Chapter 237: Japan Begs to Surrender

(Thank you for the birds that don't call, and the monthly pass that has no mooring in the heart!) ）

In the main hall of the Japanese Imperial Palace, Emperor Meiji sits high on the throne, but the current Emperor Meiji has a pale face, as if he has just recovered from a serious illness, and he does not look like an emperor at all, but like a sick person.

At the foot of the throne, Ito Hirobumi and the members of the cabinet sat on their knees. In addition, the Chief of Staff of the Army, Prince Akihito Komatsumiya. Vice Admiral Gonbei Yamamoto, Chief of the Naval Command, and Rear Admiral Heihachiro Togo, Commander of the Combined Fleet. Of course, Rear Admiral Heihachiro Togo had just taken over from Ito, and although he was named Commander of the Combined Fleet, he was actually led only by a few dozen torpedo boats in Tokyo Bay.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the army has been defeated, and more than 100,000 imperial warriors have been shattered. This time, the defeat of the empire has become a foregone conclusion, what is the way out of the empire in the future? Emperor Meiji pulled himself together and said loudly. Even if Japan is defeated, Japan cannot collapse like this, and as the emperor, he should lead everyone to continue to fight until Japan truly rises.

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks it's time to propose peace to China and end the war!" Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito said. He also regrets it now, he should have negotiated peace with Kawanishi when the Combined Fleet was defeated, and in that case, he might be able to keep the army. As a result, now, not only is the navy gone, but the army is also crippled, and its destruction is imminent.

"So, will the people of China accept our terms? Or will they offer terms that are unacceptable to the Empire? Emperor Meiji said. The defeat was not terrible, what was terrible was how Japan satisfied the appetites of Kawanishi. Now Japan has been basically disarmed, and if Kawanishi wants to, he can even destroy Japan. Of course, Japan will not sit idly by, and if Kawanishi really sends troops to land on the Japanese mainland, even if all 40 million Japanese citizens are shattered, they will have to fight a decisive battle with Kawanishi to the end. Of course, the western Sichuan side has obviously taken this into account and has no intention of sending troops to land in Japan for the time being. However, Kawanishi inflicted huge losses on Japan with a blockade from the sea. After the loss of the sea trade route, the price of goods in Japan has risen wildly, especially the price of grain, which has repeatedly risen, and many people with lower incomes can only rely on wild vegetables to survive. If this continues, I am afraid that there will be a widespread famine. Therefore, Japan had to surrender and end the war. If it drags on any longer, Japan will really be finished.

"Your Majesty, the ministers will do their best to protect the interests of the empire. However, the army and navy have been defeated, and the Empire's hopes of ending the war with dignity have been dashed, and I am afraid that it will have to pay a certain price. Hirobumi Ito said.

"A small price, I can accept. However, this time it failed, and we have a chance to rise next time. Don't lose faith. From the Meiji Restoration to the present, we have struggled for nearly 30 years to achieve what we are today. Although we did not succeed this time, we will be able to regain the strength to challenge China after another 30 years of struggle, perhaps less. When the time comes, we will fight against China again! Emperor Meiji said loudly, cheering on his ministers.

"Hey!" Many Japanese ministers and high-ranking officials replied one after another.

"Your Majesty, the minister has already exchanged views with the British, French, Russian, and American ministers two days ago, and they will fully support the empire and try not to let the Chinese weaken the empire excessively!" Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu said.

"Humph! These ghost beasts just want us to help them resist the Zhina, and they are also uneasy and kind! One day, when we defeat China and really rise, we must settle accounts with these ghost beasts and let them know that the Yamato nation is the best nation! Prince Akihito Komatsumiya, chief of staff of the army, said hatefully. Although he is not a member of the cabinet, he is the chief of staff and a member of the royal family, and his status is also very high. It's just that he has never had a good impression of foreigners.

"The ghost beast really can't believe it. This time, though, the Empire needs to use their power to preserve it. Even if they act as pawns this time, there is no way to do it. With the support of the Western powers, it may not take long for the empire to rise, as long as we succeed in challenging China, we will be able to truly rise, and when the time comes, we will no longer be afraid of them! Emperor Meiji said.

"Your Majesty!" Everyone shouted.

"Mutsu Munemitsu, you immediately contact the Western powers, and our Great Japanese Empire is willing to negotiate peace with Western Sichuan for the sake of peace in the Far East. And, ask for their help to protect the core interests of the Great Japanese Empire no matter what! Emperor Meiji said.

"Hey! Your Majesty, the minister will do his best to do this. Mutsu said.

Emperor Meiji nodded, and then said, "As for the army and navy, I hope that you can learn something from this war, so that we can defeat the Shina people next time!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The Minister of War Oyama Iwa, and the Minister of the Navy, Saigo Tomichi, hurriedly replied.

"Your Majesty, the two 'Fuji-class' battleships built by the Imperial Navy in Britain, the 'Fuji' and the 'Yashima', were not inferior to the warships of the Shina. If the Imperial Navy wanted to defeat the Chinese Navy, it would have to build more of these large ships. I think that we need to prepare at least six battleships and six armored cruisers, as well as supporting cruisers and mine-striking ships, in order to shorten the gap with the Chinese navy and make it possible to defeat the Chinese navy in the next war! Saigo said. After the battleships in western Sichuan returned home, Japan also tightened its belts and ordered two battleships from Britain, which were an improved version of the British "Sovereign-class" battleships and had strong combat power. It's just that construction only started last year, and it won't be able to enter service until at least 97 years, so it can't catch up with this big war.

"The matter of building ships in the navy will be discussed after the negotiations with the people of China are over. In order to defeat the people of China and achieve the rise of the empire, it is worth it for the subjects of the empire to work hard for another thirty years! Emperor Meiji said.

"Your Majesty, the army also needs to be equipped with more and more powerful artillery. In addition, the combat effectiveness of the Shina army is very strong, and it is not inferior to the warriors of the empire. Therefore, the Imperial Army needed to expand its army to at least maintain more than 70 percent of the size of the Chinese Army. At the same time, increase the firepower of your troops as much as possible! War Minister Oyama Iwa also said.

Emperor Meiji nodded, and then said, "Let's wait until the negotiations with Shina are over!" ”

However, the Minister of Finance, Watanabe Kunitake, frowned. If the Navy wants to build ships, or battleships and armored cruisers, how much money will it cost! The army is not willing to be lonely, and if it wants to expand its army, it will also need to increase artillery, which also requires a lot of money! Japan is now in debt, the tinkle of poverty, where is the money to expand armaments! Coupled with this defeat, I don't know what the price will be! Therefore, Kunitake Watanabe feels that he is under a lot of pressure!

The next day, May 27, Yuichi Kawaguchi, the Japanese consul in Chengdu, asked for a meeting with Wu Tingfang, the foreign minister of western Sichuan, and put forward a request for peace. In order to strengthen his confidence, he also went to the British consul in Chengdu, Zhu Erdian, the French consul in Chengdu, Pierre, the Russian consul in Chengdu, Sergei, and the American consul Sherlock in Chengdu. These countries originally meant to help Japan, so they naturally agreed to go together.

Wu Tingfang met with them and said that he would tell the commander. After all, he has no power to decide whether or not to start peace talks with Japan, and Wang Yuze must have the final say.

Yuichi Kawaguchi expressed his understanding and offered to see Wang Yuze in person, but was rejected by Wu Tingfang. In desperation, Yuichi Kawaguchi repeatedly expressed that the Japanese Empire hoped that peace would be restored to the Far East and that Western Sichuan would be considerate of the people on both sides.

Wu Tingfang looked at Yuichi Kawaguchi's fake benevolence and righteousness, and he couldn't wait to spit out two mouthfuls of saliva. When Japan launched the First Sino-Japanese War before, why didn't it think about the two people? Now that it has been defeated, there is no way, but if these high-sounding reasons are not moved, it is absolutely impossible to escape responsibility.

During this period, the consuls of various countries also expressed their concern about the matter. The countries have great interests in the Far East, and they hope that peace will be restored to the Far East at an early date. At the same time, he expressed his appreciation for Japan's attitude of thinking about the people, and hoped that the western Sichuan side would also show sincerity.

Wu Tingfang smiled and didn't say anything more. Of course, he was very clear about the intentions of the great powers, and it was nothing more than that he didn't want Kawani to slaughter Japan too ruthlessly, and he would support Japan and Kawani as enemies. However, western Sichuan was not a Manchu Qing dynasty, so naturally it would not be coerced by the foreign powers.

After sending off the consuls of various countries, Wu Tingfang immediately rushed to the inspection embassy to see Wang Yuze and relay the news to him.

"Dashuai, the Japanese can't hold on, Yuichi Kawaguchi, that little man, has officially put forward the willingness to negotiate peace on behalf of the Japanese government!" Wu Tingfang said. When he arrived at Wang Yuze's study, Wang Yuze had just finished discussing the next stage of military operations with the army and navy.

At present, the Japanese Army's troops on the Liaodong Peninsula have become turtles in an urn, and as long as the Western Sichuan Army blockades the Liaodong Peninsula with its army and navy, it will be able to trap more than 100,000 Japanese troops who have lost their supplies to death. As for the other 100,000 Japanese troops on the Korean Peninsula, they will also not be able to get the slightest supply when the Korean Strait is blocked, and it will be equally easy for the Western Sichuan Army to destroy them. However, at this point in the war, the western Sichuan army was able to achieve the final victory even if it did not rely on force. These more than 100,000 Japanese troops waited for them to be entrenched on the Korean Peninsula as bargaining chips with Japan. If Japan does not agree to the conditions of western Sichuan, the western Sichuan army will also solve the more than 100,000 Japanese troops.

PS: The second update is here! Ask for a subscription, ask for a monthly pass! (To be continued.)