The night in Tokyo is a bleak night.

Three months ago, after they won the protracted war and defeated the world's first-class continental power, Japan suddenly completed a qualitative change, and became a third-rate country to become a world-class power, thus having its own voice on the international stage, and no country would dare to ignore the voice of this country.

On the other hand, the war, which lasted one year and six months, destroyed Japan's economy in a sense, and after the end of the war, Japan's prices did not improve in the slightest because of the end of the war, but caused prices to rise rapidly due to the relaxation of wartime regulations.

In just three months, the price of rice has increased by 2.5 times, and the increase in the price of rice is directly reflected in various commodities, and the soaring prices and the actual depreciation of the yen have exceeded almost everyone's imagination.

In the face of soaring domestic prices and declining real purchasing power, Japan, which had a meager income, complained that in the past, farmers had to sell their daughters in order to pay off their debts and pay taxes, and now even urban working families have to sell their daughters in order to survive.

What the hell is wrong with Japan?

Why is it that when the war is won, the people's lives are poorer?

The Ministry of Finance announced that it would conduct an investigation into rising prices, but before the investigation began, an even more shocking news spread throughout Japan in an instant.

The Southern Fleet was defeated!

The Combined Fleet, which was regarded by the Japanese people as the "pillar of the empire" and "the patron saint of the empire", was defeated!

The impact of this news on the Japanese people is far greater than the increase in prices, and people can hardly believe this news, preferring to dismiss it as a rumor.

But in one day, the rumors evolved from the Southern Fleet to the Combined Fleet, from suffering heavy losses to the total annihilation, it seems that the Combined Fleet no longer exists, and the panic caused by the soaring prices of people is even more at this time to expand the fear to the maximum, and when they attribute all this to rumors, they are willing to believe that the Combined Fleet was defeated by the Chinese.

Then, the official report confirmed the rumors to some extent.

"The Southern Fleet was besieged by the Chinese Navy in the South China Sea in the early hours of this morning, and four ships were sunk in battle......"

Whether it's a lie or the truth, anyway, it proves a fact to some extent, the Southern Fleet was defeated, but is there really only one Southern Fleet?

Those people who had cheered for the United Fleet did not know at all what the truth was, and I am afraid that only a few people could understand.

It was almost four o'clock in the afternoon, as the first official announcement of the disastrous defeat of the Southern Fleet spread in Tokyo. Prime Minister Katsura Taro made a phone call to the Imperial Household Minister and asked to meet the Emperor. This prime minister, who was born in the Choshu domain, was the head disciple of the first elder of the army, Yama Prefecture Aritomo, and became his spokesman after Yama Prefecture Aritomo retired from politics.

He wore a neatly trimmed European-style mustache, and in a way, Katsura Taro was one of the few politicians in Japan who had a certain strategic vision after Ito's death, especially his repeated admonition that Japan's policy must be based on cooperation with Britain.

It can be said that, to a certain extent, Katsura Taro was decisive and pragmatic, and he was sober-minded and pragmatic, but this clarity and practicality would lead to conflict under certain circumstances.

Just like on the issue of dealing with China, Katsura Taro's sober-mindedness and pragmatism have become the most fundamental reason why he supports a war against China, because he believes that China is the biggest threat to Japan, and believes that if he does not fight now, there will be no chance in the future, and in his opinion, this war is also related to whether the position of the prime minister is stable. ,

"Your Majesty is very unhappy!"

After arranging for Katsura Taro to meet the Empress at five o'clock, after Katsura Taro entered the palace, Hisamoto Hisachi Hisakata greeted Katsura Taro, and the first thing he said made Katsura Taro startled.

"Your Majesty, it seems that you don't want to take any more risks!"

"However, now that the national policy has been decided, it is impossible to change it!"

Listening to Hisamoto Hisachikata's words, Katsura Taro, who was not surprised, said affirmatively.

"And we have already declared war on the Chinese, and if we ask for peace with the Chinese because of a small defeat, then Japan will become a joke!"

Katsura Taro's explanation made Hisakata Nod heavily, and then he sighed again.

"Alas, go and convince Your Majesty!"

A few minutes later, guided by Hisamoto Hijikata, Katsura Taro entered His Majesty the Emperor's study house, while Emperor Meiji stood by the study window, looking at the lake outside the study house.

"Prime Minister Gui!"

After Katsura Taro's greeting, Emperor Meiji, with a solemn expression, looked at the lake dyed golden by the setting sun and spoke.

"I think it's time for me to personally write a personal letter to the Emperor of China to explain this conflict and thus end this war!"

As he spoke, Meiji's expression was solemn and his tone was low, and the defeat of the Southern Fleet was beyond his imagination, which, in his opinion, at least showed that it was impossible for Japan to completely defeat China, and that the victory in this war was a naval battle, not a land battle, according to the ministers, and the army also said that it was almost impossible to break through the defensive line set up by the Chinese army on the other side of the Yalu River.

"I beg your Majesty to retract your order."

Katsura Taro, who bowed deeply, flatly rejected His Majesty's suggestion, and then he continued.

"The problem is extremely serious."

Slightly raising his eyes to look at His Majesty with his back to him, Katsura Taro continued.

"Your Majesty, there will always be losses in war, but if a single defeat leads to a change in the national policy, then it may lead to the complete defeat of the entire country. I beg your pardon for taking the liberty of making this comment to His Majesty. ”

Katsura Taro's answer only made Meiji Weather's expression more solemn, eleven years ago, at the insistence of the ministers, Japan defeated the seemingly invincible Qing State, a year ago, at the insistence of the ministers, Japan defeated Lucia, who seemed to have almost no chance of defeating, and now?

Whether it was the Sino-Japanese War or the Nichiro War, Japan won the advantage at the beginning, and the possibility of victory had already appeared, but now it is different, as soon as the war broke out, the Imperial Navy lost four warships, and even two battleships and a 10,000-ton armored cruiser, and unlike the two battleships and cruisers Yoshino lost in the "Devil's Week" that shocked the whole of Japan in the Rilu War last year, these four warships were not sunk by mines, nor were they sunk by the collision angle of friendly ships, Rather, it was sunk in a dignified naval battle, with all the superiority.

"7 against 2, 8 12-inch naval guns, 14 8-inch naval guns, 42 6-inch naval guns......"

The comparison of numbers has been constantly coming to Meiji's mind in the past few hours, although he is not a soldier, but he also knows what a naval battle is, and in this situation of full advantage, the southern fleet has been defeated, so what about the future?

Is there any chance of victory for Japan in the future?

This time to pay a visit to the emperor, it is obvious that Katsura Taro has talked to people from the navy. Although no one dares to guarantee the future, he still firmly believes that Japan can defeat China, or that there is a chance to defeat China.

"Your Majesty, from the history of diplomacy, we all know that Britain is "honorably isolated", and that it has not entered into an alliance with any country for a hundred years. But the year before last, they abandoned the "honorary isolation" of one of the century-old policies. In alliance with Japan, this is naturally because it believes that there is a great relationship between the rise and fall of the nation and the survival of the country, so it is willing to do this. As for Japan, as a new country in the East, we have only been liberated from the bondage of foreign powers for less than ten years, and we have formed an offensive and defensive alliance with the world's first powerful empire, resulting in our defeat of the world's largest continental country, which is really the greatest success of the Japanese nation. ”

Katsura Taro's voice was a little agitated, and he spoke of the Anglo-Japanese alliance with a hint of pride, because it was he who brought about the treaty. ,

"But Your Majesty, this treaty is only valid for 5 years, after 5 years, whether Britain will renew the treaty, there is no way to know, but today in the treatment of China, Britain has become divided, the British king and the upper nobles, there is no hope to give up the alliance with Japan, turn to the alliance with China, China's role as the British queen has been revealed, five years later, today's favorable situation, will all be transferred to China, Your Majesty, try to ask whether the empire of the time, can stop the British power of China!"

Katsura Taro's words pierced Meiji's sore spot deeply, as the emperor, he knew better than his subjects the "essence of a strong Japan", and that what was powerful was just a balloon that had been blown up, and that if it had not been for the full support of Britain, the loser of this war would have been Japan, not Russia.

In his heart, Meiji was afraid of defeat, and he was afraid that Japan would return to the decades after the attack of the Black Ships, when there was no status or prestige, and it was precisely because of this that he hoped for an armistice, hoping to use the armistice to maintain the "prestige" that Japan now has.

But will the Chinese continue to give Japan this prestige? If there is a truce now, perhaps in the future, as Katsura Taro said, in the next war, the Chinese will attack Japan with the Sino-British alliance treaty.

"Your Majesty, this war against Lucia, the empire has offended Lucia, a few years later, once Lucia recovers, it is bound to take revenge on our country, and China, whose strength has been further expanded, will inevitably take advantage of the fire to rob, at that time, even if Japan is blessed by the gods, it will not be able to stop the siege of the empires of the two continents, I am afraid that Japan will be colonized by other countries, and become Korea in the Far East, and even India!"

After a sigh, Meiji let out a long sigh, and with a solemn and slightly desperate expression, he looked back at Katsura Taro, and finally sighed.

"Then please! Prime Minister Gui! ”

Following Katsura Taro's visit to the Emperor, a Cabinet Liaison Meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office, as was customary, and the Liaison Meeting was an informal meeting of the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Land Minister, and Navy Minister, as well as the Chief of the Naval Command Department, the Army Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chief of the Military Command Department, and the Deputy Chief of Staff. Other cabinet ministers and experts sometimes attend to offer advice or information, and today's liaison meeting was attended by Aritomo Yamaguchi, a veteran of the Army, and Gonbei Yamamoto, a veteran of the Navy.

The conference room at the Prime Minister's Mansion is neither small nor small, with the Prime Minister in the middle, sitting in an armchair, surrounded by other people. The three secretaries - the Registrar of the Cabinet, the Director of the Army Military Affairs Bureau and the Navy Military Affairs Director - sat down by the door.

Liaison meetings were lively because there was no one presiding, there was no strict etiquette, and arguments were common. The liaison meeting system began last year to coordinate the activities of the Government and the military. The meeting had been interrupted for a while after the end of the war against Ru, but now it has resumed again.

“…… Despite the defeat of the Southern Fleet, on the other hand, many people still do not doubt that we can win, like many military attachés in the embassy in Tokyo, who predicted that we could defeat China in a naval battle! ”

"In war, it is inevitable that there will be victories and defeats, and temporary defeats will not affect the overall situation."

In the midst of the talk, people seem to forget the failure of the Southern Fleet, and sometimes human nature is always like this, and when it is almost desperate, it will make people see hope and see the reason to persevere.

"I don't think so!"

At this time, Kodama Gentaro suddenly objected.

"At least the Army, there is no hope of crossing the Yalu River at all."

Kodama's words did not arouse his refutation, the gap between the army and the Chinese army in terms of equipment and strength is a well-known fact, in fact, in this war, the army has always been very distracted, or unwilling to get involved.

"We always think about attacking the Chinese at sea, but we don't think that the Lu people will retaliate against us, and if so, it will be difficult to fight with the two countries at the same time."

"The Army doesn't want to mess with China at the moment."

This is a well-known fact at the top of the Japanese hierarchy, and in the eyes of Kodama and even many army generals, they are absolutely unwilling to provoke China until they have made up for the gap in strength, artillery, and machine guns with the Chinese army.

"We now pin all our victories on naval battles, and at first I did not object to it, but ......"

You might as well try it, Kodama muttered in his heart, he was once full of hope for the navy, and according to his idea, the war against China should be a quick one, not a protracted one. ,

"Do we all understand that Japan simply does not have the national strength to compete with China in an all-out way? I don't know when Lucia's foreign debt will be repaid, and it is obviously unwise to get involved in an arms race with China, so I have never opposed a war against China in the future, but my goal is to weaken the Chinese navy through naval warfare, so as to stop the arms race. ”

Then Gentaro Kodama paused again.

"But what about now? The fiasco of the Southern Fleet has forced me to consider a question of fact, that is, how many chances we have of winning this war! ”

"General Kodama, please answer me a question, can we hold the Yalu River!"

At this time, the army veteran Shigetomi Yamaprefecture Aritomo suddenly opened his mouth and interrupted Kodama's words.

"If the sea continues, we have a 60% hope of holding North Korea, we now have 11 divisions in North Korea, there is no problem in holding North Korea, but if we attack, ......"

Offensive! Gentaro Kodama smiled bitterly, every infantry squad of the Chinese army has a machine gun, a company has three heavy machine guns, and each battalion also has a machine gun company equipped with 5 Makqin, and in the air, they also have aircraft for reconnaissance, in this case, it is a nightmare for the attacking side.

"That,"

Interrupting Gentaro Kodama's words, Yama Prefecture Aritomo nodded and said.

"That's enough, we just need to hold North Korea, once the navy defeats the Chinese navy, everything is a foregone conclusion, remember that the capital of China, China's economy, and industrial center are all in the Yangtze River!"

There is a friend in Shan County, Kodama smiled bitterly and turned his head to the sea phase.

"Marshal Yamamoto, is it possible for the navy to attack Wusong Fortress?"

Kodama Gentaro's words silenced Yamamoto Gonbei, attacking the fortress? What are you kidding, the navy of any country will not attack a well-equipped fortress from the front

"Anyway, I don't think we can win! Or a complete victory like the war against Lu! ”

"So, Chief of Staff Kodama, are you against this war? Is it proposing a truce? ”

Katsura Taro asked rhetorically, and then said in a heavy tone.

"If that's the case, the empire will have to face the fact that in the next few years, we will have to ......"

Shaking his head, Gentaro Kodama spoke.

"I know that economically, financially, every day, the Chinese are leaving us behind, economic and financial support, will make the Chinese army in the next two or three years, surpass Japan, one after the other, soon, we are not China's opponent, just like the war against Lu, if it is postponed to this year, the Trans-Siberian Railway will continue to send Luguo's army to Manchuria, and Luguo's navy will also be stronger, time, time will never be on Japan's side!"

With a long sigh, Gentaro Kodama closed his eyes in pain, reason told him that he should never go to war with China now, but reality told him that if he didn't go to war now, he wouldn't even have a chance to win in the future.

War is a gamble, but in less than two years, Japan has to gamble twice in succession with its national fortunes......