"I'm so grateful that Mr. Shibusawa can come to condole!" Yataro Iwasaki said, bowing to Shibusawa Eiichi.

"Second Lieutenant Eiya came to Tokyo last time through hardships and dangers, brought extremely important information about the thief army, has made great contributions, and there was no need to return to the battlefield, but he resolutely returned to the front line to fight the thieves in a bloody battle, and finally died heroically, this kind of love is really admirable!" Shibusawa Eichi bowed in return and said, "Actually, Iwasaki-kun could have prevented Eimi-kun's nephew from returning to the front line again, but Iwasaki-kun didn't do it, the patriotic heart of the loyal monarch can be seen every day, and the contemptible people are ashamed of themselves, and they admire it to the fullest!" ”

Hearing Shibusawa Eiichi's words, Yataro Iwasaki somehow felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't say anything, so he had to say, "Don't dare to be!" Don't dare to be! Shibusawa-kun is overrated! ”

At that moment, Yataro Iwasaki invited Shibusawa Eiichi to a Japanese-style room, sat down as the guest and the host, and after the two exchanged polite words, they slowly turned the topic to business.

"I heard that your fleet encountered a fleet of thieves some time ago, and there were many losses." Shibusawa Eiichi asked, "I just don't know how big the loss is?" Can I get help? ”

Iwasaki Yataro heard Shibusawa Eiichi's question, and immediately understood his intention, although he knew that Shibusawa Eiichi might have understood his loss, just now he just asked knowingly, paving the way for the following words, but out of the instinct of resistance, he didn't think about it, so he blurted out: "Some time ago, I encountered some trouble, but I just sank a few small boats, and the loss was insignificant, and it was still within the scope of the company, so Shibusawa-kun bothered." ”

Hearing Yataro Iwasaki's refusal, Shibusawa Eiichi was unhappy. But on the surface, he remained silent: "Oh? Is it? I've heard about it, though. There are quite a few merchant ships in your company. When the thieves captured Nagasaki and Osaka, they were lost to the thieves, and I heard that these merchant ships were all large ships, so could it be said that they were insignificant losses to your company? ”

"At the time of the fall of Nagasaki and Osaka, there were indeed several merchant ships that fell into the hands of the enemy, but the tonnage was not large, and the loss of cargo was not much, and the company had already paid all of them. Shibusawa-kun may have been misled by rumors, but this is not the case! Yataro Iwasaki said stiffly.

As president of Mitsubishi Trading, he was of course well aware of the losses of his fleet, but at this time, it was one of the secrets he was trying to keep.

In fact, as Shibusawa Eiichi said, after Nagasaki and Osaka were captured by the Satsuma Army, Mitsubishi Trading lost a total of 32 merchant ships, most of which were large merchant ships with a displacement of more than 4,000 tons and a deadweight of more than 10,000 tons. After the defeat of the Japanese government's navy, 16 more merchant ships of Mitsubishi Trading were captured by the Satsuma Navy. Combined, the number of ships lost is close to one-third of the total number of merchant ships owned by Mitsubishi Trading, which can be described as extremely heavy, even if the government helps Mitsubishi Trading Company to buy some merchant ships of foreign shipping companies as a supplement, and Iwasaki Yataro has a good way of making money, such a large loss will not be easily recovered.

"I see, then I shouldn't ask such a question, it's rude!" Shibusawa Eichi sat quietly and bowed slightly, and then changed his words, "However, I have always hoped that I can work hand in hand with Iwasaki-kun and serve the country!" At the time of this national crisis, could Iwasaki-kun consider using the joint-stock method to form the largest shipping company by uniting powerful shipping companies in the country to complete the heavy military tasks? ”

Hearing Shibusawa Eiichi directly express his intentions, Iwasaki Yataro was shocked, of course he understood what Shibusawa Eiichi meant by this, Okuma Shigenobu had made similar suggestions to him before, but he knew that he would not agree to Shibusawa Eiichi's proposal.

Yataro Iwasaki, who had been in business for many years, certainly understood the benefits of the joint-stock system, but he also knew that if Mitsubishi merged with the Tokyo Sailing Company formed by Eiichi Shibusawa, Mitsubishi would not be able to have the dominant position he had now, and he could not tolerate the decentralization of his power.

"I've also considered this matter, but I think it's a lot more difficult to set up such a huge shipping company, and it can't be completed in a short period of time, and now the front-line war is urgent, and there is no time for us to complete such a reorganization, so, Shibusawa-kun's kindness, I appreciate it!" Yataro Iwasaki did not get angry for the first time, but bowed to Shibusawa Eichi with a respectful attitude, and said, "When the war is over, the country is unified, and there is time to calmly complete the reorganization, I am willing to work with Shibusawa-kun to form the largest shipping company in Japan and even the East to increase the wealth of the country!" ”

Hearing that Yataro Iwasaki said it soundingly, but in fact he rejected his proposal, Shibusawa Eiichi secretly sneered in his heart.

Before coming here, he already had a hunch that Yataro Iwasaki would not agree to his proposal, and now the facts in front of him proved his idea.

Yataro Iwasaki, who attaches too much importance to the commercial power in his hands and is intoxicated by the name of the number one Iiko in the Japanese business world, will not look at the problem from the perspective of the country and the nation like he did Shibusawa Eiichi or Ito Hirobumi and Okuma Shigenobu!

"Well, now that Iwasaki-kun has already made a decision, I don't have to say anything more." Shibusawa Eiichi said, "But if Iwasaki-kun needs help, he can explain it directly to me, and I will definitely do my best to help, after all, we are all serving the country, and at this moment, no matter what we do, we must put national affairs first." ”

"Thank you Shibusawa-kun for your kindness!" Yataro Iwasaki bowed again and said, "If there is a need, I will definitely not be polite!" Please rest assured! ”

Shibusawa returned the favor with a bow, and after a little more small talk with Yataro Iwasaki, he got up and took his leave.

Sending away Shibusawa Eiichi, Iwasaki Yanosuke carefully observed his brother's face, hesitated, and said, "Actually...... Brother, I think you should accept Shibusawa-kun's advice, we need help with our current situation,......" Before he finished speaking, he noticed that his brother's face began to turn blue, and he immediately shrank the words that followed.

"No! You can't merge with them anyway! In that case, it's all over! Yataro Iwasaki looked at his brother and said categorically, "Don't you understand?" Yanosuke. He wanted to take advantage of the fire. Annexation of Mitsubishi. I would never give him such a chance! ”

Seeing that his brother's reaction was so great, Iwasaki Yanosuke sighed inwardly and didn't say anything more.

At this time, Shibusawa Rong, who was sitting in the carriage, thought about the scene just now, and sneered again.

"It's his own choice, and no one else has anything to do! But that's fine, it's just that Ito-kun will be very disappointed when he knows the news! ”

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Kondrachenko held a telescope. Carefully observe the Satsuma Army position on the opposite side.

Once again, the Russian attack on Osaka was defeated, and the Satsuma people's defense in this area was extremely powerful in terms of its power. Anyone who has participated in the battle knows what happens when an infantry regiment and a Cossack cavalry regiment break through such a defense. When fighting the enemy, losses in head-to-head battles are often minor: someone is killed, someone is wounded; Or someone is sick, it's all accidental, but that kind of sudden explosion can always cause unexpected and terrible casualties to the attacking Russian soldiers. Many units are getting smaller and smaller in number, but the combat missions assigned to them are still largely the kind assigned to a full force. As a result, each man had to fight with six or seven men, and that the remaining soldiers were not necessarily the best, and they were the same people who had fought alongside them and had since left, but they had gained valuable combat experience, but they were becoming less and less courageous.

The force he now commanded was made up of many of them.

The soldiers looked worriedly at their new commander, who had crossed the river in a strange sedan carriage. His resolute look, his cold gray eyes, and his whole conceited attitude made a deep impression on their hearts.

"Where are the officers?" Kondrachenko asked the soldiers in the line, as if he had no idea what was going on with the troops.

A tall officer raised his hand and saluted, and replied in a gushing voice: "No officer, Mr. Lieutenant." I was the division chief, and I had two squad leaders: Sergeant Orittenko and Sergeant Gogopolit. The last officer, Second Lieutenant Balsuk, was wounded in the battle to capture the enemy's castle and left the unit. Private Oleg Gordon held the positions of clerk and administrator. In charge of the command was Sergeant Orittenko. The head of the company's division, Zhuratnov, reported. ”

"Let's go to bed," Kondrachenko coldly ordered his troops, "take off your boots." ”

But not everyone goes to sleep. Twenty-year-old Private Oleg Gordon, motivated by the imminent offensive with a new tactic, could not sleep anyway.

Last night, the interim commander, Sergeant Orittenko, held a short but enthusiastic meeting of all the soldiers for the upcoming offensive operation. Oleg was so excited that he was busy for some time in an abandoned factory on the edge of the position: he found a file there and made something. He came out of there with a sigh and looked at his hand reproachfully, and said to Orittenko: "Completely rusty...... What kind of craftsman am I now! Even being an apprentice is not qualified. ”

Orittenko comforted him: "You will get acquainted. You were also a useless soldier at first, and now you are a brilliant warrior! The work of craftsmen, you will be more familiar with it! ”

But Oleg was in pain: his hands were completely out of order, and he wandered sadly around the factory, looking into the house. He unwittingly walked up to the artillerymen and told them that a new commander had come. He found a washed black garment with a Japanese samurai family pattern painted on it in an uninhabited house. Having returned to his unit, he reported his findings to Lieutenant Kondrachenko.

"Burn that house down." Kondrachenko said.

Orittenko raised his eyebrows in surprise and raised his dissenting opinion: "Burning the house at this time will brighten up the night, and the enemy will say thank you." ”

"What are these words? Are you so afraid of the enemy? Kondrachenko asked, a little annoyed, but he didn't insist on his assertion anymore.

The artillerymen whom Oleg had informed - the commander of a cannon corps and a mortar artillery corps - came. They explained to the new commander their current situation: there was a lack of ammunition, in total only half of the ammunition base, and the rear was far away. Kondrachenko promised them that in the morning they would be replenished by a fleet of transport horses.

The moonlight shone on the earth. Most of them slept. Only a few lookouts sat in the trenches. Some were next to the Gatling guns, some were next to the ammunition boxes, and they all stared at the hazy silhouettes of the woods and bushes, hiding their thick cigarettes in the cuffs of their military coats. The artillery only occasionally answered the Satsuma sneak fire: they needed to save ammunition.

Kondrachenko sent off the artillery officers and lay down on the bed that the chief had prepared for him. The gathered soldiers began to talk softly about their impressions of the new commander.

"I've been a very decisive person." Said Sergeant Gogopole, who was tall and thin, with a dark face and a black mustache curled upwards.

"A man who is not afraid of death!" Oleg Gelev added.

The group looked to Orittenko again: in their opinion, the opinion of this officer with rich combat experience was of great significance. But Orittenko tried to avoid hasty judgment and simply said: "Take your time." ”

Zhuratnov decided to make a hearty dinner for the new prefect to wash the dust. He received enough vodka for thirty people. When the chief saw a few hens left behind by the fleeing owner in the shed, he ordered one of the soldiers: "Catch three and blow them up." Be careful, though, don't shoot, or you'll wake up our lieutenant. ”

He already called Kondrachenko "our lieutenant", which shows that he already regarded him as a member of the big family of this army.

"Your Excellency Lieutenant, dinner is ready."

Kondrachenko immediately jumped up and put on his boots. When he knew why he had woken him up, he took off his boots again, thinking that he would say no, but he saw fried chicken and vodka in a small glass bottle—the secretary was familiar with this! He remembered that he hadn't eaten all day.

The snoring of soldiers was heard behind the walls, and footsteps were constantly heard on the dirt road. The shouts of the sentinels were heard. He could hear the wheels of the transport wagons: they had brought ammunition from the rear ammunition replenishment.

There was a knock on the door. A group of scouts, led by the company commander, Lieutenant Michelsky, arrived. The two lieutenants introduced themselves to each other. Michelsky inquired about the situation with the scouts who were spying on the Satsuma and told them: "Brothers. Do you know that our major is back," he explained kindly as Kondrachenko, "and he is our reconnaissance captain...... I want to send him to the Army University, but he doesn't want to go now. ”

In short, the Scout Captain was a very polite man and had a good conversation. Kondrachenko, on the other hand, thought that politeness at the front was unnecessary, so he didn't hate Mischelsky's manners, just because he was a scout, and Kondrachenko respected scouts.

Michelsky and his teammates warmed themselves up and then stood up again.

Kondrachenko knew that the scouts were going to the rear of the enemy, so he asked Mischelsky: "Are you going with them?" ”

"Of course." Mischelsky said.

Kondrachenko stepped out and stood on the steps, looking at the backs of the departing scouts until they were all gone. Sergeant Orittenko stood next to him.

"What's wrong with you? On duty? Kondrachenko asked.

"No, sir, I just can't sleep." After a pause, Orittenko said: "I just don't understand, the enemy's position is very strong, and we lack artillery and ammunition, you really want to use the enemy's methods to conquer the enemy's position?" ”

"yes, that's it." Kondlachenko nodded and said firmly.

"But do you think we can do as well as the enemy? After all, there are too few people here who know how to engineer warfare, they-" he pointed to the sleeping soldiers, "those who have experienced many battles have become extremely timid, and the newly replenished soldiers are inexperienced in combat, and often die in a short time after they arrive, and those who survive only know that they drink vodka all day long, and only when they are drunk do they dare to charge the enemy, do you think such troops can defeat the enemy?" ”

"War is like that." Kondrachenko smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "Although it is impossible for everyone to be a good soldier, we can still defeat the enemy. ”

"Well, I hope you're right." Orit Tenko sighed and nodded.

As soon as the next day dawned, the rumbling of artillery began, and the entire crew of Kondrachenko's troops rose sleepily.

Kondrachenko woke up the man who was still asleep. They all barely shuffled their feet from fatigue, shivering in the cold of dawn.

"Are you going to leave right away?" Kondrachenko asked Michelsky.

"Yes, they're waiting for me." Mischelsky said, "Goodbye. ”

Kondrachenko was again amazed at the polite attitude of this scout. Kondrachenko followed him through the trench and stood for a moment, listening to the footsteps of Michelsky's departure. He then returned to his command post, where the troops had been assembled.

"Okay, now we get to work." Kondrachenko shouted to his men, "Don't worry, our artillery will be constantly firing during the day to cover our movements, even if we will dig a hole in the ground to the enemy's feet, they will not find out, let us blow them all into the sky!" (To be continued......)

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