Katsura Taro's pamphlet to Saionji Kobo is 32 pages and 3 inches thick, and the cover is the same as the paper inside, yellowish-white, without any explanatory text, which is a typical white paper.

Gently opened, Xiyuan Temple Gongwang found that it was a handwritten catalog, and the content was about Li Zhigao and the Jiangnan Army's investigation report.

Continue to open it, and find that it is densely packed with fly-headed small letters, and some places have red lines drawn underneath, which is obviously a lot of content.

At the moment of Katsura Taro, it is definitely impossible for Saionji Gongwang to read such a thick booklet little by little, after all, there is a lot of content in this booklet, and it is not something that can be read in a short time, so it can only be roughly flipped through according to the table of contents, to see the key content inside, especially those places with red lines, as for those parts that are obviously narration, explanations and suggestions, they will be skipped for the time being.

However, even if it is a cursory look, it makes the public of Xiyuan Temple look more and more frightened, so that it turns faster and faster, and often turns to the front to look again.

In this way, after drinking two pots of tea, going to the toilet five times, and reading it for more than an hour, Saionji Gongwang finally read the booklet hastily, and then looked at Katsura Taro with a stern face.

"Is this all true?"

"I would have liked it to be fake, but alas, it's not." Katsura Taro shook his head.

"How is that possible?" Gongwang of Xiyuan Temple shook his head, "According to what I said above, then Li Zhigao currently has two Class A divisions, six Class B divisions, and twenty-three mobilization divisions?" Among them, there are about 12,000 people in the first division, 15,000 in the second division, and between 12,000 and 15,000 mobilized divisions. This means that there are at least 390,000 soldiers and horses under his command? Moreover, all troops have at least more than five thousand cannons? Among them, there are at least three thousand heavy guns of caliber 75 mm or more? In addition, this is said above. His army was also equipped with more than six thousand machine guns? It's a joke, right? Where did he get so many guns and machine guns? Moreover, with so many people and things, can his finances be able to bear it? ”

"You don't care if he can eat it or not, let's look at the specific data first." Katsura Taro shook his head, "Look closely, one of his mobilizers. It is said that there are 80 artillery pieces, which is more than our A division in terms of weapon configuration and firepower; His Division B has a full 120 cannons, and many of them are 105 mm heavy guns, which can already compete with one of our corps in terms of firepower. As for his armor division, also called the field division, because the secrecy is very strict, we don't know how many heavy artillery there are. However, the preliminary estimate is that there will be no less than 200 heavy guns, and I heard that many of them are super heavy guns with a caliber of 130 mm and a range of more than 30 kilometers. ”

"130 mm caliber? Thirty km range? How is this possible? Xiyuan Temple Gongwang frowned.

"Nothing is impossible." Katsura Taro's face was indifferent, "I asked, this kind of 130mm heavy cannon can theoretically be made, it is nothing more than lengthening the barrel and thickening the gun wall, but this kind of cannon." The range is adequate, but it must be very bulky. And accuracy is not guaranteed. In short, it's about the same as our siege artillery. ”

"But that's the problem." Gongwang of Xiyuan Temple continued to frown and said, "At this moment, we can only deal with twenty divisions and more than two thousand artillery pieces, and that's it. He is already unable to make ends meet, where does he, a small local warlord, get the funds to feed such a huge army? ”

"Don't underestimate him." Katsura Taro shook his head, "He originally started out in business, and he has a lot of in-demand goods. Especially those special drugs that others can't research, they are earning him high profits every day. Moreover, he also opened many factories, not to mention, the Taiping cloth he produced, which has now completely expelled our Japanese cloth and become the best-selling cloth in China. In addition, his territory has always been wealthy, and the financial aspect is not a problem.

In addition to the lack of weapons and finances, he also has no shortage in terms of population. You know, Zhejiang Province alone has more than 20 million people, which is more than half of our population in Japan, plus the southern part of Jiangsu Province, at least 10 million people, which has already caught up with the total population of Japan. In addition, he controlled Hubei, Anhui, and northern Jiangxi, and together he had at least 50 million people, more than the population of Japan as a whole.

In this way, he has guns, money, and territory, and he is self-sufficient, especially since he is quite unfriendly to us Japan, and you say that these are not enough to become our most dangerous enemy? ”

"If that's the case, then he can be one of our most formidable enemies." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang nodded, "But the problem is, I also know the situation in China very well, and it is not too much to say that he is poor and white, where did he get so many weapons and equipment?" With the scale of his weapons, especially the number of heavy artillery, I am afraid that the great powers are only like this, how can they sell them? ”

"I heard that most of them produce it themselves." Katsura Taro said.

"Produced by yourself?" Saionji Gongwang smiled, "We in Japan are currently unable to produce heavy artillery more than 75 mm, where is his ability to produce it?" And, how long has it been? If I remember correctly, this guy named Li Zhigao has only appeared for more than a year, and he can get so many weapons and equipment in more than a year? Forming such a huge army? And, supposedly, new troops continue to be added? Hehe, that's so funny. ”

"So, you think it's all fake?" Katsura Taro squinted at him.

"That's right!" Saionji Gongwang pursed his lips disdainfully and threw the pamphlet on the table, "This is too sensational, and it obviously does not conform to common sense. Either Li Zhigao is boasting about fraud, or your subordinates are too incompetent to get such a bunch of false information, but unfortunately, it is too much, and these data cannot withstand scrutiny at all. ”

"I understand your feelings." Katsura Taro nodded slightly, "To be honest, when I first saw this, I didn't believe it, so I kept sending people over to re-investigate, but the final results of the investigation were bigger and bigger, and each time it was more surprising. For example, half a year ago, I saw less than one-fifth of the data in this booklet, but now, it is what it is now. Moreover, it is said that this is already their conservative estimate. The real picture may be even less rosy. For example, Ryohei Uchida, whose speculation is even more pessimistic, is likely to have been armed with more than 10,000 artillery pieces. ”

"Ryohei Uchida? Is it the one from the Black Dragon Society? Xiyuan Temple Gongwang suddenly said.

"That's right, it's Ryohei Uchida from the Black Dragon Society." Katsura Taro nodded.

"Hmph, it's just a virtuous ronin. And what do you know? Xiyuan Temple Gongwang continued to say disdainfully, "What he said, can you also listen?" Obviously, it is just relying on unashamed words to win attention and sensationalize. ”

"That is, you insist that it is fake?" Katsura Taro said.

"Of course it's fake." "There are only a few companies in the world that can make arms, and it is impossible for them to sell so many arms to China in a short period of time, especially those heavy artillery over 75 mm." 10,000 doors? I dare to think about it. And. You don't want to think about it, if what this pamphlet says is true, then Li Zhigao's army is invincible at least in China, so why is he still cowering in his small place? Why don't you just wave your troops north, destroy Yuan Shikai, and then unify the whole country? It can be seen that this is a trick he put out! In my opinion, his troops can only fight one to three divisions. With the mobilization of soldiers, there will be no more than 100,000 combat-ready soldiers. Weapons and equipment, it's good to be able to have a gun in your hands. ”

"I can understand why he didn't go on a northern expedition." "Because he's doing a lot of construction right now, which consumes a lot of his manpower." Moreover, he rose too fast, controlling such a large territory in just one year. There must be a lack of manpower on hand, at the very least, we have to integrate the internal problems first. Therefore, he wants to be steady and steady, and he must first run a good place in the south of the Yangtze River. After his own internal handling is almost the same, and the military training is about the same, he will make progress. In my opinion, with this momentum of his, at most two years, he will have to wave his troops to the Northern Expedition. ”

"What are you trying to illustrate by showing me this?" Saionji Gongwang looked at Katsura Taro and said, "Do you want to show that your plan to expand the army is correct?" ”

"Of course." "If what this pamphlet says is true, then there is no doubt that China's Li Zhigao is the most dangerous enemy of the empire, and we must stifle his growth before he develops and grows, and this will inevitably require a large army, especially a large army." Judging from the current situation, if we want to curb his development, we need to expand at least ten more divisions, and then ......"

"You're kidding!" Gongwang of Xiyuan Temple immediately interrupted him, "Expand ten divisions? You're not crazy, are you? The financial resources we used to expand these ten divisions? Not to mention that there is no money to expand, even if it is really expanded, what will it be used to raise? And where will the money come from to buy weapons? Do you want all ten divisions to use broadswords and spears? ”

"It's easy to talk about money." Katsura Taro drooped his eyelids, "We just need to tighten the waistband of our trousers, there will always be." ”

"That's a tax increase?" Xiyuan Temple Gongwang's face turned pale, "You are really a good student in Shanxi, and you never forget to expand your army, can you even say such things?" Raise taxes? Do you know what the consequences are? Our people are already destitute, and if we raise taxes again, it will only add fuel to the fire, and what if there is a revolution when the time comes? Moreover, if taxes are raised, the whole country will be in dire straits, industry and commerce will be affected, and in the long run, it will be very harmful to the country! Just for the sake of a so-called imaginary enemy that is difficult to distinguish between true and false, you have to risk the condemnation of the world and want to expand the army at this time? Sure enough, it makes sense to let you step down, how can you be the prime minister of a madman like you! ”

"What if it's true?" Katsura Taro raised his head and stared at Saionji Gongwang, "If everything in this pamphlet is true, then what should I do?" Now, he is fledgling, and we can still take advantage of his unstable footing to strike, but if we wait for his wings to harden, we will have no chance to interfere again. According to intelligence, he has been constantly expanding the army, and once he is allowed to keep expanding, such as expanding more than 300,000 troops, then what should we do? At that time, once he completes the integration, unifies the whole country, and masters the resources of the whole of China, do you think he will willingly give up Manchuria? Will you willingly give up North Korea? Will you be willing to fail in the first day? ”

"You're worrying too much." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang smiled, "Don't think that you are the only one who has an intelligence organization, in fact, I have it too." Li Zhigao I have also been paying attention to, he is at best a speculator who knows how to grasp opportunities, although he has achieved a lot of achievements for the time being, but he also has a lot of problems. At this time, China had been divided, and Li Zhigao was just a big warlord. He has Yuan Shikai in the north and the revolutionary party in the south, and as long as we continue to pay attention, support whoever is weak, and continue to maintain China's division, we will not have any problems.

Therefore. What we should do now is to disarm and reduce taxes, so that the people can benefit and rest with the people, so as to enhance the vitality of society and increase national strength as quickly as possible. At the same time, after the dismantling of the army, we can invest the saved funds in military research and development, and we can cultivate our own military industrial system. Modern society. After all, it is compared to steel, only when the industry is strong, the army can be strong, and the courage of the moment can only drag itself to death. ”

"Why are you so stubborn!" Seeing him like this, Katsura Taro suddenly became angry, "You think I'm fighting for power and profit? No, I really want to do it for the good of the Great Japanese Empire. I want the Japanese Empire to prosper. Don't I know the disadvantages of expanding the army at this time? I don't know the benefits of developing people's livelihood? But there can't be helped, now there is a new threat. If we can't stifle the threat in advance, it will threaten ourselves sooner or later! ”

"Hmph, sure enough, you still haven't changed, but you can only scream." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang sneered, "It's still the same sentence." How do you prove that what is written in this booklet is true? 10,000 cannons? What a joke! ”

"This is all first-hand information that the people of the Black Dragon Society have worked so hard to obtain." Katsura Taro said with a serious face, "There are a lot of intelligence officers under Li Zhi's master, and he has a strong control over society, and the confidentiality measures are also in place, so in order to get this information." They lost more than 200 people before and after. It can be said that the pamphlet in front of you has been infected with the blood of more than 200 Japanese elites, isn't this enough proof? Or do you have to go to China in person, go to Li Zhigao's barracks, and see their artillery with your own eyes to believe all this? ”

"Black Dragon Society? Hehe, that thing that Toushan is full of, it's just that, and I'm dizzy when I'm fooled. Xiyuan Temple Gongwang shook his head, "I don't have a pamphlet, but my attention to China has not relaxed at all, and to be honest, my people have more in-depth contact with this Li Zhigao, do you want to listen to what I know?" More precise information about Li Zhigao? ”

"Oh?" Katsura Taro frowned, "Your people? Who is it? ”

"Mitsui Foundation, Takashi Masuda."

"Oh, it's him." Katsura Taro nodded.

Indeed, the Mitsui Foundation is currently the most famous big consortium in Japan, and there is no one, and the current big boss of the Mitsui Foundation is Masuda Takashi.

Although the Mitsui Foundation plays an important role in Japan, whether it is Mitsui Bank or Mitsui & Co., it is a well-known company, but at this time Japan is still a period of feudal politics, although the economic bigwigs are very good, they still can't get on the stage, and they must rely on the bigwigs in the government to survive.

For example, Masuda Xiao, his big backer at this time is the Gongwang of Xiyuan Temple, and a Yuan Jing will be added in the later stage. Similarly, the Black Dragon Society in history can only develop so well with the support of Katsura Taro.

"You may not know it yet, Mitsui Bank has just recently lent a huge amount of money to Li Zhigao, the amount is 50 million yen."

"What? 50 million yen? Lend money to Li Zhigao? Katsura Taro was dumbfounded, "You, are you crazy?" This is a capital enemy, do you know that capital enemy? ”

"How can this be a capital enemy, this is precisely for the benefit of the Great Japanese Empire." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said, "Before borrowing this money, Yitian Xiao once sent someone to contact Li Zhigao, but he had seen Li Zhigao up close, and it was different from the crooked ways of your Black Dragon Society. ”

"Go on." Katsura Taro frowned, "How's the contact going?" ”

"The contact is good." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said, "According to that person's return, that Li Zhigao is a character who forgets profit and is greedy for enjoyment, not only lustful and wealthy, but also happy with great achievements, and his favorite thing to do is to deceive and fool others." For example, he had summoned many consuls to see his super cannon with a long range, and in the end it turned out that it was just arranged in advance, and the explosives were arranged in advance, and they were specially made for people to see, and there was no such giant cannon at all. ”

"How do you know no, these news, how can he tell you?"

"It's all said, then Li Zhigao is lustful." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang smiled, "Masuda Xiao's people specially sent a beautiful woman to him, and he gladly accepted it, not knowing that the woman was our person." All this information came from that woman. It is said that it was revealed when Li Zhigao was drunk once. ”

"And what about his army, so many troops, is this also a fraud?" Katsura Taro said immediately.

"Of course it's a fake." Xiyuan Temple official continued to laugh and said, "According to the information sent by that woman, Li Zhigao's plan to expand the army is a complete scam. The purpose is to scare the people around him, especially Yuan Shikai, so as to give himself a chance to breathe. ”

"Scare? Then it is also a scare to beat Nanjing? And in a short period of time, the entire Zhejiang was conquered, and so many new Qing troops were destroyed one after another, which was also frightening? ”

"Of course not." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said, "As far as I know, Li Zhi's master can only fight one division, which is the so-called field division. The division was almost entirely built with the aid of his American friends, and was fully equipped with American equipment. For example, the so-called mid-formal rifle. There are also those cars, which are said to be made by themselves, but in fact they are all obtained by the United States. You know, only in the United States can you get so many cars. In addition, there are quite a few arms companies in the United States, and it is reasonable for them to do arms business with Li Zhigao. ”

"These. It was also the news that the woman who was next to Li Zhigao got the news? ”

"Yes."

"Then how do you know that the message from that woman is true?" Katsura Taro said, "What if the other party did it on purpose?" What about deliberately letting that woman send fake news? ”

"At least her information is more reliable." Saionji Gongwang Road. "At least the news from that woman can still be said, and your news is obviously too incredible. Because if what you said in that pamphlet is true, don't say it in the future, and we can't do anything about him now. ”

"But ......"

"I know what you're going to do." Saionji Gongwang Road. "You are just unwilling to step down like this, and you want to strengthen the strength of your army by expanding the army. Moreover, you are supporting Yuan Shikai, which is different from our path. But what I'm going to say is. Yuan Shikai is more dangerous than Li Zhigao, Li Zhigao is too young and inexperienced, but he is just a little clever, Yuan Shikai is our old opponent, and we all know his wrist very well, you don't end up stealing chickens and rice. ”

"I don't need you to educate me for anything." Katsura Taro said.

"That's right, you're still the prime minister, and it's true that it's not my turn to preach, but unfortunately, it won't be long before you are not." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang smiled.

"You!"

"Okay, don't be impatient." Seeing Katsura Taro's face change, Saionji Gongwang hurriedly waved his hand, "Although my words are not good, I did tell the truth, didn't I?" ”

"Humph!"

"Actually, even if you don't look for me today, I'm going to come to you." Saionji Gongwang Road.

"Oh? What is it? ”

"I'm looking for you, and it's also related to this Li Zhigao." Xiyuan Temple said, "Since you are leaving, then I hope you can wipe your ass by yourself and deal with the trouble you have caused yourself." ”

"What the hell are you talking about?" Katsura Taro said dissatisfied, "Can you explain it?" ”

"I mean, the Whale Maru." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said, "Your people secretly transported opium and arms to Li Zhigao's territory, supporting his opposition, causing him to be dissatisfied with us, and many cooperation projects that were originally negotiated have been stalled, which has touched the interests of many of us." You know, we just signed a secret agreement with Li Zhigao to buy low-cost grain, iron ore, medicines, high-yield seeds and other things with him, and we also gave him a loan of 50 million yen in advance for this purpose. ”

"Hmph, you didn't necessarily discuss it with me when you lent him money."

"Well, I don't want to argue with you." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang shook his head, "In short, I hope you understand that we support Li Zhigao, because we need him in many places, such as iron ore, such as some new technologies." In short, I hope that you will have a beginning and an end, and solve the Whale Maru incident as soon as possible, so as not to delay our major affairs. If you can solve this matter as soon as possible, then we can wait for the official general election to make you more decent, if you refuse, then we don't mind holding an early general election, then your face will not look good. ”

"You're raising a tiger for trouble!" Katsura Taro said, "Even if his troops are boastful, there's no denying that he's strong, isn't it?" At the very least, he has a lot of patents for special drugs, and by virtue of this, he is the richest warlord in China. ”

"Of course we know, that's why we're working with him now." Saionji Gongwang said, "You don't know, even His Majesty the Emperor is using his medicine now, once he leaves their medicine, His Majesty may ...... In short, until we get his special drug technology, as well as those such as stainless steel, high-yield seeds, pesticides and fertilizers, I hope you don't act rashly. Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to say that this matter is not only my request, but also His Majesty's meaning, so it is up to you to do it or not, how to do it. (To be continued......)