Under the corridor leading to the audience hall, everyone seemed to be preoccupied, although the expressions of the palace attendants seemed serious, but in fact, the sorrow in their eyes betrayed them, as palace attendants, they had access to information that ordinary people could not obtain, and all the news showed that the situation was getting worse and worse. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

When these palace attendants saw Ito Hirobumi and saw his face, their hearts were all slightly shocked, and it seemed that the situation was even worse!

As the palace attendant led him down the Tang-style corridor to the Audience Hall, Ito's brows twitched, and his steps were as heavy as if they had been filled with lead. The attendants walked ahead of him, seemingly slowing down and waiting for him to follow. But his steps were heavy and sluggish, and he could barely lift them. But he can only keep moving forward. For him, if it were possible, he would rather go on like this.

But even no matter how long the road is, there is a time when it is finished, and no matter how heavy the footsteps are, it is still moving forward. Finally, when Ito Hirobumi walked into the Audience Hall, he saw the Emperor standing in this spacious and simple room, with the Emperor standing by the window with his back to him, as if looking at the small lake outside the hall.

"The minister has seen Your Majesty!"

Hirobumi Ito respectfully bowed 90 degrees. Even after Meiji asked him to be excused, he bowed his head at 15 degrees.

With his back to Hirobumi Ito, Meiji's "look", which can only be described as "majestic" in the pen of reporters, does not reveal the anxiety that outsiders can see, but he can hide the worry in his expression, but in his words, he cannot hide the worry in his heart. After the Hirobumi Ito ceremony. Emperor Meiji asked.

"Ito. Last year, you urged us to accept the ultimatum, and now it seems that you were right! ”

As many Western observers and diplomats have said, the payment of land reparations is the most beneficial option for Japan, otherwise what awaits Japan will be its demise, complete destruction. Just like it is now. However, Japan used its weak national strength to challenge the huge Western power Lucia, and the result is naturally obvious, is there any other choice than the destruction of the country?

Perhaps, as Yamaguchi and others said, Japan did defend Japan's respect and pride with its own blood and sacrifice, but what about after that? Under the planning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, newspapers in Britain and the United States and other countries did publish articles sympathizing with Japan and lamenting the heroism of the Japanese army, but what is the point?

Neither their sympathy nor their respect could change the fact that Japan was on the verge of extinction under the attack of the Lu army.

And now it echoes back then. Even if he accepted the ultimatum, even as the emperor, he personally went to Russia to apologize. Perhaps the morale of the Japanese people will suffer a heavy blow or even sink in a short period of time, but at least there will be a day of recovery, and the hearts of the people will always change, and there is always nothing wrong with lying on the back and trying to be brave.

But now, after a year of fighting proudly, Japan has only experienced the beauty of cherry blossoms.

"A Japan without the fierceness of cherry blossoms will no longer be Japan, but a Japan ruled by Russia will still be Japan?"

The value of cherry blossoms lies in how they bloom beautifully, and this is the Japanese understanding of cherry blossoms. The Japanese people have experienced the spirit of seeing death as if they were at home from the cherry blossoms, thinking of the snowflakes flying like snowflakes and rushing to the earth this spring, and the fall of the cherry blossoms to the destruction of Japan.

"Now that we've done it, we're like cherry blossoms......"

In the face of His Majesty's question, Ito Hirobumi's waist was bent even lower, which was almost a ninety-degree bow.

"In this war, Japan gambled on its national fortunes, and now it seems that we have been defeated, and yesterday, when I met with the British Minister, I learned from His Excellency the Minister that I heard that Tsar Alexander had decided to name Tokyo "Nikolaev City" as a memorial to Emperor Nikolae, right? ”

Nikolaev is the Christian name of Crown Prince Nikolae, and the renaming of Tokyo, the capital of Japan, as "Nikolaev City", is both an indication of the occupation of Japan and a tribute to his eldest son, but for Meiji, as the emperor of Japan, it is tantamount to a humiliation, but in the face of this humiliation he has no power to fight back - this is the right of the victor.

As the emperor, Meiji could even think that after Lucia occupied Tokyo, they would even set up the Governor's Palace in this palace, and maybe even fold the Imperial Palace and build a Western-style Governor's Palace, which is very likely. And now the reason why Meiji is asking is to ask Ito Hirobumi if he knows about it, even as the emperor, sometimes some information can only be obtained through special channels.

In the face of His Majesty's inquiry, Ito Hirobumi bowed deeply again, but he did not give a direct answer.

"Your Majesty, the defeat of the war is inevitable, and at this time, there is no point in discussing all this, and now for Japan, what needs to be discussed is the future of Japan! Is it Japan's future position in the Lucian Empire, whether it will be a subordinate province of Lucia, or whether it will be an autonomous, constitutional state! ”

Japan's future place in the Lucian Empire!

Ito Hirobumi's words only made Meiji's shoulders tremble suddenly, and now it is no longer about the survival of Japan, but about Japan's future position in the Lucia Empire! In the past, such remarks would have been reprimanded, but now they are all too commonplace. And surprisingly, Meiji, as the emperor, was not annoyed by this, and did not even show too much emotion,

Because of the "Russophobia" relationship, as early as a few decades ago, the Japanese had a full study of Russia, the largest empire in the world, there are many components, the Russian occupation of territory, not only the direct annexation of Jane, but also the recognition of the Russian Tsar as a king or Grand Dukes of dominions such as the former Kingdom of Poland and now the Grand Duchy of Finland.

And this kind of merger is better than military occupation, at least as the emperor, Meiji and even the imperial family of Japan can still enjoy a share of power. And not to be taken to St. Petersburg as a prisoner. Just like those kings who died in the Chinese history books. Reduced to the plaything of the Tsar of the Lu Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, now, perhaps, we still have the opportunity to form a semi-sovereign state in a confederation with Lucia, like Finland......"

Without waiting for Hirobumi Ito to finish speaking, Emperor Meiji, who had not turned around, asked without looking back.

"Ito, do you think it's possible for Tsar Alexander to accept this condition?"

For Japan. Perhaps this is the best option, and perhaps in this case, Japan enjoys a large degree of autonomy, and even a constitutional monarchy like Finland under the monarchy of the Russian Empire, with its own monetary, legal, and linguistic powers.

However, it is well known that there is no place for the emperor under this system. No matter what happens in Japan in the future, the emperor will never exist, and the country will never allow the existence of the tsar. For Emperor Meiji, he was well aware of this, and Japan might have a future. A future under the tsar, but what about him? Maybe get a certain Russian nobility. That's the best outcome.

Unexpectedly, Ito Hirobumi did not speak, but was silent for a while before he said:

"At least, for us, that's the only viable option! If we continue to fight, Your Majesty, we will lose the last hope of negotiations, and by then, in the face of complete defeat, we will not even be able to guarantee the safety of the Emperor! ”

After a pause, Ito changed his 90-degree bow to 45 degrees before continuing.

"Unless Your Majesty is willing to go into exile abroad and be the king of exile, we are completely incapable of defending Your Majesty!"

Hearing this answer, although he was already mentally prepared, Emperor Meiji couldn't help but be surprised, and then gathered his chaotic mind and said:

"It seems that the result was predestined from the beginning!"

As an emperor, although he was ostensibly the ruler of Japan, he was in fact unable to influence the decisions of his ministers, just as he was powerless to stop the decisions made by his ministers before the outbreak of war. The power of the Emperor was supreme, and it was only written in the Constitution of the Empire of Japan.

With that, he turned to look at Hirobumi Ito.

"Do we still have the conditions to hold peace talks to end the war?"

In the history of Japan, the emperor was the master of the Japanese state, and the people should obey his orders. Halfway through, the samurai became stronger, and the emperor's orders became unheard, but thanks to the efforts of the kings, it was easy to take back power from the Tokugawa.

It's the Meiji era, and as an emperor, there's nothing more satisfying for him. The emperor will also praise himself for a good job. Today, Japan is truly owned by the emperor.

At least nominally!

But what about the actual aftermath of the name?

All kinds of things may not be done according to the emperor's will. Politics, economics, diplomacy, and military affairs were all discussed by the ministers without the emperor's knowledge, and finally they were brought to the emperor to ask for approval.

Budgets, personnel, detailed figures, a stack of names, bring these documents,

And Meiji, as the emperor, didn't understand it very clearly. If asked, give some explanations. But is it not good to do it this way? For a person without expertise, it is not clear. As a result, in the midst of nonsense, important matters are decided one by one.

For example, just like the young proprietor of a big store, nominally this big store belongs to him. The details of the business are all undertaken by the treasurer since the previous generation, and they are decided without discussing with the boss one by one. Although they are all faithful and diligent shopkeepers, there may be mistakes. But they still control everything and don't give the young owner a chance to intervene.

"We'll do a good job, just leave it to us."

In every case, it seems to be respecting the emperor, but in fact it is despising the emperor, ignoring the emperor, and treating the emperor as a Buddha statue, but it is just an ornament.

The same is true of the war with the Lucian Empire. Such a momentous event, although in the end it was he who made the decision to declare war. However, the minister and the generals sat down together and discussed it, and then decided to reject the ultimatum, and then the war had to be fought. The so-called holy judgment is actually only the opinion of the majority, and even as the emperor of eternity, he will not hurt the tacit understanding with the ministers.

More often than not, he supported the ministers' decisions, and he was initially most worried about the acceptance of Lucia's ultimatum, as were his opponents. But in the end he compromised, and at what cost? It is the reality of Japan's imminent demise.

In the twenty-four years since he succeeded to the throne, apart from sitting in a high position like a "god", all that remains is to nod his head at the Imperial Council, which has had little practical effect. Just like the government told the Japanese people that the emperor is a "god", yes, even if the emperor is in the position of a "god", then there is no need to worry about the mortal world, and we ordinary people will do the work of the mortal world!

And when Meiji, as a "god", senses that something is going in an abnormal direction, he realizes that the ministers are not under his control, and on the other hand, he is also powerless to stop the ministers, he is just an ornament on the altar.

"Gods" cannot meddle in mortal affairs!

But now?

There is no hope for Japan, what is the future fate of its own emperor, who is constitutionally "forever and forever"? Is it really just exile overseas, as a king of a dead country? Or as a courtier of the Tsar of the Lu Country, he was also far away from Japan?

"Ito, no matter what decision the cabinet makes in the end, I will not object!"

Rarely, Meiji said his thoughts in an affirmative tone, even though it was just a stamp tool as it used to be.

"But...... I hope that the cabinet will take into account the suffering of the people, please don't think about my honor and disgrace! If there is still a chance, I can go to Lu Country in person, apologize to Lu Country, and ask the Tsar Lu Country to take care of the welfare of the Japanese people no matter what! ”

Whether it came from the bottom of his heart or not, after Meiji said this sentence, Ito once again bowed deeply to ninety degrees,

"Your Majesty, the incompetence of the ministers has humiliated Your Majesty!"

Silence, Meiji, who was standing in front of the window, was silent for a long time before finally spitting out a sentence with difficulty.

"Ito, what if...... Why insist on meaningless things? ”

When he finished saying this, Meiji's eyes closed, yes, why should he insist on meaningless things? What's the point of holding on?

(I've been on a business trip these days, and I'm weakly asking for a fixed reading and a monthly pass!) Well, in addition, there is a very hi advertisement "You read the book, I pay", yes, you read that right! It's "you read the book, I pay". Six days later, red envelopes were distributed in the group every day...... The Empire's Sunrise Reader Exchange Group: 150536833 You read the book, I will pay...... Give out red envelopes in the group every day! Welcome to join the red envelope! Ha ha! Grab it...... (To be continued.) )