As soon as the Japanese made up their minds to fight a war with the Chinese Empire, everything began to be prepared according to plan. The ships of the Japanese Navy began to assemble at the Sasebo military port. Large quantities of war materials, which were also taken out of warehouses and transported to battleships.

In addition to the Japanese Navy, the Japanese Army is also preparing for the war. Of course, unlike the Japanese Navy, the Japanese Army really has no advantage over the Chinese Army. So, they're more on the defensive. Even the current transportation of troops to the Korean Peninsula is only to strengthen the defense of the defense line of the Yalu River, so as to prevent the Chinese army from crossing the Yalu River once the war begins.

Originally, the Japanese Army had five full-strength divisions and regiments on the Yalu River defense line, with a full 120,000 men. But now, just in case, the Japanese War Department has decided to mobilize five more divisions and deploy them to the Korean Peninsula. In this way, the Japanese army has nearly 250,000 troops on the Korean Peninsula. Although it cannot be compared with the millions of troops of the Chinese Army, it is enough to defend the Korean Peninsula.

What's more, as long as the Japanese navy won the war, they could not only send more troops to the Korean Peninsula at any time, but also directly threaten the eastern coastal areas of China. In this case, Japan will be invincible in the war.

In addition to military preparations, Japan has also made diplomatic efforts. Once war breaks out, it will require a large amount of military spending. Now Japan's financial crisis is not over, and it is simply not able to support a large-scale war. Therefore, asking for help from allies has become the only way. Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Tung was ordered by Prime Minister Saionji Kobo to meet with British Ambassador to Japan Edward to discuss assistance.

In the British Embassy in Japan, Mr. Lam and Ambassador Edward had a lengthy meeting.

"Your Excellency, Ambassador. This time, it was not that the Japanese Empire wanted to go to war against the Chinese Empire, but that the Chinese Empire had seriously threatened the security of the Japanese Empire. The Great Japanese Empire is an island nation, and the navy is our lifeblood. If the Chinese Empire had given up on developing its navy, we would have been able to live in peace. But now it seems. The determination of the Chinese Empire to destroy Japan had not changed, otherwise they would not have used the trick of separating the world and ordering a large number of warships from Germany. For the sake of the security and interests of the Japanese Empire, we must fight this battle. Therefore, please understand the British side. Lin Dong said sincerely.

Ambassador Edward nodded, he had already received instructions from the British Foreign Secretary. The British were also wary of the increasingly close relationship between the Chinese Empire and the German Empire. In particular, the support of the Chinese navy from Germany had seriously affected British interests in the Far East. So. Britain also supported Japan in this war. However, Britain did not want the scale of the war to expand, and could only limit it to the engagement of the two navies. If the scale of the war is further expanded and develops into a full-scale war, it will not end well.

"Your Excellency, the British Empire understands Japan's plight. In the same way, we also feel the aggressive momentum of the Chinese Empire. Since the Japanese Empire was confident that it would fight this war, the British Empire could support Japan. Ambassador Edward said.

Lin Dong was immediately overjoyed. I thought that they would be stopped by the British, but I didn't expect the British to support them. What a surprise! With the support of the British, their chances of winning the battle have undoubtedly increased a lot.

"Thank you for the understanding of the British side, but the financial pressure on us is too great to win the Chinese Empire. It's still difficult. So, we want to be able to get support from the UK. Best, Britain would be able to offer us an emergency loan, which we could repay immediately after defeating the Chinese Empire. Lin Dong said.

Borrowing from the UK. This is what the Japanese Cabinet has agreed on. Anyway, as long as the Chinese Empire was defeated, they would be able to receive large war reparations. When the time comes, to repay the loans of the British, isn't that trivial?

"Loans, no problem with this. Although the British Empire is now financially strained, we can unite with France and lend to you. Ambassador Edward said. It is obviously impossible to let the Japanese deal with the Chinese and not give them a little sweetness.

"Your Excellency, we need a loan of 100 million pounds. With this funding, we will definitely be able to defeat the Chinese Empire. Lin Dong said immediately. Although the amount of 100 million pounds is relatively large, the so-called sky-high asking price is repaid. This undoubtedly gives a room for bargaining.

"100 million pounds? That's too much. In addition, the British Empire also had a requirement, that is, the scale of the war could only be limited to the navy. On both sides of China and Japan, it would be better for the Japanese army not to launch an attack on Chinese land. Ambassador Edward said.

Lin Dong was stunned, he didn't expect the British side to have this request. The Japanese cabinet is full of energy, and it wants to knock down the Chinese Empire in one fell swoop! If it is only to defeat the Chinese Navy, it can only remove the threat of the Chinese Navy to Japan.

"If the Japanese government accepts our advice, the British Empire and France may jointly provide Japan with a loan of 20 million pounds. This loan was enough for the Japanese Navy to defeat the Chinese Navy. After Japan wins, we will mediate and try to gain as many benefits as possible for Japan. Ambassador Edward continued.

Lin Dong hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Your Excellency, I need to report to the cabinet. ”

Ambassador Edward nodded, "I can understand. However, this is what the British Empire meant, and we hope that the Japanese government will carefully consider the British Empire's proposal. ”

Lin Dong nodded, and then said goodbye and left.

Although the British promised to provide loans to Japan, there were one conditions attached. This was not what they expected.

After Lin Dong left the British Embassy, he immediately went to the Prime Minister's Office and reported to Prime Minister Xiyuan Temple Gongwang. The prince of Saionji Temple immediately summoned the Tibetan, land, and sea ministers and convened a meeting of the five ministers to discuss Japan's choice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, though the British have promised to support us, and the city may offer us a loan of twenty million pounds. However, they have a string attached. That is, our war against China can only be limited to the sea, and we can only launch an attack on the China Navy, and we cannot burn the flames of war to China itself. What do you think about this? Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said.

"The British are so despicable, they clearly want to use our hands to get rid of the Chinese navy, but at the same time, they will become even more powerful after the empire completely defeats China and swallows it." Minoru Saito, the prime minister of the sea, said angrily.

"If we reject the offer of the British, then, they will not give us a loan. 20 million pounds, equivalent to 400 million yen. If you save a little money, it will be enough for the navy to fight this war. Tibetan Prime Minister Yoshiro Sakatani said.

"Terauchi-kun, what is your opinion?" The public of Xiyuan Temple looked at Masahiro in the Lu Xiang Temple.

"Your Excellency, it now seems that the British do not want the situation in the Far East to change much. That's why they want to limit us. For us, the question now is whether we can win this war without the support of the British. If we could, then we would not have to worry about the British restrictions. If not, then we will probably have no other way but to accept the British conditionalities. Masaki Terauchi said.

In fact, it was also beneficial for the Japanese Army to limit the war to the navy. After all, the Japanese Army no longer has an advantage over the Chinese Army. If the armies of both sides can exercise restraint, it will only be good for Japan, not bad. Compared with the army, the Japanese navy undoubtedly has a little more advantage.

These important ministers of the Japanese cabinet couldn't help but be silent. Without the loans of the British, their finances simply could not support this war. If you start a war rashly, the final outcome may be unpredictable. Besides, the Japanese Army may not be able to defeat the Chinese Army, and it will be able to decide the outcome of this war through naval battles, and Japan will undoubtedly have more advantages.

"I am in favor of limiting the scale of the war to the navy, which is in the best interest of the Great Japanese Empire. As long as our navy can win, then we can get everything we want through post-war negotiations. Tibetan Prime Minister Yoshiro Sakatani said.

"Yes, as long as we can ensure the victory of the Navy. Well, in the case of a threat from our navy in the coastal zone, the people of China have no choice but to accede to our demands. The British side also promised that when we win, they would try to fight for as many interests as possible for us. Foreign Minister Lin Dong also said.

"If you don't have any other objections, then let's just decide." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said.

Minoru Saito gritted his teeth, and then said, "Well, we can agree to the conditions of the British." However, we can use this to secure more loans. ”

Saionji nodded, agreeing with Minoru Saito's suggestion.

Subsequently, Lin Dong once again met with the British ambassador to Japan, Edward, and the two sides had a secret talk. In the secret talks, Lin Dong said that in view of the alliance between the Japanese Empire and the British Empire, Japan could accept the conditions proposed by the British Empire. However, only 20 million pounds of loans is too little, and it is hoped that the UK will be able to provide more loans.

After some bargaining, the British decided to join forces with the French and provide Japan with a loan of 30 million pounds. (To be continued.) )

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