As long as he thought of Japan's overwhelming superiority in the navy, Shigenobu Okuma gained some confidence.

As Rokuro Yashiro said, even if the army will lose, the navy will never lose. In fact, it seems that this is indeed the case, after all, the Japanese Navy has more than a dozen former dreadnoughts and two quasi-dreadnoughts, as well as a battle cruiser that is definitely not inferior to a dreadnought in combat effectiveness and a battle cruiser that is about to be completed...

On paper, such a large fleet, counting the other ships, will have an overwhelming advantage in the face of China's navy, and even those three dreadnoughts will not be able to save the entire battle, and in the end they will only end up hating the bottom of the sea...

And if the war is won, the benefits are too many.

In particular, Yan Shao is still a well-known rich man, claiming to have more wealth than a country. When the war broke out on the Old Continent, if the Chinese really participated in this war, Japan could take this opportunity to knock a hard sum as it did during the Sino-Japanese War, even if the national government itself could not come up with the money, it seemed that it would be enough to have Yan Shao...

And...

There is a deeper reason, which also drives Shigenobu Okuma towards this war...

However, Okuma is also clear about one thing, that is, in any important decision, although the prime minister seems to have great authority, but without the support of another group of people, then he will not be able to do anything...

And these are the patriarchs who are behind the scenes to control Japan...

The Japanese senator is an informal term for politicians who began to retire or semi-retire in the late period of the rule. They were granted the privilege of 'Father's Privilege' and the edict of 'Kusuke Daisei' (the so-called 'Mandate'), and they controlled the direction of Japanese politics behind the scenes. From 1889, when Hirobumi Ito and Kiyotaka Kuroda were "ordained", until 1912, when Saionji Konozomi was ordained. A total of 9 people, including Hirobumi Ito and Aritomo Yamaguchi, became veterans.

Although there is no legal stipulation, the elders are still responsible for replying to the emperor's advisors. When there is a cabinet change, they are involved in the selection of the prime minister to form a cabinet and have a huge amount of influence. Therefore, during the period of 1885~1934, the prime ministers of Japan were in fact the elders themselves or their preferred candidates. Since the senators, with the exception of Saionji Gongwang, were all from the Satsuma and Choshu regions, the senator politics actually became the representatives of feudal politics.

In a way, these people can even be said to be beyond the existence of the law.

In particular, there are friends in the mountain area. He was the founder of the Japanese Army and had great authority over the Army, without his support. It is not easy to start a war.

In fact, although the Japanese military department had appeared at this time, it was still the politicians such as Shigenobu Okuma and the elders like Aritomo Yamaguchi who had the strongest control over Japan, and the military department, although it had been seven years from 1907 to the present. But after all, it's still too immature.

Historically, during the Taisho period. The democratic atmosphere prevailed, the traditional feudal system was broken, and the 'elder politics' was criticized by public opinion——————.

And after the end of the First World War, especially the death of 'a major event in the palace' and the death of the political strongman Yama Prefecture Youpeng, the influence of the patriarch gradually declined. After the beginning of the Showa period, due to the rise of the military department. The patriarchal system has in fact existed in name only. After the death of the Xiyuan Temple Gongwang in 1940, the term "patriarch" became completely history.

Thankfully...

"At this moment. I'm afraid this patriarch is looking forward to this war more than I do..."

Thinking like this, Shigenobu Okuma's mind calmed down a lot. When watching the quarrel between Okaichi Nosuke and Yashiro Rokuro, he even had a little more of a lively mentality, and he was not very irritable as he was in the past.

————————————————————

While Shigenobu Okuma, Nosuke Okaichi and others were still having a meeting there, in Yama Prefecture Aritomo's residence, Yama Prefecture Aritomo and Katsura Taro were also sitting facing each other. And the things they were discussing at the moment were the same as what Okuma Shigenshin was discussing with them, and they were all about this war.

“……… This war is arguably the best gift for the Empire, but..."

After a small sip of tea, Katsura Taro's face showed a hint of caution.

"Needless to say, those islands in the Pacific Ocean, but Qingdao's words—————— I'm afraid it won't be as easy to take as we imagined, and if we don't get it, the army may even suffer a big loss in Qingdao..."

"I also know this..."Shan County Youpeng shook his head gently. The problem is that we are bound to win Shandong..."

"I'm afraid the British and the French may not necessarily support us..."

"Then they won't have our support, China and Japan, between these two countries, I believe they will make a wise choice..."

Speaking of this, a trace of an inexplicable smile flashed at the corner of Youpeng's mouth in Shanxian County.

China and Japan, two countries, of which Japan is one of the great powers, although it can only be regarded as just joining the ranks of the great powers. But with a strong navy, Japan can still occupy a place among the great powers, even second only to Britain, France, the United States, Russia, Germany and other existence—————— although at this time, Japan's industry, especially steel, etc., can be selected in the land of Europe with some strength, I am afraid that the current Japan can be completely blown up...

It can't be helped, it's really tragic, after all, it is difficult to find a country among the great powers that produces less than one million tons of steel.

But the problem is that Japan has a strong navy, more than a dozen battleships, although not particularly many, but also a strong combat force, plus two quasi-dreadnoughts, a battle cruiser that is actually similar to a dreadnought, and another battle cruiser that is about to be completed, and two battle cruisers under construction and two super dreadnoughts...

Leaving aside industry, in terms of naval strength alone, there are really few that can surpass Japan...

Naturally, as the founder of the Army. It is absolutely impossible for Yama Prefecture Youpeng to speak for the navy, but this does not prevent him from seeing everything clearly.

Compared with Japan, which is strong, although China at this time also has a lot of strength. There are even three dreadnoughts purchased from abroad. But in terms of naval strength, it is still much worse than Japan, and the current Britain also needs Japan's support, so...

If you really had to choose between China and Japan, the odds would be very low that the British would choose China...

————————————————————

Hearing Shin's words, Katsura Taro was silent for a moment.

At this time, Youpeng in Shanxian continued. "What's more, the initiation of this war is not all for the land of Jiaozhou Bay, but more importantly......... Be clear about the threat in advance..."

Speaking of which. A hint of coldness flashed in Yama County's eyes, and Katsura Taro's expression became much more positive.

"You shouldn't be unclear in less than a year. There have been so many changes in China, especially in the various plans that have been implemented in those lands..."Youpeng of Shanxian gritted his teeth. "If they are given some more time, I am afraid that China will have an industrial power that is not inferior to that of the empire..."

"China's territory is just too big, and its potential is too great. If you really let them develop. Then the empire will never come out..."

"So," Katsura interjected softly. We should take advantage of the fact that China has not yet developed and strangle this young seedling first..."

"That's right," Shan County Youpeng nodded. That Yan Shao, as early as the Anhui period, had already made Anhui's steel output exceed the empire, and even several times more than the empire, but at that time Anhui had just developed and there was not much industry, so the steel produced at that time was either put into his automobile factory or exported abroad. There wasn't much of a threat to the Empire, but right now. The Chinese government has already used Yan Shao's 100 million pounds to start a comprehensive industrial development on Chinese soil, and in three or four years, I am afraid that China will have a relatively complete industrial base, even militarily......... Three dreadnoughts, and other ships, you should have also seen the information provided by the Black Dragon Society, the slipways of the only two shipyards in China are already full of keels of warships, and the docks of the shipyards are also full of warships that are being outfitted or sea trials, ten years, China will fully surpass the empire, and in twenty years, we will have no future at all..."

"So we must nip him in the bud before China grows up, and if not if we can't, at least interrupt his growth rate, only in this way can we continue to maintain the advantages of the empire..."

————————————————————

This is actually what Shigenobu Okuma is worried about...

In fact, he also thought very clearly, if it was just to fight Qingdao, Britain and France would definitely support them, after all, Qingdao Fortress is now a place for the Germans, and pulling out such a place will only be beneficial to the Entente, and there will definitely be no harm.

But the problem is that if the Chinese get involved, then the attitude of Britain and France may become a little hesitant.

But even so, Shigenobu Okuma will be more hands-on.

Because China's potential is really terrible, in the past, because there was a stupid Qing government restricting it, so this layer of potential has not been brought into play, and even because the Qing government is too stupid, it has turned this country that was once the hegemon of East Asia into a weak country that anyone can bully.

But now...

Leaving aside what the government has done, it has indeed begun to tap into China's potential little by little. And one only needs to look at the history textbooks of primary schools to see that China is by no means a country to be underestimated at any time.

Especially now...

Therefore, Okuma Shigenobu must find a way to interrupt, or at least slow down China's development, otherwise Japan will no longer have any future. Although Shigenobu Okuma is also a dove in some ways, everything he does is based on the interests of Japan.

If it is beneficial to Japan, then he is a veritable dove, on the contrary, if the use of force is more beneficial to Japan, then he will become a more crazy warlike element than those young Zhuang factions in the military department...

And as long as it can interrupt the speed of China's development, then even if it offends Britain and France at the same time, it is worth it in Okuma's eyes.

In this matter, Shan County Youpeng has the same attitude as him.

So while at the time of the meeting. Okuma Shigenobu said that he would discuss it carefully for a few more days, but in fact, it was only a day or two, and Okuma Shigenobu had already reached a consensus with Yama Prefecture Aritomo.

As long as war breaks out on the Old World. So...

Japan will send troops to Qingdao, and while China is also involved, it will take advantage of this golden opportunity to completely defeat the potential threat of the Kuomintang government...

————————————————————

At the same time, in Yan Shao's presidential palace, the conversation between Yan Shao and Marzan continued.

"Is it neutral?" frowned slightly, and seriously, Marzan was not very satisfied with this answer. But on the other hand, at least it was much stronger than his most fearful answer.

"That's right, neutral..."Yan Shao smiled. Wise people don't speak secret words. For us, the more lively the fight in Europe, the better, because only then will the importance of our country become more and more prominent. If you just rushed into it. Huh..."

"Then you'll have to pay the price..."

In Yan Shao's opinion, since it is a conversation between smart people, it is better to be direct.

In fact, he would not feel that he would say something nice, and Malzan would be foolish enough to think that he really had a good idea of what was going on in Europe—————— and that only a three-year-old would believe it.

Well, if it were the afterlife, I'm afraid that a three-year-old child might not believe it.

Seeing that Yan Shao said it so directly, Malzan smiled bitterly. But I felt a rare peace of mind.

Because just like Yan Shao said, he hurriedly mixed in now. I am afraid that the benefits that China can get may not be too much, in this case, it is better to wait for the two families to break the blood, and at that time China's importance cannot be ignored by the Entente and the Central Powers.

Although anyone with a discerning eye can see that the possibility of China joining the Allied Powers is very slim, if the situation as Yan Shao said, in order to gain China's support, I am afraid that the Entente will only grit their teeth and promise benefits.

If necessary, it is not impossible to return the tariffs completely...

————————————————————

Seeing that Marzan had accepted his statement, Yan Shao and Li Liang glanced at each other.

"Since Mr. Minister is satisfied with our answer, then we can continue to talk about 'Jiaozhou Bay'..."

"That's right." Fu Xiuming also nodded. "Now the old continent may start fighting at any time, which means that the Japanese may do it at will, so in order to avoid some trouble, it is better to hand over Qingdao Fortress and Jiaozhou Bay earlier..."

"That's it," Malzan smiled. I believe that there should not be too many problems, after all, the two countries have already signed an agreement on the Qingdao fortress, and the empire will definitely not tear up the agreement easily, but ......... When it will be returned, I'm afraid it depends on the meaning of His Majesty the Emperor..."

The implication is that the fortress will definitely be returned, but when it can be returned, he can't be the master.

"In addition, regarding the officers and soldiers in the Qingdao Fortress, your country should give the necessary shelter as stipulated in the agreement..."

"Of course." Yan Shao said without hesitation. "Since this is already written in the treaty, then we naturally will not be able to breach the contract, as long as your country returns Qingdao to our country, then our country will be responsible for the safety of all the officers and soldiers of your country, of course, during the war, their conditions must be subject to some restrictions, for example, weapons need to be handed over to our country for management first, and if you go out, there must be some restrictions, but for the rest, our government can guarantee that there will be no problems..."

"That's already it..."

After Yan Shao's departure, Marzan soon returned to the legation and sent a telegram to Berlin asking about the 'Qingdao Fortress' and Jiaozhou Bay. At the same time, Marzan also gave a general overview of the conversation between him and Yan Shao and others.

After learning that China does not intend to participate in this war, but intends to sell at a price, and wait for the right time to intervene to reap the benefits. While the Germans were a little relieved, they were also annoyed.

It is important to know that although Wilhelm II was not the first to put forward the Yellow Peril theory in the history of the Yellow Peril, he can be regarded as one of the most famous people in the Yellow Peril theory, especially his hostility to the yellow race.

And as such a person, he actually wants to be glad that a yellow country did not participate in the war, which is really humiliating for Wilhelm II—————— not to mention that Yan Shao also said that he wants to wait for the price and sell, and wait for the two sides to break the head and bleed, which naturally makes Wilhelm II's humiliation go to a higher level.

Fortunately, at this time, Wilhelm II's mind seemed to be relatively clear, and he did not make some wrong decisions because of this humiliation. So after some irritation, Wilhelm II sent a telegram directly to Marzan.

"When the war breaks out, it will be returned to China immediately..."

The reason why it is said that after the outbreak of the war is because the war has not yet happened. No matter how you look at it, this war is certain, but there is always a one percent chance...

And as long as this was possible, Wilhelm II and others would not easily give up the only German stronghold in the Far East.

Let alone...

The Kaiser was already very hostile to the yellow race, and at this time, Yan Shao also gave him an answer of 'waiting for the price to sell', it would be really strange if he was happy in his heart. And he is well aware that China is now facing a threat from Japan.

For Qingdao, the Japanese are also eyeing it.

If Germany had returned Qingdao to China at this time, perhaps Japan would have given up Qingdao and Jiaozhou Bay because of the relationship between Britain and France. But if Germany waited until after the outbreak of war to return, then...

Maybe the fight has not started on the European side, but the Far East has already started fighting...

And if China can hold Japan back in the Far East, then Germany will no longer need to worry about the threat of the Japanese, and this situation will undoubtedly be extremely beneficial for Germany... (To be continued......)