On March 14th, Tokyo was like a volcano erupting with flames, and the bustling air melted everything in the world, and this boiling seemed to give a feeling of summer.

This time, the boiling in Tokyo was not because the Imperial Army had won another major victory, but just three days ago, a million-strong lantern parade was staged in Tokyo, and this time, the boiling of the whole people was due to anger.

Since yesterday afternoon, the news of "China's shameful undeclared war, sneak attack on the imperial army, and advance into Mukden" has spread throughout Tokyo and all corners of the island country through side lines and newspapers. Crazy and angry people crowded into the streets, shouting and shouting, and the shouts shook the sky. Streets, squares, parks, crowds surge, and deafening shouts echo through the streets.

At the sound of this shout, Emperor Meiji was standing by the window in a distraught manner on the stone path of the garden in the Imperial Palace in the middle of Tokyo, surrounded by the breath of early spring. The wide golden kimono was like a dazzling sun, scorching the surroundings and stirring restlessly. Although the spring is strong, it has not melted the dark clouds in the hearts of the descendants of Amaterasu.

With his back to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Yoshimasa Yoshikawa, the anxiety in Meiji's "look" that looked "majestic" in the eyes of the ministers was not visible to outsiders, but he could hide the worry in his expression, but in his words, he could not hide the worry in his heart.

"I didn't agree to this war. The cabinet ministers said they had to fight, and I agreed. This war is a war of ministers. ”

Minister of the Interior Yoshikawa was beside the Emperor, and although he was slightly aware of the Emperor's attitude, he did not expect it to be so serious, so he was greatly surprised.

"Yes, we have won victory after victory under the sacrifice of the loyal and brave soldiers, but each and every one of us knows that the last silver coin, even the last drop of blood, has been exhausted, and now, Chinese ...... On the tariff issue, I have said that we should compromise with China in order to avoid futile trouble, but what are you doing? You don't want to believe that the Chinese will join forces with the Lu people, but now? ”

However, the war has already begun. Until now, it is not easy for His Majesty to say this. After waiting for His Majesty to finish his nagging, Fang Chuan Xianzheng said:

"The minister is sincerely afraid, and now, after more than a year of fierce war with Lu Guo, the people are united and swear to serve the public. In this case, please don't say such things, Your Majesty, otherwise I don't know what kind of mess will happen. ”

But the mood in Meiji's heart still hasn't changed.

"Say no more, I don't even want to see you again. Retire! ”

His Majesty's decision made Yoshikawa retreat back to the mansion in fear. This is not the first time that the Emperor has been angry with his ministers, and I don't know how many times before, especially in the past year, after the Cabinet repeatedly rejected the Emperor's request to make peace with Lucia, His Majesty has expressed his anger several times.

Privy Council, "war must be declared on China immediately!" ”

Youpeng in Shan County shouted loudly that the question of whether or not to declare war on China had been discussed for a whole day, and yesterday afternoon, it was another time to no avail.

"It seems to me, I'm afraid that there is nothing more ridiculous in the whole world than now, the Chinese bombarded our troops with artillery yesterday, the Chinese army is attacking the third group outside Mukden, in Kaiyuan, they have launched several small attacks, what are we doing when the soldiers on the front line are killed there by the Chinese? It's here that it's talking about whether to declare war on China or not, and it's been talking about it for two days! ”

"But Chinese didn't declare war on us, and ......"

Before Foreign Minister Komura Shotaro finished speaking, War Minister Terauchi Masashi spoke.

"Their actions are more shameful than a declaration of war, they are sneak attacking!"

As he said this, he apparently forgot that a year earlier, their attack on Lushun had also been a sneak attack, and that on at least March 13, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had forwarded to him a "declaration of neutrality by armed guards."

"General Terauchi, the Chinese did not declare war on Yuben, according to their accusations, it was the two countries that first exceeded their designated war zone, and the current Mukden War was born!"

Hirobumi Ito, President of the Privy Council, spoke.

"In view of the current situation, I believe that we should immediately collude with China and reaffirm our country's respect for the principle of China's neutrality, instead of declaring war on China, and undoubtedly forcing the Chinese to fall into the arms of the country, which is very unwise!"

"Didn't they fall to the Luk? At the same time as the Manchurian army of Luguo withdrew, the middle [***] team besieged Kaiyuan, and the defenders of Luguo surrendered without a fight, which was obviously permitted, their 200,000 troops, Kaiyuan line, confronted our army, and in Mukden, they mobilized nearly 100,000 people to besiege the Nogi Army, once it succeeded, the more than 200,000 emperor [***] troops on the Tieling line, the back road will be cut off, and now, they have seriously threatened the 1st, 2nd, and Yalu River Corps of the Empire, Marshal Dashan has sent many telegrams, It is emphasized that even if it is only a confrontation with the Chinese Second Army and not a battle, if Mukden cannot supply supplies to the front, then in a month, our army will collapse without a fight due to lack of food! ”

Shan Shan Youpeng reminded everyone in the house.

The decisive battle of Mukden was the largest land decisive battle between the two sides in this war, the two countries invested nearly 70 troops, and the army consumed 21.7 million rounds of rifle ammunition and 345,000 shells, which exceeded the total ammunition consumed in the previous three decisive battles, and also exceeded the production capacity of the capital.

Since the outbreak of this war, the shortage of artillery shells has been begging the political axe and the army, and in addition to domestic production at full capacity, they did not hesitate to borrow money to purchase from foreign countries. But even then, it still couldn't catch up with the attrition of the battle. In the Battle of Shahe, due to the lack of artillery shells, the offensive of the Yue army was stalled for a time, making it impossible to expand the results of the battle.

And now that the Mukden campaign has run out of ammunition, the troops pursuing the Lu army, there are insufficient ammunition, and food is limited, it is under this circumstance that the Chinese suddenly attack Mukden, fundamentally cutting off the back road of more than 200,000 troops on the Tieling line, they do not need to make a detour at all, all they need is to cross the Liao River.

At the most appropriate time and the most suitable place, Zhong [***] launched the most fatal blow to the Yue army, which is the conclusion reached by Shan County after learning that Zhong [***] attacked Fengtian and launched a tentative attack on the Tieling area from many points when he broke through to Kaiyuan City.

"Shan Shanjun, then you reply to me, if you declare war on China, with the current situation of our country's army in Manchuria, can you defeat the Chinese army?"

Hirofumi Ito asked rhetorically.

"Of course, ...... ten years ago"

"Ten years ago, Shan Shan Jun, just one day and one night, the Chinese broke through the defense line of the Third Army, according to what you mean the Third Army is not good enough to fight? Or did they face the attack of [***] and surrender without a fight? ”

When Ito Hirobumi questioned Yamagumi, Masaki Terauchi spoke.

"Dean Ito, I think we must do whatever it takes to ensure that Mukden is not lost, and, if necessary, send the navy to southern China to force it to cease any operations in Manchuria!"

"Impossible!"

Navy Minister Gonbei Yamamoto immediately spoke.

"If the navy dares to send troops to China, should it send the main force, or send several warships, if the main force is sent, and the Chinese side refuses to compromise, the sea is bound to have a fierce battle with the artillery on the Chinese coast, and the Yangtze River area has always been the sphere of influence of Britain and the United States and other countries, whether the two countries will accept our country's fleet to put pressure on China, on the other hand, it is expected that at most half a month, the Lu fleet will sail into the South China Sea, once our fleet leaves the port, it will be possible to encounter the open ships, if the scale of the Chinese fleet is small, it may be attacked by the open ships, if the scale is large, It may also lead to a decisive battle with the navy on a battlefield that is unfavorable to the navy! ”

Yamamoto Gonbei stared at the junior Terauchi Masaki.

After the fall of Lushun and the destruction of the Luguo Squadron, in addition to a patrol detachment to monitor the Luguo Reading Force in Vladivostok, Heihachiro Togo led the main force of the Combined Fleet to Canada one after another, and overhauled the ships in winter, although after the loss of two warships, only four warships remained, and the Combined Fleet was still full of confidence in the face of the Second Pacific Fleet in the face of Lu, but confidence was confidence after all.

"According to the analysis of the base camp, as long as the Imperial Navy controls the Korean Strait, it can stand in an invincible position in his naval battle, if it dares to send a fleet to the Yangtze River in China to exert pressure, China [***] will inevitably deter the main force of the Dutch fleet to move north, if the Navy wants to win the advantage, it needs to mobilize at least two warships, two armored cruisers with at least three cruisers, in order to form an advantage over the Chinese Navy, and then completely annihilate the Chinese Navy, but such as the Chinese Navy, with its Sanduao base as the protection, with shore defense artillery to defend the port, drag the arrival of the Lu armyAt that time, China's docks and shipyards can be used by Lu to overhaul warships and soldiers to rest, and once a naval war breaks out, our combined fleet is bound to recuperate the Lu Navy and the Chinese Navy, if the Lu Navy relies on the Chinese port, please ask! Shan Shan Jun, what are the chances of the navy winning some naval battles? ”

Turning his gaze to Yamamoto Youtomo, Yamamoto's voice became much more severe, and before Yama County could speak, Yamamoto asked like a cannon.

"If the navy is defeated at that time, then even if the Chinese [***] are forced to stop their operations in Manchuria, the sea is occupied by the Luren, and the army without ammunition, food, and soldiers can stop the Luren attack?"

If there is no navy, if the sea is controlled by the Lu people, even if there are millions of land forces in Manchuria, it will inevitably be defeated under the joint attack of the two countries.

Prime Minister Katsura Taro, who had not spoken, finally spoke after a long silence.

"Your Majesty, please judge it!"

(To be continued)