Ugaki Issei was talking to Nagata Tetsuyama Jiāo, and an officer hurried over and gave a piece of stationery to Ugaki Isseri, who took the letter and looked at it, and couldn't help but look at Nagata Tetsuyama with a surprised gaze.

"The people of China are too arrogant." Kazunari Ugaki gave the letter paper Jiāo to Tetsuyama Nagata, "They really sent the excuse to Mén." ”

The letter was actually a copy of a telegram written in pencil about Vladivostok "the Japanese army was attacked by the barbaric Shina army" in Vladivostok.

Nagata Tetsuyama judged the contents of this telegram copy from Ugaki Isseari's words, took the letter and looked at it, and said calmly, "Since the Shina army is deliberately provoking a war, let's try to meet their challenge."

After sending off Ugaki Kazunari, Nagata Tetsuyama's gaze fell on the huge map of Asia on the wall, and his gaze fell on the location of Uragang and Mukden, but his face showed yīn Yuzhi sè.

"No matter how clever the plan is, when it is implemented, it will change its flavor if it falls into the hands of fools." Nagata Tetsuyama said to himself alone.

Beijing, Jurentang, the Grand Presidential Palace of the Republic of China.

"The Japanese have finally come out of their true appearance," Acting President Feng Guozhang, who received the urgent telegram, gave the telegram in his hand to Premier Xu Shichang, and said hatefully, "This time he has openly attacked our army." ”

Xu Shichang finished reading the telegram, and there was a look of surprise on his face.

"Vladivostok is not garrisoned by our army, Britain, France, and the United States all have garrisons, and the Japanese should have some scruples if they want to forcibly seize Vladivostok, and it is really inconceivable that they are so openly attacking our navy and army, and ignoring public international law."

"The Japanese have been increasing their troops for this day." War Secretary Cai Yi said, "Now that they think the time is ripe, they can't wait to do it, and it is reasonable for Britain and the United States to refuse to obey Japan's will at the Paris Peace Conference, and Japan will retaliate with this." ”

"The Japanese government has been continuously increasing troops to Manchuria and Siberia before, and the Japanese army in Vladivostok launched a surprise attack on our army this time, and this time it was a deliberate provocation and undeclared war, which is exactly the same as the story of the invasion of our country in the first year of the year and the Japanese and Russian northeast jiāo soldiers in the year of the first day, which shows that the Japanese government has long been premeditated." Feng Guozhang said.

"The Japanese have bullied us again this time, and the government should make it clear to the world, send a note to all countries, and officially declare war on Japan." General Wu Peifu, who had just arrived in Beijing, got up and said loudly.

"There's no need to declare war for the time being." Hearing Wu Peifu's words, Yang Shuoming, who had not spoken, said, "Because this time it is not necessarily the Japanese government that deliberately provoked the war." ”

Hearing Yang Shuoming's words, Wu Peifu and all the military and political dignitaries in the room showed surprise on their faces. Wu Peifu turned to look at Yang Shuoming, as if he didn't understand what he meant.

"At present, the detailed battle situation is unknown, but it is certain that there was a battle of jī, how could an attack of this scale not be instructed by the government?" Chief of Staff Zhang Xiaozhun leaned over and asked.

"It is indeed inconceivable that the army should act without political directives, but in Japan, it is very normal, because Japan's national conditions are different from those of our country and the European powers." Yang Shuoming said, "This time the Japanese army launched a surprise attack on our army in Vladivostok, which is probably the work of some madmen in the army, and it is not out of the will of the Japanese Hara Kei cabinet." ”

"How does Hanzhi know? I would like to hear about it. Wu Peifu seemed to understand a little, looked at Yang Shuoming and said.

"As far as Japan is concerned, the military administrative power of the Japanese Navy and Army is divided into the Ministry of the Navy and the Ministry of the Army, but its command is vested in the Navy's Military Command Department and the Army General Staff Headquarters." Yang Shuoming said, "For example, the decision on the strength of the Japanese Navy and Army normally belongs to the category of military administration and is under the control of the Minister of the Navy and Army. However, the generals of the Japanese Navy and Army did not think so, believing that without the consent of the Navy Command Department and the Army General Staff Headquarters, it was an infringement of the so-called 'Emperor's commanding power.' ”

"The Ministry of the Navy and Army, which is under the jurisdiction of the Minister of the Japanese Navy and Army, is the government fǔ Yamén, which is equivalent to our Navy and Army Department. The so-called 'Navy Command Department' and 'Army General Staff Headquarters' are actually the names of the Navy and Army Staff. Zhang Xiaozhun, who used to be the "Three Heroes of Non-commissioned Officers in Japan" with Cai Yi, said on the side, "Hanzhi means that the commander-in-chief of the Japanese Navy and Army is actually in these two staff departments, but not in the Ministry of the Navy and Army. In other words, the government cannot manage the army",

"Politics can't manage the army?" Listening to Zhang Xiaozhun's words, Feng Guozhang, Xu Shichang and others were taken aback.

"yes, that's it." Yang Shuoming smiled, and then said, "What's worse is that, on the other hand, in Japan, the army can manage the government," Yang Shuoming said, "Japan has a 'military attache system of the current military attache of the Minister of War', which means that the Minister of War and the Minister of the Navy must be active military personnel. In 1913, this was changed to allow retired reservists to serve, but in practice it was never realized. ”

After listening to Yang Shuoming's explanation, Wu Peifu's face couldn't help but change.

"The great thing about this 'current military attache system' is that as long as the military department is not satisfied with the political cabinet, the two military ministers can resign. And if you have the 'current military attaché system,' you won't be able to go outside the Diet and pull two people to make up the numbers." If you don't send a new minister, your cabinet will only collapse. ”

"It's a really powerful move." Wu Peifu sneered and said, "What's the matter with that 'Emperor's Command'? ”

"The commanding power of the Japanese army nominally belongs to the Japanese emperor, not to the government." Yang Shuoming said, "According to the explanation in Japan's 'Commander-in-Chief Program', the essence of the so-called 'Emperor's Commanding Power' is power, and its role is beyond the law. The exercise of the 'Commander-in-Chief' and its consequences are not accountable to Parliament. The parliament also has no right to question, explain, or criticize the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and their results. In other words, the government is only in charge of recruiting and raising soldiers, and as for what these soldiers are going to do and what they are doing, the government has no right to ask. ”

"'Commander-in-Chief'? Why haven't I heard of it? Zhang Xiaozhun glanced at Cai Ye in some surprise and said.

"This 'Commander's Program' is a top secret in Japan, and only a very small number of high-ranking generals know about it." Yang Shuoming said.

"That is to say, in Japan, the army can be lawless and above the government," Cai Yi frowned and said in a deep voice.

"Not only that, but these soldiers recruited by the government and raised by the government are also very evil. Because the commanders who command them, the commanders of divisions and brigades, are commanded by the staff officers of the lower ranks. Yang Shuoming said, "As we all know, staff officers should draft combat plans for senior officers and then help them implement their combat plans. That is to say, it is common sense for the chief officer to manage the staff officer, but in the Japanese army, the military administration and military orders are completely separated from the dual system, and the chief of staff is the chief of staff at the next higher level, not the chief. ”

"Japan, like our country, has an army that follows the example of Germany and a navy that follows the example of Great Britain, so how can there be an army independent of government and parliament? How can an army have two lines of command? Feng Guozhang asked.

This situation began in the Southwest War of Japan, when Saigo Takamori raised troops to rebel, and Japan raised the military strength of the whole country to quell the rebellion, which cost a huge amount of money, so there was no pay after the war, and then there was a Takebashi Mutiny artillery bombardment of the residence of the Prime Minister and the Emperor's Palace with heavy artillery. Since Saigo Takamori's death, many of his supporters have entered the parliament and advocated freedom and civil rights, which is the beginning of Japanese liberalism. The Japanese military and political leaders were worried that the parliament would be controlled by the liberals, so the Japanese minister at that time, Yama Prefecture Aritomo, in the name of 'not letting domestic politics control the army', separated the command of the army from the parliament and the government, and directly handed it to the Japanese emperor. Yang Shuoming said.

"If that's the case, this so-called 'Emperor's Command' is actually nonsense, and it should have been proposed by Yama Prefecture out of personal ambition." Cai Yi, who strongly advocates the "nationalization of the army", thought of Youpeng in Shanxian County, who is still alive today, and couldn't help but sneer and said.

Aritomo Yama was one of Japan's most important ministers from the Meiji era, having served as Secretary of the Army (later Minister of the Army), Minister of the Army, Chief of Staff, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, and Prime Minister (Prime Minister). After Ito's death in 1909, Aritomo Yamagu became the most powerful senator in Japan, influencing both the Japanese cabinet and major internal and external issues. Known as the "Prime Minister-Maker", it can be said that he is famous, but he is also famous for the enactment of the notorious "Public Security Police Law" that prohibits the registration of political groups and political gatherings, and the government has the power to dissolve political groups, etc.; prohibit military, police, religious, nvxìng, teachers, minors, deprived of citizenship from participating in political activities; restricting trade union activities; It is notorious to prohibit strikes in the same industry, etc.

"There was no shortage of capable people in Japan at that time, and no one could see through and block the idea of Yama Prefecture Youpeng?" Xu Shichang asked. ,

"Because of the constant news of rebellions in various parts of Japan at that time, the Japanese government was anxious, and what they were most afraid of was the collusion between the rebel forces and the army. The military's non-involvement in politics is undesirable. Even if someone sees it, so what? Even Hirobumi Ito, who was the Minister of the Interior (later called Minister of the Interior), did not oppose the so-called "drinking water to quench thirst", but also strongly supported Yamaguchi's proposal. Yang Shuoming said, "In order to achieve the independence of the commander-in-chief? It was convenient for the emperor to take charge of the army, so there was a dualization of military administration and military orders, and the General Staff Bureau of the Ministry of War was separated from the Ministry of War and the General Staff Headquarters was established. The General Staff Headquarters is directly under the Emperor, so that the Emperor does not have to consult the Minister of Imperial Affairs (later the Prime Minister), the Secretary of Army, or the Secretary of the Navy, and as long as he has the help of the General Staff Headquarters, he can directly control the army. And the first chief of staff was Youpeng of Shanxian County. ”

"The independence of the General Staff Headquarters from the government means the separation of military administration and military orders, to put it more seriously, that is, the separation of politics and military. However, for a country, whether it is national defense in peacetime or operations in wartime, it requires the unity of political strategy and strategy, and in this sense, the independence of the General Staff Headquarters is simply a perverse act. ”

"This perverse behavior of the Japanese Army aroused the envy of the Japanese Navy, which did not want to be controlled by others, and later followed the example of the Army and established a similar organization, but with the name of 'Navy Command Department' to distinguish it from the Army. At that time, some people in Japan also saw that such a separation of the military, government, and military orders would lead to the navy and army going their own way, so on the eve of the First Sino-Japanese War, Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi invented the so-called "wartime base camp" in order to unify the navy and army in wartime. ”

"Ito Hirobumi used the 'wartime base camp' system to temporarily solve the problem of the dualization of the navy and army, and then stuffed the land and sea ministers into the base camp to solve the problem of the dualization of the military, government and military orders, but Ito did not realize one, he was only doing things with his own qualifications and prestige, and did not solve the problem organizationally. Although the base camp system played its due role in the First Sino-Japanese War, as the important ministers of the Meiji Restoration gradually withdrew, the flaws in its system inevitably appeared. ”

"Hanzhi is really knowledgeable and talented," Wang Zhengting, vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who had studied in the United States and was considered an expert in law, looked at Yang Shuoming with incredulous eyes, and said, "'The Emperor commands the Navy and Army' is clearly stated in Article 11 of the Japanese Constitution, as Hanzhi said, it is not 'the Emperor is the commander of the army and navy', but 'the Emperor commands the army and navy' What a big opening. ”

"It's very simple to make a bad start to anything, but it's impossible to think about a good result after making a bad start. Former Japanese Prime Minister Katsura Taro once said: "Japan's purpose in building up its military strength is mainly twofold: one is a second-class country that defends the country from foreign attacks and maintains neutrality, and the other is a first-class country that is mighty and brilliant and can resort to force to fight the enemy when needed, not to be bullied by foreign countries, and to be able to move freely overseas." Although Japan's military construction lasted for a short time, it could not always stop at the first goal, but pursued the same goal as the European powers. Therefore, everything starting with conscription should serve this goal. His remarks make it clear that the Japanese Army has taken outward expansion as its goal since its founding. Yang Shuoming said, "Since the Meiji Restoration, Japan's people's livelihood has been embarrassed because of this 'military priority' relationship, and now Japan's Harakei cabinet is the first to set a precedent for Japan's party politics, and it has improved people's livelihood in accordance with public opinion, and has not been reckless in military force, so it has shown goodwill to our country." This move will inevitably have a big conflict with the Japanese military's expansionist purpose and will be opposed by the Japanese military. However, if the Japanese military wants to conform to its political rules, provoking a war is the most convenient way. ”

Speaking of which, all the participants understood what Yang Shuoming meant.

"According to Hanzhi, how should my country respond?" Feng Guozhang asked.

"They can do their own political and military affairs, but we in China don't learn from him. Since Japan has not declared war on Japan, there is no need for Japan to be in a hurry to declare war on Japan. Because now that the war in Europe has ended, the European powers want to recuperate, and once war is declared, they must strictly maintain neutrality, and our foreign aid will be cut off. Yang Shuoming replied, "Since the Japanese government and the military are not in the same step, we will treat them separately." Militarily, because the strength of our front line is still insufficient compared to the Japanese army, the navy and army should seize the time to deploy to deal with the arrival of a big war. ”,

"This time, our troops are much more abundant than the last time, and we can teach the Japanese a good lesson." Feng Guozhang looked at Army Minister Cai Yi, Navy Minister Liu Guanxiong, and Chief of Staff Zhang Xiaozhun, and said with great expectations.

Listening to Feng Guozhang's words, Cai Ye and Zhang Xiaozhun were all high-spirited, but Liu Guanxiong's face suddenly showed a trace of pain, and he involuntarily covered his abdomen with his hands.

"Is Ziying having intestinal disease again?" Yang Shuoming noticed the change in Liu Guanxiong's face, and immediately asked with concern.

"Hmm." Liu Guanxiong nodded a little uncomfortably, "It's okay, it's okay." He endured the pain, took out a bottle of yào from his pocket, opened it and poured out a few white sè yào tablets, Feng Guozhang got up when he saw this, took the thermos kettle with his own hands, poured him a glass of warm water, and brought it over. Liu Guanxiong put the yào slice into his mouth, took the cup and took a sip, and swallowed the yào slice.

Yang Shuoming looked at Liu Guanxiong's appearance, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.

Of course, he knew how Liu Guanxiong's intestinal disease fell.

After the "Haitian" ship ran aground that year, Liu Guanxiong knew that his guilt was inevitable, and once he collapsed and almost committed suicide. Later, after becoming the Minister of the Navy, the heavy official duties of the Admiralty aggravated his illness, which made him feel like he was exhausted.

"In a war with Japan, naval warfare is the key, Hanzhi thinks, how should our navy use troops?" After Liu Guanxiong ate yào, he felt better, he noticed Yang Shuoming's concerned gaze, and couldn't help but smile slightly and asked.

Yang Shuoming didn't expect Liu Guanxiong to ask such a question, and he couldn't help but be slightly stunned, but he had been concurrently serving as a maritime patrol envoy for some time, and he had not been thinking about how the Chinese navy should deal with the Japanese navy for a day or two, so he immediately replied: "Our navy can take the initiative to attack, gain sea supremacy, blockade the coastal areas of Korea and Japan, and cut off the connection between its mainland and the mainland." Specifically, it is to carry out combat patrols in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, blockade the western waters of Korea and the Yellow Sea, obtain sea supremacy from Jiaozhou Bay to the Liaodong Peninsula, and then attack the coastal areas of Japan, take the initiative to find the Japanese fleet to launch an attack, shell the Japanese coast and ports, force the Japanese Navy to be unable to support the army operations, and form a fleet of light ships to cooperate with submarine attacks to cut off the Japanese mainland and the Japanese Army in Korea, Manchuria, and the Far East. ”