, and the former Minister of the Military escaped - that is, from that time, the pro-Lucia elements in North Korea took control of the state power.

This is a shame for Japan. Youpeng in Shan County has always thought so. The fall of Korea to Lucia not only caused the good situation created by Minister Miura Olou in the 28th year of the Meiji era to take the risk of leading the imperial soldiers and samurai into the Joseon royal palace to kill the Joseon princess who was close to Lucia, but also forced Japan to sign a series of agreements with Lucia to divide the sphere of influence and the distribution of interests between the two countries on the Korean Peninsula.

Originally, however, there was no need for Japan to share Korea with Lucia - it originally belonged only to the Japanese Empire, and it was a delicacy that the Empire forcibly seized from the Qing at the cost of the lives of more than 10,000 soldiers, and could be enjoyed alone; It was the last dividend of the Sino-Japanese War – but now, Japan had to share it with Lucia.

In this moment, anger turns to resentment. The Lukan apology and everything that happened afterwards was a disgrace, the Japanese Empire, the Yamato nation, and his — to this day, Aritomo Yama still haunts him and Lucia Foreign Minister Lobalov for signing the "Yama Prefecture-Robalov Agreement" — these shames were brought by North Korea, and Lucia brought them, but in the final analysis, it was brought by North Korea.

Moreover, Korea continued to humiliate the Japanese Empire: in the 30th year of the Meiji era, Lee Hee actually changed the name of Korea to the Korean Empire, crowned himself emperor and posthumously crowned the dead princess Empress Myeongseong.

Daehan! Imperial! And the emperor and empress! Yama Youpeng's anger gradually intensified. A country that has been a fearful vassal of China for thousands of years, a country that has had to rely on China's assistance to protect its territory whenever Japan rises, and a country that now relies on Lucia's protection...... It has the audacity to call itself an empire, and it has the audacity to use the word "big"; Its monarch had the audacity to proclaim himself emperor and posthumously crown his wife empress......

It's humiliation, it's offense, it's blasphemy. For a mat sandwiched between Japan and China, the Korean Empire? Does it deserve it too?

It doesn't even deserve to be an independent state at all.

Japan must teach North Korea a hard lesson, defeat it in one fell swoop, wipe it off the map and in fact, and let the arrogant Koreans recognize their true identity – sooner or later.

However, Aritomo Yamaguchi has his plans and schedule, and Hirobumi Ito has his own.

"Yamasan-kun, since you know that Korea is an independent country protected by Lucia, why do you still plan to use Korea's territory in exchange for an additional loan from the Bank of the United States?" Japan's prime minister said in a nonchalant tone, "You know what that means, don't you?" ”

Aritomo Yamaguchi looked at Hirobumi Ito. Regardless of the expression or tone, the Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan did not show more emotions than calm, as if he was really just asking a question. But Yamagumi knew that Mr. Ito was not just stating the facts, he was issuing a warning about what the plan to use the Korean Peninsula in exchange for a loan from the United States meant to Japan.

Actually, there was no need for him to do this. Youpeng said in his heart, I know what that plan means. Not something else, just a war with the Lucian Empire.

In order to annex Korea and seize the Korean Peninsula, Japan must use force to defeat Lucia.

There is no other option. Although it is extremely difficult for any country to challenge a traditional military power that was once known as the "gendarme of Europe", and to win the challenge, a country like Japan, even if it has formed an alliance with Britain, still has no chance of winning, but that is the only way to go.

It is also a path that must be chosen.

"Lucia was an important obstacle and the main enemy of the Empire's strategy of continental expansion—both in Korea and Manchuria, a country that hindered and undermined the interests of the Empire. Prime Minister Ito, you should know that sooner or later, the Empire will always go to war with Lucia. Yama Youpeng said in the same calm tone, as if to state a fact.

Of course, it is also a reminder that Ito Hiroshi confesses what he means.

"Yes, Shan County General, we are very clear about these things." He did not deny it. He did not deny a well-known fact, but only expressed doubts about the arrangement of Youpeng in Shanxian County. "But, General Shan County, are the Empire's troops ready for war with the Lu Army?"

It's not a question that needs to be answered – or a reminder. Hirobumi Ito knows the answer, Aritomo Yama also knows, and the cabinet ministers know the same as the bureaucrats and politicians outside the cabinet, and that is: not yet.

It is impossible for Japan to challenge a formidable polar bear, let alone defeat it, with its current and still meager military might; To achieve this, Japan needs to build more warships, build more artillery, recruit more soldiers, and build a strong military force - however, to build a strong military force, Japan first needs sufficient financial investment, at least a few hundred million yuan in military spending.

But, as everyone knows, Japan does not have hundreds of millions of dollars in military spending—and if Japan can invest so much money to expand its military, it does not need to be so desperate to use North Korea in exchange for loans.

Although in Ito's plan, even if there is so much money, it should be used to repair Japan's economy.

Of course, Japan doesn't actually have that much money – even with the first loan from the Bank of China, 35 million won, the situation won't change.

That little money is not enough at all.

"Now, and for some time to come, the government will not be able to sustain a military expansion program against Lucia." Hirofumi Ito said, "Even if you get a loan of 35 million yuan from the Bank of China, you will not be able to realize your plan." ”

Yama Prefecture Aritomo laughed to himself - Ito Hirobumi's problem used to be his problem, but he had solved it. "Prime Minister Ito, our country can ask the banks of the United States to pay a certain amount of loans in advance, and ask them to help us issue war bonds in the United States and Europe."

Ito Hirobumi was stunned for a moment, and his right hand, which was originally stretched out to pick up the teacup on the coffee table, stopped in the air, and then slowly retracted back to its original position. He knew that Youpeng in Shan County was not joking, but the solution he proposed to solve the problem was like a joke.

Ito Hirofumi pondered, wondering if Yamaguchi Aritomo had gotten some secret information through some secret channel that he didn't know.

"General Shan County, do you believe that the National Bank will accept your proposal, pay the loan to our country in advance, and assist our country in issuing war bonds—for a piece of land that does not yet belong to our country?" Finally, he regained his composure, and his right hand reached out again to take the cup on the coffee table, and at the same time asked him the question, "What reason do you have?" ”

"Kuroshima Ren, that is, the head of the Kuroshima Agency, my country's expert on the United States......" Hearing Yamaguchi Aritomo's introduction, Ito Hirobumi almost laughed - he knew that Kuroshima Ren, the head of the Kuroshima Agency, the shame of Japan's intelligence work, had been preoccupied with trying to deal with the Michichina named Qin Lang for several years, but he achieved nothing, suffered heavy losses but failed to cause any losses to Qin Lang...... It's interesting that he's now an expert on the U.S. — but maybe he's an expert, but it only depends on what advice he gives to Yamasan-gu.

Hirofumi Ito focused. “…… In view of Lucia's ongoing and increasingly intense haiyu activities, Kuroshima-kun believes that the Jewish chaebol will take action to retaliate against Lu's power and prestige – so if our country is determined to take a military approach against Lu, the Jewish chaebols in Europe will be willing to lend money to our country to help us issue war bonds. ”

"Jewish plutocracy?" He thought about it for a while, and there was some truth to it, and as far as he knew, a part of the Jews was advocating the rebuilding of the Jewish state—and at such times they would not turn a blind eye to Lucia's persecution of their countrymen, and they would support any country willing to fight against Lucia, buy its public debt, and finance its war with Lucia.

Kuroshima Ren finally came to the right conclusion that the Jewish chaebol was definitely willing to support Japan.

However, it is not enough just that the Jewish plutocracy is not enough, they are a minority, they cannot provide a lot of money, and their influence is limited, even if it is a Jewish plutocracy in a country. "I remember that Kuhn-Lob of the United States was a Jewish chaebol, but it was already on the list of the banks of the United States that were willing to lend to our country, and they contributed 10 million yuan...... How much more loans it can provide. And, if it issues public bonds, does it have that much influence? ”

"And the Rothschild consortium in the UK." "They are all first-class chaebols, and even if their influence is not as good as that of the Morgan and Rockefeller chaebols, they are enough to assist our country in issuing public bonds." Moreover, it is possible that they will persuade Morgan and Rockefeller to accept our loan package. ”

"These are just the guesses of the Black Island Authority, right?"

"I think Kuroshima-kun's inference is very reasonable. And, there's no other solution, isn't it, Prime Minister Ito? ”

"What if he's wrong, Yama General?" "If his inference is wrong, your plan will not be able to proceed, and the annexation of Korea will be temporarily suspended." ”

"If that's the case, I'll have to accept the facts." Yama replied, "But no matter what, I will support the prime minister's policy." ”

That's not a good thing — when someone says he's behind you, he's not necessarily really behind you, but there's a very good chance he'll strike a fatal blow when you make a mistake — but Ito didn't say anything, just nodded. "I'll tell Saionji-kun to find out Morgan's attitude toward your plan when he signs the loan agreement with Morgan."

"Thank you very much, Prime Minister Ito," Yamaguchi Aritomo bowed his head slightly, saluted Ito, and then asked, "Speaking of that Morgan, what is he doing now?" ”

"What are you doing?" The Jack on behalf of his father, who was waiting for a reply from the Japanese government. What is Morgan doing? What else could he do? "He is visiting the places of interest in our country. Surprisingly, he showed an extraordinary interest in the Kinkakuji collections. ”

"Oh." Youpeng in Shanxian tilted his head and thought for a moment. And that's a good thing.

This is indeed a not-so-good thing. Hirofumi Ito commented without a trace, poured out the cold tea, poured himself a new one, and drank it in one gulp. It's not great, but it's very good.

Good or bad, it all just depends on the direction in which you look at the problem - the right gift can always make things go smoothly, but the collection of Kinkakuji is somewhat ...... Of course, as long as ordinary citizens don't know the news, there won't be trouble - but now, Hirobumi Ito and Aritomo Yamaguchi don't know yet. Morgan was interested not only in some of the Kinkakuji collections, but in all of them.

As long as Japan wants to. Jack. Morgan's view was that it could use any object as collateral, including the Kinkakuji collection. Although the things here are worth a little more than two million or more, it doesn't matter, Morgan can accept it, and every penny is precious to Japan.

As long as the Japanese government is willing - this is not his father's plan, not Qin Lang's plan, just Jack. Morgan's own plan - as Morgan's successor, he still has this little bit of autonomy.

But first, he had to make sure to complete his father and Qin Lang's plan.

Of course, this is not a very difficult thing. Jack. Morgan knew that the Japanese were about to take the bait. (To be continued, if you want to know what will happen next, please log in to the www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!) (To be continued.) )