Wooden low-rise houses spread out from the center of the city to the surrounding areas, and the debris and vegetable leaves in the gutters were frozen by the cold, and the ice surface caused the sewage to be unable to clean up and began to stink (). The clutter of telephone poles and the chaotic streets give the impression of a trip back to medieval Europe, with unkempt farmers in white fog, momo's shriveled pockets when blue-shirted workers who have just left work pass by gourmet shops, ronin who walks on clogs and holds chrysanthemum knives forever high, and patrolmen who patrol the streets and alleys with white hoop hats and tying tui almost to drown the big tui.

Students who had just finished school crossed the intersection, bowed to each other and said goodbye, their dry yellow cheeks were filled with youthful smiles, and military cadets in military uniforms gathered in front of the newspaper office to read today's news, whispering about the vigorous revolutionary wave across the sea.

This is Tokyo, the most prosperous city in Japan, when aspiring young people across the sea have crossed to Fuso, eager to learn true knowledge to save the country, but they do not know that in the depths of this country, there is also a smell of fish and curses.

The Russo-Japanese War (Japanese name), which established itself as an Asian power and was even considered by many Japanese to have won the ticket to the great powers, actually exhausted the country's wealth, not only squandered the rich war dividends obtained from the First Sino-Japanese War, but also paid for the lives of more than 100,000 young people. Lusia lost, left Manchuria and patted their butts and ran back to Vladivostok, not even a single eldest son was taken out, and the loan of more than two billion almost crushed the country, so the government even let women go to Nanyang in droves to sell their flesh and skin to earn foreign exchange to pay off debts.

Perhaps Japan should be glad that there is a more corrupt Manchu dynasty by its side, which can constantly draw blood and marrow from it to feed an empire that has no resources and even has difficulty in food self-sufficiency, so when the flame of revolution on the other side of the sea is unstoppable, the Japanese politicians who secretly supported Nanjing before decisively abandoned them, saying that the republic is not suitable for China, and even the elder Inuyang Yi went to Nanjing in person to hope to cancel the republican reform of the constitution, but they were all vetoed.

Worry and uneasiness made Japan widen its eyes to observe the every move of its neighbors, and seeing that it could no longer contain the republic, it simply tried its best to squeeze out precious money to buy and win over to strengthen its control, and when one loan agreement after another let one "mountain of gold" fall into their pockets, Japanese politicians rejoiced, especially Han Yeping, who was concerned about Japan's dream of becoming a steel power, not only controlled Sheng Xuanhuai in his hands for the first time, but also cooperated with the Nanjing government to prepare to sign a loan agreement ().

But when the contract was about to be signed, the worst happened, and the Nanking government was forced to abandon the agreement under pressure from the major warlords in the country, and then the Chinese soldiers expressed their dissatisfaction with Japan during the Nanking incident, which further increased their worries.

What would a strong but hostile China bring to Japan? Perhaps the young officers who embrace the idea of Greater Asia will rejoice, and even think that China and Japan can join forces to rule Asia and expel the tyrannical "ghost animals", but only those who are well versed in geopolitics know that Asia cannot accommodate three great powers (including Russia) at the same time. Russia has too vast a territory to weaken at all, and China. With the rise of a united and strong China, there is no doubt that Japan will be squeezed out of the country, which lacks resources.

The American-made sedan slowly drove out of the West Park Mansion, and every time it drove by or honked its horn, many people would stop and bow in salute. In the carriage, Japanese Prime Minister Saionji was reading today's newspaper, and Foreign Minister Yasuya Uchida seemed to be a little uncertain.

"Your Excellency Uchida, is there anything that makes you restless?" As a veteran politician who studied in France for many years, a pillar of Japan's democratic forces, and the current leader of the Constitutional Political Friendship Association, he is still known as the successor of Hirobumi Ito.

Uchida Yasuya glanced at the newspaper, I don't know whether it was intentional or unintentionally folded, the front of the folded newspaper was the news of the Nanjing incident, although it was only a post-mortem analysis, but it still made him frown and lowered his voice: "Toyama Manjun came back from North Korea, not only went to visit Inuyang Yi, but also said that he was going to the military senators' meeting." ”

"That damn rascal, what is he doing here?" Xiyuan Temple Gongwang cursed in his heart. Because he didn't like Toyama Man and the Black Dragon Society, although they had made a lot of contributions to Japan and provided a lot of information in the Japanese War, but in his opinion, those methods were undemocratic after all, not to mention that they were too close to the military department, and it was unthinkable for a military department that liked to act without the government's constraints, so he asked: "Why did he come back suddenly?" ”

After the war obtained the benefits of Manchuria, Toyama Man and the Black Dragon Society had already regarded it as a base camp and rarely returned, because he felt that the current Japanese government was too weak, why did he suddenly come back this time at this delicate moment? Seeing Yasuya Uchida set his eyes on the newspaper, Saionji Gongwang frowned: "For him?" ”

"No, it should be for Han Yeping and the southwest of China ()." Yasuya Uchida said: "The Imperial Navy has begun to build two new battleships, our country's demand for steel has begun to expand, North Korea and South Manchuria can provide too little, Han Yeping's annual KC 10,000 tons of iron ore is too important to our country, so the Navy is very dissatisfied with the delay in fully controlling Han Yeping during this time." The War Department also felt that we were too soft on this matter, and they wanted to send two or three more wings to Han Yeping to ensure the Empire's strong demand for steel. Moreover, the upper reaches and southwest of the Yangtze River in China is a huge treasure trove, and our allies can get hundreds of millions of yuan in profits from there every year, so after Toushanman got the news, he wanted to take this opportunity to develop its Black Dragon Society power to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. ”

"Two or three wings! Are they crazy? Saionji Gongwang straightened up, as a heavy acceptance of the idea of freedom, he knew very well that the current Japan could not afford another war at all, and that would not only not help but push the empire into the abyss, so he immediately frowned and said very seriously: "In ten years, the empire cannot accept a war!" Even if we have a huge maritime superiority over China, the main force of the First Fleet of the Navy is simply unable to enter the narrow waters within the Yangtze River, and it is simply inconceivable to send an army wing. Our previous dispatch of two additional brigades to Tianjin has caused protests from our allies and Russia to go to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River for war. That's impossible! ”

Yasuya Uchida was most aware of Japan's current predicament and said: "Yes, we must avoid war. Han Yeping is from Zhina, and we can't change this! Although we defeated them, that victory was too thrilling, the navy's two battleships this time cost tens of millions, and we couldn't raise the funds for the remaining two, and now we have to pay nearly 80 million loans every year. Finances have not allowed. What's more, it took years for His Excellency Ito to finally get the resentment of Shina after the war, and if we do not restrain the actions of the military headquarters, it is likely to lead to a new confrontation ̈ With all due respect, I really can't imagine the situation when the raw materials needed by the empire were cut off. ”

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, this time we must restrain the actions of the military headquarters in any case, and we must not allow them to drag the empire into war." Yasuya Uchida lowered his head, respectful and serious: "Uchida is not afraid of war, my son also died in the snow of Nanman, I can't even find his body to this day, I am proud of the military department, but now ()!" It's not time for one. ”

Xiyuan Temple Gongwang nodded, two billion loans, 100,000 young people. One. In exchange for South Manchuria, if the military department is chaotic and Japan is involved in the more distant Southwest China War, I am afraid the cost will be greater and greater, and it is the traditional sphere of influence of the British allies, and it is impossible for them to accept any turmoil, which can be seen from the previous confrontation between Yang Qiu and the British Navy, but in the end the two sides compromised, but now who else can stop the actions of the military department? His head hurt a little when he thought of those arrogant soldiers.

The car slowly drove into the Prime Minister's Office in the silence of the two, and as soon as the assistant waiting at the door opened the door, a figure rushed from inside. The guards immediately drew their pistols to protect the public hope of Saionji, and after the "Great Reversal Incident", the Japanese political scene was already in the limelight. Fortunately, everyone quickly recognized the figure as the secretary of the Prime Minister's Office, and the Duke of Xiyuan Temple stepped forward and said, "Your Excellency Ono, as a staff member of the Prime Minister's Office, you must pay attention to your words and deeds at all times!" After the secretary nodded his head, he continued to ask, "Now you can say, what is the matter?" ”

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, we have just received a telegram from His Excellency Minister Sadao Matsumura that a squadron has entered the Hanyeping Huangshi mining area and has also taken control of the Yangtze River ore wharf."

"What?!" Yasuya Uchida almost jumped up, and just now he said that he couldn't have an accident, but he didn't expect the opponent to provoke the incident first, and hurriedly asked, "Did they fire?" ”

"There was no exchange of fire, but one of our army brigades there was surrounded! His Excellency Minister Sadao Matsumura has sent a note to the Hubei government, but they have stated that Huangshi is not a Japanese concession and that they have the right to conduct any military operations on their own territory. Admiral Saito has just ordered Admiral Reijiro Kawashima of the Third Fleet to open fire if necessary to protect Han Yeping's interests, and is preparing to send the Marines stationed in Shanghai to a city in the next two days. Hanyeping Mining Area. ”

"Damn it!" Xiyuan Temple Gongwang cursed in his heart, took a deep breath and asked, "Did Matsumura-kun say why they entered the mining area?" The secretary's eyes were a little dazed, and he spat out a few words with difficulty to the god: "They said that this is a routine New Year's Eve. Exercise. ”

"Across the years?" Yasuya Uchida suddenly had an urge to laugh.,It's only like it's March.!。